By Pastor John Mattern

God is introduced to us in scripture as a creator. The core nature of God is that of a creator. He spoke the world into existence and everything has been made by His hand. He is omnipotent (All –Powerful), Omniscient (All – Knowing), and omnipresent (Always there). He is perfect and holy. God is the three in one. His being encompasses the full nature of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is all that is right and good. God is love. He cares for His people and thus gives them direction and commands. The commands given in the Old Testament teach us right from wrong and show us how to live. The grace given in the New Testament allows us to live abundantly in fellowship with God. God is described in Isaiah 60:19 and 1 John 1:5 as light. We are called to walk in the light. When we submit ourselves to God He reveals the reality of life to us. The nature of God is revealed through scripture, prayer, service, fellowship, and our circumstances. Romans 1:20 says the invisible qualities of God are all around us. They are in everything He has made. God reveals himself through His word and His creation.

The essential nature of Jesus Christ is that of a redeemer. Jesus was sent by God the Father to atone for humanities Sins. He was born of the virgin Mary, was crucified and died for the Sins of us all, was resurrected, sits at the right hand of the Father, and will one day return. Jesus Christ is the Messiah. He is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. He took the law and transformed it into grace. Christ is the Immanuel, God with us. It is through Christ that all people can come to God. He is the bridge that spans the gap of Sin created by humanity. He taught His people how to live and, through His death and resurrection, enabled His people to live eternally. Jesus Christ is our and my savior and hope. His nature of humility and service (Philippians 2) show us how to live our lives. Our nature should reflect the saving work done by our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit is our guide and counselor. It is the Holy Spirit that is at work in each of us. He is the mouthpiece of God. He gives life (Job 33:4) and can be described as the breath of God. It is the Holy Spirit that sanctifies us. The work of the Spirit of God sets the faithful apart from the unfaithful. It is a transformation that allows us to live differently. The Holy Spirit gives us qualities we do not naturally possess. Spiritual gifts are given and revealed by the Holy Spirit. He teaches and admonishes the people of God. He is instrumental in our prayers to God. He is the presence of God in our everyday lives.

Christ exemplified and gave as commands these three ordinances. The baptism of Christ is one of ordination and redemption. It is an act of humility saying to all that I am a follower of God and I will do whatever and go wherever He leads me. Baptism must be done with water. The word itself means to immerse. Romans chapter six gives us a clear picture of the nature of baptism. Baptism is an expressive symbol of the saving action of Christ in our lives. Christ takes our old, sinful nature and, through His grace, gives us a new nature, a Christ-like nature. It is to be done by believers who both know and confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It is an outward response to an inward work of grace celebrated inside of community. The Lords Supper was also instituted by Christ. It is a sacred act of remembrance. In the taking of the bread and the cup we remember the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. It exemplifies the breaking of the body and the spilling of the blood for our sins. It calls us to live in view of the cross, in view of the sacrifice required because of our sins. It calls us to a covenant relationship with Christ. Just as Christ’s body was broken for us so may our bodies be given over to Him. Just as Christ’s blood was spilled for us so may our life-blood be poured out for Him. Footwashing is a sign and act of service. Just as Jesus took the role of a servant and washed His disciples feet so we must wash each others feet. We are called to live lives of service to God and to each other. Footwashing reminds us of that service.

Human nature is selfish and sinful. Humans are created by God and have been given a special gift. That gift is free will. What God created was good, what humanity creates is a perversion of that good. Humanity was to live under the authority of God and in the goodness of God. However, that was not enough for us. Instead of following God disobedience came. When humanity choose to live for themselves and not for God (eating the forbidden fruit) sin entered the world. Sin calls us to live for ourselves and ignore the creator and the all good that is God. Sin carries with it a destiny, a destiny of death, an eternity apart from God. Sin leads people into darkness and death. However, this is not the original destiny of humanity. We were created to be in fellowship with God and through the work of Christ on the cross, we can again be in fellowship with God. God wants us to be with Him, we are His special creation, and has enabled the eventuality of fellowship. When we choose to set aside our sinful nature and accept our created nature (the image of God) we enter into fellowship with God. 

Humanity is saved through God’s work in history in the person of Jesus Christ. God has entered into the world and intervened in the course of the world so that all might be saved. Humanity cannot save itself. Only God could overcome the death sentence of sin. He did this through Christ. With sin and death overcome by the power of Christ a new nature is made available by God. This is salvation; an acceptance of the new nature that reflects the saving work of Christ. Christ is the only road that leads to God and eternal life with Him. His saving work is described as grace; a gift that cannot be earned but must be given. Salvation is both complete and in process. When salvation comes into our lives our sins are forgiven (through confession) and we are made right. However, eternal salvation is also to be worked out with fear and trembling. The Lord is coming a final time to judge His people. Salvation will than be made fully complete. Therefore, we must live our lives with salvation as both a reality and a goal. 

