Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
He committed no sin at all in thought, word, or deed through every stage of life from infancy to manhood, with no fault in Him or His teaching. No deceit or falsehood was found in His mouth, for no cheap, careless, passionate, or defiling word ever escaped His lips, and His speech was continually holy, truthful, and kind because His heart was pure and held nothing answering temptation. Though He clothed divinity with humanity and was tempted in all points like human beings are, He remained pure, holy, and undefiled, perfectly obeying God's law where Adam fell and proving obedience possible. Because He had no sin of His own He could bear the sins of the world in His own body on the tree, suffering their curse and punishment to satisfy justice, reconcile the world, and clothe believers with His spotless righteousness. He is therefore set forth as the pattern believers must follow when they suffer wrongfully for doing well, enduring insult without retaliation and bringing every thought and word into captivity to Him in order to live without guile.
Meaning of the Words
Who did no sin means Christ committed no sin at all, in thought, word, or deed, with no selfish act and no harsh or unbecoming word ever escaping Him. There was no fault in Him and no fault in His teachings, no deceit in His speech, and no stain marring His life from infancy through childhood, youth, and manhood. His innocence while suffering for others and bearing their sins makes Him the example for believers who suffer wrongfully, to endure patiently without reviling or threatening in return and to entrust themselves to the righteous Judge.
Neither was guile found in His mouth means He spoke no deceit, falsehood, or dishonest act, with no selfish, cheap, careless, idle, coarse, passionate, corrupt, or defiling word ever escaping His lips. His words were continually holy, ennobling, truthful, and kind, spoken with power that touched the heart and with truth that never failed. He fearlessly exposed hypocrisy, dishonest practices, false teaching, and those who taught human commands as doctrine, and His purity of speech is the pattern for speech that does not corrupt or obscure truth and that reveals whether good or evil rules the heart.
His guileless speech came from a guileless heart, for there was no sin in Him and no guile in His heart. No thought or feeling in Him answered temptation though Satan tempted Him fiercely at every step, no unholy thought polluted the heart, and He did not yield or retaliate in word, spirit, or action even when wrongly accused. What is cherished in the heart finds its way to the lips, so His truthfulness contrasts with Satan's deceptiveness and assures that He means what He says and can be trusted to keep His promises.
Human Life Under Temptation
He took human nature with its infirmities and weaknesses of flesh, clothing divinity with humanity to associate with fallen humanity and to come down to the level of those He came to save, yet He remained ever pure, holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners, never in the least sharing its sin. Though He lived among human beings in human nature and took upon Himself sinful human nature in its fallen condition, there was no guile or sinfulness in Him, no deceit in His speech, but spotless purity and holiness with perfect humility. His perfect obedience to every requirement of God's law condemned sin in human nature, and His spotless righteousness stood as heaven's light against satanic darkness and a perpetual reproach to all sin in a sensual, sinful world. His sinlessness and perfect obedience made Him a faultless sin-offering able as holy Substitute to save to the uttermost, so that those who trust Him receive His imputed righteousness, escape corruption through lust, partake of the divine nature, obey God's commandments and be made the righteousness of God in Him.
He lived that sinless life through every stage from infancy to manhood, coming as an infant and protected by the God of salvation so that He committed no sin in childhood, youth, or manhood. In Nazareth, the setting His Father chose, He was continually exposed to temptation and surrounded by sin, where severe trials tested Him and helped develop the perfect character that makes Him an example for children, youth, and adults. There He spent many years as a humble carpenter, obedient to His earthly parents, revealing His Father's character and showing complete faithfulness in everything He did when He began to work, taking great pains and doing all with care. His whole history of more than thirty years was pure, disinterested benevolence, pleasing not Himself but going about doing good, manifesting the character of God in His own character to redeem what Adam by disobedience had lost, with a cheerful spirit that turned work into singing songs of heaven with the children around Him.
He was tempted in all points like human beings are tempted, facing fierce temptation at every step from the wilderness through His ministry to the cross and Calvary. Satan tempted Him in every way and at every step, yet no thought or feeling in Him answered temptation, nothing in Him responded or gave Satan power over Him, and He never yielded, weakened in loyalty, or turned from allegiance to God. He suffered while resisting temptation in proportion to His perfect holiness, knowing by painful experience what it means to face temptation, so He understands the struggle of those who resist evil and can help them endure. His sinless, truthful life under such trial was part of His self-denying work to restore humanity to its original condition and bring people into harmony with God, a perfect example of victory over sin while His divinity was evident in His teaching and ministry even as He lived clothed in humanity. Though wrongly accused He sinned in thought, word, or deed, with no deceit found in His speech, and He did not speak to justify Himself.
