Statement of Faith: Living by the Bible - Essay Example

ment of Faith: Living by the Bible number] January 3, 2006 ment of Faith: Living by the Bible Faith is an intangible force driving the actions of people through morals, ethics, and love given by the Lord God and His only begotten son, Jesus Christ. Humans, the creation and children of God, can develop faith through reading the Bible, communicating with God, following the teachings of Jesus Christ, sharing the words and feelings with other humans, learning about and accepting salvation, overcoming the temptations of Satan, learning to recognize and defeat many of Satan's devils, accepting and following God's angels and messengers, attending church and church-related activities and teachings, and striving for eternal life with God at the end. The Bible is the word of God (Proverbs 30:5) handed down through the ages. This book serves as a guide for how to live ethically, morally, and lovingly. More than this, the Bible serves as a piece of literature that serves an immense purpose of telling people how life was at the time these stories were told. The Bible has survived thousands of translations and interpretations and still survives as the highest selling and most respected book. The Holy Bible is truly an amazing book. Though the Bible has fallen under much controversy and debate by varying teams of religious fanatics, both Christian and non Christian, this book remains the word of a perfect, almighty God that is embodied through the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Corinthians 13:4). Humans are the beloved children of God (Romans 8:16, Galatians 3:26), as He makes clear with each passage through scriptures, sayings, gifts, and forgiveness. No one could rightfully question the amount of love God gave, and continues to give, to his children. This love for his children, human beings, was passed on and shared with his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, who sacrificed his life to redeem the sins of humankind. Jesus Christ was later resurrected from death as a justification for all who trust in Him (Roman 3:34-25, 5:8, Timothy 4:10). Humankind, as a result of the sins of Adam and Eve, was alienated from God. One ramification of these sins is that humans are all now sinners--subject to worldly pleasures resulting in suffering (Genesis 3:1-6, Romans 5:12). Jesus Christ was sent to teach humans ways in which to live: through the love of God. Total faith in Jesus Christ and his teachings is the path to salvation now (Ephesians 2:8, Peter 2:24). God, King of Heaven, is all-knowing. He is capable of deciding who can or will be saved and who cannot. God must make those decisions and no one else; God serves as the judge over humankind (Isaiah 56:1). Yet, even with this great knowledge, God can also be forgiving--letting go of those sins people have atoned for and allowing them back into His grace. Humans have been granted free will. This privilege allows humankind to question without fear his or her beliefs, defy them, or embrace them. This ability allows a person's faith to grow stronger as God makes His love more apparent in times of turmoil. Angels have a limited amount of free will: while they have no will to sin, angels can, and have, rebel against God, their maker. What humankind does have, however, is a plan for redemption should they ever turn away from God's Glory: angels have no such provision. Angels were granted, instead, a revelation that God's other children have not been given. Even humans have not been granted, yet, full knowledge of the angels, but as many other things, full revelation will be unfolded and will belong to all of God's children to embrace and pass on to future generations (Deuteronomy 29:1-29). Satan, the embodiment of evil, was created as an angel who refused to serve his maker and was cast into judgement. He now serves only to tempt humans to following his path and tries to build his own power through deceptions and lies in hopes that one day he might rise to take over and be loved (Matthew 4:1-11, Revelation 20:10). Truly, Satan must be thought of only as a reminder of what falling from God's grace would entail. Working as followers of Satan are the devils. Devils recognize Jesus Christ as the son of God and are at enmity with both. Devils appear to have certain powers over humankind (James 2:19, Rev. 16:14) and have been cast out by Jesus Christ and His Apostles through the power of the Holy Spirit. Devils are "principalities and powers" which humans every where must "wrestle" against (Eph. 6:12). The church serves as an instrument of spiritual disciplines, prayer, worship, confession and Bible Study (Corinthians 11:2, Tim 3:1-13). Though beliefs may vary slightly from one denomination to another, the church is a place for worshippers to gather together to raise, in one voice, the thoughts and love that humans feel towards their Father and His son. Clergymen are employed to help spread the word of God through sermons and lectures, and to assist those in trouble embrace God's love and help. Jesus Christ will come again, accompanied by his Saints, and establish an Eternal Kingdom (Revelation 3:10, 19:11-16, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9). A fine line exists between those who have been redeemed and non believers. The truly faithful will find they will be present with the Lord and be reunited and glorified with their Father (Luke 23:43). Those who are wicked, however, will not have the eternal life promised to them in God's grace, and will instead find them selves cast down into Satan's presence for eternity (Luke 16:19-26, Jude 1:6-7). Through recognizing, accepting, and living by the words expressed in the Bible, humankind can reach their salvation. True faith implies that the word of God be followed as a way of life, not merely read over and ignored but for times of trouble. By learning the basics of what has been covered--Bible, God, Jesus Christ, humankind, salvation, angels, Satan and his devils, the church, and end times--gives humans the fundamental building blocks of their faith. Faith Is built stronger by reading the words and finding their meanings as they are applied to life on a daily basis. References Author. (YEAR) Title. Publisher - if applicable. DATE. Read More