The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Jesus-fully God and fully man??

This is a topic which many have gone astray from what the Bible teaches us about the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. It seems that here is another instance where the historical Creeds are so valuable in that they not only provide a biblical answer/teaching to such questions, but they guard against heresy coming into the Church. Now, the Chalcedon Creed is the one which speaks of the two natures of Christ; how we should understand the relationship between the two natures. Also remember, that the Creed's purpose isn't to explain everything about the two natures of Christ in their inter-relationship, but to set down the basic teaching of the incarnation.

The Lord Jesus Christ was of two natures; one divine, one human. The divine was just that... 100% unadulterated God. It was the Son, the second person of the Trinity which took upon Himself human flesh. God cannot "divest Himself" of any attribute. God's attributes are part of His being, by definition. For example, if God "gave up" His Omnipotence, then He would cease to be God. And that's not a "good thing"! The Bible tells us that in person of Jesus of Nazareth dwelt all the attributes of the Godhead. (Col 2:9) And when people looked upon Him, whether they could comprehend Him or not, they also saw the Father. (Jh 14:9) In Him God was; not in part but fully. (Jh 1:14) On the other hand, the Lord Christ was fully man in every respect. (Phil 2:7-8; Heb 2:17; 4:15)

We can see the sovereignty of divine nature in the miracles He performed, such as the feeding of the turning water into wine, feeding the 4000/5000, calming the storm, walking on water, raising of the dead, curing diseases, etc. And in His humanity, He was not Omniscient, for He knew not what the time was for His return, or who touched a tassel on His garment, (Lk 8:45) etc.

What must be kept firm is that the two natures cannot be separated, e.g., as is done with any representation of Christ, nor can they be intermixed, as it appears at least one of your pastors may be doing. The "mystery" which is incomprehensible to us and which is surely understandable since we are dealing with God taking upon human flesh, is how these two natures co-existed economically; in every day life. What kind of relationship did they have in their uniqueness yet in their being joined together in the one body of Jesus?

[color:"blue"]The Chalcedonian Creed[/color]

Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin; as regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but yet as regards his manhood begotten, for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the God-bearer; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and Only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the prophets from earliest times spoke of him, and our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the creed of the fathers has handed down to us.

In His Grace,