The Human Nature of Christ

"The great, grand work of bringing out a people who will have Christlike characters, and who will be able to stand in the day of the

Lord, is to be accomplished."— Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 129.

Some have wondered if understanding why Jesus came as a

babe {as men and women come into this world} really

matters. They say that a farmer along the Nile in Egypt, or a

young man in Sudan, or a young woman in college, have

greater things on their mind than getting it straight about

Christ’s humanity – as long as they know that Jesus died for

them. {A Fork in the Road by Herbert Douglass ,pg. -11}

Why Study The Human Nature Of Christ ?

“He who seeks to transform humanity must himself understand humanity.”

Education, 78.

The only safety now is to search for the truth as revealed in the

word of God, as for hid treasure.

The subjects of the

1.Sabbath,2. the nature of man,

3. and the testimony of Jesus

{1T 300.1}

are the great and important truths to be understood; these will prove as an anchor to hold God's people in these perilous times.

{1T 300.1}

“The humanity of the Son of God is everything to us. It is the golden linked chain which binds our souls to Christ and through Christ to God. This is to be our study.

Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 904, 905.

Christ was a real man, and He gave proof of His humility in becoming a man. And He was God in the flesh.

When we approach the subject of Christ’s divinity clothed with the garb of humanity, we may appropriately heed the words spoken by Christ to Moses at the burning bush, ‘Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.’

We must come to the studyof this subject with thehumility of a learner, with acontrite heart. And thestudy of the incarnation ofChrist is a fruitful field, andwill repay the searcher whodigs deep for hidden truth.”

Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 904, 905.

1. God was unfair to make laws that created beings could not keep. COL: 314; FTLB: 114.

2. God demanded self-denial and sacrifice from

His created beings but would not Himself exercise such unselfishness toward His created beings. PP: 70,

1SM: 341.

3. God was severe, exacting, and harsh. SC: 11, 5T: 738.

4. God was the author of sin, and suffering, and death. DA: 24.

5. If God were fair and good, He would never have permitted created beings to transgress His

law. PP: 131, 132.

6. God made faulty laws and that for the good of the

universe, those laws should be changed.

PP: 69.

But the plan of redemption had a yet broader and deeper

purpose than the salvation of man. It was not for this

alone that Christ came to the earth; it was not merely that

the inhabitants of this little world might regard the law of

God as it should be regarded; but it was to vindicate the

character of God before the universe. Patriarchs and Prophets - Page 68

Satan, the fallen angel, had declared that no man could keep God’s law, and he pointed to the

disobedience of Adam as proving the declaration true. ST III, 30

Satan had made the boast that he would gather the world under his banner

of rebellion. He declared that man could not keep the law of God. Christ

came to prove this assertion false.

ST IV, 398

(Christ’s words): Satan has declared

that man cannot keep the law. I will show that his statement is false; that man can keep the law.. . . “

ST IV, 372 31

We are ever to be thankful that Jesus has

proved to us by actual life that man can keep the

commandments of God, contradicting Satan’s falsehood that man cannot keep them.

ST III, 32

Satan declared that it was impossible for the sons and daughters of Adam to keep the law, and thus charged

upon God a lack of wisdom and love. If they could not keep the law, then there

was fault with the Lawgiver.

ST III, 264

Men who are under the control of Satan

repeat these accusations against

God, in asserting that men can not

keep the law of God.

ST III, 264

Jesus humbled himself, clothing His divinity with humanity, in order that He might stand as the

head and representative of the human family, and

by both precept and example condemn sin in the flesh, and give the lie

to Satan’s charges.

ST III, 264

Divinity and humanity

were mysteriously

combined, and man and

God became one. It is in

this union that we find the

hope of our fallen race.

The Signs of the Times,

July 30, 1896.

