What are the distinctions between creeds, confessions and doctrinal statements?

1 Corinthians 8:6-7 "yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. 7 However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled."

Introduction: Creeds, Confessions and Doctrinal Statements

Today's post aims to offer an introductory discussion on the distinctions between creeds, confessions and doctrinal statements. The point: to better understand why some Christian church bodies use these similarly related terms. Undoubtedly, there may be some who would desire further improvement upon whatever explanation is offered below. With that said, the following thoughts aim to convey a possible starting point for considerations of how Christians through the millennia has expressed the faith once and for all delivered to the saints (see Jude 1:3).

To begin, when Christian refer to "creeds", "confessions" and "doctrinal statements", what exactly is being discussed? Although all three terms sound similar, there are distinctions. For sure, all three terms have great overlap and are often interchanged with one another. Still, there can be some distinctions drawn that can be instructive in understanding what Christians believe and how they communicate such. 

Creeds The term "creed" comes from the Latin credo meaning one's statement about what they believe. When we refer to "the creeds", most mean the three main historic creeds of the 4th, 5th and into the 6th centuries (Apostles' creed, Nicene creed and Chaledonian creed). In many churches throughout the world today, such creeds are recited by Christian to convey what they "believe" upon the basis of scripture. Such creeds providing a historical framework by which Christian confess the faith "once for all delivered to the saints". Below is what is called "The Apostles' Creed": 


I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
    the Maker of heaven and earth,
    and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
    born of the virgin Mary,
    suffered under Pontius Pilate,
    was crucified, dead, and buried;

He descended into hell. 

The third day He arose again from the dead;

He ascended into heaven,
    and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
    from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost;
    the holy catholic (or universal) church;
    the communion of saints;
    the forgiveness of sins;
    the resurrection of the body;
    and the life everlasting.

Amen.

Confessions
The second term, "confession", is like a creed, only with additional explanatory material including proof texts. Confessions are used more in teaching or doctrinal instruction settings to bolster the faith of new converts and the faith of congregants so as to supplement Biblical instruction that derives primarily from the exposition of God's Word. 

Sometimes, possible questions and answers (also called "catechisms") may be connected to such confessions. Catechisms serve to instruct new converts (called in the ancient church "catechumens"). Churches such as various Reformed churches (deriving their history from the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century), some earlier Baptist bodies and Lutheran churches (historically traceable to Martin Luther, the great protestant reformer and claiming of course earlier roots back to the early church fathers) have confessions. Examples of confessions would include the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Lutheran Formula of Concord and the Baptist Confession of 1689.

Doctrinal Statements With creeds used by some congregations to recite what they believe in worship services and confessions of faith functioning to impart doctrinal instruction in one form or another, what about that third category: doctrinal statements? Doctrinal statements aim to not only instruct people who are already Christians, but serve as written summaries of what Christian bodies teach for all to read. Doctrinal statements, like creeds and confessions, derive their material from the Bible, but their particular subjects or headings are attempting to communication Christian doctrine to the culture. 

Hence, in the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, we find articles such as Article 18 entitled "The Family" to summarize the Biblical teaching on marriage and the family in light of what has been the seismic shift in culture concerning the family. Typically, doctrinal statements (or what are sometimes called 'statements of faith') will not be as exhaustive as confessions, since doctrinal statements tend to be somewhat evangelistic as well as summaries of Christian teaching for instruction in churches. 

Closing thoughts
It is important to understand Church history and how Christian people of every generation have developed their understanding of God's Word in interactions with one another and culture. Discerning the distinctions between creeds, confessions and doctrinal statements can aid Christians in perhaps understanding other believers that derive from various denominations and which use slightly different terms. This post aimed to hopefully shed some light, recognizing that what was written only provides a very general thumbnail sketch. May God be glorified as Christians everywhere continue to confess the living Faith handed down by the Prophets, Christ and the Apostles through the inerrant Old and New Testaments. 

Truths that save the soul - One Lord Jesus Christ, Equal with the Father

John 5:18  "For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God."

Introduction:
We noted in yesterday's post Jesus' unfolding of His true identity in John 5:21-26. His astonishing statements regarding His own deity served to present eternal truths that save the soul - the first of which being: "One Sovereign God, Who is Father". This first major truth provides the bedrock for what will be Jesus' revelation concerning His own equality with the Father and thus - His claim to Deity. Such truths are vital for Christians to understand. There are those truths that constitute "truths that save the soul" - with the truth about God being "One Sovereign God, Who is Father" fitting in such a category. Today's post turns to Jesus' words in John 5:16-46 once again to consider a second truth that saves the soul: namely, "One Lord Jesus, Equal to the Father."

