Jesus asked His disciples two questions. The first, "Who do men say that I am?" The answers, of course, ranged from Moses or one of the prophets, or Elijah. This is a question that is still relevant today. And the answers are just as varied. Many will say that Jesus was just a good man; and only a man. Others say He was a good teacher, or a good example; but again, just a man.
Then the Lord turned it personal for His disciples with a second question, "But who do you say I am?" This is really is the most important question of all time, the answer to which has eternal consequences.
Continuing our look at the Trinity, today's lesson is a second look at the person of Jesus Christ. In the first session we examined what Scripture has to say about the humanity of Jesus. In this session, we dig into what the Bible has to say about the deity of Jesus. And Scripture has much to say on the topic.
Drawing on both Old Testament writing and their New Testament fulfillment, we see that Scripture ascribes to Jesus attributes that are rightly only ascribed to God. These include an eternal nature, power over creation, including power over demons, physical infirmities, and the power over death itself. We also see that Jesus is clearly shown to be equal with God, even sharing the name of God Himself, Yahweh.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May the Word of the Lord bless you as we consider together the person of Jesus Christ and the implications for His deity for us.
The book of Acts records for us the rise of the church in Thessalonica. Seeking to spread the Word of the Lord in Asia Minor during his second missionary journey, the Holy Spirit made other plans, guiding Paul and Silas, along with Timothy, into Greece. In Greece, after preaching in Philippi and travelling through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to the capital city of the Macedonian province, Thessalonica.
In Acts 17, we read how, over three Sabbaths in the Jewish synagogue, Paul reasoned with them from the Scriptures, "explaining and giving evidence that the Chris had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.'" (Acts 17:3 NASB). The result is that many believed, both of the Jews and the God fearing Greeks. Filled with jealousy, the Jews stirred up the city, effectively driving Paul and his companions away from Thessalonica.
Given these circumstances, Paul sent Timothy from Athens back to Thessalonica to see how the church fared and to encourage them. His greatest fear was that the "tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain." (1 Thessalonians 3:5b NASB). But when Timothy returned, the news gave great joy to Paul. For instead of returning to the former ways of idolatry, the church in Thessalonica stood firm in their faith, becoming an example to the other churches in all of Greece, as well as spreading the Word of God wherever they went.
The result of this report was the letters from Paul to the church of the Thessalonians. A letter in which Paul, like a concerned father, pours out his heart to this body of believers; expressing both his deep love and concern for, was well as his great joy in, this local church.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be encouraged through Paul's letter to the church in Thessalonica.
There is no question among the modern world view that Jesus is human. Most will acknowledge His historical existence, but relegate Him to the position of a good teacher, or a prophet. Others say He was just another prophet. Still other false religions claim He is one among other gods. Of these, none acknowledge the reality of His divine nature as the Second person of the Trinity.
However, in the earliest history of the church, there was no question regarding Jesus divine nature. The debate actually centered around His humanity. Did God actually take upon Himself human flesh?
In today's lesson, we examine Scripture, beginning with the Old Testament to see the fact that Jesus came in human flesh and the implications for us today.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
The Holy Spirit is often referred to as the quiet member of the Trinity. But is this really an accurate description of the Holy Spirit? For example, through our recent studies into the book of Acts, we see the Holy Spirit at work on every page. 2 Peter 1:21 tells us that "no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" (NASB). Indeed, all of Scripture can be seen as the voice of the Holy Spirit.
Join us this week as we survey what Scripture says regarding the Holy Spirit. We will look consider
- The triune nature of God
- The Personality of the Holy Spirit
- The Deity of the Holy Spirit
- The Work of the Holy Spirit
- Our responsibility before the Holy Spirit.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed as together we examine this key doctrine of the church.
In some ways, the book of Ruth is an unlikely book. Elimelech, an Israelite, leaves Israel during a famine occurring during the time of the Judges. Of all places he settles his wife, Naomi, and their two sons in the land of Moab. Violating God's Law, Mahlon and Chilion take for themselves Moabite wives. Then tragedy strikes. Elimelech, Mahlon and Chilion all die, leaving Naomi alone in a foreign land; a Godless land.
