Understanding the growth and development of Jesus is connected to two seminal doctrines of the Christian faith: the Holy Trinity, and the Incarnation of Christ.
The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity is the belief that God is One in essence, but exists and is expressed in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The Doctrine of Incarnation (root word 'carne' meaning flesh) expresses that Christ, God the Son, became a human being in every sense of the word, and in so doing, voluntarily limited himself, becoming dependent, as all humans are, on God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit.
He was empowered by the Holy Spirit (as we all can be!) Luke 4:18-19. He relied on the Father for guidance in all things (as we all should) John 5:19.
He never ceased to be divine, but chose a voluntary dependency, so that he might fully identify with all humanity. This process is referred to as the Kenosis of Christ (from the Greek word 'kenosis' which means to empty out, used in Philippians 2:7). Therefore, because of self-imposed limitations, Christ was able to experience human growth and development like all of us, becoming our example in all four areas of human growth and development.
The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity is the belief that God is One in essence, but exists and is expressed in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The Doctrine of Incarnation (root word 'carne' meaning flesh) expresses that Christ, God the Son, became a human being in every sense of the word, and in so doing, voluntarily limited himself, becoming dependent, as all humans are, on God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit.
He was empowered by the Holy Spirit (as we all can be!) Luke 4:18-19. He relied on the Father for guidance in all things (as we all should) John 5:19.
He never ceased to be divine, but chose a voluntary dependency, so that he might fully identify with all humanity. This process is referred to as the Kenosis of Christ (from the Greek word 'kenosis' which means to empty out, used in Philippians 2:7). Therefore, because of self-imposed limitations, Christ was able to experience human growth and development like all of us, becoming our example in all four areas of human growth and development.
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