1) THE DIVINITY OF

2) THE HUMANITY OF

 

 

1) THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST

 

A) TO THE CONTROVERSY.

B) JESUS AS THE GOD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.

C) JESUS IS GOD.

 

 

A) TO THE CONTROVERSY

 

In an attempt to solve the controversy (at that time) of the nature of Christ, whether fully human, fully Divine, or both, an ecclesiastical council was convened in 451 A.D., in the city of Chalcedon (near what is not modern-day Istanbul, Turkey).  The council put together a statement, which is now known as the “Chalcedonian Definition.”  Besides other issues (sticking to this issue) it affirmed that Christ was “truly God and truly man,” and that “the distinction of natures,” was “by no means taken away by the union,” taken from Phillip Schaff, “Creeds of Christendom,” Volume 2, pages 62 & 63.  Although still debated, this basic concept of the Bible has stood throughout most of Christendom.

 

Now since the Human and the Divine natures were united in Christ, what was experienced by One was also experienced by the Other.  As an example, when the human nature was hungry or thirsty, the Divine nature experienced in a unique and direct way what it meant for the Human nature to go through.  Stay with me for a minute.  On the other hand, when the Divine nature used its Divine power to heal (keeping in mind that Christ used no Divine power for Himself; only for others; otherwise using the Holy Spirits power), the human nature became the vehicle through which that power reached out.  A case in point would be when the sick woman touched the cloak of Jesus and was healed, Jesus realized it by:  “immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him,” Mark 5:30.  Notice that Divine power had healed the woman, but Christ’s Human nature had experienced it -- in a unique way -- by the Divine power passing through Him.  This was as a result of the two Natures dwelling with One.

 

“. . .  the two natures were mysteriously blended in One Person,” LHU:76.  The Divine nature “was not humanized, neither was humanity Deified by the blending or union of the two natures, each retained Its essential character and properties,” MR16:182.

 

We know that only Divinity is Omnipresent (being in all places at once), Omnipotent (Almighty, being all powerful), Omniscient (all-seeing, being all knowing).  Therefore, if we can demonstrate that Christ possessed any one of these traits, then we can conclude that He possesses all, and then we can safely be assured that He was Divine.

 

The fact that Christ was/is Omnipotent, is seen in First Corinthians 1:24:  “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”  The fact that Christ was/is Omniscient, is seen in First Corinthians 1:24 (verse above already quoted), and verse 30:  “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”  Also, Ephesians 1:8:  “Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.”  And lastly, Colossians 2:2-3:  “[2] That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; [3] In Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

 

 

B) JESUS AS THE GOD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

 

 

The FACT that there is only ONE God should be sufficient.  However, let’s identify Jesus specifically.

 

Isaiah 44:6 refers to “the LORD” as “the First and the Last,” Whom Jesus calls Himself in Revelation 1:8 &17.

 

“Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer [that makes this personality Christ Jesus], and He that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by Myself.”  Isaiah 44:24.

 

Joel 2:32a:  “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the Name of the LORD shall be delivered.”  This verse is quoted by both Peter in Acts 2:21 and Paul in Romans 10:13, confirming Jesus as the God of the Old Testament.

 

John 12:40-41:  “[40] He [Jesus] hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that thy should not see with theireyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted and I should heal them. [41] These things said Esaias [Isa. 6:5], when he saw His glory, and spake of Him.”

 

“[1] Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; [4] And did all drink the same spiritual drink:  for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them:  and that Rock was Christ.”  First Corinthians 10:1 & 4.

 

 

C) JESUS IS GOD

 

 

The following verses show that Jesus is God:

 

“This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.”  Genesis 2:4.  [Remembering, that Jesus created all things:  John 1:1-3 & 14; 1Co. 8:6; Col. 1:15-17]. 

 

“[14] And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM [this is Jesus; the God of the Old Testament; see above]:  and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. [15] And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you:  this is My Name for ever, and this is My memorial unto all generations.”  Exodus 3:14-15.  [Remembering, that Jesus created all things:  John 1:1-3 & 14; 1Co. 8:6; Col. 1:15-17].

 

“For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day:  wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”  Exodus 20:11.  [Remembering, that Jesus created all things:  John 1:1-3 & 14; 1Co. 8:6; Col. 1:15-17].

 

“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of His understanding.”  Isaiah 40:28.  [Remembering, that Jesus created all things:  John 1:1-3 & 14; 1Co. 8:6; Col. 1:15-17].

