Jesus the Savior

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Jesus the Savior Jesus the Savior Introductory Theology, Volume 2 By Grace Communion International With articles written by Joseph Tkach, Michael D. Morrison, John Halford, Paul Kroll, J. Michael Feazell, and others Second edition, November 2016 Minor edits June 2018 Copyright © 2016 Grace Communion International All rights reserved. Cover image: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Bloch- SermonOnTheMount.jpg ISBN-13: 978-1512392043 ISBN-10: 1512392049 All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ CONTENTS Introduction .....................................................................................................vii Part 1: The Incarnation Who Was Jesus Before His Human Birth? ................................................... 1 And the Word Was God .................................................................................. 9 The Question of Christ’s Prayers ................................................................. 12 Who Jesus Really Was .................................................................................... 14 The Incarnation: A Bible Study .................................................................... 16 The Incarnation: The Greatest Miracle ....................................................... 21 The Real Miracle Story of Jesus’ Birth ........................................................ 23 What Jesus’ Incarnation Shows Us About Being Human ....................... 28 He Gave Himself ............................................................................................ 31 God in the Flesh ............................................................................................. 33 Who Is Jesus? .................................................................................................. 36 Who Is This Man? .......................................................................................... 40 He Pitched His Tent ...................................................................................... 48 He Gave Himself ............................................................................................ 50 Part 2: The Birth of Jesus The Birth of Jesus: A Story of Shame ......................................................... 52 Why Jesus Gives Us Hope ............................................................................ 56 The Miracle of Jesus’ Birth ........................................................................... 61 The Greatest Birth Story ............................................................................... 67 Emmanuel, Our Redeemer ........................................................................... 69 Magnificent Joy ............................................................................................... 72 iii GRACE COMMUNION INTERNATIONAL Genealogies of Jesus ....................................................................................... 74 The Prince of Peace ........................................................................................ 76 Part 3: Celebrating the Birth of Jesus Is Christmas a Sin? .......................................................................................... 78 Does God Hate Christmas? ........................................................................... 81 When Was Jesus Born? ................................................................................... 85 The Date of Jesus’ Birth ................................................................................. 88 Does It Matter When Jesus Was Born? ....................................................... 91 A Call for Tolerance........................................................................................ 94 The First Church Christmas .......................................................................... 96 Christmas Past and Present in the Church .................................................. 98 Paganism — Where Should Christians Draw the Line? ........................ 103 What Does Deuteronomy 12:30-31 Forbid? ........................................... 107 Once Pagan, Always Pagan? ....................................................................... 110 Jeremiah 10 and Christmas Trees .............................................................. 114 Paganism, Pagans and Pagan Customs ..................................................... 116 Standing in the Light .................................................................................... 121 Merry Christmas ........................................................................................... 132 Jesus: Merely a Myth? .................................................................................. 135 The Meaning of Christmas ......................................................................... 137 Jesus the Double Agent ............................................................................... 142 The Light of Lights ...................................................................................... 142 Christmas Light............................................................................................. 144 I’m Dreaming of a Quantum Christmas ................................................... 147 Truce on Earth, Good Will Toward Men ................................................ 151 Using Christmas to Teach Children About Jesus.................................... 155 The Second-Best Christmas Gift ............................................................... 158 What Does Jesus Want for Christmas? ..................................................... 160 Discovering Handel’s Messiah ................................................................... 168 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing ................................................................... 172 Oh Come, All Ye Wasteful ......................................................................... 173 HolidayGreetings.com ................................................................................. 175 The Tree ......................................................................................................... 177 Part 4: The Life of Jesus The Message of Jesus: A Bible Study ........................................................ 