Summary for Everyones Teologian Chapter 38 to 45
Theology is a key field in human life as it gives us knowledge of the biblical teachings that guide human life. The theological book gives us insight into what God wants and expects of us. The Scriptures speak of salvation in various ways and enlightens us on what to do to inherit the kingdom of God. Salvation is a term used to describe being saved by God from God. Most people do not understand why God needs to save us from Himself, thus; Chapter 38 of the book explains in details how and why humans need salvation. God's wrath upon humans can be so harsh when we disobey Him and go against His will. Thus, to escape punishment, God has given us a chance to redeem ourselves by obeying His rules and do what pleases Him. By doing so, we are assured of forgiveness and eternal life.
The central concern among all theologians who study salvation is the itheoldea of grace. Humans do not deserve or demand salvation, but it is freely given to them by God the mighty (Sprout, 2014, p.3). Salvation is given through the mercy, love, and grace of God and not from the works of humans. One should note that there is common and special grace and each depends on the faith of the person. Special grace is for the saved while common grace is given to all. Paul quotes God's word to Moses about salvation: "I will have mercy and compassion on whom I have mercy and compassion for" (Rom. 9:15). Salvation can only come from the grace and mercy of the highest and not from any other source in the whole universe.
Reflection of Everyones Teologian Chapter 38 to 45
Chapter 43 speaks of the adoption and the Christian Union. The book of John says that God has given us infinitive love because we are His children (1 John 3:1-2). Most times we take God's love for granted and this is something that the apostolic church strongly rebukes. Over the years, topologists have done numerous researches to determine the similarities among all the existing religions including Hindu, Islam, and Christianity. Some distinguished topologists such as Das Wesen have managed to reduce Christianity to the common denominator that the religion shares with other faiths. Christianity is based on the universal fatherhood of God and the universal brotherhood of man (Sprout, Chapter 44). This means that all humans share a similar God and that we are all equal before Him. We are also brothers and sisters, and God expects us to be our brother's keepers because we all belong to Him. The church is defined as a family with one father (God) and one son (Lord), and the rest of us are adopted into the mighty family. We also enjoy the spiritual fellowship as Christians since we are part of the mystical communion.
Chapter 45 explains the perseverance of the saints and the possibility of losing salvation. Perseverance is the urge and willingness to remain righteous and serve God without getting tired. The Scriptures speak about staying awake and praying without losing faith in God. However, maintaining a virtuous life can be difficult at times due to the many temptations that human undergo. Most Christians especially those that have received salvation tend to fall back and engage in earthly activities. They sin and disgrace God, hence; losing salvation and are no longer viewed as God's servants. Thus, it is possible to lose salvation when one loses faith in God and engages in activities that embarrass the Supreme Being. Hence, Christians are encouraged to tackle all challenges that face them and maintain a stable relationship with God to avoid losing their acquired salvation.
Chapters 43 to 45 are fundamental because they touch on sensitive points that affect Christians. Through the chapters, we learn the importance of persevering and pushing on through all hardships that face Christians in their daily lives. Christians are encouraged to keep a strong faith in God as He never neglects us despite all that we undergo as humans because we are His children. The Christian Union is a mystical family that we are adopted in and in the family we never lack our basic necessities because God is the father (Sprout, 2014, p.6). Chapter 38 is important to Christians as it enlightens us on what God wants us to do for us to inherit His kingdom. The book teaches us not only to obey God when He is watching but also when He is absent. My beloved, as you have been obedience to me in my present and absence, continue working out your salvation because God works inside you for His pleasure (Phil. 2: 12 -13). This means that as Christians, we are bound to do right and serve God every time. We should not do it to please the church or other people who are watching, but to please Him by always doing what He expects from us at all times.
