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A BIBLE-SPIRIT OF PROPHECY STUDY ON THE NATURE OF CHRIST  

The human nature of Christ is a fundamental historic belief. Because of its ramifications, it is far more important than it would at first seem. Although there are two positions on this subject, causing confusion among some, only one has clear Bible-Spirit of Prophecy statements in its defense. We can have certainty as to the right position.

One view is called the "unfallen nature of Christ," and the other is known as the fallen nature of Christ." However, the use of these terms can cause a misconception in some minds the idea that "fallen nature" means that Christ sinned. That, of course, never happened. Actually, all sides are fully agreed that Christ never once yielded to temptation or sin in thought, word, or action.

Therefore, it is somewhat better to say that one view declares that "Christ took the nature of unfallen Adam"; and the other is that "Christ took our nature, "the same nature you and I have.

Or, to say it quite simply: One view is that Christ took our nature and that is what we find in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy. The other view is that Christ did not take our nature and that is an error.

There are large numbers of Inspired passages which clearly explain the truth of the matter, but two passages in Hebrews and one in Desire of Ages does it quite well When you want to explain the matter to someone else, these will generally suffice. (All quotations not otherwise identified are by Ellen White.)

 HEBREWS 2:14-17

The book of Hebrews, the second chapter, speaks directly about the human nature of Christ:

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy Him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.

And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."Hebrews 2:14-15.

Verses 14 and 15 explain that, as we partake of flesh and blood, so Christ did also. He did it so He could deliver us from bondage to Satan and final death. It was for this reason that Christ became a human being like us. According to verse 14, it is obvious that Christ became fully human.

However, we might ask, in that humanity, did Christ take the pre-fall nature of Adam or the post-fall nature of Adam's descendants? Verse 16 unequivocally provides the answer:

"For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham."Hebrews 2:16.

Verse 16 clearly says that Christ took the nature of the offspring of Abraham. We know that Abraham lived about 2,000 years after the world was created. Christ took the nature of Abraham's descendants not Abraham's ancestor, unfallen Adam!

So then, Christ took our fallen nature, but did He fully take it? Verses 17-18 answers that: "Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

"For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted."Hebrews 2:17-18.

According to verses 17-18, Christ was made like us "in all things." Therefore, as our High Priest, He is able to help us when we are tempted. And that is what we are told, when we turn to Hebrews 4:14-16.

HEBREWS 4:14-16

The last part of Hebrews 4 is truly wonderful in many ways. In addition, it tells us more about the human nature of Christ. Let us turn to Hebrews 4: 14-16:

"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. "Hebrews 4:1416.

Hebrews 4:14-16 explains that the basis of Christ's right to be our great High Priestwas that He fully became like us, was fully tempted; yet, in our nature. He never once sinned:

So, first present the last verses in Hebrews 2 and then the last verses in Hebrews 4. (You might also wish to keep in mind Hebrews 5:7-9, which explains that Christ wrestled for help from the Father, just as we must do; this is another reason why He is now our perfect High Priest.)

DESIRE OF AGES, 49

In addition, there are just two more passages, both of which are from the Spirit of Prophecy, which nicely detail the message that we learned in Hebrews. They happen to be the only two passages in Desire of Ages which fully explain the human nature of Christ: Desire of Ages. pp. 49 and 117.

Read both passages slowly and meaningfully. Here is the first of them. All that is needed is page 49, but we will start on page 48, in order to better introduce it:

"We marvel at the Saviour's sacrifice in exchanging the throne of heaven for the manger, and the companionship of adoring angels for the beasts of the stall. Human pride and self-sufficiency stand rebuked in His presence. Yet this was but the beginning of His wonderful condescension. It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take man's nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden. But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity. What these results were is shown in the history of His earthly ancestors. He came with such a heredity to share our sorrows and temptations, and to give us the example of a sinless life.

"Satan in heaven had hated Christ for His position in the courts of God. He hated Him the more when he himself was dethroned. He hated Him who pledged Himself to redeem a race of sinners. Yet into the world where Satan claimed dominion God permitted His Son to come, a helpless babe, subject to the weakness of humanity. He permitted Him to meet life's peril in common with every human soul, to fight the battle as every child of humanity must fight it. at the risk of failure and eternal loss.

"The heart of the human father yearns over his son. He looks into the face of his little child, and trembles at the thought of life's peril. He longs to shield his dear one from Satan's power, to hold him back from temptation and conflict. To meet a bitterer conflict and a more fearful risk, God gave His only-begotten Son, that the path of life might be made sure for our little ones. 'Herein is love.' Wonder, 0 heavens! and be astonished, 0 earth!"Desire of Ages. 48,49.

