454 – The Incarnation of Christ #2 (His Humanity)

SEMESTER 4

454 – The Incarnation of Christ #2 (His Humanity)

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: BIBLE SURVEY IV LESSON # 54
THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST – #2 (HIS HUMANITY)

Read Lk. 2:33-52, Jn. 1:1-14 and Rom. 8:1-3.

INTRODUCTION:

1. When we consider the incarnation; i.e., the birth of Christ, we are considering His humanity.
2. Without understanding the reality of His humanity, we can never really understand the doctrine of redemption.
3. The doctrine of His humanity is as important as the doctrine of His deity, and is the issue of this lesson.

I. THE DUAL NATURES OF CHRIST

1. This dual nature of Christ (the hypostatical union) is a great mystery. (I Tim. 3:16)
2. It is none the less true, Jesus Christ was as much man as if He were not God, and as much God as if He were not man.
1. He was God with every divine attribute.
2. He was man having every human attribute, with which God created man.
3. Though He had both of these natures, they were not mingled or integrated. Neither was less than total.

II. HUMAN NATURE NOT FALLEN NATURE

1. He was the last Adam, not a fallen son of the first Adam. (Rom. 5:14, I Cor. 15:45)
2. This is to say that His humanity possessed all the holiness and innocence of Adam as He came from the hand of God.

III. EVIDENCES OF HIS HUMANITY

1. He was born of a woman, made under the law, whereas God is certainly not under His law. (Gal. 4:4)
2. As a young child He required the protection and sustenance of Joseph and Mary. (Mat. 2:13-15)
3. He increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52)
4. He grew hungry, and needed the ministry of angels after battling Satan. (Mat. 4:2, Mat. 4:11, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:2)
5. He grew physically weary, needing rest and sleep. (Mark 4:38, Jn. 4:6)
6. He died a physical death, as a man. Death is totally incompati­ble with the attributes of God.

IV. ALL THESE WERE SELF-IMPOSED LIMITATIONS

1. He took upon Himself the form of a man. (Phil. 2:7-8)
2. He did not exercise all His divine powers, especially in His own behalf. (Jn. 19:10-11, Mat. 26:53)

V. HE TRANSCENDED THESE LIMITATIONS WHEREVER HE CHOSE

1. By the feeding of the five thousand. (Mat. 14:15-21)
2. By walking on the water (Mat. 14:22-33). Other references too numerous to mention.

Conclusion: In this person, Jesus of Nazareth, we have: The God man, The Son of God, God the Son, The last Adam, who became flesh to redeem Adam’s fallen race.