From the previous lessons, we've studied the scriptures that the "True Jesus" is indeed the Christ the "Son of God" (Lesson-3G).  As the "Son of God", the scriptures are also very clear that Jesus is indeed a Man in nature and state of being. For Jesus Himself said that He is a Man who heard the truth from God. A Man attested by God by doing the miracles, wonders and signs through Him.  A Man sitting at the right hand of God pleading to God on men's behalf as the only one Mediator between God and men.  And the  Man chosen by God to judge the world for Him. Thus according to the scriptures, Jesus as the Son of God is unquestionably a Man in nature and state of being and He is distinct (separate being) from God who proved to everyone by raising him from the dead (Lesson 3H).

But many people still believe that Jesus is God incarnate or God who became flesh.  Incarnation represents the belief that Jesus, who is the non-created second person of the triune God, took on a human body and nature and became both man and God (Lesson-3C.1). Let us therefore continue our study of the scriptures so we may come to know the truth. . . . 

• if Jesus Christ changed from being God the Son to become both man and God or God-man.
• Or, Is Christ Jesus the same yesterday, today and forever.

Before continuing the study, you may review the previous Lesson 2M, to verify if the All Powerful God changed to a man or became God-man.

Jesus was prophesied to be a "man" of sorrows:

3I.1   What did Prophet Isaiah prophesy about Christ Jesus?

In Isaiah 53:3, Prophet Isaiah recorded this prophecy about 700 years before Jesus was born:

He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. (Isaiah 53:3, NKJV)

The same verse in another version of the Bible:

He was despised and rejected-a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care. (NLT)

The Prophet Isaiah prophesied that the Christ would be a "man", a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He is despised and rejected by men.

Jesus was conceived and brought forth as a Man

3I.2   What was declared by the angel when the fulfillment of the prophecy was about to happen?

In the following verses, these are written:

As he considered this, he fell asleep, and an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David," the angel said, "do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary. For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:20, New Living Translation)

Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.. "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. (Luke 1:30-31, New Living Translation)

The Angel declared the following . . . .

• For the child within Mary has been conceived by the Holy Spirit.
• Mary will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus.

As the angel declared the child within Mary is a son, and his name will be Jesus. Thus, Jesus was conceived as a man.

3I.3   What is the proof that the child within Mary is "Human" though it was conceived by the Holy Spirit?

Other people may reason out that the child is "God" because He does not have a human father for he was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Then, how would you call Adam and Eve who was created without even a human father and mother? 

Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.  (Genesis 2:7, New American Standard)

And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.  Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. (Genesis 2:21-22, NKJV)

Adam and Eve was created by God without a human mother and father, but still they are undeniably human because they are our ancestors.

Being conceived by the Holy Spirit is not a proof that the child within Mary is God, because God is not like a human father, who needs to be in union with a woman to produce a biological child.

God is the Creator of all things; In the Bible, God created people in four different ways:

1. So, by the power of God, the first man Adam was created by forming him from the dust of the ground (Gen.2:7).
2. and by the power of God, He created Eve, the first woman, by taking a rib from Adam and made it into a woman (Gen.2:21-22).
3. and also by the power of God, Mary a human being, conceived in her womb or became pregnant by the Holy Spirit and brought forth a son and he was named Jesus (Matt.1:20; Luke1:30-31).
4. and by the power of God, through the union of a man and a woman, conceives and develops in the mother's womb, to give birth to every man and woman who live in this world (Ecclesiastes 11:5, Psalms 139: 13-17).

Thus, it is very clear that even though Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary or Mary became pregnant by the Holy Spirit, Jesus is still undeniably a Man because His mother is a human being and He was brought forth or born as a Man.

 

Jesus was born as a baby and grew up as a child:

3I.4   What happened when the time came for Mary to give birth?  What is the proof that Jesus was born as a baby and grew up as a Child, and not as God?

