Values We Cherish

01

Scripture

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  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God … and the Word became flesh. From the beginning … we have heard … seen … handled … the Word of life. And I saw heaven opened … and His name is called The Word of God” (John 1:1–14; 1 John 1:1; Revelation 19:11–13). Jesus said to the scholars of Scripture: “You search the Scriptures because in them you think you have life, yet it is they who testify of me, yet you are unwilling to come to me in order to have life” (John 5:39–40).

  In his most famous sermon, Jesus declared five times: “You heard that it was said … but I say to you” (Matthew 5:21,27,33,38,43). “But I say.”

  It is Jesus—the Word [logus] of God, who opens the Scriptures to us as he did on the Damascus road with two of his disciples after he rose from the dead: “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Note their response: “Did not our heart burn [i.e. with joy] while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:27–32)

  The Scriptures are central to us because they were central to Jesus, the Apostles and New Testament believers:

  • “The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed’” (Galatians 3:8). This Scripture declares the gospel as something truly wondrous: God will bless all people! See Core Value four.
  • “I declare unto you the gospel … Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures … was buried … rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).
  • “The Scriptures are able to make us wise for salvation” [esp. deliverance from sin—Acts 3:26] (2 Timothy 3:15).
  • “He [Paul], as his custom was … for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures” (Acts 17:2).
  • “These [Bereans] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).
  • “Now a certain Jew named Apollos … an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus … for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 18:24–28).
  • “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
  • “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well” (James 2:8).
  • “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God [or: all Scripture inspired of God … ASV, DRA, WYC, JMT—alt. reading, etc.] is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness [as the Lord opens them to our understanding]” (2 Timothy 3:16).
  • “He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45).
  • “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29, NASB).
  • “Whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4).

02

Jesus Christ

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  Jesus Christ is our Divine Creator and Lord of all humanity

  • “And unto the Son: ‘Your throne, O God, [is] to the age of the age’” (Hebrews 1:8, YLT).
  • “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:48).
  • “All should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father” (John 5:23).
  • “He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers” (Colossians 1:15–16a).
  • “All things were created through Him and for Him, and He is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:16b-17).
  • “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness [NAS note: fullness of deity] should dwell” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
  • “God … has … spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds (ages); who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power … Let all the angels of God worship Him (Hebrews 1:3-6, NIV).
  • “Jesus is in very nature God” (Philippians 2:6, NIV).
  • “His name will be called … Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
  • “Jesus is Immanuel [God with us]” (Isaiah 7:14).
  • “All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:3).
  • “Jesus Christ is the true Light which gives light to every person coming into the world” (John 1:9).
  • “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
  • “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself (John 12:32).
  • I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
  • “Jesus Christ is ‘Lord’” (Philippians 2:11).

  Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Creator of all things and our Savior, is worthy of our sincerest worship. As the Father and Jesus are One, there is no competition between them for our worship. It’s a mystery of our faith.

  • “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30).
  • “[Jesus] To whom every knee will bow … to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9–11).
  • Thomas said to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28) Jesus did not correct him.
  • “And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:58–60).

  The truth that Jesus and the Father are One is precious. We have not seen God but we have seen Jesus. “He who has seen me has seen the Father “(John 14:9). Jesus modeled God’s character. The unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is a oneness we cherish. Why? Because when we see Christ suffering and dying on the cross, we see the Father suffering for the sins of all humanity. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19).

  The reality that our Father suffered in Christ for us all, draws our hearts to Him; it ignites the emotions of love and affection from the depths of our being. That’s why Paul says: “I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” We can’t separate Jesus from His cross. The cross defines the depth of God’s love:

  “By this we know love … He laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16). Jesus’ life and death was and is all about Love.

03

Love

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  “Let us love one another, because love comes from God. Whoever loves is a child of God [i.e. living a life of love] and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. And God showed his love for us by sending his only Son into the world, so that we might have life through him.This is what love is: it is not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the means by which our sins are forgiven” (1 John 4:4–10, GNT).

  Dear friends, if this is how God loved us, then we should love one another. No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in union with us, and his love is made perfect in us … God is Love … We love because God first loved us. If we say we love God, but hate others, we are liars. For we cannot love God, whom we have not seen, if we do not love others, whom we have seen. The command that Christ has given us is this: whoever loves God must love others also (1 John 4:7–21, GNT).

  This is how we know what love is: Christ gave his life for us. We too, then, ought to give our lives for others! If we are rich [have the world’s goods—NAS] and see others in need, yet close our hearts against them, how can we claim that we love God? My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action (1 John 3:16–18, GNT).

04

The Victorious Gospel

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  Note how Peter qualifies the Gospel stated in Galatians 3:8: “You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities” (Acts 3:25–26). This is the Victorious Gospel of Jesus Christ—Good News of God’s blessing on everyone!

  Reflect a moment on what Scripture says about the Apostle Paul: “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). “For he [Paul] is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel’” (Acts 9:15).

