Jesus, Very God, Very Man

[sweet~lady]

Hi, recenlty my husband and I have been discussing about Jesus being very God and Very man. My question is what about his earthly pilgrimage. My husband maintains that He gave up his "godness" and that He didn't resume this until after His baptism in the Jordan River when the Holy Spirit came upon Him. I have trouble understanding this because I personally don't believe that God fell off The Throne when Jesus was born as a helpless infant. Didn't He still have all power then too?

I hope I'm making sense. Please give me Scripture references (at least two corresponding ones ) when you reply. Thanks! Looking fwd to learning more..

[nebula]

The way I understand it -

Jesus was still God . . . but living within the confines of a human body with its limitations, including mental capacities. Thus, while walking this earth, He needed to rely on the Holy Spirit just as much as the rest of us.

[kross]

Boy, how to explain the un-explainable.

Even as JESUS was here as a flesh and blood man, HE was also in heaven as GOD the FATHER (who is spirit) In JESUS is the fullness of GOD, yet HE emptied HIMSELF and became as nothing (HEbrews 12? ish)

Because we see HIM as a man, and we envision THE FATHER as being separate from HIM, it is hard to see the two as one. When we hear the FATHER speak from heaven, and see the HOLY SPIRIT land on the shoulder of JESUS, it is harder to understand that they are all one together.

JESUS the man was/is the embodiment of the spoken word and promises of GOD. HE walked on the earth as a man, but as a result of who HIS FATHER was, HE did not inherit our fallen nature. Though HE was tempted as we are, HIS nature was to overcome these temptations. (like Adam without Eve and the serpent. LOL)

Still, the SON only did what HE saw the FATHER doing and was obedient to THE FATHER unto death, even death upon a cross.

I think I will quit now. Someone else will take over I am sure.

[MorningGlory]

Boy, how to explain the un-explainable.

Even as JESUS was here as a flesh and blood man, HE was also in heaven as GOD the FATHER (who is spirit) In JESUS is the fullness of GOD, yet HE emptied HIMSELF and became as nothing (HEbrews 12? ish)

Because we see HIM as a man, and we envision THE FATHER as being separate from HIM, it is hard to see the two as one. When we hear the FATHER speak from heaven, and see the HOLY SPIRIT land on the shoulder of JESUS, it is harder to understand that they are all one together.

JESUS the man was/is the embodiment of the spoken word and promises of GOD. HE walked on the earth as a man, but as a result of who HIS FATHER was, HE did not inherit our fallen nature. Though HE was tempted as we are, HIS nature was to overcome these temptations.

I think I will quit now. Someone else will take over I am sure.

I think you explained that whole thing pretty well, kross. It's very hard for us, as mortals, to get our minds around the majesty of God and His ways. We can try though.....

[sweet~lady]

The way I understand it -

Jesus was still God . . . but living within the confines of a human body with its limitations, including mental capacities. Thus, while walking this eart, He needed to rely on the Holy Spirit just as much as the rest of us.

you are in the exact same space as my husband then nebula, thanks, he pretty much said the same thing to me verbatim.

I know that He subjected himself to the confines of humanity so that He could understand experientially what we are going through. Boy, I'm sure thats an understatement! But it says "God with us" Emmanuel. hmmm.. God is omnipotent period. So then God in Three Persons.. He really is three separate "persons if you will" but ONE GOD. Thats the only way I can get a grasp on this.

God The Father was still on the Throne in Heaven looking out for His Son. Jesus was then empowered at his baptism.. I guess.. is all that I can find in The Bible anyway. Thanks I think I get it sort of.

God Bless you.

[sweet~lady]

Thankyou kross and morninglory .. it`s a stumper. But when people discuss things more light is shed. Thankyou. I believe that The Holy Spirit wants us to know Him in all of His Glory, not just at arms length so to speak. But ok I know.. the finite mind thing and the infinite.. not going there lol.

[EricH]

Jesus did not become any less God when He came to earth. He was 100 percent God and 100 percent man. the passage you are thinking of is:

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death-- even to death on a cross.

Philippians 2:1-8 HCSB

Jesus did not give up any of His divine attributes. What He set aside was his perogative to use his divine power for an advantage. He actually humbled himself to serve us by dying.

[Guest HIS girl]

='sweet~lady'

I know that He subjected himself to the confines of humanity so that He could understand experientially what we are going through.

I don't want to nit-pick but God came to Earth as a Man (Jesus) - to Save us from eternal seperation from Him which is where we were heading as fast as a train out of control -

He didn't subject Himself to the confines of humanity JUST so He could understand what we go through. IMO - once He was confined to the flesh - He atomatically felt ALL we do.

[sweet~lady]

Jesus did not become any less God when He came to earth. He was 100 percent God and 100 percent man. the passage you are thinking of is:

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death-- even to death on a cross.

Philippians 2:1-8 HCSB

Jesus did not give up any of His divine attributes. What He set aside was his perogative to use his divine power for an advantage. He actually humbled himself to serve us by dying.

This is the most thorough response yet. God Bless you and thanks a million!

Edited January 14, 2009 by EricH

[sweet~lady]

='sweet~lady'

I know that He subjected himself to the confines of humanity so that He could understand experientially what we are going through.

I don't want to nit-pick but God came to Earth as a Man (Jesus) - to Save us from eternal seperation from Him which is where we were heading as fast as a train out of control -

He didn't subject Himself to the confines of humanity JUST so He could understand what we go through. IMO - once He was confined to the flesh - He atomatically felt ALL we do.

Thanks Hisgirl, I did say it was an understatement after which I put an exclamation point so yes I do understand that part. I disagree with the automatically, I think He walked it out jst the same way we do.