[sirjoshuarh]

One of the commands given to all creatures is that everything that has breath should praise the Lord. This includes the birds of the air and men who occupy the earth. The Bible makes it clear that God inhabits the praises of His people, which means whenever there is praise, God is already there. The very opportunity to partake in existence is enough reason to thank the one who holds all things by the words.

When we praise, it’s a communion with God. Praise is a kind of prayer to God; it’s not just songs that we sing for religious exercise, as some believers treat it. When it comes to prayer, we cherish it as a sacred communication to God, but treat praise as singing songs without the needed reverence it requires. Giving praise to God for your answers before you see them shows God that you are full of faith and trust in his will being done and not your will. The atmosphere of praise confuses the enemy because the usual response to a challenge awaiting answers is for one to be filled with sorrow, unbelief, grudge, complaints, questioning God on why there is delay and so on. But Praise brings joy to our hearts and casts out fear.

When we praise God for our answers even before we get to see them, we judge God faithful to do what only He can do. If He is truly the creator of the universe and knows all things, then praising Him should be a natural reaction to an all-powerful God. When we praise God, it takes our eyes away from the situation that seems like a mountain, making it look smaller than it ought to be. Satan becomes defeated even before the manifestation comes.

Giving praise to God before the answers come is a potent means of evangelism to unbelievers who are aware of our circumstances. They see the problem we are going through, and the usual reaction of praise and joy seems contradictory to their expectations. It makes them interested in knowing what kind of belief system powers such an outcome. When they see the praises even when circumstances are yet to change, they realise our God is not only worthy of praise in good times but at all times.

[sirjoshuarh]

In Christian theology, man is considered a tripartite being consisting of a spirit, a soul, and a body. The soul is that part of man that has to do with the mind, the will, the emotions and the intellect. It is necessary to examine the three theological views concerning the origin of the human soul: Creationism, Traducianism, and Pre-existence, analysing which views are biblically viable and which should be rejected.

Pre-existence (Pre-existentianism)
This theory postulates that all human souls were created by God collectively at the beginning of creation long before the formation of individual human bodies. According to this model, these pre-existing souls wait in a spiritual realm until they are subsequently united with physical bodies at conception or birth. This concept was prominent in ancient Greek philosophy, was adopted by certain Jewish rabbinic schools, and was advocated by Origen in the early church before being widely rejected as unscriptural and unorthodox.
The theory of pre-existence should be firmly disagreed with and rejected. From a biblical standpoint, there is an absolute lack of solid scriptural support for the notion that human souls float in a celestial holding pattern prior to earthly conception.

Creationism
Creationism is the view that God directly and specially creates a new human soul out of nothing for each individual human being either at the moment of conception or sometime prior to birth. In this view, human parents are responsible solely for generating the physical body, while God directly intervenes to infuse a freshly minted, individual soul into the developing organism. Historically, this position has been held by numerous scholars. Those who follow this view often point to biblical texts that separate the creation of the body from the spirit such as Ecclesiastes 12:7 and Zechariah 12:1.
A major weakness of strict creationism is accounting for how a brand-new, perfectly pure soul created directly by God instantly inherits the corruption of original sin, unless it relies strictly on divine imputation

Traducianism
Traducianism teaches that the human soul as well as the body is transmitted and propagated through human generation by the parents. Derived from the Latin word meaning “to propagate” or “to translate,” This theory states that human beings reproduce whole persons, both materially and immaterially, through the natural procreative process established by God at creation. Supporters note that God ceased His original creative works on the seventh day in Genesis 2:2, that Adam had a son “in his own likeness” in Genesis 5:3, and that Traducianism provides a robust theological mechanism for explaining the transmission of original sin from generation to generation.
Traducianism aligns closely with the biblical observation that God rested from His original work of creation (bara) after making humanity, leaving subsequent generations to multiply through established biological and spiritual laws of reproduction. It offers a seamless explanation for why children inherit not only physical traits from their parents, but also mental, moral, and spiritual inclinations, including the inherited nature of sin

References
• Erickson, M. J. (2013). Christian theology (3rd ed.). Baker Academic.
• Grudem, W. (2020). Systematic theology: An introduction to biblical doctrine (2nd ed.). Zondervan Academic.
• Thiessen, H. C. (1979). Lectures in systematic theology (Rev. ed.). Eerdmans.