Christ took, not the nature of Adam, but the nature of man that was "weakened by 4,000 years of sin," In His body were the results of "the great law of heredity." so He could "share our sorrows and temptations" and give us "the example of a sinless life." "Subject to the weakness of humanity." He came to "fight the battle as every child of humanity must fight it, at the risk of failure and eternal loss." He had to meet "life's peril" as you and I do, the peril of "temptation and conflict."

DESIRE OF AGES, 117

Here is the second key passage in Desire of Ages. Although page 117 is sufficient, we will begin on page 116, to show that Satan threw every possible temptation at Christ.

Yes, He was "in all points tempted like as we are" (Heb. 4:15) and more so! He resisted the very temptations on which Adam and Eve fell; and, we are told, He met and overcame Satan in a nature not like that which the pair in the Garden possessed, but weakened by 4.000 years of degeneracy:

"Satan saw that he must either conquer or be conquered. The issues of the conflict involved too much to be entrusted to his confederate angels. He must personally conduct the warfare. All the energies of apostasy were rallied against the Son of God. Christ was made the mark of every weapon of hell.

"Many look on this conflict between Christ and Satan as having no special bearing on their own life; and for them it has little interest. But within the domain of every human heart this controversy is repeated. Never does one leave the ranks of evil for the service of God without encountering the assaults of Satan. The enticements which Christ resisted were those that we find it so difficult to withstand. They were urged upon Him in as much greater degree as His character is superior to ours. With the terrible weight of the sins of the world upon Him, Christ withstood the test upon appetite, upon the love of the world, and upon that love of display, which leads to presumption. These were the temptations that overcame Adam and Eve, and that so readily overcome us.

"Satan had pointed to Adam's sin as proof that God's law was unjust, and could not be obeyed. In our humanity, Christ was to redeem Adam's failure. But when Adam was assailed by the tempter, none of the effects of sin were upon him. He stood in the strength of perfect manhood, possessing the full vigor of mind and body. He was surrounded with the glories of Eden, and was in daily communion with heavenly beings. It was not thus with Jesus when He entered the wilderness to cope with Satan. For four thousand years the race had been decreasing in physical strength, in mental power, and in moral worth; and Christ took upon Him the infirmities of degenerate humanity. Only thus could He rescue man from the lowest depths of his degradation.

"Many claim that it was impossible for Christ to be overcome by temptation. Then He could not have been placed in Adam's position; He could not have gained the victory that Adam failed to gain. If we have in any sense a more trying conflict than had Christ, then He would not be able to succor us. But our Saviour took humanity, with all its liabilities. He took the nature of man, with the possibility of yielding to temptation. We have nothing to bear which He has not endured."Desire of Ages. 116-117. Farther down on the page is another brief comment:

"From the time of Adam to that of Christ, self-indulgence had increased the power of the appetites and passions, until they had almost unlimited control. Thus men had become debased and diseased, and of themselves it was impossible for them to overcome. In man's behalf, Christ conquered by enduring the severest test. For our sake He exercised a self-control stronger than hunger or death."Op. cit., 117.

It is of the highest significance that the above two statements, Desire of Ages 49 and 117, are the key passages in that book which explain the human nature of Christ (although there are others: pages 25, 112, 174-175, and 311-312). We would expect that, in a book dealing with the life of Christ, the topic would be explained somewhere. And it is on pages 49 and 117 in crystal-clear detail.

Although it is true that there are hundreds of Spirit of Prophecy statements which say this in a variety of ways, the above two passages, along with Hebrews 2 and 4, ought to be sufficient to explain the matter to those willing to submit their opinions to the test of God's Word.

Memorize this: the end of Hebrews 2, the end of Hebrews 4, and Desire of Ages 49 and 117, There you have it; now you are ready to explain the nature of Christ to others, as you have opportunity,

But, what about the objections which can be raised? We need to consider them. But first, here is a Bible-only study, on the nature of Christ, which you can give to someone who is not of our faith or someone who does not accept the Spirit of Prophecy.  

A Bible Study on the Nature of Christ

Here is a brief Bible study on the human nature of Christ. It is clear and comprehensive: First, give the Bible study, given earlier, on Hebrews 2 and 4. For purposes of simplification, we will repeat it here.

