What Matters

Our Resurrection Body (April 2)

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Key Text: When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:54)

Reflection: Somewhere along the way a myth emerged in popular Christianity that when we die our soul escapes our decomposing body and either floats up to heaven or drifts down to hell.  In this view, whichever destination our soul escapes to, we survive beyond death in a disembodied state.  In no way does such belief stand up to biblical scrutiny.  In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul first argues for the historical foundation of Christ’s resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-11), then for the centrality of resurrection to Christian faith and hope (1 Corinthians 15:12-34).  Now he spells out how our resurrection bodies will come about and what they will be like. 

The resurrection of our bodies will be a gift of God (v.38).  God will raise us up.  Our resurrection body will have some continuity with our mortal bodies (v.49), but will be different in the way a plant is different from the seed from which it came (v.36).  Like a seed ‘dies’ so our physical bodies dies, but to be raised in new form – perishable for imperishable, weak and now powerful, natural and now spiritual.  It is important to note that our spiritual bodies will be physical bodies animated by the Spirit of God (God’s resurrection power).  Our resurrection bodies will be like a new set of eternal clothes we put on (vv.53-54).  NT Wright puts it this way, ‘(Our) present body is a body animated by the ordinary human soul, and the future body will be a body animated by God's spirit and hence not corruptible.’

We can only imagine what our new bodies will be like.  This we do know; compared with the physical limitations we encounter now, they will be glorious.

Question: What current physical imitation you currently face are you most looking forward to leaving behind?

Watch: NT Wright speaks about resurrection belief in the early church: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl4nNiVt2n0

Dead men do rise (April 1)

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:12-34

Key Text: If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. (1 Corinthians 15:17)

Reflection: As we best we can determine, the Apostle’s Creed appeared in its earliest form in the mid second century.  Through it the early church sought to concisely re-state biblical Christianity in the light of ongoing confusion and controversy about doctrinal matters, especially relating to the person and work of Jesus Christ.  Then as now there were friends and foes alike who questioned the validity of the resurrection.  After all, dead men don’t rise.

In this passage the Apostle Paul confronts this thinking in the church in Corinth.  Corinth was a city caught up in the emerging cult surrounding the Roman Caesar.    Caesar was thought responsible for salvation amounting to present blessings of safety, health and wealth of what was a very rich city in the empire.  For many in Corinth, salvation was to be celebrated in this life and is associated with the coming of Caesar.  For Paul, salvation is not just celebrated in this life, but the life to come and such salvation only comes through Jesus Christ.  In this, Paul directly links the resurrection of Jesus with the hope we have for our resurrection.  In fact Paul is saying simply and directly, no resurrection – no hope.

Ben Witherington summarizes the Paul’s persuasive argument for the centrality of belief in the physical resurrection for Christian faith.  If Christ has not been raised:

• Paul’s preaching and the Corinthian’s faith are empty, worthless and futile
• Paul is guilty of bearing false witness about what God did
• Christians are still in their sins
• Those who have died as Christians have already perished
• Believers are to be pitied, since faith in Christ has only temporary benefits
• All effort at moral uprightness is pointless
• All of Paul’s work, including risking his life, is pointless.

Let me be clear; when it comes to the resurrection of Jesus we cannot sit on the fence.  Based on the evidence, and by faith we believe it happened, or not.  And according to Paul, only if it did do we have real hope that sustains us in this life and the life to come.

Question: How do you respond to people who suggest that the resurrection of Jesus was not bodily, but in some way spiritual?  Is this an important distinction?

Read: A Resurrection Day sermon from Rev Dr N.T. Wright preached at Durham Cathedral: http://www.ntwrightpage.com/sermons/EasterDay08.htm

Forgiving Grace (March 31)

Read: Luke 5:17-26

Key Text: When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friends, your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 5:20)

Reflection: The sacrificial system of making payment for people’s sins was deeply ingrained in 1^st century Jewish culture.  It was at the centre of religious, political and economic life.  Jerusalem was a city of pilgrimage where tens of thousands of observant Jews would travel for the various feasts, the centre of which was the blood offerings made in the temple.  Forgiveness was God’s alone to offer, mediated by his priests. Little wonder then, the religious leaders were scandalized by the unsolicited offer of forgiveness Jesus makes to the men who bring their friend to Jesus for healing.  The leaders are on firm scriptural ground; ‘I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.’ (Isaiah 43:25) 

