Laindon 10th January 2018

“Sin could not have been condemned in the body of Jesus if it had not existed there… the purpose of God was to condemn sin in the flesh; a thing that could not have been accomplished if there was no sin there.” Elpis Israel, page 128

1. Clean flesh

2. Theistic evolution

3. Partial inspiration/symbolism v literalism

4. Humanism/liberalism

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Our ultimate authority is, of course, the Word of God

• We all need to make sure we properly understand these fundamental principles of our faith

• Sadly these errors are becoming evident not only throughout the world around us but even amongst some other Christadelphians

• We need to understand why they are important and not just of academic interest

• We need therefore to be ready to recognise these errors and to challenge them when we come across them

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• What do we mean by atonement?

• How does this differ from mainstream Christianity?

• What is the erroneous doctrine of ‘clean flesh’?

• Why is it wrong/does it matter?

• What to look out for

• The great consolation of a true understanding of atonement

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“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

2 John :7

• Original meaning of the Hebrew (kaphar) is covering

• BASF truths to be received (#12): “…He was put to death… viz the condemnation of sin in the flesh, through the offering of the body of Jesus once for all, as a propitiation to declare the righteousness of God, as a basis for the remission of sins. All who approach God through this crucified but risen, representative of Adam’s disobedient race, are forgiven. Therefore, by a figure, his blood cleanseth us from sin.”

• BASF doctrines to be rejected (#5 & 27): “Christ’s nature was immaculate; there is no sin in the flesh”

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• BASF truths to be received (#5): “That Adam broke this law, and was adjudged unworthy of immortality, and sentenced to return to the ground from whence he was taken – a sentence which defiled and became a physical law of his being, and was transmitted to all his posterity”

• There are therefore two manifestations of sin:— Sin in the flesh which we all inherit (and which is “not our crime”),

see Romans 5:19

— Sins committed by us (of which we are all guilty but which Jesus did not commit), see Romans 3:23 & Hebrews 4:15

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• We understand that Christ died as a representative man (for himself first) opening up a path to salvation for those who sinned – see Isaiah 53:5 – by entering into Christ

• Christianity believes Jesus died as a substitute for us, literally taking our sins to the cross and leaving us with nothing else to do

• Those who believe in the ‘clean flesh’ heresy move towards a similar view as they do not believe Jesus had to die for himself and believe he literally bore our sins

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• Jesus did not bear ‘sin in the flesh’ and there is no such thing (despite Romans 8:3 and Paul’s reference to sin in his members)

• The only manifestation of sin is disobedience (viz moral sin)

• Jesus died for us (and not himself although they accept he was mortal) and he literally bore our sins

• The only sense in which they say Jesus died for himself was in as much as he died in obedience to his Father

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• “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” 2 John :7

• It completely destroys the principle that Jesus was tempted like us and overcame his inherited sinful nature:• “For he hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the

righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

• “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” Hebrews 2:14

• “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

• “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” Hebrews 5:8-9

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• It also completely undermines our understanding of where our sinfulness and temptations come from:• “…through the offence of one many be dead…” Romans 5:15• For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing… but sin that

dwelleth in me” Romans 7:18• “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of

your lusts that war in your members?” James 4:1• “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they

defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man…” Matthew 15:18-20

• “He that committeth sin is of the devil (Greek word ‘diabolos’); for the devil sinneth from the beginning (Adam). For this purpose the Son of God was manifested (Jesus), that he might destroy the works of the devil (fatal wound to the head of the serpent, representing sin and death).” 1 John 3:8

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• The ideas behind Jesus being ‘immaculate’ come from orthodox Christianity. Brother Robert Roberts said: “The Roman Catholic view… revolts at the very idea of Jesus having been in any way related to sin. This is zealous antipathy not inspired by knowledge.”

• Some have held these ideas even amongst our own number starting in the time of Brother Robert Roberts. “And on the subject of sin in the flesh, we should add that the effect of the curse was defiling to Adam’s nature as it was to the ground which thenceforth brought forth briars and thorns. And that therefore, after transgression, there was a bias in the wrong direction which he had not to contend with before transgression. Our mind has not changed on the general subject but some of its details have been more clearly forced on our recognition by the movements and arguments of heresy.” (1877)

• More recently this heresy has emerged again (often subtly)Clean flesh 12

• “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” Hebrews 2:14-18

• “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” 1 Timothy 2:5

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