Second Truth that saves the soul: "One Lord Jesus, Equal to the Father"
When we consider the characteristics of God the Father enumerated by Jesus in John 5:21-26, we find the following five main descriptions by which Jesus' teaching aligns with the revelation fo the Old Testament:

a. John 5:21a The Father raises the dead.  
-Dt 6:4-5 We are reminded here that God is One God
-Deut 32:6 “Do you thus repay the Lord, O foolish and unwise people? Is not He your Father who has bought you? He has made you and established you.  
-Dt 32:39 See now that I, I am He,
And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal,
And there is no one who can deliver from My hand. 
b. John 5:22 The Father is the Final Judge. 
-Genesis 18:25b “Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” 
-Daniel 12:2 “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.”

c. John 5:23 The Father is Worthy of worship.  
-1 Chronicles 16:29 "Give to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!"

d. John 5:24 The Father is Savior Alone. 
-Isaiah 43:11 “I, even I, am the Lord, And there is no savior besides Me.”


e. John 5:26 The Father is Self-sufficient. 
-Psalm 90:2 “Before the mountains were born Or You gave birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”

These five main qualities are important in how the New Testament develops in its understanding of the identity of Jesus Christ. The assertion of God being One God Who is Father was not disputed among the Jews. Theologians across the years have sometimes used a convenient way of describing God and everything else by way of categorizing God in one category and creation in another category. We call such a summary "Creator vs Creation dividing line", as seen in the visual chart below:

God, the Creator      The Creation
One God, Who is        Angels
The Father                 Humans
                                Universe

Certainly, one could put other things in the second column: your dog, cat, car or whatever. God alone is in His own category. The Person of the Father bears the properties of Deity enumerated above in Jesus' description of Him. 

So is Jesus equal to the Father?
As Jesus carries on his response to the Jewish officials, He then intersperses His description of the Father with a description of His relationship to the Father. Prior to Jesus' ministry, no Jew conceived of the Father on personal terms. As we noted yesterday, Jesus' reference to Yahweh of Israel as His own Father was shocking to Jewish sentiment. So with respect to both the five main qualities of Deity outlined by Jesus about the Father, what did He say about Himself. Again, we turn to John 5 for the answers:

a. John 5:21b, 5:25 Jesus, the Son, raises the dead.

b. John 5:22, 30 Jesus, the Son, is the final Judge.

c. John 5:23 Jesus, the Son, is Worthy of worship.

d. John 5:26b Jesus, the Son, is       Self-sufficient


e. John John 5:39-40 Jesus, the Son, is Savior Alone.

This presents an amazing truth concerning the Person of Jesus Christ. The first eternal truth regarding God being One God Who is Father is not denied. Nonetheless, the equality of the Son with the Father is affirmed. So, how is it that both are true. From Jesus' teaching elsewhere (example: John 17:22-23), we find that He as the Son, and the Father as the Father, are two Persons sharing in the One nature of Deity. Concerning the little chart we noted earlier, where would this place Jesus in the Creator/Creation divide?

God, the Creator      The Creation
One God, Who is        Angels
The Father and          Humans
Who is the Son          Universe

With respect to Jesus' Divine nature, He is equal with the Father. But now, what about the fact that He is also man? Does this mean He ceased being equal with the Father? Remember, since Jesus' incarnation, He as One Person forever will expresses His existence in two ways: as truly God and truly man. If we were to appeal once more to our chart, it would fill out in the following way:

God, the Creator      The Creation
One God, Who is        Angels
The Father and          Humans
Who is the Son--------Jesus the man
                               Universe

Touching His human nature, Jesus operates on the creation side of the divide. Touching His Deity, He ever remains and operates on the Creator-side of the Divide with the Father. As Jesus walked this earth as a full-blooded man, He ever-retained His equality of nature and glory with the Father in the heavenly realms. His prayer in John 17:5 reminds us of His Pre-eternal. Such glory was retained by Christ and at His ascension was declared and reaffirmed in His exaltation. Amazingly, Jesus now retains the full-humanity He began partaking of from Mary's virgin womb - a reality which will forever cleave unto His Person. In short, Jesus Christ as God in human flesh is equal to the Father (and the Person of the Holy Spirit) with which He shares the One, eternal, Divine being as God. 

