torsdag 23 september 2010
The Good News
I've got great news--I just saved a bundle on my car insurance. This pop-cultural punchline might just expose a real problem we have in our Christian sub-culture: we don’t know what the good news is.The confusion, from one perspective, is understandable. God is good. God is gracious. We move from grace to grace, receiving gifts from Him all the time. God is in turn sovereign. He controls all things. When He tells us, therefore, that all things work together for good for those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28), we can learn that it’s all good news. His coming, that’s good news. His dying, that’s good news. His ascending, that’s good news. His sending the Spirit, that’s good news. The Spirit applying all these things to His people, that’s good news. Even the trials we go through here and now, they are good news as well. We are, after all, to count it all joy.That everything is good news, however, does not mean that everything is the good news. The authors of their respective gospels were not merely publishing everything they came upon. While each had their own peculiar focus, each of them together, on the other hand, were seeking to make known the good news. These four men, however, were not the first. Two other men before them labored diligently to make known the good news. One of those two was called the greatest man born of a woman by the Lord (Luke 7:28). The other was the Lord of glory Himself. If we would understand the Gospels, we would be wise to understand that the good news they were reporting was the good news proclaimed not just about Jesus, but by Jesus. The good news is that the kingdom has come. This is the message of Jesus: the kingdom of God is here.On the other hand, the bad news is that the kingdom has come. The life, death, resurrection, ascension and return of Christ is to us who have been called, the very aroma of life. To those who are still outside the kingdom, it is the stench of death. It is the same kingdom either way, but for the seed of the woman (Christians) it is blessing, and for the seed of the serpent it is cursing. That this one kingdom can mean one thing for one group and the opposite for another can help explain how we have come to conflate some terms over time. That is, the difference between seeing the coming of the kingdom as an event of joy or of dread is found in one simple distinction--do we trust in the finished work of Christ alone or not? The seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent began in the same place, as enemies of the kingdom. We are all by nature children of wrath. But it is as we are gifted with repentance and believe that we move from darkness to light, that we are adopted into the very family of God. That’s good news. Better still, the king who has adopted us, He is now king indeed. That’s very good news.Our gospel is a truncated shell of this great reality if the good news is merely that we don’t have to go to hell. It gets only slightly better if it means that our souls go to heaven. The fullness of the gospel is found in the fullness of the kingdom. Jesus is about the business of remaking all things. He is, after all, the first-born of the new creation. He is remaking all the created order that groans under the burden of our sin. He is remaking all the political order, as all kings everywhere learn to kiss the Son, lest He be angry (Ps. 2). He is remaking the church, His bride, removing from us corporately every blot and blemish. And He is remaking every one of us, reshaping us pots into vessels of grace.We are a part of this good news precisely because He came and lived a life of perfect obedience in our place. We are a part of this precisely because He suffered the wrath of the Father that is due to us for our sins. We are a part of this because He has given us each a new heart that responds to His calling with repentance and faith. We bring nothing to the table but our need. Jesus has done it all. We are His workmanship, judged innocent by His death, judged righteous by His life. There is still more good news. We are not merely by the good news of His atonement made citizens of that kingdom we are called to seek. We are not merely judged righteous by His righteousness that we were called to seek. We are by the same Spirit made kings and queens with Him. We are not just subjects but rulers. We are seated even now with Him in the heavenly places. Our calling is to believe these promises. Our calling is to be of good cheer, for He has already overcome the world (John 16:33). We do not wait for His kingdom to come, for it is here. Instead, we strive to make it ever more visible, as we make all things subject to His glorious reign.
Has Jesus Christ Come Again?
Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda claims to be “the Man Christ Jesus.” In fact, when you go to his ministry’s Web site it loads with the audio of Miranda declaring these words: “To some I came as a thief in the night. To others I came as who I am, the Man Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ is here for the second time!” (The audio has now been removed, but you can see that he still claims to be "Jesus Christ Man.")
Even in our “post-Christian” culture, declarations like this are bound to get media attention. For example, on June 10 the New York Times did a feature story on Miranda and his followers. No less than six printed pages were given to what the article’s author, Johnny Dwyer, called “The Hallelujah People.” Consider this rather disturbing section:
“We don't have any crosses here,” said Yajaira Reyes, a 23-year-old worshiper who lives in the Bronx. “We don't have any images. The only image we have is of him.”
Ms. Reyes pointed to a poster-size photograph of a heavyset man who was wearing a dark suit and a wan smile and giving the sect’s two-fingered salute. He is Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda, the 61-year-old founder of this ministry, and he is known to his followers by the majestic title the Man Christ Jesus.
Not surprisingly, Miranda’s claims to divinity are directly tied to his promises of prosperity to those who follow him: “…Mr. Miranda’s mission is to save people from the misery of their life on Earth. If they tithe—contribute 10 percent of their income—and make additional offerings, then prosperity will follow, Mr. Miranda promises. He can achieve this result, he says, because he is God.” What we have here is yet another presentation of the health, wealth and prosperity “gospel"—same polluted message, but with a dangerous new mouthpiece making claims to deity. (Not insignificantly, the article labels Miranda’s group not a “religious sect,” but a “Christian sect.” Given what Miranda teaches, “The Hallelujah People” have abandoned any semblance of orthodox Christianity. Therefore, the association with Christianity is not only inaccurate, but irresponsible.)
