What we believe - #2
14th September 2009 by Julia Hosking
The Salvation Army is a worldwide Christian movement which has 11 doctrines. These have been the basis for our faith and Christian example of the gospel. This article takes a look at doctrines 4 and 5.
Doctrine 4:
We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the divine and human natures are united, so that he is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.
This doctrine speaks of the mystery of Jesus as being both human and God. Have you ever wondered how Jesus can be truly God and truly man?
Jesus: Just a man?
We know, from the Bible and other historical records, that Jesus lived on the earth 2000 years ago.
When we read the Gospels we see that like us, Jesus felt hunger, thirst, anger, joy, grief, pain, affection and compassion. Jesus showed us in his love for God, compassion for people, and the way he lived and taught, what it means to be a human in all its fullness.
But Jesus also modelled for us what it is like to live without sin (Hebrews 4:14-15 NLT). We know that all humans have sinned (Romans 3:23 NLT) and so therefore Jesus couldn't have been merely human. Because of his closeness to the Father, Jesus was able to resist temptation. His devotion to God enabled him to remain sinless right until his death on the cross and then his ascension to Heaven.
Jesus: Not a man at all?
The apostle John wrote "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us," (John 1:1-2, 14 NIV).
God came to earth to show humanity himself through Jesus. The world was to look at Jesus as a mirror image of the Father and Spirit.
Jesus also showed us absolute humility. The apostle Paul writes "who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness," (Philippians 2:6-7 NIV).
Jesus' divinity and humanity are united and cannot be separated. They are of equal importance and you cannot talk about one without the other.
Doctrine 5:
We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience they lost their purity and happiness, and in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.
What do all these long, difficult words mean? Basically, they're shooting down the whole argument of 'If I'm good enough, then I'll go to heaven'.
We were innocent... once upon a time.
The Bible says in the beginning God created. And everything he created he declared ‘good'. This includes humanity; he created us in a perfect state of true freedom and relationship with him.
However things went horribly wrong when through human selfishness and disobedience to God's command we were tainted by sin. Sin is anything against God's will or order of creation. Sin is a failure to believe and trust in God, it is about clinging to our own independence and declaring our own desires.
Now, we're powerless
Romans 3:22-23 tells us "there is no difference for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (NIV).
We are ‘totally depraved', which means that we cannot save ourselves. We try and convince ourselves that we can actually do something about our condition, but we are in fact powerless over our sin.
It is only when we acknowledge our powerlessness and look to God that he shows us a way out, through Jesus. (Read Romans 5:6 and Ephesians 2:8). The solution to the human condition is a gift; it is not something we can earn.
* To read about doctrines one, two and three, read part 1 of this series.
Rusty serves on the territorial youth team as the Youth Inclusion Coordinator, where he works to help local youth groups and youth ministries connect with the poor and marginalised in their local area. Before joining the team, Rusty was a youth pastor for almost 5 years in Tuggerah Lakes.
Rusty's personal mission is to bring hope and life to a broken generation. He is married to Belinda.
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Comments
I am in Uganda, but i feel warm because of your minstry, do you operate in Africa?
Patrick.
Hey Patrick,
I'm gald we could encourage you in your walk with God. The Salvation Army does indeed operate in many countries and has a vibrant present there.
I have attached a link below if you click on (or copy/paste) into the address bar which will take you to a website of our work in Africa including Uganda. If you have any other questions just let us know. God Bless. Cheers
http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/vw-sublinks/84BE7BBD4E64C92780256D4B004689F4?openDocument