TheosGuy

The following reading, The Name of Jesus in the Epistle to the Hebrews., is from F.E. Marsh’s 500 Bible Readings¹.

1. As Son of Man. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death” (Heb. 2:9).
2. As our High Priest. “We have a great High Priest, who is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God” (Heb. 4:14, and 6:20).
3. As our Surety. “By so much was Jesus made a Surety of a better testament” (Heb. 7:22).
4. As the Way into the holiest. “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10:19).
5. As the Author of faith. “Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2).
6. As our Mediator. “And to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant” (Heb. 12:24)’
7. As our Sanctifier. “Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate” (Heb. 13:12).

1. 500 Bible Readings, Marsh, F.E., (London: Marshall Brothers, 1897). Reading number 236.

Tags: Christ, Marsh, Teaching Ideas, Theology

The following reading, Christ, Our Life,
is from F.E. Marsh’s 500 Bible Readings¹.

There are many words and phrases that are peculiar to John; for
instance, the double “verily,” “excepts,” and “true” things. John’s
Gospel is peculiar in itself. Matthew shows us Christ as “King,”
Mark as the “Servant,” Luke as the “Man,” and John as the
“Life.” This may be traced right through John.

1. 500 Bible Readings, Marsh, F.E., (London: Marshall Brothers, 1897). Reading number 72.

Tags: Bible, Bibliology, Christ, Christian Living, Marsh, Teaching Ideas

My Position in Christ

• I have been delivered from the power of darkness and conveyed into the kingdom of the Jesus Christ. (Col 1:13)
• I currently possess redemption, the forgiveness of sin, through the blood of Jesus. (Col 1:14)
• I have died, and my life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:3)
• I was purchased by God at a price. (1 Cor 6:20)
• I now belong to Christ and therefore belong to God. (1 Cor 3:23)
• I was chosen in Christ before the creation of the world, to be reckoned as holy and blameless before Him. (Eph. 1:4)
• I have been made alive with Christ and sit with Him in the heavenly places. (Eph. 2:5-6)
• I am God’s child. (John 1:12)
• I am Christ’s friend. (John 15:15)
• I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms. (Eph 2:6)
• I am a citizen of heaven. (Phil 3:20)
• I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me. (1 John 5:18)

Regarding Sin

• I am free from the power of sin, and am now a slave to righteousness. (Rom 6:7-8, 11, 14, 18)
• I have been redeemed from the curse of the Law. (Gal 3:13)
• I am free from condemnation. (Rom 8:1-2)

• No works that I do will or can justify me. (Rom 3:20)
• I am justified. (Rom 5:1)
• I am saved by the grace of God through faith. (Eph 2:8-9)
• I am able to find God’s grace and mercy in time of need. (Heb 4:16)

I Am Complete in Christ

• I am in Christ, and am therefore complete in Him, because He is the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form. (Col. 2:9-10)
• I have access to the mind of Christ so that He may instruct me. (1 Cor 2:16)
• Through Christ, I have overcome the world. (1 John 4:4)

My Hope is in the Character of God

• I will wait upon the Lord for His lovingkindness never ceases; His compassion never fails; He is good to those who wait for Him. (Lam 3:22-25)
• I will obey Him, for the Lord’s commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3)
• I am safe for He will never abandon me. (Heb 13:5)
• The Lord is faithful. He will strengthen me and protect me from the enemy. (2 Thess. 3:3)
• I look forward to His glorious coming. He is preparing a place for me and will come again to receive me unto Himself. (John 14:1-3, 1 Thess 4:17-18)
• I am confident that the good work that the Lord has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil 1:6)

Tags: Christ, Faith, Salvation

With respect to the Greek words agape and phileo, which are translated love in the English, note the following:

• Phileo doesn’t denote a lesser love except contextually
• Agape doesn’t denote divine love except contextually

I have heard many sermons stating that the word agape means God’s divine love and phileo is human brotherly love. But that is not true, as stated. It is only if the context requires it. Here are some examples that show where it is NOT true.

• God the Father phileo the Son—John 5:20. Thus phileo can be used to denote God’s divine love. I wouldn’t think that the Father loves the Son with a human brotherly love.
• Father phileo us and the Son—John 16:27
• Jesus phileo John—John 20:2. God the Son, loved the Apostle John, and it uses the term phileo. I am sure that God the Son loved with a divine love.
• God phileo, human agape—Pro 8:17 “I (God) phileo those who (humans) love agapeo me…”
• The adulteress in Hosea 3 is committing a physical act of adultery, and it is described in the LXX as using a form of agapeo.
  

  “Then the LORD said to me, ‘Go again, love [1] a woman who is loved by a lover [1] and is committing adultery, just like the love [1] of the LORD for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love [2] the raisin cakes of the pagans.'”—Hosea 3:1

  [1] root=agapeo [2] root=phileo

• Agape as sexual—2 Sam 13:4; Songs 2:5-7:6
• Phileo as sexual — Prov 7:18

Thayers lexicon makes the following disctinction between the two Greek words:

• Agape – love based in choice; admiration, esteem, veneration; commanded in Mat 5:44;
• Phileo – love based in emotion

Tags: Christ, God, Living, Theology

Philippians 2:7 tells us that Jesus emptied (Greek = kenosis (1)(2)) Himself. What did this mean? Did He give up His Divine attributes? The following helps to define.

