...John Calvin John Calvin was born in 1509 and he died in 1564. He sought salvation through intense theological study, and at some point he experienced a sudden conversion and grasped Protestantism. He came up with the term predestination. According to John Calvin, predestination was the doctrine which attempts to describe justification as the decision and act of God alone--an act based upon no external determinants, but only on God's own, divine decision. John Calvin also defined his doctrine of predestination in opposition to differing views held by his contemporaries. First, Calvin took up the view that God predestines people according to his foreknowledge of their works. Second, Calvin took up the view that God elects some but condemns none. I would have to agree to John Calvin’s predestination theory....
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...RESEARCH PAPER SUBMITTED TO PROFESSOR BRADLEY MCDANIEL 201540 FALL 2015 BIBL 161-B01 LUO BY DEIRDRE JONES-SHOOK LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA OCTOBER 2015 Table of Contents Definition 3-5 How is the term justification defined by scholars? What is your own definition based on your research? Basis 5-6 What is the act of being justified based or grounded on, that is, what is necessary to have happened or to be true in order for justification to be possible? Means 6-7 How does one obtain justification? What is the means by which one is justified? Time Factors 7-8 Is justification an act or a process? Is it instantaneous or gradual? Results/Fruits 8-10 Once one has been justified, what benefits or results follow? Assurance 10-12 How can one be assured of justification? Conclusion 12 Bibliography 13 JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH “Justification by faith alone” (justificatio sola fide) summarizes the doctrine of justification that has come to us as the great legacy of the Protestant Reformation. We frequently hear this formula used in preaching and teaching. The doctrine of justification by faith is a biblical doctrine. The Apostle Paul gives a full exposition of this doctrine. The letters he wrote to the Galatians and the Romans are especially important in this connection. However, the core message of justification by faith is found in the Old Testament. Paul himself argues from the Old Testament, asserting that the faith of Abraham teaches...
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...Grant Participation Part II 2 Grant Participation Part II The Salvation Army’s Alegria Program provides services to families who have a member living with HIV/AIDS and do not have any other housing options. Initially the program is set up in three phases. The first phase is emergency housing, and if need be clients then transfer into the transitional housing phase, and upon further stabilization (as well as vacancies) families then move into the third phase, which is permanent housing. The Salvation Army was seeking to fund 16 transitional housing units, and as a result applied for a government grant through LAHSA (The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority). The role of this writer was to contact appropriate departments in order to obtain certain documents so that they may be submitted along with the RFP. This was somewhat challenging because departments were inundated with requests from other programs due to the submission of grant renewals and quarterly reports . This writer had to make several attempts to obtain some of the paperwork. Departments contacted included: the finance department, in order to request copies of financial audit reports, as well as assurances, IRS paperwork demonstrating proof of nonprofit status, the development department in order to obtain information on current donations from donors, etc. This writer also had to communicate with the grants manager as well as the executive director of social services, and the executive director of...
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...Brandon C. Strickland Theology 104-D03 Reflection Paper Introduction Through my research, study and prayer while progressing in the course Theology 104, I have gained knowledge and learned new principles that have helped change my understanding of what it means to be a Christian. One of the main topics that I read about in this course that really had an impact on my beliefs as a Christian, and reinforced my relationship with God was the fulfillment of prophecy that is seen throughout the Bible. A second topic that was addressed in this course was dealing with the assurance of salvation that God gives Christians in the Scripture that assists them with their daily struggles in life. These two topics together have stood out to me and have led me to further my study and research. Fulfillment of Prophecy The topic of fulfillment of prophecy is very important in a Christian’s life due to it proving that God is real and the Bible is truly his Word. These prophecies given to the authors of the Bible by God came sometimes hundreds of years prior to their fulfillment. It was necessary that these occurrences be fulfilled due to it providing further proof that the Bible is the Word of God and also to show God’s plan being fulfilled. There are numerous prophecies throughout the Bible that have been fulfilled as well as prophecies that have yet to be fulfilled. The birth of Jesus Christ was prophesized by Isaiah hundreds of years prior to the birth. In Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah is...
