However, there are sound reasons that affirm that Paul wrote Ephesians. First, the letter specifically claims to be Paul’s. Unless there is overwhelming contrary evidence, this should heavily weigh in on the debate. The early church, which rejected fake letters, unanimously accepted this letter as being written by Paul, and this was a city that had a reputation of having discernment regarding false apostolic claims (Rev. 2:2).…
Today 's passage is from the Book of Ephesians 2:1-10. The main idea is "God 's gift in the restoration of humanity from the fall. " It has a three-part outline. In the beginning, the spiritually dead and hopeless (v1-3) are lifted up, by grace, and made alive in the gift, workmanship, and journey of Jesus until the end times. First, however, are the historical and literary outlines.…
Because of this, Christianity itsekf can be better explained by looking at the features and dynamics of this lesser religious…
Although the church can be viewed only as a simple,…
In Ephesians 2:1-10 Paul describes the ethical conduct of a person who is in Christ and a person who is not in Christ. The evildoer is dead in transgressions and sins, therefore whatever he does is repudiated to God even those benevolent acts that a sinful person can perform. Ladd points out that in Ephesians chapter two there is ethical significance union with Christ because the chapter describes this union in terms of new life in Christ linked with his resurrection and ascension, on the other hand, the person without faith in Christ is dead and live under the dominion of the flesh. Consequently, the old man cannot do anything to earn his salvation, even his kind actions do not draw him close to God instead they will take him away from the…
Heretics often oppose the language of the Bible and the Creeds. Information in the Apostle’s Creed makes it easier for heresy to creep into everyone’s understanding. For example, there is not a particular need to address the Holy Spirit in the Apostle’s Creed because everyone during the time accepts the Holy Spirit is God (Gutenson, Apostle’s Creed Video,). Athanasius takes opposition to a common heretic, Arius. Arian beliefs are the nature of Jesus is not God and consequently, He cannot offer salvation (Gutenson, Nicene Creed Video).…
The book of Ephesians is one of the most popular and important books of the New Testament. It includes topics such as unity within the body of Christ, relationship of believers to God, the Church as a whole. It is the purpose of the writing to discuss briefly the context and theological importance of this book. The book of Ephesians was written most likely in Rome and likely between 60 or 61 A.D. It has been historically accepted that Paul wrote this letter perhaps as a circulatory letter to the churches of Asia Minor. Paul likely wrote the letter from prison in Rome.…
The only reason that the Church exists is so that Christ can be magnified, and as a result the Church must submit to Jesus in everything. The Church is God’s plan A for the world, and it is the main way the world will hear the gospel. “The catholic or universal Church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the Head” (HC). The local church a group of believers that join together to fellowship and worship God.…
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states “the sacraments make the Church, since they manifest and communicate to men, above all in the Eucharist, the mystery of communion with the God who is love, One in three persons. The Church also offers models of holiness which include saints and those in our…
The church is both the body and the bride of Christ; this idea consists of materiality and unity. The church contains four marks and the people must bear these marks of the church both visibly and in the body. The church is one and unified, though this may be hard to grasp considering all the fragments in the church. The church receives holiness, the second mark, because of Christ’s sacrifice. Church is catholic, meaning that it is universal and whole.…
The church is the community of God’s children, which is essential for salvation. Whether the community is together in fellowship, as a congregation, or during global ministry, each avenue leads people to salvation. In 7.1 of The Christian Reader it states, “For Irenaeus, the gospel had been corrupted by those outside the church; in order to be assured of the integrity of the Christian proclaimed the apostolic preaching.” This quote emphasizes that the preaching of the gospel is important to its listeners and leads them to spiritual growth, proving that the church plays a necessary role in salvation. Another important role that the church plays in salvation is through baptism.…
Another way to think of this is to say that the church was announcing the good news of God. It is the thinking that all churches are a community and they are gathered to preach the word of God to the world and make him known to everyone. With all of these churches being bonded through the faith of all those who are apart of them. The theologians who were a big part in the making of this model were Martin Luther, Karl Barth, Rudolf Bultmann, and lastly Hans Kung. They later came to realize that this view was not very open and was conservative, it does not allow everyone to receive God’s grace.…
What if there is more to suffering than one realizes? How would one’s mindset shift if he or she believed that all trials and tribulations that society perceives as weaknesses, are in actuality strength? When a person is brought into moments of weakness, he/she must become open to allowing strength to come in. 2 Corinthians 12:9 states, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” What if God is calling people to embrace their weaknesses, so that He can respond with his strength?…
Christian religious tradition (or Christianity) has long been thought of as a set of dogmas, sacraments and moral attitudes linked with a belief and reverence in God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as captured in the stores of the Bible. Within Biblical gospels one find descriptions of the many miracles Jesus Christ bestowed upon mankind, stories that became fundamental to Christian belief, where the faithful profess to the genuine nature of these stories as factual truths. Given the structure of the Christian religious traditions, Christian’s belief in miracles, expressions of divine intervention and the adherence to teachings, practices, and rituals associated with the faith with an established heritage and long history, many scholars…
Introduction The concept of “church” was started as the tabanacle where the Ark of Covenent was placed (Old Testament). Then it was transferred into the “Temple building” where people experienced God’s presence. When Jesus came to dwell among people, He was the Temple instead of the building. He confirmed it; “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:19 NIV).…