Part Six: Was
it "Divine Blood" that Jesus Offered in Sacrifice on the Cross?
This series is about the true identity of the man,
Jesus of Nazareth: of his human weakness, temptations, and obedience to Yahweh
his Father, as he was perfected through suffering.
The doctrine of the blood atonement of Jesus Christ is perhaps one of the most important topics to understand in all scripture. Our very salvation is related to the sacrificial offering that Jesus made, and yet so few in the Christian church have an accurate comprehension what it involves. Only recently, when I dedicated extensive research time to the topic, did I fully realize the implications of what Jesus did.
If you think that Jesus simply died for your sins and that that’s the sum total of his atonement, you understand only a fraction of what he paid when giving his soul as an offering. A good portion of the Christian church today believes that when Jesus died upon the cross at Calvary, the blood he spilled was divine blood—not human, mortal blood. The rationale behind the notion that Jesus’ blood is ‘sinless’ goes something like this:
1. In order for God to accept it as the ransom price for the sins of mankind, the offering had to being completely pure and undefiled. By ‘pure and undefiled’, it is said to mean that Jesus’ gave his ‘sinless’ blood and that it was the intrinsic ‘sinlessness’ of the liquid coursing thru his fleshly body that made his sacrificial offering acceptable to God.
2.
3. While Jesus’ blood atonement is without blemish, and his sacrificial offering is undefiled, it was not deemed ‘acceptable to God’ on the basis that Jesus gave his ‘sinless blood.’ I will show this is clearly not the case, and later will give the exact reasons why God the Father counted His only begotten son’s offering as acceptable.
2. Old-line, mainstream Christendom holds that the standard of purity and holiness that is required in order for Jesus’ blood to be of such value it could redeem all of mankind is divinity. In other words, no human life can be compared with that of the Divine, because only Deity has intrinsic moral goodness.
3. Therefore, based upon this deduction, most of Christianity today believes that Jesus Christ paid the ransom price AS GOD in order to satisfy the debt that mankind owed for sin. Fueled by Trinitarian theology, most Christians believe that as the second Person of the Triune Godhead, Jesus left his throne in heaven, and for 33 ½ years he ‘laid aside his divine privileges,’ came to earth, and God became a man. It is alleged that only as ‘God in human flesh’ would Jesus be able to identify with man’s suffering and give his ‘divine life blood’ as the ransom price worthy to redeem.
Many Christians nowadays have abandoned the traditional teachings of the Christian church and are rediscovering the Jesus of Nazareth of scripture. No longer do they view him as ‘God in human form’ but as a man, conceived by God in the womb of the virgin Mary, born of a woman, and born under the law. Jesus was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, and God prepared a body for him to house his human soul and spirit unlike that of any other human.
The idea the Jesus died as ‘God in human flesh’ stems in origin from the theology and creeds of the Roman Catholic Church. The concept of a ‘sinless deity’ however predates the Roman Catholic Church and Christianity, and is found in other religions that worship men in the form of a god, including the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Before the formation of the Roman Catholic Church, the Imperial Roman cult held that any Roman Caesar was to be venerated as a living incarnation of the gods.
In fact, the Imperial cult enacted a form of Emperor worship that was in place for many years. This veneration of the Caesars also held as integral to its belief that as a living god, the supreme ruler of Rome could do no wrong, ascribing god-like moral goodness and ‘sinless’ infallibility to the Roman emperor. Emperor Caesar Augustus was the last of the emperors of Rome to whom such, a nefarious form of worship was given.
When Emperor Constantine ascended to the throne of Rome, he feigned a conversion to the Christian faith by claiming to have seen a cross in the sky. It turns out however that Constantine’s conversion was in reality a ploy, which he had hoped would achieve empirical unity for his crumbling and divided empire. Constantine issued the decree that called for the formation and employment of a state ‘Christian’ religion, which is the historical beginning of the Roman Catholic (Universal) Church.
Constantine’s status as the last of Rome’s alleged ‘sinless deity’ emperors was conceded by him into the hands of religious corruption (i.e. the early ‘church fathers’) in exchange for unilateral support for his dynasty. The wicked men first in line as sinister religious prefects soon thereafter established the papacy of the unholy Roman Catholic Church. The birth of the Roman papacy took unto itself the ‘god-like’ status of its first pope. Therefore, the ‘sinless’ stature that once belonged to brutal Roman emperors, was given into the hands of vicious Roman popes. The papacy’s brutal history stands on record for a testament to the veracity of what is said here.
The papal authority was assigned ‘ex-cathedra’ status, which meant he could speak infallibly (i.e. directly from God) on matters of church dogma. The pope still maintains this elitist position in the Vatican today, and just as it was in the days of Constantine, the Jesus Christ of the Roman Catholic Church creeds is deified and assigned a position of ‘equality’ alongside the other two ‘persons of God’ in the pagan Godhead known as the Trinity. in effect, by assigning deity to Jesus of Nazareth, the Roman Catholic Church was also assigning to him the ‘sinless God-Man’ status that Christians today still embrace.
Like anything that was once pure, and now has become corrupted, the nature of the man Jesus of Nazareth has been tainted with a perception of sinlessness. Those Christians who have finally found the Jesus of the scriptures by releasing their hold on the security of his ‘deity’ status are now forced to reexamine his nature as a man, made like his brethren, born under the law.
The Bible does not teach a doctrine supporting the lifelong sinlessness of Jesus of Nazareth. In fact, were he to have actually been ‘sinless’ during his first 30 years as a carpenter in Nazareth, certainly people would have taken note and readily supported his public ministry for the final 3 ½ years of his life before Jesus was crucified.
However, we find in the Gospels that siblings and his local neighbors in Nazareth, who had known him for most of his life, referred to him only as ‘Jesus, son of Joseph and Mary, whom we know.’ No one commented with words such as ‘I always knew there was something special about that boy Jesus.’ Nothing about him gave away his identity as the son of God until AFTER Jesus was water baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Even then, Jesus was oftentimes rejected by his own kinsmen.
& Luke 3:23 Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph. New King James Version
& John 1:45 Philip found Nathaniel and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote — Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” New King James Version
& John 6:41-45 The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” 42 And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that he says, 'I have come down from heaven'?” 43 Jesus therefore answered and said to them, "Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore, everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. New King James Version
After Jesus was born, nobody except Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth (Mary’s blood relative) and Elizabeth’s husband Zacharias maintained active knowledge that he was truly the Son of God. Even though he had brothers and sisters that were offspring of Joseph and Mary, they did not know that he was the Son of God. His siblings considered Jesus as one of themselves, and this is evidenced when they come to get him in Galilee, to prevent him form going mad, as they saw it, and losing his mind over this Messiah business!
& Mark 3:21 And when those who belonged to Him (His kinsmen) heard it, they went out to take Him by force, for they kept saying, ‘He is out of His mind (beside Himself, deranged)!’ Amplified Bible
Aside from a few people that could be witnesses to attest to his birth and/or arrival as Israel’s Messiah, Jesus was known only as the son of Joseph and Mary until his inaugural water baptism, when God would speak to him from heaven, calling Jesus, ‘My Beloved son, in whom I approve (approbate).’ During his early ministry, when he was in Nazareth, nobody there acknowledged Jesus as being outstanding or recognizably different, and this is brought out in detail in Mark’s gospel.
& Mark 6:1-6 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary , and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" So they were offended at Him. 4 But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house." 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. New King James Version
Notice in Mark’s gospel, that by this time, Jesus is known as the ‘son of Mary’ instead of as ‘the son of Joseph.’ The reason for this is due to the fact Joseph, his stepfather, was deceased and only Mary survived as a living earthly parent. But Jesus still has his real Father, who will NEVER die! Joseph had to decrease, that God the Father might increase in the life of His only begotten son.
As mentioned earlier, it was not until after his baptism and temptation, that Jesus began to publicly proclaim, that the time is fulfilled (for his Messianic ministry). This marks the commencement of 3 ½ years of required obedience to God his Father, which would keep Jesus free from sin as preparation for the sacrificial offering of his fleshly body for sin.
& Mark 1:4-15 14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." New King James Version
What did Jesus mean, ‘My time is fulfilled?’ This event is described by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatian church as the ‘fulness of time’ (Galatians 4:4) and by Jesus himself when he begins preaching his gospel saying ‘The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand,’ (Mark 1:15).
