...different types of service, each person receiving one or more gifts, with purposes including: to give God glory through service, to accomplish His will, and to edify believers. The baptism of the Holy Spirit and His indwelling is directly related to salvation. When a person accepts Jesus as his or her Savior, the Spirit indwells the new believer immediately, not in a subsequent experience. This indwelling places the believer in the Body of Christ. Salvation is not a two-step process, but is instead a change in a person’s relationship with God. Biblical definitions of speaking in tongues are: a gift of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 that may have two functions: In the book of Acts, it is an “initiation” gift given to affirm entrance to the Church Body. It may also be a spiritual gift given by God to individuals to display the gift in church service (1 Corinthians 12-14 or Romans 12). Speaking in tongues is not a necessary sign for baptism of the Holy Spirit. Biblically speaking, Jesus and the disciples did not speak in tongues in the Gospels. I consider someone who accepts Jesus while on his deathbed. This person does not need to speak in tongues before passing...
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...Name: Nichole Acosta Writing Style Used: MLA Course and Section Number: THEO 201 B01 Essay on Pneumatology: Spiritual Gifts With a passion for theology and the word of God, it brings me great joy when asked to explain my beliefs. While some aspects of our faith are a little simpler to explain than others, one that is continuously debated is that of spiritual gifts. Because of a presented opportunity from a curious friend, I found it fitting to dive into the topic that is currently being debated at his home church. In Acts 2:1-4, Paul recounts Pentecost as the ultimate outpouring of the Holy Spirit to all believers, indwelling and granting them with spiritual gifts. Ephesians 4:11-12 explains that these Spirit-given abilities are not primarily bestowed for personal enjoyment or personal growth, but for Christian service and the edification of the body of Christ. Because every believer has the Holy Spirit in them from salvation (Romans 8:9), it is implied that spiritual gifts are also deposited at conversion, but may be developed at a later time. Though believers may have multiple spiritual gifts, it is guaranteed that every Christian has at least one (1 Corinthians 12:4, 31). One should not confuse spiritual gifts with the fruit of the Spirit. While both are sourced from the Holy Spirit and are results of spiritual baptism, their purposes differ. Elmer Towns describes the relationship perfectly, “A spiritual gift is an ability to be used in service, whereas...
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...to the last meal that Jesus shared with his disciples on the night of his betrayal. This last meal mentioned in different terms in different texts. These terms include the Lord's Supper, Eucharist, communion and mass. The last supper serves as an encouragement and a unifying factor to Christians. It binds them in fellowship of love, trust and mutual acceptance. Sharing of the last supper is one of the orders that Jesus gave to his church. It is ideally Christian’s remembrance of Jesus, acknowledgement of his presence, confident hope in his second coming, fellowship with him and his people, self-examination, thanksgiving and gratitude. 1This paper explores the last supper event as presented by the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and 1st Corinthians. Historical Background of the Last Supper The last supper concept dates back to the early times in the Old Testament where Jews used to celebrate the Passover. The Passover ritual entailed an opening course where the paterfamilias spoke a blessing over the first cup of wine. The preliminary dish comprised green herbs, bitter herbs and a sauce made of fruit puree placed over a table also containing a bowl of salt and water to remind the partakers of the tears they shed while they were in slavery in the land of Egypt. Then the meal would be served but not yet taken. A second cup of wine would then be put on the table and during this time the second part of the ritual, that is...
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...marriage is the formal union of a man and a woman, which is recognized by law.1 So now that we know what the definition of marriage means, what is the biblical teaching on marriage? In the book of Genesis, God made woman out of man because He saw that man was lonely and that was not good. God did this because He wanted man to not be alone, so God made a helper for man. He created her to come alongside man and be united as one. L.I. Granberg and J.R. Root said, “God instituted marriage so that men and women might complete one another and share in His creative work through the procreation of children.”2 When does the man and woman become married according to the Bible? The Bible does not really say when a couple is married, but there are some viewpoints. These viewpoints are intercourse and having a wedding ceremony. The Bible does say that a couple is married once the couple has sexual intercourse. God considers any man and woman having sex to be married.3 By this, they are considered one. People who believe this viewpoint use 1 Corinthians 6:16, which says, “Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, ‘The two will become one flesh.’” You may say, “what about people who are unmarried and are having sex? When this happens it is called fornication. Fornication is a form of sexual immorality and God does not approve of this. In 1 Thessalonians 4:3, states, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification:...
