...RECONCILIATION & UNITY IN THE CHURCH Table of Contents INTRODUCTION 1 THE SUPREMACY OF THE HEAD:JESUS CHRIST 1 CHRIST IN HIS PEOPLE:THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 2 THE EKKLĒSÍA:THE BODY OF CHRIST 3 THE PURPOSE OF THE EKKLĒSÍA:UNITY & RECONCILIATION 4 CONCLUSION 8 BIBLIOGRAPHY 10 INTRODUCTION We begin with the fact that God: . . .[R]aised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come, and God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. In Ephesians 1:20-23, we see the exalted Christ, reigning in heaven, having put all things under His feet. Jesus Christ is the head of the church, which is His body. In the eyes of God, the church (ekklēsía) is so much more than traditionally thought. The church is destined for so much more than just to be saved from the wrath of God. God has purposed that the ekklēsía, his called-out body of believers, be His agents or representatives on the earth during this present age to reconcile all things to Himself. He therefore has filled his people with Himself, through the Holy Spirit. The purpose of this paper is to discuss God’s mystery revealed, unity and reconciliation. THE SUPREMACY OF THE HEAD: JESUS CHRIST The purpose...
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...SUCCESSFUL ACHIEVEMENT OF THE PURPOSE FOR ESTABLISHING THE CHURCH The church is the body of Christ. It is made up of people who are unified (Ephesians 4: 1-3) under Jesus Christ, who represents and reflects Him to the world (1 Corinthians 12:12-17). The purpose of the church is to join people of different backgrounds and talents and provide them training and opportunities to accomplish God's work. It accomplishes these both internally, within the body, and externally, in the world. (Acts 2:42) explains the internal function of the church: "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." Jesus entrusted the church with the task to teach the body sound doctrine. In addition, there are many influences in the world that claim to have the truth, but God entrusted His word to the church (Ephesians 4:14). Still, knowledge of doctrine is useless if it isn't used (1 Corinthians 13:2): "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV). Sound teaching leads to spiritual maturity which leads to building up the body of Christ. Sound teaching and unified body enables members of the church to take care of each other through...
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...the course NBST 610-B07 Hermeneutics October 5, 2014 Table of Contents Thesis Statement 3 Passage Introduction 3 Background and Context 4 Content of Philippians 5 2:1Unity 5 2:2 Joy 6 2:3 Selflessness 6 2:4 Affirming Selflessness 7 2:5 Christian Humility 7 2:6 Humility of Christ 8 2:7 Sanctification 9 2:8 Humbled 9 2:9 Christ’s Glory 10 2:10 God’s Purpose 11 2:11 Jesus Christ is Lord 12 Application 12 BIBLIOGRPHY 14 Thesis Statement This paper will defend the theory that The Apostle Paul saw a type of arrogance in the Philippians but continued to mentor them towards prolific humility and unity. Passage Introduction “1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on...
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...THE EGO, THE CRUCIFIXION, AND THE MEANING OF LIFE From my reading of New Thought literature , I have learned new and wonderful truths. First, Unity does not tell a person what to think, how to define God, or what creeds to accept. Unity seeks only to teach one how to think—how to pray—so that a person can formulate his/her own understanding of God. Second, is a rational explanation of heaven and hell. In mainstream Christianity, heaven is a glorious kingdom located somewhere in the sky where one goes after death if he/she behaves and accepts Christ. Hell is the firey underworld for sinners. For me, both notions have always sounded improbable (and the latter—not very appealing). Instead, what Unity teaches is that the Kingdom of Heaven—the Kingdom of God—is within, and the extent to which we are attuned to and live from our Divine Center, we are in heaven. Likewise, the extend that we are living accordance with the dictates and fears of the ego—we are in hell. Sin is simply our failure to follow our own inner Christ. That interpretation of heaven and hell made a great deal of sense, but I found myself wondering, “What is the role of the ego in all this? How is the ego related to the Christ Spirit and the self?” What I came to accept is that the self is the sum total of our personality with the ego and the Christ spirit motivating forces behind our personality. Further, in our early years, the ego is the domineering force—the force that fights for survival—that...
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...LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY A Critique of the Journal Article: The Nature of the Church By Walvoord, John F. Submitted to Professor Kevin Richard in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of the course THEO 510-B06 Survey of Theology by Mark W. Clark, L26613732 January 23, 2014 Contents Introduction 1 Brief Summary 1 Critical Interaction 2 Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................................4 Bibliography 6 Grading Rubric 7 Introduction: Digging around the archived files of Bibliotheca Sacra (affectionately known as “Bib Sac”) evoked a deep sense of history and legacy. Although my exploration was limited to the broad, colorful screen of my iMac computer, I could almost smell the dusty stacks, piled high in the bowels of Dallas Theological Seminary’s archive rooms. Bib Sac was first published in 1844 and lays claim to being the oldest theological journal in America. The list of past editors stirs my earliest memories in Bible college on the coast of Maine. The theological foundations of my studies there included Lewis Sperry Chafer, John Walvood and Roy Zuck, all prolific writers and former editors of Bib Sac. It was here, in a relatively modern volume: October, nineteen fifty-nine, that I struck pay dirt. The volume I was perusing contained an article entitled The Nature of the...
