Renewal in Christ: Athanasius on the Christian Life

Introduction

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says, “We are sinners, but Christ is a Savior.” While this is correct, it is not complete. The Bible is a four-chapter story—creation, fall, redemption, re-creation—of which Christ is the climax. This is why, in On the Incarnation , Athanasius is adamant about beginning with creation. If one does not start with creation, then it is not clear what we are saved from (sin, death, and the corruption of the world) and what we are saved for (a renewed creation with immortal resurrection bodies). When understood within the biblical narrative, salvation is not an escape from creation, but rather the restoration of creation. In Christ, God is re-creating the world by grace. Comprehensive Salvation Why did God become human? At the most basic level, God became human for our salvation. But while many Christians tend to reduce the work of salvation to one of its aspects (e.g., forgiveness or justification), Athanasius embraces a comprehensive understanding of the Savior’s work. Athanasius certainly prioritizes particular aspects of salvation, such as the restoration of incorruptible life (2 Tim 1:10), being renewed in the image of God (Col 3:10), and participating in God’s nature (2 Pet 1:4). But the Champion of Nicaea does so in a way that celebrates the many facets of salvation (e.g., victory, forgiveness, reconciliation) within the broader framework of re-creating the world through the Son. As Athanasius says, “So many are the Savior’s achievements that follow from his incarnation, that to try to number them is like gazing at the open sea and trying to count the waves.” 12 Because Athanasius has a holistic approach to Christ’s work, he can be a unifying

12 On the Incarnation , §54.