4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT SUNDAY OF 23RD DECEMBER 2018
You are most welcome for today’s service in the precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
As we prepare and wait for Christmas day on Tuesday, today we look at some aspects that strengthen our faith. I will focus on the sacraments and the Apostles creed.
A sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace which was ordained by Christ himself as a means by which we receive grace. There are two sacraments necessary for all people for Salvation namely Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Jesus was baptised in river Jordan (Mark 1:9) and commanded His apostles to go and preach to the whole world, those who accept, be baptised in the name of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit (Mathew 28:19-20) so that the original sin of Adam & Eve (Gen. 3) is cancelled, sins are forgiven, become children of God (John 1:12) and inheritors of the Kingdom of God (John 14:2).
Jesus celebrated the Lord’s Supper with His apostles (Mark 14:22-26) and commanded us to do so every time we meet for the continual remembrance of His sacrifice and death and the benefits. That is our souls are strengthened and refreshed by the Body & Blood of Christ as our bodies are by the bread and wine.
Christian Belief is majorly seen in the creeds (Apostles and Nicene) and in the Covenants/ Commandments of God. Today we focus on the creeds which are majorly divided into belief in God and Everlasting life. Belief in God: God has revealed himself as ONE but in three persons of the Trinity; Father (creator of the world, Gen 1), Son (redeemer of mankind, John 3:16) and Holy Spirit (giver of life, John 14:16-17). God continues to reveal himself to us in many ways; through His word, the Bible, the events of History, creation, our own lives, Jesus Christ & the Holy Spirit.
Belief in life everlasting is evident in the Universal church founded by Christ, Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins (Acts 2:38) and Everlasting Life (John 3:16, 14:2).
May the sacraments and Christian beliefs in the creeds strengthen your faith and make you stay firm, now and always. Amen
Rev. Grace Lubaale
Associate Chaplain