{7ABC 443.3}

Our Fallen Human Nature Connected With Christ's Divinity

Though He had no taint of sin upon His character, yet Hecondescended to connect our fallen human nature with Hisdivinity. By thus taking humanity, He honored humanity. Havingtaken our fallen nature, he showed what it might become, byaccepting the ample provision He has made for it, and bybecoming partaker of the divine nature.--Letter 81, 1896. {3SM 134.2}

In assuming humanity, Christ planted the ladder firmly upon the earth. The ladder reaches

unto the highest heaven, and God's glory shines from its summit and illuminates its whole

length, while the angels pass to and fro with messages from God to man, with petition and

praise from man to God. Through the divine nature, Christ was one with the Father; and by

assuming humanity, he identified himself with man. He, "being in the form of God,

thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took

upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." In the vision of

Jacob was represented the union of the human and the divine in Christ.

{RH, November 11, 1890 par. 8}

CREATIONBETHLEHEM CALVARY

Yet into the world where Satan claimed dominion God permitted His Son to come, a helpless babe, subject to the weakness of

humanity. He permitted Him to meet life's peril in common with every human soul, to fight the battle as every child of humanity must fight it, at the risk of failure and eternal loss.-- The Desire of

Ages, p. 49.

“No single principle of human nature will I violate. Clothing My divinity with humility, I will endure every temptation wherewith man is beset. I will call to My aid the powers of Heaven, that men and women, imbued with My Spirit, may overcome as I overcame. . . . The working out of My purposes in behalf of degraded humanity require that divine and human forces be combined.”

Manuscript Releases, vol. 5, 114.

Fall of man

“The instant man accepted the temptations of Satan, and did the very things God had said he should not do, Christ, the Son of God, stood between the living and the dead, saying, ‘. Let the punishment fall on Me. I will stand in man’s place. He

shall have another chance’ ” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 1, 1085.

“The nature of man is threefold, and the training enjoined by Solomon comprehends

the right development of the physical, intellectual, and moral powers.” {FE 57.1}

The great moral powersof the soul are faith, hope,

and love. {3T 187.1

“As God He could not be tempted:but as a man He could be tempted,and that strongly, and could yieldto the temptations… His humannature was created; it did not evenpossess the angelic powers. It washuman, identical with our own.”{6MR 111.1}

Was the Human Nature of Christ perfectly identical with our own?

“A human body, a human mind, with all the peculiar properties, He was bone,

brain, and muscle. A man of our flesh, He was compassed

with the weakness of humanity… He trod our earth

as man. He had reason, conscience, memory, will, and affections of the human soul

which was united with His divine nature.”—16MR 181,

182. {TA 157.1}

1. “Jesus speaks to us, "Learn of

Me"; "Be like Me." He was human, as you are.” {14MR 334.2}

2. He had not taken on Him even

the nature of the angels, but

humanity, perfectly identical with

our own nature, except without the taint of sin. . . . {CTr 208.6}

“It is of no use to say, as many writers have said, that Christ was like all children. He was not like all children. Many children are

misguided and mismanaged. But Joseph, who was supposed to be His father, and especially Mary, His mother, kept the realization ever before them of their Son's

divine Fatherhood. “

--Ms 37, 1898, pp. 2, 3.

“Their child was instructed in

accordance with the sacred character of

His mission. His inclination to the right was a constant gratification to His

parents.“

--Ms 37, 1898, pp. 2, 3.

“Before Reason Is Developed.--One of the first lessons a child needs to learn is the lesson of

obedience. Before he is old enough to reason, he may be taught to obey.” {CG 82.4}

“He [Christ] began life, passed through its

experiences, and ended its record, with a

sanctified human will.” Signs of the Times October 29, 1894.

Even the babe in its mother's arms may dwell under the shadow of the

Almighty through the faith of the praying mother. John the Baptist was

filled with the Holy Spirit from his birth.

If we live in communion with God, we too may expect the divine Spirit to mould our little ones, even from

their earliest moments. {AH 274.3}

The book {Education} that is coming out will have much to say in regard to the great principles that are to be carried out in training the children, from the very baby in arms.

