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Update
February 15th, 2008
Dear
Good Shepherd,
Good
Morning. Below you will find both the weekly Update and the
weekly article.
WEEKLY
ARTICLE
Why
was God the Son Made Man?
by
Matt Kennedy
Many
years ago, St. Anselm of Canterbry answered the question above
in this way:
God
became Man because only a man could rightly make satisfaction
for man's debt. But this Man must also be God because only
an infinite being could pay the infinite debt owed. Therefore,
only Man should and only God could justly and wholly redeem
humanity.
Anselm's answer, based as it was on biblical revelation, was
a profound one and one that all Christians everywhere believe
and embrace. Jesus, the God Man, accomplished our Redemption
in at least five ways.
First, he restored in his dual nature, the communion between
humanity and God. Jesus is One. He is both God and Man. He
is no less but far more than another Adam. Because Jesus is
the God-Man, the relationship Adam destroyed is not only perfectly
re-made so that when a sinner embraces Christ (or rather is
embraced by him) he is embraced by God, but even more, he
wholly reconstituted the relationship so that through Christ,
humanity is brought into the very life of God.
This is what is meant by the phrase, “God became Man so that
Man might become God.” The distinction between creature and
Creator is not in any way blurred or diminished. Rather through
Christ, in his Person, humanity is brought into the divine
life of the Godhead.
Second, Jesus as the second Adam lived Adam's life in reverse;
choosing faithfulness rather than rebellion, keeping the covenant
Adam broke and thereby reestablishing, in his person, the
broken relationship between creation and the Creator so that
all found in Christ might regain access to the Tree of Life,
be reconciled to the Father, to one another, and to the created
order.
Unlike the first Adam, the second Adam...
“did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant…and
became obedient to death…even death on a cross. Therefore
God exalted him to the highest place…” ( Philippians
2:6-8 )
In and through Christ alone, redeemed human beings once again
enjoy the relationship with the Father that Adam and Eve enjoyed
in the garden before the fall.
Third, Jesus lived obediently so that his obedience might
count in the place of our disobedience. When we think of Jesus
as Savior, our minds naturally and rightly turn to the cross.
But we mustn't forget the perfect obedience of Christ's life
as one part of the material cause of our salvation. Jesus
was the only human being ever to fulfill the entire law. He
was like us in every way and yet without sin. Jesus' perfect
righteousness is imputed or credited to the believer through
the instrument of faith. The obedience or righteousness of
Christ has, in some way, become our righteousness. Here is
St. Paul on the topic
“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing
worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have
suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish,
in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not
having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,
but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness
from God that depends on faith” ( Philippians
3:8-9 )
Fourth, Jesus died substitutionally to propitiate the wrath
of God and bear the just consequences of human rebellion so
that God might be both just and the justifier of all who believe
( Romans
3:26 ).
Jesus, as the second Adam, the unblemished lamb, hung on a
tree becoming a curse ( Galatians
3:13 ) in our place as our substitute, bearing in his
body and soul the full measure of the punishment we justly
deserve. As St. Anselm points out, only a Man can justly satisfy
the debt of men. Members of the Jewish Sanhedrin, Judas, Pilate,
et al were the second cause instruments through whom God the
Father executed his just sentence on human sin to which God
the Son in Jesus Christ willingly submitted.
Moreover, the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ on the cross
served to “propitiate” or exhaust the wrath of God against
human sin. The wrath of God is unlike human wrath which, however
justified, is always laced with sin. God's wrath is a holy
wrath, a manifestation of his goodness and his glory. Through
it, he destroys evil.
But, as St. Anselm pointed out (though he was speaking in
terms of satisfaction rather than propitiation or justice),
this task of atonement and propitiation could not be borne
by a man who is a man only. While only a human being can justly
bear the consequences of human sin, only an infinite being
can bear the full weight and measure of all sin and encompass
the full magnitude of God's wrath. Jesus, as God the Son sufficiently
bore the infinite weight of all human sin, past present and
future.