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...that person. However, this is simply a matter of disregarding the fact that God gave humans free will; it is a personal decision to accept or reject salvation. The divine order of predestination and foreknowledge of mankind was and is salvation. Therefore, predestination was already known and determined before the foundation. In order to explain fully the importance of predestination and foreknowledge, one must consider the creation of the universe and humanity. Genesis means “beginnings” and it unfolds the record of the beginning of the world, of human history and civilization, and of salvation. For instance, the Life Application Study Bible states that Genesis is “the story of God’s purpose and plan for his creation. As the book of beginnings, Genesis sets the stage for the entire Bible. It reveals the person and nature of God (Creator, Sustainer, Judge, Redeemer); the value and dignity of human beings (made in God’s image, saved by grace, used by God in the world); the tragedy and consequences of sin (the fall, separation from God, judgment); and the promise and assurance of salvation (covenant, forgiveness, promised Messiah)” (Life Application Study Bible NKJV 2). Therefore, Genesis is an explanation of many of life’s more important realities: creation of mankind, consequences of sin and God’s plan for salvation. Additionally, Genesis teaches that God created the heavens and the earth by simply speaking the universe into existence. Supporters of the sovereign...
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...Justification by Faith By Russell D. Stalvey Introduction A statement that is ancient but also timeless and just as relevant for today’s believers is that we are justified by faith. The Apostle Paul gave insight to this statement very distinctly and in great aspect but to completely understand the statement, we first must possess a foundational comprehension of what it means to be justified. In understanding justification we will see that it is inseparably interrelated to faith, but not just any faith. We will also see that the undertaking of justification by faith has overwhelming effects on the justified. Definition Justification is seen as an act of God’s wonderful grace, free grace that is available to all sinners. God exonerations all of the sins, receives the sinners, not because of anything fashioned in the sinner or performed by the sinner, but only for the unflawed submission and complete satisfaction of the Lord, through God’s impartation and received by faith alone. The Westminster Larger Catechism answers the definition of justification in this manner: “Justification is an ‘act’. It is a courtroom verdict .We are the defendants and charges have been filed against us. The judge passes his verdict. Logically there are only two verdicts available to the judge. One of these verdicts is ‘condemned’, and the other is ‘justified’. If we are ‘condemned’, then the judge has pronounced us ‘guilty’. If we are ‘justified’, then the judge has pronounced us...
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...Case Studies Salvation Army is working in 126 countries, a worldwide registered Christian church and charity. In the UK & Ireland, The Salvation Army has approximately 50,000 members, 4,000 employees. 1,500 Salvation Army officers (full-time ministers) In the UK and Ireland, it is the responsibility of Salvation Army’s IT department to support 7,000 users and 18 divisions. Their operation includes the headquarters, offices, community centers and remote workers. The Salvation Army supports flexible working from home with laptops from charity. However, there is an issue which protecting data was a threat. Data leakage is possible and solid business case is given to invest in a secure network. The IT department had done a comprehensive review on the most of the data protection products on the market, but they were unsatisfactory. More than 1000 laptops have been tested on two chosen product. Becrypt was chosen for the final decision because of its simplicity and value factors. Becrypt is easy to install, configure and manage. Ultimately it offered the necessary exclusive encryption level at a decent value price, which is important for a non-for-profit organization. Becrypt provided huge assurance towards compliance issue, and the IT department was confident enough to hand their sensitive data over to Becrypt, which is vital to their many campaigns around the world. Even if the laptop is missing or ended up to the wrong person, they were so certain that the data will be...
