The Lord # 34
34. 5. The complete union of the divine nature and the human nature in him was effected by the suffering on the cross, which was his last trial.
Support for this proposition was provided above, in the chapter explaining that the Lord came into the world to subdue the hells and to glorify his human nature, and that the suffering on the cross was the last battle, by which he gained complete victory over the hells and completely glorified his human nature. Since, then, by suffering on the cross the Lord completely glorified his human nature-that is, united it to the divine nature-and thereby made his human nature divine as well, it follows that he is Jehovah and God in respect to both natures.
[2] That is why in so many passages in the Word Jehovah, God, or the Holy One of Israel is called the Redeemer, the Savior, or the Maker, as in the following:
Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God, my Savior.” (Luke 1:46-47)
The angel said to the shepherds, “Behold, I am bringing you good news, a great joy, which will be for all people. There is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)
They said, “This is truly the Savior of the world, the Christ.” (John 4:42)
I, Jehovah God, am helping you; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 41:14)
Thus says Jehovah, who is your Creator, O Jacob, and your Maker, O Israel: “I have redeemed you. I am Jehovah your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (Isaiah 43:1, 3)
Thus says Jehovah your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, “I am Jehovah, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.” (Isaiah 43:14-15)
Thus says Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, and Israel’s Maker. (Isaiah 45:11)
Thus says Jehovah your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 48:17)
... so that all flesh may know that I, Jehovah, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. (Isaiah 49:26)
Then he will come to Zion as the Redeemer. (Isaiah 59:20)
... so that you may know that I, Jehovah, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Powerful One of Jacob. (Isaiah 60:16)
Jehovah, the one who formed you from the womb. (Isaiah 49:5)
... Jehovah, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalms 19:14)
They remembered that God was their Rock, and God on High their Redeemer. (Psalms 78:35)
Thus says Jehovah your Maker, and the one who formed you from the womb. (Isaiah 44:2)
As for our Redeemer, Jehovah Sabaoth is his name, the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 47:4)
“With everlasting compassion I will have mercy on you, ” says Jehovah, your Redeemer. (Isaiah 54:8)
Their Redeemer is strong; Jehovah is his name. (Jeremiah 50:34)
Let Israel hope in Jehovah, because with Jehovah there is mercy; with him there is abundant redemption. He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities. (Psalms 130:7-8)
Jehovah God is my rock, my fortress, the horn of my salvation, my Savior. (2 Samuel 22:2-3)
Thus says Jehovah, the Redeemer of Israel, Israel’s Holy One: “Monarchs will see and abide, because of Jehovah, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.” (Isaiah 49:7)
God is only among you, and there is no other God. Surely you are a hidden God, O God of Israel, the Savior. (Isaiah 45:14-15)
Thus says Jehovah the King of Israel, and Israel’s Redeemer, Jehovah Sabaoth: “There is no God other than me.” (Isaiah 44:6)
I am Jehovah, and there is no Savior other than me. (Isaiah 43:11)
Am I not Jehovah? And there is no [God] other than me; and there is no Savior other than me. (Isaiah 45:21)
I am Jehovah your God. You are to acknowledge no God other than me; there is no Savior other than me. (Hosea 13:4)
Am I not Jehovah? And there is no God other than me. I am a just God, and there is no Savior other than me. Look to me so that you may be saved, all you ends of the earth, because I am God and there is no other. (Isaiah 45:21-22)
Jehovah Sabaoth is his name, and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. He will be called the God of the whole earth. (Isaiah 54:5)
[3] We can see from these passages that the Lord’s divine nature called “the Father” (and here called “Jehovah” and “God”) and his divine human nature called “the Son” (and here “the Redeemer” and “the Savior” as well as “the Maker, ” meaning the Reformer and Regenerator) are one, not two, for it not only says “Jehovah is God” and “the Holy One of Israel is the Redeemer and Savior, ” it also says “Jehovah is the Redeemer and Savior.” Not only that, it even calls Jehovah “the Savior” and says, “there is no Savior other than me.” This clearly shows that the divine nature and the human nature in the Lord are one person and that the human nature is divine as well, since the Redeemer and Savior of the world is no other than the Lord in his divine human nature, which is called “the Son.” Redemption and salvation are properly credited to his human nature, and are called “merit and righteousness, ” since his human nature bore the trials and the suffering on the cross, which means that he accomplished redemption and salvation by means of his human nature.
[4] Since, then, after the union of his human nature with his inner divine nature, which was like that of soul and body in us, they were no longer two but were one person (according to the teaching of the Christian world), the Lord was Jehovah and God in both respects. This is why some passages speak of “Jehovah” and “the Holy One of Israel the Redeemer and Savior, ” but others say “Jehovah is the Redeemer and Savior, ” as you can see from the citations above.
For Christ being called the Savior, see Luke 2:10-11 and John 4:42. On God and the God of Israel being the Savior and Redeemer, see Luke 1:47; Isaiah 45:14; 54:5; Psalms 78:35. On Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel being the Savior and Redeemer, see Isaiah 41:14; 43:3, 11, 14-15; 48:17; 49:7; 54:5. On Jehovah being the Savior, Redeemer, and Maker, see Isaiah 44:6; 47:4; 49:26; 54:8; 63:8; Jeremiah 50:34; Psalms 19:14; 130:7-8. On Jehovah God being the Redeemer and Savior, “and there is no Savior other than me, ” see Isaiah 43:11; 44:6; 45:14, 18, 21-22; Hosea 13:4.
Isaiah 10
1
Woe to them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;
2
To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!
3
And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?
4
Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
5
O Assyrian, the rod of my anger, and the staff in their hand is my indignation.
6
I will send him against a hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
7
Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.
8
For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings?
9
Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?
10
As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images excelled them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;
11
Shall I not, as I have done to Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?
12
Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.
13
For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man:
14
And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.
15
Shall the ax boast itself against him that heweth with it? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that moveth it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it, or as if the staff should lift itself, as if it were no wood.
16
Therefore will the Lord, the LORD of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he will kindle a burning like the burning of a fire.
17
And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in One day;
18
And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standard-bearer fainteth.
19
And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.
20
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as have escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again lean upon him that smote them; but shall lean upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.
21
The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.
22
For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.
23
For the Lord GOD of hosts will make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.
24
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.
25
For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and my anger in their destruction.
26
And the LORD of hosts will raise up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt.
27
And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.
28
He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his furniture.
29
They have gone over the passage: they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul hath fled.
30
Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim: cause it to be heard to Laish, O poor Anathoth.
31
Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee.
32
As yet shall he remain at Nob that day: he shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.
33
Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts will lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.
34
And he shall cut down the thickets of the forests with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.