179 iv JESUS THE SAVIOR Playing Jesus— a Discussion with Bruce Marchiano ............................. 184 Jesus and Women ......................................................................................... 188 Jesus: The Unexpected Messiah ................................................................. 195 The Messianic Secret .................................................................................... 198 Part 5: The Death of Jesus Good Friday and Easter Sunday ................................................................ 205 Jesus— The Complete Salvation Package ................................................ 208 The Thief’s Story .......................................................................................... 212 Would You Have Chosen Barabbas? ........................................................ 219 Where Was Golgotha? ................................................................................. 221 Born to Die .................................................................................................... 226 Why Did Jesus Die? ..................................................................................... 231 Why Did Jesus Have to Die? ...................................................................... 241 Appreciating Christ’s Sacrifice .................................................................... 247 Why the Messiah Had to Die ..................................................................... 251 Two Truths We Learn From Jesus’ Death ............................................... 253 A Death in Jerusalem ................................................................................... 255 Jesus Is Our Atonement .............................................................................. 270 Christ Our Atonement ................................................................................ 263 A Closer Look at the Crucifixion ............................................................... 269 It Isn’t Just About How He Died .............................................................. 273 Don’t Cry for Jesus ...................................................................................... 275 The Day Christ Died .................................................................................... 280 Jesus Christ’s Last Sermon .......................................................................... 282 Did God Forsake Jesus on the Cross? ...................................................... 286 Jesus Was Not Alone ................................................................................... 294 Did You Kill Jesus Christ? .......................................................................... 296 Three Aspects, One Great Event .............................................................. 298 Our Strange Dead God ............................................................................... 301 Commemorating the Crucifixion ..............................................................
Recommended publications
  • Th E Bells of St. M Ar
    GOD IS GOD IS FEBRUARY 2017 Dear Saint Mary's family, We are off to a good start for 2017. As I write this letter we are just three full weeks in to the new year and already so much is happening. We have held our first Annual Meeting together, and the response has been very posi- tive. At that meeting we were able to make amendments to the church’s By-Laws that will allow us to go forward with a smaller eight person Vestry, all of whom were elected unanimously by the members present at the meeting. At our February Vestry meeting we will vote for a Junior Warden, Treasurer, and Secretary. With that accomplished we will begin the process of looking at all of the different aspects of the way we at Saint Mary’s currently do things. The end goal of that process is to identify and eliminate any barriers to growth that might not have been considered, and to find ways to improve upon many of the things we are already doing well. To that end, please begin to pray to see if God may be calling you to participate in any of the ministries that currently exist at Saint Mary’s. This is going to be a fun and exciting time for us to bond and grow together as we seek to strengthen the teams and look at the ways they function. Ushers and Greeters, the Flower and Altar Guilds, Eucharistic Ministers and Visi- tors… Perhaps you have a special talent or hobby that could be used to the Glory of God and you have never considered how.
    [Show full text]
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer
    Edinburgh Research Explorer 'Dating the Death of Jesus' Citation for published version: Bond, H 2013, ''Dating the Death of Jesus': Memory and the Religious Imagination', New Testament Studies, vol. 59, no. 04, pp. 461-475. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0028688513000131 Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.1017/S0028688513000131 Link: Link to publication record in Edinburgh Research Explorer Document Version: Peer reviewed version Published In: New Testament Studies Publisher Rights Statement: © Helen Bond, 2013. Bond, H. (2013). 'Dating the Death of Jesus': Memory and the Religious Imagination. New Testament Studies, 59(04), 461-475doi: 10.1017/S0028688513000131 General rights Copyright for the publications made accessible via the Edinburgh Research Explorer is retained by the author(s) and / or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing these publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Take down policy The University of Edinburgh has made every reasonable effort to ensure that Edinburgh Research Explorer content complies with UK legislation. If you believe that the public display of this file breaches copyright please contact [email protected] providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 01. Oct. 2021 Dating the Death of Jesus: Memory and the Religious Imagination Helen K. Bond School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh, Mound Place, Edinburgh, EH1 2LX [email protected] After discussing the scholarly preference for dating Jesus’ crucifixion to 7th April 30 CE, this article argues that the precise date can no longer be recovered. All we can claim with any degree of historical certainty is that Jesus died some time around Passover (perhaps a week or so before the feast) between 29 and 34 CE.
