The Word Unleashed - Radio

In the gospel of Matthew we find an important verse that describes the angel Gabriel instructing Joseph to name Mary's child ""Jesus."" The name Jesus, however, isn't arbitrary. But rather, it is the Greek form of the Hebrew name for ""Joshua"" or ""Yeshua,"" which means ""Yahweh saves."" And that is the message of the gospel—that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners from their sin. And the virgin birth plays a crucial role in God’s eternal plan of redemption.

The Bible teaches that it was the only way God's eternal Son could add complete humanity to His divine nature without becoming two persons. This allowed Jesus to become fully human like us in every way except sin, which was absolutely necessary for Him to serve as our Great High Priest and offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins.

The gospel of Matthew can be summarized this way: Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Messiah of the Hebrew Scripture, the divine Savior and King. So as Matthew writes his gospel, he has that grand theme in mind. But Matthew chapter 1 is unique in that it records not only the genealogy of Jesus Christ but also the narrative surrounding His birth. And only Matthew and Luke record the details of Jesus’ birth.

According to Scripture, we as Christians must treat God with the highest reverence and worship. But God’s holiness not only requires that we view and treat Him a certain way but also that we ourselves live holy lives unto Him and His glory. But practically, what exactly does this look like?

The Bible teaches that we as Christians are to be holy because God Himself is holy. This certainly means that God is without sin—He is completely pure in His unchanging character. But God’s holiness also means that He is set apart from His creation as the sovereign Creator who is absolutely transcendent in majesty.

According to the Nicene Creed, the church can be summarized in four powerful words: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. Last time, we began unpacking what Scripture reveals through these ancient marks. Today, we conclude this series with a personal challenge: What does your commitment to Jesus Christ look like in practice?

The Nicene Creed offers this: "We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church." These four attributes define Christ's true church with clear biblical support. Today, Pastor Tom uses this historic creed as a framework to explore what Scripture teaches about the church. Our prayer is that God's Word will deepen your understanding and draw you more fully into the life Christ designed for His people—for your good and the glory of Jesus Christ.

Throughout this series, we've explored the church as Christ's body, His family, and His temple—each metaphor revealing something vital about who we are as believers.

Today, we discover something remarkable: Christ serves as both the foundation and cornerstone of a spiritual structure—and you are a living stone being carefully fitted into that temple. When you gather with God's people, you're not simply entering a physical building—you're assembling as God's temple, the place where He dwells among His people.

What does the New Testament teach about the church that the Lord Jesus Christ died for? And what does this profound reality mean for you as a believer today? It's crucial that we turn to Scripture—not tradition, not trends—to shape our understanding of the role we play in the local church.