Wednesday February 26, 2014

Read 1 Peter 1:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:13

Patripassionism is not a word in general circulation. It is derived from patri, meaning father and passion, meaning suffering. Hence this doctrine teaches that God the Father became incarnate and suffered and died on the cross.

If true then Jesus was simply speaking to Himself in the Garden of Gethsemane when He prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me, yet not my will, but yours be done’. (Luke 22:42). When Jesus said, ‘I have come to do your will’ (Hebrews 10:7) or ‘I have come down from heaven to do the will of Him who sent me’ (John 6:28) Jesus is merely referring to Himself in some vague way. Even more absurd is the implication of this teaching when Jesus was on the cross. He cried out, ’My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?’ This cry makes no sense if we adopt the patripassionist view point! To ask oneself such questions is nonsensical.

While I would doubt if many people hold to this theory today, I do hear many prayers that are theologically and biblically sloppy and unprepared. I’ve heard people pray things like, ‘Thank you Father that you died on the cross for our sins’, or ‘Thank you God for dying on the cross’. The Bible never says that God died on the cross. It always says Jesus did!

When we pray or when we ’worship’ God we need to be exceedingly clear as to what we are saying/doing and who we are worshipping or praying to. In clear reformation terms, we worship God the Father through the redeeming work of God the Son illuminated to us through the work of the Holy Spirit.

We need to be aware of the roles of each of the persons of the Godhead so that we don’t become confused and inadvertently lead each other astray.

Prayer: Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

ª Pray that cell groups would grow and mature each believer in their relationship with God. Pray that cell leaders would be wise in their leadership of their particular cell. Ask God to bring an evangelistic desires into the very heart of cell groups.

ª Pray that the people who are not currently in a cell group would desire to be in a cell and that opportunities for them to join a cell would open up. Pray that every person in your congregation would be in a cell.

 Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. If unity is more than just standing together and declaring our belief in God, how can we build true unity across all denominational lines?

2. Should the church of today strive for unity like the early church did? Why or why not?