& Galatians 4:1-5 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the Father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
The ‘fulness’ of time is using the same Greek word pleroo as is used by Jesus in Mark 3:15, when he says ‘the time is fulfilled.’ This is the time when Jesus goes thru a metamorphosis in his relationship with God, and begins to communicate audibly with the Father. Not until age thirty does God actually speak to Jesus and reveal Himself as the Father of Jesus, even though Jesus is undoubtedly aware of his origin.
Notice in Galatians 4:1-2 it says that, ‘the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the Father.’ The heir is Christ, who as a child was under guardians and stewards named Joseph and Mary. As the heir to God’s promise to Abraham, and as a child growing up, Jesus would not have differed much from those who are slaves or servants in a great household until the time of his appointment as son.
Isaiah the prophet, in his messianic prophecy about Jesus, depicts him as a man that his fellow Jews ‘did not esteem’ or ‘recognize’ (see Isaiah 53). This means that Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men, not as sinless man. Jesus learned obedience from what things he suffered, and learning obedience involves mistakes and corrected mistakes.
& Hebrews 5:8 Although He was God’s Son, yet He learned obedience from the sufferings which He endured; 9 and so, having been made perfect, He became to all who obey Him the source and giver of eternal salvation. Weymouth New Testament Translation
Even John the Baptist, who was a blood relative and cousin to Jesus, did not recognize or know him as Yahweh’s Anointed until the day he saw the spirit descending upon Jesus in the form of a dove at his water baptism.
& Matthew 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit {áfes = forgive; let it be sent off} it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." New King James Version + Author’s notes inserted in scripture text in {bracketed} words for clarification of identity & continuity
THE SINS OF JESUS’ PAST ARE FORGIVEN IN WATER BAPTISM
The passage above proves beyond doubt that Jesus was water baptized to remit (forgive) his past sins, as few as they were, so that it would ‘fulfill all righteousness.’ Pay close attention to what is described here, because the Greek text reveals some very shocking mistranslation of words in modern Bible versions of Matthew 3:13-17, particularly verse 15, when Jesus says to John the Baptist, “Permit {áfes = forgive; let it be sent off} it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
As indicated, the Greek word Jesus uses for ‘Permit it’ is ‘áfes’ and it means ‘forgive; let it be sent away.’ The same word ‘áfes’ is used of forgiveness by Jesus over and over again during his ministry, as in the examples below, which first list the Greek text, followed by the English version, with áfes’ highlighted in red to indicate its rendering.:
& Luke 23:34 Ho dé Ieesoús élegen Páter áfes autoís = Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them…”
& Luke 17:3 Proséchete heautoís Eán hamártee ho adelfós sou epitímeeson autoó kaí eán metanoeésee áfes autoó = Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
& Luke 17:4 Kaí eán heptákis teés heeméras hamarteésee eis sé kaí heptákis epistrépsee prós sé légoon Metanooó afeéseis autoó = And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."
& Luke 11:4 Kaí áfes heemín tás hamartías heemoón kaí gár autoí afíomen pantí ofeílonti heemín = And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
& Matthew 6:12 Kaí áfes heemín tá ofeileémata heemoón hoos kaí heemeís afeékamen toís ofeilétais heemoón = And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. From these examples, it is easy to see that Jesus is saying to John the Baptist at his water baptism, ‘Forgive me (thru baptism).’ If that was not proof enough that Jesus had sins forgiven, then consider the remainder of the text, and the words he uses, which are even stronger proof. Below is Matthew 3:15, with inserts to show where key Greek words appear and what they mean by definition.
& Matthew 3:15 “Permit {NT:863; áfes = forgive} it to be so now, for thus it is fitting (NT:4241; prépon = proper, to be becoming, seemly, fit, to stand out, to be conspicuous, to be eminent) for us to fulfill NT: (NT:4137; pleeroósai = to perfect, to make complete in every particular; to carry through to the end, to accomplish, carry out) all righteousness.” ‘Then he allowed (NT:863; afíeesin = forgave) Him.’