For the religious leaders, the blasphemy of Jesus was that he was effectively claiming the power that was God’s forgiveness mandate.  After being challenged, Jesus reinforces his power to forgive by healing the paralyzed man (vv.22-24).  Jesus is demonstrating his divine power to heal and forgive.  Jesus is the means of our forgiveness; his sacrificial death has paid the price for our sins – he is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).  Jesus is the mediator of our forgiveness; he is the great and perfect High Priest, both the spotless lamb who is sacrificed for our sins, and the one making the sacrifice on our behalf (Hebrews 10:1-18). 

Crucified between two criminals, Jesus looked on those gathered at his feet as he gasped for each breath.  He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)  With these words and with his willing embrace of the cross, Jesus demonstrated his power to forgive.  These words are not just for the crucifixion crowd.  They are for us.  The Apostle John says this, ‘If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.’ (1 John 2:8).  All of us, without exception, need forgiveness.  Here is where the Good News kicks in, for ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.’ (1 John 2:9)  Thanks be to God! 

Question: Where do you need to experience the liberation of God’s forgiving grace in your life?  Confess your sin and receive the assurance of restoration (1 John 1:9).

Watch: Mark Driscoll share on the necessity and power of forgiving others: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiG1E7RDtOM

Perfect Atonment (March 30)

Read: Hebrews 10:1-18

Key Text: But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. (Hebrews 10:12)

Reflection: The writer of Hebrews is steeped in the sacrificial worship practices of Israel.  He points out the limitations of Israel’s atonement practices.  Sacrifices are made year after year and yet people keep on sinning, trapped in sin-stained lives (v.2).  The Day of Atonement is Groundhog Day, a grinding reminder to the people of their enslavement to sin (vv.3-4).  Through the lens of Israel’s atonement theology and practice, the writer of Hebrews interprets the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and what it means for a sinful humanity.

• First, his body is the sacrifice made for the people’s sins, not just of a particular year, but for all time  (vv.10,12)
• Second, Jesus substituted his blood for ours, his life for ours.  His death means that we receive life. (Hebrews 9:14)
• Third, Jesus is our great High Priest, the mediator between us and the Father, the one who makes a perfect sacrifice on our behalf (Hebrews 8:1-2)
• Fourth, Jesus our High Priest, having offered his very self as an atoning sacrifice for our sins now sits down at the right hand of God having completed the work the Father sent him to do.  (vv.12-13)

He sits with his enemies under his feet, and will come again to judge the living and the dead. (Revelation 20:1-15)

No longer does the blood of innocent animals need to be sacrificed for our sins, because the once and for all time sacrifice of Jesus’ blood has atoned for the sins of the world.  Accepting what Jesus has done for us means that God will forget our sins and remember them no more (v.17).  In Jesus offering his life for ours, we can move beyond ritual sacrifice to the greater sacrifice of obedience, as by the power of the Holy Spirit, God writes his law on our hearts (vv.15-16). 

Question: Where do you struggle to obey God?  Ask God for Holy Spirit power to do what God requires.

Read: Ephesians 1:3-14

Atonement (March 29)

Read: Leviticus 16

Key Text: “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.”  And it was done, as the LORD commanded Moses. (Leviticus 16:34)

Reflection: Atonement simply means ‘reconciliation between estranged parties, bringing them into agreement.’ (DofB)  We have been estranged from God because of our sin.  God is holy and we are not.  ‘Atonement is God’s way of bridging the gap and giving life.’ (DofB)  Atonement involves sacrifice, substitution, mediation and judgment.

The Day of Atonement was the holiest day in the ancient-Israelite calendar.  The high priest would enter the sanctuary sacrificing a sin offering for himself (v.3) and for the people (v.5).  The sacrificial blood represents the life that was given in place of the one making the offering, or whose behalf the offering is being made.  Sin requires payment with one’s life.  The blood of the animal is substituted for the blood of the sinner.  The atonement sacrifice is a vicarious offering of an innocent life for a guilty life.  On the day of Atonement, the High Priest would make a sacrifice on behalf of the whole nation of Israel.   He was a mediator between God and the people (v.21).  The Day of Atonement was understood to be a day of judgment when God dealt with Israel’s sins.  It was a day of sober self-examination and fasting.  A key part of the ceremony was when the High Priest would release a scapegoat into the wilderness to die, symbolizing that the sin of Israel had been eradicated (vv.21-23).

