A Statement of Christian Faith – (14) born of Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit, He became one of us, sharing our life and our death.

This is a Church of Scotland statement of faith. The commentary which follows is my own.

—–

We believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is love. We praise God the Father; who created the universe and keeps it in being. He has made us his sons and daughters to share his joy, living together in justice and peace, caring for the world and for each other.

We proclaim Jesus Christ, God the Son:
born of Mary,
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
He became one of us,
sharing our life and our death.
he made known God’s compassion and mercy,
giving hope and declaring forgiveness of sin,
offering healing and wholeness to all.
By His death on the cross and by His resurrection,
He has triumphed over evil.
Jesus is Lord of life and of all creation.

We trust God the Holy Spirit:
who unites us to Christ
and gives life to the church;
who brings us to repentance
and assures us of forgiveness.
The Spirit guides us
in our understanding of the Bible,
renews us in the sacraments,
and calls us to serve God in the world.

We rejoice in the gift of eternal life:
we have sure and certain hope of
resurrection through Christ,
and we look for His coming again
to judge the world.
Then all things will be made new;
and creation will rejoice
in worshipping the Father,
through the Son,
in the power of the Spirit,
One God, blessed for ever.
Amen.

—–

Born of Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit, He became one of us, sharing our life and our death (John 3:16; Luke 2:10-11; Galatians 2:20; Luke 1:30-35; Luke 1:37-38; Luke 1:35; Luke 1:46-50; Luke 2:13-14, 20; 2 Corinthians 9:15).

John 3:16

The Gospel is for the whole world. the story of the shepherds tells us that the Gospel is for the Jews. The story of the wise men tells us that the Gospel is for the Gentiles.

The story of the shepherds tells us that the Gospel is for the poor. The story of the wise men tells us that the Gospel is for the rich.

To every one, God says, “I bring you Good News of a great joy … “ (Luke 2:10-11).

Luke 1:30-35

The baby was to be called Jesus – Saviour (Luke 1:31). He was to be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35).

Jesus Christ is both God’s Son and our Saviour. If we are to have a true understanding of both who Christ is and what He has done for us, we must never forget these are the great features: He is God’s Son and He is our Saviour.

the Apostle Paul sums this up very well – “the Son of God loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Luke 1:37-38

When worldly, unbelieving people read the words of the angel in Luke 1:35, they become uncomfortable. They are not too keen on all this talk about the holy Spirit.

We are to respond in faith to the Word of God, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives the miracle of the new birth,

As we remember Christ’s miraculous and holy birth, we are saying to God, “For with God nothing is impossible.”

As we consider what God wants to do in our lives, here and now, we are saying to God, “Let it be to me according to Your Word.”

Luke 1:46-50; Luke 2:13-14; Luke 2:20

When we consider the miracle of Christ’s holy birth, our hearts are to be filled with praise to God, sharing in Mary’s song of joy: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour” (Luke 1:46-47).

We are to praise God, echoing the song of the angels: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:14).

We are to join with the shepherds in “glorifying and praising God for all that we have heard” concerning our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

From our hearts, we can truly say with the Apostle Paul: “Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

A Statement of Christian Faith – (13) born of Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit, He became one of us, sharing our life and our death.

This is a Church of Scotland statement of faith. The commentary which follows is my own.

—–

We believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is love. We praise God the Father; who created the universe and keeps it in being. He has made us his sons and daughters to share his joy, living together in justice and peace, caring for the world and for each other.

We proclaim Jesus Christ, God the Son:
born of Mary,
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
He became one of us,
sharing our life and our death.
he made known God’s compassion and mercy,
giving hope and declaring forgiveness of sin,
offering healing and wholeness to all.
By His death on the cross and by His resurrection,
He has triumphed over evil.
Jesus is Lord of life and of all creation.

We trust God the Holy Spirit:
who unites us to Christ
and gives life to the church;
who brings us to repentance
and assures us of forgiveness.
The Spirit guides us
in our understanding of the Bible,
renews us in the sacraments,
and calls us to serve God in the world.

We rejoice in the gift of eternal life:
we have sure and certain hope of
resurrection through Christ,
and we look for His coming again
to judge the world.
Then all things will be made new;
and creation will rejoice
in worshipping the Father,
through the Son,
in the power of the Spirit,
One God, blessed for ever.
Amen.

—–

Born of Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit, He became one of us, sharing our life and our death (Isaiah 9:6-7; 61:1-3; 52:13-53:12).

If we are to come to a true understanding of the story of Jesus Christ, we must not begin by opening our Bibles at the beginning of the New Testament – Matthew 1:1.

We must go back into the Old Testament. We must seek to understand what the prophets said, as they looked forward to the coming of Jesus Christ, the saviour.

We must also point out that a true understanding of the story of Jesus Christ will not leave us in the first two chapters of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. We need to move beyond the story of Jesus’ birth at Bethlehem, led on to a deeper understanding of all that Jesus came to do for us.

From Bethlehem, then, we look back to learn from the prophets and we look forward to learn from the rest of the New Testament story.

With great prophetic insight, Isaiah spoke of the coming Christ. He speaks of Christ’s birth, ministry, death and resurrection. From Isaiah, we learn of who Jesus was, what He did and what was done to Him.

When we come to Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the birth of Christ (9:6-7), we may well come with the question, “Who was Jesus?”

When we come to study the life of a historical character, we ask our questions in the past tense: Who was Julius Caesar? Who was William Shakespeare? Who was Robert Burns?

When, however, we learn more about Jesus, we discover that He is more than a figure from the past. He is the risen Christ. He is the living Lord.

As we learn of Jesus’ mighty resurrection from the dead, we come to think of Him in a different way. he is different from other characters from the past.

We no longer ask the question, “Who was Jesus?” We ask, “Who is Jesus?

In Isaiah 9:6, we have a tremendous description of Jesus Christ – “His Name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

If, after reading this amazing description of Jesus Christ, we are still tempted to think of Him as no more than a figure from the past, we must go on to read the first few words of verse 7 – “Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end.”

