The Human Nature of Christ

A/though a relatively large amount of Inspired material on the human nature of Christ has been compiled in FF — 301-305, yet it seems best that we also provide a brief suggestive summary statement on this important teaching of the Christian Faith.

The following is a brief suggestive summary of the doctrine of the human nature of Christ. It is not meant to be final nor complete. Accompanying it are a few citations to help clarify points that are developed. But these citations are not complete, either. — vf.

His Nature: Christ took our inherited human nature, fallen though it was through 4,000 years of sin.

His Nature: He did in reality possess human nature (Ism 247). He did not make-believe take human nature (5BC 1130; 1sm 247) and humanity upon Himself (5BC 1124). God gave Christ to be flesh of our flesh (SD 11). He had the same nature as man (1 SM 408). He possessed all the human organism (5BC 1130). He took human nature and lived human nature (5BC 1124). He took humanity that He might meet humanity (DA 296; TM 190). He took the same nature as man had (5BC 1082). He took man's nature (5BC 1081; DA 24,49; 2T 201; ST 235; Te 287). God mysteriously allied Him with fallen human beings (CT 259).

His Weaknesses: He took our inherited human weakness, with all the liabilities, degeneracies, limitations and infirmities of that nature. Every inherited weakness to sin that we have, He took upon Himself.

His Weaknesses: He was subject to the weakness of humanity (DA 49) and to the infirmities and weaknesses by which man is compassed (1sm 256). He subjected Himself to all of the humbling conditions of man's nature (4T 458). He took humanity with all its liabilities (DA 117). He took the infirmities of degenerate humanity upon Him (DA 117; MH 180). He took the infirmities of humanity and lived a sinless life (MH 180). He took the liabilities of human nature (5BC 1114; 1sm 226). He took on His sinless nature man's sinful nature (MM181 ). He took the weakness of humanity (DA 111). He took man's nature degraded by sin (4BC 1147), in its fallen condition (11BC 1085; 4BC 1147; DA 112; EW 150; 1sm 256), and in its deteriorated condition (1 SM 253). The weaknesses of fallen man were upon Him when He was tempted by Satan (5BC 1081). He subjected Himself voluntarily to the conditions of human nature (AA 333).

His Choices: In this nature and in spite of those weaknesses, He could have sinned, but He never sinned. He took our heredity but He never made sinful choices. Though He had our inherited weaknesses, yet He never indulged in transgression. So He developed no propensities or personal tendencies to sin. Thus, though He took the wholeness of our inherited nature, He never took our sinfulness, for He never chose sin. Because of this, although He had the inherited nature of man after 4,000 years of sin, He at the same time had the sinlessness of Adam before His fall. (Propensities are urges toward transgression resulting from earlier decisions to indulge in sin. But Christ never chose sin so He had no propensities.)

His Choices: Christ could have yielded to temptation (5BC 1128) if He had chosen to do so (DA 117). He could have sinned (5BC 1128). The earth would have become Satan's kingdom if Christ had been overcome (DA 687). For our sakes, Christ took the risk of failure and eternal loss (DA 49, 131). He took the nature that we have, with the possibility of yielding to temptation (DA 117). In His humanity, He was a free moral agent (5BC 1082; 6BC 1074). As with us, He experienced hunger, thirst and weariness (DA 311). He was placed on probation (5BC 1082). He was not exempt from temptation (DA 71). He took man's nature but not its sinfulness (7BC 912, 925). He took on Himself the infirmities of humanity and then lived a sinless life (MH 180). Christ as a man had no evil propensities (5BC 1128). Christ alone can strengthen man to fully overcome his evil propensities (ST 335).

His Relationship to God: He never chose separation from His Father. This is a deeply significant fact. Although He took our fallen nature, yet He ever linked His life and interests with those of His heavenly Father. (From Gethsemane down to the time of His death, the Father separated from Him because He bore our sins. But throughout that time it continued to be His choice to keep His mind fixed upon the Father.)

His Relationship to God: [Citations for this section can be found under "His Method," and "His Example," given below.)

His Temptations: In this human nature He was tempted on all points like as we, and He was tempted on each point more strongly than any of us ever shall be. The temptations that Satan pressed upon the humanity of Christ were far more severe than those that any other human being has ever or shall ever experience. The fierceness of the temptations that wrung the heart of Christ were far greater even than the habitual propensities (tendencies aiding temptations, resulting from sinful practices and habits) that we must face. (In this paragraph we are not referring to Satan's temptations upon Christ to make use of His divine nature to aid His human nature. These temptations were also very strong, but because they are not temptations akin to ours, we shall not discuss them here.)