The enemy will work right through those children, unless they are disciplined. Someone disciplines them. If the mother or the father does not do it, the devil does. That is how it is. He has the control. {3SM 217.5}

“Teach the little ones that they should eat to live, not live to eat; that appetite must be held in abeyance to the will; and that the will must be governed by calm, intelligent reason.”

Counsels on Health, 113

Christ's Two Natures Divine and Human

Christ’s Divinity

(100%)

Christ’s Humanity

(100%)

The apostle would call our attention from ourselves to the

Author of our salvation. He presents before us His two natures,

divine and human. Here is the description of the divine: "Who

being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with

God." He was "the brightness of his glory, and the express

image of his person."—The Review and Herald, July 5, 1887.

JESUS CHRIST -

Two Natures in Him

Christ’s Divinity

(100%)

Christ’s Humanity

(100%)

“But although Christ's divine glory was for a time veiled and

eclipsed by His assuming humanity, yet He did not cease to be

God when He became man.” {5BC 1129.3}

JESUS CHRIST -

Two Natures in Him

Christ’s Divinity

(100%)

Christ’s Humanity

(100%)

“The human did not take the place of the divine, nor the divine

of the human. This is the mystery of godliness. The two

expressions "human" and "divine" were, in Christ, closely and

inseparably one, and yet they had a distinct individuality.

Though Christ humbled Himself to become man, the Godhead

was still His own. {5BC 1129.3}

JESUS CHRIST -

Two Natures in Him

Christ’s Divinity

(100%)

Christ’s Humanity

(100%)

His deity could not be lost while He stood faithful and true to

His loyalty. Surrounded with sorrow, suffering, and moral

pollution, despised and rejected by the people to whom had

been intrusted the oracles of heaven, Jesus could yet speak of

Himself as the Son of man in heaven. He was ready to take once

more His divine glory when His work on earth was done.” {5BC

1129.3}

JESUS CHRIST -

Two Natures in Him

Christ’s Divinity

(100%)

Christ’s Humanity

(100%)

“Christ had two natures, the nature of a man and the nature of

God. In him divinity and humanity were combined. ……He exhibited

a perfect humanity, combined with deity;and by preserving each

nature distinct, he has given to the world a representation of the

character of God and the character of a perfect man. He shows us

what God is, and what man may become--godlike in

character.” {GCB, October 1, 1899 par. 20}

JESUS CHRIST -

Two Natures in Him

Christ’s Divinity

(100%)

Christ’s Humanity

(100%)

“Our Lord was tempted as man is tempted. He was capable of

yielding to temptations, as are human beings. His finite nature was

pure and spotless, but the divine nature that led Him to say to Philip,

"He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father" also, was not

humanized; neither was humanity deified by the blending or

union of the two natures;each retained its essential character

and properties.” {16MR 182.1}

JESUS CHRIST -

Two Natures in Him

In Christ, divinity and humanity were combined. Divinity was not

degraded to humanity; divinity held its place, but humanity by being

united to divinity, withstood the fiercest test of temptation in the

wilderness. The prince of this world came to Christ after his long fast, when

He was an hungered, and suggested to Him to command the stones to

become bread. But the plan of God, devised for the salvation of man,

provided that Christ should know hunger, and poverty, and every phase

of man's experience.--Ibid., Feb. 18, 1890. {7ABC 445.1}

IMMORTAL

Christ’s Divinity

(100%)

Christ’s Humanity

(100%)

Cannot Die

“When Christ was crucified, it was His human nature

that died. Deity did not sink and die; that would have

been impossible.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Ellen G. White Comments, vol. 5, p. 1113

MORTAL

Died At Calvary

JESUS CHRIST -

Two Natures in Him

IMMORTAL

Christ’s Divinity

(100%)

Christ’s Humanity

(100%)

Cannot Die

“As a member of the human family He was mortal, but as a God He was the Fountain

of Life to the world. He could, in His divine person, ever have withstood the advances

of death, and refused to come under its dominion; but He voluntarily laid down His

life, that in so doing He might give life and bring immortality to light. . . . What

humility was this! It amazed angels. The tongue can never describe it; the imagination

cannot take it in. The Eternal Word consented to be made flesh! God became man!”