Jesus Christ is alive today. he is with us now. He wants to draw out, from our hearts, the confession of faith, “My Lord and my God.” He wants to give us the peace which comes from knowing that our sins have been forgiven. He wants to give us the hope which comes from receiving the gift of eternal life. He wants to be our Friend, leading us ever more deeply into a closer friendship with Him.

What will be your response to Jesus Christ? He stands among us, calling for the response of faith?

As we look to the words of Isaiah 61:1-3, words which Jesus Himself used to describe His ministry, we discover that the Lord Jesus Christ, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, began His ministry with a profound awareness of the power of the Holy Spirit in His life: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me” (v. 1).

When we ask the question, “What did Jesus do while He was on earth?”, we find a helpful summary in these verses. Without looking at each phrase in detail, we might draw special attention to these phrases: Jesus came “to bring good tidings”, “to give … the oil of gladness” and “the mantle of praise” (vs. 1, 3).

This is the message which was brought by the angels to the shepherds on the night of Christ’s birth: “I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2: 10-11).

This is the message which Jesus brought to men and women during His earthly ministry. this is the message which He brings to us today.

Have you received the Good News of Christ? Have you learned to rejoice in the Lord? Are you learning to praise the Lord?

Let the Good News of Christ lead you to praise Him with joy, giving thanks to God for Jesus, your Saviour and Lord.

There’s a Christmas song which contains the words. “Man will live forevermore because of Christmas Day.”

If, however, we are to have a true understanding of the way to eternal life, we must move beyond Christmas Day to Good Friday and easter Sunday, and we must move on from there to the day concerning which the hymnwriter speaks, ” O happy day! that fixed my choice on Thee, my Saviour and my God! O happy day! O happy day! when Jesus washed my sins away.”

The Gospel speaks not only of the Babe of Bethlehem. It speaks also of the Christ of Calvary and the risen lord.

When the Gospel speaks of Christ’s death and resurrection, it does not suggest that these events carry with them an automatic guarantee of eternal life.

The Gospel draws our attention to the Christ who was “crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men”, after which He was raised from the dead by God (Acts 2:23-24). The Gospel does not, however, tell us only about what was done to Jesus – He was crucified by men and raised by God.

It also sets before us the question: What will you do to Jesus? Will you receive Him? Or will you reject Him?

“Joy to the world; the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing.”

“O come to my heart, Lord Jesus! There is room in my heart for Thee.”

Is there room in you heart for Jesus?

A Statement of Christian Faith – (12) We proclaim Jesus Christ, God the Son.

This is a Church of Scotland statement of faith. The commentary which follows is my own.

—–

We believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is love. We praise God the Father; who created the universe and keeps it in being. He has made us his sons and daughters to share his joy, living together in justice and peace, caring for the world and for each other.

We proclaim Jesus Christ, God the Son:
born of Mary,
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
He became one of us,
sharing our life and our death.
he made known God’s compassion and mercy,
giving hope and declaring forgiveness of sin,
offering healing and wholeness to all.
By His death on the cross and by His resurrection,
He has triumphed over evil.
Jesus is Lord of life and of all creation.

We trust God the Holy Spirit:
who unites us to Christ
and gives life to the church;
who brings us to repentance
and assures us of forgiveness.
The Spirit guides us
in our understanding of the Bible,
renews us in the sacraments,
and calls us to serve God in the world.

We rejoice in the gift of eternal life:
we have sure and certain hope of
resurrection through Christ,
and we look for His coming again
to judge the world.
Then all things will be made new;
and creation will rejoice
in worshipping the Father,
through the Son,
in the power of the Spirit,
One God, blessed for ever.
Amen.

—–

We proclaim Jesus Christ, God the Son (John 1:19-51).

The story of Jesus Christ begins with the word, “In the beginning” (John 1:1).

The Old Testament prophets paved the way for Jesus Christ. They spoke of His coming.

According to John 1:45, Jesus Christ is “Him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote.”

When we come into the New Testament, we find that the first preacher is not Jesus the Saviour. It is John the Baptist.

John was the forerunner of Christ. he was the last in a long list of men sent from God to prepare the way of the Lord. John was not the Son of God. He was the Lord’s messenger, pointing his hearers to the Son of God. John was not the Lamb of God. He was the preacher who directed attention to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

In the opening chapter of John’s Gospel, we read much about John the Baptist, but our main focus of attention is to be on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God who became the Lamb of God.

In this chapter, Jesus is described as both “the Son of God” and “the Lamb of God” (vs. 34, 49 / vs. 29, 36).

This is the story of Jesus Christ. The Son of God became the Lamb of God.

The story of Jesus Christ takes us from Bethlehem to Calvary. It tells us the story of how the Son of God became the Lamb of God.

Coming in faith to Jesus Christ, we acknowledge Him to be both the Son of God and the Lamb of God.

As we come to Christ, confessing Him as God’s Son and trusting Him as our Saviour, we receive the gift of the holy Spirit (v.33).

Christ gives the Holy Spirit to all who trust Him. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to confess Christ before men and to live as His witnesses.

We can learn a great deal about what the Holy Spirit seeks to do in our lives, as we look at four of the first followers of Jesus,

(1) John the Baptist (v. 36)

(2) Andrew (v. 41)

(3) Peter (v. 42)

(4) Nathaniel (v. 51).

First, in our witnessing for Christ, we are to point people to the Saviour of sinners.

Second, we are to give our personal testimony – “We have found the Messiah.” He has fulfilled the meaning and purpose of our lives.

Third, we are to give the testimony of transformed lives, lives which are founded on Christ, the Rock of our salvation.

Fourth, we are to live and speak as a people of hope, looking to Christ who is our Hope of glory.

As we approach the Lord’s Table, let us ponder all that Christ is – the Son of God, the Lamb of God, the Coming King. Let us ponder the cradle, the cross and the crown, and let our hearts go out to Him in praise and worship.

A Statement of Christian Faith – (11) We proclaim Jesus Christ, God the Son.

This is a Church of Scotland statement of faith. The commentary which follows is my own.

—–

We believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is love. We praise God the Father; who created the universe and keeps it in being. He has made us his sons and daughters to share his joy, living together in justice and peace, caring for the world and for each other.

