Introduction
Who is Jesus Christ? This question stands at the heart of Christianity and determines everything else about the faith. Christology—the study of Christ's person and nature—explores how Jesus can be both fully God and fully human, both historical figure and eternal Lord. Understanding Christ's identity properly affects our view of salvation, worship, ethics, and the nature of God himself.
The Book of Romans presents a rich portrait of Christ that encompasses his divine nature, human identity, and redemptive work. Paul doesn't offer abstract theological speculation but reveals Christ as the solution to humanity's deepest problems. Through Romans, we discover that Jesus is both the promised Messiah and the eternal Son of God, both representative human and divine Saviour.
Understanding Christ's person properly affects every dimension of Christian life and thought. It shapes our worship, determines our understanding of salvation, guides our ethical living, and provides the foundation for our hope. Paul's presentation of Christ in Romans challenges both low views that diminish his divinity and docetic views that deny his true humanity.
Biblical Foundation in Romans
Paul's understanding of Christ's person emerges throughout Romans, revealing the profound mystery of the incarnation and its significance for redemption.
Christ's Divine Nature
Romans opens with a powerful declaration of Christ's divine identity. Paul describes the gospel as concerning "his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 1:3-4). This passage establishes both Christ's humanity and divinity in careful balance.
The phrase "Son of God in power" indicates Christ's divine nature rather than merely his messianic office. Paul uses "appointed" not to suggest Christ became divine at his resurrection but that his divine sonship was publicly demonstrated through his victory over death. The resurrection serves as God's vindication of Christ's claims and proof of his divine identity.
Romans 9:5 provides an even more explicit declaration of Christ's divinity: "Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen." This doxological statement identifies Christ as "God over all," affirming his supreme divine status. The exclamation "Amen" emphasises the significance of this declaration.
The attribution of divine prerogatives to Christ throughout Romans further confirms his deity. Christ exercises divine judgement (Romans 2:16), receives worship and prayer (Romans 10:12-13), and accomplishes salvation that only God can provide. These functions presuppose divine nature rather than merely divine commissioning.
Christ's True Humanity
While affirming Christ's divinity, Romans also emphasises his genuine humanity. Paul describes Christ as "a descendant of David" according to the flesh (Romans 1:3), placing him firmly within human history and genealogy. This descendance from David fulfils Old Testament messianic promises while establishing Christ's real human nature.
Romans 8:3 provides crucial insight into the incarnation: "For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering." The phrase "likeness of sinful flesh" carefully balances Christ's true humanity with his sinlessness. He possessed genuine human nature while remaining free from sin's corruption.
This passage reveals the necessity of Christ's humanity for redemption. Because the law was "weakened by the flesh"—unable to provide salvation due to human sinfulness—God sent his Son in human nature to accomplish what the law could not. Christ's humanity enables him to serve as humanity's representative and substitute.
The reality of Christ's humanity also appears in Paul's discussion of his death. Romans 5:6-8 emphasises that "Christ died for the ungodly" and that "Christ died for us." These statements presuppose that Christ possessed genuine human nature capable of death, while also revealing that his death carried redemptive significance beyond ordinary human experience.
Christ as the Second Adam
Romans 5:12-21 presents one of Scripture's most important christological passages, contrasting Christ with Adam as representative heads of humanity. Paul explains that "just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin... so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous" (Romans 5:12, 19).
This Adam-Christ parallel reveals Christ's unique role as the second Adam who reverses the first Adam's failure. Where Adam brought condemnation through disobedience, Christ brings justification through obedience. Where Adam's sin resulted in death, Christ's righteousness produces life. This contrast shows that Christ functions not merely as an individual but as humanity's new representative head.
The effectiveness of Christ's representative work depends on both his humanity and his divinity. As human, he can legitimately represent other humans. As divine, his obedience carries infinite value sufficient to counteract Adam's disobedience and its consequences for all humanity. This dual nature makes possible the transfer of both guilt and righteousness that lies at the heart of justification.
