Sample Reflection Paper
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Reflection Paper
May 3, 2012
Theo 104
by Natasha S Morris
Introduction
This course has taught me what it really means to be a Christian. I must admit I was not born into a Christian home, as I got older I started to learn about God and Jesus Christ. My mother did teach me right from wrong but going to church and learning of God was not a priority in my home. Taking this course has taught me that being a Christian is more than just being a kind person. In this reflection paper I will discuss Did Jesus claim to be God?, If a person is a Christian, does it matter how they live their life?, What can your local church do to better communicate God’s love to your community? I will provide a logical link between the descriptions of the concepts from the course, and demonstrate learning initiative.
Did Jesus Claim to be God? Did Jesus really claim to be God, or was it a misinterpretation of his words? Jesus didn’t declare to be God, he proclaimed to be the unique Son of God. As a consequence of claiming to be the Son of God, the Jewish leaders tried to kill him because in calling God his own Father, Jesus was making himself equal with God (John5:18). In John 8:58, Jesus went so far as to use the very words by which God broadcasted about himself to Moses from the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). To the Jews this was the epitome of taking the Lord’s name in vain, for they knew that in doing so Jesus was clearly claiming to be God. Jesus clearly told the Jews on other occasions that “I and the Father are one”, again the Jews tried to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” “We are not stoning you for any of these, replied the Jews, but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God” (John10:30-33). Reading all of these scriptures, I do not feel that Jesus was claiming to be God, I think Jesus was merely
Reflection Paper
May 3, 2012
Theo 104
by Natasha S Morris
Introduction
This course has taught me what it really means to be a Christian. I must admit I was not born into a Christian home, as I got older I started to learn about God and Jesus Christ. My mother did teach me right from wrong but going to church and learning of God was not a priority in my home. Taking this course has taught me that being a Christian is more than just being a kind person. In this reflection paper I will discuss Did Jesus claim to be God?, If a person is a Christian, does it matter how they live their life?, What can your local church do to better communicate God’s love to your community? I will provide a logical link between the descriptions of the concepts from the course, and demonstrate learning initiative.
Did Jesus Claim to be God? Did Jesus really claim to be God, or was it a misinterpretation of his words? Jesus didn’t declare to be God, he proclaimed to be the unique Son of God. As a consequence of claiming to be the Son of God, the Jewish leaders tried to kill him because in calling God his own Father, Jesus was making himself equal with God (John5:18). In John 8:58, Jesus went so far as to use the very words by which God broadcasted about himself to Moses from the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). To the Jews this was the epitome of taking the Lord’s name in vain, for they knew that in doing so Jesus was clearly claiming to be God. Jesus clearly told the Jews on other occasions that “I and the Father are one”, again the Jews tried to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” “We are not stoning you for any of these, replied the Jews, but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God” (John10:30-33). Reading all of these scriptures, I do not feel that Jesus was claiming to be God, I think Jesus was merely