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
With whom do you identify? Are you committed to follow the nature of rebellion against God’s purposes for life inherited from Adam, or are you willing to say, “I need to have my nature formed by the second Adam, the one who is in full union with the purpose God has for his creatures and...Read More
Repentance is a process, a daily, even momentary, entering into the cross, bringing to the cross our rebellious self-centered turning away from God and his purposes for our life, so that all those ways in which we repeatedly fail to be what God has created us to be are nailed with him on the cross...Read More
Here then is Christian spirituality: We are spiritual because of God’s divine embrace of humanity and all creation. By his own two hands—the incarnate Word and the Spirit—God’s divine embrace has restored our union with himself for us. He has done for us what we cannot do for ourselves—re-establish the connection with God that we...Read More
God’s story is the brief interpretation of everything. It is . . . a true picture of the world and our place in it. And through this picture we hear the voice of God who says . . . “I opened the way for you to live in my embrace of you and the world....Read More
God is doing a new thing. It is complex, and yet it can be summarized in a single word. The ancient church called it recapitulation. The word means, “to do over again.” In Jesus Christ, God does creation “over again.” Jesus Christ is the second creation, the new beginning of creation and creatures. God’s embrace...Read More
Creation is ongoing in the sense that God is involved in creation with his own two hands—incarnate Word and Spirit—embracing the world to bring it into its final destination, the new heavens and the new earth. Christ has conquered sin and death by his death and resurrection, and in his return, he will put evil...Read More
Christian spirituality is not a journey into self as if spirituality is found in the deep recesses of our nature, hidden inside of us, waiting for release. No, true Christian spirituality is the embrace of Jesus, who, united to God, restores our union with God that we lost because of sin. This is how the...Read More
The Christian church . . . has always been committed to a triune experience and understanding of God, but most preachers seldom preach on this subject. The discipline of addressing the congregation once a year on the meaning of triune faith and worship is helpful and necessary. . . . Christians need to know ....Read More
Pentecost Sunday ends the extraordinary season that began on the first Sunday of Advent. In approximately six months the church has been carried through all the saving events of God—his incarnation, manifestation to the world, life, death, resurrection, and ascension as well as the coming of the Holy Spirit. All these crucial events form faith...Read More
If Jesus ascended into heaven, has he left any signs of his presence among us? . . . If we wish to form congregational and personal spirituality, we will call attention to the ascended Lord who eternally intercedes for us and is always with us through the church and the signs of our identity with...Read More
The contours of God’s divine embrace are captured in a few words: God, creation, fall, incarnation, death and resurrection, re-creation, new heavens and new earth. . . . The spiritual life that we live in God’s creation is situated in this narrative, the story of God’s world. This is the embrace that reads the whole...Read More
In memory of our founder and friend, Bob Webber (Nov 27, 1933 — Apr 27, 2007). Though deeply missed, his vision thrives. Whatever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might (Eccl 9:10). In his resurrection [Jesus] conquered the results of sin—which is death—so that death is not the last word written...Read More
