Extraordinary faith

Hebraic Church needs to be seen as people of extraordinary faith, people who, by doing so, will reveal what is concealed. Let’s now draw our attention to some things that God conceals, even from Christians. We may enjoy mystery fiction, because of the strange exciting places it takes us but, when it comes to real life, the average person is simply not tuned in to the mysterious. We like to be in control, we need to be able to explain everything that confronts us … however mysterious it is!

It’s the Greek impulse within us to just trust our rational minds and reject the supernatural. We like certainties, we love it when scientists can show us a good equation to explain something. Although we haven’t a clue what they’re saying, it is all very assuring to think that someone has it all worked out. But, of course, Christians inhabit a Kingdom defined by mystery. It has to be so, otherwise it would be understandable and surely no-one really understands the mechanism behind the central elements of our faith; how the eternal God can be born as human flesh and through His death and resurrection, gather a redeemed people around Him to live with Him in eternity. It is the ultimate mystery and Paul defines it so:

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. (Ephesians 1:7-10)

Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. (Ephesians 6:19)

I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:25-27)

This is the essence of our faith, our ability not only to believe in God, but to accept the reality of His plans for mankind, despite none of it making sense to our rational mind. If we fail to do this then surely we must doubt our own salvation, because if we can’t trust God in this life then what right do we have to share eternity with Him in our next life? Yet some have doubted. Some high-profile churchmen have had very public doubts in the virgin birth, in the atonement, even in the resurrection. These are people who have not been able to embrace the Hebraic elements of their faith and are only willing to believe in whatever makes sense to their rational mind – which, of course, is no faith at all! This reminds me of The Jesus Seminar, a group of scholars a few years back who tried to redefine Jesus without the mystery and miracles. One wonders why they bothered, but I suppose they must have had too much free time on their hands!

This is an extract from the book, Hebraic Church, available for £10 at https://www.sppublishing.com/hebraic-church-101-p.asp

Believing the ‘unbelievable’.