Jesus is both the subject and object of the spiritual life. As subject, he has attained the spiritual life for us, that is, he alone reestablishes the unity between God and man, that unity which Adam lost. As object, we look to him to see what a human being united to God looks like. ....Read More
The incarnation is the connecting link between creation and re-creation. . . . God fully participated in our humanity. In Jesus, then, we see what a human being who participates in God looks like. . . . The spiritual life, like the incarnation, is participation in this world, this life, this place, in our day-to-day...Read More
Jesus is the one man who fulfills the vision of God for humanity and for the life of the world. He repents for all, is baptized for all, receives the Spirit for all, dies for all, is resurrected for all, and will return to establish the new heavens and new earth. Our repentance, baptism, and...Read More
Baptism, while it may occur in a moment of time, is a state of continual being. We are called to live daily in our baptism. Those who do not live in the divine embrace where their new identity has been established in baptism should not make a claim to have it. Baptism is a way...Read More
Baptism is the ritual that marks our new identity in Jesus. . . . When baptism is enacted in faith, the spirit of God performs, ascribes, and accomplishes the very meaning of baptism—a forgiveness of our old identity is made real, and a new identity with Jesus is actualized. -Robert E. Webber, The Divine Embrace:...Read More
Dr. Leonard Sweet, Professor at Drew Theological School at Drew University and at George Fox University, spent time on the Institute for Worship Studies campus during the June 2013 intensive that included his leadership of a worship seminar. He had this to say: “There are so many memories that keep resonating from my recent time...Read More
