3 Reasons God Had To Become Man

The Deity and Humanity of Christ

In a previous article, I stated: “Jesus was made perfect (or brought salvation to completion) through the incarnation, setting him apart and above all other High priests” (Jesus Was Made Perfect? 10/24/22). Some may ask: did Jesus have to become man and suffer in order to save us? Couldn’t God have just snapped his fingers and made salvation happen? The answer is no. It does not mean that God is somehow deficient; it means that God is God and that he will not compromise His Holiness, Righteousness, and Justice.

1. God had to Die To Destroy Death

By putting on flesh and blood, God the Son submitted himself to experiencing death so that through death he might destroy the devil. The Immortal and Eternal One put on mortality in order to abolish death and give life to all who put their trust in him.

“For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. … Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:10; 14, ESV).

2. God Had to Be Tempted

By putting on flesh and blood, God the Son submitted himself to the experience of the suffering of temptation. The sinless one is able to sympathize with our weaknesses because he has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

“Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2:17-18, ESV).

3. God Had to Learn Obedience

By putting on flesh and blood, God the Son submitted himself to the experience of obedience in the midst of suffering and temptation. The Righteous One learned obedience so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

“In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.” (Hebrews 5:7-8, ESV).

Fully God and Fully Man

God the Son can fully and completely redeem mankind to God because he is Eternal,

“The former priests were many in number because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:23-25).

Holy:

“For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people” (Hebrews 7:26-27).

, and his blood secures a never-ending redemption:

“… he [Christ] entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.… it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins… by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 9:11-12; 10:4;14).

Summary

Friends, the teaching of Christ’s full deity and full humanity is not made-up nor is it trivial. It is core to the Gospel. If Jesus is not fully man, he couldn’t have been like us in every respect, he couldn’t have experienced death like us, he couldn’t have been tempted in every way like we are, and he couldn’t have learned obedience. If Jesus is not fully God, he couldn’t have been sinless, he couldn’t have defeated death, and he couldn’t have secured eternal redemption once and for all those who trust in him. Christians, let us rejoice in such a great salvation! Let us stand firm and hold fast our confidence in the Lord Jesus. He truly is The Only Way.

If you are still confused or skeptical about anything that I wrote here, you can message me privately here.