(Disclaimer: I'm not one to be self-promoting. I actually can't stand it. But since I see an overwhelming number of pictures on Facebook regarding 1915, I'm sharing the sermon that I will deliver tonight in Armenian. Plus, my blog hasn't been updated in an almost a year, so I guess it's time to say something.)
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I love being Armenian. I love the foods. Only, if I could I would eat dolma, kebab, hommous, every day. I love the energy level that Armenians talk at: we don’t know how to speak with a low voice. It’s like we’re fighting every moment. I love the culture for its music and powerful poetry. I love how we have silly sayings like “medznas eh, guh mornas.” I love that we have known heroes like Vartan Mamigonian, Krikor the Illuminator, and Mesrop Mashdots. We have key historical dates memorized like 301, 451, 1896, 1915, 1918, etc. I remember when I went to college and seminary, people would ask me what kind of last name I had, or the fact that they had never met an Armenian. This of course then led to a historical lesson of who Armenians are and how they ended up in the Middle Eastern countries. I love being Armenian, but to be honest-I love being a Christian even more.
In this opening section to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul highlights the many blessings one has in Christ. Time does not permit to really expound on these 7 verses, so I want to just bring our attention and remind us of three blessings that Christ bestows.
The first blessing is that Christians are ‘adopted’ as sons and daughters into the family of Christ. Just like my last name Mekredijian, reflects that I belong to the family of baptists, as Christians-we’re part of the family of Christ. God functions as our Father. We can come to Him when we’ve fallen of “life’s playground set.” He’s the one who disciplines us in our disobedience, of course to help edify and shape us to be like His son. When was the last time we crawled up into His lap? I love being Armenian, but adoption in Christ’s family is far better.
The second blessing is we’ve been redeemed through the shedding of Christ’s blood. Since God is holy and we’re not, when we die we can’t stand in His presence. Sin is an obstacle and payment is required for that disobedience. Instead of condemning us to hell, which is separation from God, which we deserve, God loves us too much that He sends His son as payment for our sins on our behalf. Instead of us enduring the torture, He redeems us with His son’s blood as payment. That’s how rich God’s love is for us. When was the last time we thanked God for sending Jesus? I love being Armenian, but redemption for my sin is far better.
The third blessing which is connected to redemption, is we’re forgiven. Not only does God redeem us from eternal separation, but He also says “We’re forgiven from these sins, ” Because of Christ’s work on the cross, God promises to never remember the sin we committed against Him. When was the last time we forgave someone because we know the worth of forgiveness shed by Christ? I love being Armenian, but being forgiven is far better.
In v. 8, the Apostle Paul uses a word, to describe these blessings, God “lavished” it on us. It’s like if God was filling our cup for water, but didn’t stop when the cup was full. God’s love is lavished on us through the cross. He has given us an opportunity to be adopted, redeemed, and forgiven. God also says all those who come in repentance and believe in what Jesus has done, will enjoy the ultimate blessing of living with Him forever. We, Armenians are passionate people, especially when it comes to our heritage, then where’s our passion for what Jesus has done for us? Is it not a passion that cost 1.5 million Armenian lives? I love being Armenian, but what Christ does and gives to us is far better.
Here’s my challenge: in light of what has happened in 1915, I would love to see a generation to not only be proud of who they are as Armenians-but to be proud because of what Jesus has done for them. Do we understand this love shed on the cross? Do we know it in our hearts? Do we believe in it? Do others see it? If we’ve answered no, then it’s time to really invest in understanding God’s word and see what is expected of Christians.
I would love to see a generation raised up to not only be proud of who they are as Armenians, but to be proud because they’ve been adopted by Christ. I would love to see a generation to be proud of their Armenian heritage, but to be even more proud because they’ve been redeemed by Christ. I would love to see Armenians of Fresno be proud and only boast in the forgiveness that was exhibited by Christ. Imagine the revival that would spark in all our Armenian churches. I love being Armenian, but what Christ does and gives to us is far better.
In this opening section to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul highlights the many blessings one has in Christ. Time does not permit to really expound on these 7 verses, so I want to just bring our attention and remind us of three blessings that Christ bestows.
The first blessing is that Christians are ‘adopted’ as sons and daughters into the family of Christ. Just like my last name Mekredijian, reflects that I belong to the family of baptists, as Christians-we’re part of the family of Christ. God functions as our Father. We can come to Him when we’ve fallen of “life’s playground set.” He’s the one who disciplines us in our disobedience, of course to help edify and shape us to be like His son. When was the last time we crawled up into His lap? I love being Armenian, but adoption in Christ’s family is far better.
The second blessing is we’ve been redeemed through the shedding of Christ’s blood. Since God is holy and we’re not, when we die we can’t stand in His presence. Sin is an obstacle and payment is required for that disobedience. Instead of condemning us to hell, which is separation from God, which we deserve, God loves us too much that He sends His son as payment for our sins on our behalf. Instead of us enduring the torture, He redeems us with His son’s blood as payment. That’s how rich God’s love is for us. When was the last time we thanked God for sending Jesus? I love being Armenian, but redemption for my sin is far better.
The third blessing which is connected to redemption, is we’re forgiven. Not only does God redeem us from eternal separation, but He also says “We’re forgiven from these sins, ” Because of Christ’s work on the cross, God promises to never remember the sin we committed against Him. When was the last time we forgave someone because we know the worth of forgiveness shed by Christ? I love being Armenian, but being forgiven is far better.
In v. 8, the Apostle Paul uses a word, to describe these blessings, God “lavished” it on us. It’s like if God was filling our cup for water, but didn’t stop when the cup was full. God’s love is lavished on us through the cross. He has given us an opportunity to be adopted, redeemed, and forgiven. God also says all those who come in repentance and believe in what Jesus has done, will enjoy the ultimate blessing of living with Him forever. We, Armenians are passionate people, especially when it comes to our heritage, then where’s our passion for what Jesus has done for us? Is it not a passion that cost 1.5 million Armenian lives? I love being Armenian, but what Christ does and gives to us is far better.
Here’s my challenge: in light of what has happened in 1915, I would love to see a generation to not only be proud of who they are as Armenians-but to be proud because of what Jesus has done for them. Do we understand this love shed on the cross? Do we know it in our hearts? Do we believe in it? Do others see it? If we’ve answered no, then it’s time to really invest in understanding God’s word and see what is expected of Christians.
I would love to see a generation raised up to not only be proud of who they are as Armenians, but to be proud because they’ve been adopted by Christ. I would love to see a generation to be proud of their Armenian heritage, but to be even more proud because they’ve been redeemed by Christ. I would love to see Armenians of Fresno be proud and only boast in the forgiveness that was exhibited by Christ. Imagine the revival that would spark in all our Armenian churches. I love being Armenian, but what Christ does and gives to us is far better.