  Paul proclaimed the “whole” counsel of God and was sent by Christ as his chosen vessel to bear His name before all people. “Now I [Paul] rejoice in my sufferings for … the church, of which I became a minister according to the divine office which was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now made manifest to his saints” (Colossians 1:24–26, RSV).

  In light of all this, we can trust the angel’s expression of the gospel in Luke 2:10–11 as truly good tidings of great joy which will be to all people as Paul declared to the Galatians in chapter 3 and verse 8.

  For a free PDF book about his promises follow this link: Hope for All!

05

Our Fathers Loving Correction

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  Rewards and losses are at stake, yet all will ultimately be saved (Luke 6:23, 35; 1 Corinthians 3:14–15). Someone sits on His right, another on his left (Matthew 20:23).There are first and last ones (Luke 13:30), great ones and least ones (Matthew 11:11). Some reign with Christ (2 Timothy 2:12), some govern five cities, others ten (Luke 19:17, 19), some sit on thrones governing the tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28), some rule over all He has (Luke 12:43–44), some qualify for the first resurrection and reign with Christ a thousand years (Revelation 20:4–6). Those who neglect the hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, imprisoned are chastened (Matthew 25:46). “His anger if but for a moment … weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).

  The Apostle Paul says it this way: According to the grace of God … “if anyone builds on this foundation [Jesus] with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:10–15).

  Whether the above texts refer to something literal or not is not the point here. Scripture is clear: there are consequences to how we live. Yet … it is crucial to remember that all God’s judgments, ultimately, serve a good purpose. See Anchor 3.

  A correct understanding of our Father’s judgments, as loving correction—whether in this life or the next, establishes and preserves the glorious scope and power of the Victorious Gospel of Jesus Christ.

  Now to help us rest in our Father’s loving correction, we must appreciate the mysterious nature of His ways.

06

Mystery

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  The Scriptures are full of mystery! Look up these words for starters on BibleGateway.com: mystery, mysteries, mature, wise, wisdom, hidden, make known, blinded, reveal and the like and you will be amazed at what you find.

  Paul emphasized this truth in saying: “We know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away … For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known” (1 Corinthians 13:9–12).

  Don’t be surprised when the Scriptures are difficult to understand, especially about judgment: “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord?’” (Romans 11:32–34) Jesus thanked His Father for hiding truth about a particular judgment from the wise and learned; it was good to do so (Matthew 11:24–26). When God conceals truth, He has a good reason: “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (John 16:12). Knowledge, before we are ready for it, will not help us; it may only fill us with pride (1 Corinthians 8:1).

  Learning about and growing in God are both personal and communal experiences; no one has all the truth: “Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, a teaching, a tongue, a revelation, an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification” (1 Corinthians 14:26).

  Much of what we have learned in our faith comes from the Scriptures as Christ opens our understanding of them through other believers—both past and present. When we read a book, hear a sermon, read an article or watch a video, we learn from disciples of Christ through whom He speaks. This is a communal event—though experienced privately. Remember: Jesus is the true light which gives light to every person coming into the world (John 1:9). We learn from one another; even a child can teach us (Matthew 18:1–3).

  There are many things about God and our faith we don’t fully understand—we only know in part (1 Corinthians 13:9–12). That being so, let us humble ourselves, being slow to speak and quick to hear. Let us consider carefully, if perhaps, what others believe on a matter may be closer to the truth than what we have thought.

  If we are to grow in our understanding of God and grow closer to one another, we must learn from the Holy Spirit abiding in all of us (John 14:26; 16:13; 1 John 2:27; 3:24)—we need each other. Only when we grasp this critical truth can we ever hope to experience the oneness of faith Paul talks about and for which Jesus prayed.

07

Unity

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  At the end of Jesus’ time on earth, in his heart-wrenching prayer in the garden of Gethsemane, he asked five times that we would be one (John 17:11, 21a, 21b, 22, 23).

  Why?

  “That the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:21). “That the world may know that You have sent Me” (John 17:23). “By this all will know you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

  Dear brothers and sisters, our oneness is central in our Father’s purpose to reveal Christ to a broken world; it is not optional—it’s our mandate! Paul the Apostle agrees:

  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all (Ephesians 4:1–6).

  On this side of heaven we cannot fully understand or grasp the mysteries of God such as his essence—as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; or how the cross of Christ saves us, the inspiration of the Scriptures, the role of prayer, gifts of the Spirit, miracles, prophecy, etc. Our oneness does not depend on seeing everything eye-to-eye, it means we love and respect each other in our varied perspectives remembering always that we all only know in part.

  People are deeply attached to their beliefs and are easily threatened if parts of their belief system are questioned or challenged. They can easily be discouraged, angered and react emotionally. Matters of faith should never be lightly discussed, especially online where we see so many off-the-cuff remarks which grieve the Holy Spirit. We should leave our comments only after serious thought and prayer, contributing our “partial” perspective gently, with deep respect for other views. Matters of faith are sacred and require love and great humility to discuss.

