Jesus Preached to Share Divine Life with Human Beings (Contd):
Aim of Gospel proclamation: Paul instructs Timothy, his disciple and co-worker, to teach the Christians to pray for all humans, especially for those in authority, so that a quiet and peaceful life may be possible. Such prayer is right and approved by God whose will is that all should be saved and come to know the truth. "For there is one God, and also one mediator between God and the humans, Christ Jesus, himself man, who sacrificed himself to win freedom for all mankind, so providing, at the fitting time, proof of the divine purpose; of this I was appointed herald and apostle (this is no lie, but the truth), to instruct the nations in the true faith" (1 Timothy, 2: 5-7). Since there is only one God and one mediator between God and the humans, what the mediator achieved is applicable to all human beings equally. Jesus Christ became mediator by sacrificing himself on the cross whereby he won freedom for all mankind. After comparing the sin of all mankind through the sin of Adam and the righteousness of all through the righteousness of Jesus Christ, Paul says: "It follows, then, that as the issue of one misdeed was condemnation for all humans; so the issue of one just act is acquittal and life for all humans. For as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous" (Romans, 5: 18-19). The primary aim of the Gospel Proclamation should be to conscientize the people about what God had done for us and thus to lead them to true faith in God. In this function the Church should not be worried about its own survival and growth, rather self-sacrifice is the method shown by Jesus Christ to attract people to the true faith. The divine life freely offered to every human being should not be blocked through laws and traditions which are man-made. There is no divine law that goes against what is truly human as all laws are for the humans and not the humans for the laws.
Seeds of Divine Life: The identification of Jesus Christ with all men and women of all ages is the source of divine life offered to everyone. Although God Himself, by becoming man and subjecting himself to the level of a deeply despised servant of all and undergoing a death that violated his human dignity to its core, Jesus became the dispenser of divine life and the savior of the world. Thus Jesus Christ opened the gates of heaven to everyone by depositing in the human condition itself the seeds of divine life. Faith in the living God is the primary and initial seed implanted in every human heart, however faint that might be. It is our duty to nurture, sustain and develop this faith in the heart of every man and woman for which the Gospel Proclamation is a sure means offered by Jesus himself.
Presence of Jesus Christ: Jesus identified himself with us on various levels and through innumerable means. Living among us as the risen Lord, he made us his representatives in this world. Thus the Apostles and their successors were made his representatives with authority over the believers in him (See Matthew, 16: 18-19; 28: 18-20; John, 20: 21-23; 21: 15-17). However, this authority is not one of domination but of service in serving the people like a real servant (See Mark, 10: 42-45). All children, irrespective of caste and creed, are made the representatives of Jesus (See Mark, 9: 36-37). All peoples of nations and races, cultures and religions, especially the poor and the humble ones, are the representatives of Jesus Christ that will be revealed at the end of the world (See Matthew, 25: 31-360). That Jesus Christ is mysteriously present in every human being is the mystery revealed gradually by God for our salvation (See Colossians, 1: 27). The purpose of the Gospel Proclamation is to make every human being mature in Christ (See Colossians, 1: 28-29). In this background we must understand how the living God is the savior of all humans and especially of believers (See 1 Timothy, 4: 10). Jesus came to offer us divine life that is realized in our becoming the children of God Himself (See John, 1: 12-13). (To be Contd).
Aim of Gospel proclamation: Paul instructs Timothy, his disciple and co-worker, to teach the Christians to pray for all humans, especially for those in authority, so that a quiet and peaceful life may be possible. Such prayer is right and approved by God whose will is that all should be saved and come to know the truth. "For there is one God, and also one mediator between God and the humans, Christ Jesus, himself man, who sacrificed himself to win freedom for all mankind, so providing, at the fitting time, proof of the divine purpose; of this I was appointed herald and apostle (this is no lie, but the truth), to instruct the nations in the true faith" (1 Timothy, 2: 5-7). Since there is only one God and one mediator between God and the humans, what the mediator achieved is applicable to all human beings equally. Jesus Christ became mediator by sacrificing himself on the cross whereby he won freedom for all mankind. After comparing the sin of all mankind through the sin of Adam and the righteousness of all through the righteousness of Jesus Christ, Paul says: "It follows, then, that as the issue of one misdeed was condemnation for all humans; so the issue of one just act is acquittal and life for all humans. For as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous" (Romans, 5: 18-19). The primary aim of the Gospel Proclamation should be to conscientize the people about what God had done for us and thus to lead them to true faith in God. In this function the Church should not be worried about its own survival and growth, rather self-sacrifice is the method shown by Jesus Christ to attract people to the true faith. The divine life freely offered to every human being should not be blocked through laws and traditions which are man-made. There is no divine law that goes against what is truly human as all laws are for the humans and not the humans for the laws.
Seeds of Divine Life: The identification of Jesus Christ with all men and women of all ages is the source of divine life offered to everyone. Although God Himself, by becoming man and subjecting himself to the level of a deeply despised servant of all and undergoing a death that violated his human dignity to its core, Jesus became the dispenser of divine life and the savior of the world. Thus Jesus Christ opened the gates of heaven to everyone by depositing in the human condition itself the seeds of divine life. Faith in the living God is the primary and initial seed implanted in every human heart, however faint that might be. It is our duty to nurture, sustain and develop this faith in the heart of every man and woman for which the Gospel Proclamation is a sure means offered by Jesus himself.
Presence of Jesus Christ: Jesus identified himself with us on various levels and through innumerable means. Living among us as the risen Lord, he made us his representatives in this world. Thus the Apostles and their successors were made his representatives with authority over the believers in him (See Matthew, 16: 18-19; 28: 18-20; John, 20: 21-23; 21: 15-17). However, this authority is not one of domination but of service in serving the people like a real servant (See Mark, 10: 42-45). All children, irrespective of caste and creed, are made the representatives of Jesus (See Mark, 9: 36-37). All peoples of nations and races, cultures and religions, especially the poor and the humble ones, are the representatives of Jesus Christ that will be revealed at the end of the world (See Matthew, 25: 31-360). That Jesus Christ is mysteriously present in every human being is the mystery revealed gradually by God for our salvation (See Colossians, 1: 27). The purpose of the Gospel Proclamation is to make every human being mature in Christ (See Colossians, 1: 28-29). In this background we must understand how the living God is the savior of all humans and especially of believers (See 1 Timothy, 4: 10). Jesus came to offer us divine life that is realized in our becoming the children of God Himself (See John, 1: 12-13). (To be Contd).
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