Divine Filiation: New vs. Old Covenant Essay Example

Divine filiation is a Christian doctrine that was derived from the term "the only begotten Son of God" who was Jesus Christ, and whenever His followers get saved by the blood of Jesus they are called the sons and daughters of God; since they are adopted son of the Lord (May 60). According to the Bible, the book of John (1:12, King James Version) states, "But as many as received him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." The reading enhances that for Christians to be named the sons and daughters of God, they need to believe, share their lives and trust in the role of Jesus Christ, who is marked as the Redeemer and Savior of all human beings (May 60).

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Also, it is the primary and permanent state each Christian calls himself/herself the son/daughter of God after baptism since he/she has been redeemed according to the Catholic norms and practices. Additionally, divine filiation is directly associated with divinization; therefore, the awareness of divine filiation is rooted as a Christian gift that transforms a person's soul. Next, St. Josemaria expressed that anybody who is not aware is unaware of his/her inner truth (May 61-62). In other terms, the person has not discovered his/her deepest identity of his/her existence in the earth.

Divine filiation is offered since it is a Christian theory that tries to enhance and explain holiness and the interior life of human beings since it directly relates to the presence of Christ. Moreover, according to the teachings of Christianity, the discipline is offered due to its importance to children as well as Christian-Faith. First, it is stated that divine filiation is essential towards the piety of kids/children. One essentiality of the discourse is the consequences that Christian are the children of God and prayer is the only means of communicating with Jesus, and it is the core center of each Christian's existence, and each Son of God has the obligation for the Christian mission.

Derived from the word 'Christ' to form 'Christians' it is an indication that Christians as believers have the obligations to save other men and women since they have to walk in the path of their God. Moreover, it is a clear indication that Jesus and Christians share a common dignity as illustrated after their baptism and redemption. Moreover, not only do Christians have an obligation to ordain and redeem others, but their loyalty and path are to walk, share, and teach other the mission of the Catholic/Christian church (May 63). At times the teaching if the Sons/Daughter of God enhances on them participating and engaging temporary affairs since it is the only means that direct them to God.

Next, according to Apostle Paul, he reflects that only God's children are shown the way and led by His holy spirit; thus, a clear indication that only those who have been baptized are free, and in case one is not they are likely to return into their old ways of slavery. It is a term that directly reflects that those who have been baptized walk in the holy spirit and they are likely not to sin, but those who have not been redeemed lack the sense of knowing what is right and wrong and they are prone to sin again and again (May 58).

Using the example of Abraham as the first prophet ordained by God to explain humanity; the historical elements of the Jewish community began in the bronze ages, in the Middle East, when the Lord gave a promise to a society of nomads that they will receive a leader by the name Abram who will later be the father of a great nation (Bergsma 43). The Jews referred to Abraham as the first Patriarch of the society because he was the first to teach the community the idea of the existence of God when people believed in gods (bbc.co.uk).

Additionally, not only was Abraham the principal teacher and prophet of Christianity he was also an essential prophet to Islam since he is known as Ibrahim by the Muslims; thus, the prophet of faith and that of humanity (Bergsma 48). Also, human nature is a collection of essential traits that enhance thinking, feeling and acting towards a subjective perception; thus, the existence of God (Haas 58). When looking upon the life timeline of Abraham, he was an idol seller who did not understand about God, but upon realizing that there is only one God, he destroyed his father's work and source of income since he was shown the light. His ideas too made him leave his home and country, through the guidance of God (bbc.co.uk).

In other terms, he felt that what he did by helping the father was sinful and to be righteous he needed to follow the light and enhance his relationship with God; thus, prophets need to be dedicated to the work of the lord and follow His instruction and directions (Mooren 316). Even in times of temptation, for example, his wife's bareness, he still had faith and trust in God and taught his followers the way of light and righteousness (Bergsma 50). After having Isaac, Abraham was tested once more to sacrifice his son; he complied and proved his loyalty to God. In other words, humanity depends on a purpose of existence, a belief, and a norm of trusting and depending on others to show them the way forward; thus, the ideal use of a prophet (bbc.co.uk).

According to the sons of the New Testament, men are not the sons of God by nature, and not by identifying them as believes in Jesus and God (Evans). According to the doctrine, there is less sense since that the actual meaning of the Sons of God, since it does not believe on followers who have been baptized, but identifies that those who walk in the path of disbelief in Christ and commit sinful acts are the children of wrath/punishment/disobedience. Moreover, the control and guidance of the Holy Spirit are taken with much weight in this doctrine since it identifies men as sons of God through regenerative and adopted approaches (Evans).

At the same time, these approaches have to be adhered by when the sons of God accept Jesus Christ as the redeemer. Moreover, the book of the New Testament enhances the universal-brotherhood that teaches on the elements brotherhood as be guided by faith, divine, and the Lord of the world. Moreover, it accepts that all human being are the offsprings of Godin the sense that He created man and woman and blessed them with children. Unfortunately, the New Testaments claims that there is a definite difference between sonship by morals of creation and sonship by faith in Jesus and God (Evans).

Next sonship is identified as the belief in Jesus Christ, and it will be accomplished in His second coming. Furthermore, sonship blessing is in different forms, for example, God's love and care. In other words, God created children by blessing the parents, and it was done in his likeness and image. Also, the sons of the New Testament claim that whoever is directed and controlled by the spirit of Jesus Christ, is directly the son of God, and in the case a person has not received the spirit, his/her soul is in fear due to the bondage that he/she shall face.

Conclusion

To conclude, the idea of sons of God was created to establish a sense of belonging among Christians, specifically towards their moral duty to serve the Lord as well as continue to appreciate the work of redeeming others as per the church mission. It is a doctrine that creates the lineage of those ordained after baptism to walk in the righteous path and at the same time condemn and try to plead to who have not been baptized to be redeemed. Moreover, it is the same reasons prophet of the commandments were established, those with the obligation to fulfill God's agreement with his people. These individuals, for example, Abraham fulfilled God's promise and are identified as the prophet of faith. Besides, the sons of the New Testament ideology encompass becoming the child of God through regeneration as well as adoption. It identifies all children to be sonship of God since He created them and blessed their parents to deliver them into the earth. Finally, the universal-brotherhood is a movement of sonship the beliefs, has faith, and trust in God.

Works Cited

bbc.co.uk. Abraham. 23 June 2009. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/history/abraham_1.shtml>. Accessed on 13 December 2018

Bergsma, John. Bible Basics for Catholics: A New Picture of Salvation History. Ave Maria Press, 2015.

Evans, William. Sons of God New Testament. n.d. <https://biblehub.com/topical/s/sons_of_god_new_testament.htm>. Accessed on 13 December 2018

Haas, John M. "Human Dignity as Children of God." The National Catholic Bioethics Center (n.d): 59-69.

May, William E. "Divine Filiation and Our Mission to continue Christ's Redemptive Work in the World." John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family (n.d): 59-70.

Mooren, Thomas. "Unity in Diversity. The "Prophets" Muhammad, Abraham and Jesus and the Islamic-Christian Dialogue." NURT SVD (2015): 294-324.