 

“[11] I, even I, Am the LORD; and beside Me there is no saviour. [14] Yea, before the day was I Am He.”  Isaiah 43:11 & 14.

 

“[27] The Sabbath was made for man[kind], and not man[kind] for the Sabbath: [28] Therefore the Son of Man [Jesus] is LORD also of the Sabbath.”  Mark 2:27-28.

 

“[61b] Art Thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? [62a] And Jesus said, I Am.”  Mark 14:61b-62a.

 

“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He [Jesus] expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”  Luke 24:27.  

 

“[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The Same was in the beginning with God [The Father] [3] All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. [14] And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”  John 1:1-3 & 14. 

 

“Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.”  John 5:18.

 

“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.”  John 8:58.

 

“And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine Own Self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.”  John 17:5.

 

“The Jews answered him, We have a Law, and by our Law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.”  John 19:7.

 

“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of Whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom are all things, and we by Him.”  First Corinthians 8:6.

 

“[5] One Lord [Triune Godhead], one faith, one baptism, [6] One God and Father of all, Who [The Father] is above all, and through all {Christ the Creator], and in you all [The Holy Spirit].”  Ephesians 4:5-6.

 

“[6] Who, being in the form [Greek; “G3444; morphe,” meaning “nature”] of God [Jesus is God], thought it not robbery to be equal with God [Jesus is God]: [7] But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form [Greek; “G3444; morphe,” meaning “nature”] of a servant [Jesus became man], and was made in the likeness of men [Jesus became man]: [8] And being found in fashion as a man [Jesus became man], He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death [Only humanity can die], even the death of the cross.”  Philippians 2:6-8.

 

“[15] Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: [16] 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: [17] And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.”  Colossians 1:15-17.

 

“For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”  Colossians 2:9.

 

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:  God was manifest in the flesh.”  First Timothy 3:16.

 

“[15] Which in His times He shall shew, Who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; [16] Who only hath immortality [NOT SUBJECT TO DEATH].”  First Timothy 6:15-16.

 

“[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. [22:13] I AM Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the First and the Last.”  Revelation 1:8 & 22:13.

 

“[16] I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; [17] Eventhe Spirit of truth; Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”  John 14:16-17.  “This refers to the omnipresence of the Spirit of Christ, called the Comforter.”  14MR:179.  Because Christ is part of the Triune Godhead.

 

 

2) THE HUMANITY OF CHRIST

 

A) CHRIST’S HUMANITY.

B) CAREFUL HOW YOU DISCUSS THE HUMANITY OF CHRIST.

C) CHRIST COULD HAVE SINNED?

D) DIVINITY PERFORMED CHRIST’S MIRACLES.

E) CHRIST’S HUMANITY FOREVER.

F) JOHN CALVIN.

 

 

A) CHRIST’S HUMANITY

 

 

“For Thou hast made Him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned Him with glory and honour.”  Psalm 8:5.  Quoted by Paul in Hebrews 2:7.

 

“For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground:  He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.”  Isaiah 53:2.

 

“The Book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.”  Matthew 1:1.

 

“Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh.”  Romans 1:3.

 

“For what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His Own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.”  Romans 8:3.

 

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the Law.”  Galatians 4:4.

 

From the text above:  “[6] Who, being in the form [Greek; “G3444; morphe,” meaning “nature”] of God [Jesus is God], thought it not robbery to be equal with God [Jesus is God]: [7] But made Himself of no reputation [Greek; “G2758; kenoo,” meaning “make empty; emptied” Himself of Divinity”], and took upon Him the form [Greek; “G3444; morphe,” meaning “nature”] of a servant [Jesus became man], and was made in the likeness of men [Jesus became man]: [8] And being found in fashion as a man [Jesus became man], He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death [Only humanity can die], even the death of the cross.”  Philippians 2:6-8.

 

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh.”  First Timothy 3:16.

 

“[14] Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; [15] And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. [16] For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham.”  Hebrews 2:14-16.

 

Therefore, Christ was not only to Come in our “likeness,” but He was to take upon Himself a humanity (in form only), lower than that of the angel’s (Heb. 2:7 & 9).  According to Hebrews 2:9, “But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death.”  Christ subjected Himself in His human form to experience “death.”  And only those who sin are subject to “death” (Eze. 18:4 & 20; Rom. 6:23).  This tells us that Christ took our sins upon Himself.

