Salvation Accomplished By The Son - Christ's Sinless Life

     In the last post I blogged about the new book I'm reading, Salvation Accomplished
     By the Son. 
     * Nine saving events in Jesus' life are covered in the book, and the incarnation (Jesus' birth)
     was the first.

     * Christ could represent mankind only if He became one with them, and could redeem
     them by dying as their substitute, and satisfy God's wrath against them for their sins.

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      Here are some more highlights from the book.


      * The second saving event was Christ's sinless life.
      There are two main elements:  1) He was free from actual sin (unlike us).
      2) He was free from inherent sin (unlike us).

      * The Old Testament predicts his sinlessness.
     
      Isaiah was written 700 years before Christ's birth, yet it described the Messiah and what
      He would do for His people.
      Isaiah 53:9 describes his sinlessness - there was no violence or deceit in His mouth.
      Isaiah 53:11 - By His knowledge He will make many to be accounted righteous and shall
      bear their iniquities.
      Isaiah 53:12 - He bore the sin of many and makes intercession for the transgressors.


      * The New Testament reveals His sinlessness.

      "For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become
      the righteousness of God."  2 Corinthians 5:21.  Martin Luther calls this verse "The Great
      Exchange,"  (Christ's righteousness for our sinfulness).


      * Jesus offers us mercy because his sinless humanity enables Him to sympathize with
      His People.

      * Jesus was "made perfect" by suffering and obeying the Father.

      * Jesus came as an infant in order for Him to experience human life, with all its trials and
      temptations, triumphantly.

      * Because the Son of God was tried, tested, and found blameless, he is able as our great
      High Priest to offer the unique sacrifice of Himself on earth and then to take that offering
      into the presence of His Father in heaven to avail perpetually for His people.


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     Next time we'll look at the third saving event in Christ's life - His death.