Living Savior Podcast

Christianity can seem complicated. Each of us has a lot of questions about what the Bible teaches us to believe and do. Yet, when you start with the basics, the pieces start to fall into place. More than that, those basics are the essential truths for life and for eternity.

Join us as we dig into the key components of the Christian faith.

Christianity can seem complicated. Each of us has a lot of questions about what the Bible teaches us to believe and do. Yet, when you start with the basics, the pieces start to fall into place. More than that, those basics are the essential truths for life and for eternity.

Join us as we dig into the key components of the Christian faith.

The Lord isn’t done with us. Far from it! When our Savior rose from the dead and then ascended into heaven, he never intended that any of his followers would simply slip back into their old mundane routines. He has plans for us moving forward, that we would devote ourselves to serving others where we are and to sharing his message of eternal life. In ways we sometimes see and in ways we sometimes don’t see, the Lord Jesus is carrying out his plan and equipping each of us for the pathway ahead.

One man schemes in his heart to steal a “gift” from a generous believer. Another man quietly loves his riches more than he loves the Lord and goes home sad. In both instances, the Word of God cuts the heart open and lays everything bare.

Since the selfish thoughts and attitudes of our hearts are exposed to our holy God and nothing is hidden from his sight, “who then can be saved”? Isn’t that impossible?! All week the kids have been exploring this very predicament? It’s worth our consideration too. The greatest thing that God can accomplish and has promised to do is saving us from sin and for eternity. For nothing is impossible with God! Jesus, the Son of God, did the impossible and kept his thoughts and attitudes pure. Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God presented himself as a perfect offering on the cross. Jesus, the eternal Son of God rose again. God promised all of this through his Word. Through his Word he still turns selfish, indifferent hearts to him in faith. He still forgives sins that seem too great. He still lovingly draws us close to his eternal life. And in that way we receive and live a life that’s impossible.

One man schemes in his heart to steal a “gift” from a generous believer. Another man quietly loves his riches more than he loves the Lord and goes home sad. In both instances, the Word of God cuts the heart open and lays everything bare.

Since the selfish thoughts and attitudes of our hearts are exposed to our holy God and nothing is hidden from his sight, “who then can be saved”? Isn’t that impossible?! All week the kids have been exploring this very predicament? It’s worth our consideration too. The greatest thing that God can accomplish and has promised to do is saving us from sin and for eternity. For nothing is impossible with God! Jesus, the Son of God, did the impossible and kept his thoughts and attitudes pure. Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God presented himself as a perfect offering on the cross. Jesus, the eternal Son of God rose again. God promised all of this through his Word. Through his Word he still turns selfish, indifferent hearts to him in faith. He still forgives sins that seem too great. He still lovingly draws us close to his eternal life. And in that way we receive and live a life that’s impossible.

“Degenerate.” “Good-for-nothing.” “Outcast.” “One of those people.” When people are throwing labels at their fellow human beings, are you sure you know where Jesus stands? Yes, he hates every sin. Yet today we see how massive God’s forgiveness is. It’s big enough for each of us. It’s also big enough for “those people,” whoever they are and whatever they’ve done. For the Christian, that’s what’s next for our church, our message, and our relationships.

“Degenerate.” “Good-for-nothing.” “Outcast.” “One of those people.” When people are throwing labels at their fellow human beings, are you sure you know where Jesus stands? Yes, he hates every sin. Yet today we see how massive God’s forgiveness is. It’s big enough for each of us. It’s also big enough for “those people,” whoever they are and whatever they’ve done. For the Christian, that’s what’s next for our church, our message, and our relationships.

The apostle Paul calls the message he preached “foolish” (1 Corinthians 1 & 2). What he means is that human reason is offended and baffled by what he and the rest of Jesus’ ambassadors proclaimed. That is certainly the case with the most fundamental teaching of Scripture—the doctrine of God.

The Bible teaches that the one true God exists as the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Each of these three Persons has a different consciousness. Each has a different personality. Each is distinct from the other. It is not as though one Person were acting in three different ways or fulfilling three different roles, however. There are three Persons. Each is fully God, doing divine things and having divine attributes. At the same time the Bible also says there is only one God. Not three gods, but one God.

Logically the doctrine of the Trinity is beyond our ability to understand. The only way we could ever believe such a thing is by the working of the Holy Spirit through God’s Word.

On this Festival of the Holy Trinity we recognize that we have a triune (three-in-one) God who is so great and so far above us, we cannot fully comprehend him. Yet we also rejoice that this “holy, holy, holy” Lord God is merciful and gracious, blessing us with hope and peace that will endure forever.

The Lord isn’t done with us. Far from it!

When our Savior rose from the dead and then ascended into heaven, he never intended that any of his followers would simply slip back into their old mundane routines. He has plans for us moving forward, that we would devote ourselves to serving others where we are and to sharing his message of eternal life. In ways we sometimes see and in ways we sometimes don’t see, the Lord Jesus is carrying out his plan and equipping each of us for the pathway ahead.

Did Jesus’ first followers grieve when he left them and ascended into heaven? Should his followers today be sad that he is no longer with us in the flesh? No! Just the opposite is the case! The Ascension of Our Lord is one of the great celebrations of the Church. “He ascended into heaven,” we confess, “and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty” so that he might intercede for us sinners, pour out his saving grace upon us, equip us to be his witnesses, and strengthen us for the task of proclaiming his salvation to the ends of the earth. Yes, the kingdom and the power and the glory belong to the ascended Lord Jesus now and forever!