Fully Human, Fully Saved

  • November 7, 2017
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  • Jon Polk

Scripture: Hebrews 2.14-15
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

This week and next, Jon Polk is taking us on a deep dive through the book of Hebrews. Check out the first one if you missed it. I’m looking forward to this journey. — John

Reflection: Fully Human, Fully Saved
By Jon Polk

For most believers of the Christian faith, accepting the divinity of Jesus is a given. This one who is called the Christ, the Son of God, is the fullest representation of the character and being of God. Jesus is fully divine.

But what are we to make of Jesus’ humanity? This is often where we struggle. How can Jesus be both fully divine and fully human?

When we read the gospels, we find that at times…

Jesus became hungry.

Jesus was thirsty.

Jesus became tired.

Jesus was sleepy.

The scriptures tell us that Jesus was born, he grew physically, he died, and he had a human body after the resurrection.

Was this all absolutely necessary?

Given the number of eye-witnesses to Jesus’ earthly life, it may seem odd that one of the earliest heresies to plague the early Christian church was Docetism, the belief that Jesus’ physical body was merely an illusion, that he was actually pure spirit and only appeared to have a human body. John addresses this issue in his letters, stating first that “those who acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh” are from God and second, that “those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh are deceivers.”

In the case of Jesus, neither fully divine nor fully human was sufficient on its own. This is one of the great mysteries of the incarnation. Why did God, through his Son, come to earth in human flesh?

He did so for our very salvation.

It was not the angels in the heavenly realms that Jesus set out to rescue, but flesh and blood human beings who were held in slavery by the great deceiver. Jesus became fully human so that he could serve as our high priest to not only administer the atoning sacrifice for our sins, but also to become that sacrifice himself.

For a God who only appeared to be human, could only appear to have saved us. But our God, who became fully human, did so in order that he might fully save us. And therefore, we should not ignore so great a salvation, because we recognize that we are fully indebted to him.

The Request for Presence
Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; shout for joy, all who are true of heart. — Psalm 32.12

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Full prayer available online and in print.

Today’s Readings
2 Kings 20 (Listen – 3:39)
Hebrews 2 (Listen – 2:47)

Solus Christus

  • November 6, 2017
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  • Jon Polk

Scripture: Hebrews 1.1-2a
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son….

I am excited for the next two weeks as Jon Polk takes us on a deep dive through the book of Hebrews starting with this expansion of its beautiful opening passage. Hebrews is rich ground and I’m looking forward to what Jon has for us. — John

Reflection: Solus Christus
By Jon Polk

Abraham, by faith, left his home and set off with his family on a journey to an unknown promised land, but he was not called the Son of God.

The deliverer, Moses, by the power of God, led the children of Israel out of captivity in Egypt and became their spiritual leader. He was used by God to reveal the law and the commandments, yet he was not called the Son of God.

The great king, David, indeed, the greatest of all the kings of Israel, was known as a man after God’s own heart, but he was not called the Son of God.

Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah, Joel, Hosea and all the other prophets were the very mouthpiece of God, proclaiming truth to the people of Israel, yet not one of them was called the Son of God.

There is only one through whom God created the universe.

There is only one who is the radiance and majesty of God’s glory.

Only one who upholds all things by his mighty, powerful word.

Only one who, through his sacrifice, provided cleansing for sin.

And only one who sits at the right hand of God in heaven.

This is the one who is called the Son of God. The one through whom God has spoken to us in these final days. He is God’s Final Word.

God spoke through the Son in the same way God spoke through the prophets. The message was clear, significant and punctuated by illustrations of power. However, with Jesus, the difference was that his message was ultimate, final and complete.

Jesus, the Son of God, the Christ, the Messiah, the Liberating King, is the exact representation of God’s being. In Jesus, we see the fullness of God’s character. There has never been and will never be a clearer portrait of God than the person of Jesus himself.

If you want to know the nature of God, if you want to witness the work of God, if you want to understand the love and compassion of God, look no further than Jesus the Christ.

For nothing can ever replace Jesus, nothing can ever exceed Jesus, and nothing is ever needed in addition to Jesus.

Jesus alone is the Son of God.

The Request for Presence
You are the star of the morn

You are the day newly born

You are the light of our night

You are the Savior by your might

— by David Adam

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Full prayer available online and in print.

Today’s Readings
2 Kings 19 (Listen – 6:11)
Hebrews 1 (Listen – 2:15)

Already, Not Yet :: Weekend Reading List

  • May 6, 2016
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  • Park Forum

Around the turn of the twentieth century Princeton Theology professor Geerhardus Vos referred to the Kingdom of God as both “already” and “not yet.” He was highly criticized in his day because his theological vision stood in contrast to his contemporaries’ desire to focus solely on the future hope found in Scripture. Vos’ words clarified the tension between the present, active, and tangible nature of living as a Christian and the hope, completion, and perfection that are to come.

If Christianity were just about the not yet, there would be no need to grow in faith, no need to engage in culture, no need for faith to move to action now. The Christian life would be best lived in anticipation of future glory, and in separation from the “secular world.”