We proclaim Jesus Christ, God the Son:
born of Mary,
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
He became one of us,
sharing our life and our death.
he made known God’s compassion and mercy,
giving hope and declaring forgiveness of sin,
offering healing and wholeness to all.
By His death on the cross and by His resurrection,
He has triumphed over evil.
Jesus is Lord of life and of all creation.

We trust God the Holy Spirit:
who unites us to Christ
and gives life to the church;
who brings us to repentance
and assures us of forgiveness.
The Spirit guides us
in our understanding of the Bible,
renews us in the sacraments,
and calls us to serve God in the world.

We rejoice in the gift of eternal life:
we have sure and certain hope of
resurrection through Christ,
and we look for His coming again
to judge the world.
Then all things will be made new;
and creation will rejoice
in worshipping the Father,
through the Son,
in the power of the Spirit,
One God, blessed for ever.
Amen.

—–

We proclaim Jesus Christ, God the Son (Matthew 10:32-33; 16:15-17; Romans 10:8-17).

There was a time when you stood before this congregation to make confession of your faith in Jesus Christ.

I wonder what the story of your life has been since that time. Has it been a story of confessing Christ with ever-increasing boldness, or has it been a story of denying Christ, as you have drifted away from Him?

Whatever the past may have been, the future can be a new future, a future renewed by Christ, a future of confessing Christ as your Saviour and Lord.

Some of you made confession of your faith when you brought your children for baptism. At that time, you confessed your faith in God as your Heavenly Father, in Jesus Christ as your Saviour and lord, and in the Holy Spirit as your Sanctifier.

You promised, in dependence on divine grace, to teach your children the truths and duties of the Christian Faith. You promised that, by prayer, precept and example, you would bring your children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and in the ways of the Church of God.

Do you now renew the faith you confessed and the promises you made at the time of your children’s baptism?

May the Lord bless you and your children and give you grace to be faithful in your fulfilment of these promises.

Some of you made confession of your faith when you were baptized as an adult. At that time, you confessed your faith in God as your Heavenly Father, in Jesus Christ as your Saviour and your Lord, and in the Holy Spirit as your Sanctifier. You repented of your sins with a humble and contrite heart. You put your trust in the mercy of God, which is in Jesus Christ. You promised to make diligent use of the means of grace – worshipping regularly, reading God’s Word faithfully, praying faithfully. You promised to be a faithful member of the Church of God, giving a fitting proportion of your time, talents and money for the Church’s work in the world. You promised, depending on the grace of God, to confess Christ before men, to serve Him in your daily wotk, and to walk in His ways all the days of your life.

Do you now renew renew the faith which you confessed and the promises you made at the time of your baptism?

May the Lord bless you and keep you in the faith of Christ crucified. May you be Christ’s faithful soldier and servant until your life’s end.

Some of you made a public confession of faith in Christ when you were admitted to full Church membership. At that time, you confessed your faith in God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. You avcknowledged Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord. You promised, in dependence on divine grace, to serve the Lord and to walk in His ways all the days of your life. You promised to make diligent use of the means of grace – speaking to God in prayer and allowing Him to speak to you through His Word. You promised to share dutifully in the worship and service of the Church. You promised to give of your substance, as the lord prospered you, for the advancement of His Kingdom throughout the world.

Do you now renew the faith which you confessed and the promises which you made when you were admitted to full Church membership?

May the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory, confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless at the day of our Lord.

As we, the congregation, have heard your confession, we are saying to you: This is not only your faith. It is also our faith. It is the faith.

The confession of our faith is one element of what happens when we gather together to celebrate the Lord’s Supper: “For as often as you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).

In the Lord’s Supper, we confess our faith in Christ by recalling that He is the foundation of our faith.

The faith, which we confess, involves two things:

First, there is believing the truths of the Christian Faith, as they are taught in God’s Word.

Second, there is practising the duties of the Christian Faith.

Together, we confess our faith and renew our vows.

First, we will confess our faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed. After this, we will, together, renew our vows to the Lord.

(1) The Apostles’ Creed

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth:

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord:

Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,

Born of the Virgin Mary:

Suffered under Pontius Pilate,

Was crucified, dead, and buried:

He descended into hell;

The third day he rose again from the dead:

He ascended into heaven,

And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty:

From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost:

The holy Catholic (universal) Church;

The Communion of Saints:

The Forgiveness of sins:

The Resurrection of the body,

And the Life everlasting.

Amen.

(2) Let us offer ourselves anew to Almighty God. let us recall and renew the vows and promises we have each made as members of Christ’s Church.

We believe in one God / Father, Son and Holy Spirit /

We confess Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord /

We promise to worship regularly / with our fellow Christians / on the Lord’s Day/

We promise to be faithful / in reading the Bible and in prayer /

We promise to give a fitting proportion / of our time / talents / and money / for the Church’s work in the world /

We promise / depending on the grace of God / to confess Christ before men / to serve Him in our daily work / and to walk in His ways all the days of our life.

These things we have each vowed and promised. Let us acknowledge before God our failure asstewards of his grace, asking that He will forgive what we have been, change what we are, and direct what we shall be.

Let us all pray:

Lord, we believe in You / Increase our faith / Renew our hope / Help us to live in lilove / through Jesus Christ our Lord / Amen.

Having confessed our faith in Christ and renewed our commitment to Christ, let us now come, in faith and obedience, to Him, as we come to His Table.

A Statement of Christian Faith – (10) He has made us His sons and daughters to share His joy, living together in justice and peace, caring for His world and for each other.

This is a Church of Scotland statement of faith. The commentary which follows is my own.

—–

We believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is love. We praise God the Father; who created the universe and keeps it in being. He has made us his sons and daughters to share his joy, living together in justice and peace, caring for the world and for each other.

We proclaim Jesus Christ, God the Son:
born of Mary,
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
He became one of us,
sharing our life and our death.
he made known God’s compassion and mercy,
giving hope and declaring forgiveness of sin,
offering healing and wholeness to all.
By His death on the cross and by His resurrection,
He has triumphed over evil.
Jesus is Lord of life and of all creation.

