Incarnation of the Word St Mark Coptic Orthodox

Incarnation of the Word St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church Saint Paul’s Servant Preparation Program January 11, 2004 • Charlotte, NC

Incarnation of the Word (Logos) Why? 1. Propitiation -- Redemption • When God created Adam, He gave him the gift • • of free will (Adam was created in the image of God and according to His likeness in Gen. 1: 26, 2: 16). The wage of sin is death (Gen. 2: 16, Rom. 6: 23). The judgment of death is for all (Rom. 5: 12). Incarnation of the Logos • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC 2

God's Plan for Incarnation • Adam and his sons were: § To die • • • § Against God's perfect love and His perfect forgiveness. Against God's perfect wisdom and honor. Against God’s goodness and kindness To live • • Against the justice of God. Against the faithfulness o God Incarnation of the Logos • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC 3

Redemption and Propitiation Solving the problem through redemption and propitiation: The characteristics needed in that redeemer: 1. He must be a human being because man is the one who sinned (no angel, nor animal nor a righteous man. Why? ). 2. He must die to fulfill God's justice. 3. He must be infinite, as Adam sinned against the infinite God (infinite punishment) 4. He must be without sin. The only possible redeemer must be God in human flesh. Incarnation of the Logos • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC 4

Incarnation Why? 2. The human nature was corrupted by sin. 3. Teaching us § His words § Himself as a perfect example 4. The union with God Incarnation of the Logos • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC 5

Understanding Incarnation of God 1. Union without Mingling, without Confusion and without Alteration or Transmutation § Each of the Divine and Human natures kept and preserved all their characteristics in one nature of God incarnate. 2. The example of Union of Iron and Fire § St. Cyril the great used this analogy. § If iron is ignited with fire, we do not say that there are two natures but there is a new nature of iron united with fire. § Each of the iron and fire continue to retain all their properties. Incarnation of the Logos • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC 6

Understanding Incarnation of God 1. The example of the Union between the Soul and the Body. § All the acts of Christ are attributed to Him as a whole and not to His Divine nature alone nor to His Human nature alone 2. The example of the scientist who invents e. g. The radio, the television. Incarnation of the Logos • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC 7

The Son (Christ) in The Old Testament 1. Appearances • • • Speaking, walking e. g. Adam and Eve (Gen. 3: 8, 9) Appears with two angels to Abraham (Gen. 18: 10) Appears to Moses in the burning bush (Gen. 2) • • Gen. 3: 15 Deut. 18: 15 Is. 7: 14, 9: 6, 7 Dan. 7: 13, 14 • Adam, Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph. 2. Prophecies 3. Types Incarnation of the Logos • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC 8

The Son (Christ) in the Old Testament 4. Symbols • • • The Tree of Life in Gen. 2: 9 Tunics of skin a symbol of the sacrifice in Gen. 3: 21 Melchizedech in Gen. 14: 18 The burning bush Ex. 3: 3 The Passover Lamb Ex. 12 The Rock in the wilderness 1 Cor. 10: 4 The pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire. The tabernacle of testimony The sacrifices in the book of Leviticus. Incarnation of the Logos • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC 9

The Logos, God Incarnate (Jesus Christ) in the New Testament • • • Jn. 1: 1, 3, 34 Jn. 5: 18 Jn. 8: 58 Jn. 10: 9, 30 Jn. 14: 9, 10. 11 Incarnation of the Logos • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC 10

Incarnation of the Word St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church Saint Paul’s Servant Preparation Program January 11, 2004 • Charlotte, NC