In the following verses, these are written:

"And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger."  (Luke 2:12, New American Standard Bible)

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7, New American Standard Bible)

Mary gave birth to a baby, her first born son. and she wrapped him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger,

What was the proof that Jesus was born and grew up as a Child, and not as God?

And the Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. (Luke 2:40, NASB)

The Child grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom.  The Child is not God because as a Child the grace of God was upon Him.

Note: Jesus was conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit. He was born into this world as a man without a human father, but that does not make Him God because the true God has no beginning.

During His public ministry - Jesus himself declared that He is a Man who told the truth He heard from God:

3I.5   During the Lord's public ministry, what did Jesus say about Himself?  What is His nature of being? 

In John 8:40, this is written:

but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. (NRSV)

Clearly and unmistakably Jesus said that;

• "He is a Man"  

We can be sure that Jesus told the truth, for the scripture says "He never sinned, never told a lie" (1 Peter 2:22, Living Bible).

Thus, if Jesus said "He is a Man", then, He must be a Man and not God, for Jesus always tells the truth, otherwise He should have told the people that He is God or god-man.

Death on the cross - Jesus died as a Man:

3I.6   When Jesus was crucified, did He die as a Man? What is the proof that Jesus died as a Man?

In Matthew 27:45-50, this are written:

The Death of Jesus
45. From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.
46. And about three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
47. Some of the bystanders who heard it said, "This one is calling for Elijah."
48. Immediately one of them ran to get a sponge; he soaked it in wine, and putting it on a reed, gave it to him to drink.
49. But the rest said, "Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save him."
50. But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit.
(Matthew 27:45-50, New American Bible)

International English
Matthew 27:46 At about three o'clock, Jesus shouted this loudly: ``Eli, Eli, lema sabakthani?'' (This means: ``My God, my God, why did you abandon me?'')

Just before Jesus died, He cried out loud and call upon God. "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken (abandoned) me?

In the following verses, this are written:

Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father! In your hands I place my spirit!" He said this and died. (Luke 23:46, TEV)

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!'' And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. (John 19:30, NKJV)

Just before Jesus died or breathes His last, He placed or entrusted His spirit to the Father.

Why, what will happen to the spirit of a man when dies?

Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 12:7, NKJV)

What are the proof that Jesus died as a Man?

• The fact that Jesus died is enough proof that He is  a Man, because God is immortal (does not die). (1 Tim. 1:17)                                        

• The fact that Jesus called upon God before He died, is proof that He is a Man and not God, for He is clearly distinct or a separate from God whom He called upon.

• The fact that Jesus gave up His spirit when He died is proof that He died as a Man for a man's spirit will return to God who gave it (Eccle. 12:7).

Questions to Ponder: < Click for details

Why didd Jesus die if He is God?  If Jesus is indeed God, why did He call His God before He died? Is it not absurd for a God to call upon another God who can help Him? If Jesus is God, why did He entrust His spirit to God just before He died?

Resurrection - Jesus a Man raised from the dead by God:

3I.7   Who is responsible for Christ's resurrection?  Did Jesus resurrect Himself?  Or Did God raise Jesus from the dead?

In Acts 4:8 & 10, Apostle Peter said this truth as he was filled with the Holy Spirit:

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 
"let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. (Acts 4:8,10, NKJV)

The Apostles testified that it is God who raised Jesus Christ from the dead.

The fact that Jesus died and was raised from the dead by God is undeniable proof that Jesus Christ is a Man and not God for He is clearly distinct or a separate being from God who raised Him from the dead.

Questions to Ponder: < Click for details

Why is there a need for God to raise Jesus from the dead if Jesus is also God? Why can't Jesus resurrect himself?

Jesus Himself proved that He is still a "Man" after His resurrection:

3I.8   After Jesus was resurrected or was raised from the dead by God, did He became a spirit or is He the same Man with flesh and bones?  

