Christology

CHRISTOLOGY

2005

LESSON NINE

I. The Second Genus of the Communication of Attributes (con'd)

Genus Maiestaticum (con'd)

D. (m. of divine properties to the human nature (con'd)

5. Communicated Omnipresence (p. 166 et. seq.)

a. Reformed vehement in denial of this doctrine.

b. Reformed again guilty of theological suicide.

c. Scripture teaches communicated divine omnipresence.

(1) Eph 4:10: “to fill the whole universe” by His personal presence.

(a) Not just a governing operation.

(b) Not just with His gifts.

(2) Eph 1:20-23.

(a) There is predicated of His human nature omnipresence.

(b) Both in the Church and in the universe.

(3) “the right hand of God”.

(a) Must not be regarded as a sort of limited space.

(b) It is God’s omnipresent power and operation.

(4) Mt 28:20b: Must be referred to Christ, not without, but with His human nature (see Mt 28:18,19).

6. The Mode, or Manner, of Christ’s Omnipresence according to His Human Nature (p. 173 et. seq.)

a. Lutherans are accused of teaching a doctrine of “ubiquity”.

(1) Term originally used by Lutherans as a synonym of omnipresence.

(2) Reformed accused Lutherans of teaching ubiquity in the sense of a local omnipresence or infinite extension of His human nature.

(3) Lutheran Cyclopedia, p. 781.

b. Luther: “God is not such an extended, long, broad, thick, high, low Being…. A thing may be ever so small, God is still smaller, a thing may be ever so great, God is still greater….” (quoted, p.175)

c. Scripture states His human nature has at least three modes of subsistence.

d. First mode: the local, or circumscriptive, presence.

(1) Called the praesentia localis, or praesentia circumscriptiva.

(2) i.e. tangibly, when the space, and the body occupying it, fully coincide with each other.

(3) e.g. Lk 2:7.

(4) Yet, even this human reason cannot comprehend.

(a) Fullness of the Godhead dwelled in His human nature as in its body.

(b) Even in the state of humiliation.

e. Second mode: the illocal (definitiva) presence.

(1) Again, even in the state of humiliation.

(2) Jn 20:19.

(a) Calvin says He made an opening for Himself.

(b) Calvin denies that His body was “in the closed door”.

(3) Jn 8:59.

(4) Lk 4:28-30.

(5) “His body was not subject to the conditions and limitations of space and matter as are ours” even before His resurrection (Phillippi, quoted on p. 177)

(6) Lk 24:31.

(7) Is when a thing or body is not tangibly in a place and does not correspond to the space where it is, but can occupy now more space and now less.

(a) e.g. angels and spirits.

(b) They can occupy a whole house or only a nutshell.

(8) Reform object to this vehemently!

(9) Lk 24:37-39.

f. Third mode: the supernatural, divine mode of subsistence of His human nature.

(1) prasentia supernaturalis et divina.

(2) His human nature also subsists in the Person of the Son of God.

(3) Is taught in all the passages that call the Man Christ “God”. “Son of God”, “Lord of Glory”. etc.

(4) A totally different and much higher mode than is the local, or even the illocal.

(5) Since, according to this mode, His human nature fills all things (Eph 4:10).

(a) It is also called “the repletive mode of subsistence.”

(b) praesentia repletiva.

(6) This mode is “when something is simultaneously and entirely in all places and fills all places, and still is gauged by no place, or encompassed by no place, where it is” (Luther, quoted on p. 181)

(7) Ascribed to God alone.

(8) Jer 23:24.

(9) According to only this mode does His human nature share divine omnipresence.

(10) There is no expansion, or contraction of His human nature.

(11) A mystery!

(12) He is one inseparable Person with God.

(13) Where God is, there must He also be, or our faith is false.

7. The Communicated Omnipresence and the Lord’s Supper (p. 190 et. seq.)

a. Contrary to a Reformed myth, Luther did not fabricate doctrine of participation of His human nature in the divine omnipresence to uphold teaching of Real Presence in the Lord’s Supper.

b. Real Presence rests upon the words of institution.

c. Luther spoke extensively of the communicated divine omnipresence to respond to objections to Real Presence.

d. In the Sacraments, His body, though not locally present, is, nevertheless, present is such a way that it can be “apprehended”.

e. “Supernatural” mode can not be “apprehended” or “seized” by any man.

f. Called “the sacramental union” of elements with His body and blood which results from the words of institution.

g. Real Presence must not be deduced from other doctrines, specifically not the doctrine of Christ’s Person.

8. The Communicated Omnipresence in the States of Humiliation and Exaltation (p. 205 et. seq.)

a. Christ’s human nature came into possession of divine omnipresence in the moment of conception.

b. Col 2:9.

c. Jn 1:14.

d. In the state of humiliation, the Son of God is present to the universe and the church only in His human nature.

e. In the state of exaltation, He is present to the universe and the church also through His human nature, i.e. present in such a manner that all divine influences upon the universe and the church are exercised through the human nature.

f. Again, in state of humiliation, divine omnipresence was not exercised through the human nature as an all-ruling presence.

g. His human nature, in the state of humiliation, was at the same time on earth and in heaven – the personal union!

h. See Jn 3:13 fn

i. Jn 1:18.