Reasons for Christ’s coming to us

This lecture comes within the celebration of the Glorious Nativity Feast, in which His Holiness Pope Shenouda III reflects on the reasons for the coming of the Lord Christ into the world, explaining that redemption and salvation were the primary purpose, but not the only one.
Christ also came to teach people sound doctrine and to introduce them to God with a true knowledge, not merely a formal or nominal one.

His Holiness explains that the human being, due to his limited nature, cannot fully comprehend the unlimited God, whether in this life or even in eternity, because the knowledge of God continuously grows without being exhausted.
The Lord Christ began to present a new understanding of God, foremost that God is love, and that drawing near to God is not through rituals and formalities alone, but through a genuine relationship of love.

Christ then presented God as the Heavenly Father, who loves His children and cares for them, not merely as a fearful God as many had perceived Him.
He also revealed God as the Good Shepherd, who cares for His flock, seeks the lost, restores the wounded, and provides tender guidance.

He further taught them that God is Holy, possessing absolute and intrinsic holiness, and that awareness of God’s holiness calls the human being to a life of purity and spiritual struggle, since sin is rebellion against the Holy God.
He also clarified that God is the Truth and absolute Justice, and that departing from truth is departing from God, and that true love never contradicts truth or justifies injustice.

His Holiness affirms that knowing God leads to loving Him, and loving God leads to deeper knowledge of Him, in a spiritual relationship that grows continuously.
He concludes by calling believers to make God the desire of their hearts, to love righteousness and practice it out of love rather than fear, and to pray for peace in the world and for the good of all nations and peoples.

For better translation support, please contact the center.