The Divine Christ
Christian Faith
This You Can Believe
Faith Seeking Understanding
Object:
Though it is important, it is not enough to say that Jesus was a fully human being. The New Testament witnesses to the truth that Jesus Christ is the only Son of God. Mark, the earliest Gospel, begins, "In the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." John ends his Gospel: "But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God." According to the Bible and the creed Jesus is the theanthropic person, that is, the God-man. In the last chapter we considered the human Jesus; now we turn to study the divine Christ.
1. The Divine Name: Christ
The creed says, "I believe in Jesus Christ." Some erroneously think that "Jesus" was his first name and "Christ" is his family name, similar to "John Doe." As "Jesus" stood for his human nature, "Christ" refers to his divine nature.
The word "Christ" is a title given by the church meaning "the anointed one." He is God's Messiah (Hebrew) or Redeemer (Greek). He is God's servant called and sent to redeem the world. It is proper then to say "Jesus the Christ" -- Messiah, Redeemer, Savior, God's Son.
His name, "Christ," is often seen in the symbolism of our churches. As IHS stood for "Jesus," so the monogram Chi Rho for Christ. Chi Rho (XP or P over X) consists of the first two Greek letters of the word, "Christ" (Xpistos). Similar to IHS, Chi Rho can be seen on crosses, in stained-glass, on paraments and chancel furnishings.
2. The Divine Relationship: "His only Son"
The most distinctive and unique characteristic of Jesus was his relationship with God. At both his baptism and transfiguration, God calls him his son: "You are my beloved son." "Son" indicates a family association. In a family we are one: same blood, same concerns, same love and caring. Husband and wife are one flesh and children are of the same flesh. Jesus said, "The Father and I are one" (John 10:30). Because he shares the same nature as God, he is truly God as well as man.
Is Jesus "a" or "the" Son? In the movie Oh, God, George Burns, playing the part of God, is asked whether he has a son. He replies, "I have a number of sons: Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha ..." This answer is not in accord with the Bible nor the creed. Jesus Christ is "his only Son"; the key word is "only." Paul wrote, "There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God" (Ephesians 4:5-6). Christ is the one and only way to God the Father (John 14:6).
How then should we Christians consider the non-Christian religions? We acknowledge that there are moral values and spiritual insights in non-Christian religions. God has given his witness in various ways, times, and peoples. But his perfect and final witness is in his only Son, Jesus Christ. Other religions are like various rays of the sun, but God's only Son is the sun itself. Other religions seek God but in Christianity God seeks humankind. This seeking occurs when the church goes into all the world with the gospel.
3. The Divine Origin: "Conceived by the Holy Spirit"; "Conceived by the Power of the Holy Spirit"
According to this phrase in the creed, Jesus was God and had God in him from the beginning of his earthly existence. He did not come as a human reproductive accident. He was no unwanted child. God was the source of his being. The Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, created him in the womb of Mary. Unlike us, Jesus was not a religiously adopted child. He was God's child from the very beginning. Before he was born, he existed with the Father in heaven. The Spirit caused the eternal Christ to take human form, so that he could live as a physical being on earth and could identify with humanity.
4. The Divine Descent: "He descended into hell"; "He descended to the dead"
Jesus died on a cross and was buried in the new tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. When his body was in the tomb, where was Jesus? Did you ever wonder about that? He was not in heaven, for Luke tells us he ascended forty days after the resurrection. Was he in hell? But why would a sinless person go there? Did he go to the dead? Are the dead in hell? Again, did you ever wonder about the people who lived before Christ? If we believe that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ, how could those living before Jesus ever have the chance to accept him as Savior? This doctrine of the descensus will help us get the answers. Although the church has always believed in this doctrine, it was not enunciated until 359 A.D. in the Symbol of Sirmiurn and officially became part of the Apostles' Creed in 570 A.D.
According to the scriptures, Jesus did NOT go to hell. The traditional version of the creed follows the King James Version which uses the word "hell." "Hell" is used for two Hebrew words, Gehenna and Sheol. Gehenna is the Hebrew word for "hell." It refers to he Valley of Hinnom located outside Jerusalem. It was the garbage dump and incinerator that constantly burned. It stood for a place of misery, torture, and punishment. Sheol is the place of the dead located under the earth. The Bible refers to a three-story universe as follows: the heavens, the earth under the heavens, and Sheol under the earth. In Philippians 2:10 Paul refers to this kind of universe: "At the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth." Sheol was a shadowy place, devoid of light, joy, and peace. It was often referred to as the "pit." Job described it: "Before I go whence I shall not return, to the land of gloom and deep darkness, the land of gloom and chaos, where light is as darkness" (Job 10:21-22). The worst part about Sheol was that there was no escape, no life after death. The first reference to life after death came in the second century before Christ in Daniel 12:2. Even at the time of Jesus, not all believed in life after death. A major religious party, the Sadducees, did not believe. They tried to trick Jesus by asking him about a woman who had seven husbands and which one would be her husband after death.
