Hebrews

The thing I like about the book of Hebrews in the Christian bible, is the way that it emphasizes the humanity of the Christ.

To me, and apparently to the author of Hebrews, if Christ were not human then he simply would not have the authority, or even the ability to „save mankind”.

This implies that his human nature is an integrial part of his ability to unite us with „God the Father”. Which means – and this is clearly stated in Hebrews – if Christ were not 100% human, then he would not be able to fulfill the role of „high priest” and intermediary between man and God.

So, his humanness is not just a central feature, it is the Key feature of his role on Earth. Even being God, or the Son of God, is secondary to this aspect of Christ. And this is true for preternatural reasons, not mere theological theories. Which is to say that Christ must be human in the same sense that the flesh must receive physical nourishment in order to survive.

And what is that reason? Hebrews tells us it is because unless Christ were human he could not know human temptation and suffering. So, he must know „temptation” in order to be the savior. Why?

Because temptation defines man's inslavement to the flesh and separation from God. Christ must not just know temptation, he must overcome it. By overcoming temptation he sets men free to return to the source of their being. If he were not human then men who seek salvation in Christ would not be able to have faith in his ability to overcome temptation. And it is man's faith in Christ's ability to overcome temptation that gives the man the ability to overcome his own temptation, or in other words, let Christ lead the way.

This is critical. Because if Christ had any advantage to overcoming temptation that other men did not have then men could not look to Christ for salvation. Because he would be „cheating” temptation, not overcoming it.

So far few Christian's would argue, but now lets follow this reasoning to its only conclusion, one that Hebrews attempts to reach: In order for Christ to know temptation as a man knows it, then he must also be a sinner, like man! If Christ were not „born in sin” then he could not know temptation. Sin and temptation can not be separated, as even St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Roman's.

And Hebrews itself confirms this conclusion by telling us that Christ, like any other man, had to be taught obedience to the Will of God. He was not born obedient.

And that's why I like Hebrews, because it says plainly what no modern Christian likes to admit: that Christ was born into sin, and was a sinner, before he was „purified on the cross”. It is only in death that Christ overcame sin, and only by dying did He become our savior – not by How He Lived.

(Originally written by Joseph E. Duncan III - September 10, 2010 – 8 pm)