Be Like Jesus

The New Year is here, it is now, and it is full of possibilities. We enter a new year with resolutions, goals, hopes, and dreams. We target health, wealth, relationships, and academic goals. A problem can be that we hope 2024 can solve all the problems and failures of 2023, so we set a lot of resolutions that can be overwhelming and impossible. It is important to look at the new year as an opportunity for growth, but incremental growth, building toward long term goals in the future. It’s not wrong to have big goals, but we have to understand the work and time that is necessary to achieve that goal. 

I remember this old Gatorade commercial about wanting to “be like Mike.” Every young basketball player from the 1990’s and early 2000’s, myself included, wanted to be like Michael Jordan. It’s a great jingle and makes for a great commercial, but it is not a great goal for most people. Very few have what it takes to become an elite NBA player. However, setting smaller goals that build towards the dream goal can take you further than you might think, even if it’s not to the NBA.

Since it is the beginning of the year, I think it is good to come back to the foundational purpose for gathering as LOFT youth group and build some goals for 2024. LOFT is about Loving God, Caring for Others, and Communicating His Word to the world. Love, Care, and Communicate is the DNA of our church and our group. It’s not because we want to be like Mike, but we want to be like Jesus. 

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus and exhorted them with these words: 

“Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!—assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:17–24).

Paul is clear to say that things need to change. He does not focus on health, wealth, relationships, and academics, he focuses on the spiritual life. He instructs us to put on the new self that mirrors the likeness of God, which means to be more like Jesus. It is clear from his list that there are attitudes and actions that are inconsistent with the faith. We learn this by learning about Jesus Christ. The truth is in Jesus.

So let’s back up into Luke 2 to consider the life of Jesus, how he grew, and why he came, in order set a pattern for us as we consider goals for 2024. 

Luke 2:52

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. 

Little is known about the childhood of Jesus. The biblical account begins with his birth and dedication as a baby, then the wisemen visit while Jesus was under 2 years old, then Jesus in the temple at the age of 12, but then we hear nothing until Jesus is 30 years old. That does not mean what the Bible says about his childhood isn’t important or impactful. Luke 2:52 is an excellent verse to model personal development. 

Jesus increased in wisdom…Be like Jesus in 2024 and seek to grow in wisdom. Set goals for your schoolwork, not to just get it done and get a grade, but to grow in wisdom and understanding of God’s world revealed through academics. Read good books. Talk to wise people. Increase in your wisdom.

Jesus increased in stature…Be like Jesus by growing physically. Take care of your body. Eat healthier, drink more water, get more rest. 

Jesus increased in favor with God…Be like Jesus and grow in your Love for God. Spend time with Jesus by reading his Word. Be committed to church and youth group so you can build deeper relationships with God’s people. Remove things that distract you from growing I your love for God. 

Jesus increased in favor with man…Be like Jesus and Care for others. Look to serve other people and encourage them throughout your day. Be friendly, kind, compassionate, and learn to listen. 

We learn these things from Luke 2:52, but we also learn from Jesus that he came for a purpose:

Luke 4:18–19

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 

Luke 19:10

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

Jesus came to proclaim the good news and to seek and save the lost. Be like Jesus and Communicate his Word to the world. Learn to share your faith in Jesus in practical ways, growing in ways to communicate the love of God in Christ, and set goals to be bold and courageous in speaking about Jesus to others. 

Now that we have refreshed our learning about Christ, we should consider setting SMART goals for this upcoming year. 

How to Set a Goal: What Are SMART Goals? (borrowed from “The Importance of Goal-Setting for Teens” by the Boys and Girls Club of America)

Coming up with a goal is easy, but creating an action plan to reach it can be challenging. SMART goals are a way to write goal statements that include the actual steps that you need to take to achieve the goal.

"SMART" is an acronym to help guide the goal-setting process. (And the good news is people all ages can use SMART goals!)

Goals should be:

• Specific: The goal does not need to be broad – it needs to be specific enough so that teens can focus their efforts and clearly define what they are going to do.

• Measurable: The goal should be measurable. When they can measure a goal, they see changes occur. Youth will also be able to stay on track and have better success.

• Attainable: The goal should be attainable. If they set a goal that is too far out of their reach, then they will not commit to it for long. Attainable goals help develop attitudes, abilities and skills if they are important.

• Realistic: The goal should be realistic. Set the bar high enough for a satisfying achievement. It must require some effort.

• Time-bound: The goal should be achievable in a reasonable amount of time. Short-term goals can be broken down into actions to achieve over a short period of time. Long-term goals can be broken into time-based short-term goals over a longer period.

