An Extension of God's Divine Character: The "Self" The Holy Spirit's guidance can allow the "self" to be an extension of God's divine character by allowing people to get to know Jesus and experience God's love. In our reading, The Gift of Being Yourself, by David Benner, a key focus was accepting and embracing that we are sinners, and letting God's love transform us, to get to a place where we can know Jesus and our authentic "self". We were created in God's image, and in finding the authentic "self", we find God, and in finding God we can find our authentic "self" therefore allowing us to have an extension of God's divine character. When Jesus came down to earth, He showed us His authentic "self", and bridged the gap between heaven and earth. …show more content…
Benner states, "God's love... must become the basis of our identity" and goes on to express that when we think of who we are, our status of being "deeply loved by God" should be the first thing that comes to mind (2015, P.47). The Bible points to love as both a character of God and also as a character God wants us to have with statements such as "love your neighbor as yourself", so in discovering the basis of our identity is God's deep love for us displays an extension of His divine character. Throughout the Bible Jesus shows us how to find our "self" in God by pointing to God for His character and identity in the
With each religion comes things to learn and understand. Some things are easy to grasp onto, while others can be impossible to comprehend. Why was it necessary for Jesus to be human? How did Jesus overcome the most powerful of human leaders? Why did God send His only son for us? In the book On the Incarnation by Athanasius, these questions are thoroughly explained. Beginning with the creation of man, God promised to protect and care for us. This promise He fulfills through Jesus His son.
Solle explains that a “[r]eal encounter in love can only take place in mutuality, not in an asymmetrical relationship of dependence…we know God only if we also know how much God needs us” (184). Love requires mutuality and vulnerability; it requires letting oneself be known. If God is love, then God must allow God’s self to be known. Solle argues that God allows God’s self to be known most clearly in the relational, non-coercive and pacifistic nature of Jesus. She states “The only capital with which [Jesus] came into the world was his love, and it was as powerless and as powerful as love is. He had nothing but his love with which to win our hearts” (187). Solle explains that we know God needs us because God reveals God’s desire for relationship in Jesus and reveals God’s vulnerability in the
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for his good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV)
It is by the path of love, which is charity, that God draws near to man, and man to God. But where charity is not found, God cannot dwell. If, then, we possess charity, we possess God, for "God is Charity" (1 John 4:8)
John begins with a statement I wholeheartedly agree with – expressing how greatly God must love us to call us H...
The Spirit helps us implore (Romans 8:26-27). He gives us new life (John 3:3-6). He is our consoler, and he helps us comprehend God's statement (John 14:26). He lifts up Christ (John 15:26). He convicts us of wrongdoing (John 16:7-11). He helps us to live holy lives (Romans 15:16). He gives us love, happiness, peace, tolerance, thoughtfulness, goodness, faithfulness, tenderness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). He helps us share our confidence (Acts 1:8). What's more, he lives inside us (Romans
J. I. Packer presents a compelling summary of how believers should know God through Scripture as well as experientially in living the tenets of Scripture, a true experience of Christ living in us. Packer illustrates God’s nature through Scripture and His character of wisdom, majesty, personal unfailing lovingkindness, yet righteousness, judgment and wrath which do not diminish God’s nature or righteousness. In God’s judgement His wrath is justly shown against sin and those who reject Christ. While reading, a love beyond measure, God’s love becomes self evident. However this divine love is characterized in His terms and not ours. Packer’s key question is not asking if God is for us and again not solely for us on our terms but rather, are we for God? His question is also quality over quantity do we know much
...self, and he regards his individuality as the single lord he must venerate. This conviction that he is the one true owner of his soul shows how highly he holds himself; the respect and protectiveness he fosters for his own being is far above that of all other men.
"So god created man in his own image, in the image of god he created
Human identity can be summed up by looking at it from two perspectives. Who we are in our natural state and who we are in Christ. Mankind in his natural state is driven by his sin nature. Romans 1-8 perfectly lays out who and what we are in our natural state. It also lays out who and what we are in Christ. “For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.” (Romans 3:9 NIV) In Romans 1:29-31, Paul gives a long list of wicked behaviors that are still prevalent in today’s society, which lets me know that we, in our natural state, are the same as we always have been. There are no exceptions to the rule, besides that of Christ. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (3:23) Paul emphasizes in Romans 1-3 how people have tried to free themselves from their sin nature by depending on the Law to no avail. The Law could not bring about justification (Acts 13:39), produce righteousness (Galatians 2:21), produce life (Galatians 3:21), bring about perfection (Hebrews 7:19) or free the conscience from a knowledge of sin (Hebrews 10:1-4). (Johnson, 1896) The fact is that God’s standards are perfect and we alone can never live up to them by any religious act or moral behavior. The good news is that God knew all of this. He knew that by our strength alone, we could not overcome our own sin nature. He sent us a perfect sacrifice to permanently fulfill the Law. That sacrifice was his only Son, Jesus Christ. “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.” (Romans 3:25) Through faith in Jesus Christ, the grace of God has been given to us. Now, rather than being bound we are made free. Instead of unrighteousness abounding in ou...
Now that we have established the Spirit as a person, how does He play a personal role in our lives and what is His role in the Trinity? When we are faced with trials and di...
In the year of 2003 there are many types of religions that are practiced in the United States, which involves a God, or a divine power. My personal preference of religion is Christianity. I believe in Jesus Christ and the all mighty God Jehovah. The characteristics of a God varies from religion to religion, but all leading up to love, an everlasting peaceful life, and salvation; therefore, giving strength to all human beings that believe in them and has faith in them.
On the first read Batter My Heart appears to be about a complicated love triangle, but with multiple readings, a deeper meaning becomes more obvious, it’s a personal appeal to God. In the poem the speaker asking to be broken and rebuilt again, because despite their intense love for the other person, they are unfortunately promised to another; their love’s enemy. They ask to either be cut off completely or to be taken in and imprisoned. The tone of the speaker’s voice is very intense, reflecting in the words they use such as, “overthrow me”, “Your force”, “imprison”, “ravish”.
in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you
ourselves. God calls us to Himself so that everything we are, everything we do, and