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...The Midterm Exam will consist of multiple choice and T/F questions. The questions will cover all the lectures before this exam. Testimony Lecture: • What is a testimony? Your story about your personal journey with God. It is powerful when it is real. • Why is telling my story important? It reveals where I’ve been and where I am going in my relationship with God. • How do I tell my story effectively? Prayer and by being real and having confidence and being unashamed. • What if they don’t listen to my testimony/story? Share anyway, out of obedience. • Telling your story is… Relevant, unique, and it opens __??__ Truths from Psalm 139: • According to Psalm 139, God has a ___true knowledge__ about me. • Verses 1-6 – God ___knows____ me. • Verses 7-12 – A part of belonging to God means God is _______always with me______. • Verses 13-16 – God ___made__ me. • God made me ______fearfully_______. • God made me to _____reflect_____ His Image Misconceptions: • Relationships – Who I am with, will determine who I am. Truth – Matthew 10:37-39 • Body Image – Who and what I portray will determine who I am. Truth – Peter 3-3-4 • Education – How much I know will determine who I am and who I become. Truth – 1 Cor. 2:9-13 • Future Plans/Profession – What I become/do will determine who I am. Truth – Phil. 3:1-10 • Possessions – How much I have will determine who I am. Truth – Matthew 6:24 • Religion – What I do and how much I do for...
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... Introduction For centuries, Christians have looked towards the Bible for insight and guidance on how to live a life of righteousness and be free from the bondage of sin. In looking at The Christian Life and comparing it to what The Book of Romans has to say, we can see that the Spirit is integral to this process. According to Romans 8, this process is part of our sanctification. It is because of God’s grace that we have the ability to decide daily to die to ourselves and accept the opportunity to live as his children. As God’s children, often times we have very different perspectives. In many ways, these different views create debates. The controversy over the issue of God’s grace and gift of salvation, along with our response is one that should not be taken lightly. When looking at what the Apostle Paul says when he stated, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son,” it is obvious that this comment leaves individuals with unanswered questions. [1].What does Paul mean by the expression of “God foreknew?” How do we fathom the election of the “predestined” individuals who are saved and sanctified? And, how are we to understand God and his “foreknowledge” of our eternal security without knowing what it means to be righteous or “conformed to the likeness of his Son?” (Romans 8:29). It is my desire that as I proceed in the explanation of sanctification, that anyone who reads my excerpt will...
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...context of the beginnings of modern industrialization, urbanization, and the Enlightenment emphasis on experience as the most secure path to knowledge. In addition to their roots in Anglicanism, the most direct influence on John Wesley and Methodism was pietism, specifically, the German pietists known as Moravians. (Patheos, Inc., 2008 - 2011). Origin The Methodist movement traces itself to its origins in 1739. (About.com, 2011). John Wesley was an ordained minister of the Church of England. Upon interaction with the Moravian societies, John Wesley was heavily influenced on his views. “This was not Wesley’s conversion; but it was deeply moving emotional experience that gave him assurance that Christ was his Savior. It is significant than Wesley based his assurance of salvation on his experience rather than on the objective promise of the Gospel alone. From then on, Wesley began to stress that each person must individually experience for himself the escape from the wrath of God and strive for holiness.” (Bucher, 2011). Following this experience Wesley embarked on a career of bringing others to this experience through preaching, and the organization of small groups for spiritual...
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...this blameless status. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV). Every problem has a solution, and in this case the solution for sin called for the death of the Savior on a cross (Ryrie 118). Salvation is not an easy concept to come by. First, one must acknowledge the he is a sinner. The Holy Spirit plays a critical role in this process, as He is responsible for convicting unbelievers, and later, for sealing believers in Christ. The second step includes repenting, or turning away from sin and seeking forgiveness. Not only is it God’s will for all men to repent and come to him, it is also a Biblical command as seen in: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved”(Acts 16:31a NIV). Thirdly, a belief that the blood of Christ can cover sin is required. Without this faith one cannot truly be saved. Once a person has confessed that Christ is their savior and genuine repentance has been experienced, God justifies our record. He provides one with a clean slate, and although that person may yet sin again, he cannot lose his salvation. John 10:28-30 lends this assurance: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has...
