Athanasius's On The Incarnation Of The Word

In the book Rediscovering the Power of Repentance and Forgiveness, Dr. Leah Coulter seeks to challenge the conventional Christian approach to forgiveness. Conventional Christianity approaches forgiveness as a Christian duty, and, in many ways, this has been unfair to the victims who have almost been condemned for seeking justice rather than simply forgetting. She asks, "From an all too common Christian view, why must the weight and responsibility of forgiveness be placed on the sinned-against instead of the sinner's repentance?" (Coulter). Therefore, she focuses extensively on the idea of repentance and the duty of the sinner to repent. However, that is not to suggest that Coulter abandons the idea that forgiveness is a Christian imperative, but she attempts to place it within its Jewish context, and demonstrate how other facets of historical Judaism inform the practice of forgiveness and repentance.

In the first discourse we learn about the excellence and singularity of the sacred mystery of the incarnation. The author states that the most important lesson that we are taught in the school of wisdom and salvation it the hole mystery of Incarnation. This mystery is so powerful that it exceeds even the highest thought of men

This paper will address God, Humanity, Jesus, Restoration, Analysis and Reflection. The debate, research, questions, and conclusions of the existence of God has been happening for thousands of years. Great minds have pondered Him and His Word, the Bible. There have been different opinions and worldviews about God, His Son Jesus Christ and Heaven. Not everyone agrees on any particular view. Humanity has never been the same since the Fall in the Garden of Eden. Some love, some hate. Others are kind, others kill. Jesus was sent to restore mankind’s relationship with God. To be the perfect sacrificial lamb in order for humankind to be saved and spend eternity in Heaven with God. The only way to achieve peace in the

While numerous teachings Jesus conveyed were challenging, many people believe his call for forgiveness to be extremely difficult to practice. It is not easy to pardon, or even love someone who has betrayed us. These sins people commit against can leave behind scars, and it can take a long time in order for our pain to be healed (Saint Mary’s Bible,1456). Moreover, when we have been wronged, it might be tempting to seek revenge against on the person who has done us wrong, to make him or her hurt as we have been. Additionally, if we do not seek vengeance, we might hold onto feelings directed against that person and well into the future. After we have been wounded in a specific way it is difficult to let our guard down and be vulnerable again

As Christians, it is important to look into the history of the church to examine what the forefathers of the faith have been through in order to bring the Christian religion to where it is today. It is also important to see how the faith has developed over time and how doctrine was written and rewritten. One of the figures that have had an impact on the modern day Christian tradition is Athanasius.

After a Christian had sinned that person had the opportunity to be redeemed for their sin. Redemption is actually very clear and easy to define. When a Christian sinned and wanted God's forgiveness they had to go before God, by praying to him, and ask him to cleanse them and forgive them of their sin. When God hears the person asking for forgiveness, God will answer their cry to him and cleanse them. When God cleanses a person it is almost like the sin was never committed in the first place. When God sent his son Jesus into the world he told Jesus that he would

Jesus as teacher tells us to be good, follow him, and live ethical lives. In this model, Jesus is saving us from our own ignorance because we do not know right from wrong. He wants us to change our uncaring behavior by him educating and inspiring each of us through his teachings and examples of love and knowledge. Jesus is the bridge between us and God that covers ignorance and apathy. By him covering that, we change and learn, we live the ethical lives he wants us to live, and we teach and share with our fellow Christians.

The incarnation and atonement of Jesus Christ are the enduring elements of the Christian theology. Many theologians have spent their time discussing and developing these Christian doctrines on how they came about, and how relevant they might be. According to Anselm, incarnation is a central doctrine of Christianity, followed by atonement. In order to ponder on the relationship between atonement and incarnation focusing on Anselm’s idea of satisfaction, we are supposed to look at the meanings of atonement, as well as incarnation. However, the doctrines of incarnation and atonement are interrelated as elucidated by many theologians.

II. Main Point 2. God tells us in 1 John 1: 9“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” And again in 2 Corinthians 5:17“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.”

When exploring the concept of ‘God the Son’, the incarnation and attributes of God as seen in Christ enter the picture. In order for human sin to be covered, a human sacrifice is all that could meet the requirement ordained by God, yet, they had to be sinless. Only the incarnate God could fulfill this role, exhibiting qualities of God Himself, such as selflessness, unconditional love, and purity. Another core trait was humbleness, although Jesus held the highest status in all the world, which shone brightly in His ministry, as He also served the children of God. Paul captured the essence of Jesus as God and the reality of the incarnation in these verses, “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God…made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:5-7, NKJV).

However, the concept incarnation is at work in the New Testament. The Greek equivalent of incarnate is found in scripture. The Greek equivalent of incarnate is in carne (en sarki) meaning that God came in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 4:2; 2 John 7). Jesus took on the form of man so that he might bridge the gap between human creation and His father. God sent Jesus as a child to a lost and dying world. Jesus came to us as human. He did not lay down his divinity and pick up humanity. He came to us as both divine and human. Through this act God was revealed in a personal way to humankind, and therefore in a way which is more adequate for a personal God to interact with his creation. God now was an advocate to his people. He no longer had to communicate his words through prophets, lawgivers, or even wise men. It allowed God to be united with humanity, so that he might be able to bear their sins, and make atonement for them in one act of sacrifice and reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19 – 21). What humanity itself could not do was done in human beings by the Son of God (Romans 5:8) .

The world was gripped by the tale of forgiveness, Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross and his subsequent resurrection, as it was written and asserted. Through his first supernatural miracles and preaching, Christ had created a young religious congregation, but after his death Christ’s disciples and followers dedicated themselves to spreading the Word of God and the religion to the far corners of the world. Mass conversions took place with ordinary citizens in awe at the declared majesty of God, as well as the thought of a better life beyond the squalor of ancient

Fortunately, God alters his ideology over time.  After destroying the world with a flood in the story of Noah, God realizes He has made a mistake, and accepts that no one is flawless.  “I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.” (28).    God’s promise never to flood the world again has much meaning to it, and displays a change in God’s nature.  From a very early age, when one commits a wrong doing he promises never to do repeat the mistake again.  By making this oath, one acknowledges the fact that he is at fault.  Admitting to a wrongdoing by pledging never do the same again is simply human nature.  Since God is the creator of mankind, He is the one who originally sets the base for human nature.  Therefore, His actions can be decoded similarly to the actions of humans.  After destroying the world with a flood, God regrets it, and admits His wrong doing by vowing never to destroy the world again.  The flood incident allows God to realize that even a divine figure can make a bad decision, and to accept the fact that humans have flaws.  The Lord is not longer so strict

Once we recognize God’s true love for us and see the need of looking to Christ to change our hearts rather than trying to do it on our own, we see our need of repentance, which involves a change of direction, turning our back on previous intentions and actions, and seeking new direction in life. Instead of making excuses, blaming circumstances or others, repentance means taking full responsibility. King David, after committing murder and adultery appealed to Christ: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalms 51:10). He accepted his guilt and asked for a new direction – from Christ.

This paper will provide an understanding the theories of theology of the history of the church, the celebration of the atonement; Jesus Christ being the vicarious substitutionary lamb slain for the sins of mankind.