Connect 1 John 3:5 with Hebrews 4:15 on Jesus' sinlessness. The Sinless Savior Introduced (1 John 3:5) “You know that He appeared that He might take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.” • John anchors the believer’s hope in two linked truths: – Christ “appeared” – the Incarnation was historical and purposeful. – “In Him there is no sin” – absolute moral purity qualified Him to “take away our sins.” The High Priest Without Blemish (Hebrews 4:15) “For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.” • Hebrews echoes John: the same spotless Jesus now represents us before the Father. • His sympathy and sinlessness coexist—He felt the full pull of temptation yet never yielded. Connecting the Two Passages 1. Same Claim, Different Angles • 1 John 3:5 – sinlessness proves His sufficiency as the sin-bearer. • Hebrews 4:15 – sinlessness proves His sufficiency as the intercessor. 2. Shared Vocabulary of Purity • “No sin” (1 John). • “Without sin” (Hebrews). • Together they present an unbroken testimony: Jesus is flawless in being and behavior. 3. One Purpose Flowing Out of Sinlessness • To remove guilt (1 John 3:5). • To render help (Hebrews 4:15). • Removal + Relief = complete salvation (cf. Hebrews 7:25). Old and New Testament Echoes • Isaiah 53:9 – “He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.” • John 8:46 – Jesus asks, “Which of you can prove Me guilty of sin?” • 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us.” • 1 Peter 2:22 – “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.” Each citation forms a chorus: completely pure, consistently proclaimed. Tempted, Yet Triumphant • Real Temptation – Hebrews affirms He faced “every” category of testing. – Authentic humanity means the struggle was not staged. • Real Victory – His divine nature could not sin (James 1:13), yet He met temptation in genuine human weakness and chose obedience (Philippians 2:8). – The result: a High Priest who understands and overcomes. Why His Sinlessness Matters to Us • Trustworthy Substitute – Only a spotless Lamb could bear our spot (1 Peter 1:19). – Assurance: our debt is fully paid. • Sympathetic Advocate – He feels our frailty yet never fails us (Hebrews 2:18). – Encouragement: run to Him, not from Him. • Pattern for Holiness – “In Him there is no sin” becomes our call to “walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6). – His Spirit empowers what His example inspires. Living in the Light of a Sinless Christ • Celebrate the completed work—your sins are taken away. • Approach the throne boldly—your Advocate never falters. • Pursue purity—your Savior’s character is now your calling (1 John 3:3). |
    |