Confession Essay example -- Theology, Jesus, God

There are several assumptions with which I will begin prior to discussing my confession. The first assumption is that Jesus, who was crucified, is Lord and that God has raised him from the dead. A second assumption is that apart from the first assumption, any and all other aspects of my confession could be flawed or wrong. My beliefs about the nature of Scripture, God, Creation, Humanity and Sin, Jesus Christ, Salvation, Holy Spirit, and the Church, though related to the centrality of the gospel, the gospel in itself is not contingent upon many these things. Therefore, though my confession in relation to the aforementioned beliefs could change over time and with experience, the central belief of the gospel of Jesus Christ, however, will never change. In relation to the centrality of the gospel, I also believe that the God who raised Jesus from the dead is the creator of all things, and is inherently good, that God is opposed to evil in the world. I believe that God will eventu ally bring a final judgment and healing to all things, which will restore the universe and the evil within it. While I believe all of these things, provided by the evidence of scripture, I do not believe I will ever know all things of God and theology in this life and possibly should not be concerned with the knowledge of all things of God and those things related to God. The writers of the biblical text were not concerned with knowing all things of God, but instead, having relationship with God and trusting in that relationship. It is with these assumptions that I begin my confession. This confession seeks to: (1) Convey a theology of Scripture, God, Creation, Humanity and Sin, Jesus Christ, Salvation, Holy Spirit, the Church and Ministry; and (2)... ...s the fellowship of the body of Jesus Christ. It exists wherever two or three are together in the name of Jesus Christ to worship and serve. The church is holy in that the church is set apart to God by the Holy Spirit. The church serves as the dwelling place of God on earth and has a unique purpose to glorify God among all people. It is also a community of discipleship and repentance. The church is universal because as Roger E. Olson states, â€Å"it exists across barriers of language, ethnicity, culture and nationality.† (Olson, 304) The universal church extends from Pentecost, until the return of Christ and throughout eternity. The church is apostolic in that it is a continuation of the faith of the apostles of Jesus Christ who received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. Wherever the apostles proclaim the gospel, the church is present. (Olson, 305)