Though innocent, holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners, wholly without sin or deceit, He meekly endured insult, mockery, false accusation, cruel scourging, humiliation, torture and death. His enemies over three years found no fault in Him and Pilate declared Him without fault, yet leaders hating His reproof condemned Him, and He endured insult and outrage with meekness, patience and composure, without retaliation. Though He had power to call angels to His aid, to ask His Father for a legion of angels, or to strike down His persecutors, He would not work a miracle to escape suffering but submitted to rods, thorns, nails and the cross, committing His case into His Father's hands. His innocence did not protect Him when evil people controlled His tormentors, and any failure under that test of cruel abuse would have made redemption fail, so His perfect faithfulness made Him a perfect offering and a way of escape for lost people, leaving an example that believers must follow by winning the same victory in times of special need and trial.
Revealing God and Law
The sinless life declares who God is, for divinity and humanity united in one person, with all the fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily, lived on earth without sin or deceit though tempted in every point as human beings are tempted. Clothed in humanity to come down to the level of those to be saved and to associate with fallen humanity, even taking sinful human nature with its hunger, thirst, weariness and need for food and sleep, He remained ever pure, undefiled and unsullied, never speaking falsehood or doing a dishonest act. That life in human nature reveals the Father's true character as a compassionate, merciful Father, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life. It answers Satan's charge against God, refuting his misrepresentation by which he had charged upon God the attributes he himself possessed, and as pure light it exposes error, falsehood and deception, flashing truth amid the moral darkness with which Satan had enshrouded the world and destroying his corrupting influence in many hearts. His perfect hatred of sin, learned from seeing its deceiving, infatuating power upon holy angels, made His sinlessness a perpetual reproach upon all sin in a world of sensuality, while His spotless righteousness is offered to cover human unworthiness as a robe, His more than thirty years of pure, disinterested benevolence going about doing good and pleasing not Himself manifesting God's character and redeeming what Adam by disobedience had lost.
He did no sin by perfectly obeying every requirement of God's law, honoring and magnifying it in action as well as in word and giving a true representation of it in a spotless life merciful, compassionate, obedient, full of goodness and truth. That obedience condemned sin in human nature and showed humanity not only that it ought to obey God but how to obey, with love, kindness and loyalty. He came to leave a perfect model and pattern by which all who possess reason may learn the measure of duty, so that by uniting with Him fallen, sinful human beings may conform the life to the divine precepts, keep the commandments of God, and become laborers together with Him who came to represent the Father by keeping all His commandments. The fruit claimed in return is to reproduce that sinless life in a pure and holy character shown in godliness, self-denial for others' good, meekness and loveliness of heart, with penitence, faith and obedience carrying out in their own life the precepts of God's holy law as He did.
As the second Adam He took human nature and passed over the very ground where Adam stumbled and fell, retracing it under a test far more severe than Adam's and meeting every temptation and trial besetting humanity. He overcame the tempter through obedience, purity of character and steadfast integrity, keeping the law of God while bearing the sins of the whole world without spot or stain, thereby redeeming Adam's failure and working out a perfect character for humanity. That victory proves false Satan's boast that man cannot keep God's law, proves in the controversy that man as God created him, connected with the Father and the Son, could obey every divine requirement, and removes fallen humanity's excuse for failing to keep it. It proves that human beings through the power of God can live sinless lives, with words, actions and spirit sanctified to God, demonstrating that people of the fallen race can overcome, keep God's commandments and become spotless, and through His name overcome the foe themselves. His righteousness in life set Him apart from the world and brought its hatred upon Him, yet as Elder Brother with intense interest in human beings He felt keenly the sinfulness and shame of sin, so that when His people disregard His word they wound Him afresh and put Him to open shame.
Sinless Sacrifice for Salvation
Because He Himself did no sin and spoke no deceit, He could bear the sins of others as sin-offering, substitute, and surety. The sins of the world were laid upon Him, charged to Him and punished in Him, and He bore them in His own body on the tree, suffering the curse and punishment due to transgressors. He gave His sinless life through self-denial, continual suffering and reproach, and finally the surrender of that life on the cross to save perishing people from death. His patient suffering as the holy and innocent One, in contrast to sinful humanity, was itself a saving sacrifice.
