Spiritual Formation as a Solution for Disunty in the Bangladesh Churches of God, General Conference
[Thesis]
Odegard, David S.L.
Moreland, James P.
Biola University
2020
143
D.Min.
Biola University
2020
Jesus promised those who were born into His kingdom would gain the abundant life or the blessed life. He pointed out that while entry into this kingdom is granted by grace made possible through His own merit on the cross and via the resurrection, life inside this kingdom would require a radical reorientation of one's heart. This reorientation is a painful formation of the mind, will, emotions, and body around the central teachings of Jesus. The initial acceptance of the gospel is the starting line to eternal life and it orders the human heart to love God as the primary love. Once God is taken as the highest love, all other loves have the potential to become rightly ordered through the power and ministry of the Holy Spirit. This finally dethrones the self as the highest love and paves the way for us to live out the ramifications of the kingdom of God in our present relationships and real-life setting. This is the only way to ultimately experience peace, joy, and love (and all the other fruits of Holy Spirit directed life). Therefore, conflict resolution naturally results from living in the gospel-driven life.