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The Golden Chain - Robert J. Wieland

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(Hebrews 12:4; Philippians 2:8, KJV). This is true<br />

righteousness!<br />

Paul's expression "separate from sinners" tells<br />

the Hebrews that Christ is a High Priest different<br />

from the sinful human priests ministering in the<br />

Jerusalem temple. It cannot mean He did not come<br />

near us, or take our nature, because we read, "<strong>The</strong>n<br />

all the tax-collectors and the sinners drew near to<br />

Him to hear Him" (Luke 15:1). "To him that<br />

knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is<br />

sin" (James 4:17). Christ did not sin; thus He was<br />

"separate from sinners" who have sinned—<br />

different from all of us. Paul said He was "made to<br />

be sin for us."<br />

Fulton Sheen however maintains that "Mary<br />

was desolidarized and separated from ... sin-laden<br />

humanity." In defending the Immaculate<br />

Conception he says further, "<strong>The</strong>re ought to be an<br />

infinite separation between God and sin." "How<br />

could [Christ] be sinless if He was born of sinladen<br />

humanity? ... If He came to this earth through<br />

the wheatfield of moral weakness, He certainly<br />

36

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