The doctrine of the human nature of Christ is a foundational tenet of Christian theology, affirming that Jesus Christ was both fully God and fully man. This belief is rooted in the scriptural testimony of the New Testament, which presents Jesus as possessing a genuine human nature, experiencing the full range of human emotions and physical realities, yet without sin. The denial of Christ's human nature is identified in the New Testament as a hallmark of the spirit of the antichrist.

Scriptural Basis for Christ's Humanity

The New Testament provides ample evidence of Christ's humanity. The Gospel of John declares, "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us" (John 1:14). This verse underscores the incarnation, the act by which the eternal Word, the second person of the Trinity, took on human flesh. The Apostle Paul affirms this in his letter to the Philippians, stating that Christ "emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness" (Philippians 2:7).

The Gospels record numerous instances of Jesus' human experiences: He was born of a woman (Matthew 1:18-25), grew in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52), experienced hunger (Matthew 4:2), thirst (John 19:28), fatigue (John 4:6), and sorrow (John 11:35). These accounts affirm that Jesus was truly human, sharing in the full spectrum of human life.

Denial by Antichrist

The denial of Christ's human nature is explicitly linked to the spirit of the antichrist in the Johannine epistles. The Apostle John warns, "Every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world" (1 John 4:3). The denial of Jesus' incarnation is a central feature of antichrist teaching, as it undermines the core of the Christian faith.

John further emphasizes this in his second epistle: "Many deceivers, who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist" (2 John 1:7). Here, the denial of Christ's coming in the flesh is directly associated with deception and opposition to the truth of the Gospel.

Historical Context and Heresies

Throughout church history, various heresies have emerged that deny or distort the human nature of Christ. Docetism, an early heretical movement, claimed that Jesus only appeared to have a physical body, denying the reality of His human nature. This view was rejected by the early church as contrary to apostolic teaching.

The Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD affirmed the doctrine of the hypostatic union, declaring that Jesus is "truly God and truly man," possessing two natures in one person. This declaration was a response to heretical views that either denied Christ's divinity or His humanity.

Theological Implications

The denial of Christ's human nature has significant theological implications. If Christ were not truly human, He could not serve as the perfect mediator between God and humanity. The author of Hebrews emphasizes the importance of Christ's humanity for His role as High Priest: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).

Moreover, the denial of Christ's humanity undermines the reality of the atonement. The sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross, as a true human, is central to the Christian understanding of salvation. As Paul writes, "For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man" (1 Corinthians 15:21).

In summary, the human nature of Christ is a vital aspect of Christian doctrine, affirmed by Scripture and essential for understanding the work of salvation. The denial of this truth is identified as a characteristic of the antichrist, opposing the core message of the Gospel.1 John 4:3
And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 John 1:7
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Some Gospel Truths Opened, According to the Scriptures; Or, the ...
... SOME GOSPEL TRUTHS OPENED, ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES; OR, THE DIVINE AND
HUMAN NATURE OF CHRIST JESUS; HIS COMING INTO THE WORLD ...
/.../the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/some gospel truths opened according.htm

Nature of Church History.
... From the human agency we may distinguish the Satanic, which ... As Christ, in the days
of his flesh, was bated ... The church militant must, from its very nature, be at ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 1 nature of church.htm

1 John ii. 22, 23
... Now that which had hitherto been wanting to man, the perfect image of God in human
form, this is ... The deeper we penetrate into the nature of Christ, the more ...
//christianbookshelf.org/neander/the first epistle of john/1 john ii 22 23.htm

The Christ of the Gospels. By Rev. Professor Schaff.
... the opposite heresies of Judaizing Ebionism which denied the former ... again by the
redemption of Christ"yet it is equally certain that human nature in its ...
/.../the christ of the gospels.htm

Absurdity of Marcion's Docetic Opinions; Reality of Christ's ...
... was not"incarnate without being flesh, human without being man, and likewise a divine
Christ without being ... the subject of the internal nature, who was ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter viii absurdity of marcions docetic.htm

Introduction to the De Trinitate.
... Yet even human bodies rise sometimes superior to them, eg ... another, a created Christ;
and in making Christ a creature ... as the Image, is of one nature with the ...
/.../introduction to the de trinitate.htm

The Form of Concord. AD 1577.
... and Redeemer according to his human nature only (since ... controversy, concerning the
obedience of Christ, was raised ... Lord's passive obedience, and denied that his ...
/.../creeds of christendom with a history and critical notes/ 45 the form of.htm

Book ix. In the Last Book we Treated of the Indistinguishable ...
... subjects Him to necessity, and He is denied free-will ... begot it, took the form of
human nature and weakness. Christ possessed all that was proper to His nature ...
/.../hilary/the life and writings of st hilary of poitiers/book ix in the last.htm

John and the Gospel of Love.
... and the beginning of its introduction into the human race. ... from the revelation of
God to his nature, but with ... and water from the wounded side of Christ, John 19 ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section72 john and the gospel.htm

Introductory.
... He is the divine harmony of all human sects and ... On the contrary, nature and the
supernatural, as has ... true divinity, and true humanity of Christ, against the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/schaff/the person of christ/introductory.htm

What is the human spirit? | GotQuestions.org

Is the similarity in human/chimp DNA evidence for evolution? | GotQuestions.org

How are human souls created? | GotQuestions.org

Human: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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