Service for Sunday 11th August, which was conducted by Mr Geoffrey Webber

Welcome: –

Call to Worship: –

(Psalm 130: 7 and 8)

Trust in the Lord your God,

Because of His steadfast love.

God reveals His plenteous grace towards us,

It is God who will redeem His people from all their sins.

The writer of this Psalm describes two facets of God’s nature. Firstly, they refer to God’s constant and unfailing love for people. Secondly, they refer to God’s willingness and capacity to forgive the sins of people, constantly and unfailingly.

As a response to people’s deep and sincere attitude of repentance for their sins, drawn out of a realisation that it is to God to whom they must account for how they have lived their lives, God forgives their sin. In doing this, God proves that He is more powerful than sin itself, “for God alone has the power of overcoming sin by His forgiveness”. In doing this, God proves His willingness to go beyond just passing judgement upon those whose actions do not meet His standards or who reject God’s standards, for God, though condemning sin, does not condemn the sinner. God’s steadfast love for all people draws Him to reveal his plenteous grace towards all those whom He loves.

That is the incomprehensible greatness of God. That is why we hold God in such awe and with such respect. That is the ground for God’s claim upon our obedience to His Will for us and to His commands upon us. That is why we have gathered to offer our praise and worship of God.

(from Artur Weiser in The Psalms p774 and 775)

Prayer of Praise

(from Leading Intercessions p33, The Book of Worship p213, Invocations p41 & 42, Opening Prayers p92, An Australian Prayer Book p246, Uniting in Worship red book p207, and Prayers for God’s People p159)

Almighty God, we come before you with gratitude for your love and goodness towards us.

We give thanks for your grace towards us that exceeds what we could ever hope for or ask. We are humbled by the gift of Jesus Christ, your only Son, who, through obedience to your will, gave his life for our sins, gave his life to redeem us so that we can be in close fellowship with you.

Almighty God, you seek those who are lost and deserted, those who are hungry for spiritual healing and wholeness, to bring them back to a right relationship with you, for no other reason than because your love is so real and inexhaustible. There is no-one to whom we can compare you, there is no substitute for you, no alternative to your creative and saving power.

Almighty God, you continue to bless us and to provide for our needs. You lift up our spirits when we are sorrowful and concerned. You strengthen us in times of heartache and trouble. Your word to us is totally trustworthy. Your promises are absolutely dependable. You are the source of our hope and comfort in this life and in the promised life beyond time and space.

It is to you, Almighty God, that we offer our praise and worship, now and always. Amen.

You are invited to listen to or join in singing 2 songs ‘Unto Thee O Lord’ (from Scripture in Song volume 1 number 104)

Charles Monroe

‘Praise the name of Jesus’ (Scripture in Song volume 1 number 111)

Roy Hicks

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, we confess to how easy it is to be drawn into ‘worldly lifestyles’.

We confess to thoughts and behaviours that are not consistent with a life dedicated to you.

We confess to being less than truthful in the words we speak to others.

Merciful God, forgive us.

We confess to becoming angry with people with disregard to their equal dignity and worth.

Merciful God, forgive us.

We confess to the use of harmful words that do nothing to build up our relationships with others.

Merciful God, forgive us.

We confess to harbouring bitter feelings about the way we have been treated by others that hinder our willingness to forgive and forget.

Merciful God, forgive us.

We confess to resorting to insults when we should be striving for reconciliation.

Merciful God, forgive us.

We confess to hearts that are cold towards the needs of others, forgetting that you call us to be kind and tender-hearted.

Merciful God, forgive us.

We confess to a stubbornness of will, when we should be guided by your will and purpose for us.

Merciful God, forgive us.

We confess to a desire for the transient pleasures of the World, neglecting to strive for that which is worthy, good and pure.

Merciful God, forgive us.

With shame we confess to careless thoughts and to actions that lack integrity.

Merciful God, forgive us.

Mould us with your Spirit so that all our dealings are carried out honestly and ethically.

Instruct us with your Spirit so that our words bring grace to those who hear them.

Renew us with your Spirit so that our words and actions bring you pleasure and not pain.

Guide us and direct us, so that our lives can be channels through which you are able to bring healing and wholeness to others. For this we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness

(from Psalm 130: 3 and 4)

The Psalmist writes of God’s willingness to forgive us when we cry to Him for help in the depths of our despair over our sins. Let us, then, hold onto that promise, trusting that God listens to our call, that through His grace God forgives us, and that though his love for us God redeems us and restores our relationship with Him.

