We had a great time at our first Christmas Breakfast Service on 21 December. The Chapel was full and the age-range was wide... a great big thank-you to all helpers and all visitors, especially those visitors from Ardingly - it was great to have you with us and we hope to get to know you better!
Our January theme is: God's Good Plans for the New Year. Come and join us Sundays at 4:30 pm, where we share God's Word, sing songs of worship, pray, and enjoy fellowship after each meeting with tea, coffee, and cakes. We hope to welcome you soon!
If there's anything our church might be able to help you with, please do not hesitate to contact us - we're here to serve and bless Ardingly's people. We wish you all the very best for the New Year. Remember this: God has good plans for you!
Shalom,
Gordon & Veny with Elizabeth and Christine
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
Saturday, 6 December 2008
God became a Human Being: The Birth of the Saviour
It's Christmas time! But certainly, this means different things to different people. For many it means consumerism unlike any time of the year; for others it means nothing whatsoever; yet others believe that this time refers to the most important events in world history as it looks back to the birth of the Son of God, the Saviour of the world. Truly, for believers, it is all 'joy to the world'!
We shall look at the biblical picture given to us by those who knew Jesus in person and reported to later generations of what had taken place and its theological meaning and social implications. If one believes the Bible's reports, this event has nothing to do with all the consumerism we see in many Western countries; it even isn't just about going to church once a year or singing Christmas carols by candle light - however nice that is! The true meaning of Christmas is that God's Son became a human being and was the Saviour of the world. No one can deny that the world we live in is in need of 'salvation' - whatever one may think of how and where salvation is necessary. Be it with global warming or global financial crises, God is still holding His arms of love to a world that has long rejected Him. What Jesus came to accomplish is still valid today - and better yet, it is accessible today! Let's find out more...
God became a Human Being: The Birth of the Saviour
Today we shall compare Matthew's and John's opening chapter to their gospels. While Matthew focuses on the 'family tree' of the Saviour, John gives us a more theological outlook and interpretation of what happened when God's Son was born, that is, when God became a human being. Certainly, to some religions it sounds absurd that God would become human - is this at all possible? The biblical answer is 'yes'! However amazing this may sound, however impossible some may perceive it, almost 2'000 years ago the most remarkable human being walked the earth. Not only Martin Luther King Jr and the like considered Jesus to be the most extraordinary person ever, even imporant figures from other religious beliefs considered Him thus: Mohandas Gandih is but one of them - note that he would have become a Christian if it wasn't for some abuse he had suffered under the terrible apartheid system (segregation).
What Matthew, one of Jesus' own disciples and eyewitnesses, tells us, it that Jesus is firmly rooted in Jewish history as the son of David and son of Abraham (Mt 1:1). This is significant as Jesus is depicted as the Jewish Messiah in fulfilment of prophetic Scriptures, that is, people who through an inspirtation of God were able to accurately predict certain things about the future. Although people had - and still have! - different ideas about 'Messiah,' Matthew tells us why and in what way Jesus was the Messiah (note his emphasis on Jesus being the Messiah, or Christ: 1:16, 17, 18; 2:4).
The most remarkable event in chapter 1 is the birth of 'a child' by a virgin. The conception by God's Spirit is the divine mark on that child; He is more than any other human being born of a women - He is God Himself, manifested in human flesh (Mt 1:18-20). The significance of the name is then pointed out in relation to His purpose: '... you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins' (v 21). Our English word for 'Jesus' comes from the Greek (Iesous), yet its Hebrew original was Yeshua. This is a very powerful name as it means 'Yahweh is salvation.' This salvation, as proclaimed by the angel, was from 'their sins.' In today's society people don't like to speak of 'sin' or 'judgement'; while everyone wants more justice, God's righteousness is being marginalized. Yet, in fact, God's righteousness is the very attribute that will cause more justice in the earth. It is sin that lies at the root of all evil and misery in our world. It's people doing what suits them without taking much - or no - note of others' well-being; it's people rejecting God's divine and just laws, exchanging them for their own, being 'a law unto themselves.' Here lies the problem, and it is here that God steps in to bring a divine and eternal solution. 'He will save His people from theirs sins' - that's the good news!
In John's Gospel we find less of an historical account, but much more a theological one. Jesus is the 'logos,' that is, the Word. The logos concept in Greek thought was a powerful one as it denoted a universal reason by which the world operated. Logos has a wide semantic range, and basically means word, discourse, study, doctrine. Words like biology comes from the Greek words bios (life) and logos: hence, the study of life. Linking jesus with the divine logos was a very powerful way to speak of His divinity, yet when that logos became flesh (Jn 1:14), that was unheard of. The incarnation (i.e., 'becoming flesh') of God is truly remarkable. It speaks of His intimate compassion with humanity; it speaks of His care and love, as He does not leave them in their misery but cares for them; it speaks of His being present among His people, that is, He wants to be part of life, but even more so provide solutions to people's problems. Jesus is 'Immanuel,' that is, 'God with us' (Mt 1:23).
God is not far removed; He is not unknown or unknowable (as some mistakenly claim). Christmas is all about this loving, caring God, who takes part of human life in an intimate way - He became a human being, lived among people, suffered, and, above all, provided an eternal salvation from sin and its terrible consequences (more about that on Easter...) The true meaning of Christmas, therefore, is to celebrate the birth of the Son of God who became a human being in order to be humanity's Saviour. He is within reach for all who call on His name. John states that, although some rejected Him, '... as mans as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God,' that is, 'those who believe in His name' (Jn 1:12). To receive Jesus is to believe in Him; this in turn leads to a relationship with God, peace of heart and mind, and an eternal provision of all we need in this life and in the life to come. Truly, in Jesus God is with us!
