The Mystery of the Incarnation: Christ's Dual Nature

In our exploration of biblical doctrines, we have journeyed from understanding humanity's fallen state to the profound doctrine of redemption and salvation. Central to this journey is the person of Jesus Christ, who stands as the pivotal figure in the Bible. Our focus today is on the doctrine of the Incarnation, which asserts that the eternal Son of God took on human flesh and entered our world. [00:00:48]

The Incarnation is not merely a theological concept but a profound mystery that reveals the depth of God's love and the extent of His plan for salvation. We examined the evidence of Christ's divinity, which includes divine names, attributes, and offices ascribed to Him. He is called the Son of God, the Alpha and Omega, and even God Himself. [00:01:31]

The dual nature of Christ—fully God and fully man—presents a mystery that challenges our understanding but is essential for our salvation. His sinlessness, despite being tempted, sets Him apart as the perfect Savior. As we continue to delve into these doctrines, we are reminded of the importance of holding these truths together, recognizing the profound mystery and marvel of Christ's person. [00:37:06]

There are certain Divine names which are ascribed to him Divine names now there are alog together some 16 names ascribe to him Each of which clearly implies his deity let me mention some of them to you he is described as the Son of God 40 times Son of God he is refer to as his son God's son. [00:04:19]

He is described as the Alpha and the Omega the beginning and the end again terms of deity obviously there is nothing before the beginning there is nothing after the end then you remember that Peter preaching in Jerusalem you'll find it recorded in Acts 3:14 refers to him as the Holy One. [00:05:35]

The Bible ascribes and attributes to him Divine attributes certain Divine attributes you remember when we were dealing with the doctrine of God we were considering the Divine attributes well now you'll find that those very attributes are also ascribed to our lord for instance omnipotence Hebrews 1:3 says that he upholds all things by the word of his power. [00:08:01]

The scriptures make it abundantly plain and clear that uh he had a typical human physical nature take that statement in John 1 14 the word was made flesh or became flesh take again the statements we considered last week in Hebrews 2 particularly verse 14 where we are told that because the children were partakers of Flesh and Blood he also took likewise of the same. [00:25:44]

He was subject to growth and and to development like all of us Luke 2:40 and the child grew and waxed strong in spirit filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him in the same chapter Luke 2:52 and Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and Men. [00:29:24]

He was clearly here on Earth subject to certain limitations in his knowledge limitations of knowledge here's an instance in Mark 11:13 the incident of the barren fig tree we are told that our Lord came to it expecting to receive fruit of it he didn't know that it hadn't got fruit FR of it. [00:30:10]

He was tempted in all points like as we are yet without sin the holy scriptures say that that he was tempted in all pints like as we are item number eight is this proof number eight is that he obviously had need of prayer now here's a great theme keep your eye on the frequency with which our Lord prayed. [00:33:10]

The scriptures also remind us everywhere that though he was truly human he was also sinless he was without sin now last week we saw that the angel already told Mary about this in Luke 1:35 he says the holy thing that shall be born of thee that's the first assertion of his sinlessness. [00:37:06]

The fact that he was tempted proves that he was truly human that his nature his human nature was truly human nature so we assert about him that he was subject to temptation but was at the same time sinless and indeed we can go further and we can say that he was not even subject to fall. [00:40:01]