Grace
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Part 6. The Path to Liberation or Salvation
1. Introduction Having examined the origins of suffering and moral disorder, we now turn to the paths of transformation. Both Christianity and Buddhism affirm that the human condition is not hopeless: liberation or salvation is possible. Yet they differ profoundly in how this goal is reached. Christianity centres on divine…
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Part 2: The Language Barrier – From Revelation to Realisation
Bridging the Light: Explaining Christianity to Buddhists with Clarity and Compassion 1. Introduction When Christians speak about God, sin, faith, and salvation, they are using a vocabulary born from revelation — truths given by a personal God who speaks and acts in history.Buddhists, however, understand truth as something realised through…
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Part 5: Grace, Karma, and Moral Cause
Bridging the Light: Explaining Christianity to Buddhists with Clarity and Compassion 1. Introduction For Christians, the word grace (charis) lies at the very heart of faith.For Buddhists, the word karma (kamma) defines the moral structure of reality. Grace means unmerited love — God giving goodness not because it is earned,…
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Law, Sin, and Grace (Contents)
Part I – Introduction and Definition Part II – The Nature of Sin Part III – The Classification of Sin Part IV – Sin in Relation to Realms and Beings Part V – The Consequences of Sin Part VI – The Revelation and Recognition of Sin Part VII – Deliverance…
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Part I – Introduction and Definition
1. Etymology and Terminology of Sin 1.1 Hebrew and Greek Roots The biblical terms for sin convey the notion of deviation from a divinely defined standard.In the Hebrew Bible, the principal word is ḥaṭṭā’th (חַטָּאָה), derived from the verb ḥāṭā’—“to miss the mark” (Strong, 1990). It implies failing to meet…
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Part VII – Deliverance and Restoration
16. The Role of the Mediator (Christ) 16.1 Fulfilment of the Law Jesus Christ stands at the centre of redemption because He fulfilled what the Law demanded but humanity could not accomplish. He declared, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have…
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Part VIII – Conclusion
18. Summary of the Doctrine of Sin 18.1 Sin as Universal Condition The biblical and theological witness affirms the universality of sin: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 NRSV). Sin is both a condition inherited from Adam and a continuing reality expressed through…
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Part 8 – From Grief to Grace: The Purpose of Divine Sorrow
1. Introduction Throughout Scripture, divine sorrow is never aimless or uncontrolled. God’s grief is redemptive, not reactionary. His sorrow reveals the moral depth of His love and His relentless commitment to restore what sin has broken. Unlike human emotion, which may collapse into bitterness or despair, divine sorrow moves purposefully…
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Grace Beyond Ability (Contents)
Part 1 – The God Who Judges Rightly: Justice and Mercy in Harmony Part 2 – Before Understanding: Infants, the Unborn, and the Incapable Part 3 – Original Sin and Divine Grace: From Adam to Christ Part 4 – Faith, Repentance, and Confession: Receiving What Grace Provides Part 5 –…
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Part 3 – Original Sin and Divine Grace: From Adam to Christ
Series: Grace Beyond Ability – The Justice and Mercy of God Toward the Helpless and the Ignorant 1. Introduction To understand why all people share the consequences of sin yet remain objects of divine mercy, one must grasp the biblical relationship between Adam and Christ. Adam stands as the head…
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Part 5 – Grace Beyond Conscious Faith: When Belief Is Humanly Impossible
Series: Grace Beyond Ability – The Justice and Mercy of God Toward the Helpless and the Ignorant 1. Introduction Having established that salvation is grounded in divine grace and personally received through faith, repentance, and confession (Part 4), we now turn to a crucial question:What happens when faith itself is…
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Part 10 – The Realm Perspective: Divine, Earthly, and Corrupted Justice
Series: Grace Beyond Ability – The Justice and Mercy of God Toward the Helpless and the Ignorant 1. Introduction Having explored divine justice, mercy, and the proportional measure of judgement, this final part situates these doctrines within the Triadiverse cosmology — the three-realm model of Divine, Earthly, and Corrupted realities.Through…
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Part 7 – Eyes Closed, Heart Open: Captivity and Consequence
