The House of God Is A House of Prayer for All People

The People of God Are People of Justice and Righteousness

(August 14, 2011)

Readings: Isaiah 56:1-7; Psalm 67; Romans 11:13-15, 29-32; Matthew 15:21-28
How do we know that what we call the house of God is really that? How do we know that we really are the people of God?
God says through Prophet Isaiah (56:7), "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples." God’s house is to be a place where prayers are offered, not business carried out; where all people are welcome; (v. 6) as many as will join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants; everyone who wants to be in covenant relationship with God and worship him.
We tend to fall into the trap of forgetting why we come to the house of God: we come to have communion with God and his people. We may do that in various ways, as suitable, as long as at the end of the day we have communed with God and his people. Though we may follow a set form, we are not here merely to fulfill a formality. If the house where we gather is the house of God, then we must be offering prayers. If we are offering prayers in the house of God, then we must be the people of God; people who keep justice and are concerned with right judgment.
When our Lord Christ entered into the temple in Jerusalem (Mt. 21:12-13; Mk. 11:15-17; Lk. Lk. 19:45-46; Jn. 2:13-17), he was very upset because the Jews of the time (who claimed to be the people of God) had turned the temple into a place where carrying out business transactions had become more important than the offering of prayers.
When those who claim to be the people of God lose their focus on offering prayers to God, they become people who are more concerned with so called "religious activity" and less concerned with justice and righteousness; more concerned with what kind of music, or clothing, or language, or culture, or even politics to follow.
Throughout history we can see this played out. The Jews who were people of the Abrahamic covenant were to be the people of God and be a light to the nations. Gentiles who have been brought into the Abrahamic covenant through our Lord Christ have the same mission: be ministers of reconciliation. But we forget what is more important: to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God (Mi. 6:8). We, instead, can be very proud, ignorant, and arrogant; which we ought not be.
Remember though that the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable (Rom. 11:29). There is no change of mind on God’s part about having chosen Abraham and his descendents, or having chosen you and me. We might act like jerks sometimes; God remains faithful.
So, Apostle Paul shows us in our NT lesson how the falling away of the people of God is used by him to bring others into his kingdom. Not that our disobedience is recommended, but where there is sin, grace does abound (Rom. 5:20). It is not that we have to sin so that God can have mercy on us. No. It’s rather that we are sinful and do commit sin and God has mercy on us. We just forget that we are sinful people. We think that since we are people of God, we are better than others, and this makes us become proud, ignorant, and arrogant; thus, less concerned with justice and righteousness and more concerned with our so called religious activity. We forget that we are the house of God, where the Spirit of God wants to dwell, offering justice and right judgement.
When God shows us his mercy (he helps us to see our sin and repent / confess). When the house where we gather is a house where we offer prayers (like the publican, not the pharisee – Lk. 18:9-14) we become people of justice and fair judgment – offering God’s mercy and grace to the people around us.
Our Gospel reading seems to offer a strange situation in this light. Our Lord Christ seems to ignore a plea for mercy by a non-Jew. The Lord says that it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to little dogs. The Canaanite woman though truly seeks mercy since she is not too proud to accept leftovers. The Lord commends her faith and grants her request.
God’s house is a house of prayer. We come to offer prayers to God; prayers that confess our weakness to sin and God’s strength to save. This makes us people of God: the people of justice and righteousness. Otherwise we’ll become a religious club that offers membership to people of like religion and rejects others.
May St. John’s be a house of prayer. May the people of St. John be people of God who through prayer become people concerned with justice and right judgment. Amen.

The Yoke of Rest (July 03, 2011)

Readings: Zechariah 9:9-12; Psalm 145; Romans 7:21 – 8:6; Matthew 11:25-30

The word yoke naturally brings up an image of a burden, of bondage, and of being tied down with another, as oxen were yoked together to plow a field.

Our Lord Jesus Christ calls us to come to him and take his yoke upon us; to be tied down with him; to be bound to him. However, in our Lord, we are yoked in the bond of love. As we come under the yoke of our Lord Christ, he teaches us how to plow in his field. He is not a burdensome teacher who lays on us more than we can bear.

