God Sends His Son

The numbers in parenthese that follow the questions refer to related paragraphs in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

God Sends His Son

1. What is salvation history?
2. Do we have a part in salvation history?
3. What are the greatest of God's saving actions?
4. When did salvation history start?
5. What is the Good News?
6. How is it that we believe in Jesus Christ?
7. What does the name "Jesus" mean?
8. What does the title "Christ" mean?
9. What does the title "Lord" mean?
10. What does the title "Son of God" mean?
11. Why did the Son of God become a man?
12. What is the Incarnation?
13. Is Jesus truly God and truly man?
14. What can we understand about Jesus' being both God and man?
15. What do we mean by nature and person?
16. Is Jesus still both God and man?
17. How is the Son of God man?
18. If he was God, why do we say that Jesus did the Father's will?
19. Was there a limit to Christ's human knowledge?
20. Do we venerate Christ's human body?
21. How do we depict the human love of Christ for us?
22. How did God prepare the world for the coming of Christ?
23. Where do we learn about the life and teachings of Jesus?
24. Why do the Gospels not provide more complete information about the life of Jesus?
25. What is the Annunciation?
26. Is Mary really the Mother of God?
27. What is the Immaculate Conception?
28. What is the virgin birth?
29. Why do the Gospels refer to "brothers and sisters" of the Lord?
30. How is St. Joseph related to Jesus and Mary?

1. What is salvation history?
Salvation history is the story of God's loving action in the lives of human beings to free them from sin and to bring them to himself.

2. Do we have a part in salvation history?
We can cooperate with God's loving plan by sharing in the life of grace which he makes available to us through the Church.

3. What are the greatest of God's saving actions?
The Incarnation, death and resurrection of Jesus, God's only-begotten Son, are his greatest saving actions, through which our redemption was accomplished.

4. When did salvation history start?
Salvation history started at the time of our first parents, who sinned seriously and lost God's grace for themselves and their descendants. Sin began to spread in the world, but God did not abandon the human race. He continually offered a covenant to us and through the prophets taught us about his great love for us. When the right time came, God sent his Son to die for our sins and lead us to eternal life.

Now, by the working of the Holy Spirit, God continues to bring to all people the salvation that Jesus won for us on Calvary's cross. (54ff.)

With every manner of wisdom and understanding he made known to us the mystery of his will, according to the purpose he displayed in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time-to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on earth (Eph 1:8-10).

5. What is the Good News?
The Good News is that God has sent his Son Jesus Christ to redeem us, as promised to Abraham and his descendants. (422-424)

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman...so we could be adopted as God's sons (Gal 4:4-5).

6. How is it that we believe in Jesus Christ?
God the Father has chosen us, and his Holy Spirit has moved our hearts to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and our Savior. (424)

Simon Peter replied, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God!" (Mt 16:16).

7. What does the name "Jesus" mean?
In Hebrew, "Jesus" means "God saves." At the annunciation the angel Gabriel gave him this name, which summarizes Jesus' identity and mission. (430-435)

Salvation comes from no one else, for no other name under heaven has been given to us by which we may be saved (Acts 4:12).

8. What does the title "Christ" mean?
"Christ" is a Greek word derived from the Hebrew "Messiah," which means "anointed." In order to fulfill his unique mission, Jesus was anointed as priest, prophet and king. (436-440)

So let the whole house of Israel know beyond any doubt-this Jesus whom you crucified God made both Lord and Messiah (Acts 2:36).

9. What does the title "Lord" mean?
The title "Lord" is derived from the Greek "Kyrios," which Christian scribes used to translate the Hebrew name for God, YHWH. (446-451, 455)

No one can say, "Jesus is Lord!" except under the influence of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:3).

10. What does the title "Son of God" mean?
When used to describe Jesus Christ, the title "Son of God" acknowledges his divine son ship. It is not used in the common biblical sense of adoptive son ship nor of intimate relationship as in the case of angels, the Israelites or their kings, but to declare the fact that Jesus Christ is truly the God-Man. (441-445, 454)

And we saw his glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father (Jn 1:14).

11. Why did the Son of God become a man?
The Son of God became a man to teach us what to believe, to show us the right way to live, and above all to die and rise for our salvation. Jesus came to: (461)

reconcile us to God in order to save us (457);

manifest God's love to us (458);

offer us himself as the model of holiness (459);

make us sharers in his divine nature (460).

In these last days he [God] has spoken to us through a Son... (Heb 1:2).

12. What is the Incarnation?
The Incarnation means that God the Son, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, took to himself a human nature and became a true man-Jesus of Nazareth. (461-463)

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (Jn 1:14).

