From Discipleship Weekly
(a publication of the Presbyterian Church of Islip)
|
A Word from Our Sponsor
"If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." -- John 8:31-32 The Heidelberg Catechism:Part 2- Of Man's Redemption Week 12 Of God the Son 31. Q. Why is he called Christ, that is, the Anointed One? A. Because he is ordained by God the Father and anointed with the Holy Spirit to be our chief Prophet and Teacher, fully revealing to us the secret purpose and will of God concerning our redemption; to be our only High Priest, having redeemed us the one sacrifice of his body and ever interceding for us with the Father; and to be our eternal King, governing us by his Word and Spirit, and defending and sustaining us in the redemption he has won for us. [Deut. 18:15;
Ps. 45:7; 110:4;
Isa. 61:1;
Zach. 9:9;
Matt. 21:5; 28:18-20;
Luke 1:33; 3:21-22; 4:16-24;
John 1:18; 10:28; 15:15;
Acts 3:22;
Rom. 8:34;
Heb. 1:9; 7:17; 9:12,24; 10:11-14;
I John 2:1;
Rev. 12:10-11]
32. Q. But why are you called a Christian? A. Because through faith I share in Christ and thus in his anointing, so that I may confess his name, offer myself a living sacrifice of gratitude to him, and fight against sin and the devil with a free and good conscience throughout this life and hereafter rule with him in eternity over all creatures. [Joel 2:28;
Matt. 10:32; 25:34;
Acts 2:17;
Rom 10:9-10; 12:1;
I Cor. 12:12-27;
Gal. 5:16-17;
Eph. 6:11;
I Tim. 1:18-19;
II Tim. 2:12;
Heb. 13:15;
I Pet. 2:5,9;
I John 2:27]
Suggestions for discussion and review:
Is it usually to your advantage to claim the title of "Christian" in this world? Is it fashionable these days to be a Christian? How many celebrities can you name who claim to be Christian? How many claim some other religion? What do today's Q&A's have to say about the cost of being a Christian?
According to Christian belief, Jesus is our Savior, not by virtue of what He said, not even by virtue of what He was, but by what He did. He is our Savior, not because He has inspired us to live the same kind of life that He lived, but because He took upon Himself the dreadful guilt of our sins and bore it instead of us on the cross. -- J. Gresham Machen |