...will dwell on are Scripture and religious experiences even though they are also other factors which were involved. The historical evidence of the input of the early church cannot be under rated or taken lightly as they touched the world with the Gospel. I will also dwell on some of the sources which they drew their motivation towards mission and how they structured it. The commonly held sources are scripture, tradition, revelation, reason and experience. These are impossible to fully isolate one from the other scripture has originated from reasoned understandings of things revealed to humans by God, nature or experience and has been documented in light of pre-existent traditions that have developed by interpreting earlier events. Our sources of theology deserve the same scrutiny, for many of the same reasons, as our worldviews. The commonly held sources of scripture, tradition, revelation, reason and experience are impossible to fully separate one from another. Scripture has resulted from reasoned understandings of things revealed to humans by God, nature or experience and has been recorded in light of pre-existent traditions that have developed by interpreting previous events Wesley (and others) recommended that people generally develop their understanding of God through four sources: Scripture, Tradition/culture, Reason, and Experience. Wesley said “Scripture is our only true source, while Tradition, Reason, and Experience work to help us understand Scripture. Culture...
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... PREFACE 1. Hearing the word of God with reverence and proclaiming it with faith, the sacred synod takes its direction from these words of St. John: "We announce to you the eternal life which dwelt with the Father and was made visible to us. What we have seen and heard we announce to you, so that you may have fellowship with us and our common fellowship be with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:2-3). Therefore, following in the footsteps of the Council of Trent and of the First Vatican Council, this present council wishes to set forth authentic doctrine on divine revelation and how it is handed on, so that by hearing the message of salvation the whole world may believe, by believing it may hope, and by hoping it may love. CHAPTER I REVELATION ITSELF 2. In His goodness and wisdom God chose to reveal Himself and to make known to us the hidden purpose of His will (see Eph. 1:9) by which through Christ, the Word made flesh, man might in the Holy Spirit have access to the Father and come to share in the divine nature (see Eph. 2:1S; 2 Peter 1:4). Through this revelation, therefore, the invisible God (see Col. 1:15; 1 Tim. 1:17) out of the abundance of His love speaks to men as friends (see Ex. 33:11; John 15:14-15) and lives among them (see Bar. 3:38), so that He may invite and take them into fellowship with Himself. This plan of revelation is realized by deeds and words having in inner unity: the deeds wrought by God in the history of salvation manifest and...
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...Even though, number of various spiritual movements has increased all over the years, these three belief classification have mad the most influence on development of the West. To better appreciate this influence, it is essential to draw the progress of Christianity, Islam and Judaism, and assess the correlations between them. Whereas, each belief category is distinctive, there are several similarities because of their common foundations. According to Smith, (1991), Christianity, Islam and Judaism are all referred to as Abrahamic religions because they all mention Abraham as their originator. As such, they have several general beliefs. Christians and Jews share some of the similar Holy Scriptures that is the first five books of the Old Testament in the bible. There are a not many common foundations and several common aspects of Christianity, Islam and Judaism –in what is referred to as Abrahamic spiritual heritage. Similarities The beliefs and practices of Christianity, Islam and Judaism most significantly starts with the originator of the Hebrews called Abraham ca 1800 B.C.E. Historically, these ideas were also pledged to by nomadic tribes, who settled in current Palestine, close to Mt. Sinai. The individuals of these tribes did not tag themselves same as Hebrews, and knew god of Abrahim as the supreme God (Peters, 2003). This merged as God assured Abraham a son, and in the development of the incidents hesitant that is old wife may well provide him a son, he was with Ishmael...
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...and worldview. The bible is what informs us on how to do theology and one’s worldview. Reading scripture allows us to understand the will of God and perform theology. Performing theology is useless without the knowledge of scripture and hermeneutics. Many people express their own personal worldview, but they must know how to use the bible to sculpt their view of the world correctly though the eyes of a believer. The bible is perfect and without error; for one to do perfect theology one must use scripture and that will shape their worldview. All theological methods should start with the Word of God. According to 2 Timothy, all scripture is breathed out by God. Everything the bible says is through Him and one must not go against that. One must accept scripture as fully authoritative and that it is our source to understanding theology. Worldviews can have an effect on how one reads scripture and interprets it. People come from different cultures and church traditions that approach the Word of God differently. In order to perform this theology correctly it is important that one holds a high view of scripture. Through the study and reading of scripture, wisdom is gained. Martin Luther had three basic rules for studying theology. The first step is prayer, the second step is meditation, and the third step is suffering or experience. It is important that one prays to the Father; through prayer and meditation one progresses in their relationship with Him. Also, suffering and experience...
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...of abundant life in Christ. He understood that believers living in Rome were subject to a progressively worldly perception of spirituality and sensuality, much like the world we encounter each day. The book of Romans lays a firm foundation for the children of God, teaching us about the natural world, human relationships, culture, and human identity. Very early on in his letter, Paul deliberately reminds the people that God is the creator of all things. The people of the earth, since the time of Adam, had seen his glory time and time again and had chosen to reject him. The Romans were not an exception to this unfortunate truth. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”(Romans 1:20 NIV) Paul clearly conveys here that we have always had the evidence all around us of the creator God, and warns that there is no excuse to turn our praise and worship anywhere else. The scripture says that “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the creator- who is forever praised. Amen.” (Romans 1:25 NIV) We are created to worship God and he is the only one worthy of our worship. While there is nothing wrong with marveling at the beauty of the creation around us, the creation can never amount to the matchless wonder of the creator. Human...