If we render Matthew 3:15 according to the Greek definitions that best suit it, it reads as follows:
& Matthew 3:15 {Jesus said to John the Baptist} “Forgive me at this present moment, because it is proper and fitting for us to stand out as obvious in every particular, {in order } to thoroughly accomplish all righteousness (right standing before God).” Then he forgave him. The Appropriate Translation
The Greek word for ‘it is fitting’ in Matthew 3:15 is prépon and it means literally ‘it is suitable, proper, and should stand out as conspicuous (eminent, obvious, noticeable). The same word is used of Jesus twice in the Book of Hebrews (Hebrews 2:10 & 7:26 below).
& Hebrews 2:10 For it was fitting (prépon) for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. New American Standard Bible - Updated Edition
& Hebrews 7:26-28 For it was fitting (prépon) for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever. New American Standard Bible - Updated Edition
Jesus is a sympathetic High Priest ‘made perfect’ forever, when he offered himself once for all. This means he did not have to repeat the sacrifice daily, as the former Levitical priests did, because as our High Priest, his one time offering of himself was considered sufficient by God the Father to forgive Jesus’ own past sin (as High Priest, who offers up sacrifice for himself), and the sins of all in the future who believe in God thru him. In this way, Jesus was perfected forever, and became the source of our perfection too. Isn’t it a relief to know you don’t have to be ‘sinless’ to follow Jesus’ example? Just be obedient, and allow God to perfect you.
There is even more proof that Jesus had his sins forgiven at his water baptism, seen in the words of the phrase at the end of Matthew 3:15b, which read, ‘Then he allowed (afíeesin) Him.’ Below are some important verses in the gospel record that show Jesus uses this word (NT:863 afíeesin) as strong proof of forgiveness.
& Luke 7:47-50 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven (NT:863 afíeesin), for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven (NT:863 afíetai), the same loves little." 48 Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven (afíeoontai)." 49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives (afíeesin) sins?" 50 Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace." New King James Version
So we see that when Jesus had his sins forgiven at the water baptism of John the Baptist, then God the Father opened up the heavens and spoke audibly to him, and said “You are My beloved son. In you I am well pleased.’ The Greek word for ‘well pleased’ is Eudókeo NT:2106 eudókeo; from NT:2095 and NT:1380; to think well of, i.e. approve (an act); specially, to approbate (a person or thing).
The word approbate is not used much today, but it differs from approve, denoting not only the act of the mind, but an expression of the act. Once Jesus has his sins forgiven, God the Father is expressing His approbation of Jesus. In other words, God is manifesting a liking, or degree of satisfaction at what Jesus has done.
God the Father’s expression of approbation is done officially, as of one's fitness for a public trust (action in favor of what is approved). By His words, God was expressing official action and entrustment of His authority to Jesus. To approbate is tantamount to the commendation of a book licensed or permitted to be published by authority, as was formerly the case in England.
The Greek word eudókeo itself is defined in Bible dictionaries as to be well-pleased, to think it good. It means to think well of something by understanding not only what is right and good, as in dokéō, but stressing the willingness and freedom of an intention or resolve regarding what is good (eudóke).
It is my conclusion that Jesus never once sinned during his 3 ½ year public witness as the son of God because this was necessary for a proper representation of his Father God. Ironically, or perhaps Providentially, the same Greek word pleeroósai used and rendered ‘fulfilled’ in Matthew 3:15 is also used in Mark 1:15 with Jesus saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.’
This word pleeroósai is from a root word pleeroo is also the same root as that found in Galatians 4:4, ‘when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His son…,’ and also the same as in Matthew 5:17, where Jesus says, ‘ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.’ In fact, this word is used of Jesus throughout his public ministry as he fulfills various Old Testament prophecies concerning Israel’s Messiah, as in the example below.
& Matthew 8:16-17 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses." New King James Version
Paul the apostle to the Gentile church also uses pleroo and forms of it relative to the church, such as found in his letter to the Romans below:
& Romans 8:3-6 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. New King James Version
& Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. New King James Version
Hence, we see that love is that which fulfills the law and love is done in purity by those whose minds are set upon the things of the spirit, and not upon the things of the flesh.
Adam decided to live according to his own ability to partake of good and evil; i.e. to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil means to imbibe, reason, differentiate, or discriminate between good and evil without divine help.