The contemporary version of the creed is correct by saying, "He descended to the dead." His going to the dead in Sheol is referred to in Acts 2:27; Romans 10:6-7; Ephesians 4:8-10; Revelation 5:13; John 5:25; and especially 1 Peter 3:19 and 4:6. Why did Jesus go to the dead? According to 1 Peter 3:19 and 4:6, he went to tell the dead of his victory over Satan, sin, and death. The price of humanity's redemption was paid. The work of salvation was completed. He gave them the good news that they, too, could accept him and go with him to heaven. The dead includes all people, Jews and Gentiles, who lived before him. In the painting by Fra Angelico of the fifteenth century (see page 109), we see the resurrected Jesus carrying the banner of victory. The stone slab was broken down and fell on Satan. The dead, including all people (notice the haloes), come to Christ for deliverance.
What happens when we die? Where do we go? Perhaps the following diagram will help us to understand.
(The diagram is only available in the printed version of this book.)
Explanation Of The Diagram
We begin with life on earth by birth. Life on earth may last as long as 100 or more years, ending with physical death. On earth are Christians and non-Christians; both die. Before death it is possible for the non-Christian to cross over and become a Christian; a Christian can lose faith and go over to the non-Christian side. Note the broken line indicating the possibility of crossing over. After death there is no crossover. Note the solid line after death. After death the Bible says there is no repentance, no crossover. It is here and now that we choose where to spend eternity, either heaven or hell.
When people die, where are they? What is the next thing to happen? The New Testament tells us that Christ will return at an unknown date to judge the living and the dead. Then he will decide who goes to heaven or hell. Until that time non-Christians remain in Sheol for the judgment. At death Christians go to be with Jesus and have eternal life in heaven. For Protestants this is direct and immediate. According to Roman Catholic teaching, Catholics go to Purgatory to be prepared for heaven. Purgatory is a teaching of the Roman Church and is not in the Bible. Consequently, Protestants do not accept it. Purgatory was introduced by Pope Gregory the Great in the sixth century and became a dogma at the Council of Trent in 1563 A.D. According to Rome, a person needs Purgatory to prepare for heaven. Restitution must be made for sins confessed. A priest at private confession prescribes the punishment known as penance. Time in Purgatory may be shortened by indulgences, which were a remission of temporal punishment. Purgatory is viewed as a fire that burns away sins. At a Roman Catholic funeral service the following prayer was offered: "Be not severe in Thy judgment but let some drops of Thy precious blood fall upon the devouring flames."
5. The Divine Miracle: "The third day he rose again from the dead"; "On the third day he rose again"
The resurrection was a divine miracle, for God raised up Jesus from the dead. This "third day" was the great day of history. It is further evidence for the deity of Jesus. If he were only human, he would have died like every other human. Consider the importance of this day we call Easter. The resurrection changed the Sabbath to the Lord's Day, and ever since that day, millions upon millions of Christians meet on the first day of the week to celebrate the event. Now people have assurance of victory: life over death, hope over despair, truth over falsehood, and love over hatred.
The importance of the resurrection can be seen if we ask, what if Christ had not risen? In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul says that if Christ had not risen, our preaching would be in vain; our faith likewise would be in vain. We would still be in our sins, the dead would have perished, and our hardships endured for Christ would be in vain.
Without the resurrection the Christian religion would collapse. It is the keystone in the arch of the Christian faith. If Christ had not risen, he would be only a martyr to a good cause and not the Savior. His promises of forgiveness and eternal life would have no effect. His teachings would still be good but without authority. Without the resurrection Christianity would be just another religion with helpful teachings and ethical principles. The cross would be without power to save, a tragedy and not a victory. Because of Easter, Christianity as a religion is unique. The leaders of all other religions died and remain dead. Only Jesus rose from the dead and lives now and for eternity. Does that tell us which religion is the true one?
