"Famous Last Words" Sermon Series

Our Christmas series this year was really an Easter series. In an effort to remind ourselves that the beauty and purpose of the manger is the cross, we focused on the famous last words of Jesus from Calvary. Below you will find each of the sermons as well as the other articles and links associated with that series.

Sermons

October 30, 2016 | Luke 23:34: I Am Forgiven
November 13, 2016 | Luke 23:43: I Am Saved
November 27, 2016 | John 19:25-27: I Am Loved
December 4, 2016 | Mark 15:34: I Am Accepted
December 4, 2016 | Psalm 22
December 11, 2016 | John 19:28: I Am Satisfied
December 18, 2016 | John 19:30: I Am Victorious
December 25, 2016 | Luke 23:46: I Am Alive


Other Series

"Famous Last Words" Sermon Series
"What Does Theology Have to Do With the Price of Bread in China?" Sermon Series
"The Gospel According to Exodus" Sermon Series
"Roadblocks to Faith" Sermon Series
"The Beatitudes" Sermon Series
"The Gospel Is . . ." Sermon Series on Galatians

Spurgeon on the Last Words of Jesus

Charles Spurgeon offers a helpful summary of the famous seven last words of Jesus from the cross:

Now concerning these seven cries from the Cross, many authors have drawn from them, lessons concerning seven duties. Listen. When our Lord said, “Father, forgive them,” in effect, He said to us, “Forgive your enemies.” Even when they despitefully use you and put you to terrible pain, be ready to pardon them! Be like the sandalwood tree which perfumes the axe that fells it. Be all gentleness, kindness and love—and be this your prayer, “Father, forgive them.”

The next duty is taken from the second cry, namely, that of penitence and faith in Christ, for He said to the dying thief, “Today shall you be with Me in Paradise.” Have you, like he, confessed your sin? Have you his faith and his prayerfulness? Then you shall be accepted even as he was! Learn, then, from the second cry, the duty of penitence and faith.

When our Lord, in the third cry, said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” He taught us the duty of filial love. No Christian must ever be short of love to his mother, his father, or to any of those who are endeared to him by relationships which God has appointed for us to observe. Oh, by the dying love of Christ to His mother, let no man here unman himself by forgetting his mother! She bore you—bear her in her old age and lovingly cherish her even to the last.

Jesus Christ’s fourth cry teaches us the duty of clinging to God and trusting in God—“My God, my God.” See how, with both hands, He takes hold of Him—“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” He cannot bear to be left of God. All else causes Him but little pain compared with the anguish of being forsaken of His God. So learn to cling to God, to grip Him with a double-handed faith, and if you do ever think that He has forsaken you, cry after Him, and say, “Show me why You contend with me, for I cannot bear to be without You.”

The fifth cry, “I thirst,” teaches us to set a high value upon the fulfillment of God’s Word. “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said, I thirst.” Take good heed, in all your grief and weakness, to still preserve the Word of your God, and to obey the precept. Learn the doctrine and delight in the promise. As your Lord, in His great anguish said, “I thirst,” because it was written that so He would speak, have regard unto the Word of the Lord even in little things!

That sixth cry, “It is finished,” teaches us perfect obedience. Go through with your keeping of God’s Commandments. Leave out no Command, keep on obeying till you can say, “It is finished.” Work your lifework, obey your Master, suffer or serve according to His will, but rest not till you can say with your Lord, “It is finished.” “I have finished the work which You gave Me to do.”

And that last Word, “Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit,” teaches us resignation. Yield all things. Yield up even your spirit to God at His bidding. Stand still and make a full surrender to the Lord, and let this be your watchword from the first even to the last, “Into Your hands, my Father, I commend my spirit.” I think that this study of Christ’s last Words should interest you, therefore let me linger a little longer upon it. Those seven cries from the Cross also teach us something about the attributes and offices of our Master. They are seven windows of agate and gates of carbuncle through which you may see Him and approach Him. (Our Lord's Last Cry from the Cross)

Worship Minimovie: God With Us

Here is the minimovie from our candlelight service from last week.

Advent: God With Us from The Village Church on Vimeo.

Worship Minimovie: The Christmas Scale

December 25, 2016 | Luke 23:46: I Am Alive

Here is the final sermon in our 7-part series on the Famous Last Words of Jesus from the cross looking at Luke 23:46.

⁴⁶ And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last.

