responses Theology 201

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Responses Theology 201 Reference for text book. Bird, M. F. (2020). Evangelical theology: A biblical and systematic introduction (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. T1 d1 Candace (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Candace, I really enjoyed reading them. Isn't it interesting how knowing how one interprets their own theological views can form the type of Christian one will become? I have observed this in my years of ministry and have seen churches break apart due to theological differences. Since humanity is broken, whenever feelings get involved, I believe that is when people start to try and twist God's Word into fitting into their own desirable expectations. I like your statement about the Bible is a tool used for guidance despite what human feelings desire. God's Word is final and we are mere servants of His will. Thank you for sharing and it is good to hear from you again. I hope that the last class we took went well. Pray for me, this class seems like it will be more challenging. T1 d1 Tanya (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Tanya, I enjoyed reading them and believe we were in a past class together. I appreciate this post but one thing did stand out to me after reading it. When you stated," to truly connect and understand God". This is true in my opinion about connecting to God but when it comes to understanding God, we cannot even fathom what His master plan is. Theologists may have experience and are well-skilled in assuming translations of the Bible, but they will never truly understand God and His master plan for all His creations. They are still only mere humans and some may be Christians that were made to serve God and serve in His glorious mission. Theology is the attempt to verbalize and to perform our relationship with God. In response, the Reformers aspired to make Scripture the foundation for all knowledge of God rather than relying on philosophical specters or the near endless archives of tradition, papal declarations, and canon law. Theology is the provisional attempt to say what we can, in the most orderly way we can, with the best tools we have. It does not rule out that there is more to be said or a better way of saying it. T1D1 main (done) Theology is the study of religion and the nature of God and attempts to verbalize and perform our relationship with Him (Bird, 2020). One will be able to correctly comprehend what the scriptures are saying if they have a thorough comprehension of the ideas contained in systematic theology. Prolegomena, which gave me a new perspective and helped me think more deeply about my definition of theology as "what you say before you say anything about God," (Bird, 2020). My spiritual life will be more substantial and have a stronger foundation if I possess a greater comprehension of the ideas presented in Systematic Theology. This will help me understand God and His word a little more clearly. Though I will never understand completely because like other I am only human and will never comprehend God and His plan for all of us.

Without a clear understanding of theological ideas, attempting to grow spiritually strong might have negative effects such as misinterpreting the Bible and making one vulnerable to erroneous teachings. One might also allow their emotions to guide them in how they read the scriptures and ignore God’s commands found in the Bible. Like the reformers illustrated they aspired to make scripture the foundation for all knowledge of God rather than relying on other philosophical voices or traditions and canon law (Bird, 2020). Thinking too much about what the scriptures are trying to illustrate to us can also be problematic without theological concepts and the help of the church community. Theologists are very helpful in trying to understand God more but they are still only human and never will understand fully. I appreciate what Bird stated about “Theology is the provisional attempt to say what we can, in the most orderly way we can, with the best tools we have. It does not rule out that there is more to be said or a better way of saying it” (Bird, 2020). Using the word “attempt” validates Bird's thoughts that the concept of theology will never be completely correct, all people in that particular field can do is try to comprehend God with the resources we have. T1d2 main Highfield highlights that the Bible is the only legitimate source of authority and the foundation of every other form of authority. The Bible should be used as the criterion by which all theological claims are evaluated, and Christians should anticipate having their theology tested by it (Highfield, 2008. p. 39). The connotation is that the Bible serves as Christians' primary source of support for their statement and emphasizes both God's presence and His plan for humanity. Theological tradition is subject to the Bible because of this relationship. Through divine revelation in the Bible, God has established himself. Christians exclusively follow what is written in the Holy Bible since the potential of them establishing contradictory texts in addition to the scriptures is eliminated. Ultimately, all theological ideas are therefore are examined by the scripture to make sure they are faithful to the gospel. Highfield, R. H. (2008). Great Is the Lord: Theology for the Praise of God. Grand Rapids. WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. T1 d1 phillip (done) Thank you for responding to my response Phillip, I appreciate the chance to communicate more with my classmates. I agree completely that discernment is important and I implement that practice in my church ministry. I find that discernment is another form of theology since it should rely on deep research into God's Word as well as praying and communicating with other Christians. Discernments are not just decisions that get made through emotions, they should be carefully planned out with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. T1 d1 tanya (done) Thank you for responding to my response Tanya I really enjoyed reading your thoughts. I like how you state that having personal knowledge of God's Word will help guard us all against those who may use false teachings. In our church, we have many theologians who went through the proper

education and they still do not follow the Bible. In the end, no one other than yourself will be responsible when confronted with the ultimate judgment. It is the decisions that we make that determine what God will do and having great theological knowledge can lead us in the right direction. T1 d1 jerricoe (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts; I really enjoyed reading them. I appreciate you using the term "balance" and having a theology to bring a kind of understanding to one's connection with God. I will say that reading God's Word is usually clearer than trying to listen to the Holy Spirit. We have a tangible source with the Bible, but we can never really discern whether the voice in our heads is really based on the Holy Spirit. Using the phrase "the Spirit told me to" is not defending the concept of theology and focuses on personal feelings rather than scholarly research. Theology is important as a stepping stone but even then, we will never truly understand God's Words since we are only just humans created in His image. T1 jerricoe (done) Thank you for answering my response, I appreciate your feedback. It is true that not having a foundation of theological concepts will cause one to stumble and perhaps be more tempted by what the world is illustrating. This is why reading and reflecting on God's Word more often is an important practice for Christians. I am sure you have noticed that every time you read scripture there is something new that catches your attention. We are constantly learning from God's Word and that is why this theological debate always seems to be never-ending. All we can do is follow the perfect teachings of Jesus and follow the commandments. T1 d2 candace (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this question. Candace, I really enjoyed reading it. I appreciate your statement that you have a deep respect for and obedience to the Bible. I feel the same way, and as children of God, our job is to obey our Father's commandments. Studying the Bible will only help grow our understanding of theology, but in the end, we will never truly understand God and His master plan for all of creation, and that is fine. When Job questioned God, the Father answered back, asking things like, "Where were you, Job, when I was laying the foundations of the earth?" Who marked off its dimensions (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, Job 38:4–11)? These are all questions about creation that we humans will never understand and true faith in the Lord is all we need, no need for answers, we just need trust in Him. T1 d1 tanya (done) Thank you for sharing your response to Jamie's question, I enjoyed reading it. I appreciate you stating the importance of scripture and how we must understand and be consistent in our studies. I will say that just reading scripture by yourself is not what Jesus illustrated in my observation of reading the scriptures. He encourages us to read and study together. In my mind that is utilizing a solid and supportive church family. Reading scripture is just a starting point, in my opinion, there are other practices we must do as Christians to grow stronger in Christ. Community is a resource that I have observed in my years of ministry as very important. You cannot have a church alone and Jesus knew that (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Matthew 18:20). It is also our job to share the good news of the gospels with everyone willing to listen. Some people react better with testimonies and not just through scripture at them. We must use the tools we are given

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through theological thoughts, God's Word and our personal experience with God to help spread His mission. T2 d1 tanya (done) Thank you, Tanya, for giving us the chance to earn participation credit. I really enjoyed your thoughts on this question. I agree with you that God is all-powerful, and these resources in the course material have helped me understand the most any human can. In the end, having faith in God through devoted prayer and worship, as you stated, is all we as devoted followers can do. Believing and having faith that God knows what is best for all His children without truly understanding who He is should be a prayer for all Christians to focus on. I appreciate the statement you shared about not having salvation through sin but only through Jesus. Thank you for that reminder. T3d1 victoria (done) Thank you for responding Victoria, I appreciate you taking the time to discuss this more with me. You are not alone in preferring the New Testament illustration of God since it is mostly focused on compassion rather than wrath like in the Old Testament. We must understand that God is the same despite all the many names he can be identified as. According to Highfield, the Bible uses several different names for God. In the ancient world, names were more important than they are today since they were thought to reflect a thing's true nature. The various names of God in Scripture captivated the church fathers, Protestant Reformers, and post-Reformation orthodox Reformed. Even with different denominations, God is still the same God we all strive to obey. Helping others to know and trust God is a great step, but remember, we do not have the authority to change someone's behavior that is all up to the all-powerful Creator. God is all-knowing. Nothing can evade his gaze, not even in the recesses of our hearts, behind the veil of materiality, or in the vast expanses of spatial context (Highfield, 2008). Highfield, R. (2008). Great is the Lord. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. T3 d1 Tyler Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this question, Tyler; I enjoyed reading them. I appreciate the statement you mentioned about how the character of God shapes you in life. Being molded by the image of God requires a person to have complete faith in Him. God is also faithful, as we discover as he exposes himself to us through what some describe as "the economy of his conduct" (Highfield, 2008). By showing that

faithfulness to God as He shows us, we can become closer to His greatness and validate that He is good because He causes goodness through His actions. Highfield was right, God is the alpha and omega, He is infinite and has authority over all living things. Highfield, R. H. (2008). Great Is the Lord: Theology for the Praise of God. Grand Rapids. WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. T3 d1 Myia (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Myia; I enjoyed reading them. I appreciate your statement saying that God is always present with you. What an amazing attitude that will help guide you through all stages of life. By having that attitude towards God, you understand that He is more than just present with you. He is dependable and always by our side, so that should be enough to soothe us (Highfield, 2008). I am curious to know more about how your relationship has grown outside of the church building. I, too, have seen God's grace demonstrated outside of my church by assisting the homeless and seeking out opportunities to serve in His mission. Highfield, R. (2008). Great is the Lord: Theology for the praise of God . Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. T2 d1 main (done) The Trinity has been a belief of mine ever since I found my church family and made the lifestyle choice to join the army of God. I remember the Trinity being mentioned as I was dunked into the lukewarm water. I truly believe that whenever I am praying or even a witness to something that cannot be explained through logic, either God the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit is present in those moments. I was brought up using language regarding acts of service or decisions because I sensed guidance from the Holy Spirit. It is interesting now that I think about it that rarely do I ever hear " I am doing this because Jesus is guiding me". In my personal walk with God right now, I believe God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all one complicated entity that I do not deserve to comprehend because it is not important. What is important is how I serve in the mission of God and share the good news of Jesus with all those willing to

listen, using Him as my perfect role model to live my life and try to always follow His teachings. This is an excellent question, and in my experience, God is both loving and wrathful, especially when we disobey His commands. I appreciate the statement that "God is not a what but a who" (Highfield, 2008). I apply this in both my personal and ministry lives as a means of developing a relationship with the "who" that is God. I would argue that you cannot form true relationships with, say, an object, but you can form relationships by interacting with creatures that have reason. Knowing God is important to me because he created me. He is all-powerful, and I was created to obey His commands as a devoted follower. According to Highfield, only one god exists and is plausible. God does not fall under a broad category, such as all nonliving beings, which permits for the distinction of diverse nonmaterial being varieties. God is the limitless, infinite source of everything; God exists autonomously of all other things. God cannot be defined as a result. This matters a great deal to me, and it is evident when prophets like Jeremiah share what happens to those who disobey God and worship other gods. The first commandment is "thou shalt not worship other gods than me" (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Exodus 20:3). This helps me identify what divine essence I should be obeying and letting guide me through life. In my experience, especially in the church, God has been called many names through songs, prayer, and even sermons. Yahweh, which means "I am," is a name that I resonate with personally because, to me, it conveys the thought that God is ever present with his people to save, help, deliver, redeem, bless, and keep the covenant (Highfield, 2008). Through scripture, I am able to know a little more about God, even though I understand I will never fully know everything since I am not a divine being. Scripture is extremely important to me, and my connection to God. He is revealed in Scripture to be loving, holy, just, good, and merciful. He is trustworthy and always there; he shows concern, and he uses the advice of his good will to lead the world unerringly to its intended path. His knowledge, presence, and power are limitless. Time and distance have no meaning in his life. He is worthy of our respect and adoration because he has no competitors, no one comes close to His greatness (Highfield, 2008). This statement brings me great comfort, knowing that no matter how hard life seems to get or if the enemy is doing everything to attack me, ultimately nothing rivals the love of God. Highfield, R. H. (2008). Great is the Lord: Theology for the praise of God . Grand Rapids. WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

