The Incarnation of Christ 1)I ntroduction 2) What is the real need for the Incarnation? 3) How did the Incarnation happen? 4) What is the meaning of Incarnation? 5) What are the blessings of the Incarnation?

1) Introduction In Christianity the Doctrine of Incarnation is: In Christianity the Doctrine of Incarnation is: + A Cornerstone - Without Incarnation there is no Christianity + Redeeming - Salvation from Adam’s death - God’s Mercy vs. Justice + Uniting - God is united with Man

2) The need for Incarnation? God Forgiveness vs. Incarnation: The punishment: “for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” Genesis 2:17 The punishment: “for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” Genesis 2:17 The result: human “nature” is corrupted eternally and forgiving the disobedience “action” is not enough to satisfy God’s Justice. The result: human “nature” is corrupted eternally and forgiving the disobedience “action” is not enough to satisfy God’s Justice. The solution: God, to satisfy His Mercy, had to unite with the human flesh and carry the death penalty. The solution: God, to satisfy His Mercy, had to unite with the human flesh and carry the death penalty.

3. How did the Incarnation happen? 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 became Man The birth of Christ occurred in 3 steps: 1)Divine: from the Holy Spirit and Virgin Mary forming “God Incarnate”. 2)Human: God Incarnate grew in St. Mary’s womb. 3)Divine: Baby Jesus (God Incarnate) was born preserving St. Mary’s virginity then and forever. “ 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” Ezekiel 44:2

4. Meaning of Incarnation? God humbled Himself and took the same flesh as ours and manifested Himself in flesh as a Man. “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh” 1Timothy 3:16 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” John 1:14

4. Meaning of Incarnation? “Cont’d” God Incarnate has two natures in one without change of God’s divinity. “He (God) made It (Christ’s Body) One with His divinity without mingling, confusion and alteration” (Liturgy)

4. Meaning of Incarnation? “Cont’d” God Incarnate (our Lord Jesus Christ) appeared as a True Man and a True God in one Person when He was in the flesh. Man: He was born in Bethlehem, Matthew 2:1 God: Before Abraham was, I AM, John 8:58 Man: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost”, Luke 19:10 God: “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God”, John 20:31

The Blessings of Incarnation Revealed God’s love to Man; John 3:16 Revealed God’s love to Man; John 3:16 Was the first step for Man’s redemption; John 3:17 Was the first step for Man’s redemption; John 3:17 Renewed the corrupted nature of Man; 1Cor 15:53 Renewed the corrupted nature of Man; 1Cor 15:53 Gave the man the knowledge about God; John 1:18 Gave the man the knowledge about God; John 1:18 Presented to man the high example for human perfection; John 8:46 Presented to man the high example for human perfection; John 8:46