Estudio Bíblico: Cristología - Humanidad de Cristo. Parte 2. Dr. Samuel Pérez Millos

Understanding the Humanity of God

Introduction to the Doctrine

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the doctrine regarding the deity of Jesus Christ, referring to Him as the eternal Word. They express confidence that everyone has grasped this concept well.

Transition to Humanity

• The discussion shifts from Christ's divinity to His humanity, highlighting that God's story begins with His incarnation as a man. This marks an exceptional historical moment in divine history.

Complexity of Divine and Human History

• The speaker notes the complexity in linking God's eternal nature with His temporal existence through humanity, suggesting that while God is timeless, He enters human history through Jesus' life.

Historical Significance of Incarnation

• The incarnation signifies a new beginning for God's interaction with humanity, where events such as conception, birth, growth, death, and glorification are recorded in time. This narrative persists eternally due to its divine origin.

Understanding Christian Faith

• It is fundamental within Christian faith to believe that Jesus is both fully divine and fully human. This belief is rooted in historical church definitions established during significant councils like Chalcedon in 451 AD.

The Council of Chalcedon: Defining Faith

Apostolic Tradition

• The speaker references how the Council follows teachings from early church fathers who were directly connected to apostolic teachings about faith and doctrine. These figures are crucial for understanding foundational beliefs.

Definition of Christ's Nature

• According to Chalcedon's definition, Jesus Christ is acknowledged as perfect in both divinity and humanity—truly God and truly man—emphasizing His rational soul and physical body being consubstantial with both God and humans.

Clarifying Misconceptions About Generation

• The term "engendered" refers not to a point in time but rather an eternal communication of life from God the Father to Jesus Christ; it does not imply that there was a time when Jesus did not exist as part of divinity.

Mary’s Role Explained

Understanding the Incarnation of Christ

The Nature of Christ's Humanity and Divinity

• The evangelical world often emphasizes the deity of Christ while neglecting His humanity, leading to confusion about the nature of His incarnation. This distinction is crucial for understanding who truly became human: it was God clothed in humanity, not merely a human endowed with divine attributes.

• There is a tendency to avoid discussing Mary due to her elevated status; however, this avoidance is incorrect. A thorough biblical study must include all aspects of scripture, including Mary's role in the incarnation.

• John 1:14 states that "the Word became flesh," clearly identifying Jesus as the second person of the Trinity who took on human nature. This verse serves as a foundational definition regarding who was incarnated—God Himself in human form.

The Hypostatic Union

• The concept of hypostasis refers to how the divine and human natures coexist within Christ without confusion or separation. The eternal Word (Logos) assumed a human nature while retaining His divine essence, which is essential for understanding Christian theology.

• It’s important to clarify that only one person—the Son—acquired a human nature through this union, while all three persons of the Trinity were involved in this process: the Father initiated it, and the Holy Spirit facilitated conception. Thus, each person plays an active role in Christ's incarnation.

God's Vulnerability Through Incarnation

• In becoming man, God made Himself vulnerable to human experiences and suffering; He did not merely approach humanity but fully entered into it as Emmanuel ("God with us"). This act signifies God's deep commitment to humanity amidst its struggles and limitations.

• The paradox lies in that while God is immortal and cannot be harmed in His divine nature, through His incarnation He allowed Himself to be subject to death at the hands of humans—a profound mystery central to Christian faith. This highlights both God's power and vulnerability simultaneously.

Necessity of Incarnation

Redemption and the Nature of God

The Sovereignty of God's Redemption Plan

• The concept of absolute freedom in redeeming humanity is rooted in God's nature, which was established before creation.

• God's determination to save humanity necessitated that He become man, as stated by Paul: "God cannot deny Himself," meaning His actions must align with His eternal decisions.

• The eternal decision for redemption required the second divine person to assume human form, allowing Him to die for humanity.

Understanding Condemnation and Mercy

• To condone sin, God’s mercy must also involve justice; thus, He could not overlook sin without addressing it through Christ's substitution.

• God does not ignore sin but provides a means for salvation through Jesus Christ, who embodies both divine and human natures.

The Infinite Value of Christ's Sacrifice

• Human guilt is measured against the infinite nature of God; therefore, only an infinite sacrifice can atone for sin.

• Only the life of Christ—who is both fully God and fully man—could restore communion with God by paying the infinite price for our sins.

The Virgin Conception of Jesus

• Jesus' virgin conception is crucial to understanding His dual nature as both divine and human. This doctrine is often referenced in evangelical circles.

• Biblical accounts emphasize Mary's virginity during conception, highlighting its significance in fulfilling prophecy.

Joseph's Role and Prophetic Fulfillment

• Joseph faced a dilemma regarding Mary’s pregnancy; he considered leaving her quietly to avoid public shame due to their engagement status.

