Christ's Divine and Human Nature: Understanding the Holy Trinity

Christ's nature is a unique and mysterious combination of both divine and human, and while the Scriptures abundantly teach the pre-existence and divinity of Christ, they are entirely silent regarding a trinity as it is often understood by Trinitarians. There is one God who is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, united in purpose and power, but not as three co-equal and co-eternal persons in one being in a way that would make Christ only human or deny His full divinity11MR 344.1+88.

Christ's Divine-Human Nature

Jesus Christ unites in His person the fullness and perfection of the Godhead and the fullness and perfection of sinless humanity18MR 331.4+1. He is truly God manifest in the flesh, and the Word of God who "was made flesh, and dwelt among us, ... full of grace and truth" John 1:1417MR 360.3+2. This mysterious blending of divine and human natures is a fundamental aspect of His being, allowing Him to bridge the gulf created by sin between God and humanity11MR 344.1+34.

• Divine Attributes: Christ possesses all the attributes of God11MR 344.1. He is the Son of God, existing with the Father before the angels were created, and has always stood at the right hand of GodSH 6.3. He is the one by whom all things were created and upheld Colossians 1:16-17+1ChSa 49.2+1. When He asked, "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is God," He was identifying Himself with God, claiming absolute goodness, for in Him "dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" Colossians 2:9SITI April 1, 1889, page 186.74.

• Human Experience: Christ willingly took upon Himself human nature with all its infirmities and weaknesses, yet without the moral taint of the Fall1SM 252.1+3. He was "made in the likeness of men" and "humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" Philippians 2:7-8ARSH October 27, 1863, page 173.15. This enabled Him to understand man's trials and sorrows and to sympathize with humanity in its peculiar struggles, having been "tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin" Hebrews 2:16-186MR 342.3+6. His life was a revelation of what fallen human beings may become through union with the divine nature18MR 331.4+1.

• Purpose of Incarnation: The union of divine and human in Christ was essential for the plan of salvation. It was the only way for fallen man to become a partaker of the divine nature1SM 252.1+9. Through this union, Christ was able to meet every demand of God's law and overcome the degradation of sin11MR 344.1.

The Holy Trinity

The Scriptures speak of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as the three great powers of heaven, actively working together in the plan of salvation17LtMs, Ms 118, 1902, par. 11+2.

• Three Persons, One God: Christians are required to baptize in the name of these three, as constituting the only true God revealed in the Scriptures Matthew 28:19ARSH March 4, 1862, page 109.17+1. While there is a sense in which they are one, it is not one person, but a unity of purpose and beingARSH November 5, 1861, page 184.4+1. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are pledged to be the strength and efficiency for believers in their new life in Christ JesusAUCR October 7, 1907, par. 9.

• Distinction and Harmony: The Father is described as all the fullness of the Godhead bodily and invisible to mortal sight, while the Son is all the fullness of the Godhead manifested, "the express image of His person"BTS March 1, 1906, par. 1. The Holy Spirit is the divine afflatus and medium of their power, representative of both Father and SonLUJ 10.1.

• Incomprehensible Mystery: The precise nature of how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit relate as "three persons in one God" is a profound mystery that finite minds cannot fully comprehendEVRR166+4. However, this mystery does not diminish their distinct roles and unified action in redemption.

Partaking of the Divine Nature

Through Christ, humanity can become partakers of the divine nature18MR 331.4+25. This transformation is achieved by escaping "the corruption that is in the world through lust" and through faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior21MR 464.1+11. When self dies, Christ lives in the human agent, and the character is fashioned after the divine similitudeBTS August 1, 1903, par. 2+2. This is the great object of the gospel of ChristPBE 139.1.