Part 2: The Message of the local congregation!
"I would say that if you don’t believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and Messiah, and that he rose again from the dead and by his sacrifice our sins are forgiven, you’re really not in any meaningful sense a Christian," Christopher Hitchens.
Christopher Hitchens is a prominent atheistic thinker in our time. He wrote a book in 2007 called God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. The quote I began this blog with is taken from an interview in which a liberal Christian attempts to argue that not all Christians believe in the Atonement (just the stupid ones, like me). She in fact wants to be clear that she and many others do not think the Atonement is or should hold any place in Christian teaching. The Atonement describes the work accomplished for us in and through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. It is the height of irony that an avowed atheist understands Christian teaching better than most modern Christians! If you would like to see the transcript of this interview, follow this link: http://www.portlandmonthlymag.com/arts-and-entertainment/category/books-and-talks/articles/christopher-hitchens/
In I Timothy 3:14 - 16 Paul centers the message of the church firmly in the Atonement. He writes, "I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a Pillar and buttress of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.
First, Paul describes this ‘truth,’ this ‘mystery of godliness,’ as something which is great indeed. Better yet, this ‘truth’ and ‘mystery of godliness’ is undeniably great. It is undeniable in the sense that one day 'every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Christ is Lord.'
Secondly, Paul tells us what exactly he is calling great. This great ‘truth’ and ‘mystery’ is that God, in Christ, appeared in flesh. This is a direct reference to the earthly existence and ministry of Jesus. While on earth Jesus makes staggering claims in regard to his own person and the work He is accomplishing. In one scene he tells us that the time to 'repent' is at hand - for the Kingdom of God has come! Christ is communicating that in Himself - in His very presence - the Kingdom of God has come (cf. Matthew 3). On another occasion he says, "I am the Way the truth and the life no one comes to the father, but through me" (cf. John 14).
The second stanza tells us that He was vindicated in spirit. Why would Christ need to be vindicated? When you and I need vindication it entails that we need to be 'cleared' of a charge against us for some reason or another. In the case of Christ it is the exact opposite. He wasn't in need of being vindicated of a charge against Him, per se. The vindcation that was achieved by the Spirit of God in the resurrection of Christ was this: The claims He made while on the earth were proven true in his resurrection! In other words, His claim to bring forgiveness of sins, to ‘Atone’ for my sin, was vindicated and He was proven to be true in word and deed!!! Christ was God incarnate. He was a sinless substitute for sinful humankind who brought salvation through His life, death and resurrection!
Thirdly, He was seen by the angels. In other words, there was an 'enthronement parade' in the heavnelies as Christ took His place of Sovereignty at the right hand of the father! His earthly ministry began with an angelic proclamation and it would culminate with an angelic ceremony recognizing Christ as victor over sin and death!
May we never forget! This is our message, Church! Our message is for those who are (like we once were (cf. Eph. 2:1 – 3)) desperately and hopelessly lost - without hope in this world - because they are apart from Christ! Our message is the Gospel. Yesterday, today and tomorrow - our message is always the Gospel. As Hitchen's himself pointed out, if we lose, we are really not in any meaningful sense the Church!
Grace and Peace!
Biz
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