God s Plan Begins With Creation

Transcription

1 God s Plan Begins With Creation Understanding the path to Salvation History Presented by Deacon Jim Murray Christ Our Redeemer Parish Niceville, Florida

2 Introduction God has a plan of redemption for his creation. Man disobeyed God, introducing sin and thus changing the course of history. God introduces a clever plan of redemption for all of us!

3 God Communicates With Us If you had to briefly summarize the purpose of the Bible, what would you say? A book of sacred agreements and stories between God and his faithful people A history of Salvation

4 What would be the central theme? If you remain faithful to the agreements with God, he will reward you.

5 A Collection of Books The Bible is a miniature library called a canon It should not be viewed as one large book It is a collection of books based on oral and later written tradition, inspired by God, which may have been a thousand years old before being written down. It contains prose, poetry, hymns, love songs, riddles, fables, allegories, historical narrative, biographies, prophecies, documentary, song, fiction, etc.

6 About Sacred Myth The word Myth naturally sounds like something very primitive or far fetched Characters of myths often display anthropomorphic qualities (natural forces, inanimate objects or animals take on human personality) A sacred myth is NOT: A lie, fable or widely believed falsehood Examples of Myths Santa Claus based on true character Nicholas of Myra Adam and Eve Noah and the Great Flood Compare with Epic of Gilgamesh

7 Parallel Myths - Noah & Utnapishtim Genesis 6-9 Gilgamesh Epic Yahweh plans to destroy humanity The Gods plan to destroy humans because they are wicked because they have gone astray Yahweh warns Noah to build an The god Ea warns Utnapishtim to ark and cover it with pitch build a boat and use pitch Every species of animal is to be Every species of animal and of brought on the ark and his skilled craftsman are to be saved as immediate family well as his family The flood comes and destroys all The flood comes and destroys all life from the earth life from the earth The waters subside gradually and The waters subside slowly and Noah sends out a raven and a dove Utnapishtim sends out a dove, swallow and raven The ark comes to rest on the top of The boat comes to rest on the top Mount Ararat of Mount Nisir Noah builds an altar and sacrifices Utnapishtim builds an altar and to Yahweh sacrifices to the gods Yahweh smells the sweet odor The gods smell the sweet odor Yahweh removes the curse from Enlil is reconciled with the earth and promises bounty and Utnipishtim and repents of his rash no more floods decision to destroy earth Yahweh blesses Noah and his sons to repoulate the earth Enlil blesses Utnapishtim and his wife with immortality on the far

8 How the Events are Passed On multiple copies of texts final form of text editing the traditions written traditions oral traditions the event textual criticism literary criticism redaction criticism source criticism form criticism historical criticism

9 The Hebrew Scriptures Our Old Testament The Hebrew Bible or TaNaK (TNK) is comprised of The Law (Torah) (Gr. Pentateuch) Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy The Prophets (Nebi im) In Jamaica, Lucky Boy Ernie s Dog Hosea Jumped Around Often Joining Me Nearly Having Zero Hate, Zero Malice The Writings (Ketubim)

10 The Four Sources of the TANAK Yahwist (J) 9th BCE - Judah Elohist (E) 8th BCE Israel Deuteronomic (D) 7th BCE - Judah Priestly (P) 5th BCE Judah

11 In The Beginning - Genesis Mankind requires a beginning our dependence on time and space Greek en archai or In the Beginning The chaos of the world must be explained Creation is described in the Hebrew word Tobuwabahu (formless void) Tohu without form (God fixes this) Day 1 of creation sky Day 2 of creation water Day 3 of creation land Wabahu Emptiness (he fills it) Day 4 sun, stars, moon Day 5 birds and fish Day 6 beasts and man

12 Parallel Myths - Story of Creation Genesis Enuma Elish God creates all matter, but is The Divine Spirits and cosmic independent of it Earth is in matters coexist and are darkness and chaos over the coeternal. There is a primeval deep chaos in which the gods war against the deep 1st day the creation of light Light emanates from the gods 2nd day the dome of the sky is created creation of the firmament (dome) 3rd day creation of dry land creation of dry land 4th day creation of heavenly lights creation of heavenly lights 5th day creation of animals - 6th day creation of man creation of man God rests and sanctifies the sabbath the gods rest and celebrate with a banquet