His Temptations: Fierce temptations wrung His heart (DA 753). He encountered the fiercest temptations that Satan could invent (CD 167). They were greater than any other man has ever borne (4T 45). They were much greater than Adam's (DA 117; ML 323; 1SM 267-268) or ours (DA 116). There has never been another born of woman who was so fiercely beset by temptation as was Christ (Ed 78). Never will mankind be tried with temptations as powerful as those that Christ resisted (4T 45). They were Satan's fiercest and most subtle temptations (GC 510). The temptations were those that the rest of us find so difficult to withstand (DA 116). The fiercest assailed Him in time of weakness (DA 120). All of these temptations could not bring Him to yield even by a thought (7BC 927; GC 623). He met them with the Word of God (MH 181; DA 123). God's Word was His weapon of warfare in meeting them (DA 120). Humanity would have been lost if He had yielded to them (SD 24). Although they were most terrible (SD 241, yet he did no parleying with Satan when he brought them upon Him (DA 120). He never invited temptation (DA 1141, and when they came He had one answer for them (DA 881. His victory in meeting temptation has shown us how to meet and resist temptation also (3T 491). They were overcome at every step (MYP 161 in the strength given Him from God (DA 24).

His Responses: Yet in spite of these intense temptations, He never once yielded to any of them. He never transgressed His Father's Law. Not once did He ever choose sin. He never once chose a sinful thought, word or action. He only lived to help and bless others.

His Responses: It was Satan's plan to overthrow Christ in His fallen nature (EW 152). Christ defeated Satan on every point in our behalf (9T 190). In our humanity He met and overcame Satan (58C 1108; MYP 951. He had a perfect hatred for sin (5BC 1142; 7BC 904; 1SM 254, 322). The life of Christ as a man was perfect at each stage of development (CDL 83). He lived a sinless (CDL 83; DA 312; MH 180) and a spotless life DA 237; 2T 50) from the manger to the cross (1 SM 2231. He never sinned once with His lips (7BC 936). He manifested no human weakness or imperfection (PP 480). He was obedient and sinless unto death (1SM 324). He was perfect as a man (1T 339; TM 173), perfect in life DA 311), and His perfect purity is an example for us (ML 300). It is an unexplained mystery that Christ could have been tempted in all points like as we, and yet be without sin (5BC 1128-11291. He was perfect in His humanity (TM 173). He would not have been a perfect offering if He had sinned (8BC 1081).

His Perfecting: Because of this continual habit of obedience, the indication is that He removed from His humanity the inherited weaknesses that could have inclined Him toward sin. In this way, He perfected a Christian character. But He did not purge sin from His life, for there never were any sins existing in His life. He removed the fallen hereditary characteristics from His nature, — and then took that nature to Heaven, there to bear it forever. He took a perfected nature to heaven, not a fallen nature.

His Perfecting: Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us (CDL 311). He retains His human nature forever IDA 25-26). He took His glorified humanity to heaven (5BC 1125; 6BC 1054; MH 421; SD 22; 8T 267). He will wear His humanity throughout eternal ages (5BC 1125; 6BC 1054). (For more citations on this topic, see below under "His Relationship to Us.")

His Use of Abilities: In His steadfast resistance of sin and obedience to God, He made use of no power, capacity, strength, resource or qualification that is not fully available to us.

His Use of Abilities: [Citations for this section can be found under "His Method," and "His Example," given below.)

His Method: Through submission, faith, prayer, study of the Word, and a constant dependence upon His Father for enabling strength, He continually gained the victory.

His Method: He depended on His Father for means to relieve His necessity (DA 368; MH 48-49), and wisdom and strength (DA 123), and for power to overcome IDA 208). He did not employ His divine power to lessen His burdens or to lighten His toil (CT 276-277). His divine power was not used for His own benefit (1SM 276). He lived the Law of God in humanity (7BC 915). He lived a pure, noble and perfect life, even though cumbered with humanity (CT 488). He met and overcame Satan by relying on God's power (7BC 924). He was not at liberty to use His divine powers to relieve His necessities (Te 276). He received power to obey God's commandments (MH 181). Though bearing our nature, He rendered to His Father the same obedience that He required of man (7BC 929). He was victor by faith IDA 756).

His Example: He was guarded by the angels as we may be guarded. He was guided by the Holy Spirit as we may be guided. He remained in continual contact with His Father as we may. He resisted temptation as fully as we may resist it. He overcame and came off conqueror as we may. He overcame every possibility of a hereditary and environmental tendency to evil as we may. He lived life as we may live it. His example and pattern is for us. If we follow His example and walk in His steps, we may daily have His victory. His life may be ours.

