To start explaining any two natures, it is important to explain what I see in the scriptures about the natures.
H U M A N I T Y
God made humanity on the sixth day- a specific point in time. He formed dust and then blew into the nostrils breath of life. Genesis 2:7 explains that only then does the man become a “living being” (some translations say “soul”).
Note: Man called the “living being” consists of the formed dust and the breath of life/spirit. Here are more references on that.
- “Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; “ Job 7:7
- “But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty,” Job 32:8
- "Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit." Malachi 2:15
- (Valley of Dry Bones) “ ‘This is what the Sovereign Yahweh says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life… I will put breath in you, and you will come to life’…. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Yahweh says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.” Ezekiel 37:5-6,8-10
- “…the body without the spirit is dead…” James 2:26
- “[An unmarried woman’s] aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.” 1 Corinthians 7:34
- The apostles refer to the body as a tent, which is a temporary dwelling. They talk about leaving the tent (death) and being with the Lord and make statements of “living IN the body ”. It is important that you read the following passages before you continue with this post: 2 Peter 1:13, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 and Philippians 1:22-24.
Note: There can be a body but without the spirit component it is just a “tent” or “the slain”. The “life” is “a breath”. The “spirit in a person” is the “breath of the Almighty”. It is the part that can be away from the tent of the body and be conscious to “be with the Lord”. So the conscious “you” is IN the body, it is not the body itself. We can say the spirit lives in the body. We see this to be true in the cases of the death of Jesus and Stephen; as they are dying, they commend their spirit up.
SO, NOW, DID JESUS HAVE A BODY?
Yes. This is what Hebrews 10:5 records
“Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: ‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; ’”.
In this passage, Christ is addressing God. God prepared Christ’s body much like He was responsible for forming the first man Adam from dust. We have to keep in mind, a human body born to a woman requires an equal part of chromosomes from the mother and the father to develop in the womb. This is why Mary questioned how would she be with child if she had not known a man. The answer provided was that the Holy Spirit would come upon her- God provided what was need for the body prepared for Christ much like he provided what was need for the first man Adam to be a living being.
WAS JESUS’ BODY DIFFERENT THAN OUR BODY?
We know from Colossians 1:22 that Christ has an actual “physical body”—not just something that looked like a human body. Christ, just like Adam, did not have an earthly father yet both are considered human. Interestingly they are both referred to as “the son of God” (Luke 3:38; John 10:36)—most likely because God provided what was needed in creating their body. In this way they both represent a start of something. But unlike Adam, Jesus was the only begotten Son.
Note: The body of our ancestor Adam did not require the dna of a mother and father and Jesus’ body did not require an earthly father. They both mark a start of something new. In being called “begotten” and “firstborn” we pick up on a distinction to Christ’s sonship with God but His humanity is still as valid as we consider Adam’s humanity. Yahweh God was Jesus’ Father.
DID THE BODY OF JESUS HAVE ADVANTAGES TO OURS?
Just like any other human Jesus was hungry, thirsty, tired, cried and had to rely on God. The difference was that Jesus understood the necessity to rely on God and cultivated this relationship with God. He prayed and said/did only what He saw His Father doing:
John 5:19
‘Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does."
This part is important because in relying and only doing what He was told by His Father is how Christ kept himself pure. He could be the lamb without spot, the righteous one to die for the unrighteous. Just like us, Jesus was tempted in every way, but unlike us, He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). This is only possible because, unlike us, He exclusively followed the lead of the Spirit (who is God). Paul understood this concept when he wrote:
Romans 8:4
“… that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Jesus constantly denied his flesh when tempted— which we understand to be “putting the flesh to death”. Jesus submitted Himself in obedience to His Father (Hebrews 5:7). As Paul says
Romans 6:16
“when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”
The body of the one who sins is ruled by sin (Romans 6:6,12). But because of Christ’ reverent submission to the Father, Jesus was righteous. Which beckons the question,
IF HE WAS RIGHTEOUS/SINLESS, HOW COULD HE DIE?
Paul is clear in Romans 5:12 that sin entered the WORLD through one man, Adam (please note that it does not say sin entered mankind). When sin entered the world, death entered through sin, and in this way death came to all “because all sinned”. We die not because sin is passed down through the flesh as descendants of Adam (something many believe). We die because each of us has sinned.
So if Jesus didn’t sin, how was it possible for Him to die? The only reason Jesus could die was because “ “He himself bore our sins” in his body " (1 Peter 2:24). Jesus experienced the separation sin causes between humanity and God (Isaiah 59:2) which leads to death. It is ONLY then that He exclaims as He is dying, “Father, why have you forsaken me?” when previously Jesus said in John 8:29,
“The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”
THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE QUESTION: IF JESUS IS ALSO GOD, HOW COULD HE DIE?
Over and over scripture is clear that our bodies are what is “mortal” (can die). It says nothing about the spirit of man dying.
- “Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness?” Hebrews 3:17
- “he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies ...” Romans 8:11
- “and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life” Matthew 27:52
- (the girl who died) “But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up.” Luke 8:54-55
- “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” Luke 12:4-5
As for Jesus:
“He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18
D I V I N I T Y
BUT THIS STILL ASSUMES THAT JESUS IS DIVINE/GOD. IS IT AN ASSUMPTION?
There is proof that He is divine/God based on the accounts in the gospel and by the apostles.