In light of the supreme importance of the resurrection, we need to ask, "Did Jesus really rise from the dead or do we only believe he did? Did he rise physically or did he just rise in the minds of the disciples?" Many Americans think Elvis Presley is alive even though his body is buried in the garden of his mansion. Is Jesus really alive or do we just think he lives? Saint Paul wrote, "In fact Christ has been raised from the dead" (1 Corinthians 15:20). The resurrection is a fact and not fiction. The nature of his resurrected body is secondary. According to the Gospels, it was a mysterious, glorified body that was both physical and spiritual.
But, you ask, how can we be sure he rose? There is the empty tomb but it is no absolute guarantee of the resurrection. A more certain proof is the experience that people from the beginning and through history had with the risen Jesus. Then there is the testimony of the church through the ages. Without the risen Christ, the church would disappear. The final proof is one's own personal experience: "I know he lives, because he lives in my heart."
6. The Divine Ascension: "He ascended into heaven"
The scene is glorious! Having completed his work and humiliation with suffering, God's Son is welcomed home by his Father and the angels. We can see the Son coming with bands playing, angelic choirs singing, trumpets blaring, and banners waving! What a glorious reception with God the Father standing before his throne with outstretched arms welcoming his faithful and obedient Son! Jesus Christ now returns to his former glory, honor, and power which he had before the Incarnation.
The Ascension has been portrayed in the creed, in painting, and on stained-glass windows. From the first century the Ascension has been in scripture and in the worship of the church. In my own case, the Ascension made a deep impression on my life. In the church where I grew up, there was a painting of the ascending Christ on the reredos above the altar. Later when I went to seminary, I saw each day the Ascension in the stained-glass window above the altar with Jesus giving the final mandate to go into all the world and preach the gospel.
The Ascension is a problem for those who take it literally. It implies an anthropomorphic conception of God. Indeed, God does not have a literal right hand where Jesus is seated. Moreover, the Ascension is placed in a three-story universe. In our space age we know there is no up and no down. The ascending Jesus did not have a physical body. The Ascension is simply telling us that Christ returned to his Father and resumed his role as Son of God, King of kings, and ruler of the universe. Christ was exalted and all things were put under his feet.
What does the Ascension mean to us today? It means, for one thing, Jesus can be with us wherever we are. When he was on earth, he was limited by time and space. His ministry was limited to one race and one country. Now he is available at any time and any place for anyone who calls upon him. Now it is possible for Jesus' promise to come true: "I am with you always."
It also means that Jesus sits at the right hand of God as our high priest. He is next to God the Father and intercedes for us. We come to God through Jesus. When we pray, we offer our petitions in his name. When we appear before God for forgiveness, Jesus is our Advocate.
In addition, Jesus' going to heaven gives the church a challenge to complete the work of saving the world by making disciples of the nations. He has given his followers the ministry of reconciliation.
Only because Jesus ascended, the Holy Spirit is received. Christ comes to us and lives in us by the Holy Spirit. Through his Spirit we are guided into truth and empowered to do his will.
7. The Divine Judgment: "From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead;" "He will come again to judge the living and the dead"
Only God can judge the nations and send people to heaven or hell. "He shall come again to judge...." The "he" in the creed is Jesus. Because he is the Son of God, he will return to earth to judge the world at an unknown time.
His coming to judge means the winding up of history. His coming, the Parousia, teaches us that history has meaning. History has a meaning, an ending with God. It is not a mere running down until it lacks momentum. Nor is it an endless repeating of cycles, cycles of history repeating itself. This is God's world and Christians believe God has a purpose for the world. He will end it when it is his will to do so.
Moreover, Christ's return means there will be a settling of accounts. On earth the good have not always been rewarded and the wicked have not been punished. When he returns, things will be straightened out and all will get their just desserts. Therefore, the people of God will rejoice when he comes. Until he comes, they pray, "Maranatha," "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly."
Judgment: Now Or Later
Judgment is universal: both the living and the dead. "For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:10). Everyone will be required to give an account of his/her stewardship. We will be asked, "What have you done with your life?"
The big question is WHEN will the judgment occur -- now or later when Jesus returns at the end of time? For non-Christians the answer is "later." Paul writes: "By your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed" (Romans 2:5). Until Christ returns non-Christians will wait in Sheol (Hades) for final judgment.
The time of judgment for Christians is both: now and later. They who hold to the "later" view believe the dead sleep in their graves. At the sound of the trumpet, Christ will return and the dead will rise for the judgment. "For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed" (1 Corinthians 15:52). This view presents some questions: (1) If this is true, how then can a pastor say at a funeral of a Christian that the deceased is with Jesus in heaven? (2) In the case of cremation, how would ashes become the original physical body?