Thanks be to God.

Prayer of illumination

(from Uniting in Worship Book 1 number 13 & 14 p599)

Prepare our hearts, O Lord, to be guided by your Word and the Holy Spirit, that in your light we may perceive your mercy and grace, that in your truth we may find freedom, and that in your will we may discover peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Bible Readings

Psalm 34:

1 I will always thank the LORD; I will never stop praising Him.

2 I will praise Him for what He has done; may all who are humble hear and be glad.

3 Proclaim with me the LORD’s greatness; let us praise His name together!

4 I prayed to the LORD, and He answered me; He freed me from all my fears.

5 The oppressed look to Him and are glad; they will never be disappointed.

6 The helpless call to Him, and He answers; He saves them from all their troubles.

7 His angel guards those who honour the LORD and rescues them from danger.

8 Find out for yourself how good the LORD is. Blessed are those who takes refuge in Him.

1 Corinthians 1:

18 For the message about Christ’s death on the cross is nonsense to those who are being lost; but for us who are being saved, it is God’s power. 19 The Scripture says:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and set aside the understanding of the scholars.” (Isaiah 29: 14)

20 So then, where does that leave the wise? Or the scholars? Or the skilful debaters of this world? God has shown that this World’s wisdom is foolishness!

21 For God in His wisdom made it impossible for people to know Him by means of their own wisdom. Instead, by means of the so-called ‘foolish’ message we preach, God decided to save those who believe. 22 Jews want miracles for proof, and Gentiles look for wisdom.

23 As for us, we proclaim the crucified Christ, a message that is offensive to the Jews and nonsense to the Gentiles; 24 but for those whom God has called, both Jews and Gentiles, this message is Christ, who is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For what seems to be God’s foolishness is wiser than Human wisdom, and what seems to be God’s weakness is stronger than Human strength.

This is the Word of God.

Praise to you Almighty God.

Mark 2:

1 A few days later Jesus went back to Capernaum, and the news spread that he was at home. 2 So many people came together that there was no room left, not even out in front of the door. Jesus was preaching the message to them, 3 when four men arrived, carrying a paralyzed man to Jesus. 4 Because of the crowd, however, they could not get the man to him. So they made a hole in the roof right above the place where Jesus was. When they had made an opening, they let the man down, lying on his mat. 5 Seeing how much faith they had, Jesus said to the paralyzed man,

“My son, your sins are forgiven.”

6 Some Teachers of the Law who were sitting there thought to themselves,

7 “How does he dare talk like this? This is blasphemy! God is the only one who can forgive sins!”

8 At once Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said to the,

“Why do you think such things? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven.”, or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat and walk.’? 10 I will prove to you, then, that the Son of Man has authority on Earth to forgive sins.”

So Jesus said to the paralyzed man,

11 “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

12 While they all watched, the man got up, picked up his mat, and hurried away. They were all completely amazed and praised God saying,

“We have never seen anything like this!”

This is the Gospel of our Lord.

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

You are invited to listen to or join in singing the Hymn ‘God! When Human bonds are broken’ TiS683

(based on Psalm 130)

(this YouTube clip is for another hymn, but is used here for the tune)

Verse 1 of 5

God, when Human bonds are broken

And we lack the love or skill

To restore the hope of healing

Give us grace and make us still.

Verse 2 of 5

Through that stillness, with your Spirit

Come into our world of stress,

For the sake of Christ forgiving;

All the failures we confess.

Verse 3 of 5

You in us are bruised and broken,

Hear us as we seek release

From the pain of earlier living,

Set us free and grant us peace.

Verse 4 of 5

Send us, God of new beginnings,

Humbly hopeful into life.

Use us as a means of blessing,

Make us stronger, give us faith.

Verse 5 of 5

Give us faith to be more faithful,

Give us hope to be more true,

Give us love to go on learning:

God, encourage and renew.

Frederik Kaan

Sermon

Last week, we focussed on establishing the grounds for our understanding that Jesus Christ died for our sins, that this has been God’s eternal plan to reconcile Himself to Humanity, that this was the consistent message through the Old Testament writings, the consistent message through the ministry of Jesus, and the consistent message in the teachings and writings of the Apostles, as recorded for us in the New Testament.

This understanding has also been consistently portrayed in the Creeds of the wider Church. We will briefly look at three, the first two of which we are more familiar. For the texts for these two I have consulted the website of the English Language Liturgical Consultation.