[sirjoshuarh]

“quickly turn to God in repentance when I recognize that I have done wrong”
This very phrase is a key requirement in dealing with sin and ensuring one does not take God’s mercy for granted. It also shows one values His or Her relationship with the Holy Spirit and intends to keep it.

[sirjoshuarh]

The study of sin provides believers with a vital perspective for navigating our Christian walk by acting as a guide against any forms of deception of Satan, as captured in the story that took place in the Garden of Eden when man fell.

Based on the biblical study in the course, several facts about sin can be drawn:
Sin carries consequences: The act of sin and rebellion carries immense reward, and its wages are death. This death is a separation from God.
Sin is ultimately against God and separates us from Him: Sin is a transgression of God’s will and therefore signifies a deviation from his purpose for man. This deviation causes a separation and breaches the relationship man had with God from the beginning.
Sin Originates from a deliberate choice: Sin was not part of the original creation; it entered the human race through a deliberate historical fall by actions taken by the first man and woman to disobey God’s instruction. This choice drove man out of God’s presence, which is now termed the fall of man.

Understanding how sin is against God has enabled me to fight sin as I would fight sickness and death, because the wages of sin are death, and I do not want to receive such rewards. My goal is to run the race unto the end. Sin is a deliberate choice that is usually driven by love of self and deception by satan. In the Garden of Eden, the devil successfully tempted Eve by appealing to her self-interest at the expense of God’s interest and command. In Genesis 3:6, the woman saw that the tree was good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and desirable to make one wise.

Recognising that satan is a roaring lion looking for whom to devour has transformed how I handle temptations. Instead of viewing temptation merely as an external pressure or blaming it on circumstances, I recognise that temptation usually targets an inward desire to rely on self rather than on God’s directive and wisdom. This awareness drives me to be grounded in the word of God and actively rely on the Holy Spirit rather than my own strength. The knowledge that Christ has set believers free from the bondage of the old nature of sin empowers me to renew my mind, reject any rise of self-centeredness and choose to obey God with confidence that He wishes the best for me.

[sirjoshuarh]

The discussion surrounding the Lords table (communion) usually suggests forgiveness of sins, which is a major part of it. However, further studies reveal that the Lords table deals with not just the soul but also body. The matter of healing and health forms part of the practice of taking the bread and drinking from the cup.

In I Corinthians 11:23-30 which was the foundation scripture for communion. Paul writes about how the Lord Jesus on the night He was betrayed, took bread, gave thanks and broke it and said to the disciples “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” According to the text, His body was “broken” so that ours could be made whole. In the same letter to the Corinthian church, Apostle Paul warns believers about taking the bread and cup in an unworthy manner. He points out that some people among them were weak and sick and a number had fallen asleep which means they had died prematurely. If improper participation in communion can lead to sickness and physical weakness, then it stands to reason that proper participation in faith releases life and health into our bodies. When we discern the Lord body, we are recognizing that His physical body was broken so that ours could be made whole.

There was some great prophecy about the suffering of Jesus captured in the book of Isaiah 53:4-5 which says “4. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows… 5. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” The word “griefs” signifies sicknesses or diseases, and “Stripes” refers to the lashes Jesus took before the cross. So the passage was saying that Jesus took out sicknesses the same way He took our sins.

As earlier discussed, when we take the bread, we are declaring that Jesus took our physical decay and disease. When we drink the cup, we receive His divine life flowing through us. Healing is not just a bonus benefit of the gospel; it is part of the complete package bought with a heavy price. As we approach the table let us do so with a fresh revelation that Jesus is not only the savior of our souls but also the healer of our bodies.

[sirjoshuarh]

A very profound instance of the conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit was captured in the book of Acts 2:1-38. It was on the day of Pentecost after Peter preached and the crowd was cut to the heart and cried out to Peter and the rest of the Apostles in Acts 2:37 saying: “Men and brethren, what shall we do?. It was the duty of Peter to pass across the message but it was the Holy Spirit that moved within the people to come to that state of conviction.

This powerful instance of the Holy Spirit’s conviction ministry proves three truths:

The deity of Jesus as Lord and Christ:
The Spirit’s conviction revealed that the crucified Jesus was indeed both “Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36), proving that God raised Him from the dead. Jesus had earlier promised that it is expedient for him to go so the comforter (The Holy Spirit) can come. As stated in the book of John 16:8 “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” So, the conviction witnessed by the people was a clear sign that Jesus was truly whom He said He was because the conviction was not manmade or compelled, but it was a voluntary action by those who seemingly doubted Jesus’ divinity while He walked on earth.

