Gnostics believed that they belonged to the "true church" of an elect few who were worthy; the orthodox Christians would not be saved because they were blind to the truth. Part E -- Content - if we then combine the historical outline of the "reason Continue Reading...
Although sometimes attributed to Calvin, the Synod of Dort actually wrote the Five Points of Calvinism in 1619. In the article, "New outlook, Volume 104," Alfred Emanuel Smith wrote that the Synod of Dort created the five points of Calvinism "to co Continue Reading...
Book Chapter: A Theology of Communion for the Contemporary Catholic Parish Introduction The study of ecclesiology is the study of how the Christian church, the ever-expanding body of believers, has evolved over time to respond to new political and s Continue Reading...
Calvin graphically expresses this in the following excerpt: Why, then, are we justified by faith? Because by faith we grasp Christ's righteousness, by which alone we are reconciled to God. Yet you could not grasp this without at the same time grasp Continue Reading...
Sixth, Muslim morality is very similar to both Christianity and Judaism, due to marriage and family being of the utmost importance. Lastly, Muslims adhere to the concept of Jihad which basically means "the continual, inner spiritual struggle for sub Continue Reading...
Like the Pope, such statements are seen by Christianity as a falsehood (Shelly, 1982). Baptism is another point of contention between Christianity and Roman Catholicism. Christianity teaches those who listen to the gospel and believe in the Holy Sp Continue Reading...
Theology: The Baptism Debate Peter's encouragement sermon on the Day of Pentecost -- "repent and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38) has been th Continue Reading...
Judaism and Christianity both have fairly common as well as totally contrasting religious concepts. In spite of the apparent differences and divisions it has to be understood that both these religions are like different streams of water merging in th Continue Reading...
Faith, Tradition, And Scripture Lewis played an integral part in spreading the Christian faith in the 20th century. His numerous works have explored the ideas of Faith, Tradition, and Scripture and helped identify what it means to be a Christian. An Continue Reading...
Martin Luther's Life: Martin Luther took his birth on November 10, 1483 in a peasant family in Eisleben in the Holy Roman Empire, presently known as Eastern Germany. After the birth of Luther his family migrated from Eisleben to Mansfeld. His father Continue Reading...
Bible Passage Ephesians 3:14-20 Historical and Cultural Background of the Book of Ephesians Ephesus was a small town located near Cayster River on the west side of the roman province in Asia. The town is what is today referred as Turkey. This was t Continue Reading...
Scholars like Borg, Crossan, Meier, and Sanders reach into Torah or into Gnostic and other extracanonical traditions such as Greek novels to draw comparisons and contrasts. The range is comprehensive, from Greco-Roman sources to Jewish and other Med Continue Reading...
Personal behavior is essential for salvation and no religions can guarantee it just as none can take it away. The person should stand alone before their God and their behavior will trump their religion. It should also be considered that those who b Continue Reading...
Persona Christi An Analysis of the Priesthood "in persona Christi" and "in nominee ecclesiae" The questions that surround the functions of the priesthood and the diaconate today appear to be part and parcel of the greater uncertainty that surround Continue Reading...
Matthew and Mark The synoptic Gospels of Matthew and Mark differ significantly in their perception of Jesus, but share great similarities in the way in which they state salvation should be sought. Within Matthew, Jesus is described as Godlike, but w Continue Reading...
Western Religion In his book, "Western Ways of Being Religious," (Kessler, 1999) the author Gary E. Kessler identifies the theological, philosophical and societal ramifications of the evolution of religion in the West. Christianity, Judaism and Isla Continue Reading...
One such sin would be to not accept the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit as seen by Guthrie flowed through Jesus Christ. For one to not accept the Holy Spirit, then one would not be able to accept Jesus and not be a Christian, not be apart of God's salv Continue Reading...
Pre-Existence Christ The Pre-Existence of Christ The pre-existence of Christ is the central tenant of Christianity. This paper will review the pre-existence of Christ including supporting views and arguments against the pre-existence of Christ, pro Continue Reading...
In fact, sexual moral obligations were one of the major concerns addressed by Jude, who cautioned that immoral behavior by teachers was dangerous. He believed that it had the ability to corrupt everyday Christians, and to keep them from attaining sa Continue Reading...
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. This invocation, accompanying the sign of the cross, marks the beginning and end of every Roman Catholic prayer. It has become synonymous with Catholicism -- a celebration of the crucifix as repr Continue Reading...
"[footnoteRef:5] [5: Peter Stuhlmacher, (1994). Paul's Letter to the Romans: A Commentary. Westminster Press, 1994,p. 116.] Man's Inability to Know Christ Materially Paul's revelation contained in this chapter of Roman's is one of intense discover Continue Reading...
Paul's First Missionary Journey The conversion of Paul from Saul on his way to Damascus marked the beginning of his evangelical work. Paul and Barnabas were believers in the newly established church in Antioch of Syria. They received the calling f Continue Reading...
Church of God in Christ: Founder -- Charles Harrison Mason (1907) The objective of this research study is to examine the Church of God in Christ, a denomination founded by Charles Harrison Mason in 1907. The Church of God in Christ (COGIC) has more Continue Reading...
This also contrasts sharply with idealistic notions within strict doctrines of the Orthodox faith suggesting that faith and God are defined and not subject to interpretation. One may look into themselves to find compassion and strength, but those qu Continue Reading...
Biblical Hope" from the perspective of an Evangelical Christian and as to what exactly "Biblical Hope" means. Further this paper will examine what the Holy Bible has to say about hope and will contrast "Biblical Hope" with worldly hope. This paper w Continue Reading...
God Personal Defining "Personal" Between the belief that God is a person and the belief that God is personal which one is essential to Christian faith? My stand is that the belief that God is a person is a hindrance to Christian faith. Interesting Continue Reading...
The relationship between faith and the law is like that of Christ and humanity. Faith liberates us from the law. Paul goes so far as to say that before Christ, "we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed," (Galatian Continue Reading...
Due to the forgiveness that is extended to every Christian by their faith in Christ as pronounced in the New Testament, Luther argues, all Christians are free to act in any way they please. When they continue to behave according to God's law as it i Continue Reading...
Religion: How Universal is the Christian Church? Given all the variations of Christian denominations and different religions, how is it that the Church can still claim to be universal? "The name refers on one hand to the inclination towards uniform Continue Reading...
Theology -- Christian Doctrine Christian Doctrine of the Church from the perspective of a believer hinges on several basic concepts. The concept of Church, the nature of the Church revealed through metaphors, the Church's beginning, government, func Continue Reading...
Salvation will come based on one's deeds rather than on his capacity to achieve a high spiritual level, as in the Hindu faith and others. Christianity does not necessarily provide all the answers. Christian believers will still have doubts about th Continue Reading...
Israel's celebrated prophets, Isaiah is the king. The writings which bear his name are very profound and the prophecies from his book are all about faith. One great theme found in Isaiah is the theme of salvation by faith. It's about faith in God's Continue Reading...
All human beings are, however, impure and imperfect, which does not make it very difficult to rise above the rest in terms of self-perceived perfection. In comparison to God, however, this changes. The human being who is never dissatisfied with him- Continue Reading...
" Finally, the last line, "one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all," evokes the ubiquity of God and the percolating nature of divinity. God spreads his influence to infuse all the fields of human existence and all the p Continue Reading...
..the raving of...fools" which leads to "the suppression of Christian faith, the denying of the divine Word, and the blaspheming of the diving majesty." Were the world made up of "real Christians" (369), Luther points out, no "prince, king, lord, swo Continue Reading...
Much literary criticism assumes that the gospels are not necessarily historical or else it plays down theological or religious context. However, these assumptions are not inherent in the method; a well-crafted piece of historical writing also promot Continue Reading...
Spear of Destany The history of civilization is full of legends and myths that have cut across cultural barriers and are nowadays some of the most well-known stories related to the old times of religion and civilization. One of these myths include, Continue Reading...
S. were not "hostile" to evangelicalism (Bebbington, p. 367). After WWII, the Church of Scotland and British Methodism launched "sustained evangelistic thrusts" and in Britain the "National Young Life Campaign" got involved in evangelical activities, Continue Reading...
