1) Jesus Is My Lord and My God (Kyle Pope)
2) Why So Few Study the Bible (Bill Crews)
3) News & Notes
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Jesus is My Lord and My God<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Kyle Pope -2-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bill Crews The Bible contains all of the will of God for men (read John 16:13 \u2014 the apostles by the Holy Spirit were guided into all the truth; 2 Peter 1:3 \u2014 the apostles were given all things pertaining to life and godliness; 2 Timothy 3:16-17 \u2014 the Scriptures are able to make the man of God complete and to furnish him completely unto every good work). But some men say the Bible contains only part of God\u2019s will for men. They thus destroy confidence in the Bible.<\/strong> 1. Was God able to make known His will to man? Was He able to make His will known in words or language that men could understand? Did He do this? Folks to be praying for:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us continue to remember in prayer the family and friends of Pamela Arnold and Patricia Gill Lariscy <\/strong>who both recently passed away. 1) Hear<\/strong> the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31). evangelist\/editor: <\/strong><\/strong>Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).——————– Contents: 1) Jesus Is My Lord and My God (Kyle Pope)2) Why So Few Study the Bible (Bill Crews)3) News & […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1132","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1132","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1132"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1132\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1138,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1132\/revisions\/1138"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1132"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1132"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1132"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
There is perhaps no other biblical book that places more emphasis on the picture of Jesus as God in the flesh than the gospel of John. In its opening words John affirms boldly what he calls \u201cthe Word\u201d<\/strong> that was \u201cin the beginning\u201d\u2014\u201cwith God\u201d<\/strong> and \u201cwas God\u201d<\/strong> (John 1:1). We are not left to wonder for long the identity of that which is called \u201cthe Word.\u201d <\/strong>Only a few verses into the text John explains through the Holy Spirit, \u201cAnd the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth\u201d<\/strong> (John 1:14, NKJV). The rest of the gospel tells the story of this personified \u201cWord\u201d<\/strong> of God\u2014Jesus Christ.
Before we leave the opening chapter we have already learned a number of things about Jesus as the \u201cWord of God.\u201d<\/strong> First, He is the Creator: \u201cAll things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made\u201d<\/strong> (John 1:3). The Bible begins with the declaration, \u201cIn the beginning God created the heavens and the earth\u201d <\/strong>(Gen. 1:1). If Jesus (as the \u201cWord of God\u201d) is said to have made \u201call things,\u201d <\/strong>the clear assertion is that Jesus is God. Next, Jesus is described as existing within \u201cthe bosom\u201d <\/strong>of God the Father. John explains, \u201cNo one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him\u201d<\/strong> (John 1:18). Some translations have taken this figuratively in just the sense \u201cat the Father\u2019s side\u201d<\/strong> (NIV, ESV, HCSB), but that may miss the point. In Scripture to speak of something in the bosom<\/em> of another person is a way of describing something as belonging to the person or sharing a unique intimacy with him or her (cf. Gen. 16:5; Exod. 4:6; Deut. 13:6; 28:56; Ruth 4:16; 2 Sam. 12:3; Job 31:33; Psa. 35:13; Prov. 6:27; Luke 6:38). While it can refer to those maintaining separate identity (cf. Luke 16:22; John 13:23), in the context this is likely an affirmation of Jesus\u2019 unity with God the Father. Jesus would say later, \u201cI am in the Father, and the Father in Me\u201d<\/strong> (John 14:10). While Jesus may be described as \u201cstanding at the right hand of God\u201d<\/strong> (Acts 7:55-56), the Bible also clearly describes the Deity of Christ.
This is clear in other statements Jesus makes throughout the gospel. He affirmed to Nicodemus while on the earth that although He \u201ccame down from heaven,\u201d<\/strong> He was also \u201cin heaven\u201d <\/strong>(John 3:13). On a separate occasion when speaking to the Jews in Jerusalem He declared, \u201cI am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me\u201d<\/strong> (John 8:16; cf. 16:32). Only God may be said to \u201cfill heaven and earth\u201d <\/strong>(Jer. 23:24).
When Jesus was criticized for healing on the Sabbath He declared, \u201cMy Father has been working until now and I have been working\u201d<\/strong> (John 5:17). The clear inference of this statement was that Jesus had been working from the beginning, just as God the Father had. John explains that the Jews understood that by saying God was His Father they considered Him to be \u201cmaking Himself equal to God\u201d<\/strong> (John 5:18). How interesting that John felt no compulsion to explain that Jesus was not equal to God<\/em>! Why? Because John understood their conclusion to be correct!