HEBREWS 2: 14-1 7

The book of Hebrews, the second chapter, speaks directly about the human nature of Christ: "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy Him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.

"And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. "Hebrews 2:14-15.

Verses 14 and 15 explain that, as we partake of flesh and blood, so Christ did also. He did it so He could deliver us from bondage to Satan and final death. It was for this reason that Christ became a human being like us. According to verse 14, it is obvious that Christ became fully human.

However, we might ask, in that humanity, did Christ take the pre-fall nature of Adam or the post-fall nature of Adam's descendants? Verse 16 unequivocally provides the answer:

"For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham." Hebrews 2:16.

Verse 16 clearly says that Christ took the nature of the offspring of Abraham. We know that Abraham lived about 2,000 years after the world was created. Christ took the nature of Abraham's descendants—not Abraham's ancestor, unfallen Adam!

So then, Christ took our fallen nature, but did He fully take it? Verses 17-18 answers that: "Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

"For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted." Hebrews 2:17-18.

According to verses 17-18, Christ was made like us "in all things." Therefore, as our High Priest, He is able to help us when we are tempted. And that is what we are told, when we turn to Hebrews 4: 14-16:

HEBREWS 4:14-16

The last part of Hebrews 4 is truly wonderful in many ways. In addition, it tells us more about the human nature of Christ. Let us turn to Hebrews 4:14-16:

"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:1416.

Hebrews 4:14-16 explains that the basis of Christ's right to be our great High Priest—was that He fully became like us, was fully tempted; yet, in our nature, He never once sinned:

HEBREWS 5:7-9

Just below that, in Hebrews 5, we learn that Christ was like us in yet another way:

"Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared.

"Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him." Hebrews 5:7-9,

While He was on earth, Christ suffered from temptation; yet never once, in thought, word, or action, did He yield to temptation in the slightest. Christ, who was made fully like us, is our perfect example. He wrestled for help from the Father, just as we must do. This is another reason why He is now our perfect High Priest.

Now, the above verses in the book of Hebrews clearly explains that Christ took our nature; and, in that nature, He never once sinned.

Two key facts brought out in those verses were these: (1) Christ took our fallen nature, and (2) Christ took the nature of Abraham's offspring. Here are additional passages which amplify on both of these principles:

CHRIST TOOK OUR NATURE

Christ took the nature that we have, not the nature of unfallen beings: "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, "Galatians 4:4,

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth. "John 1:14.

"For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren. "Hebrews 2:11.

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same." Hebrews 2:14.

"God, sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh." Romans 8:3.

"For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin: that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him,"2 Corinthians 5:21,

CHRIST WAS THE OFFSPRING OF ABRAHAM AND DAVID

Adam lived about 4000 B.C., Abraham lived about 2000 B.C., and David lived about 1000 B.C, Here are additional passages which emphasize that Christ took the nature of Abraham's descendants and the nature of David's descendants:

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. "Isaiah 11:1,

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise up unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth," Jeremiah 23:5.

"The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. "Matthew 1:1 (Matt. 1:1-17),

"Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness," Romans 1:3-4,

And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according the promise, "Galatians 3:29,

"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star, "Revelation 22:16,

"The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; He will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne." Psalm 132:11,

And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the seed of David? "Matthew 12:23,

Thus we can understand why Paul said this in Hebrews: "For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham," Hebrews 2:16,

"Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren," Hebrews 2:17.

TWO SUBLIME PASSAGES

All these Bible passages explain that grand statement, given by John:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, The same was in the beginning with God, All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. .And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we behold His glory, as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth," John 1:1-3, 14.

And then there is that glorious passage in Philippians, Because Christ stooped to the lowest level, the time is coming when He will be exalted to the highest:

"[Jesus Christ] made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:7-11.

Christ went from the highest to the lowest, just for us. Thank God for His inexpressible Gift!

THE ANTICHRIST DOCTRINE

Those who deny the truth that Christ came in our flesh are of antichrist: "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is the spirit of antichrist." l John 4:3.

But remember that, throughout the entire experience, He never once yielded to temptation or sin; "Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth." l Peter 2:22.

"Ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin." l John 3:5.

"The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me: John 14:30.

COMPREHENSIVE BIBLE SUMMARY

Jesus fully took upon Himself our nature. He came in the flesh in human nature (John 1:14; 1 Tim. 3:16; 1 John 4:2),and called Himself a man, and was so called by others (John 8:40; Acts 2:22; Rom. 5:15; 1 Cor. 15:21).

