The Chalcedoinian Definition [1] (451 A.D.) says, in part, that Jesus is “to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved…” He is fully human (without sin) and he is fully divine.
In Jesus, these two natures don’t mix into something else (“inconfusedly”) and they are not “active” in him at different times (“indivisibly”). His human nature does what sinless, unfallen human nature does and his divine nature does what undiminished divinity does. The two natures must remain distinct from each other and yet united in the one person of Jesus because the distinction is not taken away by the union.
This raises very rich questions when you think of Jesus as one person with two natures. For example,
- When Jesus was tempted could he have sinned?
- Is Jesus’ humanity omniscient? Is it omnipresent?
- Did Jesus’ divine nature sleep in the stern of the boat?
- Can divinity die?
- Did the will of infant in the manger hold the universe together?
- Did Jesus create Mary who gave birth to him?
- Did the Second person of the Trinity “grow in wisdom and stature before God and man”?
As you contemplate these questions, remember to keep his natures truly human and truly divine, not mixed, confused, or separated.
As difficult as this is to understand, it is the only way that God could become human and still be fully God and fully human at the same time. And that means that our salvation depends on this union of natures in Jesus. It is confusing and mysterious and glorious. We worship an amazing God.