Affirmations - Sermon Iv: Belief In God The Son, Savior, Lord Of Life Series

INTRODUCTION TO AFFIRMATIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

As time marches on and the aging process begins to cast a shadow on my short-term memory, my mind seems sharper now than ever regarding long-term memory. It is interesting to me that, at 85 years of age, I am still recalling interpretations of Christian beliefs that have been hallmarks of my ministry for three score and more years.

After all, I have sat under the preaching, on a right regular basis, of no fewer than a dozen inimitable pastors with whom I was associated in my role as Church Consultant, Christian Educator and Community Counselor. In my associations, and during those years of Christian service, each of my pastors involved me in the ministries of preaching and teaching the Word.

Living in the latter days of my life on this earth, with the 21st century well under way, I find myself “up against it” regarding a lot that I read today, and hear, about endeavors by more than a few Christian ministers to re-define basic Christian doctrines – beliefs that, for me, were and still are “pillars” upon which to build one’s Christian life.

In our world of instant communication, we pick up on much negativism as to the validity of our Christian Faith - for instance, the brazenness with which professing Christians embrace ways other than Jesus Christ for being saved – even by folks who know that Jesus proved what He said: “I am the way, the truth and the life . . . No one comes to the Father except by me.”

An illustration of how some folks are thinking occurred at one of my favorite places for fellowship with friends - The Waffle House: One morning while sitting at one end of the coffee shop, I and everyone else could hear a guy at the other end waxing eloquent about religious issues. Although I for the most part had tuned him out, my ears perked up when he started talking about how one goes to heaven. Don’t know how the subject came up, but what I heard this guy say was: “All people of all religions will go to heaven if they’re good.”

Now folks, I’m in favor of everyone being good; and I’m in favor of everyone going to heaven; but it doesn’t matter what I am in favor of, or what the Waffle House customer’s view was; the fact is that the Bible tells us who will and will not go to heaven; and nowhere in the Bible does it say that “all people from all religions will go to heaven if they are good.”

Later in this series, I share my understanding of a Christian view of “how to go to heaven”. The “who and how” of receiving, by grace through faith, God’s gift of eternal life ought to be a major objective of all Christian preaching and teaching.

Pursuing an evangelistic objective, however, in no way diminishes but enhances the importance of affirming and acting upon all other major Christian doctrines – the necessity of which motivated me to reaffirm my Christian beliefs.

There were basically ten tenets which I felt the need to reexamine and work through in my own mind until I could say, “This I believe.”

Yes, reflected in my statements of belief are numerous interpretations and perspectives gained from a lifetime of intensive Bible study, as well as listening with an attentive ear to good teachers and preachers, not to mention all the research done through the years in preparation for teaching teachers – probably the most rewarding aspect of my ministry. Amen.

AFFIRMATIONS – SERMON IV: BELIEF IN GOD THE SON, SAVIOR, LORD OF LIFE

Granted, there is much about Christian doctrine that I cannot explain due to a lack of understanding on my part; it is at the point of admitting my inability to grasp certain teachings fundamental to Christianity that my faith “kicks in”. The incarnation of Jesus Christ is one of those doctrines.

How God could - or why He would - become flesh, I do not fully comprehend; yet, the Bible says so. A seminary professor of mine years ago told our class that Jesus, for all practical purposes, was “God with skin on.”

To believe God manifested himself in human form was important to me - for me to accept the gospel song writer’s assertion found in the title of his composition - “God Understands.” My belief in the concept of “God with me” and, therefore, “God understands” has been my source of COMFORT in times of sorrow as well as my HOPE in times of uncertainty.

Every Sunday school child is taught that Jesus grew in the same ways that all children grow. The second chapter of the gospel according to Luke has been of no small significance to me in my role as a Christian teacher: