Knowing God: Christ, Incarnation and Trinity

Bonus articles this week:

For the class, please read:

Hebrews 1:1-4, Colossians 1:3-23

Institutes 2.xii.1-3

Calvin argues that only a human person can serve as mediator between God and fallen humanity, but only God himself is capable of the perfect obedience required of the mediator.  In Christ, God takes on human flesh and is true God and true human. 

"Since our iniquities, like a cloud cast between us and him had completely estranged us from the Kingdom of Heaven, no man, unless he belonged to God, could serve as the intermediary to restore peace.  But who might reach to him? Any of Adam's children? No, like their father,all of them were terrified of the sight of God…" (2.xii.1)

"Ungrudgingly he took our nature upon himself to impart to us what was his, and to become both Son of God and Son of man in common with us. Hence that holy brotherhood which he commends with his own lips when he says: 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God'…

"For the same reason it was also imperative that he who was to become our Redeemer be true God and true man.  It was his task to swallow up death.  Who but the Life could do this?  It was his task to conquer sin.  Who but very Righteousness could do this.  It was his task to rout the powers of the world and air.  Who but a power higher than world and air could do this.  Now where does life or righteousness, or lordship and authority of heaven lie but with God alone?"  (2.xii.2)

The sole purpose of Christ’s incarnation was our redemption. (2.xii.4)

  • Why must the Redeemer be a mere mortal? Why must he be more than a mere mortal?
  • Why must the redeemer be true God?  Why must he ungrudgingly become true man?
  • What purpose other than redemption do we assign the incarnation?
  • What do both Paul and the writer of Hebrews assert about Jesus?

 

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