Audio
Notes


For more:
October 30, 2016 | Luke 23:34: I Am Forgiven
November 13, 2016 | Luke 23:43: I Am Saved
November 27, 2016 | John 19:25-27: I Am Loved
December 4, 2016 | Mark 15:34: I Am Accepted
December 4, 2016 | Psalm 22
December 11, 2016 | John 19:28: I Am Satisfied
December 18, 2016 | John 19:30: I Am Victorious
December 25, 2016 | Luke 23:46: I Am Alive

Warfield: The Impossibility of Salvation

At our candlelight service, we read from Benjamin Warfield's book The Power of God Unto Salvation on the impossibility of Salvation. Here is that quote in its entirety:

Let each of us to-day look within his own heart; let each of us permit to roll before the mind’s eye the history of his soul’s struggles - its hopes, its fears, its despairs. How much of it is a history of doubt, discouragement, and despondency! We know we cannot save ourselves. Our best efforts – have they not always ended in disillusionment? Our best hopes – have they not always gone out in failure? Our best determinations – have they not always sunk in gloom? Salvation - do we not ourselves know that it is impossible with men? Is it possible even with God? Then comes, like balm to our bruised hearts, our Lord’s gracious assurance, ‘It is impossible with men, but not with God: for all things are possible with God.’ What an assurance! We are to trust in God for the salvation of our souls not because their salvation is easy. So soon as our eyes are open to what sin is, and to what God is, and to what we are, we know it is not easy. We are to trust in God for the salvation of our souls because He is one who does the impossible.

Do we clearly see that salvation is impossible to us, that a load of guilt rests upon us which we can never expiate? Our Saviour says, not that we are mistaken, not that if we will but try hard enough we may roll off the burden. No; He does not mock our despair. He fully recognizes the impossibility which our hearts have found. He says, ‘It is impossible with men, but not with God: for all things are possible with God.’ Thus He places the rock under our feet - the rock of the omnipotence of God. To nothing less than omnipotence can we trust to do this impossible thing. But we may well believe that there is no impossible to it. And resting on it our fretted souls may at last find peace.”

December 21, 2016 | Luke 1:24-38 - Nothing is Impossible With God: What the Incarnation Tells Us About Salvation

Yesterday evening we had our annual Christmas candlelight service. Here is the sermon/devotion from that service taken from Luke 1:24-38.

²⁴ After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, ²⁵ “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.”

²⁶ Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” ²⁹ But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. ³⁰ The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; ³³ and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” ³⁴ Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” ³⁵ The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. ³⁶ And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸ And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Audio

December 18, 2016 | John 19:30: I Am Victorious

Here is the sermon from Sunday morning taken from John 19:30 looking at the sixth of the seven Famous Last Words of Jesus from the cross.

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

Audio 
Notes


For more:
October 30, 2016 | Luke 23:34: I Am Forgiven
November 13, 2016 | Luke 23:43: I Am Saved
November 27, 2016 | John 19:25-27: I Am Loved
December 4, 2016 | Mark 15:34: I Am Accepted
December 4, 2016 | Psalm 22
December 11, 2016 | John 19:28: I Am Satisfied
December 18, 2016 | John 19:30: I Am Victorious 

Worship Minimovie: He Came Down

Worship Minimovie: The Incarnation

December 11, 2016 | John 19:28: I Am Satisfied

Here is the sermon from yesterday looking at the fifth sermon from the cross from John 19:28.

²⁸ After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, *said, “I am thirsty.”

Audio 
Notes


For more:
October 30, 2016 | Luke 23:34: I Am Forgiven
November 13, 2016 | Luke 23:43: I Am Saved
November 27, 2016 | John 19:25-27: I Am Loved
December 4, 2016 | Mark 15:34: I Am Accepted
December 4, 2016 | Psalm 22
December 11, 2016 | John 19:28: I Am Satisfied 

Worship Minimovie: A Great Light

Worship Minimovie: The Mission Experience

The Mission Experience from IMB on Vimeo.

December 4, 2016 | Psalm 22

Below is the sermon from Sunday evening looking at Psalm 22.

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.
² O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but I have no rest.
³ Yet You are holy,
O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
⁴ In You our fathers trusted;
They trusted and You delivered them.
⁵ To You they cried out and were delivered;
In You they trusted and were not disappointed.

⁶ But I am a worm and not a man,
A reproach of men and despised by the people.
⁷ All who see me sneer at me;
They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,
⁸ “Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him;
Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”

⁹ Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;
You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts.
¹⁰ Upon You I was cast from birth;
You have been my God from my mother’s womb.

¹¹ Be not far from me, for trouble is near;
For there is none to help.
¹² Many bulls have surrounded me;
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.
¹³ They open wide their mouth at me,
As a ravening and a roaring lion.
¹⁴ I am poured out like water,
And all my bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It is melted within me.
¹⁵ My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And my tongue cleaves to my jaws;
And You lay me in the dust of death.
¹⁶ For dogs have surrounded me;
A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
They pierced my hands and my feet.
¹⁷ I can count all my bones.
They look, they stare at me;
¹⁸ They divide my garments among them,
And for my clothing they cast lots.

¹⁹ But You, O Lord, be not far off;
O You my help, hasten to my assistance.
²⁰ Deliver my soul from the sword,
My only life from the power of the dog.
²¹ Save me from the lion’s mouth;
From the horns of the wild oxen You answer me.

²² I will tell of Your name to my brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
²³ You who fear the Lord, praise Him;
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel.
²⁴ For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from him;
But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.

