The Dual Nature of Christ
From the Bible we see thatYeshua Ha masshiachhad two distinct natures in a way that no other human being has ever had. One nature is human or fleshly; the other nature is divine or Spirit.Yeshua was both fully man and fully God. The nameYeshua refers to the eternal Spirit of God (the Father) dwelling in the flesh. We can use the nameYeshua to describe either one of His two natures or both. For example, when we sayYeshua died on the cross, we mean His flesh died on the cross. When we sayYeshua lives in our hearts, we mean His Spirit is there.
Below is a comparative list that will illustrate what we mean when we sayYeshua had two natures or a dual nature.
Table 8: The Dual Nature of Yeshua Ha masshiach
As a man, Yeshua
But as God, He:
1
Was born a baby
Luke 2:7
Existed from eternity
Micah 5:2; John 1:1-2
2
Grew mentally, physically, spiritually, socially
Luke 2:52
Never changes
Hebrews 13:8
3
Was tempted by the devil
Luke 4:2
Cast out devils
Matthew 12:28
4
Hungered
Matthew 4:2
Was the Bread of Life and miraculously fed multitudes
John 6:35; Mark 6:38-44, 52
5
Thirsted
John 19:28
Gave living water
John 4:14
6
Grew weary
John 4:6
Gave rest
Matthew 11:28
7
Slept in a storm
Mark 4:38
Calmed the storm
Mark 4:39-41
8
Prayed
Luke 22:41
Answered prayer
John 14:14
9
Was scourged and beaten
John 19:1-3
Healed the sick
Matthew 8:16-17; IPeter 2:24
10
Died
Mark 15:37
Raised His own body from the dead
John 2:19-21; 20:9
11
Was a sacrifice for sin
Hebrews 10:10-12
Forgave sin
Mark 2:5-7
12
Did not know all things
Mark 13:32
Knew all things
John 21:17
13
Had no power
John 5:30
Had all power
Matthew 28:18; Colossians 2:10
14
Was inferior to God
John 14:28
Was equal to God- was God
John 5:18
15
Was a servant
Philippians 2:7-8
Was King of kings
Revelation 19:16
We can resolve most questions about the Godhead if we properly understand the dual nature of Yeshua. When we read a statement aboutYeshua we must determine if it describesYeshua as a man or as God. Moreover, wheneverYeshua speaks in Scripture we must determine whether He is speaking as man or as God. Whenever we see a description of two natures with respect to Yeshua, we should not think of two persons in the Godhead or of two Gods, but we should think of Spirit and flesh.
Sometimes it is easy to get confused when the Bible describesYeshua in these two different roles, especially when it describes Him acting in both roles in the same story. For example, He could sleep one minute and calm the storm the next minute. He could speak as man one moment and then as God the next moment. However, we must always remember thatYeshua is fully God and not merely an anointed man. At the same time, He was fully man, not just an appearance of man. He had a dual nature unlike anything we have, and we cannot adequately compare our existence or experience to His. What would seem strange or impossible if applied to a mere human becomes understandable when viewed in the context of One who is both fully God and fully man at the same time.
Shalom
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"Blessed is He who Comes in The Name of The Lord"
Spirit is the life giving force, Soul is all the emotions and knowledge your brain acquires as energy that subsists after death along with the spirit.
noalex you are a soul.you are a liveing soul if you die then you would be a dead soul
Jehovah formed the man out of dust from the ground, blew into his nostrils the breath of life, "and the man came to be a living soul." (Ge 2:7;
The application of the word "soul" to animals is very appropriate. It is in agreement with what is thought to be the basic meaning of the Hebrew term ne´phesh. This word is understood to be derived from a root meaning "to breathe." Hence, in a literal sense, a soul is a "breather," and animals are indeed breathers. They are living, breathing creatures.
Concerning the creation of sea and land creatures, the Bible says: "God went on to say: "Let the waters swarm forth a swarm of living souls ["creatures," NewEnglishBible] and let flying creatures fly over the earth" . . . God proceeded to create the great sea monsters and every living soul that moves about . . . "Let the earth put forth living souls according to their kinds, domestic animal and moving animal and wild beast of the earth according to its kind."""Genesis 1:20-24.
Spirit is the life giving force, Soul is all the emotions and knowledge your brain acquires as energy that subsists after death along with the spirit.
noalex you are a soul.you are a liveing soul if you die then you would be a dead soul
Jehovah formed the man out of dust from the ground, blew into his nostrils the breath of life, "and the man came to be a living soul." (Ge 2:7;
The application of the word "soul" to animals is very appropriate. It is in agreement with what is thought to be the basic meaning of the Hebrew term ne´phesh. This word is understood to be derived from a root meaning "to breathe." Hence, in a literal sense, a soul is a "breather," and animals are indeed breathers. They are living, breathing creatures.
Concerning the creation of sea and land creatures, the Bible says: "God went on to say: "Let the waters swarm forth a swarm of living souls ["creatures," NewEnglishBible] and let flying creatures fly over the earth" . . . God proceeded to create the great sea monsters and every living soul that moves about . . . "Let the earth put forth living souls according to their kinds, domestic animal and moving animal and wild beast of the earth according to its kind."""Genesis 1:20-24.
According to Genesis 1:26-27, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."
These verses indicate that there is something distinct about Mankind from all the other creations. Man was intended to have a relationship with God, and as such, God created Man with both material and immaterial aspects. The material aspects are obviously those that are tangible: the physical body, organs, etc. and are considered to only exist as long as the person is alive (or decompose shortly after death). The immaterial aspects are those which are intangible: soul, spirit, intellect, will, conscience, etc. These characteristics are considered to exist beyond the physical lifespan of the individual. The animals are not created in this manner, and therefore will not have a portion of their being which will last beyond a physical existence.
