Required reading
Dogmatic Theology Vol 2 by William G.T. Shedd (Available from Amazon or here) - Read Chapter 4 'Christ's impeccability'.
My summary
This week we look at Christ's impeccability (sinlessness).
Shedd teaches us about:
(i) Scripture proofs of Christ's impeccability;(ii) the necessity of Christ's impeccability because of his divine nature;
(iii) Christ's temptability;
(iv) the reasons for Christ's temptation.
What grabbed me
I liked the description of the impeccable will: 'An impeccable will is one that is so mighty in its self- determination to good that it cannot be conquered by any temptation to evil, however great. A will may be positively holy and able to overcome temptation, and yet not be so omnipotent in its holy energy that it cannot be overcome. The angels who fell could have repelled temptation with that degree of power given them by creation, and so might Adam. But in neither case was it infallibly certain that they would repel it Though they were holy, they were not impeccable. Their will could be overcome, because it was not omnipotent, and their perseverance was left to themselves and not made sure by extraordinary grace. The case of Jesus Christ, the second Adam, was different, in that he was not only able to resist temptation, but it was infallibly certain that he would resist it. The holy energy of his will was not only sufficiently strong to overcome, bat was so additionally strong that it could not be overcome.'
The second Adam is far, far, far superior to the first!
Next week's reading
Read Chapter 1 'Christ's mediatorial offices'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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