His suffering and death pay the redemption price that satisfies justice, fulfills God's covenant to deliver the race, and reconciles the world to Himself. His life was the price paid to buy humanity, so believers are bought with a price. By the sinless One whom God gave to bear the punishment of all who repent, the highway of salvation is made, not indistinct but plainly pointed out, that all may follow where He has gone before. Though He had no sin He died for sins, and the sacrifices and offerings pointed forward to Him and prefigured His death as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Those who trust Him receive His imputed righteousness, through which they can obey God's commandments and share in the divine nature. He offers to cover human unworthiness with the spotless robe of His righteousness, and those who receive Him are presented to the Father as innocent. As the holy Substitute He is able to save to the uttermost, so that repenting, believing people through divine power may escape the corruption in the world through lust, become partakers of the divine nature, and be made the righteousness of God in Him. His righteousness can be imputed to humanity, and through His name people can overcome the foe themselves.
He is God's only begotten Son, the gift of God to the world, and the chosen Mediator through whom alone people can come to God. Human position or authority gives no favor with God, but acceptance with God depends entirely on Him, and faith must center in Him without wavering. As Elder Brother with intense interest in human beings He felt keenly the sinfulness and shame of sin, and because He faced the trials and temptations people face from childhood to manhood He can help them overcome sin. His sinlessness belongs to His power and saving grace as the great Physician and Deliverer of His afflicted, suffering children, and His life, suffering, and death make Him both an example to follow and a Saviour who pardons sin, unlike sinful people who could not offer a perfect sacrifice.
Example in Patient Suffering
The sinless One who spoke no deceit is set forth as the pattern for believers to follow step by step when they do well and yet suffer wrongfully for conscience toward God. Enduring grief in that condition with patience, without fainting, is thankworthy and accepted of God. That patience excludes murmuring even in thought, complaint, discontent, excitement, evil feelings, passion, and giving up faith. Instead the sufferer commits himself to Him who judges righteously, the Righteous One who weighs character in the golden scales of the sanctuary and judges not by profession but by the fruit borne.
Following His steps means not reviling again when reviled and not threatening when suffering, since unjust and unreasonable treatment by men in positions of trust gives no excuse to retaliate. Retaliation only adds a greater sin to the one already committed. When insulted, sneered at, taunted, ridiculed, abused, or rejected, the believer meets mistreatment with calm self-control, patience, compassion, pity, and love. The answer is given in wise gentle words, patient calmness, sometimes singing a psalm or keeping silent, rather than sharp retaliation, defiance, vindication tours, violence, or maliciousness. Though He had power to call angels or strike down persecutors, He endured insult and outrage with meekness and composure and would not escape by miracle.
This same endurance belongs to believers brought into straight places at the end of the world, especially when required on eternal principle to dishonor the Seventh-day Sabbath by working on Sunday. There they must obey God rather than man and refuse compliance. They answer with few words, as Christ answered It is written, and remain firm as a rock. They bear unjust penalties rather than resist, unless compliance would bring them into conflict with God, and they avoid impulsive defiance that could bring needless suffering. By well-doing without defiance they leave a correct impression, so that others may see the truth and receive it.
His holiness rebuked sin and provoked the hatred and attacks of hearts opposed to God's law, helping turn the crowd toward demanding His crucifixion. Those who follow Him should therefore expect reproach, shame, contempt, false witness, and slander, even from wicked men and those in high places. Suffering for the truth is not evidence of guilt, for He gave Himself to be punished in the sinner's place though He had done no sin. Afflicted believers are to consider daily what He endured in insult, neglect, mockery, cruel scourging, and the agonies of Calvary, bearing pain with patience, fortitude, courage, kindness, and courtesy. His suffering and death without sin leave a record that strengthens those who suffer for faith, enabling every follower who holds fast to keep the faith.
Call to Holy Living
His sinless life without deceit in speech is the perfect model, standard, pattern and rule of life from the manger to Calvary, left to be studied daily and made known through example and teaching. No requirement is laid upon people that He did not obey, for in human nature He honored the law in action as well as word and showed not only that humanity ought to obey but how to obey. By close fellowship with Him through living faith, by beholding Him, uniting with Him and partaking of the divine nature, flawed character is transformed toward His likeness, believers become like Him, reproduce His pure holy character in godliness, self-denial for others' good, meekness and loveliness of heart with penitence, faith and obedience, and carry out the precepts of the holy law as He did. In this way they can overcome as He overcame by heaven's help against satanic powers, obey at every stage of life in loyalty to God, and show that obedience does not enslave while transgression does.