Another view is that Christians are judged here and now before they die. We have the witness of Jesus: "Truly, truly I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life" (John 5:24). Again, Jesus said, "Those who believe in him are not condemned" (John 3:18). Jesus said to the repentant thief on the cross: "Today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).
Paul also takes the position that a Christian is judged now. He wrote, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). In Philippians 1:21, 23 Paul confesses, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. My desire is to be with Christ, for that is far better."
If, from these passages, we learn that at death Christians go directly and immediately to be with Christ in heaven, why would there be a future judgment for them? To be with Christ, we would have to be forgiven and accepted. Judgment comes to Christians here and now. It occurs when we confess our sins and receive absolution of our sins, especially when we receive the sacraments.
Saint Paul gives us a second reason for believing judgment of Christians takes place now, not later. If at death Christians go to be with their Lord in heaven, they are with him when he decides to return to earth to judge. In 1 Thessalonians Paul says, "God will bring with him those who have died" (4:14). Then when Christ and his people come to earth for the judgment of the nations, Christians on earth at the time "will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will be with the Lord forever" (4:17). Some call this meeting the "rapture."
A third reason for holding to the view that Christians face judgment now, not later, is in the wonderful fact that God forgets when he forgives. Isaiah teaches us this truth: "I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins" (43:25). When we confess our sins and receive forgiveness, the sin is forever blotted out and will never again be brought against us. A story is told of a priest who had an exceptional nun who claimed she often talked with God. One day the priest asked her to ask God what was the secret sin of their bishop. She agreed to ask God. Some time later the priest asked the nun if she talked with God and gave him the question. She replied that she did. He said, "What did God say that the bishop's secret sin was?" She answered, "God said he forgot." It must be like an audio or video tape. When it is reused, the original is automatically erased. Isn't this good news? At the thought of dying, I dreaded the possibility of having to appear before God and confess every word said and every deed done. It has taken away the fear of judgment.
What does this present judgment mean to us? Does it not mean that the last thing we should do before dying is to confess our sins and receive God's forgiveness? The church offers this service by administering to the dying the sacrament of the Holy Communion when we receive the remission of our sins.
It means also that we need to live daily in a state of grace. Be right with God every day so that we can say, "It is well with my soul." Then it does not matter when we die. We can face death without terror or fear. It is a wonderful feeling to know that we are right with the Judge and we have the assurance of heaven. We can look forward to death as a meeting with Jesus and for a reunion with the loved ones who preceded us in death.
Study Guide
The Divine Christ
The Divine Name
1. Who gave Jesus his name? Check your answer(s).
___ Father
___ Mother
___ Gabriel (See Luke 1:26, 31)
___ God
2. If Jesus is his name, where did "Christ" originate? Check your answer.
___ Peter (See Matthew 16:16)
___ Jesus' enemies: Pharisees, Sadducees (See Matthew 27:22)
___ Church: a title but not a name (See 1 John 2:22)
Descent To Hell
The traditional version of the Apostles' Creed says that Jesus "descended into hell." Can you accept that? Check your answers.
1. ___ Because Jesus was sinless, Jesus never went to hell.
2. ___ Jesus went to hell to suffer hell for us.
3. ___ I believe Jesus went to hell because the Bible says so.
4. ___ Jesus did not go to hell but to Sheol, to the dead.
5. ___ Jesus went to Sheol to proclaim his victory over death and Satan.
6. ___ By going to Sheol, Jesus opened the gate of heaven to all who died.
Because He Was God
Only one who was God could do the following. Look up the passages and write the answers.
1. Be conceived by the ____________ ____________. (Luke 1:35)
2. Rise from the ____________. (Mark 16:6)
3. ____________ to heaven. (Luke 24:51)
4. Sit at the ____________ hand of God. (Acts 2:33)
5. Promise to return to __________ all people. (Matthew 25:31-33)
A Study Of Sheol
Is Sheol a strange word for you? Have you ever heard of it? Read the following passages and give a description in the blanks:
1. Job 10:21-22 _______________________________________
2. Acts 2:27 ___________________________________________
3. Romans 10:6-7 ______________________________________
4. Ephesians 4:8-10 _____________________________________
5. 1 Peter 3:19, 4:6 ______________________________________
6. Jude 6 _____________________________________________
A Painting Of Sheol By Fra Angelico
Please turn to the picture on page 109 (only in printed version) and study it. Can you find the answers to the following questions?