The New York Times is not the only news outlet to feature Miranda and his followers. CNN and Newsweek have weighed in as well. According to Dwyer, the sect is noticeably “publicity-conscious,” wielding an “energetic media operation.” Presumably this is to draw as many followers as possible so the coffers can be as full as possible.
While much could be said about the bankruptcy of health, wealth and prosperity teaching, the aim with this column is to consider Miranda’s claims to deity. Could he, in fact, be the second coming of Christ incarnate?
Before answering this question directly it is important to affirm that the Christian tradition, based on the Bible, clearly teaches the second coming of Jesus Christ. Both the Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed, among others, state this explicitly. That said, for at least two reasons there is no doubt that Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda is not the second coming of Christ incarnate.
First, the Bible is clear that when Jesus returns it will be unmistakable. There will be no wondering if a 61-year-old man with a ministry in Miami is in fact the Christ. We will know.
For example, in Matthew 24:24-25 Jesus warns of the appearance of “false Christs” and “false prophets.” He then cautions his disciples against believing “rumors” about His second coming: “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it” (24:26). What is the reason Jesus gives for not believing these rumors? “For as lightening that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man … At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory” (24:27, 30).
We are told that Jesus’ return will be as clear as lightening flashing across a midnight Kentucky sky and that no nation will be blind to His powerful and glorious arrival. In fact, a tsunami of mourning will engulf the peoples of the Earth. To be sure, when Jesus returns it will not be an uncertain event.
Second, the Bible is clear that when Jesus returns it is for judgment, not to make people rich with material possessions.
For example, in Matthew 25 Jesus clearly states His purpose when He returns: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left” (31-33). Jesus explains that the sheep represent the righteous who receive eternal life, and the goats represent the unrighteous who receive eternal punishment (34-46). Clearly, eternal judgment is what accompanies Jesus’ second coming, not temporal, earthly riches as Miranda and his followers teach.
It is in this profound sense that Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda “doesn’t look a thing like Jesus.” Therefore, even if he “talks like a gentleman” he is to be rejected for the fraud that he is. Our rejection, however, must include prayer for the repentance of Miranda and his followers. For an undeniable day is coming when the true Son of Man will appear to judge the living and the dead (2 Tim. 4:1).
Even in our “post-Christian” culture, declarations like this are bound to get media attention. For example, on June 10 the New York Times did a feature story on Miranda and his followers. No less than six printed pages were given to what the article’s author, Johnny Dwyer, called “The Hallelujah People.” Consider this rather disturbing section:
“We don't have any crosses here,” said Yajaira Reyes, a 23-year-old worshiper who lives in the Bronx. “We don't have any images. The only image we have is of him.”
Ms. Reyes pointed to a poster-size photograph of a heavyset man who was wearing a dark suit and a wan smile and giving the sect’s two-fingered salute. He is Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda, the 61-year-old founder of this ministry, and he is known to his followers by the majestic title the Man Christ Jesus.
Not surprisingly, Miranda’s claims to divinity are directly tied to his promises of prosperity to those who follow him: “…Mr. Miranda’s mission is to save people from the misery of their life on Earth. If they tithe—contribute 10 percent of their income—and make additional offerings, then prosperity will follow, Mr. Miranda promises. He can achieve this result, he says, because he is God.” What we have here is yet another presentation of the health, wealth and prosperity “gospel"—same polluted message, but with a dangerous new mouthpiece making claims to deity. (Not insignificantly, the article labels Miranda’s group not a “religious sect,” but a “Christian sect.” Given what Miranda teaches, “The Hallelujah People” have abandoned any semblance of orthodox Christianity. Therefore, the association with Christianity is not only inaccurate, but irresponsible.)
The New York Times is not the only news outlet to feature Miranda and his followers. CNN and Newsweek have weighed in as well. According to Dwyer, the sect is noticeably “publicity-conscious,” wielding an “energetic media operation.” Presumably this is to draw as many followers as possible so the coffers can be as full as possible.
While much could be said about the bankruptcy of health, wealth and prosperity teaching, the aim with this column is to consider Miranda’s claims to deity. Could he, in fact, be the second coming of Christ incarnate?
Before answering this question directly it is important to affirm that the Christian tradition, based on the Bible, clearly teaches the second coming of Jesus Christ. Both the Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed, among others, state this explicitly. That said, for at least two reasons there is no doubt that Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda is not the second coming of Christ incarnate.
First, the Bible is clear that when Jesus returns it will be unmistakable. There will be no wondering if a 61-year-old man with a ministry in Miami is in fact the Christ. We will know.
For example, in Matthew 24:24-25 Jesus warns of the appearance of “false Christs” and “false prophets.” He then cautions his disciples against believing “rumors” about His second coming: “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it” (24:26). What is the reason Jesus gives for not believing these rumors? “For as lightening that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man … At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory” (24:27, 30).
We are told that Jesus’ return will be as clear as lightening flashing across a midnight Kentucky sky and that no nation will be blind to His powerful and glorious arrival. In fact, a tsunami of mourning will engulf the peoples of the Earth. To be sure, when Jesus returns it will not be an uncertain event.
Second, the Bible is clear that when Jesus returns it is for judgment, not to make people rich with material possessions.
For example, in Matthew 25 Jesus clearly states His purpose when He returns: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left” (31-33). Jesus explains that the sheep represent the righteous who receive eternal life, and the goats represent the unrighteous who receive eternal punishment (34-46). Clearly, eternal judgment is what accompanies Jesus’ second coming, not temporal, earthly riches as Miranda and his followers teach.
