The emphasis on faith was based on the belief focused on individual faith in Jesus Christ as savior, with “faith” understood as personal trust rather than knowledge of facts about Jesus and salvation. In other words, God, is a Protestants’ one true leader and faith alone is what will keep you holy. In turn, for Protestants this life is a pilgrimage, a journey toward an eternal destination. That destination is an eternity spent either in heaven or in hell. Those saved enjoy some benefits here on earth during their pilgrimage.
Jesus came to this world Matthew 28:19 to tell us that we are free from sin, follow him, create other disciples and reign in the glory of God for eternity. Romans 3:23 says to follow the commandments, Mark 7:20-23 says to have good thoughts not to have immoral ones. Humans have morals built in them, they need to follow Jesus Christ and represent him. 5. The Question of Destiny- Christian’s belief that after death there is eternal Salvation through Jesus Christ or eternal damnation in hell.
Analyse the essential ideas in the Ontological Argument The Ontological (meaning ‘concerned with being’) argument is the only a priori argument for the existence of God. This means that it does not rely on the evidence of our senses for its premises or conclusion. It works by logical stages, which is self evidently true or logically necessary. This is one of its major strengths. It is also deductive, so the conclusion is the only possible one that could be deduced give the premises.
Explain what Fletcher understands by Christian love and it’s roles in the moral decisions making process of situation ethics. (30 marks) Fletcher explains situation ethics through the six fundamental principles and Christian love. Joseph Fletcher, states “Only one thing is intrinsically good; namely love: nothing else”. He states only love is good. Actions are not intrinsically good or evil but this is depending upon whether they promote the most loving result.
Situation ethics is a Christian approach in dealing with ethical problems and moral choices. Joseph Fletcher, who published his theory in his book ‘Situation Ethics’ in 1966, primarily developed the theory. The theory is teleological due to its belief that actions have no intrinsic value. Instead, the theory focuses on one intrinsic good, agape, the Greek word for self-sacrificial, impersonal love. Agape is believed to love as God loves and Fletcher described it as ‘an attitude not a feeling’, therefore separating it from all other forms of love.
Anselm’s argument is the first ontological argument for God’s existence established in history; the a priori (logical) argument. The argument states that everything is greater in reality rather than dwelling in the mind. God is the “greatest being conceivable being” and takes form even in atheists, since God is greater than everything else, He must therefore exist in both reality and the mind. Gaunilo criticised this argument constructively by pointing out that if one imagines the perfect island, with this logic must it exist in reality? However, since Anselm then brought in a second argument to counter this criticism, Gaunilo couldn’t have succeeded in destroying Anselm’s argument without then faulting that one (of which he didn’t).
So, Augustine emphasized the grace of God in his theological writings. For example, Augustine says in his book, Answer to the Pelagians, “ Conversion Proves the Gratuity of Grace—For, if faith comes only from free choice and is not given by God, why do we pray that those who do not want to believe may come to believe? We would surely do this to no purpose if we were not perfectly correct in believing that almighty God can convert to the faith even perverse wills which are opposed to the faith.” [2] Augustine's path to conversion was long. He had sought about the wisdom for the salvation but he found finally grace in the only way to be saved. He found his salvation in one miraculous moment of divine intervention.
Points thirty-two through forty summarize to say that letters of pardon by the Church do not represent true forgiveness of God. Forgiveness is granted only by God. Luther also stated that all the blessings of Christ come from God even without letters of pardon. Points forty through fifty-one can be summarized as the purchasing pardons is no replacement of one’s moral obligations for acts of love and kindness. Being a Christian involves devout prayer and good deeds for others.
However, the Bible states that, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1). Nature is not solely decoration; it glorifies God and shows His splendor. Another difference between the poem and a Christian’s view on death is regarding the purpose of life and death. In the poem, it seems that the only point in life is to complete the circle of life, that in the end “Earth… shall claim/ Thy growth” (22-23) and “shalt thou go/ To mix for ever with the elements” (25-26). There is no real hope of redemption, only the prospect of spending eternity in silence with wise, once-famous people and letting one’s body become fodder for the earth in order to preserve another generation.
The Holy Spirit leaves in me and has helped me discern what is right and wrong. God is perfect; therefore, as a Christian I strive everyday to be more like God. Evil exists because the devil, which initially was an angel of light, wanted to be above God and no one can be more than God. He created me with a purpose in life and is to develop my spiritual life, serve Him, others and follow His word. I am committed to my Christian beliefs since I based my knowledge in the Bible.