Theology 2 Semester 1
The Original State of Man
God created us in his own image and likeness. He created Adam and eve to share in is love and friendship, he also gave them the capacity to love and have knowledge. Adam and Eve had a clear awareness of God, to which they had a happy and loving relationship with him.
Life was like paradise.
Original Sin and its Consequences
God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to watch over it. They had full range of the garden, but were forbidden to eat fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God notified Adam and Eve that disobedience would cause the consequence of death. Adam and Eve ate from the tree causing the birth of original sin. They lost the privilege of being united with God. This division of their relationship with God left a wound in the human soul.
The Word Became Flesh
Jesus Christ is the Word through whom all things were created. The world's creation was accomplished by the second person of the Holy Trinity, God the Son. Jesus was additionally entrusted with redeeming the world to save us from our sins. Through God's eternal love and wisdom " The word became flesh." The word became flesh for expiation, reconciliation, and restoration. Christ is the sacrificial victim for the expiation off all sin. Secondly, the word became flesh to manifest God's love. God became man to show his love for each one of us. The word also became flesh to offer a model of holiness. Jesus was our example of holiness and show forth the dignity of the human person. Lastly, the word became flesh to allow a share in divine life. God became man because he wanted to experience his own divine life.
to manifest the infinite deph of God's love
to offer a model of holiness
to allow people to share in his divine life
How the Paschal mystery relates to Original Sin
When Adam and Eve brought sin into the world it created a barrier between man and God. Jesus died to save us from our sins. The Paschal Mystery is Christ's passion, death, and resurrection. All of the events had to be done because of original sin.
Theological Virtues
The theological virtues are faith, hope, and charity. The virtue of faith was placed in our soul at baptism to assist in accepting the truths that Jesus revealed through the church. Faith is what allows us to believe in Jesus even though we can't physically see him. Hope
is to trust in, wait for, look for, or desire something or someone; or to expect something beneficial in the future. Hope allows us to rely on and trust in the Lord. Charity enables a person to love God above all things.
Prayer
Prayer is how we communicate with God. through prayer we ask god for help and thank him for all that he has done. God answers every prayer. It may feel like God is not listening or he is not answering them, but he is.
The Four marks of the Church
The church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. The marks are essential because it is what distinguishes the true church founded by Christ and the other churches. The church is one, by stating this we are recognizing the church's uniqueness and singularity. We believe that Jesus instituted one church in and not multiple. Secondly, the church is holy, she receives her holiness from Christ. She is holy because her goal is the glory of God, also she is supposed to bring all men into communion with God. Also the church is Catholic, meaning the church is universal. The church is whole and complete. the church is Catholic because she has received universal authority from Jesus to fulfill her world wide mission. Lastly, the church is Apostolic. This is relating to the twelve apostles selected by Christ to be the foundation of the church. The church is considered apostolic because she was founded by the Apostles.
The Last Things
Once we die we will be judged by God. Depending on our actions on earth, our soul will either go to heaven, purgatory, or hell. Heaven is every persons goal, it is eternal life with God. In heaven everything is perfect: we will be united with our loved ones, we are with Jesus, and we will ever be hurt again. Purgatory is like a car wash, you need a little cleansing before being set free. If you are sent to Purgatory then you will be soon sent to heaven, it just depends on much cleansing you need. The punishment while being in purgatory is being able to see God but not be with him. Hell is eternal separation of the Lord. The devil is in hell to make it complete torture. If you are sent to hell then you will never see God again.
Parousia
Parousia is the the term used for the second coming of the Jesus. At the Parousia Christ will appear in power and majesty as judge and establish his kingdom which was inaugurated at the incarnation. We will witness the good and bad effects of human actions. The soul will be reunited with its immortal body at the resurrection. Jesus will then send the good to heaven and the bad to hell.