The Reality of Human Guilt:
The conviction in the book of Acts chapter 2 was not just a mere pity on someone who died; as there were a lot of people who died during the time of Jesus, including John the Baptist. This was a unique kind of acknowledgement of one who was sent from God for their salvation, especially after Peter reminded them of the miracles of Jesus and how He was raised up from the dead because death could not hold Him. The listeners in Acts chapter 2 whom Peter ministered to, were brought face-to-face with the weight of their own sin, realising their personal responsibility and guilt in rejecting and putting to death the Son of God (Acts 2:23, 36).

The Need for a Saviour:
It is worthy of note that Peter did not make any formal altar call for anyone to give their hearts to Christ; he only gave the Word of God and the Holy Spirit went forth to administer the conviction to the men. This piercing conviction left the people completely aware of their lost state, proving that they could do nothing to remedy their guilt on their own, which prompted their desperate plea for salvation in Acts 2:37.

[sirjoshuarh]

The story of the Fall of Man is found in the book of Genesis. It tells us about the first man and woman, Adam and Eve. They lived in a perfect garden which was Eden. God gave them everything they needed, but He gave them one rule: do not eat the fruit from one specific tree. The serpent deceived them, and they chose to disobey God. This choice changed the world forever. Here are three main effects of the Fall.

1. Separation from God
The biggest change after the Fall was that humans were separated from God. Before they sinned, Adam and Eve were close to God. They talked to Him and were never afraid. But as soon as they disobeyed, they felt guilt and shame.
When God came to talk to them, they hid because they were naked and afraid. Because God is perfect and holy, He cannot have sin near Him. This meant Adam and Eve had to leave the beautiful garden. Ever since then, humans are not born with that close, natural friendship with God. Sin acts like a wall that keeps us away from our Creator.

2. Sickness, Pain, and Death
Before the Fall, there was no such thing as being sick or dying. Everything was full of life. But when Adam and Eve sinned, death entered the world. God told them that because they sinned, their bodies would eventually grow old and return to the dust of the ground.
Life also became much harder. God explained that women would feel great pain when giving birth to babies. He also told Adam that growing food would be very difficult. Instead of work being easy and fun, it became a struggle. Today, when we see people get sick, feel sad, or pass away, we are seeing the physical results of the Fall.

3. A Broken World
The third effect is that the Earth itself changed. It wasn’t just the people who were affected; the ground and nature were cursed too. In the beginning, the garden grew perfect food easily. After the Fall, the ground started growing weeds and thorns.
Nature became “broken.” This is why we have natural disasters like storms or droughts today. The peaceful balance between humans, animals, and the land was lost. The world became a place where living things have to fight to survive.

Conclusion
In summary, the Fall of Man was a very sad event in history. it broke the relationship between God and man, it brought pain and death into our lives, and it made the world a difficult place to live. However, the rest of the Bible tells the story of how God planned to fix these three problems and bring humans back to Him.

[sirjoshuarh]

The Bible has two different ways of talking about God. On one hand, it says God is like a solid rock who never changes. On the other hand, there are many stories where it seems like God decides to do one thing, but then does something else instead. To understand this, we have to look at the stories and then see how God stays the same even when He acts differently.
Times When God Seemed to Change
One famous story is about a city called Nineveh. God told a man named Jonah to go there and warn the people that He was going to destroy the city because they were being very mean and evil. But when the people heard the warning, they felt very sorry. They stopped doing bad things and prayed for help. The Bible says that when God saw they had changed, He “relented.” This means He decided not to destroy them after all (Jonah 3:10).
Another example happened with Moses. While Moses was on a mountain, the Israelites started worshiping a gold statue of a calf. God was very angry and told Moses He was going to destroy the people and start a new nation with only Moses. But Moses prayed and asked God to remember His promises. The Bible says the Lord “changed His mind” and did not bring the disaster He had talked about (Exodus 32:14).
The Idea that God Never Changes
Even though these stories exist, the Bible also says clearly that God does not change. Numbers 23:19 says that God is not like a human who lies or changes his mind. Malachi 3:6 says, “I the Lord do not change.” This idea is called immutability. It means that God’s personality, His power, and His love are always the same. He doesn’t get “better” or “worse” because He is already perfect.
How Both Ideas Fit Together
How can both be true? We can explain this in two simple ways:
1. Using Human Words for God
God is much bigger and more complex than we are. Sometimes, the writers of the Bible used “human words” to describe God’s feelings so we could understand Him. When the Bible says God “repented” it is describing how it looked from a human point of view. It shows that God has real feelings and responds to what we do.
2. God Reacts to Our Choices
Think of God’s rules like the rules of a parent. A parent might say, If you don’t clean your room, you can’t go outside. If the child cleans the room, the parent lets them go outside. The parent didn’t change their mind about the rules, they just reacted to the child’s choice.
God is always against sin and always in favor of mercy. In the story of Nineveh, God didn’t change His character. He was being consistent. If He had destroyed the people even after they said sorry, He wouldn’t be the merciful God He claims to be.
Conclusion
Because God is always good and always fair, He reacts differently when people move from being bad to being good. His goal to love people and deal with sin never moves. He is like the sun: the sun doesn’t move, but depending on where you stand or if there are clouds, it might look different to you. God stays the same, even as He works in our changing lives.