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The Holy Bible English Standard Version. (2016). YouVersion. https://www.bible.com/versions/59-esv-english-standard-version-2016 (2001) Since I have not been obsessed with knowing the true identity of the Trinity, I have been able to focus more on my walk with God. I understand that I will never come close to His perfection, but I can still try to be more like Jesus every day. I find it interesting that something like the Filioque controversy could distract the churches and cause division when we all worship the same God. It should not matter whether we are right or wrong; the only thing that matters is obeying God's commands since we all worship the same God. In my mind, if God wanted us to know about His complicated essence, then He would reveal it in His Word. I still come back to Job when he asks God why this is happening to him and requests answers. Then God starts asking him creation-based questions. "Were you there when I laid down the foundations of the earth and split the dimensions apart" (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Job 38:4–5)? This will always come to mind whenever I am tempted to ask God why He allows everything to happen. I must have true faith that He knows what is best for His master plan, and I am just a small human-made in His image to obey His commands and focus on serving in His mission. To summarize, I can do more good helping others know the grace of God and the teachings of Jesus rather than researching the scriptures to find out about His complicated divine essence. The main argument I usually hear in ministry is the cosmological argument. According to Highfield, nothing in our reality is absolutely vital, as far as we can discern. To look at it another way, we are unaware of any entity that does not apply. Every two weeks or so, flies come and go. Stars and galaxies form and perish as well. We only encounter contingent living things or beings that appear and disappear. But everything that exists does so with the cooperation of something else. Everything works in harmony with each other in God’s world. This argument is compelling to me because every part of our bodies, down to our very cells, is perfectly made to keep us alive. The way we can heal and use other creations to survive, such as trees that provide us with oxygen, makes me wonder if it was all an accident caused by something like the big bang theory. I found that the mention of properties being quantified is something I never thought about being a part of God’s plan. The things are good, great, and excellent, or they are big, bigger, and hugest, or they are warm, hot, and scorching. This approach to assessing things is illogical, provided we realize the existence of an all-powerful authority that is the baseline and source of all the rest. "Therefore, there

must also be something that is the cause of all beings' being, greatness, and every other flawless; this is what we call God" (Highfield, 2008). I also found the argument of “governmental things”. Natural bodies and living but intellectual beings act to fulfill goals in nature. A seed develops into a plant and, eventually, multiple seeds. Countless plant and animal species come in a multitude of habitats and utilize a wide range of survival and reproduction tactics. The world is overflowing with goal-seeking activity. This caught my attention reiterating that God is in control of all His creations and gave us all a life goal whether we are animals or plants. In the end, our job as devoted Christians should never be to judge when someone is skeptical but to share stories that show evidence of God’s grace. Remember, we can not force our beliefs onto others. They should be motivated to make that lifestyle change to follow God’s commandments when they are willing. Thank you. T2 d2 Candace (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this question; I really enjoyed reading it. I appreciate that you use creation itself as your chosen argument for God. It is so amazing how perfectly our bodies work together down to the cellular level. The way God created plants so that humans and animals could survive is astounding. This is a great argument that God is evident since it is very hard to believe that everything works perfectly together because of chance. The verse you share could be transcribed to relate to other situations, but like you, I read it as God speaking about His other essences from the Holy Trinity. Thank you for sharing, and I hope you are doing well so far in this class. For me, this teacher is a lot different when it comes to grading and communication than our previous even the last class we just took together. Please pray for me. T2 d2 Tanya (done) Thank you for your response, Tanya, I enjoyed reading it. I appreciate the difficult question you asked about how nothing becomes something. I personally just have faith in what Genesis says about "in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (The Holy Bible English Standard Version Genesis 1:1). This to me is how nothing became something from God's almighty authority. Because science cannot explain the big bang theory, their minds cannot comprehend that an all- powerful being is in control of the unknown. I have observed in my life that humans strive to control everything and need factual evidence for the unknown questions of His world. Thank you and what an interesting question to reflect on. I guess my follow-up question is why do we need to know how nothing becomes something? Cannot we just have devoted faith that God is in control and we are here to serve in His mission? Nicola t3 d2 (done) Thank you for sharing your response to this question; I really enjoyed reading it. This was a very simple explanation of something confusing like the communicable and incommunicable attributes of God. I appreciate you mentioning God's goodness all around His creations. The fact that God shows up every morning when we wake up is

extremely comforting. "Even though we do not fully understand His language like our own, he is in complete control of everything, even heavenly entities." For God, creation is easy. God creates the heavenly bodies, just as he creates the fish and birds. They are not gods, but lights with very practical functions. (Highfield, 2008). According to Highfield, our devoted faith instructs us not to equate human goodness with divine goodness since we are not in the same level as God. Highfield, R. H. (2008). Great Is the Lord. Grand Rapids. WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. T3 d2 victoria (done) Hello Victoria, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this question; I enjoyed reading them. I appreciate that statement about God being too transcendent for humanity to understand. We may be able to understand God through analogies, but as you stated, we will never truly understand God. "We are told that we can truly speak of God in the language of creatures, but we are cautioned that we must not equate the attributes of creatures with those of the Creator" (Highfield, 2008). The only resource we have that comes close to connecting us with God and His various attributes is through His Word. Because God has revealed Himself to us through Scripture and the Word made flesh, we do not need to be concerned about whether our comprehension of God's attributes is adequate. God's compassion for us is shown in these qualities. God is not constrained in His communication by the limits of creatures like us. God's transcendence does not imprison him (Highfield, 2008). Thank you for sharing your thoughts of God with us and reminding us that it is His very nature to exist and care for all His creations. Highfield, R. (2008). Great is the Lord. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. T3d2 candace Thank you for responding to my question that sparked up this conversation, I enjoyed reading your thoughts as usual. I appreciate your statement about God realizing our limitations as mortals and not divine beings. Understanding that we will never be able to fully comprehend His greatness. That is why we use analogies to try and figure what who God is. He is the creator of attribute language as well as the ability for us to

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grasp it. Therefore, we can be reassured that this method of portraying God is acceptable for God's intentions (Highfield, 2008). The Son of God has come and given us understanding so that we may know him who is true, and we know that we know him by faith. In his Son, Jesus Christ, we have him who is true. He is the authentic source of eternal life (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, 1 John 5:20). All we really can do is learn about Him through His Word. According to Highfield, scripture refers to God’s actions on almost every page and explicitly or implicitly points from those actions to the attributes of the divine Agent. Highfield, R. (2008). Great is the Lord. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. The Holy Bible English Standard Version. (2016). YouVersion. https://www.bible.com/versions/59-esv-english-standard-version-2016 (2001) T3 d2 main God's goodness, love, faithfulness, mercy, and grace are communicable attributes. His omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, immutability, and impassibility are among his incommunicable attributes. According to Highfield, there are both absolute and contextual definitions, as well as the qualities of adequacy and productivity. Never will living things be able to possess infinite power, awareness, or knowledge. To a certain extent, the attributes that humans and God share are known as communicable attributes. For instance, benevolence, kindness, and love share these traits with God. These are some characteristics of God that mankind also has, but too far lesser degrees. Since God created us in his likeness, we also inherit some of these traits. When it comes to having these attributes, we will never be able to emulate God, but we do have them to some capacity (Highfield, 2008). Like in Jesus’ teachings, He calls us to love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, John 15:12-13). The incommunicable qualities of God, which are outside the world of things, testify to his divinity. They are who God is and cannot be comprehended by God's creations. Some of the untranslatable attributes of God are his perfection, authenticity, and infinity. We are unable to share these characteristics with God; He can only do so through Him. These make up God's essence.

Highfield, R. H. (2008). Great is the Lord: Theology for the praise of God. Grand Rapids. WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. The Holy Bible English Standard Version. (2016). YouVersion. https://www.bible.com/versions/59-esv-english-standard-version-2016 (2001) T4 d1 Candace (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Candace; I really appreciated them. I agree that God is more evident to me as well when I am deeply absorbed in His creation. I am happy you are out of the city and now in a more peaceful environment. I am still in the city, surrounded by noise, and at times it can be tricky to witness God's creation. I really like the statement you mentioned, saying that when you feel the wind, God is breathing life into you. How amazing is that! I am happy to read that you mention God in everything, like storms and nature, with your family. What a great way to bond closer as a family and through God's Word. Also, what an encouraging view to mention God when you witness beauty in nature. Nature's powers aren't manifestations of the divine; rather, they're just typical earthly forces that are subject to God's will. It is a mistake to mix creation with the Creator by equating God with a tree, insect, ocean, or parasite. Instead of worshiping the stars, humanity should glorify the creator of the stars (Bird, 2008). I am curious what actions did you take when living in a city environment to repent our part as humans in waste and pollution besides taking a bag with you and picking up trash? Any thoughts on how I can help God's creation as a steward of His in a busy city environment? Bird, M. F. (2020). Evangelical theology: A biblical and systematic introduction (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, Zondervan. T4 d1 Tanya (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Tanya, I enjoyed reading them. I appreciate that statement about worshiping God not just His beautiful creation since without Him none of this would be present. Small things like picking up trash or, like you said, cleaning up our yards can help keep God's creation beautiful. According to Bird, "humanity’s role in creation is to be the custodians of the earth." What a great way to show our appreciation to our Creator by ensuring His creation is clean. I am curious what kind of signs would be presented to you regarding something so small as a bug? I usually

have signs of God but mainly through noticeable actions and not usually anything small like through a bug interaction, so I am intrigued to know more. Bird, M. F. (2020). Evangelical theology: A biblical and systematic introduction (2nd ed.). Zondervan. T4 D1 main (done) I am not as lucky as those who have shared regarding being around nature since I am in an urban environment that is constantly surrounded by distractions. Even though I may not have the luxury of witnessing the presence of God through nature, I have seen Him through people. I admire the way others take time out of their busy schedules to support a homeless neighbor by helping others cross the street, and I have also seen someone give up a cab when another desperately needed one. God's greatness and presence can be found all around us in all environments. Through His creation of humans, I have seen beautiful buildings that seem to penetrate the sky. Without the creation of mankind, buildings like those would never be constructed. One thing that is noticeable in my environment is the massive amount of pollution. So much garbage is everywhere. As a steward of God, I tried my best to clean up the surrounding area around me even though it may seem pointless. This is our job as Christians who want to respect God's creation. Such a love for God's creation necessitates that we turn from our complicity in the noxious worship of materialism and our role in the exploitation, waste, and pollution of the earth's resources. We pledge to take urgent and prophetic ecological accountability instead (Bird, 2008). In the future, I hope to partner more with other churches to work together and clean up more areas that have been neglected by society. Mainly homeless areas are in my mind and how we can work together to either help them relocate or clean up their area for more sanitary living conditions. I will also try to admire what is presented to me regarding the beauty of nature. For example, to really appreciate birds flying around, dogs walking on the sidewalk, or noticing when the leaves on trees slowly began to change, thank God for all of His creations. If anyone is in an urban area and has some ideas, please do not hesitate to share them. Thank you. Bird, M. F. (2020). Evangelical theology: A biblical and systematic introduction (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, Zondervan. T4 d1 Jamie (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this question; I really enjoyed reading it. Let me start off by saying thank you so much for your service! I am also glad to hear that on the Air Force base, that is what helped you grow in your faith. Your practice of researching God's word is