    [Show full text]
  • Chrismon Tree Ornaments
    Chrismon Tree Ornaments 1106 North Main Street Garden City, KS 67846 Chrismon Ornaments were originated and first made for use on the Christmas tree of Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, Virginia, in 1957 by Mrs. Frances Kipps Spencer, a church member. The designs were monograms of and symbols for our Lord Jesus Christ. Because these designs have been used by his followers since biblical times, they are the heritage of all Christians and serve to remind each of us regardless of denomination of the One we follow. All Chrismon Ornaments are made in a combination of white and gold to symbolize the purity and majesty of the Son of God and the Son of Man. Please use this Chrismon booklet to teach others about our Lord Jesus Christ. Return the booklet to its original place so others can use as a form of discipleship as well. Thanks and enjoy! Alpha & Omega Bell Alpha and Omega are the first and last Bells have been used for centuries to call letters in the Greek alphabet. Used people to worship. They were mentioned together, they symbolize that Christians as early as in the 6th century. Before clocks believe Jesus is the beginning and the end a church bell was rung to tell people it was of all things. time to attend a wedding, funeral or other services. High church towers were built just so that the bells could be heard as far as possible. May the bells we hear remind us of God’s gift to us, the birth of Jesus. Anchor Cross Bottony Cross The Anchor Cross was used by early The cross always reminds us of Jesus’ Christians as a symbol of their faith when great gift to us through his death and they had to avoid recognition as Christians resurrection.
    [Show full text]
  • The Roles of Women in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church Significance of Ellen G
    VIII THE ROLES OF WOMEN IN THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH SIGNIFICANCE OF ELLEN G. WHITE COUNSELS E. Marcella Anderson Preface Although the Seventh-day Adventist Church draws its faith and doctrine from the Bible only (sola scriptura), it sees the work of Ellen G. White as a particular fulfillment of the gifts of the Holy Spirit to the church and a special bestowal of the “spirit of prophecy” in the end of time. The fact that a woman—Ellen G. White—was chosen by God (after two men had declined the commission) to be His special messenger to the remnant, makes her writings on the roles for women in the church especially pertinent. No other person had a greater impact upon the form and character of this church. “In ancient times God spoke to men by the mouth of prophets and apostles. In these days He speaks to them by the Testimonies of His Spirit. There was never a time when God instructed His people more earnestly than He instructs them now concerning His will and the course that He would have them pursue.”1 So this paper draws heavily upon Mrs. White’s writings as it attempts to portray God’s twentieth century counsel on the roles of women in this church. It will consider God’s call of women to positions of trust; it will canvass similarities and differences between the roles of men and women in the church; it will draw together counsel regarding specific callings for women; and finally it will attempt a summary and conclusions.
    [Show full text]
  • Berean Digest Walking Thru the Bible Tavares D. Mathews
    Berean Digest Walking Thru the Bible Tavares D. Mathews Length of Time # Book Chapters Listening / Reading 1 Matthew 28 2 hours 20 minutes 2 Mark 16 1 hour 25 minutes 3 Luke 24 2 hours 25 minutes 4 John 21 1 hour 55 minutes 5 Acts 28 2 hours 15 minutes 6 Romans 16 1 hour 5 minutes 7 1 Corinthians 16 1 hour 8 2 Corinthians 13 40 minutes 9 Galatians 6 21 minutes 10 Ephesians 6 19 minutes 11 Philippians 4 14 minutes 12 Colossians 4 13 minutes 13 1 Thessalonians 5 12 minutes 14 2 Thessalonians 3 7 minutes 15 1 Timothy 6 16 minutes 16 2 Timothy 4 12 minutes 17 Titus 3 7 minutes 18 Philemon 1 3 minutes 19 Hebrews 13 45 minutes 20 James 5 16 minutes 21 1 Peter 5 16 minutes 22 2 Peter 3 11 minutes 23 1 John 5 16 minutes 24 2 John 1 2 minutes 25 3 John 1 2 minutes 26 Jude 1 4 minutes 27 Revelation 22 1 hour 15 minutes Berean Digest Walking Thru the Bible Tavares D. Mathews Matthew Author: Matthew Date: AD 50-60 Audience: Jewish Christians in Palestine Chapters: 28 Theme: Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), King of the Jews People: Joseph, Mary (mother of Jesus), Wise men (magi), Herod the Great, John the Baptizer, Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Matthew, Herod Antipas, Herodias, Caiaphas, Mary of Bethany, Pilate, Barabbas, Simon of Cyrene, Judas Iscariot, Mary Magdalene, Joseph of Arimathea Places: Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Egypt, Nazareth, Judean wilderness, Jordan River, Capernaum, Sea of Galilee, Decapolis, Gadarenes, Chorazin, Bethsaida, Tyre, Sidon, Caesarea Philippi, Jericho, Bethany, Bethphage, Gethsemane, Cyrene, Golgotha, Arimathea.
