Was Christ Capable of Sin?

Each of the three synoptic gospels record the event commonly known as “The Temptation of Christ”. Not surprisingly, all the commentators I have read agree that Christ did not succumb to the Satanic attack. However, there is disagreement among some theologians as to whether or not Christ COULD have sinned.

This subject is referred to as the doctrine of Impeccability. Impeccability deals with the subject of the capability of Christ to be tempted. The doctrine of Impeccability states, that not only was Christ Sinless but he was also incapable of sin. Impeccability teaches that Christ did not sin and that He could not sin.

Critics of this doctrine say, that if Christ was not capable of sin, then the temptation of Christ is not a legitimate temptation. But is that premise true? Does the inability to fall to the temptation make the temptation irrelevant?

On the program today, I will discuss this subject in the context of the opening verses of Mathew Chapter 4:1-11