The Challenge of the Christian Theology and more …
/ Ewald Frank
Language: english
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6. The old dispute
- Preface
- Introduction
- Does all happen by chance?
- The time is near
- The only valid measuring rod
- The old dispute
- Self-evidence?
- The testimony of historians
- History confirms it
- God’s confession
- God manifests Himself
- In heaven and on earth
- The Lord visits His prophet
- The »I am«
- Was the Son born in heaven?
- Spirit and Truth
- Very peculiar
- Respect for the Great Mystery
- Everyone defends his or her own doctrine
- The rock
- The Great Commission
- Thou shalt have no other gods …
- Maryology
- Believe as the Scripture says
- An unbelievable tragedy
- The end-time
- A challenge to all
- No one can bypass Jesus Christ
- New creation
- The Son and the sons and daughters of God
- The two beginnings
- The course of church history
- No man’s influence
- Conclusion
The Godhead has always been a challenge for theologians. Why people fuss over God isn’t easily understood and why so many different views exist about Him is totally incomprehensive.
The teaching about God is so important to each denomination that it is always found in the first article of faith. Within Christianity a dispute always arises about whether there is one, unique God, a two-person God, or a triune God existing in three separate persons of the same nature from eternity. In reality many different views and concepts are in existence which people are not even aware of. And within these different views exist many variations; each group is convinced they are right. We shall deal with this subject only from the standpoint of God’s Word letting the Scriptures speak for itself. What is not explicitly expressed within the Scriptures is not real Truth but instead man’s interpretation.
Everything begins with God. The Bible is the only book on earth where we find the testimony of the Almighty from the very beginning. Therefore the Bible is the only required absolute, the measuring rod of all things, in reference to God. The Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testament alike, are divine legacies for us. Nothing can be added or taken from it. The testimony of God is complete and final. It starts with the Creator and the creation report including the whole course of human history, the salvation plan, and ends after the last judgement, in the new heaven and the new earth (Isa. 65: 17; 2 Pt. 3: 13; Rev. 21: 1). The single epochs during the span of the Old and New Testament clearly show their significance and goal. From these we are also told where we came from and where we are going.
About God and God’s Word uncounted volumes have been written and are still being published. The christological disputes, known as the »Arianic dispute«, from the 4th century are well known to all who are acquainted with church history. People have tried to understand what cannot be understood, they tried to explain what couldn’t be explained. Men in church history began to use philosophical terms to describe the revelation of God in Christ which is the actual stumbling stone and rock of offence (Ps. 118: 22; Isa.
28: 16; Mt. 21: 42-44; 1 Pt. 2: 6-8 a. o.). Calling it theology, they have imposed their own ideas into scriptural teachings. To this day they are part of the problem, causing arguments and trying to give explanation, without divine revelation.
As announced in the Old Testament the religious builders would reject the stone. They did not know where to place Him. He did not fit into their building. What our Lord has said is still valid, »The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner. Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.« (Lk. 20:
17-18). Peter has referred to the same Scripture (Isa. 8: 14-15; Ps. 118: 22) before the High Counsel, »This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. « (Acts 4: 11). For some He is set to fall upon and for others to raise them up. So it was prophesied by Simeon (Lk. 2: 34). Only where He builds His own Church will He also have pre-eminence in all things (Col. 1: 14-20). There He is known as the chief-cornerstone and also as the headstone, the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. There His Own serve Him, believe Him and they stand with Him. Where men are building their own church, He is never given His rightful place, and becomes a stumbling stone (1 Pt. 2: 6-8).