Christians' Beliefs About the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christians believe the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus are still as important today as they were two thousand years ago. The main belief is that Jesus suffered and died to save us, to free us from our sins. The Jesus seen in Mark’s gospel calls himself the Son of Man and Jesus’ suffering is a sign of his devotion to us. Jesus predicts his death a number of times throughout Mark’s gospel and Christians have two ways of interpreting this. Either they are the words of Jesus, or Mark constructed them to emphasise the suffering and death of Jesus.
The Judgment Seat of Christ Introduction Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, death, suffering and sin have lost its power over humanity. It has opened to humanity the reality of the life to come after this life on earth. This hope, which the redemptive act of Christ gives, brings men and women to the reality that life here on earth is the beginning of persons’ journey towards God. In this way, life’s journey starts from, begins with, and ends with God. However, as the images of eschatology fortifies hope for the things to come, it also poses a challenge for Christians to constantly take a re-look into their inner lives as well as in their actions because in the “Second Advent and in the final overthrow of Death” , “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor 5:10).
God must need suffering to happen for a reason, but ... ... middle of paper ... ...ering is always going to be painful no matter if God is the one who is doing it to us or not. What we need to realize is that suffering with faith in God is much more justifiable than suffering without. In I Peter it says "However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. "(I Peter 4:16). So suffering as a Christian is all right because it means that you share an aspect of Christ's life, and you should continue to praise God.
Christian worldview’s response to the problem of evil and suffering is a reality because they are born into a broken world in the result of the fall (Hiles & Smith, 2014). Christians understand that “suffering increases our compassion and equips us to comfort others who suffer” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Also, Christians understand that Jesus died for humanity to gain eternal life. If people reject the purifying death of Jesus, then they will suffer the consequences of God’ rebellion (Gockel, 2009). This means that God will not save them, nor force them to believe in Him; in which they will be condemning themselves to suffer.
He was the only one that was or is perfect and without sin. Our sins must be confessed before the Father to receive His forgiveness and redeeming Grace. Confession does more than clear one’s own conscience it is an act of submission to being obedient to God. The need for confession is seen in the Word as James 5:16, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” The wrongs we have committed and the wrongs we have suffered weigh us down like baggage that drags the heart, mind and body down. Guilt is a ready tool for the enemy to use against a Christian.
The suffering of Jesus supports us through our own suffering, as we know we are not alone, Jesus suffered too. The death of Jesus tells us of our responsibilities, we too must 'endure our crosses' and face our responsibilities as Jesus did. Sacrifice and suffering are part of the pattern of Christian life, of God's plan, taking up our crosses will help us become better Christians and help us grow in faith. We should not despair in times of suffering but turn and pray to God as Jesus did in Gethsemane, when he cried out, "Abba, Father take this cup away
Christ’s blood was the symbol for substitutionary death and being “washed in the blood” meant that there has been a final atonement for sin. As a Christian, one recognizes and has received the truth of what Jesus did on the cross at Calvary especially the shedding of his blood. 1 John 4:10 “This is real love-not that we loved God, but that he love... ... middle of paper ... ... do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what sinful nature desires” (Veerman, 2004, p.1190). Conclusion Christ’s death and sin nature are correspondent with each other.
The cross is not the only theme, but is “the entry to its problems and answers on earth.”2 It is through the cross that we learn the nature and character of God, especially as revealed in Trinity terms. In his evaluation of the cross-event, from the humiliation, beating, suffering, abandonment and forsakeness to the pain and agony of his slow death, Moltmann rejects the classical position that God is apathetic and without emotion or feeling; he proposes that God is deeply moved as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There is more than a legal trans... ... middle of paper ... ...r to resurrect Him. Through the cross, God has broken into the fallen world and revealed Himself more completely than ever. Moltmann brings the loving nature of God into full view as one who would go to the greatest lengths ever—the sacrifice of a Son—in order to rescue humanity.
Ch 4 This special stress laid upon on, not just the Word, but deep contemplation on the Word. This contemplation is of critical significance in the theology of Calvinism. Alternatively, it is insufficient for Christians to merely just read the Word or simply hear the Word, the process of spiritual hydration must be accompanied with a deep determination to contemplate the Word, in tandem with both being read or heard. A negligent Christian in this area ensures the potential of many critical doctrinal errors to creep in. Our thoughts begin to rust with disuse.
Establishment and Discernment So the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit knows exactly what God our Father has for us, ‘the deep things of God’. However the question can be asked how do we tap in to the deep things of God? In order to know what is happening within the spiritual realm the worshipper firstly must be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, this involves selflessness, humility and spending time alone in the presence of God (closet time Matt 6:6). However, from my studies, I have deduced that there are two more essential factors that are needed which I would like to discuss; they are ‘establishment and discernment’. Let me first explain what it is ‘to be established’ from a biblical point of view.