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...Paul II’s Theology of the Body A Cliff Notes’ Version Introduction A. The Theology of the Body is the term used to describe the teaching of Pope John Paul about the human person and human sexuality given during his Wednesday Catecheses in St. Peter’s Square between September 5, 1979 and November 28, 1984. John Paul II says that these catecheses could be called “Human Love in the Divine Plan” or “The Redemption of the Body and the Sacramentality of Marriage.” B. Various scholars, in different language groupings, will generally break the theology of the body found in these 129 catecheses down into four main sections, others six. I think the most logical way to do so is to break it down into seven interrelated sections: 1) The Original Unity of Man and Woman as found in the Book of Genesis • 23 catecheses from September 5, 1979-April 9, 1980 2) Purity of Heart versus Concupiscence: Catechesis on the Sermon on the Mount • 27 catecheses from April 16 to December 10, 1980 3) St. Paul’s Teaching on the Human Body: Life according to the Spirit • 13 catechesis from December 17, 1980 to May 6, 1981 4) Marriage and celibacy in light of the resurrection of the body • 9 catechesis from November 11, 1981 to February 10, 1982 5) Virginity or celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven • 14 catecheses from March 10, 1982 to July 21, 1982 6) The sacramentality of marriage based on Ephesians 5:22-33 • 27 catecheses from July 28, 1982 to July 4, 1984 7) Reflections on Humanae...
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...I recently listened to a series of insightful lectures on the American Civil War given by Dr. Gary Gallagher, a professor of History at the University of Virginia. Early on, Dr. Gallagher analyzed the failure of America’s political leadership to find a compromise on slavery in the days and years leading up to secession and the catastrophic and bloody war. There was the careful attempt to admit to the Union, in tandem, one slave state and one Free State to insure the balance of power in the Senate. Henry Clay of Kentucky, the “great compromiser” helped to work out the division of Western territory so that this balance was to be preserved “in perpetuity.” Slavery, however, was not a political battle that could ultimately be negotiated; it was rather a moral battle that did not lend itself to compromise. It pitted a new consciousness against a dying definition. Slavery could not be partially moral or moral under some circumstances. It was either moral or immoral. There was no middle ground. In the slavery debate, those who shared the new consciousness were quite clear. Human beings cannot be held in bondage. This new consciousness challenged those definitions, which suggested that some people did not qualify as human beings; that some people were primitive, childlike, created to be subservient, and were, therefore, fit for nothing other than manual labor. Within that definition, slavery was deemed to be morally acceptable and those who held this position actually believed that...
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...an individual receives as it symbolizes the life and acceptance of Jesus Christ and the presents of the Holy spirit. For Christians Baptism is new life and the purification of sins as it will constantly become a reminder of faith and the death and resurrection of Christ. For the individual, Baptism is the beginning of a new life and commitment to the church. However the community provide guidance and growth for the individual and their own mission through the this sacrament is remembered. Baptism is highly significant to both the individual and the community as it was commanded by Christ through the Holy book as well as creating unity through the church. Christians believe that in order to live a fulfilled life in God’s kingdom is to be baptized just like his son Jesus in the river Jordan by John the Baptist. It is evident through the Bible that Jesus commanded Christians “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit”. Baptism for the individual meets Christ’s command as they will now live life in the example of Christ. Baptism is a constant reminder for the individual of faith and forgiveness as who receives baptism received the assurance of forgiveness and the gift of guidance by the holy spirit. it is through baptism that an individual experiences inner change and transformation through the power and strength of Christ. Jesus’ death and resurrection is symbolized through Baptism as Jesus experienced...
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...June 9, 2013 Text: Romans 12:3- 8 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. TOPIC: I belong to God's family INTRODUCTION: As we celebrate our 5th Anniversary, the church is going through with many things. In spite of all those things we choose to have this theme for the whole year! I BELONG! We hope and pray that all of us will be part of this wonderful event and by God's grace everyone who will come here and visit our church will not just be a visitor but they will be part of the family, not just a part but be a member of the family, because they feel that they belong. Read Verse: Romans 12:3-8 What is your opinion about this... "There is something wrong when people are leaving the church to find God" May problema...
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...love them and know they love you also your love for the person doesn't change. pg.11 1) The “sacramental economy” is the system Christ uses to make himself and his saving graces present. 2) Christ is like a sacrament because it cannot be fully explained or understood. 3) Jesus is an effaces sign because instead of just revealing God’s love for us he actually brings us the love. 4) He is not the eight sacrament because he is the basis of all of the sacraments. reflection 1)I haven’t received my first communion. 2)I wouldn't say that i have a strong longing for Christ yet. I am still trying to figure things out about religion before i can fully commit. pg.15 1) It is a mystery, it is a visible sign of the unseen divine reality, and it is an efficacious sign. 2) Sheepfold, flock of sheep, cultivated field or vineyard, building of God, bride if christ and mother and new jerusalem. 3) The church is a sign of holiness because the holy spirit dwells in the church and in the hearts of the faithful, sign of catholicity because it is universal, sign of apostolicity because the church is supervised by leaders who are authorized to act in the name of christ and it is a sign of oneness because all the churches are united with each other by faith. reflection 1) ? pg.20 1) Communion with Christ and the church, communion with people throughout the world,communion with other catholics and communion of saints. 2) Try to welcome...