Thus, when a sinner comes to faith, he is no longer under
God's wrath or judgment. Just as Christ's righteousness is
imputed to his account, the sinner's sin (past present and
future) is imputed or credited to Christ on the cross where
God's judgment is carried out and his wrath exhausted.
Fifth, having destroyed sin on his cross, Jesus broke the
bonds and power of death and restored human access to the
Tree of Life. On the third day after his death and burial,
through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus rose bodily from
the dead.
Because Jesus rose from the dead, all the dead will rise and
all Creation will be restored. Those who have died in Christ
will rise to live forever with him in the new Jerusalem, the
city of God. Those who have died in their sins will be judged
in accordance with them and thrown with Satan into the lake
of fire where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
But all will rise.
Finally (but certainly not exhaustively), Jesus ascended bodily
into Heaven where he restored human fellowship with the God-head.
Through him and in him, human beings have direct access to
the Father and the Father through the Son, by virtue of his
blood and intercession, by the power of the Holy Spirit applies
the power of the resurrection to repentant sinners, cleansing,
sanctifying, blessing, and ultimately conforming them to the
image of his Son, the true Image of God.
“For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only
a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear
for us in God's presence.” ( Hebrews
9:24 )
In and through his birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension
Jesus, in his full humanity and full divinity, completely
and wholly restored and in some sense re-created humanity
so that redeemed human beings may once again walk with the
Lord in the cool of the garden ( Genesis
3:8 ). But, thanks be to God that through Jesus Christ,
the garden has become a city, the New Jerusalem, prepared
for God and his people.
Ultimately, and this must never be forgotten, the end or purpose
for which God the Son assumed human nature, reconciled humanity
to God, and restored the created order was to bring glory
to his Father. John Piper defines God's glory as the outward
manifestation of his holiness. God's chief purpose in creation
and redemption is to be glorified and it is the chief purpose
of the created order in general and human beings in particular,
bearers of the divine image, to glorify him, to receive and
reflect the fullness of his glory.
By redeeming humanity, Christ restored the divine image and
made it possible for human beings to glorify God and fulfill
the purpose for which we were created. Ultimately, then, redemption
is merely penultimate.
You and I were created so that we might glorify God in all
things.
That is why we are here.
And, ultimately, it is only in mimicking Christ, humbling
ourselves and becoming less so that the image of God might
be reflected in and through us all the more, that we will
find satisfaction, fulfillment, joy, and all the other things
we seek in the idols we've made out of created things. Thanks
be to God that he has glorified himself in Jesus Christ and
brought many sons and daughters to share in and reflect that
glory forever.
end
UPDATE
CONTENTS
REPENTANCE
LENT: READ THE NEW TESTAMENT IN 40 DAYS
WEDNESDAY
NOON EUCHARIST
FROM
THE ECW
EASTER
FLOWERS
SERMON
& PODCASTING INFORMATION
PRAYERS
MAUNDY
THURSDAY
HEALING
FR.
NIGEL MUMFORD
OPEN DOOR INFORMATION
BIBLE STUDY
SHEPHERD'S
BOWL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
YOUTH INFORMATION FROM MICAH
HERESIES
AND CULTS (ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL SERIES)
NEWS
:
REPENTANCE:
The word repentance comes from the Greek word "metanoia"
which, literally means to "turn around". The core
of Jesus' preaching, Matthew tells us in the 4th chapter
of his gospel was, "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven
is near." Though believers are considered "just"
in God's sight on the basis of the righteounsess of Jesus
Christ and, therefore, though we have been forgiven by virtue
of his death on the cross and our hope of eternal life is
a certain hope, the fact is that we regularly stray. We
are forgiven sinners being made new and in the process of
being sanctified or cleansed by the blood of Christ, but
until we set aside our mortal bodies and go to be with the
Lord, we continue to sin. That means that repentance is
necessarily a continual and regular part of a believer's
life.
