Introduction
Fundamental to the Christian faith is the concept that the God of the Bible is a personal and active deity. Empirical and biblical evidence specifically directs the diligent researcher to the irrefutable verification that the Bible portrays God as dynamically involved with His creation. Scripture expresses His love and desire is that all humanity comes to know Him (2 Pet. 3:9 [KJV]). Furthermore, the Bible teaches that the Christian believer has a vigorous and personal relationship with God through the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5, 8:26-28). The contemporary pastor equipped with holy doctrine and intimate fellowship with the Holy Spirit, becomes a conduit to declare the message of Christ to the world.
Knowledge
Scripture teaches that God reveals Himself when man endeavors to seek and learn of Him (Matt. 7:7-8). God is involved in creation (Heb. 4:13) where He exhibits certain aspects, qualities and attributes including the extension and reflection of His nature, unity, and holiness. Common interventions into creation include controlling the weather (Matt. 5:45), interceding for needs and sins (Rom. 8:27), and overseeing the natural world (Ps. 104:1-14). Moreover, God reveals Himself, through love as an action that reflects His whole being. This action culminates in the gift of Christ to save those who were lost (John 3:16).
One of the most prevalent ways that God is active in the world today is in the work of the Holy Spirit. While the Spirit functions at a massive scale restraining sin (2 Thess. 2:6-8), the Christian also experiences direct interaction at a personal level through the process of being born again, indwelt, baptized into the body of Christ, and sealed with the Spirit. This private interaction typical...
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...rom His love (Isa 59:2) and forgo His command to turn, repent and be saved (Rom 10:9). However, when the power of the word of God is presented to lost and willing lives, their eyes and ears are opened to a new life in Christ (Isa 29:18-19). Revealed through the Holy Spirit and expounded by Holy Scripture, the modern pastor is furnished and called to carry out the work of Christ (2 Tim. 1:6-11).
Works Cited
Elwell, Walter A., ed. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. 2nd ed. Baker Reference Library. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2001.
King James Reference Bible: Giant Print, Bonded Leather, Burgundy, Personal-Size. Zondervan, 2004.
Lewis, C S. Mere Christianity: A Revised and Amplified Edition, with a New Introduction, of the Three Books, Broadcast Talks, Christian Behaviour, and Beyond Personality. HarperCollins ed. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2001.
The goal of this book review on Engaging God’s World written by Cornelius Plantinga Jr. is to examine his ideas on redemption, vocation in the Kingdom of God, and to explore his thoughts on Christian education as described in the book’s epilogue. Cornelius Plantinga Jr. discusses several key notes regarding redemption, such as salvation. Vocation in the Kingdom of God is another subject he touches on in relation to the way God works within His Kingdom connecting us to the ‘King of Kings’ as his ambassadors on earth. Lastly, Plantinga explains his view on how Christian education is important to sustain ourselves, earth now, and the New Earth.
Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity: A Revised and Amplified Edition, with a New Introduction, of the Three Books, Broadcast Talks, Christian Behaviour, and Beyond Personality. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2001. Print.
Douglas, J.D., 2nd edn., The New International Dictionary of the Christian Church. Exeter: Paternoster Publishing. 1978
As we have looked in to the Christian worldview of God, our humanity, the Son of God, and the restoration of our lives back into God’s purpose. Now we have a better understanding of what it means to be a member of the Christian community. God wants believers to dwell in union and in community having the same mind that is in Jesus Christ (Phil 2:1-11). This paper showed how God and Jesus Christ are at the fundamental core of all Christian beliefs regardless of the countless differences many Christians may
Recognizing God is a part of our vocation within community can be confusing for us, how can we serve God in the different venues of our life when the world teaches such differing views? We are encouraged to share our witness, testimony, and service within our families, workplace, and our social settings. Family includes the household within our life touching upon each role parent, child, and spouse. It becomes acceptable to compartmentalize the areas of our life and serve in comfortable areas. Consumerism and societal pressures challenge us to withdraw from the Spirit when we feel intimidated, out of place, or even unworthy of God’s involvement in our life. We are called to be “the salt of the earth”, accepting the challenge to unite God’s calling upon our whole-life. According to Migliore, “United in Christ by the power of the Spirit we are one community; we are members of one body and mutually dependent on one another. Recognizing God works with all areas of community unites families, workplace, and social settings together.
