For Us and for Our Salvation
Do you ever stop and wonder what it means for God to take on human flesh? Do you ever consider why the incarnation of Christ was necessary in the first place?
If you find yourself asking either of those questions, this Christmas season may be a good time for you to read through the Definition of Chalcedon (A.D. 451) in its entirety:
Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin; as regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but yet as regards his manhood begotten, for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the God-bearer; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and Only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the prophets from earliest times spoke of him, and our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the creed of the fathers has handed down to us.
The creeds and confessions of the church are not a substitute for Scripture, nor do they have authority over Scripture. But they do serve as helpful summaries of what faithful Christians have believed over the centuries, and they do help protect the church from certain doctrinal errors and distortions. We would be wise to pay them heed.
“What has not been assumed has not been healed.”
Regarding the incarnation, the church father, Gregory of Nazianzus, once said, “What has not been assumed has not been healed.” Chalcedon reminds us and affirms that Jesus was “complete in manhood” and that he was “like us in all respects, apart from sin” (cf. Hebrews 2:17; 4:15). As God the Son incarnate, he is completely qualified to be our all-sufficient High Priest and mediator. Furthermore, Chalcedon affirms that Jesus was begotten of Mary the Virgin for us and for our salvation.
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us so that we might be saved. He assumed the likeness of man, body and soul, that he might redeem man, body and soul. This is the glorious news of Christmas.
What sin had corrupted in full. Jesus came in flesh to redeem in full. What good news!
“So many are the Savior’s achievements that follow from His Incarnation, that to try to number them is like gazing at the open sea and trying to count the waves.”
Athanasius, the great defender of orthodox Christology, remarked, “So many are the Savior’s achievements that follow from His Incarnation, that to try to number them is like gazing at the open sea and trying to count the waves.”
So Be Merry
This Christmas, don’t forget to marvel at the birth of Christ—the great mystery of God becoming man. Be reminded once more that the Incarnate Word is the fleshly manifestation of God’s grace and generosity to us. It is good news of great joy for the world. Let your celebration reflect this reality.
Drink your eggnog, hot chocolate, and wine. Eat your prime rib, Christmas ham, and sugar cookies. Open your presents with joy. Laugh your socks off. Bless those around you. And then repeat. Enjoy all of it in God, and enjoy God in all of it.
Heaven truly has come to us. Gaze at the open sea, count some of the waves, praise the Giver, and have a Merry Christmas!