Incarnational Ministry
October 18, 2006
Thanks, Phil, for passing on those comments about the incarnation and impassibility, and Derek for those excellent quotes. Too often, impassibility is taken to mean that God feels nothing -- those quotes were quite the antidote.
In support of Phil's comments, it strikes me that when the writer of Hebrews speaks of God "feeling our pain" it is in light of the incarnation and not in terms of his eternal divine state: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Heb. 4:15).
However, even when we categorize divine acts in terms of either revelation or redemption, we should always remember that redemption reveals.
In support of Phil's comments, it strikes me that when the writer of Hebrews speaks of God "feeling our pain" it is in light of the incarnation and not in terms of his eternal divine state: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Heb. 4:15).
However, even when we categorize divine acts in terms of either revelation or redemption, we should always remember that redemption reveals.