It is in this profound sense that Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda “doesn’t look a thing like Jesus.” Therefore, even if he “talks like a gentleman” he is to be rejected for the fraud that he is. Our rejection, however, must include prayer for the repentance of Miranda and his followers. For an undeniable day is coming when the true Son of Man will appear to judge the living and the dead (2 Tim. 4:1).
Promises and Prophecies Relating to Jesus
The promises and prophecies relating to the Messiah are numerous: The intimation that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head (Genesis 3:14,15; Romans 16:20).The promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 26:1-5; Genesis 28:10-15; Galatians 3:
16; Hebrews 11:8,9); the prediction of Jacob (Genesis 49:1,8-10; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 5:15); the prophecy of Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15,18; Acts 3:22); David's prediction of his resurrection (Psalms 16:8-11; Acts 2:25-28) and triumph (Psalms 110:1-4; Acts 2:34,35); Isaiah predicted that he would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25), the greatness of his kingdom (Isaiah 9:6,7; Luke 1:32,33), his humiliation and sufferings (Isaiah 53:1-10; Acts 8:30-33), and his proclamation of the acceptable year of the Lord (Isaiah 51:14; Luke 4:14-21); the prediction of his birth place (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6); the prediction of his betrayal (Zechariah 11:10-14; Matthew 27:3-10.
16; Hebrews 11:8,9); the prediction of Jacob (Genesis 49:1,8-10; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 5:15); the prophecy of Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15,18; Acts 3:22); David's prediction of his resurrection (Psalms 16:8-11; Acts 2:25-28) and triumph (Psalms 110:1-4; Acts 2:34,35); Isaiah predicted that he would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25), the greatness of his kingdom (Isaiah 9:6,7; Luke 1:32,33), his humiliation and sufferings (Isaiah 53:1-10; Acts 8:30-33), and his proclamation of the acceptable year of the Lord (Isaiah 51:14; Luke 4:14-21); the prediction of his birth place (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6); the prediction of his betrayal (Zechariah 11:10-14; Matthew 27:3-10.
Don’t Forget the Resurrection!
In 1874, a Baptist minister named Robert Lowry penned one of the most stirring hymns to ever exalt the resurrection of Jesus Christ--"Low in the Grave He Lay." Notice how these verses contrast the impotence of death and suffering with the resurrection power of Christ:
Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior;Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!
Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus my Savior;Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!
Death cannot keep its Prey, Jesus my Savior;He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!
Death, man's most dread enemy, is powerless to reign over the Lord of life. And that truth has significance for you and me, here and now in the twenty-first century. You can see it in the most exciting and rousing part of Lowry's hymn, the refrain that punctuates each stanza:
Up from the grave He arose,With a mighty triumph o'er His foes,He arose a Victor from the dark domain,And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.He arose! He arose!Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Do you see in those lines what Jesus' resurrection means to you? If you are a Christian, you can rejoice in the fact that Christ rose from the dead as a victor, a champion who lives forever to reign, "with His saints." That refers to the promise based on our baptism into the death and resurrection of Christ--it is our hope and the reason and ground of all we believe.
But what if there were no resurrection? What if the resurrection of Jesus Christ is just a first-century myth to be ignored or marginalized as a secondary issue? The implications of that approach are devastating to Christianity.
I want to draw your attention to what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:16-19 so that you can see what happens when you forget the resurrection.
For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
Without question, if Jesus is still in the grave, if He is perpetually the sufferer and never the Victor, then you and I are hopelessly lost. And though that is not the case, I want to focus on the hypothetical "what if" that Paul assumes temporarily in 1 Corinthians 15. "What if the resurrection were a myth? What if Jesus Christ were still dead and in the grave?"
First of all, you would still be in your sins, under the tyranny of death along with the most vile and unbelieving pagan. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then sin won the victory over Him and continues to be victorious over you too. If Jesus remained in the grave, then, when you die you would also stay dead. Furthermore, since "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23), were you to remain dead, death and eternal punishment would be your future.
The purpose of trusting in Christ is for forgiveness of sins, because it is from sin that we need to be saved. "Christ died for our sins" and "was buried, and ... raised on the third day" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). If Christ was not raised, His death was in vain, your faith in Him would be pointless, and your sins would still be counted against you with no hope of spiritual life.
Second, if there is no resurrection, then "those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished." That means every Old Testament saint, every New Testament saint, and every saint since Paul wrote would be suffering in torment at this very moment. That would include Paul himself, the rest of the apostles, Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Moody, and the faithful and prayerful saints you've known--every other believer in every age also would be in hell. Their faith would have been in vain, their sins would not have been forgiven, and their destiny would be damnation.
In light of the other consequences, the last is rather obvious. "If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied." Without Christ's resurrection, and the salvation and blessings it brings, Christianity would be pointless and pitiable. Without the resurrection we would have no Savior, no forgiveness, no gospel, no meaningful faith, no life, and we could never have hope for any of those things.
To have hoped in Christ alone in this life would be to teach, preach, suffer, sacrifice, and work entirely for nothing. If Christ is still dead, then He not only has no ability to save you in the future, but He can't help you now either. If He were not alive, where would be your source of peace, joy, or satisfaction now? The Christian life would be a mockery, a charade, a tragic and cruel joke. Christians who suffer and even die for the faith would be just as blind and pathetic as those "believers" who followed Jim Jones and the People's Temple, David Koresh and the Branch Davidians, and Marshall Applewhite and the Heaven's Gate cult.
