...Justified by faith in Jesus Christ” Gal. 3:23-29 “In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.” [Gal. 3:26] Synopsis: Apostle Paul in his letter to Galatians is revealing a great fortune, an emphatic exposition of justification through faith which was kept as mystery to mankind. Until then mankind was shackled in the clutches of law. Human race was led by law towards justification where no compassion, personal aspect or relational attributes were present. It’s also worth noting; who else is the best qualified to witness and teach about justification and salvation through faith than Apostle Paul himself who got justified from Saul to Apostle Paul. Let us direct our muse based on below three aspects mentioned in verses 23-29. Christ The Guardian Children Of God Convergence Of Subjects 1. Christ The Guardian: We humans are elevated to a noble status. Our lord and savior Jesus Christ is assuming the default role of guardian in place of law which was instituted in the era of Mosses. The human race is being freed from the bondage of sins with no blemish of imperfections; our in-obedience is forgiven and expunged without traces when we repent truly with heart. We are being assured that we will be justified through our faith, through our faith we will be counted as righteousness. In 2 Corinthians 5:7 we are reminded “For we live by faith, not by sight”. It’s all about the promise Jesus the guardian who makes us stand firm on our feet again without...
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...11/24/13 Holy Mass for the conclusion of the Year of Faith on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, 24 November 2013 HOLY MASS FOR THE CONCLUSION OF THE YEAR OF FAITH ON THE SOLEMNITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE HOMILY OF POPE FRANCIS Saint Peter's Square Sunday, 24 November 2013 Video Today’s solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, the crowning of the liturgical year, also marks the conclusion of the Year of Faith opened by Pope Benedict XVI, to whom our thoughts now turn with affection and gratitude for this gift which he has given us. By this providential initiative, he gave us an opportunity to rediscover the beauty of the journey of faith begun on the day of our Baptism, which made us children of God and brothers and sisters in the Church. A journey which has as its ultimate end our full encounter with God, and throughout which the Holy Spirit purifies us, lifts us up and sanctifies us, so that we may enter into the happiness for which our hearts long. I offer a cordial and fraternal greeting to the Patriarchs and Major Archbishops of the Eastern Catholic Churches present. The exchange of peace which I will share with them is above all a sign of the appreciation of the Bishop of Rome for these communities which have confessed the name of Christ with exemplary faithfulness, often at a high price. With this gesture, through them, I would like to reach all those Christians living in the Holy Land, in Syria...
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...THE SAME WITH THE LOGOS OF FAITH. DISCUSS? BY JOSEPH ONYENWMADU O. CHIBUOGWU COURSE TITLE: THE QUEST FOR HISTORICAL JESUS. DATE: MAY, 2016 It is worthy of note that the first four centuries of the life of the Church was nearly marred by the Christological heresies. Argument about the person and work of Jesus Christ. Arguments abound concerning the Historicity of the Christian religion, while many has maintained that Jesus had not intended a development of faith from his teachings, the quest to identify the historical Jesus and differentiate between the Jesus of history and the Jesus of faith is going on. One of those devastating heresies called Docetism appeared in the time of John the beloved, propounded by the Marcions and the Gnostics, a teaching that denied the human nature of Jesus Christ claiming that the body is matter and matter is evil, so that the body was just a “Phantom” a body merely given a human appearance in nature but not necessarily human, because they believe that God cannot associate with evil. So John wrote in his first epistle that “every Spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God” 1John 4:3. The Jesus of History is the Jesus of the Historical Quests which is by now is on the 3rd stage. The Christ of Faith is the Christ of the Christian belief. To have any sort of separation between the two is like having a separation between the WORD and the CHRIST contrary to the Christian faith that was in the beginning...
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...way to God is a personal relationship with him. However, in order to have this relationship, there are three certain beliefs and truths that Christians put faith in, although many believe that one must do more to be in Christ. The three essentials to the Christian faith are: God's word is authoritative, Jesus is the perfect son of God who came as a Man to die on the cross and rose again to save Man from their sin, and it is by faith and repentance in Christ that man is able to have a relationship with Him. Although the belief is not supported by the Bible, many people say that it is essential to salvation to be baptized, thus turning Christianity into a works based religion. Church of Christ believes that it is necessary to be baptized to be saved, using Mark 16:16 as evidence (Wright). Mark 16:16 says, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned" (ESV). However, Houdmann states that one must notice "While this verse tells us something about believers who have been baptized (they are saved), it does not say anything about believers who have not been baptized". This does not have another statement added on containing the fact that if one is not baptized, then he is not saved ("Mark 16:16"). This belief opens up whole new difficulties and confusions with works based faith and what works are needed to be saved. The...
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...LIBERTY UNIVERSITY JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH 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...
