Irenaeus — Against Heresies 3.18.7
What he appeared to be, that he also was: God summing up in himself the ancient fashioning of humankind, so that he might destroy sin, empty death of its power, and give life to man — and for that reason his works are true.
Latin
Quod autem parebat, hoc et erat; Deus, hominis antiquam plasmationem in se recapitulans, ut occideret quidem peccatum, evacuaret autem mortem, et vivificaret hominem: et propter hoc vera opera ejus.