Our Lord has willingly taken our bondage of sin upon himself and paid the price to set us free. That’s why being yoked with him we can find rest for our souls.

Prophet Zechariah prophesies this about the coming Messiah (9:9): "Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, . . ." Those who acknowledge their bondage and run to this King are set free (v. 11).

Apostle Paul speaks of this freedom and rest in these words (Rom.8:1): "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, . . . for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."

We all have the same problem as Apostle Paul – our inner being (spirit) delights in the law of God, but our flesh brings us into captivity to the law of sin; O wretched beings that we are! With the mind we serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Likewise, though, as Apostle Paul, we can be thankful to God through our Lord Jesus Christ for the freedom from this burden of sin.

It is through our Lord Jesus Christ, when we are willingly yoked with him, and as we learn of him how to overcome our sinful nature, that we find freedom.

Apostle Paul reminds us that the carnal mind is enmity against God. We cannot through our flesh and carnal nature serve God. We will only become legalistic and burdensome to ourselves and to others around us.

When we try to defeat our flesh by so called spiritual disciplines (though they have their value), we are in danger of bondage. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

We must simply come to our Lord Jesus Christ in faith, and take his yoke upon us. We must trust him to teach us to overcome our sinful behavior on a daily basis. Our Lord is meek and lowly of mind; He won’t act all religious on us and try to make us feel or look bad. He’s not trying to score a higher religious grade. He is already perfect.

Let us who are laden with heavy burdens come in faith to Christ, give him our labor, confess our weakness to Him, and let Him give us rest for our souls.

Let us also, thus, preach the same Gospel to those around us, not laying burdens on people they cannot carry; rather, carrying their burdens, and walking with them, teaching them from our experiences of overcoming our sinful nature through Christ our Lord. Amen.

God’s Will (June 30, 2011)

Can We Be Not In God’s Will?

How Can God’s Will be Against God’s Will?

Readings: 1 Samuel 13:5-18; Psalm 134, 134; Acts 8:26-40; Luke 23:13-25
We all would like to "be in God’s will," "do God’s will," and "let God’s will be done." Is it possible for us not to be in God’s will? Or not to do God’s will?
It is the will of God that all should be saved from eternal death into eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ. Surprisingly enough, that might surprise some Christians. Well, maybe it doesn’t surprise us. We know what the Bible says. We are just too busy worrying about our own selves. Or maybe we think, well, somebody’s got to go to hell. Maybe, we don’t really want that hateful fellow to get saved.
Apostle Paul writing to Timothy (1 Tim. 2:4) speaks of God’s will that all should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Apostle Peter writes (2 Pet. 3:9) that the reason the Second Coming of Christ is delayed (from our perspective, not from God’s) is that God is patient with us, and it is not his will that anyone should perish but that everyone should come to repentance.
Hence, the only thing that keeps us from being in God’s will, that is receiving eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, is simply our own will not to accept this plan of God’s salvation for us; we can simply reject God’s will by not accepting it.
When we believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God just like the Ethiopian Eunuch in our NT lesson did (Acts 8:37), we accept God’s will. As children of God who have been adopted into God’s family through the salvific work that God has done through our Lord Jesus Christ, we are now found in God’s will and must continue to submit our will to his.
The only reason for us not be in God’s will anymore is simply that we will not to do God’s will. When our will is contrary to God’s, we must make a choice.
A simple example is seen in King Saul’s experience of disobeying God’s will. Prophet Samuel had asked Saul to wait for him in Gilgal till Samuel came and showed him what to do (1 Sam. 10:8). But what did King Saul do? He got impatient (13:8 ff). He didn’t know what to do, yet he did it anyway. He even knew what he was not supposed to do (he was anointed a king, not a priest), yet he did it anyway. King Saul was under pressure to make things happen; to do something about the given situation.
Sounds like what we do sometimes. We don’t know God’s plan, but we act like we do and make things happen. Or, we know God’s plan, but we think better otherwise, so we do things a little differently; we want to be noticed; be cool; plus, we just like doing things our own way.
Another question to answer it can God’s will be against God’s will? Of course not, we know. But in both our OT lesson and the Gospel reading we can find this seems to happen.
King Saul thought he could only be doing the right thing by offering up sacrifices to God. Bible say WRONG (my version). Doing the right thing in the wrong way is not right; it is wrong. Of course one cannot do the wrong thing in the right way.
In King Saul’s case it seems like God’s will went against God’s will. It is God’s will that we worship him but not at the cost of disobedience to God himself. It would be like robbing a bank (disobeying) in order to pay tithes (obeying?).
In our Gospel narrative we have the religious leaders of Christ’ day seemingly doing God’s will by wanting God’s Christ crucified. These leaders must have somehow convinced themselves that as long as they were guardians of the Law, they themselves could break the law to punish someone else who broke the law.
God’s will is never against God’s own will. If God wills that all should be saved then it is not God’s will that some should perish. So then, how is it that biblically we can say that some will go to hell? As much as God has loved the world and given his Only Begotten Son to die for our sins that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life, so much also, whoever does not believe in Jesus Christ is already condemned (dead in sins; Jn. 3:16-21).
Knowing God’s will fully well, let us in this season of Kingdomtide, live accordingly – share the love of Christ with those around us. God’s will is not contrary to us; only our will can be contrary to God. Let us simply submit our will to God. Let us do that which we are sure God’s wants us to do; not do that which we are sure God does not want us to do; and trust him to help us do what he wants us to do in everything else. Amen.