We trust God the Holy Spirit:
who unites us to Christ
and gives life to the church;
who brings us to repentance
and assures us of forgiveness.
The Spirit guides us
in our understanding of the Bible,
renews us in the sacraments,
and calls us to serve God in the world.

We rejoice in the gift of eternal life:
we have sure and certain hope of
resurrection through Christ,
and we look for His coming again
to judge the world.
Then all things will be made new;
and creation will rejoice
in worshipping the Father,
through the Son,
in the power of the Spirit,
One God, blessed for ever.
Amen.

—–

He has made us His sons and daughters to share His joy, living together in justice and peace, caring for the world and for each other (John 1:14-18; 2 Corinthians 3:4-6, 15-18; 1 Peter 1:3-9).

Through receiving Jesus Christ in faith, we become God’s children. we are no longer merely God’s creatures. We have entered into a new relationship with God. He is our Father. We are His children. Through becoming God’s children, we come to enjoy His joy and peace. If our experience of this joy and peace is to be an ever-deepening experience, we must turn our attention, again and again, to Jesus Christ.

As we look to Christ, we ask three questions.

* Who is Jesus Christ?

* What does He give to us?

* How do we receive His blessings?

1) Who is Jesus Christ?

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1).

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

Jesus Christ is described as “the Word.”

What do we use words for? We use words to communicate with one another. We use words to speak to one another.

What does it mean to say, “Jesus Christ is the Word”? It means this – God is speaking to us.

God is communicating Himself to us. He is not a God who keeps His silence. In Jesus Christ, God speaks to us. He introduces Himself to us as the God who is “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

If we are to get to know God, we must come to Him by way of Jesus Christ (John 1:18).

Jesus is the Way to God the Father. He is the true and living Way. Through Christ, we are brought to a true knowledge of God and a living experience of God.

(2) What does He give to us?

“And from His fullness have we all received, grace upon grace” (John 1:16).

“Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).

In grace, God pours blessings into our lives. They are blessings which we don’t deserve.

How does He do this? He brings Gospel truth to our attention. He speaks to us the Gospel promises, inviting us to come and receive the Saviour and the blessings which come with Him.

The Lord’s blessings are very precious.

Think of the joy which He gives to us. Think of the peace which He brings into our lives.

We rejoice in God’s gifts. More than that, however, we rejoice in the Giver.

“My goal is God Himself, not joy, nor peace, nor even blessing, but Himself, my God.”

There is no true joy apart from the lord Jesus. He is our joy. He is our peace. We do not rest in our feelings. We trust in the Lord. He is the real reason for our rejoicing. Without Him, we have nothing. Without him, we live defeated lives. The joy is not there. The peace is not there.

Why? – Because Jesus is not there.

When Jesus is in our lives, everything has changed. Our circumstances may remain the same. Scripture speaks about the “various trials” we must face (1 Peter 1:6). Through Christ, we are able to face these trials with joy – a joy that is not superficial, a joy which is deeply and securely grounded in the peace which comes from knowing that the Lord Himself is there with us, no matter how difficult life may be.

The joy which the Lord gives is described as “unutterable and exalted joy” or “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).

The joy and the peace of the Lord becomes ours when the glory of the Lord breaks through into our lives.

“Heaven came down and glory filled my soul when, at the Cross, the Saviour made me whole. My sins were washed away and my night was turned to day. Heaven came down and glory filled my soul.”

(3) How do we receive His blessings?

We receive His blessings by receiving Him.

The Lord Himself is among us. He is speaking to us through His Word. His Spirit is bringing Christ to us. The Lord is giving us a glimpse of His glory. Jesus stands among us as the risen Lord. He invites us to begin a new life with Him.

Jesus comes to us with the Gospel. He comes to us with Good News. That’s what the word, “Gospel”, means – Good News!

A little girl was asked if she had ever received Good News. She said that she received Good News when she received the “Yes” replies to the birthday party invitations she had sent to her friends.

This little girl’s answer tells us something very precious about the Lord’s love for us.

We receive joy when we come to Jesus: !”If I come to Jesus, He will make me glad.” There is, however, another joy. It is the joy which we bring to the Lord when we come to Jesus: “there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). We come to Jesus and we receive the joy of the Lord. We come to Jesus, and we bring joy to the heart of the Lord.

Christ asks us, “Do you want to receive joy?” He also asks us, “Do you want to bring joy to the heart of God?”

We may answer the first question selfishly, concerned only with what we can get out of Christ. The second question challenges us to seek God’s glory rather that simply seeking our own pleasure.

“What is the chief end of man?” – “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. ” Notice the order – first, God’s glory and, then, our joy.

The hymn, “Amazing grace”, contains a fine combination of receiving from the Lord and giving glory to Him – “I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see … singing God’s praise.” These words provide us an echo of the words of Luke 18:43, where we read of a blind man receiving his sight, following Jesus and praising God.

Have you received God’s salvation? Have you begun to glorify God?

Having received God’s salvation, having begun to glorify God, let us go on to follow Jesus, “living together in justice and peace, caring for the world and for each other.

A Statement of Christian Faith – (9) He has made us His sons and daughters to share His joy, living together in justice and peace, caring for His world and for each other.

This is a Church of Scotland statement of faith. The commentary which follows is my own.

—–

We believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is love. We praise God the Father; who created the universe and keeps it in being. He has made us his sons and daughters to share his joy, living together in justice and peace, caring for the world and for each other.

We proclaim Jesus Christ, God the Son:
born of Mary,
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
He became one of us,
sharing our life and our death.
he made known God’s compassion and mercy,
giving hope and declaring forgiveness of sin,
offering healing and wholeness to all.
By His death on the cross and by His resurrection,
He has triumphed over evil.
Jesus is Lord of life and of all creation.

We trust God the Holy Spirit:
who unites us to Christ
and gives life to the church;
who brings us to repentance
and assures us of forgiveness.
The Spirit guides us
in our understanding of the Bible,
renews us in the sacraments,
and calls us to serve God in the world.

We rejoice in the gift of eternal life:
we have sure and certain hope of
resurrection through Christ,
and we look for His coming again
to judge the world.
Then all things will be made new;
and creation will rejoice
in worshipping the Father,
through the Son,
in the power of the Spirit,
One God, blessed for ever.
Amen.

