Everyone is dead. From the moment a person is born, they are dead. This may seem counterintuitive, but it’s true. When each person is born into the world, there are separated from Christ and have no life. In order to gain life, eternal life, they need to have faith in Christ. Faith in Christ comes through conversion, which can happen in an adult, in a young child, or any age in between. This new birth is necessary, as Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:3, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” New birth is the only way to receive faith, with no work of our own, and should be understood properly as future public ministers of the gospel. New birth is the way God brings people into his family of believers, with no work of their own. Without new birth, humans are completely separated from God and have no hope of salvation. “People by nature are spiritually blind” (Lange, 2005, p. 318). On our own, we cannot know the way to heaven because we are blind and can’t see the path to take. We also can’t see our need for a Savior. We believe we can get to heaven by our own merit. Paul explains this phenomenon in 1 Corinthians 2:14: “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the …show more content…
Only the revealed law in the Bible, not our faulty consciences, can tell us that God expects perfection, which means humans are truly sinful and cannot save themselves. Psalm 5:5 explains that “The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong.” God will not condone even one incorrect thought, word, or deed. The fact that no one can live up to God’s standard is important for people to understand before they are
The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity written by Philip Jenkins looks over religion as a whole in the future. Philip Jenkins was a Distinguished Professor of History in 1973 and was the Co-Director for Baylor's Program on Historical Studies of Religion, he has studied the Bible and the Quran. The main religion being Christianity, as it flows South to other countries such as Central America and southern Asia and Africa. Jenkins also covers “The Rise of Christianity” where he predicts that it will increase in the coming years. The world would be moving from secularism to non-secular as the Northern states and countries are urbanized. The Southern countries are not urbanized, they believe in the practice of spirituality. In the Next Christendom, Jenkins also predicted that there will be a big population growth in the next coming years as Christianity spreads. Christianity as a whole can be adapted to many different cultures, as it is not as strict as many other religions such as Muslims. In other religions you would have to be
At this time in our nation's history, two-hundred thirty years and counting, there is a great debate raging on. In many peoples' eyes our country has made a turn for the worse. We have thrown our Forefather's to the wayside, and there belief in strong Christian influence along with it. To them all could be solved if we merely "re-instituted" the Christian morals and teachings that this country was founded on. On the other hand, there are many who are calling for the complete and utter extraction of all Christian and other religious beliefs from public life and governmental law. To these individuals nothing good and beneficial can ever come from religion. Both of these belief structures are sadly flawed to their very core. But where is the middle ground and why haven't we been able to find it. This is precisely where Jon Meacham's American Gospel shines like no other. If nothing else Meacham's book is an answer to the times. American Gospel covers religion, philosophy, and ideology that shaped American law and thought from the birth of our rich and diverse nation to the time of the Reagan presidency.
Considering the cultural values of Joe, there are several factors which will influence how The Gospel is presented and revived. Joe is from a collectivist culture, so instead of presenting things as would generally be presented in an individualist culture I must focus more on the group benefit than the personal benefit. Joe will be more interested in how the group is affected, in this case I would focus on the benefit to his family and focus on the family aspects of Christianity. Joe clearly thinks in terms of group benefit, as he often uses the phrase “for the good of the facility” when addressing issues and proposed changes.
The Gospel of Matthew is an eyewitness story written for an audience of believers, under great stress, and persecution. Matthew develops a theological plot incorporating genealogy, speeches, parables, inter and intra textual references, common vocabulary, and fulfillment quotations, with a tension that builds as we are invited into the story. The crucifixion and resurrection bring us to a Christological climax that symbolically points beyond its conclusion to God’s Kingdom, bringing atonement, salvation and the ushering in the Eschaton. The extraordinary events surrounding the crucifixion act as commentary, adding important details concerning the death of Jesus.1
In the book of Romans, my worldview starts by understanding what Paul meant when he said we are all born into this world as sinners; however, we are born again when we turn our lives over to God and are saved by God’s son, Jesus Christ, who gave his life for our sins in order for us to be forgiven by God and now learn
Bauer & Johannes, 1970, p.64). As a bonus his death not only offers redemption for mankind but also introduces the aspect of new life. Starting over and new life is not an aspect discussed in the Old Testament. Finally despite the perfection of Christ’s redemption of mankind, believers will have to wait until the return of Christ for this particular redemption to be complete.
