Chapter 4—Assumed Liabilities of Human Nature
The doctrine of the incarnation of Christ in human flesh is a mys-
tery, “even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from
generations.” It is the great and profound mystery of Godliness....
Christ did not make believe take human nature; He did verily
take it. He did in reality possess human nature. “As the children are
partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of
the same.” He was the Son of Mary; He was of the seed of David
according to human descent.—
The Review and Herald, April 5, 1906
.
He came to this world in human form, to live a man amongst
men. He assumed the liabilities of human nature, to be proved and
tried. In His humanity He was a partaker of the divine nature. In His
incarnation He gained in a new sense the title of the Son of God.—
The
Signs of the Times, August 2, 1905
.
But our Saviour took humanity, with all its liabilities. He took the
nature of man, with the possibility of yielding to temptation. We have
nothing to bear which He has not endured.—
The Desire of Ages, 117
.
Christ bore the sins and infirmities of the race as they existed when
He came to the earth to help man. In behalf of the race, with the
weaknesses of fallen man upon Him, He was to stand the temptations
of Satan upon all points wherewith man would be assailed.—
The
Review and Herald, July 28, 1874
.
Jesus was in all things made like unto His brethren. He became
flesh, even as we are. He was hungry and thirsty and weary. He was
sustained by food and refreshed by sleep. He shared the lot of man;
yet He was the blameless Son of God. He was God in the flesh. His
character is to be ours.—
The Desire of Ages, 311
.
The human nature of Christ is likened to ours, and suffering was
more keenly felt by Him; for His spiritual nature was free from every
taint of sin. Therefore His desire for the removal of suffering was
stronger than human beings can experience....
The Son of God endured the wrath of God against sin. All the
accumulated sin of the world was laid upon the Sin-bearer, the One
22