To be without guile like Him means bringing every word and thought into captivity to Him and letting God's converting power govern speech so that no selfish, harsh, unbecoming, coarse, passionate, idle or deceitful word escapes the lips. It means speaking only kind words that make for peace, having truth in the heart with affections set on things above, and showing upright dealings and words including in business as a light in the world. It means purity and holiness of heart and thought essential for service, truth in heart and upright life as true and faithful witnesses refusing the world's flattery, customs, tastes, opinions and habits in perfect obedience. When men in trust act unjustly and unreasonably that gives no excuse to retaliate and add a greater sin, but to endure grief and suffer wrongfully patiently while doing well is thankworthy and acceptable with God, committing self to Him who judges righteously and weighs character in the golden scales of the sanctuary by fruit borne and not by profession.
His faultless life with no spot, fault or selfish act is the unerring pattern by which each person must search and be measured, and the imperfections and failings of professed Christians are no excuse for sin. Every person has individual responsibility and a personal account before God to meet His claims, build up His kingdom and bring souls to truth as the first and highest duty, and each will be judged by His word and rewarded according to works. No human leader is to voice decisions and control actions or give experience for others, for every human is as liable to err as anyone else, and position gives no power to put a human yoke on members. All must therefore come to Christ personally and learn of Him with undivided devotion and a humble teachable spirit, not with a divided heart, giving Him all they have.
In His humanity He sought strength from His Father to endure trial and temptation, depending on Him through earnest prayer as He began public work and faced suffering and death. His example teaches that the tempted may ask God daily for help, grace, power and the Holy Spirit, and thereby gain victory over sin. Sinners as drowning men are to cling to Jesus as refuge, hold fast integrity, live for Him, obey Him and love Him, and those who do are most happy and precious in God's sight. By such constant dependence even those facing every kind of trial common to humanity may stand with God, with divinity evident in life and ministry though clothed in humanity.
This calling shapes specific work, for medical missionary workers are to be molded and fashioned after His similitude so work and relation to God's cause harmonize with His purpose, remaining separate from the world while living in it, standing on the platform of truth uninfluenced by false theories, respecting pure living principles of the gospel, and laboring unitedly with ministers and the church in soul-saving work rather than in division or under human control. As the great Medical Missionary who came at infinite sacrifice to teach the lessons by which God is known aright, His perfect sinless life is the example all may safely follow, to be studied by gospel medical missionaries for rest and peace of heart. Ministers following Him who allowed no evil feeling to arise when opponents made false statements are not to get excited or repeat opponents' falsehoods but to hold firmly to affirmative assertions of living truth with heavenly sanctified humble wisdom and less of self, laying hold on divine power while angels open the way. Teachers and students are to make Him the only example and pattern learned from daily, not seeking to exalt self, remembering He paid with His own blood and suffered every indignity men and Satan could devise to carry out salvation.
Sanitarium managers are to keep honest speech, pure minds and becoming dignity after His similitude, and parents are taught by Him who from infancy to manhood lived without sin under God's protection, faithful and careful in all work with a cheerful spirit turning labor into heaven's song with children around Him, not to rule unjustly with an iron rod but to desire Christ, keep pleasurable notes in the voice, and seek salvation every day. The need is urgent because what humanity must be before entering the holy city is revealed in His unsullied purity with no falsehood or dishonest act, lived though tempted in all points with divinity and humanity united. Only those transformed in character can dwell with Him in His kingdom, while those retaining hereditary tendencies to wrong cannot, for eternal destiny is decided by character formed here and only those proven safe subjects, perfect and without guile before the throne, spotless without wrinkle through purifying, will enter heaven.
Falling day by day far short of divine requirements endangers salvation, yet His sinless life proves required perfection is not impossible, for in humanity He worked out perfection for us and by dependence on His merits, faith working by love and purifying the soul, walking in His footsteps and whole dependence on grace, strength and the Holy Spirit more willingly given than parents give good gifts, perfection in one's own sphere may be attained and God honored in character. Through God's provisions and the merits of the crucified and risen Saviour who regarded Satan as humanity's enemy, warred without giving up, resisted unto death and gained everlasting victory while suffering all human flesh can suffer, men and women consenting to cease from sin may receive power to overcome and pass triumphantly through every temptation to destroy faith. Remembering that He suffered though He did no sin to save sinners calls to reform and in His strength to give up depraved appetite and strong habits, with self-denial and earnest effort to preserve vigor of mind, sacrifice in His service, saying no to temptation and resisting evil. Such sacrifice made in His strength brings happiness to self and family now and wins the victor's crown at last, and the greater the struggle and trial in following Him the greater the reward and joy in deliverance. Following His holy example, true Christianity requires distinguishing godliness from sin.
