The Dual Nature and Preeminence of Jesus Christ: Fully God and Fully Human
Scripture is very clear that Jesus was fully God and fully human, and this is one of the foundational pieces of our faith. Like the doctrine of the Trinity, it is very difficult to understand, but very important to our faith. It is important that we not make Jesus anything less than God neither can we make him anything less than human. From Jesus Christ we learn not only the will and Character of God but also our own humanity.
The Importance of the Humanity and Divinity of Christ
Why is it so important for us to understand that God was fully human and fully God? Matthew starts off his Gospel with a genealogy from Adam to Jesus to point to his humanity. It starts with the first, yet corrupted, human and ends with the perfected human in Jesus. At the same time, we must remember that he was and is not only truly human, but also the true human. If Jesus Christ was not God there would be no particular reason to suppose he cannot be surpassed. To be saved, you must confess with your mouth that Jesus is Almighty God and not just a great prophet or teacher.
Heresies and Problems Concerning Jesus’ Nature
Several heresies have threatened the true understanding of Jesus Christ. Below are some reasons why these views are dangerous to the faith:
| Heresy | Core Problem |
|---|---|
| Jesus is not human | Suggests the physical world is evil. However, Jesus came to redeem creation, not reinforce the idea that it is evil. |
| Jesus only appeared to be human | Suggests Jesus would not have experienced the pain and anguish of human life and death. If he only appeared to die, there is no hope for those under condemnation. |
| Jesus was a human adopted by God | Robs the Gospel of all its power. This view reduces the ‘gospel’ to self-salvation, which is no gospel at all. |
Scriptural Proofs of Divine Majesty
Jesus is above and greater than any man on this earth. Colossians 1:16 reads: “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him.” He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. Furthermore, Jesus Himself quoted in Revelation 1:8: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, The Almighty.”
The Preeminence of Christ Over the Universe
The Bible is clear regarding the majesty of Jesus above mankind. Isaiah 40:22 states: “It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain.” As David noted in 2 Chronicles 2:6, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Him. All nations before Him are as nothing; and they are counted to Him less than nothing. We can truly rejoice because the sacrifice that Jesus ultimately makes on the cross is the most important reason why Jesus is fully man and God; only Jesus’ sacrifice can atone for our sins.