Closing thoughts
If Jesus Christ was not equal to the Father, then there would be no way He could provide salvation - since salvation is of the LORD (Isaiah 43:10-11; Jonah 2:9; Acts 4:11-12). As equal sharer in the One Divine nature with the Father, the Son of God came to our world to become an equal sharer with us in a truly human nature. If Jesus were not truly man, then He would be unable to be our Savior, since without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin (Leviticus 17:10-11; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:27-28). As we have seen today, this is yet another truth that saves the soul.       

Truths that save the soul - One Sovereign God, Who is Father

John 5:16-18 "For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working. 18 For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God."

Introduction: Jesus said what?

A chain of events were set in motion that shifted the hostility of Jesus' enemies into high gear, when Jesus had healed the paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda. Whatever their hostilities towards Him were, those animosities were cloaked under religious devotion and pious expression. Something about this particular miracle unleashed the pent up resentment. The Jewish leadership were looking for ways to undercut Jesus' ministry. Luke 6:7 records for example - "The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He healed on the Sabbath, so that they might find reason to accuse Him." According to commentators, the Jews had devised 39 ritualistic laws concerning what one could do and not do on the Sabbath. Whenever the paralytic man that Jesus healed took up his bed and walked (John 5:8-9), that action broke Jewish religious law #39. 

If breaking of the Sabbath wasn't enough, the straw that would send Jesus' opponents into orbit would be the explanation Jesus gave them concerning why He did the miracle. In short, Jesus claimed to be not only doing the works of God - but, that He was performing such works as One equal in authority, power and glory as the Father. We know that Jesus made claims or did actions that served to demonstrate His identity as the God-man. In claiming the God of Israel as His Father meant that Jesus was setting Himself in an unprecedented category of having "an-in" with Yahweh. The Old Testament scriptures asserted Yahweh as "Father" of the nation of Israel in the sense that He was the God of Israel who had chosen and called them (see Deuteronomy 32:6). For Jesus to say that Yahweh was "His" Father was to express a category that, in Jewish ears, was not only unprecedented but highly inappropriate. In Mark 2:7 we read about the Jewish officials response to Jesus' pronouncement of forgiveness of sins to a man: “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” To say that "God was His Father" was Jesus' saying that He and the Father were equal and One in being whilst being distinct, Divine Persons. 

Today we want to follow Jesus' radical claim of deity. Contrary to what many say, namely - that Jesus never claimed to be God in the course of His earthly ministry - we will discover certain truths that Jesus unfolded that save the soul. Today's post features one of these saving truths: One Sovereign God, Who is Father. 

Saving truth: One Sovereign God, who is the Father

As Jesus expands on His response to the Jewish leadership desiring to persecute Him, He states in John 5:19 "Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner." This astonishing statement indicates that Jesus claimed nothing short of being able to behold the Father, Yahweh of Israel - with unmediated, unveiled eyes. According to Deuteronomy 32:39 and other Old Testament passages, no man has ever beheld the face of God and lived. The Jews equated direct experience and seeing of God as grounds for death (see Judges 13:22). Such a truth was the Old Testament's way of drawing the line of division between the Creator and the creation. In Isaiah 6 we find that not even the angels of Heaven have ever directly beheld the face of Yahweh, since they worship Him with wings veiling their faces.  Undoubtedly, John here in John 5:19 is reminding us that Jesus, though being truly man, was also truly God. Only the Son could truly behold the Father, since He shared in the same nature as He (see John 1:1 & 1:18).

As Jesus unfolds this truth of One Sovereign God who is Father, He intersperses His exposition with statements of His own unique relationship with the Father. Jesus never departed from the Old Testament truth that God was indeed One God, One Lord (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). Jesus' statements about the Father would had fallen in line with Jewish orthodoxy and with the Old Testament itself - since no one disputed the Deity of Yahweh as "Father". Five particular statements in John 5:21-26 are made by Jesus pertaining to the Father as One Sovereign God that can be traced back to specific Old Testament texts that assert such truths. The Sovereign God, Who is Father.....

1. Raises the dead. John 5:21a and Deuteronomy 32:39.

2. Final Judge of the all the earth. John 5:22; Genesis 18:25b and Daniel 12:2

3. Worthy of worship. John 5:23; 1 Chronicles 16:29

4. Savior alone.  John 5:24 and Isaiah 43:11

5. Self-sufficient. John 5:26 and Psalm 90:2

This first eternal truth "One Sovereign God, Who is Father" is a truth that saves the soul and is central to the Gospel, proclaimed by Jesus and the church today

The affirmation of the Father as the One true and living God is a cornerstone to saving faith. Old Testament texts such as 1 Samuel 2:1-2; Psalm 67:1-2 and Isaiah 43:10-11 affirm the uniqueness of God in His existence and His power to save His people. New Testament texts such as 1 Corinthians 8:6 never backed away from the Jewish affirmation of there only being "One God" or "Monotheism". One Savior. One Creator. Such statements affirmed the unwavering allegiance to the reality of One True and living God as the sole Savior. When the Jews had crossed the Red Sea, the proceeding plagues had served to dismantle the Egyptian polytheism and to show that such deities were fakes that could never save. Pharoah had set himself up as a deity and ended up drowning in the Red Sea. 

