Dogmatic Topics, Part 6

Servants Preparation Curriculum

Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Dogmatic Topics, Part 6 – The Incarnation

Objectives:

• To review the story of The Incarnation with spiritual meditations
• To understand why The Incarnation is necessary for man
• To learn the need and criteria of The Redeemer
• To study the events leading to The Incarnation
• To Learn the Benefits of Incarnation

Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Story

• Anna + Joachim
• No Children
• Made a vow
• 1^st girl, Mary (3 years old went to the Temple)
• 2^nd girl, Mary aka “the other Mary” (Stayed home)

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• St. Mary stayed 12 years in the Temple
• Now, St Mary is 15 years old

Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Joseph The Righteous

• He was chosen by the Jewish elders to take St. Mary to as a betrothed girl

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• In the Jewish tradition, the men usually marry girls from the same tribe

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• The girl moves in to live with the family of the fiancé to get acquainted with responsibilities and duties of the family, without the intimate relationship

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• Joseph was an old celibate man who lived alone

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• He did not have any marriage-like relationship with St. Mary or any other woman

Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Joseph The Righteous, Cont.

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Gabriel The Archangel Announced The Holy Conception to St. Mary

• Elizabeth is already 6 months pregnant

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• After 3 months …

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• Elizabeth gave birth to John and St. Mary was there to help her

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St. Mary and Joseph go to Bethlehem

• Augustus Caesar ordered everyone to be registered in their hometown

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• So, Joseph went to his hometown (Bethlehem)
• Salome (midwife) also went with them

Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Census by Augustus Caesar

• Augustus Caesar’s census was not a coincidence, but was in God’s Plan

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• Jesus had to be born in Bethlehem as A King from David’s family in Bethlehem, David’s city.

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• To fulfil the prophecy:

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting” (Micah 5:2)

Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Jesus’ Birth in a Manger

• It was not a coincidence

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• It was planned by God as this manger was the place of the temple sacrifices and Jesus will be the sacrifice of God, born among the animals of sacrifice!

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“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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“Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11)

“a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” (Luke 2:13-14)

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” (Luke 2:13-14)

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• The Glorious God, in Heaven, incarnated on earth and brought peace; and showed good intention to save men from their sins and eternal destruction

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The Wise Men Visit Jerusalem

• Where did the wise men come from?
• The East (Iraq/Iran Region)
• Why did they come?
• It was a prophecy in their books to offer gifts to The King of The Jews
• Who gave them this prophecy?
• Daniel, as the head counselor and advisor to the king
• When?
• When God revealed to him the exact time of his incarnation

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• Daniel (620 - 538 BC) was taken to Babylon around 605 BC

Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Wise Men Visit Jerusalem Cont.

• Why did the wise men stop in Jerusalem although Jesus was in Bethlehem?
• To declare the birth of Jesus to the Jewish priests and king Herod
• Why did king Herod inquire about the city of birth of Jesus?
• Because he is not Jewish and not familiar with the prophecies
• Did the Jewish priests know where The Messiah will be born?
• Yes, they knew the village and cited the verse in Micah 5:2
• Why did they go to Bethlehem?
• Because the star led them to the house where Jesus was

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Spiritual Meanings

• The star is an angel from God as interpreted by St. John Chrysostom
• Symbolic meaning:
• Gold for He will be King
• Incense for He will be Priest
• Myrrh for He will suffer death
• Spiritual meditation:
• I also will submit to Christ gold, incense, myrrh in a spiritual means
• Gold to me: I will submit my wealth
• Incense to me: I will live a life of righteousness
• Myrrh to me: I will tolerate tribulations and persecution

Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Dogmatic Topics, Part 6 – The Incarnation

Objectives:

• To review the story of The Incarnation with spiritual meditations
• To understand why The Incarnation is necessary for man
• To learn the need and criteria of The Redeemer
• To study the events leading to The Incarnation
• To Learn the Benefits of Incarnation

Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Incarnation

• Definition: God unites with our nature without losing His divinity (Godhead)
• Our nature is human flesh and human soul

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• Jesus Christ is…
• Perfect God and Perfect man
• Perfect God with human flesh and human soul

Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Why The Incarnation?

• God created man in His image and likeness
• God blessed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
• Man was supposed to live forever with God
• God told man NOT to sin - or surely, he will die
• Satan tempted man
• Man fell into sin
• Man disobeyed God and deserved death punishment
• The Human nature became corrupted

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Adam & Eve - The Original Sin

• It is not a simple sin

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• Disobedience to God’s command
• Lack of love to God
• Distrust in God
• Belief in Satan’s promise
• Pride

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The Consequences of Sins

1. Upsetting God
2. Man is set to die
3. Man expelled from the Garden
4. Corruption of the human nature
5. A Broken relationship between Adam and Eve
6. The Entry of sin and death into the world
7. The outcome: One man (Cain) killed his brother (Abel)

Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Types of death �(physical, spiritual, and eternal)

1. Physical: separation of body and soul
2. Spiritual: separation from God
3. Eternal: eternal torture in hell

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We Are All Sinners

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“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—” (Romans 5:12)

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Sin Leads To Death

“For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23)

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“but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17)

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• After sin there are only 2 choices
• Man dies, and God creates a new creature
• Man lives, but God redeems the man

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1. If Man Dies

• Satan defeats God
• Satan appears more powerful than God
• The creation of humans is useless and pointless
• In the future, if God creates another human, Satan will tempt them again and cause their death

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2. If Man Lives

• God defeats Satan
• Man will live and God will enjoy the presence of humans
• Humans will enjoy the eternity with God

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Why should man live?