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...discussion of Christ to the views set forth in their respective denominational or confessional traditions.” But, doubt that Christ in tradition was different from the actual Christ created a shift from metaphysical to historical Christology. This sparked the search for the historical Jesus in which two approaches, “Christology from Above” and “Christology from Below arose. Christology from above, associated closely with Rudolf Bultmann, Karl Barth, and Emil Brunner, was born from the idea that rather than studying the historical Jesus as a man, the best study would be of the resurrected Christ, His works and the relationship established by faith from His disciples. The ideas of this approach include: 1. The kerygma regarding Christ is a better basis for understanding than the historical account of His life. 2. Paul’s writings and the Book of John are preferred for study over the Synoptic Gospel’s historical accounts. 3. Faith in Christ is not contingent on rational proof. Brunnner does not concede a need to study the historical account of Christ’s life with respect to His different facets, one as God becoming incarnate in the flesh and the other revealed by Christ after the flesh. Brunner asserts the study of Christ in the flesh gives us greater insight to His Person in a historical sense than the alternative of Christ after the flesh which necessitates faith to fully comprehend. Therefore, the “Christology from above” approach takes church’s proclamation of Christ with...
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...In these first three weeks of this course I have learned that the Bible is about Jesus. He is pictured or prophesied about in each of the 66 books in the Bible as well as countless different types of characters in the Bible. In I Thessalonians, He is your hope. In II Thessalonians, He is your glory. In I Timothy, He is your faith. In II Timothy, He is your stability. In Titus He is your reason for serving. In Philemon, He is your benefactor. In Hebrews, He is your perfection. In James, He is the power behind your faith. In I Peter, He is your example. In II Peter, He is your purity. In I John, He is your life. In II John, He is your pattern. In III John, He is your motivation. In Jude, He is the foundation of your faith. The two letters to Timothy and the one to Titus were labeled Pastoral Epistle. The content of the letters reveals the...
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...UNDERSTANDING FAITH And Jesus, answering, saith unto them, Have faith in God. Mark 11:22 INTRODUCTION Several years ago a group of high school students from America spent three weeks in Osaka, Japan, at the world’s fair. The students decided to take the subway into the downtown area to purchase some souvenirs. After spending several hours taking pictures and buying souvenirs, the students decided to return to their local residence. Arriving at the station, they saw the subway train pull up. They quickly paid the fare and jumped on board. As the train doors closed, the students learned they had gotten on the wrong train. Instantly their confidence was shattered. Though they had sincerely believed they were right just moments earlier, they now knew they were sincerely wrong. The object of our faith is more important than the sincerity of our belief. The man who thinks he is right but is not sure may be far better off than the one who is “sure” but is absolutely wrong. The credibility of our faith begins with objective truth and ends with internal trust. This chapter analyzes the six types of faith that describe the believer’s relationship to God. DOCTRINAL FAITH Some may ask, “How can I get more faith?” Paul wrote, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). The source and foundation of all faith is the Bible. If we want faith, we must begin with a correct understanding of the Word of God. The more we know of the Bible, the more faith we can have, and...
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...Four years ago I did not know who God was or what it meant to be a disciple of Christ. I was continuously living in a word of darkness brought on by poor choices and lack of a moral compass. Though I was in this pit, I could see a sliver of light that began to shine through as I stepped into a life of faith. With this one little step and some help from two Christ like individuals, I began to understand what it truly meant a follower of God. In our lecture about Jesus of Nazareth versus Christ of Faith we began a discussion of who Jesus is to us. As we looked closer into the topic, we quickly realized that who Jesus was for some was different from who Jesus was to others. Through that discussion we were all able to come up with a list of the many different characteristics of who jesus was to us. From this list we broke it down into the two main categories: Jesus of Nazareth and Christ of Faith. Jesus of Nazareth is who Jesus was as a human being here on earth; and Christ of Faith was who Jesus was as the Messiah. Some of the characteristics of Jesus of Nazareth is that he was a Jew, a teacher, a carpenter, a man, and brother. On the contrast, the attributes held by the Christ of Faith were ones such as strength, Savior, Father, Prince of Peace, and hope. Just as Jesus had two sides as a man on Earth and a man of faith, we as...
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...AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. God sent Jesus, His Son, to live the perfect life we could not and die the death, our sins deserve. When we accept Jesus sacrifice, we claim eternal life. * God provided the only means of atonement for human sin. * This done by Christ`s life of perfect obedience to His Father`s obedience. * He suffered death and He resurrected. * Those who by faith accept this atonement may have eternal. * All creation may better understand the infinite and holy love of God, the Creator. * This atonement shows the righteousness of God`s law and graciousness of His character. * For it both condemns our sins and provides for our righteousness. * Christ`s death is substitutionary and expiratory reconciling and transforming * Christ`s resurrection proclaims God`s triumph over the evil forces. * And those who accept the atonement, assures their final victory of sin and death. * This declares Jesus Christ as Lord and all before Him, in Heaven and on earth shall bow. * For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that who so ever believe in shall not perish. (John3; 16.) * I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring, and he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel.(Gen3;15) 10-THE EXPERIENCE OF SALVATION. When we accept God`s grace and salvation, the Holy Spirit reveals our need for Jesus and recreates us. The Spirit builds our faith and helps us leave our...