When we come to the New Testament, the affirmation of the One true and living God as the cornerstone of saving faith doesn't cease. Hebrews 11:6 notes for example: "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." The historic Christian church has made this great truth part of its confession of the Gospel that saves. For instance, the "Apostle's Creed" begins in this manner: "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth...".1 The Nicene Creed, still recited by many Christians the world-over today, begins in the following fashion: "I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible."2 As a more contemporary example, the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 says the following in part about the Father: "God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ." 3

Closing thoughts

As we close out today's post, we have noted Jesus' unfolding of His true identity in John 5:21-26. His astonishing statements regarding His own deity served to present eternal truths that save the soul - the first of which being: "One Sovereign God, Who is Father". This first major truth provides the bedrock for what will be Jesus' revelation concerning His own equality with the Father and thus - His claim to Deity. Such truths are vital for Christians to understand. Without the correct knowledge of who God is and what He is like, Christians cannot identify the work God is doing in their lives. Moreover, the very definition of salvation in the Bible includes this first affirmation of "One Sovereign God, Who is Father". I'll close today with 1 John 5:20 - "And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life."

Endnotes:

1. http://www.reformed.org/documents/

2. http://www.reformed.org/documents/

3. http://www.sbc.net/bfm2000/bfm2000.asp

The fruit of kindness

Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness".

Introduction
Recently I had lunch with a chaplain of a local Christian ministry in our area. This man shared with me how he often will end-up ministering to some of the harder-to-reach people groups in tough situations. In meeting with this man, I noticed how he had a quality of kindness and gentleness that bespoke of an inner-strength within him. The kindness or gentle-quality of this chaplain went beyond human kindness. In the situations he talked to me about, the most effective way he seemed to build bridges to other-wise hostile people was through the Spirit-given fruit of "kindness" or "gentleness" spoken of by the Apostle Paul in the above passage. What makes such a virtue so precious in the Christian's life? What is meant by the fruit of "gentleness" or "kindness"? Today we want to briefly explore the fruit of kindness.

Christian kindness is connected to God's kindness
Whenever we talk about God's qualities or attributes, theologians often speak of those qualities which He shares with human beings, particularly His people. Such qualities shared between God and His people are called "communicable" attributes. Whenever we say God "communicates" a trait to His people, we are speaking in a comparative fashion, since human beings as His image bearers express those qualities in a creaturely way. So with respect to this Holy Spirit given virtue of "kindness", we find the Bible speaking frequently of God's "kindness" or "gentleness". For example, in Romans 2:4 and Romans 11:22 we read of the "goodness and kindness" of God leading sinners to repentance. At bottom, God is not only "Good", but "Kind". Such kindness or gentleness is far-from a deficiency in God. If anything, God's kindness to His enemies speaks of His goodness. As a matter of fact, God is so-good as to possess an overflow by which He can still show goodness even to those that have no desire to return the favor. The kindness of God speaks to the essence of His grace shown to all men in general and to those who respond to His overtures of grace in particular. 

Based upon what we observe of God's kindness, we could say then that this virtue of kindness or gentleness operates without any underlying motive of expecting kindness in return. Often-times, plain expressions of human kindness proceed on the basis of "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine". With the manner of kindness mentioned by Paul in Galatians 5:22, the kindness or gentleness is an unconditional, no-strings-attached type of kindness. 

Christian kindness is connected to Jesus Christ
In Titus 3:4 we read of how Jesus Christ's incarnation as God in the flesh counts as the "kindness of God" making the ultimate appearance in our world. he whole text of Titus 3:4-5 reads: "But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit." Christ's very life was a total expression of kindness and gentleness. Again, we musn't conceive of this virtue as meaning Jesus to be some type of weakling. Far from it! To express this sort of kindness and gentleness in the face of situations that were anything but kind or gentle meant that Jesus had control over His response to those around Him. As God, the Person of the Son already had this particular Divine attribute of kindness. Whenever He came in His decisive revelation as the man, Jesus, this Divine quality of kindness was refracted and expressed in and through His perfect humanity. Jesus demonstrated this Spirit-wrought virtue of "kindness" or "gentleness" in its most purest form. As Paul writes in Colossians 3:12-13 "So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you."

