Refusing A Gift

Rursus autem qui nude tantum hominem eum dicunt ex Joseph generatum, perseverantes in servitute pristinae inobedientiae moriuntur; nondum commisti Verbo Dei Patris, neque per Filium percipientes libertatem, quemadmodum ipse ait: 'Si Filius vos liberaverit, vere liberi eritis.' Ignorantes autem eum, qui ex Virgine est Emmanuel, privantur munere ejus, quod est vita aeterna: non recipientes autem Verbum incorruptionis, perseverant in carne mortali et sunt debitores mortis, antidotum vitae non accipientes. Ad quos Verbum ait, suum munus gratiae narrans: Ego dixi: Dii estis et filii Altissimi omnes: vos autem sicunt homines moriemini.' Ad eos indubitate dicit, qui non percipiunt munus adoptionis, sed contemnunt incarnationem purae generationis Verbi Dei, fraudantes hominem ab ea ascensione quae est ad Dominum, et ingrati exsistentes Verbo Dei, qui incarnatus est propter ipsos. Propter hoc enim Verbum Dei homo; et qui Filius Dei est, filius hominis factus est, commistus Verbo Dei, ut adoptionem percipiens fiat Filius Dei. Sanctus Ireneaus Lugdunensis, Adversus Haereses, Lib III, Cap XIX. Source: Migne PG 7.938- 939

But again those who say that He was only a mere man, begotten by Joseph, remaining in the servitude of the old disobedience, perish, for they have not yet joined to the Word of God the Father, nor do they take possession of liberty through the Son, as He Himself declares: 'If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.' But being ignorant of Him who from the Virgin is Emmanuel, they are deprived of His gift, which is eternal life. Not receiving the incorruptible Word, they remain in mortal flesh and are debtors to death, not receiving the antidote of life. To whom the Word says, speaking of His own gift of grace: 'I said, You are gods and all sons of the Highest; yet you shall die like men.' Undoubtedly He speaks to those who have not received the gift of adoption, but who despise the incarnation of the pure generation of the Word of God, defrauding human nature of that ascension which is into God, showing themselves ungrateful to the Word of God, who became flesh for them. It was for this end that the Word of God was made man, and He who is the Son of God was made the Son of man, that man, joined to the Word, receiving the adoption, might become a son of God. Saint Ireneaus of Lyon, Against Heresies, Book III, Ch 19.