JESUS CHRIST: GOD-MAN - Vital Christianity

213
On the following page is listed some definitions by foremost New Testament biblical
scholars. Notice that their translations and meaning as to the nature of Jesus Christ confirms His
divine personhood. But, being of the same essence as God, He "emptied Himself." The very
notion of "emptying" inevitably suggests deprivation or lessening, the loss of something that
was possessed before. When Jesus "emptied Himself," therefore, did He diminish Himself, and
if so, in what way? The verb "to empty" (kenoo) in every other New Testament instance means
to deprive something of its proper place and use.
As John Calvin points out,
"Christ, indeed, could not divest Himself of Godhead; but He kept it concealed
for a time . . . He laid aside His glory in the view of men, not by lessening it, but
by concealing it."6
He did this in voluntary subjection or subordination to God the Father.
God is of such a nature that acceptance of the limitations of a human life does not make
Him unlike Himself. He is free to be our God without ceasing to be God the Lord. Jesus
remained God in the voluntary deprivation of the exercise of Lordship. He willingly gave up the
glory, majesty and honor that only belongs to absolute divinity.
By submitting Himself to the Father Jesus did not become inferior to the Father since
submission has to do with roles rather than substance or essence. Roles are essential in the
ordering of society. Husbands, wives, children, employers, employees, presidents, vicepresidents,
leaders, followers, etc.—all these designations of roles do not indicate inherent worth,
but merely the identity of one's place in a given situation. Because parents have the role of
providing leadership for their children, this in no way means that they have more inherent worth
and dignity. Parents and children belong to the same class--humanity. No more, no less.
When John talks about God the Father being "greater" than Jesus (Jn 5:19; 14:28) he is
referring to the submission of the Son to the Father and thus not in any way implying that the
Son is inherently inferior to the Father. Biblical submission simply does not imply inferiority. It
only points out the humble placing of people in the order of God's plan, purpose, and program.
When Paul refers to God as "head of Christ" (1 Co 11:3) and that Christ will be subject to
God that God may be "all in all" (15:28) he is not saying that Jesus is inferior. This merely has to
do with chains of authority. Christ came to put down all rule, authority, and power not
authorized by His Father (vv. 23-26), and to demonstrate to the universe His absolute lordship
(Php 2:8-11). But this lordship in a kingdom of service was not to be gained by the raw
expression of divine power any more than rightful human leadership is to be established by
violence. Rather it was granted by His moral and spiritual worthiness (Heb 2:9-18; 3:1-6; Rev 5).