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...method argues that the most significant historical events in Christianity- particular the resurrection of Jesus are matters that can be established through proper historical argumentation, even apart from any prior arguments for the existence of God. Instead of trying to prove the existence of God through some form of rational proof, the evidentialist attempts to prove the existence of God through the truth of scripture and then using that truth to prove the existence and nature of God. To do this the evidentialist has to successfully defend his understanding of past events and his interpretation of texts and historical theories and ideology. The evidentialist also assumes a shared view of experiences, scientific theories, and the general rules of logic when engaging a skeptic, and there has to be some shared study and common ground of the nature and philosophy with the unbeliever to have a meaningful discussion. One of the advantages of being an evidentialist you can argue both for theism and for Christian theism at the same time without recourse to an elaborate natural theology. For instance, you can begin by arguing for the historical factuality of Jesus resurrection and then argue that such an unusual event is explicable only if a being like the Christian God exist. Having established God's existence via Christ resurrection although miraculous, this then leads the evidentialist to show that Jesus resurrection also authenticates his claims to be God incarnate. The evidentialist...
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...throughout the book of Romans is, “the righteousness of God”. Throughout The book of Romans, we are shown the fundamentals to a biblical worldview, in respects, to our identity as people, relationships, the natural world and culture. It also goes further into detail about vindication, condemnation, sanctification, and justification. The Natural World Paul gives us evidence of God in the world around us in scripture. The book of Romans explains the creation of the world and God’s invisible attributes, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse."(Romans 1:20). Paul writes that there is no excuse for an ignoring God because of his power that has been revealed through the creations that surround us on a daily bases. This means that God speaks through all his creations and does not need to make it known that he is there. It is plainly indicated that God has made himself known by displaying his attributes and character throughout his creation. Human Identity Paul explains that we have been created in The Lords image to glorify him and have a responsibility to care for his creations. In Romans 3:10-11 Paul talks about the sinful nature of man and unwillingness to seek God; stating, “None is righteous, no, not one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.” A biblical worldview recognizes the inadequacies of...
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...thesis is that God has the right to rule as creator. He has revealed Himself throughout history in administrations or dispensations, has given covenants as promises, and sent His son Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of His covenants. “God alone is sovereign, has the right to rule, the right to be obeyed and the right to be worshiped.” God’s kingdom and covenants are “inseparable, for God’s kingdom program was the outworking of His eternal and unconditional covenants.” The top of the chart illustrates the timeless kingdom of God. Gen...
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...only one God and Muhammad, his messenger. Hindus on the other hand, is a religion that was not founded by a certain individual. Even most writers of the sacred texts of Hinduism, remain unknown. The Islamic belief system includes 6 articles of faith which are fundamental beliefs that there is only one God (Allah), angels of God, prophets of God, revealed books of God, the day of judgment and the divine decree (sometimes shortened to 5 articles of faith leaving out the belief in the supremacy of God's will). Typically when people think of Hinduism, the first thing that comes to mind is multiple gods. I was told by my step grandfather, who had practiced Hinduism most of his life, that Hinduism can vary and not to think Hindus follow a set religion. He explained to me that it depends on the person and whether or not they think there is only one God or millions. Hinduism can actually span over many different belief systems including pantheism (God and the universe are the same) or henotheism (belief in one god but not denying the existence of others). Despite all of the talk about Hinduism being polytheistic, there is one universal "God" called Brahman (although simultaneously a triad of deities). This is up to the follower on whether they think Brahman is considered their one God worshipped among a million of others. If so, I would believe Hinduism might be recognized as henotheistic. Conversely in Islamic religion, Muslims simply believe in one God only, called Allah (God in Arabic)...
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...Tawhid: Belief in One God Apologetic Paper (Joseph Smith) - May 1995 Contents Introduction The Muslim View The Christian Response What the Scriptures say The history of the word 'Trinity' 'Trinity' defined Common misconceptions Can 1+1+1=1? Is Jesus not merely human? The ignobility of God's humanity Was Jesus begotten? Where was God when Jesus was on Earth? Is Mary God? Is the concept of the Trinity not borrowed from a pagan source? Conclusion A: Introduction A few years ago I received a letter from a colleague in India who had been approached by two Muslim teachers, in Bihar, with the request for: "A statement of Christian faith which would compare with the five principles of Muslim teaching." This list concerns The Beliefs of Iman, a group of five to six beliefs which all Muslims must adhere to, and which has, consequently become a sort of 'Statement of Faith' for the Muslim religion. The list includes the: belief in One God (Allah) belief in the Prophets belief in the Holy Books belief in Angels belief in the Day of Judgment belief in the Decrees or the Predestination of God (Allah). I decided to write a Christian response to the six beliefs. This is the first response, concerned with the belief in one God (Tawhid). Because this paper is initially written for Muslims, it must be made understandable to them. For that reason I have left out many Christian religious terms which they would not be familiar with, and have kept the parameters of...