He committed no sin at all in thought, word, or deed through every stage of life from infancy to manhood, with no fault in Him or His teaching. No deceit or falsehood was found in His mouth, for no cheap, careless, passionate, or defiling word ever escaped His lips, and His speech was continually holy, truthful, and kind because His heart was pure and held nothing answering temptation. Though He clothed divinity with humanity and was tempted in all points like human beings are, He remained pure, holy, and undefiled, perfectly obeying God's law where Adam fell and proving obedience possible. Because He had no sin of His own He could bear the sins of the world in His own body on the tree, suffering their curse and punishment to satisfy justice, reconcile the world, and clothe believers with His spotless righteousness. He is therefore set forth as the pattern believers must follow when they suffer wrongfully for doing well, enduring insult without retaliation and bringing every thought and word into captivity to Him in order to live without guile.
Meaning of the Words
Who did no sin means Christ committed no sin at all, in thought, word, or deed, with no selfish act and no harsh or unbecoming word ever escaping Him. There was no fault in Him and no fault in His teachings, no deceit in His speech, and no stain marring His life from infancy through childhood, youth, and manhood. His innocence while suffering for others and bearing their sins makes Him the example for believers who suffer wrongfully, to endure patiently without reviling or threatening in return and to entrust themselves to the righteous Judge.
Neither was guile found in His mouth means He spoke no deceit, falsehood, or dishonest act, with no selfish, cheap, careless, idle, coarse, passionate, corrupt, or defiling word ever escaping His lips. His words were continually holy, ennobling, truthful, and kind, spoken with power that touched the heart and with truth that never failed. He fearlessly exposed hypocrisy, dishonest practices, false teaching, and those who taught human commands as doctrine, and His purity of speech is the pattern for speech that does not corrupt or obscure truth and that reveals whether good or evil rules the heart.
His guileless speech came from a guileless heart, for there was no sin in Him and no guile in His heart. No thought or feeling in Him answered temptation though Satan tempted Him fiercely at every step, no unholy thought polluted the heart, and He did not yield or retaliate in word, spirit, or action even when wrongly accused. What is cherished in the heart finds its way to the lips, so His truthfulness contrasts with Satan's deceptiveness and assures that He means what He says and can be trusted to keep His promises.
Human Life Under Temptation
He took human nature with its infirmities and weaknesses of flesh, clothing divinity with humanity to associate with fallen humanity and to come down to the level of those He came to save, yet He remained ever pure, holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners, never in the least sharing its sin. Though He lived among human beings in human nature and took upon Himself sinful human nature in its fallen condition, there was no guile or sinfulness in Him, no deceit in His speech, but spotless purity and holiness with perfect humility. His perfect obedience to every requirement of God's law condemned sin in human nature, and His spotless righteousness stood as heaven's light against satanic darkness and a perpetual reproach to all sin in a sensual, sinful world. His sinlessness and perfect obedience made Him a faultless sin-offering able as holy Substitute to save to the uttermost, so that those who trust Him receive His imputed righteousness, escape corruption through lust, partake of the divine nature, obey God's commandments and be made the righteousness of God in Him.
He lived that sinless life through every stage from infancy to manhood, coming as an infant and protected by the God of salvation so that He committed no sin in childhood, youth, or manhood. In Nazareth, the setting His Father chose, He was continually exposed to temptation and surrounded by sin, where severe trials tested Him and helped develop the perfect character that makes Him an example for children, youth, and adults. There He spent many years as a humble carpenter, obedient to His earthly parents, revealing His Father's character and showing complete faithfulness in everything He did when He began to work, taking great pains and doing all with care. His whole history of more than thirty years was pure, disinterested benevolence, pleasing not Himself but going about doing good, manifesting the character of God in His own character to redeem what Adam by disobedience had lost, with a cheerful spirit that turned work into singing songs of heaven with the children around Him.
He was tempted in all points like human beings are tempted, facing fierce temptation at every step from the wilderness through His ministry to the cross and Calvary. Satan tempted Him in every way and at every step, yet no thought or feeling in Him answered temptation, nothing in Him responded or gave Satan power over Him, and He never yielded, weakened in loyalty, or turned from allegiance to God. He suffered while resisting temptation in proportion to His perfect holiness, knowing by painful experience what it means to face temptation, so He understands the struggle of those who resist evil and can help them endure. His sinless, truthful life under such trial was part of His self-denying work to restore humanity to its original condition and bring people into harmony with God, a perfect example of victory over sin while His divinity was evident in His teaching and ministry even as He lived clothed in humanity. Though wrongly accused He sinned in thought, word, or deed, with no deceit found in His speech, and He did not speak to justify Himself.
