Church of God, New World Ministries

Bible Q & A

Q. In your Statement of Beliefs you say that Jesus is described in the New Testament as being “fully human” and “fully divine.” Where does the New Testament make that claim? Furthermore, you stated, ‘To be “fully human” means to be subject to death’ To be “fully divine” means not being subject to death. Is not being “fully human” and “fully divine” in the same body and at the same time a contradiction in terms. In fact, is it not an impossibility?
 
A. Physically speaking, to be fully human and fully divine is impossible. However, with God, “…all things are possible.” (Mat. 19:26).

In John 1:14 we read that “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,…”. Jesus Christ was the Word. Paul wrote in Hebrews 5: 7 “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers…” again referring to Christ. Again, Paul wrote, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same;…” Many other scriptures refer to Christ, in the flesh. He was therefore, fully human, subject to like passions of humans. (Heb. 4:15).

Secondly, was Christ fully divine? Turn in your Bible and read Luke 1:30-35. Luke was inspired to write that Mary would be begotten by the Holy Spirit. He wrote that that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Mary was begotten through the agency of the Holy Spirit at the direction of The Father. John wrote that the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth. Christ received the Holy Spirit, “without measure.” (John 3:34). He was filled with the Holy Sprit. He experienced the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 1:19; 2: 6-10). If you look up the word Godhead in a Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance you will find the word theos #2316. The definition says the Godhead is deity; the supreme Divinity. It says that in Christ dwells the fullness of God, who is divine. Again, look up the word bodily and you will find the Greek word is somatikos #4985 and means physical. Therefore, Christ was “fully divine” and yet” fully physical”

Paul wrote to the Church in Philippi “.Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God”.(Phil 2:5-6). Christ himself said he was God. Read John 10:32-36. The Greek word used here for God is the same Greek word used in Col. 2:9, theos. It refers to deity, divinity. He is divine because he was filled with the Holy Spirit. In John 10:30 Christ said, I and my Father are one. If he were not divine he would not have been equal with The Father and would have been guilty of blasphemy as accused by the Jews. (John 10: 30-36).

Acts 2:38 explains that you and I can receive the Holy Spirit upon repentance and baptism. Once we receive the Holy Spirit we are begotten by the Holy Spirit. However, we are not fully divine because we did not receive the Spirit without measure. (Rom. 3:12; Eph. 4:7) We must “put on” the divine nature.(II Peter 1:4). Christ had to be born fully human to be able to die for mankind’s sins. He was fully divine because he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Once the physical body died the Father resurrected him through the Eternal Spirit.(Heb. 9:14) Once again, he returned to the glorified state he once had with His Father. (John 17:5).
 
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