From the first centuries of the Christian church, Lent has been known as the 40 days prior to Easter. Lent is when Christians set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ—His suffering and His sacrifice, His life, death, burial and resurrection.
However, in 313 A.D., it took on an additional focus. When the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, he made it legal (preferable) for Roman citizens to become Christians; and suddenly the church had a flood of adult baptisms. (Excuse the pun.) While that brought much joy, it also posed a challenge. How was the church to ensure that these converts were serious about Jesus? They concluded that baptizing them alone wasn’t enough. More was needed to grow them up into true disciples of Jesus Christ.
So the church developed a 40-day course of preparation that included Bible reading, meditation, study, and prayer. This was a “40-Day Spiritual Adventure” or “40-Days of Purpose,” to borrow from current popular titles. The idea was that during these 40 days believers could prepare themselves for their own baptisms or prepare others for their baptism.
Thus, Lent became a time not only to focus on the suffering and death of Jesus, but a time to focus on a Christian’s union with Christ in His death and resurrection. Romans 6:3-4 served as a proper theme text: “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was reaised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
This put the emphasis not only on God’s gift of forgiveness (justification), but also on the gift of new life in Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit (sanctification). In this way Lent became a time for new and experienced Christians to live into their true identity by denying themselves, putting off the cares and concerns of the flesh, and putting on the works of the Spirit of God.
Since September we have been engaged in an in-depth study of the Book of Galatians. In January we began the second half of our series entitled, “Freedom,” which is scheduled to end on April 9, Palm Sunday.
Conveniently, much of the second half of Paul’s letter to the Galatians explores the same reality the early church recognized—our identity in Christ. Therefore, during this Lenten season, we are going to provide you with several tools that will immerse you into who you are in Christ.
Beginning on Sunday, March 5, we invite you to visit Hebron’s prayer room, located directly under the sanctuary. (Enter through the Tower entrance and follow the directional signs.) Each week an aspect of our identity in Christ will be the focus of printed materials provided in the prayer room. Included will be other daily companion passages that reinforce each aspect of our identity in Christ. Additionally, there will be stations and activities prepared for private Bible reading, meditation, and prayer.
The prayer room will be open on:
Sunday—9:00 am to noon
Monday through Thursday
1:00 to 4:30 pm
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
7:00 to 9:00 pm
Saturday—10:00 am to noon
In addition, we will make available all of the written materials via social media and on Sunday mornings.