Christian Worldview is specific and one that focuses on gods teaching through, scripture, prayer, chapel and the bible. Christians live to Gods words and become a product of God by using his scriptures to live by. Humans must put their trust in God and let him guide their lives. In order to have a good relationship with God you must have faith and ask for forgiveness when needed. This worldview can be explained by answering who God is, who Jesus is, how humanity goes into being a Christian, and how to solve the problems of humanity.
Mystery of the New Testament The New Testament is a part of the Christian Canon, which is inclusive of the Old and New Testament. The New Testament consists of twenty-seven books, and is the foundation of the Christian religion. The New Testament has set the bar for Christianity as a religion, but many questions surround the New Testament. These questions surrounding the New Testament have continuously sparked controversy.
...ip with God we are still built with infirmities that are temptations for sin, and with that we are no longer perfect.
The book of Luke, found after the books Matthew and Mark, focuses on the ministry of Jesus Christ but it also gives us a look into His birth and growth in totality. In this chapter we see a historical account of some of the journeys that Christ experienced. It is important to keep in mind that the Bible and all of its books do serve as historical accounts but each book is unique in the fact that they incorporate a theological timeline. The Bible is, conceivably, the most important book that has ever been written. It gives the world eyewitness accounts to historical events that helped not only shaped a region of the world but the whole entire world. It is nearly impossible to go through some formal societal education and have never once read a part of the bible or have heard a story that adapts from the stories within the bible. The bible has helped formed institutions, associations and so much more. By reading the Gospel of Luke we are truly reading what is meant for us to read as Christians. The principal plot in the book of Luke is the life of Jesus Christ, his sacrifice, His ability to beat death and remain perfect as the son of GOD despite being human as well. Jesus is seen as the perfect savior for humans in the book of Luke. Luke not only gives multiple examples of the power of Jesus but also it gives us a look at The Lord’s triumph over temptation. Luke also depicts Jesus as a man/GOD who had a very deep concentration on people and relationships. The book of Luke gives Jesus a loving characteristic but doesn’t shy away from showing that at times Jesus got angry too. Jesus showed a great deal of compassion to the sick, those in pain, the poor, and unambiguously the sinful. Jesus had genuine love for everyone. Throughout this...
Many Christians believe that when a person dies, they enter into complete oblivion - a state of non-existence. They remain in dormancy. At the time of the second coming of Jesus, the dead are resurrected and judged. Those who had been saved while on earth will be given special bodies and go to Heaven unlike the unsaved who will go to Hell for eternal punishment (Robinson).
The four gospels are detailed accounts of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Each portrays a unique story and angle of Jesus, who is the savior of the Jews and the world. Apostle Matthew’s writings are to prove to the Jews that Jesus is their Messiah. Mark stressed the humanity of Jesus and also his deity. Luke wanted to show that the gentile Christian in God’s kingdom is based on the teachings of Jesus. John speaks of Jesus as one sent from God to reveal His love and grace to man. The four gospels work together to elaborate on the several key themes; salvation, spreading His word, and the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise.
Looking first to James 1:18 we see who is actually responsible for our salvation. James answers the question, “Was it God or was it me?” The answer of course is that it is always God. One hundred percent of the time God is responsible for our salvation by the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ or as James states it “fulfillment of his own purpose.” Based on that then, through faith in God and trust in the purpose, it is that we receive salvation. Only God can give us new birth by knowing the true condition of the heart that makes the salvation real and true. Allowing us to become born again, regenerated, and the first fruits of His harvest.
The Virgin birth of Christ is an actual Historical fact. God came (in the sinless form of Jesus) into the earth "HE" created. No other event in the past has had so much impact out side of Calvary where Christ paid the price for our transgressions. Seven hundred years earlier, this was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah and it came about just as predicated in (Matthew 1:22, 23)
Jesus Christ, the incarnation of God walked the earth trying to achieve peace for humanity. Jesus Christ suffered for humanity so that humans could live in peace with one another and with God. The evangelist Mark, who announced the gospel of Jesus, spoke of a victory. This victory was one of kind in the sense that it was not one by an emperor or a king, but by a real God; a God of truth, peace, and justice. By the birth of Jesus Christ, God had sided with the poor and the oppressed. The story of Jesus Christ begins when an angel announces to the priest Zacharias that his wife Elizabeth will give birth to a son to be named John (Luke 1:5–25). It was during Elizabeth’s sixth month of pregnancy that an angel also appeared to Mary, who was living in Nazareth. Although she was engaged, to Joseph, Mary was still a virgin (Luke 1:34). The angel said to her: