The Trinity Lesson 4 Christ: Fully Human, Fully Divine Review: R.C Sproul “The Mystery of the Trinity” Section #2: The Biblical Witness

While Jesus is fully divine and equal with the Father, He is also fully human and distinct from God the Father. Ephesians 1:3 Gnosticism Modalism

The Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance and equal with the Father, did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon Him man's nature,with all the essential properties, and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin; being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance. So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion. Which person is very God, and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man. (WC VIII-2)take upon Him man's naturecommon infirmities thereofwithout conversion, composition, or confusion.

Question: How is it possible for Christ to be fully obedient to the Father and yet be equal with the Father? Phil. 2:5-8 John 17:1-5

Next Week: The Spirit is God

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. (Eph. 1:1-3) Return

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. (Gal 4:4) Return Return

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Heb. 4:15) Return Return

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Col 2:9) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1Tim. 3:16) Return Return

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not a thing to be grasped to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Phil. 2: 5-8) Return Return

These words spoke Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son, that your Son also may glorify you: As you have given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have glorified you on the earth: I have finished the work which you gave me to do. And now, O Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world was. (John17:1-5) Return

Gnostics denied the deity of Christ since, as they believed, deity cannot unite itself with anything material such as a body. They believed that He was a type of super-angel, greater than man, but inferior to the Father in nature. Gnostics believed that there is one God who dwells alone, and a number of lesser beings who do His work. Return Return

Modalism taught that there is one God who manifests Himself separately in three modes of existence: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (One Person, Three Modes) This denies the simultaneous co-existence of full deity and full humanity in the single person of Jesus Christ. Return Return