Our Catholic Faith Living What We Believe CHAPTER 2 Jesus Christ: Lord and Savior  Encouraging Words  Beliefs about Jesus Christ  Evidence for Jesus and His Life  Mysteries of Christ’s Life  Christ Died for Our Sake  What We Believe about Jesus

Chapter 2 Jesus Christ: Lord and Savior Encouraging Words The life of Jesus Christ is “the greatest story ever told.” Christ inspired countless of his followers throughout the ages to love in imitation of him. One such follower was Thomas S. VanderWoude.

Chapter 2 Jesus Christ: Lord and Savior Encouraging Words Gospel 1. “Good News” 2. Jesus’ own preaching 3. the preaching about Jesus the Savior 4. the four Spirit-inspired written versions of the Good News

Chapter 2 Jesus Christ: Lord and Savior Beliefs about Jesus Christ Yahweh had gradually revealed himself throughout history, but in Christ, God himself came to the world in the person of Son. In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors, through the prophets; in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe. Hebrews 1:1-2

Chapter 2 Jesus Christ: Lord and Savior Beliefs about Jesus Christ Why did the Word become flesh? 1. to save us from sin, death, and eternal separation from God 2. so that thus we might know God’s love 3. to be our model of holiness 4. to make us sharers in his divine nature In the Beginning was the word

Chapter 2 Jesus Christ: Lord and Savior Beliefs about Jesus Christ Jesus’ threefold office: Prophet – one who speaks for God Priest – a mediator between God and humans King – a leader and ruler

Chapter 2 Jesus Christ: Lord and Savior Beliefs about Jesus Christ Titles and symbols for Jesus Christ “anointed one” Lord Jesus is God Son of Man Son of God Jesus “God saves” Suffering Servant

Old Testament New Testament Chapter 2 Jesus Christ: Lord and Savior Evidence for Jesus and His Life Sources for the existence of Jesus of Nazareth: 1. ancient historians 2. The New Testament 3. The Gospels – the heart of the Bible … does not contradict… … is fulfilled in… … continues in … … salvation is extended to all people in … Old Testament Old Covenant New Testament New Covenant

Letters/Epistles Highlights the importance of faith in Jesus Christ Chapter 2 Jesus Christ: Lord and Savior Evidence for Jesus and His Life The New Testament The Revelation to John Encourages persecuted Christians to remain faithful to Christ Catholic Letters Encourages the universal Church to remain faithful to Christ Letters/Epistles Highlights the importance of faith in Jesus Christ Acts of the Apostles Recounts history of the Church from Pentecost until A.D. 63 The Gospels Testify to Salvation in Jesus Christ

The Formation of the Gospels Chapter 2 Jesus Christ: Lord and Savior Evidence for Jesus and His Life The Formation of the Gospels Stage 3 The N.T. Writings The actual writing of the four Gospels and other NT writings Stage 2 Oral Tradition Four Forms: 1. Kerygma – preaching to unbelievers 2. Didache – catechesis 3. Liturgy – celebration of the Eucharist 4. Diakonia – service to others Stage 1 The Historical Jesus The life of Jesus Christ

Chapter 2 Jesus Christ: Lord and Savior Mysteries of Christ’s Life The Four Evangelists The Gospel of Matthew Written for Jewish Christians Emphasizes Jesus as the New Lawgiver The Gospel of Mark Written for Gentile Christians Stresses Jesus as Suffering Servant The Gospel of Luke Written for Gentile Christians Highlights Jesus as Universal Messiah The Gospel of John Reflects a more developed theology Presents Jesus as God’s unique Word

Chapter 2 Jesus Christ: Lord and Savior Mysteries of Christ’s Life Mysteries of Jesus’ early life: Jesus was born into poverty He came as one of the lowly and poor His circumcision incorporated him into the Chosen People At the Epiphany he manifested himself as the Savior of all people His presentation in the Temple revealed him to be the firstborn son who belongs to God The flight into Egypt and the slaughter of the innocents show how the forces of evil war against him

Chapter 2 Jesus Christ: Lord and Savior Mysteries of Christ’s Life Mysteries of Jesus’ public life: As God-made-flesh, everything about Jesus’ life on earth reveals the Father Jesus is the model for human living At his baptism, Jesus accepted and launched his mission to be God’s Suffering Servant His temptations by Satan help him identify with humanity The heart of his message: God’s kingdom is coming in Jesus’ very person His message requires an immediate response: repentance and faith in him

Chapter 2 Jesus Christ: Lord and Savior Mysteries of Christ’s Life Jesus’ proclamation of the Good News: 1. God’s Kingdom is here: We can see God’s presence in love, forgiveness, healing, compassion, works of justice, and goodness. 2. God is a loving Father: We can approach our Gather with simple, childlike confidence and trust that he will answer our prayers. 3. Jesus is present in his Church: Jesus remains with us through his Body, the Church, which he established through the Apostles. 4. To accept Jesus is to accept his Cross: A Christian life requires self-denial and sacrifice.

Chapter 2 Jesus Christ: Lord and Savior Mysteries of Christ’s Life Signs of God’s Kingdom: 1. miracles – reveal that God’s Kingdom was present in his very person and prove that he is the Messiah, the Son of God 2. transfiguration – a special foretaste of the Kingdom and revelation of all three persons of the Blessed Trinity Thy Kingdom Come

Chapter 2 Jesus Christ: Lord and Savior Christ Died for Our Sake The fruits of Christ’s sacrifice: 1. repairs the broken relationship between God and man 2. bestows God’s blessings, grace, and life on humankind and adopts us into God’s family 3. brings forgiveness for our sins and redeems us from sin, evil, and death

Chapter 2 Jesus Christ: Lord and Savior Mysteries of Christ’s Life The Resurrection: 1. was a real event 2. the Apostles and disciples believed when they actually saw Jesus 3. Christ conquered Satan and destroyed the power of death 4. is proof of Jesus’ divinity

Chapter 2 Jesus Christ: Lord and Savior What We Believe about Jesus Heresies Monophysitism Christ’s divine nature absorbed his human nature, effectively destroying Jesus’ true humanity Nestorianism Christ was two persons; Mary was the mother of the human Jesus, not the divine Jesus Gnostic Docetism God could not have actually taken on human flesh; Jesus only appeared to be a man Arianism God the Father created Jesus as the greatest of creatures but Jesus was not equal to God

Chapter 2 Jesus Christ: Lord and Savior VOCABULARY Gospel (41) Incarnation (42) Jesus (43) Christ (43) Salvation (43) Lord (44) Apostles (43) Blasphemy (43) Parables (46) Evangelists (47) Catechesis (48) Mystery (50) Epiphany (52) Virgin Birth (52) The Paschal Mystery (53) Kingdom of God (54) Ransom (57) Parousia (60) Pentecost (60) Heresy (61)

Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner. Chapter 2 Jesus Christ: Lord and Savior Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner. The Jesus Prayer