The Incarnation and the Redemption Part 1
Holiness Pope Shenouda explains the reality of the Incarnation and the Atonement, clarifying that sin in essence is disobedience to God and an offense against His love, and that human wrongful acts have multiple spiritual and worldly consequences.
The nature of sin and its consequences
He explains that sin is not merely a wrong act but a transgression against God and a diminishment of the image of God in man, leading to a comprehensive death: an ethical (literary) death (loss of God’s image), a spiritual death (separation of the soul from God), physical death, and the possibility of eternal perdition. He points out that the world became under the rule of sin and death since Adam’s fall.
Reasons for humanity’s fall
He mentions three dimensions in Adam’s sin: insufficient love for God, lack of trust and faith in God’s word, and the desire to be like or to rival God (pride). These elements show that sin was a departure from a relationship of trust and love with the Creator.
The necessity of redemption and divine wisdom
He clarifies that God’s justice requires execution of the judgment of death for sin, while God’s love prevents Him from leaving man to perish. Therefore, the divine solution appears: because sin’s responsibility is limitless, no limited creature can pay its price, so it was necessary that God unite with a human nature capable of death to accomplish the unlimited atonement.
The Incarnation and assumption of humanity
He distinguishes between incarnation (taking a body) and becoming fully human (having body, soul, and spirit). The Word of God incarnated and became human, taking a full human nature in order to bear the judgment of death for man and accomplish the total and unlimited redemption.
The mystery of redemption and the mechanism of atonement
He explains the principle of redemption: an unblamed person bears the sin of another, dies for them and pays the price with blood. In the Old Covenant this was represented by innocent sacrifices upon which people’s sins were placed and which died on their behalf. Christ is the innocent sacrifice who bore all the sins of the world and died for them, thus becoming the Redeemer, Savior, Reconciler, and Purifier by His blood.
Results of Christ’s death
By His death He annulled the verdict of death against us, erased the certificate that was against us, and established reconciliation between God and humanity, enabling people to become righteous and live the divine life. He also became an intercessor and propitiation and the one mediator between God and humans concerning salvation and eternal life.
