Quintessence of Religious Doctrines - Malankarasyriac Voice

16On the Son 3132Quintessence of Religious Doctrinesfrom heaven and was born a man from the immaculate virgin,for the salvation of mankind.Ref: (a) Mal. 3:6. I am the Lord and I do not change (G.N.B.)(b) Heb. 2:14. Since the children as he calls them arepeople of flesh and blood, Jesus himself becamelike them and shared their human nature. (G.N.B.)(c) Jn. 1:14. The word became a human being and ...lived among us (G.N.B.)CommentHis incarnation through the Virgin was on His own volition,expressed of course through the co-operation of the HolySpirit. There was not an iota of persuasion, let aside,compulsion on the second Person of Trinity for this mysteryor marvel. It is due to the operation of the divine dispensationand Perichoresis, an inherent characteristic of the BlessedTrinity. The main purpose of this episode was the salvationof mankind. Thus what was planned through Israel and herprophets was consummated in the incarnation of the Lord.Salvation became necessary because of the fall of mankindfollowing the disobedience of the first parents. Even thoughHe was born of the Virgin, His Mother Mary remained everVirgin. For the S.O.C. this is what is implied by the immaculacyof the Blessed Virgin Mary. The S.O.C. does not hold thatshe was born in an immaculate way as her Son was.4. Suffered truly in person.Ref: Acts 1:3… after Jesus had suffered and died (L.B.)CommentBy this assertion the Church, reaffirms that the suffering ofJesus was not a mere fantasy or apparition as the supportersof Docetism held. Docetism was a second century heresy.According to it the body of Christ was only a resemblance,or else of ethereal substance. It implies that Christ’s bodywas not similar to that of humans.5. Was Crucified.Ref: Mk. 15:24… then they crucified him… (G.N.B.)CommentHis Crucifixion was also not a magical feat or feint or illusion.He died on the Cross, on His own accord.6. Tasted death.Ref: Rom. 5:6. Christ died for us at a time when we were helplessand sinful (L.B.)CommentHe died in reality as was proved by the flow of blood andwater from His side when the soldier pierced it. Unlike whatwas propagated by the Docetists or some other heretics, Hisdeath was not an apparition but a reality.7. Was buried.Ref: 1Cor. 15:4. He was buried… (L.B.)CommentIn accordance with the Jewish custom, the body of Jesuswas buried before the Sabbath had set in. Sabbath for theJews is on Saturday. But the day is computed from dusk todusk. Hence the haste in burying the corpse of Jesus onFriday itself, the day on which Jesus was crucified.8. Descended to the sheol, preached to the spirits there;Ref: 1Pet. 3:19. Christ then preached to the spirits that werekept in prison (L.B.)CommentHe then descended to the Sheol, which to some Jewishthinking was the place where all the departed souls wereput. It was a place of gloom cum eerie silence. According tothe Jewish theology these souls were to be there until theDay of Judgement. This descent of Jesus shows that Hismission was not confined to the salvation of those living butrather extended to those of the dead as well. After all, no