Right, two natures in perfect harmony (not exactly a new "Adam" who was only one nature in one person, none of which was divine). But, you will tell me that my Church teaches that Christ was "New Adam." I know. I don't see it that way. I guess I am un-orthodox Orthodox, Leo Tolstoy's style.
The devil doubted that Christ was a perfect God and a perfect man in one Person. If he believed it, he would not have tried to tempt Him.
The temptation was for Christ to use His own Deity and not to depend on the Father (make stones into bread-no mere man could do that)...As for Christ's baptism, that had to do with the offical beginning of His earthly ministry, hence the Holy Spirit and the Father were both present
The Holy Trinity is eternally one in essence and inseparably Father-Son-Holy Spirit. There was never a "time" when the Word was not with the Father, or the Holy Spirit with them. Christ's "own" divinity is not "His" own; there is only one divinity, one nature that is divine.
The Gospel was written without a clear understanding or revelation of the Holy Trinity (thus the refrences to HS descending on Christ at Baptism and "leading" Him intot he desert), just as the Apostles did not fully believe or understand Christ's mission or, for that matter, who He really was, from the beginning.
That gradually changed in time.
Christ was a Second Adam in the sense that he was perfect man as well as God.
The devil doubted that Christ was a perfect God and a perfect man in one Person. If he believed it, he would not have tried to tempt Him.
No, Christ had free will and could have rejected the Cross.(Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou will-Mat.26:39)
He was tempted in all ways that we are, but without sin.(Heb.4:15)
The temptation was for Christ to use His own Deity and not to depend on the Father (make stones into bread-no mere man could do that)...As for Christ's baptism, that had to do with the offical beginning of His earthly ministry, hence the Holy Spirit and the Father were both present
The Holy Trinity is eternally one in essence and inseparably Father-Son-Holy Spirit. There was never a "time" when the Word was not with the Father, or the Holy Spirit with them. Christ's "own" divinity is not "His" own; there is only one divinity, one nature that is divine.
True, the Second Person of the Trinity was never separated from the Father and Holy Ghost, being in heaven with them as well as on earth in the flesh on earth (Jn.3:13)
Thus, we have the 'mystery of Godliness' (1Tim.3:16)
The Gospel was written without a clear understanding or revelation of the Holy Trinity (thus the refrences to HS descending on Christ at Baptism and "leading" Him intot he desert), just as the Apostles did not fully believe or understand Christ's mission or, for that matter, who He really was, from the beginning. That gradually changed in time.
The revelation of the Trinity was totally accurate, even if the there was not a complete understanding at the time of what the Trinity was.
That was a mystery revealed to the church (Col.2:9).