In the same context Jesus affirmed His power to call forth the resurrection on the last day (John 5:21, 25-26) and proclaim judgment (John 5:22). Later, Jesus would declare that His words would judge all people on the \u201clast day\u201d<\/strong> (John 12:48). In fact in this gospel, Jesus was said to \u201cknow what was in man\u201d<\/strong> (John 2:25). Only God knows the thoughts of man (Acts 15:8), and the Bible teaches that only God is the \u201cjudge of all the earth\u201d<\/strong> (Gen. 18:25). If Jesus is the Judge, Jesus is God!
Jesus claimed to be \u201cfrom above\u201d<\/strong> (John 8:23) and on another occasion \u201cfrom the Father\u201d <\/strong>as One who had \u201cseen the Father\u201d<\/strong>\u2014yet in the same verse He declared that no one else had \u201cseen the Father\u201d<\/strong> (John 6:46). In this He claimed a status for Himself different from all other human beings.
Perhaps one of the most striking declarations Jesus made came in a discussion with the Jews about Abraham. As Jesus affirmed that they did not display the character and attitude of Abraham, they questioned His claim to know Abraham\u2019s attributes. Jesus declared, \u201cbefore Abraham was, I AM\u201d<\/strong> (John 8:58). With this statement, Jesus used the very words by which God had told Moses to identify Him to the children of Israel\u2014\u201cAnd God said to Moses, \u2018I AM WHO I AM.\u2019 And He said, \u2018Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, \u201cI AM has sent me to you\u201d\u2019\u201d <\/strong>(Exod. 3:14). By identifying Himself as \u201cI AM\u201d <\/strong>Jesus deliberately demonstrated His Deity. This was clear to the Jewish leaders. They picked up stones to stone Him (John 8:59).
Jesus declared His power to resurrect Himself after His death (John 10:17-18), and yet the Bible teaches it is \u201cGod who raises the dead\u201d<\/strong> (2 Cor. 1:9) and even concerning Jesus that \u201cGod raised Him from the dead\u201d<\/strong> (Acts 13:30). Clearly, Jesus and New Testament writers are affirming Christ\u2019s Deity.
Jesus said it quite simply in His declaration, \u201cI and My Father are one\u201d<\/strong> (John 10:30). The Bible doesn\u2019t teach three Gods, but Jesus is a part (or person) of the One God of the Bible. While He possesses distinct will (cf. Matt. 26:39), as do all persons of the godhead (cf. John 16:13), He is One God with the Father, and Holy Spirit. When Jesus said this, once again they tried to stone Him, \u201cbecause You, being a Man make Yourself God\u201d <\/strong>(John 10:33). Isn\u2019t it interesting that once again, nether John (nor Jesus) feel compelled to explain\u2014No, Jesus isn\u2019t God!<\/em> What Jesus did was refer them to the scriptural use of the word for God in application to human judges (John 10:34-35; cf. Psa. 82:6). Why wouldn\u2019t Jesus rebuke them for accusing Him of something that He was not claiming? Because He was affirming His Deity! In asserting that He was \u201cone\u201d<\/strong> with the Father He was declaring Himself to be God manifested in the flesh.
During the final Passover meal Jesus ate with His disciples, He taught them that reception of Him is equal to reception of God the Father (John 13:20) and hatred of Him is equal to hatred of God the Father (John 15:24). During the same lesson, when Philip asked Him \u201cLord, show us the Father\u201d <\/strong>(John 14:8), Jesus declared plainly, \u201cHe who has seen Me has seen the Father\u201d<\/strong> (John 14:9). Think of it\u2014how arrogant this would have been, how blasphemous this would have been if Jesus was not God in the flesh! Can you imagine Moses, Elijah, Peter, or Paul saying such words\u2014\u201cIf you have seen Me you have seen the Father\u201d<\/strong>? Jesus\u2019 Deity is the only explanation by which these words are not an act of sin. Because Jesus is God could it be true that one who had seen Him could be said to have seen God the Father\u2014not in the fullness of His glory (cf. 1 John 4:12), but in the Divine image of Jesus as God in the flesh.
Jesus asserted Himself as the only way to a relationship with God the Father (John 14:6). Jesus claimed that knowledge of Him is equivalent to knowledge of God the Father (John 14:7). Jesus claimed that in loving Jesus and keeping His commands both He and God the Father would make their \u201chome with\u201d<\/strong> such a person (John 14:23). While Jesus did declare, \u201cMy Father is greater than I<\/strong>\u201d (John 14:28), this probably referred to Jesus\u2019 fleshly state, or was said as a demonstration of Jesus\u2019 submission toward God the Father (cf. John 8:29).