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...The woman is "in all things inferior to the man," said first century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus.[1] Rabbi Judah, a contemporary of Josephus, said "a man must pronounce three blessings each day: 'Blessed be the Lord who did not make me a heathen; blessed be he who did not make me a woman; blessed be he who did not make me an uneducated person.'"[2] Jewish Rabbis in the first century were encouraged not to teach or even to speak with women. Jewish wisdom literature tells us that "he that talks much with womankind brings evil upon himself and neglects the study of the Law and at the last will inherit Gehenna [hell]."[3] One reason for the avoidance of women was the belief that they could lead men astray: "From garments cometh a moth and from a woman the iniquities of a man" (Ecclus. 42:13). Indeed, men were often viewed as intrinsically better than women, for "better is the iniquity of a man than a woman doing a good turn" (Ecclus. 42:14).[4] In view of this low status of women, it is not surprising that they enjoyed few legal rights in Jewish society. Women were not even allowed to give evidence in a court of law. Moreover, according to the rabbinic school that followed Rabbi Hillel, a man could legally divorce his wife if she burned his dinner. It was in this oppressive context that Christianity was born. Many people - both men and women - have hailed Jesus as a feminist because of His elevation of women in a male-chauvinist society. Moreover, Paul's statement...
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...not it is still a valid spiritual gift today. Spiritual Gifts are “gifts of God enabling the Christian to perform his or her (sometimes specialized) service” in the church.[1] They are supernatural gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit that enhance the work and ministry of the Christian. [2] Depending on which gift is given you use them to spread the Word of God and help the church to grown. They can be anything from the gift of prophesy, to the gift of speaking in tongues to the gift of administration. The gifts all have a place in ministry within the church. Spiritual gifts are not to be confused with Fruits of the Spirit. Fruits of the spirit such as love, joy, peace, kindness, etc. are all things that are produced in us by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). These things are not given to us, but brought out from inside of us through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Fruits of the Spirit relate to our character, not the things we can do. Having these brought out in us is a sign of spiritual maturity. Spiritual Gifts are given to us by the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:6-8). These gifts can be given to and employed by the most immature believer.[3] Therefore, Spiritual gifts are not a sign of spiritual maturity. Speaking in tongues is speaking in a language you do not already know in order to praise God (1...
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...Theology of Missions Paper GLST 500: Liberty University Spring 2016 Introduction Theology of missions is one of the most significant and enduring aspects of the Christian faith. The theology of missions is about witnessing and bringing the word of Christ to others and is a foundational aspect of individual religious works as well as the works of fellowships, worshippers, and the whole of Christianity. "Mission [is] 'looking beyond', being involved in God's worldwide adventure with people from many culture" [1]. As exciting as the ideal sounds the importance of mission is foundational in a changing context of faith, as more and more people step away from traditional religious worship and multiculturalism and ecumenical ideals stress transition in the faith [2]. Thus, through this paper, I will discuss the relevance of missions within the Old Testament and the New Testament, how the nature of God relates to missions, some key themes of the theology of missions and how mission theology relates to missionary, church leaders and lay people not in fulltime ministry. Old Testament and New Testament “The mission of God lies behind the whole of the Old Testament as well as the New Testament and the particular task which we call missions today” [3]. In the Old Testament, God is a sending or missionary God. In Mark 16:15-16 (NIV), God said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved…”. Just as Saul did, in 1 Samuel...
