The Mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus the Christ #

The Word of God (JESUS) took flesh to offer Himself as our Sacrifice and Salvation.

“God, who in many and various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…” (Hebrews 1:1-3).

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory” (1Timothy 3:16).

“For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9).

“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4-5).

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (St. John 1:14).

“…being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).

Thus, what was written by the Prophet Micah was fulfilled that the Eternal God would take flesh and suffer at the hands of His own people Whom He redeemed with His blood: “They shall smite the tribes of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. And thou, Bethlehem, house of Ephratha, art few in number to be reckoned among the thousands of Juda; yet out of thee shall one come forth to me, to be a ruler of Israel; and his goings forth were from the beginning, even from eternity” (Micah 5:1-2, Septuagint).

This faith in the Mystery of the Incarnation and Salvation is clearly articulated in the Holy Confession before the Communion. While raising the paten with the holy Body, the Bishop or Priest declares on behalf of each one of the faithful, saying to the Father:

“…I believe, I believe, I believe and confess to the last breath that this is the life-giving Flesh that Your only-begotten Son, our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ took from our Lady, the Lady of us all, the holy Mother of God, Saint Mary. He made It one with His Divinity without mingling, without confusion, and without alteration…He gave It up for us upon the holy wood of the Cross, of His own will, for us all. Truly I believe that His Divinity parted not from His humanity for a single moment, nor a twinkling of an eye; given for us for salvation, remission of sins, and eternal life to those who partake of Him.”

Except through this Orthodox Tewahedo faith in the “One Incarnate nature of the Divine Logos”, there was no other way by which we could have been granted our salvation and inheritance as children of God.