Though innocent, holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners, wholly without sin or deceit, He meekly endured insult, mockery, false accusation, cruel scourging, humiliation, torture and death. His enemies over three years found no fault in Him and Pilate declared Him without fault, yet leaders hating His reproof condemned Him, and He endured insult and outrage with meekness, patience and composure, without retaliation. Though He had power to call angels to His aid, to ask His Father for a legion of angels, or to strike down His persecutors, He would not work a miracle to escape suffering but submitted to rods, thorns, nails and the cross, committing His case into His Father's hands. His innocence did not protect Him when evil people controlled His tormentors, and any failure under that test of cruel abuse would have made redemption fail, so His perfect faithfulness made Him a perfect offering and a way of escape for lost people, leaving an example that believers must follow by winning the same victory in times of special need and trial.
Revealing God and Law
The sinless life declares who God is, for divinity and humanity united in one person, with all the fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily, lived on earth without sin or deceit though tempted in every point as human beings are tempted. Clothed in humanity to come down to the level of those to be saved and to associate with fallen humanity, even taking sinful human nature with its hunger, thirst, weariness and need for food and sleep, He remained ever pure, undefiled and unsullied, never speaking falsehood or doing a dishonest act. That life in human nature reveals the Father's true character as a compassionate, merciful Father, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life. It answers Satan's charge against God, refuting his misrepresentation by which he had charged upon God the attributes he himself possessed, and as pure light it exposes error, falsehood and deception, flashing truth amid the moral darkness with which Satan had enshrouded the world and destroying his corrupting influence in many hearts. His perfect hatred of sin, learned from seeing its deceiving, infatuating power upon holy angels, made His sinlessness a perpetual reproach upon all sin in a world of sensuality, while His spotless righteousness is offered to cover human unworthiness as a robe, His more than thirty years of pure, disinterested benevolence going about doing good and pleasing not Himself manifesting God's character and redeeming what Adam by disobedience had lost.
He did no sin by perfectly obeying every requirement of God's law, honoring and magnifying it in action as well as in word and giving a true representation of it in a spotless life merciful, compassionate, obedient, full of goodness and truth. That obedience condemned sin in human nature and showed humanity not only that it ought to obey God but how to obey, with love, kindness and loyalty. He came to leave a perfect model and pattern by which all who possess reason may learn the measure of duty, so that by uniting with Him fallen, sinful human beings may conform the life to the divine precepts, keep the commandments of God, and become laborers together with Him who came to represent the Father by keeping all His commandments. The fruit claimed in return is to reproduce that sinless life in a pure and holy character shown in godliness, self-denial for others' good, meekness and loveliness of heart, with penitence, faith and obedience carrying out in their own life the precepts of God's holy law as He did.
As the second Adam He took human nature and passed over the very ground where Adam stumbled and fell, retracing it under a test far more severe than Adam's and meeting every temptation and trial besetting humanity. He overcame the tempter through obedience, purity of character and steadfast integrity, keeping the law of God while bearing the sins of the whole world without spot or stain, thereby redeeming Adam's failure and working out a perfect character for humanity. That victory proves false Satan's boast that man cannot keep God's law, proves in the controversy that man as God created him, connected with the Father and the Son, could obey every divine requirement, and removes fallen humanity's excuse for failing to keep it. It proves that human beings through the power of God can live sinless lives, with words, actions and spirit sanctified to God, demonstrating that people of the fallen race can overcome, keep God's commandments and become spotless, and through His name overcome the foe themselves. His righteousness in life set Him apart from the world and brought its hatred upon Him, yet as Elder Brother with intense interest in human beings He felt keenly the sinfulness and shame of sin, so that when His people disregard His word they wound Him afresh and put Him to open shame.
Sinless Sacrifice for Salvation
Because He Himself did no sin and spoke no deceit, He could bear the sins of others as sin-offering, substitute, and surety. The sins of the world were laid upon Him, charged to Him and punished in Him, and He bore them in His own body on the tree, suffering the curse and punishment due to transgressors. He gave His sinless life through self-denial, continual suffering and reproach, and finally the surrender of that life on the cross to save perishing people from death. His patient suffering as the holy and innocent One, in contrast to sinful humanity, was itself a saving sacrifice.
