Lecture Notes:  I. Sin   ·      Hamartiology means the study of sin. From the Greek word hamartia meaning “missing the mark”   Sin originates with our choice to consider ungodly behavior; thus, sin is the ungodly product of our free will. Sin is personal or corporate rejection of who God is, his nature, and his ways.   Many people define sin as something that is relative, not having an absolute definition. Some may tell you that sin is based on culture or an opinion of what is right and wrong, some tell you that sin is categorized into positive and negatives actions, some believe sin is circumstantial and based upon any given situation and personal decision. Although these definitions may sound right, they are all wrong. The problem with these and other definitions of sin is that they are all based on man's finite thinking. (Proverbs 14:12- There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death). It is impossible to discern what sin is without consulting God.   Definition of Sin Sin is as followed, according to God, 1 John 3:4 reads, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law " Sin is lawlessness or the breaking of God's laws. Sin is personal or corporate rejection of who God is, his nature, and his ways.   ·      Personal refers to individual effects of sin. ·      Corporate refers to the group effects of sin.   This can be done can be done in two ways:   1. Omission-  is not preforming what God commands. James 4:17 (ESV), "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. An example is when God commands us to love our neighborhoods and we fail to. We fail to, not because we don't want to but because we knowingly leave it out or rationalize it as something that is not as important. Omission does not have anything to do with not knowing what to do and not doing it nor does it have to do with forgetting to repent for a sin. When you omit to follow God, it is based on a passive attitude towards the Word of God.   Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.   2. Commission-  doing what God forbids. This is an intentional breaking of God’s laws. As an example, if Gods forbids lying and you lie that makes you a liar; thus, you have committed a lie. There would be no way to avoid this, as there is no such thing as a Godly or holy lie.   Sin is not just limited to the Ten Commandments and whether or not you keep them or break them. Sin is rooted in our very genes and abounds in our hearts; Job 15:16 reads. "How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water. " Also,Jeremiah 17: 9 reads. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? "   Sin also manifests in our thoughts, words and actions. 1. Thoughts-  Psalm 10:4- "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts." Job 21:27- Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.    2. Words-  Matthew 5:22- "But 1 say unto you. That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca [Stupid], shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say. Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. "   3. Actions-  James 1:22- "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."      1 Corinthians 13:6- "Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. " Romans 1:32- "Who knowing the judgment of God. that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." These scriptures qualify taking pleasure in sin, as a sin in itself. Therefore, be conscious in what you take pleasure in.   II. Original Sin   Satan and Sin The very first sin recorded in scripture was committed by Satan, meaning Adversary. Before Satan became who he is presently, he was known as Lucifer, meaning Morning Star. Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:11-19 and Revelation 12:3, 4, 7-9 gives the account of Satan's original state and the sin he committed. When God created the angles, in which Satan was, God created them with a free will. The only known beings that God created with free will are Seraphim, Cherubim, Living Creatures (all angelic beings) and Man. It was through an act of Satan's free will that he decided to sin. In Ezekiel 28:17 we learn that his sin started in his mind and took root in his heart then he acted out what was is his heart through his actions. This is the first biblical record of sin, also John 8:44 tells us Satan had hate in his heart from the beginning and that he is the father of lies. Though Satan was the first one to commit sin, sin does not intrinsically come from Satan. As stated in the prior teaching, sin originates with our choice to consider ungodly behavior, thus sin is the ungodly product of our free will.   Adam and Sin Another person comes into consideration when exploring the origin of sin and that is, Adam. In Genesis, chapters two and three, we read the about the original state of man and his fall into a sinful state. Adam is the primary reason we are sinful creatures, we inherited sin from Adam (Roman 5:12). Just as dogs bark by nature, we sin by nature; although, this nature does remain once regeneration happens. It is through Adam that sin entered the world. As a result of this sin, disease and death also entered the world, which explains why death and disease exists today.   When Eve was propositioned by Satan and Adam propositioned by Eve, a choice whether to sin or not to sin was at hand. A decision made with their free will determined the result of their answer to sin. Let us take a closer look at the process of how sin originates according to scripture.   James 1:13-15 reads, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: Bat every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. "   Notice God does not tempt, therefore sin never originates from God. Below is a breakdown the scripture.   1. We are tempted when we entertain ungodly desires in our minds - Conception   2. The thought becomes a desire in our hearts-  Birth   3. We then act out the sin in our hearts-  Maturity   4. The final result of sin if left unrepented causes death-  Death   The course of sin is: Conception -> Birth -> Maturity -> Death   This process repeats itself over and over until it has claimed as many victims as possible.   III. Dynamics of Sin   The question of how sin works can be answered thoroughly and quickly according to scripture, which is death, Romans 6:23 reads, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" Let us consider that the end result of sin is death, with that in mind we must understand that every stage of sin will led to a more destructive stage until total death is achieved. The clearest and most comprehensive example of how sin works is in the book of Genesis, more specifically chapters 1-10.   At the very beginning of creation everything was perfect and without any fault. The moment Adam sinned was the moment sin entered the earth. Prior to Adam's sin, God had given all authority on earth to Adam and the only way Adam could lose it was if he sinned, thus at the point of contact of his sin he lost all authority on earth. So where did the authority go? When sin is committed it is not committed forcefully but rather willingly, so in order to sin you must give up your rights or will, in exchange for what is being offered. Adam gave up his authority and Satan gained it, in exchange for death; sin offers death! God warned Adam that if he sinned, he will die that very day. Did Adam die that very day? Indeed, Adam did die that very day! Adam's sin started the decay process which ends in death. Adam was now susceptible to disease, ailments and bodily decay, not just Adam but all that came after him. Everything that God gave to Adam he yielded to Satan by succumbing to sin, all creation was thrown into a decaying process.   This is why we have disease, death and bloodshed today; it is all a result of sin. Sin is a parasite that will take advantage until death. Sin can also be passed on from generation to generation, just as we inherited sin from Adam. For example: Why do you suppose sins such as, adultery, molestation, hatred, rape, alcoholism and other sins seem to be common in some families, even when it is kept secret? Sin is a disease that can be passed on, killing whomever it comes in contact with. John 9:1, 2 reads, "And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying. Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind. " from this we understand that sin can have immediate and generational effects.   How sin has played out Historically: The Fall of Adam (Sin)  >  All of creation (all affected) everything under Adams authority  >  Disease, bloodshed and Death/Suffering enter human history as a consequence.   How sin plays out Individually: Yield your will to sin  >  Everything under your authority is affected  >  Death and suffering are the consequences.   James 1:13-15 reads, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: Bat every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. "   1. Conception-  We are tempted when we entertain ungodly desires in our minds. 2. Birth-  The thought becomes a desire in our hearts. 3. Maturity-  We then act out what is in our hearts, sin. 4. Death-  The final result of sin if left unrepented causes death.   The course of sin is: Conception > Birth > Maturity > Death   Sin originates with our choice to consider ungodly behavior; thus, sin is the ungodly product of our free will. Sin is personal or corporate rejection of who God is, his nature, and his ways. It is a decaying process which only leads to death. This process repeats itself over and over until it has claimed as many victims as possible.   IV. God and Sin God is absolutely holy and cannot sin in any way (James 1:13). When God became flesh he still was found without sin. Speaking of Jesus, Hebrews 4:15 reads, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. " The only one to ever conquer sin was Jesus, which is why he is the only one able to deliver us from sin. It is essential that we understand God's relationship to sin.   I. Demand for holiness: God requires holiness God demands holiness both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. What some may not realize is that God never changed. He has never lowered his standard of complete holiness. He is still the same God who requires a sacrifice and repentance for every sin. This may be the most horrible and frightening thing to realize in scripture. However, this is why the Gospel is Good News! Jesus made a way for all of humanity's amnesty, by simply accepting the pardon. You are saved by this grace and by no means of anything you have done. This alone is the Gospel nothing more and nothing less.   1 Kings 8:61- "Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day."   Leviticus 20:7- "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God."   Romans 12:1- "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God. that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."   1 Peter 1:16- "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."   II. Separation: The sin of man separates him from God The natural result of a holy God and a filthy man is separation. It is like oil and water, by nature the two simply do not mix.   Job 15:16- "How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?"   1 John 1:8- "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."   Ecclesiastes 7: 29- "Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions."   III. Reconciliation: Only through Jesus can we defeat sin and dwell with God God and man being reunited in peace is what reconciliation is. This reconciliation was a result and intention of Jesus’ death and resurrection; man had no part in reconciling himself with God. At this present time in history God still demands perfection, and this will never change because God does not change, however we have Jesus who stands before us. Therefore, when God looks at us, looking for us to be holy and sinless, he sees Jesus and we are then instantly declared righteous and holy.   Colossians 1:13,14,22 "(13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (14) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins... (22) In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight."   1 John 2:1,2- "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."   Romans 5:1, 9-11- "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."   God cannot and will not allow you into Heaven unless you are holy! His relationship to sin has not changed; the only thing that is different is that God now sees Jesus when he looks at you and not your sins. Therefore, the only way to escape the penalty of sin is through Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. We can't, but with grace which is what Jesus is to us, we can! Jesus is your bridge of grace to a Holy God.   Galatians 3:13: Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.   We are no longer held to the curses of the law nor are we subject to law of sin, which is death. This means that every single curse you have ever read in the Old Testament has become void and inapplicable all because of Jesus. There is no need to worry about not being good enough for God or trying to impress God with how long you can pray or fast, or how long you can go without sinning, because you cannot impress God, all he sees when he looks at you is Jesus!  Paul said it best in Romans 3:28 “Therefore we conclude that man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” and “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Roman 5:1). To be justified is to be accepted by God through the actions of Jesus. Only faith in these actions of Jesus is required, thus, by faith alone.