“This is a group of national associations of ecumenical liturgists in the English speaking world concerned with developing and promoting common liturgical texts in English and sharing a common lectionary wherever possible.”

The Uniting Church in Australia uses the texts of the Creeds as compiled by this group, as you can see from their entries in the Uniting in Worship People’s Book, on pages 122 and 123.

The earliest known formula is found within Testamentum in Galilaca D[ominus]. N[oster]. I[esu]. Christi written between 150 and 180. The text of what is now known as the Apostles’ Creed was most likely developed in southern Gaul around the midpoint of the 5th century. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostles%27_Creed

The first Creed we will visit is the Apostles’ Creed, and I have selected those portions that only concern Jesus Christ. Notice the wording:

“I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.”

It is consistent with the wording of the Readings that we looked at last week:

Jesus suffering, dying and being buried.

Jesus rising from the dead, and ascending to Heaven.

The original Nicene Creed was first adopted at the First Council of Nicaea in 325. The Creed was amended in 381 by the First Council of Constantinople as “consonant to the holy and great Synod of Nice.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicene_Creed

The second Creed we will visit in the Nicene Creed, and, again, I have selected those portions that only concern Jesus Christ.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God, begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation he came down from Heaven,

was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary

and became truly human.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his Kingdom will have no end.

Notice the wording and consistent theme:

suffered death and was buried

rose again

ascended into Heaven

for us and for our salvation

The most likely time frame is in the late fifth or early sixth century AD, at least 100 years after Athanasius lived. The Christian theology of the creed is firmly rooted in the Augustinian tradition and uses the exact terminology of Augustine’s On the Trinity (published 415 AD).

The third Creed we will visit is titled the Athanasian Creed. It is not well-known in the Uniting Church, but is an accepted Creed within the wider Church. The text for this Creed I have taken from the Wikipedia webpage. The English Language Liturgical Consultation have not prepared a wording for this Creed. Again, I have selected those portions that only concern Jesus Christ

Christ; who suffered for our salvation; descended into hell; rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, he sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from whence he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Notice the wording and consistent theme:

who suffered for our salvation

descended into hell

rose again the third day from the dead

He ascended into heaven.

Lastly, we will briefly look at that portion of the Basis of Union of the Uniting Church in Australia that is relevant to today’s topic:

The Church preaches Christ the risen crucified One and confesses him as Lord to the glory of God the Father. In Jesus Christ “God was reconciling the World to himself ” (2 Corinthians 5:19 RSV). In love for the World, God gave the Son to take away the world’s sin.

Notice the wording and consistent theme:

Christ the risen crucified One

God gave the Son to take away the world’s sin.

Thus, we see a consistency in wording across the Creeds which mirrors that of the Bible passages that we discussed last week.

Why am I stressing this? Let us see what understandings we gain from today’s Gospel passage.

Mark includes in his Gospel an account of Jesus healing a paralyzed man, as do Matthew and Luke in identical accounts. The essence of the account is that four friends bring a companion, who is paralyzed, to Capernaum where Jesus was residing, with the intent of obtaining healing for their friend from Jesus. But, finding the way to Jesus blocked by a great crowd, these four friends contrived to open up the roof over the room in which Jesus was teaching the crowd (Mark 2: 2) , so that they could lower him down directly in front of Jesus so as to get his attention and to heal their friend. (Mark 2: 4 & 5)

It is then that Jesus does something that is rather difficult to understand. While acknowledging the faith of the four friends, instead of healing the man, Jesus says to him:

“My son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2: 5

Where is the connection between forgiveness of sins and healing?

William Barclay, in his Commentary on Mark’s Gospel, writes:

“It may seem an odd way to begin a cure. But in Palestine, in the time of Jesus, it was natural and inevitable. The Jews integrally connected sin and suffering. They argued that if a man was suffering, he must have sinned.” (William Barclay in The Gospel of Mark The Daily Study Bible p40)

And we see this understanding in an account recorded by the Apostle John in his Gospel:

“As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been born blind. His disciples asked him, ‘Teacher, whose sin caused him to be born blind? Was it his own or his parent’s sin?’” (John 9: 1 & 2)

But William Barclay also acknowledged that “there may be more to the story. The Jews made this connection between illness and sin. It may well have been that the man’s consciousness of his sin produced his paralysis. That being the case, any Jew would have agreed that forgiveness of sins was a prior condition of a cure.”

(William Barclay in The Gospel of Mark The Daily Study Bible p40)

Whatever the case may have been, we find the emphasis of Jesus was to proclaim forgiveness on the man. Now, we need to ask ourselves the question:

“On what basis, or by whose authority, could Jesus have proclaimed forgiveness of the man’s sins?”

