Judy wrote concerning the word "likeness": > That word is used in other places besides Romans 8:3 > and it always means the same thing ie "likeness" > It never means "exactly the same as"
There are not that many passages that use the word, so it is difficult to argue about the range of meaning it cannot have based upon a negative consideration such as "it never means..." We should be focusing on what it does mean, not what it never means based upon only a few examples. I have always agreed that Jesus is unique and so I am not trying to make him not unique. The question remains, however, whether his uniqueness was primarily his spirit or his physical body. I argue that his uniqueness stems from his spirit, his identity as the Son of God. The word "likeness" in Romans 8:3 is used, not to convey that Jesus had an imitation body or a counterfeit human flesh, but rather to point to the similarity or likeness of his body to sinful flesh. It was the sameness of his physical body to sinful flesh that makes Paul's point about how he condemned sin in the flesh. For some reason, you do not want to hear what the Bible is teaching in Romans 8:3. You dismiss the passage without considering its message. Judy wrote: > I believe our fundamental difference is in the way > we view sin. I don't believe it is a "physical flesh" > problem to start with; the body just follows along > it follows orders unless one is paraplegic or something > like that.. This probably does highlight a major reason we have difficulty seeing this the same way. My biological understanding enables me to understand how sin is a flesh problem, and the revelation of Scripture confirms my understanding of the physical body's contribution to sinful behavior. I would like to get into this a little more, perhaps, but if you cannot see the range of possible meanings in Romans 8:3, then further discussion along these lines is impossible. If you cannot see that Romans 8:3 is speaking about the likeness of the body of Jesus to sinful flesh, but instead you see the flesh of Jesus as being unlike sinful flesh, there is little motivation for me to say anything else. The passage very clearly speaks of Christ's being sent in the likeness of sinful flesh, but you keep seeing that his flesh was unlike sinful flesh. Judy wrote: > You will need to describe for me what you mean > when you say "a body of sinful flesh" I would love to, Judy, but first we need to agree with Romans 8:3. Why should I go on to interpret for you what I understand about this body of sinful flesh if you do not acknowledge that Romans 8:3 speaks about the similarity of Christ's flesh to sinful human flesh? Sure, let's talk about how it is similar, but objections will surely be raised if we do not first agree that it was indeed similar, based upon the authority of this passage. David Miller wrote: >> Do you agree with me, based upon the Phil. 2:7 passage >> and your acknowledgement that Jesus was truly a man >> that Roman 8:3 might be understood to mean that Jesus >> had sinful flesh? Judy wrote: > That would mean He had two natures That's right. He had a human nature and a God nature. He was both Son of Man and Son of God. Two natures. Judy wrote: > - I believe he came in the "likeness" of man and that He layed > aside some aspects of divinity which meant that he had physical > limitations but he was always "holy" He was Emmanual or God > with us. I agree. Judy wrote: > To me it is ludicrous to even imply that God and sin are > compatible except in fallen humanity. I agree. This is the point, that Jesus shared in fallen humanity. This is the mystery of godliness spoken of in 1 Timothy 3:16. The point is that God and sin are not compatible, and that is how Jesus conquered sin for us. By coming in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh that we might arise with him in newness of life. Peace be with you. David Miller. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
