Fully God, Fully Man

Alex Bangle on March 8, 2011

Jesus Christ, the only being who has or ever will possess this characteristic! This is huge to our faith and everything that we know. The infinite God that came willingly into a finite world! Matthew 1:18 tells us that Jesus Christ was fully human born of woman, even sharing our human characteristics and emotions Luke 2:40, Luke 2:52, Matt. 8:10, John 11:35, etc. Yet he did not share one thing with us and that was sin (1 Peter 2:22), which is imperative to all that we believe.

Scripture also shows us that Jesus was fully God, the same passage Matthew 1:18 shows us that Jesus birth was a supernatural act of God. We also affirm Christ being fully God in Colossians 2:9. “The eternal Son of God took to himself a truly human nature. His divine and human natures are forever distinct and retain their own properties even though they are eternally and inseparably united together in one person ” – Wayne Grudem. This truth is why Christ has the power to conquer and forgive our sins, it is why we live today. “Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them. ” Isaiah 43:7 NLT

Understanding Sacrifice

Alex Bangle on February 15, 2011

Luke 9:23-25 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? “

Maybe we should just let that verse sink in to our hearts and minds. Are you willing to loose your life for Jesus Christ? Or are we trying to gain the world? I ‘m preaching tonight on Empathy, but I believe before we can truly be empathetic we need to understand sacrifice. To take up our cross and follow Him, good or bad we do it because He first loved us, He was the first to show compassion therefore true compassion comes from us becoming living sacrifices to God (Rm 12:1)

Place God First

Alex Bangle on January 19, 2011

Such an easy concept but so hard to put into action. Placing God first in our life is a challenge because it requires self sacrifice on our part. I think we should look at the cross and realize the example that God made when sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross. Each and everyday we have opportunities to place God first, we need to change our mindset on things and let God transform us.

Glory of God

Alex Bangle on January 17, 2011

“God’s glory is the created brightness that surrounds God’s revelation of himself” – Wayne Grudem. Also described as the visible manifestation of the excellence of God’s character. Now while in day-to-day life we may not all experience this heaven meets each encounter with God, we can see His glory around us. We only need to look at God’s revelation, which does surround us in His own creation. And those who trust and follow Jesus Christ will view His fully glory in heaven (Rev 21:23)

But even now we should seek to be people that reflect His Glory “…being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another…” (2 Cor 3:18). This same idea also repeated in Matt 5:16 & Phil 2:15. Clearly showing that we reflect the Glory of God, maybe not in a visible light but in great splendor by how we serve and love our God.

The Word of God

Alex Bangle on January 4, 2011

The Word of God can be expressed in several ways, as Jesus Christ (Jn 1:1, Rev 19:13), speech by God, personal address by God, God speaking through human lips and the written word (The Bible). All of these are truth and ways the Word of God haven been shared and expressed to us. Of all of these though, we have direct access 24/7 to one, the bible. The bible is God’s written word, documentation of that which He has, is and will do.

“This is the form of God’s Word that is available for study, for public inspection, for repeated examination and as a basis for mutual discussions. It tells us about and points us to the Word of God as a person, namely Jesus Christ, whom we do not now have present in bodily form on earth.” – Systematic Theology. We should read the bible daily and reflect on God’s Word, letting it reach deep into our hearts and minds to change us and shape us into His image.