Saturday, September 16, 2006

 HYPOSTATIC UNION

01. Hypostasis means standing together under one essence, two things united under one with no loss or transfer to the other and no change to either.
In the person of Jesus Christ the two natures, divine and human, were inseparably linked with no loss or transfer of properties or attributes, and no mixture or loss of separate identity the union was personal and eternal.

The Lord Jesus Christ is still perfectly human and divine

02. See Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1-14, Romans 1:2-5, Romans 9:5, Philippians 2:5-11, 1 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 1:4

03. The incarnate person of the Lord Jesus Christ included undiminished deity; He remained co equal and co eternal with the father while on earth. As a baby in the cradle he was holding the universe together.

04. The Lord Jesus Christ was also true humanity; body, soul and spirit although due to the virgin birth he had no old sin nature (1 Peter 2:22).

05. The two natures were united without transfer of attributes; the Essence of Deity and humanity were unchanged.

06. No aspect of the divine nature was lacking, although certain attributes were not exercised in line with the Father's plan (Matthew 4:1-10).

07. The union was personal and hypostatic; one essence with two natures.

08. Deity did not indwell humanity or possess it. The union was more than sympathy and harmony; it was unique combining the two natures eternally.

09. Christ had two natures in one person; therefore he could be supremely powerful yet weak at the same time.

a) Deity cannot be tempted, humanity can (Matthew 4:1-10).
b) Deity cannot thirst, humanity can (John 19:28).
c) Deity is omniscient, humanity learns (Luke 2:40, 52).

10. The necessity of the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ is seen in the following:-

a) To be our Saviour he had to be man as God cannot die (Hebrews 2:14, 15, Philippians 2:7, 8).
b) To be our mediator He had to be equal with both God and man (Job 9:2, 32-33, 1Timothy 2:5-6).
c) To be our High Priest He must be a man (Hebrews 7:4,5 14-28; 10:5, 10-14).
d) To be a king he must be a man, a Jew in the line of David (Psalm 89:20-37, 2 Samuel 7:8-16).

11. There are three categories of sayings or actions of the Lord:

a) From his deity alone - John 8:58
b) From his humanity alone - John 19:28
c) From his hypostatic union - John 11:25, 26

12. The uniqueness of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ is a key doctrine to understand for all believers, for it is on this point that the accurate preaching of the gospel rests (1 Timothy 3:16).

13. The gospel in one word is Immanuel - God with us. John's testimony on this point - John 1:14. In Christ we see God's love and favour towards man. As God revealed himself in the Old Testament, so He perfectly reveals himself in the person of the unique person of the universe, the God man the Lord Jesus Christ.
....... may grow
Arul M. Raj
MARANATHA
in soon returning
Y'Shua's Service
Pastor, Teacher and Mentor