The German scholar and theologian Jürgen Moltmann wrote a powerful work called The Way of Jesus Christ. In his book, Moltmann, blends Judaism and Christianity together to form what is called messianic Jewish faith. Messianic Judaism is a religious movement that adds to Evangelical Christian theology with elements of Jewish terminology and ritual. He connects the Old Testament with the New Testament and believes there must be a connection between the messianic and the Christian perspective of Christology. Moltmann's statement in chapter one supports his idea that there are historical presuppositions that we must understand from the Old Testament before we can understand New Testament Christology. Moltmann states, " there is no such thing as Christology without presuppositions; and its historical presupposition is the messianic promise of the Old Testament, and the Jewish hope which is found on the Hebrew Bible". He believes that to have an understanding of Jesus we must have a historical understanding of the Old Testament promises and the historic Israel together. He furthered states that we must look at the name Christ as an adjective or descriptive word and not as a noun. He does as a way to translate Christ back into its proper term "Messiah" (1). Even the term "Christian" in Moltmann's understanding of Christology lacks the proper terminology to make it significant in meaning. He states, "Christian means, being human in the messianic sense. The name of Christian is not a detonation of a party. It is a promise. It is what is messianic" (1). However, as good as this might sound Moltmann's perspective "amalgamates liberation and feminist theologies with that of the Roman Catholic Eastern orthodox thought into his mess...
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...views of Christology by stating if you reject any of the three dimensions, the results will be fatal (150). When you consider Moltmann's understanding of his three-dimensional Christ, he has a valid argument for Christology. Moltmann's conclusions of God's humanity and divinity have valid arguments and biblical support. One would have a hard time disagreeing with Moltmann's three dimensions of the person of Jesus Christ. However, you cannot overlook mainstream traditionalism in our society and say that if you deny one or the other there is a fatal theological flaw. Our society is evidence to the fact that most Christians perceive Christ only in his divine state or, as Moltmann would say, as a theological person of Christ. Even in this state of being, Christ is still the Savior who reaches to the sick, the brother of the poor, and the comrade of the people.
One of the main principles of Christianity is the belief in both the divinity and humanity of Jesus, that these two natures are combined harmoniously in one being. In general, all modern Christians believe that Jesus was human, he was considered to be “The Word was made flesh” (John, I: 14). However, Jesus was more than just a human, despite being subjected to pain, suffering and death like all other human beings, he was sinless and also possessed the power to heal and to defy death in order to ascend, both body and spirit, into heaven. He was all man and all God, a combination of these two elements, remaining distinct but united in one being. The deity of Jesus is a non-negotiable belief in Christianity, which is referred to in many parts of scripture, “God was revealed in the flesh” (I Timothy, 3:16). The Christian faith does not perceive Jesus as God but rather a reincarnation of God, a mysterious deity who is the second person of the Holy Trinity. Throughout history, controversy has surrounded the issue of the humanity and divinity of Jesus, leading to the formation of Docetism, the belief that Jesus was fully divine but not fully human, Arianism, that Jesus was superior to all of creation, but less divine than God, and Nestorius, that there were two separate persons within Jesus. This the proportion of the divine and human within Je...
It is believed that in Messianic Judaism’s doctrine, Jesus is the Messiah of Israel, the savior of the world, and the Son of God (Loren), also known as Yeshua. The background history of Yeshua is that he was of Jewish descent, w...
Inc. Doctrine of the Person of Christ. Volume II. 1970. The. Gruden, Wayne. Systematic Theology.
There are several aspects to consider when exploring the Christian worldview. There are many facets or denominations and they each have their own distinct beliefs and practices, but they all share the same fundamental beliefs. In this Paper we will explore the character of God, His creation, humanity and its nature, Jesus’ significance to the world, and the restoration of humanity, as well as my beliefs and the way that I interact with Christianity and my personal worldview.
Whenever one thinks of Christianity and the Christian church, one cannot avoid Jesus Christ. This is understandable because, for without Jesus, Christianity would not exist; Christianity is based on Jesus. Jesus has become so well associated with Christianity that it is assumed and widely accepted that Jesus was a Christian. Followers of Christianity often use the reference “being Christ-like” as a model for ideal human behavior (meaning to use the life of Jesus as a blueprint).