Key Verse “But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.”— Judges 16 : 22 (NIV) 1. From Champion to Captive The fall of Samson is one of the most dramatic reversals in Scripture. Once a hero who tore apart lions and armies, he…
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Part 10 – Lessons from Samson: Strength, Sin, and Salvation
Key Verse “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”— 2 Corinthians 12 : 10 (NIV) 1. The Paradox of Power Samson’s story is one of the most paradoxical in Scripture — a man anointed by God yet undone by himself; empowered by the Spirit yet enslaved by desire;…
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1. Forgiveness, Grace, and Healing
Accept God’s forgiveness, extend forgiveness to others, and experience healing. Theme: Accept God’s forgiveness, extend forgiveness to others, and experience emotional and spiritual healing. Chapter (2) Inner Transformation and Character Bible Verses: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath…
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Chapter 2: Law vs. Grace — Reconciling Obedience and Freedom in the New Covenant
Kingdom Ethics and the Ten Commandments Today 1. Introduction One of the most enduring theological tensions within Christianity lies in understanding the relationship between God’s law and God’s grace. For some, the law represents rules and condemnation, while grace signifies freedom and acceptance. Others insist that grace does not abolish…
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3: Law and Grace
1. Theme Overview This theme explores the relationship between God’s law and His grace, showing how obedience, moral instruction, and covenantal law point to the ultimate grace found in Christ. It highlights God’s justice, mercy, and the transformational role of His Spirit. Key Concept: Core Theological Insight:Law exposes human sinfulness…
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9: Zane Hodges – Free Grace Theology and the Debate over Lordship Salvation
1. Introduction Zane C. Hodges was a New Testament scholar and leading proponent of Free Grace Theology, a doctrinal system that sharply distinguished salvation from discipleship and rejected the idea that true faith must necessarily produce good works. In contrast to Lordship Salvation—promoted by figures like John MacArthur—Hodges insisted that…
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10: Charles Ryrie – Dispensational Theology, Free Grace, and Biblical Simplicity
1. Introduction Charles Caldwell Ryrie was one of the most influential evangelical theologians of the twentieth century, particularly known for his contributions to Dispensationalism, Free Grace Theology, and the popularisation of systematic theology through accessible writing. Ryrie sought to make theological clarity available to laypeople without sacrificing scholarly rigour, and…
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65. Grace
Exodus 33:19 19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. Psalms 23:6 6 Surely…
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Augustine of Hippo – Grace and Predestination
Top Christian Theologians by Theme and Denomination – Article 8Theme: Grace and PredestinationDenomination: Catholic (Latin Patristic Tradition) 1. Introduction Aurelius Augustine (354–430), Bishop of Hippo in North Africa, is universally recognised as one of the most important figures in Western Christian theology. His vast intellectual output shaped not only Catholic…
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5. Paul’s Theology of Grace and Freedom
1. Introduction Paul’s theology of grace and freedom stands at the heart of his apostolic mission and theological conflict with Peter. This article explores Paul’s understanding of grace as the unmerited favour of God and freedom as the liberation from the Law, highlighting their implications for early Christian identity and…
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Chapter 5: Grace and Freedom
Paul and Peter: Conflict, Theology, and Reconciliation in the Early Church The flicker of the oil lamp cast long shadows as Paul spoke to the gathered believers, his voice firm yet filled with passion. “Grace,” he said, “is the unearned favour of God, given to us not by works but…
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Article 1: The Divine Architecture of Blessing – How God Built the Universe to Bear Fruit
1. Introduction The concept of blessing—whether spiritual, material, emotional, or relational—features prominently throughout the Bible. While Christians often focus on covenantal blessing tied to faith and obedience, Scripture also presents a wider framework: God has structured the universe itself to reward certain behaviours, attitudes, and principles, irrespective of a person’s…
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Article 7: Common Grace and Natural Law – Blessing That Flows from Creation Itself
