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.

It is the two great contrasts in the earthly life of Jesus Christ that provide the power of His Example: His stainless purity of thought, word and action — within a body and mind such as we have inherited and within an environment such as we are limited by.

Although the humble follower of Christ rejoices in this wonderful truth that Jesus is our all-sufficient, all-enabling Example, yet many thinking minds find it hard to accept such a contrast. Anything paradoxical — anything they cannot encompass within their thoughts, is open to suspicion and question. Yet the mystery of Christ's incarnation and life is as deep as is that of His death, resurrection, ascension, heavenly ministry, kingly rule, and eternity. All about us are mysteries beyond our ken. All that God is and all that God does is a mystery. We can describe some of it and name parts of it, but its nature, substance and operation will never fully be grasped. And that is as it should be. Our Creator does not intend to tell us everything.

As in nature, so in the truths of God's Word, there are partly revealed truths that we shall never fully understand through all eternity. Men who must continually poke and pry into that which God has not revealed are duplicating the-tree-in-the-garden experiment. And it can be a dangerous one. Let us humbly accept what He has opened before us, thank Him for it, and trust in the One who holds our destiny in His hands.

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.

REGARDING THE VARIANT POSITION
Advocates of the "new theology" are trying to destroy our Church. They teach a finished atonement at the cross and no need for a heavenly ministry or an earthly obedience thereafter. Such teachers are dangerous — dangerous to their own souls and dangerous to all the rest of us.

But not all who accept the error of the immaculate nature of Christ are in the "new theology.

" Some are genuinely confused on this point, and yet in spite of it, they still love their Lord deeply, fully believe in obedience by faith, the Sanctuary ministry of Jesus, and the rest of the precious doctrinal teachings of Adventism. " Some are genuinely confused on this point, and yet in spite of it, they still love their Lord deeply, fully believe in obedience by faith, the Sanctuary ministry of Jesus, and the rest of the precious doctrinal teachings of Adventism.

Please understand this, and deal gently with such. They are brothers and sisters in the heart of the faith and salvation through Christ that enables men and women to put away their sins and prepare for heaven.

— vf

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 Holy One of Israel: In consideration of all this, be careful, exceedingly careful, how you view the earthly life of Christ. We have considered His nature, but we must also correctly understand how He lived His earthly days in that nature. Do not think that because He took our human nature, that therefore it must have defiled Him in some way. It did not. He was ever pure, sinless and holy. The 4,000-year mental, moral, physical heredity that He took upon Himself did not taint Him in the least, for He never personally yielded to sin. Do not presume to think that Christ was altogether human — an ordinary human being — in the way in which He lived, for He was not. He bore our nature, but in it He lived a totally sinless life. He was "that Holy Thing." No selfishness, temper, haste, indulgence in appetite or passion ever marred His days. He was a pure, sinless being, without a stain of sin upon Him. He never indulged in sin. He had the nature of man but not His conduct. And this makes all the difference — for it sustains God's position in the great controversy that men on earth can obey the Law of God through divine aid. One of Satan's charges was that it is impossible for God's creatures to obey His laws, with or without His help. Jesus took upon His holy being a fallen sinful ancestry and the weaknesses and degeneracies common to us — yet He remained ever pure in that nature. His ancestry and heredity was fallen, but His soul was unfallen. Christ was not altogether such a one as ourselves, for in His choices, Christ was not such a one as ourselves. He always chose to make correct ones. This may seem to be a great paradox, but the key lies in the difference between nature and choice. He fully took our damaged nature, but He did not even once choose our wrong thoughts and acts. Christ could take our sinful nature without ever being defiled by it, for He never made a sinful choice. And without a sinful choice on His part a fallen sinful nature could give Him no defilement. Thus, at His birth He had no taint of sin, nor thereafter. On His sinless divine nature, He took our sinful human nature — but that sinful nature had no effect in disturbing His purity. A consistent life of obedience by faith was a power that Satan could not conquer. In regard to His heredity, He took all of our fallen and sinful nature. But because of His pure choices and decisions, it was as if He had a sinless nature. For even though the fallen nature and physical limitations pressed Him hard in His conflict with temptations, He determinedly and fully resisted them all. The fact was that He bore our fallen nature; but by consistent dependence upon divine power, the effect was as if He did not have a fallen nature. But if He had not had it, He could not be our Example. And this is what He is: a Perfect Example for us — a totally Godly life in a nature exactly like ours. And yet, the intensity of this contrast is amazing (so much so that most theologians cannot accept it). But it only accentuates something else that is amazing: the overcoming divine power that is available to mankind in the battle with sin.

