New Church Foundation

In the history of Christianity there has been much confusion about the nature of God. One of the creeds speaks of the "Son of God" coming into the world, but the Bible says that God Himself came into the world. We do not see Jesus as a person who is part of three divine beings, but as the fullness of God in a bodily form (Colossians 2:9). And as Jesus also said: "All power (or authority) has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18).

Readings

We are to believe or have faith in God our Savior Jesus Christ because this is believing in a God who can be seen, in whom is what cannot be seen. Faith in a God who can be seen – who is both human and divine at the same time – goes deep within us. Although faith is earthly in its form, it is spiritual in its essence. Within us faith becomes both spiritual and earthly, in that everything spiritual has to be received in what is earthly to become anything to us... yet the Lord said that no one has ever heard the voice of the Father or seen what He looks like (John 5:37). He also said, "No one has ever seen God; the only begotten Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, has revealed Him" (John 1:18). "No one has seen the Father except the One who is with the Father. He has seen the Father" (John 6:46). Also, no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). And furthermore, if we see and recognize Him, we see and recognize the Father (John 14:7 and following).

Faith in the Lord God our Savior is a different kind of faith. Because He is both divine and human, we can turn to Him and see Him in our thoughts. This is not a faith with no object. It has an object from whom and in whom we have faith. If we have seen an emperor or a monarch, every time we remember that person an image of him or her comes to mind; in the same way, once we accept this faith it remains. The gaze of this faith can be compared to looking at a shining white cloud with an angel in its midst who is inviting us to enter it and be raised into heaven. This is how the Lord looks to people who have faith in Him. The Lord comes closer to us all as we recognize and acknowledge Him. (True Christianity 339)

Reflection

What is holding you back from a healthy relationship with God?

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