So Christian kindness as a virtue of the fruit of the Spirit is connected to God's kindness and to Jesus Himself. Let's consider one final point about this Spirit-given virtue of kindness....

Christian kindness is needed in our churches and our world
Imagine how people would respond to Christians and the church if this virtue of Spirit-wrought Christian kindness was at the forefront of our dealings? Paul connects this to the task of evangelism, by first noting in 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 "And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— 2 for He says,
“At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”. Paul then says later in a few verses in 2 Corinthians 6:4-6 "but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, 6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love." Such kindness can speak volumes in our evangelistic efforts.

Or how about in how Christians carry themselves in the culture? In the Old Testament we find the main character Ruth expressing her desire to ultimately marry Boaz in a custom where she approached him to be what was called her "kinsman-redeemer". In such a custom, whenever a widow's husband died, it was appropriate for her to be betrothed and married by her dead's husband closest relative (whether a brother or some other male relative). Such an arrangement meant that the "kinsman" would take on the widow's debts and property, hence "redeeming her". For Boaz, Ruth's expression of "kindness" spoke volumes to him. We read in Ruth 3:10-11 "Then he said, "May you be blessed of the LORD, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich. 11"Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence." Such an incredible virtue like Christian kindness can go a long way in establishing one's character and rapport before others. 

Our churches definitely need to have more examples of such a virtue like the fruit of kindness. If for anything, our churches ought to be characterized as centers where people can see a level of kindness unfounded in any part of the world. God's kindness expressed through the Spirit-wrought virtue of kindness can result in influencing others towards Christ. Jesus Himself reminds us in Matthew 5:16  "In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." Or again, the Apostle Paul states in 1 Timothy 5:25 reminds us - "Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed."  

Closing thoughts
Today we focused on the fruit of Christian kindness. We saw its importance in how it is connected to God's kindness, Jesus' expression of kindness as God in human flesh and then how our church and world needs this kindness.

The fruit of long-suffering

Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness."

Introduction
I am sure you have in your home a "power-strip" to which various electrical-powered devices are connected. Most of the time we find "power-strips" near computers or in kitchens. Such devices have multiple outlets all routed into one cord and plug that in-turn plugs into a wall-outlet. Power-strips enable people to access the power they need through multiple outlets. Whenever we think of the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22, such a list of virtues act as the Holy Spirit's power-strip for the Christian to plug their obedient Christian life into whilst living out their faith.

In past posts we have studied Paul's description of what is termed "the fruit of the Spirit". We have looked at the first three of these fruit: love, joy and peace. One could say that these first three fruit deal with Christian virtues that enable the Christian to relate to God from the inside-out. Today's post will feature the beginning of the second set-of-three in the nine fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22 - namely "patience" or as some other translations render, "long-suffering". 

How God's "incommunicable" and "communicable" attributes aid us in understanding the fruit of the Spirit
One of the truths we learn about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22 is that they are virtues born-forth by the Holy Spirit in the Christian who attends to following in obedience in Jesus Christ. Since the Holy Spirit is a member of the Trinity, He connects the Christian to those virtues and qualities that makes Christ-likeness possible. The particular virtue of "long-suffering" or "patience" can be better understood in connection with what we term God's "communicable attributes". 

One of the most profound studies one can undertake is to consider the attributes of God. Attributes are those expressions and traits of God's very being by which He expresses Himself. When God acted in history toward His people, He would reveal to them a quality or feature of His very being by which they could behold and worship Him. Theologian Elmer L. Towns notes the following about God's attributes on page 98 of his "Theology for Today":

"The nature of God defines his existence, whereas the attributes of God reflect His nature through attitudes, actions and points of relationship with His creation/creatures."

As theologians have studied the being and character of God by way of His attributes, two general categories have been offered to try to handle the subject. The first of these are what we call God's "incommunicable" attributes and the second type of attributes are termed "communicable". To negatively illustrate these words in a different context, we all know what a "communicable" disease like a cold-virus is all about. One can be at work or school and someone can suddenly sneeze on you. The next day, you find yourself exhibiting similar symptoms as the person from whom you caught or had "communicated" the cold. Thankfully, ailments such as cancer are "incommunicable", which means, they cannot be transferred by human contact. 

To positively illustrate these same words, what happens when an excited parent places gifts underneath a Christmas tree on Christmas Eve and the children open such presents the next day? The excitement of the parent is somehow communicated to the children at the sight of those gifts. Now if there is a goldfish in that same room, that goldfish will be no more excited by the opening of the presents than if it were any other day. Such experiences are "incommunicable" with respect to the fish.

