When man fell he struggled with two demands: Justice demanded fulfillment of the sentence in its entirety without easing it and without bias. From its side, mercy demanded his complete forgiveness without rebuke or accountability. Each demand differs from and even contradicts the other. A dilemma arose out of this situation that was not resolved except by the “Incarnation”. Because in this solution we find: All mercy, since there is no greater love than for God in all His holiness, to take for Himself a perishable body for our sake; all justice, for God accepted upon Himself the fulfillment of the sentence which He Himself pronounced against man. Hence the Incarnation was necessary; God took on human flesh to accept in it the same sentence pronounced against man. Through this, the redemption was fulfilled, for which there was no other means. –H.H. Pope Tawadros (This is My Faith, Page 60)
Christianity announces the incarnation of God to save man. Were there no other alternatives for the omnipotent God to offer salvation? Yes, there were two alternatives, but both are fundamentally rejected for reasons which will become clear now:
First Rejected Alternative (Forgiveness)
That is for God to forgive Adam and Eve because He is a God of love, and so end the matter completely. But if God forgives Adam for the sake of His infinite love, then where is His infinite justice which sentenced to death? The fulfillment of this just sentence is necessary, because God is not divided in His attributes. Just as He is merciful, He is also just, in the sense that His mercy is full of justice and His justice is full of mercy. Even if we assumed the possibility of this, forgiveness is one thing and purification and renewal of the human nature which was defiled, is another thing and even more important. It is easy to pay on behalf a thief the amount which he stole, but what is more important is to change his nature so that he no longer steals.
The Second Rejected Alternative (Destruction):
Would have been for God to destroy Adam and Eve and create a new Adam and a new Eve, and problem is solved! But the destruction of man would be against the mercy of God since it would have been better for man not to be created; and also against the intelligence of God Who could not solve the problem; and also against the power of God Who could not protect man; and also against the wisdom of God, for why did He create him? And also against the honor of God for He created him in His image and likeness. It would have been an evil view, not befitting God’s unlimited power, or His glory, or His honor as Creator. We must also not forget that the opportunity for the new Adam and the new Eve to fall is still possible, real, and continuous. The circumstances are the same and the situation is liable to be repeated. For this reason, the only solution was the incarnation and redemption in order for forgiveness and the renewal of human nature to take place. –H.H. Pope Tawadros (This is My Faith, Pages 61-62)