Theology
Redemption is a fundamental feature of Christ, a sign that God is dedicated to a continual expression of love for humanity and the world. Thus, redemption is a necessary counterpart and component of Creation. Redemption is also an integral part of the covenant between God and humanity, expressed through the being of Christ. Moreover, the redemptive aspect of Christ proves that love -- the primary factor or quality of redemption -- is "greater than sin," (Ionnes Paulus 1979, 4).
The redemptive activity of Christ reveals both the justice and love of the triune God. As a "superabundance of justice," redemption balances the effects of original sin and transcends death (Ionnes Paulus 1980, 2). A revelation of God's love, redemption is mercy in action. Redemption is also love in action, and "man cannot live without love," (Ionnes Paulus 1979, 4). Therefore, the redemptive activity of Christ is necessarily an act of supreme divine justice that provides the spiritual counterpart for the mundane human experience. Ionnes Paulus also points out that Christ the Redeemer "fully reveals man to himself," meaning that redemption reveals the true nature of humanity as embodying God's love (1979, 4). There is a "human dimension of the mystery of the Redemption," (Ionnes Paulus 1979, 4). Redemption reveals "the greatness, dignity and value that belong to his humanity," (Ionnes Paulus 1979, 4). In "Dives in Misericordia," Ionnes Paulus states that the reality of the Redemption on the human dimension reveals the "unheard - of greatness of man, qui talem ac tantum meruit habere Redemptorem," (1980, 1). This is the greatness of man that precedes and supersedes sin. Christ died in order to reveal this essential nature of humanity.
Redemption teaches genuine self-awareness, which can lead to a fuller understanding of God and the Christ. Through the merciful nature of redemption, a person achieves union with God. Moreover,...
Eternal life through Christ is made possible by redemption. The paschal mystery itself embodies the truth of redemption as a core component of Christ. Redemption is why Christ died on the cross. In the reality of the passion and death of Christ, "absolute justice is expressed, for Christ undergoes the passion and cross because of the sins of humanity," (Ionnes Paulus 1980, 1-2).
Interestingly, Ionnes Paulus notes that redemption forms the foundation of Church life and the very existence of Christianity. When redemption puts a human being in touch with the core essence of his or her spiritual being, that individual becomes amazed not only by the glory of Christ itself but also by the presence of the manifestation of that Glory in the Good News. The Good News, the faith that binds together Christians and indeed all human beings, "vivifies every aspect of authentic humanism" and also "fixes Christ's place…in the history of man and mankind," (Ionnes Paulus 1979, 4). Redemption has a restorative effect and a balancing effect, which is the essence of spiritual justice. This is because the redemptive nature of Christ has "definitively restored his dignity to man, and given back meaning to his life in the world, a meaning that was lost to a considerable extent because of sin," (Ionnes Paulus 1979, 4). Moreover, justice is "brought to bear upon death," (Ionnes Paulus 1980, 3).
In addition to being an expression of the infinite nature of God's divine justice meted out on the human level, the Redemption is also an expression of the fullness and purity of God's love. Justice in the spiritual sense "springs completely from love: from the love of the Father and of the Son, and completely bears fruit in love," (Ionnes Paulus 1980, 2). Justice and love go hand-in-hand. The one, justice, rectifies…
