"God the Father Confirmed Jesus' Deity" - #407

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At age 84, Dr. Duane Gish has retired.  This fine man is yet another example of someone who earned advanced, science degrees from secular universities and still knew and understood that biblical creation was true and the theory of evolution was wrong . . . (continued at http://press.jcsm.org).

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Love in Christ,

Jason Gastrich

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JCSM's Weekly Devotions (click here to listen!)

"God the Father Confirmed Jesus' Deity"

Matthew 17:5, 6  "While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!'  And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid."

Adam Clarke comments, " (God) says, In him Have I delighted, intimating that it was in him alone, as typified by those sacrifices, that he Had delighted through the whole course of the legal administration; and that it was only in reference to the death of his Son that he accepted the offerings and oblations made to him under the old covenant. Hear Him. The disciples wished to detain Moses and Elijah that they might hear them: but God shows that the law which had been in force, and the prophets which had prophesied, until now, must all give place to Jesus; and he alone must now be attended to, as the way, the truth, and the life; for no man could now come unto the Father but through him. This voice seems also to refer to that prediction in Deuteronomy 18:15. The Lord shall raise up a Prophet like unto me: Him Shall Ye Hear. Go no more to the law, nor to the prophets, to seek for a coming Messiah; for behold he Is come! Hear and obey him, and him only.

Luke 3:21, 22  "When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.  And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, 'You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.'"

According to Adam Clarke's Commentary on the New Testament, the account of Jesus' baptism reveals the trinity.  Three distinct persons are here.  1. The person of Jesus Christ, baptized by John in Jordan.  2. The person of the Holy Ghost in a bodily shape, (Luke 3:22) like a dove.  3. The person of the Father; a voice came out of heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, etc.

Insight: God the Father confirmed Jesus' deity.  Not only did Jesus' life and existence reveal that He was God the Son, but God the Father gave Jesus His stamp of approval on more than one occasion.  No other person could fulfill the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled and no other person has been confirmed by God as Jesus was.

Prayer: "Dear Lord, bless us and show us your glory.  Thank you for confirming Jesus' deity.  Thank you for showing us the way through Him.  Forgive our sins.  Help us to see things as You do.  Increase our love for You and for others.  Increase our faith as well.  You are a good God and we love You.  Enlighten us.  Convict us with your Holy Spirit.  We just want to serve and obey You.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

America's Foundation

Fundamental Orders (Constitution) of Connecticut January 14, 1639, was the first constitution written in America, instituting a provisional government and later serving as the model for the United States Constitution.  - January 14, 1639.  John Fiske, The Beginning of New England (Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1898), p. 127-128.  David Barton, The Myth of Separation (Aledo, TX: Wallbuilder Press, 1991), p. 87.  It was penned by Roger Ludlow in 1638, after hearing a sermon by Thomas Hooker, the famous Puritan minister, who, along with his congregation, help to found Connecticut.  So important was this work that Connecticut became known as "The Constitution State."  - January 14, 1639.  The World Book Encyclopedia 18 vols. (Chicago: Field Enterprises, Inc., 1957), Vol. 3, p. 1675.

The committee convened to frame the orders was charged to make the laws:

"As near the law of God as they can be."  - January 14, 1639.  J. Wingate Thorton, The Pulpit of the American Revolution, 1860 (reprinted NY: Burt Franklin, 1970), p. XIX.  David Barton, They Myth of Separation (Aledo, TX: Wallbuilder Press, 1991), p. 87.

The Connecticut towns of Hartford, Wethersfield, and Windsor adopted the constitution, January 14, 1639, which stated in its Preamble:

"Forasmuch as it has pleased the Almighty God by the wise disposition of His divine providence so to order and dispose of things that we the inhabitants and residents of Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield and now cohabiting and dwelling in and upon the River Connecticut and the lands thereunto adjoining;

"and well knowing when a people are gathered together the word of God requires, that to meinteine the peace and union of such a people, there should bee an orderly and decent government established according to God, to order and dispose of the affairs of all the people at all seasons as occasion shall require;

"do therefore associate and conjoin ourselves to be as one public State or Commonwealth, and do, for ourselves and our successors and such as shall be adjoined to us at any time hereafter, enter into Combination and Confederation together, to meinteine and presearve the libberty and purity of the Gospell of our Lord Jesus which we now professe...

