Don Stewart :: Can God Become a Human Being?

Can God Become a Human Being?

The Personal Attributes of God – Question 24

Though it is not possible for humans to become God what about the possibility of God becoming a human being? Can God become human? The answer is, “Yes.” Not only can the invisible God become a human being, He did exactly this in the Person of Jesus Christ. We can summarize what happened as follows.

1. The Cry of Job: God, Become a Human!

Over three thousand years ago there lived a man named Job who was experience a great deal of suffering. Job did not think that God understood his pain. Job cried out for a mediator between God and humanity. He said,

“God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial. If only there were a mediator who could bring us together, but there is none.” (Job 9:32, 33 NLT)

Job wanted God to become a human; someone who could understand both God and humanity.

2. Job’s Wish Was Fulfilled in Jesus Christ

Job’s desire was for God to become a human being. He assumed that God would then personally experience the suffering, and limitation which humankind endures. Then He would understand what we are enduring.

This desire expressed by Job was fulfilled. The New Testament records that some two thousand years ago the eternal God became a human in the Person of Jesus Christ.

It is important to understand that when Jesus became a human He did not quit being God, and God did not change into a human. The Gospel according to John testifies,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...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. (John 1:1, 14 KJV)

The New Living Translation reads,

So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. (John 1:14 NLT)

Jesus Christ, the eternal God, became a human being at a certain time in history. He had been God for all eternity but He added something to His Person that He had never had before; a human nature.

3. He Became Human on Our Behalf

Jesus did indeed suffer the limitation and humiliation of becoming a human being on our behalf. Paul wrote of this to the Philippians.

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form... (Philippians 2:5-7 NRSV)

When Jesus became a human He took upon Himself the form of a slave or servant. In other words, there was self-limitation which He exercised.

Jesus’ coming to earth was for the purpose of revealing God to humanity, and to be that mediator that Job desired.

The Apostle Paul records how Jesus is that go-between between us and God. He wrote the following to Timothy.

There is one God. There is also one mediator between God and humans—a human, Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5 God’s Word)

It was for us that Jesus Christ became human.

4. He Became a Human to Save Humanity from Their Sins

God did indeed answer Job’s cry. For a short period of time God the Son limited Himself to a body in order to save all of humankind. Because He became like one of us, He is able to personally identify with the suffering and pain that we ourselves experience.

The writer to the Hebrews stated it in this manner.

For since He Himself was tested and has suffered, He is able to help those who are tested. (Hebrews 2:18 HCSB)

The Bible teaches that the living God made the supreme sacrifice on our behalf. The Creator became like one of His creation for the purpose of making right the relationship that humankind had broken. This is the “good news” or the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Summary – Question 24
Can God Become a Human Being?

Human beings cannot become God. The Bible makes this clear. However, it is possible that God can become a human being.

This was the desire of the patriarch Job. He wanted God to become a human so that He could understand the sort of things which we have to endure in this life. Job wanted a go-between; someone who was fully God as well as fully human.

Job’s cry was answered. The New Testament informs us that some two thousand years ago God the Son left heaven’s glory to come to earth. He did this to live as one of us as well as to die for the sins of the world.

This cleared the way for humans to be saved from their sins. He made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of humanity in order to restore the broken relationship between the Creator and the created.

In addition, we are told that Jesus personally understands what we are experiencing because He has experienced these things Himself. Therefore, when we talk to Him about our problems He understands because He has suffered the limitation as well as the humiliation of becoming a human being. He has done all of this for us.