Question: Just what is meant by the expression, “The Person of Christ?” We see it in many articles, but the scriptural meaning is not always clear.
Answer: First, I will insert the dictionary definitions of the word person. 1. A living human being, especially as distinguished from an animal or thing. 2. The composite of characteristics that make up an individual personality. 3. An individual of some specified character. 4. The living body of a human being. There are several others which clearly do not apply in this case and No.’s 1 and 4 do not closely apply as pertains to this discussion No. 1 not at all. But we will note No. 8 as appears in the dictionary. In theology: the separate individualities of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as distinguished from the Godhead that unites them.
The term “Person of Christ” appears only one time in the Holy Scriptures. In II Corinthians 2:10 Paul said, “To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ.” The margin here says, “In the sight of Christ.” The Amplified Bible says, “In the presence (and with the approval) of Christ.” Phillip’s Translation says, “As before Christ.” Another translation says, “By the authority of Christ.” Forgiveness is one of those characteristics which make up the individual personality of Christ, and God be praised that it is. In our forgiving of another, we do so in the presence of Christ by His approval and instruction, by His authority and grace, in conformity with His doctrine and in keeping with His example which is full of mercy and kindness toward the penitent. Let us never forget this and in all our dealings and relations with our fellow men remember that we are in the presence of Christ. We are to act under His authority, by His approval, conform to His doctrine, and follow His example. This is said in this case to be done “In the person of Christ.”
While the expression itself only appears one time in Scripture, its equivalent is widespread throughout the New Testament and is a major element in our relationship with Christ. In II Corinthians 5:20 Paul says, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” In other words, Paul and every other God-called, God-sent minister of the gospel is a representative of Christ doing business for Him as an ambassador, in His name, and by His authority and commission in the person of Christ.
All true saints live their lives in all of their aspects in the person of Christ. We are all representatives of Him to manifest His glory and likeness to the world. Paul said in II Corinthians 3:2-3, “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us,…” Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of our Lord Jesus,…” This text covers every phase and area of the life, and it is all to be done in His name, under His supervision, by His authority and grace, and in keeping with His example in the person of Christ.
In Mark 16:18, “They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” All the work of God in all its phases is to be done in His name, as His representative, in His stead, under His authority, commission, and power. In other words, in the person of Christ.
Although Christ was a human being among men in the likeness of man and in the form of a servant; yet He possessed within Him the full composite of divine characteristics that made up a personality that set Him apart from all other men. This was His real person. Saints are to conform closely to that pattern of divine characteristics which made Him what He was. And as we do this we manifest the person of Christ. Christ was “…the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person,…” (Hebrews 1:3.) This text refers to the relationship between Christ and His Father. Christ manifested the complete image or likeness of his Father. Colossians 1:15 declared Him to be the image of the invisible God. Jesus said in John 14:9, “…he that hath seen me hath seen the Father;…” All that God was in His divine attributes, Jesus revealed and manifested to mankind in His life. This is said to be the “Express image of His person. In other words, Jesus lived and acted in the person of God. Jesus never departed from this at any time, but He said, “…The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do:…” In all His doings and teachings He was acting in compliance with His Father’s will and under His direct authority, power, and commission.
Now the saints maintain this same relationship with Christ. II Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Romans 8:29 says, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son,…” We are to become the image of His Person and reflect His glory and manifest His characteristics to the world. Paul said in II Corinthians 4:10, “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” In Philippians 1:20 he says again, “…Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death.” Let us realize that nothing unlike Christ is ever going to get into heaven. He is the model, and we must conform to His likeness if we have this hope in us. Just as Christ’s relationship with His Father was declared to be the express image of His person (in the Person of God); so our relationship with Christ is declared to be the image of His Person in the Person of Christ.
Of course, the Person of Christ as He is distinguished from the Father and the Holy Spirit is glorious in His own right if no one loves and serves Him and manifests His likeness to the world. To describe His glory and majesty would defy all human wisdom and rhetoric. Glimpses of His glory, majesty, power and strength are given in Revelation 19:11-16, Revelation 1:13-16, Matthew 17:1-8, Timothy 6:14-16 and other texts.
