Linked Together: Two Questions on the Two Natures

It’s the season when we celebrate the incarnation, when the second person of the Trinity took on a human nature. Here are two questions, along with good answers, to help you think accurately about the incarnate second person. Start with the first question, because if you understand it’s answer, you’ll find the answer to the second easier to grasp.

Does Jesus Have One Nature, or Two?
“[T]he Council of Chalcedon declared that Christ was vere homo, vere Deus, that is, ‘truly man and truly God,’ having two natures in one person.”—R. C. Sproul.

How Can Jesus Not Know, But Still Be Divine?
“[D]uring Jesus’ earthly ministry his divinity was “in repose,” or, as the Latin version of Calvin’s commentary puts it, “the divine nature was kept, as it were, concealed; that is, did not display its power.” But the divine nature was not lost or even turned off, so to speak, during Jesus’ earthly ministry. Instead it was hidden, or concealed.”—Luke Stamps.

Heidelberg Catechism

Question 14. Is there any mere creature who is able to satisfy for us?

Answer: No. First, God will not punish another creature for the sin which man has committed. (a) Furthermore, no mere creature can sustain the burden of God’s eternal wrath against sin, and thus deliver others from it. (b)

(Click through to see scriptural proofs.)

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Sunday's Hymn: All My Heart This Night Rejoices

All my heart this night rejoices
As I hear
Far and near
Sweetest angel voices.
“Christ is born,” their choirs are singing
Till the air
Everywhere
Now with joy is ringing.

Forth today the Conqueror goeth,
Who the foe,
Sin and woe,
Death and hell, o’erthroweth.
God is man, man to deliver;
His dear Son
Now is one
With our blood forever.

Shall we still dread God’s displeasure,
Who, to save,
Freely gave
His most cherished treasure?
To redeem us, he hath given
His own Son
From the throne
Of his might in heaven.

He becomes the Lamb that taketh
Sin away
And for aye
Full atonement maketh.
For our life his own he tenders;
And our race,
By his grace,
Meet for glory renders.

Hark! a voice from yonder manger,
Soft and sweet,
Doth entreat:
“Flee from woe and danger,
Brethren, from all ills that grieve you
You are freed;
All you need
I will surely give you.”

Come, then, banish all your sadness,
One and all,
Great and small;
Come with songs of gladness.
Love him who with love is glowing;
Hail the star,
Near and far
Light and joy bestowing.

Dearest Lord, thee will I cherish.
Though my breath
Fail in death,
Yet I shall not perish,
But with thee abide for ever
There on high,
In that joy
Which can vanish never.

—Paul Ger­hardt

Other hymns, worship songs, sermons etc. posted today:

• O Come, O Come Emmanuel at Gospel Grace
• Love Divine, All Loves Excelling at Graces Daily
• Light of the Stable at By Grace Alone
• O Come, O Come Emmanuel at The Happy Wonderer
• Joy, An Irish Christmas at Theology for Girls
• Wexford Carol at The Upward Call
• Why Christ Came: To Bear Witness to the Truth at Tried With Fire
• Lord’s Day 49, 2013 at The Thirsty Theologian
• Your Weekly Dose of Spurgeon at Pyromaniacs: The separated life

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.