Dogma for PrServants DG 8CR 5We Believe in
Dogma for Pr-Servants DG 8_CR 5_We Believe in The Lord Jesus Christ a) Divinity of Christ b) The Doctrine of Incarnation c) The Doctrine of Redemption April 9, 2011
The Creed CR 1 & 2: We believe in One God, God the Father who created heaven and earth: v v God (CR 1) Trinity (CR 2) CR 3: We believe in One Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, Begotten of the Father before all ages, Light of Light, True God of True God, Begotten not made, One essence with the Father : v Divinity of Christ CR 4: Who for us all and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnated of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary and became Man. v Incarnation of Christ
The Creed “Cont’d” CR 5: And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried. And on the third day He rose from the dead, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into the heavens; and sat at the right hand of His Father and also He is coming again in His glory to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom has no end: v Christ Redemption
The Doctrine of Redemption 1) Introduction 2) Paving the way for Redemption 3) Steps of Redemption a) State of Humiliation b) State of Exaltation 4) The blessings of Redemption 5) Salvation Common Questions
1) Introduction + “God created man in His own image; in the image of God” Gen 1: 27 + After the fall, this image (human nature) was distorted and Adam “begot a son in his own likeness, after his image (i. e. with the corrupted nature)” Gen 5: 3 and thus death passed to Adam’s descendents; Rom 5: 12 + Result of the fall: - “for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” Gen 2: 17 - “cursed is the ground for your sake” Gen 3: 17
The Effect of Adam’s Sin Imputed Sin/Guilt: Rom. 5: 12, 18 Inherited Sin: Ps. 51: 5
Adam’s Sin • The essence of sin is the failure to love and thank God for all the paradise blessings. • Adam and Eve refused the “divine love”, preferring instead life on their own. • Separated from communion with God, mankind became enslaved to its own self-centeredness • Only one thing could accomplish this – a love stronger than death
The problem of Man after Fall • Man was created for union with God, but after the fall, there were three obstacles in the way: – Adam’s sin against God – Death penalty – Corrupted human nature • How were these obstacles conquered?
God’s Mercy/Justice + God’s mercy vs. justice required unlimited atonement that the human nature is restored + The savior should have these characteristics (only fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ): • Unlimited => “I am the Alpha and the Omega” Rev 1: 8 • Sinless => “Which of you convicts Me of sin? ” Jn. 8: 46 • Human => The Lord Jesus Christ was called the “Son of Man”; thirsty, hungry, tired, sleeping, etc. • Mortal => Our Lord is immortal in His divinity but assumed a human nature liable to die.
The Doctrine of Redemption 1) Introduction 2) Paving the way for Redemption 3) Steps of Redemption a) State of Humiliation b) State of Exaltation 4) The blessings of Redemption 5) Salvation Common Questions
2) Paving the way for Redemption • Prophesies: Zech 11: 12, 12: 10, Ps. 22, 31: 5, 3: 5 - “weighed out for my wages thirty piece of silver” Zech 11: 12 - Psalm of the Cross (Ps. 22): “God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? ” - “I lay down and slept, ; I awoke …” Ps. 3: 5 • Personalities of the OT: Noah, Melchsadek, Isaac, Joseph, Joshua, Jonah, etc. • Symbols: copper serpent, Passover lamb, etc. • Sacrifices: burnt, flour, sin, peace
The Doctrine of Redemption 1) Introduction 2) Paving the way for Redemption 3) Steps of Redemption a) State of Humiliation b) State of Exaltation 4) The blessings of Redemption 5) Salvation Common Questions
3. Steps of Redemption A) State of Humiliation: - The Incarnation and virginal birth of Christ - Suffering of Christ: “Despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” Is. 53: 3 - Death of Christ: as a human - Burial of Christ - Descent into Hades
Obedient unto Death • The Incarnation is an act of identification and sharing • God incarnate enters into all our experience. As the prophet Isaiah said – “Surely he has borne our grieves and carried our sorrow”
Obedient unto Death • Christ freely chose to die for us on the cross. • The death of Christ on the cross is in itself a victory. The victory of suffering love. • Because of love, Christ offered himself as a sacrifice, choosing voluntarily to go to His passion, as He said: – “I lay down my life for my sheep…No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of Myself”
The Power of the Cross • The power of God is shown, not so much in his creation of the world or in any of his miracles, but rather in the fact that out of love God has “emptied Himself”, has poured Himself out in generous self-giving • God is never so strong as when he is most weak • Through the cross, the suffering of the saints and believers receive their meaning. The saints, sharing in the suffering of Christ, also share in His resurrection that follows.
3. Steps of Redemption “Cont’d” B) State of Exaltation: - Resurrection - Ascension - At God’s right hand - Come again
The resurrection • The Crucifixion is itself a victory; but on Great Friday the victory is hidden, whereas on Easter Sunday, it is made manifest • Christ rises from the dead, and by His rising, he delivers us from anxiety and terror • St. John Chrysostom said: – “Let none fear death, for the death of the Lord has set us free. ”
The Resurrection in the Orthodox Experience The deepest foundation of the hope and joy which characterizes Orthodoxy is the Resurrection: • Easter, the center of Orthodox worship, is an explosion of joy, the same joy which the disciples felt when they saw the risen Savior. • It is the explosion of cosmic joy at the triumph of life, after the overwhelming sorrow over death – death which even the Lord of life had to suffer. • All things are now filled with the certainty of life, whereas before all had been moving steadily toward death.
The Doctrine of Redemption 1) Introduction 2) Paving the way for Redemption 3) Steps of Redemption a) State of Humiliation b) State of Exaltation 4) The blessings of Redemption 5) Salvation Common Questions
4. Blessings of Redemption -Man’s salvation (through baptism) - Conquered death - Conquered Satan - Reconciled with God the Father & sanctified by the Holy Spirit (Confirmation) - Forgiven of sins (Repentance & Communion) - Permitted to inherit the eternal life
The Doctrine of Redemption 1) Introduction 2) Paving the way for Redemption 3) Steps of Redemption a) State of Humiliation b) State of Exaltation 4) The blessings of Redemption 5) Salvation Common Questions
5) Salvation Common Questions 1) Since the death of our Lord satisfied the Divine Justice, why then do we still die? a) Physical death of the body: 1 Cor 15: 26, 53, 55, Phil 1: 21, liturgy: “For there is no death for your servants, but a departure” b) Spiritual death due to sin: Rev 3: 1, Luke 15: 24, Mt. 8: 22
5) Salvation Common Questions “Cont’d” 2) What is the fault of the people who lived before the coming of Christ or those who did not hear the message of the Gospel? a) “Since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen…so that they are without excuse” Rom 1: 20 b) There are different levels of punishment: “Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city” Mt 10: 15
5) Salvation Common Questions “Cont’d” 3) Is faith alone sufficient for salvation? • Faith and Works are the 2 wings of salvation: “You see then that a man is justified by works and not by faith only” James 2: 24 • Bible verses that mention faith only (Acts 16: 31, Luke 19: 9, etc. ) should be understood that salvation starts with faith and confirmed with continuous life of good works (Acts 26: 19 -20, Mt 7: 21, James 2: 14, 26
5) Salvation Common Questions “Cont’d” 4) If faith alone is not sufficient for salvation, how can you explain the salvation of the Right Thief? • • • According to HH Pope Shenouda III, the Right Thief accomplished 10 good works: http: //www. suscopts. org/servantsprep/pdf/DGM/D GM 101_lectures. pdf Last Chapter: The Salvation of The Thief
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