1. Introduction While saving grace through Jesus Christ is central to Christian faith, the Bible also affirms a broader concept known as common grace—God’s generous provision, order, and goodness extended to all humanity, regardless of faith or covenant status. Closely related to this is the idea of natural law—the moral…
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Article 9: Two Streams, One Design – How Universal Law and Covenant Grace Coexist in God’s Economy
1. Introduction Within the biblical worldview, it is possible to distinguish between two major channels through which blessings flow: the universal moral order (natural law) and the covenantal relationship between God and His people. These two streams—common grace through creation and saving grace through Christ—are not in conflict. Rather, they…
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Chapter 3: The Work of the Holy Spirit in Conviction
Overview: How God Awakens the Heart The convicting work of the Holy Spirit is the crucial starting point in the believer’s journey of salvation. Before a person can respond to the gospel in saving faith and genuine repentance, they must be awakened to the reality of sin, the righteousness of…
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Chapter 4: Saving Faith – Believing in Jesus Christ
PART II: CONVERSION – ENTERING NEW LIFE IN CHRIST Theological Overview: Justification by Faith Alone At the heart of the Christian gospel lies the doctrine of justification by faith alone (sola fide). This foundational truth, recovered and emphasised during the Protestant Reformation, proclaims that sinners are declared righteous before God…
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The Parable of the Lost Sheep
1. Title of the Parable The Parable of the Lost Sheep 2. Scripture Reference(s) 3. Thematic Category Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness; Divine Pursuit; Joy in Repentance 4. Parable Summary Jesus tells of a shepherd who has one hundred sheep. When one goes astray, he leaves the ninety-nine in the open…
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The Parable of the Lost Coin
1. Title of the Parable The Parable of the Lost Coin 2. Scripture Reference(s) 3. Thematic Category Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness; Divine Pursuit; Joy in Repentance 4. Parable Summary Jesus tells of a woman who has ten silver coins and loses one. She lights a lamp, sweeps the house, and…
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The Parable of the Prodigal Son
1. Title of the Parable The Parable of the Prodigal Son(also known as The Lost Son) 2. Scripture Reference(s) 3. Thematic Category Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness; Repentance; Restoration; Divine Fatherhood 4. Parable Summary Jesus tells of a man with two sons. The younger demands his inheritance early, leaves home, and…
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The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
1. Title of the Parable The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant 2. Scripture Reference(s) 3. Thematic Category Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness; Accountability; Reciprocity in Mercy 4. Parable Summary Jesus tells of a king who wishes to settle accounts with his servants. One servant owes an enormous debt (ten thousand talents)…
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The Parable of the Two Debtors
1. Title of the Parable The Parable of the Two Debtors 2. Scripture Reference(s) 3. Thematic Category Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness; Love; Gratefulness; Spiritual Awareness 4. Parable Summary Jesus is dining at the house of Simon the Pharisee when a woman known as a sinner anoints His feet with her…
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The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
1. Title of the Parable The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard(also known as The Labourers in the Vineyard) 2. Scripture Reference(s) 3. Thematic Category Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness; Divine Generosity; Kingdom Reversal 4. Parable Summary Jesus tells of a landowner who hires workers at various times throughout the…
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The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
1. Title of the Parable The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector 2. Scripture Reference(s) 3. Thematic Category Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness; Humility; Justification 4. Parable Summary Jesus tells of two men who go to the temple to pray: Jesus concludes that it is the tax collector who…
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The Parable of the Great Banquet
1. Title of the Parable The Parable of the Great Banquet(also known as The Wedding Banquet) 2. Scripture Reference(s) 3. Thematic Category Love and Mercy to Others; Divine Invitation; Inclusion and Exclusion; Grace and Responsibility 4. Parable Summary A man (or a king, in Matthew’s account) prepares a great banquet…