Okay I have waited long enough. It is my turn to blog also. Amanda has been telling me to get on here and write some and I do have a few written. I am just waiting for the right time to post them.
While working on Church History the last few days I have been reading the Church Father Athanasius. We have been reading the letter titled, "On the Incarnation." Not only is it awesome to read, it is based on the Gospel. I wish there were many more writers today that would work on a defense for the faith that was interwoven with the sacred thread of redemption. Here are a few quotes that pricked my heart.
"He (Christ) has been manifested in a human body for this reason only, out of the love and goodness of HIs Father for the salvation of us men." (60)
"From it we know that, because there is Mind behind the universe, it did not originate itself; because God is infinite, not finite, it was not made from pre-existent matter, but out of nothing and out of non-existence absolute and utter God brought it into being through the Word." (61)
"It was our sorry case that caused the word to come down, our transgression that called out His love for us, so that He made haste to help us and to appear among us." (62)
"The law of death, which followed from the Transgression, prevailed upon us, and from it there was no escape." (63)
"For this purpose, then, the incorporeal and incorruptible and immaterial Word of God entered our world. In one sense, indeed, He was not far from it before, for no part of creation had ever been without Him Who, while ever abiding in union with the Father, yet fills all things that are." (64)
"He assumed a body capable of death, in order that it, through belonging to the Word Who is above all, might become in dying a sufficient exchange for all, and, itself remaining incorruptible through His indwelling." (64)
"By the offering of His own body He abolished the death which they had incurred, and corrected their neglect by His own Teaching." (65)
"In order to effect this re-creation, however, He had first to do away with death and corruption, therefore He assumed a human body, in order that in it death might once for all be destroyed, and that men might be renewed according to the Image. the Image the Father only was sufficient for this need." (67)
"He deals with them as a good teacher with his pupils, coming down to their lever and using simple means." (68)
"Have no fears then. Now that the common Savior of all has died on our behalf, we who believe in Christ no longer died, as men died aforteime, in fulfillment of the threat of the law." (71)
"Even on the cross He did not hide Himself from sight; rather, he made all creation witness to the presence of its Maker. then, having once let it be seen that it was truly dead, He did not allow that temple of his body to linger long, but forthwith on the third day raised it up impassable and incorruptible, the pledge and token of His victory." (74)
This is just from the first half of the letter. How great must it have been to receive a 50 page letter. :-) Well that is all for now it is time to head to Lowe's.
While working on Church History the last few days I have been reading the Church Father Athanasius. We have been reading the letter titled, "On the Incarnation." Not only is it awesome to read, it is based on the Gospel. I wish there were many more writers today that would work on a defense for the faith that was interwoven with the sacred thread of redemption. Here are a few quotes that pricked my heart.
"He (Christ) has been manifested in a human body for this reason only, out of the love and goodness of HIs Father for the salvation of us men." (60)
"From it we know that, because there is Mind behind the universe, it did not originate itself; because God is infinite, not finite, it was not made from pre-existent matter, but out of nothing and out of non-existence absolute and utter God brought it into being through the Word." (61)
"It was our sorry case that caused the word to come down, our transgression that called out His love for us, so that He made haste to help us and to appear among us." (62)
"The law of death, which followed from the Transgression, prevailed upon us, and from it there was no escape." (63)
"For this purpose, then, the incorporeal and incorruptible and immaterial Word of God entered our world. In one sense, indeed, He was not far from it before, for no part of creation had ever been without Him Who, while ever abiding in union with the Father, yet fills all things that are." (64)
"He assumed a body capable of death, in order that it, through belonging to the Word Who is above all, might become in dying a sufficient exchange for all, and, itself remaining incorruptible through His indwelling." (64)
"By the offering of His own body He abolished the death which they had incurred, and corrected their neglect by His own Teaching." (65)
"In order to effect this re-creation, however, He had first to do away with death and corruption, therefore He assumed a human body, in order that in it death might once for all be destroyed, and that men might be renewed according to the Image. the Image the Father only was sufficient for this need." (67)
"He deals with them as a good teacher with his pupils, coming down to their lever and using simple means." (68)
"Have no fears then. Now that the common Savior of all has died on our behalf, we who believe in Christ no longer died, as men died aforteime, in fulfillment of the threat of the law." (71)
"Even on the cross He did not hide Himself from sight; rather, he made all creation witness to the presence of its Maker. then, having once let it be seen that it was truly dead, He did not allow that temple of his body to linger long, but forthwith on the third day raised it up impassable and incorruptible, the pledge and token of His victory." (74)
This is just from the first half of the letter. How great must it have been to receive a 50 page letter. :-) Well that is all for now it is time to head to Lowe's.
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