Deity of Christ 1

The Deity of Christ (1)
Tim Haile, for the Parkway church of Christ

For 2000 years controversy has surrounded the nature of the person of Christ. John, writing about Jesus in the first century, said that, “the people were divided because of Him” (John 7:43). This condition remains today. Even those who call themselves “Christians” are divided over this subject. Some deny that Jesus even existed. And though this objection must be addressed, such a study is a matter of evidences, and does not lie within the scope of this article. Some people believe that Jesus was a real historical figure, but they deny that He was God. Among these people, some even admit that Jesus was a great man and a great teacher, but deny His divinity. Some believe that Jesus was a great prophet of God (in succession with other great prophets) but they deny that He was God (Islam). Some believe that Jesus was a man who became God (Mormonism). Some believe that Jesus was a created being (a demi-god), but not equal with the Father as to His divine properties (Jehovah’s Witnesses). Some believe that Jesus was, and is God, but that His deity was “emptied” during His days in the flesh (Kenoticism). Others believe that Jesus retained His divine nature while in the flesh, but that He surrendered all use of those powers and conducted Himself as a mere man. Others see Jesus as possessing uninterrupted deity, even during His days in the flesh, and that He exercised His divine powers insofar as such exercise did not conflict with His role as savior and servant. This is the Bible position about Jesus. We shall examine it more.

Does It Matter What We Believe About Jesus?

Yes it does! Jesus said, “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). Jesus’ use of the present tense verb, “I am,” is significant. He would later say, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). This is the same kind of verb that God used to describe Himself to Moses from the burning bush (“I Am that I Am”). Moses was to tell his brethren that “I Am” had sent Him to deliver them from Egyptian bondage. That is, he was being sent by the eternal, self-existent one. By describing Himself as “I am,” Jesus identifies Himself with the God that spoke from the burning bush. (More to come…)

View past articles at http://parkwayarticles.blogspot.com. Please join us for worship and Bible study at our building located at 125 Hilltopper Ave, Bowling Green, KY 42101. We meet each Sunday at 10:00AM and 6:00PM for worship, and Sundays at 9:00AM and Wednesdays at 7:00PM for Bible study. Our radio program is aired each Sunday morning at 8:00AM on the WKCT 930AM band. Phone: (270) 842-2049 – Email: timhaile@mac.com.

Predestination (4)

Predestination (4)
Tim Haile, for the Parkway church of Christ

Last weeks article addressed Ephesians chapter one, and I pointed out that one of the consequences of “predestination” is a denial of free moral agency. This article will address two other consequences:

The concept of individual pre-election makes God a respecter of persons. The Bible depicts God as being fair and faithful. It would be unfair for God to arbitrarily select some individuals to eternal life and others to eternal damnation. Proponents of individual pre-election will say that we should not question these so-called “methods” of God. I agree that God’s methods must never be questioned by his creatures (Rom. 9:20, 21). But what is really being questioned? Is this really God’s method, or has it actually been assigned to God by misguided men? I affirm that it is the latter. The Bible repeatedly affirms that “God shows no partiality” (Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25). What should not be questioned is God’s own impartial nature. False versions of “predestination” misrepresent God’s very nature.

The concept of individual pre-election violates the conditional nature of salvation. If God arbitrarily pre-selects some people to eternal life and some to eternal damnation, then he does so on some other basis than the choices and actions of these people. This is an unbiblical view of salvation. The Bible teaches that salvation is available to people who meet God-given conditions. The Hebrew writer said, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). One must believe in, and seek God if he wants to be saved. To go to heaven one must “do the will” of the Father who “is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). One must be “born again” (John 3:3-5, 1 Peter 1:22, 23). To be forgiven of sin one must believe (John 8:24; Acts 2:41), repent (Luke 13:3,5; Acts 2:38; 17:30), confess (Romans 10:9,10) and be baptized (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21; Acts 2:38). To continue in salvation one must continue in Christ’s word (John 8:31, 32; 2 John 9).

Please write us if you are interested in a free tract on this subject.

View past articles at http://parkwayarticles.blogspot.com. Please join us for worship and Bible study at our building located at 125 Hilltopper Ave, Bowling Green, KY 42101. We meet each Sunday at 10:00AM and 6:00PM for worship, and Sundays at 9:00AM and Wednesdays at 7:00PM for Bible study. Our radio program is aired each Sunday morning at 8:00AM on the WKCT 930AM band. Phone: (270) 842-2049 – Email: timhaile@mac.com.

