On Sunday November 3 we continued our look at section 3 of Living Faith (God in Christ) and considered: What does it mean for us to call Jesus Lord and Saviour today? What does Jesus save us from? What does he save us for?
This is the fifth in a series on Living Faith, one of the faith statements of the Presbyterian Church. Our guiding scriptures for this week are Acts 2:22-24, 29-3, Luke 6:46-49 and Matthew 20:25-28.
This message reflects on Living Faith sections 3.4-3.6.
Chapter Three – God in Christ
3.4 Jesus is Saviour
3.4.1 Jesus is the Mediator through whom God has come to us and through whom we come to God.
3.4.2 Christ died for our sins. The innocent one bore our condemnation on the cross. He suffered and was put to death for the sin of the world.
3.4.3 God’s reconciling act in Jesus Christ is a mystery which the Scriptures describe as the sacrifice of a lamb, a shepherd’s life given for his sheep, atonement by a priest. It is also the innocent dying for the guilty, the ransom of a slave, payment of a debt, and victory over the powers of evil. Such expressions interpret the love of God revealing the gravity, cost, and sure achievement of our Lord’s work. Yet that love we cannot fully explain. God’s grace, received by faith alone, pardons and justifies, redeems and reconciles us.
3.5 Jesus is Lord
3.5.1 Jesus suffered, died, and was buried, but God raised him from the dead. Risen and ascended, he is alive now, the living Lord.
3.5.2 His resurrection means that our faith is not empty, that final victory is assured over all evil powers which destroy and deform life, and that death, the last enemy, is conquered.
3.5.3 The forces of the evil one still wage war against us. The destructive powers are still present. But their end is not in doubt. We await the full revelation of our Lord’s triumph.
3.5.4 We worship our ascended Lord. Reigning in glory and power he is our High Priest and Advocate interceding before the Father on our behalf. Through him we offer our sacrifice of praise, with prayer for all to the Father.
3.5.5 Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord!
3.6 Salvation in Christ
3.6.1 Salvation comes from God’s grace alone received through faith in Christ. From all eternity, and through no merit on our part, God calls us to life in Christ. Here is the good news of the Gospel! Jesus Christ is the elect one, chosen for our salvation. In him we are made acceptable to God. Before the world was made we were chosen in Christ to be part of the family of God.
3.6.2 We are called for a purpose: we have been predestined to be like Christ and to serve God. As with Israel in the Old Testament, so with the new humanity in the New Testament, God chooses us. There is assurance in knowing that the living God has eternal purposes to achieve through us. God will bring to completion the work of grace begun in us.
You can find the full text of Living Faith here: https://presbyterian.ca/wp-content/up…
Minister: Rev. John T. Read