Lecture Notes:  I. Sin   ·      Hamartiology means the study of sin. From the Greek word hamartia meaning “missing the mark”   Sin originates with our choice to consider ungodly behavior; thus, sin is the ungodly product of our free will. Sin is personal or corporate rejection of who God is, his nature, and his ways.   Many people define sin as something that is relative, not having an absolute definition. Some may tell you that sin is based on culture or an opinion of what is right and wrong, some tell you that sin is categorized into positive and negatives actions, some believe sin is circumstantial and based upon any given situation and personal decision. Although these definitions may sound right, they are all wrong. The problem with these and other definitions of sin is that they are all based on man's finite thinking. (Proverbs 14:12- There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death). It is impossible to discern what sin is without consulting God.   Definition of Sin Sin is as followed, according to God, 1 John 3:4 reads, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law " Sin is lawlessness or the breaking of God's laws. Sin is personal or corporate rejection of who God is, his nature, and his ways.   ·      Personal refers to individual effects of sin. ·      Corporate refers to the group effects of sin.   This can be done can be done in two ways:   1. Omission-  is not preforming what God commands. James 4:17 (ESV), "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. An example is when God commands us to love our neighborhoods and we fail to. We fail to, not because we don't want to but because we knowingly leave it out or rationalize it as something that is not as important. Omission does not have anything to do with not knowing what to do and not doing it nor does it have to do with forgetting to repent for a sin. When you omit to follow God, it is based on a passive attitude towards the Word of God.   Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.   2. Commission-  doing what God forbids. This is an intentional breaking of God’s laws. As an example, if Gods forbids lying and you lie that makes you a liar; thus, you have committed a lie. There would be no way to avoid this, as there is no such thing as a Godly or holy lie.   Sin is not just limited to the Ten Commandments and whether or not you keep them or break them. Sin is rooted in our very genes and abounds in our hearts; Job 15:16 reads. "How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water. " Also,Jeremiah 17: 9 reads. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? "   Sin also manifests in our thoughts, words and actions. 1. Thoughts-  Psalm 10:4- "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts." Job 21:27- Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.    2. Words-  Matthew 5:22- "But 1 say unto you. That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca [Stupid], shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say. Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. "   3. Actions-  James 1:22- "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."      1 Corinthians 13:6- "Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. " Romans 1:32- "Who knowing the judgment of God. that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." These scriptures qualify taking pleasure in sin, as a sin in itself. Therefore, be conscious in what you take pleasure in.   II. Original Sin   Satan and Sin The very first sin recorded in scripture was committed by Satan, meaning Adversary. Before Satan became who he is presently, he was known as Lucifer, meaning Morning Star. Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:11-19 and Revelation 12:3, 4, 7-9 gives the account of Satan's original state and the sin he committed. When God created the angles, in which Satan was, God created them with a free will. The only known beings that God created with free will are Seraphim, Cherubim, Living Creatures (all angelic beings) and Man. It was through an act of Satan's free will that he decided to sin. In Ezekiel 28:17 we learn that his sin started in his mind and took root in his heart then he acted out what was is his heart through his actions. This is the first biblical record of sin, also John 8:44 tells us Satan had hate in his heart from the beginning and that he is the father of lies. Though Satan was the first one to commit sin, sin does not intrinsically come from Satan. As stated in the prior teaching, sin originates with our choice to consider ungodly behavior, thus sin is the ungodly product of our free will.   Adam and Sin Another person comes into consideration when exploring the origin of sin and that is, Adam. In Genesis, chapters two and three, we read the about the original state of man and his fall into a sinful state. Adam is the primary reason we are sinful creatures, we inherited sin from Adam (Roman 5:12). Just as dogs bark by nature, we sin by nature; although, this nature does remain once regeneration happens. It is through Adam that sin entered the world. As a result of this sin, disease and death also entered the world, which explains why death and disease exists today.   When Eve was propositioned by Satan and Adam propositioned by Eve, a choice whether to sin or not to sin was at hand. A decision made with their free will determined the result of their answer to sin. Let us take a closer look at the process of how sin originates according to scripture.   James 1:13-15 reads, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: Bat every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. "   Notice God does not tempt, therefore sin never originates from God. Below is a breakdown the scripture.   1. We are tempted when we entertain ungodly desires in our minds - Conception   2. The thought becomes a desire in our hearts-  Birth   3. We then act out the sin in our hearts-  Maturity   4. The final result of sin if left unrepented causes death-  Death   The course of sin is: Conception -> Birth -> Maturity -> Death   This process repeats itself over and over until it has claimed as many victims as possible.   III. Dynamics of Sin   The question of how sin works can be answered thoroughly and quickly according to scripture, which is death, Romans 6:23 reads, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" Let us consider that the end result of sin is death, with that in mind we must understand that every stage of sin will led to a more destructive stage until total death is achieved. The clearest and most comprehensive example of how sin works is in the book of Genesis, more specifically chapters 1-10.   At the very beginning of creation everything was perfect and without any fault. The moment Adam sinned was the moment sin entered the earth. Prior to Adam's sin, God had given all authority on earth to Adam and the only way Adam could lose it was if he sinned, thus at the point of contact of his sin he lost all authority on earth. So where did the authority go? When sin is committed it is not committed forcefully but rather willingly, so in order to sin you must give up your rights or will, in exchange for what is being offered. Adam gave up his authority and Satan gained it, in exchange for death; sin offers death! God warned Adam that if he sinned, he will die that very day. Did Adam die that very day? Indeed, Adam did die that very day! Adam's sin started the decay process which ends in death. Adam was now susceptible to disease, ailments and bodily decay, not just Adam but all that came after him. Everything that God gave to Adam he yielded to Satan by succumbing to sin, all creation was thrown into a decaying process.   This is why we have disease, death and bloodshed today; it is all a result of sin. Sin is a parasite that will take advantage until death. Sin can also be passed on from generation to generation, just as we inherited sin from Adam. For example: Why do you suppose sins such as, adultery, molestation, hatred, rape, alcoholism and other sins seem to be common in some families, even when it is kept secret? Sin is a disease that can be passed on, killing whomever it comes in contact with. John 9:1, 2 reads, "And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying. Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind. " from this we understand that sin can have immediate and generational effects.   How sin has played out Historically: The Fall of Adam (Sin)  >  All of creation (all affected) everything under Adams authority  >  Disease, bloodshed and Death/Suffering enter human history as a consequence.   How sin plays out Individually: Yield your will to sin  >  Everything under your authority is affected  >  Death and suffering are the consequences.   James 1:13-15 reads, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: Bat every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. "   1. Conception-  We are tempted when we entertain ungodly desires in our minds. 2. Birth-  The thought becomes a desire in our hearts. 3. Maturity-  We then act out what is in our hearts, sin. 4. Death-  The final result of sin if left unrepented causes death.   The course of sin is: Conception > Birth > Maturity > Death   Sin originates with our choice to consider ungodly behavior; thus, sin is the ungodly product of our free will. Sin is personal or corporate rejection of who God is, his nature, and his ways. It is a decaying process which only leads to death. This process repeats itself over and over until it has claimed as many victims as possible.   IV. God and Sin God is absolutely holy and cannot sin in any way (James 1:13). When God became flesh he still was found without sin. Speaking of Jesus, Hebrews 4:15 reads, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. " The only one to ever conquer sin was Jesus, which is why he is the only one able to deliver us from sin. It is essential that we understand God's relationship to sin.   I. Demand for holiness: God requires holiness God demands holiness both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. What some may not realize is that God never changed. He has never lowered his standard of complete holiness. He is still the same God who requires a sacrifice and repentance for every sin. This may be the most horrible and frightening thing to realize in scripture. However, this is why the Gospel is Good News! Jesus made a way for all of humanity's amnesty, by simply accepting the pardon. You are saved by this grace and by no means of anything you have done. This alone is the Gospel nothing more and nothing less.   1 Kings 8:61- "Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day."   