Semester 1, 2011. Christian Doctrine Semester 1, 2011.

Semester 1, 2011

Christian DoctrineSemester 1, 2011

Week 7:The Humanity of

Jesus ChristWeek 8: The Deity of Jesus Christ

The Humanity of Jesus The Humanity of Jesus ChristChrist

Who is he?

What sort of man is this?

Matthew 16 Jesus asks: “Who do you say that I am?”


“Who do you say that I am?”1. Peter’s revelation leads to Jesus

clarifying for them His own ministry - Suffering, death & resurrection

2. Peter’s revelation is a confession of faith Jesus is the Messiah Cf Romans 10:19 Christianity hinges on what we say

about Jesus

3. Peter’s revelation of Jesus clarifies Peter’s call.

The Humanity of Jesus Christ

Why is it important?


It gives us confidence.

Humanity is made in the image of God –

Jesus Christ is the perfection of that image

- His humanity affirms our humanity &

- confirms God has a plan for humankind


1. His Conception & Birth Matthew 1:18 Jesus came from God

A. Salvation came from God Salvation is the supernatural work of God Salvation does not come by human effort Galatians 4:4-5

B. Unity of full Deity & Full Humanity


2. His Human Mind & Body Human Mind - Luke 2:52 Human Body – Luke 2:40 He went through normal human development He participated in human activities

Eating, worshipping, praying He experienced human condition - physically

He was tired (John 4:6) He was thirsty (John 19:28) He was hungry (Matthew 4:2) He died …


2. His Human Mind & Body He was resurrected in a body (Luke 24:39) He ate with the disciples (Luke 24:42)

BUT a resurrection body Not subject to death or decay

The resurrection body ascended to heaven.

Continuity of bodily to heavenly.


3. His Human Soul & Emotions Loved (John 13:23; 11:3; Mark 10:21) Joy (John 15:11; John 17:13; Heb 12:2) Compassion (Matthew 9:36; 14:14; 15:32;

20:34) “troubled” (John 12:27) “sorrowful” (Matthew 26:37-38)

THESE ARE GODLY – NOT NECESSARILY HUMAN Prayed with cries and tears Astonished, marveled. Hebrews 5:8

He learned obedience through what he suffered…


4. His Sinlessness Sinfulness is NOT the normal human condition

Adam & Eve were human before they sinned Satan tried for 40 days to tempt Him to sin

Heb 4:25 – tempted in every way

Yet He was without sin John 8:46 – no one could convict Him 2 Cor 5:21 – Him who knew no sin 1 Peter 1:19 – A lamb without spot or blemish

The Sinlessness of The Sinlessness of JesusJesus

Is said or implied in Scripture Hebrews 4:15 Hebrews 7:26 Hebrews 9:14 John 6:69 1 Peter 2:22 1 John 3:5 2 Cor 5:21

Jesus declared he was righteous John 8:46 John 8:29 John 15:10

Jesus did not offer sacrifice for sin or ask forgiveness

Was Jesus fully human if He did not

sin?Tempted in all things - Hebrews 4:15

God cannot be tempted! - James 1:13

Full TemptationFull Resistance

Sin is not the essence of true Sin is not the essence of true

humanity – sinlessness is!humanity – sinlessness is!

Don’t measure His ‘sinfulness’ / humanity by ours

Measure our humanity / sinfulness by His

Ask: “Are we as human as Jesus?”

Christ’s TemptationChrist’s Temptation Similar to Adam & Eve’s

BUT more difficult! Adam & Eve had everything they needed -

plenty Jesus was in lack

Temptation was a test of obedience Tempted to take easy way out; please himself;

show off Would have kept him from his mission

Jesus did not use His Divine powers As a human he succeeded were Adam failed

“2nd Adam”

Human to be MessiahHuman to be Messiah

1. Representative Obedience Romans 5:18-19 1 Cor 15:45 – “the last Adam”


2. Substitute Sacrifice Hebrews 2:16-17 – made like us

To make propitiation for our sins


3. One Mediator between God and humankind 1 Timothy 2:5


4. To fulfill God’s original purpose for man to rule Matthew 28:18


5. To be our example and pattern in life 1 John 2:6 1 Peter 2:21 - Christ, who suffered for you, is

your example. Follow in his steps.


6. To be the pattern of our redeemed bodies 1 Cor 15:45-49 - … as with the earthly man, so

with the heavenly man…


7. To be a sympathetic High Priest Hebrews 4:15 - … tempted in every way just

as we are…

Jesus WAS HumanJesus WAS Human

Scripture repeatedly attests to Christ taking on flesh:- 1 Timothy 3:16 John 1:14 1 John 4:2-3a Hebrews 10:5 Galatians 4:4

Semester 1, 2011


We need him to have been human!

Early HeresiesEarly Heresies1. Docetism

2. Appolinerianism

3. Nestorianism

4. Eutychianism

5. Adoptionism

6. Anhypostatic Christology

7. Kenoticism

8. Dynamic Incarnation

Basic tenets of this Basic tenets of this doctrine:doctrine:

1. Not a loss, but an addition

2. Two natures did not function separately

3. Humanity is fully known in Christ

4. Initiative comes from above

Semester 1, 2011. Christian Doctrine Semester 1, 2011.

Documents