—–

He has made us His sons and daughters to share His joy, living together in justice and peace, caring for the world and for each other (Philippians 4:4-7, 10-13; 1 John 5:1-5; 3:1-3).

Joy and peace are elusive qualities. We seek for them, but we don’t find them. Why do we find it so difficult to discover joy and peace? Is it not because we see them as human qualities rather than God’s gifts?

Within ourselves, we look for joy and peace, but they are not there.

What we must learn is this: If we are to discover joy and peace, we must look away from ourselves to the Lord jesus Christ.

When we find Christ, we also find joy and peace.

“O Christ, in Thee my soul hath found, and found in Thee alone, the peace, the joy I sought so long, the bliss till now unknown. Now none but Christ can satisfy, none other name for me. There’s love and life and lasting joy, Lord Jesus, found in Thee.”

This is what must be emphasized. Joy and peace are gifts of God, received through faith in Jesus Christ.

Through Jesus Christ, God has given us the privilege of being His sons and daughters. We do not take it upon ourselves to call ourselves God’s children. God, in love, calls us His children: “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called God’s children” (1 John 3:1).

Through faith in Jesus Christ, we become God’s children: “Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God” (1 John 5:1).

What is the joy and peace which we receive through faith in the Lord Jesus?

- It is joy in the Lord (Philippians 4:4).

- It is the peace of God (Philippians 4:7).

When the Apostle Paul calls us to rejoice. he does not say, “Pull yourself together.” He says, “Rejoice in the Lord.”

The Lord is the Source of true joy. Joy is the Lord’s gift to those who put their trust in Him.

It has been pointed out that there is an important difference between joy and happiness. Happiness depends on what happens. Joy depends on the Lord.

Happiness comes and goes, as our circumstances change. Our feelings go up and down, as we go from happy times to sad times.

What about true joy, the joy of the Lord?

It does not depend on changing circumstances. It depends only on the Lord whose love for us is unchanged, unchanging and unchangeable.

To know that we are loved with a love which will not let us go – this is the source of true joy.

To know that we are loved with an everlasting love – this is our basis for rejoicing in the Lord.

Whatever may happen to us, we can say, with gladness of heart, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”

Such joy is so different from the fleeting pleasures of this world:

“Fading is the worldling’s pleasure, all his boasted pomp and show; solid joys and lasting treasure, none but Zion’s children know.”

The contrast between life without Christ and life with Christ is well expressed in the words of the hymn: “All my life long I had panted for a draught from some cool spring, that I hoped would quench the burning of the thirst I felt within. Hallelujah! I have found Him, whom my soul so long has craved! Jesus satisfies my longings. Through His blood I now am saved.”

In the testimony of the believer, there is a striking contrast between the emptiness of life without the Lord Jesus and the joy of knowing Him as Saviour.

“Feeding on the huska around me , till my strength was almost gone, longed my soul for something better, only still to hunger on. Poor I was, and sought for riches, something that would satisfy, but the dust I gathered round me only mocked my soul’s sad cry.”

This is an apt description of life without Christ. It is a life of emptiness, a life which does not satisfy.

Those who have found the Saviour rejoice in a better life, a fuller life, a life of joy and peace.

“Well of water, ever springing, Bread of life so rich and free, untold wealth that never faileth, my Redeemer is to me. Hallelujah! I have found Him, whom my soul so long has craved! Jesus satisfies my longings. Through His blood I now am saved.”

From the beginning of the life of faith, we are to go on, trusting the Lord and enjoying His joy and peace. Jesus says to us, “Come to Me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

He speaks these words to us at the beginning of our new life in Him. He continues to offer us His peace, as we walk with Him day-by-day.

Paul says to us, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank Him for all His answers. If you do this you will experience God’s peace” (Philippians 4:6-7).

If we are to grow in our experience of Christ’s joy and peace, we must practise the words of the children’s chorus: “Read your Bible, pray every day, and you’ll grow, grow, grow.”

However much we may grow in our experience of Christ’s joy and peace, we must never lose sight of our heavenly hope.

We look forward to enjoying the joy and peace of the Lord in a richer, deeper and greater fuullness than we can ever know here on earth: “we are God’s children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be … when He appears we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

We are not there yet, but we are on the way. With our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, we will be led in the way of joy and peace.

In Jesus Christ, we rejoice. In Jesus Christ, we have peace.

Let us rejoice in Him. Let us rest in His peace.

Rejoicing in Him and resting in His peace, we will be changed by Him. We will learn more of what it means to live together in justice and peace, caring for His world and for each other.

A Statement of Christian Faith – (8) We praise God the Father: who created the universe and keeps it in being.

This is a Church of Scotland statement of faith. The commentary which follows is my own.

—–

We believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is love. We praise God the Father; who created the universe and keeps it in being. He has made us his sons and daughters to share his joy, living together in justice and peace, caring for the world and for each other.

We proclaim Jesus Christ, God the Son:
born of Mary,
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
He became one of us,
sharing our life and our death.
he made known God’s compassion and mercy,
giving hope and declaring forgiveness of sin,
offering healing and wholeness to all.
By His death on the cross and by His resurrection,
He has triumphed over evil.
Jesus is Lord of life and of all creation.

We trust God the Holy Spirit:
who unites us to Christ
and gives life to the church;
who brings us to repentance
and assures us of forgiveness.
The Spirit guides us
in our understanding of the Bible,
renews us in the sacraments,
and calls us to serve God in the world.

We rejoice in the gift of eternal life:
we have sure and certain hope of
resurrection through Christ,
and we look for His coming again
to judge the world.
Then all things will be made new;
and creation will rejoice
in worshipping the Father,
through the Son,
in the power of the Spirit,
One God, blessed for ever.
Amen.

—–

We praise God the Father: who created the universe and keeps it in being (John 1:1-13).

The Bible begins with the words, “In the beginning, God”. The Gospel of John begins with the words, “In the beginning was the Word.”

At the very beginning, there is Jesus Christ (John 1:1-3). He was there at the very beginning. He did not suddenly appear at the beginning of the New Testament.

It should not surprise us that we find Jesus in the pages of the Old Testament. From the very beginning, He is there.