Leviticus 20:7- "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God."   Romans 12:1- "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God. that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."   1 Peter 1:16- "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."   II. Separation: The sin of man separates him from God The natural result of a holy God and a filthy man is separation. It is like oil and water, by nature the two simply do not mix.   Job 15:16- "How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?"   1 John 1:8- "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."   Ecclesiastes 7: 29- "Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions."   III. Reconciliation: Only through Jesus can we defeat sin and dwell with God God and man being reunited in peace is what reconciliation is. This reconciliation was a result and intention of Jesus’ death and resurrection; man had no part in reconciling himself with God. At this present time in history God still demands perfection, and this will never change because God does not change, however we have Jesus who stands before us. Therefore, when God looks at us, looking for us to be holy and sinless, he sees Jesus and we are then instantly declared righteous and holy.   Colossians 1:13,14,22 "(13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (14) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins... (22) In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight."   1 John 2:1,2- "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."   Romans 5:1, 9-11- "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."   God cannot and will not allow you into Heaven unless you are holy! His relationship to sin has not changed; the only thing that is different is that God now sees Jesus when he looks at you and not your sins. Therefore, the only way to escape the penalty of sin is through Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. We can't, but with grace which is what Jesus is to us, we can! Jesus is your bridge of grace to a Holy God.   Galatians 3:13: Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.   We are no longer held to the curses of the law nor are we subject to law of sin, which is death. This means that every single curse you have ever read in the Old Testament has become void and inapplicable all because of Jesus. There is no need to worry about not being good enough for God or trying to impress God with how long you can pray or fast, or how long you can go without sinning, because you cannot impress God, all he sees when he looks at you is Jesus!  Paul said it best in Romans 3:28 “Therefore we conclude that man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” and “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Roman 5:1). To be justified is to be accepted by God through the actions of Jesus. Only faith in these actions of Jesus is required, thus, by faith alone.

Lecture Notes: Doctrine of Nature and Humanity (Theological Anthropology)   I.              Creation of Man II.            Image of God III.          Man and Female     I. Creation of Man   · Genesis 1:26-27 “God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” · Epeshians 4:24 (ESV) “Put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”   When God created all the animals and plants he created them after their own kind, he did not do this with man. God created us after HIS kind…in HIS likeness. It is important that we understand how man is composed. In Genesis 2:7 we read, "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." This is where we first learn about the composition of man. Upon God forming man, he acquired his physical body. Adam at this point was nothing but a physically formed pile of dirt; he was an inanimate object. Then God breathed the 'breath of life' into Adam; this breath of life became Adam's spirit. Just as Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit upon the disciples in John 20:22, God had breathed the 'breath of life' spirit into Adam. Now that Adam had a body which housed life, this made him a soul; so from this process Adam became a living soul. Notice the body is simply a vessel which houses the spirit and soul.   A 3 Part Humanity Body - is man's capsule; mortal; subject to decay due to sin; means by which we exist and operate with the physical environment (organs, bone, skin, skin, tissue, nerves, cells, DNA, molecules, anything tangible). Houses the soul and spirit.   Soul - non-tangible; immortal; bridge between body and spirit; thoughts; emotions; memory; imagination; will (decision maker). Houses the spirit.   · Genesis 2:7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.   Creationist View – The soul enters a human sometime after conception and before birth (ensoulment). Traducianism – The soul propagated from the parent to the child.   Spirit - non-tangible; immortal; communicates with God. Essence of man's life force. The part of man that searches for God and is spiritually inclined towards a spiritual reality. Our spirit makes us unique to creation because no other “creation” practices worship.   Scriptural support for human composition. · Isiah 26:9 At night my soul longs for you, indeed, my spirit within me seeks you diligently; for when the earth experiences your judgments the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. ·  Luke 23:43 And he said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in Paradise." · Luke 1:46 And Mary said, "My soul exalts the Lord, Lk 1:47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. · Matthew 10:28 "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. · 2 Corinthians 5:8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. · Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit. · 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.   Created for companionship and not to be alone. What did God see in Adam that caused him to determine that Adam was alone? Prior to the creation of Eve, Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden and was tasked with maintaining it; he also was responsible for naming the animals. For Adam, despite having a job, which offers a sense of direction and purpose, and despite being with God—he was still alone. What was this aloneness that Adam experienced? What God saw and Adam experienced was a psychological aloneness. Psychological refers to emotional and mental; therefore, Adam experienced the need to connect emotionally and mentally to someone similar to himself. Imagine for a moment what feelings Eve may have felt knowing that she was created because Adam felt alone. Eve was created with a skill set that was purposed to add value and significance to God’s plan. Consider the example of a Proverbs 31 wife who adds wisdom and resourcefulness in all she does.   There is a desire in us all to (1) not feel alone and (2) feel needed. While we all experience life differently and connect with others in various ways, it will be important to understand the ways in which you were alone and how your spouse meets this area. There are some who feel they are just fine whether with someone or not. To them, consider the difference in thoughts and emotions when you are by yourself versus spending time with another person. When you are with someone, you share in the basic experience of companionship which often reduces anxiety and increases the sense of universality. Universality is the idea that others experience the things you do, that you are not alone in your experiences.   ·  Mark 12:30-31 (ESV) And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”   · 1 Peter 1:22 (ESV) Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.   ·  Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.   ·  Galatians 6:1-2 (ESV) Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.   ·  Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV) Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.   II. Image of God (Imagers of God)   In God’s image means in his authority, nature, name (special filiation).   1 Corinthians 15:45-49 (ESV) Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 4 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.   2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV) In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.   Colossians 1:15 (ESV) He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.   Colossians 3:9-10 (ESV) Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.   Romans 8:29 (ESV) For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Created Holy Genesis 2:22 (KJV) – And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.   The Hebrew word for Rib is tsela (pronounced sela) and means “side chamber.” Genesis 2 is one of the few places tsela is translated to “rib.” Other occurrences of tsela refer to the side of a holy structure:   •           Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 37:5) •           The Tabernacle (Exodus 26:20) •           The Temple (1 Kings 6:5)   Why use the word tsela? What is God communicating here? Why use the same word that is associated with holy, sacred structures? In Genesis 2:21, God was communicating that he was designing something sacred. Man and Woman were and are sacred beings, not just themselves but their sexuality also. Female taken from male, femininity taken from masculinity; Eve taken from Adam. Further support for this comes from 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, where Paul reveals that we are temples of the Holy Spirit. More specifically, Paul communicates that not only are we sacred objects, but as such, we should honor our purity. The use of the rib is a call to holiness, in sexuality, in character and treatment toward each other.   Holy Sexuality In 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, Paul uses the term sexual immorality when speaking of the human body and its design as the temple of God. Paul explains that the only sin that is committed with your body or temple is sexual immorality. There is a special warning against committing the sin of sexual immorality. This is because this is the only sin where you join the temple of God with impurity. Sexual immorality is the only sin that joins something holy with something unholy.     