Review and Herald, July 5, 1887.

MORTAL

Died At Calvary

JESUS CHRIST -

Two Natures in Him

IMMORTAL

Christ’s Divinity

(100%)

Christ’s Humanity

(100%)

Cannot Die

He took upon his sinless nature our sinful nature, that He might

know how to succor those that are tempted.--Medical Ministry, p. 181.

Sinless Nature

MORTAL

Died At Calvary

Fallen Sinful Nature

JESUS CHRIST -

Two Natures in Him

sinful nature

Fallen

nature

the offending

nature of man

Human nature

“This love was manifested, but it cannot be comprehended bymortal man. It is a mystery too deep for the human mind tofathom. Christ did in reality unite the offending nature of manwith His own sinless nature, because by this act ofcondescension, He would be enabled to pour out His blood inbehalf of the fallen race.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 17, 26.

LOWER NATURE

Will

Passion

Human nature

HIGHER NATURE

Reason

Conscience

Appetites

No Perfection

Unfallen Nature

Sin as Nature

Perfection Possible

Fallen Nature

Sin as Behavior

No Sanctuary Heavenly Sanctuary

Health Reform Health Reform

If sin is our nature, then we have no control over that, and we are sinners by nature. If sin is our character, then we do have control over the choices we make, and we are sinners by choice.

FACE TO FACE WITH THE Real Gospel by DENNIS E. PRIEBE ,pages 37-38

On the same basis, if sinlessness means a “sinless nature,” then that is possible only at the second coming of Christ, because we retain our sinful natures until that time. However, if sinlessness means a “sinless character,” then that is possible whenever we choose not to sin.

FACE TO FACE WITH THE Real Gospel by DENNIS E. PRIEBE ,pages 37-38

Our definition of sin is the determining factor. If we mean nature when we use the word sin, then there can be no sinlessness until the second coming of Christ. If we mean character when we use the term sin, then sinlessness is a possibility before the second coming of Christ.

FACE TO FACE WITH THE Real Gospel by DENNIS E. PRIEBE ,pages 37-38

SN Haskell wrote: “When we stated that we believed that Christ was born in fallen humanity, they would represent us as believing that Christ sinned.” (Letter, #2, to Ellen G. White, dated at Battle Creek, Michigan, September 25, 1900)

“The result of the eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is manifest in every man’s experience.

There is in his nature a bent to evil, a force which, unaided, he cannot resist” Education, 29.

"Adam could not give hisdescendants any higher nature than hehad himself, so Adam's sin made itinevitable that all hisdescendants should be born with sinfulnatures. Sentence of death, however,does not pass on them for that, butbecause they have sinned. {October 18,1894 EJW, PTUK 658.7}

Waggoner on Romans pg 5.100.

“Also, twenty-five years ago, these truths, coupled with the

self-evident truth that sin is not an entity but a condition that

can exist only in a person, made it clear to me that it is

impossible that there could be any such thing as the

transferring of sins to the sanctuary in heaven, thus defiling

that place; and that there could, consequently be no such

thing, either in 1844 AD, or at any other time, as the

“cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary.”

E J Waggoner “Confessions of Faith” 1916, pg 34.

Are We Born Sinners Because Of Our Sinful Fallen Nature ?

Leaving us an Example….

“The Lord now demands that every son and daughter of Adam, through faith in Jesus Christ, serve Him in human nature which we now have. ….” {OHC 48.4}

“But though we are carnal, we are to reckon ourselves

"dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. . . .." {ST, October 1, 1894 par. 4

“In their fallen nature people can do the very things God

expects them to do through the help provided for

them. They can walk and work and live by faith in the Son

of God. God is not pleased with those who are satisfied

with a mere animal life. He has formed human beings after

the divine similitude. He designs that they shall possess

the character of God by obeying His law, the expression of

His divine character. {CTr 53.4}

The Lord has given them mind, intellect, and affections.