J. I. Packer presents a compelling summary of how believers should know God through Scripture as well as experientially in living the tenets of Scripture, a true experience of Christ living in us. Packer illustrates God’s nature through Scripture and His character of wisdom, majesty, personal unfailing lovingkindness, yet righteousness, judgment and wrath which do not diminish God’s nature or righteousness. In God’s judgement His wrath is justly shown against sin and those who reject Christ. While reading, a love beyond measure, God’s love becomes self evident. However this divine love is characterized in His terms and not ours. Packer’s key question is not asking if God is for us and again not solely for us on our terms but rather, are we for God? His question is also quality over quantity do we know much
Bromiley, Geoffrey William, Fredrich, Gerhard, Kittel, Gerhard. “Theological Dictionary of the New Testament.” Struttgart, Germany. W. Kohlhammer Verlag. 1995. Print.
The continuous reading of Cornelius Plantinga Jr.’s book Engaging God’s World: A Christian Vision of Faith, Learning, and Living, has left me lingering on a lot of thoughts towards my relationship with God. In the conclusion of his book, Plantinga focuses on the redemptive qualities of God as well the the redemptive possibilities of mankind. Another main subject is the vocation in the Kingdom of God, correspondingly the Bible says in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God- what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Plantinga (2002) states clearly, “given Jesus’ summons, his followers have always understood that to be a ‘Christ person’
Biblical witness centers on the Spirits activity of “binding believers to Christ, incorporation them into the church as the body of Christ and equipping the church for mission.” Despite the best effort of the Church to be the hands and feet of Christ it is reassuring to know that the Spirit is still present and working in the hearts of people outside of the church’s work. Without the work of the Spirit in the hearts of believers and throughout the word, humanity would not know the love of God. The Holy Spirit gives liberates and brings new life it unites, encourages and brings hope to a world pledged by darkness.
Gerald Bray shares, “The Christian doctrine of God contains two distinct, though obviously related aspects. The first…what is God like? The second…who is God?” These questions impact the way I view God personally and practically, and the impact it has on my ministry application. The nature of God and how He is viewed from human beings’ perspective could have grave implications. More than often, our view of God limits His overall splendor, glory, and His association with the universe. From a personal standpoint, I have always viewed God as omnipotent, omnipresence, and omniscience. My limited mind cannot fully comprehend all there is to know about Him. However, when I open my mind to understand certain aspects of Him, His purpose and plans
Boyd, Gregory A., and Paul R. Eddy. Across the Spectrum: Understanding Issues in Evangelical Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2009.
Unger, Merrill F. The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Ed. R. K. Harrison, Howard F. Vos, and Cyril J. Barber. Chicago: Moody, 1988. Print.
“First, there is the call to be a Christian. Second, for each individual there is a specific call—a defining purpose or mission, a reason for being. Every individual is called of God to respond through service in the world. Third, there is the call that we face each day in response to the multiple demands on our lives—our immediate duties and responsibilities” (Smith, ...
“The call is something that is an indescribable joy and an indefinable burden at the same time.” (Bryant and Brunson 2007, 32). There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a congregation of the redeemed moving forward in their faith. However exciting this may be, it is usually not the thrill that propels the pastor in his service. It is the burden placed on the pastor by God that compels him in his work. The pastor understands that he is largely responsible for the work of God being accomplished by his faithfulness to his calling. “All through the Word of God and down through the annals of history, when God has moved it has almost always been attended by the preaching of the Word.” (Bryant and Brunson 2007, 31)
“No matter the size of your problem or need, God is greater” (Roberts 183). When we accepted Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, we became God’s “little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (BibleGateway). A great peace and joy came over me while reading Roberts words: “God has more people for you to reach with a message that God loves, God heals, God is the Source of every person’s total supply, and God sent His only begotten Son so that any person who believes in Him might be forgiven of sin and live with God for all eternity” (Roberts 163). This is only the beginning; God wants us to reach every person no matter their race, religion, culture or creed with His good news. Roberts words of sowing and reaping stood out, because God has a specific time and place for everyone to sow and reap His benefits, and it should be a continuous, seamless lifestyle linked to faith” (Roberts 180 & 181). The Ultimate Voice, written by Oral Roberts reveals to us how God transformed his life, along with how to hear God’s voice to fulfill His plan and purpose in our lives.