Atoning sacrifices had the effect of cancelling guilt and cleansing sin.  The broken relationship between a holy God and his sinful people is restored.  Through the atoning sacrifice, God’s wrath is diverted from the sinner to the sacrifice made on their behalf.  Atoning sacrifices were not made to appease an angry God, but a means provided by a Holy God through which the broken relationship between him and his people, caused solely by their sin, is restored.

Question: What is the greatest sacrifice you have made for another person?  What is the greatest sacrifice (apart from Christ’s) that has been made for you?

Read: A Bible Encyclopedia article on the Day of Atonement:

http://www.biblestudytools.com/encyclopedias/isbe/atonement-day-of.html

Creed (Week Five)

The Holy Spirit is a person we experience as a creatively powerful and comforting presence.  Listen in to find out more: Download Creed _ The Church _ Wk 5  Or read the manuscript here: Download Holy Spirit

Total Depravity (March 28)

Read: Romans 1:18-32

Key Text: For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.(Romans 1:21)

Reflection: Sin requires forgiveness if it’s death sentence is to be lifted from us.  Paul paints a bleak picture of the human condition.  He is clear in his belief that every human being has been stained by sin.  ‘There is no one righteous, not even one.’ (Romans 3:10)  ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’ (Romans 3:23)  Sin is the curse we live under.  Sin leads to spiritual death and separation from God.  Our only hope is that God will forgive our wrongdoing and restore us to relationship with him.

In the first chapter of Romans Paul illustrates the awful nature of our predicament.  First, God’s truth has been revealed to all people through Creation.  The Creator’s otherwise invisible qualities have been made visible through all he has made.  Second, we ignored that revealed truth and the God who it speaks of.  Third, instead of worshipping God we have turned to a myriad of idols, or counterfeit gods (religious and otherwise) to whom we offer devotion that rightly belongs to God alone.  In doing so we break the first commandment to have no other gods before Yahweh and confirm the truth that idolatry is the root of all sin.  Fourth, seeing our choice, God gives us over to the full consequences of our sinful desires (v.24), shameful lusts (v.26) and depraved thinking (v.28).  Apart from Christ, we are dead in our sins (Colossians 2:13).  

Our sinful condition has been articulated by the term ‘total depravity’, which says that every person born is enslaved to sin and, apart from the grace of God, is completely unable to choose to follow God or choose to accept salvation as it is offered.  Apart from the grace of God, and the forgiveness of sins that God’s grace makes possible, we are without hope.  This is the bad and awful news that makes the Good News just so good. 

Question: What do you believe is the biggest idol of our age?

Watch: A short video of Rick Warren and John Piper discussing the nature of ‘total depravity’:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_czkQ-3Vo1E&feature=related

Running the Race (March 27)

Read: Hebrews 10:1-12:3

Key Text: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1)

Reflection: Along with ‘holy catholic church, ‘communion of saints’ is perhaps the most contentious statement in the Creed.  For Protestant Christians it suggests the Roman Catholic veneration of saints, including the continuing practice of praying to saints, which is still a major point of divergence between the two traditions.  It was thought that the saints could intercede with God on behalf of the petitioner who prayed to them.  The Protestant Reformer John Calvin directly challenged this widely held belief and practice by insisting that Christ is the sole mediator and intercessor with God on behalf of all people - the world he came to save. If the crucified and ascended Lord is doing this at the right hand of God the Father, what need is there of any other intercession? (Robert Gribben)

In the New Testament, the term saint refers to baptized believers associated with a local congregation (e.g. 2 Corinthians 1:1 – NIV 1984).  (Interestingly, in the most recent NIV translation you will not find the word ‘saint’, other words and phrases are used, like ‘holy people’)  These local ‘saints’ were not noteworthy because of their ‘saintly’ behaviour.  For many this was far from the case!  They were not saints – holy ones – because of anything they had done for Christ, but because of all that Christ has done for them and their participation, or ‘communion’ in his life.  