Sexual immorality (or fornication in the KJV) is the Greek word “porneia.” By definition, pornia (sexual immorality) is identified as any sexual act that violates a heterosexual monogamous covenantal relationship. These acts typically include adultery, promiscuity, premarital sex, prostitution, homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, incest, and any action that violates a heterosexual monogamous covenantal relationship. These violations can also occur in our thinking and find their way into our hearts. In Matthew 5:28, Jesus points out that engaging in extramarital lust is the result of adultery in the heart. Job, in 31:1, informs us that he has made a covenant with his eyes not to look at other women lustfully, and in verse 11 identifies that lust is a shameful sin. It is shameful because it violates what is holy—the human body, the temple of God. Speech When God created man, man was made in the image and likeness of God. God created in man the unique ability to speak, just as God has the ability to speak; it’s another inheritance from his image and likeness. Man's ability to speak was a tool in which he was to utilize when taking dominion over the earth and assuming authority thereafter, as he was commanded to do. Just as God spoke everything into existence, man was to speak, from and in the authority of God, whatever was not in order, to order; thus man's speech held power. An example of this is in Numbers 20:7-8 "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying. Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shall bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shall give the congregation and their beasts drink. "   Speech has the power to reinforce our thoughts and behaviors. Once something is spoken, the spoken idea can begin to take form and operation. Take cyber bullying as an example. This type of bullying is a form of verbal abuse, where no physical aggression is displayed. The speech that is communicated is unholy, ungodly and damaging in nature, nothing good comes from it. Cussing, gossiping, backbiting, disrespect, abuse, witchcraft, name calling, threatening and many other types of speech enter the minds of the listener and take root. Once allowed to take root, the listener responds to these words by displaying negative and often self-damaging behavior.   Today, there is a disturbing amount of ungodly speech being spoken! Ephesians 4:29 tells us "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Is this how you speak?   ·  Proverbs 15:4 (ESV) A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. ·  Proverbs 18:21 (ESV) Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. ·  1 Peter 3:10 (ESV) For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.     III. Male and Female Genesis 2:18 (KJV) - And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.   The term “help meet” was translated from the Hebrew words Ezer Kenegdo (Neged). Strong’s number 5828 is the Hebrew word ezer meaning helper . Strong’s number 5048 is the Hebrew word kenedego meaning meet.  In the KJV of the Bible, the Old (Middle) English word “meet” is used. This word does not have the same meaning it did in the 1600s; it implied “proper fitting” or “suitable.”  The idea of being properly fit for requires (1) correspondence and (2) opposite.   Kenegdo means: Corresponding To –similar to, matching or having the same characteristics. Opposite To –different, the other of a complementary pair.     Therefore, a literal translation of the Hebrew word “kenegdo” means a counterpart corresponding to and opposite to. Corresponding suggests there is similarity; thus, Adam needed something similar to him—another human. Opposite suggests Adam needed something that was his opposite—a feminine creation. Together, this communicates the idea of complementarianism. The idea that men and women in marriage are designed to benefit each other with their differences.  A literal translation of Genesis 2:18 would be, “And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an helper who is a counterpart corresponding to and opposite to him.”   Eve fulfilled the requirement of opposite, as a female, and the requirement of corresponding, as a human. By God’s own words, there were no other configurations that could meet this requirement. It is also of importance that Jesus echoes this truth (Mark 10:6; Matthew 19:4), when answering a question about divorce, by quoting Genesis and emphatically stating that God’s original creation was solely male and female. This statement was to address any other configurations that man would try to create beyond a heterosexual monogamous covenant.   God has created gender opposites that complement each other. Ephesians 5:21-33 teaches us that men and women were designed with distinct and purposeful roles that, when honored, mirror the relationship between Christ and the Church. Complementarianism can be seen throughout creation, where everything has its own glory. From 1 Corinthians 15:38-41, we learn that God has given everything in creation its own glory, and as a result, all things have their purpose, roles, and responsibilities. Complementation is the process by which something is made perfect by pairing it with something most suitable.   Scripture has taught us that God created male and female distinct from one another, but what does this mean in our daily lives? Some argue that gender roles are archaic and no longer needed in a modern society where “anyone can do anything.” This way of thinking is not new. Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:12 (NLT) says, “You say, “I am allowed to do anything,” but not everything is good for you.” From this, we learn that there are benefits to staying within the boundaries that God has created; likewise, there are consequences for wandering outside his will.

Lecture Notes: I.              Salvation (Process and Completed Work) II.            Salvation and Suffering A. Bodily Redemption B. Redemption of Soul C. Suffering Soteriology comes for the Greek word “soter” meaning savior or deliverer. I.              Salvation is a (1) process and (2) completed work. ·  Romans 5:8-10 (ESV) But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore , we have now been justified by his blood [now],  much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God [future].  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. · Ephesians 1:9-14 (ESV) Making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. · 1 Corinthians 15:2 (ESV) Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received [complete], in which you stand [complete],   and by which you are being saved [process],  if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. v.20-28 (NLT) But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back. After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under his authority.” (Of course, when it says “all things are under his authority,” that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.) Then, when all things are under his authority, the Son will put himself under God’s authority, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.   ·  Hebrews 10:14 (ESV) But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God [now/completed], waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet [future/process].  For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Compare with prophesy of Psalm 110:1 (ESV) The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” ·  Philippians 2: 12-13 (ESV) Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation  with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.   II. Salvation and Suffering A. Waiting for Our Bodily Redemption It is important to establish that when Christ was crucified, it was for the redemption of our souls (Psalm 49:15; Heb 9:15; Gal 4:4-5; Eph 1:7). This is why people were not immediately healed, and why death and suffering occurred. Healing was not a direct product of Jesus' sacrifice. Consider that healing occurred under the old testament as well. A few examples of OT healings are as followed:  · Abraham prayed for the healing of Abimelech's wife and maidservant so they can bear children, and they were healed (Gen 20:17-18). · Elijah raised a child from the dead (1 Kings 17:17-24) · Elisha raised the Shunamite's son from the dead (2 Kings 4:18-37) · Elisha heals Naaman (a captain in the Syrian army) who had leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-14)   Romans 8:18-24 (NLT) "Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it.  But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently."   We are told plainly that we all are waiting to be released from decay, that includes illnesses, sickness, disease, genetic defects, aging and anything that eats away at bodily perfections. We are further told that although we have the Holy Spirit (and   gifts), that is just a taste to hold us until the fullness of our healing and bodily perfection comes. This will happen at glorification, when Christ returns for His Church.     B. Jesus’ atonement was for the redemption of our soul. This new covenant holds no promises that guarantee the riches and comforts of earthly life (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:9-13). Below is the summation of the covenant according to scripture which specifically cites the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:9-13):   1.     God’s law will be placed internally in man, written in their hearts and minds. 2.     No need to reveal who God is because he will be ever known. 3.     God will be merciful to unrighteousness 4.     God will no longer remember sin   These are universal promises for all believers and the only promises sited in the covenant. God meets the believer’s needs not based earthly treasure but based his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).   C. Salvation and Suffering The Christian benefits from suffering. The accumulation of wealth makes suffering a lot more difficult since the resources to avoid any such suffering would be immediately available. Make no mistake scripture makes this plain, whether the suffering is a hardship in life or direct persecution of your faith.   ·  2 Corinthians 12:1-10 Paul’s explanation about boasting in his weaknesses. · Acts 5:41 “The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.” · Romans 8:18 “And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.” · 1 Philippians 1:29 “For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.” · 2 Peter 2:21 “For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.” · 2 Timothy 3:12 ” Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” The existence of hardship in a believer’s life is not always a result of lack of faith; rather, they are, as Paul explained to Timothy, a result of wanting to live a Godly life.

