Back to postings from the Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord (1580). Weve been working through Article 8, on the Person of Christ. Again, the reason so much energy is spent on this issue is to preserve Jesus saving work as both man and God. If His human nature isnt like ours in every way (except for sin) then He cannot serve as our substitute, nor do His resurrection and glorification hold out any promise for us. If His divine nature is anything less than equal to the Father, then He has not truly conquered hell. So it is necessary that He be both fully human and fully divine - and yet the two natures must not mix in such a way that either is changed. But they cannot be without sharing either - for then Jesus cannot accomplish what He must in our flesh, nor can God share in our lot as He was pleased to do. So, a good deal of time is taken to explain the issue carefully. Here, read this: Thirdly, the Scriptures speak not merely in general of the Son of Man, but also indicate expressly His assumed human nature, 1 John 1:7: The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin, not only according to the merit [of the blood of Christ] which was once attained on the cross; but in this place John speaks of this, that in the work or act of justification not only the divine nature in Christ, but also His blood per modum efficaciae (by mode of efficacy), that is, actually, cleanses us from all sins. Thus in John 6:48-58 the flesh of Christ is a quickening food; as also the Council of Ephesus concluded from this [statement of the evangelist and apostle] that the flesh of Christ has power to quicken; and as many other glorious testimonies of the ancient orthodox Church concerning this article are cited elsewhere. Now, that Christ, according to His human nature, has received this, and that it has been given and communicated to the assumed human nature in Christ, we shall and must believe according to the Scriptures. But, as above said, since the two natures in Christ are united in such a manner that they are not mingled with one another or changed one into the other, and each retains its natural, essential property, so that the properties of one nature never become properties of the other nature, this doctrine must also be rightly explained and diligently guarded against all heresies. While we, then, invent nothing new of ourselves, but receive and repeat the explanations which the ancient orthodox Church has given hereof from the good foundation of Holy Scripture, namely, that this divine power, life, might, majesty, and glory was given to the assumed human nature in Christ, not in such a way as the Father from eternity has communicated to the Son, according to the divine nature, His essence and all divine attributes, whence He is of one essence with the Father and is equal to God (for Christ is equal to the Father only according to the divine nature, while according to the assumed human nature He is beneath God; from which it is manifest that we make no confusionem, exaequationem, abolitionem, that is, no confusion, equalization, or abolition of natures in Christ), so, too, the power to quicken is in the flesh of Christ not in that manner in which it is in His divine nature, namely, as an essential property. (Solid Declaration, Article VIII.59-61) Now get that - because the divine has taken the human to itself in Christ, without confusion or mixture - AND because the human and the divine have communion in the one person of Jesus - His flesh quite literally gives life, and His blood (shed as a sacrifice) cleanses from all sin. Which is why Holy Communion is such a big deal. By means of the Body and Blood God comes to you to feed you and give you life. Freely. In love. What more did you really want?
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 19:53:35 +0000
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