What about the human nature of Jesus? How was He like us and how was He different? Was His human nature like that of unfallen or fallen Adam? We must understand the answers to these questions, because it will affect the outcome of our eternal destiny.
Romans 8:3: "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."
After Adam's sin everyone was born into this world with a fallen nature, including Jesus. Jesus' birth and ours differ in that He was born with divine and fallen human natures. He was born as a baby like we are when we are born again.
To "condemn sin in the flesh" means to live life without sin in sinful flesh, to manifest perfect obedience to the Law of God.
Phllippians 2:5-7: "Let this mind be in you,
which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not
robbery 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."
[Further Study]
Romans 1:3 "Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our
Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;"
John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and
dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the
Father,) full of grace and truth."
Hebrews 4:15: "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."
If Jesus had an unfallen human nature, He could not have been tempted just like
us, because we have natural propensities toward evil. But thank God He was like
us, never once yielding to sinful desire. He did it by total dependence upon His
heavenly Father (John 5:19, 30), so must we (John 15:5). Jesus used no power
to live a holy life that is not freely offered to us.
John 5:19, 30 "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: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son
likewise.. . . 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 15:5 "I am the vine, ye are the branches:
He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without
me ye can do nothing."
Hebrews 2:11: "For both he that sanctifieth
(Christ) and they who are sanctified (us) are all of one: for which cause he is not
ashamed to call them brethren."
[Further Study]
Hebrews 10:10 "By the which will we are
sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
Hebrews 2:14, 16-17: "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; . . . For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on
him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto
his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things
pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people."
The holy angels have an unfallen nature. Because they are unfallen they need no saving. Jesus had to be made like the ones He came to save (fallen humans), else it would avail nothing.
1 John 4:2-3: "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:
Every spirit (person who is breathing) that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in
the flesh is of God; and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come
in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist whereof ye have
heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."
The word flesh in the original Greek means "human nature with its frailties and
passions, fleshly or carnal." Each time the word flesh is used in the New
Testament it is the same Greek word except two instances which refer to the flesh
of animals.
Romans 14:21 "It is good neither to eat flesh,
nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or
is made weak."
1 Corinthians 8:13 "Wherefore, if meat make my
brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my
brother to offend."
2 John 7, 10-11: "For many deceivers are
entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This
is a deceiver and an antichrist (against Christ)... If there come any unto you, and
bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed
(success): for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds."
2 Corinthians 5:21: "For he hath made him to be
sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
Jesus took our fallen human nature so that we could be partakers of His divine nature.
John 3:14: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent
in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up."
[Further Study]
Numbers 21:4-9 "And they journeyed from mount
Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the
people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God,
and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the
wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth
this light bread. And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit
the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and
said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray
unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the
people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a
pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon
it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it
came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of
brass, he lived."
If we will look to Jesus and trust Him, we will be healed from the snake bite of sin.
2 Peter 1:4: "Whereby are given unto us exceeding
great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."
By claiming through faith the promises of God, we partake of His divine nature. To partake means to participate. There is something for us to do. We must cooperate with God in our own salvation by learning what His requirements are and then being obedient to the truth He reveals through the power of the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore if any man be in
Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are
become new."
To be "in Christ" means to be united to or in union with Christ. Old things are
passed away--the chains of sinful habit have been broken. Evil passions and
propensities will be eliminated and we will have power to live the life of Christ,
because we have been given the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5; Romans 12:2).
The flesh, of itself, cannot sin, it needs the consent of the mind. Our sinful
nature loves to sin and Satan will use it to tempt us to yield to evil, but if we have
the mind of Christ we will submit to God instead (Romans 8:1-5).
Philippians 2:5 "Let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ Jesus:"
Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world:
but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that
good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Romans 8:1-5 "There is therefore now no
condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but
after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me
free from the law of sin and death. 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: That the righteousness of the law might be
fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that
are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the
Spirit the things of the Spirit."
2 Corinthians 10:5: "Casting down imaginations,
and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing
into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"
[Further Study]
Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and
powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder
of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts
and intents of the heart."
There was in Christ nothing that responded to Satan's deceptions. He did not consent to sin. Not even by a thought did he yield to temptation, so may it be with us. When evil thoughts come to the mind they do not become sinful until they are dwelt upon or yielded to. If we would labor to repress sinful thoughts and feelings, giving them no expression in words or actions, Satan would be defeated.
"Since Jesus came to dwell with us, we know that God is acquainted with our trails, and sympathizes with our griefs. Every son and daughter of Adam may understand that our Creator is the friend of sinners. For in every doctrine of grace, every promise of joy, every deed of love, every divine attraction presented in the Saviour's life on earth, we see 'God with us'.
"Satan represents God's law of love as a law of selfishness. He declares that it is impossible for us to obey its precepts. The fall of our first parents, with all the woe that has resulted, he charges upon the Creator, leading men to look upon God as the author of sin, and suffering, and death. Jesus was to unveil this deception. As one of us He was to give an example of obedience. For this He took upon Himself our nature, and passed through our experiences. 'In all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren.' Hebrews 2:17. If we had to bear anything which Jesus did not endure, then upon this point Satan would represent the power of God as insufficient for us. Therefore Jesus was 'in all points tempted like as we are.' Hebrews 4:15. He endured every trail to which we are subject. And He exercised in His own behalf no power that is not freely offered to us. As man, He met temptation, and overcame in the strength given Him from God. He says, 'I delight to do Thy will, 0 My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart.' Psalms 40:8. As He went about doing good, and healing all who were afflicted by Satan, He made plain to men the character of God's law and the nature of His service. His life testifies that it is possible for us also to obey the law of God.
"By His humanity, Christ touched humanity; by His divinity, He lays hold upon the throne of God. As the Son of man, He gave us an example of obedience; as the Son of God, He gives us power to obey." The Desire of Ages, page 24.