The Kenosis of Christ 
It’s popular today to say that Jesus
in the Incarnation was fully man, but certainly not fully God. In discussing
the doctrine of the Incarnation (God the Son in human flesh), Philippians
2:7 says that Jesus “emptied himself.” Does this mean that
Jesus was not 100 percent God as well as 100 percent man?
While historic Christianity has always affirmed that Jesus Christ was
both fully God and fully man, some have argued that in order for Jesus
to have been truly human He must have divested Himself of certain divine
attributes. In fact, those who affirm this very novel view nearly always
appeal to Philippians 2:5-7. Which, by the way, says, “Have this
attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although
He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing
to be grasped, but he emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant,
and being made in the likeness of men.” The words “emptied
Himself” are interpreted by a growing number of people today to
mean that Christ actually laid aside certain divine attributes. But
is this correct? Well as a matter of fact, it’s not.
To say that Jesus surrendered even one divine attribute is to say that
Jesus is less than God, and therefore not God at all! See, if God is
deprived of even one attribute, then He is not fully deity. Of course
references to his deity abound in Scripture (John 1:1; 20:28; Rom. 9:5;
Col. 2:9; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 1:8). And by the way, this is not only affirmed
by the Bible, it’s clearly affirmed by the creeds.
Of course the question is asked: If Jesus didn't give up His deity,
then what did Christ empty Himself of? Well the context indicates very
clearly that Jesus veiled His glory as a sign of his humility. He voluntarily
makes Himself of no reputation. He sets aside His high position and
waves His divine prerogatives because He loves us. But while Christ
surrenders His divine glory, he does not surrender His divine attributes.
Christ is 100 percent God as well as 100 percent man.
