Jesus Christ: Model Man of Faith, or Saving Son of God?

Abstract

In his article, The Hypostatic Union: How did Jesus Function? [EQ 65:4 (1993), 311–327], Roger Helland has focused helpfully on the humanity of Jesus. But in declaring that Jesus performed his mighty deeds as a man empowered by the Spirit and thereby functioned as a model of faith for believers, he has raised questions about the incarnation and Jesus’ role in relation to his people; thus Helland is led to a reduced Christology and a dubious spirituality focused on the emulation of Jesus. In response, it is argued that certain key aspects of Chalcedonian Christology provide a satisfactory explanation of the human and the divine inJesus by stressing the unity of the person. Furthermore, the doctrine of imago Dei and Christ’s atoning work suggest spirituality is based in forigiveness and reconciliation and the church’s mission is the proclamation of the victory of the gospel in the name of Jesus.