In the last pages of John\u2019s gospel, the Holy Spirit continues to assert plainly the Deity of Christ. In the extended prayer Jesus offers just before going into Gethsemane He claims to have shared glory with God the Father \u201cbefore the world was\u201d<\/strong> (John 17:5). In His prayer for the unity of His disciples He repeatedly appeals to His own oneness with the Father as the pattern He desires His disciples to follow (John 17:11, 21-22). In this, once again Jesus proclaims, \u201cYou, Father, are in Me, and I in You\u201d<\/strong> (John 17:21). After the horror of His trial and crucifixion, Jesus demonstrated His Deity in His resurrection (John 20:1-8) and in His ability to appear in the midst of the disciples inside a locked house (John 20:19). When Thomas, one of the disciples who did not see this appearance, saw Him and believed in His resurrection, he proclaimed, \u201cMy Lord and my God!\u201d <\/strong>(John 20:28). If Jesus was not God in the flesh, this would have been the perfect occasion for Him to clarify a false perception. That\u2019s what Paul and Barnabas did\u2014they said, \u201cWe also are men with the same nature as you\u201d<\/strong> (Acts 14:14-15). Jesus didn\u2019t say that, even though one of His disciples called Him \u201cmy God.\u201d<\/strong> In the verses that follow this, Jesus praised Thomas\u2019 belief (John 20:29); and John affirmed that his gospel was written to motivate this same kind of belief (John 20:30-31). What is this belief that was praised and the gospel was intended to motivate? The firm belief that can move one to speak of Jesus Christ of Nazareth as \u201cMy Lord\u201d<\/strong> and \u201cMy God.\u201d<\/strong>
— Via Faithful Sayings,<\/em> Volume 22, Issue 33 (August 16, 2020)
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhy So Few Study the Bible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Bible says, \u201cWhatsoever things were written aforetime<\/em> [in the Old Testament] were written for our learning\u201d <\/em>(Romans 15:4).
And, \u201cFrom a babe thou hast known the sacred writings [the Old Testament] which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus\u201d (2 Timothy 3:15).
And, \u201cWhoso readeth<\/em> [here it refers to something written in the book of Daniel \u2014 BC<\/strong>] let him understand\u201d<\/em> (Matthew 24:15).
And, \u201cAnd He called to Him the multitude, and said unto them, Hear and understand\u201d <\/em>(Matthew 15:10).
And, \u201cAnd he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth the word<\/em> [Luke 8:15 says that the good ground represents one who has an \u201chonest and good heart\u201d \u2014 BC<\/strong>], and understandeth it; who verilybeareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty\u201d<\/em> (Matthew 13:23).
Philip asked the Ethiopian, \u201cUnderstandeth thou what thou readest?\u201d (Acts 8:30 \u2014 he was reading in the book of Isaiah; the passage shows that God wants us to understand what is written in His word \u2014 BC<\/strong>).
And, \u201cBut grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ\u201d<\/em> (2 Peter 3:18).
And, \u201cHowthat by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words, whereby, whenye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ\u201d <\/em>(Ephesians 3 :3-4 ).
And, finally, \u201cWherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is\u201d<\/em> (Ephesians 5:17).<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Men Say in Contrast<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Bible claims to be verbally inspired, inspired in its very expression or wording (2 Timothy 3:16-17 \u2014 see the same reference above; 2 Peter 1:20-21 \u2014 no prophecy of Scripture came by the will of man, but the prophets spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit; 1 Corinthians 2:10-13 \u2014 the hidden wisdom of God was made known unto men like Paul by the Holy Spirit, and those men spoke those things, not in words taught by man\u2019s wisdom, but in words taught by the Holy Spirit; Matthew 10:19-20 and Mark 13:11 \u2014 Jesus promised the apostles that when they were arrested and brought to trial, the Holy Spirit would give them the words to speak). But some men say that the Bible is inspired only in thought or substance. They thus erode faith in the inerrancy of the Bible.<\/strong>
The Bible was given to be understood (see the passages quoted in the beginning of this article), but some men say it was not given to be understood. They thus discourage men from even reading it.<\/strong>
The Bible shows that men as they are can understand the Scriptures as they are to the salvation of their souls ( according to the book of Acts, a book that records the conversions of various individuals, this is exactly what happened over and over in response to the preaching of the apostles and others), but some men say that only with the help of qualified and authorized clergymen (the position of the Roman Catholic Church), or the help of the Book of Mormon (the position of the \u201cChurch of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints\u201d), or the help of the writings of Ellen G. White (the position of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church), or the help of the staff of anonymous writers at Watchtower headquarters (the position of the so-called \u201cJehovah\u2019s Witnesses\u201d), can anyone understand the Bible. They thus discourage men so they will not even try to read and understand for themselves.
