This is one of the better articles I’ve read in quite some time. Given that I generally read dead authors, Light by Revelation comes as a pleasant surprise since it is written by Ryan Hedrich, an alive twenty-something. In the article, Ryan provides an edifying, biblical definition of faith:
[Faith] is never dichotomized with reason by the authors of God’s word, for it is not, as some presume, blindly subjective. In opposition to fideists such as Kierkegaard and Brunner, both of whom promoted [the subjective] “how” one believes over [the objective] “what” one believes, the apostles exhorted believers to grow in knowledge as well as – or perhaps more precisely, unto – grace (Colossians 1:10, 2 Peter 3:18); in fact, their letters were written for that very purpose (1 John 5:13, 20). Biblical faith is [understanding and] assent to the propositions of Scripture, especially the gospel. The crucifixion cannot be foolishness to those who assent to the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:23), so assent to a proposition suffices as a definition of the general use of belief or faith in Scripture. Adding “trust” as an element of faith either is redundant, leads to the sort of subjective notion of faith which has created so much doubt regarding one’s assurance of salvation, or can even capitulate one to acceptance of faith as a work (cf. Romans 4:5).
If you’re interested in apologetics and the philosophy of religion, you should read this several times. There are many topics covered in the article (i.e. Scripturalism), but Ryan’s main argument seems to be that Scripture alone is the ground for knowledge, and to that we say, amen! Thanks, Ryan!
Anne Rice, best-selling author, famous for her vampire novels and more recent fictional work derived from the Bible has renounced Christianity. Examiner.com has the following quotes from the author on her Facebook page:
“For those who care, and I understand if you don’t: Today I quit being a Christian. I’m out. I remain committed to Christ as always but not to being “Christian” or to being part of Christianity. It’s simply impossible for me to “belong” to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group. For ten years, I’ve tried. I’ve failed. I’m an outsider. My conscience will allow nothing else.
…I quit being a Christian. I’m out. In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control. I refuse to be anti-Democrat. I refuse to be anti-secular humanism. I refuse to be anti-science. I refuse to be anti-life. In the name of Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen.”
“My faith in Christ is central to my life. My conversion from a pessimistic atheist lost in a world I didn’t understand, to an optimistic believer in a universe created and sustained by a loving God is crucial to me. But following Christ does not mean following His followers. Christ is infinitely more important than Christianity and always will be, no matter what Christianity is, has been, or might become.”
She states that “her” faith in Christ is “central” to her life. Ann Rice is confused. You cannot have faith in Christ and not follow his teachings. Faith in Christ is a gift from the Lord and it is revealed. If you love Christ, the Scripture says you love His people and you follow his commandments!
In the end, professing Christians will be sifted and the genuineness of their faith will come forth as gold demonstrating their union with Christ, or show them as tares that are carried away by the wind when sifting has ceased.
There is a cost to following Christ. Those who want Christ to fit their agenda have an idol and are deceived. We aren’t in Christ because he “fits” into our life, we are in Christ because it is His agenda from beginning to end. We are the servants, He is the Master. It is His agenda, His way. This is not negotiable. May God grant these “professing” believers true faith by causing them to turn and repent.
Soldados vamos a explorar la teologia sistematica. Muchos pregunataran “que es la teologia sistematica?” Esto es precisamente lo que estudiaremos. Se ha dicho que teologia correcta guia uno a vivir la vida correcta, y teologia incorrecta pues resulta en una vida que es vivida incorrectamente.
Wayne Grudem nos explica:
I. Explicacion Y Base Biblica
A. Definicion de teologia sistematica
“La teologia sistematica es cualquier estudio que responde a la pregunta: “Que nos ensena hoy toda la Biblia? Respecto a un tema dado.” Grudem dice que esta definicion fue tomada del profesor John Frame. Grudem nos dice que “esta definicion indica que la teologia sistematica incluye la recoleccion y comprension de todos los pasajes biblicos relevantes a varios temas y luego resume sus ensenanzas claramente para que podamos saber que creer respecto a cada tema.”
Debemos de entender que hay otras disciplinas que deberiamos de estudiar como la teologia historica, la teologia filosofica y en la apologetica (la defensa de la veracidad de la fe Cristiana). Estas tres disciplinas llevan una definicion mas amplia del termino teologia sistematica. La teologia sistematica difiere de la teologia del Antiguo Testamento, de la teologia del Nuevo Testamento y de la teologia Biblica.
La Biblia presenta ciertos temas por ejemplo, “en la teologia del Antiguo Testamento uno preguntaria: Que ensena Deuteronomia respecto a la oracion? o que ensena Salmos sobre la oracion? o que ensena Isaias respecto a la oracion? o incluso que ensena todo el Antiguo Testamento sobre la oracion y como se desarrollo esa ensenansa en la historia del Antiguo Testamento? En la teologia del Nuevo Testamento uno preguntaria: que ensena el Evangelio de Juan acerca de la oracion? o que ensena Pablo respecto a la oracion o incluso que ensena todo el Nuevo Testamento acerca de la oracion y cual fue el desarrollo historico de esa ensenansa segun se le ve progresar en el Nuevo Testamento?”