²⁵ From You comes my praise in the great assembly;
I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him.
²⁶ The afflicted will eat and be satisfied;
Those who seek Him will praise the Lord.
Let your heart live forever!
²⁷ All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord,
And all the families of the nations will worship before You.
²⁸ For the kingdom is the Lord’s
And He rules over the nations.
²⁹ All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship,
All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him,
Even he who cannot keep his soul alive.
³⁰ Posterity will serve Him;
It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation.
³¹ They will come and will declare His righteousness
To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.

Audio



For more:
October 30, 2016 | Luke 23:34: I Am Forgiven
November 13, 2016 | Luke 23:43: I Am Saved
November 27, 2016 | John 19:25-27: I Am Loved
December 4, 2016 | Mark 15:34: I Am Accepted
December 4, 2016 | Psalm 22

December 4, 2016 | Mark 15:34: I Am Accepted

Below you will find the sermon and notes from yesterday mornings sermon taken from Mark 15:34 on the fourth saying of Jesus from the cross.

³⁴ At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Audio
Notes


For more:
October 30, 2016 | Luke 23:34: I Am Forgiven
November 13, 2016 | Luke 23:43: I Am Saved
November 27, 2016 | John 19:25-27: I Am Loved
December 4, 2016 | Mark 15:34: I Am Accepted
December 4, 2016 | Psalm 22

November 27, 2016 | John 19:25-27: I Am Loved

Here is the sermon from Sunday morning taken from John 19:25-27 looking at the third saying from the cross.

²⁵ Therefore the soldiers did these things.

But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He *said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” ²⁷ Then He *said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.

Audio 
Notes


For more:
October 30, 2016 | Luke 23:34: I Am Forgiven
November 13, 2016 | Luke 23:43: I Am Saved
November 27, 2016 | John 19:25-27: I Am Loved 

What Does Theology Have to Do With the Price of Bread in China? Sermon Series

A few weeks ago we finished another sermon series entitled (with tongue firmly placed in cheek), "What Does Theology Have to Do with the Price of Bread in China?" Below you will find each of the sermons as well as the other articles and links associated with that series.


Sermons

September 4, 2016 | Ephesians 1:3-14: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 1
September 4, 2016 | 2 Corinthians 12:4-31: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 2
September 11, 2016 | Psalm 33:6-17: Why Creation Matters  
September 18, 2016 | Romans 7:14-25: Why the Fall Matters
September 25, 2016 | 1 John 4:2-3: Why the Humanity of Jesus Matters
September 25, 2016 | John 1:1-5, 14-15: Why the Deity of Christ Matters
October 2, 2016 | Colossians 2:8-15; 1 Peter 2:21-25: Why the Atonement Matters, Part 1
October 2, 2016 | Galatians 3:10-14: Why the Atonement Matters, Part 2
October 9, 2016 | Galatians 5:16-25: Why the Holy Spirit Matters
October 9, 2016 | Acts 2:1-12
October 16, 2016 | Matthew 16:13-20: Why the Church Matters
October 16, 2016 | 1 Corinthians 12:12-27: Metaphors of the Church
October 23, 2016 | Acts 1:9-11: Why Eschatology Matters, Part 1
October 23, 2016 | Acts 1:9-11: Why Eschatology Matters, Part 2




Links

If Yahweh, then Christ
12 Proofs of Jesus' Deity From the Synoptic Gospels
Send From God: A Missiological Word Study From John's Gospel
Five Questions To Ask When Reading the Bible



Other Series

What Does Theology Have to Do With the Price of Bread in China? Sermon Series
The Gospel According to Exodus Sermon Series
"Roadblocks to Faith" Sermon Series
"The Beatitudes" Sermon Series
The Gospel Is . . .: Sermon Series on Galatians

How to Download Our New App

Earlier today we launched our new mobile app available on all iOS and Android smart devices (phones, tablets, etc.). This is a great tool for our church to keep our members informed and in touch and it will allow us as a community to better pray for one another.

First, downloading the app is simple.

1. Go to your app store and download the "Church Link" app. It is a free app to download and use.
2. Open the app and allow it to track your location and to send you push notifications. This is very important.
3. Search Frankfort, KY in the city, state search bar or search for "East Frankfort Baptist Church."
4. Select "East Frankfort Baptist Church."

Your done! Now you can start using the app and every time you open the Church Link app it will open to EFBC's app.

This free app comes with a number of important features

1. Access to the entire sermon podcast.
2. Events page where everyone can stay up-to-date with everything that is happening at the church.
3. A prayer wall that allows each user to post prayer requests.
4. Photos from church events.
5. Access to our Facebook page.
6. Access to our website.
7. Access to the Bible.
8. Access to this blog.
9. You can call the church directly from this app.
10. You can get directions to the church.
11. The times of our services is listed.
12. Push notifications that will allow the church to keep everyone updated.

I strongly encourage everyone with smart devices to download and use this app. It is a great tool that is free to use. Also invite your friends, family, and neighbors to use it.