Since a Christian has no Savior but Christ, no Redeemer but Christ, and no Lord but Christ, if Christ is not raised, He is not alive, and our Christian life is lifeless. We would have nothing to justify our faith, our Bible study, our preaching or witnessing, our service for Him or our worship of Him, and nothing to justify our hope in this life or the next. We would deserve nothing but the compassion reserved for fools.
BUT, God did raise "Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification" (Romans 4:24-25). Because Christ lives, we too shall live (John 14:19). "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins" (Acts 5:30-31).
We are NOT to be pitied, for Paul immediately ends the dreadful "what if" section by saying, "But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20). As Paul said at the end of his life, "I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him [i.e. his life] until that day" (2 Timothy 1:12).
Those who do not hope in Christ alone for salvation are the real fools; they are the ones who need to hear your compassionate testimony about the triumph of Christ's resurrection. So don't forget the resurrection; rejoice in it and glory in it, for He is risen indeed.
Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior;Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!
Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus my Savior;Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!
Death cannot keep its Prey, Jesus my Savior;He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!
Death, man's most dread enemy, is powerless to reign over the Lord of life. And that truth has significance for you and me, here and now in the twenty-first century. You can see it in the most exciting and rousing part of Lowry's hymn, the refrain that punctuates each stanza:
Up from the grave He arose,With a mighty triumph o'er His foes,He arose a Victor from the dark domain,And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.He arose! He arose!Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Do you see in those lines what Jesus' resurrection means to you? If you are a Christian, you can rejoice in the fact that Christ rose from the dead as a victor, a champion who lives forever to reign, "with His saints." That refers to the promise based on our baptism into the death and resurrection of Christ--it is our hope and the reason and ground of all we believe.
But what if there were no resurrection? What if the resurrection of Jesus Christ is just a first-century myth to be ignored or marginalized as a secondary issue? The implications of that approach are devastating to Christianity.
I want to draw your attention to what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:16-19 so that you can see what happens when you forget the resurrection.
For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
Without question, if Jesus is still in the grave, if He is perpetually the sufferer and never the Victor, then you and I are hopelessly lost. And though that is not the case, I want to focus on the hypothetical "what if" that Paul assumes temporarily in 1 Corinthians 15. "What if the resurrection were a myth? What if Jesus Christ were still dead and in the grave?"
First of all, you would still be in your sins, under the tyranny of death along with the most vile and unbelieving pagan. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then sin won the victory over Him and continues to be victorious over you too. If Jesus remained in the grave, then, when you die you would also stay dead. Furthermore, since "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23), were you to remain dead, death and eternal punishment would be your future.
The purpose of trusting in Christ is for forgiveness of sins, because it is from sin that we need to be saved. "Christ died for our sins" and "was buried, and ... raised on the third day" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). If Christ was not raised, His death was in vain, your faith in Him would be pointless, and your sins would still be counted against you with no hope of spiritual life.
Second, if there is no resurrection, then "those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished." That means every Old Testament saint, every New Testament saint, and every saint since Paul wrote would be suffering in torment at this very moment. That would include Paul himself, the rest of the apostles, Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Moody, and the faithful and prayerful saints you've known--every other believer in every age also would be in hell. Their faith would have been in vain, their sins would not have been forgiven, and their destiny would be damnation.
In light of the other consequences, the last is rather obvious. "If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied." Without Christ's resurrection, and the salvation and blessings it brings, Christianity would be pointless and pitiable. Without the resurrection we would have no Savior, no forgiveness, no gospel, no meaningful faith, no life, and we could never have hope for any of those things.
To have hoped in Christ alone in this life would be to teach, preach, suffer, sacrifice, and work entirely for nothing. If Christ is still dead, then He not only has no ability to save you in the future, but He can't help you now either. If He were not alive, where would be your source of peace, joy, or satisfaction now? The Christian life would be a mockery, a charade, a tragic and cruel joke. Christians who suffer and even die for the faith would be just as blind and pathetic as those "believers" who followed Jim Jones and the People's Temple, David Koresh and the Branch Davidians, and Marshall Applewhite and the Heaven's Gate cult.
Since a Christian has no Savior but Christ, no Redeemer but Christ, and no Lord but Christ, if Christ is not raised, He is not alive, and our Christian life is lifeless. We would have nothing to justify our faith, our Bible study, our preaching or witnessing, our service for Him or our worship of Him, and nothing to justify our hope in this life or the next. We would deserve nothing but the compassion reserved for fools.
BUT, God did raise "Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification" (Romans 4:24-25). Because Christ lives, we too shall live (John 14:19). "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins" (Acts 5:30-31).
We are NOT to be pitied, for Paul immediately ends the dreadful "what if" section by saying, "But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20). As Paul said at the end of his life, "I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him [i.e. his life] until that day" (2 Timothy 1:12).
Those who do not hope in Christ alone for salvation are the real fools; they are the ones who need to hear your compassionate testimony about the triumph of Christ's resurrection. So don't forget the resurrection; rejoice in it and glory in it, for He is risen indeed.
