“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,” (1Tim. 2:5).
The union of the two natures in one person is a mystery which we cannot grasp, and which for that very reason is often denied. It has sometimes been compared with the union of body and soul in man; and there are some points of similarity. In man there are two substances, matter and spirit, most closely united and yet not mixed; so also in the Mediator. In man the principle of unity, the person, does not have its seat in the body but in the soul; in the Mediator, not in the human, but in the divine nature. As the influence of the soul on the body and of the body on the soul is a mystery, so also the connection of the two natures in Christ and their mutual influence on each other.
Louis Berkhof said, “Everything that happens in the body and in the soul is ascribed to the person; so all that takes place in the two natures of Christ is predicated of the person. Sometimes a man is denominated according to his spiritual element, when something is predicated of him that applies more particularly to the body, and vice versa. Similarly things that apply only to the human nature of Christ are ascribed to Him when He is named after His divine nature, and vice versa. As it is an honor for the body to be united with the soul, so it is an honor for the human nature of Christ to be united with the person of the Logos.” The comparison is defective. It does not illustrate the union of the divine and the human, of the infinite and the finite. It does not even illustrate the unity of two spiritual natures in a single person. In the case of man the body is material and the soul is spiritual. It is a wonderful union, but not as wonderful as the union of the two natures in Christ. Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology.
The person of the Son in the Christ is of utmost importance to our theological worldview, and to the redemptive value of his atonement. How we see the world, and what God has done through Christ for us lies greatly in the person and nature of Jesus Christ. Is this important to you?
Contemplation:
Oh Lord, You dwellest in the light unapproachable, whom man never saw, neither can see and live; You are incomprehensible by reason, and unnameable by words, Your name is wonderful, and Your nature secret, I cannot comprehend what You are, I will labor to know what You have revealed; I am not able to behold Your face, let me see Your back parts, for this is my life, and joy of heart to know thee the only true God, which springs, and increases daily as I come to the fuller knowledge of You; and shall be infinite, because You are infinite.
I believe as You have taught me (according to my manner, and measure) that You are a Spirit, without beginning, without cause, the first and absolute Being, living in and of Yourself, giving being and life to all creatures, infinite, eternal, incomprehensible, without composition, (Gen. 17:1), one in essence, and three in persons; most perfect, a mere act, blessed, and glorious; all sufficient in Yourself, for us a great reward, void of all possibility to be what You are not; great in power, infinite in wisdom, abundant in goodness, everlasting in compassion, rich in mercy, faithful, sincere, constant in Your promises, unchangeable in Your love, gentle, easy to be entreated, just and righteous in all Your commandments, and proceedings; the most absolute, universal sovereignty of all things both in heaven and earth. Your name is wonderful in all the world, for You have created all things, and by Your appointment they continue to this day. You have laid the foundations of the earth, and it abides, You have stretched forth the heavens, as a curtain, and in them ordained a tabernacle for the sun. You still the raging of the sea, and the proud waves are quelled by Your command; the day is Yours, the night also is Yours, the moon and stars are the works of Your hands. You thunder from heaven by Your voice, and bring the winds out of their treasure; You break up the deep, and cause the springs to ascend in the valleys. You cause the grass to grow on the mountains and satisfy with Your goodness every living thing. The earth, O Lord, is full of Your goodness, but Your glory shines most bright in the assembly of Your saints. O what wisdom, power, grace, mercy, love, long-suffering have You manifested in Jesus Christ, the brightness of Your glory, the image of the invisible God? What great admirable things have You done for Your people? You have reconciled them being enemies, redeemed them being bond-slaves, justified them being sinners, of vassals of Satan. You have adopted them to be Your sons, of unclean and polluted, You have washed and made them clean. You guard them with Your angels, protect them against dangers, feed them with fatness and marrow, and have reserved for them the kingdom of heaven. All Your works praise You, O Lord, and Your saints bless You.