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...biblical worldview foundation; thus being the center of much debate. In light of the various views within Christian theology, we will focus specifically on doctrine that is foundational to the Christian faith: The belief the God is actively involved in His creation. Furthermore, we will examine how this belief (doctrine) affects the way we interact with people in a chosen vocation. Through Bible Scriptures and Daniel Akin’s textbook A Theology for the Church, we will show evidence to support this doctrine, identify meaningful connections between Scripture and our call to work (vocation), and apply this evidence to specific scenarios within Christian ministry. In traditional Christian theology the belief that God is actively involved in His creation is known as providence. According to the textbook, “the doctrine of God’s providence is related to the doctrine of creation…Millard Erickson compares creation and providence by calling creation “God’s originating work” and providence “God’s continuing work”…the word providence means, literally, “to see at a distance,” and can carry the connotation of “to look after” (Akin 2014, 229). “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). This is God’s originating work that Erickson points out. God did not need to create the universe or man; he chose to create it as an...
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...establishment of the Kingdom of God among people. Despite their great antiquity, the Old Testament prophecies have in no way lost their actuality. They help the believing person to understand their faith more deeply and fully. To the unbelieving person, they serve as proof of the existence of God and His participation in human life. Just the fact that the prophets could prophesy the occurrences of the future, with such accuracy and with such detail, hundreds and thousands of years in advance, gives witness that God spoke through them. The goal of the Old Testament prophecies was to prepare the Jews, and through them all of mankind, for the coming of the Savior of the world, so that when He came, He could be recognized and they would believe in Him. However, the task of the prophets was difficult for several reasons. First of all, the Messiah was to be not only a great person, but at the same time God. For this reason, the prophets were faced with the task of revealing the Godly nature of the Messiah, but in such a way, that it did not give rise to polytheism, to which ancient people were so prone, Jews included. Secondly, the prophets had to show that the work of the Messiah would consist not only of the external improvements of living conditions but more importantly the goal of His coming into the world was to help people rid themselves of inner evils and to show the way to God. For these reasons God, through the prophets, gradually revealed to people the identity of...
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...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 us that a man is justified by faith alone and not by works. The prophet Habakkuk testified, “but the just shall live by his faith” (Hab. 2:4). The purpose of this paper is to gain a greater understanding of justification, through examination of “justification” in its definition; the basis for its action(s); the means by which one is...
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...includes Moses and Jesus. Under the Muslim belief, Muhammad was the chosen recipient and messenger of the word of God through the divine revelations, Muslims from all walks of life strive to follow his example. Muhammad was born into the most powerful tribe in Mecca, the Quraish, around 570 A.D. The power of the Quraish derived from their role as successful merchants. Several trade routes intersected at Mecca, allowing the Quraish to control trade along the west coast of Arabia, north to Syria, and south to Yemen. After working for several years as a merchant, Muhammad was hired by Khadija, a wealthy widow, to ensure the safe passage of her caravans to Syria. They eventually married. When Muhammed was in his forties, he began having visions and hearing voices. Searching for clarity, he would sometimes meditate at Mount Hira, near Mecca. On one of these occasions, the Archangel Gabriel (Jibra'il in Arabic) appeared to him and instructed him to recite "in the name of the lord." This was the first of many revelations that became the basis of the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam. These early revelations pointed to the existence of a single God, contradicting the polytheistic beliefs of the pre-Islamic Arabian Peninsula. The Qur'an was dictated by Muhammad but, according to the Qur'an, it did not originate with Muhammad. The Qur'an testifies of itself that it was given by God through the angel Gabriel to the prophet Muhammad. One night, while the Prophet was sleeping, the Archangel Gabriel...
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...I believe that God has chosen to reveal Himself through miraculous means to include physical appearances of God, dreams, and visions, the written Word of God, and most importantly—Jesus Christ. The Bible records God appearing in physical form many times (Genesis 3:8, 18:1; Exodus 3:1-4, 34:5-7), and the Bible records God speaking to people through dreams (Genesis 28:12, 37:5; 1 Kings 3:5; Daniel 2) and visions (Genesis 15:1; Ezekiel 8:3-4; Daniel 7; 2 Corinthians 12:1-7). Also, God chooses to reveal Himself as taught in Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” Like Psalm 19, Romans 1:20 teaches that God’s eternal power and divine nature are “clearly seen” and “understood” from what has been made. I believe the primary importance in the revealing of God is His Word, the Bible. God miraculously inspired the authors of Scripture to correctly record His message to mankind, while still using their own styles and personalities. God sets forth in the infallible Scriptures combines Jesus’ own declaration of the present reality of the Kingdom of God with the apostles’ account of the person, place, and work of Christ, and how sinful humans benefit from it. The Word of God is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). The Word of God is inspired, profitable, and sufficient (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God determined to have the...
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