Deity of Christ
God can't be born, get hungry, or die.
Short answer
Christians agree that the divine nature cannot die. The claim is that the eternal Son took on a full human nature, adding humanity without losing deity. As a man, he was born, grew hungry, and died; as God, he remained Lord of all. Scripture shows that God has always been able to draw near to his people in visible ways.
In simple words: God can do anything, even become a baby! Jesus became a real person so he could save us, and he never stopped being God.
Response
The incarnation is not God turning into something less than God. It is God the Son taking on a human nature in addition to his divine nature. "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:14). Paul writes that "in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9).
So when Jesus hungered, slept, and wept, he did so in his real human nature. When he died, his human body and soul were separated; the divine nature did not cease to exist. Jesus said he had authority to lay down his life and take it up again (John 10:18), and he said of his body, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days" (John 2:19-21).
Why would God do this? Because we needed a Savior who could truly represent us and truly rescue us. Hebrews 2:14-17 says he shared our humanity "so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death." Only a man could die in our place; only God could make that death able to save.
The Old Testament already shows God appearing in visible form: the LORD appeared to Abraham with two others as men and ate with him (Genesis 18), and Jacob wrestled with a man and said, "I saw God face to face" (Genesis 32:30). As God asked Abraham, "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" (Genesis 18:14).
Key evidence
- The incarnation adds a human nature to the Son; it does not subtract his divine nature (John 1:14; Colossians 2:9).
- Jesus said he had authority to lay down his life and take it up again (John 10:17-18).
- Hebrews 2:14-17 explains why the Savior had to be fully human.
- God appeared in visible, human-like form in the Old Testament (Genesis 18; 32:24-30).
Bible passages
- John 1:1, 14 The Word was God; the Word became flesh.
- Philippians 2:6-8 In very nature God, he became obedient to death.
- Hebrews 2:14-17 He shared our humanity to destroy death's power.
- John 10:17-18 Authority to lay down his life and take it up.
- Genesis 18:1-14 The LORD appears to Abraham; "Is anything too hard for the LORD?"
Quotes
“That which He has not assumed He has not healed.”
Gregory of Nazianzus, Letter 101 (4th century)
Discussion questions
- Why did our Savior need to be both fully God and fully human?
- Does saying "God can't become man" limit God more than Scripture does?
- What comfort is there in knowing God experienced hunger, tiredness, and grief?