November 13, 2016 | Luke 23:43: I Am Saved

Here is the sermon from Sunday morning looking at the second saying of Jesus from the cross from Luke 23:43:

And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

Audio
Notes


For more:
October 30, 2016 | Luke 23:34: I Am Forgiven

Send Salt Lake Presentation

Sunday evening we discussed how we at EFBC can partner with church planting efforts in Salt Lake City, UT. Below is that presentation taken from Facebook Live.



Church Planter Links:

• Britton Lewis, Redeemer Utah 
• Greg Arender, Wasatch Church 
• Nick Erickson, Redemption Church
• Bryan Catherm, Redeeming Life Church  

Send Salt Lake

Send North America: Salt Lake City from North American Mission Board on Vimeo.

Worship Minimovie: Send Salt Lake City

Going forward, our church will be partnering with church planters and missionaries in Utah. The need in Utah is great as only 2% of the population has a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Send Salt Lake City: This Is My City from North American Mission Board on Vimeo.

October 30, 2016 | Luke 23:34: I Am Forgiven

Sunday morning we started a new sermon series entitled "Famous Last Words" highlighting the final sayings of Jesus from the cross. The first text is taken from Luke 23:34:

³⁴ But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.

Audio
Notes

October 24, 2016 | Ezekiel 37:1-14 - Can These Baptists Live?: Refocusing Our MIssion on the Gospel of Christ in a Christless World

Last week I had the honor to speak at our annual associational meeting. I spoke from Ezekiel 37:1-14.

The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. ² He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry. ³ He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” ⁴ Again He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.’ ⁵ Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. ⁶ I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the Lord.’”

⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. ⁸ And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. ⁹ Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life.”’” ¹⁰ So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

¹¹ Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’ ¹² Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. ¹³ Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. ¹⁴ I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord.’”

Audio
Notes

October 23, 2016 | Acts 1:9-11: Why Eschatology Matters, Part 2

Here is the second part of study of eschatology from Sunday evening thus concluding our doctrinal series entitled "What Does Theology Have to Do With the Price of Bread in China?"

⁹ And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. ¹¹ They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

Audio
Notes


For more:
September 4, 2016 | Ephesians 1:3-14: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 1
September 4, 2016 | 2 Corinthians 12:4-31: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 2
September 11, 2016 | Psalm 33:6-17: Why Creation Matters  
September 18, 2016 | Romans 7:14-25: Why the Fall Matters
September 25, 2016 | 1 John 4:2-3: Why the Humanity of Jesus Matters
September 25, 2016 | John 1:1-5, 14-15: Why the Deity of Christ Matters
October 2, 2016 | Colossians 2:8-15; 1 Peter 2:21-25: Why the Atonement Matters, Part 1
October 2, 2016 | Galatians 3:10-14: Why the Atonement Matters, Part 2
October 9, 2016 | Galatians 5:16-25: Why the Holy Spirit Matters
October 9, 2016 | Acts 2:1-12
October 16, 2016 | Matthew 16:13-20: Why the Church Matters
October 16, 2016 | 1 Corinthians 12:12-27: Metaphors of the Church
October 23, 2016 | Acts 1:9-11: Why Eschatology Matters, Part 1 
October 23, 2016 | Acts 1:9-11: Why Eschatology Matters, Part 2
If Yahweh, then Christ
12 Proofs of Jesus' Deity From the Synoptic Gospels
Send From God: A Missiological Word Study From John's Gospel

October 23, 2016 | Acts 1:9-11: Why Eschatology Matters, Part 1

Here is the sermon from Sunday morning looking at part one of our study of the doctrine of the end times.

⁹ And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. ¹¹ They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

Audio
Notes


For more:
September 4, 2016 | Ephesians 1:3-14: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 1
September 4, 2016 | 2 Corinthians 12:4-31: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 2
September 11, 2016 | Psalm 33:6-17: Why Creation Matters  
September 18, 2016 | Romans 7:14-25: Why the Fall Matters
September 25, 2016 | 1 John 4:2-3: Why the Humanity of Jesus Matters
September 25, 2016 | John 1:1-5, 14-15: Why the Deity of Christ Matters
October 2, 2016 | Colossians 2:8-15; 1 Peter 2:21-25: Why the Atonement Matters, Part 1
October 2, 2016 | Galatians 3:10-14: Why the Atonement Matters, Part 2
October 9, 2016 | Galatians 5:16-25: Why the Holy Spirit Matters
October 9, 2016 | Acts 2:1-12
October 16, 2016 | Matthew 16:13-20: Why the Church Matters
October 16, 2016 | 1 Corinthians 12:12-27: Metaphors of the Church
October 23, 2016 | Acts 1:9-11: Why Eschatology Matters, Part 1 
If Yahweh, then Christ
12 Proofs of Jesus' Deity From the Synoptic Gospels
Send From God: A Missiological Word Study From John's Gospel

An Introduction to Mark 13: A Sermon Preached by Alistair Begg

One of my favorite preachers is Alistair Begg and most weeks I listen to as I believe he serves as a helpful model of preaching. While preparing to preach on eschatology (the doctrine of the end times) I was curious as to how he handled the Olivet Discourse (Mark 13 and the parallel accounts). I do not know what Begg's eschatology is, yet came across this introduction to the Olivet Discourse that I find extremely helpful. In many ways he offers a helpful guide in how to interpret difficult texts like Mark 13 that have to deal with seemingly obscure images and language.

