I am currently reading the book, "Jesus In Trinitarian Perspective" by Fred Sanders and Klaus Issler (required reading for class at The Resurgence Training Center; Re:Train). The scope of this book is greater than I can articulate at a glance here in a post. In fact, much of it I am still trying to wrap my own mind around let alone assist others in the same. However, this evening I was greatly moved by the Chalcedonian Definition translated and included by a contributor of the book, Donald Fairbairn. This definition came out of the fourth ecumenical council in AD 451. The language is beautiful; the wording, clear. This is Logos; this is Jesus Christ. This is a wonderful foundation for Christology. I hope you enjoy...
"Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all unite in teaching that we should confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
This same one is perfect in deity, and the same one is perfect in humanity; the same one is true God and true man, comprising a rational soul and body.
He is of the same substance as the Father according to his deity, and the same one is of the same substance with us according to his humanity, like us in all things except sin.
He was begotten before the ages from the Father according to his deity, but in the last days for us and our salvation, the same one was born of the virgin Mary, the bearer of God, according to his humanity.
He is one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, and only-begotten, who is made known in two natures unconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably.
The distinction between the natures is not at all destroyed because of the union, but rather the property of each nature is preserved and concurs together in one prosopon and hypostasis.
He is not separated or divided into two prosopa, but is one and the same Son, the only-begotten, God the Logos, the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the way the prophets spoke of him from the beginning, and Jesus Christ himself instructed us, and the council of the fathers has handed [the faith] down to us." (Sanders, Fred; Issler, Klaus; Jesus in Trinitarian Perspective; B&H Academic; Nashville, Tennessee; 2007; p. 104)
Friday, August 28, 2009
A sense of calm (2 Kings 6:18)
The Syrian army surrounded the city of Dothan in an attempt to capture Elisha, the “man of God.” The king of Syria was tired of being ratted out by Elisha every time he wanted to attack Israel. So, what does he do? He sends a great army to remove Elisha from the picture. Interesting really… Elisha has this great ability, obviously from God, and the king of Syria thinks he can deal with it in human strength. Elisha is already doing things that are clearly not of human origin, how is this going to be any different?
Well, I love Elisha’s sense of calm. “Men of God” in scripture always seem to have it, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds: Moses vs. Pharaoh and the Egyptians; David vs. Goliath; Elijah vs. the prophets of Baal; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego vs. Nebuchanezzar and the furnace; Daniel vs. the lions; etc… Elisha knows something. And that “something” is the source of his sense of calm. Elisha’s servant, on the other hand, lacks this sense of calm; he has a different sense all together. He panics and looks to his master and asks, “What shall we do?” (2 Kings 6:15) His response is not all that different from our own when we are confronted with the “uh oh’s” of life. Where does Elisha’s sense of calm come from? I could use that. Well, Elisha knows that nothing can happen to him that isn’t first allowed by God; he knows that. I love what he says to his fearful servant in vs. 16, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” It reminds me of something the Apostle John would one day write, “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4; ESV) Elisha knew this to be true BUT his servant needed a reminder. Obviously the other great things he had witnessed while serving Elisha were not enough to keep that great truth forefront in his mind. So, Elisha prays for his servants eyes to be open and what does he see? An army of horses and chariots of fire, I am assuming much like the one that carried Elijah off. It says that the “mountain was full” of them and they were “all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:17) What a thing to see! If God were to unveil our eyes from such spiritual spectacles how would that impact our own sense of calm? Would we continue to run around with such anxiety and worry? I wonder…
Well, I love Elisha’s sense of calm. “Men of God” in scripture always seem to have it, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds: Moses vs. Pharaoh and the Egyptians; David vs. Goliath; Elijah vs. the prophets of Baal; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego vs. Nebuchanezzar and the furnace; Daniel vs. the lions; etc… Elisha knows something. And that “something” is the source of his sense of calm. Elisha’s servant, on the other hand, lacks this sense of calm; he has a different sense all together. He panics and looks to his master and asks, “What shall we do?” (2 Kings 6:15) His response is not all that different from our own when we are confronted with the “uh oh’s” of life. Where does Elisha’s sense of calm come from? I could use that. Well, Elisha knows that nothing can happen to him that isn’t first allowed by God; he knows that. I love what he says to his fearful servant in vs. 16, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” It reminds me of something the Apostle John would one day write, “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4; ESV) Elisha knew this to be true BUT his servant needed a reminder. Obviously the other great things he had witnessed while serving Elisha were not enough to keep that great truth forefront in his mind. So, Elisha prays for his servants eyes to be open and what does he see? An army of horses and chariots of fire, I am assuming much like the one that carried Elijah off. It says that the “mountain was full” of them and they were “all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:17) What a thing to see! If God were to unveil our eyes from such spiritual spectacles how would that impact our own sense of calm? Would we continue to run around with such anxiety and worry? I wonder…
For Prayer
I sit and I close my eyes. Face in my hands, I make an attempt to pray. This prayer is unusual. It is not one that God would bless me and my day. It is not one that God would protect my wife and kids. It is not one that God would soften the hearts of unsaved loved ones. It is a prayer for prayer.
My wife and I have been married now for fourteen years. Over the course of those years, I have often sought my wife out to meet my needs. I have pursued her at times for me. She has something. I want it and I pursue her to get it. It appears that I have often pursued God with a similar motive. He has something. I want it and I pursue Him to get it. We pursue when there is pain that we want to go away. We pursue when we want God to intervene to help us save money, time and energy. We pursue when all other pursuits have failed to deliver, when all other paths have failed to lead us to our own “predetermined” destination. God often is our last resort.
It turns out getting my needs met is not the greatest end. I pursue my wife so that I can get and the getting doesn’t get it done. It then becomes clear that at the end of the day I just want my wife. I want beautiful relationship. I want to be connected with her, one with her. I want to know her like I want her to know me. Beautiful relationship with my wife is greater than anything she could ever give me.
The Apostle Paul made an emphatic statement in Philippians 3. He said, “I want to know Christ.” (3:10; NIV) Jesus Himself defined eternal life this way during a prayer in John 17, “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3; ESV) To know God is greater than anything else He could ever give you. Today my prayer is for prayer.
My wife and I have been married now for fourteen years. Over the course of those years, I have often sought my wife out to meet my needs. I have pursued her at times for me. She has something. I want it and I pursue her to get it. It appears that I have often pursued God with a similar motive. He has something. I want it and I pursue Him to get it. We pursue when there is pain that we want to go away. We pursue when we want God to intervene to help us save money, time and energy. We pursue when all other pursuits have failed to deliver, when all other paths have failed to lead us to our own “predetermined” destination. God often is our last resort.
It turns out getting my needs met is not the greatest end. I pursue my wife so that I can get and the getting doesn’t get it done. It then becomes clear that at the end of the day I just want my wife. I want beautiful relationship. I want to be connected with her, one with her. I want to know her like I want her to know me. Beautiful relationship with my wife is greater than anything she could ever give me.
The Apostle Paul made an emphatic statement in Philippians 3. He said, “I want to know Christ.” (3:10; NIV) Jesus Himself defined eternal life this way during a prayer in John 17, “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3; ESV) To know God is greater than anything else He could ever give you. Today my prayer is for prayer.
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