Article XV
This is a simply-stated and straightforward Article with overwhelming biblical evidence to support its claims just like all the other of the Articles.
Let us examine the Article as found in the formularies of the Church:
Article XV
Of Christ alone without Sin.
Christ in the truth of our nature was made like unto us in all things, sin only except, from which he was clearly void, both in his flesh, and in his spirit. He came to be the Lamb without spot, who, by sacrifice of himself once made, should take away the sins of the world; and sin (as Saint John saith) was not in him. But all we the rest, although baptized and horn again in Christ, yet offend in many things; and if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, being borne in the flesh, experienced all the temptations of life, as well as all of its deprivations and sufferings; yet, He was peculiarly different, in one fundamental respect, from all others of the human race – He was without the spot or blemish of sin. He alone, among the multitudes of mankind, was without the slightest suggestion of sin. This one quality of the soul of Christ is clearly proved throughout the biblical record more prominently than all else. His sinless nature is the one great quality that makes him worthy to be our Savior and Redeemer for no other could qualify as sinless – including his blessed mother, Mary, who, contrary to the suggestions of the council of Trent (and later declared openly in 1854) was not without sin – nor was she ever-virgin following the birth of her beloved son, Jesus. Regardless of Mary’s virtue, without the
salvation of her son, she would remain a lost soul. She seemed unaware of the promises of resurrection that her Lord espoused before His passion and death. He was the only human ever to live without sin.
Jesus is the only Begotten Son of God (monogenes – Greek) of the same substance and issue of the Father (John 3:16) He is not the one and only Son of God since we are also the sons and daughters of God, and even Adam was a son of God (see Luke 3:38)
WE have the testimony of Christ concerning His sinlessness. Here is simply a sampling:
In John 8:46, Jesus says,
“Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?”
And, in John 10:30 ““I and my Father are one.” Certainly, God the Father is sinless.
We have the testimony of the Apostles:
Hebrews 4: 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
1 Peter 2:22 - Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
The Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ came through miraculous promise of God the Father. He was conceived by a virgin through the miraculous intercedence of the Holy Ghost – fully man, and fully God, but born with-out the sinful blood of Adam as the only Begotten Son of God – as it is written:
“14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,
And shall call his name Immanuel,” Isaiah 7:14 and in Matthew
What other Word has been made flesh and dwelt among us? Only our Lord Jesus Christ.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14.”1:14
To the unbeliever, this will be a mystery, but not to those who have been saved by the grace in Christ.
