The Incarnation and Redemption Part 2

1. Purpose of the Incarnation and Redemption

His Holiness explains that the primary purpose of the Incarnation was redemption, as stated in (1 Timothy 2:6) and (Ephesians 1:7): Christ gave Himself as a ransom for all to grant forgiveness of sins. Through His death on the cross, He paid the price of sin and purchased humanity with His blood, as in (Revelation 5:9): “For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood.”

2. Atonement and Purification

Christ on the cross was Redeemer, Atonement, Forgiver, and Purifier of sins. His Blood alone is the true purifier; “We believe in only one purifier—the Blood of Christ.” Any other notion of purification undermines the value of His atonement and redemption.
As (1 John 1:7) says: “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” True repentance and confession transfer the sin from man’s account to Christ’s, who erases it by His blood.

3. The Blood of Christ and Forgiveness

Forgiveness occurs when sin is placed upon Christ, who atones for it with His blood. Christ died instead of man, paid the price, and purchased the guilty soul. Thus it is said: “They washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14).

4. Complete Redemption and Salvation

Through His death, Christ offered complete salvation—He “is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him” (Hebrews 7:25). Therefore, no purification beyond the cross is needed, for He redeemed humanity fully from all sins—original, actual, past, and present.

5. The Human Response to Salvation

Salvation is not automatic; it requires faith, repentance, baptism, and obedience.

• “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16).

• “Repent and be baptized… for the forgiveness of sins” (Acts 2:38).

• “He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9).
  Faith unites the believer with Christ’s death and resurrection through baptism and life according to the Spirit, not the flesh.

6. Christ the Only Mediator and Intercessor

Christ is the one Mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5) because He paid the price Himself. This is the propitiatory intercession, different from the intercession of saints, which is only supplicatory. On the cross, Christ declared: “Father, forgive them,” revealing that the debt was paid and the door of forgiveness opened for humanity.

7. Christ’s Victory over Satan and Death

Through redemption, Satan was judged and stripped of his power, as in (Hebrews 2:14): “That through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Christ liberated humanity from bondage to death and granted them eternal life: “That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

8. Salvation and Resurrection

Christ did not abolish physical death but removed its eternal power, turning it into a passage to life. “He saved us and abolished death and brought life and immortality to light” (2 Timothy 1:10). Through His death and resurrection, Christ opened the way of complete salvation and freed humanity from eternal destruction.