"And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…" (Philippians 2:8-10).It is a tremendous understatement to believe that Holy Week, which begins Palm Sunday, is the culmination of the Church’s official "Lenten course." For at least sixteen centuries that we can prove, the Church has ordered that we read these words of St. Paul on this Sunday, along with St. Matthew’s account of the Passion of the Son of God. We have come to the center of the Church’s teaching since the very beginning, from before the time of prayer books, to this central truth upon which all of Christianity depends—Jesus Christ died for our sins.
The Truth of all things Christian is that there are only two possible outcomes for every person, past, present, or future. There is Salvation in Jesus Christ, eternal life with the Lord of all, or eternity of death and separation from God in hell.
Yes, I know it’s easy to make fun of the "fire and brimstone" preachers. They seemed to know more about hell than they do about the mercy of God or about the kingdom of heaven. Polls show that most Americans do not believe in hell. Some of the theologians and seminary professors I had to endure, revised the Scriptures in such a way that all men are saved, universally, regardless of what they believe or do in this world.
These opinions represent a false faith, a false Gospel, and a false doctrine of God. Most of all, what those who hold such opinions have in common is this - they will not bow their knee at the Name of Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father.
A disbelief in hell is a disbelief in Jesus Christ, who endured death and hell for our sake. When we say that hell is "no big deal," we trivialize the crucifixion that Jesus Christ suffered to keep us out of hell. You may think all of the sufferings and lashings and becoming sin for our sake was pointless, as Jesus was going to heaven any way. Why did Jesus go to so much bother?
We have to face the bad news, in order to receive the good news. The bad news is when the Name of Jesus is not exalted, God is not glorified, and we are damned. When we put anything in heaven, in earth, or under the earth above the Lord Jesus Christ who died for our sins, we belong with Satan because we think and we live like Satan.
The good news, on the other hand, is this: that no one who exalts Jesus Christ will ever be lost to hell, to Satan, or to death. Every drop of blood that Jesus Christ shed on the cross is a testimony of life and love for every faithful person, offered before the Father.
A true, life-giving faith in Jesus Christ consists of living our entire lives on the trust that his Blood is sufficient to redeem our lives. Jesus took away what we deserve, not by magic, but by bloodshed that we might share with him, and in him what he deserves—the exaltation of eternal life, the perfect love of the Father for the Son, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost.
So, during this Holy week, we have a chance to bend the knee to Jesus Christ with all the faithful. There is nothing simpler and more humble than that.
Be on bended knee,
Bishop Ian
