The Person Of Chirst: United Nature Flashcards
New Testament witness
John 1:1-5, 14-18 the word became flesh
Three bridges were necessary metaphysical, moral, spiritual
The two natures of Jesus are not complementary, they contradict one another.
Deity is infinite in knowledge, power and presence
Humanity is finite in knowledge, power and presence
How is it possible to be infinite and finite simultaneously.
How are the natures united?
Incarnation - definition, purpose
Definition: To provide with a body
Purpose: To reveal God and to reveal God’s original design for humanity, (imago dei)
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (NIV)
New Testament witness (cont.)
Philippians 2:6-11 kenosis self emptying
Made himself nothing… Made in human likeness
Divinity surrendered and displaced by human likeness?
Did Jesus empty himself of the nature of God? Colossians 2:9 was he still God while here on earth?
Kenosis the Philippians chaism
He let go of his equality with God
He emptied himself (the kenosis)
He took the condition of a slave
He took human likeness (the incarnation)
He became a real human being
He humbled himself
He become obedient
He become obedient to the point of death on a cross
God has highly exalted him
And given him the name
That is above every name
So that at the name of Jesus
Every knee should bow
In heaven, on the earth and under the earth
And every tongue confess
That Jesus is Lord
To the glory of God the FatherNew Testament witness Colossians 1:15-20
Image of the invisible God, and primacy over everything that exists, except for the Father.
First born OF a title of dignity
First born FROM a chronological indication
Firstborn heir and owner of all things
He is the final destination of all things, in other words the alpha and the omega. All things were created by him and for him!
New Testament witness Hebrews 1:1-3
Radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being
The virgin birth
Is the incarnation dependent upon a virgin birth?
Could God have been incarnated using a human mother and father?
Was the virgin birth necessary for Jesus to be God?
No God could do it anyway he chose
Yes epistemologically so we would know he was God
Unity of the natures
Jesus is the ideal man
Without sin Hebrews 4:15
The revelation of creation’s intention, the new Adam Romans 5:12-21
Jesus is representative of man
Jesus belongs to the whole human race Hebrews 2:9-11
Demonstrates God’s concern for the lostness of humanity Hebrews 2:14-18
Why is virgin birth important?
It reminds us that OUR salvation is supernatural (John 3:5-6, John 1:13)
It reminds us that God’s salvation is fully a gift of grace
Mary was no more deserving than you or I of God’s greatest gift. It is NOT a human accomplishment of Jesus
It gives us evidence of the uniqueness of Jesus
It gives us evidence of God’s power and sovereignty over nature
The incarnation
His incarnation was more an addition of human nature than a loss of divine nature.
His united natures did not function independently
When Jesus took on humanity he took on the type of humanity that God intended at creation, not our sin filled substitute
Jesus was actually more human than us, not less
Jesus spirituality is a prototype of our glorified states.
Council of Chalcedon 451 AD
“Without confusion, without change, without division, without separation, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man.”
John 1:14 (NIV)
The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Names of Christ his dual nature
Savior Servant King Judge Second Adam