Wayne Grudem nos explica que “La teologia da especial atencion a las ensenansas de los autores individuales y secciones de la Biblia y al lugar de cada ensenansa en el desarrollo historico de las Escrituras.” Amados soldados en Cristo, el estudio de la teologia sistamatica nos guiara a estudiar y a que comprendamos cada doctrina que los autores de la Biblia y sus oyentes y lectores poseyeron.
Hoy en dia hermanos y hermanas tenemos desorden en la iglesia! Hay “iglesias” como la Iglesia Universal donde los lideres se llaman pastores pero son lobos vestidos como obejas. Estos toman ventaja de las debilidades de la gente y sus problemas en la vida. Viven pidiendo dinero de la gente y esclavisan a los creyentes en vez de liberarlos por medio del Evangelio! Les prometen riquezas materiales si dan su dinero mientras los “pastores” se hacen ricos. Debemos de luchar por el Evangelio y la ensenansa biblica hermanos y hermanas! Cristo nos dejo el ejemplo. La riquezas verdaderas estan en El solamente! Los creyentes hoy en dia viven confiando en la emocion y sentimientos. Confian mas en la palabra de los hombres mas que en la Palabra de Dios! Por esta razon tenemos que descubrir de nuevo la teologia sistematica que le ensenara al Cristiano individuo a conocer verdaderamente la Palabra de Vida para poder vivir con la paz del Senor en tiempos buenos y en tiempos malos. Solamente por la sabiduria que Dios nos revela en la Palabra seremos liberados del legalismo y de la vida religiosa que es fingida los Domingos! Como dijo Cristo, “la gente me alaban con sus labios pero sus corazones estan lejos de mi.”
La religion verdadera se encuentra en el entendimiento de las Escrituras. El entendimiento correcto que los autores intentaron comunicar. Cuando un autor escribe un libro, lo escribe con la meta que el que lea entienda claramente el mensaje que ha escrito. Asi es con so 66 libros de la Palabra de Dios. Cada autor fue guiado por El Espiritu Santo para comunicar el plan Del Dios Triuno! No hay lugar para chistes o cuentos o para entretener a la congregacion! La Palabra debe de ser predicada con fidelidad en el poder del Epiritu Santo!
La responsabilidad esta con cada soldado De Cristo! Si no han estudiado este tema de Teologia Sistematica, le pido al Senor que use este articulo para que cause una explocion dentro de los corazones de los creyentes para la gloria de Dios. Que el Senor nos santifique mas este ano. Que el Senor nos conforme mas a la imagen de Su Hijo este ano, que como estabamos el ano pasado! Este estudio nos guiara a ser mejores hijos, hijas, esposos or esposas, empleados, jefes, y sobre todo mejores testigos de la gracia de Cristo nuestro Senor! Amen.
Inspirado por el libro Doctrina Biblica escrito por Wayne Grudem
I noticed that Agilius posted a comment last night which he said was “off
topic.” I could not help but “read into it.” I perceived there was great
concern as he wrote. I have spent some time watching Glenn Beck and
was captivated by what he has to say. He seems to have good insight into our
current situation in America. I started to become alarmed and wanted to
inform everyone. It got to the point where I had to stop watching and
refocus on the fact that in spite of all the wickedness that is present, the
Lord is on His throne and His sovereignty rules over all” Psaml 103:19. I do notsay this to take away from Agilius’ post at all. I believe we should be
watchful citizens. We have heard it said that for evil to triumph all we have
to do in nothing. With that I will open it up to everyone and quote Bill O’reilly
when he says, “what say you?”
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4291390/beck-big-brother-arrives
A brother approached me at work on Friday frustrated. He told me that he was going to send me over some emails he needed help with. There is a friend of his that is very “smart” and has been sending questions over to my co-worker. I am posting his questions/assertions here on BT and letting the believing community address them. We will call this guy “Tate.” I really don’t think he is open to hearing the answers, but here are his questions/assertions….
“Your resposes are all religion and faith based, once again, with NO credence to factual evidence. If God created this world he created Homo erectus, Homo Robustus, Homo africanus and australopithecus (lucy).
The Bible predates the birth of Jesus by only 2000 years. The story of creation takes place 2000 years before the birth of Christ, per the bible. THAT is the beginning. According to the bible the Earth is 4000 years old, but Lucy is 20,000,000 years old. Dinosaurs roamed the earth 40 million years ago. Where do they fit into the bible?
You do not turn your back on the existence of a God by acknowledging fact. Simply acknowledge the discrepency in the mere timeline!
About the bible being the word of God?! Says whom? A bunch of men? who were flawed and had their own agendas?
I live righteously and whatever force controls the cosmos will decide my fate.
Let me ask you do you REALLY believe that Jesus, a man who walked the earth, was crucified, but resurrected. That he rose from the dead. Really? I’ll put you in touch with Catholic theologians who will explain that, and they won’t say what you’d think they’d say.
Do you really believe that Mary, the mother of God, ascended into heaven, body and spirit?
let that sink in. that she literally levitated and continued up 20-30-50,000 feet!?!? Wouldn’t her oxygen have been cut off at like 25k feet? I assume heaven is pretty far up there. Did she have a mask?
And speaking of Mary, let’s immaculate conception. Do you buy it?”
Here they are ladies and gentlemen. Let’s give my co-worker some assistance. May God grant “Tate” the ability to believe.
