The Apostles' Creed

As a young girl, I attended a church that recited the Apostles' Creed weekly. I learned by rote what to say long before I ever began to understand the meaning of the words. Recently, I was given a copy of The Small Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther. It parses the Apostles' Creed into three "articles" and contains some of Luther's notes on the meaning of each. This one really grabbed me:

The Second Article:

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty.
From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

This is the response, Luther's explanation:

What does this mean? I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord,

who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death,

that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness,

just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity.

This is most certainly true.

There is just so much meat in this, I don't even know where to begin!

So, let's begin with Jesus Christ, eternal and one true God, begotten of the Father. What does begotten mean? This is the English translation of the Greek word monogenes, and not the same as all of those begats and begots we find in Matthew 1, for instance. Monogenes has to do with coming from the Father, being the only one of a kind or class, unique; not that the Father created Him, but Jesus, as the second Person of the Trinity, sharing the divine nature of God the Father, was sent forth in accordance with the plan of salvation for humanity.

He is and, at the time of His presence here on earth, was true God. At the same time, He was true man. True God... and also true man. Fully God and fully man. I've never heard a great explanation on this yet, so I will leave this alone; but what a wonderful thing on which to meditate! That He was willing to submit to the limitations, the jurisdiction, and the indignities of life as a human; that He could exist as a holy and perfect God in a body and among others with such carnal appetites, but without sin. Amazing!

He is my Lord. Can you say that? Are you subject to Him in every part of your life, with every part of your being? Is His every intention your desire? Is His every command your joy? If you are anything like me, though you confess it, you confess it unto truth and not as truth. Meaning, though I desire it, I'm not there consistently or completely; some days, I'm not even sure I'm playing for the same team. But by His grace, through the work of the Holy Spirit, He will --His Word assures --bring all of His children to a place of complete surrender and sanctification. He will be my Lord, in every sense of the word, because I am fully His.

Lastly, Jesus has redeemed me. Why? Not because I had anything to offer. I was, as the Creed says, a lost and condemned person. Because of HIS CHARACTER ALONE, He purchased my life with His, for the purpose of bringing Him glory. To be His, to live with Him and for Him. Now and forever. Amen! 

Photo courtesy LuAnn Martin

Midweek: The Prodigal Son (Part Two)

Last Wednesday we began looking at Jesus' parable commonly known as The Prodigal Son, in Luke 15:11-24. A story Jesus told in response to those hypocrites gathered nearby as they attempted to besmirch His character. Jesus tells of a self-centered young man who caused his father great hurt in demanding his inheritance and fleeing the family farm. Let me reiterate, this was just a story meant to teach. We don't want to get too wrapped up in details and background lest we miss the lessons, but this story is so rich with relevance and emotion; I don't think there's a person alive who can't relate to some aspect of this.

So, let's look at the father. We don't know how old his sons were or whether they had even expressed an interest in following in his footsteps, but such was the culture. The oldest took over the family business, and the others worked for him. In the Western world, parents love to encourage their children to be whatever they want to be. We love to give them wings with our affirmations and encouragement. But in Jewish culture, roots were even more important. They were different, consecrated; and as such, it was important they clung to one another for support and accountability. The father had plans for his sons --not because he was controlling or self-absorbed, but because land and service to God were important features of their lives. And because he had something wonderful in store for them. To hear his son demand "the share of the property that falls to [him]" (v.12) --how it must have cut him to the very quick. But Son, I have so much more I want to do to prepare you. I have so much more planned for you, to build you a legacy that will last for generations and will bless many. I want to give you something personal, something I have designed and cultivated just for you. But it is not yet the time. Not to mention, the dividends alone on the share you are demanding will last a lifetime. And I see you are not ready.

But the son was lonely. Or empty. Or impulsive. Or full of pride. He was uninterested in remaining as he was. He was uninterested in being subservient, on relying on his father to mete out what he saw fit and when. So, he got his share and, eventually, left home. As he lived his prodigal life (Which is how he got his name --not because he rebelled; prodigal means wasteful.) he lived it in "a far country." He and his father were now separated not just by ideology but by distance. The young son's desires had led him to an alien land. Instead of being the heir, he was now the outsider. Instead of being protected, he would be as good as the last party he threw. Instead of being with those like-minded, he would have to be the standout or conform to the others' ways. And I see you are not ready. 

The young man squandered. The young man conformed. And then came the famine (v. 14). This is not some sort of cosmic balance; this is not karma. This is what happens when we follow after our own desires, when we adhere to our own ways, and we wind up outside the boundaries God has established for His children. We are far from home and outside the realm of His protection --not because He is unable or unwilling, but because this is what we have chosen. God, in His loving discipline, sometimes gives us experiential knowledge of what we need most. The young man wanted blessing on his terms. Though the father had so much more planned, what could he do but allow the young man to find out for himself? What could the father do but keep watch and remain ready to give his returning son the bread that would truly fill him? What could the father do but celebrate his son's return?

Come back for more on The Prodigal Son next week!        

 

What Good Is Eternal Life?

I was raised in what would be perceived as "a Christian home.' We went to church every Sunday, were involved in church activities and ministries; we even attended a nearby camp meeting throughout the summer. I heard the Gospel at a very young age and knew I didn't want to go to hell. Fire insurance. So, I accepted Jesus as my Savior. But in the everyday, in the face of childhood squabbles with my brother or broken relationships with playground friends, in the pain of unreturned crushes --to me --salvation meant nothing. What good is heaven at ninety-five when I have all these years of life to spend dealing with this stuff? Little did I know that was just the beginning. Bigger problems came with greater freedom to choose. How am I actually saved --from what am I actually saved --when I can't get through a shift without sinning --when I don't want to get through a shift without sinning? I knew I was not forgiven so that I might continue to do as I desired, but I also knew sin should no longer be what I desired. Is heaven really worth giving up my fun here on earth? 

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
~ John 17:3

Jesus' words defined eternal life and defined my problem: I had no clue what eternal life really was. Eternal life is not just heaven, streets of gold, angels and songs. It is not only life with no expiration date. Eternal life is a quality of life, a way of being that --yes, goes on in perpetuity --but is made supremely, unspeakably good by a relationship with the Creator of the universe, the King of all kings, the sovereign Ruler over all, and the One who made each one of us in His image. Eternal life is not exclusively measured in eons, but by the quality of life attained for us by the blood of Jesus Christ. Eternal life is to know, to have a personal relationship with God. 

Jesus' arrival as a Man in our midst brought light, clarification, revelation to the question Who is God? --a question He has been answering since before mankind existed. Imagine that! He's not having issues making Himself clear --that's just how big, how deep, how multi-faceted and infinite this perfect Being is! This perfect Being who not only invites us to join Him in relationship, but has made a way through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son! So, Jesus made all of this clear, revelation --and calls us, invitation --and became the means by which we could be made worthy, salvation. That is eternal life! If believing in Him is a real, all-encompassing belief, an acceptance that is often underpinned by an emotional or spiritual sense of certainty (Encarta), then the believer would seek God with his whole heart and body, would know God, would develop a quality of life consistent with Christ's definition in John 17:3 because he/she has been joined with Christ.

That truth delivered to me through multiple Scriptures and, by God's grace, in countless ways throughout the years, has made all the difference in the world --this one and the next! I look forward to spending eternity in His presence, and at the same time, from this vantage point, I know eternity has partially, imperfectly begun. It is here, it is the inheritance of all who believe. And it is good beyond imagination!