Sherry Sterling

I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.
—John 8:24

Therefore just as one man’s (Adam) trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s (Jesus) act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all.
—Romans 5:18

Dear friends,

In the Gospel reading for today (see above, John 8:24), belief comes up—that to not die from our sin, we must believe Jesus is who he says he is. However, in the New Testament reading for today (see above, Romans 5:18), I hear another message—that Jesus’ “act of righteousness” provides “justification and life for all.”

These readings have me toggling between my Evangelical roots and Episcopal wings, between the Evangelical message that each individual must confess belief in Jesus to be saved from sin, and the Episcopal message that Jesus’ death paid the price for all of our sins. These show both sides of the spiritual relationship: both our reaching toward God, and God reaching toward us.

In our Sunday bulletin, next to the Nicene Creed, is a statement, “We confess the core beliefs of the Church, knowing that even if we struggle with belief, the Church can believe on our behalf.”

What is belief anyway? I looked up a definition of belief in Strong’s Concordance, Greek Dictionary. It says belief means to have faith in, to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well-being to Christ); to think to be true, to place confidence in; to trust in Jesus or God as able to aid: saving faith.

Saving faith.

I’m reminded of the father who, weeping, asks Jesus to heal his son (Mark 9:24), saying, “I believe; help my unbelief.”

Both.

He believed and didn’t believe. We may entrust God with some things but not yet others. I place confidence in Jesus, and am held by the Church when I don’t. This is faith as a work in process. A work in each of us individually; and a work in community, through the body of Christ. Both.

Perhaps this is what this Lenten season might do in us: Help our unbelief while strengthening our belief, as we are held by and participate in the communion of the Church. Preparing us to let in even more of God’s love.

Peace and love,

—Sherry