13. Is Jesus truly God and truly man?
Jesus is truly God and truly man. (464)

We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we can know the One who is true, and we are in the true One, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and everlasting life (2 Jn 20).

14. What can we understand about Jesus' being both God and man?
Jesus is only one Person, and that Person is God the Son. Because he has two natures-the divine nature and a human nature-he is both God and man. This mystery is called the hypostatic union. (252, 464-469)

No one has ever seen God; the only begotten Son of God, who is in the bosom of the Father he has revealed him (Jn 1:18).

15. What do we mean by nature and person?
Nature is what something or someone is; person is who someone is. Jesus is one Person with two natures. This is a great mystery of our faith. (467)

16. Is Jesus still both God and man?
Yes, Jesus is still both God and man and will continue to be so forever.

17. How is the Son of God man?
The Son of God assumed a human nature. This means that everything Christ is and does expresses his divinity through his human intellect, will and body.(470)

Have I been with you so long and yet you do not recognize me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father! How can you say, "Show us the Father"? Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? (Jn 14:9-10).

18. If he was God, why do we say that Jesus did the Father's will?
Jesus possesses two natures and all their operations. The human and divine natures are in total agreement because they belong toone Person, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. (475)

The Father who abides in me does his works (Jn 14:10).

19. Was there a limit to Christ's human knowledge?
Yes, as man Christ's human knowledge was limited by the historical conditions surrounding him. However, he also had divine knowledge of the eternal plan of God and divine insight into the thoughts of other persons. (472-474)

If I told you about earthly things and you did not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? (Jn 3:12).

20. Do we venerate Christ's human body?
We certainly venerate Christ's human body and images of it because with it he expressed his divinity, and by his suffering and death he redeemed us. (476-477)

Since through the blood of Jesus we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the new and living way he opened for us through the curtain-that is, the way of his flesh-and since we have a great high priest who has charge over God's household, let us approach with true hearts and the full assurance of our faith... (Heb 10:19-22).

21. How do we depict the human love of Christ for us?
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus illustrates the love Jesus had for his Father and for each of us. (478)

And this life I live now in the flesh, I live through faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me (Gal 2:20).

22. How did God prepare the world for the coming of Christ?
Over the centuries, God gradually prepared the world for the coming of Christ, especially through the work of the prophets. His immediate forerunner was John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus with the baptism of repentance. During Advent the Church prepares for Christ's coming in the spirit of John the Baptist. (522-526)

You yourselves bear witness to me that I said, "I am not the Messiah," but that I am the one sent before him (Jn 3:28).

23. Where do we learn about the life and teachings of Jesus?
We learn about the life and teachings of Jesus from the New Testament, especially the Gospels.

24. Why do the Gospels not provide more complete information about the life of Jesus?
The Gospels have the specified purpose of announcing that God has visited and redeemed his people in his Son Jesus Christ. The information it gives is sufficient for this purpose. (514)

Now there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I do not suppose the world itself would have room for the books that would be written (Jn 21:25).

25. What is the Annunciation?
The Annunciation is the day (usually celebrated March 25) on which the Church recalls the Angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary that she was to be the Mother of God, her acceptance, and the Incarnation of the Son of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. (484-486)

The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the holy child to be born will be called Son of God." Mary said, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word" (Lk 1:34-35, 38).

26. Is Mary really the Mother of God?
Yes, Mary is really the Mother of God, because Jesus, the son truly born of her, is also the eternal Son of God. Mary is called Theotokos, the God-bearer. (495)

"But how is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Lk 1:43).

27. What is the Immaculate Conception?
The Immaculate Conception means that Mary was conceived without original sin and endowed with grace. This special privilege was given to her because Christ would be born of her. In 1854 Pope Pius IX proclaimed the Immaculate Conception a dogma, and it is celebrated on December 8.(490-493)

God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him (Eph 1:4).

28. What is the virgin birth?
The virgin birth means that Mary remained a virgin before, during and after the birth of Christ. (496-501)

Mary said to the angel, "How will this come about, since I do not know man?" (Lk 1:34).

29. Why do the Gospels refer to "brothers and sisters" of the Lord?
When the Gospels speak of brothers and sisters of Jesus, the reference is to close relatives such as cousins, or perhaps fellow citizens of his home town. We can't verify their identity, but we know they cannot be Mary's children because she was perpetually a virgin. (500)

Look, your mother and brothers are outside asking for you (Mk 3:22).

30. How is St. Joseph related to Jesus and Mary?
Joseph was the true spouse of Mary and the foster father of Jesus. Joseph was guardian of the Virgin and her Child, and provided for Jesus and cared for him as a father for his son. He also taught Jesus a trade and initiated him into the religion of his people. (497)

Is not this the carpenter's son? (Mt 13:55).