These gifts are entrusted to them to be exercised and

improved. God has given them a conscience that must be

carefully cherished and appreciated. He has given them

knowledge and virtue. These entrusted capabilities are to hold

the supremacy that God has assigned to them. {CTr 53.4}

“The Son of God, who is the expressimage of the Father’s person, becameman’s Advocate and Redeemer. Hehumbled Himself in taking the nature ofman in his fallen condition, but He didnot take the taint of sin.”

Manuscript Releases, vol. 20, 324.

KEYS TO VICTORY

“Clad in the vestments of humanity, theSon of God came down to the level ofthose He wished to save. In Him was noguile or sinfulness; He was ever pureand undefiled; yet He took upon Him oursinful nature. Clothing His divinity withhumanity, that He might associate withfallen humanity, He sought to redeem forman that which by disobedience Adamhad lost.”

Review and Herald, August 22, 1907.

KEYS TO VICTORY

Fallen Nature

It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take man's nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden. But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity. What these results were is shown in the history of His earthly ancestors. He came with such a heredity to share our sorrows and temptations, and to give us the example of a sinless life. {FLB 48.6}

The following quotes demonstrate that Christ DID have certain kind of passions that we have:

1. “He blessed children that were possessed of PASSIONS like His own.” E.G. White, Signs of the Times, April 9, 1896.

2. “Though He had all the strength of PASSION of humanity, never did He yield to temptation to do one single act which was not pure and elevating and ennobling.” E.G. White, In High Places, p155.

The following quotes demonstrate that Christ did NOT have certain passions that we have.

3. “He was a mighty petitioner, NOT POSSESSING THE PASSIONS of our human, fallen natures, but compassed with like infirmities, tempted in all points even as we are.” E.G. White, Testimonies Vol. 2, p509.

4. “He is our example in all things. He is a brother in our infirmities, but NOT IN POSSESSING LIKE PASSIONS. As the sinless One, His nature recoiled from evil.” E.G. White, Testimonies Vol. 2, p202.

JosephBates.

John Andrews.

JohnLoughborough

UriahSmithJames

White

A TJones

J HWaggoner

HiramEdison.

JoshuaHimes

"Very few of us realize how nearly the Divine nature approached the human in the

person of Jesus of Nazareth. More properly speaking, it is impossible for us even to

conceive of the infinite condescension that was necessary in order that the Son of God,

the associate of the Father, should appear in mortal flesh and participate in human

experiences, with all their trials and weaknesses. . But 'He was tempted in all points like

as we are': consequently He must have partaken of our nature. Should any think this

expression too strong, let them read verse 16 of Hebrews 2: 'For verily He took not on

Him the nature of angels; but. He took on Him the seed of Abraham' . . His faultless life

under those circumstances becomes a constant reprover of our sins as well as an

encouragement to our weakness." G. C. Tenney, editorial, Bible Echo, April 15, 1889.

JosephBates.

John Andrews.

JohnLoughborough

UriahSmithJames

White

A TJones

J HWaggoner

HiramEdison.

JoshuaHimes

"By partaking of our nature, His human arm encircles the fallen

race." Stephen Haskell, Bible Echo, February 15, 1892.

"He took upon Him sinful flesh to suffer and die for guilty man.

"A. W. Semmens, Bible Echo, April 15, 1892.

"But if He [Christ] comes no nearer to us than in sinless nature,

that is a long way off . . A. T. Jones, General Conference Bulletin,

1895.

JosephBates.

John Andrews.

JohnLoughborough

UriahSmithJames

White

A TJones

J HWaggoner

HiramEdison.