“In the beginning was the Word.” Before Isaiah and Jeremiah, before David and moses, before Abraham and Noah, before Adam and Eve, there is Jesus Christ.

It’s no wonder we find glimpses of the Lord Jesus throughout the Old Testament. Jesus was there before the Scriptures even began to be written (John 1:1-3).

What has the Lord Jesus been doing since the very beginning? – “In Him w3as life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4).

Jesus has been constantly at work in the hearts of men and women, calling them out of their spiritualdarkness and into His marvellous light, out of spiritual death and into eternal life.

How has Jesus Christ, the eternal Word of God, been speaking to men and women from the very beginning? He has been speaking to us through the created world (Psalm 19:1-4).

Those who get a taste of the Lord soon find that they get hungry for more of Him.

Once, we start to become aware of God the Creator, we long to know Him more fully, not only as Creator but also as Saviour.

To know His saving power in our lives, we must turn not only to the world created by God but also to the Word inspired by Him (Psalm 19:7-10).

How does the Lord speak to us through His Word? – “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through Him” (John 1:6-7). there is great benefit in reading the Scriptures day-by-day in our own homes. There is, however, also a special ministry of preaching and teaching which the Lord has appointed and anointed so that men and women hear the Gospel, be led in the light of God’s Word and be strengthened in faith. We should seek always to take advantage of every opportunity of hearing God’s Word preached.

The purpose of the preacher is not to exalt himself. It is to preach Christ – “He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light” (John 1:8). Jesus Christ is described as “the true light that enlightens every man” (John 1:9). From the very beginning, He has been calling men and women to come to the light. This ministry of bringing men and women to the light has become much more clearly defined with the coming of Jesus into the world as a Man.

He now stands before men and women, presenting them with a choice: Will you choose light or do you prefer to remain in the darkness?

If you have come to Christ and are seeking to be an effective witness for Him, ask Him to lead you to those who have become aware of God the Creator and are now ready to be brought to Christ the Saviour.

Pray that God will give you the opportunity to bring others to hear the Gospel that they might find the Saviour.

A Statement of Christian Faith – (7) We praise God the Father: who created the universe and keeps it in being.

This is a Church of Scotland statement of faith. The commentary which follows is my own.

—–

We believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is love. We praise God the Father; who created the universe and keeps it in being. He has made us his sons and daughters to share his joy, living together in justice and peace, caring for the world and for each other.

We proclaim Jesus Christ, God the Son:
born of Mary,
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
He became one of us,
sharing our life and our death.
he made known God’s compassion and mercy,
giving hope and declaring forgiveness of sin,
offering healing and wholeness to all.
By His death on the cross and by His resurrection,
He has triumphed over evil.
Jesus is Lord of life and of all creation.

We trust God the Holy Spirit:
who unites us to Christ
and gives life to the church;
who brings us to repentance
and assures us of forgiveness.
The Spirit guides us
in our understanding of the Bible,
renews us in the sacraments,
and calls us to serve God in the world.

We rejoice in the gift of eternal life:
we have sure and certain hope of
resurrection through Christ,
and we look for His coming again
to judge the world.
Then all things will be made new;
and creation will rejoice
in worshipping the Father,
through the Son,
in the power of the Spirit,
One God, blessed for ever.
Amen.

—–

We praise God the Father: who created the universe and keeps it in being (Genesis 1:1-4a, 26-27, 31a).

There is a profound depth and startling simplicity about the opening chapter of the Bible.

The great philosophers have found that they are out of their depth in Genesis 1.

Nevertheless, a little child can sing in simple faith: “God who made the earth, the air, the sky, the sea, who gave the light its birth, careth for me.”

Simple, childlike faith is of vital importance if we are to appreciate what the Lord is saying to us through the Bible’s first chapter.

Many, who regard themselves as great scholars, miss the whole point of the Bible, because they come to God’s Word with a critical sopirit, arrogantly dismissing those parts of Scripture which are not to their liking.

The way of childlike faith is scorned by those who portray themselves as the great intellectuals. They do not hesitate to disregard the teaching of the Scriptures and turn away from the God whom the Scriptures proclaim.

If we are to be truly wise, we must pay careful attention to the first four words of the Bible: “In the beginning, God”

This is the starting-point for understanding the Bible.

It is also the starting-point for understanding the meaning and purpose of our life on this earth.

It is no accident that God is the subject of the first sentence of the Bible.

The word, “God“, dominates the whole of this first chapter of the Bible.

The word, “God” catches our eye at every point as we glance over the Bible’s first pages.

First and foremost, Genesis 1 is about God. Essentially, the Bible is a Book about God.

If you read the Bible for any other reason than this: to learn about God, you are missing the point of the Scriptures.

We do not have the right to treat the Bible with contempt, as though it was a thing of little value.

As those who have been created by God, we must bow before His Word and receive its teaching.

When we read the Bible, we must open our minds to receive the instruction of God’s Word.

We must give our wills to the doing of God’s will.

We must allow our emotions to be grasped by the God of power and love, the god who created us in His own image that we might learn to know Him, love Him and serve Him.

As we allow the Word of God to instruct our minds, control our wills and fire our emotions, we will learn to see our whole life in relation to God.

When we ask the question, “Why am I here on this earth?”, we must go back to the prior question, “Who put me on this earth?”

Here, the first four words of the Bible must dominate our thinking: “In the beginning, God”.

Reading on from that first verse, we will discover that the God of the Bible is the God of power and the God of love.

From the Scriptures, we learn that God’s power is a loving power and His love is a powerful love.

The power of God and the love of God belong together.

It is in the light of God’s loving power and powerful love that we discover the meaning and purpose of our life.

God, in His power and love, has created us that we might to learn to live as His people, seeking to serve as His purpose of love.

God’s purpose of love is truly amazing.

When you consider the sinfulness of your own heart and the sinfulness of our world, it would be easy to imagine that God would give up on us as a lost cause. God has not given up on us. The Cross of Jesus Christ makes it perfectly clear that God loves us with a truly wonderful love.

If we ever doubt the reality of God’s love for us, the Word of God brings us back to the Cross of Christ.

