Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: bgsuvax!kutz@cis.ohio-state.edu (Kenneth J. Kutz) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Could Jesus have sinned? Message-ID: Date: 7 Jun 91 03:10:36 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Bowling Green State University B.G., Oh. Lines: 54 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article , lindborg@cs.washington.edu (Jeff Lindborg) writes: > In article bgsuvax!kutz@cis.ohio-state.edu (Kenneth J. Kutz) writes: > Just a practical note... if Jesus could not have sined (was not capable of > sin), then to what degree COULD he have been tempted. Temptation relies > on the "tempties" ability to give in to the temptation. I humbly disagree with this statement. The bigger question to "could Jesus have sinned?" is "can God violate his very nature"? We all agree that God does not change: HEB 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever What is it that God does not change from? Answer: Holiness It seems to me that the number one objection to the stance "Jesus could not have sinned" is that this would mean there must have been no temptation. I ask the question of the group, can temptation occur when the inevitable result is not to give in to it? I believe the answer is yes. What is it in the defintion of the word tempt that requires that the temptee give in? Here is the definition from Webster's: tempt \'tem(p)t\ \'tem(p)-t*-b*l\ vt [ME tempten, fr. OF tempter, tenter, fr. L temptare, Xtentare to feel, try, tempt; akin to L tendere to stretch - more at THIN 1: to entice to do wrong by promise of pleasure or gain : allure into evil : SEDUCE obs 2a: to make trial of : TEST 2b: to try presumptuously : PROVOKE 2c: to risk the dangers of 3: to induce to do something : INCITE, PERSUADE - tempt.able aj His nature (holiness) won out over the "enticement to do wrong". Was Jesus "wired for perfection" as some have put it? The Bible tells us "yes" in Hebrews 13:8 (quoted above). Was he tempted in all ways, just as we are? HEB 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelin g of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Yes He was. The Holy Spirit never tells us Jesus could have sinned. This is a conclusion some men and women have come to because of the word tempt. We must be very careful when we make conclusion that the Bible does not teach, especially when those conclusions are in direct contradiction to God's immutable nature. -- Kenneth J. Kutz Internet kutz@andy.bgsu.edu Systems Programmer BITNET KUTZ@ANDY University Computer Services UUCP ...!osu-cis!bgsuvax!kutz Bowling Green State Univ. US Mail 238 Math Science, BG OH 43403