Jesus' Human Nature [Archive]

Saved by Grace_06

June 17th, 2007, 02:18 PM

1. Why do you think are the reasons God took on human flesh?

2. Do you think it was possible for Jesus in his human nature to sin?

Galoutofdixie

June 17th, 2007, 04:34 PM

1. Why do you think are the reasons God took on human flesh?

Here's a great commentary which speaks of why Jesus took on human flesh:

http://blueletterbible.org/faq/nbi/806.html

2. Do you think it was possible for Jesus in his human nature to sin?

The impeccability of Christ.:

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

Here's another great commentary on the subject of the "impeccability" of Christ:

http://blueletterbible.org/faq/nbi/1324.html

Sorry to just post links to commetary, but the information is vast. I hope everyone takes the time to read them. They are really good. :thumb

Saved by Grace_06

June 17th, 2007, 06:34 PM

TheWorkman

June 19th, 2007, 06:31 AM

Here is some more material I found on Carm.org

The Trinity, the Hypostatic Union, and the Communicatio Idiomatum
The Bible says that there is only one God in all existence at all time, (Isaiah 43:10; 44:6,8; 45:5, etc.). But, what exactly is the nature of God? Is He a Trinity or not? The answer to this question has been debated for hundreds of years, especially since the non-Christian cults (Jehovah's Witnesses, the Mormons, Christadelphians, etc.) have arisen. In spite of their attacks on the Trinity, and others in the past, the Christian church has discovered what the Bible says about God and the person of Jesus. Therefore, following is a presentation of three very important Christian doctrines that, in total, answers most every objection raised by the anti-orthodox, false teachers that have arisen in these last days. When I say "most every objection" I actually mean "most every objection" because most of them fall into only a few categories and they are answered with the same basic Christian teachings.

Unfortunately, many in the cults, because they have been taught the Trinity is false, will not accept standard answers to their objections. Instead, many of them continue to raise the same questions, often ignoring answers, and staying willingly ignorant of Christian doctrines that affect the discussion of the Trinity and person of Jesus. This paper, then, is an attempt to list three important biblical teachings and then apply them to the different objections raised by the critics. This way, Christians and cultists alike might be better informed on the Biblical positions held by the historic Christian Church since its inception.

The Trinity
The Trinity is the teaching that there is only one God who exists as three simultaneous and eternal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. By "person" is meant the characteristics of self awareness, speech, having a will, emotions, etc. Therefore, there are three persons. The Father is not the same person as the Son; the Son is not the same person as the Holy Spirit; and the Holy Spirit is not the same person as Father as each of them have a will and speak to each other and to people. They are not three separate gods and are not three separate beings. They are three distinct persons; yet, they are all the one God. They are in absolute perfect harmony consisting of one substance. They are coeternal, coequal, and copowerful. If any one of the three were removed, there would be no God.

The Hypostatic Union
The Hypostatic Union is the teaching that the Word of God became flesh and we call Him Jesus. Therefore, Jesus is God in human flesh. He is not half God and half man. He is fully divine and fully man. That is, Jesus has two distinct natures: divine and human. As the SCripture says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...14and the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us..." (John 1:1,14). This means that in the divine word became flesh in the single person of Jesus who is, then, both human and divine in nature. The divine nature was not changed. It was not altered in this union. Rather, the divine holy nature of the Word remains as it is.

Furthermore, Jesus is not merely a man who "had God within Him" nor is he a man who "manifested the God principle." He is the second person of the Trinity. "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word," (Heb. 1:3, NIV). Jesus' two natures are not "mixed together," nor are they combined into a new God-man nature. They are separate yet act as a unit in the one person of Jesus. This is called the Hypostatic Union.

Also, in the incarnation, Jesus was made for a while lower than the angels (Heb. 2:9) and under the law (Gal. 4:4). This means that Jesus cooperated with the limitations of being a man (Phil. 2:5-8). In other words, He really was a man and as a man exhibited the proper restrictions of His humanity such as growing taller, eating, growing in wisdom, etc., which would be expected of a real human being.

The Communicatio Idiomatum
The communicatio idiomatum (Latin for "communication of properties") is the teaching that the attributes of both the divine and human natures are ascribed to the one person of Jesus. This means that the person of Jesus could rightfully claim for Himself the attributes of both the divine and the human natures. Therefore, He could say He had glory with the Father before the world was made (John 17:5). He could claim that He descended from heaven, (John 3:13) and He could also claim omnipresence (Matt. 28:20) even though Jesus, the man, began His existence on earth when He was conceived in Mary's womb.

This is vitally important when we look at the atonement. Jesus' sacrifice was divine, as well as human, in nature. Jesus died. But, we know that God cannot die. So, if the divine nature did not die, how can it be said that Jesus' sacrifice was divine in nature? The answer is that the attributes of divinity, as well as humanity, were ascribed to the person Jesus. Therefore, since the person of Jesus died, His death was of infinite value because the properties of divinity were ascribed to the person in His death.

Ryan

June 19th, 2007, 06:01 PM

1. Why do you think are the reasons God took on human flesh?

2. Do you think it was possible for Jesus in his human nature to sin?

I gave you an answer to this question on your thread "Question" the third page. I agreed with what you had posted, but when past the ascension of Jesus Christ. Check it out.

Ryan

June 19th, 2007, 06:05 PM

[QUOTE=Saved by Grace_06;76352]1. Why do you think are the reasons God took on human flesh?

I made a mistake a highlighted the wrong question. Sorry about that.

Hootmon

June 20th, 2007, 10:17 AM

1. Why do you think are the reasons God took on human flesh? In order to be the final Sin sacrifice for humans. No other 'flesh' would suffice.

2. Do you think it was possible for Jesus in his human nature to sin?Possible? Yes. He was completely human in every way, including being 'temptable'.

The difference was that He didnt rely on His own strength to avoid sin, but rather He relied perfectly on the Father.

Saved by Grace_06

June 20th, 2007, 10:26 AM

In order to be the final Sin sacrifice for humans. No other 'flesh' would suffice.

Possible? Yes. He was completely human in every way, including being 'temptable'.

The difference was that He didnt rely on His own strength to avoid sin, but rather He relied perfectly on the Father.

:thumb

cardboardpunk

June 21st, 2007, 07:33 PM

you know i've thought a lot about question 1 as of lately.
i'm wondering if God became human to relate to us better, and also to have a physical representation of Himself, because the Father is Spirit.

it's hard to relate to the Father because He is beyond our comprehension. the universe itself cannot contain Him.
it's easier to relate to Jesus because He is flesh, and was tempted as we are tempted.
just some personal thoughts, please correct me if i'm way off base.