RCIA Session 19 – God’s Promise of Salvation — Hope After the Fall

God’s Promise of Salvation — Hope After the Fall

RCIA – Session 19
This session forms part of a structured introduction to the Catholic Faith used in parish RCIA. It is intended to be read slowly and prayerfully, alongside participation in the life of the Church. This material is offered for formation and reflection. Reception into the Catholic Church always involves personal discernment and parish accompaniment.

Aim of this session

By the end of this session, participants should understand that:

  • God did not abandon humanity after sin
  • salvation begins with God’s promise, not human effort
  • redemption unfolds gradually in history
  • hope is grounded in God’s faithfulness
  • the Catholic Faith presents salvation as a plan, not a reaction

This session asks:

What did God do after humanity fell into sin?

1. God’s First Response Was Mercy

After the Fall, God did not:

  • destroy humanity
  • withdraw from creation
  • leave humanity to its fate

Instead, God acted.

From the beginning, God:

  • sought the sinner
  • revealed the seriousness of sin
  • promised restoration

Judgment and mercy appear together.

The Catholic Faith insists:

God’s justice is never separated from His mercy.

2. Salvation Begins with a Promise

Salvation did not begin with:

  • human reform
  • moral improvement
  • philosophical insight

It began with God’s promise.

God promised:

  • that evil would not have the final word
  • that sin would be overcome
  • that humanity would be restored

This promise gave history a direction.

Human history is not random.
It is ordered toward redemption.

3. The Promise of a Redeemer

The Church teaches that:

  • God promised a Redeemer from the beginning
  • this promise was gradually clarified

The Redeemer would:

  • defeat sin
  • overcome death
  • restore friendship with God

This promise sustained humanity’s hope across generations.

Penny Catechism

Q. Did God abandon man after the sin of Adam?
A. No, God did not abandon man after the sin of Adam, but promised him a Redeemer.

4. Salvation Is God’s Work, Not Ours

Human beings cannot:

  • repair the damage of sin by effort alone
  • restore themselves to divine friendship
  • save themselves

Salvation must come from God because:

  • sin is an offence against God
  • the loss is supernatural
  • healing requires grace

This does not remove human cooperation.
It places it in the right order.

Grace comes first.

5. Salvation Unfolds in History

God did not reveal His plan all at once.

Salvation unfolds:

  • patiently
  • gradually
  • through real events

God prepared humanity by:

  • forming a people
  • teaching obedience
  • revealing His law
  • correcting false ideas about Him

This long preparation was necessary.

Humanity needed to learn:

  • the seriousness of sin
  • the need for grace
  • the faithfulness of God

6. Covenant and Promise

God’s promise of salvation took the form of covenants.

A covenant is:

  • not a contract between equals
  • but a bond established by God

In these covenants:

  • God binds Himself to humanity
  • God remains faithful even when humanity fails

This reveals:

  • God’s patience
  • God’s constancy
  • God’s desire to save

7. Hope in the Midst of Failure

Human history shows repeated failure.

Yet God:

  • does not withdraw His promise
  • does not abandon His plan

This teaches an essential truth:

Salvation does not depend on human success, but on divine faithfulness.

Hope is possible because God is faithful.

8. Common Difficulties Addressed

“Why didn’t God fix everything immediately?”

Human freedom and understanding require time.

“Why allow so much suffering?”

God permits suffering only within a plan that leads beyond it.

“Isn’t this just wishful thinking?”

Hope here is grounded in God’s promise, not human optimism.

9. What Is Being Asked of You Now

At this stage, you are not asked to:

  • understand the whole plan
  • see every detail clearly

You are asked to consider this:

If God promised salvation, can I trust His timing and His way?

That question prepares the heart for what comes next.

10. Questions for the Week

Reflect quietly during the week:

  • Do I believe that failure is final?
  • Where do I place my hope?
  • Do I expect salvation to be my achievement or God’s gift?

11. Closing Summary

Humanity fell through sin.
God responded with promise.

Salvation is:

  • God’s initiative
  • patiently prepared
  • faithfully carried out

Next week we will ask:

Who is the Redeemer God promised — and why must He be both God and man?

Optional Closing Prayer

Faithful God,
You do not abandon what You have made.
Strengthen our hope in Your promises,
and prepare our hearts for the salvation You offer.
Amen.