Saturday, August 2, 2008

"God and Man"

The answers given in response to our question, "Is man totally depraved from birth?" were excellent. In these answers there was one element of great importance which was overlooked.

The scriptures teach that Jesus was man. 1Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus," (emphasis mine). If man is totally depraved from birth we are forced to conclude that the "Son of man" was also for he was the son of man, and himself man. I think few would be willing to accept that conclusion. Yet it is required by sound logic if man is indeed totally depraved.

As was indicated man is born good, and learns evil through the choices he makes.

Jesus is the subject of our next question. The following phrases all refer to Jesus: Son of man, Son of God, himself man, God with us. Based upon these phrases it seems that Jesus was God and man. How can this be? Was he half God and half man? Maybe 60-40? Happy pondering!

3 comments:

deboraw said...

Josiah, Good question. Since I can't even type/spell correctly, I guess I'll leave it at that and 'ponder over the question' with my eyes closed for awhile. ;p) Deboraw

Christian said...

Dear Josiah,

When pondering this question as I have done in personal and group studies, I often refer back to Philippians 2:5-8 wherein Paul details the answer to a degree.

5. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Christ Jesus had form and equality with God for John 1.1 says that He was God.

7. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Jesus abased Himself by taking the form of a servant (interesting point is that man is a servant) and was made to be like a man.

8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Since He looked like man and was physically a man, He lowered Himself even more by becoming obedient to the point of death. This means He limited Himself to experience and work and die like men experience and work and die.

Reading this passage, I have to say that He was all God and all man.

Christian

deboraw said...

Josiah, I can hardly grasp what it would mean to be totally free. To have the ability to move--at will--where ever you chose to be. It kind of reminds me of Samson. He was so strong that they couldn't bind him, or etc. Once his hair was cut, however, he 'became like any other man'.

But Jesus as God had no restrictions. Then to be put into the body of a human, to start life as a baby, a boy, then a young man, and finally the death on the cross. How very difficult that would be! That doesn't answer your question, but he was as Christian said, 100% man, and 100% God. Deboraw