CHRISTOLOGY

2005

LESSON THREE

I. The True Humanity of Christ (p. 65, et.seq.)

A. Introduction

1. Detailed dogmatic expression of His true and perfect humanity is necessary.

2. Necessary because of manifold errors which have crept in to visible Christendom, e.g.

a. Docetists.

(1) Denied His humanity altogether.

(2) Made His body a phantom.

b. Arians: a body without a soul.

c. Apollinaris, bishop of Laodicea (d. ca. 390): a body and soul without a spirit.

d. Monotheletes: a body and soul without a human will.

e. Others: a higher spiritual body, radically different from ours, e.g.

(1) Gnostic Valentinus (d. 150).

(2) “Enthusiasts” of 16^th and 17^th century.

II. Scripture

A. Is clear on this point.

B. Calls Him.

1. “Man”.

a. John 8:40.

b. 1Ti 2:5.

2. “Son of Man”: Mt 8:20.

C. Describes Him as a genuine man, not a phantom.

1. Ro 9:5.

2. “Abraham’s Seed”.

a. Gen 22:18.

b. Gal 3:16.

3. “David’s Branch”: Jer 23:5.

4. “Mary’s Son”: Lk 2:7.

D. Gives us a double human genealogy of Christ.

1. Mt 1:1-16 (legal line).

2. Lk 3:23-38 (natural line).

E. Assumed human nature from His Israelitish progenitors:

1. Lk 1:42.

2. i.e. did not bring it with Him.

F. Scripture names the constituent parts of His human nature.

1. sōma (body): Jn 2:21.

2. Flesh and bones: Lk 24:39.

3. psuchē (soul): Mt 26:38.

4. pneuma (spirit): Lk 23:46.

5. Thelēma (human will): Lk 22:42.

6. Summary: Heb 2:14.

III. Denial of this truth

A. Springs from rationalism and Pelagiansim

B. Rationalism

1. Inspired the Gnostics to declare a union of God with a material body is improper and impossible.

2. Apollinarians and Monotheletes said personal union impossible if required a rational human soul (nous) or a human will.

C. Pelagianism

1. Will not recognize the necessity of the substitutional satisfaction of Christ.

2. Gnosticism

a. Knows nothing of the guilt of sin resting on mankind, which called for a vicarious atonement.

b. Followed its principle of Dualism, only knowing of a sin substance (hyle) which had entered into man.

c. Taught that redemption consists only in getting rid of the sinful matter, with Christ showing the way.

d. They forgot:

(1) He not only needed to appear in the flesh.

(2) He also had to perform work in the assumed flesh (Is 53:11: the “travail” of his soul).

(3) Gal 4:4,5; 3:13.

IV. Scripture

A. Emphasizes, together with the true deity, His true and full humanity.

B. It also exhibits Him to us in all characteristics and activities of the human nature.

C. Shows how He places all the powers of the body and the soul in the service of our redemption; e.g.:

1. His soul “travailed” (Is 53:11 again).

2. He kneeled and prayed (Lk 22:41).

3. He was sorrowful and heavy in spirit (Mt 26:37)

4. His soul was sorrowful even unto death (Mt 26:38)

5. His sweat was as great drops of blood (Lk 22:44).

6. He subjected His human will to the Father’s will (Lk 22:42)

7. He thirsted (Jn 19:28).

8. In His own body, He bare our sins on the cross (1Pe 2:24).

D. A “celestial” body, not consubstantial with ours.

1. Could never have performed such a work of redemption.

2. Denial of His true humanity involves a denial of the work of redemption!

3. Misuse of Scriptural passages perverts Scripture, e.g.

a. Ro 8:3.

b. Php 2:8.

c. Jn 6:41.

d. Church has always understood these correctly.

E. Homoousios: consubstantiality.

1. Re: the Father, indicates He is of one essence in number.

2. Re: men, indicates He is of one essence in kind.

F. “The Son of Man”

1. Explained by Christ Himself.

2. Mt 16:13-17.

3. Is “the Son of the living God”.

4. Is the subject of

a. On the one hand, the whole series of divine attributes.

b. On the other, the whole series of human attributes.

5. e.g., human attributes.

a. is poor (Mt 8:20)

b. eats and drinks (Mt 11:19).

c. Is reviled, suffers, and dies (Mt 17:12,22,23; 20:18,19)

6. e.g., divine attributes.

a. Sees the thoughts of the heart (Mt 9:4).

b. Forgives sins (Mt 9:6).

c. Is Lord of the Sabbath (Mt 12:8).

d. Sits at right hand of God as Ruler of universe (Mt 26:63).

e. Returns in divine glory to judge (Mt 25:31-46).

7. He is not “the ideal man”, nor “the flower of humanity”.

8. He is:

a. Da 7:13 – prophesied.

b. 1Jn 3:8 – His purpose.