May I encourage you this Christmas to consider the true meaning that the Bible provides for us? Jesus is your loving Saviour; He became a human being and can therefore understand your struggle, but, better yet, help you through it! If you need to speak about this, please contact a miniter or Christian you trust, and you are, of course, very welcome to contact us here in Ardingly. Remember the following this Christmas: God loves you, wants to care for you, and above all wants you to become His child by placing your faith in Jesus the Saviour of the world.
Shalom,
Gordon
We shall look at the biblical picture given to us by those who knew Jesus in person and reported to later generations of what had taken place and its theological meaning and social implications. If one believes the Bible's reports, this event has nothing to do with all the consumerism we see in many Western countries; it even isn't just about going to church once a year or singing Christmas carols by candle light - however nice that is! The true meaning of Christmas is that God's Son became a human being and was the Saviour of the world. No one can deny that the world we live in is in need of 'salvation' - whatever one may think of how and where salvation is necessary. Be it with global warming or global financial crises, God is still holding His arms of love to a world that has long rejected Him. What Jesus came to accomplish is still valid today - and better yet, it is accessible today! Let's find out more...
God became a Human Being: The Birth of the Saviour
Today we shall compare Matthew's and John's opening chapter to their gospels. While Matthew focuses on the 'family tree' of the Saviour, John gives us a more theological outlook and interpretation of what happened when God's Son was born, that is, when God became a human being. Certainly, to some religions it sounds absurd that God would become human - is this at all possible? The biblical answer is 'yes'! However amazing this may sound, however impossible some may perceive it, almost 2'000 years ago the most remarkable human being walked the earth. Not only Martin Luther King Jr and the like considered Jesus to be the most extraordinary person ever, even imporant figures from other religious beliefs considered Him thus: Mohandas Gandih is but one of them - note that he would have become a Christian if it wasn't for some abuse he had suffered under the terrible apartheid system (segregation).
What Matthew, one of Jesus' own disciples and eyewitnesses, tells us, it that Jesus is firmly rooted in Jewish history as the son of David and son of Abraham (Mt 1:1). This is significant as Jesus is depicted as the Jewish Messiah in fulfilment of prophetic Scriptures, that is, people who through an inspirtation of God were able to accurately predict certain things about the future. Although people had - and still have! - different ideas about 'Messiah,' Matthew tells us why and in what way Jesus was the Messiah (note his emphasis on Jesus being the Messiah, or Christ: 1:16, 17, 18; 2:4).
The most remarkable event in chapter 1 is the birth of 'a child' by a virgin. The conception by God's Spirit is the divine mark on that child; He is more than any other human being born of a women - He is God Himself, manifested in human flesh (Mt 1:18-20). The significance of the name is then pointed out in relation to His purpose: '... you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins' (v 21). Our English word for 'Jesus' comes from the Greek (Iesous), yet its Hebrew original was Yeshua. This is a very powerful name as it means 'Yahweh is salvation.' This salvation, as proclaimed by the angel, was from 'their sins.' In today's society people don't like to speak of 'sin' or 'judgement'; while everyone wants more justice, God's righteousness is being marginalized. Yet, in fact, God's righteousness is the very attribute that will cause more justice in the earth. It is sin that lies at the root of all evil and misery in our world. It's people doing what suits them without taking much - or no - note of others' well-being; it's people rejecting God's divine and just laws, exchanging them for their own, being 'a law unto themselves.' Here lies the problem, and it is here that God steps in to bring a divine and eternal solution. 'He will save His people from theirs sins' - that's the good news!
In John's Gospel we find less of an historical account, but much more a theological one. Jesus is the 'logos,' that is, the Word. The logos concept in Greek thought was a powerful one as it denoted a universal reason by which the world operated. Logos has a wide semantic range, and basically means word, discourse, study, doctrine. Words like biology comes from the Greek words bios (life) and logos: hence, the study of life. Linking jesus with the divine logos was a very powerful way to speak of His divinity, yet when that logos became flesh (Jn 1:14), that was unheard of. The incarnation (i.e., 'becoming flesh') of God is truly remarkable. It speaks of His intimate compassion with humanity; it speaks of His care and love, as He does not leave them in their misery but cares for them; it speaks of His being present among His people, that is, He wants to be part of life, but even more so provide solutions to people's problems. Jesus is 'Immanuel,' that is, 'God with us' (Mt 1:23).
God is not far removed; He is not unknown or unknowable (as some mistakenly claim). Christmas is all about this loving, caring God, who takes part of human life in an intimate way - He became a human being, lived among people, suffered, and, above all, provided an eternal salvation from sin and its terrible consequences (more about that on Easter...) The true meaning of Christmas, therefore, is to celebrate the birth of the Son of God who became a human being in order to be humanity's Saviour. He is within reach for all who call on His name. John states that, although some rejected Him, '... as mans as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God,' that is, 'those who believe in His name' (Jn 1:12). To receive Jesus is to believe in Him; this in turn leads to a relationship with God, peace of heart and mind, and an eternal provision of all we need in this life and in the life to come. Truly, in Jesus God is with us!
May I encourage you this Christmas to consider the true meaning that the Bible provides for us? Jesus is your loving Saviour; He became a human being and can therefore understand your struggle, but, better yet, help you through it! If you need to speak about this, please contact a miniter or Christian you trust, and you are, of course, very welcome to contact us here in Ardingly. Remember the following this Christmas: God loves you, wants to care for you, and above all wants you to become His child by placing your faith in Jesus the Saviour of the world.
Shalom,
Gordon
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