When thinking of the goal they want to achieve, teens should check that it's a SMART goal, meeting the criteria above. Then, it's time to consider how they will measure the goal and within what time frame.

We have been exhorted by Paul that there are things that need to change in our lives based on what we have learned about Jesus. We unpacked several areas that Jesus demonstrated growth and considered how we might be like Jesus in our daily lives. Having this grid for SMART goals, what goals do you want to set? How can you become more like Jesus in 2024? Setting spiritual goals to be like Jesus not only accomplishes the goal that was set, but it impacts all the other areas of your life and people in your life. If you want a fulfilling and impactful 2024, become more like Jesus. 

Nicene Creed - Resurrection of the Dead and the Afterlife

"We look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and to life in the world to come. Amen." Nicene Creed

Key Text: 1 Corinthians 15:20–28, 37-58

What do you look forward to? Christmas is just a few weeks away. School breaks, summer vacations, career change, buying a new car? So many things can fill our list of what we look forward to. 

What about your view of the future? Death? The afterlife? Do your thoughts about these topics lead to looking forward to what is next? The Nicene Creed (NC) says, “We look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and to life in the world to come. Amen.” The NC does not just arrive at this statement on its own, it has been building toward this statement all along. Each statement of the NC is a brick that joins together for a strong foundation of faith that can say “yes and amen” to what it teaches. These are the building blocks of Christianity and understanding them leads us to trusting God and his plan for the future. 

The NC agrees with 1 Corinthians 15 that we can have confidence in our future resurrection because Jesus rose from the dead. If you believe the teachings about Jesus and his resurrection, then you have hope of your own bodily resurrection. Since Jesus rose again and ascended to heaven, we have this confidence that he will return and bring heaven with him, so that we can be with him for all eternity (John 14:1-3). 

This short blog post cannot hope to cover this topic adequately or enumerate all the passages from the Bible that speak to this issue. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament speak to the future hope believers have in our God making all things new, bringing justice to this world, and establishing his throne forever. Christians have debated what this will look like for two millennia. I have my own persuasion of which view of the end times is the most biblically accurate, but I also view that end times studies should be dealt with deep humility and brotherly love. Therefore, we want to major on the major and let our differences be friendly conversations on another day. 

The Bible teaches us that we will all die (Heb. 9:27) or we will be transformed (1 Cor. 15:51) into resurrected bodies. Believers who die before Christ return will be absent from their body but present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8) anticipating the day they return with Christ to be reunited with their body (1 Cor. 15:52). Those who are alive when Christ returns will be transformed into their glorified bodies.

What is a glorified body? There is a mystery to that answer that we only know in part. Jesus, in his resurrected body, was not immediately known by the disciples, appeared and disappeared, could be touched, and he ate food. Jesus is the “first fruit” of the resurrection, meaning that he set the pattern that we will follow. The resurrected body is human and spirit, earthly and spiritual. Our bodies will be resurrected to be what God intended them to be without the effects of sin. No more sin, no more sorrow, no more pain, no more death, no more separation.

As we like to say in youth group, Life with Jesus starts now and lasts forever. The life after death for the believer is with Jesus, in his presence for all eternity. Our experience with heaven will be a human experience, not some ethereal cloud and harp image. The Bible describes a New City, the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21-22). There will be responsibilities and human interactions. Exact details are not given, but enough for us to know that heaven will be a place where we belong in close proximity with the God we love and serve. 

The resurrection of the dead and the afterlife are good news for the believers, but they also carry a message for those who do not believe. This is from our Lakeside Statement of Faith:

WE BELIEVE in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, the saved unto eternal life and the lost unto eternal damnation

(Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:34, 41, 46; John 3:17-18; Hebrews 9:27).

The Bible describes the day that Jesus will separate the believers from unbelievers for all eternity. Believers will enter into his rest, and unbelievers will be cast into the Lake of Fire. The truth is that the future is a scary thought for those who do not believe in Jesus. It is so important that our studies of the future encourage us to live for Jesus and share Jesus with others. After all, all of eternity is a stake.

Nicene Creed - Baptism

We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

Ephesians 4:4–6

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

The language of the Creeds can be confusing at times. For instance, what does The Apostle’s Creed mean when it states that Jesus “descended into Hell”? Or the “Holy Catholic Church”? These difficulties are present because we are taking an ancient creed, written in a different language, and translating them with words that carried different meanings when originally penned. In our examples so far, the word used for “hell” could easily be translated “grave” or “earth” simply implying that Jesus died and was buried. “Catholic” means “Universal” and not the Roman Catholic Church. 

