DG5_CR4_We Believe in DG5_CR4_We Believe in The Lord Jesus ChristThe Lord Jesus Christ

Dogma for Pr-Servants

February 19, 2011

a) Divinity of Christa) Divinity of Christ

b) The Doctrine of Incarnationb) The Doctrine of Incarnation

The CreedThe Creed

CR1 & 2: We believe in One God, God the Father who created CR1 & 2: We believe in One God, God the Father who created heaven and earth:heaven and earth:

God (CR1)God (CR1) Trinity (CR2)Trinity (CR2)

CR3: We believe in One Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of CR3: We believe in One Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, Begotten of the Father before all ages, Light of Light, God, Begotten of the Father before all ages, Light of Light, True God of True God, Begotten not made, One essence with True God of True God, Begotten not made, One essence with the Father :the Father :

Divinity of ChristDivinity of Christ

CR4: Who for us all and for our salvation came down from heaven CR4: Who for us all and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnated of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary and was incarnated of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary and became Man.and became Man.

Incarnation of ChristIncarnation of Christ

The Incarnation of ChristThe Incarnation of Christ

1)1) IntroductionIntroduction

2) What is the real need for the 2) What is the real need for the Incarnation?Incarnation?

3) How did the Incarnation happen?3) How did the Incarnation happen?

4) What is the meaning of Incarnation?4) What is the meaning of Incarnation?

5) What are the blessings of the 5) What are the blessings of the Incarnation?Incarnation?

1) Introduction1) Introduction• In Christianity the Doctrine of Incarnation is: In Christianity the Doctrine of Incarnation is:

+ A Cornerstone+ A Cornerstone- Without Incarnation there is no Christianity Without Incarnation there is no Christianity

+ Redeeming+ Redeeming- Salvation from Adam’s death Salvation from Adam’s death - God’s Mercy vs. JusticeGod’s Mercy vs. Justice

+ Uniting+ Uniting- God is united with ManGod is united with Man

• Questions:Questions: Why was the incarnation necessary?Why was the incarnation necessary? What does it mean that God became man?What does it mean that God became man? How has this been understood throughout the scriptures?How has this been understood throughout the scriptures?

Tim Haile 5

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

WHAT THE SCRIPTURES SAY:

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name ‘Emmanuel,’ which being interpreted is, God with us.” Isaiah 7:14 (Matthew 1:23)“And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” 1 Timothy 3:16Jesus reflected and revealed the Father’s glory “No one

has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” (John 1:18)

2) The need for Incarnation?2) The need for Incarnation?

God’s Forgiveness vs. Incarnation:God’s Forgiveness vs. Incarnation: • The punishmentThe punishment: “for in the day that you eat of it : “for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” Genesis 2:17you shall surely die” Genesis 2:17

• The resultThe result: human “: human “nature”nature” is corrupted eternally is corrupted eternally and forgiving the disobedience and forgiving the disobedience “action” “action” is not enough is not enough to satisfy God’s to satisfy God’s JusticeJustice..

• The solutionThe solution: God, to satisfy His : God, to satisfy His MercyMercy, had to , had to unite with the human flesh and carry the death unite with the human flesh and carry the death penalty.penalty.

3. How did the Incarnation happen?3. How did the Incarnation happen?

The Creed: The Creed: WhoWho for us all and for our salvation came down from for us all and for our salvation came down from heaven and was heaven and was incarnatedincarnated of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin MaryMary and and became Manbecame Man

John 1:14: John 1:14: “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” =>=> “Hypostatic union of the two natures of Christ”“Many people have sought to be God, but only one God has sought to be

man.”

“Many people have sought to be God, but only one God has sought to be

man.”Luke 1:34-35: Luke 1:34-35: “Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I do not

know a man?’ The angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God’.” =>=> “Theanthropos God-man”

The birth of Christ occurred in 3 steps:The birth of Christ occurred in 3 steps:

1)1)DivineDivine: from the Holy Spirit and Virgin Mary forming “God : from the Holy Spirit and Virgin Mary forming “God Incarnate”.Incarnate”.

2)2)HumanHuman: God Incarnate grew in St. Mary’s womb.: God Incarnate grew in St. Mary’s womb.

3)3)DivineDivine: Baby Jesus (God Incarnate) was born preserving St. : Baby Jesus (God Incarnate) was born preserving St. Mary’s virginity then and forever.Mary’s virginity then and forever.““This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter by it This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter by it because the Lord God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut” because the Lord God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut” Ezekiel 44:2Ezekiel 44:2

Why was Christ born of a virgin?Why was Christ born of a virgin? To fulfill the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14.To fulfill the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14.

To point to the uniqueness of Christ.To point to the uniqueness of Christ.

To substantiate his deity.To substantiate his deity.

To substantiate his humanity.To substantiate his humanity.

So that he would not have inherited sin.So that he would not have inherited sin.

So that he might be the “Second Adam,” So that he might be the “Second Adam,” undoing the failures of the first Adam.undoing the failures of the first Adam.

4. Meaning of Incarnation

Key terms:Key terms:Incarnation

The biblical understanding that Christ took on a human nature

IncarnationThe biblical understanding that Christ took on a human nature

Hypostatic UnionThe theological description of the union of the two natures of Christ

Hypostatic UnionThe theological description of the union of the two natures of Christ

TheanthroposTheological name of Christ

affirming that he is the “God-man”

TheanthroposTheological name of Christ

affirming that he is the “God-man”

Key TermsKey TermsIncarnation: • God humbled Himself and took the God humbled Himself and took the same flesh as ours and manifested same flesh as ours and manifested Himself in flesh as a Man.Himself in flesh as a Man.

““And without controversy great is the And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: mystery of godliness: God was manifested God was manifested in the fleshin the flesh” 1Timothy 3:16” 1Timothy 3:16

““And And the Word became fleshthe Word became flesh and dwelt and dwelt among us” John 1:14among us” John 1:14

Key Terms “Cont’d”Key Terms “Cont’d”

Hypostatic Union:

• God Incarnate has two natures in one God Incarnate has two natures in one without change of God’s divinity.without change of God’s divinity.

““He (God) made It (Christ’s Body) One He (God) made It (Christ’s Body) One with His divinity without mingling, confusion with His divinity without mingling, confusion and alteration” (Liturgy)and alteration” (Liturgy)

Key Terms “Cont’d”Key Terms “Cont’d”Theanthropos: • God Incarnate (our Lord Jesus Christ) God Incarnate (our Lord Jesus Christ) appeared as a appeared as a True Man and a and a True God in in one Personone Person when He was in the flesh. when He was in the flesh.

Man: He was He was born in Bethlehemborn in Bethlehem, Matthew 2:1, Matthew 2:1God: Before Abraham wasBefore Abraham was, I AM, I AM, John 8:58 , John 8:58

Man: “For the “For the Son of ManSon of Man has come to seek and has come to seek and to save that which was lost”, Luke 19:10to save that which was lost”, Luke 19:10God: “but these are written that you may believe “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of GodSon of God”, John ”, John 20:31 20:31

The Blessings of IncarnationThe Blessings of Incarnation• Revealed God’s love to Man; John 3:16Revealed God’s love to Man; John 3:16

• Was the first step for Man’s redemption; Was the first step for Man’s redemption; John 3:17John 3:17

• Renewed the corrupted nature of Man; 1Cor Renewed the corrupted nature of Man; 1Cor 15:5315:53

• Gave the man the knowledge about God; Gave the man the knowledge about God; John 1:18John 1:18

• Presented to man the high example for Presented to man the high example for human perfection; John 8:46human perfection; John 8:46