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extremely important since it is the only true way to bond with our Creator and learn what He expects from us. "What is more, we see in Scripture that God invests himself in the written Word. He even identifies with it, to the point that Scripture becomes a mode of God’s presence" (Bird, 2008). I appreciate the statement that you took the time to reflect on what you read rather than just reading it and going about your day. We must make time for the scriptures to sink in and take the effort to translate, to the best of our knowledge, what God is trying to communicate. I'm curious what other practices for experiencing God you think might be useful in the future as you continue on your theological journey. Highfield, R. (2008). Great is the Lord. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. T4 d1 teacher (done) To those people, I would personally say it is commanded of us to oversee God's creation since we were made in His image. He could have decided to put a lion in the role of an authoritative position to be in charge but, He gave human beings this important responsibility. Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Genesis 1:26). If a community really identifies as servants of God, then they must follow His commands through His Word whether they agree or not. Who are we to question the almighty Creator? Even though it does seem pointless at times, especially when seeing the massive amounts of pollution all around us, I personally am not willing to risk not commanding God when I am confronted by the final judgment. The Holy Bible English Standard Version. (2016). YouVersion. https://www.bible.com/versions/59-esv-english-standard-version-2016 (2001) T4 d2 main The New Testament retells the creation story to emphasize the creation of the world and its inhabitants in order to highlight God's glory. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him; without him, nothing was created. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, John 1:1–5). The apostle John conveys the spiritual magnitude of God's creative power over all existence. Retelling these stories in the New Testament underscores the significance of salvation and the hope that God offers humanity through Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection. This understanding of creation illustrates the Bible's view that only through Christ's

act of redemption, creation, and salvation can they be linked together in a way that elevates humans over the chaos of sin. God's Word retelling the story of creation serves to give power and meaning to the act of salvation and reinforces the idea that God is the one and only way to obtain salvation. Jesus will fulfill creation, establishing a new heaven and a new earth where there will not be any more sorrow and no more sorrow from mankind (Bird, 2008). We must remember that Jesus is a part of the Trinity and is connected as the Son and He is the only one through whom mankind may be saved. “The gospel is a story that narrates how Jesus fulfills God’s purposes for our world” (Bird, 2008). Bird, M. F. (2020). Evangelical theology: A biblical and systematic introduction (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. The Holy Bible English Standard Version. (2016). YouVersion. https://www.bible.com/versions/59-esv english-standard-version-2016 (2001) T4 d2 candace (done) Thank you for your thoughts on this post; I enjoyed reading it. I appreciate the use of the most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16. Obviously, it is extremely important, and when non-believers hear about the Bible, media marketing has used that verse as an illustration to show God's love. I appreciate the statement that God's words allow creation to happen. I am curious: do you think that is what really happened? We know through Jesus that whenever He did a miracle, He not only spoke but also touched the ones he was blessing. How do you view Jesus and God as crucial when it comes to salvation? Because He is the Messiah, we are told that Jesus will fulfill the New Covenant and the creation. Jesus will fulfill creation, creating a new heaven and a new earth where there will be no more suffering and no more sorrow from people (Bird, 2020). Where in John is it explained that there is a new heaven and a new earth that validate Jesus as the key to salvation? Curious about how you translate your Bible. T4d2 jamie (done) Hello, Jamie thank you for your response and all the questions you asked. I do believe that everything John mentions in God's Word is fully focused on how Jesus is the key to salvation. Through His authority humans will be freed from their sins and Jesus is the only way to God the Father. I believe you answered your own question stating John 14:6 regarding no one coming to the Father except through Jesus the Son (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, John 14:6). Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post. My counter question is why do you think John is so adamant to share the glory of Jesus with everyone around him? The Holy Bible English Standard Version. (2016). YouVersion. https://www.bible.com/versions/59-esv-english-standard-version-2016 (2001)

T4 d2 victoria (done) Thank you for this kind feedback it means a great deal to me Victoria. I appreciate your question about how we can glorify God and, in my mind, the only clear way is to follow His commands recorded in the Bible. Following the commandments, not worshiping other gods, and living a life that is dedicated to sharing the good news of Jesus with all those willing to listen. Making being a devoted Christian our true full-time job and not worrying about our earthly jobs, since in the end, they will not matter. Our faith in Jesus and the creation is a part of who we are as Christians to focus on and incorporate into our walk with God. The story of creation is an essential element of the Christian faith since without the God who created all things, we could not embrace the notion that Jesus Christ is the world's savior. God united himself with creation through salvation (Bird, 2020). Bird, M. F. (2020). Evangelical theology: A biblical and systematic introduction (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. T5 d1 michael (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Micahel; I enjoyed reading them. I appreciate your statement: "As we are made alive through the Holy Spirit, we start the sanctification process in our lives, to look, speak, think, and act more like Jesus." I am curious about what examples of being alive in the Holy Spirit mean to you. Since everyone is made differently, this response could open up new conversations. The image of God is our essence, not something we do, like rule over the globe (Bird, 2008). I read Jesus's parables because He teaches the people around Him to do pleasing actions in God's eyes. He is not scolding or punishing anyone, but in my mind, He is still being that great teacher as recorded in the Gospels. My observation is that if Jesus was not interested in behavior control, why would He bother teaching what is right to those around him? Bird, M. F. (2020). Evangelical Theology: A Biblical and Systematic Introduction. Grand Rapids, Zondervan. T5 d1 tanya (done)

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Thank you for your thoughts on this question; I enjoyed reading them. I appreciate the term "ultimate image bearer" you highlighted relating to God. Jesus was given as a gift to save humanity and is the ultimate role model for believers to strive for. Being made in the likeness of God is the same as being made in the likeness of his son. The original bond between him and God was repaired and reconciled by the birth of his son. Therefore, as we receive God's salvation, we are transformed into his son's likeness (Bird, 2020). My question is: how does one know that we are made in the likeness of God? Something else that caught my attention is that you said you know you were made in God's image and you know this is who He wants you to be. I agree with that, but what happens if we include people who live unethical lives and have ungodly actions toward others? As devoted believers, I believe we must put effort into our faith and live a life that is constantly in accordance with His commands. Those who listen to the perfect teacher can then see image transformations but those who ignore will struggle in the end. Bird, M. F. (2013). Evangelical Theology, A Biblical and Systematic Introduction. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic. T5 d1 main My understanding of the image of God is that every human being is created in the image of God and bears apart of God’s spiritual nature. God tells us who we are, a unique creation made "in the divine image and destined to be conformed to the image of Christ," rather than leaving it up to human beings to define and decide (Bird, 2020). This is the expression of God’s creative authority and speaks to the immense value that each person has regardless of race, class, or any other human difference. Everyone is to be treated with dignity and respect because of this, and each person has unique gifts to offer the world. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, 1 Peter 4:10). The image of God encourages us to treat and relate to our brothers and sisters that reflects God’s own love, mercy, and grace. The nature and existence of Christ Jesus are revealed in the most comprehensive and complete representation of the image of God. In order to resemble the likeness of the Son, humans were formed in God's image (Bird, 2020). The image of God is our existence, not something we do, such as dominion over the world (Bird, 2020). Since the first Adam fell into temptation, Jesus is considered the second Adam to fulfill what God intended for His children. According to Bird, for Christians, the biblical story is largely about glory lost in the old Adam and recovered in Christ, the new Adam. This is why Christ is presented as the second Adam. God has not left human identity up to humanity to figure out and decide, rather God tells us who we are, a special creation made “in the divine image and destined to be conformed to the image of Christ” (Bird, 2020) In my walk with God and my faith I am guided by the perfect role model every day. I still remember those WWJD bracelets that I was introduced to as a kid and have found that to be useful in my adulthood. Since I

am not perfect and do sin, I can always use Jesus’ teachings to help guide me in the right direction. Also, as a devoted believer, I know there is nothing I can ever do to have God stop caring for me. This is hard to understand since I have human emotions and do not know what God’s master plan is. All I can do is use the gift of His son to teach me through His Word and try my best to live a life obeying His commands. I dive into His Word first thing in the morning and with the help of technology can check out my Bible app’s verse and story of the day. Making room for my personal time with God through prayer or mediation has been helping me start off my day. Highly recommend all of you experience the practice of reading more scripture especially to start off your day. T5 d1 candace (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this question; I enjoyed reading them. I am curious: why do you think humanity is obsessed with changing God's perfect creation through changing their appearance, as you stated? This I because we as humans are focused on our own identities, not the identity God has planned for us. According to Bird, the quest for human identity is a quest to know one’s self and to be known by others. Our personal identity exists in a social matrix. We perceive ourselves and how others perceive us. Our sense of identity is a mixture of who we think we are and who others tell us we are. It seems to me that mankind is focused on what others think of them rather than how God views them. Do you agree or have any other thoughts? Thank you for introducing this topic of human identity. I find it very interesting. T5 d1 myia (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Myia; I enjoyed reading them. Genesis is such a useful book when it comes to illustrating the image of God, and I appreciate the statement reminding us that God is love. After reading your response, one thing stood out to me that I would like to get your thoughts on more. Is emulating God's love by loving others easy for you to do? I can speak for myself when I say that it is not easy for me, especially when someone has done me wrong in some way. We are called to be like Christ whenever we can. God's authority to be imitated by us must be understood in terms of the Son's relationship to the Father, and our capacity to imitate him must come from the Spirit (Highfield, 2008). Is this actually possible for humans, who are not perfect, able to do this in your observation? Are we capable of showing love to others like Jesus did? Highfield, R. (2008). Great is the Lord. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. T5 d1 tanya (done)

Thank you for responding to my post, I appreciate you taking the time. To answer your question, God's existence, and righteousness play an important role in understanding the image of God because both provide the platform on which we as humans understand our own image. We are all made in God's image and this means that we have those qualities in ourselves that make us in some ways like God through His righteousness, goodness, justice, holiness, love, mercy, patience, and truth. By striving to reflect God's perfect loving kindness in our lives, we honor the God-given likeness we bear. According to Bird, when God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. Our lives provide a reflection of who God is. I am curious to know your thoughts on His existence and righteousness or maybe other qualities that stand out to help us better understand God a little bit more. Bird, M. F. (2020). Evangelical Theology: A Biblical and Systematic Introduction . Grand Rapids, Zondervan . T5 d2 candace (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Candace, I enjoyed reading them and seeing the commentary you chose. My question for you after reading your response is, "What does it mean that God is love?" Yes, He loves all of us, but what does that love mean to you? Some people may experience His love differently or not at all in the face of pain or traumatic life events. I have always struggled with the commandment of loving our neighbor as ourselves since I find it hard to show that kind of love, especially if someone has hurt me. What about you? Through Jesus, the perfect son, this seems easy for Him to emulate. In order to share Christ's image and become molded to his likeness, believers must be adopted as God's children and join him in his kingship. Do you find this hard to practice? Bird, M. F. (2013). Evangelical Theology, A Biblical and Systematic Introduction. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic. T5 d2 tyler (done) Thank you, Tyler, for sharing your thoughts on this question; I learned a lot from reading them. One question that came to mind after reading your response is, "How does one truly glorify God?" Jesus is, of course, the exception, but humankind is flawed, and this is foreign to us. We can mirror God every day, but in the end, we will never be like Him since we are not divine. In my opinion, only through Jesus' teachings can we live a life pleasing to God and not try to match His divine attributes, like loving others. Considering that Christ is the source and model of the divine image (Bird, 2008). I also appreciate the commentary you found helping relate both of these passages, well done.

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Bird, M. F. (2013). Evangelical Theology, A Biblical and Systematic Introduction. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic. T6 d2 micahel (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this question; I enjoyed reading them, Michael. I appreciate the fact that you understand how important Scripture is. I would like to know more about your observation regarding the "Shalom with God" statement you used. The Scriptures do state that both Adam and Eve ate the fruit and introduced sin to humanity. According to Bird, both of them experienced the altering impacts of sin as they consumed the fruit, which prompted them to sense a combination of personality and shame and caused them to flee God's presence. I am confused a bit about your last sentence though. Can you elaborate more on that? Thank you for this interesting read. Bird, M. F. (2020). Evangelical Theology: A Biblical and Systematic Introduction. Grand Rapids. Zondervan Academic. T6d2 nicola (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Nicola; I enjoyed reading them. I appreciate your statements informed by textbook wisdom. To add more to your views, I would add that sin results in death for us personally and separates us from Christ's eternal life. This is the most terrible result of sin (Bird, 2020). My observation is that they did not die instantly because perhaps God wanted to show them that there are worse things than death and that suffering from sin and being banished from a perfect life is punishment enough. Great observation that Adam and Eve died a spiritual death by disobeying God's commands. What does a spiritual death mean to you? Do you think it is worse than a physical one? Bird, M. F. (2013). Evangelical Theology, A Biblical and Systematic Introduction. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic. T5 d2 victoria (done) Thank you for your response, Victoria, I enjoyed reading your thoughts. I appreciate you using that illustration found in the book of revelation when those creatures were praising and singing. I am curious if you can think of something or had an experience being challenged to honor and love God other than some obstacle or distraction. We are called to put God first always, but as humans who are imperfect that sin can difficult. We must also focus on showing that love to others as well. According to Highfield, God's love for us is to be reflected by us for others.