Lecture Notes: Atonement (Substitutionary/Penal) & Union With Christ     Synergism Synergism or “working together” is the doctrine of divine and human cooperation in sanctification and regeneration. It attempts to reconcile God’s sovereignty and man’s moral responsibility. Supporting Scripture: 2 Peter 1:5-7 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.   Monergism Monergism or “God alone works” is the doctrine that God alone works in salvation and regeneration based on his sovereignty. Man has a moral inability toward any righteous act because of his spiritual deadness, and thus God must intervene. Supporting Scripture: Ephesians 2:9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.   Sin:  Sin is lawlessness or the breaking of God's will. All the bad one does.   1 John 3:4: "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."   Grace:  This is underserved love and kindness shown by God when sending Jesus to die for sinners. Romans 5:8   But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.   Regeneration:   This is being born again; born of the Spirit. Renewal. Rebirth. John 1: 13-14 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.   Ezekiel 36:26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.             John 3:1-36 (v5) Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.   Titus 3:1-5 (v5) He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.   Repentance:  Changing how you act and think about sin due to remorse and Godly sorrow, then turning to God; choosing to do it God’s way. 2 Corinthians 7:9-11  Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.   Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right.   Faith:  This comes from God as a gift. It allows the believer to depend on Jesus to keep them secure through their daily lives. Faith is also a belief in the finished work of Jesus’ sacrifice as the only means of salvation. John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.   Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;             1 Peter 1:1:  Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:   Ephesians 2:9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:   2 Timothy 1: 12-13    For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day   Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.   Propitiation:  Jesus taking on our sins and becoming the object of God’s wrath so that our sin will be removed 1 John 1-2   My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:   And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.   Expiation:  This is God removing man’s filthiness. God’s act of legally making up for humanity’s sin. God removes our sin by his death. Hebrews 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins , sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:   Redemption:  Being delivered as a result of payment. The Christian is delivered from the wrath of God which includes sin and death. 1 Corinthians 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.   Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 1 Corinthians 7:23;   Reconciliation:  God and man being reunited in peace. This reunion is through Romans 5:8- 10  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.   Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.   For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.     Justification:  How humanity is made righteous for a holy God. You are declared righteous. Romans 3:23-28 (NLT) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:   Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;   To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.   Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.   Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.   Adoption:  The legal and permeant transfer of a believer into God’s family securing of all rights, responsibilities, filiation, and inheritances of the Father. Ephesians 1:4-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.   Romans 8:15 'For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"'   Romans 9:4-5 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. [This now belongs to all those who believe]   Imputation: God accepting Jesus’ work on the cross as a substitute instead of us. God then takes this credit, and applies all that Jesus earned to the unbeliever; this includes all heavenly riches and righteousness.  Romans 5:17-18  For if  by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)   Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.   Sanctification: The process by which God­ keeps believers holy and the effort of the believer’s strive towards holiness; it is a continual washing. Once sanctification is complete then the believer is perfected, that will not happen until after glorification. The inward process of being made righteous. Ephesians 4:23-24  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;   And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.   1 Thessalonians 4:7   For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.   1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.    God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.   Glorification:  This is the final work that God does with the believer. God takes away our physical bodies and grants us glorified bodies. 1 Corinthians 15: 42-54  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.   Union with Christ Union with Christ means you are in Christ and Christ is in you (John 6:56; John 15:4-7; 1 John 4:13). We have been justified and sanctified by being unionized with Christ. Therefore, justification and sanctification come from union with Christ. Union with Christ says that we take part in all that Christ is; we take part in His death, and we take part in His glory; we take part in his suffering, and we take part in his conquering; we take part in all that Christ fulfills.   Colossians 2:6-10  Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.   1 Corinthians 6:17  But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.   Romans 6:1-14 (v.3-4)  Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.   1 Peter 4:13  But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.   Galatians 3:26-28  for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Lecture Notes: Doctrine of Nature and Humanity (Theological Anthropology)   I.              Creation of Man II.            Image of God III.          Man and Female     I. Creation of Man   · Genesis 1:26-27 “God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” · Epeshians 4:24 (ESV) “Put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”   When God created all the animals and plants he created them after their own kind, he did not do this with man. God created us after HIS kind…in HIS likeness. It is important that we understand how man is composed. In Genesis 2:7 we read, "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." This is where we first learn about the composition of man. Upon God forming man, he acquired his physical body. Adam at this point was nothing but a physically formed pile of dirt; he was an inanimate object. Then God breathed the 'breath of life' into Adam; this breath of life became Adam's spirit. Just as Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit upon the disciples in John 20:22, God had breathed the 'breath of life' spirit into Adam. Now that Adam had a body which housed life, this made him a soul; so from this process Adam became a living soul. Notice the body is simply a vessel which houses the spirit and soul.   A 3 Part Humanity Body - is man's capsule; mortal; subject to decay due to sin; means by which we exist and operate with the physical environment (organs, bone, skin, skin, tissue, nerves, cells, DNA, molecules, anything tangible). Houses the soul and spirit.   Soul - non-tangible; immortal; bridge between body and spirit; thoughts; emotions; memory; imagination; will (decision maker). Houses the spirit.   · Genesis 2:7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.   Creationist View – The soul enters a human sometime after conception and before birth (ensoulment). Traducianism – The soul propagated from the parent to the child.   Spirit - non-tangible; immortal; communicates with God. Essence of man's life force. The part of man that searches for God and is spiritually inclined towards a spiritual reality. Our spirit makes us unique to creation because no other “creation” practices worship.   Scriptural support for human composition. · Isiah 26:9 At night my soul longs for you, indeed, my spirit within me seeks you diligently; for when the earth experiences your judgments the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. ·  Luke 23:43 And he said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in Paradise." · Luke 1:46 And Mary said, "My soul exalts the Lord, Lk 1:47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. · Matthew 10:28 "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. · 2 Corinthians 5:8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. · Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit. · 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.   Created for companionship and not to be alone. What did God see in Adam that caused him to determine that Adam was alone? Prior to the creation of Eve, Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden and was tasked with maintaining it; he also was responsible for naming the animals. For Adam, despite having a job, which offers a sense of direction and purpose, and despite being with God—he was still alone. What was this aloneness that Adam experienced? What God saw and Adam experienced was a psychological aloneness. Psychological refers to emotional and mental; therefore, Adam experienced the need to connect emotionally and mentally to someone similar to himself. Imagine for a moment what feelings Eve may have felt knowing that she was created because Adam felt alone. Eve was created with a skill set that was purposed to add value and significance to God’s plan. Consider the example of a Proverbs 31 wife who adds wisdom and resourcefulness in all she does.   