If Adam was created to have both material and immaterial aspects to his existence, and all men are descendents of Adam, then the logical conclusion is that all men, believers or unbelievers have both material and immaterial aspects to their existence. This concept is clearly taught in Scripture: Genesis 5:1-3 states ""In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth" This verse tells us that Adam was the first member of a race that all had like characteristics. A man would have children like himself, and those children would have children which would be like their parents, and on and on.
So, all mankind possesses both material and immaterial characteristics in his existence. It is clear that all mankind has a body, containing flesh, blood, bones, organs and cells; however, the intangible qualities of mankind are often debated. What does Scripture say about these? Genesis 2:7 - states that Man was created as a living soul.Numbers 16:22 - And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation? This verse names God as the God of the spirits that are possessed by all Mankind. Proverbs 4:23 - Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. This verse indicates that the heart is central to Mankind"s will and emotions. Acts 23:1 - And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. Romans 12:1 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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. It can be seen that there are various aspects of the immaterial part of Mankind, and that all Men share both material and immaterial qualities. This list of references just scratches the surface.
The direct answer to your question is, yes, the believer does consist of body, soul, and spirit"and much more. What precisely are the differences between the soul and spirit? Scripture isn"t entirely clear; the meanings seem to overlap in some areas. There is a difference between the two, that is clear,"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). Recommended Resource: In His Image by Brand & Yancey.
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"Blessed is He who Comes in The Name of The Lord"
Very good post Bro Alex. Thinking back over the numerous Oneness-Trinity discussions over the past year, the main cause of contention centers around the dual nature of Christ. One will state that Jesus was both God and man and there is no question of that fact, and follow with a statement such as, Jesus said that the Father is greater than I, and that proves that they are two seperate beings. That IMO shows no concept whatsoever of the dual nature. No understanding of the merger of flesh and Spirit into one. The biblical term, "took upon himself", is now understood as, "made another beside himself". Such elementry terms as, "God in Christ", "The Father in me", "Lord and Christ", become topics of contention and division simply because of a failure to comprehend the dual nature of Jesus.
i have to admit that i have found that there is something wrong with the catch fraze, "dual nature of Christ",it just dose not fit.
the word dual has the meaning of two different ones working together at the same time.but we are speaking of one person one life force.and not two equal persons working to the same goal.
the word Nature as it applies to a thing like a god or a man itapplies as a singular form.the first definition in Websters is 1 a: the inherent character or basic constitution of a person or thing : ESSENCEb: DISPOSITION, TEMPERAMENT which means he would always have the same essence .always have the same disposition.always have the same temperament.
to say that he has another nature insights the feeling that another nature could or would be an opposite nature orattitude.
i will agree that he Jesus has existed in two different forms ,spirit and flesh. but he always had the same attitudeor disposition about him.
i see that you can't define or under standwhy the Word( Jesus) is in deed Devinne.for he is a separate being. sent from God the most highto fulfill a purposehere on earth.and that was to redeem man kindfrom the adamic sin (death).the fact that God gave him the power and the authority to do many wonderful thing ,takes nothing away from Jehovah ,it in fact only serves to show how great Jehovah is.
I have seen and read all the 15 numbered comparisons listed .some of them are laughable the way that scripture is twisted to meet your understanding.
the one #14 apishlygets my attention
john 14:28
. YOU heard that I said to YOU, I am going away and I am coming [back] to YOU. If YOU loved me, YOU would rejoice that I am going my way to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am.
and
john 5:18 On this account, indeed, the Jews began seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath but he was also calling God his own Father, making himself equal to God.
Jesus was not making him self equal to God .but the Jews in there ignorance of who he is ,they were the ones that were saying that Jesus was equal. they even accused him of breaking the sabbath law,which is a ridicules accusation .
all of which can easily be seen if you read the verses around verse 18
john 5:14-24
14
After these things Jesus found him in the temple and said to him: "See, you have become sound in health. Do not sin anymore, in order that something worse does not happen to you." 15 The man went away and told the Jews it was Jesus that made him sound in health. 16 So on this account the Jews went persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things during Sabbath. 17 But he answered them: "My Father has kept working until now, and I keep working." 18 On this account, indeed, the Jews began seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath but he was also calling God his own Father, making himself equal to God.
19 Therefore, in answer, Jesus went on to say to them: "Most truly I say to YOU, The Son cannot do a single thing of his own initiative, but only what he beholds the Father doing. For whatever things that One does, these things the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father has affection for the Son and shows him all the things he himself does, and he will show him works greater than these, in order that YOU may marvel. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead up and makes them alive, so the Son also makes those alive whom he wants to. 22 For the Father judges no one at all, but he has committed all the judging to the Son, 23 in order that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He that does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Most truly I say to YOU, He that hears my word and believes him that sent me has everlasting life, and he does not come into judgment but has passed over from death to life.
if Jesus in one verse said" the father is greater than i am" and in another verse said that he was "equal " then that would be a contradiction. in scripture and we all know that cant happen .the supposition that you make, is wrong.
if Jesus in one verse said" the father is greater than i am" and in another verse said that he was "equal " then that would be a contradiction. in scripture and we all know that cant happen .the supposition that you make, is wrong. Cataway.
Not If you could discern when it was the flesh speaking and when it was God the Spirit speaking.
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"Blessed is He who Comes in The Name of The Lord"
Good thread Alex, the duality of Jesus is perhaps the least considered or studied aspect of Jesus the Christ. Many denominations see that the bible shows this dual nature, but they don't seem to expound on it.
It often helps in scripture to pay attention to the term or title used to refer to the Lord . . .most often when the term "Son or Christ" is used , it refers to His humanity, or deity in humanity.
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
THE DUAL NATURE OF CHRIST
