What do you believe about Jesus? Have you really thought that question out in your life? No matter how you would answer that question today- I would suggest that your answer, is shaping your life.

What we believe influences our relationships, it sets our priorities, it shapes our lives, in all kinds of ways…

Over the next few weeks as a church we are going to explore what we believe, a few of the key doctrines and concepts of scripture, that shape our life individually as well as our life together as the Church. Together we want to get a clearer picture of the nature of our faith as the Church of the Nazarene, not just to gain knowledge, but to value the freedom and joy found in living out the way of Jesus of Nazareth.

I welcome you to our new teaching series “What we believe”

Today we begin in what perhaps is the obvious place to start in a series addressing what we believe- and that’s with Jesus.

What we believe about Jesus will shape every aspect of our lives, and every aspect of our Church.

Matthew has included theological clues and testimony of who this child was. He links this announcement to the fulfillment of the ancient prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah.

Matthew understood that Jesus being born in a stable in Bethlehem was important, but he knows the most important thing was who this child was-

This is the Messiah born in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies.

God had come in the flesh, on a mission to save his people from their sins.

Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at a few key aspects of Nazarene faith based on the scriptures.

Next week we will seek to understand that in bringing people to salvation, God has acted first, going ahead of us, providing the grace and power that we need to choose him.

Then we will seek to understand that we no longer need to be slaves to the sin nature and its destructiveness when we are in Christ. In Christ, we can be free from the power of sin in our lives.

And we will conclude our series looking ahead with joy, knowing that death doesn’t hold the final answer for those who are in Christ. For them, a great resurrection is coming to eternal life in paradise.

At this point you might still be wondering, “So what?” What’s the big deal about this Jesus thing- Why is that where it all begins and ends?

I would propose to you today “The life you are seeking is only found in Christ”

Friends, Jesus is the only way to the father.
He is the truth
And he is the life.

That’s what it means to believe in him.

Verses for further study/reflection:
Luke 1:26–35
John 1:1–18
Acts 2:22–36
Romans 8:3, 32–34
Galatians 4:4–5
Philippians 2:5–11