(The "Baker Letter" [letter 8, 1895]. was written by Fllen White to a minister who was teaching the "Adoptianist" heresy that Christ was a sinner like the rest of us, but who eventually overcame His sins by Himself sufficiently to be made the Christ, and have divinity united with Him at His baptism. FF — 304, page 2-4 explains this error and this letter. But bits and phrases of the Baker letter are used by the "New Theology" [and by Froom, before them] to vindicate the error that Christ did not take our human nature. But in the Baker letter, we are told that Christ did not make our sinful choices. Part of the Baker letter is to be found in 5BC 1128.

The Holy One of Israel: He was holy and pure (ST 426). His human soul was holy (2T 2011 and His humanity was perfect (DA 664). In taking man's nature, He did not in the least participate in its sin (5BC 1131; 1SM 256). He is the one faultless character that has lived on this planet (4T 541). He knew not the least taint of sin or defilement (ISM 253). The life and death of Christ would have been of no value to us if He had not been without sin (7BC 933). He became like one of us except in sin, so that His life and character should be a pattern for us to copy (SD 23). He was a brother in our infirmities but not in possessing like passions (2T 202). He never did one wrong action (WM 287). He did not become a sinner by His incarnation (SD 25). He did not possess the passions of man's fallen nature (2T 509). Divine wrath would have come upon Christ if He had sinned (1SM 256). He was free from all sin and error (7BC 929), from the slightest stain of sin (MM 20; WM 53-54) and from the taint of sin (7BC 927). As a sinless offering He was a full and perfect sacrifice (LS 246). He was the great sinlessness propitiation (7BC 925). Guiltless He bore the guilt of the guilty (1SM 322). He had no evil propensity (5BC 1128), no inclination to corruption (5BC 1128), no propensities to sin (5BC 1 128), and no taint of corruption (5BC 1128). He had a perfect hatred for sin (5BC 1142; 7BC 904; 1SM 254, 322) and was holy and pure (ST 426). Have no misgivings regarding the perfect sinlessness of the human nature of Christ (58C 1131; 1SM 256). He was tempted in all points as we are, yet He was untainted by corruption (7BC 907). He was the spotless Lamb of God IDA 652; SD 25). He was a perfect specimen of sinless humanity (7BC 907). The perfection revealed in Christ, God expects from us (CG 477). The purity and elevated morality of Christ awed men (3T 422). The purity of His divine character was maintained in the midst of His human nature (ML 323). Sin found no place in Christ (5BC 1117).

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 Great Mystery: We are repeatedly told that the human nature of Christ is a great mystery. What is mysterious about Christ's human nature? If we had all the answers, there would be no mystery. It is because some aspects of the nature of Christ are beyond our understanding and/or were never revealed, that there is a mystery. Among these are: (1) How could Christ be at once fully human and fully divine? How could He have two distinct natures? We do not know, but He did, for this is what we are told in the inspired Word. (2) How could Christ go through early childhood without sin? How could He fully bear our fallen nature and resist sin in His infancy? We do not know, but that He did take our fallen ancestry and nature and that He never sinned is the teaching of God's Word. In connection with this, it is of interest that we are told that Christ was guided by the Holy Spirit from His birth, and elsewhere we are told (in "Adventist Home") that through the faith of praying mothers, their children may be guided by the Holy Spirit from their earliest childhood also. In summary, then, on this great mystery: "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed be long unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." — Deuteronomy 29:29.

