Tag Archives: Jesus

G*d’s Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity, Messiah, Savior

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on June 3, 2015
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Mystical Identification — Rev. David J. Schreffler

June 3, 2015

“I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that, if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of G*d, which is the church of the living G*d, the pillars and the bulwark of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion:

He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory” 1 Timothy 3:14-16

“All I know,” Paul would have told you, “is that when Jesus Christ became man, you and I were somehow mystically identified with him. His life, not just by the circumstances of it but by the whole purpose and dedication of it, led up to his death on the cross. And when he died, you and I, mystically identified with him, became dead to our old life of sin and disobedience; we were buried with him, and rose again with him into a new life, in which G*d is our sun and Christ is the air we breathe.” Ronald Knox (1888 – 1957) Pastoral Sermons, “For All The Saints” volume II, (p. 57)

The “Incarnation” and the “Atonement”: Incarnation is the coming of Christ in flesh, truly human, born as a child, truly a human being. The Atonement is the sacrificial act of the Cross, dying for our sins so that we might be saved through him. The Incarnation is easy to understand (maybe) because we have all been born to a mother and lived and grown as a human. But Atonement theories abound — and have abounded since the generations after the resurrection. “Why did Jesus have to die?” If I have heard that question once, I have heard it a thousand times. Christ died because how else will humans be able to make ourselves right with G*d.

Here is one example of an “Atonement Theory” formulated by the medieval theologian Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109):

“Anselm believed that humans could not render to God more than what was due to him. The satisfaction due to God was greater than what all created beings are capable of doing, since they can only do what is already required of them. Therefore, God had to make satisfaction for himself. Yet if this satisfaction was going to avail for humans, it had to be made by a human. Therefore only a being that was both God and man could satisfy God and give him the honor that is due him.”

“All I know,” Paul would have told you, “is that when Jesus Christ became man, you and I were somehow mystically identified with him” says Ronald Knox. What G*d has done for us through Christ is a mystery, but one day it will all be made clear for you and for me. Until then, we trust that what Christ has done does make us right with G*d.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on May 31, 2015
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The Trinity — Rev. David J. Schreffler

May 31, 2015
Holy Trinity Sunday

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” John 1:29 – 34

“Then I saw a most splendid light, and in that light, the whole of which burnt in a most beautiful, shining fire, was the figure of a man of a sapphire color, and that most splendid light poured over the whole of that shining fire, and the shining fire over all the splendid light, and that most splendid light and shining fire over the whole figure of the man, appearing one light in one virtue and power. I heard the living light saying to me: …thou seest this most splendid light, which is without beginning and to whom nothing can be wanting: this means the Father, and in that figure of a man of a sapphire color, without any spot of the imperfection of envy and iniquity is declared the Son, born of the Father, according to the divinity before all time… The whole of which burns in a most beautiful, shining fire, which fire without a touch of any dark mortality shows the Holy Spirit…” Hildegard of Bingen (1098 – 1179) “For All The Saints”, volume IV (p. 35-36)

The Holy Trinity – it is a mystery, much like the vision of Hildegard of Bingen. How does one describe the Holy Trinity to the newest member of the Christian church? This has been debated for years. Ecumenical councils have tried to come up with Creeds to express our understanding and to profess our faith in the Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and yet read the Athanasian Creed and you will come away asking more questions than having received answers.

Yesterday’s devotion was an explanation of the icon that was accepted by the Orthodox church as “a symbolic” representation of the mystery of “who G*d is” in His Revelation. Today, in Christian churches all over the world, we gather to sit in wonder of this divine mystery and to lift up our prayer, praise and thanksgiving for such a wonderful and mysterious G*d.

Pastor Dave