Who do people say the Son of Man is?
There are some remarkably profound questions in the Bible. These questions are provocative and the correct answers are essential to the Christian faith. The most significant question in the Bible was asked by Jesus of his disciples:
Who do people say the Son of Man is? (Matthew 16:13).
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What Do Donald Trump and Raphael Warnock have in Common?
At first glance it would seem that former President Trump and Georgia U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock would have little in common, especially when it comes to politics and religion. In fact, it is in the (mis)practice of religion where they share a common perspective. That is, religious faith serves their politics. Both of them have corrupted the gospel of Jesus Christ for the sake of their political agendas. And, both of them have many followers who join in the political idolatry.
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Is it Finished?
Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit (John 19:30).
Jesus had a singular purpose in life and that was to accomplish the will of Father (John 5:30; 6:38). The will of the Father is “that the world might be saved” through Christ (John 3:17). The death of Christ on the cross was essential to God’s redemptive plan.
For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him… He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach (Col 1:19–22).
The last words of Jesus on the cross were an acclamation of victory. With his final breath Jesus affirmed that he had accomplished the will of God. But how can death on the cross be victorious? Is there nothing more? Is the redemption work of God really finished? In fact, there is more and it’s the more that makes the cross victorious.
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The Agony and the Glory
One of the greatest temptations for Christians is the sterilization of the faith. We are embarrassed, sometimes even offended, by the brutal portrayals in Scripture. Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ has been roundly criticized for its graphic portrayal of the crucifixion. Some Christian theologians are so scandalized by the brutality of the cross that they postulate a non-violent atonement in which the blood of Christ is not the agent of atonement.
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In Defense of Church of God Academia
My first experience in Church of God academia occurred in 1978 at East Coast Bible College (Charlotte NC). My first class, Old Testament Survey, was taught by Dr. Ken Bell (presently Administrative Bishop of Western North Carolina). I will never forget his first words: “This is not going to be a glorified Sunday school class.”
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Not Angels, But Glorified Human Beings
One of the most common misunderstandings I have encountered in forty years of ministry is that at death humans are transformed into angels. We have all heard silly sentimental statements like: “Well, now Grandmama is singing in God’s angelic choir;” or “Daddy got his angel’s wings today.” No, when we die we do not become angels. So, what happens when we die?
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