S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The humanity of Jesus is as equally important as the deity of Jesus. Jesus was born as a human being while still being totally divine. The concept of the humanity of Jesus co-existing with His deit...

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July 01 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Al Mari Supporter Private practice as a cardiovascular & thoracic surgeon

The humanity of Jesus is so important but could only be fully appreciated after understanding how we got into this dilemma. Throughout history the "nature" of Jesus has been misunderstood. Is Jesus human, deity, both or what and how?

The Jews denied Jesus as the Messiah and their Lord God (YHVH ELOHIM Gen. 2) who was "before Abraham"(Jn. 8:58). They believed in the "Shema Doctrine" that God is "one" spirit-body, identifiable and distinct person, not many persons in "one God".

In the 4th century, Arianism held that God is spirit and therefore man-Jesus could not be God. This was countered by Athanasius who considered Jesus both fully God and fully man. They were in fact church leaders of that time and excommunicated each other depending upon who was the sitting Roman Emperor. Nicean Creed and Trinity Doctrine came about as a result.

These differences in understanding continued on. Ebionism accepted Jesus as Messiah but "rejected his divinity" (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebionites). Conversely, Docetism understood Jesus is God but denied his humanity. Other variations are Apollinarianism, Eutychianism, Nestorianism, Socinianism referred to also as psilanthropism (http://www.theologynotebook.com/christological-heresies-ebionism-arianism-docetism-nestorianism-eutychianism-apollinarianism/).

The explanation based on "hypostatic union" was used to describe how God the Son, Jesus Christ, took on a human nature, yet remained fully God at the same time. "Jesus always had been God (John 8:58, 10:30), but at the incarnation Jesus became a human being (John 1:14). The addition of the human nature to the divine nature is Jesus, the God-man."(See:http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypostatic_union).

All of these concepts by well-meaning church leaders have to be respected but must be taken through the prism of truth. It may well be that these misunderstanding came about because of "lost in translation" of the actual meaning of the "original words", like Elohim, YHVH, Adonai, Theos, kyrios and others pertaining to the word "god". 

Without an iota of doubt, the Creator God Logos in John 1 was the one who incarnated into Jesus. This is the same "common term" ELOHIM (God) in Gen.1 and specifically the "proper name" YHVH ELOHIM (Lord God) in Gen. 2, the Adonai (Lord) in Genesis 15:1-2, the El Shaddai (Almighty God) in Gen. 17:1. Jesus the "same yesterday, today and forever" (Heb. 13:8) is "one" distinct person.

Having stated that, this Creator God "was slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8),i.e., this was already planned. But how could a Spirit-composed God be slain? Obviously, he has to incarnate, be human and divest his "divine privileges"(Phil. 2:5-11) as a spirit-Creator, yet still the "same God". As a parallel, consider a human king with all the powers and privileges of a king abdicating his crown and be an ordinary person of the lowest rank, yet isn't he the same person? Yes he is, as man-Jesus is the same Creator God. Contextually, Jesus is indeed fully man and fully God (1 Timothy 3:16).

Being human, he can then be the man whose "temple" the Holy Spirit could in-dwell, after coming out of the water in the river Jordan(Matt. 3:16-17). This event as a precursor of how the HS will in-dwell in us, starting at Pentecost(Acts 2:1-3).

Also, being human, Jesus could be the Passover Lamb to be sacrificed for the sins of mankind. And having died as human, he would then be resurrected and go to the Father to receive the promise of the HS to be sent to us. This HS in us will "seal", sanctify us, as we develop to become "like him", to have the "mind of Christ" and conform into the image of Jesus Christ (Rom 8:29, 2 Cor 3:16-18, John 17:19)— which is pleasing to God the Father, and glorifies God. 

In summary, the importance of the Creator God (YHVH ELOHIM, LOGOS) to incarnate and be man-Jesus sets the stage that will "bring many sons to glory"(Heb. 2:10)
Access link: http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Adonai.html#.VO32nWK9KSM

February 25 2015 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report