1. Who is the person welcoming the dead?
2. What does the flag signify?
3. Where is Satan?
4. Who are those wearing haloes?
5. On what is the resurrected Christ standing?
6. Where are the dead?
1. The Divine Name: Christ
The creed says, "I believe in Jesus Christ." Some erroneously think that "Jesus" was his first name and "Christ" is his family name, similar to "John Doe." As "Jesus" stood for his human nature, "Christ" refers to his divine nature.
The word "Christ" is a title given by the church meaning "the anointed one." He is God's Messiah (Hebrew) or Redeemer (Greek). He is God's servant called and sent to redeem the world. It is proper then to say "Jesus the Christ" -- Messiah, Redeemer, Savior, God's Son.
His name, "Christ," is often seen in the symbolism of our churches. As IHS stood for "Jesus," so the monogram Chi Rho for Christ. Chi Rho (XP or P over X) consists of the first two Greek letters of the word, "Christ" (Xpistos). Similar to IHS, Chi Rho can be seen on crosses, in stained-glass, on paraments and chancel furnishings.
2. The Divine Relationship: "His only Son"
The most distinctive and unique characteristic of Jesus was his relationship with God. At both his baptism and transfiguration, God calls him his son: "You are my beloved son." "Son" indicates a family association. In a family we are one: same blood, same concerns, same love and caring. Husband and wife are one flesh and children are of the same flesh. Jesus said, "The Father and I are one" (John 10:30). Because he shares the same nature as God, he is truly God as well as man.
Is Jesus "a" or "the" Son? In the movie Oh, God, George Burns, playing the part of God, is asked whether he has a son. He replies, "I have a number of sons: Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha ..." This answer is not in accord with the Bible nor the creed. Jesus Christ is "his only Son"; the key word is "only." Paul wrote, "There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God" (Ephesians 4:5-6). Christ is the one and only way to God the Father (John 14:6).
How then should we Christians consider the non-Christian religions? We acknowledge that there are moral values and spiritual insights in non-Christian religions. God has given his witness in various ways, times, and peoples. But his perfect and final witness is in his only Son, Jesus Christ. Other religions are like various rays of the sun, but God's only Son is the sun itself. Other religions seek God but in Christianity God seeks humankind. This seeking occurs when the church goes into all the world with the gospel.
3. The Divine Origin: "Conceived by the Holy Spirit"; "Conceived by the Power of the Holy Spirit"
According to this phrase in the creed, Jesus was God and had God in him from the beginning of his earthly existence. He did not come as a human reproductive accident. He was no unwanted child. God was the source of his being. The Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, created him in the womb of Mary. Unlike us, Jesus was not a religiously adopted child. He was God's child from the very beginning. Before he was born, he existed with the Father in heaven. The Spirit caused the eternal Christ to take human form, so that he could live as a physical being on earth and could identify with humanity.
4. The Divine Descent: "He descended into hell"; "He descended to the dead"
Jesus died on a cross and was buried in the new tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. When his body was in the tomb, where was Jesus? Did you ever wonder about that? He was not in heaven, for Luke tells us he ascended forty days after the resurrection. Was he in hell? But why would a sinless person go there? Did he go to the dead? Are the dead in hell? Again, did you ever wonder about the people who lived before Christ? If we believe that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ, how could those living before Jesus ever have the chance to accept him as Savior? This doctrine of the descensus will help us get the answers. Although the church has always believed in this doctrine, it was not enunciated until 359 A.D. in the Symbol of Sirmiurn and officially became part of the Apostles' Creed in 570 A.D.
According to the scriptures, Jesus did NOT go to hell. The traditional version of the creed follows the King James Version which uses the word "hell." "Hell" is used for two Hebrew words, Gehenna and Sheol. Gehenna is the Hebrew word for "hell." It refers to he Valley of Hinnom located outside Jerusalem. It was the garbage dump and incinerator that constantly burned. It stood for a place of misery, torture, and punishment. Sheol is the place of the dead located under the earth. The Bible refers to a three-story universe as follows: the heavens, the earth under the heavens, and Sheol under the earth. In Philippians 2:10 Paul refers to this kind of universe: "At the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth." Sheol was a shadowy place, devoid of light, joy, and peace. It was often referred to as the "pit." Job described it: "Before I go whence I shall not return, to the land of gloom and deep darkness, the land of gloom and chaos, where light is as darkness" (Job 10:21-22). The worst part about Sheol was that there was no escape, no life after death. The first reference to life after death came in the second century before Christ in Daniel 12:2. Even at the time of Jesus, not all believed in life after death. A major religious party, the Sadducees, did not believe. They tried to trick Jesus by asking him about a woman who had seven husbands and which one would be her husband after death.
