Bible Question:
I have several questions. Please answer each with Bible texts and mention what mistakes you would try to avoid for each issue. 1. Several members at church have been asking questions about how and when Jesus became divine. Some point to the baptism of when the Spirit descends on Jesus as a dove. Others think there may be a problem with that view. How would you preach it? 2. A number of recent responses have mentioned that thye are "unsure of their salvation." You want people to understand the seriousness of sin while at the same time teaching the truth about justificiation and redemption. How can you do both? 3. During a class study, the subject of the Trinity comes up. A number in the class complain that thye don't se the big deal about different views of the Trinity. What could you do to address the importance of a proper understanding of the Trinity without getting bogged down in the high-minded difficulties involved? 4. A growing group from your congregation is missing the assembly more often. When asked about it, they casually say that church is not about where you are physically; it's about where you are in your heart. How could you address their ideas in a way that would encourage a deper understanding of the church? 5. An especially curious member of your Sunday morning class asks whether Judas did anything wrong since it was a part of God's plan anyway that Jesus be betrayed and crucified. You promise to address that issue in a sermon to avoid having to talk about it in class. What would you preach to defebd God's sovereignty over humans, but also allow for our own freedom? Thanks so much for answering these scenarios. |
Bible Answer: Dear Angies, To begin to answer your multiple question, lets take it one at at a time. How would I preach? I would start with John 5:39, 'Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternel life; and they are they that testify of me.' The Old Testament was the Bible of the New Testament church. They searched the Old testament for images of Christ. Therefore when the dove descended on Jesus and the Father says, ' Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' (Mark 1;11) did the first century church see a parallel with Genesis 1:4, 'And God saw the light, that it was good.'? Jesus is the light (Jn 1:9) He is the way, the truth and the light, He is the light of the world. He was with the Father before He came into the world, and the co-creator of all tnings. (Col 1:16) Genesis 1:16, 'let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness.' I would then develope the theme of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. Bible students always value the first mention of a word, subject or object as highly significant. Genesis 8:8-12 the first reference to a dove, where Noah sends out the dove three times. The first is when she finds no place to settle, is this the offer of God to Israel in Ex 19:6 when He wished that they should become a nation of kings and priests? It was refused, they replied 'let us not talk to God lest we die.' (Ex 20:19) They were scared of death to self, they did not trust Him. They asked to go under law, not God's arrangemenr but theirs. You tell Moses and he will tell us. The day of provocation, (Heb 3:15) The second time the dove goes out she can rest for a time, with Jesus. She returns with the olive branch, 'plucted' off, ready for grafting. (Gen 8:11, Hb. taraph' highly significant) Jesus will be the start of a grafting of the vine. (Romans 7) The third and last time she does not return, she has found a resting place with the 120 of the first century church at pentecost. The essense of Christ is His 'divine nature' (2 Pet 1:4) and where we have the combination of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, there He Is. I would finish with Col 1:27, 'The Christ in you the hope of glory.' Yours, and His Paul, Give me a little time on the other questions |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Bible general Archive 3 | Author | ||
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it is written | ||
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ladybugmom | ||
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1lbryant | ||
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Donald C | ||
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JWeaver | ||
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sparkly | ||
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TaureanMan | ||
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angies | ||
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CDBJ | ||
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brother paul | ||
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brother paul | ||
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it is written | ||
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lookingnow |