Grace Notes 2025-08-13

At the heart of Christianity is a relationship. It is a matter of being rightly related to God by being joined to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Galatians 3:26-27 reads, “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Scripture speaks both of our being in Christ and of Christ being in us (cf. 2Co 5:17; Ga 2:20).

When we meet a new acquaintance the surest way to get to know that person is for them to reveal themselves to you in words. Sure, you would know some physical things immediately because you can see the person. And in the context of meeting the person you might already have an idea that you share a common interest or activity. But to become very well acquainted, that person will have to tell you about their past, their life, their aspirations, and their thoughts.

To know Christ, we will be even more dependent upon what Christ has to say and reveal to us. For we are not ordinarily in this age able to look at Him. We may know what other people have to say about Him, but that is not always reliable. We can imagine what He is like, but that can say more about our imagination than it does actually about Him.

The Bible is the one reliable way to learn about our Lord. Knowledge and familiarity with Scripture is knowledge and familiarity with Christ. Jesus Himself in John 5:39 says that the Scriptures bear witness about Him.

If we are going to grow in our relationship to Christ the Bible will play an indispensable role. We will need to read, study, meditate, and interact (as in having a conversation) with Scripture. We will need to do this along with the Church, for this is how the Holy Spirit helps us to read it fruitfully. And a group Bible Study helps in this regard.

Next week I will discuss some planned Bible Studies that you can participate in.

Since You Asked

Why do we say in the Creeds that Jesus Christ “is seated at the right hand of the Father”? Does this mean that our Lord is far away from us? 

This has little to do with Christ’s physical location. Instead, it has to do with the authority he assumes. For a King to be seated on a throne is a symbolic gesture of his rule and authority. Heaven itself is a reality that transcends time and space. It is the unseen and timeless realm that underlies the visible and temporal world. We confess Christ to be seated at the right hand of the Father because we believe him to be the rightful King of the universe. Indeed, Jesus is Lord!