His Example: He exercised no powers or qualities that men may not have by faith in Him (DA 6641. He was guided step by step by the Father's will IDA 147). He elevates humanity by assuming human nature (SC 15).

His Relationship to Us: While on earth He resisted and overcame every hereditary and environmental tendency to evil as we may do, through His empowering grace. He ascended to heaven still bearing that nature, but perfected by steadfast adherence to the right, through reliance upon His Father. He continues today to be one with us in bearing our human nature. He fully sympathizes, understands and ministers to us today. He asks us to live as He lived while on earth. And through His inspired Word He explains how it may be done and promises abundant help in fulfilling it. Through His Holy Spirit He empowers us to do it. He is our life Companion and will never leave us for any reason save that of our own choice.

His Relationship to Us: By His humanity, Christ is linked with man (CDL 169). Through His humanity He is closer to us than a father, mother, brother, friend, or lover IDA 327). He is "near of kin" to us IDA 327). Although now in heaven, He has lost none of His humanity (TM 19). The human form of humanity will be borne by Christ through the eternal ages (SC 14). The life that He laid down in humanity He took up again (5BC 1113-1114; DA 787). He never forgets that He bears our nature (TM 19). Humanity is united with God's throne by Christ IDA 143). He is pledged to intercede in our behalf (SD 22). He appears now before God not merely as a petitioner but as a conqueror claiming the victory (CDL 156). He pleads before God for sinful men (AA 495; 8T 178), and introduces them to the Father as His sons and daughters (6T 363). He is a personal Saviour in His role of intercessor on our behalf (Ed 132; MH 419). He presents His spotless merits with our prayers, confessions, and thanksgiving (CDL 156).

His Relationship to Adam and His Race: Christ stands in the place of Adam, and for these reasons: Adam was the federal head of the race. When he fell, all the race fell with him (for they were all his descendants). Christ is the "second Adam." In Christ the race has a second chance. His victory redeems Adam's failure. He has become the new federal head of the race. As in Adam we are all destined to fail; so, choosing Christ, we may all be empowered to overcome. Christ conquered on the point where Adam fell — the test of appetite. And He resisted this temptation in the wilderness under the worst conditions and while bearing the nature of man after 4,000 years of sin. Adam, on the other hand, was not even hungry when he was tempted. But Christ did not overcome in the unfallen nature of Adam, for then He could only have saved the unfallen Adam — and unfallen Adam needed no Saviour. Adam and all his race had fallen into environmental and hereditary weakness to sin. And they needed One who could reach them where they were, conquer environment and heredity in their behalf and in their nature, and give them an example of overcoming in their nature, through the power of God — an example that they could genuinely follow. Adam taught them how to fail and led them into a pit of failure; Christ teaches them how to succeed and strengthens them to overcome. So, in summary of the matter: (1) Christ took Adam's nature, that is, He took the nature of Adam's race — human nature. He took the nature of man, not the nature of angels. (2) Christ took the nature of Adam's descendants after 4,000 years of sin — He took our nature, and it is fallen nature. He took not the immaculate nature of unfallen Adam. (3) He did not take two different human natures; He only took one nature. This was the nature of the human race in its fallen, apparently hopeless condition. And then in that nature He proved that through the power of God there is no excuse for disobedience.

His Relationship to Adam and His Race: He passed over the ground where the first Adam fell and redeemed His failure (ML 323). He endured the test where Adam failed (SD 241. Christ was tempted by Satan in a hundredfold severer manner than was Adam, and under circumstances in every way more trying (ML 323). By enduring the test that Adam failed, Christ placed man on vantage ground so that he could overcome on his own account through the merits of Jesus (SD 24). All was lost when Adam yielded to the power of appetite. The Redeemer standing in His place, endured a six-week fast. The length of this fast is the strongest evidence of the extent of the sinfulness and power of debased appetite upon the human family (5BC 1079). But the first Adam was in every way more favorably situated than was Christ when each met temptation (ML 3231. Adam had the advantage over Christ, in that when he was assailed by the tempter, none of the effects of sin were upon him (Signs, Dec 3, 1902 [quoted in FF — 302, p. 4)). He overcame, revealing to all that the sons and daughters of Adam can through His grace keep the Law of God (ML 3231. Christ's victory was as complete as had been Adam's failure. So we may resist temptation and force Satan to flee from us (ML 323).

