Don Stewart :: Will Jesus Christ Have Two Natures Forever?

The two natures of Christ have become permanent. This can be seen by Jesus' appearances after his resurrection, the promise at his ascension that the same Jesus would return, the description of Jesus after his ascension, the present role he has as our mediator, and the qualifications that are necessary for his high priestly ministry.

The Resurrected Christ Had A Body

The appearances of Christ after he came back from the dead showed that he still had a literal body.

Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him (Matthew 28:9).

Luke wrote.

But when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus (Luke 24:3).

Jesus Himself testified.

Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God' (John 20:17).

Therefore the risen Christ was not merely a spirit, he was raised in an actual body.

At His Ascension There Was A Promise Of His Return

At Jesus' ascension the angel promised that the same Jesus who left would return.

And they also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11)

The Jesus that left the earth was both God and man. Therefore, it is necessary that Jesus remain the God-man until he returns because he will return as the God-man.

Jesus Appeared After His Ascension

After his ascension Jesus is still represented as having a body. When the martyr Stephen was being stoned to death he saw the risen Christ. He described him as follows.

"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:56).

This is consistent with Jesus still having a body.

The Necessary For His Mediation

There is also the issue of Jesus mediating between God and humanity. The Apostle Paul told Timothy that the man, Christ Jesus, is interceding on our behalf.

For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).

Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us (Romans 8:34).

There is an issue with respect to the duration of the two natures of Christ. Scripture teaches that Jesus will retain his human nature forever. First, the resurrected Christ had a body - He was not a spirit. The Bible also says the same Jesus that left the earth will return. Jesus left in a glorified body he will return in a glorified body. Also, the description of him after his ascension is consistent with one who has a body. In addition, the Apostle Paul said that the man Christ Jesus is our mediator. Finally, it is necessary for Jesus' ministry as high priest that he remains human. The high priest is one who shares our nature and understands our feelings.