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Reality of the Gospel
The pattern of the Christian year is an exercise of the Church's discipline. The annual celebrations of Christmas and Resurrection Day force the Church to ponder again the truths of Christ's incarnation and resurrection.
Christians understand that every Lord's Day is Resurrection Day, but this Sunday is the festival which draws all Christians face to face with the empty tomb and the truth of the resurrected Lord.
Resurrection Sunday is the central event in the church year--the climax of worship, expectation, and celebration. This celebration is also an acid test of the Church's faithfulness and conviction.
The secular world has done its best to make a mess of Christmas, but it has largely ignored our celebration of the Resurrection. Where commercialism intrudes, it comes in the forms of eggs and chicks and rabbits--none of which claim any connection with the Resurrection. The fact is, the secular world will attempt to domesticate, commercialize, and tame the babe in the manger--but it will run at breakneck speed from the cross and the empty tomb.
That cross stands as condemnation on all human attempts at self-righteousness, and the fallen world will do all within its power to hide the cross from sight. The empty tomb is the seal and confirmation of the cross, and the world will shield its eyes.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead separates Christianity from all mere religion--whatever its form. Christianity without the literal, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is merely one religion among many. "And if Christ is not risen," said the Apostle Paul, "then our preaching is empty and your faith is in vain" [1 Corinthians 15:14]. Furthermore, "You are still in your sins!" [v. 17b]. Paul could not have chosen stronger language. "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable" [v. 19].
Yet, the resurrection of Jesus Christ has been under persistent attacks since the Apostolic age. Why? Because it is the central confirmation of Jesus' identity as the incarnate Son of God, and the ultimate sign of Christ's completed work of atonement, redemption, reconciliation, and salvation. Those who oppose Christ, whether first century religious leaders or twentieth century secularists, recognize the Resurrection as the vindication of Christ against His enemies.
Those who would attack the Church and reject its gospel must direct their arrows at the most crucial truth claim of the New Testament and the disciples: That Jesus Christ, having suffered death on a cross, though sinless, having borne the sins of those He came to save, having been buried in a sealed and guarded grave, was raised by the power of God on the third day.
As Paul well understood, Christianity stands or falls with the empty grave. If Christ is not raised, we are to be pitied, for our faith is in vain. Those who would preach a resurrectionless Christianity have substituted the truth of the gospel for a lie. But, asserted Paul, Christ is risen from the dead. Our faith is not in vain, but is in the risen Lord. He willingly faced death on a cross and defeated death from the grave. The Resurrection is the ultimate sign of God's vindication of His Son.
As John A. Broadus preached over a century ago: "It was the signed manual of the Deity, it was the seal of the Sovereign of the Universe affixed to His claim, it declared Him to be all that He had ever professed to be, and so it establishes the truth of all His teachings and the truth of the whole Christian society. The great fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead is the central fact of the evidence of Christianity."Evidence is Overwhelming
Believers have no reason to be defensive concerning the Resurrection. To the contrary, any denial of the Resurrection is a denial of the Savior. The biblical evidence is overwhelming.
As the disciples preached in the earliest Christian sermons, "This Jesus God has raised up, of whom we are all witnesses . . . . Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ" [Acts 2:32,36].
The Resurrection was not a dawning awareness of Christ's continuing presence among the disciples, it was the literal, physical raising of Jesus' body from the dead. The Church is founded upon the resurrected Lord, who appeared among His disciples and was seen by hundreds of others.
The Church does not have mere permission to celebrate the Resurrection, it has a mandate to proclaim the truth that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. The resurrected Lord gave the Church a sacred commission to take the gospel throughout the world. As Paul made clear, the resurrection of Christ also comes as a comfort to the believer, for His defeat of death is a foretaste and promise of our own resurrection by His power. "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" [1 Corinthians 15:53].
So, as the Church gathers to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we should look backward in thankfulness to that empty tomb and forward to the fulfillment of Christ's promises in us. For Resurrection Day is not merely a celebration--it is truly preparation as well. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the promise of our resurrection from the dead, and of Christ's total victory over sin and death. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is at the very center of the Christian gospel. The empty tomb is full of power.
Christians understand that every Lord's Day is Resurrection Day, but this Sunday is the festival which draws all Christians face to face with the empty tomb and the truth of the resurrected Lord.
Resurrection Sunday is the central event in the church year--the climax of worship, expectation, and celebration. This celebration is also an acid test of the Church's faithfulness and conviction.
The secular world has done its best to make a mess of Christmas, but it has largely ignored our celebration of the Resurrection. Where commercialism intrudes, it comes in the forms of eggs and chicks and rabbits--none of which claim any connection with the Resurrection. The fact is, the secular world will attempt to domesticate, commercialize, and tame the babe in the manger--but it will run at breakneck speed from the cross and the empty tomb.
That cross stands as condemnation on all human attempts at self-righteousness, and the fallen world will do all within its power to hide the cross from sight. The empty tomb is the seal and confirmation of the cross, and the world will shield its eyes.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead separates Christianity from all mere religion--whatever its form. Christianity without the literal, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is merely one religion among many. "And if Christ is not risen," said the Apostle Paul, "then our preaching is empty and your faith is in vain" [1 Corinthians 15:14]. Furthermore, "You are still in your sins!" [v. 17b]. Paul could not have chosen stronger language. "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable" [v. 19].