In Luke 24:33-37, these are written:

33. And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them,
34. saying, "The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon."
35. They {began} to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.
Other Appearances
36. While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and *said to them, "Peace be to you."
37. But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. (Luke 24:33-37, NAS)

After Jesus was resurrected, having raised from the dead by God, Jesus appeared before His disciples, but, His disciples were startled and frightened.

Why were His disciples startled and frightened? 

• His disciples thought that they were seeing a spirit.

Did Jesus allow His disciples to have a wrong understanding about Himself?

38. And He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?
39. "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have."
40. And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.
41. While they still could not believe {it} because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?"
42. They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish;
43. and He took it and ate {it} before them.

NO, As a matter of fact He corrected their wrong perception about Him, He said; "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 

• "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have."  

As Jesus showed them His hands and His feet, He proved that He is still Himself, a Man with flesh and bones.

What else did Jesus do to prove that He is still a Man with flesh and bones?

• Jesus asks for food and they gave Him a piece of broiled fish; and He took it and ate it before them.

Thus, Jesus has proven to His disciples that, He is still a Man with flesh and bones after He was raised from the dead by God.

Why was it very important for Jesus to correct a wrong perception that He became a spirit after His resurrection?

In John 4:21-24, these are written:

21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22. "You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
23. "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
24. "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:21-24, NKJV)

Because Jesus taught this about God:

• "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

It is very important for Jesus' disciples to clearly understand that He is a Man with flesh and bones, and not God who is a Spirit, for He has taught them that the true worshipers of God must worship God in sprit and truth. Clearly, Jesus a Man with flesh and bones and He is distinct or a separate being from God who is Spirit.

In Heaven - Jesus a Man sitting at the right hand of God:

3I.9  What is the prophesy about the One who is at the right hand of God?

In Psalms 80:17, the prophecy is written:

Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself. (Psalms 80:17, NKJV)

The Old Testament gives a prophetic description of the One who sits at the right hand of God. 

• The One who sits at the right hand of God is a man.

King David as with the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 53:3, has prophesied it as a man who was made strong by God.

3I.10  Who is this Man who sits at the right hand of God in heaven?

In Hebrews 10:10,12, this is written:

10. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
12. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, (NKJV)

Jesus Christ is the Man who sits at the right hand of God. 

• Jesus ascended to heaven as a Man and He now sits at the right hand of God still as a Man in His state of being. 

3I.11   If Jesus Christ is a Man in heaven, what kind of body does He have that befit eternal life in heaven?

In Philippians 3:21, this is written:

20. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21. who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (Philippians 3:21, NKJV)

Christ is a Man in heaven with a "glorious body".

3I.12   What kind of Body is this Glorious Body of the Man Jesus? 

The following verses will give us the answer:

When he comes back he will take these dying bodies of ours and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same mighty power that he will use to conquer all else everywhere. (Philippians 3:21, Living Bible)

in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory.'  (1 Corinthians 15:52-54, NKJV)

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. (1 Corinthians 15:50, NKJV)

The Glorious Body of the Man Christ Jesus is Incorruptible or imperishable and Immortal or eternal.  This is the kind of body that befit the eternal life in heaven for flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

Questions to Ponder::

The Trinity doctrine states that God is the Triune God, existing as three persons, but one being. Members of the Trinity are said to be co-equal and co-eternal, one in essence, nature, power, action, and will. (Lesson-2C.1) If Jesus is indeed co-equal as God in the Trinity, why did He have a glorious body unlike God the Father who is a spirit? How can Jesus be co-equal as God in the Trinity, if He is a Man sitting at the right hand of God?

 

On Judgment Day - a "Man" chosen by God to do the judging for Him:

3I.13   When Christ returns on Judgment Day to judge the world, will He perform this God given task as God or as a Man?

