For today, I have a few more citations from Irenaeus, all from books 2 and 3 of Against Heresies.

. . . Christ our Lord suffered an efficacious passion, one that would not fail. . . .  The Lord endured the passion that he might lead back to the knowledge of and union with the Father those who had strayed from him. . . .  The Lord by his passion brought the knowledge of the Father and so bestowed salvation.  (2.20.3)

By his passion our Lord likewise destroyed death, dispelled error, put an end to corruption, and destroyed ignorance; on the other hand, he manifested life, displayed the truth, and bestowed incorruption.  (2.20.3)

[It is better] not to go in search of knowledge about anything else than Jesus Christ the Son of God, who was crucified for us.  (2.26.1)

. . . Jesus Christ, who by his blood, redeemed us from the rebellion, that we might be a sanctified  people . . .  (3.5.3)

. . . Jesus Christ our Lord, who in turn suffered and rose for our sakes . . .  (3.17.7)

And so he [Paul] most clearly announces that the same one who was captured and suffered and shed his blood for us was Christ, the Son of God, who also rose and was taken up into heaven.  (3.16.9)

[Paul] all but cries out to those who wish to listen, “Do not err; Christ Jesus, the Son of God, is one and the same, who reconciled us with God through the passion and rose from the dead, and is at the right hand of the Father, having been perfected in all respects. . . .  He truly saved us, for he is the Word of God, the Only-begotten of the Father, Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (3.16.9)

. . . it was not possible for humankind, which had once been conquered and had been dashed to pieces by its disobedience, to refashion itself and obtain the prize of victory.  Again, it was not possible for the human race, which had fallen under sin, to receive salvation.  And so the Son, Word of God that he is, accomplished both, by coming down from the Father and becoming incarnate, and descending even to death, and bringing the economy of our salvation to completion.  (3.18.2)

Jerry Shepherd
Lent
March 9, 2015