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SPEAKING OF LIFE

A weekly web programme from GCI commenting each week providing a biblical perspective on how we live in the light of God's love.

Speaking Of Life: 1036 | Steadfast Love

1036 | Steadfast Love

God’s love is steadfast – unwavering, persistent, committed, unrelenting. We can never fully love like he does, but we can constantly be learning as we live in his grace and steadfast love every day, and into eternity.

Jesus says “I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE…” – John 14:6

You can view other Speaking Of Life episodes here:
https://www.gci.org/videos/media-spea...

Thought for the Week

Hello,

If you were robbed or attacked on a busy street, would anyone stop to help you? Until recently, the commonly held view was that it was unlikely.

But a group of researchers at Lancaster University have called this theory into question. After analysing 100s of hours of CTTV footage of violent situations in the UK, Netherlands and South Africa, they saw that in 90% of cases bystanders stepped in to help. The more bystanders there were, the greater the likelihood that someone would intervene.

I find this puzzling. In an increasingly selfish and dangerous world, where does the outpouring of altruistic goodness come from? As a Christian, I find the answer to this, and many other questions, in the ancient wisdom of the Bible. which simply says, "whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God" (James 1:17 TLB)

Where does human goodness come from? The answer is that it's a gift from God.

Don't keep it to yourself.

All the best,
Pete Mill

Pete Mill is a member of the National Ministry Team for Grace Communion International in the UK

17th August 2019

Taken from - Day by Day - Growing Together in Life and Faith http://www.daybyday.org.uk/

Friday Bible Study

17th August 2019

The Self-Emptying God, (Part Five – The Son, continued)

“…being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross…to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:7-8; 11 (NRSV)

Our previous reflection showed that the Son emptied himself in order to serve, save and reconcile us to the Father. But we also see in the Bible that the Son empties himself in order to glorify and fulfil the will of the Father.
We see this most clearly portrayed in the garden of Gethsemane. On this night of agony Jesus was terrified of what faced him and asked for any way to get out of what he had to go through. He knelt down and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want” (Matthew 26:39). A few moments later he prayed for a second time, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done” (verse 42). Then we are told he prayed “for the third time, saying the same words” (verse 44). Jesus knew what it was like to not have his prayers answered in the way he would have wanted, but he was determined to be obedient to the Father. This submission of Jesus to the will of the Father is highly kenotic; the Son is giving up his own desire to avoid suffering in order to fulfil the Father’s will to rescue us.
Now of course, it is also the will of the Son to redeem us, but at this point when he is confronted with the agony he has to face, Jesus has to empty himself of the natural human desire to save himself in order to fulfil this greater purpose. The writer to the Hebrews refers to this incident in Gethsemane when he writes that Jesus learned obedience through this suffering: “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered” (Hebrews 5:7-8).
By perfectly submitting to the Father’s will, Jesus undid Adam’s disobedience that tainted the human race, and as the Last Adam he “became the source of eternal salvation for all…” (verse 9). Jesus, therefore, glorifies the Father by obediently and willingly facing death in order to fulfil the Father’s desire to redeem us.
Paul speaks of the glory that the Father receives at the end of the passage from Philippians chapter 2. He says that everyone will confess and enjoy the Lordship of Jesus ‘to the glory of God the Father.’ So ultimately Christ’s whole kenosis in becoming human and dying on the cross, as well as his subsequent exaltation and Lordship serve the purpose of glorifying the Father.

Prayer
Father, to you be all glory now and forever.
Amen

Study by Barry Robinson - member of the National Ministry Team for Grace Communion International in the UK

You're Included

https://www.gci.org/videos/youre-included/

Author William Paul Young is a friend of Grace Communion International whose book, The Shack, has sold over 20 million copies worldwide since it was first published in 2007, making it one of the best-selling books of all time.

Below are two interviews from the GCI web programme "You're Included" with writer Paul Young and theologian Dr. C Baxter Kruger.

Dr. Kruger uses William Young's book The Shack to discuss the triune God's love for all humanity.
Dr. C. Baxter Kruger is the founder and the president of Perichoresis, Inc. and of Mediator Lures. He obtained his doctorate working with James Torrance in Aberdeen, Scotland. He is also the author of "The Shack Revisited."
Copyright 2015 - Grace Communion International
All Rights Reserved

Paul Young talks about how "The Shack" was written, and he discusses how the nature of relationship is embedded in the Trinitarian character and nature of God. William Paul Young is the author of the best-selling novel "The Shack" and "Cross Roads." Copyright 2015 - Grace Communion International All Rights Reserved

The God Revealed in Jesus Christ

A collection of articles outlining Trinitarian theology

The series begins with Jesus Christ. As God in the flesh, he reveals to us what God is; he teaches us that the Father is in character just like Jesus. Other doctrines flow from that point. Jesus reveals that there was, even before time began, love between the Father and the Son.

There are relationships within God, yet there is only one God. Humanity was made in the image of God, and we are made for the purpose of having eternal relationships, based on God’s love, with him and with one another. Yet we fall short of this divine purpose; we are unable to qualify ourselves for the kingdom of God. This brings us back to Jesus, the incarnate God.

As our Creator, he could represent us all, and so he became human as our representative and substitute, to atone for the sins of all humanity and to reconcile all humanity to God. He extends unconditional love and grace to us. Humans, however, do not always return that favour, and so there is a growth process toward the goal God has established for us. It is tremendously good news, and the more we learn about the God revealed in Jesus Christ, the more that we desire a relationship with him. We have not earned his love, but he has earned ours. It is all built upon the unity of the Father and of Jesus. And yet the Bible says that there is only one God. How can we have plurality within one Being?

The doctrine of the Trinity was formulated to say how Father and Son are one God: two Persons in one God. As we discuss in another book, the Holy Spirit is likewise a Person in the Triune God. God is love, and we are invited to join him for eternity!