On Sunday October 27 we explored the next section of Living Faith and asked some more questions: Who is Jesus? and Why does what believe about Jesus matter?
This is the fourth in a series on Living Faith, one of the faith statements of the Presbyterian Church. Our guiding scriptures for this week are Philippians 2:5-11 and Matthew 11:25-30. Rev. John also refers to some recent studies on faith and churches in Canada:
Still Christian? What Canadian Christians Actually Believe. https://www.cardus.ca/research/faith-…
Nine interesting data points on the state of today’s Protestant churches. https://macleans.ca/society/nine-inte…
This message reflects on Living Faith sections 3.1-3.3.
Chapter Three – God in Christ
3.1 Jesus Christ and Israel
3.1.1 To the world in its rebellion and alienation God promised blessing and restoration. The Lord chose Abraham and his descendants and through a covenant with them destined them to be bearers of that promise to all people.
3.1.2 The Old Testament records God’s message and mighty acts. It speaks of God’s grace and judgment. It declares God’s promise and points to the One to come.
3.1.3 From Israel came the Messiah; in Jesus of Nazareth God kept the promise of salvation. We understand his coming in the light of the Old Testament. Born of the seed of David, he lived a Jew among Jews. Child of an Israelite woman, he fulfilled God’s promise that Israel would be a light to the nations. In Christ God came to dispel the world’s darkness.
3.2 Jesus Christ: Truly God
3.2.1 God became man and dwelt among us. In silence we ponder, in awe we confess this amazing truth. Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, the eternal Son of God humbled himself to be one with us. To Israel and to the world came God in Christ.
3.2.2 To call Jesus Christ the Son of God is to say that he is God of God, Light of Light begotten, not made. To see Jesus is to see God incarnate. To know the Son is to know the Father.
3.2.3 God’s nature is expressed in Jesus, the very Word of God. Through him were all things made. His life is the light of the world.
3.2.4 Jesus Christ is Lord. He is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
3.3 Jesus Christ: Truly Human
3.3.1 Jesus was truly human. Tried and tested as we are, yet without sin, he experienced the depths of life. Jesus understands us. He felt the joy of friendship, the pain of rejection, and died a human death. He trusted the Father completely and lived in the Holy Spirit. Neither temptation nor threat prevented him from loving God and his neighbour as himself. He showed us what it means to be a child of God.
You can find the full text of Living Faith here: https://presbyterian.ca/wp-content/up…
Minister: Rev. John T. Read