T6 d2 miya (done) Thank you for answering my question Myia, I enjoyed reading it. I appreciate the statement about Adam gained death and Jesus known to some as the second Adam defeating death. Thank you for sharing that. I am curious what you think about Adam as the first human created and just why did he succumb to temptation so easily? He and Eve really complicated what it is like living as a human being. I am curious if you or my fellow classmates believe that God did in fact know that they would disobey His order of not eating from the tree. Do you think He already knew humanity would be easily tempted and have bad intentions in their hearts? God recognized that the human race's sinfulness had multiplied dramatically to the point where the human heart was always bad (Bird, 2020). Bird, M. F. (2013). Evangelical Theology, A Biblical and Systematic Introduction. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic. T5 d2 jamie (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Jamie, I enjoyed reading them. I am curious about what your thoughts are after reflecting on your selected commentary. Do you agree with Hamilton? Does exercising authority over another relate to "royal language"? God is the ultimate authority, and we are called to obey and try to understand what He wants us to do for the Kingdom. God reveals to us our fundamental identity, which includes all of our other identities. Then, Christian identity is relational and narrative. Because of the narrative we are living and the connections we are a part of, we are who we are (Bird, 2020). I am curious where you see the concept of caring for the earth and the creatures within it, especially focusing on the Matthew verse. Thank you again for sharing, this was stimulating to read. Bird, M. F. (2020). Evangelical Theology, A Biblical and Systematic Introduction. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic. T5 d2 phil (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Philip, I enjoyed reading them. I was curious how you came to the conclusion that God made all the other creatures so that they would fear and serve mankind. Very interesting view, and I am curious to have you unpack that a little more. I can say, I have never thought about the creatures' point of view when reading this passage. I agree with you that we are called to follow God's two greatest commandments, but what do you mean by "by no agenda"? We should strive to obey God so that when our time on earth is

finished, we can start our eternal life with God in His kingdom, right? So, the agenda or goal is to obey God the best we can in order to enter the heavenly gates. What are your thoughts on the reason we should be following God? T6 d1 tanya (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this question; I enjoyed reading them. I was interested in your statement that most people believe sin entered the world through Adam, which is how I understand that view. I am curious what you mean when you say that sin was not introduced because of the fall but has always been around through one's parents. Yes, as humans, we will sin and be tempted by sin our entire lives since we are not divine. Only Jesus lived a sinless life, and through His teachings, we can be guided on the right path, but still, that path will be full of sin. According to Bird, the root of sin is the worship of the self in place of the worship of God. Sin breeds self-made men and women who love to worship their creator. Sinners want to be free of God’s word, his will, his worship, and his world. As humans, we are constantly putting our well-being ahead of God. Consider our families: we would do anything for our children, even if it meant breaking God's Word. It is hard to say, but humans do suffer from the idolatry of families over God's commandments. What are your thoughts on situations that cause us to sin? Basically, putting something else above God Bird, M. F. (2020). Evangelical Theology, A Biblical and Systematic Introduction. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic. T6 d1 mike (done) Michael, thank you for sharing your thoughts on sin. I enjoyed reading them. I appreciate the statement that one person cannot have the willpower to combat sin. Even though we are cleansed through the gift of Jesus, we still all sin since we are not perfect. What are your thoughts on that? We will never be able to escape sin on this earth. Humanity likes to be in control, and this will tempt others to sin and disobey God's commands. Even if we do not understand or agree with the scriptures, we must, as devoted followers, obey God. We all must make that decision to fight against sin on our own. Liberation occurs not through our efforts but by hearing the word of Christ and receiving the gift of the Spirit (Bird, 2020). Through Jesus' teachings, we can start allowing less sin into our lives. How do you use prayer to help you cope with hard times? My experience is that even when I pray, the situation does not usually change. I personally rely on my church family to help with the temptation to sin. Does this practice resonate with you as well? T6 d1 candace (done)

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Thank you for sharing your thoughts; I enjoyed reading them, Candace. I appreciate all the Bible verses to back up your thoughts, but one thing caught my attention in your response. You stated that sin is the worship of oneself rather than God, which I agree with. My question is, How does someone forget that they are below God and must worship Him? Even devoted Christians can lose their way, and I have never understood how someone can walk away from God, who deeply loves each and every one of us. Thoughts? Do you think it is all because of Adam and the disobedience he and Eve showed God? Adam is to blame for the human race's sin and damnation. Salvation is described in His word, but sin reveals the need for it (Bird, 2020). Bird, M. F. (2013). Evangelical Theology, A Biblical and Systematic Introduction. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic. T6 d1 micahel (done) Thank you for sharing your response to my original discussion post-Michael. I did read that part blaming Adam for the sin of humanity. Augustine has a very interesting way of viewing sin and I actually agree somewhat with his logic rather than accepting that everyone is born wicked through Adam's transgression. It is true that according to bird, In many senses, sin is a rejection of God because it is viewed as malevolent and against him (Bird, 2020). However, I understand the notion that sin is one's personal choice to disobey God and focus on one's self-interest. So I do agree with Augustine but have reserves when it comes to acknowledging the sins of our parents like stated through Adam. Would like to hear your thoughts as well regarding Augustine or how you identify sin. Reference: Bird, M. F. (2020). Evangelical Theology: A Biblical and Systematic Introduction. Grand Rapids, Zondervan. T6d1 victoria (done) Thank you for your kind words, Victoria, I enjoyed reading them. I also appreciate the question and the reminder of Job and his test that God as illustrated through scripture did allow. Throughout the book of Job, God allows Satan to torture Job as long as he is not killed in the process. And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Job 1:8). This in my opinion still shows God's love for Job since He does not allow Job to die, but wanted to prove to Satan that good will always beat evil and that faith in Him is the way to live. So yes, God does allow Satan to tempt us but it is our

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responsibility to endure and remember God is with us along the way, especially during hard times. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, so that you may be able to endure it (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, 1 Corinthians 10:13). What about you? Have you witnessed trials from the enemy that question why God allowed this in the first place? According to Bird, Additionally, while sin undoubtedly negatively impacts us personally, it is also an offense against God, creation, and humanity. It is up to the individual how they handle each trial. Bird, M. F. (2020) . Evangelical theology: A biblical and systematic introduction (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. The Holy Bible English Standard Version. (2016). YouVersion. https://www.bible.com/versions/59-esv-english-standard-version-2016 (2001) T6 d1 micahel (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Micahel, I enjoyed reading them. I am glad you took the time to respond back to my initial question. Do you agree that all humans are imperfect? We all can be tempted by sin. I appreciate the statement of God never abandons us and He provides a way out from sin, but we have to make that decision. God is not holding our hands he is knocking at the door; all we must do is decide whether or not to open it. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will dine with him, and he with Me (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Revelation 3:20). Do you think that God is always going to hold our hands in life? Do we all not have to make decisions for ourselves and decide to change our lifestyle to follow His commands? Interested in hearing feedback through the lens of personal decisions in our fight against sin. The Holy Bible English Standard Version. (2016). YouVersion. https://www.bible.com/versions/59-esv-english-standard-version-2016 (2001) T6d2 miya (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, Myia; they were interesting to read. I appreciate the statement you mentioned about Genesis being clear that if they eat the forbidden fruit, they will indeed die. I am curious: do you think God meant they would die from being perfect? Since they did not instantly die, do you think it meant dying from perfection and having

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mankind suffer? According to Bird, since mankind's sin in the Garden of Eden had destroyed the holy relationship that God had planned between Himself and humankind, God decided to punish the children He created in order to force them to seek its restoration. Why do you think Jesus is labeled by some as the second "Adam"? Bird, M. F. (2020 ). Evangelical Theology, A Biblical and Systematic Introduction. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic. Jamie t6 d2 (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Jamie. I enjoyed reading them. I learned a lot about how different deaths can be interpreted by reading your response. My question is, "Do you really think God just abandoned His precious creations?" Yes, He threw them out of the Garden but did that mean He ignored them completely, or do you think He had another plan for them? Questions like this haunt me, and I wonder: since God is all-knowing, did He know they would introduce sin into the world? I'm curious how you see spiritual death and whether it means God abandoning His children. How wonderful that we now have Jesus to redeem us from our sins and sacrifice His precious blood to cleanse us all. By hearing and accepting the Word of Christ, as well as receiving the Spirit, we are set free (Bird, 2020). Bird, M. F. (2020). Evangelical Theology, A Biblical and Systematic Introduction. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic. T5 d2 main The most important fact about man is that he was created in God's likeness. The nature of this image is obscure, but it serves a purpose that is obvious: it permits humans to govern over the earth and other living things. The belief that rulers were created in the likeness of the gods in ancient oriental myth is debased by Genesis, which declares that every person is a king and oversees ruling the world on God's behalf (Wenham, 2004). God created humanity in His own image, which is often

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interpreted as referring to the inherent spiritual and moral likeness of individuals to God. This idea is echoed in Matthew when Jesus is asked by a Pharisee what the greatest commandment is. This question was an attempt to trick Jesus. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Matthew 22:37-38). This response from Jesus is understood by believers to be a reference to the idea that God created humans with His moral likeness, and this should be the most important thing we can do, striving to live our lives with that same moral likeness. So, the relationship between the two verses is in one sense, God created mankind in His image and gave His children dominion over the earth, and therefore God expects His creation to honor Him and love Him more than anything else in this world. According to Highfield, God's love is unlike any other since it grants existence to those who have none, establishes friendship with the unthankful, and, most astonishingly, it loves rebellious, godless people, pardons their misdeeds, and bears their punishment! It is made clear that God's love is sovereign, unconstrained, and without any external goals. His love is in no way constrained by its goal. God made the object of his affection during the creation process. The real question is how can we as humans strive to live a life guided by that same moral likeness for everyone around us? What could cause others to be distracted and put other worldly temptations above God’s love? Bird, M. F. (2013). Evangelical Theology, A Biblical and Systematic Introduction. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic. Highfield, R. H. (2008). Great Is the Lord: Theology for the Praise of God. Grand Rapids. WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Wenham, G. (2004). Story as torah: Reading the Old Testament ethically . Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. T6 d1 main Everything we need to fight sin and the army of darkness is all inside God’s Word. His Word is our blueprint to live life that is pleasing in His view. Praying is a resource mentioned in the Bible that if we confess and pray for the forgiveness of our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness The Holy Bible English Standard Version, 1 John 1:9). Another is memorizing passages in God’s Word. This will show devotion to God especially around other distractions. The Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Psalm 119:11). In James 1 :14-15, it reads to identify and avoid temptation that could distance ourselves from God. Each person is tempted when they draw away by their own personal desires. Through those desires birth

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sin and when it is fully grown brings forth death. Living a life of obedience towards God’s commands is another way to combat sin. God never teaches us or commands us to sin so we know if we follow His Word, we are safe from sin. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of the mind so that you may prove what is acceptable in God’s eyes The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Romans 12:2). Surrounding your self with good faithful people is another tool to use against the temptation of sin. Proverbs 13:20 reads, those that walk with wise men shall be wise but companion of fools shall be destroyed. Only through God’s Word and having a place to focus all our energy in worshipping Him is a way to decrease sin in our lives. We will never be perfect and will continue to sin since we are only humans. Sin is the act that creates a broken relationship between God and humanity. The worship of one's self rather than God is the source of sin. Sin produces self-made people who like worshiping their creator. Sinners desire freedom from God's word, will, worship, and creation. Sin transforms people into traitorous tyrants who will use whatever type of terror to state their lusts or maintain their position of power (Bird, 2020). Some people do not want to feel controlled and therefore disobey what they do not like. This happens in God’s Word as well. There could be some lessons or commands that others just do not like for example sex before marriage. It is mentioned in the Bible to wait for marriage but this is not what is marketed in the entertainment industry. This is sin that disobeys God’s commands. According to Bird, sin manifests itself in self-centeredness. If sin denies God, then it deifies self in the place of God. I find this helpful because I can always go back to God’s Word and remind myself it does not matter what I want in life all that matters is what the Creator instructs His children to do. I view it as a parent discipling their child. Through Jesus’ teachings, I can focus on how to live a life more like His even though I understand it will never be perfect, since I am not perfect. I always appreciate whenever I am lost, I can always go back to God’s Word to help guide me to a answer guided by faith and Hid grace. I have two main strategies that I like to use whenever combating the temptation of sin. First, I will read God’s Word. If I am still confused, I will research other believer’s translation of the chosen verses. By separating myself from the sinful desire, I can focus on reading the scriptures and reflect on how it can guide me to make better decisions. Second, after I have studied the appropriate verses, I will share it with my weekly church small group. We have a time to share prayer requests and support from our church family. This is helpful especially with a supportive group that understands we are not perfect and are all in this fight together. Having others pray and share their feedback on any temptations of sin is extremely helpful and Jesus knew that. He is constantly surrounded by people in the Gospel. T6d2 main (done)

