Setting the Foundations of Why I Believe This
I want to take some time to examine how we as Christians view the process of Salvation.
Across the entire body of Christians there is such a diversity of ideas and teachings about who and what a Christian is it is difficult to see how we can become One in the Spirit.
My thoughts are not exclusive to any other way of expressing this understanding of who Jesus is and His significance to the Church. This is just my way of expressing from where I see who Jesus is and how I relate to Him.
The writer of the book of Hebrews states the knowing the Foundations of our Faith is an important step. Once the Foundation is known then we need to move on based on that knowledge and live in accordance with that Foundation.
So, let me share what I feel are the Foundation Principles that I deem are necessary to have good founding in to build on that life to truly reflect to full nature of Christ Jesus to those around us.
Firstly, each one needs to understand who we are ourselves.
What do I mean by this…
Most Christians have the understand we a tri-part being. Spirit, Soul, and Body. From my perspective I have noted that the general idea that we are a Spiritual Being, we have a Soul, and we live in Body is not backed by Scripture.
Taking the passage in Genesis, where Adonai, [Lord God] is speaking and saying. Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, in the likeness of ourselves; and let them rule over the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the animals, and over all the earth, and over every crawling creature that crawls on the earth.” (CJB)*
I have found it so difficult to line this up. If we are made in the image of God, ‘make humankind in our image, in the likeness of ourselves’, to the common suggestions that most people give. If we say that Body, Soul, and Spirit relate to the Tri-Union Nature of God how do we connect these with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Who is the Body and who is the Soul? It really does not fit well.
Also, if we are a Spiritual Being and the Will is usually considered to part of the Soul then our deciding part of us is outside of where the control should be in the Spirit. A full explanation on how I have come to my conclusion can viewed HERE, because it is involved and lengthy to expound it here.
Let me draw this to a conclusion by sharing why I make this the first Foundation Stone.
Because the Will is the most central part of us and God honours our free choice so exactly the Will in the Soul has to who I am. Therefore, here is my make up of who I am. I am a Soul Being, I live in a Body, and my life source is the Spirit.
How all this relates to the Christian’s rebirth and living in the fullness of Christ I will expound on is the next Study.
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(CJB)* The Complete Jewish Bible" used with permission.