Wednesday 30 July 2014

Systematic Theology, chapter 23.

The essential nature of man.

Who are we?  We have a physical body, ok.  We have a soul, allright.  What about the spirit of a man?

The soul includes: intellect, emotions, and the will. Everyone has a soul...
But the spirit, that comes alive when a person becomes a Christian.   OR, are the spirit and soul one thing?


Grudem takes the latter view, that of dichotomy. (We have two parts, a body and a spirit/soul).

Just as God created Adam in one breath, in unity of his body and soul, so are we made grow in Godliness both in body and soul.

2 Cor 7:1, we are to cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.

Scripture uses the words soul and spirit interchangeably.  Also at death, the soul/spirit departs, according to the Bible.  They have the same "functions" and "abilities."

When Paul says, "my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful," he means that there is nonphysical element to our existence that can function apart from our conscious awareness of how it is functioning.

We are different from animals in the sense that we can have a spiritual life in fellowship with God.  Our souls and bodies/minds can relate to God in ways animals never can.

Animals, do they have a soul?  If you mean intellect, emotions, and will, then yes.  If you mean soul as spirit, such as suggested here, then no.



Can we see our soul/spirits?  Not quite, but that allows us to depend on Scripture which explains and expresses the existence of our soul and spirit.

In this life there is a unity where the body and spirit act together as one person, yet after death they will be apart.

When do we get our soul?  Does God give it to us, is it inherited from our parents at conception?

Zechariah 12:1, God is the one who forms the spirit of man within him.

We are also born with the tendencies to sin that are passed on through our family generations.


Sunday 27 July 2014

Legoland, part 3

Ok, last post about Legoland! 

They even had an aquarium....and we managed to sneak in with the critters!

 Legos also want to go diving!



 Here is a ridiculously expensive bridge we went on in Denmark (total cost for two bridges to get to Legoland from Sweden: around 75 dollars (500 sek).  That is definitely a jump compared to the american toll charges!
 Can't forget to enjoy the countryside....

 12 + hours in the car means that we are also part of the "scenery".




And finally, a restaurant that kept the kids entertained with their huge acquarium....
(I will just rant a bit and say that we have some strange kids:  their favorite foods at the chinese buffet?  Sushi, Mushrooms, strawberries, olives, and normally enough, french fries.) 

Legoland, Part 2

Now that you have seen an overwhelming amount of photos of our family, here comes the cool part of Legoland.  All these creations are not teeny weeny, but actually life size (or human size).  Amazing!



 This duplo guy in the kids playground wasnt all glued together...talk about interactive!  (Want to add to him, go ahead!)
 This was huge. And awesome.

 This is to put it into perspective.
 Want to go on a safari?

 (Is this Abraham Lincoln?)

 Lifesize lego guys making a getaway in their hot air balloon...and the two guys on the bridge after them.


 Lifesize firemen.
 A guy almost being eaten by a croc.

 Denmarks Legoland wouldnt be complete without some vikings. :)
 Lego creations everywhere!
  Pirates?

 A HUGE statue of liberty.









 And now we move on to the cities re-created in miniature.
 


Systematic Theology, Chapter 39

*Just a reminder that this study of Wayne Grudem's book, Systematic Theology, is not by any means me teaching, but rather a simple sum...