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...“Pneumatology” Dana Peebles THEO 201: THEOLOGY SURVEY 1 Writing Style: APA Professor Gaston August 2, 2014 Hey Girl, I was surprised to see your message this morning as I logged onto Facebook. It has been forever and a day since we last spoke. I pray you and your family are well, and we must get together soon. I have to admit, our days as teenagers were thrilling. However, I have grown up a lot since then and I choose not to be in the party scene anymore. I know it must be shocking to think that someone as wild and crazy as I was, is now studying to be a minister. Trust me, I thought God had one heck of a sense of humor when he revealed this very thought to me as well. I hear he is in the business of miracles, and what a prime example to use someone as broken as me. I don’t know that I would claim myself to be an “expert” (as you suggest), but I will certainly try to answer these questions you have asked me. If for by some chance I don’t have the answers, I do know the one who does. With that being said, your questions and concerns about spiritual gifts and fruits of the spirit, as well as baptism and speaking in tongues are great questions. When it comes to “Gifts of the Spirit” and “Fruits of the Spirit”, it is very easy to get the two confused. While both fruits and gifts are an indication of the presence of the Spirit, both are very different. The gifts that the Spirit gives us is not the same for each person. Generally, the gift given, is a tool related...
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...THEOLOGY RESEARCH PAPER The Purpose and Merits of Baptism V. King THEO350 24 November 2014 Is there a purpose behind baptism? This is a question that has been heatedly debated for decades by all religions. It is an extremely important question and carries significant meaning to those who believe and practice baptism. The Slavic word for baptism is “krst”, which in ancient German, its origin is derived from the word “kristen”.1 Kristen translates into making followers of Christ.2 The Greek word for baptize is baptizein, which translates to immerse.3 Whereas, the most commonly recognized Greek word for baptism is baptizó. There are many scriptures in the New Testament that provide the purpose of baptism. For a Christian, being baptized is an important step in a Christian’s life. It is a process of ridding one of sin so they can live their life according to God’s Will. John 3:15 tells that “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” For Christians, they need to be baptized by a form of water in order to go to God’s Kingdom. ------------------------------------------------- Those who want to be baptized must accept and proclaim Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. After He is accepted as the one and only Savior, the person is baptized by going under water in the same manner as John the Baptist. There are three main components that baptism stands for: death, burial and resurrection...
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...controversial and discussed subject in the Holy Bible would be the subject of spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts are “gifts of God enabling the Christians to perform his or her…services in church” (Elwell, 2001, pg.1135). Spiritual gifts are given by God to help complete His work here on earth and also glorify His name. When we are chosen to by God to receive these spiritual gifts, He expects us to use those gifts in fulfilling His commission, building up the churches, and giving back to Him. That “gifts are given for the common good, that the church may receive edification” (1 Corinthians 14:5, New King James Version) Town defines a spiritual gift as the evident and manifest work of the Holy Spirit through the Christian (2001, pg. 313). He explains that, “spiritual gifts are not given merely for personal enjoyment or even primarily for an individual’s own spiritual growth” (2001, pg. 311). In the book of 1 Corinthians 12: 8 – 11 (New King James Version), it easily explains that there are nine spiritual gifts; the message of wisdom, faith by the Holy Spirit, healing by the Holy Spirit, miraculous powers, distinguishing spirits, prophecy, message of knowledge by means of the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues and the explanation of tongues. These all are works of the Holy Spirit and God gave them to each just as He determines as Paul stated. These are special gifts given by God without even asking for them. God gave them to us according to the will of the Holy Spirit. Depending on the...
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...Christianity - the emergence of Calvinism and explain its features, its content and the filling, the difference. Meaning of Baptism for us is that if we dare to participate in it, then we are free to live the kind of life that does not apply to death. Instead of living in fear, we are able to love - to love God (it's not as easy as it sounds ), and to love our neighbor ( it's even harder ). Calvinism is the name given to a system of philosophical thought, we have inherited from Jean Calvin. He is recognized as the spokesman of the system, but not the generator of ideas in its foundation. Calvinism is not just a set of ideas shared by Calvin and his followers, but the organic unity with a common root. Calvinism is not limited to theology, is a comprehensive system that includes well-defined views on politics, society, science and the arts. Baptism of Holy Spirit Baptism of Holy Spirit can be defined as the work by which the Spirit of God at the moment of redemption brings the believer with Christ. Spiritual baptism was given not only to the apostles, but...