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...Biblical theology is a Christian approach in which the theologian studies the Bible from the perspective of understanding the progressive history of God revealing Himself to humanity and following the fall and throughout the Old Testament and New Testament. Biblical theology is an attempt to articulate the theology that the Bible contains as its writers addressed their particular settings. It particularly focuses on the epochs of the Old Testament in order to understand how each part of it ultimately points forward to fulfillment in the life mission of Jesus Christ. Because scholars have tended to use the term in different ways, biblical theology has been notoriously difficult to define. Biblical theology is also study of the Bible that seeks to discover what the biblical writers, under divine guidance, believed, described, and taught in the context of their own times. Biblical theology is an attempt to understand God as He is revealed in the Bible. It seeks to discover what the biblical writers understand, believe and what they are taught. It’s based on the Bible first and then it takes scriptures from the word of God. Biblical theology pays attention to the soil of history. It studies revelation in the progressive sequence in which it was given. Also biblical theology finds its source in the Bible. Relation to Other Disciplines Biblical theology is related to but different from three other major branches of theological inquiry. Practical theology focuses on pastoral application...
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...|Doctrine in the Bible | | | |Christian Doctrine or Christian Unity? | |There seems to be a great deal of controversy about “doctrine”. To those outside the Church the mere mention of the word | |conjures up visions that range from “outdate historical notions” to “things that Christians fight over”. It does not fair much | |better inside many churches. Today the mention of doctrine seems to carry an almost negative connotation to it. There are many | |prominent leaders inside of Christianity today who make an impassioned plea for us to ignore doctrine and just “love Jesus”. Are| |these valid requests? Is God the one behind all of this? Is doctrine on its way out? We hear comments such as, “let the body of | |Christ come together”, and “leave your doctrine and return to Jesus” resonating in the messages of many pulpits and songs today.| | | |Why is this so? What are the reasons for this type of plea coming from Christians? These arguments take many forms, but follow | |the same basic pattern. The following points can...
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...One of the primary purposes of the church is to carry the Gospel of Jesus to the lost. Paul summed up the basic facts of the Gospel: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1 Cor 15:1-4 Scripture stresses the importance of unity, that we might glorify God: Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom 15:5-6 Jesus prayed that His disciples would be as one. Jesus wanted all of those who believed in Him to be brought to complete unity to let the world know that God had sent Him. Just before Jesus was betrayed, he prayed: And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Jn 17:22-23 While teaching...
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...The unity of the message from different human sources is a strong argument that the Bible is the Word of God. The fact of at least 36 to 40 authors participated in writing the 66 books of the Bible for me is inspiring. As Dr. Towns stated in his article, “Yet in spite of the diversity of authors, there is unity in the Bible, reflecting its supernatural origin.” The human authors have diverse backgrounds such as Politicians, Shepherd/King, Prophet, Fisherman, Tax-Collector, Theologian and Butler/Cupbearer to name a few. Not only were the author’s background diverse so were the language, and writing styles. Another important fact is that the Bible does not have a single author but rather it has dual authorship. This means that each book of bible was written by a human author guided by the Holy Spirit. Dr. Towns also discussed the unity of the message of Scripture, “As a person objectively reads the Bible, he finds a unified message that centers in Jesus Christ, a unified theme which is the redemption of God, a unified structure so that each part of the Bible contributes to the whole.” Knowing that the message of Bible centers in Jesus Christ which is the redemption of God is inspirational but also gives me a true sense of peace and security in the unifying message of the Bible. Because of the consistent message of love, I know without in doubt I am God’s child and loved unconditionally and He is always with...
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...Rule 7, 2 of the Augustinian rule states: "The degree to which you are concerned for the common good (rem communem) rather than for your own, is the criterion by which you can judge how much progress you have made." This passage synthesizes Augustine’s conviction regarding personal growth in Christian love. It appears in a context wherein Augustine gives the guidelines for day-to-day life in community, a life characterized by mutual service. We have already pointed out the importance of the social dimension in Augustine’s thought. Since human life is social by nature, the development of a person cannot be separated from its social context. The same applies to the new life of the believer in Christ. The new man that is born from the waters of baptism lives the commandment of love. This life of love is verified in one’s service to the brothers and sisters in the community. Within this context, one’s progress in love is directly proportional to the intensity of one’s concern for the common good. The common good is "the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily." It possesses three essential elements: (a) the respect for the person as such; (b) the social well-being and development of the group to which the person belongs; and (c) peace which is the stability and security of the just order. The common good is graphically illustrated in the Lucan description of...
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