The Sinless One

Last week Lokwii Paul and I went out to teach a Bible story together. In a couple of different villages we had the same interesting experience. We told the story from Numbers 20 where Moses sinned by striking the rock with his staff contrary to the Lord’s clear command to tell the rock to bring forth water for the Israelites. We taught how the story reminds us that all people are sinners. The Israelites sinned by grumbling and complaining. Moses also sinned. He failed to believe in the Lord and to uphold Him as holy before the people (Nu. 20:12). His spirit became bitter and he spoke rashly with his lips (Ps. 106:33). So he lost the privilege of leading the people into the land which God had promised.

Our friends agreed with us that all people are sinners. We explored further this sad reality. “Is it really true that every single person who ever lived was a sinner?” “Yes, all sinners.” “Not even one exception?” “Not one.”  When I mentioned that there was actually one man who was different, who was completely without sin, no one could tell us who that was. Even with many hints they could not come up with the name of this mystery sinless one. When we mentioned that it was the one who died on the cross, some did finally mention the name Jesus. I was surprised at this complete lack of awareness that Jesus was without sin. Afterall, I would estimate that more than 90% of our listeners were baptized Roman Catholics. I am certain that almost every person in both villages where this occurred would profess to be a Christian.

We explained why this truth is of such crucial importance. Jesus alone provides the perfect righteousness which sinners need in order to come into the presence of a perfectly righteous and holy God. And only the sinless God man, Jesus, was able to provide an acceptable sacrifice to pay for the sins of folks like the grumbling Israelites and Moses as well as our Karimojong friends and you and me.

Of course, God alone knows the heart of each villager in Karamoja. But if it is essential to true Christian faith to affirm (and certainly have some conscious awareness of the fact) that Jesus, the Son of God, was without sin, then this experience should serve as a powerful reminder that there are countless nominal (name only) Christians in Karamoja who are not trusting in the sinless savior. This means that they are lost in their sins. Please pray for them. And pray for us as we continue to share with them about the redemption that comes only through “the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Pet. 1:19), the one who alone “has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). There is none other who can take away our sins. “Indeed, Jesus Christ, the righteous…is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 Jn. 2:1-2).

I am very happy to report that Lokwii David is again teaching Bible studies as well as doing translation work. His wife also recently gave birth to their third child, Lotee Nathan, who was baptized this past Lord’s Day. Thank the Lord for His work of grace in this young man and his family.