The book also plays a significant role in encouraging Christians to always stay strong in their faith and not easily get tempted by the earthly materials (Chapter 43). It also warns us that when we forsake God's wishes, we lose our salvation and that we are bound to perish in hell. Hence, for us to retain salvation, we should not get tired of doing the right things and serve God at all times. All human beings belong to one father regardless of their religious backgrounds, thus; we should all live in peace and harmony with each other. When God selects people to serve Him, the chosen ones will remain selected forever. However, the doctrine of perseverance contradicts the doctrine of the chosen ones. Thus, it is risky to make assumptions based on logical conclusions from the doctrine. Christians should always pay attention to sensitive issues before getting into premature conclusions about matters partaking to their faith.
Summary of Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Confession of Faith speaks of God's calling, justification, and the adoption of people into the Christian family in chapter 10-15. It also touches on human salvation and the assurance of grace which is essential in Christian faith. God calls people and appoints them through the Holy Spirit to carry on with His work. God's calling is free and exclusive from His gracious nature, and no man requests to be called. God chooses those who please Him, and He does not discriminate, hence; He can pick the least expected person to do His work. Those who are lucky to be called by God receive justice as their sins are washed away due to Gods mercy upon them. Through the blood of Christ, humans sins were washed away, and we were given second chance to redeem our faith in Christ. Thus, through Him, we can also receive salvation and escape God's wrath. Jesus died for our sins and through Him; we have the opportunity to have a healthy relationship with God by doing what pleases Him.
Christians enjoy all the privileges of the children of God and have His name lifted upon them thus gaining access to God's kingdom. God does not fail to fulfill His promises and ensures that His servants inherit everlasting salvation and that He provides all that they need. The anointed ones are called and regenerated thus acquiring new hearts and spirit. The grace of God is written in the Scriptures and the elect work through the Spirit of Christ in their hearts. The word of God is written in their hearts, and His glory fills the souls. Christian faith is present in various degrees but becomes weak or strong depending on the heart of the believer. Jesus Christ authors and finishes our faith, hence; we should always seek spiritual guidance from Him by being persistent in prayer. Before we seek salvation, we should confess and repent our sins to cleanse both our souls and hearts so that Christ accepts and adopts us into the family. We should not allow our negligence to ruin our relationships with God and lose salvation.
Reflection of Westminster Confession of Faith
The author of Westminster Confession of Faith did a great job by incorporating all the aspects of theology hence providing all the necessary information to the readers. The Bible is significant in enlightening the readers on how to lead righteous lives and create a healthy relationship with God. It helps to build the reader's faith and make us spiritually strong to overcome all temptations since we know the importance of perseverance and how to acquire God's salvation. When the author speaks about confession and repentance, the readers get the courage of repenting their sins and giving their souls and hearts to the Lord. Also, the information about salvation is critical to the reader as it warns them against engaging in activities that can embarrass God and lead to loss of salvation. However, it also goes ahead to tell the readers about the importance of repentance as God has the grace to forgive our sins and save us from destruction.
Salvation is a term used to describe being saved by God from God. The central concern among all theologians who study salvation is the idea of grace. Humans do not deserve or demand salvation, but it is free to them from God the mighty. The church is defined as a family with one father (God) and one son (Lord), and the rest of us get adopted into the mighty family. God's calling is free and special from His gracious nature, and no man requests the calling. Through the blood of Christ, humans sins were washed away, and we were given second chance to redeem our faith in Christ. Christians enjoy all the privileges of the children of God and have His name lifted upon them thus gaining access to Gods kingdom. Before we seek salvation, we should confess and repent our sins to cleanse both our souls and hearts. The grace of God is written in the Scriptures and the elect work through the Spirit of Christ in their hearts. Thus, we should not allow our negligence to ruin our relationships with God and lose salvation.
Works Cited
"THE CONFESSION OF FAITH." PCAAC Organization (n.d.): 1-152. Web.
http://www.pcaac.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/WCFScriptureProofs.pdf
Sprout, R. C. "EVERYONE'S A THEOLOGIAN." Reformation Trust (2014): 1-7.
http://www.wtsbooks.com/common/pdf_links/9781567693652.pdf
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