Keep this in mind as we talk about “one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.” Does baptism save you? If you are reading this sentence outside of its context it would appear that is what it is saying. However, when we understand the context and meaning of words, we can recite the Creed without feeling we are misleading others. 

Baptism is an outward sign of an inward decisions. It is an identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of sins. As John Piper states, “The note I want to strike immediately — the tone and the truth that I want to set first and foremost — is that baptism gets its meaning and its importance from the death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in our place and for our sins, and from his triumph over death in the resurrection that guarantees our new and everlasting life” (What is Baptism? By John Piper). When you understand baptism as a profession of faith and an identification with Jesus, we understand that it is not the act of baptism that saves, but the faith in Jesus that does (Eph. 2:8-10). 

We will discuss briefly how there are different modes of baptism expressed in Christian churches, however I believe that believer’s baptism, or credobaptism, is the most appropriate and biblical mode. 

The Old Testament does include some references regarding ritual cleansings and purifications rites. However, the concept of baptism is mostly silent in the OT. From extra biblical sources, we have learned that ritual baths, mikvahs, came into practice for repentance and purification rites. The dessert community known as the Essenes emphasized the need for purification baths in “living”, or moving, water. This was significant since water was so scarce. It’s not until we see John the Baptist at the Jordan River calling people to repent and be baptized that we see a developed form of baptism like we practice today (Matt. 3). 

It is at the Jordan River that Jesus went to John to be baptized. If baptism was for the forgiveness of sins, then why did Jesus get baptized? Jesus said that he was baptized to “fulfill all righteousness” (Matt. 3:15). Jesus’ words here shape the way we should perceive the act of baptism. Baptism is not repentance. Repentance should precede baptism as one acknowledges their sin and trusts Christ, by faith, to save them from their sins. Baptism is an act of righteousness, an obedient fulfillment of Jesus command. Jesus went down into the water and was immersed in the Jordan. As he came out, the Father declared that he was pleased in his Son, and the Spirit descended like a dove. This is one of the clearest passages where the Trinity is on display. 

Jesus’ example is the first point I would want to make on why believer’s baptism. Secondly, I would refer to Paul’s teaching in Romans 6:1–4:

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Here we see that baptism is a picture of being buried with Christ in his death and raised with Christ in his resurrection. This is best pictured through being immersed under water representing death, and being raised back up out of the water, representing the resurrection of Christ. Paul further argues that baptism is a reminder that we have forsaken sin and have put on Christ, therefore we must continue in pursuing righteousness. 

Here is a brief summary of Believer’s Baptism I wrote for another study. 

What is Believer’s Baptism?

By Believer’s Baptism, we mean that baptism follows belief in Christ. Believer’s Baptism is a visible symbol of God’s saving work within a person. It is an outward sign (immersion) of an inward decision (repentance and belief in Christ). A believer who wants to be baptized at Lakeside Christian Church will be baptized by full immersion into water, reflecting the union with Christ in His death and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-4). 

Believer’s Baptism is a public proclamation of identification with Jesus Christ, a visual reminder of one’s death to self and life in Christ, and it is an initiation into the Body of Christ, The Church. Being a public event, it provides an opportunity for a local church to witness and confirm the genuineness of faith and offers a visual depiction and proclamation of the Gospel to non-Christians in attendance. 

As a visible symbol, Baptism is not a means of salvation, nor is there anything magical or mystical about the water. Salvation is freely offered through faith in Christ alone (Eph. 2:8-9). Baptism is a step of obedience that signifies one’s prior belief in Christ. Because Baptism is not a means of salvation, we do not regard it as a primary concern to divide over when encountering genuine believers who hold to differing interpretations and modes of baptism. 

Who Should be Baptized?

Anyone who wishes to follow Christ, has repented of their sins, trusts in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, and has not already been baptized as a believer, should be baptized.

Baptism is a beautiful picture of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Every time someone is baptized, it is a blessing to all those in attendance. Baptism is about Jesus and his amazing love for his people. 

Nicene Creed - God the Spirit part 1

“And we believe in the Holy Spirit,

      the Lord, the giver of life.”

                - Nicene Creed (325 A.D.)

“Now this is the catholic faith:

That we worship one God in trinity and the trinity in unity,

neither blending their persons nor dividing their essence.

        For the person of the Father is a distinct person,

        the person of the Son is another,

        and that of the Holy Spirit still another.

