CHRISTOLOGY

“God is far superior to humans, so much so that he cannot be known by unaided human reason. If he is to be known, God must take some initiative to make himself known to humanity. But the problem is not merely ontological (i.e. the nature of being). There also is a spiritual gap between the two, a gap created by humans’ sin. Humans cannot by their own moral effort counter their sin in order to elevate themselves to the level of God. If there is to be fellowship between the two, they have to be united in some other way. If there is to be fellowship between the two, they have to be united in some other way. This, it is traditionally understood, has been accomplished by the incarnation, in which deity and humanity were united in one person.”

Jesus was fully human. Notice His association with us:

Matthew 4:4: “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Deuteronomy 8:3: “And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.”

I Timothy 3:16: “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

John 1:14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

The Humanity of Jesus Christ

the virgin birth of Jesus

Matthew 1:18: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”

Matthew 1:20: “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.”

Matthew 1:24-25: “Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”

Luke 1:34-35: “Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel.”

Why the virgin birth?

it makes possible Christ’s true humanity without inherited sin

in that moment, the immaterial (the Spirit) and the material (Mary’s womb) were both involved

Just as, at creation, “the earth was formless and empty” and dark (Genesis 1:2), Mary’s womb was an empty, barren place. And just as, at creation, “the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Genesis 1:2), the Spirit of God came upon Mary (Luke 1:35). Only God can make something out of nothing; only God could perform the miracles of creation, the incarnation, and the virgin birth. The virgin birth is important in that it preserves the truth that Jesus is fully God and fully man at the same time. His physical body He received from Mary. But His eternal, holy nature was His from all eternity past (see John 6:69). Joseph the carpenter did not pass on his sinful nature to Jesus for the simple reason that Joseph was not the father. Jesus had no sin nature (Hebrews 7:26).

without this answer, the RCC speaks of the sinlessness of Mary herself

human weakness and limitation

a human body

he had a physical body

Hebrews 10:5: “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:”

Luke 2:52: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”

Note that His disciples had a physical recognition of Him:

I John 1:1: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;”

Erickson notes that touch was the sense most self-actualizing to the Greeks. This “most-reliable” sense was a direct perception of a person or a thing. Thus, John says, “Our hands touched the Word.” We directly perceived of His incarnation.

it was weak

hunger- Matthew 4:2: “And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.”

thirst- John 19:28: “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.”

fatigue- John 4:6: “Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.”

a human mind

it seems obvious from the gospel records that Jesus in His incarnation had the ability to be stretched mentally. Luke 2:52 says, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”

Hebrews 5:8: “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;”

precise and transcendent knowledge

Luke 6:8: “But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.”

John 1:47-48: “Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.”

John 2:25: “And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.”

capacity to not know

sometimes a question was asked to illicit a response

sometimes it appears that He did not know

Mark 9:21: “And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.”

Mark 13:32: “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”

a human soul

We know that God imparted a soul to man

Genesis 2:7: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

Matthew 26:38: “Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.”

if we equate soul with personhood, we must twist ourselves a bit here, but if soul refer to the capacity we have to express and actualize mind, body, and will

human emotions

If Jesus were fully human, He would have all the capabilities and capacities necessary to show emotion— the full gamut of emotional ability.

Love- John 13:23: “Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.”

John 11:3; Mark 10:21;

compassion- Matthew 9:36: “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”

the Greek word is splanchnizomai and means to be moved in one’s internal or visceral organs.

sorrow- Matthew 26:37: “And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.”

joy- John 15:11: “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

anger- Mark 3:5: “And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.”

indignent- Mark 10:14: “But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”

sinlessness

I Peter 1:19: “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”

II Corinthians 5:21: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Hebrews 4:15: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Hebrews 2:18: “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”

Hebrews 4:15-16: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

I John 3:5: “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.”

The Deity of Jesus Christ

2 Kings 7:9 (KJV 1900)

Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.