Coptic Orthodox Church Doctrine for Pre-servants
DG8_CR5_The Doctrine of Divine Redemption
Goal: Christ’s redemption is the only means of man’s salvation from the original sin.
Introduction:
- God created the man after He prepared everything in the world for him. Man’s creation was different from other creatures as he was the only creature in which God breathed in him the breath of life, Genesis 2:7 and was created in God’s image, Genesis 1:26.
- Man failed in obeying God’s command, therefore he lost the holy nature in which he was created and passed on him God’s judgment of death, Genesis 2:17. The death was physical, spiritual and eternal but God promised that man’s Seed shall bruise the serpent, Genesis 3:15.
- God’s mercy prevented Him from leaving the man to die and God could not forgive the man because it is contradicting to His justice. The only solution to redeem the man is by finding someone who is related to man but unlimited, holy without sin and accepts the penalty death by his own will. The only one who satisfies these requirements as redeemer is God Himself.
- God has sent His Only Begotten Son to be incarnated and carry the death penalty in His flesh that He took from St. Mary the Virgin.
How did God pave the way for us to accept the Divine Redemption?
1. Prophecies: His price was 30 pieces of silver and piercing Jesus (Zechariah 11:12, 12:10), the accurate incidents of the cross, death and resurrection (Psalms 22, 31:5, 3:5).
2. Personalities of the Old Testament: Noah, Melchsadek, Isaac, Joseph, Joshua, and Jonah.
3. Symbols: copper serpent, the Passover lamb.
4. Sacrifices: burnt, flour, sin, peace.
The Steps of Redemption
A) State of Humiliation:
During that state, Christ laid aside the divine glory and majesty, and assumed human nature in the form of a servant; that He, the supreme Lawgiver, became subject to the demands of the law, Matthew 3:15, Galatians 3:13, 4:4, and Philippians 2:6-8.
This state of humiliation is manifested in several stages:
- The Incarnation and virginal birth of Christ: as stated in the Holy Bible in John 1:14, 1John 4:2Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:20, Luke 1:34-35, Ezekiel 44:2 and the Liturgy.
The Creed states:
…Crucified for our salvation under Pontius Pilate, He suffered and was buried.
- The Suffering of Christ: We sometimes speak of it as if the sufferings of Christ were limited to His final agonies, but this is not correct. Christ’s life on earth was a life of suffering, physically and emotionally, Isaiah 53:3:
a)It was the servant’s life of the Lord of Hosts
b)It was the life of the sinless One in a sin-cursed world.
c)Satan assaulted Him.
d)His people rejected Him.
- The Death (physically) of Christ:
a)He did not die as a result of an accident, nor by the hand of an assassin, but under a judicial sentence, and was thus counted with the transgressors, Isaiah 53:12.
b)By suffering the Jewish verdict of being a blasphemer, and by suffering the Roman punishment of crucifixion He died an accursed death, bearing the curse of us, Galatians 3:13 and the Liturgy of St. Basil.
- The Burial of Christ: The burial was an act of humiliation, Psalms 16:10, Acts 2:27, 31, 13:34-35.
- The Descent into Hades: Christ went down to Hades where the Old Testament’s saints were confined, to release them, Zechariah 9:11-12, Ephesians 4:9, 1Peter 3:18-19, and the Liturgy.
B) State of Exaltation:
In this state, Christ passed, carrying us with Him, from under the death penalty of the original sin to the eternal life. The Creed states:
…Arose from the dead on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven and is sitting at the right Hand of His Father, He shall come again in His Glory to judge the living and the dead; of whose there will not be an end.
This state of exaltation is manifested in several stages:
- The Resurrection: Christ’s resurrection did not consist of mere re-union of body and soul, but, in distinction from all those who had been raised up before Him (e.g. Lazarus), He rose with a “glorified” body, 1Corinthians 15:44-45:
a) He became the first fruits of all died (1Corinthians 15:20), and the first born of the dead, (Colossians 1:18, Revelation 1:5).
b) Christ’s resurrection is significant in the following:
- It was a declaration of the Father that Christ met all the requirements of the law, Philippians 2:9.
- It symbolized the final resurrection of the believers, Romans 6:4-5, 9.
- It was the cause of our justification, regeneration and resurrection, Romans 4:25, 5:10, Ephesians 1:20, Philippians 3:10, 1Peter 1:3.
- The Ascension: The Ascension was the necessary completion of the resurrection, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:6-11, Ephesians 1:20, 4:8-10, 1Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 1:3, 4:14, 6:20.
Christ’s ascension is significant in the following:
- Christ after ascension is our sacrificial intercessor, Romans 8:34, Hebrews 4:14, 6:20, 9:24.
- He ascended to prepare a place for us, John 14:1-3, 17:24, Ephesians 2:6.
- The Ascension at God’s right hand: The expression “right hand of God” cannot be taken literally, but should be understood as a figurative indication of the place of power and glory. He rules and protect His Church, governs the universe, and intercedes for His people on the basis of His completed sacrifice, Ephesians 1:20, Hebrews 10:12.
- The Physical return: Christ will return to judge the living and the dead.
- His return will be bodily and visible, Acts 1:11, Revelation 1:7.
- He will come as a judge, John 5:22, 27, Acts 10:42, Romans 2:16, 2Corinthians 5:10.
What are the blessings of the Redemption?
-Mans salvation, 1John 4:14. We were granted salvation through Baptism.
-Conquered death, 2Timothy 1:10.
-Conquered Satan, Colossians 2:14-15.
-Reconciled with God the Father, Romans 5:10.
-We were forgiven of sins: Matthew 26:28.
-We were granted justification and sanctification, Romans 5:9, Hebrews 10:10.
-We were permitted to enjoy the eternal life, John 3:16.