⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Philippians 2:6-7 (ESV)

THE DUAL NATURE OF CHRIST

We had just finished the hymns, and Kirk had given updates about the happenings of the church for the week. I remember him looking around and asking if anyone in the congregation had anything special occurring, or anything we could pray for. My sons elbowed me.

“It’s his birthday.”

And there, in a tiny church in James Cistern (JC), Eleuthera, I turned forty — serenaded by a congregation that nearly doubled when we arrived. I’m not quite sure how I’ll top that when I turn fifty.

Services at Liberty Baptist were lively. Pastor Kirk would interact with the crowd and, at times, even asked me my opinion on the scripture we were reading.

And one day, he said something familiar — something I’d heard Mike say many times before:

“Jesus is both God and man. He is a man, but not just a man — He is also God.”

Have you ever wondered how that could be? How can a human, limited by time and space, also be the transcendent God described in Genesis 1:1? If you have wondered, you’re not the first! It was such an important topic that the early church called all of the church fathers together to discuss it.

What they came up with is what orthodox Christianity believes today — and it’s why what Mike preaches in Kennesaw is the same thing Pastor Kirk preaches in James Cistern: Jesus is both God and man. He is one person with two natures — a divine nature and a human nature.

There’s an analogy from the movie Avatar by James Cameron. The protagonist, a crippled man named Jake Sully, enters the giant blue body of one of the Na’vi. Suddenly, he can walk and jump. He now has two natures — a human nature and a Na’vi nature.

In the same way, the second person of the Trinity — what theologians call the Logos — took on a human nature by being born to Mary in Bethlehem. He is a divine person who added a human nature, much in the same way Jake Sully is a human person who added a Na’vi nature.

This matters because it means Jesus wasn’t just a wise man — He was (and is) the morally perfect God in human form. So when He calls us to humility, love, and service, it isn’t advice from a teacher — it’s truth from the Creator Himself.

Know that through the wonderful words and example of Jesus, and by applying them through lovingly serving those around you, you are anchored to the truth.

Curt Bowen is a husband, father, and group leader who loves engaging in apologetics, theology, and good BBQ. A thrill-seeker at heart, he enjoys roller coasters and has an appreciation for snakes—just not the conversational type.