What Happened at Christmas? | 7 Views on the Person of Jesus

Type of Doctrine: Primary

"6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this."

-Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV

Why does it matter?

Christmas is a celebration of God becoming human when he was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary. When the Son of God became a person, God himself came to save sinful humans. This topic matters for our salvation (i.e., Jesus must be fully God and fully human in order to save us). Additionally, it matters because Scripture is clear on this subject and the church has always believed that Jesus is fully God and fully human. Therefore, it is a primary doctrine. In other words, if someone doesn't believe this doctrine then that means the person is not a Christian (or at least does not believe a central tenet in Christianity).

What is it?

What happened at Christmas? The incredible truth that we celebrate at Christmas is that the Son of God became human! Many use the word incarnation to refer to this incredible act. The word "incarnation" means that the Son of God took on a human nature. Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human, and though the divine and human natures are distinct, at the same time, they are fully and completely united.

The word "incarnation" means that the Son of God took on a human nature. Jesus is fully God and fully human.

Because Jesus is God, he can save us. He has the power to help us. Also, through Jesus God can be known. However, on the other hand, because Jesus is human, he can obey for us, die a death as a substitute (i.e., taking our penalty), sympathize with our sufferings and struggles, and function as a model (i.e., giving an example of how to live).

Here are a few Scriptures to study on this topic:

• John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

• Hebrews 1:1-2 - Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

• Isaiah 9:6 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

• Isaiah 7:14 - Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

• Galatians 4:4-5 - But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

• 1 Timothy 1:15-17 - The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

• Titus 3:4-7 - But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

• Zechariah 9:9 - Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

• John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

• Philippians 2:8 - And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

7 Views on the Person of Jesus

Below are 7 Views on the Person of Jesus (adapted from the ESV Study Bible, pp. 2515-2519). Only one view is an acceptable Christian view, all of the heresies are highlighted in gray (a heresy is a belief that is not an acceptable Christian view).

Name of View	Description
Biblical, Orthodox Christianity	Christ is fully God and fully human. The divine and human natures are distinct, but at the same time, they are fully and completely united.
Ebionism	denies the deity of Christ
Arianism	denies the fullness of the deity of Christ
Docetism	denies the humanity of Christ
Apollinarianism	denies the fullness of the humanity of Christ
Nestorianism	denies the unity of the natures in one person
Eutychianism	denies the distinction of the natures

Application:

When we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate the Son of God becoming human to save us. We should be thankful for the fact that God did not destroy us or leave us under condemnation because of our sins! He could have. We rebelled against our creator and our daily struggle with sin shows that we deserve punishment. However, in his mercy, God had a plan to save us!

Moreover, it is stunning that God himself came to save us. He came humbly as a human and subjected himself to the challenges and suffering associated with living in our fallen world. He can empathize with whatever you are currently going through.

Jesus is fully God and fully human, and that means, he is worthy of our faith and worship! Since he is a perfect example of obedience, we should model our lives after him. Ultimately, he should bring us more joy than anything and anyone else!

But there is also hope in Jesus. In the future, Jesus will come back to fully establish his kingdom where all sin, sickness, suffering, and Satan will be removed. There will be no end to his perfect kingdom!

Where can I learn more?

Bibliography:

- ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008.

For more information:

- Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994.