More of What We Believe About Jesus

112 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, This is the creed of the early church and it is our creed as well. This is what we profess to believe as followers of Jesus Christ. It has a beautiful flow to it, much like the creeds we use in the church today. We believe that Jesus was and is God in the flesh. We believe that He is the sinless Son of God, justified in the Spirit, by His resurrection from the dead, as the Apostle Paul stated in Ro 1:4”and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” He was seen by angels, the word “angel” here means messenger. Who were the “messengers” who saw Jesus? They were the Apostles. This declaration is more important than we make it out to be. Not only because these “messengers” or Apostles had a personal post resurrection encounter with Jesus, and serve as reliable eye witnesses, but they were all personally taught by Jesus and have handed His teachings down to the church. Much of these letters written to Timothy are encouragement from Paul to Timothy to continue steadfast in these doctrines and to be sure to hand them down to others. 2Ti 2:2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. It was this apostolic doctrine that was first emphasized in the early gathering of believers after Pentecost! Ac 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” These “angels” messengers have spoken and written in great depth of what it means to be a follower of Christ, and their words carry just as much clout as the red-letter words of Jesus as found in the Gospels. I think we would all do well to remember that fact. Just because it's not in red-letters, doesn't mean it's not a direct quote from Jesus. The words of the Apostles have been handed down to them directly by Jesus. Hear them church! Heed them!