There were some Teachers of the Law among those who were listening to the teaching of Jesus, and they were asking themselves this very same question:

“How does he dare talk like this? This is blasphemy! God is the only one who can forgive sins!” (Mark 2: 7)

It is important that we discern the answer to such a question.

William Barclay, in his Commentary, presents three options:

Firstly, Jesus could have been “conveying God’s forgiveness to the man”, in the same way the Prophet Nathan conveyed God’s forgiveness upon David, as we read in 2 Samuel 12: 1 – 13.

Secondly, God may have delegated or assigned to Jesus this authority to forgive sins.

Thirdly, Jesus was demonstrating his divine nature as the Son of God, and was displaying to the man the same graciousness and mercy of God.

(William Barclay in The Gospel of Mark The Daily Study Bible p43 to 45)

So, how did Jesus settle this issue? How did Jesus prove to his doubters that “the Son of Man has authority on Earth to forgive sins”? (Mark 2: 10)

Jesus answered the Teachers of the Law by healing the paralyzed man. And we read:

“So (Jesus) said to the paralyzed man, ‘I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home!’ While they all watched, the man got up, picked up his mat, and hurried away.” (Mark 2: 10a – 12a)

In his healing of the man, Jesus, by his spoken words, was recreating the man’s flesh and blood, making it whole again. To the onlookers, this was reminiscent of God’s creative act recorded for us in the Creation Account in Genesis 1, for only God could create something out of nothing simply by his spoken word. Jesus was demonstrating his divine nature as the Son of God, and was displaying the same creative powers, and the identical graciousness and mercy of God. On that basis we then read that

“They were all completely amazed and praised God saying,

‘We have never seen anything like this!’” (Mark 2: 12)

Now, there some in the World who deny God’s authority and majesty, who reject any notion of their sinfulness and separation from God, and who refuse to consider God’s offer of forgiveness of their sins so that they could be reconciled to God. One such group operates a website titled “Holy Koolaid”, which I recently came across in my research for last week and today.

They consider this account of the healing of the paralyzed man in Mark 2 and the forgiveness of his sins, and ask the question:

“If Jesus Christ could forgive sins while he was alive, why did he need to die so that peoples’ sins could be forgiven?”

On the surface, it appears to be a valid question. For we do read that Jesus forgave the man’s sins while he was alive, and that Jesus forgave the man’s sins because he was the Son of God. So, following on from that, as the Son of God, could not Jesus have continued to live, and, in continuing to live, continued to forgive people’s sins as and when forgiveness was required? And, if that is the case, if forgiveness of sins did not require the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, then, so the Website Holy Koolaid deduces, the foundation upon which the Church has based its theology, and the foundation for our prayers and our hymns, and of the Sacrament of Holy Communion, is flawed and false and a misleading lie perpetrated by the Church.

However, we must be careful not to expend time and energy in the fruitless exploration of such a question, for this question is not being asked out of a sincere desire to learn the truth, but out of a desire to deny the truth of the Gospel and to denigrate those who profess a faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ. Indeed, the web page on which this site asks the above question is titled:

“This verse secretly undermines all of Christianity”.

I seek to reassure you that there is an answer to their question. But first, I want to highlight three failings which underly their stance.

In their asking this question, they display a selective approach to the Bible, only considering those verses that they consider are pertinent to their specific stance and intent; in fact, displaying the very same approach upon which they seek to criticise the Church.

Secondly, ‘Holy Koolaid’ is disregarding the consistent Biblical narrative that God took the initiative to reconcile Humanity to Himself because Humanity is unable to reconcile itself to God by its own efforts.

Alan Catchpoole writes:

“Christian salvation is designed to rescue (Humanity) from the consequences of Adam’s rebellion. (Jesus Christ) made the only sacrifice which has any effect in reconciling (Humanity) to God. [referencing Hebrews 9: 14, 10: 4 & 14] (Alan Catchpoole in The Wisdom that founded the Earth p98 & 131)

Sidney Collett writes:

“The Old Testament reveals Christ the Messiah; the New Testament reveals Jesus the Saviour. So that, if we study the Old Testament in the light of the New Testament, we see Jesus Christ; while if we look at the New Testament through the light of the Old Testament, we see Christ Jesus.” (Sidney Collett in The Scripture of Truth p192)

Thirdly, if the ultimate aim of the Holy Koolaid website is to prove that there is no basis for the Church’s belief that Jesus is the Son of God, why do they base their argument upon a Biblical passage that proves this very understanding, as we have discussed above? It is incongruous for this Website to argue one way yet use as their evidence a Bible passage that disproves their stance. It indicates, on their part, a lack of scholarship and perception.

