The Incarnation and the New Covenant

…This is most harmonious with nature and not incompatible with the logic of human existence.

For in former times, according to the law given by Moses, those performing divine service to God approached worship as a mere type and shadow; they sacrificed the Son to the Father, many times offering up lambs, calves, and goats as an aroma of sweetness through a veil.

A struggle concerning sin was being conducted according to the faith of the holy writings, yet in those writings there was only the form of the truth.

The most wise Paul has written to us: 'But Christ, having come as a High Priest of the things about to come through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made by hands—that is, not of this creation—neither through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered once into the holy places, having found eternal redemption' (Hebrews 9:11-12). For the power of the service was being exercised through the blood of another by those who performed divine service according to the law.

For they have worshiped the heavenly things only by a pattern and a shadow.

But Christ did not do so—and indeed much more is required—for he has saved those under heaven by his own blood, 'not according to a commandment of fleshly things has become a priest, but according to the power of an indestructible life' (Hebrews 7:16). He offered himself for us, since the worship of the type was powerless to achieve justification, for 'it was impossible to take away the sin of these' goats and calves (Hebrews 10:4); from this, a second covenant was sought, because the first did not possess blamelessness within itself.

Knowing the will of God and the Father, the Son who is from Him according to nature, has become a man for all of us, both offering himself and performing divine service to Him.

The blessed Paul, who was no false-speaker, would become a witness to this for us; for he said again concerning him, 'Therefore, entering into the world, he says: Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me' (Hebrews 10:5).

'Burnt offerings and concerning sin you did not seek' (Hebrews 10:6); then I said, 'Behold, I have come, as it is written of me at the head of a book, to do your will' (Hebrews 10:7). Who then is it that is entering into the world? And how is it said that he has fully entered in? Is it not that he previously existed outside of him, as if exiled? The Word from God has indeed entered into this world, not in a local sense but rather naturally, when he himself became a part of the world, having prepared for him the body of God and Father, so that he might become an exchange for the life of all, having died in the flesh according to the writings.

For it has become, 'because of this, a mediator of a new covenant, so that having death occurring, for the redemption of the transgressions upon the first covenant, the called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance' (Hebrews 9:15). He has been named therefore high priest and apostle of our confession; being very much persuaded, he has presented himself to the Father as a scent of spiritual sweet fragrance, and as those already having been cleansed, for we approach, teaching the doctrine of our faith.

When we are therefore commanded to make the confession of the unclouded faith and the consubstantial Trinity, how is it not manifest to all, not as to another…