Project Description

2015/01

The Man Christ Jesus

Over the past 150 years, there have been numerous attacks on the deity of Christ from liberals and cults. The Bible teaches that the Word that was made flesh was very much the Word that was God before being made flesh (John 1:1,14).  This has not prevented the unbelieving from stating that He was simply god-like, divine without being truly God.  Young person, as you grow in maturity and faith, make it your determined resolution to stand against any attempts to undermine the truth of Christ’s deity!

However we must also guard against any attack on the Lord Jesus’ true humanity.  The Man who had the power to still the storm with a word was also found asleep in the midst of the storm (Mark 4:36-41).  The Man who knew the thoughts of men also knew the thirst of a man (Luke 6:8 and John 19:28). In the days of the Apostles there were those suggesting that the Lord Jesus only appeared to be a man – that God came in the appearance of manhood without being truly a man.  John emphasises that denying Christ’s true humanity is to succumb to the spirit of antichrist for ‘every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God’ (1 John 4:1-3, 2 John 7).  So as you resolve to defend the Lord’s deity, make sure you also stand firm for the Lord’s true humanity: that He is God ‘manifest in the flesh’ (1 Tim.3:6), the Word ‘made flesh’ (John 1:14).

These matters have been debated for centuries. They are vital still. To deny any aspect of the Lord’s person – He has two natures, in one person – is to pull apart the gospel. He is neither a divine man, nor a humanised deity.  Rather, He is truly God and truly man.  As such He alone can reconcile God and man. He alone can represent man and be a substitute for man.  He alone can obey fully the law of God as a man, so securing a full righteousness.  He alone can die for the sins of others and present a sacrifice of infinite worth.  He alone can do what the first Adam didn’t and undo what the first Adam did.  The answer to the catechism question is true, and it really matters: “The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever.” Does it matter to you?

Dr. Stephen Pollock.