Post by synergy on Dec 24, 2022 18:38:26 GMT -8
On this Joyous Christmas Eve, we celebrate the union of the Divine and the human in the birth of Christ - for Christ, the Son of God, is born!
Since man rendered himself unable to ascend to God, God has descended to man, healing, restoring, and elevating human nature by assuming human nature unto Himself. God is not detached or indifferent, remaining aloof in the heavens while we suffer and die. God as a parent rather takes the initiative, steps down, and assumes the nature of His wayward child. Christ took on fallen human nature, not in assuming sin or sinfulness, but in accepting life lived under the conditions of the fall. Christ experiences not only the physical consequences of weariness and bodily pain but also loneliness and alienation. The Son of God fully assumes man's nature for the ultimate goal of raising up man to participation in Himself, "in Christ" in other words.
This union of humanity and deity within Christ was the start of man's Atonement. Further to this, concerning Atonement, was Christ's Crucifixion, Resurrection, and His Ascension into the Holy of Holies. In an unfallen world, the Incarnation alone would have been enough to join the Divine and human natures, but the reality of evil, sin, and death required a further sacrifice on the part of Christ. Christ could not just participate in the fullness of human life but also had to participate in the fullness of human death if man was ever to be redeemed. God's deifying participation in the human experience had to be carried out to its fullest extent. Through the Cross He atoned for our sins and through His Resurrection He crushed hades and defanged death. Entering the Holy of Holies, He bore human nature into the very abode of His Father which precipitated Pentecost, the indwelling of the God the Holy Spirit in man for whosoever believes "in Christ".
On this Joyous Christmas Eve, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all a Merry Christmas to you, to your families, to your loved ones, and to everyone everywhere.
Emmanuel!!!!
Since man rendered himself unable to ascend to God, God has descended to man, healing, restoring, and elevating human nature by assuming human nature unto Himself. God is not detached or indifferent, remaining aloof in the heavens while we suffer and die. God as a parent rather takes the initiative, steps down, and assumes the nature of His wayward child. Christ took on fallen human nature, not in assuming sin or sinfulness, but in accepting life lived under the conditions of the fall. Christ experiences not only the physical consequences of weariness and bodily pain but also loneliness and alienation. The Son of God fully assumes man's nature for the ultimate goal of raising up man to participation in Himself, "in Christ" in other words.
This union of humanity and deity within Christ was the start of man's Atonement. Further to this, concerning Atonement, was Christ's Crucifixion, Resurrection, and His Ascension into the Holy of Holies. In an unfallen world, the Incarnation alone would have been enough to join the Divine and human natures, but the reality of evil, sin, and death required a further sacrifice on the part of Christ. Christ could not just participate in the fullness of human life but also had to participate in the fullness of human death if man was ever to be redeemed. God's deifying participation in the human experience had to be carried out to its fullest extent. Through the Cross He atoned for our sins and through His Resurrection He crushed hades and defanged death. Entering the Holy of Holies, He bore human nature into the very abode of His Father which precipitated Pentecost, the indwelling of the God the Holy Spirit in man for whosoever believes "in Christ".
On this Joyous Christmas Eve, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all a Merry Christmas to you, to your families, to your loved ones, and to everyone everywhere.
Emmanuel!!!!