October 16, 2016 | 1 Corinthians 12:12-27: Metaphors of the Church

Here is the sermon from Sunday evening looking at three common metaphors in the New Testament of the church beginning with the one described in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27:

¹² For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. ¹³ For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

¹⁴ For the body is not one member, but many. ¹⁵ If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. ¹⁹ If they were all one member, where would the body be? ²⁰ But now there are many members, but one body. ²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²² On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; ²³ and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, ²⁴ whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, ²⁵ so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. ²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

Audio
Notes


For more:
September 4, 2016 | Ephesians 1:3-14: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 1
September 4, 2016 | 2 Corinthians 12:4-31: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 2
September 11, 2016 | Psalm 33:6-17: Why Creation Matters  
September 18, 2016 | Romans 7:14-25: Why the Fall Matters
September 25, 2016 | 1 John 4:2-3: Why the Humanity of Jesus Matters
September 25, 2016 | John 1:1-5, 14-15: Why the Deity of Christ Matters
October 2, 2016 | Colossians 2:8-15; 1 Peter 2:21-25: Why the Atonement Matters, Part 1
October 2, 2016 | Galatians 3:10-14: Why the Atonement Matters, Part 2
October 9, 2016 | Galatians 5:16-25: Why the Holy Spirit Matters
October 9, 2016 | Acts 2:1-12
October 16, 2016 | Matthew 16:13-20: Why the Church Matters 
October 16, 2016 | 1 Corinthians 12:12-27: Metaphors of the Church
If Yahweh, then Christ
12 Proofs of Jesus' Deity From the Synoptic Gospels
Send From God: A Missiological Word Study From John's Gospel

October 16, 2016 | Matthew 16:13-20: Why the Church Matters

Here is the sermon from Sunday morning taken from Matthew 16:13-20 looking at the doctrine of the church:

¹³ Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.

Audio
Notes


For more:
September 4, 2016 | Ephesians 1:3-14: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 1
September 4, 2016 | 2 Corinthians 12:4-31: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 2
September 11, 2016 | Psalm 33:6-17: Why Creation Matters  
September 18, 2016 | Romans 7:14-25: Why the Fall Matters
September 25, 2016 | 1 John 4:2-3: Why the Humanity of Jesus Matters
September 25, 2016 | John 1:1-5, 14-15: Why the Deity of Christ Matters
October 2, 2016 | Colossians 2:8-15; 1 Peter 2:21-25: Why the Atonement Matters, Part 1
October 2, 2016 | Galatians 3:10-14: Why the Atonement Matters, Part 2
October 9, 2016 | Galatians 5:16-25: Why the Holy Spirit Matters  
October 9, 2016 | Acts 2:1-12
October 16, 2016 | Matthew 16:13-20: Why the Church Matters 
If Yahweh, then Christ
12 Proofs of Jesus' Deity From the Synoptic Gospels
Send From God: A Missiological Word Study From John's Gospel

Five Questions To Ask When Reading the Bible

In our study of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, we discuss his work in inspiring Scripture. We believe that all of Scripture is inspired and given to us from God (see 2 Peter 1:21 and 2 Timothy 3:16). Furthermore, we believe that the focus of Scripture - every line and page - is Jesus Christ and him crucified and the goal of Scripture is the glory of God. It is important we keep this foundational understanding of Scripture in mind when reading God's Word.

But how do we interpret and apply the Bible? The following is the five questions I recommend we always ask when we open our Bibles.

1. What did this text mean before I was born?
2. What does this text say about the God I worship?
3. What does this text say about the Messiah who saved me?
4. What does this text tell me about the gospel?
5. What must change in my life in order for me, in light of this text, to be more like Jesus?

Worship Minimovie: The Story of Pentecost

Worship Minimovie: Doxology

October 9, 2016 | Acts 2:1-12

Here is the sermon from Sunday evening looking at Acts 2:1-12:

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
 
⁵ Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. ⁶ And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. ⁷ They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? ⁹ Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, ¹¹ Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” ¹² And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

Audio
Notes


For more:
September 4, 2016 | Ephesians 1:3-14: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 1
September 4, 2016 | 2 Corinthians 12:4-31: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 2
September 11, 2016 | Psalm 33:6-17: Why Creation Matters  
September 18, 2016 | Romans 7:14-25: Why the Fall Matters
September 25, 2016 | 1 John 4:2-3: Why the Humanity of Jesus Matters
September 25, 2016 | John 1:1-5, 14-15: Why the Deity of Christ Matters
October 2, 2016 | Colossians 2:8-15; 1 Peter 2:21-25: Why the Atonement Matters, Part 1
October 2, 2016 | Galatians 3:10-14: Why the Atonement Matters, Part 2
October 9, 2016 | Galatians 5:16-25: Why the Holy Spirit Matters  
If Yahweh, then Christ
12 Proofs of Jesus' Deity From the Synoptic Gospels
Send From God: A Missiological Word Study From John's Gospel

October 9, 2016 | Galatians 5:16-25: Why the Holy Spirit Matters

Here is the sermon from Sunday morning taken from Galatians 5:16-25 looking at the doctrine of the Holy Spirit.