Yet, the resurrection of Jesus Christ has been under persistent attacks since the Apostolic age. Why? Because it is the central confirmation of Jesus' identity as the incarnate Son of God, and the ultimate sign of Christ's completed work of atonement, redemption, reconciliation, and salvation. Those who oppose Christ, whether first century religious leaders or twentieth century secularists, recognize the Resurrection as the vindication of Christ against His enemies.
Those who would attack the Church and reject its gospel must direct their arrows at the most crucial truth claim of the New Testament and the disciples: That Jesus Christ, having suffered death on a cross, though sinless, having borne the sins of those He came to save, having been buried in a sealed and guarded grave, was raised by the power of God on the third day.
As Paul well understood, Christianity stands or falls with the empty grave. If Christ is not raised, we are to be pitied, for our faith is in vain. Those who would preach a resurrectionless Christianity have substituted the truth of the gospel for a lie. But, asserted Paul, Christ is risen from the dead. Our faith is not in vain, but is in the risen Lord. He willingly faced death on a cross and defeated death from the grave. The Resurrection is the ultimate sign of God's vindication of His Son.
As John A. Broadus preached over a century ago: "It was the signed manual of the Deity, it was the seal of the Sovereign of the Universe affixed to His claim, it declared Him to be all that He had ever professed to be, and so it establishes the truth of all His teachings and the truth of the whole Christian society. The great fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead is the central fact of the evidence of Christianity."Evidence is Overwhelming
Believers have no reason to be defensive concerning the Resurrection. To the contrary, any denial of the Resurrection is a denial of the Savior. The biblical evidence is overwhelming.
As the disciples preached in the earliest Christian sermons, "This Jesus God has raised up, of whom we are all witnesses . . . . Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ" [Acts 2:32,36].
The Resurrection was not a dawning awareness of Christ's continuing presence among the disciples, it was the literal, physical raising of Jesus' body from the dead. The Church is founded upon the resurrected Lord, who appeared among His disciples and was seen by hundreds of others.
The Church does not have mere permission to celebrate the Resurrection, it has a mandate to proclaim the truth that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. The resurrected Lord gave the Church a sacred commission to take the gospel throughout the world. As Paul made clear, the resurrection of Christ also comes as a comfort to the believer, for His defeat of death is a foretaste and promise of our own resurrection by His power. "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" [1 Corinthians 15:53].
So, as the Church gathers to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we should look backward in thankfulness to that empty tomb and forward to the fulfillment of Christ's promises in us. For Resurrection Day is not merely a celebration--it is truly preparation as well. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the promise of our resurrection from the dead, and of Christ's total victory over sin and death. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is at the very center of the Christian gospel. The empty tomb is full of power.
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Reality of the Gospel
The pattern of the Christian year is an exercise of the Church's discipline. The annual celebrations of Christmas and Resurrection Day force the Church to ponder again the truths of Christ's incarnation and resurrection.
Christians understand that every Lord's Day is Resurrection Day, but this Sunday is the festival which draws all Christians face to face with the empty tomb and the truth of the resurrected Lord.
Resurrection Sunday is the central event in the church year--the climax of worship, expectation, and celebration. This celebration is also an acid test of the Church's faithfulness and conviction.
The secular world has done its best to make a mess of Christmas, but it has largely ignored our celebration of the Resurrection. Where commercialism intrudes, it comes in the forms of eggs and chicks and rabbits--none of which claim any connection with the Resurrection. The fact is, the secular world will attempt to domesticate, commercialize, and tame the babe in the manger--but it will run at breakneck speed from the cross and the empty tomb.
That cross stands as condemnation on all human attempts at self-righteousness, and the fallen world will do all within its power to hide the cross from sight. The empty tomb is the seal and confirmation of the cross, and the world will shield its eyes.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead separates Christianity from all mere religion--whatever its form. Christianity without the literal, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is merely one religion among many. "And if Christ is not risen," said the Apostle Paul, "then our preaching is empty and your faith is in vain" [1 Corinthians 15:14]. Furthermore, "You are still in your sins!" [v. 17b]. Paul could not have chosen stronger language. "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable" [v. 19].
Yet, the resurrection of Jesus Christ has been under persistent attacks since the Apostolic age. Why? Because it is the central confirmation of Jesus' identity as the incarnate Son of God, and the ultimate sign of Christ's completed work of atonement, redemption, reconciliation, and salvation. Those who oppose Christ, whether first century religious leaders or twentieth century secularists, recognize the Resurrection as the vindication of Christ against His enemies.
Those who would attack the Church and reject its gospel must direct their arrows at the most crucial truth claim of the New Testament and the disciples: That Jesus Christ, having suffered death on a cross, though sinless, having borne the sins of those He came to save, having been buried in a sealed and guarded grave, was raised by the power of God on the third day.
As Paul well understood, Christianity stands or falls with the empty grave. If Christ is not raised, we are to be pitied, for our faith is in vain. Those who would preach a resurrectionless Christianity have substituted the truth of the gospel for a lie. But, asserted Paul, Christ is risen from the dead. Our faith is not in vain, but is in the risen Lord. He willingly faced death on a cross and defeated death from the grave. The Resurrection is the ultimate sign of God's vindication of His Son.