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...Bennett, an Episcopalian in Van Nuys, California. Since then there has been a continuing growth of the movement within many of the mainline churches: first, such Protestant churches as Episcopal, Lutheran, and Presbyterian; second, the Roman Catholic (beginning in 1967); and third, the Greek Orthodox (beginning about 1971).2 by now the charismatic movement has become worldwide and has participants in many countries As one involved in the movement since 1965, I should like to set forth a brief profile of it.3 A profile of the charismatic movement within the historic churches would include at least the following elements: (1) the recovery of a liveliness and freshness in Christian faith; (2) a striking renewal of the community of believers as a fellowship of the Holy Spirit; (3) the manifestation of a wide range of "spiritual gifts," with parallels drawn from 1 Corinthians 12-14; (4) the experience of "baptism in the Holy Spirit," often accompanied by "tongues," as a radical spiritual renewal; (5) the reemergence of a spiritual unity that essentially transcends denominational barriers; (6) the rediscovery of a dynamic for bearing comprehensive witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ; and (7) the revitalization of the eschatological perspective. In one sense, Charismatics have finally achieved a certain level of respectability within the Evangelical movement. Today, we have academic societies and publications [ii] dedicated to the study of Charismatic and Pentecostal issues in which...
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...Romans and the World View By Randy E Brown Bible 425 Prof. Jerry Hall Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va Date: Introduction The Christian Life and World View according to Romans, should not be based on condemnation for those who are not in Christ Jesus. Based on the fact through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death (verse1-2).In the early Christian Practical Issues, The Apostle Paul forms the main character in relation to examining the respective entities attached to the issue. He was charged with three different assignments which were; preaching the gospel to the gentiles, providing the church leaders with the biblical instructions and encouragements, and lastly to teach the Christian community ways to live righteously in an unsaved world. Creation Romans on creation depicts that “for since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities such as the external power and the divine nature can easily be witnessed as also understood from what has been made. This reflects on the essence of creation as it presents God’s internal power and divine power. In Romans 5, those that place their trusts in Christ become “brad new creature” with the old things passing away where everything becomes new. Sin The consequences of sin according to the Romans are vast in relation to undermining ability to effectively interact with others. In Romans 6:23, the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God...
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...liberty university theological seminary “Pretribulation v. Posttribulation rapture theories” In partial fulfillment for Theo 630 Submitted to: Samuel Hoyt, Th.D By: Tim Russ, Jr. December 6, 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………..1 Understanding the Rapture…………………………………………………………………….…. 2 Posttribulation view of the Rapture…………………………………………………………….….6 Pretribulation view of the Rapture…………………………………………………………….…..7 Issues with Posttribulation Theory…………………………………………………………….…..8 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………..….10 Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………………..…..12 INTRODUCTION The idea of the rapture has been symbolized in movies, documentaries, books of both fiction and non-fiction. It appears as though many have heard about the rapture and the second coming of Christ, but not too many individuals understand the full theology behind both events. Many Christians and scholars have discussed the second coming of Christ, however, many have not given this topic the close attention that it deserves. Many Christians believe that they have an understanding of the rapture, but few can describe the view they hold on the rapture, when it will occur, and what the period of Tribulation means. This is often because Christians tend to shy away from a full understanding of the end-times and the second coming of Christ. There are many varying views on the rapture, and the occurrence of the rapture and what that means for believers and non-believers...
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...who will be saved or who will not be saved and neither group is willing to budge. Both sides claim to have the support of Scripture, and both have specific verses that are twisted and manipulated to show support and reasoning. The problem is that both sides appear, on some levels at least, to be right. The question that can be answered from a comparison of these two views is this: What are the basic differences between Calvinism and Arminianism, as well as, their relation to theology, biblical evidence and worldviews? This research paper covers the five key points or articles of Calvinism and Arminianism, as well as, the history, view of God and biblical evidence or support for each position. History The history of Calvinism and Arminianism dates back to the 16th century, where a man named John Calvin was born in 1509. John Calvin was a son of a lawyer and born in Noyon, France where he developed a love for theology and literature. In 1523 he went to the University of Paris where he studied theology, yet in 1528 he went to Orleans and a year later Bourges to study law. With Calvin’s father being a lawyer, he was pressured into studying law. But in 1531, Calvin’s father died, giving Calvin the freedom to pursue his religious studies. That same year, he went to College de France in Paris to study Greek. Sometime between 1528 and 1533 he experienced a “sudden conversion” and became devoted to Protestantism. Calvin roamed France, Italy and Switzerland from 1533 to 1536. Then...
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