When
you offend your spouse, a family member or a close friend,
the relationship is strained until you make amends. The
same is true with regard to your relationship with God.
Sin impairs your relationship with Jesus Christ. If you're
a believer, then the relationship itself will never be ultimately
broken because it is founded on the promises of Christ and
his work on the cross. But it can still be interrupted or
strained. Repentance restores that strained relationship.
Repentance
is more than an apology. It is an active turning around.
It begins with a sense of conviction, a sorrowful recognition
that you have erred and strayed from the Lord. This leads
to confession. Though God knows everything, it is necessary
to express and articulate your sins to him in prayer, to
admit your sin and ask for his forgiveness.
God's
promise is that when you turn to him he will not only forgive
you of your sin, but he will cleanse your heart by the blood
of Christ.
"If
we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth
is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
(1st John 1:8-9)
This
cleansing gives you the power strength to change. God works
in you to change your heart and mind in such a way that
you will, ultimately, gain victory over your sin. This change
of heart is not something that you sit around waiting for.
It is a cooperative work. You must act, you must work, but
as you do, God will act or work in you to bring your attitudes,
inclinations, and desires into conformity with his will
as it is revealed in his word.
LENT:
READ THE NEW TESTAMENT IN 40 DAYS: This Lent, I've challenged
Good Shepherd to commit to read the entire New Testament
in 40 Days. You may find the reading schedule and daily
devotions here:
http://www.binghamtongoodshepherd.com/40days.shtml
WEDNESDAY
NOON EUCHARIST: Anne is celebrating Communion every
Wednesday at noon in the sanctuary during lent. Everyone
is welcome.
FROM
THE ECW:
The
ECW Easter Bake Sale and Clam Crowder Sale
is Saturday, March 8 from 10:00-2:00!
Good Shepherd is well-known for our Clam Crowder and
our wonderful bakers! We need YOU to make
the Bake Sale a success. We need cookies, breads, muffins
or anything you can think of to bake! We have
great bakers in our church and we all love good food
so jump right in and lend a helping hand to a very good
cause. There will be a sign up sheet for your
donations or you can contact Mary Lindsey. All
items are greatly appreciated!
March
7th is a work day for making the Clam Crowder starting
at 9. Come and help!!!
EASTER
FLOWERS:
Flyers are in
the pews for Easter Flowers. Please use full names.
Flowers can also be given in thanks for blessings received
and for living as well as deceased loved ones.
If anyone has any questions about where
the money is going, please see me.
SERMON & PODCASTING
INFORMATION: All recent sermons may be
downloaded at the Good
Shepherd
podcast
site
SERMON
INFORMATION: If you would like to study ahead for
this Sunday's sermon, be sure to read Romans 4 and Genesis
12, 15, and 17. We'll be discussing the role of faith in
salvation.
PRAYERS:
Please pray
for the leadership of the parish as negotiations with the
Diocese of Central New York continue. Pray specifically
that the diocese will be willing to accept an amicable resolution
regarding our property.
MAUNDY
THURSDAY:
The Thursday before Easter Sunday is called "Maundy"
Thursday. It is the day Jesus celebrated his last Passover
with the disciples and washed their feet. This Maundy
Thursday, we'll be hosting a shared meal and worship service
with the people of St. Andrew's Anglican church in Vestal.
I'll be sending more information as the time draws near.
But this is a great opportunity for fellowship with other
Anglicans in our area, so please do mark your calendars.
HEALING:
There will be healing prayers offered on the side altar
this Sunday. If you need prayer for healing of any kind,
physical, spiritual, mental or emotional, you are invited
to come to the side altar after recieving communion. Anne
will be there to pray with you and annoint your forehead
with oil (James 5).
FR.
NIGEL MUMFORD: Will
be visiting Good Shepherd again this Spring (14th and 15th
of March) to lead a seminar on healing prayer. Fr. Mumford
is a former member of the British special forces and now
serves as an Anglican minister in the Diocese of Albany.