To Know God and His Son Jesus Christ is Eternal Life

(May 26, 2011)

What Does it Mean to Know God and His Son Jesus Christ?

Readings: Wisdom 14:27 - 15:3; Psalm 74; Romans 14:1-12; Luke 8:26-39
Everyone would want to be immortal, never to die, but to live forever. The writer of Wisdom says of God (15:3), "to know your power is the root of immortality." It follows then that to have immortality, one must know the source: God.
Only when we believe in the Eternal Living God can we hope for eternal life. St. John writes in his first epistle (5:11-12), " . . . God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." Our Lord Jesus Christ himself says (Jn. 10:10) that he came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. He also says (Jn. 14:6) that he is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father (the Immortal, Eternal, God), except through him (Christ.).
So then, what does it mean to know God and his Son Jesus Christ? How can we be sure that we know this Eternal, Immortal, Invisible God?
The writer of Wisdom says (14:27), "For the worship of idols with no name is the beginning, cause, and end of every evil. For these people either carry their merrymaking to the point of frenzy (that sounds like some self-proclaimed, so-called "spirit-filled" people who try to prove themselves right at all cost), or they prophecy what is not true, or they live wicked lives, or they perjure themselves without hesitation; since they put their trust in lifeless idols they do not reckon their false oaths can harm them." (Parentheses mine) That makes perfect sense, if I just practiced religion (man-made philosophy) and didn’t believe that God is real, then I could say one thing (God is holy) and do another (live as hell).
In other words, these are people who say they know God and His Son Jesus Christ, or that they know some form of truth, but their own lifestyle betrays them.
When I commit sin and think to myself, "O that’s okay since everyone does it." Or "that’s not really sin." Or "it’s not all that bad; look at Timmy Braggart; now, that was an awful sin that he should not have committed. But this, it doesn’t hurt anyone, so it’s ok." When I convince myself that the conviction of sin, and the guilt that it brings is just to be ignored, then I begin to believe in idols without a name. Idolatry is believing in a false god – I and my own inventions.
Bowing to an icon, or a statue, or a human being, and observing certain traditions might be considered to be witchcraft, and could amount to idolatry; let God be the judge. But rebellion is without doubt as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness as iniquity and idolatry (1 Samuel 15:23). Simply put, idolatry is listening to myself over listening to what God has to say; it is also hearing what itches my ears instead of the truth.
So, we can be sure that we know God and his Son Jesus Christ when we believe and confess the truth – God’s Word, not my sermon or philosophy.
The writer of Wisdom says (15:1-2), "But you, our God, are kind and true, slow to anger, governing the universe with mercy. Even if we sin, we are yours, since we acknowledge your power, (non nobis Domine), but we will not sin, knowing we count as yours."
Apostle John writes (1 Jn. 5:18-21), "We know that whoever is born of God does not sin, but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding that we may know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols."
Let us keep ourselves from idols - believing in our own inventions and theories. Let us believe what God says about us – we are sinners in need of salvation (Rom. 3:23; 1 Tim. 1:15); we must confess our sins (1 Jn. 1:8-9); salvation is available only through the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:5); our mortal beings shall put on immortality (1 Cor. 15:54) through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us not become idolaters in judging one another with our own judgements. Let us rather submit our own selves to God since each one of us shall give an account for our own selves before God (Rom. 14:10-12).
May the way we live our lives show that our fellowship is truly with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (1 Jn. 1:3), and may this flow into our fellowship with one another even as the blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son cleanses us from all sin (1 Jn. 1:7).

