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The apostle John understood that to deny Jesus’ true humanity was to deny something at the very heart of Christianity, so that no one who denied that Jesus had come in the flesh was sent from God.
The apostle John understood that to deny Jesus’ true humanity was to deny something at the very heart of Christianity, so that no one who denied that Jesus had come in the flesh was sent from God.
As we look through the New Testament, we see several reasons why Jesus had to be fully man if he was going to be the Messiah and earn our salvation.
We can list seven of those reasons here.
Representative Obedience
Jesus was our representative and obeyed for us where Adam had failed and disobeyed.
We see this in the parallels between Jesus’ temptation () and the time of testing for Adam and Eve in the garden ().
It is also clearly reflected in Paul’s discussion of the parallels between Adam and Christ, in Adam’s disobedience and Christ’s obedience:
This is why Paul can call Christ “the last Adam”
Then as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men.
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
()
and can call Adam the “first man” and Christ the “second man” ().
Jesus had to be a man in order to be our representative and obey in our place.
This is why Paul can call Christ “the last Adam” () and can call Adam the “first man” and Christ the “second man” ().
Jesus had to be a man in order to be our representative and obey in our place.
and can call Adam the “first man” and Christ the “second man”
Jesus had to be a man in order to be our representative and obey in our place.
Jesus had to be a man in order to be our representative and obey in our place.
Substitute Sacrifice
If Jesus had not been a man, he could not have died in our place and paid the penalty that was due to us.
The author of Hebrews tells us that
Jesus had to become a man, not an angel, because God was concerned with saving men, not with saving angels.
But to do this he “had to” be made like us in every way, so that he might become “the propitiation” for us, the sacrifice that is an acceptable substitute for us.
Though this idea will be discussed more fully in chapter 27, on the atonement, it is important here to realize that unless Christ was fully man, he could not have died to pay the penalty for man’s sins.
He could not have been a substitute sacrifice for us.
Jesus had to become a man, not an angel, because God was concerned with saving men, not with saving angels.
But to do this he “had to” be made like us in every way, so that he might become “the propitiation” for us, the sacrifice that is an acceptable substitute for us.
Unless Christ was fully man, he could not have died to pay the penalty for man’s sins.
He could not have been a substitute sacrifice for us.
The Importance
Mediator Between God and Men
Because we were alienated from God by sin, we needed someone to come between God and ourselves and bring us back to him.
We needed a mediator who could represent us to God and who could represent God to us.
There is only one person who has ever fulfilled that requirement: “There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”
In order to fulfill this role of mediator, Jesus had to be fully man as well as fully God.
In order to fulfill this role of mediator, Jesus had to be fully man as well as fully God.
Fulfill God’s Original Purpose for Man to Rule Over Creation
God put mankind on the earth to subdue it and rule over it as God’s representatives.
But man did not fulfill that purpose, for he instead fell into sin.
The author of Hebrews realizes that God intended everything to be in subjection to man, but he admits, “As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him”
Then when Jesus came as a man, he was able to obey God and thereby have the right to rule over creation as a man thus fulfilling God’s original purpose in putting man on the earth.
Hebrews recognizes this when it says that now “we see Jesus” in the place of authority over the universe, “crowned with glory and honor” (; cf. the same phrase in v. 7).
Jesus in fact has been given “all authority in heaven and on earth” (), and God has “put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church” ().
Indeed, we shall someday reign with him on his throne () and experience, in subjection to Christ our Lord, the fulfillment of God’s purpose that we reign over the earth (cf.
, ; ).
Jesus had to be a man in order to fulfill God’s original purpose that man rule over his creation.
Then when Jesus came as a man, he was able to obey God and thereby have the right to rule over creation as a man thus fulfilling God’s original purpose in putting man on the earth.
Hebrews recognizes this when it says that now “we see Jesus” in the place of authority over the universe, “crowned with glory and honor” (; cf. the same phrase in v. 7).
Jesus in fact has been given “all authority in heaven and on earth” (), and God has “put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church” ().
Indeed, we shall someday reign with him on his throne () and experience, in subjection to Christ our Lord, the fulfillment of God’s purpose that we reign over the earth (cf.
, ; ).
Jesus had to be a man in order to fulfill God’s original purpose that man rule over his creation.
Example and Pattern in Life
John tells us,
, and reminds us that “when he appears we shall be like him,” and that this hope of future conformity to Christ’s character even now gives increasing moral purity to our lives ().
Paul tells us that we are continually being “changed into his likeness” (), thus moving toward the goal for which God saved us, that we might “be conformed to the image of his Son” ().
Peter tells us that especially in suffering we have to consider Christ’s example: “Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps” ().
Throughout our Christian life, we are to run the race set before us “looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith” ().
If we become discouraged by the hostility and opposition of sinners, we are to “consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself” ().
Jesus is also our example in death.
Paul’s goal is to become “like him in his death” (; cf. ; with 4:1).
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