PREPARING FOR THE MESSIAH

CHAPTER 2

THE STORY CONTINUES…

• TO THE SERPENT GOD SAID, “I WILL PUT ENMITY BETWEEN YOU AND THE

WOMAN(NEW EVE-MARY), AND BETWEEN YOUR SEED AND HERS(NEW ADAM-

JESUS); THEY WILL STRIKE AT YOUR HEAD, WHILE YOU STRIKE AT THEIR HEEL.”

PROTOEVANGELIUM- 1ST GOSPEL• EARLY CHURCH, SAW IN THIS THE FIRST PROPHECY OF THE MESSIAH.

WHAT IS A MESSIAH?

-ANOINTED ONE, PROMISED BY GOD, SAVED HUMANS FROM SIN

AND DEATH. CHRISTIANS SEE JESUS AS THE MESSIAH.

• THE SEED OF THE NEW EVE SENT TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE MADE BY SIN. TO

REMOVE THAT SIN AND THEREFORE, CRUSH/DEFEAT SATAN.

ALTHOUGH ORIGINAL SIN EXISTS…

• WE ARE NOT SLAVES TO ITS EFFECTS.

• ALTHOUGH WOUNDED, WE ARE NOT TOTALLY CORRUPT.

• WE CAN CHOOSE OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S WILL, THROUGH GOD’S GRACE WE

CAN CHOOSE GOOD.

THE STORY OF GOD’S RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS CHILDREN IS THE STORY OF A FAMILY…

WHAT IS A FAMILY?

A FAMILY IS…

• PEOPLE UNITED BY FLESH, BLOOD AND A COMMON NAME.

• WHERE/WHEN WE LEARN TO LIVE WITH AND LOVE OTHERS.

• REQUIRES A CONSTANT DYING TO SELF.

• AND, THIS IS WHERE THE DRAMA BEGINS…

THE OLD TESTAMENT

• IS THE BEGINNING OF THE DRAMA OF THE HUMAN FAMILY.

• GOD’S FAMILY, THE HUMAN FAMILY, CREATED LIKE THEIR FATHER.

• JPII- “GOD IN HIS DEEPEST MYSTERY IS NOT A SOLITUDE BUT A FAMILY, SINCE

HE HAS IN HIMSELF, FATHERHOOD, SONSHIP AND THE ESSENCE OF THE

FAMILY WHICH IS LOVE.”

• RECORD OF A LOVE LETTER FROM THE FATHER TO HIS CHILDREN

THE NEW TESTAMENT

• HOW THE MEMBERS OF GOD’S UNIVERSAL FAMILY, THE CHURCH, ARE UNITED

IN CHRIST’S FLESH AND BLOOD, THE EUCHARISTIC BANQUET.

• WE ARE UNITED BY A COMMON NAME THROUGH BAPTISM(REBIRTH AND

ADOPTION). “IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT.”

HOMEWORK--

•READ PP. 36-43. TAKE NOTES IN 2ND

SECTION OF YOUR NOTEBOOK.

•TITLE “CHAPTER 2: PREPARING FOR THE

MESSIAH” NOTES ON PP.36-43

•USE ANY FORMAT OF NOTE-TAKING.

“SCRIPTURE REVEALS HOW GOD…

• HAS USED COVENANTS TO FORGE FAMILY BONDS WITH HIS PEOPLE IN EVERY

AGE”- SCOTT HAHN

• FORGE- THE PROCESS OF MAKING AND SHAPING; LIKE METAL THAT IS HEATED

AND SHAPED INTO THE DESIRED OBJECT.

WHAT IS A COVENANT?• FROM THE LATIN, CONVENIRE, “TO COME TOGETHER”, “TO AGREE”

• A FORMAL, SOLEMN(SERIOUS), AND BINDING PACT BETWEEN 2 OR MORE

PARTIES.

• SWEARS AN OATH- PLACES HIMSELF UNDER DIVINE JUDGMENT IF ONE GOES

AGAINST THIS. (BINDS A PERSON FOR LIFE TO THE COMMITMENT, MADE

BEFORE GOD AND ENFORCED BY GOD.)

• EXAMPLES: IN A COURT OF LAW, HIPPOCRATIC OATH, MILITARY OATH, PRESIDENT

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF COVENANT?-CREATES A BOND OF PERSONS IN RELATIONSHIP, LIKE A FAMILY.

(-NOT MERELY A CONTRACT IN WHICH GOODS ARE EXCHANGED.)

-GOD IS THE FATHER, WHO LOVES ,GUIDES, CORRECTS, BLESSES, PUNISHES.

“I WILL BE THEIR GOD AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE…I WILL BE A FATHER TO

YOU AND YOU SHALL BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS. (2 COR. 6:16-18)

WHAT ARE THE BIBLICAL COVENANTS?• ADAM AND EVE

BLESSING: BE FERTILE AND MULTIPLY..

CONDITION: DO NOT EAT FROM THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND

EVIL.

SIGN: THE SABBATH

FAMILY FORM- MARRIAGE

NOAH AND FAMILY

• BLESSING- GOD WILL NEVER DESTROY THE EARTH BY MEANS OF A FLOOD; BE

FERTILE AND MULTIPLY.

• CONDITION- DO NOT DRINK THE BLOOD OF ANIMALS OR SHED HUMAN LIFE

• SIGN- RAINBOW

• FAMILY FORM- THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY

COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM

• BLESSING- LAND AND MANY DESCENDANTS

• CONDITION- CIRCUMCISION

• SIGN- CIRCUMCISION

• FAMILY FORM- TRIBE

COVENANT WITH MOSES

• BLESSING- GOD CHOSE THEM AS HIS SPECIAL PEOPLE.

• CONDITION- MUST KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS

• SIGN- THE PASSOVER- DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE

• FAMILY FORM- A HOLY NATION

COVENANT WITH DAVID

• BLESSING- GOD BECOMES OUR FATHER AND WE BECOME HIS CHILDREN

• CONDITION- REPROVE/CORRECT WITH A HUMAN ROD

• SIGN- SOLOMON’S TEMPLE

• FAMILY FORM- AN ETERNAL ROYAL KINGDOM

NEW COVENANT

• BLESSING- GOD’ LAW WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS; BELIEVERS BECOME THE

NEW CHOSEN PEOPLE

• CONDITION- BELIEF IN THE SON OF GOD, BAPTISM, EUCHARIST, LIVING AS

CHRISTIANS.

• SIGN- THE EUCHARIST

• FAMILY FORM- A UNIVERSAL KINGDOM, HIS CHURCH

HOMEWORK:

•READ PP. 44-55

•IN SECOND SECTION OF NOTEBOOK,

TAKE NOTES. TITLE “NOTES ON

CHAPTER 2, PP. 44-55”