The Hypostatic Union

December 23, 2012

OPENING TEXT

Philippians 2:1-11,

1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

INTRODUCTION

God the Son has always existed with the Father, equal in all divine attributes (all knowing, all powerful, and ever present), John 1:1,14,18.
The Hypostatic Union refers to the joining of the Son of God’s divinity with a human nature at the incarnation, Philippians 2:6-7.
“Hypostasis” is the Greek word for “substance or nature,” like found in Hebrews 1:3. Thus, the “nature/substance/hypostasis” of Christ is two natures in one, fully human and fully divine. Click here for more Scriptural evidence.
The incarnation took place at the conception of the virgin Mary when she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit, Matthew 1:18.

CLARIFICATIONS

God the Son was never created- He has always existed. He simply took on flesh to dwell with mankind.
Mary wasn’t sinless (the immaculate conception), she was a sinner like all of mankind (Romans 3:23).
The Father didn’t become Jesus, the Father and Son are separate persons, yet one divine being. The Father sent the person of the Son to become man, Daniel 7:13.
Jesus wasn’t half God and half man, He was and is fully (100%) God and fully (100%) man in one person.
Jesus, always being God in the flesh, experienced weakness (John 4:6), lack of knowledge (Mark 13:32), and suffered physical death (John 19:33) because of the “kenosis,” not because He “stopped being God.” Therefore, God the Son willing and purposefully “self-emptied and limited” His divine privileges to be fully man and redeem lost mankind, Philippians 2:7-8.

THE HYPOSTATIC UNION

vs. 6-7, Jesus, already equal to God, didn’t need to “grasp” His privileges of being God, He was willing to become a man. Thus, Jesus made Himself nothing by setting aside His divine privileges and becoming limited as a man.
v. 8, He humbled Himself, even unto to death on the cross. Meaning, He allowed His own creation to kill His earthly body.
vs. 9-11, Therefore, God the Father exalted Jesus and His name above everyone and every name. Every knee will bow and confess, “Jesus Christ is Lord (Yahweh, the God of all Creation),” Isaiah 45:21,23; to the glory (honor and reputation) of God the Father.

THE ATTITUDE OF CHRIST

vs. 1-2, Paul declares that if people are really “united with Christ,” they should be, (i) like-minded in the church, (ii) have the same love, (iii) be in one spirit, and (iv) purpose.
vs. 3-4, No one should act out of “selfish ambition” or “vain conceit.” But rather in humility (i) consider others better than themselves and (ii) look to other’s needs and interests.
v. 5, Therefore, everyone should have the same “attitude” and “mindset/thoughts” that Jesus had when He humbled Himself to live, suffer, and die as a man.

APPLICATION

Avoid All Bad Attitudes, (i) Gender Attitudes, (ii) Age Attitudes, (iii) Cultural Attitudes, & (iv) Sinful Attitudes
Repent of All “Selfish Ambition” and “Vain Conceit,” i.e., “Pride.”
Have the Humble Attitude of Christ and Prefer Other’s Needs and Interests Above Your Own