Trinity and Humanity

Part A:

Part B:

Full Message:

Summary:

On the Second Sunday after Epiphany, the congregation gathered for an open and honest conversation about Jesus and the Christian life. The message took an unusual but refreshing format. Instead of a traditional sermon, the service became a living theological conversation led by Pastor Timothy Brassell, an opportunity for real questions and thoughtful responses.

Following his recent teaching series on the Ascension of Christ, and as a follow-up to a previously shared interview on the Ascension featuring theologian Cherith Fee Nordling, Pastor Tim invited the congregation to ask real questions about Jesus, salvation, and the Christian life. What unfolded was a rich, Gospel-centered dialogue rooted in Scripture and centered on Christ, with each question carefully summarized and pastorally addressed for the benefit of all.

Note: This message was presented in a live Q&A format. Some of the original questions are not fully audible in the recording, but the pastoral responses and key themes are clear and are reflected in the written summary.

Discussion and dialogue are biblical practices, modeled by the early church (Acts 19:8–10; Acts 28:23–31). The theological foundations of these conversations were rooted in the apostolic witness to Christ (Ephesians 1; 1 Corinthians 15; Hebrews 10).

Key Highlights and Themes:

Here are the major theological emphases that emerged:

1. Jesus is eternally human.

The Ascension means Jesus did not stop being human. He remains fully God and fully man forever and this changes how we understand our future.
As theologian T. F. Torrance explains: “The ascension means that in Jesus Christ our humanity has been lifted up into the very presence of God.”

• Christianity is relational, not merely informational.

Discussion, dialogue, and shared learning are biblical practices, modeled by the early church (Acts 19:8–10; Acts 28:23–31). Faith grows in community and conversation.

• The Church is a body, not isolated individuals.

Faith is personal but never private. To be Christian is to be joined to Christ and to one another (1 Corinthians 12:12–27). The Ascension reminds us that Christ gathers His people into one living body.

• All theology must keep Jesus at the center.

Every question—about salvation, forgiveness, resurrection, or eternal life—must begin with who Jesus is and what He has done.
As Dr. Cherith Fee Nordling reminds us: “Jesus’ talk about the kingdom is to talk about the King; the kingdom doesn’t exist apart from him.”

• Resurrection is not just an event; it is a Person.

Jesus Himself is “the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25). Our hope rests not in an idea or a doctrine, but in the living Christ.

Pastor Tim reminded the church that Epiphany means “a flash of insight,” and that the greatest epiphany the world has ever received is the revelation of Jesus Christ. God with us, fully human and fully divine forever. Because Jesus has ascended and remains human eternally, our understanding of God, salvation, and the Christian life must always be centered in Him.

The heart of the message was simple but profound:

“Jesus is the answer, so what is your question?”

From that foundation, the church explored deep questions about salvation, resurrection, eternal security, and what it truly means to be human in Christ. The conversation revealed that theology is not meant to be abstract. It is meant to shape our daily lives, our worship, and our hope.

Below are the main questions that arose during the discussion, along with pastoral responses that kept returning to one central conviction: every Christian question must be answered by looking first to Jesus Christ

QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES:

QUESTION 1: What does it really mean to say, “I’m only human”?

Response: We often excuse our mistakes by saying, “I’m only human.”
But in light of Jesus, true humanity is not defined by sin and failure. Real humanity is seen in Christ.

• To sin is not truly “human”
• To love, obey, forgive, and trust God. That is true humanity
• Jesus shows us what being fully human actually looks like

Insight: Anything in us that is unlike Jesus is not truly human. It is broken humanity.

QUESTION 2: Why does the resurrection matter?

Response: Resurrection matters because:

• Jesus’ resurrection was a real, physical, human resurrection
• Humanity is not temporary. Jesus remains human forever
• Our future hope is not to become spirits, but glorified human beings like Christ

The resurrection means God has permanently united Himself to humanity.

QUESTION 3: Are we “once saved, always saved”?

Response Summary: Pastor Tim explained an important distinction:

• In Christ, all humanity is INCLUDED by nature
• But salvation is also personal, it involves our response

Jesus united Himself to human nature, but each person must respond to Him personally. So:

• Humanity is saved in Christ objectively
• But each person must receive that salvation subjectively

Eternal security is found not in our own faithfulness, but in Jesus’ faithfulness on our behalf. “You cannot look at yourself and feel secure. You must look at Jesus.” –Pastor Timothy Brassell

QUESTION 4: What does the Ascension actually accomplish?

Response: The Ascension is essential because:

• Jesus had to ascend in order to send the Holy Spirit
• Through the Ascension, Christ shares His perfected humanity with us
• The Spirit brings the life of Jesus into our daily experience

Without the Ascension, the Christian life would not be possible.

QUESTION 5: Will we always have a body in eternity?

Response (based on 1 Corinthians 15): Yes, but it will be a glorified, spiritual body.

• Not less physical than now, but MORE alive
• Recognizable, yet transformed
• Like the resurrected body of Jesus

The Christian hope is not escape from the body, but the renewal of it.

QUESTION 6: Can we really approach God with confidence?

Referencing Hebrews 10 and Ephesians 2:

Response: Because of Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension:

• We have full access to the Father
• Not by our own goodness
• But through the perfect humanity of Jesus

Right now, by faith, believers already share in Christ’s heavenly life.

Reflective Moment:

The day reminded us that the Christian faith is not afraid of questions. In fact, honest questions often become the doorway to deeper worship. When our questions begin with Jesus and end with Jesus, they lead not to confusion, but to clarity, confidence, and hope.

Scripture invites us to draw near to God with confidence, not because of our certainty, but because of Christ’s faithfulness. As the letter to the Hebrews declares, “We have confidence to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)” (Hebrews 10:19–20).

Our assurance rests not in ourselves, but in Jesus Christ, who stands before the Father in our place. John Calvin expressed this truth simply and clearly: “Christ entered heaven in our name, so that now heaven is opened to us.” (Institutes of the Christian Religion, II.16.16)

Because of this, our questions need not lead us into fear or uncertainty. They can lead us into rest. Augustine gave voice to this deep human longing when he prayed: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” (Confessions, Book I). So we rest today in Jesus Christ, the One who has opened the way to the Father and holds our lives securely within the life of God.

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