(Editor’s note: The following is a submission to The Recorder’s weekly column titled “Faith Matters.” Each Saturday, a different faith leader in Franklin County offers a personal religious perspective in this space. For information on becoming part of this series, email religion@recorder.com or call 413-772-0261, ext. 265.)
Jude, the half brother of Jesus, wrote to the Christians of the first century, who were being mocked for their faith in Jesus the Messiah, the only Savior of the world. Jude was not an Apostle. Although he was not an Apostle, he did become a disciple of Jesus after the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. He was the half brother of Jesus, who at first did not believe in Jesus as the Savior of the world. He grew up in the same household with Jesus and with his other brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of Joseph and Mary. Mark 6:3. Before the resurrection of Jesus, Jude and his other brothers did not believe Jesus was the Savior and Messiah of Israel. They mocked Jesus during his 3½-year ministry. John 7:2-5. They felt Jesus was an embarrassment to their family, thinking Jesus had a Messiah complex. But the greatest event in history would change their minds: The resurrection of their half brother from the dead.
Christianity is not so much based on the teachings of Jesus as it is based on the physical resurrection of Jesus. If it were not for His resurrection, there probably would be no Christianity. His resurrection proved to the world He is who He said He was — The Son of God — God of very God, God revealed to us in a human body. While there are some today who call themselves Christian, and yet deny the physical resurrection of Jesus, they are not really New Testament Christians. To deny the physical resurrection of Jesus is to deny the Christian faith. According to the Apostle, to deny the physical resurrection of Jesus means a person cannot go to heaven. Rom 10:9 says, That if you shall confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Paul also said in 1Corinthians 15:12: Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
1Co 15:13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
1Co 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. …..
1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. …..
1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.
Christianity is not a religion, it is a personal relationship with the Risen and Glorified Jesus Christ. As Christians we need to hold to the faith that was once delivered unto the saints (the early New Testament church).
As Dr. David Arnett, President of Northpoint Bible College in Haverhill, Mass., has said, “There are Churches today trying to attract people of the world by backing away from historic Christianity, backing away from the Bible as the infallible Word of God, using a compromising approach in order to keep their churches going. But as Evangelical churches and Pentecostal churches, we believe we need to contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the church without compromise.”
Living Waters Assembly of God is located at 450 Davis St., corner of Harrison Avenue in Greenfield. We have been serving the tri-state area for over 50 years as an Evangelical church with classical Pentecostal roots based on the Day of Pentecost new Testament church practices in Acts chapter 2. We are part of a worldwide movement of Assembly of God churches encircling the globe with a membership over 68 million members and adherents worldwide. Some of our present services and programs are as follows: Sunday Morning Bible Classes at 9 a.m; Sunday morning worship service 10 a.m. Children’s Church 10:30a.m.; Sunday Evening service at 6 p.m. and Sunday Evening Girls Ministry Program at 6 p.m.; Wednesday Evening Pastor’s Bible Study and Prayer Service at 6:30 p.m. and Teen Youth Ministries on Saturdays. Other ministries are very active in the church as well. Our mission is to present Jesus Christ to every person through Worship, Evangelism, Discipleship and Compassion ministries. We love you and we need you.