  “I … beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1–3). “Be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” (Philippians 2:2–3). Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15, NIV).”Be quick to hear, slow to speak (James 1:19, NAS).

  Embracing mystery, in the face of conflicting views, sets the tone for unity—in the sense of realizing that none of us has all the truth—that we need each other. As a matter of principle, it’s best to avoid controversy as much as possible. Pray before approaching any “hot” topic. Be guided by the Holy Spirit. Jesus had many things to tell his disciples, but “they couldn’t bear them then” (John 16:24). Paul minimized controversy by “determining to not know anything ‘among you’ except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). He was all things to all men in order to draw them to Christ (1 Corinthians 9:22). We would do well to follow his example and especially of Christ in serving suffering humanity (Matthew 9:35; 5:16).

  Our oneness in serving hurting people in our world will birth vibrant relationships wherever we are. Let’s join hands and live life to the full—laboring in our neighborhoods, schools, civic groups, organizations, at work, online, anywhere and everywhere helping people in whatever capacity we can—together, empowered in Him.

08

Community

09

Prayer

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  Jesus went about healing every sickness among the people because He cared. “He was moved with compassion for them because they were [distressed and dispirited NAS] like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples,‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord … to send out laborers into His harvest’” (Matthew 9:35–38). Jesus calls us to pray to our Father to send laborers into a suffering world in great need.

  “If two of you agree on earth [in genuine heartfelt, fervent prayer] concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:19). Our prayers are powerful if they are genuine and humble. “From the first day that you [Daniel] set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself … your words were heard; and I have come because of your words” (Daniel 10:12). Repeating what James said above: “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous [loving] person avails much” (James 5:16 b).

  Prayer that “avails” much rest on God’s unlimited power to achieve all his will. It reaps multiple benefits: not only does it affect those we pray for, but it draws us closer to Christ, enriches our intimacy with one another and propels us into mission. Christ knew that by inviting us to pray He was enlisting us into service. May His compassion flow into our hearts transforming us into His image—that our Father will send us as laborers into His harvest. See John 13:35; 1 John 3:18; Matthew 5:16. Prayer matters!

10

God's Power

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  “The Lord … has sworn. … Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass” (Isaiah 14:24).

  “Whatever His soul desires, that He does” (Job 23:13b).

  “You can do everything … no purpose of yours can be withheld from you” (Job 42:2).

  “God … does whatever He pleases” (Psalm 115:3; 135:6).

  “I will do all my pleasure … I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it, I will also do it” (Isaiah 46:10–11).

  Jesus prayed: “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You” (Mark 14:36).

  “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20).

  class=”tm-list”One day, a rich young ruler came to Jesus asking what good thing must he do to attain “the life of the Age—NTAT,”* (perhaps the first resurrection—Revelation 20:4–6 with its rewards and privileges). Jesus referred him to God’s commands and said to be perfect he would have to give away his possessions. This was too much for him, so he turned away sorrowful. “Then Jesus said: surely it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, ‘Who then can be saved?’ But Jesus … said to them: ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’” (Matthew 19:25). This event so gripped his disciples that Mark (10:27) and Luke (18:27) also tell this same story.

  Jesus proved that salvation was always possible when He transformed a murderer into an apostle—perhaps the greatest apostle of all who referred to himself as the “chief” of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Now if God can change the worst of us, who will He not change? Our transformation—change of heart, is salvation: “To you first [not only] God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities” (Acts 3:26). “[God] will again have compassion on us, and will subdue [conquer] our iniquities” (Micah 7:19). As amazing as this sounds, God transforms our hearts! As said above, salvation is about becoming like Jesus.

  “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you … and cause you to walk in My statutes and you will keep My judgments and do them … I will cleanse you from all your uncleanness” (Ezekiel 36:23, 35–38).

  “All the nations shall be gathered. … No more shall they follow … their evil hearts” (Jeremiah 3:17).

  “I will give them a heart to know Me … for they shall return to Me with their whole heart” (Jeremiah 24:7).

  “I will put my law in their minds, and write it on their hearts (Jeremiah 31:33–34).

  “I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever” (Jeremiah 32:39).

  “I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me” (Jeremiah 32:40).

  “I will put my laws into their minds and hearts (Hebrews 8:10a).

  When we, as Christ’ body, are transformed in heart—becoming one in Spirit, walking worthy of our calling with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace—then we will be one body and one Spirit as Paul envisions. We’ll share one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all.

  We believe God will bring this to pass in the fullness of time (Ephesians 1:9–11; 1 Corinthians 15:27–28). We don’t know how many generations will pass before we see it on earth or in the coming Age; but whenever and wherever it happens, we expect that signs and wonders will again testify to the Victorious Gospel as it did in New Testament times. Quoted scriptures (in italics for emphasis) are from the New King James Version unless otherwise indicated.

  * Chastened: see Matthew 25:46 The New Testament A Translation (NTAT) by David Bentley Hart, Page 53; footnote (w.)