Many thanks for your discussion of this most edifying topic. When we say that "It is through this relation that the Incarnate Son can show us the face of the Father" I fear that we can if we are not most careful terminally minimize the most magnificent communion that exists between Beings in all of eternity. In order for us to become irresistibly compelled to our God it is vitally important to us to know as precisely as our God will allow, His true Nature.
The God we worship is truly unfathomable. This does not mean that our God is unapproachable or cannot become perfectly known to us, it means that we cannot understand in the least either the magnificent intricacies of His being or the reasons underpinning His convictions and determinations even in deliberation by the most astute of men. It is the expression on the "face" of our God and the look in His "eyes" that are readily available to any who can be found in consummate surrender to Him that has the capacity to reveal to us most succinctly and precisely, and without need for even a word passing between us, the convictions, the sentiments, and the expectations of our God, and His regard for us. In essence, I would say this nothing more than the "vision" of God that each individual found in communion with Him carries around with them. Our employment of the word "relation(ship)" when attempting to describe the utterly magnificent and mutual union that exists between the Members of the Holy Trinity, our Triune God, is vastly insufficient in even beginning to accomplish of this task. It is a choice of words that unfortunately has the capacity to terminally minimize our the expectations concerning a communion between Beings of incomparable magnificence and which is exponentially more an utterly perfect mutual permeation of each Being with the others than a mere relationship. I became aware long ago that this union is one in which we are, as God's beloved faithful, all participants owing to our membership in the Communion of Saints. It is in this same manner, when we allow, that our God displays His equally insatiable desire for each of us and His capacity to reside within our Hearts in a manner unqualified and without any impediment such that we become participants in our own impending Santhood.
The Godhead now has a human component that was not there before the Incarnation. Prior to the Incarnation, the Godhead was only the divine nature of Father, Word, and Holy Spirit. The Word became flesh. Jesus is now the biological Son of God with both a human and divine nature. There were councils after Nicaea that needed to clarify this because the humanity of Jesus needed further deliberation.
Are you trying to say that prior to the Incarnation, it would not be appropriate to call Christ the Son? I hope that I am misunderstanding you since that flies in contradiction to all Christian theology for 2000 years. The Son has always been the Son. The Nicene Creed affirms Him as the Only Begotten Son of God. The Gospel of John affirms the same. This is all prior to the “Word becoming flesh and dwelling amongst us.”
The humanity of Christ is required for His role as our one mediator between the Father and us and His role as our High Priest intercessor. There is no salvation for us without these roles. This is why it is important to have reminders. It is easy to forget how accessible He is for His intercession (cf. Hebrews 4:15-16; 7:24-25). There are Catholics who are not fully aware of this, and prefer to interact with other intercessors because they believe that Jesus is too remote. He is irreplaceable.
Thank you! You have a way of making Christian teachings easily understood!
Thank you so much. I appreciate your words.
I just love your writing…thank you
Thank you for your kindness. I am humbled.
Many thanks for your discussion of this most edifying topic. When we say that "It is through this relation that the Incarnate Son can show us the face of the Father" I fear that we can if we are not most careful terminally minimize the most magnificent communion that exists between Beings in all of eternity. In order for us to become irresistibly compelled to our God it is vitally important to us to know as precisely as our God will allow, His true Nature.
The God we worship is truly unfathomable. This does not mean that our God is unapproachable or cannot become perfectly known to us, it means that we cannot understand in the least either the magnificent intricacies of His being or the reasons underpinning His convictions and determinations even in deliberation by the most astute of men. It is the expression on the "face" of our God and the look in His "eyes" that are readily available to any who can be found in consummate surrender to Him that has the capacity to reveal to us most succinctly and precisely, and without need for even a word passing between us, the convictions, the sentiments, and the expectations of our God, and His regard for us. In essence, I would say this nothing more than the "vision" of God that each individual found in communion with Him carries around with them. Our employment of the word "relation(ship)" when attempting to describe the utterly magnificent and mutual union that exists between the Members of the Holy Trinity, our Triune God, is vastly insufficient in even beginning to accomplish of this task. It is a choice of words that unfortunately has the capacity to terminally minimize our the expectations concerning a communion between Beings of incomparable magnificence and which is exponentially more an utterly perfect mutual permeation of each Being with the others than a mere relationship. I became aware long ago that this union is one in which we are, as God's beloved faithful, all participants owing to our membership in the Communion of Saints. It is in this same manner, when we allow, that our God displays His equally insatiable desire for each of us and His capacity to reside within our Hearts in a manner unqualified and without any impediment such that we become participants in our own impending Santhood.
The Godhead now has a human component that was not there before the Incarnation. Prior to the Incarnation, the Godhead was only the divine nature of Father, Word, and Holy Spirit. The Word became flesh. Jesus is now the biological Son of God with both a human and divine nature. There were councils after Nicaea that needed to clarify this because the humanity of Jesus needed further deliberation.
Are you trying to say that prior to the Incarnation, it would not be appropriate to call Christ the Son? I hope that I am misunderstanding you since that flies in contradiction to all Christian theology for 2000 years. The Son has always been the Son. The Nicene Creed affirms Him as the Only Begotten Son of God. The Gospel of John affirms the same. This is all prior to the “Word becoming flesh and dwelling amongst us.”
The humanity of Christ is required for His role as our one mediator between the Father and us and His role as our High Priest intercessor. There is no salvation for us without these roles. This is why it is important to have reminders. It is easy to forget how accessible He is for His intercession (cf. Hebrews 4:15-16; 7:24-25). There are Catholics who are not fully aware of this, and prefer to interact with other intercessors because they believe that Jesus is too remote. He is irreplaceable.
Regardless of how Jesus is referred to before the Incarnation, the humanity of Jesus became manifest in the fullness of time (cf. 1Timothy 3:16).
Sure. No one said anything to contrary.