A very Prominent and influential British ecclesia has circulated to ecclesias throughout the Caribbean a Statement on the Sacrifice of Christ, implying that it considers its interpretation to be a fundamental doctrine.
For more than one hundred years Christadelphian ecclesias in the Caribbean have taught the Scriptural doctrine of redemption and eternal salvation through faith in the death and resurrection of the Son of God. “What I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (I Cor. 15:3-4).
The emphasis always given in the apostolic preaching, and by us, is on the amazing grace and love of God in sending His beloved Son to save sinners, among whom we are chief (Isa. 53:6; Acts 8:35; Acts 5:31; I Tim. 1:15; I John 3:16; I John 4:9).
The emphasis always given in the apostolic preaching, and by us, is that we are saved by “the man Christ Jesus.” He was victorious over temptation, the ‘devil,’ sin and death. He is the wonderful counselor, the mighty Elohim, the father of the Age, the prince of peace (Isa. 9: 6). He saw no corruption. The grave could not hold him.
As our pioneer brethren constantly stressed, even in the days of his flesh he was more than mere man. He was and is the wondrous Son of God, filled with the Holy Spirit without measure, sinless manifestation of Deity, the image of the invisible God, the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy (Col. 1:15,18). We are urged to worship him, along with millions of angels, and every creature in heaven. earth and sea: because he was slain and with his blood he purchased men for God from every nation (Rev. 5:9). “Be assured of this,” preached Peter, “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). This is the Saviour and Redeemer whom we proclaim to all the world, so that they might obey him and live forever.
The full humanity of the Lord Jesus is a fundamental doctrine. It is essential to “acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh” (I John 4:2). It is important to recognize that he was tempted as we are; that he could have given way to the ‘diabolos’ if he had so chosen. His victory over sin in his mortal body was real. Like us, he obviously benefited from his own sacrifice, since immortality is not inherent and was bestowed upon him as a gift for his obedience unto death and his sinless life (Phil. 2:5-11).
We consider that a firm belief in the full humanity of our Lord does not require us to put heavy emphasis on the view that Jesus was “inherently full of sin,” that “Jesus was sinful flesh,” that “his body was unclean,” and that he was “accursed because of his human body.” We are of the opinion that this is an emphasis which is not warranted by the word of God. He was “made sin for us, who knew no sin” because he was “reckoned among the transgressors” (II Cor. 5:21; Luke 22:37). He, though the “holy one of God,” was “made a curse” for us, because he was executed as a criminal and hanged upon a tree (Gal. 3:13). “In saying that Christ ‘was made sin for us’, Paul did not mean that he was made an actual sinner, but that he was made a sin-offering for us. Our iniquities were laid upon him. He bare our sins in his body on or to the tree” (John Thomas). We would recommend among the pioneer writings the sensitive essay On the Nature of Christ, published in The Ambassador in April 1867. Consider the following: “That Jesus was constitutionally good and righteous there can be no doubt.” “Jesus Christ was the wisdom of God embodied in the flesh, the express image of his person, because it was ordained that in him should dwell the fullness of the Godhead bodily,” that “he might be the Lamb of God without spot and blemish.”
The consequence of Adam’s transgression was “painful toil,” leading to death and dissolution into original dust (Gen. 3:17-20). As his offspring, we are a “natural body” subject to sin’s impulses, disease and bodily decay. So much so that all except the Son of God have sinned and fallen far short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). In the days of his mortal flesh, Jesus had a “natural body” (I Cor. 15:44). He longed for the redemption of his body, as we all do (Rom. 8:23). His sacrifice was the means of accomplishing his own redemption and salvation. Concepts such as the absolute depravity of the human body, original sin and substitution sacrifice originate from apostate Christendom which we have abandoned for Bible truth.
Finally, we are reminded by the apostle that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says Jesus is cursed (I Cor. 12:3). To suggest that unless we consider the “person of Jesus to be cursed” we do not believe the truth is an altogether wrong emphasis. Surely we should be singing, and urging others to sing with all our hearts and minds, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise” (Rev. 5:12).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One