{"id":208,"date":"2009-05-21T20:18:17","date_gmt":"2009-05-21T13:18:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/great-controversy-movie.com\/blog\/?p=208"},"modified":"2009-05-21T20:19:05","modified_gmt":"2009-05-21T13:19:05","slug":"nature-of-christ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/great-controversy-movie.com\/blog\/nature-of-christ\/","title":{"rendered":"nature of christ"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recently a “conservative” Seventh-day Adventist stayed at the place i’m staying. In conversation, he mentioned that Christ had the exact same nature as you and i do, so we must do as he did and overcome all sin in this life. While i agree with the part about overcoming sin now, i disagree about Jesus having the exact same nature we do.<\/p>\n

Is this significant, or semantics? Well, i do believe that it could have a great impact on your salvation, so i’ve made up a little study of the subject here.<\/p>\n

With the true interpretation given by the Holy Spirit, let’s see what the nature of man and Christ is.<\/p>\n

First, let’s define the general positions taken by us Adventists:
\n1. Jesus and us have the exact same nature.
\n2. Jesus had sinless nature, and we have sinful nature.<\/p>\n

Position one is generally taken by “conservatives”, and position two by “liberals”. As i’ve mentioned elsewhere on this blog, liberals have no foundation, so i identify much more strongly with the “conservatives”, but with differences of opinion on around 4 subjects, including this one.<\/p>\n

Let’s look at postion one. There are two possibilities for this to be true – either both had perfect natures, or both sinful natures. Now i’ve heard “conservatives” who have supported both of these possibilities. The possibility supported by my Brother i met last weekend was that “no one is born sinful, as that is the Catholic doctrine of Original Sin.” Others who support the second possibility say that Christ is just like you and me in every detail.<\/p>\n

For the first possibility to be true, it would mean two things: 1. If you are not born sinful, then it is within the realm of possibility for anyone who keeps the law perfectly to go to heaven without needing Jesus Christ as their Saviour. This is impossible.<\/p>\n

For the second possibility to be true, it would mean nearly the same thing, but from the opposite point of view, that Jesus himself would have needed a Saviour.<\/p>\n

So we see even before we show the inspired quotes, that the “conservative” SDA view of the nature of Christ is very flawed. Both possibilities of this view boil down to the idea that it is possible to get to heaven by works.<\/p>\n

The “liberal” viewpoint on this issue is much more correct, but even with the correct premise, they come to a false conclusion. Yes, Jesus came as a perfectly-untainted-by-sin human. He took on himself the results of around 4,000 years of physical degeneration, but did not come with a heart with a bent to sin like we do. This is why it can be truly said that he is the “second Adam”. He sure wasn’t close to Adam physically, so for this inspired phrase to have any meaning at all, it must mean morally. And this is what the inspired word attests of.<\/p>\n

But this view doesn’t mean that Jesus was “super”, so he could live a sinless life, but we can’t. This conclusion is taught by many in the church who say that “we will be sinning until Jesus comes in the clouds”. No, no. We can, and must overcome sin right here and right now, in the same way that Jesus overcame – by complete submission to the will of his Father.<\/p>\n

We all know that Jesus’ birth was miraculous. But in contemplating it, it shows that he was not exactly like us humans today, in that his physical father was heavenly. He was made in the likeness of mankind tho, so the Creator did become like the created.<\/p>\n

Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. <\/p>\n

Heb 2:14 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;
\n15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
\n16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
\n
\n*************************************
\npt: The Youth’s Instructor
\ndt: 06-02-98
\nat: The Second Adam
\n*************************************
\nChrist is called the second Adam. In purity and holiness,
\nconnected with God and beloved by God, he began where the first Adam
\nbegan. Willingly he passed over the ground where Adam fell, and
\nredeemed Adam’s failure.
\n….
\nChrist was tempted by Satan in a hundredfold severer manner than
\nwas Adam, and under circumstances in every way more trying.
\n********************
\n20OM
\nHe humbled Himself in taking the nature
\nof man in his fallen condition, but He did not take the taint of sin.
\n********************
\npt: The Signs of the Times
\ndt: 05-19-90
\nat: Obedience is Sanctification.
\n********************
\nWe have reason for ceaseless gratitude to God that Christ, by his
\nperfect obedience, has won back the heaven that Adam lost through
\ndisobedience. Adam sinned, and the children of Adam share his guilt and
\nits consequences; but Jesus bore the guilt of Adam, and all the
\nchildren of Adam that will flee to Christ, the second Adam, may escape
\nthe penalty of transgression. Jesus regained heaven for man by bearing
\nthe test that Adam failed to endure; for he obeyed the law perfectly,
\nand all who have a right conception of the plan of redemption will see
\nthat they cannot be saved while in transgression of God’s holy
\nprecepts. They must cease to transgress the law, and lay hold on the
\npromises of God that are available for us through the merits of Christ.
\n************************
\ndb: 2RED
\nti: Redemption; or the Temptation of Christ–in–The Wilderness
\n************************
\nWhat a contrast the second Adam presented as he entered the gloomy
\nwilderness to cope with Satan single-handed. Since the fall, the race
\nhad been decreasing in size and physical strength, and sinking lower in
\nthe scale of moral worth, up to the period of Christ’s advent to the
\nearth. In order to elevate fallen man, Christ must reach him where he
\nwas. He took human nature, and bore the infirmities and degeneracy of
\nthe race. He who knew no sin became sin for us. He humiliated himself
\nto the lowest depths of human woe, that he might be qualified to reach
\nman, and bring him up from the degradation in which sin had plunged
\nhim.
\n************************
\nThe Great Controversy Between Christ and His Angels, and Satan and His Angels (1858) p.25
\n************************
\nJesus also told them that they should have a part to act, to be
\nwith him, and at different times strengthen him. That he should take
\nman’s fallen nature, and his strength would not be even equal with
\ntheirs.
\n****************************
\n14OM
\nThe sinful nature of man was weak, and he was prone to the
\ntransgression of God’s commandments. Man had not the power to do the
\nwords of God; that is why Christ came to our world, that He might give
\nhim moral power.
\n****************************
\n8RH 08-02-1907
\nClad in the vestments of humanity, the Son of God came down to the
\nlevel of those he wished to save. In him was no guile or sinfulness; he
\nwas ever pure and undefiled; yet he took upon him our sinful nature.
\nClothing his divinity with humanity,….
\n****************************<\/p>\n

So when the inspired word talks about Jesus “taking on the fallen human nature”, we see that it is referring to the weakened physical body, degenerated for nearly 4,000 years. We humans born after Adam’s fall all die, so all suffer the guilt of sin. But Jesus did not. He willingly, for our behalf, laid down his life – not because anyone could take it away from him, but because he chose that way to redeem us lost, mortal sinners.<\/p>\n

May we study to show ourselves approved unto God, and may we come up to the high standard that has been set before us by Jesus Christ. While he is in the Most Holy Place now ready and willing to forgive our sins, he is telling us to put away all sin from us. Soon he will put his seal on the 144,000, and they will not sin or die until Jesus comes in the clouds and takes them home. May we be among that number!
\n<\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Recently a “conservative” Seventh-day Adventist stayed at the place i’m staying. In conversation, he mentioned that Christ had the exact same nature as you and i do, so we must do as he did and overcome all sin in this life. While i agree with the part about overcoming sin now, i disagree about Jesus …<\/p>\n

nature of christ<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"","site-content-layout":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-208","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christian-study"],"yoast_head":"\nnature of christ - Great Controversy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/great-controversy-movie.com\/blog\/nature-of-christ\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"nature of christ - Great Controversy\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Recently a “conservative” Seventh-day Adventist stayed at the place i’m staying. 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