Chapter V: Religion of Divine Destiny

Judaism is a monotheistic religion that traces its roots to the descendants of an ancient Hebrew speaking branch of the Semitic race. They believe they descended from Abraham of UR, Chaldea in Sumeria, Land of Canaan. They believe that Yahweh and Moses that they are God are chosen people. Even now the Jews hold on to believe that they are Gods chosen people. These are the basic beliefs the Monotheistic wherein they believe that there is only one God, Yahweh, who intervenes in human affairs, particularly in relation to the Jews, the second belief is the immortality of the soul, the soul survives the death of the body. That is seemingly contradictory to resurrection. The next belief is resurrection they believe that all believers have end or they called judgment day, Immortality of the soul refers to the individual dying, and his/her soul going to another realm, while his body lay in the grave awaiting Judgment Day .The fourth believe is the Messiah they believe that the prophesy of Isaiah will come true, that a Messiah by Yahweh to deliver Israel. The Messiah is yet to come. The Torah the sacred scrolls, the laws regarded as the Jewish Bible, containing the revealed will of Yahweh and upon which Judaism bases its code and conduct. The True Worship they believe that whenever, wherever, however, true worship is in the sanctuary of the heart. Yahweh had laid upon Israel a heritage that dare not be denied. Judaism also has customs and festivals celebrating one of this are the Feast of the Passover or the Seder, recollecting the deliverance of Israel from the bondage of slavery in Egypt. Known today as the Exodus. The nest custom is the Rosh Hoshana this is the Jewish New Year, coming September or October. The Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement, come ten

days after Rosh Hoshana, a period of solemn rest, dedicated to confession of sins, repentance, and reconciliation with God. The Sabbath this is the day of rest and worship begins at dusk on Friday and ends at dusk on Saturday. Totally there is no work. Hanukkah this is the festival of light Feast of Dedication. This is Celebrates Macabbean victory over the Greeks. Purim is the festival of Deliverance. Story narrated at the book of Esther. Shabuoth is the Festival of First Fruits of harvest (thanksgiving) Jewish Pentecost, fifty day after the Passover feast. Sukkoth is the feast of the Tabernacles or Booths; in gathering of harvest. Christians and Judaism are common in beliefs in terms of both religion believe in the Messiah , both believe in one single God , both believe in the resurrection , both believe in the Passover Feast and the Christian Holy Week , and both believes in worship .

Reflection

Chapter VI: The Beliefs of Orthodox Christianity

For the last two thousand years, the Christian church has held certain beliefs to be vital to ones faith. While there is some doctrinal disagreement within the three branches of Christendom Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant there is a general agreement among then as to the essentials of the faith. Whatever disagreement the church may have among its branches, it is significant compared to the heretical non Christian beliefs of the cults. The three branches of Christianity have final authority with regard to the divine inspiration of the old and new testaments. Roman Catholic church and Eastern Orthodox Church accepts the 66 books of the old testament but in the new testament , Roman Catholic Church new testament as the inspired word of God while in the Eastern Orthodox Church the new testament as inspired revelation . The Roman Catholic consider church traditions just as authoritative as the scriptures while in the eastern orthodox they add their Church tradition as equally authoritative. In the Protestants Church holds that scripture alone is the final authority on all matters of faith and practice. The doctrine of God is the same in all three branches of Christianity one of the most misunderstood ideas in the bible concerns the teaching about trinity. Although Christians say that they believe in one God, they are constantly accused of polytheism (worshipping at least three Gods.) The scriptures does not teach that there are three Gods ; neither do they teach that God wears three different masks

while acting out the drama of history , there is one God who has revealed himself in three persons , the father , the son , and the holy spirit and these three persons are the one God . The facts of the biblical teaching are these: there is one God, this one God has a plural personality, and this one God called the father, the son, the Holy Spirit, all distinct personalities, all designated God. We are therefore led to the conclusion that the father, son, and Holy Spirit are one God, the doctrine of the trinity. The person of Jesus Christ has two thousand years, Jesus asked his disciples the ultimate question: Who do you say that I am? (Matthew 16:15) central to the Christian faith is the identity of its founder, Jesus Christ and it is monumental importance to have a proper view of who he is. Jesus was human he grew intellectually and physically, he desired food, tie became tired, he needed sleep, he cried and he died. Jesus also was God, Jesus of Nazareth was a man but he was more than a man. He was God in human flesh, while the scriptures clearly teach he was a man, they like wise make it clear that he was God, Jesus made desire claims, Jesus exercised divine works, Jesus possessed divine attributes by demonstration in this Jesus exercised authority over nature, Jesus reported events which occurred when he was far away the scene, Jesus knew the very thoughts of people, Jesus had authority over life and death. Jesus is a person possessed divine attribute by association. The attributes of God are divided into two: the metaphysical and the moral attributes. As regards the metaphysical attributes, we may affirm firstly that God is self-existent; secondly, that he is immense (or infinite). In regard to immensity or infinity. and He is eternal, in unchangeable, omnipresent, omnipotent, perfect,

comprehensible, omniscient. As regards to moral attributes, God is holy, true, loving, righteous, faithful and merciful. In these respects,

man differs from the ideal manhood in the sense that he is the author of these qualities. Christ possesses the metaphysical attributes of God. These attributes involve what might be called the essence of God, the attributes of this is self-existence, eternal, all knowing, all powerful, and present everywhere. Jesus also possesses the moral attributes of God. These are attributes which deal with the character of Go. This attributes are holy, truth, love, righteous, Jesus received worship as God and Jesus is God Yahweh. The doctrine of the church is that the Westminster confession of faith contains a statement about the church that is accepted by all branches of Christendom. The true church is made up of all I those individuals who have put their trust in Christ as their savior. It is not merely the attending of church or having a name on the membership list that makes one a member of Christs true church. Only the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the repentant sinner qualifies one for membership in the true body of Christ. The doctrine of salvation is linked with the atoning death of Christ on the cross. While all major branches of Christianity agree that Christ death was satisfactory to god as a sacrifice for the worlds sins, there is a disagreement on how that sacrifice is appropriated we believe the bible teaches that salvation is by grace , a free gift of God to all those who believe in Christ. Those who receive Christ by faith have their sins forgiven and become children of God , a new creation in Christ Jesus . Since salvation is a free gift from God, no one can add anything to the completed work of Christ to receive it . It is received by faith and faith alone.

The doctrine of man is succinctly expressed in the Westminster shorter catechism, that god created man, male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness and holiness, with dominion over the creatures. Central to the Christian faith is the teaching that the Holy Spirit is personal and is God the third person of the holy trinity. The doctrine that the Holy Spirit is a person is clearly taught in scripture. Notice the following examples of personal attributes displayed by the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit is spoken of in the bible as a divine person. The Holy Spirit has the attributes of God, he is powerful. (Luke 1:35-37)

Reflection

This chapter says that as Christians we believe in bible, we know that god is personal, eternal and triune .We have different believes in terms of doctrines.