Scholarly Reading
10/1/26
Espinosa, Alfonso. (2025). "Chapter 1: Contending for Identity: 'I'." (pp. 19-29). In Contending for Christ Through the Creed: Apologetics for Loving Answers on the Christian Faith. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock. (Personal Library)
The Apostles' Creed begins with an identification of just who is making confession. Espinosa considers it of great importance that people should grasp the identity they find in the biblical accounts. This is, in his mind, key to dealing with the dissonance we live in, where something seems to be wrong with us or our world (Espinosa 2025, p. 20).
Espinosa considers the Bible, as God's word, to describe accurately what we should know. In this way, God helps us to see not only that some things in our world are wrong, but also that within ourselves there is something wrong (Espinosa 2025, p. 21). Much of this takes place as the Bible confirms what we know by intuition. It takes very little time with the Bible to conclude that humans were created good and that their choices brought negative consequences on them and their descendants (Espinosa 2025, p. 22). Augustine's analysis of human nature indicates that since the earliest human disobedience it has been impossible not to enter into sin.
Our inability not to sin explains the evil we find in the world and in ourselves (Espinosa 2025, pp. 22-23). Though we would like to deny it, Espinosa is persuaded that we live in a condition by which we all fail in our thoughts, our words, and our actions. Even our good works, in one way or another, normally bring some sort of benefit to ourselves (Espinosa 2025, p. 23). In contrast, Espinosa notes, the Christian is simply to do good because God has already done good to us.
Because we find ourselves dissatisfied, it is normal for us to attempt life change. Espinosa views our normal attempts to fix ourselves as unsuccessful. While we are able to make some types of life change, we normally end up off balance and remain dissatisfied (Espinosa 2025, p. 24). There's still something wrong.
Espinosa brings us to our natural question at this point. Why doesn't God understand this problem and do something about it? Espinosa's contention is that God already did, as described in Ephesians 1:4-10 (Espinosa 2025, p. 25). His way of fixing the problem was by sending Jesus, God the Son, who was able to take care of our problem of sin.
The work of Jesus brings people into a situation where, rather than being unable not to sin, they are now able not to sin (Espinosa 2025, p. 26). Though Christians are still plagued by a desire to sin, they are able, by God's grace, to fight back. This does not mean that we are successful in the fight, but the Bible describes us as no longer captives of sin. There is still plenty wrong with us and our world. However, the Christian understands the nature of the conflict.
The Christian, then, is able to confess the truth. Despite a sinful condition, we can live by faith in Jesus who has brought us new life (Espinosa 2025, p. 237). The old identity is no longer in charge. Jesus is.
Espinosa closes the chapter with a number of questions for thought and discussion (Espinosa 2025, pp. 28-29).
10/1/26
Espinosa, Alfonso. (2025). "Chapter 1: Contending for Identity: 'I'." (pp. 19-29). In Contending for Christ Through the Creed: Apologetics for Loving Answers on the Christian Faith. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock. (Personal Library)
The Apostles' Creed begins with an identification of just who is making confession. Espinosa considers it of great importance that people should grasp the identity they find in the biblical accounts. This is, in his mind, key to dealing with the dissonance we live in, where something seems to be wrong with us or our world (Espinosa 2025, p. 20).
Espinosa considers the Bible, as God's word, to describe accurately what we should know. In this way, God helps us to see not only that some things in our world are wrong, but also that within ourselves there is something wrong (Espinosa 2025, p. 21). Much of this takes place as the Bible confirms what we know by intuition. It takes very little time with the Bible to conclude that humans were created good and that their choices brought negative consequences on them and their descendants (Espinosa 2025, p. 22). Augustine's analysis of human nature indicates that since the earliest human disobedience it has been impossible not to enter into sin.
Our inability not to sin explains the evil we find in the world and in ourselves (Espinosa 2025, pp. 22-23). Though we would like to deny it, Espinosa is persuaded that we live in a condition by which we all fail in our thoughts, our words, and our actions. Even our good works, in one way or another, normally bring some sort of benefit to ourselves (Espinosa 2025, p. 23). In contrast, Espinosa notes, the Christian is simply to do good because God has already done good to us.
Because we find ourselves dissatisfied, it is normal for us to attempt life change. Espinosa views our normal attempts to fix ourselves as unsuccessful. While we are able to make some types of life change, we normally end up off balance and remain dissatisfied (Espinosa 2025, p. 24). There's still something wrong.
Espinosa brings us to our natural question at this point. Why doesn't God understand this problem and do something about it? Espinosa's contention is that God already did, as described in Ephesians 1:4-10 (Espinosa 2025, p. 25). His way of fixing the problem was by sending Jesus, God the Son, who was able to take care of our problem of sin.
The work of Jesus brings people into a situation where, rather than being unable not to sin, they are now able not to sin (Espinosa 2025, p. 26). Though Christians are still plagued by a desire to sin, they are able, by God's grace, to fight back. This does not mean that we are successful in the fight, but the Bible describes us as no longer captives of sin. There is still plenty wrong with us and our world. However, the Christian understands the nature of the conflict.
The Christian, then, is able to confess the truth. Despite a sinful condition, we can live by faith in Jesus who has brought us new life (Espinosa 2025, p. 237). The old identity is no longer in charge. Jesus is.
Espinosa closes the chapter with a number of questions for thought and discussion (Espinosa 2025, pp. 28-29).
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