Yet Jesus, though he never sinned during his 3 ½ year ministry, did not ascribe to himself the same inherent ‘moral good’ that belongs only to God, because he did have his sins forgiven at the water baptism of John.
& Matthew 19:17 So He said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ New King James Version
& Mark 10:18 So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. New King James Version
& Luke 18:19 So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. New King James Version
Another commonly misinterpreted passage of scripture in the New Testament that mentions Jesus in the context of his so-called ‘sinlessness’ is 1 Peter 2:22. This passage set in its context below is not talking about a lifetime of sinlessness for Jesus. Rather, the context takes placers as Jesus is dying upon the cross.
In the narrative of 1 Peter 2:19-24, during his passion upon the cross, Jesus committed no sin nor was any deceit found in his mouth. It is important to point this out, especially since Christians are known for misquoting scripture verses out of context to ‘prove’ how ‘right’ they are (instead of trying to find the truth!). As Jesus suffered, he provided us with an EXAMPLE to follow. When you read the passage of scripture below, please note that we are to follow his example, and then determine if this applies to suffering for righteousness sake at times, or if we are to be ‘sinless’ all the time.
& 1 Peter 2:19-24 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps: 22 ‘Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth’ 23 who, when he was reviled, did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed himself to Him {God the Father} who judges righteously; 24 who himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness — by whose stripes you were healed. New King James Version
The ‘example’ we are admonished to follow in 1 Peter 2:19-24 is that of Christ WHEN he SUFFERED and did not revile in return, nor was any deceit found in his mouth. In other words, God is commending Jesus for not reviling in return, and not demanding vengeance upon his enemies, who hated him and crucified him without a cause. Instead, the example Jesus gives is that of giving his persecutors a blessing from God in Luke 23:34, when he says, ‘Father, forgive them., for they do not know what they are doing.’ This is the period of time that Jesus committed no sin, not his entire lifetime of 33 ½ years.
& Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots. New King James Version
As I mentioned earlier, it is my opinion that Jesus was sinless for his 3 ½ year ministry, mainly from the evidence of what Jesus himself says concerning his willingness to do only what pleased his Father in heaven. Furthermore, the passage in 1 Peter 2:22 is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 53:9 below; you can see from this prophetic word below that sinlessness was not what caused Jesus to triumph on the cross, but rather, his forgiveness and love displayed toward his accusers.
& Isaiah 53:9 And they assigned Him a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no {cruel, retribution} violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth. [Matthew 27:57-60; 1 Peter 2:22,23.] Amplified Bible
The apostle John says that if someone claims to be sinless, the truth is not in them. In the context, John describes God the Father as being the only One that has ‘no sin.’
& 1 John 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. New King James Version
& 1 John 3:1-6 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. New King James Version
Jesus had authority from God to use as God directed during his ministry, but not until after his death on the cross, and after God raised him from the dead was Jesus ascended to heaven and given ‘all authority’ in heaven and on earth.
& Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. New King James Version
We see that in his final instructions given to his disciples, just before ascending to heaven, Jesus again uses the Greek word cognate of pleeroo (fulfilled; brought to completion) when he opens the understanding they have of the prophetic scriptures concerning him.
& Luke 24:43-49 And He took it and ate in their presence. 44 The Scriptures Opened Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." New King James Version
& Acts 1:1-11 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles (messengers) whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father , "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." New King James Version
At his water baptism, we see a very definite change takes place in the relationship between Jesus and God. Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, Jesus saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Now God speaks to him in an AUDIBLE voice that came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
& Luke 3:21-23, 38 When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. 22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased." 23 Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli…Luke 3:38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. New King James Version
Immediately after he hears this voice, the evil spirit of the devil impels Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, he went without food 40 days and nights first, then afterwards, the devil came to tempt him. The reason Jesus was made to be deprived of food forty days and nights beforehand was to weaken his physical body, which had a genetic edge over his weaker brethren. After all, Jesus was procreated and conceived by God himself.
