The principal sources of information regarding Jesus’ life and teachings are the four canonical gospels, especially the Synoptics, though some scholars argue that other texts (such as the Gospel of Thomas) are as relevant as the canonical gospels to the historical Jesus. Most critical scholars in the fields of history and biblical studies believe that some parts of the ancient texts on Jesus are useful for reconstructing his life, agreeing that Jesus was a Galilean Jew who was regarded as a teacher and healer.

The Jesus movement left a legacy of various denominations and other Christian organizations, and had an impact on both the development of the contemporary Christian right and the Christian left. Jesus music,which grew out of the movement, greatly influenced contemporary Christian music, helping to create various musical subgenres such as Christian rock and Christian metal.

The gnostics generally believed not in a Jesus who was a divine person with a human form, but in a spiritual christ who dwelt in Jesus. Through the spiritual path of gnosticism, followers of these schools believed that they could experience the same knowledge, or gnosis. Many of the Gnostic texts say that in order to be called worthy of the title ‘Christian’ one must also be anointed with Holy oil and that the water baptism alone is incomplete.

Adherents of Christianity, known as Christians, believe that Jesus is the Messiah prophesied in the Hebrew Bible (the part of scripture common to Christianity and Judaism). Orthodox Christian theology claims that Jesus suffered, died, and was resurrected to open heaven to humans. They further maintain that Jesus ascended into heaven, and most denominations teach that Jesus will return to judge all humans, living and dead, and grant immortality to his followers. He is considered the model of a virtuous life, and both the revealer and physical incarnation of God. Christians call the message of Jesus Christ the Gospel (“good news”) and hence refer to the earliest written accounts of his ministry as gospels.

Christian views of Jesus (see also Christology) center on the belief that Jesus is divine, is the Messiah whose coming was prophesied in the Old Testament, and that he was resurrected after his crucifixion. Christians predominantly believe that Jesus is the “Son of God” (generally meaning that he is God the Son, the second person in the Trinity), who came to provide salvation and reconciliation with God by his death for their sins. Other Christian beliefs include Jesus’ virgin birth, performance of miracles, ascension into Heaven, and a future Second Coming. While the doctrine of the Trinity is widely accepted by Christians, a minority instead hold nontrinitarian beliefs concerning the divinity of Jesus.

Angels

In general theological usage, the term “Christ” is largely founded on the concept of the divine presence of God within each and all human beings. In Christian theological contexts, the term “Christ” is more specialized, referring to this same presence of God (cf. Holy Spirit), along with the messianic title, in particular within the 1st century human being “Jesus” (Hebrew Yeshua). Further, Christians since the 4th century C.E. have promoted the view that this divine “presence” was not altogether an identical presence of God as found in all beings, but a special and unique union such that God and Jesus together with the Holy Spirit form one being (either literally or mythically) in “The Christ” (cf. Nicene Creed)

Ephesians 2:8-10 teaches us: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

It is NOT Faith in this passage that is the “gift of God”…the word “that” is a masculine singular demonstrative pronoun and cannot modify “Faith” which in Greek is a feminine noun. The word “that” is referring to the first phrase or clause which reads “having been saved by grace”…it is salvation by grace that is “not of yourselves” but rather is a “gift of God.” If we learn anything about the wonderful salvation that God has given us through the death and resurrection of our blessed Lord YAHoshua, it is that God’s grace (which gives us what we do not deserve!) has made it possible!

According to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born from the Virgin Mary. Little of Jesus’ childhood is recorded in the canonical Gospels, however infancy Gospels were popular in antiquity. In comparison, his adulthood, especially the week before his death, are well documented in the Gospels contained within the New Testament. The Biblical accounts of Jesus’ ministry include: his baptism, miracles, preaching, teaching, and deeds.

Creeds (from Latin credo meaning “I believe”) are concise doctrinal statements or confessions, usually of religious beliefs. They began as baptismal formulas and were later expanded during the Christological controversies of the fourth and fifth centuries to become statements of faith.

Christian socialists draw parallels between what some have characterized as the egalitarian and anti-establishment message of Jesus, who – according to Christian Gospel – spoke against the religious authorities of his time, and the egalitarian, anti-establishment, and sometimes anti-clerical message of most contemporary socialisms. Some Christian Socialists have gone as far as to become active Communists (see Christian communism). This phenomenon was most common among Christian missionaries in China, the most notable being James Gareth Endicott, who became supportive of the struggle of the Communist Party of China in the 1930s and 1940s.
]]> http://dorothyevans.wordpress.com/2009/06/16/life-is-wonderful/feed/ 0 dorothyevans