JoshuaHimes

"He did not come to this world and take upon Himself Adam's

condition, but He stepped down lower, to meet man as he is,

weakened by sin, polluted in his own iniquity. "

Stephen Haskell, Signs, April 2, 1896.

"Infinitely superior in every respect to Boaz, yet He stooped to

marry the lost race. " E. Farnsworth, Signs, May 6, 1897.

JosephBates.

John Andrews.

JohnLoughborough

UriahSmithJames

White

A TJones

J HWaggoner

HiramEdison.

JoshuaHimes

"So you see that what the Scripture states very plainly is that Jesus Christ

had exactly the same flesh that we bear—flesh of sin, flesh in which we sin;

flesh, however, in which He did not sin. But He bore our sins in that flesh of

sin. And what flesh could He take but the flesh of the time? Not only that,

but it was the very flesh He designed to take; because, you see, the problem

was to help man out of the difficulty into which he had fallen, and man is a

free moral agent. He must be helped as a free moral agent. Christ's work

must be, not to destroy him, not to create a new race, but...to recreate man,

to.. restore him in the image of God."

W. W. Prescott, Bible Echo, January 6, 1896.

JosephBates.

John Andrews.

JohnLoughborough

UriahSmithJames

White

A TJones

J HWaggoner

HiramEdison.

JoshuaHimes

1 John 4:1-3"... Every spirit that that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in

the flesh is of God; and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus is come in

the flesh is not of God." Now that cannot mean simply to acknowledge that

Jesus Christ was here and lived in the flesh. The devils made that

acknowledgement. They knew Christ had come in the flesh. The faith that

comes by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus Christ is come in my flesh; I have

received Him." That is the heart of Christianity.

(W.W. Prescott)

JosephBates.

John Andrews.

JohnLoughborough

UriahSmithJames

White

A TJones

J HWaggoner

HiramEdison.

JoshuaHimes

It is true that the argument nowadays (springing up from that enmity that is

against God, and is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be) is that

the law could not do what was intended, and God sent His Son to weaken the

law, so that the flesh could answer the demands of the law. But if I am weak and

you are strong and I need help it does not help me any to make you as weak as I

am: I am as weak and helpless as before. There is not help at all in all that. But

when I am weak and you are strong and you can bring to me your strength, that

helps me.." (A.T. Jones)

JosephBates.

John Andrews.

JohnLoughborough

UriahSmithJames

White

A TJones

J HWaggoner

HiramEdison.

JoshuaHimes

So the law WAS strong enough: but its purpose could not be accomplished

through the weakness of the flesh. Therefore God, to supply the need; must

bring strength to weak flesh. He sent Christ to supply the need; and

therefore Christ must so arrange it that strength may be brought to our

flesh itself which we have today, that the purpose of the law may be met in

our flesh. So it is written: "God sending His Son in the likeness of sinful

flesh," in order "that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us,

who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit." (A.T. Jones)

JosephBates.

John Andrews.

JohnLoughborough

UriahSmithJames

White

A TJones

J HWaggoner

HiramEdison.

JoshuaHimes

Romans 8:3: "What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son"

did.

There was something that the law could not do. and that God sending his own Son, did. But

why was it that the law could not do what it desired, and what was required?- It was weak

through the flesh. It was weak through the flesh. The trouble was in the flesh. It was this that

caused the law to fail of its purpose concerning man. Then God sent Christ to do what the law

could not do. And the law having failed of its purpose, because of the flesh, and not because of

any lack in itself, God must send Him to help the flesh, and not to help the law. If the law had

been in itself too weak to do what it was intended to do, then the thing for Him to have done to

help the matter out would be to remedy the law; but the trouble was with the flesh, and

therefore He must remedy the flesh. (A.T.Jones)

JosephBates.

John Andrews.

JohnLoughborough

UriahSmithJames

White

A TJones

J HWaggoner

HiramEdison.

