Nature and Will (Unity of the Will and Unity of Action)

The Main Idea of the Lecture

This lecture discusses the concept of the unity of will and the unity of action in the Lord Christ, explaining that Christ, being one with the Father in essence and nature, has a will that is not separate from the will of the Father. The complete union between the divinity and the humanity in the person of Christ makes His will always in agreement with the divine will without any conflict.

Unity of Will between the Son and the Father

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that the lack of agreement with the will of God is considered sin, because sin is when a person acts according to his own will apart from the will of God. But Christ was without sin, therefore His will was always the same as the will of the Father. Although Christ has a will according to His humanity and a will according to His divinity, the two are perfectly united so that they become one will.

Unity of Action Resulting from the Unity of Will

Since action is the result of will, the unity of will also leads to unity of action. Therefore, everything Christ did was according to the will of the Father. Christ declared this in His sayings when He said that His food is to do the will of the Father, and that He does nothing from Himself but what He sees the Father doing.

The Example of the Saints in the Union of Will with God

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III points out that the saints also may have their will united with the will of God when they live in holiness, to the extent that they have the mind of Christ. However, this union in the saints may be exposed to weakness because of human nature, but Christ was without weakness and without sin.

Unity of Will in the Work of Redemption

The unity of will appears clearly in the work of the Cross, as it was the will of God for the salvation of humanity that Christ would be crucified, and this was also the will of Christ Himself. He offered Himself by His complete will and was not forced to the cross, but laid down Himself willingly for the salvation of the world, declaring that He has authority to lay down His life and authority to take it again.

The Spiritual Message

This faith truth teaches us that spiritual perfection is in the union of the human will with the will of God. The more the will of a person agrees with the will of God, the closer he becomes to the life of holiness and to the mind of Christ.

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