Reflections on the Lord's Prayer
Reflection on the Lord’s Prayer
The Christological heresy of Apollinarianism and the Trinitarian heresy of Dynamic Monarchianism compromise Jesus’ divinity, humanity, and unity. A belief that compromises Jesus’ divinity, humanity, or unity is an outright denial of the incarnation. A denial of the incarnation of Jesus Christ distorts Jesus’ unity with the Father and sinners; which therefore distorts the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer as the Church would pray it, (Work “Loving Jesus the Wrong Way”) The heresy of Apollinarianism puts to question the ability of Jesus to forgive our trespasses and understand our temptations. The heresy of Dynamic Monarchianism distorts the motivation behind praying the Lord’s Prayer by making it a predominantly legalistic action, in hope of salvation by works. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we ask the Lord to “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” (Matthew 6:9-13) This is done with the belief that God has the ability to forgive us of our sins. We believe that Christ died on the cross and paid the price for our sins with his blood. By doing this he redeemed humanity from sin and death and gave us the option of salvation through grace. This powerful action allows us to ask God for forgiveness of our sins.
Apollinarianism is a Christological heresy that distorts this picture of God forgiving our sins. Apollinarius believed that Jesus did not have a human soul but possessed a divine soul. He affirmed Jesus as both God and a human being. He argued that the divine Logos (reason) took the place of a human soul: making Jesus a combination of Word and flesh. (McKim 33) This heresy compromises Jesus’ humanity, divinity, personhood, and relation with the Father-by giving Jesus a human body and a divine mind and soul. This reveals that only Jesus’ flesh suffered on the cross. (Work “Loving Jesus the Wrong Way”) If only Jesus’ flesh died on the cross, it would be impossible for him to
The Christological heresy of Apollinarianism and the Trinitarian heresy of Dynamic Monarchianism compromise Jesus’ divinity, humanity, and unity. A belief that compromises Jesus’ divinity, humanity, or unity is an outright denial of the incarnation. A denial of the incarnation of Jesus Christ distorts Jesus’ unity with the Father and sinners; which therefore distorts the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer as the Church would pray it, (Work “Loving Jesus the Wrong Way”) The heresy of Apollinarianism puts to question the ability of Jesus to forgive our trespasses and understand our temptations. The heresy of Dynamic Monarchianism distorts the motivation behind praying the Lord’s Prayer by making it a predominantly legalistic action, in hope of salvation by works. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we ask the Lord to “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” (Matthew 6:9-13) This is done with the belief that God has the ability to forgive us of our sins. We believe that Christ died on the cross and paid the price for our sins with his blood. By doing this he redeemed humanity from sin and death and gave us the option of salvation through grace. This powerful action allows us to ask God for forgiveness of our sins.
Apollinarianism is a Christological heresy that distorts this picture of God forgiving our sins. Apollinarius believed that Jesus did not have a human soul but possessed a divine soul. He affirmed Jesus as both God and a human being. He argued that the divine Logos (reason) took the place of a human soul: making Jesus a combination of Word and flesh. (McKim 33) This heresy compromises Jesus’ humanity, divinity, personhood, and relation with the Father-by giving Jesus a human body and a divine mind and soul. This reveals that only Jesus’ flesh suffered on the cross. (Work “Loving Jesus the Wrong Way”) If only Jesus’ flesh died on the cross, it would be impossible for him to