What if Jesus HAD even ONE sin? Would he have died?
The SDA Church commonly belief is that Jesus could not die, ever, any any circumstances.
Why? Because He is God, and God cannot die. EGW has a different opinion, Jesus indeed would have died, eternally. And the world would have perished. "...tempted like as we are... he staked even his own eternal existence upon the issue of the conflict." EGW, General Conference Bulletin, Dec. 1, 1895 par. 22
"The new tomb enclosed Him in its rocky chambers. If one single sin had tainted His character the stone would never have been rolled away from the door of His rocky chamber, and the world with its burden of guilt would have perished." Ms. 81, 1893, p. 11.
The above counsel from Ellen White is entirely incompatible with our modern position and Fundamental Belief #2.
I only recently discovered this statement by Ellen White, that Jesus would have ceased to exist had He one sin. It literally brought tears to my eyes as I contemplated, more deeply than ever before, the incalculable risk that the Father and the Son took in order to save one rogue planet. There is no higher study than the sacrifice of Jesus.
The "lake of fire" occurs after the judgment is finished, a 1,000 after Christ returns. IF Christ had sinned, He would not return! There would be no judgment, no lake of fire, no sacrifice for sin! The earth and the population of the earth, and Jesus Himself would have ceased to exist at the time of His death. Every human who ever lived, including Jesus Himself, would be as if they had never existed. Christ's death would have been in vain and there would be no resolution, no forgiveness for sin for anybody!
If Jesus had even one sin... With no solution for sin, no Savior, what of those angels who for a time joined with Lucifer in his rebellion against the Father of Jesus? "Almost half" did rebel, states Ellen White. But some among them "saw the light", confessed, were forgiven, and were accepted back into the heavenly fold. Like Eve, they were deceived and God is very merciful, BUT, they still sinned, and Jesus still ceased to exist. In a similar manner, there are many who were ignorant of the nature of God on various levels. But when the light came, they saw it, accepted the truth, and moved into the light. BUT, they were forgiven sinners, regardless of their sincere mistakes. What would have become of those who were sinners, no matter how small the mistake was, without redemption, without a Savior, what would have become of them? What then? What plan for salvation could have possibly been put into play? Sin is so horrible the Father risked the life of His dear Son, who would have "ceased to exist". Whew, the horror had Jesus failed. Thank God the second Adam did not fail! Without Jesus, the forgiveness of sin is impossible.
The angels who originally sided with Lucifer in heaven did NOT sin just by doing that. They officially sinned when their cases were decided by God.
No angel can receive forgiveness for sin, because Jesus did not die to save angels.
This is basic Christianity.
Heb 2:14 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;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on [him the nature of] angels; but he took on [him] the seed of Abraham.
1Pet 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
"After Satan was shut out of heaven, with those who fell with him, he realized that he had lost all the purity and glory of heaven forever. Then he repented and wished to be reinstated again in heaven. He was willing to take his proper place, or any place that might be assigned him. But no, heaven must not be placed in jeopardy. All heaven might be marred should he be taken back; for sin originated with him, and the seeds of rebellion were within him. Satan had obtained followers, those who sympathized with him in his rebellion. He and his followers repented, wept and implored to be taken back into the favor of God. But no, their sin, their hate, their envy and jealousy, had been so great that God could not blot it out. It must remain to receive its final punishment. When Satan became fully conscious that there was no possibility of his being brought again into favor with God, then his malice and hatred began to be manifest. He consulted with his angels, and a plan was laid to still work against God's government." 1858 Great Controversy