On the other side, if Christianity were just about the already, it would quickly become another tool, among many, to live a fulfilling, satisfying life. In this case, Christianity would become no better than self-help, no more demanding than what is required for comfort and no more transcendent that the general culture’s aspirations and desires.

When we balance the already and not yet aspects of the Kingdom in practice we form a robust, and life-giving faith that can address the current condition without losing focus on the fullness of God’s work yet to come. George Eldon Ladd captured this beautifully in his book Gospel of the Kingdom:

Love is that gift of the spirit, above all others, which will characterize our perfected fellowship in the age to come. This love we now enjoy, and the church on earth will be a colony of heaven, enjoying in advance the life of the age to come.

Faith that is focused on the here and now demands our hearts are shaped to be more like God. It’s from this wellspring that every good and perfect deed flows into contact with a broken world. And the part of our faith that focused on the yet-to-come gives us a hope beyond what this world can offer and draws us closer as we anticipate the return of Christ.

Weekend Reading List

Today’s Reading
Isaiah 3-4 (Listen – 4:34)
Hebrews 11 (Listen – 6:22)

This Weekend’s Readings
Isaiah 5 (Listen – 4:48) Hebrews 12 (Listen – 4:36)
Isaiah 6 (Listen – 2:24) Hebrews 13 (Listen – 3:31)

The Meaning of the Ascension :: Throwback Thursday

  • May 5, 2016
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  • Park Forum

By Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)

A reflection for Ascension Day 2016:

While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. — Luke 24.51

Jesus will come again. Our Lord is doing the best thing for his kingdom in going away. It is clear that he has not quit the fight, nor deserted the field of battle. It was in the highest degree expedient that he should go, and that we should each one receive the Spirit. He has not taken his heart from us, nor his care from us, nor his interest from us: he is bound up heart and soul with his people.

The scriptures tell us—and this is a reason why we should get to our work—that he is coming in the same manner as he departed: “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” [What does this mean?]

Do not let anybody spiritualize away all this from you. Jesus is coming as a matter of fact, therefore go down to your sphere of service. Give of your wealth and don’t talk about it. Consecrate your daily life to the glory of God. Live wholly for your Redeemer.

Jesus is not coming in a sort of mythical, misty, hazy way, he is literally and actually coming, and he will literally and actually call upon you to give an account of your stewardship. Therefore, now, today, literally not symbolically, personally and not by proxy, go out through that portion of the world which you can reach, and preach the gospel to every creature according as you have opportunity.

Be ready to meet your coming Lord. What is the way to be ready to meet Jesus? If it is the same Jesus that went away from us who is coming, then let us be doing what he was doing before he went away.

Don’t stand gazing up into heaven, but wait upon the Lord in prayer, and you will receive the Spirit of God, and you will proclaim, “Believe and live.” Then when he comes he will say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord.” So may his grace enable us to do. Amen.

*Abridged and language updated from Spurgeon’s sermon The Ascension and the Second Advent Practically Considered.

Today’s Reading
Isaiah 2 (Listen – 3:00)
Hebrews 10 (Listen – 5:33)

 

Christ, Offered Up to Heaven

  • May 4, 2016
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  • Park Forum

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come… he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. — Hebrews 9.11–12

Tomorrow Christians around the world will celebrate the Day of Ascension. “While he blessed them,” records the gospel of Luke, “he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.” The Greek word translated carried up is the same word used throughout the New Testament for offering. In other words, Christ was offered up to Heaven—the spiritual posture of the savior became physical reality in his final moments on earth.

The language of offering ties directly into the symbolism presented by the author of Hebrews. Christ is the fulfillment of the old system. Yet if he brought that system to its end, what can we learn from the New Testament’s continual use the language of high priest, temple, and law? N.T. Wright explains:

This puzzle, very close to Paul’s frequent question as to why God gave the Law, is often answered in terms of religious development: people in earlier days thought they needed animal sacrifices, but we’ve grown out of such things. That’s not the New Testament answer.

The Temple was given as a true signpost; there was nothing wrong with it. But the signpost isn’t the reality, and if people are mistaking the one for the other the time may come to chop the signpost down.

A person draws near to Christ, Dr. Wright explains, “Not because you’re climbing a ladder of spiritual advancement, but because you’ve grasped the truth at the heart of Jesus’ ministry: Jesus has come to offer, and accomplish, the reality to which the Temple points but which it cannot ultimately deliver.”

Hebrews teaches that Christ is seated at the right hand of God—he offered himself to the father to bless his Church by interceding on their behalf. The only way we can reject this blessing, N.T. Wright concludes, is by trying to create our own sacrifice, temple, and high priest:

We don’t go in for killing bulls and goats, but do we show evidence of the reality to which their blood was supposed to point? Or have we substituted a new regime of ‘dead works’ which impede, rather than facilitate, our worship of the living God?

Today’s Reading
Isaiah 1 (Listen – 4:36)
Hebrews 9 (Listen – 4:40)