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The Humanity of Christ: Part 19 - The Kenosis, the Theanthropic Person

12/16/2020

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TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Humanity Of Christ: Part 19 - The Kenosis, The Theanthropic Person
The union of Christ’s two undiminished natures results in Him being the Theanthropic Person or God-man.  J.J. Müller stated, “At His incarnation He remained ‘in the form of God’ and as such He is Lord and Ruler over all, but He also accepted the nature of a servant as part of His humanity.” (1)

Again, John Walvoord stated, “Though Christ sometimes operated in the sphere of His humanity and in other cases in the sphere of His deity, in all cases what He did and what He was could be attributed to His one Person. Even though it is evident that there were two natures in Christ, He is never considered a dual personality.” (2)

It is essential to underscore that Christ was not merely indwelling a human being.  He was one-hundred percent God while being one-hundred percent man.  Both of these natures were necessary for Christ to accomplish humanity’s redemption.  As God, Christ’s death had infinite value to cover the sins of all humanity.  As man, Christ represented fallen humanity as its sacrifice for sin.  If He was not fully human, then His death on the cross, for sin, was an illusion.  Though fully human, Christ did not possess a sinful, fallen nature.  
  • You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. - 1 John 3:5

ENDNOTES:
  1. J. J. Müller, The Epistles of Paul to the Philippians and to Philemon (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co.), 82.
  2. ​John F. Walvoord, Jesus Christ Our Lord (Chicago, IL: Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, 1975), 112.
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The Humanity of Christ: Part 18 - Forms of God & Bondservant, the Likeness of Man

12/16/2020

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TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Humanity Of Christ: Part 18 - The Kenosis, Forms Of God & Bondservant, The Likeness Of Man
  • who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. - Philppians 2:6-8

Before His incarnation, Christ existed in the form of God (cf. Philippians 2:6).  The term exists (hupárchō) communicates the idea of a person’s continuous state or condition.  The term form (morphḗ) denotes nature or character.  Hence, Christ’s continuous nature and character were God.  
  • In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. - John 1:1

Having the nature and character of God, Christ did not consider being equal with God something to be grasped (harpagmós).  Grasped (harpagmós) refers to something seized or stolen.  In other words, Christ’s equality with God was rightly His.  Equality (ísos) is to have the same quality, value, or measure as another being.  Christ did not steal or take deity upon Himself.  Christ was divine from all eternity.   

At His incarnation, Christ took the form of a bondservant.  Again, the term form (morphḗ) denotes nature or character.  Taking (lambánō) is to enter into a specific condition or state.  Christ existed for all eternity as God, but at a point in time, He entered into the state of being a bondservant.  Becoming a bondservant is the beginning of Christ’s self-humiliation.  This self-humiliation involved taking on a state positionally was less than the angels.
  • But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. - Hebrews 2:9

Upon entering into this new state, Christ was made in the likeness of men.  Being made (gínomai) is to assume a specific state or condition.  He assumed the likeness of men.  Likeness (homoíōma) refers to taking on all the essential characteristics of humanity.
  • And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. - Luke 2:52​
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The Humanity of Christ: Part 17 - The Kenosis Defined

12/12/2020

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TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Humanity Of Christ: Part 17 - The Kenosis Defined
The addition of a human nature without a lost or diminishing of divine nature involves the kenosis.  Kenosis is the doctrine of Christ’s self-emptying at His incarnation.
  • who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. - Philippians 2:6-8  

The term emptied (kenóō) means to divest oneself of something.  Some have claimed that Christ emptied Himself of His deity.  Others claim that He exchanged His deity for humanity.  However, Scripture states that in Christ, “all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form (cf. Colossians 2:9).” 

Christ’s self-emptying was a divesting Himself of His privileges.  First, He divested Himself of His heavenly glory.
  • Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. - John 17:5

Second, Christ divested Himself of His authority.  
  • I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. - John 5:30  

Third, He divested Himself of His eternal riches. 
  • For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. - 2 Corinthians 8:9
 
Fourth, Christ divested Himself of His relationship with the Father.  
  • About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? - Matthew 27:46​
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    WHY TWO MINUTES?

    The Two-Minute Rule states “When you start a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do.”   The idea behind the rule is to make a habit easy to start.
    One of the goals for 2-Minute Theology is to help believers develop a theological habit.
    Another goal is to provide believers with a resource they can use to 'test the spirits' to see if they are from God.

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