There is a desire in us all to (1) not feel alone and (2) feel needed. While we all experience life differently and connect with others in various ways, it will be important to understand the ways in which you were alone and how your spouse meets this area. There are some who feel they are just fine whether with someone or not. To them, consider the difference in thoughts and emotions when you are by yourself versus spending time with another person. When you are with someone, you share in the basic experience of companionship which often reduces anxiety and increases the sense of universality. Universality is the idea that others experience the things you do, that you are not alone in your experiences.   ·  Mark 12:30-31 (ESV) And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”   · 1 Peter 1:22 (ESV) Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.   ·  Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.   ·  Galatians 6:1-2 (ESV) Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.   ·  Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV) Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.   II. Image of God (Imagers of God)   In God’s image means in his authority, nature, name (special filiation).   1 Corinthians 15:45-49 (ESV) Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 4 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.   2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV) In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.   Colossians 1:15 (ESV) He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.   Colossians 3:9-10 (ESV) Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.   Romans 8:29 (ESV) For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Created Holy Genesis 2:22 (KJV) – And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.   The Hebrew word for Rib is tsela (pronounced sela) and means “side chamber.” Genesis 2 is one of the few places tsela is translated to “rib.” Other occurrences of tsela refer to the side of a holy structure:   •           Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 37:5) •           The Tabernacle (Exodus 26:20) •           The Temple (1 Kings 6:5)   Why use the word tsela? What is God communicating here? Why use the same word that is associated with holy, sacred structures? In Genesis 2:21, God was communicating that he was designing something sacred. Man and Woman were and are sacred beings, not just themselves but their sexuality also. Female taken from male, femininity taken from masculinity; Eve taken from Adam. Further support for this comes from 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, where Paul reveals that we are temples of the Holy Spirit. More specifically, Paul communicates that not only are we sacred objects, but as such, we should honor our purity. The use of the rib is a call to holiness, in sexuality, in character and treatment toward each other.   Holy Sexuality In 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, Paul uses the term sexual immorality when speaking of the human body and its design as the temple of God. Paul explains that the only sin that is committed with your body or temple is sexual immorality. There is a special warning against committing the sin of sexual immorality. This is because this is the only sin where you join the temple of God with impurity. Sexual immorality is the only sin that joins something holy with something unholy.     Sexual immorality (or fornication in the KJV) is the Greek word “porneia.” By definition, pornia (sexual immorality) is identified as any sexual act that violates a heterosexual monogamous covenantal relationship. These acts typically include adultery, promiscuity, premarital sex, prostitution, homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, incest, and any action that violates a heterosexual monogamous covenantal relationship. These violations can also occur in our thinking and find their way into our hearts. In Matthew 5:28, Jesus points out that engaging in extramarital lust is the result of adultery in the heart. Job, in 31:1, informs us that he has made a covenant with his eyes not to look at other women lustfully, and in verse 11 identifies that lust is a shameful sin. It is shameful because it violates what is holy—the human body, the temple of God. Speech When God created man, man was made in the image and likeness of God. God created in man the unique ability to speak, just as God has the ability to speak; it’s another inheritance from his image and likeness. Man's ability to speak was a tool in which he was to utilize when taking dominion over the earth and assuming authority thereafter, as he was commanded to do. Just as God spoke everything into existence, man was to speak, from and in the authority of God, whatever was not in order, to order; thus man's speech held power. An example of this is in Numbers 20:7-8 "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying. Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shall bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shall give the congregation and their beasts drink. "   Speech has the power to reinforce our thoughts and behaviors. Once something is spoken, the spoken idea can begin to take form and operation. Take cyber bullying as an example. This type of bullying is a form of verbal abuse, where no physical aggression is displayed. The speech that is communicated is unholy, ungodly and damaging in nature, nothing good comes from it. Cussing, gossiping, backbiting, disrespect, abuse, witchcraft, name calling, threatening and many other types of speech enter the minds of the listener and take root. Once allowed to take root, the listener responds to these words by displaying negative and often self-damaging behavior.   Today, there is a disturbing amount of ungodly speech being spoken! Ephesians 4:29 tells us "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Is this how you speak?   ·  Proverbs 15:4 (ESV) A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. ·  Proverbs 18:21 (ESV) Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. ·  1 Peter 3:10 (ESV) For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.     III. Male and Female Genesis 2:18 (KJV) - And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.   The term “help meet” was translated from the Hebrew words Ezer Kenegdo (Neged). Strong’s number 5828 is the Hebrew word ezer meaning helper . Strong’s number 5048 is the Hebrew word kenedego meaning meet.  In the KJV of the Bible, the Old (Middle) English word “meet” is used. This word does not have the same meaning it did in the 1600s; it implied “proper fitting” or “suitable.”  The idea of being properly fit for requires (1) correspondence and (2) opposite.   Kenegdo means: Corresponding To –similar to, matching or having the same characteristics. Opposite To –different, the other of a complementary pair.     Therefore, a literal translation of the Hebrew word “kenegdo” means a counterpart corresponding to and opposite to. Corresponding suggests there is similarity; thus, Adam needed something similar to him—another human. Opposite suggests Adam needed something that was his opposite—a feminine creation. Together, this communicates the idea of complementarianism. The idea that men and women in marriage are designed to benefit each other with their differences.  A literal translation of Genesis 2:18 would be, “And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an helper who is a counterpart corresponding to and opposite to him.”   Eve fulfilled the requirement of opposite, as a female, and the requirement of corresponding, as a human. By God’s own words, there were no other configurations that could meet this requirement. It is also of importance that Jesus echoes this truth (Mark 10:6; Matthew 19:4), when answering a question about divorce, by quoting Genesis and emphatically stating that God’s original creation was solely male and female. This statement was to address any other configurations that man would try to create beyond a heterosexual monogamous covenant.   God has created gender opposites that complement each other. Ephesians 5:21-33 teaches us that men and women were designed with distinct and purposeful roles that, when honored, mirror the relationship between Christ and the Church. Complementarianism can be seen throughout creation, where everything has its own glory. From 1 Corinthians 15:38-41, we learn that God has given everything in creation its own glory, and as a result, all things have their purpose, roles, and responsibilities. Complementation is the process by which something is made perfect by pairing it with something most suitable.   Scripture has taught us that God created male and female distinct from one another, but what does this mean in our daily lives? Some argue that gender roles are archaic and no longer needed in a modern society where “anyone can do anything.” This way of thinking is not new. Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:12 (NLT) says, “You say, “I am allowed to do anything,” but not everything is good for you.” From this, we learn that there are benefits to staying within the boundaries that God has created; likewise, there are consequences for wandering outside his will.