He had a body such as we have (Matt. 26:26, 28, 38; Luke 23:46; 24:39; John 11:33; Heb. 2:14). He was subject to the ordinary laws of human development, as well as human wants and sufferings (Luke 2:40, 52; Heb. 2: 10, 18; 5:8).

He had a human life with human experiences (Matt. 4:2; 8:24; 9:36; Mark 3:5; Luke 22:44; John 4:6; 11:35; 12:27; 19:28,30). But He never committed an act of sin (Luke 1:35; John 8:46; 14:30; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4: 15; 9: 14; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5).

Although He was the ideal man (Heb. 2:8-9; 1 Cor. 15:45; 2 Cor. 3: 18; Phil. 3:21), yet He stooped to the lowest in order to save us (Phil. 2:5-9). He took the nature of Abraham's descendants (Heb. 2: 16) and He died the most shameful of deaths, the death on a cross (Phil. 2:6-8).

He suffered terribly both in body and soul (John 12:27; Acts 3:18; Heb. 2:14; 9:22). He had to take the lowest nature our nature and experience our infirmities (Heb. 2: 1718), yet without ever committing sin (Heb. 7:26). For only by both could He provide us with an acceptable sacrifice, a perfect priesthood, and a complete mediatorial and atoning work.

Only such a truly human Mediator, who had experimental knowledge of the woes of mankind, who yet rose superior to all temptations inflicted upon Him, could enter sympathetically into every experience, every trial and temptation of man (Heb. 2: 17-18; 4: 15-5:2), and thus be a perfect human example for His followers (Matt. 11:29; Mark 10:39; John 13: 13-15; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 12:2-4; 1 Peter 2:21).

Do not be satisfied with less than the best. We need the whole Christ—the Man Christ and the God Christ—in order to receive complete forgiveness and enabling power to conquer in the battles of life, faith, submission, and obedience. While on earth, He called Himself "the Son of Man." Why are men today ashamed of His humanity? He is not ashamed to call us brethren (Heb. 2: 11). Why should we be ashamed to call Him fully man, as well as fully God?  

Answers to Objections

 There are several objections, which may be raised. Let us discuss them individually:  

1 CHRIST WAS THE SECOND PRE-FALL ADAM

It has been said that, because Christ was the "Second Adam," therefore he had to take Adam's unfallen nature, so He could overcome where Adam failed; and Adam failed in a perfect garden with an unblemished nature.

In Scripture, Christ is called "the second Adam." But we have here a contrast, not a comparison. Jesus did not overcome in the circumstances in which Adam did, far from it. We are repeatedly told that He overcame in circumstances far more severe. Both Desire of Ages, 49 and 117, quoted earlier in this study, make this very clear.

The Bible passages make it clear that the second Adam overcame where the first Adam failed, but nowhere are we told that Christ did it in a Garden or in an unfallen nature. Here are the three passages, in which the first and second Adam are contrasted:

Romans 5: 12-19 contrasts Adam's failure with the free gift brought by Christ: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned..

"Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of Him that was to come,

"But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many." Romans 5: 12. 14-15 (cf. verses 16-19).

1 Corinthians 15:22 contrasts death through Adam vs. life through Jesus Christ: "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive,"1 Corinthians 15:22,

1 Corinthians 15:45 contrasts Adam, as already having life within him, with Christ who provides life to those who do not deserve it:

 "The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening [life-giving] spirit."1 Corinthians 15:45,

It was only by taking Adam's fallen nature that Christ could save us.

"Through His humiliation and poverty, Christ would identify Himself with the weakness of the fallen race. . The great work of redemption could be carried out only by the Redeemer taking the place of fallen Adam, . The King of Glory proposed to humble Himself to fallen humanity, "Review. February 24, 1874 [italics ours],   

2 CHRIST HAD DIFFERENT TEMPTATIONS

It has been said that Christ did not experience our temptations, but different kinds of temptations, which we never experience. Whatever these imaginary temptations are supposed to be, we are nowhere told that He did not experience our temptations. We are told that Christ was "in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Heb. 4: 15).   

3 CHRIST WAS TEMPTED TO USE HIS DIVINITY

It has been said that Christ was tempted to use His divinity, but that He did not. Therefore His experience is different and He is not our Example. Yet Scripture says He was tempted "in all points like as we are, yet without sin"; and that it was this which qualified Him to be our High Priest and able to minister to us. Let us accept Scripture for what it says.