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. ¹⁹ Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, ²¹ envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Audio
Notes


For more:
September 4, 2016 | Ephesians 1:3-14: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 1
September 4, 2016 | 2 Corinthians 12:4-31: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 2
September 11, 2016 | Psalm 33:6-17: Why Creation Matters  
September 18, 2016 | Romans 7:14-25: Why the Fall Matters
September 25, 2016 | 1 John 4:2-3: Why the Humanity of Jesus Matters
September 25, 2016 | John 1:1-5, 14-15: Why the Deity of Christ Matters
October 2, 2016 | Colossians 2:8-15; 1 Peter 2:21-25: Why the Atonement Matters, Part 1
October 2, 2016 | Galatians 3:10-14: Why the Atonement Matters, Part 2
October 9, 2016 | Galatians 5:16-25: Why the Holy Spirit Matters  
If Yahweh, then Christ
12 Proofs of Jesus' Deity From the Synoptic Gospels
Send From God: A Missiological Word Study From John's Gospel

Send From God: A Missiological Word Study From John's Gospel

In our study of the person of Jesus, we discussed an important word study in the Gospel of John. Jesus repeatedly emphasizes throughout John's Gospel that he was "sent" by the Father. Below is the results of my word study.

• John 4:34 – Jesus *said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.
• John 5:24 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
• John 5:30 – “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
• John 5:36 – But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.
• John 5:38 – You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent.
• John 6:29 – Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
• John 6:38 – For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
• John 6:39 – This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.
• John 6:44 – No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
• John 6:57 – As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me.
• John 7:16 – So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me.
• John 7:18 – He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
• John 7:28 – Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.
• John 7:29 – I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me.
• John 7:33 – Therefore Jesus said, “For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me.
• John 8:16 – But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me.
• John 8:18 – I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.”
• John 8:26 – I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.”
• John 8:29 – And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.”
• John 8:42 – Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.
• John 9:4 – We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.
• John 10:36 – do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
• John 11:42 – I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”
• John 12:44 – And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me.
• John 12:45 – He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me.
• John 12:49 – For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak.
• John 13:16 – Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.
• John 13:20 – Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
• John 14:24 – He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.
• John 15:21 – But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.
• John 16:5 –“But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’
• John 17:3 – This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
• John 17:8 – for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me.
• John 17:18 – As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
• John 17:21 – that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
• John 17:23 – I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
• John 17:25 – “O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me;
• John 20:21 – So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

The point should be obvious. The impetus for missions and evangelism, in Johannine theology, is rooted in a proper understanding of the incarnation. As the Father sent the Son into the world so the Son sends us into the world.

Worship Minimovie: Forgiveness in the Middle East

Worship Minimovie: The Atonement

October 2, 2016 | Galatians 3:10-14: Why the Atonement Matters, Part 2

Here is the sermon from Sunday evening taken from Galatians 3:10-14 looking at the doctrine of atonement.

¹⁰ For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.” ¹¹ Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.” ¹² However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “He who practices them shall live by them.” ¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— ¹⁴ in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Audio
Notes


For more:
September 4, 2016 | Ephesians 1:3-14: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 1
September 4, 2016 | 2 Corinthians 12:4-31: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 2
September 11, 2016 | Psalm 33:6-17: Why Creation Matters  
September 18, 2016 | Romans 7:14-25: Why the Fall Matters
September 25, 2016 | 1 John 4:2-3: Why the Humanity of Jesus Matters
September 25, 2016 | John 1:1-5, 14-15: Why the Deity of Christ Matters
October 2, 2016 | Colossians 2:8-15; 1 Peter 2:21-25: Why the Atonement Matters, Part 1 
October 2, 2016 | Galatians 3:10-14: Why the Atonement Matters, Part 2
If Yahweh, then Christ
12 Proofs of Jesus' Deity From the Synoptic Gospels

October 2, 2016 | Colossians 2:8-15; 1 Peter 2:21-25: Why the Atonement Matters, Part 1

Here is the sermon from Sunday morning taken from both Colossians 2:8-15 and 1 Peter 2:21-25:

Colossians 2:8-15:

⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. ⁹ For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; ¹¹ and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; ¹² having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. ¹³ When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, ¹⁴ having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ¹⁵ When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

1 Peter 2:21-25

²¹ For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, ²² who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; ²³ and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; ²⁴ and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. ²⁵ For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

