Responses topic 4

DQ1 

1) K. C: Topic 4 DQ 1

This week's reading talks about the importance of the Christian worldview of Jesus Christ being fully God and fully human. Understanding that God is entirely God and fully human is vital to the Christian worldview because they understand that He went through what we go through. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5). In Philippians 2 it discusses how God made himself "nothing" by being made in human likeness. At first, God spoke to us through prophets but eventually spoke through his Son, who is an exact representation of God. It is crucial to understand who Jesus is and what he represents in the Christian religion, so all that Jesus did is still valued today. Understanding all of the things that Jesus did, makes him someone that humans can relate to due to all that he went through to be the great humanitarian that he was. He set standards for what it means to be a Christain and how to live a life full of faith and goodness. 

2) E. STopic 4 DQ 1

This teaching is very important to the Christian Faith. A part God came to this world in human form. Him being Jesus. Not only does this show his love through Christ dying for our sins, but it also shows us that God truly understands our “struggle” in this world. He was here as a human. He sent his only son to die for us. Jesus witnessed and healed hundreds of people. People who suffered many feats. He sees the fear, struggle, and the suffering in this world. He can see all his people. He is both divine and personal.

Knowing as a Christian that God took a chance, born his son into this world, and showed us a new way and gives us a chance to turn to him and repent from our sins by allowing his only son to suffer upon a cross, is breathtaking and so eye opening.

3)T.G Re: Topic 4 DQ 1

Jesus was fully human as well as fully God because he was in the form of God, but did not count the equality with God a thing to be grasped. The importance of this to Christianity is that they had another human just as them to listen to and trust when it came to all things through God. “But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” (Hebrews 1:2, English Standard Version) Jesus was created in the exact imprint of God’s nature and upholds the universe by the word of his power. Jesus lived his days by becoming humbled and obedient to the point of death. “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth”. (Philippians 2:9-10)

4) C.A Topic 4 DQ 1

Jesus is a central focus of Christianity. Jesus being full human is important to Christianity because this is the only person full human that went their life not sinning. The whole reason God sent His only son is to be a sacrifice for human sins. The circumstance for Jesus to be able to die for human's sins is that He had to be human and not sin; a near impossible task. Jesus's full divinity, however, also proves that humans are imperfect. Without His full divinity, the task to sacrifice God's only son for our sins would not be possible. Jesus full divinity and full humanity is important to Christians because it makes Jesus become a human like the rest of us, but also be above us at the same time. Adam and Eve were not supposed to eat from the tree, and live a sinless, painless life. However, Jesus came down and did what Adam and Eve could not, even though Jesus was full human. 

DQ2

1) J M: Topic 4 DQ 2

Hello Professor and Class,

I think there are two themes that Jesus is communicating in this passage. The first, and the most well-known, is the truth that God longs for people to turn to Him, repent, and be saved. When they return, He welcomes them with open arms, forgiveness, and joy. The second message is that those who call themselves “religious” may not actually have the same mindset that God does. Just because their lives look good on the outside does not mean they are right with God on the inside. In order to be in the center of His will, these people need to evaluate their own lives and seek to have hearts like God’s. Through this story, Jesus shows that the heart of God is loving and compassionate, and that is how Christians’ hearts should be as well.

The first character Jesus identifies in this story is a father, representing God, “who had two sons” (Luke 15:11). This man gives his sons the choice to obey him or to disobey, loving them no matter what they choose and forgiving the one who repents after he has done wrong. The second character is the younger son – the prodigal son – who wants to live his life for himself. However, after living his way for a while, the son recognizes his need for his father and returns home, begging his father for forgiveness. The final character is the older brother, a man who obeys his father out of obligation and is angry when his father forgives his younger brother who had lived so wickedly.

I think I identify most with the prodigal son. It is not always easy for me to be consistent in my walk with the Lord, and sometimes I wind up chasing worldly things instead of following hard after God. When I recognize my sin, I come back to my Heavenly Father, begging Him for forgiveness, knowing I don’t deserve His mercy, but trusting that because of Jesus, He will receive me.

2)E. S   Re: Topic 4 DQ 2

The main theme of this parable is to get the point across that no matter how far we stray, we can always come back to Him and he will still love us and be there waiting to hold us with open arms. 

The three principal characters are the father, and his two sons. One left home with everything that his father gave him just to squander it away while the other stayed and work with his father on the land. 

I am most like the prodigal son. Not in the analogy that I have went away from my parents and did what I should have not, but in the essence of my spiritual walk. We all have testimonies. Some are very interesting stories of one way back to Christ, but some stories migth now seem like much but they are to the person sharing them. I struggled many years with things that I would tell myself well God doesn’t directly address it in the Bible, so it must be okay. Even though I knew it was wrong, I continued to knowingly sin. Many years I struggled with this habit you may call it. But one year it became so apparent to me that I started having thoughts or harming myself. Because I wanted to stop, I just felt like I couldn’t. How could I turn to God after all these years of doing what I knew I should not. But I did turn to God. And he held me, and I know he healed me. He took my burden when I thought I could never beat it. He took it all and healed me of a broken life. He loves me and has always been there for me even when I turned my bad on him. I am forever thankful.

3) K. C     Topic 4 DQ 2

In the Prodigal Son (Luke 15: 11-32), I believe that the central theme that Jesus is communicating is the theme of seeking forgiveness no matter how small or large the offense is. We can always make our way back into God's heart. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. (Luke 15:24)

The three principals characters are the father and his two sons, the younger and the older. I identify most with the older son. Mostly because I believe that if I worked very hard for my family day in and day out and my other sibling seemed to have abandoned us, I would feel the same way that he did. When the younger son came home, they had a feast for him, but the older son had worked his whole life and never got a feast. It would be easy to feel the way that the older son had handled. But once learning and understanding why we would have the feast, I would understand the situation and feel as he deserved it.

4) T. GRe: Topic 4 DQ 2

Throughout reading of the parable of the Prodigal Son, what I believe is being communicated is that we can always find our way back, be “reborn” and will be forgiven. In Luke 15:11-32 it explains how the younger son leaves his father and squanders his property in reckless living and he later returns to tell his father that he has sinned and to hire him as one of his servants. However, his father feels compassion and kisses him, then says to celebrate. “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.” (Luke 15:24)

The three principal characters are the Father and his two sons. The younger one is the one who squandered and comes back saying he has sinned and the older son is the one who served and never disobeyed his father’s command and is angry and refuses to be a part of his father celebrating his brother.

I would say I identify the most with the father. However, to a certain point. I grew up watching my family members push each other away and forgiveness was hardly ever on the table. Once I moved out on my own and made my own choices and met new people or grew old relationships, I realize I am a very understanding and forgiving person and there are a lot of people in my life today I am so thankful for and know that forgiveness was the right choice.