Whether or not He was, in addition, tempted to use His divine power—is beside the point. All that counts is that He was tempted like us, in our nature overcame, and is therefore able to be our High Priest and help us resist and overcome sin. Desire of Ages, 72.   

4 OUR PIONEER POSITION WAS DIFFERENT

It has been suggested that our original position was that Christ had Adam's unfallen nature. But, to date, we have not heard of one passage or statement cited in support of that idea.

Nowhere do we find a pre-fall Adamic nature of Christ teaching in our earliest publications. In fact, it does not appear anywhere in Adventist literature, until the mid-1950s, Here are a few samples from our earliest books and journals:

"Like Aaron and his sons, He took upon Him flesh and blood, the Seed of Abraham. "Editorial, Review, September 16, 1852.

"To say that God sent His own Son 'in the likeness of sinful flesh' is equivalent to saying that the Son of God assumed our nature:' J. M. Stephenson, Review, November 9, 1854.

"What blood was shed 'for the remission of sins?' Was it not the identical blood, which had flowed through the veins of Mary, His mother, and back through her ancestry to Eve, the mother of all living? Otherwise He was not 'the seed of the woman: of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. . He had all the sensations flesh is heir to . . He had all the innocent human passions:' J. M. Stephenson, Review. September I5, 1854.

Many, many more statements could be cited. But what about early Spirit of Prophecy statements?

Jesus also told them. . that He should take man's fallen nature, and His strength would not be even equal with theirs." l Spiritual Gifts, 25 (1858).

"It was in the order of God that Christ should take on the form and nature of fallen man. "4 Spiritual Gifts, 115 (1864).

"Christ humiliated Himself to humanity, and took upon Himself our nature. . that. . He might become a stepping stone to fallen men. "Review. April 31, 1870.

"This was the reception the Savior met when He came to a fallen world. He . . took upon Himself man's nature, that He might save the fallen race. Instead of men glorifying God for the honor He had conferred upon them in thus sending His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh. . "Review December 24, 1872.

Many, many more examples could be cited, both from the Spirit of Prophecy and other Adventist authors. Ellen White, alone, mentioned the fact that Christ took our fallen nature about 400 times (see The Word Was Made Flesh, by Ralph Larson).

Actually, the doctrinal changeover from fallen nature to unfallen nature did not begin until the late 1940s and 1950s. (See the section, "History of the Changeover." near the back of this book, for details of how it happened.)   

5 CHRIST ONLY TOOK OUR PHYSICAL WEAKNESSES

It has been said that Christ only took a body with the physical degeneracies of 4,000 years, but not the moral degeneracy. This may sound nice, but it is not Scriptural. The Bible specifically speaks about the moral factors—more than the physical; and the Spirit of Prophecy speaks of both. Christ was not said to be afflicted in all ways with physical problems and diseases, without succumbing to them; but, rather, He was tempted "in all points like as we are, yet without sin."

The implications of the DA 49 statement, that Christ took a body subject to "the great law of heredity." indicates He was not born with special physical characteristics different than those of others at the time.

Here are some of the great variety of ways in which the Spirit of Prophecy describes the nature Christ took at His birth:

"He was subject to the frailties of humanity." Signs. April 22. 1897.

 "Christ declared, 'no single principle of human nature will I Violate.' "Manuscript Releases. Vol. 5, 114.

"An angel would not have known how to sympathize with fallen man, but. . Jesus can be touched with all our infirmities. "Review, October I, 1889.

As Jesus was in human flesh, so God means His followers to be. "Signs, April 1, 1897.

"Christ took upon Him the infirmities of degenerate humanity."Signs, December 3, 1902.

He took upon Himself our sinful nature, Review, December 15, 1896.

 "He took upon Himself fallen suffering human nature, degraded and defiled by sin." Youth's Instructor, December 20, 1900.

 "Like every child of Adam, He accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity:' Desire of Ages, 49.

 "His human nature was created: it did not even possess angelic powers. It was human, identical to our own: 3 Selected Messages, 129   

6 THE BAKER LETTER SHOWS THAT CHRIST WAS NOT FULLY LIKE US

It has been said that Christ did not really take our nature because, in one letter (written to W. L. H. Baker, a minister in Tasmania). Ellen White said that Christ was not fully like us. But in that letter, she is not talking about Christ's nature, but His total lifelong sinlessness. She was writing to a minister who believed a strange error that Christ had once been a sinner. More on this later in this book, in a special section. 

CONTINUE- PART 2   TOC