HTH-515 Topic
Revelation and God
I. Ranking Christian Doctrines Activity and Reflection
Without doing any prior research, use the chart below to organize the following 20 doctrines by placing them under the category you think they best fit.
Election Sinful Nature Baptism Rapture Church Government
Justification Hell Trinity Atonement Jesuss Virgin Birth
Young Earth Predestination Inspiration Lords Supper Deity of Jesus
Demonology Millennium Sanctification Origin of Evil Gifts of the Spirit
Ranking Christian Doctrines Chart
First Order
Second Order
Third Order
Sinful Nature
Hell
Deity of Jesus
Baptism
Trinity
Sanctification
Atonement
Origin of Evil
Gifts of the Spirit
Lords Supper
Jesuss Virgin Birth
Church Government
Predestination
Election
Inspiration
Election
Justification
Predestination
Millennium
Rapture
Church Government
Young Earth
Demonology
Inspiration
After you have finished placing the 20 doctrines in the chart, do some research and reconsider where you placed each doctrine. If you decide to change a doctrine from where you originally placed it, cross it out using the strikethrough function and retype it in red in the category where it was moved. Also, feel free to add other doctrines that you might encounter. Place these additional doctrines in blue. Finally, what did you learn as you thought through your original ordering? Are there doctrines you are still unsure where to place? If so, why? [100-150 words]
It appears to me that there are more first order doctrines in Christianity than anything else, simply because it is so important that Christian beliefs be defined. While there are various sects, this is a problem when it comes to unity. The more that what must be believed is defined, the more unity there can be. After thinking through my original ordering I learned that I put some issues in the second and third order of doctrines because I know that there is disagreement among the sectsbut I still think they have been defined and must be believed a certain way.
II. Key Issues Regarding the Inspiration and Authority of Scripture
Skim through pages 160-184 of Michael Hortons The Christian Faith. Outline some key issues regarding the inspiration and authority of Scripture. Why are these doctrines so important? What is at stake if these doctrines are not given priority? [150-200 words]
Scripture is like the constitutionthe Word as Canonthat lays down the rule for our life as Christians. It is the inspired Word of God and thus contains the authority of God within it. Just as we have a Constitution from our Founders of the nation, so too does God give us a constitution in Scripture. These doctrines are important for our salvation because they tell us how to work out our salvation, applying ourselves to the Word and putting it into practice so that our...
Choose three Trinitarian heresies from the early church era. Use the chart below to outline the main understanding of each heresy along with the arguments Christian thinkers used to refute them. Make sure you include Scripture references. You are free to use bullet points in your outline.
Trinitarian Heresies Chart
Name of Heretical Movement and Main Proponent(s)
Brief Description of Main Heretical Beliefs
Main Arguments and Biblical References
Given to Refute Heresy
1
Sabellianism
Belief that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three characterizations of one God, rather than three distinct "persons" in one God.
John 16:7, Christ explains that unless He returns to the Father, the Holy Spirit cannot come to His followers. The Holy Spirit is moved by faith in the hearts and minds of men.
2
Tritheism
Belief that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three independent and distinct divine beings as opposed to three persons of one being and one essence
The Baptism of Christ, there is alignment of the Three Persons Who are One (Matthew 3:13-17)
3
Modalism
Belief that the Trinity represents different modes of God
Genesis 1:2, the Holy Spirit is at work hovering over the world, even as God the Father is there, and John 1:1 tells that that Word was there in the beginning as well.
The reader is told that a leader is chosen who is "fully of the Spirit and wisdom" and "full of faith" (Acts 6:3,5). The first book of Acts shows the disciples looking at external qualities for a good leader and are thus unable to come to a decision; they end up asking God to make the decision for them. It is only after the disciples are filled with the
These is no other evidence in the Gospels or in other areas of the epistles out side of Corinthians. Certainly, Acts is the foundation stone for all of the talk of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Without Acts, there would be no other firm evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit (ibid.). Obviously, the speaking in tongues is still valid today because it is still happening. As it
Holy Spirit in Acts The book of Acts in the Holy Bible refers to the Acts of the Apostles and how these acts contributed to the formation of the early church. The importance of the Holy Spirit in the early days of the church cannot be underestimated. Paul told the Ephesians it was necessary to believe in the "one coming after him, this is, in Jesus" (New International Version Acts 19:4).
God in Genesis The nature and character of God, as found in the Bible and in human consciousness, is a widely disputed and contested field of debate. The reason for this is the very nature of God as ephemeral and unknowable. Human beings can surmise ideas from God from religious texts and their own experience. However, no human being can claim to know the true nature of God. This fact seems
God of the Old Testament displays many human images, many human emotions. Even though we are after all created in His image it still shocks one to read of an angry God or a vengeful God. God seems to play favorites often. We must keep in mind that the Bible was written by man. Man wrote of God in the only manner he could - in human terms. Moses wrote the
God and Creation Has the concept of God well and truly woven itself into the very psyche of the average American citizen? What exactly does the average American think about God? As a matter of fact, each and every American must take some time to sit back and think deeply about these issues, and also pay close attention to the power and influence of God in the history of America. Perhaps
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