The Salvation of Fallen
Man
As
we have previously said, man was able to be saved because God gave him a second
chance, since he had not sinned on his own initiative. He was influenced by Satan.
The Salvation of the fallen man was promised by God when He said to the devil
inside Paradise, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between
your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his
heel" (Genesis, 3:15). The essential phrase here is "He shall bruise
your head." He will crush your head. Who is he? Jesus Christ, the second
person of the Holy Trinity, the only-begotten Son of God, the seed (descendant)
of woman.
God
kept His promise. He did not fulfil it immediately. He had to prepare things.
He prepared the world to accept the "salvation to come." He prepared
the nations by the teaching of many wise men for the expected coming from
Heaven and the salvation from on high, and by the Old Testament, which
"was our custodian until Christ came" (Galatians, 3:24). And
"when the time had fully come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman,
born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might
receive adoption as sons" (Galatians, 4:4-5).
The
salvation of man through Jesus Christ is a basic doctrine of our Church. It is
expressed beautifully in the Creed: "I believe . . . in one Lord Jesus
Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. Light
of light, true God of true God, begotten not made, one in essence with the
Father, through Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation
came down from Heaven and was Incarnate by the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin
Mary and became man."
This
is proof of the perfect love and continuous care of God for man. Even when he
has sinned and has fallen, God loves man. He tries to raise him; to save him;
and to make his return to Heaven and his salvation possible.
Many
ask whether it was necessary for God to become man to save the sinful man?
Could not another man save man? Of course not. Because every man was and is
sinful and cannot save himself. How could a sinful man save all humanity?
Impossible. Only someone who was without sin was able to save mankind. And that
was and is Christ. Others ask whether an angel could not have saved humanity?
Perhaps so, if God wanted it that way. But God decided differently. Who are we
to question God on His decision? If we think that we can question God, are we
not putting ourselves above Him? Are we not even more egoistic and proud than
the Devil? And consequently, are we not continuing our sinful condition without
repentance?
The
salvation of man is a recall from the fall and a return to the house of God. It
is a return to the arms of God from that separation which man suffered by his
disobedience and fall. Since it is a recall and a return, this could be
accomplished only by Him Who had originally created man: God. This is why man
had to be saved by Christ. He had to stretch out His hands on the cross and to
unite "what before was separated." The second person of the Holy
Trinity, Jesus Christ, becomes the saviour of the world through His
Incarnation, through His sacrifice on the cross, His descent to Hades, His
Resurrection, and His Ascension into Heaven.
With
what we have said here, no one must think that Jesus Christ, the second person
of the Holy Trinity, is the only saviour of the world. As "the Father
created the world with the Son, together with the Holy Spirit," so is the
salvation of man an act of the entire Holy Trinity. An act of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The Father "consented." The Word
"became flesh." The Holy Spirit "coordinates the institution of
the Church," and abides in the Church and in the sacraments that save and
sanctify the faithful. The works of the Holy Trinity are inseparable.
Triune God, with love as Your only objective You created the world and man.
You were saddened by his fall and his disobedience. And You never ceased to
love sinful man. Out of love for him, You promised him salvation, to give him a
second chance. Out of Your love You consented for Christ to be born. To become
man. To take on human nature. His only purpose, to raise human nature to
Heaven, restoring the "image" and "likeness." We thank You
for all of Your love. For Your continuing care for us. For the fulfilment of
Your promise. For the Incarnation of the "Word." Because You made our
salvation possible. We respectfully entreat You, open the eyes of our souls so
that we may enter into our salvation. Help us not to lose the chance, and to
return close to You. Not only us, but the whole world, Christians and
non-Christians, believers and non-believers. Make it so that all will believe
in You. Let no one be lost. Let everyone find salvation through Jesus Christ,
the Saviour and Redeemer. Glory be to Your Holy Name.