& Luke 1:26-35 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a maiden betrothed to a man of the name of Joseph, a descendant of David. The maiden’s name was Mary. 28 So, Gabriel went into the house and said to her, “Joy be to you, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 She was greatly agitated at his words, and wondered what such a greeting meant. 30 But the angel said, “Do not be frightened, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive in your womb and bear a son; and you are to call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great and He will be called ‘Son of the Most High.’ And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather David; 33 and He will be King over the House of Jacob for the Ages, and of His Kingdom there will be no end.” 34 “How can this be,” Mary replied, “seeing that I have no husband?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for this reason your holy offspring will be called ‘the Son of God.” Weymouth New Testament Translation
God created a body for Jesus to live and do His will in, and this body was comprised of female DNA from Mary, and male DNA procreated by God in the spermatozoa He created in Mary’s ovum.
& 1 Corinthians 15:38-39 But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh…New King James Version
This is what is meant when Jesus says to God, ‘A body You have prepared for me… to do Your will O God…’
& Hebrews 10:5, 7-10 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me…7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come — In the volume of the book it is written of Me — To do Your will, O God.'" 8 Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. New King James Version
We are sanctified and made righteous thru the offering up of the body of Christ, because Jesus came to do the will of God. He ‘came’ at the fulness of time, when his time was ‘fulfilled’ which occurs at his water baptism. The reason God circumvented the normal human reproductive cycle in making Jesus in Mary’s womb was in order to bypass the genetic defect passed onto all successive generations thru Adam’s male seed. It is a scientific fact that male DNA and the chromosomal structure of male genes is significantly smaller than that of the female.
Some might argue that Mary would also have a mixture of DNA from other males in her genetic line, but the one aspect of DNA that is never passed on genetically thru the male gene is her mitochondria DNA. Jesus was conceived by God, a process known only to God, He made use of the aspiration qualities of Mary’s mitochondria, so that Jesus’ human body could develop into the same condition as that of the first Adam by age thirty. At age thirty, Jesus was mentally, morally and physically equal to Adam, but he still lacked the authority and dominion that Adam possessed and was given.
Romans 5:12 says that sin entered the world thru one man Adam, and that because of that sin, ‘death spread to all men.’ Why would death spread to everyone, just because the first man sinned? It hardly seems fair, equitable, and justifiable for a loving God to hold others in contempt for the err and disobedience of one man. However, Romans 5:12b tells us that death spread to all men because all sinned. Romans 5:14 tells us that death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
& Romans 5:12-21(Also, see Genesis 3:1-19) Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned; 13 for until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. New King James Version (Genesis 5:5; 7:22; Deuteronomy 34:5)
By the time that Yahweh gave the Law to Moses, there was both physical and spiritual death reigning over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. The deterioration of human flesh thru entropy, or decay, is the result of Adam’s transgression. Adam’s blatant sin was his choice to disobey Yahweh’s command and exchanged divine truth, along with handing over to Lucifer his full authority, for knowledge of good and evil that brought ‘death’ to all mankind.
Death then spread both physically and spiritually, because all have sinned. However, mankind’s sin is considered different in its individual magnitude from that of Adam. Adam’s sin had the greatest effect and impact because it is basically a death sentence on all mankind. Thanks a bunch Adam.
& 1 Corinthians 15:17-28 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 then also, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. 20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at his coming (parousía) 24 Then comes the end, when he {the man Jesus} delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when he {the man Jesus} puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he {the man Jesus} must reign till He {Yahweh God} has put all enemies under his {the man Jesus’} feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For ‘He {Yahweh God} has put all things under his {the man Jesus} feet.’ But when He {Yahweh God} says "all things are put under him {the man Jesus}," it is evident that He {Yahweh God} who put all things under him {the man Jesus} is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to him {the man Jesus}, then the Son himself will also be subject to Him {Yahweh God} who put all things under him {the man Jesus}, that God {Yahweh} may be all in all. (New King James Version + Author’s notes inserted in scripture text in {bracketed} words for clarification of identity & continuity)
As in Adam, all humans physically die (an amazing reality that everyone seems to be ignoring these days!), so also, in Christ, all shall be made alive thru his resurrection. That is, if that same spirit of God that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, that same spirit shall give life to your mortal body. Romans 8 tells us that those who set their minds on the things of the spirit are the ones who find and keep this eternal life, not those whose mind is on the flesh.
When Romans 5:12, 14,17,18,21 describes how death came to those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the tr