What If Jesus Sinned?

We believe that Jesus lived a perfect, obedient life before the Father while living on earth. He is the One fulfilled the law of God on our behalf through His active obedience. The Bible says, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21, LSB). 

Jesus fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law on our behalf so that He could die on our behalf than three days later be "raised on account of our justification" (Romans 4:25, LSB). Some people have asked if Jesus could have sinned. We know that was fully God and fully human. "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells bodily" (Colossians 2:9, LSB). We also know that Jesus was tempted as we are yet was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). 

We must remember that temptation is not sin. We are all tempted whether it is over eating, cheating on your taxes, or participating in something that could lead you to sin. When we yield to the temptation, that is when we sin. 

So to address the question what if Jesus did sin, Mark Jones wrote the following in his book, Knowing Sin:

Theoretically, if He could have sinned, it would have been the most heinous act imaginable. How? Because it would have done more damage to God's glory and honor than if any mere creature sinned against God.

If Jesus did sin, it would have been worse than the sin of Adam. If Jesus sinned, He would not have been raised for the dead. Romans 4:25 says, "He who was delivered over on account of our transgressions, and was raised on account of our justification." Jesus could not have been delivered for our transgressions because He was not the perfect substitute for us. therefore, God could not accept the sacrifice of Christ on behalf because He disobeyed God.

Paul said if Christ had not been raised our faith is in vain and we are still in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:14, 17). We would not have the living hope 1 Peter 1:3 says we have through the Resurrection. 

Thankfully, Jesus did not sin. He could not. He was the only One able to do what we could not do. He endured more suffering than any man today or in days gone by. He had to fulfill the Law on our behalf then die on our behalf while taking the wrath of God on Himself. 

We serve and worship a sinless man, who was God incarnate. We have a living hope because a perfect man lived on our behalf and became the mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). 

If Jesus sinned, we would all be doomed to the wrath of God for all eternity without any hope. 

Thanks be to God, He did not.