But the divinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one,

        their glory equal, their majesty coeternal….

Thus the Father is God,

        the Son is God,

        the Holy Spirit is God.

Yet there are not three gods;

        there is but one God.”

– Athanasian Creed (Fifth Century A.D.)

During his earthly ministry, Jesus told his disciples that a Comforter, Counselor, and Guide would be given to them when he departed (John 14:15-21, 16:4-15). After his resurrection, right before he ascended Jesus said the disciples should wait until they received power (Acts 1:8). However, it is not until the day of Pentecost that understanding, and power came to the disciples in the Person of the Holy Spirit:

Acts 2:1–4

[1] When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. [2] And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. [3] And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. [4] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (ESV)

The Christian faith is a unique in its claim to believe in one God (monotheism) who is revealed in three persons (Trinity). Understanding the Trinity is difficult to comprehend with our finite minds, and yet it is this revelation of the nature of God that reminds us that our God is Other, mysterious, and glorious. Throughout church history, much has been said, preached, and written about the Father and the Son, but, in some circles, the Holy Spirit is often overlooked or misunderstood. Even in the development of the Creeds, the earliest creeds mention the Holy Spirit’s existence, but not his divinity. This is why the Nicene Creed develops the understanding that the Holy Spirit is Lord. 

There is much to learn about and seek to understand about the Holy Spirit and his ministry to us. Next week we will look into the relationship the Holy Spirit has with the Father and the Son, this week we are looking at who the Holy Spirit is and his interactions with us. Jesus said, “it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7). Have you ever just thought, “this would be a whole lot better if Jesus was standing right here?” I have. Wouldn’t it be easier to pray if you could see Jesus? Wouldn’t it be easier to trust if he could hold your hand as you walked through difficulties? Wouldn’t be easier to feel forgiven and loved if he were present to embrace you in a secure hug? 

So how could it be to our advantage that Jesus leaves? It is so that the Holy Spirit could come and indwell believers. I can’t say that I fully understand the economies of God and adequately articulate his movements. The Trinity has existed from before time began, but it is only through the progressive revelation of God that we learn of each person and their individual work. In the Old Testament, we see the Father as the primary focus of God’s interaction with his people. In the Gospels, we see Jesus, the Son of God, as the primary person fulfilling the redemptive plan. After the ascension of Jesus, the Church age commenced, and the Holy Spirit becomes the primary agent of the Trinity working directly in and through God’s people. 

The Holy Spirit is God. He is actively working in the Church. And if you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior, the Holy Spirit is actively working in you. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sins, reveals to us our need of a savior, opens our eyes to who Jesus is, and secures our salvation. The Holy Spirit helps us pray and prays for us. The Holy Spirit gives ever believer a gift to be used for God’s glory and the benefit of the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit emboldens us to carry the message of the Gospel to others. The Holy Spirit empowers us to say no to sin and yes to godliness. The Holy Spirit is God and he indwells believers, so he is “Other” and he is near. 

Read more: Gen. 1:2; Ex. 40:38; Num. 11:16-25; Matt. 3:16; Acts 2:1-4; John 4:23-24; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; Rom. 8:9-11; Rom. 8:26-27; John 16:7–15; Acts 1:8

Nicene Creed - Son of God 2

   

  For us and for our salvation

           he came down from heaven;

           he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,

           and was made human.

           He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;

           he suffered and was buried.

           The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.

           He ascended to heaven

           and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

           He will come again with glory

           to judge the living and the dead.

           His kingdom will never end.

                                                            - Nicene Creed

Today’s excerpt from the Nicene Creed focuses on the purpose and passion of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Last week, we learned the backstory to Jesus’ earthly ministry. Jesus is co-eternal and co-substantial with the Father, God of very God, begotten not made. To summarize, Jesus is God. 

This section is about our salvation that has been purchased by the God-man on our behalf. Salvation meaning the forgiveness of sins and reconciliation to the Father by the finished work of Christ. 

This salvation was accomplished through the divine work of the Holy Trinity. The Father sent the son to be the savior of the world (1 John 4:14). The power of the Holy Spirit incarnated the Son of God within the womb of the virgin Mary (Luke 1:35). The Son of God joyfully (Heb. 12:2) obeyed the Father in leaving heaven to redeem mankind (Phil. 2:5-11). This all happened according to Scripture demonstrating fulfilled prophecy (1 Cor. 15:3).

