Quote:
Originally Posted by Pastor Poster
(Post 158725)
Yes He could have sinned.
|
Yes, and I k now this is a controversial subject. But if He did not have the ability to sin, then neither was he truly like us so that He could die as us and redeem us.
The story of Ruth relates an important part of redemption that is absolutely essential to the owrking of our plan of salvation. This is the aspect of
KINSMAN REDEEMER. Boaz represented Christ. And Boaz was only able to redeem the land and name of Ruth's departed husband since he was KIN to her deceased husband. This is called LEVIRATE LAW. Similarly, Christ could only redeem mankind because Christ was a MAN. An angel could not do so, and neither could God without incarnation of Himself. Since death came by man, resurrection from the dead must come by a man. Hence, Christ incarnate. Heb 2:14 says He toook upon himself the flesh and blood of which we partake in order to be able to die. That same potential to die had the potential to sin.
Sin causes death. Since Christ was able to die, then that means He was able to sin. He did die, of course, but not due to any sin He committed. It was obviously our sin which He took upon Himself. However, the fact remains that He could and did die, so He could have sinned. If He could not have sinned, then neither could He have died.
Put it this way, if He could not sin, then neither could He take upon Himself our sins. The same reason that would not allow HIm to sin would be the reason He could nto take our sin upon Himself.
And what really indicates Christ COULD HAVE sinned is that
He was TEMPTED. And
if someone cannot sin, then they cannot be tempted to sin. And because the Bible says Christ "was tempted", then that means He had the potential to sin, or else He could have told the devil, "Your offer does not tempt me."
On the other hand, though, we could say He could not sin only because IT WAS FOREKNOWN by God, and prophesied, that He would succeed and not sin. Therefore, IN THAT RESPECT ALONE, He could not sin.
As per POTENTIAL, YES he could have sinned. As per the foreknowledge of God, NO, He could not.