Who is Jesus? Saviour (Part 2)

1. Faith Leads to Peace

            Just prior to this passage, Jesus reveals to His disciples that He would soon be leaving them. He would be going away and they were not able to follow Him, at least not yet. This must have filled these men with great confusion and sadness. They had put their hope in this man. They were incredibly blessed by this man. They had given up everything to follow this man. And now He was taking off!

            Have you ever been abandoned by someone you cared deeply for? A husband or wife? A mother or father? A boyfriend or girlfriend? A best friend? At such times the pain is unbearable. Nothing else in the world matters.

            Jesus tells His followers not to be troubled. Even though He was leaving them there was reason for hope. It was possible to feel peace. They were not going to be apart from Jesus forever.

            Rather than being troubled, the disciples are told to believe: “Believe in God; believe also in me.” If these men believed in Jesus, they would not feel troubled. Why? Because faith leads to peace.

            It does so for two reasons. First of all, faith is embracing the promises of Christ with confidence. In this passage, Jesus reveals that His followers would be with Him in the future. Jesus was not abandoning them. He would return for His beloved. Trusting in this knowledge would bring peace to their hearts. Secondly, faith brings peace because it is through faith that God saves. And one of the blessings believers ought to experience is peace.

Who Is Jesus? Saviour (Part 1)

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:1-6

The Christian author and editor Philip Yancey writes: "I first got acquainted with Jesus when I was a child, singing “Jesus Loves Me” in Sunday school, addressing bedtime prayers to “Dear Lord Jesus,” watching Bible Club teachers move cutout figures across a flannelgraph board. I associated Jesus with Kool-Aid and sugar cookies and gold stars for good attendance.

            I remember especially one image from Sunday school, an oil painting that hung on the concrete block wall. Jesus had long, flowing hair, unlike that of any man I knew. His face was thin and handsome, his skin waxen and milky white. He wore a robe of scarlet, and the artist had taken pains to show the play of light on its folds. In his arms, Jesus cradled a small sleeping lamb. I imagined myself as that lamb, blessed beyond all telling.

            Recently, I read a book that the elderly Charles Dickens had written to sum up the life of Jesus for his children. In it, the portrait emerges of a sweet Victorian nanny who pats the heads of boys and girls and offers such advice as, “Now, children, you must be nice to your mummy and daddy.” With a start I recalled the Sunday school image of Jesus that I grew up with: someone kind and reassuring, with no sharp edges at all—a Mister Rogers before the age of children’s television. As a child I felt comforted by such a person." (The Jesus I Never Knew, p. 13).

            What are your earliest impressions of Jesus? I remember Him as a very white man wearing a white robe and a blue sash. He also had a cartoon quality about Himself, seeing as I often saw representations of Him from the Picture Bible.

            But more importantly, who is Jesus? Is He the good moral teacher many North Americans make Him out to be? Is He a dangerous and intolerant right-winger? Or is He merely one of God’s many prophets or spokespersons?

            The founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, A. B. Simpson, taught that Jesus was our Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer and Coming King. I would like to take some time to explore these ideas, beginning with Jesus as Saviour.

How Deep is our Faith?

David Kinnaman writes the following in his book You Lost Me:
"Overall, knowledge of Scripture, doctrine, and church history is poor among most Christians, not just young adult believers. But the cultural pressures faced uniquely by Mosaics [born in 1984 through 2002] make holding on to Christian faith a difficult undertaking--if their faith is shallow, how can it survive? Are their theological  views and commitment to Christ deep enough? Will this be a generation to be reckoned with or one that pushes their convictions to the sidelines? How much will cultural accommodation and acclimation define their faith? Will they capitulate to faith-killing cultural norms?
The next generation is caught between two-possible destinies--one moored by the power and depth of the Jesus-centered gospel and one anchored to a cheap, Americanized version of the historic faith that will snap at the slightest puff of wind. Without a clear path to pursue the true gospel, millions of young Christians will look back on their twentysomething years as a series of lost opportunities for Christ."
I've gotta admit, this excerpt has got me excited about teaching on Sunday evenings. There is so much kingdom potential in a generation devoted to and seeking Christ. What will God do?

