Issues Surrounding Christ's Ascendence as a Man and a God

Christology When confronted by a man who claims that Jesus Christ -- because he was human -- could not also be from God and of God, what should the response be? This paper delves into that topic.

What is the biblical basis for Jesus' humanity? On page 239 of Christology the author explains that Christ was "sinless and also utterly different from other men"; and his "true humanity is specifically witnessed to as if it might be called in question." He was the Son of God but he also was human, and to show his humanity he was invited to dinner with Levi, "…along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners" (Mark 2:15). His humanity had been prophesized in various passages in the Old Testament.

"I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him" (Daniel 7:13). What was the biblical basis for Jesus' deity? While Jesus apparently preferred to refer to himself as the "Son of Man," he was also called the "Son of God" which is "messianic" (Christology, 240).

"The angel replied, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you…the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35). In Matthew 7:21 and Mark 11:3 Jesus is referred to as "Lord," due to his "teaching authority" and after he was resurrected the term "Lord" was applied to him more consistently (Christology, 240-41).

How can Jesus be both God and man at the same time? The editor of Christology mentions that there were denials among some scholars and leaders at the time of Christ. But Melito of Sardis and Irenaeus viewed the biblical record of Christ as Him being both God and Man simultaneously.

And Tertullian was the "first to teach" and the Father and Son are of "one substance." Proof of Jesus' being God and man is in Luke 24:36-43; after he was resurrected (which only God could do) he "…showed his hands and feet" and asked for some food, which only a human could do. Hence, he could be both God and Man.

What does it mean for Jesus to be both God and Man? It means that Christ was indeed a product of God's plan for Earth, that there can be no doubt regarding his origin (mortal men don't walk on water and feed a multitude of people be creating food). Indeed, the metaphysical mystery lingers, but "without confusion…one person, Jesus Christ, is truly God and truly man (Hypostatic Union, 583).

It really means that a human being touched the people in that era and that region with mystical powers and yet he was like them physically, which is the most powerful combination of spiritual and worldly ever seen on earth. Why did Jesus need to become incarnate to save humanity? The Wesleyan Theology Catechism has a good answer: Jesus had to arrive in human flesh in order to suffer on the cross and die.

The sins of humans lead to death; in order to "reverse the curse of the Fall, Jesus took that consequence… He had to be one of us to save is" (Wesleyan Theology). What are the dangers of overemphasizing or denying either the deity or humanity of Christ? First of all, ordinary citizens that are not involved in Christianity are skeptical when someone is too forceful in their beliefs. Secondly, the facts are in the Bible; there are myriad passages that detail Christ's life as man and God.

No need to go overboard in one's belief or one's skepticism. What are the common objections to the traditional understanding of Christology? On page 241 "Ebionitism" was the theory that Christ was born as a normal human they later, at his baptism, God reached out to him. The objection to the New Testament was from pagans and Jews, who believed that Christianity was a philosophy, and Christ was "another God inferior to the highest God" (241).

I respond to them by pointing out that the Jewish faith even today believes that Christ was a prophet, not the Son of God. There is no doubt that questions.