Jesus lived in a world filled with sin, yet He never sinned. He never once confessed a sin. He never asked to be forgiven. He never referred to the Father as His Savior for He needed no savior. Instead, He challenged His enemies to show that He had sinned, saying, "Which of you convinceth ["convicts," NKJV] me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?" (John 8:46).

Those who were against Jesus often accused Him of wrongdoing, but not one time could any of them show that He had sinned! The Pharisees wanted to kill Jesus, but when they could find no sin in Him, they paid false witnesses to lie about Him (Matthew 26:57-66). Pilate's wife was not a follower of Jesus, but on the day of His crucifixion she described Him as a "just man" (Matthew 27:19). Three times that morning the Roman governor, Pilate, confessed that he found no fault in Jesus (Luke 23:4,14,22). Herod Antipas also questioned Jesus and made the same conclusion: He was not worthy of death (Luke 23:15).

What about Judas Iscariot? After he betrayed Jesus, he returned to the Jewish leaders and confessed to them, "I have sinned in that I betrayed the innocent blood" (Matthew 27:4). Even the centurion who was in charge of crucifying Jesus admitted that Jesus was innocent, saying of Him, "Certainly this was a righteous man . . . truly this was the Son of God" (Luke 23:47; Matthew 27:54). Yes, the very ones who had a hand in killing Jesus, including this centurion, Judas, Pilate, and Herod, admitted that He was innocent and was guilty of no sin.

The evidence is undeniable – Jesus never sinned, not one time! Here are some verses which plainly prove this fact: "And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin" (1 John 3:5). "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ . . . Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth" (1 Peter 2:21,22). "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" (Hebrews 4:15). Again, we read, "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens" (Hebrew 7:26). Jesus truly offered Himself "without spot to God" (Hebrews 9:14).

What is so significant about Jesus being sinless? Only the God of heaven is without sin. Of Him it is written, "… and there is no unrighteousness in Him" (Psalm 92:15). Thus, if Jesus lived on the earth for over thirty years and never transgressed the law of God, then this proves that He was higher than mankind, and is, in fact, God. Jesus of Nazareth was God in the flesh (John 1:1,14). If Jesus had been a sinner, then His sacrifice on the cross could have saved no one. We are redeemed by His blood for He was a lamb "without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:19).

". . . Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" (1 Peter 2:21). Thank God for Jesus’ perfect example! The conduct of family members, friends, and even other Christians, can disappoint us from time to time, or even lead us astray. But in Jesus the Christ we have an example that we can imitate in every case from beginning to end without the slightest hesitation or fear of being led in the wrong direction.

Jesus was obedient unto death, even the death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). Let each of us strive to follow Him, our perfect model. Let us all "search the Scriptures" (John 5:39) that we may learn just how we might better imitate the sinless Christ.

-- Roger D. Campbell