The human nature of Christ and its relationship with salvation : a study of the views of Luther, Calvin and White

Abstract

The main question of this study is Christ's human nature: Which properties of His nature were or are "like sinful flesh," and which "sinless" or without sin, are the views of Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Ellen G. White? In what way does Luther, Calvin, and White connect Christ's humanity with His work of salvation?

The three do share some similarities with Christ's human nature with that of man's fallen nature, and agree that Christ's body was corruptible or mortal. Luther and White share similar views on the emotions that Christ experienced and also similarities of Christ's unlikeness to fallen man.

The study shows differences concerning Christ's human nature. For Luther, Christ had three presences: the physical body, the spiritual body, and the majestic body. For Calvin, Christ could not sin. White differs from the other two, in that, Christ's will was liable to yield to temptation. He could sin.

Luther, Calvin, and White, connect Christ's humanity with salvation. One of the conclusions of this study is the unique view of Luther, Calvin and White about Christ's humanity. To Luther, though Christ assumed genuine humanity, His body was spiritual and divine, which shows few similarities to fallen man. To Calvin, since Christ could not fall, it separated Christ's will from the will of all human beings. In White's view, Christ's humanity was genuine, and similar to fallen man and though He was sinless, He needed divine help not to sin.

Luther, Calvin, and White are similar in their general statements concerning Christ's human nature, "in the likeness of sinful flesh." To Luther, Christ assumed "sinful nature." Calvin also writes that Christ assumed "sinful" nature. White believes that Christ "took fallen humanity" or "sinful nature."