Jesus is fully God and fully human, the divine Son incarnate
Adventism affirms orthodox Christology: Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who became fully human in the Incarnation, lived a sinless life, died for human sin, rose bodily from the dead, and ascended to the right hand of the Father. He is the unique Savior of humanity and currently ministers as humanity's High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary.
A distinctive Adventist theological discussion concerns the nature of Christ's humanity: some Adventist theologians have argued that Christ took on 'fallen human nature' after the Fall (not the sinless pre-Fall nature), making his sinless life a more directly relevant example for believers. This internal debate has been ongoing since the 1950s and does not represent a departure from affirmation of Christ's full deity and sinlessness.
Key Distinctions
- Natures formula:
- two complete natures (divine and human) united in one person (hypostatic union)
- Conciliar affiliation:
- Council of Chalcedon (451) affirmed
Scripture References
Sources
- Seventh-day Adventist Church, 28 Fundamental Beliefs, Belief 4 (God the Son)