With God and His relationship to human beings, we understand that their are some attributes which (by analogy, mind-you), we share to-a-certain extent with God. In other words, there are attributes of God that are "communicable" and others attributes that are "incommunicable". Hence, Divine attributes such as infinity are "incommunicable", since only God is infinite. However, other attributes, like "long-suffering", is a moral quality that finds its comparative expression in the Christian. 

What God's long-suffering or patience communicates to the Christian who partakes of the fruit of "long-suffering"
God is described in scripture as a "long-suffering" or "patient" God (Exodus 34:6; Romans 2:4; 1 Peter 3:20). Other passages in the Bible describe Christians as being able to express "long-suffering" or "patience" as well (2 Timothy 3:10). Old Testament believers, such as the prophets, exercised "long-suffering" or "patience" (James 5:10), with Job offered as a chief example (James 5:11). Certainly we find passages that indicate that God's communicable attributes, like "long-suffering", are to be expressed by believers. Romans 15:4-6 describes how the scriptures connect God's communicable attribute of long-suffering to us: "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Further study reveals that Jesus Himself is the contact point between us and Himself in Hebrews 12:3 "For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." God's long-suffering in the Spirit's working gives us a spiritual "long-fuse" with which to handle life, challenges and provides the power to endure hardship. 

Closing thoughts
As we considered the fruit of "long-suffering" or "patience", we discovered that by considering God's communicable attribute of "long-suffering", we can better understand this particular fruit. We also discovered that long-suffering is a vital virtue for the Christian, since it gives us the tools we need to persevere, the wisdom to handle life's challenges and the strength to look to Jesus - our Mediator. 

P5 - What the Christian "has" to live for God - Promise of a heavenly home

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

Introduction:
Over the last few days, we have considered what Jesus gives the Christian to live the Christian life. Whenever it comes to the Christian life, the New Testament urges the Christian to understand what all they have in Christ. The world, the flesh and the Devil work hard to detract followers of Jesus from their true identity. In 2 Corinthians 3-4 we find at least four things in the Christian's possession. We have noted three of them in the last few posts...

1. Positional Standing with God. 2 Corinthians 3:1-6

2. Power to live for God. 2 Corinthians 3:7-4:1

3. Person of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:2-12

Today we aim to finish out our series on what the Christian "has" with respect to living the Christian life. We will look at the fact the the Christian has a fourth important resource for living a life for God in this world, namely the promise of a heavenly home. 

The nasty here-and-now and the sweet-by-and-by
The first three resources have to do with living the life of faith in this world. With that noted, what else does the Christian "have". The Christian life is undoubtedly lived out in this world, yet, it is not just about this world. There is a world beyond this world that presses in on the Christian. The Old Testament prophets often spoke about the Heaven, eternity and the destiny of believers in faint outlines. When Jesus came on the scene, the reality of Heaven was brought to bear and the tangibility of such an "other-worldly" reality was shown to had "broken-into" our world by the coming of Jesus. The New Testament letters grant us even further exposition on the realities and glories of Heaven, with the Book of Revelation devoting entire chapters on the subject. 

When it comes to the subject of eternity, we find in the Christian a seed of hope that cause one to pine for the world-to-come. The late Dr. Adrian Rogers once remarked that the Christian life is not only about life in the sweet-by-and-by, but also about the nasty-here-and-now. Undeniably, the Apostle Paul is keenly aware of the "nasty-here-and-now" in 2 Corinthians 4:2-12. He switches gears and writes about the reality of the Christian's heavenly home driving them onward towards godly-living. In 2 Corinthians 4:13-18 we find the leverage of his argument for our heavenly home, with 2 Corinthians 4:17 being the fulcrum: "For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison." This reference to the "sweet-by-and-by" contrasts with the present hardships. According to the Apostle Paul, the believer's heavenly home is without compare. 

What the New Testament has to say about the Christian's heavenly home
We know from other scriptures that the concept of Heaven being likened unto a city is found throughout the Biblical authors. According to Hebrews 11:9-10, Abraham the patriarch had been in search of it through faith. We as Christians are already designated a citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem above (Galatians 4:26; Philippians 3:20). Presumably these references are talking about the "third heaven" where believers in the Lord go when they die in Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:5-6; 12:4).