Dr. Walter Martin said,

Jesus put aside the independent exercise of His divine attributes in His full submission to the Father.

Dr. David Hocking adds,

The Roman centurion when going into battle would remove his insignia that identified his rank. He would then go to battle on the front lines with his soldiers. After the battle, he would then replace his insignia. The act of removing his insignia in the Greek language was denoted with the word, kenosis. The centurion did not cease to be in full command of this troops.

Tags: Theology

The following reading, Christ’s Passion,
is from F.E. Marsh’s 1000 Bible Study Outlines¹.

The passion of His atoning death is ever the secret and soul of
the Gospel. It speaks of:

1. Sin’s hindrance removed—Heb. 9:26.
2. Sin’s guilt answered for—Heb. 2:17.
3. Sin’s author overthrown—Heb. 2:14.
4. Sin’s gulf spanned—Heb. 10:19-20.
5. Sin’s pollution removed—Heb. 10:10.
6. Sin’s power broken—Heb. 10:16-18.
7. Sin’s victory destroyed—1 John 3:8.

1. 1000 Bible Study Outlines, Marsh, F.E., Reading number 175.

Tags: Christ, Marsh, Salvation, Teaching Ideas

The following reading, Christ’s Message on Being Saved,
is from F.E. Marsh’s 1000 Bible Study Outlines¹.

The pages of the New Testament ring with the word “saved. ”

1. Christ’s message was, “That ye might be saved“
   (John 5:34).
2. He said those who entered into the shepherd fold of His
   grace should “be saved” (John 10:9).
3. His commission to His disciples was that those who
   believed should “be saved” (Mark 16:16).
4. He assured a woman who came in penitence to Him,
   “Thy faith hath saved thee” (Luke 7:50).
5. He declared that Satan’s machinations were to keep men
   from receiving His Word, lest they should “believe and be
   saved” (Luke 8:12).
6. He revealed that God sent Him into the world that it
   might “be saved” (John 3:17).

1. 1000 Bible Study Outlines, Marsh, F.E. Reading number 171.

Tags: Christ, Marsh, Salvation, Teaching Ideas

Here is an outline comprised of Christ’s I “Have’s” in John 17, from F.E. Marsh’s 1000 Bible Study Outlines¹.

1. “I have glorified Thee” (John 17:4).
2. “I have finished the work” (John 17:4).
3. “I have manifested Thy Name” (John 17:6).
4. “I have kept” (John 17:12).
5. “I have given them Thy Word” and “Words” (John 17:8, 14).
6. “I have declared Thy Name” (John 17:26).
7. “I have known Thee” (John 17:25).
8. “I have sent” (John 17:18).
9. “I have given them Thy glory” (John 17:22).

1. 1000 Bible Study Outlines, Marsh, F.E. Reading number 160.

Tags: Christ, Marsh, Teaching Ideas

Quote from Martin Luther:

God hides His power in weakness,
His wisdom in folly,
His goodness in severity,
His justice in sin,
His mercy in His wrath.¹

It is interesting that in the cross we see displayed both the mercy of God and the justice of God. The mercy given to God’s people who by faith come to Him. The justice, His wrath placed upon His Son, the sacrifice for sin. I am very glad for this duality (at least) of the Cross. Otherwise, the wrath would have to be placed upon me. But thankfully, God has given me not only mercy, but imputed to me the very righteousness of Jesus Christ, my Savior.

The wisdom of God has ordained a way for the love of God to deliver us
from the wrath of God without compromising the justice of God.²

_____________________________

Footnotes:
1. As quoted in, Farley,William P. Outrageous Mercy. (Phillipsburg, PN:P & R Publishing, 2009), 8.
2. Piper,John. Desiring God. 2 ed. (Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2003), 59.

Tags: Christ, Cross

Dr. Bruce Ware postulates a position on the extent of the atonement which he calls Un/limited Atonement or Multiple Intentions View . Dr. Ware represents this as the Four Point Calvinist Position.

God’s intentions in the death of Christ are complex not simple, multiple not single:

1. Christ died for the purpose of securing the sure and certain salvation of his own, his elect (John 10:11, 15; Eph. 5:25).
2. Christ died for the purpose of paying the penalty for the sin of all people making it possible for all who believe to be saved (1 Tim 4:10; 1 John 2:2; 2 Cor. 5:14-15).
3. Christ died for the purpose of securing the bone fide offer of salvation to all people everywhere (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; John 6:35, 40; Rom 10:13).
4. Christ died for the purpose of providing an additional basis for condemnation for those who hear and reject the gospel that has been genuinely offered to them (2 Pet 2:1; John 3:18b).
5. Christ died for the purpose of reconciling all things to the Father (Rom. 8:20-23; 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Col. 1:19-20).

Tags: Salvation, Ware