Audio
Notes


For more:
September 4, 2016 | Ephesians 1:3-14: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 1
September 4, 2016 | 2 Corinthians 12:4-31: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 2
September 11, 2016 | Psalm 33:6-17: Why Creation Matters  
September 18, 2016 | Romans 7:14-25: Why the Fall Matters
September 25, 2016 | 1 John 4:2-3: Why the Humanity of Jesus Matters
September 25, 2016 | John 1:1-5, 14-15: Why the Deity of Christ Matters
October 2, 2016 | Colossians 2:8-15; 1 Peter 2:21-25: Why the Atonement Matters, Part 1 
If Yahweh, then Christ
12 Proofs of Jesus' Deity From the Synoptic Gospels

Worship Minimovie: What If

Here is the worship minimovie from Sunday morning:

September 25, 2016 | John 1:1-5, 14-15: Why the Deity of Christ Matters

Here is the sermon from Sunday evening taken from John 1:1-2, 14-15 looking at the doctrine of Christ's deity.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. ⁴ In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. ⁵ The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. . . . 


¹⁴ And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ John *testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’”

Audio
Notes


For more:
September 4, 2016 | Ephesians 1:3-14: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 1
September 4, 2016 | 2 Corinthians 12:4-31: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 2
September 11, 2016 | Psalm 33:6-17: Why Creation Matters  
September 18, 2016 | Romans 7:14-25: Why the Fall Matters
September 25, 2016 | 1 John 4:2-3: Why the Humanity of Jesus Matters

September 25, 2016 | John 1:1-5, 14-15: Why the Deity of Christ Matters
If Yahweh, then Christ
12 Proofs of Jesus' Deity From the Synoptic Gospels

September 25, 2016 | 1 John 4:2-3: Why the Humanity of Jesus Matters

Here is the sermon from Sunday morning taken from 1 John 4:2-3 on the doctrine of Jesus's humanity.

² By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; ³ and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

Audio
Notes


For more:
September 4, 2016 |Ephesians 1:3-14: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 1
September 4, 2016 | 2 Corinthians 12:4-31: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 2
September 11, 2016 | Psalm 33:6-17: Why Creation Matters  
September 18, 2016 | Romans 7:14-25: Why the Fall Matters
If Yahweh, then Christ
12 Proofs of Jesus' Deity From the Synoptic Gospels
 

12 Proofs of Jesus' Deity From the Synoptic Gospels

One of the leaders of the once former Emergent Church, Tony Jones, wrote a series of blog posts "Questions that Haunt Christianity." In one such post, the following question was asked:

In the Gospel of John, Jesus makes many confident self-proclamations (conservative Evangelical’s favorite verses which seemingly demonstrates the exclusivity of Jesus). Now, I’m sure that claiming to be God in 1st century Judiasm is a really big deal; however, how is it that none of these self-proclamations make it into any of the synoptic gospels? Is it possible that Jesus never made these self-proclamations? If not, how does this effect our understanding of Trinitarian theology in the gospel accounts?

It should be briefly mentioned that Jones does not answer this question directly. He deals primarily, and almost exclusively, with the Gospel of John. However, as the title of his article (It's Probably True, Even If Jesus Didn't Say It) suggests Jesus never clearly claimed to be divine. Instead what we have, as (post)modern liberals have argued, the doctrine of Jesus' deity was later created by the church (blame Constantine, Athanasius, and Nicea). The Synoptics, the argument oftentimes goes, did not present a divine Jesus and the Man Himself never claimed deity for Himself. It is John that makes that explicit claim and being that John was written at the end of the first century, it is less reliable as a reflection of the earliest form of Christianity.

Is this true? No. I have put together 12 reasons proofs of Jesus' deity from the Synoptic Gospels (in no particular order).*


1. Jesus claimed to have the authority to forgive sins

Mark 2:1-12 (parallels in Matthew 9:1-8; Luke 5:17-26) records the famous story of the paralytic lowered from the roof and eventually healed by Jesus. Before Jesus healed Him, the Nazarene claimed rather boldly and shockingly to have forgiven His sins (vs. 5). The religious elite rightly, from their perspective, protest. They ask “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” (vs. 7) Jesus responds, not by just proclaiming his deity but by proving his deity. When Jesus heals the paralytic, the crowd got the message; this is no mere miracle worker (see vs. 12).


2. The Demons proclaimed He was God

In both Mark 1:24 and Luke 4:33-34 demons confess that Jesus is "the Holy One of God." Similarly in Luke 4:40-41, demons refer to Jesus as "the Son of God." If your enemies proclaim you divine, then you are divine.  