Holiness is the nature of God. In salvation we take on a new nature that reflects God. Holiness or sanctification goes a step further and sets us apart from this world as that new nature works towards perfection. We are called to “Be Holy” because “God is Holy”. Paul challenges us to strive for perfection. In sanctification Christ enables us to live our lives for Him which connects us to holiness and righteousness. God will be visible in our words and actions. This concept in incredibly powerful and huge. In this second work of grace God enables His people to live life as He created it to be lived. 

All who know the saving work of Christ are part of His church. This is how membership in God’s church is established and maintained. The Church is God’s instrument in this world. It is a community drawn together by God for His purpose. It is a place of instruction and learning, it is a place of comfort and praise, it is the place where God’s mission is carried out. Scripture describes this community as the body of Christ and the bride of Christ. Every bloodwashed one has a purpose in this body. It was established by Christ and is led by the Holy Spirit.  God is the head of the church and it is where His people follow and serve Him. It is the mission of the church to do the work of the Lord.

Christ is the head of the church and He leads it through the Holy Spirit. The mission of the church is to carry out the work of the Lord. To that end God calls people to take leadership in this community. These leaders are not appointed under human standards but under God’s standards. These are men and women called by God to Shepherd His people. We call them ministers and pastors. This leadership is to be one of service and love. The flock must be cared for and it must be taught. These Shepherds seek the guidance of the Lord while guiding His sheep. They must know salvation and holiness while exemplifying Christ in all situations. 

The Christian faith transcends all race and all divisions. Christian unity is seen in the love we have for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Whenever we allow racial, political, denominational, or any other division to separate us we cease to be the church as described in scripture. The central passage of the Old Testament tells us that God is one (Deut 6:4). The New Testament tells that us that we have been baptized into one Spirit (1 Cor 12:13). With one God there can be only one people. We are all given the same challenges, the same calls, and the same commands. We are told not to allow division in the church. Christ came so that all might be saved. If we are not willing to be united with each other than how can we expect to be united with Christ?

Our lives are to be given over to God. We must understand that as created people everything we are and everything we have comes from God and belongs to Him. He has given His people a task. We are to care for His creation here on earth. There is valuable work to be done in the name of the Lord. When we try to keep ourselves from this duty we begin to see things as ours or mine rather than Gods. It is in giving and sacrifice that we are reminded of where our lives and our possessions come from. God has called us to give our firstfruits to Him. 10% of our income is to be directed to the work of the Lord. Moreover, we are to be in the service of the Lord. He calls us to use the gifts given by the Holy Spirit to do His work. Every Christian is called to give of themselves in ministry and give of their stuff (possessions given by God) to the Lord.

Scripture is the word of God. It is divinely inspired and used by God to reveal Himself to us and to teach us how to live. The Bible is the single greatest and most important work of literature ever written. In the study of its words we discover truth and the reality of God. God speaks through these pages and His words transform our lives. The Bible is to be the authority in our lives. As the word of God it carries the answers to our questions about God and life. It is unchanging and true. In its words we find a depth and a strength unknown and unseen anywhere else.

The Kingdom of God is a central idea of both testaments. Both point to a Messiah who sits on the throne. In the OT the Messiah is unknown while the NT identifies the Messiah as Jesus. It is in this Kingdom established by God that all Christians must live. It is not an earthly kingdom but a spiritual one. We must acknowledge the authority of Christ and live for Him. He is the ruler of us all. Blessings flow from the throne of this Kingdom. It is symbolic of Heaven and points to a future when this Kingdom will be clear and visible for all. Yet this Kingdom is also present now in the community of believers. When we come to Christ eternal life begins and we become part of the Kingdom of God. That means we must live as citizens of Heaven today while waiting for the day when we enter into the Kingdom of Heaven and live eternally in our rightful home.

Christ is coming again. With Him will come judgment and the end of time. The dead shall rise and be judged. Christians will be given new bodies and live eternally on a new earth. Wickedness and sin will be gone. God’s people will live forever in His Kingdom. This is the hope of all Christians. Christ is coming again and 1 Thessalonians describes that coming with the certainty of a woman giving birth but with the uncertainty of a thief in the night. We are sure Christ is coming but we do not know when. We must live now in the view of this coming. We know this; Jesus saves, we will be judged, Christ is coming. So now we must build up our lives with this knowledge. The final coming of Christ will cause us to live for Him today. There is a place prepared for us in Heaven. This coming of Christ gives us the hope and comfort we need to live from day to day in this world.