This salvation was accomplished within human history. Mary, a young virgin girl, was faithful and obedient to the will of God (Luke 1:38) who lived during the time of Caesar Augustus (Luke 2:1). The crucifixion of Jesus happened during the reign of Pontius Pilot (Matt. 27:2). Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection happened according to Scripture (1 Cor. 15:4). These points are relevant in demonstrating that Jesus is a real historical person who lived in a specific place, during a specific time, and accomplished these specific things. 

This salvation began the eschatological mission, or the redemptive story of God. Eschatology is the not just the study of future things, but the study of God’s work throughout history. The incarnation of the Son of God was a huge event in the human timeline, which is why our modern calendars are centered on the life of Christ using “BC” and “AD” as descriptors. “AD” has been used to mean “After Death,” but really stands for “Anno Domini,” which is short for “anno Domini nostril Jesu Christi” which is Latin meaning “in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ.” So, “AD” refers to “in the year of our Lord.” “BC,” before Christ, is from the Latin “ante Christum natum/ante Christum” which literally means “before the birth of Christ.” This calendar, established in 525 by Dionysus Exiguus continues to be used today, although there is an attempt to eliminate the use of Christ from the dates by using “CE,” common era, and “BCE,” before common era. The question is, what event separates CE and BCE? Yep, the birth of Christ. 

The resurrection of Jesus is what sets him apart from all other religious influencers. His resurrection demonstrated that he was who he claimed to be, the Son of God, God of very God. His ascension into heaven (Acts 1:9) resulted in the coming of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7) and began his mediatorial work on our behalf (1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 4:14-16). One day he will return to put an end to sin and usher in everlasting joy (Rev. 21).

These few lines of the Nicen Creed pack in so much truth about who Jesus is, what Jesus has done, and what Jesus will do. The question before us is, do you believe it? Do you believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ to overcome sin and provide salvation to those who believe? 

Nicene Creed part 3: Son of God 1

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to take a team of youths and young adults to Slovakia. As an experienced world traveler and an overprotective youth pastor, I was very watchful over my group, especially as we left the airport. Thankfully there was an Ukrainian leader, a fellow believer, who met us and helped us find our way through the airport, on the bus, onto the train, and stayed with us throughout the trip. It was nice having another adult joining us, but I still felt the need to be very vigilant and protective of our group. As the protector, I wanted to be between my team and any potential threat, make sure the stayed in twos, and hover a bit until we were all safe at our destination.

I enjoyed talking with my new Ukrainian friend in our travels, but it wasn’t until we arrived at our destination safely that I felt at ease enough to have a casual conversation with him. You know how you size up people and make an assumption about who they really are, and often apply your own biases in your perception of them? I had made up my mind that this guy was fun and likable. He was helpful, especially with the language barrier and directions. But there was more to him than I could have perceived with my own senses. It was at this moment that he shared that he was the reigning Ukrainian kickboxing champ! 

As that revelation dawned on me, I realized I had been stressing over safety of my team all day in our travels and not knowing that I had a kickboxing champ leading our way. A sense of relief came over me that our safety was not solely on my physical strength and awareness. I had a champion on my side!

As I recount this story, it causes me to consider how we often come up with assumptions about Jesus. Many of us have heard about him since childhood and become overly familiar with terms and titles that they can almost become meaningless to us. As I did with my kickboxing friend, we make up preconceived notions about God and Jesus, which really begins to define him according to our standards. This leads us to a place of stress and anxiety, such as I had in our travels, not realizing that the Champion is with us, and we are carrying a burden that he will happily take for us (Matt. 11:28-30). It was when my friend self-disclosed, revealed, that he was a champion that it brought me peace. The Bible is God’s self-disclosure, revelation, of who he is. Let’s read about Jesus, the Son of God:

Read Colossians 1:15-20; John 1:1-14; Hebrews 1:1-3

There is more to Jesus than we can perceive on our own. It takes his willingness to reveal who he is, through his Word, by his Spirit, for us to understand the truth. Is Jesus the Picture Bible Jesus? Is he the Buddy Jesus? Is he the Hippie Jesus? Is he the Revolutionary Jesus? All these caricatures miss the point. They are developed by our biases and our preconceptions. It is only coming to the Word of God that we will find clarity and truth.

The Nicene Creed draws from Scriptures like we just read to summarize the revelation of who Jesus is: 

And (WE BELIEVE) in one Lord Jesus Christ,

      the only Son of God,

      begotten from the Father before all ages,

           God from God,

           Light from Light,

           true God from true God,

      begotten, not made;

      of the same essence as the Father.

      Through him all things were made.

