Without Blemish

2021-08-08

Jesus, the Son of God, was the only human being who never sinned. He “did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22). “He was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin” (1 John 3:5). Being born of a virgin, He started a new human lineage apart from the sinful Adamic race.

The Scriptures tell us this on many occasions. Why is this important? Without a perfect sacrifice, we are still in our sins and without hope. He is the fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrificial system. For example, the Holy Spirit declares “Christ our passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7). If Christ is our Passover, He fulfills the Old Testament passage that tells us, “Your lamb shall be without blemish” (Exodus 12:5). The phrase “without blemish” is a common refrain referring to various sacrifices in the Old Testament. A perfect sacrifice was always the requirement. The perfect One must die instead of the imperfect to save them. It is the great exchange!

Jesus is the sin sacrifice that permanently justified us before God: “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 Corinthians 5:21).

Jesus supersedes the Old Testament high priest: “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” (Hebrews 4:15).

Jesus also tells us that “he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him” (John 8:29). Who could dare say that they always please the Father?

If Jesus sinned, then we are all still in our sins, and his sacrifice was worthless. He would not be acceptable to God as a propitiation on our behalf. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Lastly, His sinlessness is indicative of His deity. “And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God” (Mark 10:18).