February 2/26 I preached on the Dual Nature of Christ. These are the two questions that came into the text line.
Question 1 Since our sins were placed on Christ during the crucifixion, then doesn’t He know what it feels like to be guilty of sin?
I totally agree that He does! I believe, however, that I was expounding on Hebrews 4:15 which says: “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” I imagine that the author of Hebrews was focused on His life and not on His time on the Cross. Good catch!!!
Question 2 Is it appropriate to say it is impossible to explain how Jesus is God and man?
In terms that satisfy our finite minds, yes it’s impossible. However, for both this, the Hypostatic Union and the Trinity, the best Theologians can do is come up with a list of statements, positive and negative, that define what each is and isn’t; as we can understand what has been revealed. Regarding the Hypostatic Union (the God/Man) the Chalcedonian Creed took a shot in 451 at the Fourth Ecumenical Council
We, then, following the holy Fathers, all with one consent, teach men to confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man, of a reasonable [rational] soul and body; consubstantial [co-essential] with the Father according to the Godhead, and consubstantial with us according to the Manhood; in all things like unto us, without sin; begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead, and in these latter days, for us and for our salvation, born of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, according to the Manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved, and concurring in one Person and one Subsistence, not parted or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son, and only begotten, God the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ; as the prophets from the beginning [have declared] concerning Him, and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself has taught us, and the Creed of the holy Fathers has handed down to us.
Take some time, slowly work through this description and perhaps a better, though still not perfect, understanding can be found! 🙂
Pastor Scott
Grace Notes 