PRE-EXISTENCE
- John says of Christ: “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’” John 1:5
(Mary gave birth to Jesus after John)
- He said He was going back to Him: “I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” John 16:28
SHARING WITH THE FATHER
He had glory with the Father before the world began: “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” John 17:5
(Also a point of existing before ministry on earth)
He said He is one with the Father: “I and the Father are one.” John 10:30
(Jesus praying) "All I have is yours, and all you have is mine." John 17:10
RESPECTED/MADE CLAIMS AS GOD
- He said of Himself the very words Yahweh proclaimed of Himself: ““Very truly I tell you… before Abraham was born, I am!” John 8:58 (see Exodus 3:14)
- He forgave sins
- Demons and creation obey Him
- Worshiped (Matthew 14:33; Hebrews 1:6)
- Claiming Himself Lord of the Sabbath (Sabbath is a time to acknowledge God as the one who created – Exodus 16:23; 20:11)
- Claimed to be “Son of God” making Himself “equal to God” as explained in John 5:18
CREDITED WITH REFERENCES MADE OF YAHWEH GOD
- John 12:41
After quoting Isaiah 6, John writes “Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.” Isaiah tells us who he saw in that chapter (Isaiah 6:5)
“ “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh of hosts. ”
- 1 Peter 3:10-15-
Verses 10-13 Peter is quoting Psalm 34:12-16 which was referring to Yahweh.
Verses 14 and 15 are set up as a parallel to Isaiah 8:12-13 where it says
"Do not fear their threats or be in dread. Yahweh of hosts shall be your fear".
In Peter’s letter he commands us to revere/fear Christ as Lord.
- 1 Peter 2:3 “…now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. ”
This is the same phrasing of Psalm 34:8
“Taste and see that Yahweh is good.”
- 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 Paul states he does not want the reader to be “ignorant of the fact” and then states about the Israelites who left Egypt
“…they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. ”
Yahweh is credited with leading the Israelites through the wilderness and providing them with water from the rock. Yahweh was clear in Isaiah 44:8
“…You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one. ”
- Matthew 2:6 is a quote of Micah 5:2
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” ("origins" also translated "going forth")
- Luke 1:68 Zechariah prophesied saying
“ Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them.”
- Matthew 1:22-23
“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).”
- Mark 1:3, Matthew 3:3, Luke 3:4, John 1:23 are all quotes from Isaiah 40:3 which reads
“ A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for Yahweh; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
- Mark 1:2 is a quote of Malachi 3:1
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says Yahweh Almighty.”
HOW CAN WE RECONCILE THE IDEA OF SUCH DEEP CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CHRIST PREACHED AND YAHWEH OF THE OLD TESTAMENT?
Who we know as “Jesus” on the earth actually BECAME “nothing” by taking human form when he entered the world. That means He was something BEFORE entering the world. Paul tells us clearly what that means
Philippians 2:6-7
“Who, BEING IN VERY NATURE GOD, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”
Who He was before becoming “nothing/made in human likeness” is the “very nature God”. This can't refer to being "spirit" only because angels are spirits and are never referenced this way. Here is the definition of that Greek word "3444 morphḗ – properly, form (outward expression) that embodies essential (inner) substance so that the form is in complete harmony with the inner essence."
There is but ONE God- Yahweh. There is "No One like Yahweh our God" (Exodus 8:10).
1Samuel 2:2
"There is no one holy like Yahweh; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God"
Based on the references of Yahweh credited to Christ, we need to look at what Jesus said about Himself after offense was taken when He “claimed [himself] to be God” (John 10:30-33).
“what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?” John 10:36
Note: Jesus never denied point for which they were offended which they made clear.
“SET APART” from who?
- The One “set apart” (Jesus was referring to Himself) was not of the angels because “to which of the angels did God say ‘You are my son’?” (Hebrews 1:5).
- The one “set apart” is not of humanity because the Father did the setting apart before sending INTO the world. This "one" already existed.
Note: So this setting apart happens first in a different location than the world and it’s not among the angels or humanity.
This next passage clears this:
Hebrews 1:7-9
In speaking of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels spirits,
and his servants flames of fire.”
But about the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
Yahweh God calls the Son “God”. Then Yahweh, the God of this Son, sets the Son above His companions. God of God? The next passage clarifies this seeming contradiction:
Hebrews 1:5
For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father”?
Or again,
“I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son”?
Note: This last passage shows a definitive timing called “today”. And it states two things, the point in time Yahweh God becomes the Father and the point in time Christ becomes the Son. There is no doubt of the hierarchy of this relationship but it is important to recognize this hierarchy happened at a definitive point in time- it wasn’t always like this.
When this one who was “set apart” comes into the earth He calls Yahweh His Father because He is found in human likeness…
Hebrews 2:14
” Since the children have flesh and blood, [Jesus] too shared in their humanity “.
When he was found in human likeness, Jesus became our “companion” making Yahweh, whom He was set apart from, His God as well.
John 16:28
“I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
The Jesus people saw and touched in the body had a spirit inside (the consciousness part of “humanity”) who was from Yahweh Himself…as in OF the “very nature God”. This would explain how He is before Abraham, how He is one with His Father Yahweh, how He had glory with Yahweh before the world began, how He is worshiped, how He is on the throne with God in Revelation, etc.
It also gives a better understanding of the following three verses:
Colossians 2:9
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,"
Colossians 1:19
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,”
2 Corinthians 5:19
“that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,"
Again, a human is a spirit that lives in a body. Part of Yahweh God, who is Spirit, lived inside the “body prepared” to carry out the plan of reconciliation.
Jesus modeled the relationship mankind is to have with God. It is only when the “one set aside” enters the world with the body prepared for Him that He becomes “the Son”, and God who is known to the Israelites as "Yahweh” becomes “The Father”. I don’t see evidence of Jesus pretending to be an infant all the while being fully aware or keeping certain knowledge from his “human mind”. But instead, in becoming nothing, He truly became a clean slate.
Luke 2:40
“ And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.”
Luke 2:52
“ And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”
I will leave you with Christ’s words:
“Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? … it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me;” John 14:10,11
