The Incarnation
The Hypostatic Union
Two Natures in One Person
Description
In the incarnation, the divine and human natures were united in one person without confusion, change, division, or separation (the Chalcedonian Definition). Christ did not cease to be God when He became man; He did not have a human person added to His divine person. Rather, the eternal Son assumed human nature into personal union with Himself. He is one person with two complete natures—fully God and fully man. Each nature retains its own properties: as God He is omniscient, as man He grew in wisdom; as God He cannot die, as man He suffered death. This union is permanent—Christ remains the God-man forever.
Key Verses
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.