Lecture Notes:   Divinity of Jesus I.  Self-reports of divinity II.  Reports from others A. Confessions III. Character of Christ IV. Scriptural comparisons of Jehovah and Jesus V.   Things only God can do A. Create B. Receive Glory C. Worship D. Salvation E. Forgiveness of sin F. Greatest lover VI. Mystery of God A. Kenosis B. Hypostatic Union   I. Claims made by Jesus Himself: ·   John 14:8-10 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? ·  John 10:30- “I and the Father are one.” ·  Jesus never said "Thus saith the Lord" only "I say unto you" This indicates he was not a profit speak God’s words. Rather he was God speaking his own word, for God only had the authority to command such ultimatums.   Jesus the "I AM" The name "I AM" refers to God as ever existent in the past, present, and future, all-powerful and all-knowing; otherwise, omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient. When Moses was at the burning bush receiving instructions, he questioned God on what name he should use to give the children of Israel when they ask. God’s reply in Exodus 3:14 was, "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. " So we understand that the name "I AM" can only refer to God himself, this is extremely true because no one else qualifies as the "I AM ". In John 8:58 , Jesus makes an astonishing statement in answer to the Jews that were debating with him, the scripture reads, "Jesus said unto them. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am . " Here we have it, Jesus referring to himself as "I AM!" Again, and again Jesus is Lord. There is also an account in verse 24 which reads, "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am   he, ye shall die in your sins." ( John 8:24) . Here the word "he" was added for clarity and was not part of Christ's original statement; thus, his original statement would have read: "...for if ye believe not that I am . ye shall die in your sins." Similar statements can also be found in John 18:5, 6.   II. Reports by Others: ·   Philippians 2:5-7- Christ’s Deity ·   Matthew 1:23 Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us) ·   John 1:18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. ·  Colossians 2:9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily. ·  John 1:1-3  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” ·  Thomas' confession: John 20:28 "And Thomas answered and said unto him,   Mv LORD and my God ." ·  Peter’s confession that Jesus was God and Savior. 2 Peter 1:1  “ Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:   III.  The Character of Jesus The following concepts could be read about more in The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell. The "Trilemma" is as followed: A. Lunatic-  Jesus was deceived about who he was. B. Liar-  Jesus was lying about who he was. C. Lord- Jesus was telling the truth about who he was. A. Lunatic- was Jesus deceived about who he was?  If Jesus was deceived about who he was, then we have no choice but to discard all that he has taught and spoke about. It would be the equivalent to following a person of today who makes outrageous claims about his identity and what he was able to do. Would you follow or even teach the doctrines of someone that claimed divinity, promised eternal life, or eternal damnation if you did or did not believe in them?   Jesus could not have been deceived about whom he was; he was fully aware at all times of the seriousness of his claims. Jesus even predicted his own death and the way in which he would die; he predicted his betrayal by Judas and his denial by Peter; he predicted his resurrection and persecution of those that believed in him. There is too much evidence that suggests Jesus was in fact (1) in control of his life and death, (2) perfectly sound in his mind, (3) absolutely aware of his claims. Jesus could not have been a lunatic. B. Liar- did Jesus lie about who he was. If Jesus was aware of what he was claiming, is it possible that he knew he was stretching the truth? Could Jesus have let power and popularity go to his head, thus making these claims? Well, if it is indeed true and Jesus did lie that would disqualify his from being any type "great leader." This would mean that Christ not only put his own life in jeopardy but knowingly jeopardized the lives of others as well. It also implies deliberate intent to confuse and mislead; claiming that no one can reach God but by believing in him, that he can forgive any and all sins, that he has power over sin, death and hell, that he is the only way to heaven and most of all that those that fail to believe in him will not make it to heaven but hell will be their destination. If Jesus was a liar then we need not to follow any of what he taught and remove him from being a moral leader or any of the similitude. Was Jesus a liar? Impossible! He backed up all his claims; he claimed to have the power of life and death...so he resurrected Lazarus and Himself; he claimed divinity, so he controlled nature and walked on water; he claimed to be present at the time of creation, so he turned water to wine, multiplied fishes and bread feeding hundreds and gave a blind man sight who was blind since birth; he claimed that belief on him was the only way to heaven...I do not think we want to wager this one, and not believe in him. C. Lord- was Jesus who claimed to be? Finally, we have the last option, if Jesus was not delusional or a liar the only solution is that he was telling the truth. If he was telling the truth, then all of humanity will stand before him one day in Judgment. Jesus is the only one to ever claim that you must  believe in him and him alone to get to heaven; Jesus is the only one to ever promise  eternal life in heaven, contingent upon belief in him and him alone. Jesus is the only one to guarantee  eternal death in hell, for those that do not believe in him. These are very hefty claims; thus, one is presented with a choice, choice of hoping that Jesus is wrong and none of what he says is true, but you will not find out until you die. The gamble on your life is not worth the risk. The trilemma is yours to decide: was Jesus confused about who he was, was he a liar, or was he fully conscious and Lord God.   IV. Scriptural Comparisons of Jehovah and Jesus Jesus Is...   TITLE Scriptural Reference God John 1:1 One With God John 10:30 Eternal Revelation 1:17b Omnipresent Ephesians 1:22,23 Omniscient John 21:17 Life Giving John 1:4 EI Olam "The Eternal God" Revelation 22:13 Jehovah-Jirah "The Lord Will Provide" John 6:35 Jehovah-Rohi "The Lord Is My Shepherd" John 10:11 Jehovah-Tsidkenu "The Lord Is Righteous" 2 Corinthians 5:21 Jehovah-Rapha "The Lord Who Heals" 1 Peter 2:24 Jehovah-Shalom  "The God Of Peace" John 14:27 El Shaddai "The All Sufficient One, God Almighty" 2 Corinthians 12:9 Immanuel "God With Us" Matthew 1:23   Jesus as Jehovah (God)   Of Jehovah Mutual Title or Act Of Jesus   Isaiah 40:28 Creator John 1:3 Isaiah 45: 22; 43:11 Savior John 4:42 1 Samuel 2:6 Raise Dead John 5:21 Joel 3:12 Judge John 5:7/[Matthew 25:31 Isaiah 60:19-20 Light John 8:12 Exodus 3:14 I Am John 8:24, 58; 18:5,6 Psalms 23:1 Shepard John 10:11 Isaiah 42:8 ; 48:11 Glory of God John 17:1,5 Isaiah 41:4; 44:6 First and Last Revelation 1:17; 2:8 Hosea 13:14 Redeemer Revelation 5:9 Isaiah 62:5/Hosea 2:16 Bridegroom Revelation 21:2/ Matt. 25:1 Psalms 18:2 Rock 1 Corinthians 10:4 Jeremiah 31:34 Forgiver of Sins Mark 2:7, 10 Psalms 148:2 Worshiped by Angles Hebrews 1:6 Throughout Old Testament Addressed in Prayer Acts 7:59 Psalms 148:5 Creator of Angles Colossians 1:16 Isaiah 45:5 Confessed As Lord Philippians 2:11 Names of God, Rose Publishing, INC., 2033. Josh Mcdowell, Evidence That Demands A Verdict Vol. 1: Historical Evidences For The Christian Faith, Here's Life Publishers, INC., 1979, p. 97 God The Father. God The Son. God The Holv Spirit There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. To help you better understand consider these examples: One Human = mind-body-spirit, One family = father-mother-child, One Egg = shell- egg white -egg yolk, One Government = judicial branch-executive branch-legislative branch, In mathematics and physics describes our world = length – width – height, All three but one in essence and nature. We will now take a look at another fact that points to Jesus as Lord. Genesis 1:1-3 reads , "In the beginning God [God the Father]   created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God [God the Holy Spirit]   moved upon the face of the waters. And God said [the Word/God the Son] , Let there be light: and there was light." Here we see the activity of God in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but present as one. Taking a look at another scripture reveals more of this truth, 1 John 5:7 reads "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. " Here we are told the plain truth about the very nature of God; though it may seem simple enough said it is still a very deep truth. We have to remember that we are just humans with finite minds and understanding. How then can we fully comprehend God, whom by nature is infinite in all things? 1 Timothy 3:16  reads, "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh [Jesus/God the Son] , justified in the Spirit [God the Holy Spirit] , seen of angels [God the Father] , preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." The first three details in the mystery of Godliness are: "God was manifest in the flesh"- Jesus (God the Son)  "Justified in the Spirit"- the Spirit of God (God the Holy Spirit) "Seen of angels"- eternally existent in Heaven (God the Father)  Though this may be a mystery to our limited thinking, its truth still tells of the deity of Jesus and oneness of God. Deuteronomy 6:4 - "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD. " V.  