Christianity 101: Session Four TIMELINE OF SALVATION
Presentation of Ponderings Reminders: Jesus is Yeshuah which means Yahweh saves Jesus gives His title to HIMSELF ( I Am ) The Jesus Question Nora is better than Fr. Jonathan Pondering Prompt: Why is it important for salvation that God became man?
I KNOW THAT JESUS GIVES US SALVATION, SO IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I REALLY NEED to KNOW?
IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT SALVATION ACTUALLY IS WE HAVE TO KNOW WHY
LET S GO BACK IN TIME to the OLD TESTAMENT
The Fall of Humanity Read Genesis 3: 1-7, 8-13, and 14-19
The Fall of Humanity Genesis 3: 1-7, 8-13, and 14-19 Adam and Eve are tempted by the serpent in the Garden of Eden The tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil The one tree of which you may not eat. You will be like gods who know good and evil. -devil
This sin had very little to do with fruit. It was a way to opt out of God s gift. Pride Humanity wishes to become like God. We decide for ourselves what is good and evil, but don t have the proper information to do this. Selfishness Notice our nakedness: Human vulnerability without God Fear
Original Sin Original, from the origin or starting point Original sin is passed on to all descendants of Adam and Eve It is removed by Baptism, but the effects remain As such, even a baptized person passes Original Sin on to their children.
Read YOUCAT Conf. Book 3.4, pg. 28
Important Elements of the Garden of Eden God promises to send a redeemer A woman brings the fruit of the tree of knowledge of Good and Evil to Man (humanity). This is not to blame Eve, but to note an important historical point. Adam and Eve choose to go against God out of Pride.
Out of humility, Mary agrees to conform her will to God s Through this act of humility, Mary (the new Eve) brings the fruit of her womb to the world.
The Word becomes Man The first Eve leads humanity into sin through pride, the new Eve leads humanity back into unity with God through humility.
The Contrast of the New Adam and Eve Adam and Eve Sin of Pride Chose what is right and wrong for themselves. Fruit is taken from the Tree and causes sin and death Mary and Jesus Virtue of humility Accepted God s will Fruit of Mary s womb is lifted up on the dead wood of the cross, becoming the tree of life.
The Contrast of the New Adam and Eve Adam and Eve Chose Selfishness Denied their humanity in attempt to become like God Mary and Jesus Chose sacrificial love Jesus lowers himself to becoming human and embraces the humanity
Why did the Word become Flesh? in order to save us by reconciling us with God. so that we might know God s love. to be our model of holiness. (way, truth, life) to make us partakers of the divine nature. The only-begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in his divinity, assumed our nature, so that he, made man, might make men gods. St. Thomas A.
(Title page with many scenes from Jesus Life)
John the Baptist I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord. as Isaiah the prophet said. -John 1:23
Jesus is baptized in the Jordan by St. John the Baptist. Jesus spends 3 years in his public ministry. Jesus goes up to Jerusalem
The Last Supper Jesus celebrates the Passover with his disciples. Two ways of calculating Passover, one on Thursday night, the other on Saturday. He offers the first sacrifice of the Mass. Blessing the bread and wine, which causes the substance to change into his body and blood while leaving the outward appearance the same.
do THIS IN Do this in memory of me. MEMORYof ME
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SAY THAT JESUS SUFFERED?
Jesus is truly human, with a human body and Soul
The Agony in The Garden Read MT. 26:39 Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prays for about three hours. Asks Apostles to pray with him, but they fall asleep. Sweats drops of blood.
SUFFERED under PONTIUS PILATE
WHY IS PONTIUS PILATE MENTIONED BY NAME IN THE CREED?
Pontius Pilate is the Roman Governor of Judea at the time of Jesus crucifixion. This is a concrete historical reference. It sets the location of Jesus death. It sets the time frame of Jesus death. It shows that this is NOT a fairy tale, it happened!
WAS CRUCIFIED
Bottom line, the Crucifixion was for sinners (US) that Jesus accepted death on a cross. where Jesus offered himself to the Father as the atonement or expiation for our sins, freely offering himself for our salvation. destined for us, but Jesus dies in our place.
DIED In Christian Theology, death is marked by the soul leaving the body.
WAS BURIED He s buried in a nearby tomb.
DESCENDED INTO HELL What is Hell? Hell is the place where God is not. Why would Jesus go to Hell? He becomes the bridge between Heaven and the place of the dead. This Opens the Gates of Heaven He greets the Patriarchs and the righteous as he opens the gates of Heaven.
on the THIRD DAY He rose again FROM THE DEAD After three days, His soul reunites with his body. This is called the Resurrection. We celebrate the resurrection on Easter.
He ascended into Heaven Jesus Ascends body and soul into Heaven (Mary is Assumed) Ascended means under ones own power. It also refers to a king taking his throne. Assumed means drawn up by someone else. This marks the irreversible entry of Jesus humanity (body and soul) into divine glory, symbolized by the cloud and heaven.
SEATED at the right hand of the Father The Right hand of the King A person close to the king, who is entrusted to rule in the King s name. It is a position of: Trust, Honor, and Authority. What does Jesus do at the right hand of the Father? He intercedes on our behalf. He reigns as King of Heaven and Earth.
JUDGE the LIVING & the DEAD Judgement Day Jesus will return one day to judge all that are still alive and all who are dead.
Two Judgements 1. Particular Judgement Happens at the moment of death. This irrevocably settles the soul s salvation or damnation Although, a time of purgation may be necessary. 2. Universal Judgement Happens after second coming of Christ & resurrection. All are reunited with their bodies, the body then shares in the glory or suffering of the soul. When the Glory of God is revealed. A judgement on history.
QUESTIONS?????
PONDERING QUESTION: Imagine you are an Apostle watching Jesus ascend into Heaven. What do we do now that He is gone?