3. Jesus Possesses the Attributes and Names of God

Consider, first, the attributes of God present in the ministry of Jesus the following:

• Omnipotence (Matthew 8:26-27, 14:19, 28:18)
• Omnipresence (Matthew 28:20)
• Omniscience (Matthew 11:27)
• Sovereign over the Future (Matthew 16:21, 17:22, 20:18-19, 26:1-2)
• Without Sin - (Matthew 27:3-4; Luke 23:22, 41, 47; Acts 3:14) 
• Suggestion of pre-existence - Mark 1:38; 10:45;

Consider also the titles of God attributed to Jesus throughout His ministry:

•  Immanuel - Matthew 1:21-23
•  Son of God (Matthew 4:3, 6; 8:29; 16:16; 26:63; 27:40; 27:43, 54; Mark 1:1; 3:11; 5:7; 15:39; Luke 1:32, 35; 4:3, 9, 41 8:28; 22:70)
• Son of Man (Matthew 8:20; 9:6; 10:23; 11:19; 12:8, 32, 40; 13:37, 41; 16:13, 27-28; 17:9, 12, 22, 19:28; 20:18, 28; 24:27, 30, 37, 39; 24:44; 25:31; 26:2; 26:24, 45, 64 - I'll stop there)

4. He Accepted Worship

Only God is to be worshiped, but in Matthew 15:25, the Canaanite woman "knelt before him" and said, "Lord, heal me." More explicitly, in Matthew 28:8-9 reads, "And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him." Consider also Acts 7:59-60 where Stephen prays to Jesus.



5. Jesus claims to be the final judge of the world - Matthew 25:31-46


6. He bestowed Eternal Life (Matthew 19:16-21; Mark 10:17-21; Luke 18:18-22)


7. Jesus applied a number of Old Testament texts about God to himself (cf. Matthew 21:16 with Psalm 8:2)


8. He is Lord of the Sabbath

Jesus makes the claim of being Lord of the Sabbath in Matthew 12:8; Mark 2:27-28; Luke 6:5; 13:15. Millard Erickson says here that Jesus "was clearly claiming the right to redefine the status of the Sabbath, a right that belongs only to someone virtually equal with God" (Christian Theology, 702).


9. He juxtaposes His words with that of the Old Testament - Matthew 5:21-22 and 27-28.


10. If He was not divine then His condemnation and punishment were just.


11. Similarly, if Jesus is not divine then his enemies were sorely mistaken.


12. He is the risen and ascended Lord!


More could be added and said, but these 12 points should be clear enough. Jesus did not merely claim to be God He proved it.


* It should be noted that I include references to the book of Acts since its author is the same as one of the Synoptic Gospel writers, Luke.


Tony Jones - It’s Probably True, Even If Jesus Didn’t Say It [Questions That Haunt]


For more:
"Christian Theology": Blogging Through Erickson - Christology 2
John Knox on the Threefold Office of Christ
John Knox on the Importance of the Ascension
John Knox on the Importance of the Ascension

If Yahweh, then Christ

From David Wells' book The Person of Christ:

If Yahweh is our sanctifier (Exod. 31:13), is omnipresent (Ps. 139:7-10), is our peace (Judg. 6:24), is our righteousness (Jer. 23:6), is our victory (Exod. 17:8-16), and is our healer (Exod. 15:26), then so is Christ all of these things (1 Cor. 1:30; Col. 1:27; Eph. 2:14). If the gospel is God’s (1 Thess. 2:2, 6-9; Gal. 3:8), then that same gospel is also Christ’s (1 Thess. 3:2; Gal. 1:7). If the church is God’s (Gal. 1:13; 1 Cor. 15:9), then that same church is also Christ’s (Rom. 16:16). God’s Kingdom (1 Thess. 2:12) is Christ’s (Eph. 5:5); God’s love (Eph. 1:3-5) is Christ’s (Rom. 8:35); God’s Word (Col. 1:25; 1 Thess. 2:13) is Christ’s (1 Thess. 1:8; 4:15); God’s Spirit (1 Thess. 4:8) is Christ’s (Phil. 1:19); God’s peace (Gal. 5:22; Phil. 4:9) is Christ’s (Col. 3:15; cf. Col. 1:2; Phil. 1:2; 4:7); God’s “Day” of judgment (Isa. 13:6) is Christ’s “Day” of judgment (Phil. 1:6, 10; 2:16; 1 Cor. 1:8); God’s grace (Eph. 2:8, 9; Col. 1:6; Gal. 1:15) is Christ’s grace (1 Thess. 5:28; Gal. 1:6; 6:18); God’s salvation (Col. 1:13) is Christ’s salvation (1 Thess. 1:10); and God’s will (Eph. 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:3; Gal. 1:4) is Christ’s will (Eph. 5:17; cf. 1 Thess. 5:18). So it is no surprise to hear Paul say that he is both God’s slave (Rom. 1:9) and Christ’s (Rom. 1:1; Gal. 1:10), that he lives for that glory which is both God’s (Rom. 5:2; Gal. 1:24) and Christ’s (2 Cor. 8: 19,23; cf. 2 Cor. 4:6), that his faith is in God (1 Thess. 1:8, 9; Rom. 4:1-5) and in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:22), and that to know God, which is salvation (Gal. 4:8; 1 Thess. 4:5), is to know Christ (2 Cor. 4:6).