PERFECTION IN CHRIST The perfection of Christ is to be seen as a necessity, not merely an intriguing accomplishment. It is true, the impeccable purity of Jesus required His unflagging effort. The adversary engaged all of his crafty and malicious powers to lure the Son into sin. Those efforts could not be overcome by a casual or inconsistent effort on the part of the Son. However, the purity of Christ was not only an accomplishment, it was a Divine requirement! Jesus did not overcome sin by omnipotence; that would not have availed for us! He triumphed over the evil one by using the resources He now brings to us. Thus did He pass through temptation. "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Heb 4:15). Note, His experience enabled Him to be an empathetic High Priest. He is, in fact, a perfect High Priest. God required an Intercessor like that to bring us through the fire. It should not be necessary to affirm the sinlessness of our Savior. Yet, because of the level of tolerance for sin that exists among the people, the Spirit repeatedly bears witness to this aspect of Jesus. It is essential that our spirits grasp this truth. It must go beyond an academic point, and find a resting place in our hearts and consciences. The nature of God required that Jesus be sinless, else He could not save us. That is how sensitive God is about this matter.
Devotion 5 of 15
CHRIST, THE PERFECT ONE
Christ's life is certainly a pattern for us all. It affirms that the life of faith is indeed the victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4-5). However, we must not limit our view of His holiness to that of an example. HIS PURITY WAS ESSENTIAL FOR OUR SALVATION. God would not accept the offering of His life for us if so much as one flaw could be found in Him. Those who speak glibly about the childhood of Jesus, the possibility of Him losing His temper, acting like contemporary children, and other such things, greatly err. It might prove consoling to the ignorant to find a flawed Savior; but they do well to think again. If so much as one imperfection can be found in Him, at any point of His life, He will not meet the Father's requirement for a Sin- bearer! The absolute pureness of Christ must be seen as essential to our salvation!
"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth" (1 Pet 2:21- 22). "How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God . . . " (Heb 9:14). "For such an high priest became us, Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens" (Heb 7:26). "But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Pet 1:19). "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor 5:21). "And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin" (1 John 3:5).
Notice, in every case the purity of Jesus is set forth in the context of His Saviorhood. It was not merely a triumph for Him over the wicked one. It validated His death for sinners. His spotless life authenticated His death in our behalf. Too, because He was sinless, He is now able to minister heavenly resources required for purity to every soul sensitive enough to seek them. God's nature demanded this arrangement!
The discussion of our perfection IN Christ demands that we proclaim the perfection OF Christ. Apart from HIS perfection, there is not sense in which we can be perfect. That includes the more elemental view of perfection (maturity), as well as the more advance view of holiness. Both of them require a perfection Savior.
-- Tomorrow: A VICARIOUS SACRIFICE --