Q: How can Jesus be both fully God and fully man?
A: The concept of Jesus being fully God and fully man is rooted in Christian theology and is often referred to as the hypostatic union. It means that Jesus possesses both a divine and a human nature without mixture or confusion. The Bible teaches that Jesus, the Son of God, took on human flesh while retaining His divine nature.
Q: How is Jesus fully God?
A: According to Christian belief, Jesus is fully God because He is the second person of the Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Bible asserts that Jesus existed with God from the beginning (John 1:1) and that He shares the divine attributes of eternity, omnipotence, and omniscience.
Q: How is Jesus fully man?
A: The Bible teaches that Jesus became fully man by taking on human flesh and entering into the human experience. He was born of a woman (Matthew 1:18, Luke 1:26-35), experienced human emotions and temptations (Hebrews 4:15), and lived a genuine human life. This emphasizes Jesus' identification with humanity.
Q: Why is it important for Jesus to be both fully God and fully man?
A: The dual nature of Jesus is crucial for Christian theology. Being fully God qualifies Him to offer a perfect and eternal sacrifice for human sins, bridging the gap between God and humanity. His full humanity enables Him to represent and understand the human experience, serving as a compassionate and relatable Savior.
Q: Does the Bible explicitly state that Jesus is both fully God and fully man?
A: While the Bible may not explicitly use the term "fully God and fully man," it contains numerous verses emphasizing both Jesus' divinity and humanity. Verses such as John 1:14, Philippians 2:6-11, and Colossians 2:9 highlight the divine and human aspects of Jesus.
Q: How did the early Christian councils contribute to understanding the nature of Jesus?
A: The Councils of Nicaea (325 AD) and Chalcedon (451 AD) played pivotal roles in formulating the Nicene Creed and the Chalcedonian Definition, respectively. These statements of faith clarified and affirmed the orthodox Christian understanding of Jesus' nature as both fully God and fully man, providing a theological foundation for the Christian Church.
Q: How does the hypostatic union impact the Christian understanding of salvation?
A: The hypostatic union is essential to the Christian understanding of salvation. Jesus, being both fully God and fully man, serves as the mediator between God and humanity. His sacrificial death on the cross provides atonement for human sins, and His resurrection ensures victory over death, offering the possibility of eternal life to those who believe in Him (John 3:16).