The contemporary version of the creed is correct by saying, "He descended to the dead." His going to the dead in Sheol is referred to in Acts 2:27; Romans 10:6-7; Ephesians 4:8-10; Revelation 5:13; John 5:25; and especially 1 Peter 3:19 and 4:6. Why did Jesus go to the dead? According to 1 Peter 3:19 and 4:6, he went to tell the dead of his victory over Satan, sin, and death. The price of humanity's redemption was paid. The work of salvation was completed. He gave them the good news that they, too, could accept him and go with him to heaven. The dead includes all people, Jews and Gentiles, who lived before him. In the painting by Fra Angelico of the fifteenth century (see page 109), we see the resurrected Jesus carrying the banner of victory. The stone slab was broken down and fell on Satan. The dead, including all people (notice the haloes), come to Christ for deliverance.
What happens when we die? Where do we go? Perhaps the following diagram will help us to understand.
(The diagram is only available in the printed version of this book.)
Explanation Of The Diagram
We begin with life on earth by birth. Life on earth may last as long as 100 or more years, ending with physical death. On earth are Christians and non-Christians; both die. Before death it is possible for the non-Christian to cross over and become a Christian; a Christian can lose faith and go over to the non-Christian side. Note the broken line indicating the possibility of crossing over. After death there is no crossover. Note the solid line after death. After death the Bible says there is no repentance, no crossover. It is here and now that we choose where to spend eternity, either heaven or hell.
When people die, where are they? What is the next thing to happen? The New Testament tells us that Christ will return at an unknown date to judge the living and the dead. Then he will decide who goes to heaven or hell. Until that time non-Christians remain in Sheol for the judgment. At death Christians go to be with Jesus and have eternal life in heaven. For Protestants this is direct and immediate. According to Roman Catholic teaching, Catholics go to Purgatory to be prepared for heaven. Purgatory is a teaching of the Roman Church and is not in the Bible. Consequently, Protestants do not accept it. Purgatory was introduced by Pope Gregory the Great in the sixth century and became a dogma at the Council of Trent in 1563 A.D. According to Rome, a person needs Purgatory to prepare for heaven. Restitution must be made for sins confessed. A priest at private confession prescribes the punishment known as penance. Time in Purgatory may be shortened by indulgences, which were a remission of temporal punishment. Purgatory is viewed as a fire that burns away sins. At a Roman Catholic funeral service the following prayer was offered: "Be not severe in Thy judgment but let some drops of Thy precious blood fall upon the devouring flames."
5. The Divine Miracle: "The third day he rose again from the dead"; "On the third day he rose again"
The resurrection was a divine miracle, for God raised up Jesus from the dead. This "third day" was the great day of history. It is further evidence for the deity of Jesus. If he were only human, he would have died like every other human. Consider the importance of this day we call Easter. The resurrection changed the Sabbath to the Lord's Day, and ever since that day, millions upon millions of Christians meet on the first day of the week to celebrate the event. Now people have assurance of victory: life over death, hope over despair, truth over falsehood, and love over hatred.
The importance of the resurrection can be seen if we ask, what if Christ had not risen? In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul says that if Christ had not risen, our preaching would be in vain; our faith likewise would be in vain. We would still be in our sins, the dead would have perished, and our hardships endured for Christ would be in vain.
Without the resurrection the Christian religion would collapse. It is the keystone in the arch of the Christian faith. If Christ had not risen, he would be only a martyr to a good cause and not the Savior. His promises of forgiveness and eternal life would have no effect. His teachings would still be good but without authority. Without the resurrection Christianity would be just another religion with helpful teachings and ethical principles. The cross would be without power to save, a tragedy and not a victory. Because of Easter, Christianity as a religion is unique. The leaders of all other religions died and remain dead. Only Jesus rose from the dead and lives now and for eternity. Does that tell us which religion is the true one?
In light of the supreme importance of the resurrection, we need to ask, "Did Jesus really rise from the dead or do we only believe he did? Did he rise physically or did he just rise in the minds of the disciples?" Many Americans think Elvis Presley is alive even though his body is buried in the garden of his mansion. Is Jesus really alive or do we just think he lives? Saint Paul wrote, "In fact Christ has been raised from the dead" (1 Corinthians 15:20). The resurrection is a fact and not fiction. The nature of his resurrected body is secondary. According to the Gospels, it was a mysterious, glorified body that was both physical and spiritual.
