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Tuesday 6 November 2012

Theology Matters: Jesus, Salvation, and the Trinity


I've been reading over the past few days an excellent book, which I am enjoying thoroughly, called "Atheist Delusions: The Christian Revolution and it's Fashionable Enemies", by David Bentley Hart. I'll be reviewing it soon, but this afternoon I came across a paragraph that was so immensely helpful I felt I should share it. Theology is important - as I observed N.T.Wright say in a post a while ago. So, here, in its fulness, is a superb paragraph from Bentley-Hart on the importance of the Doctrine of the Trinity in relation to salvation in Jesus Christ, and the importance of his humanity (the bold is my emphasis). 


"Salvation is possible only if, in Christ, God himself had descended into our midst. For if we have been created for nothing less than real and intimate communion with the eternal God - if ours is indeed a destiny so great - then the end for which we are intended is one to which no mere creature, however exalted, could ever raise us. Only God can join us to God. And so, if it is Christ who joins us to the Father, then Christ must himself be no less than God, and must be equal to the Father in divinity. By this same logic, of course, as the doctrinal debates of the latter half of the century would make clear, the Spirit too must be God of God, coequal with the Father and the Son. For it is only by the action of the Spirit - in the sacraments, in the church, in our own lives of inward sanctification - that we are joined to the Son: and only God can join us to God. This is, if nothing else, a strange, daring, and luminous idea, one that did not easily recommend itself to the minds of ancient persons: not only that God is in our midst but also that we - saved by being incorporated into the Trinitarian life of Father, Son and Spirit - are in the midst of God"

- David Bentley-Hart, "Atheist Delusions", p. 206

Love it. Theology matters. Because Jesus matters. And because the Gospel is huge in its consequences. For a great book on the Trinity, check out Mike Reeves' "The Good God", for great introductions to different important theological issues, try "Justification: Five Views", or "The Historical Jesus: Five Views", or on the end of the world, I'd highly recommend Simon Ponsonby's "And the Lamb Wins". If you've arrived here and are from a Vineyard Church (or any church!), then check out Jason Clarke's excellent article "Why Bother With Theology in the Vineyard?".

4 comments:

  1. Love the blog post. In theology classes right now and this is interesting. My blog where I write about a lot of the stuff I am learning at Liberty is http://humblelibertystudent.blogspot.com. Will be following your future posts.

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    1. Hey James, thanks for the comment. Interesting blog - how are you finding studying and blogging?

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  2. You are quite right - Theology Does Matter! The thing that concerns me with so many who call themselves Christian is that they just like fluff. Some good music, a short "feel good" message and a quick prayer. Yes, Theology matters and believers must exert themselves enough to learn who they are in Christ Jesus and what He has given them.

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    1. hi, JustMe, thanks for the comment.

      Completely agree - its true, we do often like fluff too much!

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