Friday, April 10, 2009
Theological Question
To all you M.Div's and Th.M's, I have a question. For some reason, I can't stop thinking about this for about a month now, and what better time to talk about this than this time of year? I know this question doesn't have much life application, but it is stuck in my head nonetheless. Is Jesus' human nature eternal, or did He acquire His human nature at Bethlehem? If it is eternal, and Jesus' human nature was tempted in Matthew 4, was He ever tempted to sin in the past, maybe even before creation? If it is eternal, was Jesus' human nature what humanity was created in the likeness of?
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3 comments:
bethlehem, no, & no
It probably comes down to how you would define"human nature."
If by humanity you mean physical being/body, then I would say it happened at birth (or rather, conception). If you define his human nature as his emotions/mind/behavior, then yes, his human nature could have existed before his birth.
I think that is a good lead to your other question: Why couldn't he have been the likeness we are made from? If that is the case, then yes, he would have to have existed with "human nature" before he made us, otherwise it becomes a chicken or egg argument.
Unfortunately, we aren't given much of a view of the spiritual world, or it's goings-on from the Bible, so how can we know if he was tempted before Matthew 4? I would imagine so as, in Job, Satan is granted access to the throne-room of heaven, I'm sure he would have tried to tempt God there, right?
Dad
I think another way to look at the question is we are made in the likeness of God. Sin entered the world through one man giving into temptation. And Christ came into the world to set the Godly order back to its orginal intent. Satan could not tempt God so he tempted man, God is absolute truth. We are born with this nature which came from sin it would not or could not exist in Heaven. I you remember GOD allowed satan in Heaven satan does not have the ability to roam freely in Heaven, but he does roam the earth seeking whom he can deavour.
There are tremendous volumes written in the Bible in regards to the spiritual world. God starts in Gensis talking about how GOD is spirit and not flesh and blood. Another book that comes to mind is Ephesians were we are told that battle is not with flesh and blood but principalities, , against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[c] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, (HOLY Spirit) being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
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