The Virgin Birth and Its Theological Implications

Prophetic Significance of the Virgin Birth

• The virgin birth is presented as a prophetic sign, indicating a future eschatological event related to the coming of the Messiah and the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Announcement to Mary

• The angel informs Mary about her role in God's plan, despite her virginity. She questions how this can happen since she has not been with a man.

Divine Sovereignty in Conception

• God sovereignly chooses Mary from among all women to be the mother of His Son. The conception occurs through a miraculous act by the Holy Spirit.

Nature of Jesus' Birth

• Jesus is conceived by the Holy Spirit, making Him unique. He possesses one personhood with two natures: divine and human.

Understanding Holiness in Jesus' Nature

• The term "covered by His shadow" signifies divine omnipotence at work in Mary's conception. This emphasizes that only God is truly holy, thus making Jesus inherently holy due to His divine nature.

Questions on Human Sinfulness

• Discussion arises regarding whether sin is inherited from both parents or just one. Psalm 51 suggests that sin can be traced back to both maternal and paternal lines.

Clarifying Mary's Role

• Some argue that Mary was as holy as Jesus; however, it’s emphasized that she acknowledges her need for salvation, which challenges claims of her immaculate conception lacking biblical support.

Distinction Between Humanity and Divinity

• While Jesus shares human nature with us, He differs fundamentally due to His relationship with divinity and being born without sin—highlighting His impeccable nature compared to humanity's sinful condition.

Understanding the Divine Nature of Jesus

The Virgin Birth and Divine Sonship

• The virgin birth of Jesus does not grant Him divine sonship; rather, His divine affiliation is eternal. Jesus is God manifested in flesh, emphasizing that His human nature does not alter His eternal divinity.

• The speaker critiques humanist theology that suggests Jesus had a divine origin through a process of divinization, arguing this perspective is heretical. He asserts that the one born in Bethlehem is eternally God.

The Role of Mary

Mary's Position in Theology

• There is a tendency within evangelical circles to focus more on figures like Barabbas than on Mary, which the speaker finds concerning. He notes that Mary often gets overlooked outside of Christmas celebrations.

• The Bible presents Mary as a servant or "slave" of the Lord (Luke 1:38), highlighting her humility and willingness to accept God's plan for her life.

Biblical References to Mary

• In Luke 1:43, Mary is referred to as "the mother of my Lord," indicating her significant role beyond merely being Jesus' mother. This acknowledgment elevates her status in biblical prophecy.

• The speaker emphasizes that recognizing Mary's role does not imply belief in doctrines such as the Immaculate Conception but rather affirms her unique position as chosen by God.

Mary's Blessedness and Intercession

Understanding 'Blessed'

• Mary is called "blessed" (Luke 1:48), meaning she will be regarded as happy or fortunate by future generations due to her role in bearing the Son of God.

• While acknowledging Mary's blessedness, it’s clarified that this does not confer upon her any mediatorial power between humanity and God since there is only one mediator—Jesus Christ.

Early Church Perspectives on Mary

• The early church recognized Mary's importance but also held views about her that were sometimes ignorant or dismissive. Acts 1:14 provides insight into how early Christians viewed and honored her presence among them.

Conclusion on Christ's Incarnation

Implications of Incarnation

• Ultimately, Mary serves as an instrumental figure chosen by God for the incarnation; she has no part in conception but plays a vital role in bringing forth Jesus into humanity.

• This leads to understanding how the divine Word became flesh while maintaining its divine nature—a complex theological concept underscored by Paul's writings (Galatians 4:4).

Understanding the Nature of Jesus Christ

Theological Foundations of Jesus' Humanity

• The discussion begins with the connection between Jesus of Nazareth and the Jewish people, emphasizing His human nature derived from Mary while being sinless.

• The speaker notes a significant theological debate regarding Mary's role as the bearer of Christ, which has historically led to intense discussions within the Church.

• It is asserted that the divine presence must be in Mary at the moment of conception for Jesus to embody both humanity and divinity effectively.

Challenges in Understanding Jesus' Conception

• Two primary issues arise concerning Jesus' conception: a Trinitarian problem and an hereditary problem related to sin.

• The hereditary issue suggests that if conceived through biological means, sin could be transmitted from Joseph due to his lineage's curse.

Genealogical Context

• Matthew's genealogy traces back to David, highlighting a curse on King Jeconiah that affects his descendants' claim to the throne.

• In contrast, Luke’s genealogy provides a line through Mary, which avoids any hereditary curses and maintains legitimacy for Jesus’ claim to kingship.

Legitimacy and Rights to Kingship

• Despite being born without limitations due to inherited sin, Jesus is recognized as having legitimate rights to David's throne only upon Joseph's adoption.

• This adoption grants Him royal status while resolving historical complexities surrounding His lineage.

Implications for Redemption

• The speaker emphasizes that as a man born of woman, Jesus can represent humanity in redemption; He became human specifically for this purpose.