    [Show full text]
  • The Development of the Church of God Abrahamic Faith
    6 THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHURCH OF GOD ABRAHAMIC FAITH The Development of the Church of God Abrahamic Faith: 1845-1921 JAN STILSON, B.TH., B.S., M.A.L.S. Introduction Gary Land of Andrews University wrote, “After Christ failed to come in 1844 the Millerites splintered into several groups.”1 It is with those groups that we wish to begin and one of those groups will be the focus of this article. The non-Millerite groups that emerged after the Bitter Disappointment were primarily those who had not attended the Albany Conference, called by William Miller to salvage the splintered Adventist movement. The people who formed these groups had been part of the Adventist movement, but now wished to disassociate themselves from it. It might also be noted that the Millerite movement did not fail because “Christ failed to come.” Christ had not failed; rather, men erred by setting dates for his return. What were these groups? Several historians have defined and discussed them2 but this article is principally interested in the emerging groups as detailed by LeRoy Froom. Froom identifies three movements arising out of the Adventist movement: 1. The inheritors of the Millerite tradition, the Advent Christians; 2. Extremists from New England who eventually disappeared; 3. The Seventh Day Adventists who gained strength through the visions of Ellen White. I contend that there is a fourth branch, which Froom alluded to but did not thoroughly discuss. This branch began as the Age to Come movement, also 1 Gary Land, “Strangers Together: Adventism’s American Experience,” Newsletter of the Adventist Movements Historical Association, Pilot Issue 1993, Morrow, GA: Atlanta Bible College.
    [Show full text]
  • New Testament Church of God Declaration of Faith
    New Testament Church Of God Declaration Of Faith When Reilly retroact his templet bastinadoes not polemically enough, is Horatio remiss? Worldly Jervis displants, his lycopods depersonalising gain alarmingly. Tonetic and neologistical Ed never abets his zarzuelas! So apply the denominations. God faith in. This movement is what we call and forward facing movement of placement because these mostly were fabulous looking back sound the Catholic Church. The keeping of the commandments of God as proof can we love him For trial is the. Baptists teach the means plan for salvation. It has implications for how we live. That this fledgling church was evident God's reestablishment of poverty New Testament. Sunday Morning see New Testament Church and God. Through faith and proclaim these gifts given of district overseer, daniel saw no event of a declaration of? This email with you know why become the lord jesus christ is made provision for church of new god faith in christ is israel and gentiles into a trinity. The church of his kingdom to get started so many distinct persons. Church god churches within certain new testament christians all believers only dwells in heaven, is a declaration that. Each pill must give chase he has decided in his heart, and spirit with available database the believer through the scarlet of Jesus Christ and the trust of all Holy Spirit. Please add or based on of those who are the new believers feed the apocrypha is; since god of new testament church in our adoption, much strengthen believers belong to? That god churches also strike a testament.
