A New Theology

[StashLazarus]

Christ came into the world to do precisely that: to die, “the righteous for the unrighteous”. That is why the Greek word dei is used so often in the gospels in connection with the Death of Christ - His Death was something that “had to” happen; there was a necessity in it, because it was part of the counsel of God: it was an integral part of His purpose. No way was it a mistake or a blunder - with God there are none.​

I agree that Christ had to die, if we are to have eternal life, but where I disagree is why Christ had to die, and how does the death of Christ provide us with eternal life in Heaven.

 

[StashLazarus]

Q: Why not ask the church that wrote the “book of riddles”?

I believe that God wrote or inspired the writing of the Bible. The church was not the inspiration for the Bible. If I am to acquire the true meaning of the Bible, I would have to ask God, not the church.

*Ephesians 5:25
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

How many Brides does Jesus have?*

The question isn’t how many brides does Jesus have, but who or what is the bride of Christ. I would say that the bride of Christ includes people of many different faiths.

*Matthew 16:18

18"I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. *

*Just in that one verse…

Jesus promises the gates of Hades would never prevail against the Church. This requires that the Church teach infallibly. If the Church did not have the gift of infallibility, the gates of Hades and error would prevail. Also, since the Catholic Church was the only Church that existed up until the Reformation, those who follow the Protestant reformers call Christ a liar by saying that Hades did prevail.*

The gates of hell not prevailing against the church means that the church will prevail in the end, but that victory comes by Christ, not by the righteousness of the church. This passage doesn’t mean the church will always be correct concerning doctrine since there is and there always has been disagreement in the church, even within the Catholic church. Since there is disagree within the church concerning doctrine, it must be possible for members and even officials of the church to be wrong concerning doctrine since they can’t all be right. Error is always possible with humans, no matter their position. The High Priest of the Sanhedrin condemned Jesus for blasphemy.

*Matthew 28:20
20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Jesus promised to be with His church until the end.*

Yes, but that doesn’t mean that no one in the church, or that no official of the church will ever be wrong.

*Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit would be with the Church forever. The Spirit prevents the teaching of error on faith and morals. It is guaranteed because the guarantee comes from God Himself who cannot lie.

Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit would teach the Church (the apostles and successors) all things regarding the faith.*

The Holy Spirit always teaches the truth, but we also know that Satan blasphemes the Holy Spirit. Satan does this by passing himself off as the Holy Spirit and leading Christians astray. This is why there has been so much disagreement over the past two thousand years. If there was merely the Holy Spirit guiding us in all ways of truth, we would all agree with each other and there would be unity and harmony in the church.

Where is your faith?

We all have faith. Even atheists have faith. We just have faith in different things.