Jesus, through the incarnation, became human flesh. We may not be able to understand the Trinity or the Incarnation completely, but we can understand a man. When Jesus entered into our space, he imaged the invisible God in a way that we could understand. Unfortunately, some early teachings failed to capture the significance of who he is, and they thought he was just a man. Thankfully the apostles and early church fathers preserved the truth for us in the writings of the New Testament and the early Creeds. 

The Bible reveals that Jesus is God, not a god, not a lesser god, but God of very God. How can this be? He is Co-Substantial with the Father, meaning he is of the same essence as the Father. As Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). This is huge and transformative. It was and is definitely controversial. How many people do you know who are both human and divine? Right! He is the unique Son of God, “begotten not made.” God has other children through adoption of those who believe in Jesus (John 1:12), but Jesus’ relation to the Father is unique. That is what is meant boy “one and only Son” or “only begotten.” It’s referring to his oneness with the Father, and the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus revelation that he is God means he is the Champion we need. Next week we will look at how our Champion delivers us from sin. This week our focus is on the fact that Jesus is God, one with the Father. Jesus created all things “ex nihilo” or “out of nothing!” He is the one who sustains all things and holds them all together. As the Creator, he is over creation and rules creation. As Jesus, the Creator entered into creation with the purpose of bringing the light of salvation and redemption to a lost world. That is grace and mercy personified. 

This revelation means that Jesus is the Champion. He overcame sin, death, and hell. He wants to deliver you and me from the frustrations and bondages of sin. He wants us to have confidence in this life and hope for the next. Like my spirit was lifted when I understood my friend was a champion, our spirits and souls can be lifted by knowing that Jesus is God of very God, and he is our Champion. 

Nicene Creed: God the Father part 2

The ancient roots of the Christian faith reach all the way back to the creation of the world. Christianity is not a religion that just popped up out of nowhere but is the result of Divine revelation and activity to humanity. The Nicene Creed, and the earliest Creeds of the Christian faith, acknowledge God as the Creator and maker of all things. Drawing from the Hebrew Scriptures (Gen. 1; Ps. 19, 95; Jer. 32:17) and from the Apostles teachings (Rom. 1:20; John 1:1-3; Heb. 11:3; Rev. 4:11), the early church fathers identified the importance of recognizing God as our Creator. 

The Bible explicitly states that God created all of creation, both visible and invisible substances. As an ancient book, the Bible was written in a time before modern scientific advancements, and yet it speaks to God’s sovereignty over all of it. Sovereignty is God’s reign and dominion over the created world. It teaches us that God has a purpose and a plan for everyone and everything, there are no accidents with God. 

Modern “science” claims evolution began the natural world apart from a god. The universe, the solar system, the earth, and all living things just happened to exist after a “Big Bang” and millions (now billions) of years. These evolutionary theories are being accepted and taught as fact, yet they cannot be verified or established by the actual scientific method. Evolution removes the need for a god, but it also removes the meaning of life, love, and joy. It strips humanity of dignity and purpose. It is empty and leaves no reasons for existence. If you ask me, it takes more faith to believe in evolution than to believe an all power, all knowing, benevolent God created all things. 

The Cosmological argument for God’s existence declares that everything that exists has a cause, but what was the first cause? Identifying a first cause is not enough, for what caused that? Understanding the definition of God leads to identifying God as the “uncaused cause” or “uncaused first cause.” He is before all things and in him all things hold together. 

The Teleological argument for God’s existence is an argument from design. It states that as you look at the created world you will see intentionality and design in all of creation, leading one to understand that there is a Designer. 

Both of these arguments seek to give reasons for believing in God and are consistent with what God reveals about himself. He was before all things and spoke the world into existence. He had intention and design in his creative work. Ultimately, we see his design in the imago dei as he created humanity in his image (Gen. 1:26). 

Not only did he create man in his image, but he sent his Son to become human in order to save us (1 John 4:14). Colossians 1 teaches us about Jesus role in creation and salvation. God created our bodies and our souls. Jesus took on a human body and sacrificed it to save our souls. This shows that God cares about our physical bodies as well as our souls. When Jesus rose from the dead, he rose bodily. One day, when Jesus returns, the future resurrection will be a bodily resurrection. These teachings demonstrate the goodness of body and soul. Yes, our body and soul has been corrupted by sin (Rom. 3:23; Is. 53:6) but Jesus came to redeem us, both body and soul. Read Psalm 103 and Psalm 139. Reflect on how God views his creation, our formation, and our soul.