Was Jesus’ human nature sinful?
(Hebrews 2:5-18; Matt. 7:11; Luke 1:35; ) Blog Jan. 16-22, 2022
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Paul, the persecutor, became the principal proponent of Stephen’s message. In the Book of Hebrews he writes to all believers presenting Jesus as One equal with the Father in glory, substance, and power who by himself atoned for our sins and rose to heaven to become our high priest. God appointed him “heir of all things” and chose him to be our prophet, priest, and king – One better than Moses, Aaron, and David. Paul exhorts believers to follow Jesus in his heavenly ministry and to not harden their hearts as Israel did in the desert.
A Perfect Sacrifice
1. After warning us not to let the Gospel slip from our memory where does Paul turn in Hebrews 2? In Hebrews 2 Paul turns to the dominion of this earth given to Adam (Heb.2:5-8).
2. What did Adam do with the dominion entrusted to him at creation? Adam willingly sold the dominion of this earth to Satan (Heb. 2:8; Gen. 2:16-17; 3:6; Matt. 4:8-9).
3. Who came to buy back earth’s dominion that Adam had sold? God, in the person of Jesus, came to earth to buy back the forfeited dominion of this earth (Heb. 2:9).
4. What did God’s covenant with Adam require in order to buy back the lost dominion? God’s covenant with Adam required the death of all whom Adam represented: that of the entire human race (Gen. 2:16-17; Rom. 5:12; 6:23; Heb. 2:9).
5. What must Jesus do in order to buy back the lost dominion? Jesus must pay the penalty of eternal death for every descendant of Adam in order to restore the lost dominion (Heb. 2:9; Rom. 5:12-15).
6. Since it is man that lost the dominion and it is impossible for God to die what must Jesus become in order to restore the lost dominion? Jesus must become man by uniting his eternal divinity with our fallen humanity that he might experience eternal death for every man (Heb. 2:9).
A Perfect Offering
7. Besides tasting death for every man what also was required to restore the lost dominion? Besides dying for every person Jesus must perfect a human character which Adam failed to do (Heb. 2:10; Matt. 5:48).
8. How is human character perfected? Character is perfected through suffering, so it was through suffering that Jesus developed a perfect human character (Heb. 2:10; 5:7-9).
9. When did Jesus’ suffering begin? Jesus’ suffering began as soon as he was born, for his parents found only a stable for his birth, a persecutor for his king, & a foreign land for his exile (Matt. 2:13; Luke 2:7).
10. According to Mosaic symbolism what type of offering did Jesus have to be? Every offering made to God had to be without blemish so Jesus must be without blemish in his nature & life: a spotless Lamb (Ex. 12:5; Lev. 1:3; Heb. 9:14; 1 Pet. 1:19).
11. Who offered Jesus an alternate plan for receiving the lost dominion and on what condition? Satan, the god of this world, offered the lost dominion to Jesus if he would bow down & worship him (Matt. 4:8-10; 2 Cor. 4:4).
12. According to Revelation who was found worthy to open the title deed to the lost dominion? Jesus was found worthy to take possession of the lost dominion for he was slain & redeemed humanity by his blood (Rev. 5:1-9).
13. What Old Testament statute offered the possibility of a person’s redemption to a near relative? The statute concerning kinsman redeemers offered a kinsman the opportunity to redeem his relative & so Jesus became our brother to redeem us (Lev. 25:48).
A Perfect Representative
14. What does Paul say in Hebrews 2 was required for Jesus to be our high priest? For Jesus to represent humanity he must be a human being (Heb. 2:17; 5:1).
15. What did Jesus’ becoming a human being involve? For Jesus to become a human being he must take our flesh & blood: become fully human (Heb. 2:14; Matt. 16:17; Gal. 1:16).
16. What type of human flesh and blood did Jesus take? Jesus took our humanity after it had been weakened by 4000 years of sin: the humanity of a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Rahab, Ruth, & David with weakened physical, mental, & moral powers (Matt. 1:1-6: Heb. 2:16).
17. If sin so affected Jesus’ physical, mental, and moral powers was his human nature sinful? No, Jesus’ human nature was not sinful for Scripture calls him “that holy thing;” “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners;” & “in him is no sin” (Luke 1:35; Heb. 7:26; 1 John 3:5).
18. What other Scriptures show that Jesus’ human nature was just like ours except for sin? Hebrews 2:17 says that Jesus was made like us (but not the same as us) in all things, which Philippians 2:7 also says. In Matthew 7:11 Jesus makes clear that his nature was not evil like that of all his hearers (Matt. 7:11; Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:17).
19. Why do some people teach that Jesus had a sinful human nature just like we do? Some people teach that Jesus had a sinful human nature because they believe it necessary for us to attain to his level of perfection in order to be saved. Rather they should see that Jesus is our Saviour & in order to be our Saviour he must have a sinless human nature or his sacrifice would be unacceptable to divine justice (Mat. 5:48; Heb. 9:14).
20. How could Jesus be tempted in all points like we are if he didn’t have a sinful nature? Jesus was tempted to use his divine nature to supply his needs & meet temptation but in every area of human temptation he resisted using his divine nature & so overcame just as we must overcome (Heb. 4:15; Rev. 3:21).