As John A. Broadus preached over a century ago: "It was the signed manual of the Deity, it was the seal of the Sovereign of the Universe affixed to His claim, it declared Him to be all that He had ever professed to be, and so it establishes the truth of all His teachings and the truth of the whole Christian society. The great fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead is the central fact of the evidence of Christianity."Evidence is Overwhelming
Believers have no reason to be defensive concerning the Resurrection. To the contrary, any denial of the Resurrection is a denial of the Savior. The biblical evidence is overwhelming.
As the disciples preached in the earliest Christian sermons, "This Jesus God has raised up, of whom we are all witnesses . . . . Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ" [Acts 2:32,36].
The Resurrection was not a dawning awareness of Christ's continuing presence among the disciples, it was the literal, physical raising of Jesus' body from the dead. The Church is founded upon the resurrected Lord, who appeared among His disciples and was seen by hundreds of others.
The Church does not have mere permission to celebrate the Resurrection, it has a mandate to proclaim the truth that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. The resurrected Lord gave the Church a sacred commission to take the gospel throughout the world. As Paul made clear, the resurrection of Christ also comes as a comfort to the believer, for His defeat of death is a foretaste and promise of our own resurrection by His power. "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" [1 Corinthians 15:53].
So, as the Church gathers to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we should look backward in thankfulness to that empty tomb and forward to the fulfillment of Christ's promises in us. For Resurrection Day is not merely a celebration--it is truly preparation as well. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the promise of our resurrection from the dead, and of Christ's total victory over sin and death. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is at the very center of the Christian gospel. The empty tomb is full of power.
Christians understand that every Lord's Day is Resurrection Day, but this Sunday is the festival which draws all Christians face to face with the empty tomb and the truth of the resurrected Lord.
Resurrection Sunday is the central event in the church year--the climax of worship, expectation, and celebration. This celebration is also an acid test of the Church's faithfulness and conviction.
The secular world has done its best to make a mess of Christmas, but it has largely ignored our celebration of the Resurrection. Where commercialism intrudes, it comes in the forms of eggs and chicks and rabbits--none of which claim any connection with the Resurrection. The fact is, the secular world will attempt to domesticate, commercialize, and tame the babe in the manger--but it will run at breakneck speed from the cross and the empty tomb.
That cross stands as condemnation on all human attempts at self-righteousness, and the fallen world will do all within its power to hide the cross from sight. The empty tomb is the seal and confirmation of the cross, and the world will shield its eyes.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead separates Christianity from all mere religion--whatever its form. Christianity without the literal, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is merely one religion among many. "And if Christ is not risen," said the Apostle Paul, "then our preaching is empty and your faith is in vain" [1 Corinthians 15:14]. Furthermore, "You are still in your sins!" [v. 17b]. Paul could not have chosen stronger language. "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable" [v. 19].
Yet, the resurrection of Jesus Christ has been under persistent attacks since the Apostolic age. Why? Because it is the central confirmation of Jesus' identity as the incarnate Son of God, and the ultimate sign of Christ's completed work of atonement, redemption, reconciliation, and salvation. Those who oppose Christ, whether first century religious leaders or twentieth century secularists, recognize the Resurrection as the vindication of Christ against His enemies.
Those who would attack the Church and reject its gospel must direct their arrows at the most crucial truth claim of the New Testament and the disciples: That Jesus Christ, having suffered death on a cross, though sinless, having borne the sins of those He came to save, having been buried in a sealed and guarded grave, was raised by the power of God on the third day.
As Paul well understood, Christianity stands or falls with the empty grave. If Christ is not raised, we are to be pitied, for our faith is in vain. Those who would preach a resurrectionless Christianity have substituted the truth of the gospel for a lie. But, asserted Paul, Christ is risen from the dead. Our faith is not in vain, but is in the risen Lord. He willingly faced death on a cross and defeated death from the grave. The Resurrection is the ultimate sign of God's vindication of His Son.
As John A. Broadus preached over a century ago: "It was the signed manual of the Deity, it was the seal of the Sovereign of the Universe affixed to His claim, it declared Him to be all that He had ever professed to be, and so it establishes the truth of all His teachings and the truth of the whole Christian society. The great fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead is the central fact of the evidence of Christianity."Evidence is Overwhelming
Believers have no reason to be defensive concerning the Resurrection. To the contrary, any denial of the Resurrection is a denial of the Savior. The biblical evidence is overwhelming.
As the disciples preached in the earliest Christian sermons, "This Jesus God has raised up, of whom we are all witnesses . . . . Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ" [Acts 2:32,36].
The Resurrection was not a dawning awareness of Christ's continuing presence among the disciples, it was the literal, physical raising of Jesus' body from the dead. The Church is founded upon the resurrected Lord, who appeared among His disciples and was seen by hundreds of others.
The Church does not have mere permission to celebrate the Resurrection, it has a mandate to proclaim the truth that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. The resurrected Lord gave the Church a sacred commission to take the gospel throughout the world. As Paul made clear, the resurrection of Christ also comes as a comfort to the believer, for His defeat of death is a foretaste and promise of our own resurrection by His power. "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" [1 Corinthians 15:53].
So, as the Church gathers to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we should look backward in thankfulness to that empty tomb and forward to the fulfillment of Christ's promises in us. For Resurrection Day is not merely a celebration--it is truly preparation as well. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the promise of our resurrection from the dead, and of Christ's total victory over sin and death. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is at the very center of the Christian gospel. The empty tomb is full of power.
Why Did God Send Jesus to Earth as a Baby?
