“And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward”, I confess that, as a lifelong Catholic, I have never fully read the Bible. It’s quite astonishing, particularly since I attended Catholic School from kindergarten to eighth grade! Nevertheless, I have always expressed my faith in my own distinct manner.
I hold a firm conviction that God and I share an intimate bond. It may seem humorous, but we engage in communication. Admittedly, I do most of the speaking, yet he does reply to me in manners that affirm his presence. This certainty arises when I awaken and witness the sun shining through my window or when I travel on the road and observe the leaves changing hues. Each instance I peer at the sky during a cloudless night and discern the brightest stars peeping through delicate clouds serves as a reminder of this verity.
Although I am mesmerized by the sight of the sun piercing through clouds, fear fills me due to my lack of control and uncertainty. However, amidst this uncertainty, I cling to hope and unwavering faith, yet occasionally doubting my certainty.
During solitary nights, when I am the sole awake inhabitant of my abode, I ponder upon the events that await me in the afterlife. Will a void akin to the period preceding my birth envelope me? Conceivably, consciousness shall cease to reside within me. Shall I perish and forever lay at peace beneath the icy soil, with solely recollections of life’s delight as company? Is there naught else beyond this state? Alternatively, shall I awaken postmortem, as if existence were but a mere reverie, only to unearth an even more magnificent reality?
All the beauty I was talking about surrounds me, and I am once again with my family. Will the eternal mixture of happiness from my favorite days with my family and the constant beauty in life be what awaits me? These thoughts run wild in my mind. Although it may not be the best time to ponder on such complex ideas, it is the natural curiosity that keeps me thinking. These thoughts and nights are precisely why I enrolled in this class. I sought answers or a resolution to my fears.
Despite still feeling fear, this class has instilled hope within me by showing that no individual possesses all the answers. I now comprehend that individuals from diverse religions across the globe uphold their own beliefs. This is why I opted for the quote at the start of my paper – it resonates profoundly with me. Upon perusing all the selections assigned for this task, I found myself torn as I yearned to delve into each one of them.
After contemplating different possibilities, I discovered that Corinthians 15 is the most suitable response to my questions. I realized that having faith in what brings me solace is the only path to take. Though some may perceive this as egocentric, it deeply resonated with me on a personal level. The essence of salvation lies within our beliefs.
We will experience death and resurrection similar to Jesus. He died and was resurrected, witnessed by twelve individuals, and later seen by 500 others. Jesus sacrificed himself for our transgressions, granting us the opportunity to be resurrected in the future. This is my interpretation of the scriptures.
I am encouraged to learn that belief is essential for salvation, but I am uncertain about how to genuinely possess this belief. I fear that my faith may be insincere rather than truly being saved. Can adhering to his rules ensure my salvation? Although it doesn’t provide a precise set of instructions, I believe I grasp the concept. The message essentially expresses the same notion as my own thoughts, albeit in more intricate phrasing.
The statement in the Bible regarding the resurrection of the dead and Christ’s rising holds substantial meaning. It indicates that without a resurrection, Christ’s rise would also be non-existent. Consequently, our preaching and faith would be futile. I perceive this as an expression of uncertainty shared by both myself and those who question the resurrection of Jesus. Doubting his resurrection ultimately leads to doubting his teachings, resulting in false belief and a lack of authenticity.