Getting back to their question why it was necessary for Jesus Christ to die for our sins, the answer lies in the consideration of the whole aspect of the death, the resurrection, and the ascension of Jesus Christ back to Heaven. After Jesus was arrested and brought before the Council of the Chief Priests, the Elders and the Teachers of the Law, when he was asked:

“Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed God?”,

and as his answer he declared to them:

“I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right side of the Almighty and coming with the clouds of Heaven.” (Mark 14: 61b & 62) , quoting from Psalm 110: 1 and Daniel 7: 13.

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter declared to the crowd that had gathered:

“(This very same Jesus) has been raised to the right side of God, his Father.” (Acts 2: 33)

He repeated this statement before the Jewish Council of Leaders when he was arrested saying:

“God raised (Jesus) to His right side as Leader and Saviour, to give the People of Israel the opportunity to repent and have their sins forgiven.” (Acts 5: 31)

Stephen repeated this statement before the Jewish Council of Leaders when he was arrested, and was stoned for doing so. (Acts 7: 54 – 60)

The Apostle Paul in his Letters and the author of the Letter to the Hebrews both attest to this belief by the early Church. (Colossians 3: 1, Hebrews 1: 13 & 12: 2)

Accepting the reality of the Ascension of Jesus is critical for our understanding of the conclusion of the Ministry of Jesus in a physical body on Earth. So then, what does the Ascension of Jesus mean for us and the Church? We will consider four thoughts.

Slide 13

Jesus is no longer limited by living in a physical body. Jesus can be ‘approached’ by anyone, anywhere, anytime, anyhow.

The author of the Letter to the Hebrews writes:

“Christ, offered one sacrifice for sins, an offering that is effective forever, and then he sat down at the right side of God.” (Hebrews 10: 12)

Jesus achieved through his death and resurrection and ascension what he could not achieve if he was alive, provide the means for the forgiveness of all sins, of all people, in all places, for all of Time.

Jesus, in his ascension, is no longer limited by living in a physical body. Jesus can be ‘approached’ by anyone, anywhere, anytime, anyhow.

Richard France writes,

“It was thus, in the place of honour and authority, that his followers were to envisage him from now on, no longer limited by time and space, but dynamically present with them, always, everywhere.” (Richard France in The Man they Crucified A Portrait of Jesus p171)

Paul writes to the Church in Ephesus stating:

“Christ rules there (at the right-hand side of God) above all Heavenly rulers, authorities, powers, and lords; he has a title superior to all titles of authority in this World and in the next. God put all things under Christ’s feet and gave him to the Church as supreme Lord over all things.” (Ephesians 1: 21 & 22)

Paul writes to the Church in Rome stating:

“For Christ died and rose to life in order to be the Lord of the living and of the dead.” (Romans 14: 8)

We read in last week’s passage from Isaiah 53 God declaring as His reward to His chosen Servant, whom we understand to be Jesus Christ, for his obedience to the call of God to offer himself as a sacrifice for many:

“And so I will give him a place of honour,” (Isaiah 53: 12)

Francis Foulkes writes:

“The Ascension, like the resurrection, is emphasised as being the work of God the Father. It is His honouring His Son with the highest possible honour, but also the demonstration of His power. (Francis Foulkes in Ephesians An Introduction and Commentary p63)

On the night before his arrest, Jesus instructed his Disciples concerning the coming of the Holy Spirit as “their Helper who would stay with them forever”. (John 14: 16)

And he added:

It is better for you that I go away, because if I do not go, the Helper will not come to you. But if I do go away, then I will send him to you.” (John 16: 7)

Jesus instructs his Disciples that, as they go their separate ways fulfilling his call to them to bear witness to the grace and mercy of God (Matthew 28: 18 – 20, Mark 15: 20) , they would require the support of someone who could guide and empower them where they each were. This was not feasible of Jesus in a mortal body, but would be fulfilled in the presence of the holy spirit with them.