 

The fact that Christ was fully human is seen in the fact that the humanity of Christ is NOT Omnipresent.  When He is present with Mary at His resurrection, He tells her that He has “not yet ascended to” His “Father,” John 20:17; meaning that His humanity was not in all places at one time.

 

From 2SP:88 & GCB February 25, 1895, Article A, paragraph 3, we read:  “The great work of redemption could be carried out only by the Redeemer taking the place of fallen man.  Burdened with the sins of the world, He must go over the ground where Adam stumbled.  He must take up the work just where Adam failed, and endure a test of the same character, but infinitely more severe than that which had vanquished him.  It is impossible for man to fully comprehend the strength of Satan’s temptations to our Saviour.  Every enticement to evil, which men find so difficult to resist, was brought to bear upon the Son of God in as much greater degree as His character was superior to that of fallen man.”

 

According to James 1:13, we know that Divinity cannot sin.  By contrast, we know that man can and has; even though man was without sin in the beginning (referring to Adam).  Therefore, some people question whether or not Christ came in the likeness of man’s flesh.  According to John 1:1, 14; Hebrews 2:11 & 14; First Timothy 3:16; First John 4:3; Second John 1:7, we find that Jesus was to “Come in the flesh.”  Therefore, Christ was 100% human.  Let’s read First John 4:2-3, in order to verify what we should believe about this subject:  “[2] Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is Come in the flesh is of God: [3] And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is Come in the flesh is not of God.”

 

 

B) CAREFUL HOW YOU DISCUSS THE HUMANITY OF CHRIST

 

 

From 5BC:1128 we read:  We must be “exceedingly careful as to how” we “dwell upon the human nature of Christ.  Do not set Him before the people as a man with the propensities of sin.”  If Jesus had any advantage over other men, it was simply that His inherent human nature was never further debilitated by personal indulgence in sin.  “Not once did Christ step on Satan’s ground, to give him any advantage.  Satan found nothing in Him to encourage his advances.”  According to John 14:30:  “Hereafter I will not talk much with you:  for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me.”

 

Continuing on with 5BC:1128:  “He is the second Adam {1Co. 15:45-47}.  The first Adam was created a pure, sinless being, without a taint of sin upon him.  He was in the image of God {Gen. 1:26-27; 5:3; 9:6; 1Co. 11:7}.  He could fall, and he did fall through transgressing.  Because of sin, his posterity was born with inherent propensities of disobedience.  But Jesus Christ was the only begotten Son of God.  He took upon Himself human nature, and was tempted in all points as human nature is tempted.”  Hebrews 4:15.  However, “Never, in any way,” should we “leave the slightest impression upon human minds that a taint of, or inclination to, corruption rested upon Christ, or that He in any way yielded to corruption.”

 

The fact that Christ was 100% human, is brought out to me in a most powerful way when we consider the two cases where our Lord “marveled.”  The first is in Matthew 8:10 (see also Luke 7:9), when our Lord considered the faith of the Roman “centurion,” Matthew 8:8.  Here is Matthew 8:10:  “When Jesus heard it, He marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.”  The fact that our Lord “marveled” indicates that the centurion’s actions and belief system was not known to our Lord beforehand, as it would be with God, and surely emphasizes His humanity with this event.

 

The second occasion that brings out our Lord’s humanity to me in a most striking manner, is found in Mark 6:6, where our Lord also “marveled,” because of the unbelief of His own countrymen.  In fact, it is because of these two cases that one would have to consider whether or not Jesus was 100% Divine instead of “marveling” as to His 100% humanity.

 

From 5BC:1128.6 we read:  “It is a mystery that is left unexplained to mortals that Christ could be tempted in all points like as we are, and yet be without sin.  The incarnation of Christ has ever been, and will ever remain a mystery.  That which is revealed, is for us and for our children, but let every human being be warned from the ground of making Christ altogether human, such an one as ourselves; for it cannot be.  The exact time when humanity blended with Divinity, it is not necessary for us to know.  We are to keep our feet on the Rock Christ Jesus, as God revealed in humanity.”

 

From ST, May 10, 1899; 5BC:1129 we read:  “There were occasions when Jesus stood forth while in human flesh as the Son of God.  Divinity flashed through humanity, and was seen by the scoffing priests and rulers. . . When Christ’s indwelling glory flashed forth, it was too intense for His pure and perfect humanity entirely to conceal.”  There will come a time in our lives when that will happen through us, “if” we remain connected to the Holy Spirit.

