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.”

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

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

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?

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.

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

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).

September 18, 2016 | Romans 7:14-25: Why the Fall Matters

Here is the sermon from Sunday morning taken from Romans 7:14-25 looking at the sin and the doctrine of the Fall.

¹⁴ For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. ¹⁵ For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. ¹⁶ But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. ¹⁷ So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. ¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. ¹⁹ For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. ²⁰ But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

²¹ I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. ²² For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, ²³ but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. ²⁴ Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

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 11, 2016 | Psalm 33:6-17: Why Creation Matters

Here is the sermon from Sunday morning taken from Psalm 33:6-17

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And by the breath of His mouth all their host.
⁷ He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;
He lays up the deeps in storehouses.
⁸ Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
⁹ For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.
¹⁰ The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations;
He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
¹¹ The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation.
¹² Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

¹³ The Lord looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men;
¹⁴ From His dwelling place He looks out
On all the inhabitants of the earth,
¹⁵ He who fashions the hearts of them all,
He who understands all their works.
¹⁶ The king is not saved by a mighty army;
A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
¹⁷ A horse is a false hope for victory;
Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.

Audio
Notes



For more:
September 11, 2016 | Psalm 33:6-17: Why Creation Matters 
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 4, 2016 | 2 Corinthians 12:4-31: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 2

Here is the sermon from Sunday evening taken from 1 Corinthians 12:4-31 which concludes our study of the Trinity introduced Sunday morning.

⁴ Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. ⁶ There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. ⁷ But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. ⁸ For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, ¹⁰ and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

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. ²⁸ And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. ²⁹ All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? ³⁰ All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? ³¹ But earnestly desire the greater gifts.

And I show you a still more excellent way.

Audio
Notes


For more:
September 4, 2016 |Ephesians 1:3-14: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 1

September 4, 2016 |Ephesians 1:3-14: On Why the Trinity Matter, Part 1

Sunday morning we began a new series I've entitled "What Does Theology Have to do With the Price of Bread in China?" Our goal is to explore key aspects of Christian theology and explore why each matters and apply to our lives. First up is the doctrine of the Trinity.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love ⁵ He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. ⁷ In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace ⁸ which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight ⁹ He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him ¹⁰ with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him ¹¹ also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, ¹² to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. ¹³ In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

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