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Genesis suggests that death is not something that aways happens instantly. Rather, it can take time for physical death to occur. This suggests that Genesis sees death as a process rather than an instantaneous event. Death in Genesis is the culmination of the process of disobeying Go’s commands and rejecting His master plan for all His children. It is the result of sin and disobedience, not automatic consequence through death. God tells them due to their sin that they are exiled from the Garden and will experience suffering and eventually die. It seems like to me that rather than ending their lives right there, God is focusing on a longevity of punishment for disobeying Him. This implies that death is a natural result from sin, but a gradual process. According to Bird, The Bible repeatedly teaches us that the result of sin is death in one way or another. Sin has several detrimental effects on our lives, including "dispute, guilt, impurity, and corruption" (Bird, 2013). Living a life guided by sinful acts will only cause suffering and eventually death during the span of a miserable life. Both Adam and Eve were intrigued to change themselves and be like God. They were thinking of their own personal desires and by covering up their naked bodies, were also focused on how they present themselves physically. Humans are social beings and tend to care about what others think. “Our personal identity exists in a social matrix. We perceive ourselves and perceive others perceiving ourselves. Our sense of identity is a mixture of who we think we are and who others tell us we are”. Sin produces a desire to be esteemed above others by lessening the value of others (Bird, 2020). In the end by enabling Adam and Eve to live after disobeying Him, God is showing He is in complete control of life and death, in my mind, this teaches us about His mercy and Justice for disobeying His Word. Bird, M. F. (2020 ). Evangelical Theology, A Biblical and Systematic Introduction. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic. T6 d2 jamie (done) Great question Jamie. No, I do not believe that prior to Adam and Eve's first sin humanity was born immortal, but I could be wrong. I am just going by the scriptures. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Romans 6:23). We get what we deserve when we serve sin: disgrace and death. But if we serve God, we are given eternal life as a gift that we did not deserve. Choose life, Paul advises. Let righteousness reign supreme! What do you think? I think the idea of spiritual death is something way worse than physical death. Losing that relationship with the Father and disobeying His commands to live a sinful life, is the prime definition of spiritual death. What about you? What is your definition of spiritual death?

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The Holy Bible English Standard Version. (2016). YouVersion. https://www.bible.com/versions/59-esv-english-standard-version-2016 (2001) T7d1 nicoloa (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts; I enjoyed reading them. I'm curious about the disciplines you mention that help you live your life with the concept of Jesus as fully God and fully man. You also said you practiced them, but I would like to know what "them" are. How does believing that Jesus is fully God and man help you fight against the enemy's temptations? According to Bird, Jesus is best learned through the practices of faith in the church: through prayer, worship, the reading of Scripture, and encounters with saints and strangers. Are these the practices that you use in your daily walk? I appreciate the statement regarding Jesus's burial and resurrection securing your place for eternal life. Thank you. Bird, M. F. (2020). Evangelical theology: A biblical and systematic introduction (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. T7 d1 tanya (done) This was a great read. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, Tanya. Since there have been a lot of translations about Jesus fulfilling the covenants, I am curious about which scripture brings you the most comfort regarding this. What scripture gives you comfort in fulfilling the role of humanity under God, as you mentioned? Thank you for giving us a simple translation of Matthew 4:1–11. Other than the importance of fasting, did you find any other practice that Jesus used during those three temptations? Jesus is the ultimate role model that we all, as devoted Christians, should always follow as illustrated in His Gospel. Jesus of Nazareth's life and ambition are the genetic components from which theological elements of the early church's philosophy were produced (Bird, 2020). Bird, M. F. (2020). Evangelical theology: A biblical and systematic introduction (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. T7d1 teacher (done) To try and answer the question of why Christians attempt to sand off the hard, impossible, category-defying edges of their personal messiah, I would go back to the history recorded in the Gospel. They have often illustrated Jesus as an otherworldly figure that could perform miracles, preach sermons divinely inspired, and prove his divinity to the world through his resurrection after death. Over time Christianity has spread more widely around the world and even encountered different cultures and

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belief systems. Some can be more hard-edged, miraculous aspects of Jesus's identity and life story have unfortunately been lost or not mentioned as much. In particular, Christian theologians and followers who view Jesus as the Son of God often seek to de-emphasize the miraculous, divine aspects of Jesus and instead portray Him as a fantastic moral teacher, a role model for Christians to live by. We should always strive to follow in His perfect ethical footsteps the best we can. The practical discipline of learning to follow in Christ's footsteps and emulate him in our actions is known as ethics (Bird, 2020). This can often make it seem as though Jesus is more human than someone sent from the heavens to be our Savior. Bird, M. F. (2013). Evangelical Theology, A Biblical and Systematic Introduction. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic T7 d1 jamie (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this question, Jamie, I enjoyed reading them. I am happy to hear that your devotion to practicing more prayer is something you desire to have more frequently in your walk with God. I am interested in knowing more about why Jesus being fully God complicates your relationship with Him. I am also curious about what you meant when you said "whether or not you will make it." What did you mean by that phrase? I want to encourage you to remember that being a follower is not a solo experience, and Jesus emulates that by always being around people except for some circumstances. He teaches us to grow in our faith with others in the church and pray for each other. Do you have a supportive church family that can help you through these concerns regarding Jesus' identity? As soon as Jesus was resurrected, He presented His divine self, since no human can just come back from the dead. According to Bird, if our theology is gospel-driven, the resurrection will permeate every facet of Christian thought. We can contemplate Christ only as the risen Lord. We may speak of God’s kingdom only as it enters our world through resurrection power. In my observation, Jesus being fully man and God is very comforting since He relates to my human side and also has wisdom on how to tend to believers and guide them to serve in His mission. T7 d1 candace (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts; I enjoyed reading them. I appreciate the motivation to want to start practicing memorization of scripture and the honesty about how hard it is. That triggered a thought in my mind regarding Jesus and His time teaching on earth. Do you think everything He said regarding the Old Testament was done from memory, or do you think He had a scroll in hand? I never thought about that until I read your response, so I would like to read your opinion. Also, do you think that Jesus provided multiple spiritual practices for that very reason? Accommodating to

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people's strengths with other methods to grow closer to God? In my mind, reading scripture is very important in my walk with God, and memorizing it should become second nature if I am immersed in the Word often, as Jesus illustrated. Another belief in Jesus that comes through reading and memorizing the Bible is that it can produce lasting changes in people's lives (Bird, 2020). I want to remind you that fasting can be a scary word, but it does not always have to mean giving up food. It can mean anything that consumes your life like social media or TV. I find it helpful that whenever I get those urges from whatever I am fasting, I should remember that this is the time to pray for whatever triggered my desire to fast. I highly encourage everyone to try it. Bird, M. F. (2020). Evangelical Theology, A Biblical and Systematic Introduction. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic. T7 d1 main The reality of Jesus being fully God and fully man is a central focus for me as a devoted Christians trying my best to follow His teachings. This allows me to have a personal relationship with God since Jesus was fully human and capable of understanding my struggles and provides comfort through difficult times. Jesus was tested as well by Satan in the wilderness but never succumbed to that temptation. Individuals who are experiencing with temptation and anguish will find solace in the awareness that Jesus was tempted in the same way they are, but he remained faithful. He acts as a role model for us. Jesus is God's humanity, liberating us from our doubts and triumphing over our enemies. Jesus is God's humanity, guiding us toward what our humanity should really be (Bird, 2020). It also shows the importance of humility and compassion in my life as Jesus illustrated to humanity how He lived serving others even when He had all the powers and glory of God at His disposal. Jesus’ dual nature helps me understand the power and majesty of God as His divine nature was firmly established through His death and resurrection. This serves as a reminder of the grace and mercy of God, which are extended to all humanity regardless of their weaknesses or faults. Jesus displays practices that Christians call spiritual disciplines to help Him draw closer to His Father. He is the Messiah both God and man who is our connection to the glory of God. Recognizing Christ refers to acknowledging him as God's Messiah, the only begotten Son who is both God and man (Bird, 2020). Through practices like prayer, fasting, scripture memorization and meditation, I can develop a closer connection with God and become more aware on how to serve in His ministry. The verse in Mark 1:35 regarding prayer resonates with me since it proves that prayer is not just meant to be around a full church. It is our

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personal communication method to the all power full Creator and anyone can call onto God. He is always listening no matter who reaches out through prayer. My walk with God is my own personal journey that can be guided by others in the church but ultimately my spiritual life is just between me and Him. These disciplines aid in my understanding of God's call to service and ministry, allowing me to act within ministries with more humility and knowledge. Bird, M. F. (2020). Evangelical theology: A biblical and systematic introduction (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. T7 d2 main This is such a broad question since everyone has their own interpretation on who the perfect Son is. I can only share my thoughts and observations through my personal research in God’s Word. Jesus is known as the central figure for Christianity and is the second part of the Trinity regarded as the Son. He was considered a blessing to humanity after being born from a virgin and grew up to be known as a religious leader who was connected to God and made a significant impact on the world. Jesus preached love, compassion, forgiveness, and the importance of leading a righteous life. He used parables and stories to teach His lessons and His followers believed in Him and all the many miracles. In the Old Testament before God walked among us, Jesus was prophesized to be the savior and authoritative figure over the enemy. According to Bird, Jesus is the promised seed of Eve who will crush the head of the serpent (Gen 3:15), the promised seed of Abraham (Gen 15:3–4), the ruler who comes forth from the tribe of Judah (Gen 49:10; Num 24:17), the future prophet like Moses (Deut 18:15), the new Davidic leader who leads a restored people of God. What the Old Testament foretells is realized in Jesus. God sent him to deliver salvation to Israel and, through Israel, to the rest of the world (Bird, 2020). Jesus began to teach His followers and spread His wonderful ministry across the land. “Jesus’s ministry, began in Galilee with his baptism by John and ending in Jerusalem with his crucifixion, puts into motion crucial events in the divine drama of redemption” (Bird, 2020). According to Bird, Jesus is the "one prophesied" to enter human history as the anticipated Messiah. Though a powerful divine being, Jesus illustrated human emotions that connected to His followers reminding them that He is one of us. When Lazarus died, Jesus’s emotions were recorded in God’s Word. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him” (Holy Bible English Standard Version John 11:34-36). Jesus is known to most believers as the new Adam. Jesus, the devout and obedient person who inaugurated the "Christian age," Because of the first Adam's weakness, sin, and disobedience, the entire human race and the rest of creation had perished. On the other hand, Jesus always succeeded in bringing about fresh life. As the "firstborn of a regenerated mankind," Jesus is the one with who we can participate in this new beginning with. The teachings of Jesus are essentially a devotion to change one’s lifestyle and not just believe. Actions speak louder than words and to serve in God’s mission, the good news of Jesus, the perfect Son must be told to all those willing to listen. He serves as a bridge for God and mankind. He serves as the church's moderator and inspiration to follow God’s Word. God sacrificed his only Son, Jesus, to the Cross in order to atone for our

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transgressions. Nothing can divide us from his compassion because he cherishes us (Bird, 2020). God in human form is Jesus. He is equally divine and human. He is the one who decided to become human in order to better comprehend our imperfections and capabilities. He did this out of adoration for all of us Jesus is the ultimate role model that all humans should strive to be even if they do not believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior of the world. Bird, M. F. (2020). Evangelical theology: A biblical and systematic introduction (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. The Holy Bible English Standard Version. (2016). YouVersion. https://www.bible.com/versions/59-esv- english-standard-version-2016 (2001) Biblically Faithful Theology Letter To the members of God’s church, What is theology? Well according to Bird, Theology is the attempt to verbalize and to perform our relationship with God. Those who believe in the teachings of theology apply scripture to their everyday life. Biblically, theology is described perfectly in God’s Word, “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Titus 1:9). This verse concurs to the fact that all who believe in the what the study of theology offers, should also apply it to their everyday lives, and through their faith and knowledge of the Bible, they are able to teach others who may be lost. Theology is more than just a study, it’s a lifestyle, which differs it to any other field of study. The study of theology not only creates a Biblically keener person, but if being studied correctly, creates a follower of Jesus who has the amazing opportunity to preach and go into depth teaching His word through an academic lens. Through the nature of who our God is we can study Him and praise Him in more complexity than even imaginable and show discipline by following His commands in the church. What comes to mind when believers hear the term “Biblically faithful”? There are five primary sources for theology but three of them are more useful regarding being Biblically faithful. Theology derives mostly from the Bible. This is caused by the fact that Scripture is an expression of God's Word that conveys the story of God's saving actions throughout history, lays out God's commands for His people, encompasses wisdom and instruction in a variety of forms, is a documentation of the gospel, tells the tale of the church, and instructs humans directly thanks to the Holy Spirit's enlivening work.” The Bible is the Word of God because it is inspired by the Holy Spirit” (Bird, 2020). All the Bible's contents are inspired by God and are valuable for correcting, rebuking, teaching, and training in righteousness (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version 2 Timothy 3:16). According to Michael Bird,

