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 November 4, 2015
Tags: Jesus   

The Work Of Redemption — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

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November 4, 2015

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.” Revelation 21:1-6

“Cities are not just places where people live, but where different kinds of people live together. Interestingly, John sees not several cities but one heavenly city: God envisions human beings living together as one. The city which in the Bible symbolizes God’s promise to his people, Jerusalem, is to become the city of all. The vision would have us perceive a new potentiality within human existence: life becomes truly beautiful, even breathtakingly so, whenever and wherever human beings overcome what divides them and live together as one.

If the harshness of opposition and conflict could make such a vision seem more like fleeting dream than potential reality, we would do well to notice in the vision the downward movement of the city. It does not float off into the heavens. For all its singularity, the city is not otherworldly. Rather it comes down to earth. The heavenly city is an invitation then not to turn our gaze elsewhere but to keep it fixed here. This world, our city, is to be made new. For it to be transformed, we need to look again at those around us. What could possibly inspire us for this? “Look,” John hears a voice saying in verse 3, “God has come to live with humans.” (“A City Beautiful Like No Other,” Commented Bible Passages from Taize, 2013.)

“The heavenly city is an invitation then not to turn our gaze elsewhere but to keep it fixed here.” What a good reminder that we are not expecting a new heaven and new earth somewhere else, but the new earth and the new heaven will come down to us. So the work of redemption is something that happens on this earth. Christ is working to redeem things here – and we are the hands and feet of Christ. We cannot turn a blind eye to the evil and the destruction happening on this earth, but we are to join the fight – we are to join the work of redemption, of changing the misuse and abuse of this earth, creation and all the creatures herein.

There is a true beauty in the world when we see people working together in harmony – together with each other, and together with the creation. And when the new heaven and the new earth come to fruition, it will be a vision that will move all people beyond words. So while we still have the ability to speak this hope, let us join the work of redemption, re-creation, and resolution.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on October 29, 2015
Tags: Authority, Jesus,   

If You Say It, Live It — Rev. David J. Schreffler

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October 29, 2015

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!” Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.” Matthew 7:24-29

“What then is authority? Authority is….something which remains unchanged, which one cannot acquire by understanding the doctrine perfectly. Authority is a specific quality which, coming from elsewhere becomes immediately apparent, when the content of the message or of the action is posited as indifferent.” Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) The Present Age, “For All The Saints” volume II, (p. 972)

Kierkegaard is stating something we all know to be true – when two people say something, and one has authority and one does not, if the message is the same, the one who carries the authority will be heard over the one without. Why? It is simple really, because they carry authority either through their position, their status, or their observed or presumed authority. For example, it two people preach the Gospel, one being a pastor set apart by the church, and the other a lay person, the pastor will be heard as having a more authoritative message – even if the message is the same. But if the pastor is known to be a hypocrite, then this damages his authority.

So why did Jesus carry authority over the Pharisees and the Scribes? Most likely it is because his deeds and his actions matched his words. He tried to live the words which he preached. He lived the life of the servant, serving others, not needing to be served, and the people knew he meant what he said – and thus it gave him authority.

If you live your life recognizing the authority of Jesus’ words and commands, then you will live a life that is built upon the rock of Jesus – and that makes us all wise.

Pastor Dave