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...John Wesley was a powerful personality whose passion and devotion to his cause and beliefs led him to explore and change people's view on Christianity and on the interpretation of the Scriptures. During his lifetime Wesley's determination and occasional dictatorial nature allowed him to influence people and help them change their opinion on religion. John Wesley's achievements spanned the majority of his lifetime. From his journeys to preach from England to Georgia, U.S.A. To other parts of Europe. Him writing a few hundred sermons. His longevity enabling him to see the beginning of Methodism's development. In which both of them were highly involved with do to their position in the church “were leaders of the evangelical revival in the Church of England in the eighteenth century.”1 The two of them with their position helped establish a new denomination, the Methodist Church, which was to grow and flourish in Britain and across the world. John Wesley was described as “that extraordinary man whose life and acts have taken their place in the religious history, not only of England, but of Christendom.”2 Through his work and powerful persona he became one of the most famous and recognizable people in England. “His universality of influence and range of achievement in matter of faith and conduct outstripped the leading politicians, philosophers and divines of his age.”3 John Wesley was “born in 1703”4 and was a well educated young...
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...believe that human beings are not sinful by nature (since God forgave Adam and Eve), but they are vulnerable to sin and only true repentance from sin will make human beings who have sinned to be reverted to the original sinless state. The chief reason on humankind’s failing is pride and rebellion. | View of Good & Evil | Human beings are born with the natural instinct to differentiate between good and evil. They have the free will to choose between right and wrong. Right deeds involve following the guidance of Allah whereas wrong deeds involve identifying with Shaytan (the devil). Shaytan (Iblis or Devil) is not allowed to hurt people unless under permission from Allah. | View of Salvation | Salvation is achieved by submitting to the will of Allah. There is no assurance of salvation, as it is only granted upon Allah's mercy. The forgiveness of one’s sins is granted by Allah’s grace, without a mediator. The Muslim must believe Allah exists, believe in the fundamental doctrines of Islam, believe that Muhammad is his prophet, and follow the commands of Allah given in the Koran. | View of After Life | Human beings will resurrect and thereafter be judged before being assigned their final destination. All Muslims will go to heaven,...
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...SOR ASSESSMENT II: RESEARCH ESSAY SOR ASSESSMENT II: RESEARCH ESSAY “Rites of passage in Christianity allow adherents to obtain deeper knowledge and beliefs about their religion” How does this statement explain the significance of baptism for the Christian community and the individual? Baptism allows adherents of Christianity to acquire a deeper understanding and resonate with the beliefs of their religion. Baptism refers to the religious rite of passage involving the application of water in association with an individual’s admission to the Christian Church. It is a significant rite practiced by a majority of Christian adherents with the exception of Quakers and followers of The Salvation Army. In many denominations, baptism is performed on young children and is accompanied by name-giving, referred to as ‘Infant Baptism’. These denominational families include Catholics, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans, Presbyterians and other Reformed denominations, Methodists and some Nazarenes, as well as the Moravian Church. Another form of baptism involves the initiation of adults and is referred to as ‘Believers Baptism’ practised by a minority of Christians including Protestants and followers of the Pentecostal and Baptists sect. A key concept in believer's baptism is that a credible profession of faith must be given by the recipient before baptism. The American Baptist Church, for example, declares: "We insist that baptism be administered only to those who have...
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...World Religion Report Seventh-Day Adventist Church Axia of University of Phoenix Seventh-Day Adventist falls under the denomination of Christianity. They are a faith community rooted in the beliefs described in the Holy Scriptures. They believe that Jesus is one of the three persons; The Father, The Son, and Holy Spirit called the Trinity who makes up one God. The Holy Bible describes Jesus as the Father and the Holy Spirit as each being committed to our growth as Christians and to our salvation as their children. The salvation was made possible by Jesus being born as a human baby. He lived perfectly according to God’s perfect will, died innocently for all sins, and was placed in a tomb where he then rose from the dead in three days. When I sat down to interview my source, whom asked not to be mention by name, I asked her, what is the core or main beliefs of a SDA worshipper; she replied, “they (SDA) have a set of core beliefs we live by; we believe that the Seventh Day Sabbath or Jewish Sabbath was never changed and therefore we continue to observe the Sabbath on Saturday instead of Sunday. It is observed from sundown Friday night until sundown on Saturday night. They believe just as most other Christians that Jesus will soon return and their mission in the meanwhile is to get the people prepared for this day. The SDA believe that they have the right to “Religious Freedom based on the idea of the church that those who worship Jesus on Saturdays will be...
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