But, you ask, how can we be sure he rose? There is the empty tomb but it is no absolute guarantee of the resurrection. A more certain proof is the experience that people from the beginning and through history had with the risen Jesus. Then there is the testimony of the church through the ages. Without the risen Christ, the church would disappear. The final proof is one's own personal experience: "I know he lives, because he lives in my heart."
6. The Divine Ascension: "He ascended into heaven"
The scene is glorious! Having completed his work and humiliation with suffering, God's Son is welcomed home by his Father and the angels. We can see the Son coming with bands playing, angelic choirs singing, trumpets blaring, and banners waving! What a glorious reception with God the Father standing before his throne with outstretched arms welcoming his faithful and obedient Son! Jesus Christ now returns to his former glory, honor, and power which he had before the Incarnation.
The Ascension has been portrayed in the creed, in painting, and on stained-glass windows. From the first century the Ascension has been in scripture and in the worship of the church. In my own case, the Ascension made a deep impression on my life. In the church where I grew up, there was a painting of the ascending Christ on the reredos above the altar. Later when I went to seminary, I saw each day the Ascension in the stained-glass window above the altar with Jesus giving the final mandate to go into all the world and preach the gospel.
The Ascension is a problem for those who take it literally. It implies an anthropomorphic conception of God. Indeed, God does not have a literal right hand where Jesus is seated. Moreover, the Ascension is placed in a three-story universe. In our space age we know there is no up and no down. The ascending Jesus did not have a physical body. The Ascension is simply telling us that Christ returned to his Father and resumed his role as Son of God, King of kings, and ruler of the universe. Christ was exalted and all things were put under his feet.
What does the Ascension mean to us today? It means, for one thing, Jesus can be with us wherever we are. When he was on earth, he was limited by time and space. His ministry was limited to one race and one country. Now he is available at any time and any place for anyone who calls upon him. Now it is possible for Jesus' promise to come true: "I am with you always."
It also means that Jesus sits at the right hand of God as our high priest. He is next to God the Father and intercedes for us. We come to God through Jesus. When we pray, we offer our petitions in his name. When we appear before God for forgiveness, Jesus is our Advocate.
In addition, Jesus' going to heaven gives the church a challenge to complete the work of saving the world by making disciples of the nations. He has given his followers the ministry of reconciliation.
Only because Jesus ascended, the Holy Spirit is received. Christ comes to us and lives in us by the Holy Spirit. Through his Spirit we are guided into truth and empowered to do his will.
7. The Divine Judgment: "From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead;" "He will come again to judge the living and the dead"
Only God can judge the nations and send people to heaven or hell. "He shall come again to judge...." The "he" in the creed is Jesus. Because he is the Son of God, he will return to earth to judge the world at an unknown time.
His coming to judge means the winding up of history. His coming, the Parousia, teaches us that history has meaning. History has a meaning, an ending with God. It is not a mere running down until it lacks momentum. Nor is it an endless repeating of cycles, cycles of history repeating itself. This is God's world and Christians believe God has a purpose for the world. He will end it when it is his will to do so.
Moreover, Christ's return means there will be a settling of accounts. On earth the good have not always been rewarded and the wicked have not been punished. When he returns, things will be straightened out and all will get their just desserts. Therefore, the people of God will rejoice when he comes. Until he comes, they pray, "Maranatha," "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly."
Judgment: Now Or Later
Judgment is universal: both the living and the dead. "For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:10). Everyone will be required to give an account of his/her stewardship. We will be asked, "What have you done with your life?"
The big question is WHEN will the judgment occur -- now or later when Jesus returns at the end of time? For non-Christians the answer is "later." Paul writes: "By your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed" (Romans 2:5). Until Christ returns non-Christians will wait in Sheol (Hades) for final judgment.
The time of judgment for Christians is both: now and later. They who hold to the "later" view believe the dead sleep in their graves. At the sound of the trumpet, Christ will return and the dead will rise for the judgment. "For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed" (1 Corinthians 15:52). This view presents some questions: (1) If this is true, how then can a pastor say at a funeral of a Christian that the deceased is with Jesus in heaven? (2) In the case of cremation, how would ashes become the original physical body?
Another view is that Christians are judged here and now before they die. We have the witness of Jesus: "Truly, truly I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life" (John 5:24). Again, Jesus said, "Those who believe in him are not condemned" (John 3:18). Jesus said to the repentant thief on the cross: "Today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).
