TheosGuy

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

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

I have heard people say quite a bit that they just wish they knew what the will of God was for their life. Well here are some Scripture references that will tell us!

(Col 1:9 NKJV) For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

(Heb 11:6 NKJV) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

(Rom 12:1-2 NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

(Pro 3:5-6 NKJV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

(1 Chr 28:9 NKJV) As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.

(Mat 6:33 NKJV) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

(Gal 1:4 NKJV) who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

(1Th 4:3 NKJV) For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;

(1Pe 2:15-16 NKJV) For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men–as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.

Tags: God, Living

God is jealous of His glory. Here are some of the verses that speak of His glory.

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom [be] glory forever. Amen. – Romans 11:36 NKJV

to Him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. – Ephesians 3:21 NKJV

And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve [me] for His heavenly kingdom. To Him [be] glory forever and ever. Amen! – 2 Timothy 4:18 NKJV

If anyone speaks, [let him] [speak] as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, [let him do it] as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. – 1 Peter 4:11 NKJV

To Him [be] the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. – 1 Peter 5:11 NKJV

but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him [be] the glory both now and forever. Amen. – 2 Peter 3:18 NKJV

and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him [be] glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. – Revelation 1:6 NKJV

And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power [Be] to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” – Revelation 5:13 NKJV

Here is a link to Torreys New Topical Textbook entry for this subject.

Tags: God

Following are the generally recognized systems that define the decretive work of God. The first two are generally considered to be Reformed.

Supralapsarian (Before the Fall)

1. God’s decree to glorify Himself through the election of some to salvation and some to reprobation.
2. God’s decision to create the universe.
3. God decrees the fall into sin.
4. God’s decision to provide a savior for the elect in the mediatorial work of Christ.

Note: in the supralapsarian system:

• The elective work is before the decree of the fall into sin.
• God’s decretive will begins with predestination.
• Election and reprobation are God’s primary work prior to creation.
• The 2nd-4th decrees are means toward realization of the 1st. Creation is for the sake of election and damnation. The fall serves God’s elective purpose.
• This decretive order seems to suggest that God is responsible for the fall since some humans are created expressly for damnation.

Much of the Reformed Church do not hold to this system of decrees developed by Theodore Beza. Generally, they hold to infralapsarianism.

Infralapsarian (After the Fall)

1. God’s decision to create the world.
2. God’s decision to allow man to fall into sin through his own self-determination.
3. God decrees to elect some to salvation in Jesus Christ.
4. God determines to pass by and leave the non-elect to their just fate and condemnation.

Note: in the inralapsarian system:

• The elective work is after the decision to allow the fall into sin.
• Follows the Scriptural order: creation, fall and salvation.

Sublapsarian

1. Creation of human beings
2. Permit the Fall
3. Provide salvation sufficient for all
4. Election to salvation and reprobation

Arminian Decretive Order

1. God’s decision to be gracious toward sinful human beings by providing a Savior in Jesus Christ.
2. God decrees to accept those who repent and believe in Christ, but to leave the unrepentant and unbelieving in their sin and to hold them responsible for the wrath of damnation.
3. Appointment of the proclamation of the Gospel as the means necessary to call people to salvation.
4. God decreed to save and damn particular persons based upon His prescience of their decision to repent and believe.

Tags: Election, God