BARB - I was thinking about Jesus and his life. I read somewhere that our church teaches that he learned things while on earth such as you and I do - that he wasn't always perfect.... then it hit me that this information contradicts what I was taught about the atonement. I thought the atonement was so great because he voluntarily - as a person WITHOUT sin - that he was able to atone the world for our sins because He was without sin.
I don't know if that makes sense to you - what I'm asking. I guess, which way is correct, was Christ without sin - or did he come to earth like the rest of us and learn His way; but was able to serve as Savior because he was God's son.

JOEL - When considering Jesus Christ's life on this earth one must realize that, in His case, it was possible for Him to lead a sinless mortal life with a not yet perfected body.
Jesus left the glory he had as a God in heaven to come down to earth (called the condescension of God) submitting himself to all the trials and pains of mortality . While on earth Jesus refers to this when He said:

"And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." (John 17:5)

The Bible explains that, while on earth "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." (Luke 2:52)
And in the Doctrine and Covenants:

"And I, John, bear record that I beheld his glory, as the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, even the Spirit of truth, which came and dwelt in the flesh, and dwelt among us.
And I, John, saw that he received not of the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace;" (D & C. 93:12-13)

Even while on earth, Jesus was still God and indeed was completly without sin, which qualified Him to take upon Himself all our sins. However, His personage was not yet "perfect" (or complete). He could not become complete until He obtained a body; "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man"; died, and be resurrected with a glorified immortal body.
In Luke Christ told His apostles, refering to His death: "..and the third day I shall be perfected."(Luke 13:32)
While He was still alive Jesus said:
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)
Now compare this scripture to what He told the Nephites after His death and resurrection:
"Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect." (3 Nephi 12:48)
After His death and resurrection He now includes Himself along with His Father as being perfect.
So even though He was without sin, He still needed to do all He did to perfect or complete Himself so that He could be like His Father.

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