Paul also takes the position that a Christian is judged now. He wrote, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). In Philippians 1:21, 23 Paul confesses, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. My desire is to be with Christ, for that is far better."
If, from these passages, we learn that at death Christians go directly and immediately to be with Christ in heaven, why would there be a future judgment for them? To be with Christ, we would have to be forgiven and accepted. Judgment comes to Christians here and now. It occurs when we confess our sins and receive absolution of our sins, especially when we receive the sacraments.
Saint Paul gives us a second reason for believing judgment of Christians takes place now, not later. If at death Christians go to be with their Lord in heaven, they are with him when he decides to return to earth to judge. In 1 Thessalonians Paul says, "God will bring with him those who have died" (4:14). Then when Christ and his people come to earth for the judgment of the nations, Christians on earth at the time "will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will be with the Lord forever" (4:17). Some call this meeting the "rapture."
A third reason for holding to the view that Christians face judgment now, not later, is in the wonderful fact that God forgets when he forgives. Isaiah teaches us this truth: "I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins" (43:25). When we confess our sins and receive forgiveness, the sin is forever blotted out and will never again be brought against us. A story is told of a priest who had an exceptional nun who claimed she often talked with God. One day the priest asked her to ask God what was the secret sin of their bishop. She agreed to ask God. Some time later the priest asked the nun if she talked with God and gave him the question. She replied that she did. He said, "What did God say that the bishop's secret sin was?" She answered, "God said he forgot." It must be like an audio or video tape. When it is reused, the original is automatically erased. Isn't this good news? At the thought of dying, I dreaded the possibility of having to appear before God and confess every word said and every deed done. It has taken away the fear of judgment.
What does this present judgment mean to us? Does it not mean that the last thing we should do before dying is to confess our sins and receive God's forgiveness? The church offers this service by administering to the dying the sacrament of the Holy Communion when we receive the remission of our sins.
It means also that we need to live daily in a state of grace. Be right with God every day so that we can say, "It is well with my soul." Then it does not matter when we die. We can face death without terror or fear. It is a wonderful feeling to know that we are right with the Judge and we have the assurance of heaven. We can look forward to death as a meeting with Jesus and for a reunion with the loved ones who preceded us in death.
Study Guide
The Divine Christ
The Divine Name
1. Who gave Jesus his name? Check your answer(s).
___ Father
___ Mother
___ Gabriel (See Luke 1:26, 31)
___ God
2. If Jesus is his name, where did "Christ" originate? Check your answer.
___ Peter (See Matthew 16:16)
___ Jesus' enemies: Pharisees, Sadducees (See Matthew 27:22)
___ Church: a title but not a name (See 1 John 2:22)
Descent To Hell
The traditional version of the Apostles' Creed says that Jesus "descended into hell." Can you accept that? Check your answers.
1. ___ Because Jesus was sinless, Jesus never went to hell.
2. ___ Jesus went to hell to suffer hell for us.
3. ___ I believe Jesus went to hell because the Bible says so.
4. ___ Jesus did not go to hell but to Sheol, to the dead.
5. ___ Jesus went to Sheol to proclaim his victory over death and Satan.
6. ___ By going to Sheol, Jesus opened the gate of heaven to all who died.
Because He Was God
Only one who was God could do the following. Look up the passages and write the answers.
1. Be conceived by the ____________ ____________. (Luke 1:35)
2. Rise from the ____________. (Mark 16:6)
3. ____________ to heaven. (Luke 24:51)
4. Sit at the ____________ hand of God. (Acts 2:33)
5. Promise to return to __________ all people. (Matthew 25:31-33)
A Study Of Sheol
Is Sheol a strange word for you? Have you ever heard of it? Read the following passages and give a description in the blanks:
1. Job 10:21-22 _______________________________________
2. Acts 2:27 ___________________________________________
3. Romans 10:6-7 ______________________________________
4. Ephesians 4:8-10 _____________________________________
5. 1 Peter 3:19, 4:6 ______________________________________
6. Jude 6 _____________________________________________
A Painting Of Sheol By Fra Angelico
Please turn to the picture on page 109 (only in printed version) and study it. Can you find the answers to the following questions?
1. Who is the person welcoming the dead?
2. What does the flag signify?
3. Where is Satan?
4. Who are those wearing haloes?
5. On what is the resurrected Christ standing?
6. Where are the dead?