"Which, according to the truth of the said Gospell, is now practised amongst us; as allso, in our civill affaires to be guided and governed according to such lawes, rules, orders, and decrees.  - January 14, 1639, Connecticut Towns of Hartford, Wethersfield, and Windsor.  The Code of 1650, Being a Compilation of the Earliest Laws and Orders of the General Court of Connecticut (Hartford: Silus Andrus, 1822), p. 2.  Church of the Holy Trinity v. U.S., 143 U.S. 457, 458, 465-471, 36 L ed 226, (1892), Justice Brewer.  David Barton, They Myth of Separation (Aledo, TX: Wallbuilder Press, 1991), p. 47-51, 88.  "Our Christian Heritage," Letter from Plymouth Rock (Marlborough, NH: The Plymouth Rock Foundation), pp. 2, 6.  Henry Steel Commager, ed., Documents of American History - 6th Edition (New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc., 1958), p. 23.  Proclaim Liberty (Dallas, TX: Word of Faith), pp. 6-7.  Gary DeMar, The Untold Story (Atlanta, GA: American Vision, Inc., 1993), p. 37.  Michael P. Farris, Constitutional Law for Christian Students (Paeonian Springs, VA: Home School Legal Defense Association, 1991), p. 8.

Articles of the Constitution of Connecticut:

"Article I  That the Scriptures hold forth a perfect rule for the direction and government of all men in all duties which they are to perform to God and men, as well in families and commonwealths as in matters of the church.

Article II  That as in matters which concern the gathering and ordering of a church, so likewise in all public offices which concern civil order, - as the choice of magistrates and officers, making and repealing laws, dividing allotments of inheritance, and all things of like nature, - they would all be governed by those rules which the Scriptures held forth to them.

Article III  That all those who had desired to be received free planters had settled in the plantation with a purpose, resolution, and desire that they might be admitted into church fellowship according to Christ.

Article IV  That all free planters held themselves bound to establish such civil order as might best conduce to the securing of the purity and peace of the ordinance to themselves, and their posterity according to God."  - 1639, in the articles.  - B.F. Morris, The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States (Philadelphia: George W. Childs, 1864), pp. 67-68.  Gary DeMar, God and Government - A Biblical and Historical Study (Atlanta, GA: American Vision Press, 1982), pp. 113-114.

A Moment of Introspection

Every time Christ did a miracle, it was for someone else's benefit.

Read through the gospels in one month with me.  I'm going to read 3 chapters every day and since there are 89 chapters in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, I'll finish in one month.

Extra credit: As you read, mark down where the following things happen:

Jesus exercises supernatural power through miracles.

Jesus claims authority over the law.

Jesus exercises spiritual authority only assigned to God.

Jesus claims to have authority over things in Heaven.

Jesus accepts worship which was only assigned to God.

Jesus makes afterlife promises that only God can keep.

If you'd like to chat about your Bible reading, please let me know.  I can give you a link to a place where we can go and post messages or chat with people about the Word.

God bless you as you meet this challenge!

yoo-dok-eh-o (Greek, see Matthew 17:5): to think well of, approve, specifically to approbate, think good, be good

The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained

"The Skeptic's Annotated Bible" claims:

Genesis 24:3 - Abraham makes his servant swear that he won't let Isaac marry a Canaanite.

"The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained" responds:

This was an excellent promise for Abraham to require from his servant.  Canaanites were pagans.

(This explanation came from "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained", by Jason Gastrich.  This book is on CD and explains over 3,000 difficulties regarding the entire Bible at http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.org.  There is also a 300 question workbook that accompanies the CD-ROM.)

To reject God is to reject reason and rationality.

Atheism can't give a reason for the laws of logic.

My ability, desire, and opportunity to do good comes from God.

In the Bible, Jesus talked about God being His Father 172 times.

God is the independent Creator and Sustainer of all things and the only object worthy of worship.

God knows your heart.  That's why you need to ask Him to live in it.

These quotes came from God, me, Paul Manata, and Miles McPhearson.

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