The Christian Looks at HimselfWhat kind of self-image should Chritians have? Should they see themselves primarily as unworthy sinners before a holy God? The biblical view, Anthony A. Hoekema argues in this readable study, is that humanity, having been made in God's own image, was the capstone of God's creation. Even when we fell, God considered us of such worth that he gave up his only Son to redeem humanity. And in Christ, as Paul makes plain, we are made into new creatures. This does not mean that the redeemed live a life of sinless perfection; it does mean that what is most distinctive about them is the new life they have in Christ. And this new life entitles Christians to a self-image that is essentially positive. Accepting the biblical view of our worth can be difficult for Christians burdened with feelings of guilt. How can such Christians learn to see themselves in better light? And how can others in the Christian community - preachers, counselors, teachers, and parents - help fellow members to attain the positive self-image that is essential to the Christian faith? Part Two of The Christian Looks at Himself offers concrete answers to these questions and in doing so points up the social dimension of being in Christ. As Christians accepts themselves as creatures made new in Christ, so in love they must also fully accept fellow Christians as recreated in that same Christ. ANTHONY A. HOEKEMA (1913-1988) was former professor emeritus of systematic theology at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His other books include Created in God's Image, Saved by Grace, and The Bible and the Future. |
Contents
THE BIBLICAL BACKGROUND | 25 |
The Exhilaration of Forgiveness | 31 |
Old and New Man | 41 |
Life in the Spirit | 49 |
The New Creature | 54 |
Romans Seven | 61 |
Sinless Perfection? | 68 |
Christian Acceptance | 77 |
In Christ Together | 85 |
IMPLEMENTATION | 93 |
What Can Others Do About It? | 102 |
The Joy of Christian Fellowship | 124 |
| 143 | |
| 145 | |
| 150 | |
Common terms and phrases
Abraham Maslow aorist attitude basic behavior believer belong Bible teaches biblical Bonhoeffer brown-eyed children car coat chapter child child's self-image Chris Christ Jesus Christian brother Christian faith Christian fellowship Christian parents Christian self-image church client Colossians confess Corinthians counselor creature in Christ death depravity described Dietrich Bonhoeffer encourage enslaved epistle evangelical fact Father feel fellow Christians flesh forgiveness God's grace guilt guilt-feelings Holy Spirit imply important Jesus Christ John Keith Miller liever listening living longer look Lord maintain a positive Maslow matters means negative self-image ourselves Parent Effectiveness Training passage Paul says Paul's positive self-image pray problem redemption regenerate person Revised Standard Version Ridderbos Romans salvation Scriptures teach self-esteem sinless perfection sinners sins someone struggle teacher tell Testament things tian tion tive self-image total acceptance totally depraved understand verse victory words worth
Popular passages
Page 22 - You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, " but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.