The Word and The World

Who was conceived…

“And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the

Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was

crucified, dead, and buried …”

To just say that Jesus is the Son of God, only begins to tell what we believe about him Christians acknowledge that he was conceived by the Holy Spirit. In other words, he was not the product of a normal sexual relationship.

We understand this to mean that Mary, his mother, was a virgin when Christ was born. Until the last century, few could acknowledge the possibility of a virgin giving birth. This was a stumbling block for many in their belief in Jesus, Scientific developments in terms of ‘test tube babies’ and the artificial insemination of animals have caused many people to change their opinion about this.

Yet that is how Scripture describes Christ’s birth. It states that Mary was a virgin and that her husband did not have relations with her until after Jesus was born. In fact, Mary’s pregnancy was a cause for potential shame on her, Joseph, and their families. Matthew’s Gospel gives a clue how Joseph felt about this:

“Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.“

- Matt 1:18-25 (NRSV)

But the discussion of Jesus’ birth is only a part of the story. It is only the beginning of the greatest story ever told, the redemption of humanity and our reconciliation to God through our belief in Jesus Christ, his Son, our Lord.

We acknowledge the complete humanity of Jesus. He was born, lived, suffered and died in a horrible, cruel death and was buried in a tomb as we shall be. These are human events and they happened to Jesus as they will happen to each of us. But if this was all we believed about Jesus, he would be just another prophet, a man of God, but not God incarnate, “Emmanuel” – “God with us.” Those truths are proclaimed in the rule of faith as well as we shall discover in the next section of this study.

Loving God, grant us continued faith to believe all that you have revealed of you love for us in Jesus Christ. Help us to recall his complete humanity, for he was one of us. But help us too as we wrestle with his complete Divinity, for he is God. Amen.

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And in Jesus Christ

“And in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord…”

There is such power in our words when we truly comprehend their meaning. This short phrase professes our faith in the second person of the Trinity and it says a great deal about Jesus.

To begin with we call Jesus “Christ.” Contrary to popular belief, “Christ” is not Jesus’ last name. Instead it is a Greek word meaning “Messiah” or “God’s anointed one.” So then by professing faith in Jesus Christ, we acknowledge that he is more than the child of Mary and Joseph the carpenter. He is in fact our Savior and Redeemer.

This is powerful stuff. In some times and places, this proclamation was tantamount to a death sentence because it meant we found our only hope for salvation in someone other than the king.

But we proclaim more than our loyalty to Jesus. We acknowledge his choice by God and his relationship to God as the second person of the Trinity, God the Son. Only Christianity proclaims and accepts the Trinity. Most other faiths view the Trinitarian doctrine as a source of ridicule and polytheism (worship of many gods). But that is not what we proclaim.

When we say that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, we proclaim that God is one being, who chose to make a self-revelation in three distinct persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We proclaim, to use the term from the Nicene Creed that the persons of the Trinity are of ‘one substance.’ This means they are the same person in essence but we experience God in three different ways.

At this point, I must admit that trying to adequately explain the doctrine of the Trinity is impossible. Theologians have tried to do so for centuries and every explanation falls short. But this too says something about God. God is more than we can comprehend and therefore some of our understanding remains a mystery of faith, something we accept and believe, but can not adequately prove or explain.

I have found several illustrations that seem to help in discussing the Trinity. First; the Trinity describes God’s relationship within the godhead to God’s self. It helps if we consider how we are viewed as individuals in our familial relationships. For example: I am my parent’s son, my children’s father, and my siblings’ brother. Three persons found in one individual. There are more relationships that describe me than this, but you should get the idea.

A second example is the egg. An egg can be described as having three distinct parts: the shell, the yolk, and the white. Each part is visibly different, yet each is also egg. The three persons of the Trinity are similar, each is different, yet always God.

Another example that comes to mind involves the substance we know as water (H₂O). It exists in three distinct states as solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (steam). Yet it always remains H₂O. God exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; three persons but always God.

So then, when we say: “(I believe) in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord…” we profess a belief in Jesus as God’s anointed, the second person of the Trinity, equal and co-eternal with God. We acknowledge Jesus as being God just as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit are God. Further, we pledge allegiance to Jesus as our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer. And we proclaim Jesus as God’s self-revelation to us.

The Rule of Faith, the Apostle’s Creed says this and so much more. I give thanks for the words of those who wrote it down for us and our understanding of it today.

Gracious Lord, we give thanks for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us as we continue to study this document to come to appreciate all the truths we express each time it is recited. This we ask in the name of Christ. Amen.

Podcast coming soon!!!

I Believe in God…

“I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth…”

Sometimes it is difficult for us to realize the power and the meaning our words convey. A prime example is the first several words at the beginning of the Apostle’s Creed. So, it is fitting that we begin our study of the rule of faith with these words at its beginning.

To say we believe is very special. It implies that we have complete faith and trust in the object of our belief. That faith and trust is acceptance of the truth that is found in the object of our belief. In this creed, we identify the object of belief in the first sentence. We believe in God, not just a god, but God almighty who created the heavens and the earth.

