The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35 ESV).
A gift of the incarnation of God the Son made the attributes of God the Father manifest in human flesh in Jesus Christ. By the attributes of Jesus, we can come to know the one, incomprehensible God.
God’s attributes are those things that are true about Him. Those things that can be said of God alone are incommunicable attributes. They consist of the omnis: omnipresence, omnipotence, and omniscience. God is infinite and eternal, loving and holy, merciful and just, good and righteous, faithful and unchanging. As is Jesus. And the Spirit.
In the introduction to Athanasius’ On the Incarnation, John Behr wrote, “All the attributes usually only applied to the one God—wisdom, truth, light, righteousness, virtue—the Son is, not as properties that he has acquired from outside himself nor as if he were himself merely an attribute of God, but he is these things in himself. He is what it is to be God, and so in the exact image of the Father, his perfect fruit.”
The Babe cooing in Mary’s lap was God.
Jesus, filled with and co-eternally one with the Spirit, possesses all the attributes of God.
His goodness was made visible in His works, as He reminded His cousin, John (Matthew 11:2-6). His perfect, infinite love was proved through the Cross. His omnipotent power was best demonstrated in His healings. And His characteristics, qualities, and traits are the attributes of God made visible. The same of which are also called the Fruit of the Spirit (like love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness).
The Holy Spirit—also referred to as the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ—now imparts communicable attributes through us (2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 2:20; 4:6; Colossians 1:27). He is Christ in us, imparting with the strength of His might. Pouring out love for others. And shining the Lord’s light into the darkness. All for the abiding.
The incarnation made God’s invisible attributes visible. They are seen in Jesus. And He gifts them to us through the Spirit, one with God and Christ Jesus.
Almighty God, the incarnation brought You near, in the fullness of all Your attributes expressed through God the Son. We revel in the truth that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He who was will always be trustworthy and true. Continue to form His likeness in us.
टिप्पणियां