 

From RH, Oct. 29, 1895; 5BC:1128 we read:  “Christ had not exchanged His Divinity for humanity; but He had clothed His Divinity in humanity.”  And from RH, June 15, 1905; 5BC:1128 we read:  Christ “veiled His Divinity with the garb of humanity, but He did not part with His Divinity. . . That human beings might be partakers of the Divine nature, He Came to this earth, and lived a life of perfect obedience.”

 

Also, from ST, May 10, 1899; 5BC:1128 we read:  “But although Christ’s Divine glory was for a time veiled and eclipsed by His assuming humanity, yet He did not cease to be God when He became man.  The human did not take the place of the Divine, nor the Divine of the human.  This is the mystery of Godliness.  The two expressions ‘human’ and ‘Divine’ were, in Christ, closely and inseparably one, and yet they had a distinct individuality.  Though Christ humbled Himself to become man, the Godhead was still His Own.  His Deity could not be lost while He stood faithful and true to His loyalty.”  And lastly, from RH, July 5, 1887 we read:  Christ “clothed His Divinity with humanity.  He was all the while as God.  He veiled the demonstrations of Deity. . .  He was God while upon earth, but He divested Himself of the form of God. . .  He was God, but the glories of the form of God He for a while relinquished.”

 

 

C) CHRIST COULD HAVE SINNED

 

 

Let’s consider James 1:13, in which I mentioned earlier, where I declared that the verse states that God cannot sin.  What the verse really says is, “for God cannot be tempted with evil;” but man can, “Let no man say when he is tempted.”  Therefore, since God cannot be tempted, He cannot sin.  However, man can sin when “tempted,” and since we know that Jesus “was tempted [in all points] like as we are” (see Luke 22:28; Heb. 2:18; 4:15), we can know that the Bible is telling us that Jesus, in His humanity, “could have sinned.”   Here again is 5BC:1128.4:  Christ “could have sinned; He could have fallen, but not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity.”

 

From DA:117 we read:  “Many claim that it was impossible for Christ to be overcome by temptation.  Then He could not have been placed in Adam’s position.  He could not have gained the victory that Adam failed to gain.  If we have in any sense a more trying conflict than had Christ, then He would not be able to succor us {Heb. 2:18}.  But our Saviour took humanity, with all its liabilities.  He took the nature of man, with the possibility of yielding to temptation.  We have nothing to bear which He has not endured.”

 

And from RH, February 18, 1890 & 5BC:1082 we read:  “Letters have been coming into me, affirming that Christ could not have had the same nature as man, for if He had, He would have fallen under similar temptations.  If He did not have man’s nature, He could not be our example.  If He was not a partaker of our nature, He could not have been tempted as man has been.  If it were not possible for Him to yield to temptation, He could not be our helper.  It was a solemn reality that Christ Came to fight the battles as man, in man’s behalf.  His temptation and victory tell us that humanity must copy the Pattern; man must become a partaker of the Divine nature.”

 

Also, from RH, April 5, 1906 we read:  “Christ was appointed to the office of Mediator from the creation of God, set up from everlasting to be our Substitute and Surety.  Before the world was made, it was arranged that the Divinity of Christ should be enshrouded in humanity.  ‘A body,’ said Christ, ‘hast Thou prepared Me. . .’  {Hebrews 10:5}.  This was not done by going out of Himself to another, but by taking humanity into Himself.  Thus Christ gave to humanity an existence out of Himself.  To bring humanity into Christ, to bring the fallen race into oneness with Divinity, is the work of redemption.  Christ took human nature that men might be one with Him as He is One with the Father, that God may Love man as He Loves His only begotten Son, that men may be partakers of the Divine nature, and be complete in Him.”

 

Thinking upon the Divinity of Christ, many then ask the question, Did Jesus’ Divinity die on the cross?  From 5BC:1129 we read:  Christ’s Divinity did not die on the cross, “it was His human nature that died.  Deity did not sink and die; that would have been impossible. . . The Deity did not sink under the agonizing torture of Calvary.”  Now here is an important point.  Since His Divinity did not prevent His humanity from dying, neither would His Divinity prevent His humanity from sinning.  This brings us to a startling realization and a revealing statement form 7BC:926:  Christ “became subject to temptation, endangering as it were, His Divine attributes.”

