TheosGuy

“II. Let all be exhorted to accept the grace of the gospel. One would think, that there should be no need of such exhortations as this, but alas, such is the dreadful wickedness and the horrible ingratitude of man’s heart, that he needs abundance of persuading and entreating to accept of God’s kindness, when offered them. We should count it horrible ingratitude in a poor, necessitous creature, to refuse our help and kindness when we, out of mere pity to him, offer to relieve and help him. If you should see a man in extremity of distress, and in a perishing necessity of help and relief, and you should lay out yourself, with much labor and cost, out of compassion to him, that he might be relieved, how would you take it of him, if he should proudly and spitefully refuse it and snuff at it, instead of thanking you for it? Would you not look upon it as a very ungrateful, unreasonable, base thing? And why has not God a thousand times the cause, to look upon you as base and ungrateful, if you refuse his glorious grace in the gospel, that he offers you? When God saw mankind in a most necessitous condition, in the greatest and extremest distress, being exposed to hellfire and eternal death, from which it was impossible he should ever deliver himself, or that ever he should be delivered by any other means, He took pity on them, and brought them from the jaws of destruction by His own blood. Now what great ingratitude is it for them to refuse such grace as this?

But so it is: multitudes will not accept a free gift at the hands of the King of the World. They have the daring, horrible presumption as [to] refuse a kindness offered by God himself, and not to accept a gift at the hands of Jehovah, nor not his own Son, his own Son equal with himself. Yea, they’ll not accept of him, though he dies for them; yea, though he dies a most tormenting death, though he dies that they may be delivered from hell, and that they may have heaven, they’ll not accept of this gift, though they are in such necessity of it, that they must be miserable forever without it. Yea, although God the Father invites and importunes them, they’ll not accept of it, though the Son of God himself knocks and calls at their door till his head is wet with the dew, and his locks with the drops of the night, arguing and pleading with them to accept of him for their own sakes, though he makes so many glorious promises, though he holds forth so many precious benefits to tempt them to happiness, perhaps for many years together, yet they obstinately refuse all. Was ever such ingratitude heard of, or can greater be conceived of?

What would you have God do for you, that you may accept of it? Is the gift that he offers too small, that you think it too little, for you to accept of? Don’t God offer you his Son, and what could God offer more? Yea, we may say God himself has not a greater gift to offer. Did not the Son of God do enough for you, that you won’t accept of him; did he [not] die, and what could he do more? Yea, we may say that the Son of God could not do a greater thing for man. Do you refuse because you want to be invited and wooed? You may hear him, from day to day, inviting of you, if you will but hearken. Or is it because you don’t stand in need of God’s grace? Don’t you need it so much as that you must either receive it or be damned to all eternity, and what greater need can there possibly be?

Alas, miserable creatures that we are, instead of the gift of God offered in the gospel‘s not being great enough for us, we are not worthy of anything at all: we are less than the least of all God’s mercies. Instead of deserving the dying Son of God, we are not worthy of the least crumb of bread, the least drop of water, or the least ray of light; instead of Christ’s not having done enough for us by dying, in such pain and ignominy, we are not worthy that he should so much as look on us, instead of shedding his blood. We are not worthy that Christ should once make an offer of the least benefit, instead of his so long urging of us to be eternally happy.

Whoever continues to refuse Christ, will find hereafter, that instead of his having no need of him, that the least drop of his blood would have been more worth to them, than all the world; wherefore, let none be so ungrateful to God and so unwise for themselves, as to refuse the glorious grace of the gospel.”

Tags: Atonement, Christ, Jonathan Edwards, Salvation, Theology

The following outline is from Dr. David Hocking’s class on Christology. Dr. Hocking’s materials are available at his ministry website, The Hope for Today.

Primary Texts: John 1:1-18; 1 Timothy 3:16

A. HIS NAMES PROVE THAT HE IS GOD!

1. He is called “GOD” – Jhn 1:1; 20:28; Act 28:28; Rom 9:5; Tts 2:13; Hebr 1:8; 1 John 5:2-8; cf. Isa 9:6
2. He is called the “SON OF GOD” – uses huios (G5207) for son, which refers to position, not origin (word for “born one” in Greek, teknon, (G5043) is never used of Jesus Christ) – cf. John 5:18; 10:30-36; 19:7
3. He is called the “LORD” (Greek – kurios) – used in LXX for the Hebrew YAHWEH (Jehovah) – Isa 45:22-23; Joe 2:32; Act 2:21-36; Rom 10:9-10; Phl 2:5-11 (fbr: “christos” used in LXX for Hebrew word translated “Messiah”)
4. He is called the “LORD OF GLORY” – Psa 24:7-10; 1 Cor 2:8
5. He is called the “HOLY ONE” – Isa 48:17; Act 3:14
6. He is called “THE FIRST AND THE LAST” – Isa 44:6; 48:12-16; Rev 1:17-18; 2:8; 22:12-13, 16
7. He is called the “LORD OF HOSTS” – Isa 44:6 (Hebrew word is YHWH not adonai)—Redeemer is YHWH.