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since the scriptures were inspired by God's Word and Spirit, the Bible is indeed without blemish. This is needed to become Biblically faithful. Tradition is another crucial source needed for theology and all churches rely on tradition and generate some form of tradition (Bird, 2020). Scriptures are considered tradition since humans in the Biblical era used it as a resource to learn more about God and His mission. Christians today use scriptures to learn more about God and even have adopted rituals like baptism and partaking in communion like Jesus taught His disciples. Everyone should be given the chance to learn from the traditions embodied in the creeds, confessions, and liturgies of their churches about what it means to believe in and worship God. After that, believers can evaluate them critically in the context of Scripture and make the necessary corrections or reinterpretations. They also need to establish customs that, through the guidance of the Bible and the wisdom of accumulated tradition, point the churches toward Jesus and His traditional teachings (Bird, 2020). The past church's tradition of Jesus not only established the New Testament, but it also produced a tradition for how Scripture should be read and understood. Humans should examine their traditions to determine if they are biblical and create traditions that will aid in their understanding of the Bible because everyone has traditions, whether they are cognizant of them or not. The third is experience and according to Michael Bird, it refers to learning new things and deepening existing relationships through a relationship with the living God. He would like to argue that theology can be legitimately derived from daily contact with God through prayer, worship, the sacraments, Scripture, mission, and Christian fellowship. Certain experiences are even revelatory, such as visions, dreams, and gifts of knowledge when God sovereignly bestows them. Paul is a great example of someone who experienced visions especially when and he had seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Acts 9:12). However, making experience a main source in theology may cause some conflicts when it comes to being Biblically faithful. The accusation that someone needs to do something because God through the Holy Spirit is telling them to is hard to justify. How does one know that God is the one encouraging these desires? Leaving aside these worries, religious experiences need to be understood and verified in order to be a reliable source for theology. Two apparent standards for such assessments are the wisdom of other Christians and the teachings of Scripture (Bird, 2020). All three of sources are important since it encourages followers to obey God’s commands either through His Word, traditions He inspired or experiences that Christians interacted with. Being Biblically faithful focuses on trusting God’s commandments, following Jesus’ teachings, and willing to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Considering all the facts, theology is necessary because the life and witness of the church depend greatly on theology. Biblical Theology is what guarantees that our ideas and activities are rooted in Scripture rather than depending on practical adaptations, philosophical trends, or clever expressions (Bird, 2020). Christian theology serves the church by ensuring that those who bear the name of Christ are taught to walk in that way. If we're going to do that, then reading the Gospels will be first on the agenda in terms of how our theology is developed. The Gospels are fundamental sources of theology because they compel us to interact right away with the Lord Jesus, the theology's driving force (Bird, 2013). Since human are not perfect, there will be theological differences depending on the times between God’s children. Theological scholars are compelled to the texts they study for their theological and existential implications. The evolution of hermeneutical insights throughout the course of the 20th century has gradually changed the dynamic between the two approaches to the Bible (Jeanrond, 1998).

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Ultimately, theology is critical even if scholars think differently and translate God’s Word in various ways. The main objective is to use this ongoing debate to learn more about God and His calling for all His followers. Theology is a much-needed conversation that people can use to learn more about God and in time be able to share His teachings to others around them. References Bird, M. F. (2013). Not by Paul alone: the importance of the Gospels for Reformed theology and discipleship. Presbyterion, 39(2), 98–112. Link- https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLA0001962262&site=eds-live&scope=site Jeanrond, W. G. (1998). The Significance of Revelation for Biblical Theology. Biblical Interpretation, 6(2), 243–257. Link- https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLA0000998977&site=eds-live&scope=site benchmark Barton, J., & Muddiman, J. (Eds.). (2013). The oxford bible commentary . Oxford University Press, Incorporated. In text (Barton & Muddiman, 2013) Lieu, J. M. (2008). I, ii, & iii john : A commentary . Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. In text ( Lieu, 2008) Benchmark trinity Thesis- God’s Word through the Old Testament contains evidence of creation and forgiveness through the Father, Connects Jesus to the Father through the New Testament, and connects them together along with the Holy Spirit as the Nicene Creed states. Intro- Throughout the history of Christianity, one of the most common questions has been, "How can God be three entities?" People are perplexed by this notion and risk losing belief in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as a result. In terms of theology, academics have developed a belief structure known as the Nicene Creed that unites Jesus the Son and God the Father. Most Christian churches all around the world adhere to this creed. In a succinct and insightful explanation, it condenses the entirety of the gospel's good news. It speaks of the triune God who,

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in Jesus Christ, the God-man who endured suffering, died on the cross, rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven, ultimately turned to humanity. Additionally, the creed goes on to express mankind’s future hope, the purpose of living the Christian life. Word through the Old Testament contains evidence of creation and forgiveness through the Father, Connects Jesus to the Father through the New Testament, and connects them together along with the Holy Spirit as the Nicene Creed states. Old Testament God creation and forgiveness reserved for God The first passages of the Bible demonstrate that God is in overall control of all of earth's creations. From the beginning, God was in authority of everything. "Let there be light," he said, and light emerged (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Genesis 1:3). This was the first occasion mankind had seen the tremendous power of the Creator. God continued to produce creatures after that before creating humans. He would acknowledge, "It was good," at the end of each day, expressing His satisfaction of His accomplishments. according to the Oxford Bible Commentary, this is like a craftsman's appraisal of his own work, it indicates something about both his intent and his ability. A skillfully made component presupposes good intentions. Everything went according to plan during that brief time between Genesis chapters one and three, until the serpent approached and compelled Eve to indulge in the forbidden fruit and then shared it to Adam so he could do the same. Humanity’s fall was an outcome of this. Genesis four–six describes how sin engulfed God's creation of mankind. He even experienced brief periods of regret after creating people. He was distinguished as pure and just by God until Noah came around. And when the all-powerful God was going to flood the earth due to man's wickedness, the Lord gave Noah the command to construct an ark, gather two pairs of each animal, and take his family inside the ark to preserve and protect them all. That example demonstrates God's mercy toward His creations. And it will result in the commencement of the covenants, which will later lead in the conception, development, existence, demise, and resurrection of the blessing that was Jesus Christ. Jesus with creation and forgiveness, thereby identifying him with the Father The conundrum of the ages is revealed to be how the one true God, through his only Son, has accomplished his ultimate purpose to bring glory to himself by the effusion of his holy passion in unifying the world. The New Testament briefly provides everyone with foresight into what God's primary goal is, what holds his plan together, and what purpose the divine intellect has in store. Jesus was God’s ultimate plan for the salvation of mankind. God's Word reveals in the book of John how Jesus Christ and God were indeed related, as well as how Jesus had a significant impact on creation. Additionally, everything came from Him, and nothing that exists today was created without Him. Jesus was the giver of sustenance, the light for all mankind. The darkness cannot yet withstand the light, which shines through it (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, John 1:1–5). The most notable point is that because Jesus was God from the beginning, He is equivalent to the Father. I and my father are one, He declared (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, John 10:30). This time, the more all-encompassing "forgiving" is incorporated

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to the frequently repeated promise of "purifying." These are attained not by methods of sacrifice but rather by virtue of the character of the one who is "loyal and just." Although Jesus is characterised as "just" in John chapter 2:1, it is almost probable that God is the one who forgives through Jesus Christ in this passage (Lieu, 2008). Jesus is the divine Son, the second member of the triune Godhead, who assumed on a human personality over time in order to continue to exist eternally as the "Word made flesh" (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, John 1:14). Because of this, Jesus emerges out from all others as the one and only Lord and Savior (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, John 14:6). Nicene Creed The Nicene Creed is one of the most famous and influential creeds in the history of the church, because it settled the question of how Christians could worship one God and claim that this God is three persons. According to theological perspectives guided by the Nicene Creed, these people exist in relation to one another. The Nicene Creed encapsulates what Scripture says about that relationship and acknowledges the mystery of it. Because the Father and the Son are "homoousios," people can also be assured that they know God in Jesus Christ. After all, "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being" (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Hebrews 1:3). When believers look at Jesus, they also look at God. Without confidence that Jesus is God, united in substance with the Father, followers could not be sure that Jesus can speak for God, forgive sins for God, declare righteousness for God, or do anything to make His children connected to the Father. In attempting to express this relationship of Father to Son within God, the people say that the Son is "begotten" of the Father. This is the way that Scripture refers to this divine relationship. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, John 3:16). Because, as John accurately pointed out, the universe was created through the Word, such a "activity" on God's part manifests before creation, outside of time itself. It is not a time-bound "event," but rather a condition of being within God himself. That is why theologians say the Son is "eternally begotten" of the Father. Again, "begotten" is interpreted as relational rather than literal; it expresses how the Son pertains to the Father (Bird, 2013). Even if the Son exists continuously, the Father "causes him to be." God is the source of his own existence. So "begotten" does not mean "born." That is why the Church proceeds with the Nicene Creed: The Son is begotten, not created, but co-eternal with the Father. Although early Christians thought the Son was eternally present, they also believed that as God's one and only son, the Father authorized his life and death on earth. He was "begotten" or made. According to Bird, the Trinity is articulated in the first article of the Anglican Church's thirty- nine articles, which states, "And in the unity of this Godhead, there seem to be three persons of one substance, power, and eternity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Jesus is the epitome of a divine son, and because of his powerful connection with his heavenly Father, he is entitled to the titles "Son of God" and "God" (Bird, 2013). The Holy Spirit is construed to be homoousios with the Father and Son in the same way that the Son is with the Father. The filioque controversy in the Nicene Creed, which asserted that the Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son, eventually sparked some disagreement. It posed several questions, including how to analyze the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Western church officials assumed that the

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Bible affirmed Jesus to be the source of the Holy Spirit. Eastern churches raised objections because it presumed the Trinity had two sources of existence, resulting in a double procession. The dispute in AD 1054 culminated in the partition of the Western and Eastern churches, which is still in effect today. Humans only need God's Word to appreciate whether the spirit percolates through the Father like a breath from His mouth. The term "proceeding" alludes to the relationship between the Spirit and the Father rather than anything literal (Bird, 2013). "Now the Father is the Spirit," Paul says, "and where the Spirit of the Father resides, there is peace" (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, 2 Corinthians 3:17). This scripture indicates that the Holy Spirit is one with God the Father, perpetually proceeding from Him. Before the Gospel, the earth was temporal and void, and darkness covered the face of the deep. God's Spirit was hovering above the water's surface (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Genesis 1:2). This illustrates that God and the Holy Spirit were involved during the creation of everything. Theologians challenging the operation of the Holy Spirit may claim that God breathed life into the Holy Spirit at this time. According to Bird, if the Son were not God, He could neither reveal the Father nor atone for humanity’s sins. Mankind could not be united to the Father, the Son, or even one another if the Spirit were not God as well (Bird, 2013). Conclusion- Considering all the research, according to the Nicene Creed, God's Word in the Old Testament offers assurance of the Father's act of creation and act of forgiving people’s sins. God's Word in the New Testament connects Jesus to the Father and joins the two of them, along with the Holy Spirit. It will be impossible to see the correlations between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit if the person does not read the scriptures. God’s Word is where He reveals Himself to all believers. Having trust in the Trinity is more of a faith-based decision, even though followers never understand the essence of God. In the end, it shouldn't matter whether people agree with the filioque controversy, have a homoiousios approach to God, or have a Trinity economic opposed to an immanent mindset. As children of God, Christians should focus on obeying His commands and serving in His mission of sharing the Gospel. The faith of believers should not be based on who or what God is, since mere humans will never truly understand the Creator of everything. A true, devoted faith is all people need to live a life pleasing to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. References- Barton, J., & Muddiman, J. (Eds.). (2013). The Oxford Bible commentary . Oxford University Press, Incorporated. Lieu, J. M. (2008). I, ii, & iii John: A commentary. Presbyterian Publishing Corporation . Bird, M. F. (2020). Evangelical theology: A Biblical and systematic introduction (2nd ed.). Zondervan. The Holy Bible English Standard Version. (2016). YouVersion. https://www.bible.com/versions/59-esv-english-standard-version-2016 (2001)