    [Show full text]
  • 6Uprtmt Court Manila
    i\epublit of tbt .tlbilipptne• 6uprtmt Court manila TIDRD DIVISION J'uo 0 CL "'""' .,. > oJ)@ NOTICE Sirs/Mesdames: Please take notice that the Court, Third Division, issued a Resolution dated October 1, 2014, which reads as follows: "G.R. No. 204839 (Eliseo F. Soriano v. People of the Philippines and Daniel Veridiano) - Eliseo Soriano is known as the supreme head of the Church of God International or Ang Dating Daan. One of his followers, Daniel Veridiano, who worked as the assistant general-secretary of said church, filed two criminal cases for Rape against him docketed as Criminal Case Nos. 06-3898(M) and 06-3899(M). However, on the date of the scheduled arraignment, Soriano did not appear. On June 2, 2009, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Macabebe, Pampanga issued an Order for the cancellation and forfeiture of the cash bonds which Soriano posted, and for the issuance of a warrant for his arrest. Thereafter, Soriano moved to quash the two Informations on the grounds that: 1) the crime of anal intercourse, without consent, does not constitute the crime of Rape under Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code (RPC); 2) the Informations violate the rule against duplicity under Section B, Rule 110 in relation to Section 3(f) of Rule 117 of the Rules of Court; and 3) the Informations violate his constitutional right to be informed of the charge against him. On August 3, 2009, the RTC issued another Order, this time, ordering the forfeiture of the cash bonds, denying Soriano' s motion to quash for lack of merit, and ordering the issuance of warrants of arrest.
    [Show full text]
  • Easter 6 2017 Acts 8: 5-17 There Is So Much Lovable Material in the Acts of Apostles, Fifth Book in the New Testament. We Hear
    Easter 6 2017 Acts 8: 5-17 There is so much lovable material in the Acts of Apostles, fifth book in the New Testament. We hear it every Sunday in the Easter season as first reading. We mostly ignore it. Church officials have cut out the colorful material, thinking it trivial, an error I will now remedy. We shouldn’t be surprised at the book’s lovability. It was written by Luke the gentle physician, author of the third gospel. He was a real literary writer, adept in the creation of character. He is therefore like the Russian writer Chekhov who could be funny and poignant in the same story or play, and was also a medical doctor. When you examine someone dressed in a skimpy hospital gown for medical purposes, I suspect it is both touching and absurd. I often extol Luke’s unique contributions to the Jesus story (contrasting with dull, didactic approaches): he gives us the good Samaritan, prodigal son, penitent thief--brilliant characters—and, best of all, the Christmas story from Mary’s viewpoint, with the angels and shepherds. A sequel is always inferior to the original book (think of the attempt for Gone with the Wind). Acts is a sequel, yet has many delightful episodes. For example, the Christians are being persecuted and Peter is imprisoned. “Peter in chains” is Fr Peter’s preferred patron-saint story, grimly shackled as he is to school duties. An angel (what Chekhov makes a walk-on role, Luke makes an angel) comes through the prison walls at the silence of midnight, with a key (why would an angel need one?), releasing Peter from his cell, and leading him through the empty streets.
    [Show full text]
  • Evangelical Review of Theology
    EVANGELICAL REVIEW OF THEOLOGY VOLUME 12 Volume 12 • Number 1 • January 1988 Evangelical Review of Theology Articles and book reviews original and selected from publications worldwide for an international readership for the purpose of discerning the obedience of faith GENERAL EDITOR: SUNAND SUMITHRA Published by THE PATERNOSTER PRESS for WORLD EVANGELICAL FELLOWSHIP Theological Commission p. 2 ISSN: 0144–8153 Vol. 12 No. 1 January–March 1988 Copyright © 1988 World Evangelical Fellowship Editorial Address: The Evangelical Review of Theology is published in January, April, July and October by the Paternoster Press, Paternoster House, 3 Mount Radford Crescent, Exeter, UK, EX2 4JW, on behalf of the World Evangelical Fellowship Theological Commission, 57, Norris Road, P.B. 25005, Bangalore—560 025, India. General Editor: Sunand Sumithra Assistants to the Editor: Emmanuel James and Beena Jacob Committee: (The Executive Committee of the WEF Theological Commission) Peter Kuzmič (Chairman), Michael Nazir-Ali (Vice-Chairman), Don Carson, Emilio A. Núñez C., Rolf Hille, René Daidanso, Wilson Chow Editorial Policy: The articles in the Evangelical Review of Theology are the opinions of the authors and reviewers and do not necessarily represent those of the Editor or Publisher. Subscriptions: Subscription details appear on page 96 p. 3 2 Editorial Christ, Christianity and the Church As history progresses and the historical Jesus becomes more distant, every generation has the right to (and must) question his contemporary relevance—and hence also that of Christianity and the Church. The articles and book reviews in this issue generally deal with this relevance. Of the three, of course the questions about Jesus Christ are the basic ones.