13 Genesis Themes Power of God s Word (Logos) gives order and form God speaks and it happens Not the power of violence God s word brings structure God takes ordinary substances to make extraordinary creation God takes ordinary substances and gives it life God created us in his image He gives us his Ruhah (breath -life) We have a soul or spirit Tells man to subdue the earth (adam is the king made to dominate) (adama dirt) God creates us different than the beasts; we are his children Makes the 7th day Holy - we are made for heaven In gramatria, the number 7 means perfect or complete Numbers represent a thought or idea

14 Origin of Evil In the beginning, there is harmony. Man seems to get along with creation. God gives us a will to chose (free will) The initial harmony is destroyed by disobedience to the agreement with God (sin) Alienation is the result (THE FALL) Introduction of SIN (loss of privilege before God - opposite of Charity (charis gift)) The creature starts worshiping creation instead of the creator We hide ourselves in shame The departed are held in Sheol until the coming of Christ

15 Hope of Salvation Although it looks like the relationship is destroyed, God introduces mercy and hope He gives back His charis (grace) God promises Adam & Eve a Savior Man begins to toil reminded on Ash Wednesday Agrarian and Nomadic life (Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau)

16 God s Covenant With Us In the times before Jesus, God made special agreements with His people called covenants. God demonstrated His lasting love and commitment even though people turned against him. The word covenant in Hebrew is berit which means to shackle Some of the important covenants are: The covenant with Adam The covenant with Noah The covenant with Abraham The covenant with Moses

17 How are Covenants Arranged? Covenants have a preamble a prologue Stipulations document clause Witnesses curses and blessings

18 What Is Significant About A Covenant? Isn t a covenant the same thing as a contract? Although there are similarities between them, covenants have some very distinct characteristics which have effect on our lives Contract Involves an exchange of property Covenant Involves an exchange of each other Involves partnership Kinship is usually involved Involves a minor ritual Involves a ritual Can be legally broken Lasts forever A promise is made to make repayment or keep your end of the bargin A holy oath is taken between God and His people or on God s Holy Name

19 Why Are Covenants Important To Us? Although the covenants we listed are Old Covenants, they are still valid, since by definition they last forever and God s Word is eternal. However, these covenants were made with individuals such as Adam and Noah, or on a national level with God s chosen people, Israel. Those of us who were not Jewish had not received any promise of salvation. Jesus forever fulfilled the plan of salvation for all people, Jews and those of other nations alike by establishing a New Covenant Jesus gives us the law of His covenant: I give you a new commandment: Love one another. Such as my love has been for you, so must your love be for each other. This is how all will know you are my disciples: by your love for one another. (John 13:34-35)

20 Covenant and Sacrament - The Connection The New Covenant established by Jesus is the means of God s saving intent for us. The Greek word for God s saving intent is mysterion Mysterion is translated as sacramentum in later Latin translations of the Bible. Sacramentum had several different meanings to the ancient mind, but let s focus on one. Recruits to the Roman Army would take a preliminary legal oath to the commander of their unit. The word sacra means legal or holy, and mentum means oath When we speak of this legal oath, we are reminded of the attributes of a covenant

21 Covenant and Sacrament - The Connection Sacramentum is the solemn promise we make to the Lord in community to keep his commandment and remain in His covenant. Covenant God s commitment to us We are now God s adopted children The outward signs of the covenant The lasting effect of God s Word The solemn promise to uphold the covenant, witnessed by the community Involves an exchange of each other Kinship is usually involved Involves a ritual Lasts forever A holy oath is taken between God and His people or on God s Holy Name

22 What Does Scripture Say About Oaths? Jesus has sworn the oaths of the new covenant (in his sacred blood) Oaths are verbal and something more - you ritualize to carry it out. This is called ritual enactment (i.e., hand shake, sacrifice of an animal, circumcision - and baptism!) Doesn t Jesus repudiate the use of oaths in the passage above? No. Jesus only repudiates the misuse of covenant oaths. Oaths are misused when used for personal reasons (i.e., I swear on a stack of bibles that he is lying) In an oath, God s help is offered. Once an oath is taken, divine judgment will certainly be administered God will judge the oath breaker Oaths are permitted for judges, soldiers, and politicians. These people hold a sacred trust. "Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow.' But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more is from the evil one. (Matthew 5:33-38)

23 Questions? Special thanks to Mr. Cliff Wolf from Our Lady of Victory Parish, Crestview, FL who collaborated in the development of this presentation.