了解基督的道成肉身，不违背上帝的不变和单纯

了解基督的道成肉身，不违背上帝的不变和单纯

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Understanding God's Immutability and Simplicity
   • The Assiety of God
   • God's Eternality and Self-Existence
   • God's Immutable Nature
3. The Incarnation of Christ
   • The Concept of Incarnation
   • God in Human Form
   • The Nature of Jesus Christ
   • The Purpose of the Incarnation
4. The Unchanged Nature of God
   • The I Am That I Am
   • God's Attributes in the Life of Jesus
   • The Deity of Jesus
5. Pros and Cons
6. Conclusion

Understanding the Incarnation of Christ without Compromising God's Immutability or Simplicity

In traditional Orthodox Christianity, two fundamental characteristics of God have been maintained - His immutability, meaning that He does not undergo any change, and His simplicity, meaning that He is not composed of any parts but is one pure, self-existent being. However, the question arises: How do we understand the incarnation of Christ without compromising on these attributes of God?

To begin with, let's explore the concept of God's self-existence, often referred to as the assiety of God. God's self-existence means that He cannot change because He is eternally who He is. Unlike everything God creates, which is subject to becoming and undergoing life processes, God remains unchanging. Unfortunately, some theological perspectives have emerged over the last few decades that suggest that God is in the process of becoming, implying that He doesn't know everything until it happens and is subject to gaining knowledge through experiences. The intention behind this idea is to disassociate God from the negative aspects of the universe. However, the truth remains that God is not becoming. His nature is eternally "I Am That I Am."

While our experience of life is characterized by continuous change and becoming, this is not true of God. He can manifest Himself in various forms without altering His nature. In the Old Testament, God appeared as a flame of fire, a whirlwind, and even as the angel of the Lord. Ultimately, God manifested Himself in human flesh as Jesus Christ. However, this manifestation in human form did not change, advance, or alter His nature in any way.

The author of Hebrews emphasizes that God spoke in His son, Jesus, who is the exact representation of His nature in human form. This manifestation was crucial for two reasons. Firstly, so that Jesus, as a man, could die for humanity, and secondly, so that Jesus, as a man, could live a righteous life that we could observe and understand. While comprehending the attributes of God in His invisible reality may be challenging, seeing these attributes demonstrated in the visible life of Jesus makes it much clearer. Jesus exemplified love, kindness, mercy, tenderness, and righteousness, allowing us to grasp a tangible understanding of God's nature.

It is crucial to note that the incarnation of Christ had nothing to do with altering God's nature. Even as Jesus, He had complete knowledge of humanity and could read minds. The fullness of deity dwelled in Him, and He could call upon legions of angels if desired. Therefore, the incarnation was not a modification, subtraction, amendment, or relocation of God's nature. It was a incarnation to serve as a substitute for humanity and to reveal the character of God in a way that we could comprehend.

To summarize, the incarnation of Christ does not compromise God's immutability or simplicity. God remains eternally unchanging as the I Am. The attributes of God are fully manifested in the life of Jesus, allowing us to witness and understand His nature. The deity of Jesus is undiminished, and His purpose in taking human form was to offer Himself as a sacrifice and demonstrate the essence of God to humanity.

Pros:

• The incarnation of Christ helps us relate to God on a human level.
• Through the incarnation, we can see the attributes of God demonstrated in a tangible way.
• Jesus exemplifies the love, kindness, and righteousness that God desires for humanity.

Cons:

• The concept of divine incarnation may be challenging for some individuals to comprehend.

Highlights:

• The incarnation of Christ does not compromise God's immutability or simplicity.
• God's self-existence means He cannot change, and His nature is "I Am That I Am."
• Jesus is the exact representation of God's nature in human form.
• The incarnation allows Jesus to die for humanity and demonstrate a righteous life.
• The deity of Jesus remains unchanged, and He has complete knowledge of humanity.

FAQ:

Q: Does the incarnation of Christ mean that God changed or became something new? A: No, the incarnation does not alter God's nature. God remains unchanging and eternally "I Am That I Am." The incarnation was a manifestation of God in human form without any modifications to His nature.

Q: Why did God choose to become incarnate in Jesus? A: The incarnation served two purposes. Firstly, Jesus, as a man, could die for humanity to offer salvation. Secondly, Jesus, as a man, could demonstrate the attributes and character of God in a tangible way that we could comprehend.

Resources:

• Assiety of God
• Hebrews 1