Among Catholic and some Protestant scholars, in order to deny that Christ took fallen human nature after four thousand years of sin, have settled on the doctrine of the immaculate conception of Mary, the mother of Christ. What is this doctrine? “Immaculate Conception, Roman Catholic dogma asserting that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was preserved free from the effects of the sin of Adam (usually referred to as “original sin”) from the first instant of her conception. Although various texts in both the Old and the New Testaments have been cited in defense of the doctrine, it seems to have arisen from a general acceptance in the early church of Mary’s holiness.” By The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica Article History
Based on this concept, it means, Mary did not need a savior, for she was sinless from birth. This then placed her in a unique position, as the only person in the world that Christ did not come to save. But it is written,
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; “ (Romans 3:23 [KJV]) ” If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8 [KJV])
The idea of the immaculate conception, while not Biblical, nevertheless has found its way in the minds of many who refuse to accept God’s word as the final authority.
The Nature of Christ
The book of Hebrews answered this question so thoroughly that we do not need to guess at this subject. In chapter one, God the Father spoke and introduced Christ, His Son saying,
“Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” (Hebrews 1:1-3 [KJV])
The Father continued speaking of His Son, saying. “But unto the Son [he saith], Thy throne, O God, [is] for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness [is] the sceptre of thy kingdom.” (Hebrews 1:8 [KJV])
The Father introduced Christ as one with Himself, one in nature, thought and character. See John 10: 30-32 [KJV]. Therefore the angels could bow down and worship Christ. (Hebrews 1:6 [KJV])
Chapter one of Hebrews clearly shows Christ’s likeness, nature, thought and character to God, the Father. See Philippians 2:6 [KJV]. In like manner, chapter two of Hebrews is used to show Christ’s likeness to man. As Christ is God in very nature, when He became man, He became man in very nature.
“But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? (Hebrews 2:6 [KJV]). Speaking of man , we read. “Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing [that is] not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:7-9 [KJV])
Please take note: It is only after man had sinned that he became subject to death. Therefore, in taking on humanity, He, Christ, was now made subject to death. Only as He took our nature could he be subject to death.
Before sin, man was in no way subject to sufferings. If Jesus came in the nature of Adam before he sinned, it would have been impossible for him to feel our suffering, or reach man where he actually is.
But as it is written. “14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same”, (same flesh and blood) Why? This He did in order “that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14, 15 [KJV]). Bondage represents sin.
Christ therefore took part of the same flesh and blood as we have, in the bondage of sin and fear of death, in order that He might deliver us from the bondage of sin and the fear of death. And this He did, “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted”(Hebrews 2:18 [KJV]). For He was “…touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin” (Hebrews 4:15 [KJV}). Being made in His human nature, in all things like as we are, He could be and He was tempted in all points like as we are. The only way in which He could possibly be tempted “like as we are” was to become “in all things“ “like as we are.” “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto [his] brethren;” (Hebrews 2:17[KJV])
In His human nature, He is one of us, and “…Himself took our infirmities, and bare [our] sicknesses.” (Matthew 8:17 [KJV])
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross”. (Philippians 2:5-8 [KJV])
“But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons”. (Galatians 4:4-5 [KJV])
To be under the law is to be guilty, condemned and subject to the curse. As the scripture states, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God”. (Romans 3:19 [KJV])
Please note: The sinful nature was not Christ, but was placed on him. Armed with the divine mind, He, Christ, demonstrated that the mind can rule the body. This He awaits to do in each of us.
As Christ took on our nature He became subjected to all that humanity suffered and yet showed that a righteous life can be achieved in sinful flesh. He is the pattern man, showing how to live victoriously in this sinful world with sinful flesh.
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