Liberty University (1971) Short Essay 2 Vernon Jay Morris Williams Theo 201 Date: 11-15-2014 SCENARIO: Christology – As you are going home from work, two well-dressed gentlemen accost you, handing you some literature explaining what they believe. You glance over it and are drawn to this sentence: Jesus was a man and as such could not also be God. Seeing the puzzled look on your face, one of the men asks you what you think of this claim. Keeping this scenario in mind, answer the following questions in your essay: • What is the biblical basis for Jesus humanity? • What is the biblical basis for Jesus deity? • Explain how Jesus can be both God and Man at the same time (Hypostatic Union). • What does it mean for Jesus to be both God and Man? • Why did Jesus need to become incarnate to save humanity? • What are the dangers of overemphasizing or denying either the deity or humanity of Christ? • What are the common objections to the traditional understanding of Christology (refer to the Christological heresies in Elwell, pgs. 241–42), and how do you respond to them? • In what ways is Christ in his humanity an example to you? There are many scriptures that deal with the humanity of Jesus (Yahshua); for example, if Jesus was not human why does the bible say that he needed to rest because he was weary and needed to have a drink from the well in John 4:6? The very fact that Jesus gets tired just as we do and needs to be hydrated speaks for itself. If this is not enough to help one understand that Jesus (Yahshua) was also human, John 11:35 speaks of Jesus’ (Yahshua) weeping over the death of Lazarus. Now, to close this argument the bible shows us a clear picture of Jesus’ humanity in Matthew 26:39 when Jesus (Yahshua) asked God (Yahweh) if the cup could pass from him. Jesus’ act of total submission is yet another sign of his humanity. As deity refers to the rank or essential nature of God, we see many scriptures in the bible that support this very fact; “I and [my] Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God” (John 10: 30-33). Other scriptures that speak of the Deity of our Lord and Savior are John 1:1, Hebrews 13:8, Colossians 2:9, Galatians 3:28 and John 1:14. The Hypostatic Union is a term used to describe God in a human nature, as Jesus Christ yet remained fully God at the same time. Because we have finite minds, we will never be able to fully understand the things of God (Yahweh) in their totality. Many theologians have tried to break down the Hypostatic Union in laymen terms but all have failed tremendously. If I could attempt to do the same, I would say that God simply placed all of his powers and abilities in the form of a man in order that he would experience the test, trials and tribulations of man and be able to walk this earth and sin not. The absence of God in his totality because he took on the form of man would minimize the effects of or better yet cancel out the whole purpose for his coming. I know that many will not understand the way this is stated but simply put, there could be no Jesus without God (Yahweh) and there could be no salvation without Jesus (Yahshua). To be both God (Yahweh) and Jesus (Yahshua) means that God had to take on human form in order that we might have a savior. Again, God knew just how important it was to experience the things that we face because through the life of Jesus (Yahshua) we have hope. Not only do we have hope but also, we no longer have an excuse as to why we continue to walk ungodly. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 4:15 that “we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” Jesus (Yahshua) had to be born under the law in order that he might fulfill the law (Galatians 4:4-5, Matthew 5:17). In order for the sins of man to be forgiven, the blood of Jesus (Yahshua) had to be shed. Without incarnation, Jesus (Yahshua) could not really die and the cross would have been meaningless. To overemphasize the deity and humanity of Christ would be dangerous, because many would find it pointless to even try to walk upright. Speaking of his nature and rank without going overboard gives us hope that we can be forgiven even in our short comings. Overemphasizing his humanity would make many question his ability to be the one and only atoning sacrifice for our sins. Denying his humanity would clearly mean that one also believes Jesus (Yahshua) felt nothing in regards to the things he suffered while here on earth. Denying his deity is dangerous because this is simply saying that Jesus Christ is not all-powerful and in essence has no authority. Jesus Christ in his humanity is an example to me in that while he was faced with the test, trials and tribulations of this world, he overcame them without sinning. As believers we all need to know that we can overcome anything that we may face in this life. The Common objections to the traditional understanding of Christology seem be based off of general beliefs and not guided by one’s ability to walk by faith. The more one tries to understand the things of God outside of the leading of the Holy Spirit, the more one will become lost.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 03:25:25 +0000
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