The Nature That He Took: Christ really took our nature —  all of it. He did not merely take our "physical nature" and weaknesses. The physical part of man can only be separated from the rest — the mental and the emotional — by the theoretician. If such a major division took place within Christ at His incarnation, we would be told about it somewhere. Instead, we are told: (1) Christ did not make-believe take our nature, or half-take our nature. (2) He took our fallen, sinful nature. (3) He took all of our weaknesses; all of the weaknesses of our nature. Do remember:

He partook of all of our fallen nature, but He partook in none of our fallen choices. That is the key to the entire issue. Also remember that if Christ only took part of our nature, then He can only be partly our Example. Is Jesus only an example for your physical nature, — your skin, bones and physical organs, — and not an example for your moral nature, — your mind, emotions and thinking, choices and will power? The modernistic body-splitting of the intellectuals in regard to the incarnation of Christ is simply an attempt to explain away a truth which they are not willing to accept.

The Nature that He took: He took on His sinless nature man's sinful nature (MM 181). He took man's nature degraded by sin (4BC 1147). He was made in the likeness of sinful flesh (Letter 106, 1896 [quoted in FF — 301, p. 2)1. He united the offending nature of man with His own nature (Review, July 17, 1900 [quoted in FF — 301, p. 4)). He took fallen, suffering human nature, degraded and defiled by sin (Youth's Instructor, Dec 20, 1900 [quoted in FF — 303, p. 1)). He took our sinful nature (Review, December 15, 1896 [quoted in FF  —   301, p. 3]). He had all the strength of passion of humanity (IHP, 155). He came down to the level in humanity of those whom He wished to save (Review, Dec 15, 1896 [quoted in FF — 302, pp. 1-2)). He took humanity in its deteriorated condition (1SM 2S2-2S6). He was made in the likeness of sinful flesh (DA 147). He had a truly human nature (3SM 135). He had a human nature that was identical to that of our own (MS 94, 1893 [quoted in FF — 302, p. 1] 1.He took upon Him the infirmities of degenerate humanity IDA 117). God permitted Him to meet life's peril in common with every human soul, and to fight it as every human being must fight it IDA 49). He bore the humanity that we bear (MS 21, 1895 [quoted in FF — 302, p. 11). He accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by sin IDA 49). He was placed on probation, just as man is (MS 29, 1899 [quoted in FF — 302, p. 3]). He came in the likeness of sinful flesh IDA 312). He carried all our infirmities and bore all our temptations (Letter 22, 1898 [quoted in FF — 302, p. 41)

THE INCARNATION AND NATURE OF CHRIST: "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. —  Matthew 1:1. "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law." — Galatians 4:4. "Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel." — Isaiah 7:14. "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." — Isaiah 9:6. "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots."   —   Isaiah 11:1. "The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; He will not turn from it: of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne." — Psalm 132:11. "Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise up unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth."  — Jeremiah 23:5.

"And I will put enmity between thee [Satan) and the woman [the church (all descendants of Adam)) , and between thy seed and her seed; It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel." — Genesis 3:15. "The Lord shall raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me [Moses) ; unto Him ye shall hearken." — Deuteronomy 18:15. "I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee [Moses] , and will put My words in His mouth; and He shall speak unto them all that I shall command Him." — Deuteronomy 18:18. "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from beneath his feet [born from his descendants) , until Shiloh come, and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be." — Genesis 49:10. "Judah hath prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler."  — 1 Chronicles 5:2. "Let Thy hand be upon the Man of Thy right hand, upon the Son of Man whom Thou madest strong for Thyself." — Psalm 80:17. "Thou spakest in vision to Thy Holy One, and saidst, I have laid help upon One that is mighty; I have exalted One chosen out of the people." — Psalm 89:19. "And a Man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary land." — Isaiah 32:2. "The Lord hath called Me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath He made mention of My name. And now, saith the Lord that formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob again to Him, though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and My God shall be My strength." — Isaiah 49:1,5. "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting. Therefore will He give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth." — Micah 5:2-3.

"And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David." — Luke 1:31-32. "She shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins." — Matthew 1:21. "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." — John 1:14. "The gospel of God - concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh." — Romans 1:1,3. "Let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David: Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of His loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on His throne." — Acts 2:29-30.

"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh." — Romans 8:3. "And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh.''  — 1 Timothy 3:16. "But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." — Philippians 2:7. "Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is the spirit of antichrist." — 1 John 4:3. "And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness." — 2 Corinthians 12:9. "Behold, My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have." — Luke 24:39. "Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless but believing." — John 20:27. "Hath not Scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?" — John 7:42.

For additional Bible passages, read: 2 Sam 7:12; Acts 3:22; 13:23; 2 Cor 5:16; Col 1:15; Gen 17:7; 22:18; 1 Jn 1:1-3; 2 Jn 7; Rev 22:16; Rom 1:3-4; Rev 22:16; Matt 1:16; 2 Cor 5:21; Hebrews 5:1-8; 7:14.