The Great Mystery:

It is an unexplainable mystery that Christ could be tempted in all points like as we, and yet be without sin (5BC 1128- 1129). The doctrine of the incarnation of Christ is a mystery (1SM 246, 249), a great a profound mystery of godliness (1SM 246). It is a great mystery (7BC 915) of love (2T 2151. It is a mystery [8BC 1130-1131; 6BC 1082; 1SM 2461 of mysteries (6BC 10821 that no man can explain (5BC 1129). It is too deep for the human mind to explain or fully comprehend (SC 106; ST 699). It is a mystery that even the disciples did not understand (DA 507). It is an unfathomable mystery (5BC 1130). It is one of the most precious and most mysterious truths of the entire plan of redemption (ST 7461. It will ever remain a mystery (5BC 1128-1129). It is an unexplainable mystery that Christ could be tempted in all points like as we, and yet be without sin (5BC 1128- 1129). The doctrine of the incarnation of Christ is a mystery (1SM 246, 249), a great a profound mystery of godliness (1SM 246). It is a great mystery (7BC 915) of love (2T 2151. It is a mystery [8BC 1130-1131; 6BC 1082; 1SM 2461 of mysteries (6BC 10821 that no man can explain (5BC 1129). It is too deep for the human mind to explain or fully comprehend (SC 106; ST 699). It is a mystery that even the disciples did not understand (DA 507). It is an unfathomable mystery (5BC 1130). It is one of the most precious and most mysterious truths of the entire plan of redemption (ST 7461. It will ever remain a mystery (5BC 1128-1129).

Summary: Here is the heart of this Scriptural teaching:

Christ took our fallen nature, but He never made our fallen choices. This is the two sides to the truth of the human nature of Christ. And here is the heart of what it can mean to you: We have the same nature that He took. In His strength we can make the same good choices that His Father enabled Him to make. Jesus offers to let you live His humble, submissive, obedient life — and to begin it right now. Christ's way of living is offered to you at this very time. Take it. It is free for the asking; but it costs — it costs a way of life, — Christ's way of life, Christ's clinging, Christ's prayers, Christ's victories. You already have His nature; now accept His life in that nature.

The truth is that the human nature of Christ is an open door that you may enter, just now. An open door into His life. And, to express this wondrous truth in a different way: As you draw near to receive that life, you kneel in repentance before Him at the cross; rising, you enter the Sanctuary in acceptance, and sit with Him in heavenly places as He ministers for you precious blessings from His Father.

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.

Especially note Hebrews 2:1-18 and 4:1-5.

FOR ADDITIONAL STUDY ON THE HUMAN NATURE OF CHRIST

FF — 301-305: "The Human Nature of Christ" — a set of five tracts that provides dozens of quoted passages of inspired guidance. FF — 304 has an analysis of the "Baker Letter" that was prepared several years ago by one of our leading pastors. FF — 304-305 contains three studies from our larger "Biblical Sanctuary" that deal with Biblical passages on the topic. FF — 304 has a collection of Bible verses applicable to the nature of Christ.

FF — 306.- "Summary of the Human Nature of Christ" — the tract which you are now reading.

FF — 26: "Documentary Fraud" — transcript of a carefully prepared sermon delivered by Ralph Larson, at that time senior pastor of the Loma Linda Campus Hills Church. It is well worth your reading, as it explains the present controversy over the human nature of Christ. the issues involved the correct position, and Frooms effort to twist inspired statements in order to teach error.

DH — 1: "The Change in the Doctrine of the Human Nature of Christ" — a scholarly paper prepared in a North American Adventist educational institution, that clearly documents the changeover from truth to error — and tells us exactly when it occurred.

DH — 2: "The Nature of Christ Change in 'Bible Readings'

Photostatic before-and-after reprints of the passage in "Bible Readings" that show what was changed and what it was changed to. The accompanying text provides information on when and why the change took place. A Scriptural defense of the correct position, and a theological summary of the error is also provided.

117 — 3-5: "In Christ We Conquer" — entirely composed of Spirit of Prophecy statements, this four-part study provides a wealth of insight into the nature that Christ took — and how it relates to your Christian experience and mine. The other tracts in this "Indwelling Christ Series" you will also appreciate. Almost totally of inspired material, they present the necessity and promises of Obedience by Faith. This beautiful topic is closely related to that of the human nature of Christ.

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