B. HIS ATTRIBUTES PROVE THAT HE IS GOD!

1. He is ETERNAL – Isaiah 9:6; 1 John 5:11
2. He is UNCHANGEABLE – Mal 3:6; Hebr 1:8-12; 13:8
3. He is OMNIPRESENT – Mat 18:28; 28:20; Col 3:11
4. He is OMNISCIENT – Jhn 2:23-25; 16:38; Col 2:3
5. He is OMNIPOTENT – Phl 3:20-21; Rev 1:8; 22:12-13
6. He is PERFECT – Colossians 1:19; 2:9-10
7. He is INCOMPREHENSIBLE – Isa 9:6; 55:8-9; Mat 11:27; Rom 11:33-36; Eph 3:8, 19

C. HIS ABILITIES PROVE THAT HE IS GOD!

1. He CREATED all things – John 1:3, 10; Col 1:16
2. He CONTROLS all things – Col 1:17; Hebr 1:2-3
3. He CURES all diseases – Mat 4:23-24
4. He CALMS the sea – Mark 6:47-51
5. He CONQUERS death – John 11:25-26
6. He CLAIMS to forgive sins, answer prayer, and give eternal life – Mar 2:1-12; Jhn 10:27-33; 14:13-14

The above outline is copyrighted material, from The Hope for Today.

Tags: Christ, Deity, God, Jesus Christ

There is a common question of whether or not it is right to also pray to Jesus, rather than just to the Father. Here is a passage from the New Testament that would indicate that it is appropriate to pray to Jesus.

“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”—John 14:13-14 (NASB)

In addition, the following thoughts are from Wayne Grudem’s audio message, “Jesus as Prophet and Priest” at approximately 26 minutes into the message.

Best to look to to Epistles of the New Testament.

1. In Acts 7:59, where Stephen prayed “Lord Jesus receive my spirit.” The word “Lord” (kurios) most often refers in the New Testament to Christ, while “God” refers most often, in context, to the Father.
2. In Acts 1, when choosing the the apostolic replacement for Judas: “Lord show us which one to choose.” Prayer to Christ (see 1 above re: “Lord”).
3. “Maranatha (Lord Come)” is a prayer to Jesus Christ (see 1 above re: “Lord”). See Rev 22:20 NASB and 1 Cor 16:22 NASB
4. Paul prays to the Lord in 2 Cor 12 (see 1 above re: “Lord”).
5. The epistle of Hebrews generally denotes Jesus as our mediator and high priest (e.g., Hebr 8:1, 6), and therefore it would seem appropriate for Him to receive our requests.
6. Anytime during the Gospels where someone made a request to Jesus to heal, raise from the dead, to save, etc. was the same as we consider of prayer requests (e.g., Mat 8:1-10).

Tags: Christ, Prayer

James MacDonald in one of his sermons was discussing the resurrection. He indicated that when dealing with someone who questioned the authenticity of the Resurrection, he would ask 10 questions. Here they are, as paraphrased.

1. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, who moved the stone?
2. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, why did the Pharisees bribe the guards?
3. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, who or what overcame the Roman soldiers?
4. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, appeared to the Apostles after His crucifixion?
5. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, empowered the Apostles to heal as in the instance where Peter and Paul said “in the Name of Jesus Christ rise up and walk”?
6. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, how did 500 people confirm seeing Him after the crucifixion and testify to the appearance? Did they lie? There is no record of any one of them recanting!
7. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, why did the Apostles die as martyrs? All but one—John—died terrible deaths as martyrs, and John was tortured for His belief in and preaching of Christ!
8. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, who appeared to Saul of Tarsus? Saul, the feared murderer of believers, repented and became the greatest Christian missionary of the Church!
9. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, who changed me and forgave me of my sins?
10. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, who changed the believers throughout the Church age?

From the message, YWHW in Psalm 34, Pt. 3 about 36 minutes into the message.

Tags: Christ, Salvation

I grew up in a church background that did not encourage Systematic Theology. From childhood to adulthood, I grew up in a denomination that relied on the catechism and the teachings of the church. From young adulthood I grew in the Lord in a church that stressed Biblical Theology. Somewhere along the way I became interested in Systematic Theology.

In April 2008 I attended the “Together for the Gospel” conference. The first speaker, Lingon Duncan, spoke on the importance of sound doctrine. During that talk he stated that Jesus and Paul did systematic theology, so why shouldn’t we. That caught my attention. Dr. Duncan then gave the scriptural evidence for his assertion. These were the Scriptures he gave, and I heartily agreed.

And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself…And they told about the things [that had happened] on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread. (Luke 24:27, 35 NKJV)

If it was good enough for Jesus, then I should be interested in it as well.

Tags: Christ, Theology

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

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