The Awakening

Everything in the story of salvation revolves around Jesus Christ. HE is the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2). Many, not only the believing Jews, still lack understanding, today. Likewise, they didn't understand the symbolic statement of the temple. In the Old Testament, the temple was the house of God. Jesus fully recognized this, and was very angry that people used this sacred house as a trade-market (John 2:14-16). Jesus spoke about Himself, because HE came from God and had power of attorney in all things - Colossians 2:9-10: “For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power.” This was also made clear when Jesus said that HE would raise the temple (His body) again after three days – HIMSELF! In Acts 2:32-33 we read the following: “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” God woke Jesus up and Jesus said, that HE would raise the temple by His Spirit. A further proof that Jesus Christ and the Father in heaven is the same. God is Spirit and revealed in Jesus Christ for ever and ever. Therefore there is also no other way to salvation and the forgiveness of sin, than through Jesus Christ alone (John 14:6). We do not have to understand this fully or be able to explain everything, to believe it from the heart. We are not humanly capable of comprehending God fully. We cannot imagine eternity. However, through the Holy Spirit we are able to believe it and thus comprehend the incomprehensible within our souls.

The Triune God (Father, Son and Holy Ghost) is the expression of what God is and wants to be, namely God the FATHER who approaches us, as in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-17). God as the SON, pointing to Jesus Christ, who made possible the forgiveness of sin through the cross. And God the HOLY GHOST, pointing to fellowship and relationship which God wants with those who are His (2 Corinthians 13:13). God is revealed in Jesus Christ. Therefore, Jesus Christ is also “the Life” (John 14:6). God is Light (John 8:12) and draws (calls) us to the Light “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.'' (Matthew 11:28). Father, Son and Holy Ghost are a unity, and work together in creation, election and redemption of all things. This was also made very clear in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And we, believers in Jesus, will be resurrected with the same resurrection power with which the Father resurrected His beloved Son. Whomever receives Jesus, receives God. In 1 John 5:20 it is made abundantly clear who Jesus Christ is: “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” All this took place through grace, love and mercy. Therefore, God was and is crucial as the Creator, Redeemer and Revealer – to this day – Amen!

Jörg Bauer