Chapter 200 — That only through God incarnate ought nature to be repaired

It was shown that the reparation of human nature could not be effected either by Adam or by any other mere man. For no individual man ever occupied a position of preeminence over the whole of nature; nor can any mere man be the cause of grace. The same reasoning shows that not even an angel could be the author of man’s restoration. An angel cannot be the cause of grace, just as he cannot be man’s recompense with regard to the ultimate perfection of beatitude, to which man was to be recalled. In this matter of beatitude angels and men are on a footing of equality. Nothing remains, therefore, but that such restoration could be effected by God alone.

But if God had restored man solely by his will and power, the order of divine justice would not have been observed, according to which satisfaction is demanded for sin. But to God there cannot belong satisfaction, just as neither can there belong merit, for this pertains to one who is subject to another. Thus it did not belong to God to satisfy for the sin of the whole of human nature; and a mere man was unable to do so, as we have just shown. Hence it was fitting that God become man, so that in this way it would be one and the same person who would be able both to repair and to offer satisfaction. This is the reason for the divine Incarnation assigned by the Apostle in 1 Timothy 1:15: Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners.