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The Baptist Catechism

Question 25

    How did Christ, being the Son of God become man?

    Christ the Son of God became man by taking to himself a true body,a and a reasonable soul;b being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her,c yet without sin.d

    1. aHebrews 2:14, 17; 10:5
    2. bMatthew 26:38
    3. cLuke 1:27, 31, 34-35, 42; Galatians 4:4
    4. dHebrews 4:15; 7:26
    Beddome's Scriptural Exposition 27 questions answered from Scripture

    1. Did Christ assume a body? Yes.

      “A body hast thou prepared me” Hebrews 10:5

    2. Was this a true human body? Yes.

      “For he was made in the likeness of men” Philippians 2:7

    3. Had it all the properties of a body like ours? Yes.

      “Handle me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have” Luke 24:39

    4. Was it liable to sinless infirmities? Yes.

      “He was hungry and weary” Matthew 4:2

    5. Was it capable of suffering? Yes.

      “He hath reconciled us in the body of his flesh through death” Colossians 1:21

    6. And was it requisite that he should assume such a body? Yes.

      “For in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren” Hebrews 2:17

    1. Had Christ a real human soul? Yes.

      “Thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin” Isaiah 53:10

    2. Was it a rational soul? Yes.

      “For he increased in wisdom” Luke 2:52

    3. And endowed with natural passions? Yes.

      “My soul is exceeding sorrowful” Matthew 24:38

    4. And capable of a separation from the body? Yes.

      “He poured out his soul unto death” Isaiah 3:12

    5. Was Christ’s human nature greatly abased? Yes.

      “I am a worm, and no man” Psalm 22:6

    6. And greatly exalted? Yes.

      “For in him dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead, bodily” Colossians 2:9

    1. Did Christ come into the world in an ordinary way? No.

      “For the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth” Jeremiah 31:22

    2. Was he conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost? Yes.

      “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee” Luke 1:35

    3. And born of a virgin? Yes.

      “Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a” Isaiah 7:14

    4. Had Christ a reputed father? Yes.

      “Is not this Joseph’s Son” Luke 4:22

    5. But was he no more than a reputed father? No.

      “For as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph (before they came together) she was found with child by the Holy Ghost” Matthew 1:18

    1. Was Christ born at the appointed time? Yes.

      “When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his” Galatians 4:4

    2. And at the appointed place? Yes.

      “To you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour” Luke 2:11

    3. And of the appointed stock? Yes.

      “For he took upon him the seed of Abraham” Hebrews 2:16

    4. Did the prophets foretell his birth? Yes.

      “As God spake by the mouth of his holy prophets” Luke 1:70

    5. And did the angels celebrate it? Yes.

      “There was a multitude of the heavenly host praising God” Luke 2:13

    1. Was Christ perfectly holy? Yes.

      “He was holy, harmless and undefiled” Hebrews 7:26

    2. Was he free from original corruption? Yes.

      “The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me” John 14:30

    3. And from actual sin? Yes.

      “He did no sin” 1 Peter 2:22

    4. Was it necessary that he should be so? Yes.

      “Such an High Priest became us” Hebrews 7:26

    5. Would his sufferings otherwise have been ineffectual? Yes.

      “For he must, through the eternal Spirit, offer himself without spot” Hebrews 9:14

    Benjamin Beddome (1717–1795), pastor at Bourton-on-the-Water. Verses from the King James Version.

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