Understanding the Doctrine of the Incarnation

The doctrine of the Incarnation states that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man, a concept that is often undervalued in Christian faith. This principle is crucial because it underpins the belief that only a sinless being, the God-man, can atone for humanity’s sins through substitutionary atonement. According to the speaker, if Jesus were merely a human, He would not have the capacity to bear the punishment for the sins of all mankind, as each human being is already a sinner. Therefore, the Incarnation is fundamental to Christian salvation, as articulated by theologians like St. Anselm.