(42) Hypostatic Union

The next theological idea we should get familiar with is what is called the “hypostatic union.” That’s not another way of describing a marriage in a science fiction movie. It is a very important theological title for the doctrine that explains how Jesus is both God and man. It literally means “union of persons.”

The doctrine of the hypostatic union states that the two natures of Christ (deity and humanity) are united and cannot be separated. They are united without being mixed and without a loss of separate identity. He remains forever the God-man, fully God and fully man, two distinct natures in one Person forever.

The hypostatic union emphasizes three main facts:

● Jesus has two distinct natures: humanity and deity.

● There is no mixture or combining of the two natures.

● Although Jesus has two natures, Jesus is one Person.

Why does this matter? First, it matters because we must hold firmly to the biblical teaching that Jesus always was and is God. We need to be careful that in our thinking about Jesus, we don’t think that He became less God when He became human. In fact, the last part of that statement isn’t even a very good way of expressing this. Jesus, the eternal Son of God, did not go from being God to becoming human. I prefer to say that He took on or added humanity to His deity. Do you see the subtle difference? Deity was not replaced by humanity or even put into humanity. Humanity was added to deity.

It is important that we hold firmly to the truth that Jesus was, is, and always will be 100% God. We must also hold firmly to the truth that Jesus did take on true, pre-fall humanity. He was 100% man. In fact, remember with me what Hebrews says about the importance of Jesus’ humanity.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil . . . Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:14, 17 ESV)

It is critical that we realize that Jesus is 100% God and that Jesus is 100% human. But then, we must also realize that these can’t be mixed. It may not seem clear to us why this is so critical for deity not to mix with or affect humanity, but, if humanity mixes with deity, it is no longer deity. Ok, a bit confusing? Think of it this way. If the humanity of Jesus mixed in anyway with the deity of Jesus, than deity would be diminished by humanity. Infinite would be polluted by finite. Omnipotence would be mixed with weakness. We could go on. If you don’t get anything else, get this: If Jesus humanity was mixed in anyway with His deity, it would have polutted His deity. Deity is deity. Humanity is humanity. God is God. Man is man.

There is one last important point that Paul Enns states.

Jesus must be viewed has having these two distinct natures, but, He must be viewed as one person. Jesus is 100% God and He is 100% man, and He is 100% one person. How do I make this clear? Well, I can’t. At least not completely. But I must hold on to these truths. Jesus was fully, 100% God. He was fully, 100% man. Jesus was one person. He acted as one person. He did not act sometimes as God and sometimes as man. Every word and action came from the one person, Jesus in the unique combination of deity and humanity.

Next: (43) Kenosis

(37) Perfect Priorities

Jesus set the example of perfect humanity in his priorities & values. Jesus had some seriously focused priorities and values. So much so that He forgot about eating because He was involved in ministry! When Jesus fed the multitude of five thousand men plus women and children it was because the disciples came to Him in the middle of ministry and told Him they needed food. When He fed the four thousand, they had gone three days without food. This was not because Jesus was some super human who didn’t need food. He explained this to the disciples, “Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." 32But He said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." (John 4:31-32 NAU). William MacDonald comments, “The Lord Jesus had found food and support in winning worshipers to His Father. Compared to this joy, physical nourishment was of little importance to Him.”

That’s what it looks like to be perfectly human! You are so passionate about serving the purposes of God that you forget to eat. Your values and priorities are focused with laser-like precision on the values and priorities of advancing God’s kingdom.

Want to be perfectly human? Stop living like the average human! Stop getting distracted and diverted to living for anything other than the kingdom of God. Get focused on Christ. Remember how Paul expressed it? “One thing I do!” “For me to live is Christ.” “Christ who is your life.”

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-3 NIV)

If we are going to be like Christ; if we are going to become perfectly human, we need to be freed from our bondage to our earthly, temporal, and inconsequential values until all that remains is what God values. While we may have temporal affections such as the love of family and friends, in these affections, we must value what God values, pursue what God values, promote what God values. May all our priorities be purified by the one ultimate and governing priority of perfect humanity, the demonstration and declaration of the glory of God. Everything in life must contribute to this one grand purpose of all creation. This is what it looks like to get your priorities in order. This is Jesus, up close and personal.


Next:  (38) Jesus: Pain & Perfection