Short Essay Christology
God is not man and man is not God. How then can a man also be God? Maybe this truly is a story which will take eternity to understand, yet we have been enlightened to some extent by this
God man called Christ Jesus Himself. “But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.” (John 7:29) Thus we have a basis from which to understand this person in human form who is standing before us yet claims to not only know God, but is of Him and sent by Him.
A good place to start learning is from what we can see right in front of us, and what we have is the birth of a child who “increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”
Luke 2:52. Many texts in the Bible support the humanity of Jesus. John 4:6 and 7 tells us that
He grew weary with his journey and took rest at a well and requested a drink. He also felt emotion and “wept” when he heard the news of his friend Lazarus’ death. (John 11:35) This man Jesus walked, talked, socialized, ate, had emotions, rested and slept while he was here on earth. Jesus’ deity comes through on many occasions. The first public knowledge of this shines through at His baptism as the glorious light of the Holy Spirit descends and God speaks; “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) Scores of other verses reveal the
God character in Jesus. John 1:1-2, Romans 6:23, Luke 1:35 and Hebrews 2 9-18 are just a few. Many names reserved only for deity are ascribed to Jesus Christ with “I AM that I AM” from Exodus 3:14 being the most powerful and long recognized symbol of deity applied to
Himself.
Christ is the embodiment of two natures, “hypostatic union”, into one Person. “He had one intellect, one set of emotions and one volitional ability to make decisions.” His nature was constant and unchanging. Jesus was sent to us in human form but was God. “There is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the man Jesus Christ.” (1 Tim 2:5)
The incarnation of
God man called Christ Jesus Himself. “But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.” (John 7:29) Thus we have a basis from which to understand this person in human form who is standing before us yet claims to not only know God, but is of Him and sent by Him.
A good place to start learning is from what we can see right in front of us, and what we have is the birth of a child who “increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”
Luke 2:52. Many texts in the Bible support the humanity of Jesus. John 4:6 and 7 tells us that
He grew weary with his journey and took rest at a well and requested a drink. He also felt emotion and “wept” when he heard the news of his friend Lazarus’ death. (John 11:35) This man Jesus walked, talked, socialized, ate, had emotions, rested and slept while he was here on earth. Jesus’ deity comes through on many occasions. The first public knowledge of this shines through at His baptism as the glorious light of the Holy Spirit descends and God speaks; “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) Scores of other verses reveal the
God character in Jesus. John 1:1-2, Romans 6:23, Luke 1:35 and Hebrews 2 9-18 are just a few. Many names reserved only for deity are ascribed to Jesus Christ with “I AM that I AM” from Exodus 3:14 being the most powerful and long recognized symbol of deity applied to
Himself.
Christ is the embodiment of two natures, “hypostatic union”, into one Person. “He had one intellect, one set of emotions and one volitional ability to make decisions.” His nature was constant and unchanging. Jesus was sent to us in human form but was God. “There is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the man Jesus Christ.” (1 Tim 2:5)
The incarnation of
Bibliography: Towns, Elmer L. Theology for Today (Cengage Learning, 2008, 2002) King James Version Holy Bible (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1976) Elwell, Walter A. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology Second Edition (Baker book House Company, 1984, 2001) Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology Second Edition (Baker Academic, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1998)