Zeal

While reading Knowing God by J. I. Packer I came across an inspiring quote having to do with zeal for God. It is by Bishop J. C. Ryle and has to be shared:  

           "Zeal in religion is a burning desire to please God, to do His will, and to advance His glory in the world in every possible way. It is a desire which no man feels by nature – which the Spirit puts in the heart of every believer when he is converted – but which some believers feel so much more strongly than others that they alone deserve to be called ‘zealous’ men . . .

            A zealous man in religion is pre-eminently a man of one thing. It is not enough to say that he is earnest, hearty, uncompromising, thorough-going, whole-hearted, fervent in spirit. He only sees one thing, he cares for one thing, he lives for one thing, he is swallowed up in one thing; and that one thing is to please God. Whether he lives, or whether he does – whether he has health, or whether he has sickness – whether he is rich, or whether he is poor – whether he pleases man, or whether he gives offence – whether he is thought wise, or whether he is thought foolish – whether he gets blame, or whether he gets praise – whether he gets honour, or whether he gets shame – for all this the zealous man cares nothing at all. He burns for one thing; and that one thing is to please God, and to advance God’s glory. If he is consumed in the very burning, he cares not for it – he is content. He feels that, like a lamp, he is made to burn; and if consumed in burning, he has but done the work for which God appointed him. Such a one will always find a sphere for his zeal. If he cannot preach, work, and give money, he will cry, and sigh, and pray. . . If he cannot fight in the valley with Joshua, he will do the world of Moses, Aaron, and Hur, on the hill (Exod. 17:9-13). If he is cut off from working himself, he will give the Lord no rest till help is raised up from another quarter, and the work is done. This is what I mean when I speak of ‘zeal’ in religion (Practical Religion, 1959 ed., p. 130)." 

J. I. Packer, Knowing God (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1973), p. 196.

Praying in Faith Part 2

I believe that one hindrance to faith-filled prayer is poor theology. In a world where so much evil happens and where pain is everywhere it is easy to forget that God is love. One of the greatest struggles individuals have in the West with Christianity is the problem of pain and suffering. "If God is loving," they ask, "why is there so much hurt in the world?" And if we are honest we will admit that we find these questions troublesome ourselves.
In spite of our confusion the Bible presents to us a God who is love and who is concerned for humanity. In 1 John 4:16 we read "God is love" and one of the most popular verses of Scripture, John 3:16, tell us: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." We need to allow the conviction of God's love to flow through our veins and inform our every prayer. We need to be reading Scripture which reveals God's loving nature to us. God cares much more deeply about people than we do and He longs to bless. Knowledge of God's good nature must fill our prayers with the expectation that God will indeed do good.

Praying in Faith Part 1

Yesterday I was reading a passage of Scripture that causes many of us Christians some significant trouble:
Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. (Matthew 11:23-24)
As a "good Christian" should, I believe the words of Christ intellectually. However, in practice, I often find myself doubting in the midst of my prayers. I find myself not fretting over whether God can do what I ask, but wondering whether He actually will. Why? What prevents me from praying in faith at all times? I'd like to spend some time over the next several days exploring hindrances to faith-filled prayers and discussing ways that our faith might be increased.

Biblical Illiteracy Part III

Where do we go from here? Each one of us is in agreement that we must read and reflect on Scripture. Hearing sermons once a week is good, but this is not enough. Attending a cell group is beneficial, but not sufficient. Sunday school is enlightening, but we need more. The Word of God deserves prominence in our lives. The Psalmist wrote: “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” How wonderful it would be for all followers of Christ to have such passion for the Word!

Those who, in the past, have been deeply immersed in God’s Word but have let this pursuit fade know what they need to do. My challenge here is for the individual who is new to seeking God. Set aside ten minutes a day to read one chapter of Scripture. Begin with the book of Mark or even Genesis. Read. Think about what the passage has to say about God, about what He’s done for you and about living for Him. God will meet you. He will teach you. He will shape you.