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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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...cannot make ourselves righteous or earn salvation. Left to ourselves we are hopeless, but God made a way: “Immanuel” Jesus Christ, the spotless lamb. It was God’s loving compassion that provided our means to pass through the needles eye, to receive deliverance through his Son Jesus Christ, who paid for our sins through his sacrificial death. We have the opportunity to accept Christ as Savior and believe in his atoning work, and through this act of Faith we are saved. Jesus' righteousness is credited to us. Not by works so that none can boast. When Jesus finished his time here in the flesh He said, It is better that I leave then the counselor (Holy Spirit) will come. The Holy Spirit is at work in helping us avoid sin and grow in godliness. God's plan is intolerant and impartial and at the same time fair and just. This is true for both Jews and Gentiles. All are worthy to come to Christ and receive salvation. Salvation is a gift from God wholly separate from any human effort or achievement. Paul wrote that he would pray they would receive spiritual gifts to empower them to minister as He is also. He states "That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. (1:12) " This is a humble statement by Paul and his way of trying to make them understand the equality of the believers in Christ. Paul also identifies justification by faith as the topic of the letter in 1:16-17; he addresses the cause of man’s separation from God-- sin. No one is righteous...
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... 1. How did the term “Christian” originate? Origionally meant as a sarcastic attack, Christians were know for their relationship to Jesus Christ. 2. For whom was this book written? For the curious who want to know what Christianity is all about. 3. Why do some have mistaken ideas about Christianity? Media bias, bad testimony of those who call themselves Christians but know live accordingly, televangangelists that care more about healing, raising money, or outlandish expressions (putting on a show/major production). B. Theology for Today (online excerpt): Prolegomena to Theology 1. What are the four tools for accurately arranging a systematic theology? 1)Collecting 2)Scientifically Arranging 3)Displaying 4)Defending 2. What four questions must we ask about faith? 1) Is the present-day Christian faith in harmony with, and growing out of, that continuous faith of Christians found in the New Testament? 2) Is your concept of faith available to all individuals? 3) Is private faith based on objective faith? 4) Are the symbols of one’s faith meaningful? 3. What 6 factors can limit our theology? Human understanding, Language, Ignorance Of Scripture, The Silence Of God, The Nature Of Science, Spiritual Blindness. II. Christianity is an Astonishing Person A. Core Christianity (textbook): Chapter 1 1. What year was Jesus born? 4 BC, Bethlehem in southern Palestine. 2. When was Christianity made Rome’s National Religion? AD 313 by Constantine. 3. What...
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...Justification by Faith Galatians 2: This brings us to the doctrinal section of this marvelous epistle, which deals with justification by faith. In this section Paul shows his perspective as a Jew. We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles [Gal. 2:15]. The Jew in that day looked upon the Gentile as a sinner. In fact, Gentile and sinner were synonymous terms. Therefore, the rebuke that Paul gave shows the folly of lawkeeping -- how really foolish it is to try to be good enough to go to heaven, and how ridiculous to consider others to be sinners when you keep failing at your own lawkeeping. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified [Gal. 2:16]. This is a clear-cut and simple statement of justification by faith. Believe me, the legalist has trouble with this verse. This verse will upset every legal system there is today. To say that you have to add anything to faith in Christ absolutely mutilates the gospel. Notice what Paul says here. If a Jew had to leave the Law behind -- that is, forsake it -- in order to be justified by faith, Paul's question is, "Why should the Gentile be brought under the Law?" That was the great argument at the council of Jerusalem in Acts 15; "Should the Gentile be brought under the Law?" Thank...
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...is considered the most complete account of Jesus’ teachings and was written to support Jesus was a descendant from David. Matthew tells about the history of Jesus, of his birth, how king Herod ordered all the babies’ ages two and under to be killed within the vicinity of Bethlehem. He tells of how Jesus escaped from Egypt, the story of John the Baptist, and how he baptized Jesus. Matthew also tells about when Jesus preaches to his disciples about the kingdom of heaven, how he heals many while he was preaching and explains how he teaches using parables. Matthew also explains about the crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection. Jesus also tells the disciples in Matthew to “Go and make disciples of all the nations” (28:19). The most influential chapters in Matthew are the sermon on the mount (5-7) and the parables section. Romans The book of Romans is of the Epistle genre it is the first canonical order, but it is not Paul’s first Epistles. It is the longest and the most influential of all the apostles’ writings. This book is based on Paul’s faith, Paul professes this to the people of Roman, and he tells them that righteousness comes by faith not by works (9:1) He is not ashamed of the gospel and tells the people of this, informs them of the wrath of God and of his judgment. He explains to the people that god is good and righteous and if they will have faith in Jesus Christ they will be blessed as Abraham was. Paul...
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