The scriptures speak also of what will be a "New Heavens and a New Earth" (1 Peter 3:13). Jesus then told his disciples in John 14:1-3 that He is going away to "prepare a place" which we can presume to be the grand city described in Revelation 21 and 22. The whole point of Revelation 21-22 is to demonstrate that God in Christ with His people will come to tabernacle, and thus Heaven will characterize earth and earth's physical nature will characterize Heaven in the Eternal glory of those chapters.

A quick tour of the New Jerusalem
The place we call "Heaven" right now will no doubt be glorious. However, whenever we think of the New Heavens and Earth being prepared for by the Savior, we find a reality that will be even better than the current place called Heaven. We first of all note it is a Heavenly city (Revelation 21:10-11). This is most likely the same city spoken of by Jesus in John 14:1-3. 

As a heavenly city, it is secondly a costly city, composed of solid diamond gemstones (Revelation 21:12) and other costly materials such as gems and transparent gold (21:15-20). 

Thirdly it is a promised city, as seen by the names of the patriarchs and apostles inscribed on its gates and foundations (Revelation 21:13-14).

The fourth thing we can note about this city is its size: 1500 miles in each direction, with the same length characterizing its height. Quite literally this is a cube that is the size of North America or most of Europe. The height of this city has led many sound interpreters to conclude that the city may be composed of multiple stories and levels. To wonder if there would be enough space to live, some rough calculations yield that if the New Jerusalem, with all of its levels being a mile of distance from top to bottom (and this 1500 levels high) had tracts of space laid out for 8 billion people, each person would easily have 250 acres! What we must realize of course is that God is a big God and that the whole point of large proportions in any of His creations is to display His glory (Compare Psalm 19:1-6).

So in being a heavenly, costly and promised city that is quite grand in scope, we can notice yet another trait, fifthly that this city is a God-centered city (21:22-25). In as much as its studded gemstones and unfathomable beauty describe the New Jerusalem, without God as the light and the Lamb as the light, this city would never shine, would never be precious and would never be grand. 

We can note yet another trait, number six, that this city will be a life giving city (22:1-5). Notice how this city has a healing tree, a river of life and unending light.

So let us quickly review what we have noticed thus far about the New Jerusalem described in Revelation 21:9-22:5

1. Heavenly City
2. Costly City
3. Promised City
4. Large city
5. God-centered City
6. Living City

Why our heavenly home is cause for living the Christian life in this world

The New Testament visions of the believer's future heavenly home spark a rich desire to live for God in the here and now. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:18 "while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." Christians are a people that are ever pulled in two directions. The "outer-man" in these verses tugs our soul into this reality, this world. We often find ourselves tethered to making a living so as to nearly forget what life's meaning is all about. We are decaying and fading away. The other direction is the pull of the "inner-man" in these passages. The realities of eternity burn ever-brighter in the spirit of a man. Caught in the middle of this ongoing tug-of-war is our soul - the seat of personality, emotions, mind and choices. 

To know that as a Christian, I have a heavenly home, drives me onward to live for God. I find in these verses the supreme explanation as to why one must endure the hardships of life as a Christian. God is fitting us for eternity. Would it be that the believer's heavenly home lead their gaze of faith to point upward to Jesus. 

Closing thoughts

These last several days have been devoted to exploring what the Christian "has" to live the Christian life. We've noted four main truths from 2 Corinthians 3-4:

1. Position with God

2. Power to live for God

3. Person of Jesus Christ

4. Promise of a heavenly home 

P4 - What the Christian "has" to live the Christian life - Person of Jesus Christ

2 Corinthians 4:6 "For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."

Introduction:
Over the last few days, we have considered what Jesus gives the Christian to live the Christian life. Whenever it comes to the Christian life, the New Testament urges the Christian to understand what all they have in Christ. The world, the flesh and the Devil work hard to detract followers of Jesus from their true identity. In 2 Corinthians 3-4 we find at least four things in the Christian's possession. We have noted two of them in the last two posts...

1. Positional Standing with God. 2 Corinthians 3:1-6

2. Power to live for God. 2 Corinthians 3:7-4:1

Today's post is going to continue by noting the third and perhaps most important blessing Jesus could give to the Christian - namely Himself. Thus we find that the Christian "has"...

Person of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:2-12
In the opening passage of today's post we discover the profound truth about our salvation: we don't merely receive grace as some type of abstract power from God to live the Christian life. Instead, we obtain the Person of Jesus Himself. In the argument of 2 Corinthians 3, Paul reminded his readers that they are heirs along with him of the New Covenant promises in Jesus. Indeed, the Christian receives a positional standing in God at saving faith. Such positional standing is what the New Testament refers to as "justification", which is to say - God's legal declaration and crediting of the sinner as having Christ's righteousness at saving faith. 

