The Gospel and Human Nature: A Complex Relationship
As we consider the biblical view of personhood, a fundamental question arises: are we merely brain machines or something more? This inquiry has significant implications for the gospel message, as our understanding of human nature directly impacts the integrity of the gospel proclamation.
The Moral Law and the Gospel
The gospel of Jesus Christ presents a call to humanity: we have all fallen into sin and are unable to live the righteous life that God requires. The remedy provided by God in Christ is the forgiveness of sins, secured by Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross. However, this message is predicated on the existence of a moral law. If there is no moral law, there is no sin problem, and therefore, no need for forgiveness. The gospel is emptied of its power and truth.
Life After Death and the Christian Message
The Bible teaches that the death of our bodies is not the end of our story. Jesus and the apostles preached that after this life, we would be raised to face judgment, followed by either eternal life or death. This belief in life after death is essential to the Christian message. If our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.
The Reliability of Jesus and the Scriptures
According to the Bible, there is no salvation outside of Jesus Christ, and putting our trust in him is the only way to find redemption. However, if Jesus taught and preached a demonstrably false view of human nature, his authority to prescribe a remedy for what is wrong with that nature would be undermined. His trustworthiness would evaporate if we were to discover his entire view of human nature to be radically wrong.
The Nature of Jesus Christ
The early creeds struggled to articulate the complex Christology implied by Scripture. The Chalcedonian Definition affirms that Jesus is both fully God and fully man, consisting of a reasonable soul and body. This definition raises important questions about human nature and our understanding of Christ.
Human Nature and Christology
We base our view of human nature on our doctrine of Christ because he is the perfect representative of humanity. Orthodox Christology requires that the incarnate Son has continuity and identity with the Son of God as he existed before the incarnation. If we are merely physical objects, then Jesus was also merely a physical object, and centuries of ecumenical, orthodox Christology based directly on Scripture are wrong.
Conclusion
Our understanding of human nature is intricately linked to our understanding of the gospel message and the nature of Jesus Christ. As we consider the biblical view of personhood, we must recognize the significance of the moral law, life after death, the reliability of Jesus and the Scriptures, and the nature of Jesus Christ. Our anthropology is rooted in our Christology, and our understanding of human nature has far-reaching implications for our faith.
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