The document explores the dual nature of Christ as both divine and human, emphasizing that neither aspect should overshadow the other. It discusses historical errors regarding Christ's nature and reflects on Philippians 2:5-8, encouraging critical thought about the implications of His humility and obedience. Ultimately, it advocates for a balanced understanding of Christ that informs how believers engage with their faith and society.

1. Christ: the God-Man A study on the divinity and humanity of Christ and the difference it makes for us as His followers.

2. Background The Bible attests to the fact that: Jesus was God Jesus was man

3. Background Man God

4. Tendencies Man God

5. Tendencies Man God

6. Two Natures United but not mingled or confounded. No transfer of the attributes of one to the other. One person who partakes of both attributes.

7. Errors Ebionites Denied Jesus’ deity The Gnostics Denied Jesus’ humanity Mater is evil, spirit is good Man God

8. Errors Nestorianism Two personalities Apollinarianism Jesus did not have a human rational soul or spirit. Eutychainism Human changed into divine Monophysitism Arianism God’s first great “creation” G M Man God

9. Critical Thinking What can happen when one over emphasizes Christ’s humanity over His deity? Man God

10. Critical Thinking What can happen when one over emphasizes Christ’s deity over His humanity? God Man

11. Critical Reflection Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8

12. Critical Reflection What do you observe in this passage? What are arguments for Christ’s deity from this passage? What are arguments for Christ’s humanity from this passage? What do you think this passage is talking about?

13. Summary So long as one does not deny the full and true deity and humanity of Christ and so long as one does not divide him into twopersons or describe his being as a hybrid of two natures one is permitted to speculate far and wide about his being and person. Roger E. Olson, The Mosaic of Christian Belief

14. Summary This Trinitarian point of entry into our theology of the church necessarily shifts all the accents in our ecclesiology. As it leads us to see the church as the instrument of God’s mission…God’s mission is calling and sending us, the church of Jesus Christ, to be a missionary church in our own societies, in the cultures in which we find ourselves. Darrell Guder, Missional Church

15. Questions How do we balance our physical and our spiritual lives? What is one way we can live differently this week because of our relationship with Christ?