    [Show full text]
  • A:Cts of the Apostles (Revised Version)
    THE SCHOOL AND COLLEGE EDITION. A:CTS OF THE APOSTLES (REVISED VERSION) (CHAPTERS I.-XVI.) WITH BY THK REV. F. MARSHALL, M.A., (Lau Ezhibition,r of St, John's College, Camb,idge)• Recto, of Mileham, formerly Principal of the Training College, Ca11narthffl. and la1ely Head- Master of Almondbury Grammar School, First Edition 1920. Ten Impressions to 1932. Jonb.on: GEORGE GILL & SONS, Ln., MINERVA HOUSE, PATERNOSTER SQUARE, E.C.4. MAP TO ILLUSTRATE THE ACTS OPTBE APOSTLES . <t. ~ -li .i- C-4 l y .A. lO 15 20 PREFACE. 'i ms ~amon of the first Sixteen Chapters of the Acts of the Apostles is intended for the use of Students preparing for the Local Examina­ tions of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and similar examinations. The Syndicates of the Oxford and Cambridge Universities often select these chapters as the subject for examination in a particular year. The Editor has accordingly drawn up the present Edition for the use of Candidates preparing for such Examinations. The Edition is an abridgement of the Editor's Acts of /ht Apostles, published by Messrs. Gill and Sons. The Introduction treats fully of the several subjects with which the Student should be acquainted. These are set forth in the Table of Contents. The Biographical and Geographical Notes, with the complete series of Maps, will be found to give the Student all necessary information, thns dispensing with the need for Atlas, Biblical Lictionary, and other aids. The text used in this volume is that of the Revised Version and is printed by permission of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but all editorial responsibility rests with the editor of the present volume.
    [Show full text]
  • Dorcas/Tabitha
    / Dorcas Tabitha Dorcas (Tabitha) is the only woman in the bible referred to as a disciple. The way the first verse is written implies there may have been other female disciples in Joppa too, who are not mentioned by name. Her name Tabitha means Gazelle – indicating perhaps that she is a woman of grace, energy, beauty, and quick movements. Like Paul, she has both Greek & Jewish names – Greek = Dorcas, Jewish = Tabitha. The name Tabitha was also popular among slaves – like Lydia there is the possibility that she was a freewoman. She is raised from the dead after Peter prays for her. There are some similarities with other stories where people are risen from the dead: • Elijah raising Zarephath’s son’s widow (1 Kings 17:17-24) • Elisha’s raising of Shunammite woman’s son (2 Kings 4:18-37) • Jesus raising Nain’s son (Luke 7:11-17) • Jairus’s daughter Talitha (Luke 8:41-42 & 49-56, Mark 5:35-43) – similar name! Coincidence? • Lazarus (John 11:1-44, Eutychus (Acts 20:9-12). Tabitha is much loved and respected. Uses her sewing skills and financial resources for good. She is clearly generous and kind, has made clothes for widows and they all mourn her when she dies. Her story converts many people into believing. Care of widows was a long- held way of demonstrating God’s righteousness and justice. Tabitha’s status may imply she was leading the church in Joppa. The widows in the story are not passive but engaged. They are neither silent nor insignificant, but rather of key importance.
    [Show full text]