Randolph Tasker writes:

“Jesus (instructs them that, once he) has reached his destination (at the right-hand side of God), he will be able to make available to them the help that only the divine Spirit can bring (to) them. As they bear their witness they will be aided by the Advocate, who, while acting as their defendant, will also expose the World’s errors.” (Randolph Tasker in John An Introduction and Commentary p179)

We have the assurance that when Jesus ascended back to Heaven that he didn’t abandon us to flounder in our lives, depending upon our won efforts and abilities, but that he is now able to work with and for us in ways that he could not have done while on Earth.

Paul writes to the Church in Rome stating:

“Christ Jesus, who died, and was raised to life and is at the right-hand side of God interceding with him for us.” (Romans 8: 34)

Roger Bowen writes:

“But Christ Jesus is there at God’s right-hand side for us, who belong to him (Hebrews 2: 10 & 13). His kingly presence in Heaven, therefore, is his prayer for us. It is certain that God will bless us, because Jesus has already reached the place of victory and power. We are certain to arrive there too. (Roger Bowen in A Guide to Romans p119)

Geoffrey Wilson writes:

“The risen Saviour is also the Mediator in the place of supreme authority and power in Heaven, an assurance that his people shall follow him there.” (Geoffrey Wilson in Romans A digest of Reformed Comment p153)

Closing our eyes to the glories of grace.” DJD

I found this quote attributed to a person by the initials, DJD. I am unable to determine their full name:

“The powers of darkness have blinded the race, closing our eyes to the glories of grace.”

(in Our Daily Bread 17 June August 2008)

It is an apt warning given what we understand is the attempt by the creators of the such websites as Holy Koolaid, to denigrate the Church in its trust in the Biblical truth that “Christ died for our sins”, a truth that is substantiated by all of Scripture and is expressed in all of the wider Church’s Creeds and Statements of Belief, a truth that presents the Good News of God’s plan to redeem Humanity, God’s eternal plan to restore our close relationship with Him now and for all of Time to come, a truth to which the apostles testified in their writings and preaching. It is a warning to us to think twice before accepting the validity of such statements as found on such webpages, statements that do not match that which is found in our Creeds and our catechisms, and which do not gel with the teaching from Scripture that we have received from our Sunday School days till now. Trust what you read in the Bible, not what you read in such web pages.

The Ministry of Jesus Christ involved all of his life, his death, his resurrection and his ascension. The Ministry of Jesus, God’s Messiah, continues for each of us today, with Jesus as God’s appointed Prophet, Priest and King.

Alan Catchpoole writes:

“It must not be imagined that the Ministry of Christ Jesus for the redemption of his people and the saving of the World concluded with the ascension. It is true that his triumphant death and resurrection are the guarantee that his people will be saved and that this World will reach its appointed end in God’s good time. But there is a sense in which his saving work is not yet done! In his risen and exalted position at God’s right-hand side in glory Christ Jesus continues to work for Humanity’s salvation. (Alan Catchpoole in The Wisdom that founded the Earth p159)

Let us be assured in our faith as we read these words by John Newton:

“Which of all our friends, to save us,

Could or would have shed their blood?

But our Jesus died to save us

Reconciled in him to God.”

John Newton (MHB100 verse 2)

Amen.

You are invited to listen to or join in singing the Hymn ‘O love divine, what have you done,’ (MHB186 Wesley’s Hymns number 28)

(this YouTube clip is for another hymn, but is used here for the tune)

Verse 1 of 4

O love divine! What have you done?

Immortal God has died for me!

The Father’s co-eternal Son

Bore all my sins upon the tree,

Immortal God for me has died!

My Lord, my love, is crucified.

Verse 2 of 4

Behold Him, all that pass him by,

The bleeding Prince of life and peace!

Come sinners, see your Maker die,

And say, was ever grief like His?

Come, feel with me His blood applied,

My Lord, my love, is crucified:

Verse 3 of 4

Is crucified for me and you,

To bring us rebels back to God,

Believe, believe the record true,

We all are bought with Jesu’s blood,

Pardon for all flows from His side,

My Lord, my love, is crucified.

Verse 4 of 4

Then let us sit beneath His cross,

Our love for Christ will never dim,

All things for Him account but loss,

And give up all our hearts to Him,

Of nothing think or speak beside,

My Lord, my love, is crucified.

Charles Wesley

Offering

Offering Prayer

“For the life that you have given” TiS774

For the life that you have given,

For the love in Christ made known,

With these fruits of time and labour,

With these gifts that are your own:

Here we offer, Lord, our praises;

Heart and mind and strength we bring;

Give us grace to love and serve you,

Living what we pray and sing.

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Prayers for Others

Almighty God, where people live with a bitterness of spirit which poisons them and distresses those around them,