Magyar Egyház, 1956 (35. évfolyam, 1-11. szám)

1956-03-01 / 3. szám

10

MAGYAR EGYHÁZ

when I have to punish my children for something wrong that they have done, in a few minutes they are again in my arms and on my lap, as if nothing had occured between us. If there is resentment because of punishment, it is but for a moment. The child still knows that it is loved and wanted despite what has happened.

This is the way God deals with us, His children. For some reason, best known to Himself, He has not seen fit to explain to us the reasoning behind all or even most of His actions toward us and toward our fellow human beings. But ONE THING HE HAS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR, and that is, HIS LOVE FOR US. His love is totally undeserved by us. We have done nothing to met it or earn it. Paul celebrates this in Romans 5:8, “But God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” What better proof do we need of God’s good intentions towards us than this? “He gave His only-begotten Son.”The Works of Jesus Christ as Our Savior.

In view of this love, so revealed and proved, ought we not trust Him in everything, as children trust a father? Ought we not say with confidence with Paul, “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.”

“I do not konw why oft round me My hopes all shattered seem to be;

God’s perfect plan I cannot see,

But someday I’ll undersand.

I cannot tell the depth of love,

Which moves the Father’s heart above,

My faith to test, my love to prove,

But someday I’ll understand.

To trials come through passing days,

My life will still be filled with praise For God will lead through darkened ways, and someday I’ll understand.

Some day He’ll make it plain to me,

Some day when I His face shall see,

Some day from tears I shall be free,

For some day I shall understand.”

Dear friends, this doctrine is not satisfying to the MIND. It never will be, I am convinced. But to the peace of mind and heart we struggling human beings need so badly, it is suprememly satisfying. The Heidleberg Catechism becomes surpassingly beautiful in the 28th question and answer — “What does it profit us to know that God has created, and by His providence still upholds all things? Answer: That we may be patient in adversity; thankful in prosperity; and for what is future, have good confidence in our faithful God and Father, that no creature shall separate us from His love; since all creatures are so in His hand, that without His will they cannot so much as move.”

The doctrine of Providence: that God upholds and governs the creation in a perfect way: that in everything He works for our good, we cannot understand, but we can feel it, if like children, we trust Him who has shown Himself to be our Heavenly Father, and if we rest our broken hearts, our wearied minds, and our struggling frames in Him, of whom the Psalmist sang (Psalm 71:7):

“Thou art my strong refuge.” Amen.

—CHARLES KRAHE

I. Jesus Christ as our Prophet.

Jesus Christ at the age of 30 had John the Baptist baptize him in the River Jordan, then He spent 40 days in the wilderness where Satan by different temptations tried to make him give up his sacred mission as the Savior of mankind. All the efforts of Satan were fruitless with Jesus. Returning from the wilderness, Jesus began to select his first 12 disciples.

As to his works as our Savior, we call Jesus Christ our Prophet, High Priest and King.

In this article we would like to explain what Jesus Christ did for our salvation as our Prophet.

As our Prophet, Jesus Christ came to teach and perform miracles. The content of the teachings of Jesus Christ can be summarized as follows: with his own words and life Jesus made it clear to us that God, the Creator and Provider of the world, is a perfectly just God who cannot tolerate sin. We all are sinners, deserving sufferings, death and damnation in hell according to the perfect justice of God. But Jesus Christ as our Prophet also revealed that God is a merciful Father, too, who decided to take pity on us, and to help us to be liberated from our sinfulness and obtain an eternal, sinless holy life in heaven. Furthermore, Jesus taught us that for this great mercy of God we must love Him by striving to live according to his sacred commandments.

Jesus Christ as our Prophet also performed miracles: He healed the sick, made the dead to live, etc. Through his miracles Jesus manifested his great love and compassion toward the sinful mankind, and that his love made him come into this world to be our Savior. The miracles of Jesus Christ also bore witness to Him that He was indeed the incarnate God the Son, full of divine power. He was the true Messiah whom God promised to Adam and Eve.

If we examine and study the powerful and unrefutable teachings and unexplanable miracles of Jesus Christ in the Bible we should happily realize that indeed He is the only One who is able to help us and we do not need any other Savior.

The teaching and miracles of Jesus Christ should put into our mouths the joyous confession of Peter, the disciple: “Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:69.

In our next article we shall write about Jesus Christ as our High Priest. STEPHEN KOVÁCS