B. Jesus’ Understanding of God 1. God as Father Jews held God in such awe they would not even use the word “Yahweh” to address him. Jesus used “Abba” for.

B. Jesus’ Understanding of God

1. God as Father

•Jews held God in such awe they would not even use the word “Yahweh” to address him.

•Jesus used “Abba” for God as Father, an Aramaic word for father, more like dad or daddy

A God Who Loves Without Condition

• Traditional Jewish Understanding:

–A loving God but had such great reverence they often thought of God as distant & removed.

• Jesus’ Teachings:

–New insights into the nature of God

–a caring parent with unlimited love for all

–People can place their trust in God

C. Jesus’ Understanding of the Command to Love

• Jesus said that “CONVERSION” – a change of heart, a turning from selfishness to openness to God & the call to love – is needed to recognize & fully participate in the Kingdom of God.

1. Not Just “Me & God”

• Kingdom is communal – new relationship between God &

individuals & among individuals.

2. The Jewish Roots of the Command to Love

• Deep sense of communal love, concern for the poor & generosity but

–Nationalism (Jewish sense of separation from all other cultures) &

–Legalism (minute rules over every aspect of life)

–could conflict with the command to love others.

3. Love Without Limits

• Called beyond the limits of Judaism to love all – even enemies

• a message unique to Jesus

• Good Samaritan story – (Lk. 10:25-37)

4. Love Expressed in Deeds

• Faith in God cannot be lived apart from service to people in need.

• Unlimited forgiveness – God’s willingness to forgive people - is very related to their willingness to forgive one another.

5. Jesus’ Teachings on Love: A Source of Challenge

• God’s will is for the good of all people

– when people conform their will to God’s will, there will be peace, joy & love for all

• that is how the Kingdom of God will be fully realized.

D. The Reign of God & the “Reign of Sin”

• Gospels:

–Jesus encounters the power of personal & communal sin as well as other forms of evil.

– God in Jesus does conquer all forms of evil

The story of Adam & Eve

• explains the presence of evil in the world

• acknowledges that all that has come from God is good.

People are responsible for evil & its effects

• because people choose to reject God, not God choosing to reject people.

Original Sin

• historic rupture between God & people

– the effects of which have been passed down from generation to generation.

Sin & evil do exist in the world

• the conflict between good & evil takes place in the hearts of individual people & in their relationship with one another.

1. Sin: Both Personal & Communal

• Personal, freely chosen actions:

– negative effects on the sinners as individuals & their relationships with others

• Social evil:

–affects all people because we live in community with one another

1. Sin: Both Personal & Communal

the effects of sinful actions of individuals accumulate over time into communal sin, which affects all who are born into it (war, poverty, destruction of the environment, etc.)

2. Evil not Caused by Sin

• Natural destruction

– earthquakes, hurricanes, etc.

E. The Kingdom Fulfilled Through Jesus

• Jesus claimed the Kingdom of God would be established through him

– saving the world from the effect of all evil by undoing the effects of original sin & reconciling all with God.

1. Jesus’ Claim to Divine Authority

• Called God his Father –himself as God’s Son–unique to Jesus –proclaimed intimacy between God &

all people• Being beyond the law- Jesus’ authority

was greater than the law–Forgiving sins – on behalf of God–Ridding the temple of injustice

2. God is Ultimately Victorious

• Jesus would “walk the talk”

–Kingdom of God: unlimited love & putting it into action by freely accepting death on the cross – through this Jesus conquered evil in all its manifestations.

• Love is stronger than hate.

• Good always wins over evil.

• Life – not death – has the last say.

3. Kingdom of God: Right Now, But Not Yet

• Jesus embodied the Kingdom of God – his own death is central in bringing about the Kingdom. His followers fully recognized the Kingdom only after his death.

• We must respond to Jesus’ invitation to enter the Kingdom – give our whole selves to God.

• When we love as Jesus did, we find ourselves fully present in God’s Reign.

• Jesus’ dream of the Kingdom of God is made a reality whenever people are compassionate, concerned & willing to extend themselves in service to others.