In Hebrews 11, the writer recalls some of the men and women of faith who have gone before.  Each has a story to tell of fear and failure, tragedy and triumph.  The common theme is the faith they demonstrated despite their frailty.  Their example is held up as an encouragement for us to run our race as they ran theirs – with our eyes fixed on the hope set before us.  Having crossed the finish line, our heavenly brothers and sisters cheer us on until finish our course.  In all this, Jesus is our ultimate example as he persevered up to and past the cross. 

Question: Which person from in your life or from history has most inspired you to run your race of faith?  Why?

Read: An article from Uniting Church theologian Robert Gribben on Protestant attitudes to commemorating saints: http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2010/10/13/3037046.htm

The Unity of the Church (March 26)

Read: Ephesians 4:1-16

Key Text: Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.(Ephesians 4:3)

Reflection: My ecclesiology (theology of the church) is summarized in the following statement - “the Church is one, big, happy and sometimes dysfunctional family”.  The scandal of the historic Church is that far too often we have not lived out our oneness.  Paul forcefully reminds the Ephesians and us that the church is one body, birthed by one Spirit, with one Lord, one hope, one baptism and one Father over and through it all (vv.4-6).  Too often we are not known for our unity, but our disunity.

Paul seems to be saying that unity is both a gift and a goal.  We have received as a gift the dynamic and unified life of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (vv.4-6).  This is a gift we can either treasure or squander.  The fact that so much of the New Testament letters to the early churches address issues of disunity, tells us that this is a gift they often squandered.  Unfortunately we do the same today.  For example, it is estimated there are presently 38,000 separate Christian denominations in the world today, many of them birthed out of schism.  

Unity in the church is also a goal.  Our unity was the subject of the final prayer of Jesus before the events of his arrest and crucifixion (John 17:20-26).  If it was so important for Jesus, for God’s sake, it should be that important to us!  We are to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit (v.3).  We are to use our gifts to serve and build up the church until we reach unity in the faith and become spiritually mature (v.v.12-13).  And always we are to look to Christ who is the head, and who from and through perfect unity, is made possible.

Question: Augustine famously stated about unity in the Church:  ‘In essentials, unity; in non-essential liberty; in all things, charity.  What do you believe are the essentials around which the Church must be unified?

Read and Do: Google ‘Gold Coast Churches’ and pick a view of one of the church websites listed.  Get to know the church a little through the information they detail.  Then pray for them.

The Identity of the Church (March 25)

Read: 1 Peter 2:4-12

Key Text: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)

Reflection: First a confession - this verse contains one of my favorite declarations in the bible.  I love the profound truth it communicates and the defiant way it does so.  Peter is writing to a small church or churches somewhere in Asia-Minor (modern day Turkey).  We don’t know much about them except what we surmise through the themes Peter addresses in his letter.  Amongst other things, it seems Peter’s audience were suffering persecution for their faith (1 Peter 4:12-19).  They were a minority community in a world deeply antagonistic to the Christian faith and so were struggling to maintain their life. It is into this context that Peter reminds them that they are not defined by what others say about, or do to them.  The Church is defined by what God says and does. 

First, the Church is chosen by God.  Just as God graciously chose Israel, God chose men and women, young and old, rich and poor, Jew and gentile and united them under his Lordship to form a radically new community.  (It is important to note that the term ‘catholic’ in the Creed refers to the universality of the Church, not to a particular branch of the Church such as the Roman Catholic Church)  Second, the Church is transformed by God.  We who were once enemies of God are now his friends, serving as priests in the court of King Jesus.  Third, the Church is set apart by and for God.  We live in, but not of this world.  We march to the beat of a different drum.  And fourth, the Church belongs to God.  The Church exists for the glory of God alone.

The Church has been gifted this unique and wonderful identity for a singular purpose; that we might declare the wonder, majesty and glory of God that we have experienced ourselves through Jesus Christ. 

Question: Can you remember the particular vision of Newlife Uniting Church?  Or name any or all of our eight core values?

Read: The Basis of Union of the Uniting Church - especially paragraphs 3 and 4:

http://www.uca.org.au/basisofunion.htm