We acknowledge as true and absolutely correct God’s work in creating the heavens and the earth. This does not mean an acceptance of creation from nothingness, although many Christians do believe this. Instead, what the creed acknowledges is that however, the world came in to being; evolution, big bang, or creationism, God was the ultimate instigator of creation, responsible for all that is, was, and will ever be.

This is the same God who identified himself to Moses as: “I AM.” This is the same God who led the people of Israel out of Egypt and promised Abraham descendants ‘more numerous than all the stars in the heavens.’

When we identify God as “Father,” this identification has very little to do with gender and more to do with Creation. With this statement we join ourselves to every Jew, Christian, and Muslim on the face of the planet. For we all believe in one God, who is above all other gods. This central belief is a part of what makes this creed an ecumenical creed.

Only Christianity accepts the doctrine of the Trinity. With this sentence we acknowledge both the oneness of God and the belief that God has been revealed to us in the person of the Almighty Father, Creator of all. This is the God that Moses, Jacob, Abraham and all of Israel were so familiar with. This is God who led the people out of Egypt to the Promised Land. And this is God whom Jesus called: “Abba.” This is the object of our belief and the first subject of the Rule of Faith, the Apostle’s Creed.

Almighty God, Creator of all that is, was, and will be, we come to you, believing in your love, your work and your wisdom. Help us this day to solidify our beliefs and our trust in you. This we ask in the name of Christ. Amen.

Podcast will be available soon!!!

The Rule of Faith

“I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the

Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was

crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose

again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right

hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the

quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion

of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life

everlasting. Amen.”

For centuries, the Apostle’s Creed has also been called; “The rule of faith.” What this means is that this creed, more so than any other, gives a good summation of what Christian faith is al about. The Apostle’s Creed has also formed the basis for many great theological treatises.

Contrary to some opinion, the Apostle’s Creed was not written by the apostles. It authorship is unknown but apparently evolved in the first and second century and reached the form we know now in the eighth century. Historically, it has been the creed most often used when bringing new members in to the Christian faith.

One way to think of this creed is that it reflects the missionary nature of the Christian church. We are all sent forth in faith as apostles (those sent out with a mission). Our calling is to make disciples for Jesus Christ and this is our statement of faith and our beliefs in their simplest form. Hence it is the “Apostle’s Creed” and the “Rule of faith.”

The Heidelburg Catechism divides this creed in to three major sections for further expansion: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. In the next several posts, I too will divide the creed into sections. I hope to explore this ecumenical creed and give some expansion for the truths of Christian faith that it expounds and encourage you to think about what it is you profess when you recite this creed.

In essence, I’ll be doing what several others have done over the years, using the creed as a basis for some theological thought. My efforts may not be as concise or well thought out as those of Calvin or Barth, but they will attempt to reflect my understanding of Christian faith as it is expressed in this creed.

Merciful God, you gave us this creed as a means of expressing our faith in words that others understand. Guide my writings and bless those who read this that we may all wrestle with our understanding of life as your servants. This we ask in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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^{Just Slow Down}

^“29 He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. ³⁰ For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. ³¹ But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.” Isaiah 40:29-31 (MSG)

In the ‘60’s, there was a song by Simon and Garfunkel called “50^th Street Bridge Song.” Most people know this song by its chorus: “Slow down you’re moving too fast… Got to make the morning last…” I was reminded of this the other day as I was heading home from helping my youngest brother get some work done on his house.

I decided for whatever reason, to take the old highway instead of the Interstate for most of the trip back. I was amazed at the slice of Americana that the highway transported me through. The road was empty as compared to the snarl of the interstate. It was a refreshing trip down a highway I had last seen some 30 years earlier, before the interstate existed.

Too often, we rush to get from place to place and to get everything done that we must accomplish, we don’t take the time to slow down. I feel that Scripture encourages us to wait upon God, to practice patience and let things happen in God’s timing.

Now I know that in this day of instant gratification, waiting upon God is an unpopular thought. But, then again it has never been popular. Abraham and Sarah couldn’t wait for Sarah to give birth, so her maid, Hagar was sent in to fulfill the promise. But, it wasn’t God’s timing. God’s timing and the fulfillment of the promise only came with the birth of Isaac.

Throughout history, when people of faith have been content to wait upon the Lord, the outcome has been astounding. Right now, during my search for a new called position, my patience is often tried. My wife and others, keep wondering when I will next serve a church if that is what God wants, why don’t I abandon ministry and find some secular work?

My only recourse is the passage above from Isaiah. I must place my trust in God’s timing and wait upon the Lord, confident that my wait will be rewarded.

Loving God, there are times when waiting upon you seems contrary to all we need to do in life. Grant us the patience and the courage to wait upon your will and work in faith that we might rise up in service of your name. This we ask in the name Jesus Christ, our risen Savior. Amen.