The sermon, "The Person of Christ & His Impeccability, Part 1" by Wilbur Elias Best examines the essential doctrine of the impeccability of Christ, emphasizing that Jesus, in His divine-human nature, could not sin. Best argues against the notion that Christ's human nature was akin to Adam's before the fall, stating that while Adam was peccable (capable of sin), Christ as the second Adam is impeccable (incapable of sin). He substantiates his claims with scriptural references, particularly 1 Corinthians 15, and emphasizes that the divine-human union in Christ means that He does not experience the same conflicts as fallen human beings. The theological significance of this doctrine is profound for the understanding of redemption, as an imperfect Savior could not atone for sin. Best stresses that true believers hunger for the truth of God's word, which includes understanding the nature of Christ's impeccability.
Key Quotes
“If Christ was capable of sinning, then He was capable of being limited. If he could be limited, then he was not infinite. And if he was not infinite, he was not God.”
“There was never a conflict. Never a conflict, and it's blasphemy to even suggest it.”
“Christ's sufferings had infinite value. Infinite value. Because the one who experienced them was an infinite person.”
“If Jesus had chosen, and the supposition is, if Jesus had chosen, he could have sinned... Such supposition comes from a false concept of the person of Jesus Christ.”
The impeccability of Christ means that He was unable to sin, as evidenced by His holy nature and the divine-human union.
Scripture affirms that Jesus Christ, as the God-man, was impeccably holy and incapable of sinning. His divine nature, which was uncorrupted and infinite, ensured that there was no conflict with His human nature. This is a crucial aspect of Christ's perfection because if He were capable of sin, He could not be our Savior. The hypostatic union, where the divine and human natures coexist without conflict in the single person of Christ, supports His impeccability, as highlighted in passages like Hebrews 7:26.
Hebrews 7:26, 1 Corinthians 15
Christ's infinite perfection and holy nature confirm that He could not sin, contrasting with Adam's mutable perfection.
The argument for Christ's impeccability is centered on His unique nature as both fully God and fully man, without any capacity for sin. Unlike Adam, who was created with finite perfection and possessed the possibility to sin, Christ's human nature was wholly sanctified, which means He was separate from sinners and fundamentally incapable of sinning. This distinction is foundational, as if Christ could have sinned, it would undermine His divine nature and His role as Savior. As affirmed in James 1:13-15, God cannot be tempted with evil, thus reinforcing that neither can Christ, who is God incarnate.
James 1:13-15, Hebrews 7:26
The impeccability of Christ assures us of His ability to save us, as only a sinless Savior can atone for sin.
The doctrine of Christ's impeccability is crucial for Christians because it underscores the validity of His sacrificial work on the cross. Only a sinless Christ can serve as an adequate substitute for humanity's sins. If Christ were capable of sinning, His sacrifice would be flawed and insufficient for salvation. Thus, recognizing His impeccable nature not only affirms His divinity but also gives believers confidence in the sufficiency of His atonement, assuring us that grace and redemption are rooted in the holiness of our Savior.
1 Peter 1:19, Hebrews 4:15
Some argue that Christ, like Adam, had the potential to sin, emphasizing His human nature over His divine nature.
Opponents of Christ’s impeccability often claim that, since He was human, He could have sinned just as Adam did before the fall. They suggest that Christ met temptations like Adam and could have chosen to yield. However, this argument fails to acknowledge the unique nature of Christ’s human experience, which is constituted within the hypostatic union, where He possesses both divine and human natures in one person. Unlike Adam, whose perfection was subject to change, Christ’s divine nature guarantees His holiness and inability to sin, fundamentally distinguishing Him from Adam.
Matthew 4:1-11, 1 Corinthians 15
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