The Humanity of Christ

The humanity of Christ refers to the reality that in his incarnation, the Son of God assumed a complete human nature with all its limitations (but without in any way surrendering his divinity), so that he might serve as humanity’s representative, substitute, and example.

In his incarnation, the Son of God assumed a complete human nature—body, soul, mind, and will—into personal union with himself. He did not assume a distinct human person, since he is already a divine person, but rather he gave personhood to the human nature that he assumed. As a human, Jesus experienced all the ordinary, non-sinful limitations of humanity. He grew and developed. He experienced hunger, thirst, weariness, and the full range of human emotions. His humanity was as integral to his saving work as his divinity. As the true human, the last Adam, he lived out obedience to God through our common humanity as our representative and substitute: through his life, death, and resurrection, he merits salvation for all who are united to him by faith. As a human, he also serves as our example, providing a model for true human obedience.

Luke Stamps is assistant professor of Christian Studies at California Baptist University in the Online and Professional Studies division. He is also a PhD candidate in systematic theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is writing a dissertation on dyothelite (two-wills) Christology in the Reformed tradition.

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