The gospel accounts of the life of Christ are unique in that they depict him as one having lived without sin. They even record Jesus himself as claiming sinlessness (Jo. 8:46). Thus one cannot ignore the significance and implications of...

THE PERFECT LIFE OF CHRIST. Some affirm that this perfect life was lived in order that it might be imputed to us for right- eousness and use Rom. 5:10 for proof. But, look at the context. Rom. 4:25 speaks of the death of Christ and his resurrected life, ("delivered up...raised." Vss. 6,8,9 follows with repeated references to the death and blood of Christ. Then vs. 10, "reconciled to God through the death of his son" — "saved by his life." It is his life following his death — not vice versa — of which the apostle Paul speaks.

But this perfect life is not without signific- ance for us. One thing it does is serve as "an example that ye should follow in his steps," (1 Pet. 2:21-f). Then, too, it qualifies him to serve as high priest. The Hebrew writer argues that because of the perfect life he is a high priest that can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities for he was tempted as we are, yet without sin, (Heb. 4:14-15; 2:17-18). He "needeth not daily...to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins..." (Heb. 7:26-28), for he "knew no sin," (2 Cor. 5:21). Thus the significance of the perfect life is that it made Christ fit to be...

for man, rather than a life lived perfectly so that it might be imputed to him for his righteousness. The words in the context ("sacrifice" and "offering") seem to indicate this, and then vs. 10, ("the offering of the body of Christ"), seems to nail down this idea.

It was the sacrifice of Christ that was needed in order that our sins might be forgiven, (Heb. 9:22), for in so doing he bore our sins, (Heb. 9:26) and put them away, (Heb. 9:28). And, it was his perfect life that made this sacrifice acceptable (Heb. 9:12-14). Thus a body was prepared for sacrifice and as a consequence we have obtained our eternal redemption, (Heb. 9:21), our sanctification, (Heb. 10:10), and our consciences cleansed (Heb. 9:14). As a result, Christ now lives...

A RESURRECTED LIFE. Having become the author of our salvation (Heb. 5:8-10), he now sits on the right hand of God (Heb. 10:12), appearing before the face of God for us, making intercession for the sins of the people (Heb. 9:23-24; Rom. 8:23-24; Heb. 7:25).

The body sacrificed on the cross and the resurrected life is what effect our salvation and thus are emphasized in the scriptures. The perfect life before the sacrifice effects me only in that it made a suitable sacrifice for sin possible. It is forgiveness through mercy, not imputation of a perfect life, that brings salvation.

David Smitherman