When we think of God the Creator, we must allow our thoughts to turn also to Jesus Christ, our Saviour.

Here are some thought-provoking words from Helen Steiner Rice: “How wonderful to contemplate and to know that it is true that He who planned the universe gave us our Saviour too.”

We began by stressing that the words, “In the beginning, God” provide us with a starting-point for understanding the meaning and purpose of our life on this earth.

It must now be emphasized that the beginning of Genesis is only the beginning of the Bible’s answer to the question of life’s meaning and purpose.

From the Creation, we must move on to the Cross. From the Garden of Eden, we must move on to the Garden of Gethsemane.

In the Garden of Eden, we learn of our creation in God’s image. We also learn of mour fall from God, because of sin. It is only as we move on to thje Garden of Gethsemane that we really come to see the full extent of God’s love for us.

The Garden of Eden leaves us with a sense of our sin. The Garden of Gethsemane brings us to an awareness of our Saviour.

It is great to know of God’s activity in creating, sustaining and directing the universe. It is an even greater blessing to know that you are a new creation in Christ and that you are being kept for and directed towards a heavenly destiny which is far greater than anything you will ever know in this earthly life.

How wonderful it is to know that the “God who made the earth” is also the “God who sent His Son to die on Calvary.”

May God grant that each of us may know Him as our Saviour as well as our Creator. Knowing Him as both your Creator and our Saviour, you will know the true meaning and purpose of your life.

A Statement of Christian Faith – (6) We praise God the Father.

This is a Church of Scotland statement of faith. The commentary which follows is my own.

—–

We believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is love. We praise God the Father; who created the universe and keeps it in being. He has made us his sons and daughters to share his joy, living together in justice and peace, caring for the world and for each other.

We proclaim Jesus Christ, God the Son:
born of Mary,
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
He became one of us,
sharing our life and our death.
he made known God’s compassion and mercy,
giving hope and declaring forgiveness of sin,
offering healing and wholeness to all.
By His death on the cross and by His resurrection,
He has triumphed over evil.
Jesus is Lord of life and of all creation.

We trust God the Holy Spirit:
who unites us to Christ
and gives life to the church;
who brings us to repentance
and assures us of forgiveness.
The Spirit guides us
in our understanding of the Bible,
renews us in the sacraments,
and calls us to serve God in the world.

We rejoice in the gift of eternal life:
we have sure and certain hope of
resurrection through Christ,
and we look for His coming again
to judge the world.
Then all things will be made new;
and creation will rejoice
in worshipping the Father,
through the Son,
in the power of the Spirit,
One God, blessed for ever.
Amen.

—–

We praise God the Father (John 1:1-13).

We focus our attention on verses 11-13, where we learn how to become a child of God and what it means to be a child of God.

It’s often pointed out that our world is very different from the world into which Jesus was born. We must, however, ask the question, “Is it really that different?” We can point to many differences. We must also recognize that there is a sense in which the world hasn’t really changed all that much since Jesus’ time.

We’re told, in verse 11, that Jesus didn’t get a very warm reception when he came to this world. He didn’t receive a hero’s welcome. He didn’t get the red carpet put out for Him. He wasn’t honoured as a VIP – a Very Important Person.

“He came to His own people, and His own people received Him not.”

His reception was no civic reception, no big occasion for invited guests only. It was a non-reception. They did not receive Him.

Jesus was born into the nation of Israel. He came as the Saviour of Israel. The nation of Israel did not welcome Him. They had no time for Him.

Is this not very similar to the situation in today’s world?

Jesus, the Saviour of the world, calls people to come to Him. They do not come. He pleads with them. They refuse to come to Him.

Down through the centuries of time, in many different lands, the story repeats itself; “He came to His own home, and His own people received Him not” (v. 11).

This is not, however, the whole story. In Israel, Jesus called people to follow Him. Down through the centuries, in many different lands, Jesus has continued to draw men and women to Himself.

The people of God may not be great in number, compared with the vast numbers who turn their backs on the Lord Jesus Christ.

We do not, however, lose heart. We rejoice in God the Father, who, in love, has brought us into His family as His sons and daughters.

As we consider two things – how to become a child of God and what it means to be a child of God, we may find it helpful to draw a comparison with the commitment of marriage and the relationship of marriage.

For some of us, marriage has not been a joyful commitment. It has not been a happy relationship.

It must be stressed that our relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ is the source of true joy and happiness.

There is a basic difference between a relationship between two sinners, especially where one partner persistently refuses to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, and the greatest relationship of all – knowing God as our Father and rejoicing in the privilege of being His children.

Looking at the ideal underlying marriage may help us to appreciate more fully how we become God’s children and what it means to be God’s children.

Prior to marriage, the man is a bachelor and the woman is a spinster. After marriage, the man is a husband and the woman is a wife. Marriage is a life-changing experience. You will never be the same again.

Even whwn a marriage fails, the man cannot simply return to being a bachelor and the woman cannot simply return to being a spinster. Through marriage, you become a different person. The bachelor becomes the husband. the spinster becomes the wife.

How does this help us to understand the Christian experience of becoming a child of God?

Before coming in faith to Jesus Christ, God is our Creator and we are His creatures. Once we have come in faith to the Saviour, everything changes. God is now our Father and we are His children.

The moment of coming in faith to the Saviour is a life-changing moment.. It is the moment when the creature of God becomes the child of God. It is the moment in which we come to know God, not only as our Creator but also as our Father.

He is no longer the faraway God. He is no longer the remote, detached and distant God. He is no longer the unknown God.

Now, we know Him. He is our Father. He loves us and He has come near to us in Jesus Christ.

Life can never be the same again, once we have come to know the father, through His Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

The new life which we have begun is eternal life, a life which has no end, a life of praising our Father in time and for eternity.

A marriage begins with a question and an answer: Do you take this woman to be your wife? – I do. Do you take this man to be your husband? – I do.

The Christian life, life as a child of God, begins with a question and an answer: Do you take Jesus Christ as your Saviour? – I do.

Taking Jesus Christ as your Saviouir is a decisive step, a life-changing act.

It is an act, which involves your total personality. It is an act which involves the mind, the will and the emotions.