Christianity started as a missionary religion and has now become the world's most widespread faith. It focuses on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The traditional story of Jesus tells of his birth in a stable in Bethlehem in the Holy Land, to a young virgin called Mary who had become pregnant with the son of God through the action of the Holy Spirit. The story of Jesus' birth is told in the writings of Matthew and Luke in the New Testament of the Bible. The New Testament, a collection of twenty-seven books written in the century after Jesus' death in 30 C.E., has had importance by shaping the church's teachings, ethics, ritual, organization, and mission in the world (Van Voorst 245). His birth is believed by Christians to be the fulfillment of prophecies in the Jewish Old Testament which claimed that a Messiah would deliver the Jewish people from captivity ("The Basics").
For the last 18 years or so, we have been influenced and directed by parents, teachers, and other authority figures. We have been told when to get up, when to work, when to play, when to eat, sleep, come home, go out, etc., etc., etc. Now we are moving on. As we do, let me remind you of two principles we have been taught, the principle of freedom and the principle of success. As adults, a whole new world of personal freedom awaits us.
The earliest recorded text teaching Christianity has its roots buried deep within Judaism. The birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as the Messiah, created a new ideology of worship. The Messiah is the savior for all people and of all sins. Paul carried the message of the Messiah to the Gentiles. His missionary journeys and establishment of churches enabled the spreading of the message throughout the Roman Empire. Christianity grew in acceptance; those that believed in the Messiah separated and began to worship on their own. This marked the beginning of the split of Judaism and Christianity.
The Doctrine of Salvation (Soteriology). God provides us with everything we need; we see this in Genesis where he provided Adam with everything he needed. Jesus became a man by reincarnation; a verse to support this is John 1:14 “
Jews do not believe that the messianic age has come and gone unlike Christians who believe Jesus Christ was born on the earth and died for the sins of men.
The five of the teachings of Jesus are the following: Be Merciful (Luke 6:36, Matthew 5:7, Forgiveness (Luke6: 37), Seek Goodness (Luke 6:45), Respect Others (Luke 14:11), and Be Kind (Luke 6:31).
Who is Christ? What is Christianity? What is the Church? Who are its people? Many have contributed to the matters of spirituality, to the matters of faith. Many have pondered the community of the Church and its believers, their identity and belief. Many Christian theologians desired to communicate these subjects so that Christians may gain a better understanding of Christianity, and, in turn, gain a stronger spirituality. Among these theologians is Dietrich Bonhoeffer, whose writings greatly influenced Christian thought concerning Christ and his people.
Saul Bellow is known as one of the most influential and important writers in the post World War II era and has won numerous awards for his work including the Pulitzer Prize, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Nobel Prize for literature. One of Bellow's famous short stories, "A Father-to-Be" follows a single day in the life of a young scientist, Rogin, who is starting to feel pressure from his fiancee, Joan, and the stress of marriage and possibly fatherhood. "The Gonzaga Manuscripts" is another short story of Bellows that is examined by many critics. The story tracks the expedition of an American scholar, Charles Feiler, who is in search for the works of a Spanish poet, Gonzaga. To find the poems would be an act of deliverance in Feiler's mind and he believes bringing that little part of Gonzaga to the world would be an act of hope the world needs.A final example of Bellow's short stories is "Looking for Mr. Green". The tale outlines the first day on the job for a relief check delivery man, George Grebe and his struggle in finding his first receiver in a Chicago ghetto. In Saul Bellow's critically acclaimed novella, Seize the Day, which includes three short stories, Bellow explores the central theme of the protagonist's fight against the unpredictable conflicts of life and the search for transcendence and truth.
Is it possible to understand the gospel message, serve as an officer in a church, be sure of your salvation, and yet still not get into heaven when you die? Matthew, one of the original twelve disciples, answered this question clearly. Yes, on “that day”, many will stand before God and hear Him say, “I know you not; depart from me.” (Matthew 7:23 KJV)
Jesus lived for about 33 years in the early years of the 1st century AD. For most of his life he worked as a carpenter in Nazareth, a busy town in northern Israel. Jesus Christ was born into this world as the son of Mary inheriting from her his mortality and as the Son of God inheriting from him the powers of immortality. Christ grew in knowledge from grace to grace until He gained the fullness of all things. All power in heaven and earth was given to Him. Jesus Christ suffered for all the sins of mankind on the cross, and yet he remained sinless. Because of His atonement, we need not suffer for our own sins, if we choose to repent and come unto Christ. Christ also suffered all our mourning, loss, insecurities, sorrows, and mistakes, so that the atonement can lead us to peace during our mortal lives in addition to the eternities. His suffering increased His compassion for us and understanding of our trials. Resurrection is His gift to all living things. Salvation into some degree of glory in heaven is nearly universal for mankind, whether we accept the atonement, or not. Two tho...