GOD OF ABRAHAM (18 OF 49)
Scripture: Acts 3:12-19
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God of Abraham (18 of 49)
Lectionary, Year B, Easter 03
Christopher B. Harbin
Acts 3:12-19
How many Gods do we serve? Which entity do we regard as God? Sometimes it seems we speak of competing deities, even when we turn to the Scriptures. Popular theology is especially conflicted on this point. Many voices attempt to make big distinctions in character between Yahweh, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Though we talk a big game about God being one, we wrestle with such conflicting claims about God's character in one or another instance as to be speaking of multiple deities at odds among themselves. It is no wonder that people on the outside cannot identify the God we claim to serve when there are so many competing descriptions in the marketplace of ideas. Who is this entity we claim as God, coming to earth in Jesus Christ?
The New Testament writers were very clear on one particular point. God as revealed in Christ Jesus is the very same God known to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Elijah, and Elisha. Every time there is any opportunity for confusion to arise, they take pains to clarify that they are speaking of the very same deity revealed throughout the Hebrew Scriptures as the only legitimate God for Israel. Today's passage is no exception. Peter takes pains to declare this connection between the God of their ancestors and Jesus as at once Yahweh's servant, Messiah, and the very Originator of Life.
Oh, very few Christians would openly argue that Jesus does not reflect the same God of Abraham and Moses. It's not that people argue against that on principle. They don't argue against a continuity between Yahweh and Jesus. It is common practice, however, for many to describe the character and identity of Yahweh or the Father as somehow distinct from the character and identity of God as revealed in Jesus. We do that in different ways.
We mischaracterize Yahweh's character as somehow different from that of Jesus. We portray the Father as somehow other th ...
Lectionary, Year B, Easter 03
Christopher B. Harbin
Acts 3:12-19
How many Gods do we serve? Which entity do we regard as God? Sometimes it seems we speak of competing deities, even when we turn to the Scriptures. Popular theology is especially conflicted on this point. Many voices attempt to make big distinctions in character between Yahweh, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Though we talk a big game about God being one, we wrestle with such conflicting claims about God's character in one or another instance as to be speaking of multiple deities at odds among themselves. It is no wonder that people on the outside cannot identify the God we claim to serve when there are so many competing descriptions in the marketplace of ideas. Who is this entity we claim as God, coming to earth in Jesus Christ?
The New Testament writers were very clear on one particular point. God as revealed in Christ Jesus is the very same God known to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Elijah, and Elisha. Every time there is any opportunity for confusion to arise, they take pains to clarify that they are speaking of the very same deity revealed throughout the Hebrew Scriptures as the only legitimate God for Israel. Today's passage is no exception. Peter takes pains to declare this connection between the God of their ancestors and Jesus as at once Yahweh's servant, Messiah, and the very Originator of Life.
Oh, very few Christians would openly argue that Jesus does not reflect the same God of Abraham and Moses. It's not that people argue against that on principle. They don't argue against a continuity between Yahweh and Jesus. It is common practice, however, for many to describe the character and identity of Yahweh or the Father as somehow distinct from the character and identity of God as revealed in Jesus. We do that in different ways.
We mischaracterize Yahweh's character as somehow different from that of Jesus. We portray the Father as somehow other th ...
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