THE NATURE OF JESUS
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. In this lesson we want to examine the true nature of Jesus as
revealed in the holy Scriptures.
1. As we study the nature of Christ, we are not dealing with an
empty issue which should never be discussed.
2. Regarding Jesus' power and attributes, what He Himself was
capable of doing, or not doing, is one of the basics of
Christianity.
B. There are different concepts today regarding the nature of
Jesus while He was here on earth.
1. The real issue is whether or not Jesus, while on earth, was
an ordinary man in practice like you and me.
a. In other words, "Did Jesus use any of His divine
attributes which distinguished Him from all other
ordinary people, or was He in practice no different from
ordinary people?"
2. In this lesson, let us look at several passages and see if
we can't ascertain the truth about the nature of Jesus.
I. Phil. 2:5-11
A. This passages is not saying that Jesus stopped being God and
became a man in both mind and spirit.
1. If Jesus became a man in both mind and spirit, what part of
Him was God?
B. This passage is simply saying that Jesus gave up the glories of
heaven. John 17:3; 2 Cor. 8:9
1. The divine spirit of Christ was in a human body.
2. One cannot empty Himself of His attributes, because
"attributes" by definition show what one actually is.
a. The American heritage Dictionary defines "attributes":
"A quality or characteristic inherent in or ascribed to
someone or something."
3. God cannot stop being God. Rom. 9:5; 1 Tim. 3:16
a. Thus, Jesus did not give up His Deity, and became just a
human being like you or me.
b. Deity cannot stop being Deity, anymore than a human
being can stop being a human being (as long as he is
alive here on this earth).
II. James 1:13-14
A. An argument that has been made on this passage is:
1. God cannot be tempted.
2. Jesus was tempted.
3. Therefore, Jesus was not God.
B. The truth is:
1. Jesus, while in the flesh, was "God with us." Matt. 1:23
2. Jesus, while in the flesh, was tempted in all points as we
are. Heb. 4:15
3. Therefore, God in the flesh can be tempted.
C. Jesus was tempted both as a human being and as God. Matt. 4:1-
3
1. He was hungry; thus, a temptation from the desires of the
flesh."
2. Satan said, "...Command that these stones become bread."
a. Thus, He was being tempted as God. No ordinary
human being can change stones into bread.
b. If Jesus could not use His own divine attributes, there
was no temptation at all.
c. Satan knew that Jesus not only had divine attributes, but
could use them.
III. Let's look as some of the passages which those who argue that
although Jesus was Deity while here on earth, He never used His
divine attributes.
A. John 5:19 - They say that since Jesus could do nothing of
Himself, it proves He never used His divine attributes while
here on earth.
1. If He could do nothing at all of Himself, He was nothing
more in practice than an ordinary human being like you and
I.
2. This passage is not declaring that Jesus had no power of
Himself, or could absolutely do nothing of Himself.
3. It is simply showing that Jesus did not act independent of
the Father. He did not act independent of the Father, but
exactly as the Father.
4. Consider the context of John 5:19.
a. John 5:17-18 shows that Jesus and the Father worked in
unity.
b. The Jews understood what Jesus meant. Jesus was
claiming to work just as the Father worked.
B. Matt: 12:18,28; Luke 4:18; 5:17; Acts 10:38
1. Some teach that these verses prove that the Holy Spirit
empowered Jesus so that He could work miracles; therefore,
he never used His own power to work miracles.
a. This presents Jesus as no different, in practice, from
the apostles or prophets.
2. Again, the verses show how the Godhead works.
a. The Father worked the miracles; the Holy Spirit worked
the miracles; and at the same time, Jesus worked the
miracles.
b. Luke 10:1,9,19-20 - "I have given you authority..."
(1) Who gave Jesus the authority to give authority?
(2) He had this authority because He was God and He
was using His authority.
(3) Remember, the Holy Spirit at this time had not yet
been given. John 7:39
C. John 5:31
1. This verse is used to argue that Jesus never bore witness of
Himself; therefore, He never used His divine attributes.
2. Jesus is saying that if He ALONE bore witness of Himself,
His witness would not be true.
3. Jesus often bore witness of Himself. John 8:13-14; 4:26;
8:58
a. However, He also had many other persons (and things)
which bore witness of Him; e.g., John the Baptist, the
Father, His works, the Scriptures (John 5:31-47).
IV. There are passages which show that Jesus did indeed use His
divine attributes.
A. Mark 2:5-11 - Jesus used His divine attributes to forgive sins.
1. He did not say, "I, through the power (authority) invested
me from the Father, forgive your sins."
2. The apostles, through their teaching, forgave sins. John
20:22-23
a. However, Christ was different from the apostles in that
He Himself forgave sins.
B. John 20:30-31 - Jesus' own miracles proved that He was the Son
of God.
1. Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples
which John did not record, but those John wrote for us prove
that He is the Son of God.
2. If Jesus worked miracles only through the power of the Holy
Spirit, or the power of the Father, it would only prove that
the Father and the Holy Spirit are God.
3. John is showing that the miracles that Jesus Himself worked
prove Him to be the Son of God.
C. John 1:47-50; 2:24-25; Luke 11:17 - Jesus used His divine
perception.
1. Nathaniel knew that Jesus was the Son of God because He
exercised divine insight.
2. Jesus often used His divine attributes or ability to know
the thoughts of others. No ordinary human being can do this.
3. These verses do not say, "By the power of the Holy Spirit,"
Jesus knew these things.
D. Luke 24:31, 36-37; John 20:19 - Jesus could do things ordinary
men could not do.
1. In all of these things He used His divine attributes to show
who He was.
E. Mark 1:40-41 - Jesus through His own compassion and power
healed people.
1. This passage clearly indicates that the One who had
compassion is the One who healed.
a. Of course, the Father and the Holy Spirit were working
in unity with Him.
b. However, none of these passages imply that Jesus could
only work miracles by the power of the Spirit and the
Father.
c. The apostles clearly showed that it was not by their own
power that they worked miracles. Acts 3:12
d. Jesus was different in practice from the apostles or
prophets, as He showed by working the miracles
Himself.
F. John 2:19 - He did not say, "Destroy this temple and in three
days the Father will raise it up."
1. God the Father raised up Jesus (1 Cor. 6:14); the Spirit
raised up Jesus (Rom. 8:11); and Jesus raised Himself up
(John 10:17-18).
a. Jesus raised Himself because He was so commanded by
the Father.
b. The three Persons in the Godhead are One and they
work as One.
Concl.
A. The N.T. Scriptures portray Jesus with the full power of God in
a human body.
1. He forgave sins, spoke for God, read minds, performed
miracles, because He, by His own divine right, with all the
power and authority of the Godhead, was equal in nature
with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Col. 2:9
2. Jesus was not just an ordinary man in practice while here on
earth.
a. He was not one who required the same sort of
assistance as the apostles and prophets.
b. He was the other Immaculate, Divine Being who could
truly say He was "one with the Father."
(1) He was equal in nature and essence with the
Father.
3. This glorious Person, Jesus Christ, who being in the form of
God, did not count the being on an equality with God a thing
to be held on to, but temporarily took the form of a
servant, came in the likeness of man, and was found in
fashion as a man.
a. As a man, He humbled Himself to the point of the death,
even the death on the cross.
b. He did this for our benefit, that we through Him might
have eternal life.
4. This is the Jesus revealed in the holy Scriptures.