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Month: August 2017

God and Jesus in 1 Thessalonians

God and Jesus in 1 Thessalonians

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In the Bible book of 1 Thessalonians, God and Jesus and spoken of as separate and distinct. Let’s examine this distinction in some of the verses in 1 Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians
God and Jesus are spoken of as separate and distinct in 1 Thessalonians

“In God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thess 1:1) Here, God and Jesus are referred to as two separate and distinct individuals.

“Before our God and Father… inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thess 1:3) God, the Father, is one, and the Lord Jesus Christ is another.

“They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus.” (1 Thess 1:9-10) These verses are very instructive. Notice God is called “the living and true God,” while Jesus is called “his Son,” “whom he” (God) “raised from the dead.” Jesus was dead, God was alive, but had the power to bring him back to life. read more

Is Jesus Christ God Almighty – Philippians

Is Jesus Christ God Almighty – Philippians

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We continue our series about what is stated concerning Jesus in the various books of the New Testament. Today, we will examine the book of Philippians. Notice the distinctive relationship between God and Jesus throughout this book of Philippians, especially the superior role of God compared to Jesus.

Philippians
The superior role of God compared to Jesus is evident from the Bible book of Philippians

“To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi.” (Phil 1:1) God is always the one in control, and using Christ to gather his people.

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Phil 1:2) God and Jesus are separate and distinct. Holy Spirit, since it is not a person, does not give greetings. read more

Is the Holy Spirit a Person in John’s Gospel?

Is the Holy Spirit a Person in John’s Gospel?

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Trinitarians focus on a few scriptures in which the holy spirit is personified, which when taken literally, make it appear to be an actual spirit person. Let’s examine the uses in John of the word spirit, wherever it means the holy spirit.

holy spirit person
Is the holy spirit a person in the Gospel of John?

“Then John gave this testimony: ‘I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.'” (Jn 1:32 NIV)

The holy spirit is not personified, but “as a dove,” the figure of speech called simile, being used here, involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind. There is no indication of personhood being applied to the holy spirit. read more

Holy Spirit – Greetings in the NT Letters?

Holy Spirit – Greetings in the NT Letters?

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In the New Testament letters, greetings are given from above. We know that God the Father and Jesus Christ are both persons, so we should expect to see their greetings. But what about the Holy Spirit? If the Holy Spirit is a person, we should expect to see greetings from the Holy Spirit as well. But is this the case? Let’s examine these greetings in the letters to find out.

Holy Spirit greetings?
Where are the greetings from the Holy Spirit in the New Testament?

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom 1:7)

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor 1:3) read more

Is Jesus Christ Almighty God? – Ephesians

Is Jesus Christ Almighty God? – Ephesians

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We continue our series about what is stated concerning Jesus in the various books of the New Testament. Today, we will examine the book of Ephesians.

Ephesians
The Book of Ephesians provides some clues as to whether or not Jesus Christ is Almighty God

Eph 1:1 – “…apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.” God are Jesus are separate people. “To God’s holy people… in the Lord Jesus Christ.” Notice how many times in this letter God and Jesus are both mentioned, but as separate, with God being superior and Jesus as inferior.

Eph 1:2 – “…from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” read more

Infant Baptism – Is it Biblical?

Infant Baptism – Is it Biblical?

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There is no explicit evidence of infant baptism in the Bible. The earliest historical reference to infant baptism is in the third century, by Origen.

Infant Baptism
Do infants have the capacity to comprehend the seriousness of baptism or to undertake the needed changes?

What do we learn from the Bible?

“You must therefore go and make disciples of people of all nations my disciples. You must baptize them.” (Mat 28:19 Barclay) People would have to become disciples of Christ prior to qualifying for baptism. A disciple is a taught one, a believer, a follower, in this case of Jesus Christ.

What does becoming a disciple involve according to the Bible? A number of things that infants and small children are incapable of doing. These include: read more

Titles of the Gospels – Are They Genuine?

Titles of the Gospels – Are They Genuine?

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The Titles of the Gospels

History says Matthew, Mark, Luke and John wrote the books with those titles. People seem to have a highly variable standard in their assessment of what ancient writings are genuine, especially the Bible. What do we mean? Here is an example:

Titles of the Gospels
Did Matthew, Mark, Luke and John really write the Gospels, or were these names attributed later?

Most people accept Alexander the Great as a real historical figure. Yet, the two earliest biographies of Alexander the Great were written by Arrian and Plutarch more than 400 years after the Great One’s death 323 BCE. Legends about him developed centuries after these two writers. Alexander’s true, accurate is preserved for hundreds of years, prior to these legends. read more