Abundant Life

What Is Abundant Life? How Do We Receive it?

How Do We Live It?

Readings: Nehemiah 9:6-15; Acts 6:1-9; 7:2a, 51-60; 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10
Our Lord Jesus Christ says that he came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly (Jn. 10:10).
So, what is abundant life? How do we receive it? How do we live it? Let’s deal with these questions.
What is Abundant Life?
In our OT reading we have a brief narrative of how God worked his plan for the salvation of humankind through the election of Abram, whom he gave the name of Abraham.
We are told that God found Abram’s heart faithful (9:8) and made a covenant with him to give him and his seed an inheritance – a Promised Land.
In Gen. 15:6, we are told that Abram was counted righteous before God because he believed in God. Hence, righteousness is received through faith in God. Moreover, the covenant that God establishes is seen over the period of salvation history as one that is not related only to a physical inheritance, but also to a spiritual one. God’s intent in promising a land for the children of Abraham was just a means to achieving an end – the salvation of humankind.
If providing a homeland for the Jews is the only intent God has, then Scriptures and history seem to prove differently. Even after the Hebrews settled the Promised Land of Canaan under Joshua, the story of salvation continued. Throughout the OT God continued to tug at the hearts of the Hebrew people because that is his ultimate intent – the salvation of the soul.
We see throughout history that God’s chosen people forget what is more important. We begin to think that the physical aspects of God’s salvation are what matters. We falter in thinking that it is in having a certain language, or culture, or socio-economic status, that God’s covenant is fulfilled.
This is what we find in the story of the Jewish nation. God thwarts every attempt at making the physical aspect more important than the spiritual aspect, even to the dispersion of the Jewish nation out of their "promised" land, so they could learn what is more important.
This is where we find Nehemiah in history. The Jews have been delivered once more and brought back home. God is always reforming his people. He reforms our souls through our life situations.
God is not ignorant, of the fact that we are limited by our physical nature. It is not as if God expects us to survive only on reading the Scriptures for nourishment.
In Acts 6 – 7 we find St. Stephen summarizing the history of salvation, in which he shares how God provided food from heaven, and water from the rock. But the problem is we begin to dwell on the food and the water and forget that God is interested in the well being of our soul.
In salvation history, as we see in the incident of St. Stephen, our physical identity and needs can get in the way of our spiritual identity and needs. So, when Stephen accuses his own nation, the Jews, of having persecuted and killed the prophets and having betrayed and murdered (Acts 7:52) the Just One (Jesus Christ), his people get upset and stone him to death.
Today, since we live in a "civilized" world and have "democracy," preachers like me are brave enough to say what we say. I wonder if I’d tell you the truth if I was afraid that it might cost me my life. St. Stephen is known to be the first martyr of the Church. He was just following the example of the prophets before him, and especially of his and our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Abundant life then, must be more a spiritual reality than a physical one. Let’s not err in thinking, though, that we must all simply die in order to inherit this spiritual life. Far from it, we must learn to live abundant life through our dying to the physical, as in fleshly or sinful desires – our selfishness more than anything else.
Abundant life is one that has YHWH as its source. Remember, the Hebrew word for Jehovah is rooted in the word for life or breath (ah-yah). It flows from our Lord Jesus Christ who says, "I am the way, the truth, and the Life" (Jn. 14:6). In Jn. 8:58, our Lord uses the words "I Am", which are the same for the name Yahweh revealed to Moses (Exo. 3:14). Abundand life comes from the source of life – Jesus Christ our Lord.
How do we receive it?
Since our Lord says that he came that we might have life, we can establish that if he had not come we would not have this life abundant.
Our Lord also says (Jn. 10:9), "I am the door." If anyone enters into Christ, he or she is saved, that is from eternal death. Through this door, Jesus Christ, we enter into abundant life, and find sustenance so that we can live it abundantly.
We are quite familiar with the sacrament of Holy Baptism, that it is a sort of rite of initiation into the Christian faith. It is observed in obedience to Christ’s command. It substitutes for the rite of circumcision that the male Jew observed in order to become part of the covenant people of God.
Today, this child will be marked through the waters of baptism as a member of the covenant people of God. We, who have already been marked, will also renew our own vow to keep this covenant relationship through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Just as Abraham was counted righteous through faith (believing in God’s word), we receive the abundant life of righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.
How do we live it?
This is the question that is really where our faith meets our work. Without work, faith is just a statement. We may say we have life but if we don’t live it, we might as well be dead.
In his first epistle, St. Peter (2:21) says that we have been called to a life of suffering because Christ also suffered for us and left us an example to follow.
There is really not much else to say except to simply read what St. Peter writes: "‘Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in his mouth’; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."
This is how we live abundantly: by following in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we be renewed in our faith today as we vow to continue in this covenant relationship with God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ

What’s Your Name?

How Are You Called?

(Jan. 1, 2011)

Exodus 34:1-8; Psalm 8; Romans 1:1-7; Philippians 2:9-13; Luke 2:15-21

We like to be addressed with specific titles that speak of our position in society. Though we seem to be living in a culture of relativity where who you are and what your name is doesn’t seem to matter, but in reality, it does. Everyone likes his own name. Even when someone doesn’t seem to care about her name, just wait till someone else makes fun of that name; the offence taken shows the sense of ownership of the name.

Your name is what you are called by. Even though in English we don’t much introduce ourselves as ‘I am called . . .’, in languages like Spanish when you are asked ?como se llama usted? Your response is, mi llamo es (generally translated as my name is). But the verb used is llamar, which means ‘to call’. So what you are actually being asked is what you are called and your response, likewise, is, I’m called . . .

Our Lord Christ is given the name, or is called Jesus – because he saves people from their sins (Mt. 1:21). The Hebrew name yeshua is translated into English as Jesus – yehoshua, which is translated as Joshua in English, is related. Two parts make up this Hebrew name: the first part is from YHWH that is translated into English as Jehovah, and the second part is from shua that can be simply translated as save or savior. Hence the name Jesus meaning Jehovah saves or is salvation. That is why our Lord Jesus Christ is called the Savior of the world.

In our OT lesson we are told that when God revealed himself to and passed by before Moses, he revealed his name as Jehovah and proclaimed his essential character: merciful (Hebrew – rachaum; Urdu – rahim); gracious (H – khanaun; U – mihrban); longsuffering (H – erech apheem va-rav checed va-emeth; U – qahr karne men dhima aur shafaqat aur wafa men gani – which would translated as ‘slow to anger and plentious in mercy’ – Ps. 103:8). This is who Jehovah is. Jehovah saves those who will confess him through his merciful kindness.

It’s not enough that our Lord Christ is called Jesus, he actually saves us from our sins by the laying down of his life for us. He lays down his life because he is good, gracious, merciful, and kind; all the of the character of God.

What are you called? Are you characterized as a Christian? One who is a follower of Christ? One who is like Christ? One who is merciful and kind? The apostle Paul writing to the Romans (1:6) tells them that they are the called of Jesus Christ; that is, they are called people of Christ, Christians.

If I were asked to refuse being called a Christian under threat of persecution, I think I’d be willing to die rather than to refuse being a Christian. But am I willing to die just for my pride? Or is it because it could actually bring life to another?

Our Lord Christ died under persecution not because of pride but because he willingly humbled himself and was obedient even unto death (Phil. 2:8). When we read the following verses we find that through this humility Christ has the name that is above every other name, such that every knee should bow to him, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

To be called a Christian must be related to the humility of allowing the first part of that name, Christ, to be all in all in our life, and then the letters of the second part (i, a, & n) should stand for I am nothing; the willingness to die to our pride; to lay down our rights for the sake of others; to make room; to accept; to reconcile; to bring peace.