 

Now I want you to contemplate this fact for a moment.  Do you understand what Christ risked in Coming to this earth with the garb of humanity?  Do you realize that not only this earth, but also the entire universe hung in the balance of uncertainty as our Lord endured every temptation in His humanity upon this earth?

 

Now you can see another Biblical truth.  Since Christ overcame sin in His humanity, we are to follow His example.  Here is First John 2:6:  “He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.”  Here is Philippians 4:13:  “I can do all things through Christ which strengthenth me.”  And from 7BC:926 we read:  “Man must pass over the ground over which Christ has passed.  As Christ overcame every temptation which Satan brought against Him, so man is to overcome.”

 

 

D) DIVINITY PERFORMED CHRIST’S MIRACLES

 

 

“The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a Teacher come from God:  for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him.”  John 3:2.

 

“Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do.”  John 5:19.

 

“I can of Mine Own Self do nothing:  as I hear, I judge:  and My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine Own Will, but the Will of the Father which hath sent Me.”  John 5:30.

 

“Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of Man, then shall ye know that I Am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things.”  John 8:28.

 

“Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from My Father.”  John 10:32.

 

“Believest thou not that I Am in the Father, and the Father in Me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself:  but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.”  John 14:10.

 

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power:  Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.”  Acts 10:38.

 

 

E) CHRIST’S HUMANITY FOREVER

 

 

In regards to our Lord carrying His humanity throughout eternity, see:  Luke 24:39-43, where our Lord appears in His resurrected form to the apostles and has Thomas handle His wounds.  Consider also Acts 1:10-11, where we are told that Jesus will “come in [the same] like manner as yue have seen Him go into Heaven.”

 

“God gave His only-begotten Son to become one of the human family, forever to retain His [Divine and] human nature.”  DA:25.

 

 

F) JOHN CALVIN (1509 - 1564)

 

 

Commenting upon Philippians 2:6-7, John Calvin stated:  “6 Inasmuch as He was in the form of God.  This is not a comparison between things similar, but in the way of greater and less.  Christ’s humility consisted in his abasing Himself from the highest pinnacle of glory to the lowest ignominy:  our humility consists in refraining from exalting ourselves by a false estimation.  He gave up His fight:  all that is required of us is, that we do not assume to ourselves more than we ought,  Hence he sets our with this -- that, inasmuch as He was in the form of God, He reckoned it not an unlawful thing for Him to shew Himself in that form; yet He emptied Himself.  Since, then, the Son of God descended from so great a height, how unreasonable that we, who are nothing, should be lifted up with pride!

 

“The form of God means here His majesty.  For as a man is known by the appearance of his form, so the majesty, which shines forth in God, is his figure.  Or if you would prefer a more apt similitude, the form of a king is his equipage and magnificence, shewing him to be a king -- his scepter, his crown, his mantle, his attendants, his judgment-throne, and other emblems of royalty; the form of a consul was -- his long robe, bordered with purple, his ivory seat, his lictors with rods and hatchets.  For in the wisdom of God, prior to His assuming our flesh, there was nothing mean or contemptible, bout on the contrary a magnificence worth of God. . .

 

“7 Emptied Himself.  This emptying is the same as the abasement, as to which we shall see afterwards.  The expression, however, is used (more emphatically), to mean, -- being brought to nothing.  Christ, indee, could not divest Himself of Godhead; but He kept it concealed for a time, that it might not be seen, under the weakness of the flesh.  Hence He laid aside His glory in the view of men, not by lessening It, but by concealing It.

 

“It is asked, whether He did this as man?  Erasmus answers in the affirmative.  But where was the form of God before He became man?  Hence we must reply, that Paul speaks of Christ wholly, as He was God manifested in the flesh, (1 Timothy 3:16;) but, nevertheless, this emptying is applicable exclusive to His humanity, as if I should say of man, ‘Man being mortal, he is exceedingly senseless if he thinks of nothing but the world,’ I refer indeed to man wholly; but at the same time I ascribe mortality only to a part of Him, namely, to the body.  As, then, Christ has on person, consisting of two natures, it is with propriety that Paul says, that He Who was the Son of God, -- in reality equal to God, did nevertheless lay aside His glory, when He in the flesh manifested Himself in the appearance of a servant.