Jesus The Word

I love the way the Gospel of John opens.  John talks about Jesus without referring to him by that name, instead referring to him as “the Word” (John 1:14).  This should remind us that there is no difference between God’s Word and Jesus Christ.  The writer of Hebrews opened his book by saying, “Long ago, at many times in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2).  It is through Jesus that God speaks to us today, and Jesus speaks to us through the Scriptures, His Word which will also judge us in the end (John 12:48).  We know this because the Holy Spirit inspired the writers of Scripture (2 Peter 1:19-21; Ephesians 3:3-5), and the Spirit received His message from Jesus (John 16:25).  This is why the apostle wrote, “If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 14:37).  So when the publishers of your Bible say that the words of Christ are “in red,” they should consistently print the entire Bible in red ink.… Read More Jesus The Word

Hebrews: Jesus Christ Never Changes

Consider everything in this life which changes and the uncertainty and stress those changes bring. Families change. Governments change. Jobs change. The economy changes. Our health and the health of those whom we love changes. Sometimes even Christians change and lose their love for God (cf. Revelation 2:4-5). Yet Jesus the Christ – the Anointed of God, the Messiah, our Savior, Lord and King – never changes. That’s basically the theme of the whole book of Hebrews. … Read More Hebrews: Jesus Christ Never Changes

Hebrews: Jesus’ Superiority Over Aaron

The Hebrew author then spoke of how Jesus during “the days of his flesh…offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death…” (5:7a; cf. Luke 22:40-44).  While Jesus lived as a human, he was both God and man (John 1:1, 14).  During this time, he prayed regularly for the sins of his fellow man just as Aaron’s high priests had done.  The difference which shows Christ’s superiority over Judaism’s priesthood is that he did so without sin (cf. 4:15).  … Read More Hebrews: Jesus’ Superiority Over Aaron

Hebrews: “Him Who For A Little While Was Made Lower Than The Angels”

The Psalmist prophesied that God would make the Messiah “for a little while lower than the angels” before “crowning him with glory and honor.”  This prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus, who became both fully God and fully human “for a little while” before ascending back into heaven and being “crowned with glory and honor.”  John’s vision in Revelation agrees with the Hebrew writer’s expressed reason for Jesus’s crowning of glory and honor: “because of the suffering of death” (v. 9; cf. Revelation 5:6-14).  Jesus “tast(ed) death for everyone.”  He took what we deserve for our sins (1 John 2:2; Romans 5:6-10).  This was done due to God’s grace and love for us all (cf. John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8).… Read More Hebrews: “Him Who For A Little While Was Made Lower Than The Angels”

April 2015 Bible Questions And Answers

Topics:  Muslims, boycotting, Jesus’ body after ascension, communication in the afterlife, Jewish racism in the Bible, saying “going to church,” Satan’s sin in heaven, Christians’ punishment compared to the punishment of unbelievers With this coming Sunday being the next scheduled Bible Question & Answers session at Duncan, I thought I’d post the questions and answers… Read More April 2015 Bible Questions And Answers