Predestination (3)

Predestination (3)
Tim Haile, for the Parkway church of Christ

Our last two articles addressed Bible passages about “predestination.” This article will address one other pertinent passage, and then consider some consequences of false views:

Ephesians 1:4, 5, 11 – Perhaps this is the better known and most used of the predestination passages. Paul said, “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will…In him we have obtained and inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the council of his will.” Failure to define terms and consider all related contexts has led many to conclude that Paul is here speaking of an individual election by God in which certain ones are had pre selected for salvation. This is not what Paul said. Paul said that a certain character, conduct and class had been predestinated. God predetermined that salvation would be in Christ, for those who were adopted by God, and who conducted themselves in a holy and blameless way. Any and all who fit these criteria are fit candidates for salvation. Like Romans 8:29, 30, this passage describes certain conditions as being what God has predestinated. As we noted in our last article, Romans 8:29 tells us that God predestined that people would be saved by conforming to the image of Christ.

Let us consider some of the consequences of the position of personal and individual pre selection:

The concept of individual pre-election violates free moral agency. God has given humans the right and ability to choose salvation. God invites men to obtain salvation, but the “water of life” is reserved only for those who “desire” and “take” it (Revelation 22:17). Jesus lamented that though he had offered eternal life to members of the Jewish nation, they “would not” take it (Matthew 23:37; John 5:40). Salvation is a matter of choice: “IF anyone wills to do his will… IF anyone abides in my word…” (John 7:17; 8:31). The little word “if” represents huge possibilities. It suggests the right and ability of humans to make their own moral and spiritual choices. (More to come…)

View past articles at http://parkwayarticles.blogspot.com. Please join us for worship and Bible study at our building located at 125 Hilltopper Ave, Bowling Green, KY 42101. We meet each Sunday at 10:00AM and 6:00PM for worship, and Sundays at 9:00AM and Wednesdays at 7:00PM for Bible study. Our radio program is aired each Sunday morning at 8:00AM on the WKCT 930AM band. Phone: (270) 842-2049 – Email: timhaile@mac.com.

Predestination (2)

Predestination (2)
Tim Haile, for the Parkway church of Christ

In last week’s article I suggested that much can be learned about Bible “predestination” by examining Bible passages that discuss the subject. We looked at Acts 4:28. Let us now consider some other passages.

Romans 8:29,30 – Paul said, “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” This passage is very helpful to our understanding of predestination. What God “predestinated” was the character and conduct of those whom he would save. God predestined that in order for people to be saved they must conform to the image of Christ. The word for “image” is “eikon” (icon). Christ is our icon. We are to mimic and obey him.

Though this would involve many different areas and actions, one of the more obvious aspects of this conformity would be in our service and obedience to the Father. Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of him that sent me and to finish the work” (John 4:24; see also 8:29; Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 5:8). God predestined that in order for us to call him our “Father” and Christ our “brother” we must be obedient and holy, as was Christ. Many people have been deceived into thinking that if one does anything in order to comply with God’s will that he is “earning” his salvation. This is not true. Salvation is the gift of God, but this gift (grace) contains conditions. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,” shall enter into the kingdom of God, but he who does the will of my father who is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21).

1 Corinthians 2:7 – Paul said, “But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God decreed before the ages for our glory.” The word “decreed” is from proorizo, as is “predestinate.” Paul is describing God’s wisdom, specifically as it relates to the plan of salvation. The very next verse tells us that had the rulers of the world known they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Like Acts 4:28, this passage emphasizes God’s role in planning and executing the scheme of redemption. Jesus said, “This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes” (Matthew 21:42). (More to come…)

View past articles at http://parkwayarticles.blogspot.com. Please join us for worship and Bible study at our building located at 125 Hilltopper Ave, Bowling Green, KY 42101. We meet each Sunday at 10:00AM and 6:00PM for worship, and Sundays at 9:00AM and Wednesdays at 7:00PM for Bible study. Our radio program is aired each Sunday morning at 8:00AM on the WKCT 930AM band. Phone: (270) 842-2049 – Email: timhaile@mac.com.