Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 86 No. 3, 2016.
Prethodno priopćenje
God’s Mercy and Our Salvation. Soteriological Theories and the Second Vatican Council
Ante Mateljan
; Katolički bogoslovni fakultet Sveučilišta u Splitu, Split, Hrvatska
Sažetak
The Christian Creed points out that the centre of the whole history is the event of salvation in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, who »For us and for our salvation came down from heaven, became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and was made human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried. The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.« In the papal bull Face of Mercy, Pope Francis points out that God´s mercy is a »condition of our salvation«, which means that in Jesus Christ God´s mercy has been revealed to us and the event of God´s mercy as the event of our salvation has taken place. In this context, four characteristics of mercy have been pointed out: the revelation of God, the encounter with God, the fundamental law of life, and the way of salvation. Beginning with the proclamation of God´s mercy in the New Testament and the relation between grace and mercy, the article presents soteriological theories that interpret the central mystery of Christian faith (the significance of passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ) in a specific way and that have become the basis of understanding of the relation between God and the human being. In that sense, and especially through sacramental liturgy, these theories have had an instrumental influence of life of the Church, the development of Christian life and spirituality. The review of traditional soteriological models (the theory of enlightenment and renewal of the image of God within us; the theory of sacrifice and the Devil´s right; the theory of satisfaction and just punishment) and contemporary soteriological attempts that are trying to reformulate traditional approaches (God´s self-communication; anticipation of resurrection; salvation as liberation; soteriology of love) brings out the fact that these approaches do not take into account God´s mercy. The Second Vatican Council did not especially elaborate this theological topic, but it did point out essential dimensions of God´s mercy: the person of Jesus Christ as the revelation and realisation of God´s love in the world, the mission of the Church as the »universal sacrament of salvation« and the God´s will that everyone be saved as an expression of God´s mercy towards all persons who, not through their own fault, do not know Christ, but, nevertheless, seek God sincerely and try to do his will. The move towards a wider understanding of salvation is evident in the liturgical reform, in the reformed Rite of Penance (the form of absolution) and in the Rite of Holy Mass (new Eucharistic prayers), as well as in the text of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In the conclusion the author points out the importance of understanding God´s mercy for authentic and joyful Christian life and for being a witness in the world.
Ključne riječi
God´s mercy; salvation; soteriological theories; Church – the mediator of salvation
Hrčak ID:
170875
URI
Datum izdavanja:
17.12.2016.
Posjeta: 2.332 *