JoshuaHimes

"Moreover, the fact that Christ took upon Himself the flesh, not of a

sinless being, but of sinful man; that is, the flesh which He assumed

and all the weaknesses and …. tendencies to which fallen nature is

subject, is shown by the statement that He 'was made of the seed of

David according to the flesh.'

" E. J. Waggoner, Christ and His Righteousness, 27.

Jesus also told them (the angels) that theywould have a part to act, to be with Himand at different times strengthen Him; thatHe would take man's fallen nature, and Hisstrength would not be even equal withtheirs; that they would be witnesses of Hishumiliation and great sufferings; and thatas they would witness His sufferings, andthe hatred of men toward Him,

{EW 150.1}

Fallen Nature

they would be stirred with the deepestemotion, and through their love for Himwould wish to rescue and deliver Himfrom His murderers; but that they mustnot interfere to prevent anything theyshould behold; and that they should acta part in His resurrection; that the planof salvation was devised, and HisFather had accepted the plan.

{EW 150.1}

Fallen Nature

By taking upon Himself man's nature inits fallen condition, Christ did not in theleast participate in its sin. He was subjectto the infirmities and weaknesses of theflesh with which humanity isencompassed, "that it might be fulfilledthat was spoken by the prophet Esaias,Himself took our infirmities and bare oursicknesses." He was touched with thefeeling of our infirmities, and was in allpoints tempted like as we are. And yet Hewas without a spot. {16MR 116.3}

Fallen Nature

Our Fallen Human Nature Connected With Christ's Divinity

Though He had no taint of sin upon His character, yet Hecondescended to connect our fallen human nature with Hisdivinity. By thus taking humanity, He honored humanity. Havingtaken our fallen nature, he showed what it might become, byaccepting the ample provision He has made for it, and bybecoming partaker of the divine nature.--Letter 81, 1896. {3SM 134.2}

“Not until the death of Christ was the character of Satan clearly revealed to the angels or to the

unfallen worlds. . . They had not clearly seen the nature of his rebellion.” DA 758.

“The last link of sympathy between Satan and the

heavenly world was broken.” DA 761.

“Yet Satan was not then destroyed. The angels did not even then understand all that was involved in the great controversy. The principles at stake were to be more fully

revealed. And for the sake of man, Satan's existence must be continued. DA 761

Man as well as angels must see the contrast between the Prince of light and the prince of darkness. He must choose whom he will serve.” DA 761

The Lord has sent to our world a message of warning,

even the Third Angel's Message. All heaven is

waiting to hear us vindicate God's law, declaring it to be

holy, just, and good.

{RH, April 16, 1901 par. 16}

The Saviour took upon Himself the infirmities of humanity and liveda sinless life, that men might have no fear that because of theweakness of human nature they could not overcome. Christ came tomake us "partakers of the divine nature," and His life declares thathumanity, combined with divinity, does not commit sin. {MH 180.5}

The Saviour overcame to show man how he may overcome. All the temptations of Satan, Christ met with the word of God.

By trusting in God's promises, He received power to obey God's commandments,

and the tempter could gain no advantage. To every temptation His answer was, "It is

written." So God has given us His word wherewith to resist evil. Exceeding great and precious promises are ours, that by

these we "might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the

corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:4. {MH 181.1}

JosephBates.

John Andrews.

JohnLoughborough

UriahSmithJames

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A TJones

J HWaggoner

HiramEdison.

JoshuaHimes

In Jesus Christ as He was in sinful flesh, God has demonstrated before the

universe that He can so take possession of sinful flesh as to manifest His own

presence, His power, and His glory, instead of sin manifesting itself. . . Then

God will so take us, and so use us, that our sinful selves shall not appear to

influence or affect anybody; but God will manifest His righteous self, His

glory, before men, in spite of all ourselves and our sinfulness. . . And that is

the mystery of God, ‘Christ in you, the hope of glory,’—God manifest in

sinful flesh (A.T. Jones, General Conference Bulletin, 1895, p. 303).

JosephBates.

John Andrews.