His suffering and death pay the redemption price that satisfies justice, fulfills God's covenant to deliver the race, and reconciles the world to Himself. His life was the price paid to buy humanity, so believers are bought with a price. By the sinless One whom God gave to bear the punishment of all who repent, the highway of salvation is made, not indistinct but plainly pointed out, that all may follow where He has gone before. Though He had no sin He died for sins, and the sacrifices and offerings pointed forward to Him and prefigured His death as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Those who trust Him receive His imputed righteousness, through which they can obey God's commandments and share in the divine nature. He offers to cover human unworthiness with the spotless robe of His righteousness, and those who receive Him are presented to the Father as innocent. As the holy Substitute He is able to save to the uttermost, so that repenting, believing people through divine power may escape the corruption in the world through lust, become partakers of the divine nature, and be made the righteousness of God in Him. His righteousness can be imputed to humanity, and through His name people can overcome the foe themselves.
He is God's only begotten Son, the gift of God to the world, and the chosen Mediator through whom alone people can come to God. Human position or authority gives no favor with God, but acceptance with God depends entirely on Him, and faith must center in Him without wavering. As Elder Brother with intense interest in human beings He felt keenly the sinfulness and shame of sin, and because He faced the trials and temptations people face from childhood to manhood He can help them overcome sin. His sinlessness belongs to His power and saving grace as the great Physician and Deliverer of His afflicted, suffering children, and His life, suffering, and death make Him both an example to follow and a Saviour who pardons sin, unlike sinful people who could not offer a perfect sacrifice.
Example in Patient Suffering
The sinless One who spoke no deceit is set forth as the pattern for believers to follow step by step when they do well and yet suffer wrongfully for conscience toward God. Enduring grief in that condition with patience, without fainting, is thankworthy and accepted of God. That patience excludes murmuring even in thought, complaint, discontent, excitement, evil feelings, passion, and giving up faith. Instead the sufferer commits himself to Him who judges righteously, the Righteous One who weighs character in the golden scales of the sanctuary and judges not by profession but by the fruit borne.
Following His steps means not reviling again when reviled and not threatening when suffering, since unjust and unreasonable treatment by men in positions of trust gives no excuse to retaliate. Retaliation only adds a greater sin to the one already committed. When insulted, sneered at, taunted, ridiculed, abused, or rejected, the believer meets mistreatment with calm self-control, patience, compassion, pity, and love. The answer is given in wise gentle words, patient calmness, sometimes singing a psalm or keeping silent, rather than sharp retaliation, defiance, vindication tours, violence, or maliciousness. Though He had power to call angels or strike down persecutors, He endured insult and outrage with meekness and composure and would not escape by miracle.
This same endurance belongs to believers brought into straight places at the end of the world, especially when required on eternal principle to dishonor the Seventh-day Sabbath by working on Sunday. There they must obey God rather than man and refuse compliance. They answer with few words, as Christ answered It is written, and remain firm as a rock. They bear unjust penalties rather than resist, unless compliance would bring them into conflict with God, and they avoid impulsive defiance that could bring needless suffering. By well-doing without defiance they leave a correct impression, so that others may see the truth and receive it.
His holiness rebuked sin and provoked the hatred and attacks of hearts opposed to God's law, helping turn the crowd toward demanding His crucifixion. Those who follow Him should therefore expect reproach, shame, contempt, false witness, and slander, even from wicked men and those in high places. Suffering for the truth is not evidence of guilt, for He gave Himself to be punished in the sinner's place though He had done no sin. Afflicted believers are to consider daily what He endured in insult, neglect, mockery, cruel scourging, and the agonies of Calvary, bearing pain with patience, fortitude, courage, kindness, and courtesy. His suffering and death without sin leave a record that strengthens those who suffer for faith, enabling every follower who holds fast to keep the faith.
Call to Holy Living
His sinless life without deceit in speech is the perfect model, standard, pattern and rule of life from the manger to Calvary, left to be studied daily and made known through example and teaching. No requirement is laid upon people that He did not obey, for in human nature He honored the law in action as well as word and showed not only that humanity ought to obey but how to obey. By close fellowship with Him through living faith, by beholding Him, uniting with Him and partaking of the divine nature, flawed character is transformed toward His likeness, believers become like Him, reproduce His pure holy character in godliness, self-denial for others' good, meekness and loveliness of heart with penitence, faith and obedience, and carry out the precepts of the holy law as He did. In this way they can overcome as He overcame by heaven's help against satanic powers, obey at every stage of life in loyalty to God, and show that obedience does not enslave while transgression does.
