OUR REAL UNION WITH GOD
15/08/24 08:17
The reconciliation of man with God happened in real time. It is not accessed by talk or propositions. It is a state of being that we agree to in response to the Spirit of Christ. The Reconciler is Christ Himself who makes us one with Father and ourselves in His own person.
MADE ONE
“The humanity of Christ is also essential to God's act of reconciliation, for the actuality of atonement is grounded upon the fact that in actual human nature it is God himself acting on our behalf.
“Thus any docetic view of the humanity of Christ would mean that God only appears to act within our human existence, or that his acts are only of tangential significance, that they do not really strike into the roots of our existence and condition, and have no relevance to our need.
HOW REAL IS IT?
“Atonement is real and actual only if and as the mediator acts fully from the side of man as man, as well as from the side of God as God. If the humanity of Christ is imperfect, atonement is imperfect, and we would then still be in our sins. If Jesus Christ is really and truly man, then his death for sin is an act of God himself in human nature, and not just an external act upon human nature.” (1) Our security and belonging in union with God rests on what God has done in Christ. Our part is to agree with Christ that He has included us in His life and communion with Father, Holy Spirit and Himself. Christ is us. The effect is that we are sons/daughters in spirit and in truth.
(1) Thomas Torrance. The Incarnation. P 186.
MADE ONE
“The humanity of Christ is also essential to God's act of reconciliation, for the actuality of atonement is grounded upon the fact that in actual human nature it is God himself acting on our behalf.
“Thus any docetic view of the humanity of Christ would mean that God only appears to act within our human existence, or that his acts are only of tangential significance, that they do not really strike into the roots of our existence and condition, and have no relevance to our need.
HOW REAL IS IT?
“Atonement is real and actual only if and as the mediator acts fully from the side of man as man, as well as from the side of God as God. If the humanity of Christ is imperfect, atonement is imperfect, and we would then still be in our sins. If Jesus Christ is really and truly man, then his death for sin is an act of God himself in human nature, and not just an external act upon human nature.” (1) Our security and belonging in union with God rests on what God has done in Christ. Our part is to agree with Christ that He has included us in His life and communion with Father, Holy Spirit and Himself. Christ is us. The effect is that we are sons/daughters in spirit and in truth.
(1) Thomas Torrance. The Incarnation. P 186.