"I think a baby is a sign of love," says Casey, 9. "God sent our Savior as a baby because when babies are born, everybody thinks they are special," adds Buck, age unknown.
Yes, babies are special signs of love, but there's more to the story, says Richard, 9: "God sent our Savior as a baby because kings would want to kill him. If he was big, he would be easily tracked."
Richard is on the right track because an angel warned Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt. Herod, the Jewish king, wasn't exactly thrilled when wise men from the east showed up asking, "Where is he who has been born King of the Jews?"
If Jesus had come with great fanfare, King Herod could have sent his soldiers to a specific house in Bethlehem. Instead, he ordered the massacre of all children in Bethlehem 2 years and younger.
"God sent our Savior as a baby because he wanted to show us that God is our Mighty God and that even a baby could lead us to the right path," says Karly, 11.
"The mystery of godliness" is biblical phrase used to describe the ultimate paradox. Who can comprehend the depth of the descent Jesus experienced when he left the glories of heaven where angels continually praise God to enter a world dominated by people who live apart from God?
Almighty God not only experienced the limitations of humanity, but also the sorrow of seeing people reject his mission to offer his life as a ransom for sinners. Even his disciples resisted his mission. They, like others, thought the Son of God would come in great power and majesty to set up an earthly kingdom. And, of course, they weren't above jockeying for position in his kingdom.
God's way is different, says Stewart, 12: "If Jesus didn't come as a baby, people would be convinced immediately that he was the Son of God."
During his ministry, Jesus spoke of those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. God's ways are often hidden. The Bible pulls back the curtain on another realm where an angel announced the birth of a Savior in Bethlehem to shepherds watching over their flocks by night.
The greatest drama in all history unfolded that night in Bethlehem, yet VIPs were conspicuously absent. The Roman emperor probably had never heard of Bethlehem. Even for the majority of residents in this small, obscure town, it's just a routine night.
I would like to see a video clip of an interview with the Bethlehem innkeeper a year after he turned away Joseph and a very pregnant Mary on that glorious night. Would we see a blank stare and a shrug of the shoulders?
Spiritual reality is like that. Usually, it doesn't come with flashing neon lights. It's subtle, small and seemingly insignificant. Those with spiritual eyes see it.
Jesus could have descended to Earth flanked by thousands of angels. But he wanted to share in our humanity and demonstrate his humility.
"I think God came as a baby because He wanted us to know that He is humble and a servant," says Will, 11.
Will's comments remind me of the Apostle Paul's summary of Jesus' incarnation: "Christ himself was like God in everything. He was equal with God. But he did not think that being equal with God was something to be held on to. He gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born to be a man and became like a servant.
"And when he was living as a man, he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God. He obeyed even when that caused his death -- death on a cross" (Philippians 2:6-8).
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.
Merry Christmas!
Yes, babies are special signs of love, but there's more to the story, says Richard, 9: "God sent our Savior as a baby because kings would want to kill him. If he was big, he would be easily tracked."
Richard is on the right track because an angel warned Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt. Herod, the Jewish king, wasn't exactly thrilled when wise men from the east showed up asking, "Where is he who has been born King of the Jews?"
If Jesus had come with great fanfare, King Herod could have sent his soldiers to a specific house in Bethlehem. Instead, he ordered the massacre of all children in Bethlehem 2 years and younger.
"God sent our Savior as a baby because he wanted to show us that God is our Mighty God and that even a baby could lead us to the right path," says Karly, 11.
"The mystery of godliness" is biblical phrase used to describe the ultimate paradox. Who can comprehend the depth of the descent Jesus experienced when he left the glories of heaven where angels continually praise God to enter a world dominated by people who live apart from God?
Almighty God not only experienced the limitations of humanity, but also the sorrow of seeing people reject his mission to offer his life as a ransom for sinners. Even his disciples resisted his mission. They, like others, thought the Son of God would come in great power and majesty to set up an earthly kingdom. And, of course, they weren't above jockeying for position in his kingdom.
God's way is different, says Stewart, 12: "If Jesus didn't come as a baby, people would be convinced immediately that he was the Son of God."
During his ministry, Jesus spoke of those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. God's ways are often hidden. The Bible pulls back the curtain on another realm where an angel announced the birth of a Savior in Bethlehem to shepherds watching over their flocks by night.
The greatest drama in all history unfolded that night in Bethlehem, yet VIPs were conspicuously absent. The Roman emperor probably had never heard of Bethlehem. Even for the majority of residents in this small, obscure town, it's just a routine night.
I would like to see a video clip of an interview with the Bethlehem innkeeper a year after he turned away Joseph and a very pregnant Mary on that glorious night. Would we see a blank stare and a shrug of the shoulders?
Spiritual reality is like that. Usually, it doesn't come with flashing neon lights. It's subtle, small and seemingly insignificant. Those with spiritual eyes see it.
Jesus could have descended to Earth flanked by thousands of angels. But he wanted to share in our humanity and demonstrate his humility.
"I think God came as a baby because He wanted us to know that He is humble and a servant," says Will, 11.
Will's comments remind me of the Apostle Paul's summary of Jesus' incarnation: "Christ himself was like God in everything. He was equal with God. But he did not think that being equal with God was something to be held on to. He gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born to be a man and became like a servant.
"And when he was living as a man, he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God. He obeyed even when that caused his death -- death on a cross" (Philippians 2:6-8).
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.
Merry Christmas!
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