He is well known nationally and internationally for his
healing ministry. Dolly Shaller is sponsoring this event.
More information will be coming soon.
OPEN
DOOR: For those of you who would like to meet with
Anne rather than me, she will generally have open office
hours at the church on Wednesday from 10:00am to 1:00pm.
Please feel free to come by the church from Tuesday through
Thursday from 10:00am to 1:00pm to meet with me (Tues or
Thurs) or Anne (Weds) without an appointment. Of course
we will be there at other times, but during open door hours
there is no need to call in advance or set up a time, you
can just drop in.
BIBLE STUDY: All
the Bible Studies are up and running this week
SHEPHERD'S
BOWL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: One of our Shepherd's Bowl
teams has recently lost two volunteers, a man and a woman..
The team is now left with only one female server in the
evening. We desperately need at least two volunteers to
step in and at least one of them must be male. It is dangerous
for a woman or women to serve the meals by themselves. The
commitment would be for one Thursday evening a month. If
you are interested please call the office or the rectory.
Thank you.
YOUTH INFORMATION FROM MICAH
:
Jr. and Sr. High will be meeting at normal times this Sunday.
Elementary aged kids will be having a game night with pizza,
etc. from 4-6 this Saturday.
Next Friday night, the Jr. High kids will be having an all
nighter in the parish. Jason Delancy and Kellie French will
be assisting me. We will be playing games, eating pizza,
watching movies, etc., and eventually sleeping. We will
start at the church at 7pm and going until about 8am on
Saturday morning. (I know the schedule says 9am, but I have
to be somewhere by 9 and must leave at 8am). Please let
me know now if there are any special needs or scheduling
conflicts.
ADULT EDUCATION SERIES: HERESIES
AND CULTS :
We'll finish our brief discussion of Bahai this Sunday and
begin, finally, to discuss Scientology. Here is some information
about the Bahai Church.
http://www.bahai.org/
And
here is the Scientology homepage:
http://www.scientology.org/
Scientology is
one of the fastest growing cults in the US. Actor Tom Cruise
is a leading advocate of scientology and many Hollywood
actors and actresses have followed suit.
After
we finish scientology, our Heresies and Cults series will
have come to an end. I plan to take up a new series exploring
other religious faiths. We'll discuss this new series briefly
at the beginning of this Sunday's class.
HAVE YOU…. shared your faith with a friend? The vestry has
challenged all of us to share our faith in Jesus Christ
with at least one non-believer each month.
Good News for the Week
Therefore, beloved, since
you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him
without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience
of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul
also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as
he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these
matters. There are some things in them that are hard to
understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their
own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore,
beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are
not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose
your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory
both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (2nd Peter 3:14-17)
Don't forget to....BRING A FRIEND TO CHURCH
Daily Schedule for the week of Sunday February 17th, 2008
Monday:
pastor's day off
Tuesday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
9:00 a.m. Tuesday Morning Bible Study
10:00a.m.-1:00
p.m. Pastor's Open Door Hours
6:00 p.m. First Light Bible Study
Wednesday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
10:00a.m.-1:00
p.m. Pastor's Open Door Hours
Noon:
Communion
Thursday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
10:00a.m.-1:00
p.m. Pastor's Open Door Hours
5:30 p.m. Shepherd's Bowl
6:30
Thursday Night Bible Study
Friday
6:30 a.m. Men's Breakfast/Bible Study
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
Pastor's sermon prep day
Saturday :
10:00 a.m. Women's Bible Study
Sunday
February 24th 2008 SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP (SEASON OF LENT)
8:00am Worship, Holy Communion and Sermon
9:15-10:15 a.m. Christian
Education for all Ages
10:30am Worship, Holy Communion, Music, Sermon
2:00pm to 4:00pm
Jr. High Meeting
6:00pm
- 8:00pm Sr. High Meeting
Matt+
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