To be without guile like Him means bringing every word and thought into captivity to Him and letting God's converting power govern speech so that no selfish, harsh, unbecoming, coarse, passionate, idle or deceitful word escapes the lips. It means speaking only kind words that make for peace, having truth in the heart with affections set on things above, and showing upright dealings and words including in business as a light in the world. It means purity and holiness of heart and thought essential for service, truth in heart and upright life as true and faithful witnesses refusing the world's flattery, customs, tastes, opinions and habits in perfect obedience. When men in trust act unjustly and unreasonably that gives no excuse to retaliate and add a greater sin, but to endure grief and suffer wrongfully patiently while doing well is thankworthy and acceptable with God, committing self to Him who judges righteously and weighs character in the golden scales of the sanctuary by fruit borne and not by profession.
His faultless life with no spot, fault or selfish act is the unerring pattern by which each person must search and be measured, and the imperfections and failings of professed Christians are no excuse for sin. Every person has individual responsibility and a personal account before God to meet His claims, build up His kingdom and bring souls to truth as the first and highest duty, and each will be judged by His word and rewarded according to works. No human leader is to voice decisions and control actions or give experience for others, for every human is as liable to err as anyone else, and position gives no power to put a human yoke on members. All must therefore come to Christ personally and learn of Him with undivided devotion and a humble teachable spirit, not with a divided heart, giving Him all they have.
In His humanity He sought strength from His Father to endure trial and temptation, depending on Him through earnest prayer as He began public work and faced suffering and death. His example teaches that the tempted may ask God daily for help, grace, power and the Holy Spirit, and thereby gain victory over sin. Sinners as drowning men are to cling to Jesus as refuge, hold fast integrity, live for Him, obey Him and love Him, and those who do are most happy and precious in God's sight. By such constant dependence even those facing every kind of trial common to humanity may stand with God, with divinity evident in life and ministry though clothed in humanity.
This calling shapes specific work, for medical missionary workers are to be molded and fashioned after His similitude so work and relation to God's cause harmonize with His purpose, remaining separate from the world while living in it, standing on the platform of truth uninfluenced by false theories, respecting pure living principles of the gospel, and laboring unitedly with ministers and the church in soul-saving work rather than in division or under human control. As the great Medical Missionary who came at infinite sacrifice to teach the lessons by which God is known aright, His perfect sinless life is the example all may safely follow, to be studied by gospel medical missionaries for rest and peace of heart. Ministers following Him who allowed no evil feeling to arise when opponents made false statements are not to get excited or repeat opponents' falsehoods but to hold firmly to affirmative assertions of living truth with heavenly sanctified humble wisdom and less of self, laying hold on divine power while angels open the way. Teachers and students are to make Him the only example and pattern learned from daily, not seeking to exalt self, remembering He paid with His own blood and suffered every indignity men and Satan could devise to carry out salvation.
Sanitarium managers are to keep honest speech, pure minds and becoming dignity after His similitude, and parents are taught by Him who from infancy to manhood lived without sin under God's protection, faithful and careful in all work with a cheerful spirit turning labor into heaven's song with children around Him, not to rule unjustly with an iron rod but to desire Christ, keep pleasurable notes in the voice, and seek salvation every day. The need is urgent because what humanity must be before entering the holy city is revealed in His unsullied purity with no falsehood or dishonest act, lived though tempted in all points with divinity and humanity united. Only those transformed in character can dwell with Him in His kingdom, while those retaining hereditary tendencies to wrong cannot, for eternal destiny is decided by character formed here and only those proven safe subjects, perfect and without guile before the throne, spotless without wrinkle through purifying, will enter heaven.
Falling day by day far short of divine requirements endangers salvation, yet His sinless life proves required perfection is not impossible, for in humanity He worked out perfection for us and by dependence on His merits, faith working by love and purifying the soul, walking in His footsteps and whole dependence on grace, strength and the Holy Spirit more willingly given than parents give good gifts, perfection in one's own sphere may be attained and God honored in character. Through God's provisions and the merits of the crucified and risen Saviour who regarded Satan as humanity's enemy, warred without giving up, resisted unto death and gained everlasting victory while suffering all human flesh can suffer, men and women consenting to cease from sin may receive power to overcome and pass triumphantly through every temptation to destroy faith. Remembering that He suffered though He did no sin to save sinners calls to reform and in His strength to give up depraved appetite and strong habits, with self-denial and earnest effort to preserve vigor of mind, sacrifice in His service, saying no to temptation and resisting evil. Such sacrifice made in His strength brings happiness to self and family now and wins the victor's crown at last, and the greater the struggle and trial in following Him the greater the reward and joy in deliverance. Following His holy example, true Christianity requires distinguishing godliness from sin.