The hypostatic union is a doctrinal or theological term that refers to the nature of the person of Jesus Christ as being fully God and fully man at the same time.

When it comes to the hypostatic union of Jesus Christ, it is often taught or understood from a tenet perspective, meaning that it is a belief that we hold to as Christians regarding the nature of Christ. What is often not taught is how this truth can impact our walk with God in our daily life. How does knowing that Jesus is both fully God, and fully man impact our relationship with God and our walk with Christ?

The Bible answers this question over and over again, but too often we miss the answer because we just aren’t looking for it. For example, in the book of Hebrews the deity of Jesus Christ is a point of emphasis in the opening chapter, but after this, the humanity of Christ is expounded upon for much of the next 9 chapters. 

In chapter 1 the writer of Hebrews says concerning Jesus, in the beginning thou hast laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands. Then in the second chapter, Jesus is the man who accomplishes what God ordained for man as the one with the dominion over the works of God’s hands. When I consider this, my mind tends to go to the text where Jesus says, I am I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.

Jesus is both the one whose hands created all things, and the one who (as man) has dominion over the works of his hands. Let that sink in.

But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. ~ Hebrews 2:6-9

The phrase, But we see Jesus, is the beginning of an expository teaching on the mediatorial ministry of Christ in his humanity that will span across the next 9 or so chapters of the book of Hebrews. In the opening chapter of Hebrews the superiority of Jesus to the angels is established and they worship him. This is who Jesus is in God’s Heavenly Kingdom. He is the one by whom God made the worlds. He is the Son of God and the express image of the Father. Jesus’s deity is well established and he is far superior to the angels.

As we read into chapter 2 we see this same Jesus humbling himself and taking a place lower than the very angels that he is superior to: What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels…

If we could just park there for a few moments and soak it in, what beautiful truths concerning our Savior’s love and grace could fill our hearts? The creator lowered himself and took on humanity which is a little lower than the angels for the purpose of suffering death for us so that he could bring us back to God. In this lowering of himself to save us, he rejoices to call us his brethren.

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren... ~ Hebrews 2:10-11

Now, stop and ponder that truth for a moment. Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters, and embraces us as such no matter how unworthy we may think we are. This is the beauty of the hypostatic union of Christ at work in real time in each of our lives – right now! Through his Spirit he is near to everyone of us who trust in him, no matter how messed up we may be. He is not ashamed to call us his brethren If Jesus had not taken on humanity by lowering himself he could not have suffered and tasted death for any of us.

In the person of Jesus Christ we have the full revelation of the majesty, character, and nature of our God. We also have the perfect man as our example to follow. Without Jesus, we would have never seen God or know him, and without Jesus we would have never have hope of becoming the people God desires us to be.

The hypostatic union of Jesus Christ is so much more than a mere tenet of our faith (a statement of what we believe to be true). It is fellowship with God himself on a human level that even the angels desire to look into. Let that soak in.

Blessings…