• God’s Love for man is overwhelming
• God blessed man before sin
• God’s blessing is unchangeable
• God’s knowledge is perfect from the beginning and man’s sin is not a surprise to Him
• God is Almighty and capable of everything, including redemption of humans

Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Dogmatic Topics, Part 6 – The Incarnation

Objectives:

• To review the story of The Incarnation with spiritual meditations
• To understand why The Incarnation is necessary for man
• To learn the need and criteria of The Redeemer
• To study the events leading to The Incarnation
• To Learn the Benefits of Incarnation

Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Need for a Redeemer

• Someone should die on behalf of man, so that man does not die
• Someone must reconcile man with God
• Someone must correct the corrupted human nature

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The Need for a Redeemer Cont.

1. Must be without sin (born without an earthly father)
2. Must be unlimited because sin was directed to the unlimited God
3. Must take the form of a man (human flesh and human soul)
4. Must die

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• The only solution is that God, Himself, must take the form of man and die on behalf of the human race

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Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Archangel

Angel

Prophet

Social Reformer

NO one is qualified to be the redeemer!

Lecture 23 Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Only God can be The Redeemer!

1. Without sin
2. Unlimited
3. Dies on the cross and lives again
4. Repairs the corrupted human nature

How did God incarnate without sin?

• Miraculous birth without man

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“And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35)

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• Jesus Christ is the only One on earth without a human father and who did not inherit The Original Sin

Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Dogmatic Topics, Part 6 – The Incarnation

Objectives:

• To review the story of The Incarnation with spiritual meditations
• To understand why The Incarnation is necessary for man
• To learn the need and criteria of The Redeemer
• To study the events leading to The Incarnation
• To Learn the Benefits of Incarnation

Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Preludes to The Incarnation

1. Stories
2. Events
3. Prophecies

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1. Stories

• God appeared to holy people in the Old Testament

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Abram meets the three guests

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Jacob wrestles with God

“And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed” (Genesis 32:28 )

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2. Events

Manna that came from Heaven and gave life

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“I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world” (John 6:51)

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The Burning Bush

Fire = Divinity

Tree = Humanity

Fire = Divinity

Charcoal = Humanity

Base of the censor is St. Mary

3. Prophecies

“Therefore ,the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14)

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• Immanuel means God with us

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3. Prophecies Cont.

“He bowed the heavens also, and came down

With darkness under His feet” (Psalm 18:9)

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“The burden against Egypt. Behold, the Lord rides on a swift cloud, And will come into Egypt; The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst”

(Isaiah 19:1)

Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Jesus Christ - Humanity

• Felt hunger after fasting for 40 days
• Ate with The Disciples
• Felt thirsty on The Cross
• Felt tired and sat down to meet The Samaritan Woman
• Slept in the boat
• Cried over Lazarus
• Attend a wedding

Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Jesus Christ the Incarnated God

• Lived as human in all aspects except Sin

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“He took what is ours (human nature) and gave us what is His (righteousness)” (Friday Theotokia)

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Jesus Christ Divinity

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Many miracles beyond human

capabilities

The Unity Between Iron and Fire

• The fire is symbol of Jesus’ Divinity

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• The Iron is symbol of Jesus’ humanity

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Benefits of The Incarnation

1. Human Salvation – the human goes back to paradise
2. Corrected the corrupted human nature
3. God showed man victory over the devil on the mountain
4. God showed man the way of virtue and righteousness
5. People became righteous and made miracles - many became monks, nuns, martyrs, etc.

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Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Spiritual Meditations

Immanuel = God with us

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• Do you feel God’s presence in your life?
• Do you talk to Him everyday?

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• Do you think/meditate about Him?
• His love, wisdom, power, kindness, etc.

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• Do you dare to sin in His presence?
• Do people feel and see His presence in your life?
• Do you want others to know Him as you do?
• Do you try hard to bring people to Christ?

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“great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh…” (1 Timothy 3:16)

Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Dogmatic Topics, Part 6 – The Incarnation

Objectives:

• To review the story of The Incarnation with spiritual meditations
• To understand why The Incarnation is necessary for man
• To learn the need and criteria of The Redeemer
• To study the events leading to The Incarnation
• To Learn the Benefits of Incarnation

Lecture 23, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Memorization Verses

1. “I am the living bread which came down from heaven” (John 6:51)

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• “God was manifested in the flesh … " (1 Timothy 3:16)

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