But then we also found that with the position comes the power to live the Christian life by way of the Person and work of the Holy Spirit. All of these wondrous truths are spelled out in the New Covenant promises predicted in Old Testament passages like Jeremiah 31:31-34, proclaimed by Jesus Himself as the Mediator of the New Covenant in Luke 22 and initiated in the church at Pentecost in Acts 2. 

To have position with God and power from the Holy Spirit is indeed remarkable to think about when it comes to how we live the Christian life in a hostile world. However, we have the remarkable truth elaborated in 2 Corinthians 4 that we also have the Person of Jesus Christ. To have Him with us through the Holy Spirit's ministry is cause for wanting to renounce the world and its allurements and embrace Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord and Treasure (2 Corinthians 4:1-4). Once the blinders are taken off by God through the hearing of the proclamation of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 4:5), it is at that juncture that Christ is brought to us, and we to Him, by the agency and work of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Though Christians have the Person of Christ in this life, no one said it was going to be an easy life
2 Corinthians 4:7 notes the "treasure" we have contained within these "earthen vessels" of our humanity - "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves." The "treasure" that Paul refers to points back to the prior verse which makes mention of the "glory of God revealed on the face of Jesus Christ". 

Christ Himself is the treasure. We have Jesus in terms of all He achieved, all that He is in His ascended glory and Person and all His activities that He works forth on our behalf. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary makes the following observation:

"Self was not the matter or the end of the apostles' preaching; they preached Christ as Jesus, the Saviour and Deliverer, who saves to the uttermost all that come to God through him. Ministers are servants to the souls of men; they must avoid becoming servants to the humours or the lusts of men. It is pleasant to behold the sun in the firmament; but it is more pleasant and profitable for the gospel to shine in the heart. As light was the beginning of the first creation; so, in the new creation, the light of the Spirit is his first work upon the soul. The treasure of gospel light and grace is put into earthen vessels."

Albert Barnes in his commentary on this text observes:

"Paul in the previous verses had spoken of the gospel, the knowledge of Jesus Christ, as full of glory, and infinitely precious. This rich blessing had been committed to him and his fellow-laborers, to dispense it to others, and to diffuse it abroad. His purpose in this and the following verses is, to show that it had been so entrusted to them as to secure all the glory of its propagation to God, and so also as to show its unspeakable value."

We have the Savior, delivered to us by way of the Gospel by the Person of the Holy Spirit. With that truth affirmed by the apostle, why then must this treasure have included the hardships of trial and testing? After summarizing all that he and his ministry partners had to endure for Jesus' sake, Paul notes in 2 Corinthians 4:10 "always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." 

It is quite interesting how, in the ancient world, to access various substances of great value, their less valuable containers would need to be broken. A rose's scent, when crushed underfoot, would emit its sweet aroma. In Luke 7:36-39, when the woman with the alabaster box of perfume poured such upon Jesus' head, she had to break the alabaster box that contained that valuable perfume. Or again, we find Mary in John 12:1-3 pouring a type of perfume called "nard", which could only be accessed by the breaking of the small vessel she had with her. 

So Paul closes out with these words in 2 Corinthians 4:11-12 "For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you." The Christian life has as its treasure Jesus Christ in the Gospel. The point Paul is making though is that such a treasure must needs be accompanied by the testings and trials for it to be distributed to those who find no value in it. Once the treasure of Christ in the Christian is unleashed, God's grace by His Spirit attends such a life devoted to Him. Christ is disseminated among those who are lost. Saving faith issues forth from such hearts that respond to such overtures of grace from God through the believer. 

Closing thoughts
Today we considered how the Christian has the treasure of Christ in the Gospel. The Christian is an earthen vessel. We have Christ and all He is and all He has done and all He is doing. He our prophet speaks to us through the scriptures. He our Priest prays ever for us and appeals to the Father on our behalf. He as our King reigns over us by the scepter of His Word. Thanks be to God, Jesus Christ is not hermetically sealed off in history nor in Heaven. By the Person and work of the Holy Spirit, the Person and work of Jesus is made available to the Christian. In sharing with the Deity of the Spirit, the Person of Jesus as truly God is enjoyed. In like-manner, though the Son's glorified humanity is localized in Heaven, yet by the Spirit's work, His humanity is also enjoyed by His people who are united to Him in saving faith. We enjoy the whole Savior, deity and humanity - and rejoice in the fact that Jesus Christ is accessible to us 24/7. By the Gospel of Jesus we have the royal decree of the King concerning His commitment and love to us.