What is Salvation History? Unit 3

Article 9 Salvation History: God’s Revelation Salvation History is the pattern of events in human history in which God clearly reveals his presence and saving actions God’s saving hand has been at work in and through human history. Human history is salvation history in a way The one true God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – has been present and active in the lives of his People since the beginning Divine Revelation culminates with Jesus Christ God invites us to communion with the blessed Trinity

Article 10: Salvation History in the OT Salvation History as written in the scriptures reveals God Love for his people God invited Adam and Eve into intimate communion with him when they were created

Although God revealed his plans to Adam and Eve, Abraham and Moses, humanity’s inclination to sin stood in the way of God’s Plan Israelites continued to turn away from the Covenant and the Law God revealed himself to the prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel God remained faithful to the Covenant even when the people of Israel do not

Article 11: Jesus Christ: The Fullness of All Revelation Jesus Christ fully reveals God to us Gospel of John uses Greek word Logos – meaning Jesus Christ Because the Word (Jesus Christ) is God, we read about the Word in the Old Testament even before he becomes human as described in the New Testament

In the life of Jesus Christ, we see the glory of God In studying the life of Jesus Christ, who reveals the New Covenant, we come to know the fullness of salvation

Article 12: The Transmission of Divine Revelation Jesus Christ commanded that the Apostles tell all the peoples and nations what the heard and seen regarding the salvation of God Sacred Traditions will continue “under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to all generations until Christ returns in glory” CCC, 96 Apostolic Succession – the process by which the Apostles chose their successors, calling them bishop – they passed on the authority to teach and interpret the Scriptures and Traditions

These two pillars, the written, inspired Word of God and the living transmission of the Word of God, communicate effectively the whole of God’s Revelation. Neither can be understood without the other Deposit of Faith – the heritage of faith contained in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition

The task of interpreting the Deposit of Faith is given to the Magisterium – the living office of Church – made up of the Pope and all the bishops in communion with him, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit The Magisterium defines the dogma – doctrine – of faith

Class Directions Midterm project Come in Quietly Bags on floor Take a sheet from the back table Be ready for prayer Reflection: Created in God’s image Midterm project Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Reflection questions Discuss the qualities you have been given by God, how has God provided for you and what has He done for you?

Salvation History It is the history of God’s interaction with human beings. It records religious truth rather than historical truth

Original blessing and original sin

The Book of Genesis Is not a detailed, chronological account of history, but rather an account steeped in truth and meaning Genesis chapter 1-11, contains the stories known primeval history Time period before the intervention of writing and recording of historical data

Genesis and 4 books of the Pentateuch Illustrate God as the source of all creation Explain the role of humans in the origin of sin and its many devastating effects Shows God’s desire to be in communion with people Emphasizes the lasting effect to the Covenant God formed with Abraham

Creating: In the Beginning Several theological truths found in the Creation Story The Trinity intimately involved in creation, but “the work of creation is attributed to the Father in particular” (CCC 316) “God alone created the universe freely, directly, and without any help” (CCC 317)

Creation illustrates the holiness and goodness of all that was created Creation illustrates the holiness and goodness of all that was created. Truly visible in human beings, who are formed “in his image” (Gen 1:27) The glory of God lies within each of these creations, sometimes its visible and other times it is not.

Gen 2:5 - 3:24 Creation and the Fall of humanity God made the first person from the earth and breathed life into him (Gen2:7) God “took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it” (Gen 2:15) God created women from man, and the man said, “This one, … is bone of my bones/ and flesh of my flesh” (Gen 2:23)

God gave man this order: “You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and bad. From that tree you shall not eat from it you are surely doomed to die (Gen 2: 16-17)

Gen 3:1-24 Humanity’s fall The serpent tempts – “ you certainly will not die! No, god knows well that the moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods who know what is good and what is bad” (Gen 3:4-5)

We are created to live according to God’s law always in a right relationship with God and others God gave man and woman all they needed, including life – Their disobedience to God’s one rule disrespected their Creator and showed a desire to be equal to him

Original sin – humanity’s fall Sin is a deliberate offense – in thought, word or deed – against the will of God The choice to give in to the Devil’s temptation and disobey God marks the 1st sin in salvation history – Origin Sin and is referred to as “the fall” By Original Sin the 1st humans disobeyed God and thereby lost their original holiness and became subject to death – all descendants of Adam and Eve are deprived of original holiness – except Mary and Jesus

God’s Covenants Even though we sinned God “promised us salvation (Gen 3:15) and offered us his covenant” (CCC, 70) God punishes his children justly but continued to love and protect them God’s love, as revealed in Jesus Christ, is the only way to end the cycle of sin and evil. Jesus redeemed humanity and broke the bonds of Original Sin.

Disrespect for humanity and life is disrespect for God, the creator God respects those who respect his creation and law The stories of Adam and Eve and Noah are the opening moments of salvation history and show God’s desires to be in a relationship with humanity God did not abandon humanity at the Fall, instead that is the moment salvation history began, to help humanity return to a committed relationship with God

The Relationship between Judaism and Christianity

Covenant – What is it? Covenant refers to a solemn agreement between human beings or between God and a human being in which mutual commitments are made. Is like a promise between between two people or groups Every relationship has responsibilities for those involved When those involved do not uphold their responsibilities, consequences usually follow

Both Jews and Christians recognize four covenantal events in salvation history

First covenant with Noah God made a covenant with Noah to never destroy the earth with a flood (Gen. 9:1-17) God promised he would never abandon humanity

2nd covenant with Abraham & Sarah God promised to give them descendants who would become a great nation (Gen. 12:1-3, 15:1-21) It was marked by the circumcision of all male descendants of Abraham and Sarah

3rd covenant – The Sinai Covenant At Mount Sinai God renewed the Covenant with Abraham’s descendants, giving the Ten Commandments It established the Israelite people as God’s Chosen People (Ex 19-20) A system of laws and rituals of sacrifice was the outward sign of the Sinai Covenant

4th covenant Again God renewed the Sinai Covenant with King David and affirmed the promise that the House of David would stand forever (2 Samuel 7:8-17)

How do we participate in these covenants today? Group discussion How do we participate in these covenants today?

The ways we participate in the Covenants today One way important way both Jews and Christians celebrate their covenant relationship with God is through rituals, holidays and festivals Rituals and festivals are ways to remember and celebrate major events of salvation history There are significant connections between Jewish rituals and festivals and Christian rituals and festivals, because we share part of the same history and because Jesus and many early followers were Jewish