In he following verses, these are written:

He has set a day when he will judge the world's people with fairness. And he has chosen the man Jesus to do the judging for him. God has given proof of this to all of us by raising Jesus from death. (Acts 17:31, Contemporary English Version)

But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Mark 13:32, NKJV)

God has already set the day when He will judge the world in righteousness. God has chosen the Man Christ Jesus Christ to do the judging for Him, But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Thus, Jesus Christ is still a Man on the Day of Judgment.

• The scriptural fact that the Man Jesus was chosen by God to do the judging for Him is undeniable proof that Jesus is a Man and not God for Jesus is clearly distinct from God who made the choice.
• The scriptural fact that Jesus, the Son, does not know the day and the hour when He will be sent by the Father for the second time is undeniable proof that He is indeed a Man and not God.

Questions to Ponder:

What is the reason why Jesus does not know the day or hour when God the Father will send Him to do the judging on the Day of Judgment?

At the time of the end - Jesus still a "Man" will turn over the kingdom and be subject to God the Father:

3I.14   Will He (Jesus) still be a Man before and during the time of the end?

In the following verses these are written:

21. So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, Adam, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man, Christ.
22. Everyone dies because all of us are related to Adam, the first man. But all who are related to Christ, the other man, will be given new life.
23. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised first; then when Christ comes back, all his people will be raised.
24. After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having put down all enemies of every kind.*
25. For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet.
26. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.
27. For the Scriptures say, "God has given him authority over all things."* (Of course, when it says "authority over all things," it does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.)
28. Then, when he has conquered all things, the Son will present himself to God, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere. (1 Corinthians 15:21-28, NLT)

Apostle Paul explains what will happen before and during the time of the end:

• For the resurrection from the dead has begun through the Man Christ Jesus.
• And all those related to the Man Christ Jesus will be given new life.
• Then, when Christ comes back, all his people will be raised to life.
• After that the end will come, Christ Jesus will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father,
• Then, the Son will present himself to God, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.

Clearly then, Christ Jesus will still be a Man until the end, when He present Himself and turnover the kingdom to God and be subject to Him, so that God, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.

Questions to Ponder::

If Jesus is God Himself, then . . . . . Why would He turnover the kingdom to God at the time of the end?  Why would Jesus present himself and be subject to God? Are they not one and the same Triune God?

In summary - the teachings of the Apostles about the "true Jesus":

From the prophecy, to His conception, birth, and childhood; during His public ministry, death, and  resurrection;  all through His ascension and stay in heaven, on His return on the day of judgment, and up to the time of the end, the verses of the Bible are very clear that the true Jesus is unquestionably a "Man".

3I.15  What did the Apostles teach about the "true Jesus"?

In Hebrews 13:8-9, this is written

⁸Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages).
⁹Do not be carried about by different and varied and alien teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established and ennobled and strengthened by means of grace (God's favor and spiritual blessing) and not [to be devoted to] foods [rules of diet and ritualistic meals], which bring no [spiritual] benefit or profit to those who observe them. (Amplified Bible)

The same verse in another version of the Bible:

⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
⁹ Do not let all kinds of strange teachings lead you into the wrong way. Your hearts should be strengthened by God's grace, not by obeying rules about foods, which do not help those who obey   them. (NCV)

The Apostles taught the early Christians that . . . .

• Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, and forever.

The Apostles even warned them that . . . . . .

• They should not let strange teachings lead them the wrong way.

Questions to Ponder::

In the Doctrine of Incarnation, it is said that is Jesus who is the non-created second person of the triune God, took on a human body and nature and became both man and God  (Lesson-3C.1) , then. . . . . Why did the Apostles say that Jesus Christ is always the same yesterday, today and forever?

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The scriptures are consistently and unmistakably clear that the Lord Jesus Christ is a Man and He is absolutely the same, yesterday, today, and forever. Hence, there is no reason for everyone to believe in strange and/or different teachings about Jesus that are not written in the Bible, for such teachings will only lead people to the wrong way, that is to eternal punishment and not to eternal life.

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