* With your mind, you believe what the Bible tells you concerning Jesus Christ.

* With you will, you commit yourself to living in the will of God, living as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

* With your emotions, you experience the joy of knowing that God is your Father and that you are His child.

The most appropriate way of describing the experience of receiving Christ and becoming a child of God is this; it is a new birth, a heavenly birth. You are born again, born from above, born of God.

The questions which the Word of God sets before us are these:

* “Do you know God as your loving, heavenly Father?” or “Is there no more than a vague awareness of Him as your Creator?”

* “Have you received the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour? Are you a child of God, rejoicing in the love of God the Father, the grace and mercy of the Saviour and the power of the Holy Spirit?

* If there is any doubt, will you answer with faith now?

A Statement of Christian Faith – (5) We praise God the Father.

This is a Church of Scotland statement of faith. The commentary which follows is my own.

—–

We believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is love. We praise God the Father; who created the universe and keeps it in being. He has made us his sons and daughters to share his joy, living together in justice and peace, caring for the world and for each other.

We proclaim Jesus Christ, God the Son:
born of Mary,
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
He became one of us,
sharing our life and our death.
he made known God’s compassion and mercy,
giving hope and declaring forgiveness of sin,
offering healing and wholeness to all.
By His death on the cross and by His resurrection,
He has triumphed over evil.
Jesus is Lord of life and of all creation.

We trust God the Holy Spirit:
who unites us to Christ
and gives life to the church;
who brings us to repentance
and assures us of forgiveness.
The Spirit guides us
in our understanding of the Bible,
renews us in the sacraments,
and calls us to serve God in the world.

We rejoice in the gift of eternal life:
we have sure and certain hope of
resurrection through Christ,
and we look for His coming again
to judge the world.
Then all things will be made new;
and creation will rejoice
in worshipping the Father,
through the Son,
in the power of the Spirit,
One God, blessed for ever.
Amen.

—–

We praise God the Father (Psalm 103:8-18; John 14:1-11, 25-27)

When we think of God the Father, we think, first of all, of His love – His Fatherly love for us.

We read about this in the Scriptures: “As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him” (Psalm 103:13).

Jesus speaks to us of the Father’s love. With His attention firmly fixed on His Father’s House, in which there are many heavenly mansions, Jesus says to us, “Let not your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1).

Jesus speaks to us of His loving, heavenly Father, so that we might have peace – “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you” (John 14:27).

His peace is not an uneasy peace like the pact of peace which exists between nations who are ready for war – a negotiated agreement not to use weapons of mass destruction.

The peace which Jesus gives is divine peace, the peace of God.

Concerning this peace, Jesus says, “not as the world gives, do I give to you” (John 14:27).

It is only Jesus who can truly say to us, “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27),

No world leader can truly speak these words to our hearts.

When politicians speak of peace, we know very well that the history of our world continues to be a history of nations rising up against nations.

When Jesus speaks of peace, we know that He gives to us a heavenly peace, a peace which does not belong to this passing world, a peace which endures.

Jesus can truly give to us the peace of which he speaks since He alone is the One who fully reveals to us the Father’s heart of love.

When Jesus speaks of the Father, He does not speak only of the love of God. He speaks also of the holiness of God.

In His great prayer in John 17, Jesus addresses the Father in this way: “Holy Father” (v. 11).

In the prayer which He taught His disciples, Jesus placed His first emphasis on the holiness of God the Father: “Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name”.

When we say, “God is love”, we must recognize that He is a special kind of love.

* God is holy love.

When we say that God is holy love, we are saying that His love is characterized by holiness.

- There is no human love which can compare with His love: “Love divine, all loves excelling.”

- His love is greater than anything we could ever imagine: “O perfect love, all human thought transcending.”

* God is wholly love.

When we say that God is wholly love, we are saying that He is fully love.

There is, in God, a wholeness of love, a fullness of love.

If we want to find out what love is, the best place to look for an example of love is God.

How do we look at God?

Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).

If we want to see what God the Father is like, we must look at Jesus.

As we look at Jesus’ life and death, we discover that God the Father is a God whose heart is filled with both holiness and love.

We see this beautiful combination of holiness and love in jesus’ dealings with the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11),

We know how the scribes and Pharisees reacted to the woman caught in adultery.

Their hearts and minds were filled with one thing only: condemnation.

Jesus, on the other hand, responded to the woman with compassion: “Neither do I condemn you” (John 8:11).

This compassion was not mere sentimentalism.

This was compassion without compromise – “Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again” (John 8:110.

- We see, in Jesus’ action, the Father’s heart of holy love.

- We hear, in Jesus’ words, the Father’s voice of holy love.

At the cross, we also see thtis wonderful blending together of the holiness of God and the love of God,

we see jesus bearing the world’s sin. He takes our sin. he receives our penalty. for sins which He had not committed, jesus took the punishment.

When jesus cried out to the Father, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”, He was acknowledging the holiness of God.

If sin was to be forgiven, sin had to be punished. If sinners were to rejoice in the forgiving love of God, the saviour had to bear the pain of being forsaken by His Father, as the divine judgment was pronounced on the sin of the world.

The Cross was, for Jesus, a bitter cup, a deeply painful experience. the pain was not, however, merely physical pain. it was the pain felt by love. Jesus experienced an indescribable depth of pain, precisely because He loved us. He looked at the nails which held Him to the Cross, and He knew that these nails had been put there by the hands of man, the hands of those whom He loved.

Despite His pain, Jesus did not stop loving us. Revealing the Father’s own heart of love towards us, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

As Jesus suffered pain on the Cross. it was not the nails which held Him there. It was love – love for you, love for me, love for every one of us.

Let us never forget Jesus who suffered and died for us. In Jesus, we see God the Father, who is, at one and the same time, the holy Father and the loving Father. As we rejoice in divine love, let us never forget that God is perfectly holy.

It is precisely this holiness which brings home to our hearts two things we must never forget – the seriousness of our sin and the wonder of God’s love, grace and mercy.

At the Cross, we learn of God’s love and so we are bold to approach the holy God with confidence and with a real sense of privilege that God should love us, the sinners who sent His Son to the Cross.