Saint Maximus the Confessor:
The Incarnation occurred:
''in order to save the image and immortalize the flesh and, having utterly banished the principle of the serpent which had been introduced into nature, to present nature pure again as from a new beginning, with an additional advantage through deification over the first creation, and, as if by a new beginning giving substance to something not previously existing, to restore to health that which had thus collapsed, having strengthened it so as to be immune to falling through its immutability, and to fulfill the will of God the Father with regard to it, having deified it by the power of the Incarnation''.
Comment: Our Divine Lord in assuming human nature, not merely attached Himself to it by 'conjunction' but by His gracious mercy and condescension, He hypostatically united it to Himself. According we must say that the Sacred Flesh, is truly His. By His sharing of our life, in principle, man may receive what belongs by nature and essence to the deity, namely unity and immutability. Man on this earth is pulled in all directions by his passions, he deceives and confuses himself in pursuing transient goods and becomes soiled by draining them of their desirability. Even when he comes to the Good Lord, his will remains divided and he will often abandon his trust in Him. Furthermore, in the Garden, Adam was not truly 'safe' as he could and certainly did, lose his privileged position before His Lord. In the next life, man will be freed from such insecurity and discord, by mirroring in great measure, the divine attributes of unity and immutability.
The Incarnation occurred:
''in order to save the image and immortalize the flesh and, having utterly banished the principle of the serpent which had been introduced into nature, to present nature pure again as from a new beginning, with an additional advantage through deification over the first creation, and, as if by a new beginning giving substance to something not previously existing, to restore to health that which had thus collapsed, having strengthened it so as to be immune to falling through its immutability, and to fulfill the will of God the Father with regard to it, having deified it by the power of the Incarnation''.
Comment: Our Divine Lord in assuming human nature, not merely attached Himself to it by 'conjunction' but by His gracious mercy and condescension, He hypostatically united it to Himself. According we must say that the Sacred Flesh, is truly His. By His sharing of our life, in principle, man may receive what belongs by nature and essence to the deity, namely unity and immutability. Man on this earth is pulled in all directions by his passions, he deceives and confuses himself in pursuing transient goods and becomes soiled by draining them of their desirability. Even when he comes to the Good Lord, his will remains divided and he will often abandon his trust in Him. Furthermore, in the Garden, Adam was not truly 'safe' as he could and certainly did, lose his privileged position before His Lord. In the next life, man will be freed from such insecurity and discord, by mirroring in great measure, the divine attributes of unity and immutability.
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