Paul's emphasis that grace "increased all the more" where sin increased (Romans 5:20) reveals Christ's superiority over Adam. Christ's work not only undoes Adam's damage but exceeds it, bringing greater blessing than would have existed without the fall. This superabundance reflects Christ's divine nature and infinite merit.
Christ's Redemptive Work
Throughout Romans, Paul connects Christ's person to his redemptive work, showing that salvation depends on who Christ is as much as what he accomplished. Romans 3:24-26 describes redemption as coming "through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith."
The term "sacrifice of atonement" (hilasterion) indicates that Christ's death satisfied divine justice while providing mercy for sinners. This dual function requires both Christ's humanity (to die as a substitute) and his divinity (to bear infinite punishment and provide perfect righteousness). Only one who is both God and man could accomplish such redemption.
Romans 8:3-4 explains that God accomplished redemption "by sending his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us." This passage shows that Christ's incarnation was specifically for redemptive purposes, enabling him to bear sin's condemnation while fulfilling law's requirements.
The present work of the risen Christ also depends on his divine-human nature. Romans 8:34 declares that "Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." This intercession requires both humanity (to sympathise with human weakness) and divinity (to access God's presence and guarantee effectiveness).
Practical Implications
Paul's teaching about Christ's person in Romans carries profound implications for Christian life and ministry.
Worship and Devotion
Understanding Christ's divine nature provides the foundation for authentic Christian worship. Because Christ is truly God, he deserves the same honour, praise, and obedience due to the Father. Romans 10:12-13 encourages believers to "call on the name of the Lord," applying Old Testament language about Yahweh directly to Christ.
Christ's humanity makes this worship accessible and meaningful. Because he shares human nature, believers can relate to Christ personally while recognising his divine majesty. This balance prevents both casual familiarity and fearful distance in Christian devotion.
Assurance of Salvation
Christ's dual nature provides complete assurance of salvation's effectiveness. His humanity ensures that he truly represents other humans, while his divinity guarantees that his sacrifice carries infinite value. Romans 8:32 asks, "He who did not spare his Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"
The resurrection demonstrates both Christ's victory over death and God's acceptance of his sacrifice. Because the divine Son conquered death, believers can be confident that death has no ultimate power over those united to Christ.
Christian Living and Ethics
Christ's example as the perfect human provides a pattern for Christian living. Romans 15:3 notes that "even Christ did not please himself," encouraging believers to follow his example of self-sacrifice and service to others.
Understanding Christ's humanity also provides comfort in suffering and temptation. Because he experienced genuine human life, including suffering and testing, he can sympathise with human struggles while providing strength for endurance.
Evangelism and Apologetics
Christ's unique nature as God-man provides the foundation for the gospel's universal relevance and effectiveness. Because he is divine, his salvation extends to all peoples and cultures. Because he is human, he can represent all humanity regardless of ethnic or social background.
The historical reality of Christ's humanity provides an objective foundation for faith that transcends subjective religious experience. The incarnation grounds Christianity in history while revealing eternal truth.
Pastoral Ministry
Understanding Christ's nature shapes pastoral care and counselling. His divine nature provides unlimited resources for addressing human problems, while his humanity ensures understanding and compassion for human struggles.
The balance of Christ's divine and human natures also provides a model for ministry that combines transcendent authority with incarnational accessibility.
Conclusion
Paul's teaching about Christ's person in Romans provides essential foundations for Christian faith and practice. Through his exploration of Christ's divine nature, true humanity, and redemptive work, Paul reveals the profound mystery of the incarnation that makes salvation possible.
Understanding Christ's person properly affects every aspect of Christian life, from worship and assurance to ethics and evangelism. Paul's portrait challenges us to recognise Christ as both the eternal Son of God and the perfect human who represents us before the Father. As we respond to this revelation, we discover that knowing Christ truly leads not merely to intellectual understanding but to transforming relationship with the one who is both our God and our brother, our Judge and our Saviour.
