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Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 09:39:06 +0200
Reply-To: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
From: Teus Benschop
Subject: Catechism, 22
To: Multiple recipients of list CHR-EXP
The last question and answer in the previous number was about the
Godhead of Christ; it was confessed that He was the Son of God.
Q. Do you not believe that he also became man?
A. Yes: for he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin
Mary.
Christ is God. Then the questioner asks if He is only God, and no more,
or if we believe that He also became man. The answer reads: Yes, He is
also Man. Like all men are born of women, so is also Jesus born of a
woman. He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the virgin Mary.
That He was conceived by the Holy Ghost indicates His Godhead. That He
was born of Mary, a member of mankind, indicates His human nature.
The next text proves that He is conceived of the Holy Ghost, and
born of Mary: "And the angel answered and said unto her (Mary), The Holy
Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall
overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of
thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35) Also John says that
"the Word was made flesh." (John 1:14)
Q. Is his Godhead then changed into humanity?
A. No; for the Godhead is immutable.
When Christ was first God, and later became Man, it may be asked, then,
if His Godhead is changed into humanity. He was God, and became Man, so
has there been a change? The answer is: No, that cannot be. Any change
in the Godhead is impossible, for the Godhead is immutable. God cannot
cease to be; He cannot change; He is forever the Same. "For I am the
LORD, I change not". (Malachi 3:6)
Q. How is he then become man?
A. By assuming the human nature into a personal union with his divine.
When God stays God, and yet, became Man, how is that possible? When
there is not the least change, how then can He become Man? The answer
is: His Godhead did not change, but He added the human nature unto
Himself. He assumed the human nature, together with His divine nature,
into one personal union. Now there were two natures. A human nature and
a divine nature. Both natures were united in one Person. The apostle
Paul says this, when he writes that Christ is born of the forefathers
according to the flesh, and that he is also God. "Whose are the fathers,
and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ [came], who is over all, God
blessed for ever." (Romans 9:5)
Q. Did he then bring his human nature from heaven?
A. No; but he took it on him of the Virgin Mary, by the operation of
the Holy Ghost, and is thus become like unto his brethren in all things,
sin excepted. Heb. 2:17 and 4:15.
Jesus Christ did not take His human nature from heaven, but He is a true
Man. He is born like all people are born. He got His human nature like
all people get it, namely through the common birth. Jesus Christ took
the human nature on Him of the virgin Mary, by the operation of the Holy
Ghost. In this way, by becoming true Man, He is become like unto His
brethren in all things (except sin of course, for He is without sin).
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he
(Jesus) also Himself likewise took part of the same." (Hebrews 2:14)
Christ was both God and Man in one Person. We, children of men, were
made of flesh and blood; therefore He likewise took part of flesh and
blood.
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Teus Benschop | t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl | editor of the list Chr-Exp
"A Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel"
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file: /pub/resources/text/ipb-e/cate: cat-022.txt
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