<\/strong>God obviously wants men to understand His word and is perfectly capable of giving it to men in language that can be understood, but so many denominations have been saying for so long (a) that it isn\u2019t necessary for men to understand the things written in the Bible, and (b) that different people can never understand the things written in the Bible alike. The unfortunate result is that few people are ever encouraged to engage in a personal, individual study of the Bible.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSome Questions<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
2. Did God give His word (the Bible) to man, thinking that man would be able to understand it — but not realizing till later that man would be unable to understand it?
3. Did God give His word (the Bible) to man and deliberately couch it in such language or with such words that He knew man would be unable to understand it?
4. Does God want man to understand His word (the Bible)? Can man understand that word (the Bible)?
5. Should you set aside time to read and study and even meditate upon the Bible? Will you?
Why not become a daily student of the Bible, the revelation of God and God\u2019s will to man,the only book Divine in origin.
<\/strong>— Via Roanridge Reader<\/em> Volume 32 Issue 47 Page 2, November 19, 2017
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-3-<\/p>\n\n\n\nNews & Notes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Alan and Darlene Tanner <\/strong>have both tested positive for covid-19.
Michael Rittenhouse,<\/strong> who has covid-19 and also pneumonia in his lower right lung, was running a fever of 102.9 yesterday and is to go to the ER if he develops any pain in his stomach. He will be seeing his doctor Monday for a reassessment. Michael’s son Michael<\/strong> will have to be tested again for covid-19, and Rebecca <\/strong>who had tested positive for it last week is now experiencing symptoms. Shirley Crews<\/strong> (Rebecca’s mother), who also tested positive for covid-19, had to be readmitted to the hospital where she is now on life support. Also with covid-19: Sarah Rittenhouse Wright<\/strong> and Susanne Rittenhouse<\/strong>.
Doyle Rittenhouse<\/strong> ended up having 4 nerve ablations Monday on one side of his spine. The pain continued until Friday. This Wednesday, he will have 4 more nerve ablations on the other side.
Martha Lively<\/strong> has found some relief from pain through chiropractic treatment. Though the pain is still there in the early morning and evening, at least it is not all the time as it had been. So, for a while, she will continue on a weekly basis with these treatments.
Cameron Haney <\/strong>is going through illness and some difficult times.
James Medlock <\/strong>is now over his congestive heart failure, but hasn’t been able to receive therapy, due to being quarantined in the nursing home. He has not had covid-19, but there are others there who do have it. An appeal has been made to see if James can stay another 21 days.
Penny Medlock<\/strong> is now in a group home in Augusta, Georgia.
Deborah Medlock <\/strong>received a good report last week. The lymph nodes that were removed tested negative for cancer. Everything else that was removed also tested negative, except for that small nodule (1 cm), which was also removed. It had not grown nor moved since previously examined. She will be seeing her doctor this Thursday and will soon begin radiation treatments as a precautionary measure.
Rick Cuthbertson <\/strong>had to temporarily discontinue his cancer treatments, due to some adverse reactions he began having. He is to remain off the medication for a week and then resume with only 2 pills a day for 21 days straight.
Others to also be praying for: Larry & Janice Hood, Jamie Cates<\/strong> (healing from a double lung transplant), A.J. & Pat Joyner, Elaine Abbott, Pat Brigman, Shirley Davis, Tim Kirkland, Ronnie & Melotine Davis, Jim Lively, Judy Daugherty, Joyce Rittenhouse’s brother,Rex & Frankie Hadley,Mark Owen Mixon,<\/strong> and Ginger Ann Montero.<\/strong>
——————–<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2) Believe <\/strong>in the deity of Jesus Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent<\/strong> of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith<\/strong> in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized<\/strong> in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27; Col. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith, <\/strong>living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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<\/strong>Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
<\/strong>1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
We are currently meeting for only our Sunday 10 a.m. worship service each week, due to the coronavirus situation. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong><\/strong>Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
<\/a>http:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/go<\/a> <\/strong><\/strong>(older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"