Hypostatic Union II
John 1:14
John Lesson #008
June 28, 1998
www.deanbibleministries.org
Impeccability refers to the sinlessness of Jesus Christ. Christ was completely free from all three categories of sin that affect the human race. First, He was free from Adam's original sin. Adam's original sin is passed down through the male, that is why Jesus had to be born of a virgin: virgin conception and virgin birth because it blocks the relationship with the male from whence He would have gained a sin nature. So, second, He was free from Adam's sin because there was no genetically-acquired sin nature. Third, there was no personal sin.
Other statement that relate to the hypostatic union are: Romans 1:3-5 NASB "concerning His Son [deity], who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh [humanity], who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about {the} obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake." Romans 9:5 NASB "…and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen." 1 Timothy 3:16 NASB "By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory." Hebrews 2:14 NASB "Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil."
How did this happen? What were the mechanics? The virgin conception and birth. What happens in the process of conception is that once a month the female releases an egg. This egg has 46 chromosomes. During the process it throws off 23 of those chromosomes in a process called meiosis. What this throws off are referred to as polar bodies. So in the process of meiosis with the combination of polar bodies it divests itself of 23 chromosomes. This is a process of purification so that this becomes the only cell in any human body that is purified, minus a sin nature. Then the sperm comes along and fertilises that egg and provides another 23 chromosomes in conception and there is the beginnings of biological life within the womb. But in part of these 23 chromosomes is found the genetically transmitted sin nature, so that now that when biologically life is fertilised and there is conception in the womb there is the presence of the sin nature. What happened in the virgin conception was that God the Holy Spirit (there was no human male involved in this process) created the 23 chromosomes and fertilised the egg within Mary, so that there is no sin nature transmitted through that egg and there were 46 perfect chromosomes. So when Jesus Christ was born he was true humanity without the stain of a sin nature or Adam's original sin, and throughout His life He committed no personal sin.
Why is it so important to study the hypostatic union? The hypostatic union relates to two areas. First, it was necessary for Christ in order for Him to be the perfect revealer of God to mankind. Only deity can reveal deity. But Christ also had to be human in order to give that revelation in a manner that human beings could grasp. John 1:18 NASB "No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained {Him.}" Second purpose: it was necessary to accomplish salvation. The Redeemer had to be both true humanity in order to die as a substitute for mankind, and He had to be undiminished deity because as deity His sacrifice would have infinite value. 1 Timothy 2:5, 6 NASB "For there is one God, {and} one mediator also between God and men, {the} man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony {given} at the proper time." Hebrews 2:14-18 NASB "Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted."
John 1:14 NASB "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." This is a very interesting concept here. He says that he became flesh and dwelt. This is the same word that is used to describe the tabernacle, a temporary dwelling place. So the Lord took up a dwelling place here. Then He dwelt among us and we beheld His glory. The Gospel writer makes it very clear that he is involved in this: I was one of those who saw Him dwelling among us and beheld His glory. What glory is John talking about? Often we think of the Mount of Transfiguration when Jesus took John, James and Peter with Him to the top of the mountain and there revealed Himself in all His glory. They saw Him not as the Man Jesus of Nazareth but as God. But that is not what John is referring to here. And this is the only Gospel that doesn't mention the Mount of Transfiguration, yet John was there. This is a very different concept of seeing the glory of Jesus Christ, and it is a profound one which has tremendous application for each of us.
First of all, we should understand the word "behold." It is the Greek word theaomai [qeaomai] and it means to look at something to see it. But more than just glancing over and saying, "I see it," it has the idea of contemplation, rumination, cogitation and meditation. It doesn't mean just to glance at something but to observe it very, very carefully, and then to reflect on it and to contemplate on its meaning and significance. So what John is implying is that he carefully thought about this and thought about it over and over again for those three years plus that he was with the Lord Jesus Christ. What does he mean by glory? If we look at John 2:11 we see Jesus' first miracle where He turns the water into wine. John says, NASB "This beginning of {His} signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him." Was the Shekinah glory present at the wedding in Cana? No, it was an everyday event, just a wedding. He transformed water into wine. Nobody knew that He did it. The head waiter asked where in the world the good wine came from. It was done in private, but the disciples knew what had happened and that it was just an everyday event. This is the concept that John has of how Jesus demonstrated His glory—in everyday situations, in day in and day out circumstances Jesus was concerned with supplying the needs of people. He supplied their physical needs as a training aid to show that he could supply their spiritual needs. There are no fireworks involved here, it is just simple everyday action.
We see it again in John 11:4 in the situation with Lazarus: "…He said, "This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it." There is no flashing forth of the glory of Christ there in the way we think of it in terms of the Shekinah glory. What we see is His glory in His dealing with people's needs on a day-to-day basis, and His concern for Mary and Martha and the family. That is a remarkable episode that few people really understand. Jesus weeps because of His compassion for the pain and misery the human race endures because of sin.
John 12:23, referring to the cross. NASB "And Jesus answered them, saying, 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified'." How was He glorified? Did we see the Shekinah glory on the cross? No, we did not. What happened on the cross was He paid the penalty for our sins. His glory was manifested by taking care of the needs of mankind. That is John's concept.