JohnLoughborough

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J HWaggoner

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But before probation ends, there will be a people so complete in

Him that in spite of their sinful flesh, they will live sinless lives.

They will live sinless lives in mortal flesh, because He who has

demonstrated that He has power over all flesh lives in them—lived

a sinless life in sinful flesh.

(E.J. Waggoner, General Conference Bulletin, 1901, p. 146).

JosephBates.

John Andrews.

JohnLoughborough

UriahSmithJames

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J HWaggoner

HiramEdison.

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Perfection, perfection of character, is the Christian goal—

perfection attained in human flesh in this world. Christ attained it

in human flesh in this world, and thus made and consecrated a

way by which, in Him, every believer can attain it.

(A.T. Jones, The Consecrated Way to Christian Perfection, p. 84).

Before this corruptible body is made incorruptible, and the natural, sinful body is exchanged for the spiritual, sinless

body, God will demonstrate what He can do in spite of corruption and mortality. He has condemned sin in flesh, showing that even in sinful flesh He can live a sinless life.

His perfect life will be manifested in mortal flesh, so that all will see it. {May 9, 1901 EJW, PTUK 304.3}

When God has given this witness to the world of His power to save to the uttermost, to save sinful beings, and to live a

perfect life in sinful flesh, then He will remove the disabilities and give us better circumstances in which to live. But first of all this wonder must be worked out in sinful man,

not simply in the person of Jesus Christ, but in Jesus Christ reproduced and multiplied in the thousands of His followers.

{May 9, 1901 EJW, PTUK 304.4}

"The prince of this world cometh," said Jesus, "and hath nothing in

me." There was in Him nothing that responded to Satan's sophistry.

He did not consent to sin. Not even by a thought did He yield to

temptation. So may it be with us. Christ's humanity was united with

divinity; He was fitted for the conflict by the indwelling of the Holy

Spirit. . . .

So long as we are united to Him by faith, sin has no more dominion

over us. God reaches for the hand of faith in us to direct it to lay fast

hold upon the divinity of Christ, that we may attain to perfection of

character. . . . Every promise in God's Word is ours.

{RC 308.6}

There is where the Lord will show the power of his life. That is simply the power that conquered death; the power that overcame

the lusts of the flesh; the power that raises the dead to life. It is the power of the resurrection. Now what we must learn is that the same

power that will be manifested during the seven last plagues will be manifested during the plagues now in the earth, before those come, in which is filled up the wrath of God. Otherwise, there would be no

witness. " {April 9, 1901 EJW, GCB 147.1}

If this power could not be manifested before probation ends, there would be no witness to the people; it would not

be a testimony to them. But before probation ends, there will be a people so complete in him that in spite of their

sinful flesh, they will live sinless lives.{April 9, 1901 EJW, GCB 147.1}

They will live sinless, lives in mortal flesh, because he who has demonstrated that he has power over all flesh lives in them,-lives a

sinless life in sinful flesh, and a healthful life in mortal flesh, and that will be a testimony that can not be gainsaid,-a witness than which

no greater can be given. Then the end will come. This will be the kingdom of God manifested to all nations for a witness to God's

power. "The kingdom of God is within you." {April 9, 1901 EJW, GCB 147.1}

Every one who by faith obeys God's commandments, will reach the condition of sinlessness in which Adam lived before his transgression. {ST, July 23, 1902 par. 14}

FINE PRINT:

PHARMACEUTICAL PRESCRIPTION

Titus 2:11-14, Jude 24, 2 Pet 1:10, 1 Pet 2:21,22

He who has not sufficient faith in Christ to believe that he can keep him from sinning, has not the faith that will give him an entrance into the kingdom of God. {RH, March 10, 1904 par. 26}

FINE PRINT:

PHARMACEUTICAL PRESCRIPTION

Titus 2:11-14, Jude 24, 2 Pet 1:10, 1 Pet 2:21,22

Heb 3:12,18-19, Matt 9:27-29