[sirjoshuarh]

Evidence for the Deity of Christ in the Gospel of John

The Gospel of John is replete with references to the deity of Jesus. John begins his book by tracing the origin of Jesus back to when He was the “Word” before He was made flesh and dwelt among men. In John 1:18, the author explicitly states that no one has seen God at any time, noting that only the begotten Son (Jesus) has declared Him. This verse clearly shows that Jesus came to make God known in a physical form and to explain to humanity who God truly is.

One of the most profound declarations of deity occurred when Jesus used the same divine name as God, which was very shocking to the people at that time. In John 8:58, Jesus states, “…Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” The phrase “I AM” was a name reserved solely for God, the same name given to Moses prior to his encounter with Pharaoh. Consequently, the people understood this as a claim of equality with God; they viewed it as blasphemy and picked up stones to execute Him.

Jesus also revealed in John 10:30 that “I and My Father are one.” This implies that if you have seen Jesus, you have also seen the Father. Jesus reiterated this point to Philip in John 14:9 when Philip asked Him to show them the Father. Jesus explained that if the Father were to come to earth, He would look exactly like Jesus; therefore, there was no need to ask to see the Father. Philip’s misconception was that because Jesus prayed to and spoke about His Father, they were unrelated, separate beings. However, Jesus made it clear that He and the Father are of the same essence.

After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples, but Thomas was not among them. When Thomas was told about the appearance, he doubted and refused to believe unless he saw Jesus for himself. In John 20:26–28, Jesus visited them again, and Thomas said to Him, “…My Lord and my God.” This passage bears witness to the divinity of Jesus, as He is explicitly called both Lord and God.
From the outlined scriptures, it is clear that Jesus conveyed His divinity in various forms. He made it known that He was not merely a man or a prophet, but the Son of God and the Word made flesh.

[sirjoshuarh]

Evidence for the Deity of Christ in the Gospel of John

The Gospel of John is replete with references to the deity of Jesus. John begins his book by tracing the origin of Jesus back to when He was the “Word” before He was made flesh and dwelt among men. In John 1:18, the author explicitly states that no one has seen God at any time, noting that only the begotten Son (Jesus) has declared Him. This verse clearly shows that Jesus came to make God known in a physical form and to explain to humanity who God truly is.

One of the most profound declarations of deity occurred when Jesus used the same divine name as God, which was very shocking to the people at that time. In John 8:58, Jesus states, “…Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” The phrase “I AM” was a name reserved solely for God, the same name given to Moses prior to his encounter with Pharaoh. Consequently, the people understood this as a claim of equality with God; they viewed it as blasphemy and picked up stones to execute Him.

Jesus also revealed in John 10:30 that “I and My Father are one.” This implies that if you have seen Jesus, you have also seen the Father. Jesus reiterated this point to Philip in John 14:9 when Philip asked Him to show them the Father. Jesus explained that if the Father were to come to earth, He would look exactly like Jesus; therefore, there was no need to ask to see the Father. Philip’s misconception was that because Jesus prayed to and spoke about His Father, they were unrelated, separate beings. However, Jesus made it clear that He and the Father are of the same essence.

After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples, but Thomas was not among them. When Thomas was told about the appearance, he doubted and refused to believe unless he saw Jesus for himself. In John 20:26–28, Jesus visited them again, and Thomas said to Him, “…My Lord and my God.” This passage bears witness to the divinity of Jesus, as He is explicitly called both Lord and God.

From the outlined scriptures, it is clear that Jesus conveyed His divinity in various forms. He made it known that He was not merely a man or a prophet, but the Son of God and the Word made flesh.

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