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Creation ref https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=rlh&AN=35950805&site=ehost-live&scope=site creation ref Barnes, R. M., Keilholtz, L. E., & Alberstadt, A. L. (2008). Creationism and evolution beliefs among college students. Skeptic, 14(3), 13–16. https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=edb&AN=50287973&site=eds- live&scope=site&custid=s8333196&groupid=main&profile=eds1 DORAN, C. (2010). Intelligent Design: It’s Just Too Good to be True. Theology & Science, 8(2), 223–237. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/14746701003675587 Perma- https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=edsgao&AN=edsgcl.229838541&site=eds- live&scope=site&custid=s8333196&groupid=main&profile=eds1 Matzke, N. J. (2010). The Evolution of Creationist Movements. Evolution: Education and Outreach , 3 (2), 145. Perm- https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLA0000694740&site=eds-live&scope=site Payne, J. B. (1965). Theistic evolution and the Hebrew of Genesis 1-2. Bulletin of the Evangelical Theological Society , 8 (2), 85–90. Creation and evolution 1 The six days of creation by the all-powerful God depicted in Genesis must have each lasted 24 hours every day, according to a methodology of biblical interpretation employed by young earth creationists, and the earth can only be 6,000 to 10,000 years old. This view conflicts with the general scientific agreement that the world is billions of years old and with the literal interpretation of the Genesis creation chapters that current biology offers. According to young earth creationists, the genesis of the Earth, the universe, numerous types of life, and so forth are all thought to be indications of special creation. Young Earth creationist (YEC) organizations like the Institute for Creation Research, Answers in Genesis, and Creation Ministries International teach that the earth only formed 10,000 years ago and that all diverse "different types" of daily existence were directly created by a supernatural methodology in a very short period of time (Barnes et al., 2008). Mankind has debated this concept for a while now but humans do not have authority over what is recorded in God’s Word. The biblical data supports the belief that the earth is young. We see this in the way scripture portrays creation in literally a week (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Genesis 2:1-3).

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Intelligent design The idea that life on earth is so sophisticated that it cannot be explained by the scientific theory of evolution and must have been created by a supernatural being is the foundation of the nonscientific belief in intelligent design. According to Doran, "Intelligent design is a scientific research program that examines the role of specified complexity in nature." Beginning with the observational data of nature, intelligent design seeks to see what conclusions may be derived from that research. The scientific theory of intelligent design, unlike creationism, does not assert that contemporary biology can evaluate whether the intelligent cause revealed by science is supernatural. People with these views propose that the complexity and diversity of life are evidence for the activity of a designing intellect rather than the result of random, undirected processes, similar to believers in God. According to Matzke, early proponents of intelligent design were a cooperative group of young-earth and old-earth creationists working to develop a textbook that would teach students the truncated version of creation science that they hoped would be permitted in public schools if equivalent laws were deemed to be constitutional. From 1983 to 1989, the textbook they were working on went through several drafts, titles, and changes. As a result of the Supreme Court's dismissal of creation science, a 1983 draft of the Creation Biology Textbook Supplement, which was primarily devoted to creation science, became a textbook on intelligent design. A book made by humans defends the idea that an intelligent creator is in charge of the current state of life on earth. This is a debatable topic since devoted Christians have faith that the answer for all creation is God, who has authority over all living things and is not just an "intelligent agent." This is confusing to Christians since what this scientific method is illustrating, is what the Bible says about God. In the book of Genesis, it starts with a reference to God, the almighty creator, forming the earth. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Genesis 1:1). Supporters of intelligent design and Christians have assessments in common, but they still cannot reach an agreement despite these similar points of view. Theistic evolution- The concept of theistic evolution holds that God originated or supervised the evolutionary process. This perspective places death and suffering before humanity's greatest sin, depicting God as a clumsy, incompetent creator who also brought about death and pain. It casts doubt on the veracity of God's Word and his attributes as an all-knowing, divine being. "Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature" (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Genesis 2:7). This assumption about the "how" of man's creation is very significant because it demonstrates that Adam was not created alive until God breathed life into His already "molded" man; he could not have been a continuation of some kind of organic life that had always existed (Payne, 1965). This thought process goes against scripture, and most Christians would argue about these observations. No one was around when God created existence, so there should be no reason to question His perfect Word and focus on having faith in the Creator rather than trying to comprehend something humans are not capable of.

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Young earth Strengths The first strength of this view is that it is obedient to God’s Word. This allows one to submit to God’s authority and believe what is written in the Bible. Genesis 1 explicitly describes normal days of approximately 24 hours each when the narrative continually says, "There was evening, and there was morning" (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Genesis 1:5). The second strength of this viewpoint is that it challenges scientific explanations and focuses on God's Word rather than what mankind believes. "Exchange the truth about God for a lie and worship and serve created things rather than the Creator" (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Romans 1:27). This mindset ultimately provides complete loyalty to God’s Word and puts scripture over science. The third is that this view encourages those to depend on God’s Word, which can be very helpful in shaping one’s lifestyle. The Bible teaches mankind how to obey, build relationships, and basically learn how to live lives that please God. Scripture guides those who are committed to learning to live a life focused on the truth and being faithful, no matter how confusing things tend to get. "As you do not know the path of the wind or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Creator of all things" (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Ecclesiastes 11:5). Young earth weaknesses One weakness in the mentality of the young earth is that people cannot fully understand what the book of Genesis is illustrating. Unlike the historical narratives observed in scripture, Genesis 1 is an expressionistic work of literature. Although it differs from the poetry like in Psalms found throughout the Bible in certain ways, it is equivalent to poetry in many different facets. The reality that we are unable to precisely define its genre implies that we are also unable to precisely identify its intentions or style of communication. In other words, humans cannot be certain that it is indeed trying to say something regarding the timing and sequence of creation. The second is that scientists believe they have factual evidence of the age of the earth. The earth is far older than several thousand years, according to modern science, and some of its justifications are rather strong. The young earth position has proposed a few hypothetical arguments against modern science, including the possibility of flawed data and/or analysis and potential modifications to the rules of physics. This has caused conflicts between the two viewpoints. Third, by arguing with scientific research, a young earth follower spends more time arguing than obeying God’s commands and serving in His mission. Finally, Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 present different accounts of creation, and only Genesis 2 claims to be an actual account of creation. These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Genesis 2:4). This may imply that Genesis 2 is to be taken as literal history, while Genesis 1 may be an introductory poem or story. Intelligent design strength The first strength of intelligent design is that it provides an explanation for the origin of life that is based on scientific principles rather than invoking untestable processes. When this viewpoint is used, outcomes are driven by observation, testing, refinement, and prediction. The second

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strength is that it avoids the problems associated with strictly materialistic philosophies such as Darwin’s natural selection and convergent evolution. These concepts have not been able to explain the origin of life from their viewpoint. The strength that is especially helpful for Christians is that intelligent design posits the existence of an intelligent designer to explain the irreducible complexity of life, which may lead to satisfaction for other believers in God. Weaknesses Some weaknesses of intelligent design are that it is not supported by the scientific community, and they do not accept it as a scientific explanation. This can cause controversies between groups of scientists that will distract them from putting valuable time into research. It has been seen as a form of creationism and has been rejected in the Supreme Court as an explanation for the origin of life, as Matzke stated. With this decision, people may not take this concept as seriously as other viewpoint options. It is a one-sided mindset that frequently excludes in its logic and, as a result, does not allow for multiple explanations to an observation. The most serious weakness is that it does not give credit to God. Even though Christianity and intelligent design view a divine being as in charge of creation, despite the similarities, they still do not praise God. This shows disobedience to God’s Word and could encourage others to lose their faith, even though God calls the earth His. "Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession." The whole earth is mine(The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Exodus 19:5). Theistic Evolution strength Some of theistic evolution's strengths include allowing for free will thinking and choice by believing that God created the mechanisms of evolution and then let the process unfold on its own. It also allows believers to accept and believe in the idea that God created and is a part of natural processes while also allowing for the possibility that He is actively involved in the world. Theistic evolution allows believers to reconcile the various articulations of religious ideas and, through God’s Word, what is understood about the world through scientific observation and research. This allows for a reconciled view of an ancient world that is full of God’s beauty and is ultimately understood by scientific and religious inquiries. Weaknesses One weakness of theistic evolution is that it does not provide an adequate explanation for complex features and relationships in the natural world. Second, it does not explain well enough the origin and diversity of species, as the process of evolution requires certain conditions and outside interventions, which theistic evolution fails to explain. Another weakness is that theistic evolution fails to explain why some animal species have gone extinct and others have evolved over long periods of time. It is difficult for some to reconcile the concept of a loving God who is surrounded by a world of death and suffering that evolutionary processes may involve. The most common weakness is a lack of explanation, which at times contradicts the Bible. Theistic evolution does not provide a plausible clarification for how an all-powerful God can intervene in the evolutionary process. There are no answers since humans will never come close to comprehending the complexity of God. Also, people with this view claim that it reconciles with

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what the Bible says, but some parts are difficult to explain regarding evolution. "Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done" (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Genesis 2:3). This contradicts the evolutionary timeline that scientists have researched and have factual evidence that they have unearthed over time. Finally, theistic evolution relies on science as a primary source of information, which may not be supported by God’s Word, and that can cause conflicts between them and those who obey God’s Word. Personal view Following careful consideration, the concept of belief in the young earth view emerges. This is the only view that encourages people to adopt this viewpoint because of their religious convictions. The deep faith they have in God forces them to believe in His Word and that humans are made in the image of God. Everything in the Bible is viewed as a blueprint for living a life pleasing to God. Some would even say it is a requirement to obey His commands in order to enter the gates of His heavenly kingdom. All devoted believers have God's Word to guide them, and they must accept that they have the faith that God’s Word is used to guide them through life. Since there are no logical answers for the creation of the earth, a young earth mentality must accept that God is responsible. Humans will never truly understand or comprehend God’s greatness, but having true faith does not require physical answers to questions mankind may most likely never get answered. When Job in the Bible asked God, focusing on the theme of "why," God responded with questions relating to creation that humans will never have authority over or answers to. "Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water?" Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, "Here we are? Who gives the ibis wisdom or the rooster understanding? Who has the wisdom to count the clouds (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Job 38:35–37)? A young earth believer holds to this created order because they recognize that all of creation was crafted perfectly by a loving and encompassing God. When He created the earth and all its inhabitants, the main focus was to provide an Eden-like setting similar to the garden that Adam and Eve were put in charge of. The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. The man was taken by the Lord God and stationed in the Garden of Eden to tend to it and labor in its clouds (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Genesis 2:15). This belief that God gave human beings a chance to partake in this beautiful creation He created and commune with Him motivates young earth followers to refuse any other form of evolution that would diminish God. This belief and the faith that God is in complete control of everything are comforting and satisfying for those who validate their faith and could help them make sense of the physical world they live in through God’s guidance. Human trafficking dehumanization presentation Human trafficking is a scourge on all of humanity. It is the modern-day form of slavery, but it is not a new phenomenon. It relies on systems of dehumanization and exploitation. The practice and the

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mechanisms that enable trafficking have, unfortunately, been part of the history of our country, with the institution of slavery being both "legally protected and culturally accepted." While strides have been taken and persons of color are no longer considered three-fifths of a person constitutionally or "legal chattel," the imprint of inequity, devaluing, and dehumanization of persons of color still exists today. KEITER, S. T. (2013). Outsmarting God: Egyptian Slavery and the Tower of Babel. Jewish Bible Quarterly , 41 (3), 200–204. They shift the burden of proof from the traffickers to their victims. All a trafficker need do is to produce a consent form signed by the victim, and he’s off the hook. The problem of human trafficking has both a domestic and an international dimension. The dehumanization of individuals, which it so often entails, takes place within and outside the borders of one state and one legal system. When trafficking occurs within a single state, the government of that state can address the issue comprehensively and effectively within its borders. However, when any element of the process relates to a foreign state, be it the nationality of the victim or the state in which the victim is temporarily crossing during his or her trafficking passage, not only is the control of the state over this activity legally and factually limited, but the victim is also put in a precarious position. Despite a growing awareness of human trafficking globally and regionally, measures taken nationally were at times inadequate and ineffective; there is a difference between human smuggling and human trafficking—the former being an offense against the State and the latter an offense against the individual; Brown, J. P. J. (2021). Disparate Impact Considerations in Human Trafficking Cases. Judges’ Journal , 60 (2), 8–36. it considered human trafficking to be a form of modern-day slavery Situations of trafficking victims subjected to violence, force and coercion give the trafficker absolute control over the victims—an element of power attached to ownership enactment of appropriate legislation on human trafficking, which would criminalize the phenomenon and establish criminal liability for legal and natural persons; assurance of the training of law enforcement for the identification of trafficking victims and for building trust amongst victims and law enforcement encouragement of research, information campaigns, awareness campaigns, and educational programs; vigorous investigation of allegations of human trafficking

