His Sinless Life
We know that if Jesus had not lived a sinless
life and completed His infinite Atonement, there would have been no
Resurrection and our spirits would have been subject to the devil (see 2 Nephi
9:7-9). Because of our sins, we are subjected to the full demands of the law of
justice (See Alma 34:16). Because He was without sin, justice had no claim on
Him, giving Him the ability to make payment for our sins. We can be redeemed
only because of His righteousness. His payment and punishment for our sin can
satisfy the demands of justice for our sins (See Alma 34:15-16). However good
we are, we will always be “unprofitable servants” (Mosiah 2:21), as we can
never repay God for what He has given us.
How incomprehensible but wondrous that Christ
never yielded to any temptation pressed upon Him by Satan (See 2 Corinthians
5:21; JST Hebrews 7:25-26; 1 Peter 2:21-24). The author of Hebrews referred to
Christ as our High Priest, and wrote, “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). King Benjamin taught us that “he
shall suffer temptations” (Mosiah 3:7). The Savior Himself said that “he
descended below all things in that he comprehended all things” (Doctrine and
Covenants 88:6) . . . Shortly after Christ’s baptism, as He prepared for His
mortal ministry, Satan directly confronted the Savior with temptations so
common to us all: physical appetite, pride, and power and wealth (See Matthew
4:3-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-12. Note this was not the end of Satan’s efforts
to tempt Christ). What character He showed as the adversary offered Him “all
the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them” (Matthew 4:8). He refused all
the enticements of Satan from His birth to His death. How remarkable the
goodness and integrity of Jesus Christ! He lived majestically that He might
come to our rescue. (Neil L. Andersen, The
Divine Gift of Forgiveness [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2019], 88-89.
Note how Andersen does not say that Paul necessarily wrote Hebrews, instead, he simply refers to “the author of Hebrews”)