She returns to Israel. Orpah, one of her daughters-in-law leaves at Naomi's urging. But Ruth gave an unlikely response, wherever you go, I will go; your people will be my people and your God my God. She must have seen something in Naomi's life, along with her words, to convince her that the Moabite gods were no gods at all.
Join us for this week's lesson from the book of Ruth to see how God's mercy and grace transform the individual into a person He can use for His purposes and glory.
Thank you for listening. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.
Every conversion story is unique. But we find that we are more drawn to the more "exciting" stories; those stories where a person goes from prisoner to pastor. What we forget is that each and every conversion story is a miracle.
Scripture gives us an honest portrayal of the natural state of man, full of evil, murder, strife (Romans), dead in our trespasses and sins, children of wrath (Ephesians).
But God... The amazing grace of God begins with, "But God being rich in mercy and the love with which He loved us. But God made us alive together with Christ. But God saved us by grace through faith. But God, through His Son, has transferred us from the domain of darkness into the light of His glorious Son.
This is what Saul of Tarsus experienced. Saul, zealous for the Law and the traditions of Israel who believed he was on God's side as he persecuted the church in Jerusalem, even going as far as Damascus to arrest Christians. But then the risen Christ met him on the road to Damascus, and his life would never be the same.
Following the explosion of the Gospel into Samaria, the Lord sends Philip from Samaria to a "chance" encounter on a desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza. There he came across the entourage of an Ethiopian eunuch, "a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her treasure;" and who had come to Jerusalem to worship.
In the ancient Mediterranean world, Ethiopia, now modern day Sudan, was considered the southern most reaches of the earth. And here is a wealthy court official, a proselyte to Judaism, returning from a 1,200 to 1,800 mile pilgrimage to Jerusalem. And as Philip is instructed to approach his chariot, it becomes apparent that he is reading from Isaiah, the prophet, specifically in Isaiah 53, regarding the suffering servant. We read that beginning with this scripture, Philip preached Jesus to him.
In today's lesson, we see there are no chance encounters with God. The Lord places us on specific paths at specific times to interact with the people He wants us to encounter. The question is, do we take full advantage of those opportunities in order to faithfully proclaim the Gospel?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be encouraged to share the Gospel wherever you are, and which whomever you meet. And may you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.
Matthew records that following Jesus's baptism and His temptation in the wilderness, He settled in Capernaum and "began to preach and say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'". In the following chapters, we are presented by the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 thru 7, followed by signs and wonders; healing the sick, healing the leper, driving out demons, raising the dead, etc. The pattern we see is preaching and teaching, truth, followed by signs and wonders which serve to authenticate His teaching.
It should not surprise us, then, that when Jesus summoned the twelve, that He sent them to the lost sheep of Israel, preaching, "the kingdom of heaven is at hand." This was to be accompanied by signs and wonders; in other words, truth accompanied by signs and wonders.
In today's lesson we see how this pattern can be a model for the church in proclaiming the Gospel and bringing the compassion of Christ to bear on a hurting world.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.
It has been said that History is His Story. This acknowledges that God is a God of history and works all things to His purposes. Even in tragic events, such as the death of Jesus Christ and His saints, as seen in the stoning of Stephen, God continues to work.
In today's lesson, we see Saul ravaging the church, opening the great persecution of the church in Jerusalem and causing the church to flee. But even in this we see God's hand, because the church, once confined largely to Jerusalem and Judea, now spread to Samaria. This fulfills Christ's purpose for His followers to preach the Gospel in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.
It has been said that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. Throughout history, it is clear that martyrdom often results in major change. The stoning of Stephen at the hands of the Sanhedrin opened the persecution of the church in Jerusalem. But it also scattered the believers to remote areas, resulting in the church spreading throughout the regions around Israel.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.