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Pati, R. (2011). States’ positive obligations with respect to human trafficking: The European court of human rights breaks new ground in Rantsev V. Cyprus and Russia. Boston University International Law Journal , 29 , 79. Dehumanization of people and lives has taken different forms or patterns. Human trafficking is an illegal business transaction of human beings. Human trafficking is the rejuvenation of slave trade. Since statistics are difficult to come by and human trafficking is an illegal activity, it may be impossible to tell how many individuals are trafficked. However, the European Union Council (2002) estimates that an approximate 600,000 to 700,000 humans were smuggled across borders. Human trafficking is defined by the United Nations Organization (UNO) as the act of obtaining a person's control over another person with the intention of exploiting them. This control may be achieved through threats, the use of force or other forms of coercion, fraud, deception, abuse of power, position, or vulnerability, or the giving or receiving of payments or benefits. Basil, N. M. (2009). FACTORS SUSTAINING HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY: PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS. Ife Psychologia, 17 (1), 161-175. Humans are not simply another animal in creation with superior cognitive abilities; rather, they are stewards of the divine kingdom and bearers of God's divine image, to who he has covenantally attached himself. The covenant of works. God, having created humanity in his own image as a free creature with knowledge of right and wrong, entered a covenant with Adam, whereby Adam was promised eternal life upon condition of perfect obedience of the law during a probationary period in the garden of Eden. The covenant of grace. This is a covenant that God made with humanity, where he offers salvation and life through Christ to all who believe. The covenant of grace is the application of the covenant of redemption to human subjects. Bird, M. F. (2020). Evangelical theology: A biblical and systematic introduction (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. Rachael L. Herrington & Patricia McEachern (2018) “Breaking Her Spirit” Through Objectification, Fragmentation, and Consumption: A Conceptual Framework for Understanding Domestic Sex Trafficking, Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 27:6, 598-611

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Perma- https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=rlh&AN=121152848&site=ehost-live&scope=site In Psalm 82:4 we read: “Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” This verse is especially applicable to the problem of modern-day slavery—human trafficking. We are to” rescue” the victims, the” weak and needy.” By doing so, we remove them from the” hand of the wicked”—those traffickers, buyers, facilitators—all who use and abuse people, disregarding God’s perspective on human worth and dignity. Once rescued, we must help provide the needed practical, as well as emotional, support that encourages self-efficacy, choice, and decision-making. Johnson, B. C. (2012). Aftercare for Survivors of Human Trafficking. Social Work & Christianity , 39 (4), 370–389. Christian mission to sex trafficking victims must emulate Jesus by recognizing the dignity and worth of all persons. GEER, V. (2017). Truth Be Told: Leveraging Mujerista and Womanist Theologies for Ministry Among Victims and Survivors of Sex Trafficking. Priscilla Papers , 31 (1), 24–29. THEOCHAROUS, M. (2016). Becoming a Refuge: Sex Trafficking and the People of God. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society , 59 (2), 309–322. Graw Leary, M. (2018). Religious organizations as partners in the global and local fight against human trafficking. Review of Faith & International Affairs , 16 (1), 51–60. Information campaigns are presented as preventive in the sense that they address trafficking before it takes place; they are supposed to complement repressive policies that criminalize trafficking and increase penalties. Yet prevention is understood in a narrow sense; it focuses exclusively on the need for people to be aware of the dangers surrounding trafficking and much less on the broader context. Trafficking and smuggling are indeed partly the product of tight border policies, which prompt migrants wishing to enter a country to rely on the help of third parties. Nieuwenhuys, C., & Pécoud, A. (2007). Human trafficking, information campaigns, and strategies of migration control: PROD. The American Behavioral Scientist, 50 (12), 1674-1695. Sin benchmark

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Reference https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=a9h&AN=9070622&site=eds-live&scope=site https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=edsjsr&AN=edsjsr.43251364&site=eds-live&scope=site https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=edb&AN=138203789&site=eds-live&scope=site https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=a6h&AN=ATLAiC9Y180226000121&site=ehost-live&scope=site https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLA0000914442&site=eds-live&scope=site Weaver, D. F. (2003). Taking Sin Seriously. Journal of Religious Ethics , 31 (1), 45–74. Wagenaar, J. A. (2000). The Cessation of Manna: Editorial Frames for the Wilderness Wandering in Exodus 16,35 and Joshua 5,10-12. Zeitschrift Für Die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft , 112 (2), 192–209. Hershenov, D. B. (2019). The fairness of Hell. Ratio , 32 (3), 215–223. From stealing a candy bar to taking another human’s precious life, these are all identified as sin. Everyone who practices sinning, also practices lawlessness which makes sin lawlessness (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, 1 John 3:4). The truth is that sin, as defined in the original translations of the Bible, means "to miss the mark." The mark, in this case, is the standard of perfection established by God and evidenced by Jesus. Viewed in that light, it is clear that mankind are all sinners. Sin is often described as an intentional act of transgression, or a failure to follow accepted principles or standards of behavior. Consequently, this behavior can result in guilt and spiritual suffering. The Apostle Paul says "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Romans 3:23). Tragically, sin in any amount will distance humanity from God. The human condition has suffered since sin entered the world according to the scriptures, sin can be identified as helpful through theological lenses, scriptures also support the notion of God as the Creator and redeemer, and through God’s attributes He then can uniquely respond appropriately to human sins. How sin enters the world

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The Old Testament literature is filled with stories and examples of the consequences of sin . Sin entered the world when Adam and Eve were tempted by the serpent and disobeyed the command of God to not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Genesis 2:17). This sin also known as the “Fall” resulted in human morality and separation from God bringing about a corrupted and broken world . This resulted in human mortality and separation from God, bringing about a corrupted and broken world. The implications and consequences of sin for the human condition are far reaching and are seen throughout the Old Testament literature and theology. In the book of Exodus, the Israelites are punished for their sins with plagues and other forms of suffering like losing their first-born sons. In the book of Leviticus, the Israelites are commanded to offer sacrifices to atone for their many sins that included idolatry, blasphemy, and the worst sin of all worshipping other false gods. Sin appears to be passed down from generation to generation with multiple examples of moral decline in narratives like Noah, Abraham, and Joseph. Through Cain’s murder of his brother Abel, this act of violence highlights the depravity of man and its consequences. In the theology of the Old Testament, there is a recognition that humans have moral responsibilities since they are made in God’s image. Sin is seen as an offense against God and mortality. It is self-estrangement from God and its reflection in moral evil against oneself, others, and the world (Weaver, 2003). Old Testament theology emphasizes the need for atonement and redemption through complete faith in God. The New Testament expands on these themes, affirming the sinfulness of man and the importance of repentance, faith, and grace. Jesus spoke on numerous occasions about the necessity of repentance and the importance of living a life of holiness and obedience to God the Father. Teaching that sin is a result of human disobedience but can be overcome through faith in Him. Since many people were created sinners by one man's disobedience, numerous people will be rendered righteous by one man's faithfulness (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Romans 5:19). It also teaches that through salvation comes faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for all mankind on the cross. These teachings echo the themes of sin and redemption found in the Old Testament, reinforcing the idea that God is the only one who provides atonement and resurrection. Sin as a privation of good Sin is seen as a privation of good which means that it is not only a lack of good, but also a lack of living up to one’s potential, falling short of perfection and God’s will. This suggests that sin is a result of human action, rather than something that has been predetermined by God. In other words, sin does not result from something existing in opposition to good, but rather it occurs when something intended for good is corrupted by turning away from it. According to Bird, due to decisions, they made as transcendental souls, rather than because of Adam's sinfulness, people are wicked from conception. Nevertheless, Adam developed into a poor role model whose actions had an influence on his descendants. So, for Augustine, people sin like Adam because of a biological connection. Because they are “in Adam,” they are born into the world condemned even before they have sinned (Bird, 2020). Every human being unaccountably suffers their own expulsion from Eden and subsequent guilt because they were all there in Adam's body when he was exiled from the Garden. This view is beneficial to comprehending the biblical notion of sin in some various ways. First, it allows nuanced and multifaceted approach to sin as it can be seen

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not only as an active or intentional rejection of God, but also as a lack of something desired by God. This enables people to comprehend the effects of their own wrongdoings because they can see how disobeying God's laws can result in both a deficiency and an absence of His benevolence. Second, it helps explain the painful effects of sin that are illustrated in scripture. “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Psalm 51:5). This suggests that rather than being willful perpetrators of sinfulness, people are born into a state of sin and alienation from God. It allows people to understand that sin is not something inherent in human nature, but rather is an objective state of being that ultimately results from one’s own choices and actions. Humans are finite beings and fallible to their own decisions. According to this view, it helps explain why sin leads to consequences such as condemnation through Adam. From the one man all are born destined for disapproval, from which only the grace of Jesus Christ can set them free (Bird, 2020). This gives mankind a frame work for understanding the need for salvation, as it allows humanity to see that they are in desperate need of the grace of God in order to restore them to a state of righteousness and virtue. By understanding sin as a privation of good, humans can better understand why God desires everyone of His children to turn away from it. God creator and Redeemer Found both in the Old and New Testament, God is presented as a Creator and as a Redeemer. In the Old Testament, He is identified as the “maker” who created all things out of nothing by just commanding it be created (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, Genesis 1:1). This creative power is also witnessed in accounts of miraculous works such as the parting of the Red Sea through the faith of Moses or even providing manna in the wilderness. In Deuteronomy manna is seen as a means of testing the obedience of the people these forty years in the wilderness (Wagenaar, 2000). Having faith in God that He is in control and reminding people that He is the Creator. Similarly, God is seen as a redeemer in the Old Testament by rescuing people from danger and delivering them from their enemies. He does all of this while showing compassion and mercy to His children. Through the prophet Isaiah, God’s delivers a message to His people reminding them he is their redeemer. “For your husband is your Maker, whose name is the Lord of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, who is called the God of all the earth. God redeems His people through His grace and mercy and provides a way for them to be forgiven and restored. In the New Testament, it is illustrated through Jesus Christ that God is still presented as the Creator. Everything that exists now was created through him; without him, nothing would have existed. He possessed life, and that vitality served as the humanity's light (The Holy Bible English Standard Version, John 1:3-4). He is also revealed as a redeemer of mankind by sacrificing himself for all of humanity’s sins so that they may be reconciled. This redemption is available to all who are willing to receive it through faith. God’s response to sin His justice, mercy and holiness are just some attributes God can use to respond to human sin. Justice requires that all wrongdoers face the consequences of their actions through hardships in

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life. He will never overlook or condone evil as stated in Isaiah 59:1-2. According to Hershenov, God can tell who will not be repentant on Judgment Day and everyday afterwards. He is aware of those who either do not want to admit they are wrong, nor do anything about it. Through God’s mercy mankind is offered redemption and hope to those who are willing to repent. Proving a way for His children to be saved through Jesus Christ. God’s holiness prompts Him to oppose evil and set examples of righteousness. His omnipotence and omniscience demonstrate how He has full control of all mankind. His perfect love gives humanity hope that all things are possible, and that we can find peace in Him even when sin is present. Conclusion To summarize all the research, according to the Scriptures, sin caused the human condition to deteriorate after it entered the world, theological perspectives can be used to identify sin as harmful, the Scriptures also reinforce the notion that God is the Creator and Redeemer and as an outcome, God's attributes enable Him to respond to human sins in a righteous way. Ultimately, God is the eternal, perfect sustainer of all life. He created the heavens and the earth and is the ultimate source of love, mercy, and forgiveness. His redeeming grace puts and end to sin and gives His children hope for eternity. Sin will never leave mankind but everyone has a choice whether to be tempted and disobey God for their own personal desires. This has been recorded in history through God’s Word and allows Christians to learn from past mistakes and choose God’s commandments over sinful desires.

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