May this new calendar year be such that we might not be ashamed of being called a Christian. May we not be ashamed of the character of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we be bold to be gracious, merciful, good, and kind; all of the character of God.

We Are the Called of Jesus Christ: Christians

Ex. 34:1-8; Ps. 8; Rom. 1:1-7; Lk. 2:15-21

The purpose for which we are called of Jesus Christ is the obedience to the faith among all nations for his name. That we who know Jesus – that Jehovah is salvation – might share this experience with the peoples of the world. That all people may come to obey the name of Jesus Christ and put their trust in him.The Greek reads kletos yesous christos, which rendered literally is "called of Jesus Christ." Christians are called "of Jesus Christ", those who are of Jesus Christ, or those belonging to Christ, the Church. The apostle Paul is writing to believers of Jesus Christ in Rome, telling them that they have been called of Jesus Christ and are now called the people of Jesus Christ, Christians, and that there is a purpose for which they are called by this name.

INTRO: Our OT lesson tells us that the Lord stood with Moses and passed before his face declaring his name, Jehovah (Ex. 34:5-6). The name Jehovah, from the Hebrew tetragrammaton – YHWH – stands for the breath of life; source of life. So God told Moses his name (Ex. 3:14) – I AM. Jehovah is the very source of all existence. Without him there is no life. This life, the apostle John tells us (Jn. 1:4) was the light of men and it has shined in the darkness and the darkness has not comprehended it. But as many as have received him to them has been given the power to become children of God (Jn. 1:12).

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they died spiritually, and from then on, God has promised salvation from this grip of sin. This promise of sending a savior is fulfilled in the birth of our Lord Christ. In our gospel lesson we are told that He is named JESUS (Lk. 2:21). The Hebrew name is Yeshua – YH SHUA, that is "Jehovah is salvation" (Mt. 1:21 for he shall save his people from their sins).

The Purpose: Remember we are now called by the name of Jesus Christ. May people around us see the salvation of God in us; may they see Jesus – Jehovah is salvation – in us.

CHRIST MASS

If Jesus Christ is the reason for the season, why are we busier buying and selling gifts, cards, trees, etc. more than celebrating the Christ Mass? We at St. John's Chapel will be meeting for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. We will worship our King on the eve and day marked to celebrate his birth.

While many people will be ending their Christmas celebration on the 24th, we at St. John's Chapel, along with millions of Christians, will just be beginning our celebration of the 12 days of Christmas. This celebration will culminate with Epiphany on 6th of January.

In the last four weeks before Christmas, we have been observing the season of Advent, in which we await the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The expectation is twofold - one of Chrsitmas to observe the historic first coming of Jesus Christ into the world as God incarnate, and the other of his second coming when Christ will come to take his bride the Church and judge the world. As Christians, we expect the Lord Christ to come again at any time and thus are prepared to meet him by being surrendered to him by the guidance of his Holy Spirit.

Jesus, the Holy Name of our Lord Christ was given to him by his earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, in adherence to divine direction. The angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and told her that she would bear a son and should call his name Jesus (Luke 1:31). The angel also appeared to Joseph and told him that his wife Mary would bear a son and that he should call him Jesus, because this son would save his people from their sin.

On the eighth day from Christmas Day (Dec. 25) is the first day of the new year in the Gregorian Calendar that is followed widely in the world. According to Luke 2:21, on the eighth day after the birth of the baby, which would be the day for his circumcision, the baby was named Jesus. This day, which is in the twelve days of Christmas (ending on Jan. 6) is celebrated in the church as the Holy Name.

The Holy Name, Jesus, is a transliteration of the Hebrew name "Joshua" or "Yehoshua", meaning "Jehovah is salvation." God sent his son, born of the Virgin Mary, in order to save people from their sin. The Son of God (who is the Word of God) took upon himself human flesh in order to carry the load of sin and pay the wages / price of sin, which is death. God, the Father, anointed this Son, which is why Jesus is known as the Christ (the Anointed One).

Salvation, the disciples of Jesus Christ claim, is not available through any other except the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:13), but it is available to as many as will call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 10:12-13; 1 Timothy 2:3-6; Titus 2:11).