No matter how we want something to be true, in submitting to the nature of Jesus as Christ, the ruler and King, we lay our will down before Him. Furthermore, we acknowledge that, while others may claim to have a way to everlasting life, only Jesus makes this possible to approach the Father by merit of being His one and only Son.
No matter how we want something to be true, in submitting to the nature of Jesus as Christ, the ruler and King, we lay our will down before Him. Furthermore, we acknowledge that, while others may claim to have a way to everlasting life, only Jesus makes this possible to approach the Father by merit of being His one and only Son.
While Genesis begins with the creation of the world by a magnificent and holy God, the Apostles’ Creed does likewise. In proclaiming that we believe in a God who created heaven and earth, we proclaim a God who reigns sovereign over all creation. Furthermore, as we proclaim this belief, we must do more than give it lip service, but allow the sovereignty of God to reign fully in every aspect of our lives.
The purposes of the creeds has never been about attempting to replace the Bible but to provide a framework for people to engage their understanding of theology. One should never presume that because we have the creeds that we have the totality of God’s word or that the creeds are inspired by God.
The purposes of the creeds has never been about attempting to replace the Bible but to provide a framework for people to engage their understanding of theology. One should never presume that because we have the creeds that we have the totality of God’s word or that the creeds are inspired by God.
As James concludes his letter, he discusses the need for one another as put our faith on full display. Â Throughout the course of James’ letter, he has constantly exhorted his readers to take the faith they held in their soul and express it outward. Â Yet, as a member of the body of Christ, we are not to go through our spiritual path on our own. Â We are guided by the mentors and leaders who have gone before us to show us how to walk in our faith. Â We have our peers and friends to hold one another up and challenge one another along the way. Â Furthermore, we guide those who come after us. Â For the Christian to successfully be connected to his or her Christian community, there is a minimum of three generations of interaction, each one providing different opportunities and challenges for the believer. Â
In Luke 5:12-26, Jesus engages in two miracles of healing. Â First, there was the leper, who, under normal circumstances, would be unable to even approach Jesus. Â They were unclean and regarded as a leper largely because of their sins. Â Jesus called this same person to Himself in order to heal the sickness and disease. Â Moreso, Jesus ordered the leper to present himself to the priests to verify the miracle and the forgiveness. Â Immediately after this story, Luke continues with the well known story of the paralyzed man, lowered from the roof. Â Knowing that he was being watched by the Pharisees and the scribes of the law, Jesus took the opportunity to put the fullness of his presence and personhood to the crowd.
The angel sat on the stone and informed the women of Jesus’ resurrection. Â The women ran and told the disciples who investigated and reported that Jesus no longer resided in the grave. Â The word spread throughout the country for all to hear; Jesus rose from the grave. Â He had returned. Â Over the next few days he appeared to His disciples and various other persons and they experienced the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Â Where once the King died, now He reigns victorious over heaven and earth, over death and life.
We will at some point experience the corruption of others around us. Yet, this should not shake our faith. The God we serve is an eternal God who is drawing all things to Himself. At the end of time itself, it is God who will stand in Judgment over the wicked and the righteous. Until then, we must not fall into the same trap as the wicked in pursuing gain, but remain steadfast and patient waiting on the Lord, speaking with wholeness and integrity. James continues to discuss the connection between faith and works, specifically in the face of the wealth and power that the world offers.  Our God is eternal and our strength comes from God whose strength will never run out. Â
I like to believe that everyone held out hope until the very end. Â Surely, this was not how the Savior would die. Â This was not the death befitting a King, let alone the Savior of mankind. Â Had Jesus’ mission failed? Â Was this a sign that the reasons Christ came had not been accomplished? Â For us today, we are able to review scripture and see that the death of Jesus Christ did not indicate that the mission had failed but rather that the consequences of our sins had been fulfilled. Â Christ died a grueling death, arduous and straining for His last breaths until the end. Â This was the moment, the crescendo of all human history coming to an apex here. Â The world would be forever changed by the events of today and the spiritual fates of mankind would awaken to the fullness of a relationship with our Heavenly Father. Yet, in this moment, there was the pain of the people standing by watching friend, son, teacher, and prophet’s life come to a brutal close. Â Even worse, Jesus died on the cross, a sinners death, trusting in the fullness of God. Â
