Humankind faced its impending destruction in death, as a consequence of sin. Out of love, God did not see it right that those who had once shared His image should be destroyed.
What, then, was God to do? What else could he possibly do, being God, but renew His image in humankind, so that through it, men might once more come to know Him? And how could this be done save by the coming of the very image himself, our savior Jesus Christ?
In order to effect this re-creation, however, He had first to do away with death and corruption. Therefore, he became a human being without losing His Divine nature, in order that in his body death might once for all be destroyed, and humankind be renewed according to the Image.
Jesus, by what seems his utter poverty and weakness on the cross, overturns the pomp and parade of idols, and quietly and hiddenly wins over the mockers and unbelievers to recognize him as God.
He alone, being Word of the Father and above all, was both able to recreate all, and worthy to suffer on behalf of all and to be an ambassador of all with he Father.
Taken from excerpts from On The Incarnation by St. Athanasius
Posted by Carlos J. Medina
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