Things Only God Can Do Jesus As Creator We will start at the very beginning, Genesis 1:1 reads,  "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. " Here, stated at the very beginning of God’s word, God is saying "God created/ The LORD created./I created!" This was said so that there would be absolutely no confusion "who' was the creator. God made it completely and unmistakably clear that it was him in the beginning, it was him that created everything, it was him that was to be recognized and worshiped as the creator. Now let's take a look at John 1:1-3,  it reads, "In the beginning was the Word [Jesus], and the Word [Jesus] was with God, and the Word [Jesus] was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him [Jesus]; and without him [Jesus] was not any thing made that was made. This scripture is referring to Jesus and his identity as God. When you compare Gen l:l  and John 1:1-3  it becomes clear that Jesus is God, "the word was God." Thus, since the beginning Jesus was there as the Creator; as there is only one Creator, God! Jesus Receiver Of Glory Who is the "ONLY" one that can receive glory? God! Isaiah 42:8  reads, "I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. " This and other scriptures proclaim that God alone is due glory and worship, and he will absolutely not give it to any other. Now keeping in mind what we just read, Colossians 1:15-18 reads, "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence ." Again, we see that Jesus is exalted above all things, having "preeminence", there is absolutely nothing above or equal to him. We also read about when Jesus rode into Jerusalem receiving praises and glory,   Luke 19:38-40 reads, "Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him. Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. " Jesus declared that if the people stopped their praises, that the stones  would right away begin praising him! This is indicative of numerous psalms that also declare that nature itself glorifies and praises God. Jesus Receiver Of Worship Another indication that Jesus is God is the fact that he received worship, which just as glory, is only given to God. Exodus 20:3-5  reads, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of than that hate me." Here we have the first and second commandments, to put God first and to worship him only. So if Jesus were not God, he would not have received worship, though in Matthew 28:9   we read. "And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail . And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. " Not only was Jesus worshiped but he also commanded worship! There are also other examples throughout the gospel where Jesus received worship. (Matthew 2:11, Matthew 8:2, Matthew 9:18, Mark 5:6, Luke 24:52, John 9:38, and more). Another very important truth that reveals Jesus is God is in Matthew 4:8-10 , it reads "Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him. All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him. Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. " Why did Satan want Jesus to worship him? Simple, if Jesus worshipped Satan that would make Satan,   God; because Satan wanted God   to worship him! From the very time of Satan's fall, he wanted to be God and worshiped as such; though, the only way this could happen is if God himself transferred his glory to Satan and worshiped him. This is why Satan wanted Jesus to worship him -he wanted God to worship him. We see in other places in scripture where worship was rejected by humans (Peter rejects worship Acts 10:25-26; Barnabas and Paul reject worship 14:11-15). Jesus As The Only Savior The only one able and fully qualified to save is God and only God! Isaiah 43:11 reads, "I. even I, am the LORD; and beside me is no saviour . " There is no one else that exists, existed or will exist that is a savior, other than God himself. This is yet more indication and truth that Jesus is God, as God is the only one capable of being a savior. Referring to Jesus, Acts 4:12 reads, " Neither is there salvation in any other : for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. " Yet another perfect match in scripture; God proclaims the solitariness of who the savior is, himself! The second part of this scripture mentions there is but a single name that brings about salivation, this can be referenced with Joel 2:32 "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered.... " Who is the Lord that we must call upon to be saved? Jesus is his name! Jesus. Forgiver Of Sins It is known that only God can forgive sins due to his perfect and blameless nature. It would be impossible for someone to forgive the entire record of a person’s sins, unless they were God. Mark 2:7  reads, "When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee . But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? " Reading further we read Jesus" own statement of himself Mark 2:10 "But that ye may know that the Son of man hath  power on earth to forgive sins, (lie saith to the sick of the palsy,) " We also read Jesus forgiving sins in Luke 7:47-50   and again his authority is questioned to forgive sins, the only consistent answer is that Jesus is Lord, the only forgiver of sins! Jesus the Greatest Lover What is the greatest act of love? Well, according to scripture, the greatest act of love is for someone to give their life for another, in John 15:13  Jesus states, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. " So, who is the greatest lover? Also, according to scripture, we read that God is the greatest lover because God is love! 1 John 4:16 reads, "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love .... " If Jesus gave up his life for humanity, and the greatest act of love is laying down one's life for another, and God is the greatest lover, then Jesus is God! IF Jesus were not indeed God then ultimately God does not have the greatest love for humanity and if this were true how much does God truly love us? So once again, we see that Jesus is God, committing the greatest act of love for humanity.   VI.  Mystery of God Philippians 2:6-8 – Kenosis Philippians 2:6-8   reads, W ho, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. The Greek term in verse 7 is ekenosen (or kenosis), which is translated into the English word “emptied.” Ekenosen means to pour out. God “poured out” his nature into the human form we know as Jesus. Here we are told that Jesus is God! He was in the 'form' of God, that is to say, he was completely 100% God in every sense. Then he ‘poured out’ his 'form" as God and made himself in the form and likeness of men, which is to say, God became flesh and bones. It is important to understand that God did not abandon his position as God—he poured his nature into human form and took on 100% humanity. This scripture points to the mystery of Godliness, simply because our minds cannot imagine nor understand the dynamics of how 100% God became a man. However, we again are told plainly that Jesus was in the form of God; thus, Jesus is God!   Hypostatic Union   Hypostatic union is from the Greek word hypostasis. Hypostasis means substance, person, or divine essence. Hypostatic union refers to the two natures of Christ, fully human and fully God. The hypostatic doctrine is simple, yet of grave importance. As God (John 8:58; 10:30), Jesus is able to serve as our sacrifice once and for all time (Hebrews 10:1-18). As a human, he is able to qualify as a propitiation for our sins and empathize with our struggles (Hebrew 2:17-18).

Lecture Notes:   Divinity of Jesus I.  Self-reports of divinity II.  Reports from others A. Confessions III. Character of Christ IV. Scriptural comparisons of Jehovah and Jesus V.   Things only God can do A. Create B. Receive Glory C. Worship D. Salvation E. Forgiveness of sin F. Greatest lover VI. Mystery of God A. Kenosis B. Hypostatic Union   I. Claims made by Jesus Himself: ·   John 14:8-10 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? ·  John 10:30- “I and the Father are one.” ·  Jesus never said "Thus saith the Lord" only "I say unto you" This indicates he was not a profit speak God’s words. Rather he was God speaking his own word, for God only had the authority to command such ultimatums.   Jesus the "I AM" The name "I AM" refers to God as ever existent in the past, present, and future, all-powerful and all-knowing; otherwise, omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient. When Moses was at the burning bush receiving instructions, he questioned God on what name he should use to give the children of Israel when they ask. God’s reply in Exodus 3:14 was, "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. " So we understand that the name "I AM" can only refer to God himself, this is extremely true because no one else qualifies as the "I AM ". In John 8:58 , Jesus makes an astonishing statement in answer to the Jews that were debating with him, the scripture reads, "Jesus said unto them. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am . " Here we have it, Jesus referring to himself as "I AM!" Again, and again Jesus is Lord. There is also an account in verse 24 which reads, "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am   he, ye shall die in your sins." ( John 8:24) . Here the word "he" was added for clarity and was not part of Christ's original statement; thus, his original statement would have read: "...for if ye believe not that I am . ye shall die in your sins." Similar statements can also be found in John 18:5, 6.   II. Reports by Others: ·   Philippians 2:5-7- Christ’s Deity ·   Matthew 1:23 Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us) ·   John 1:18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. ·  Colossians 2:9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily. ·  John 1:1-3  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” ·  Thomas' confession: John 20:28 "And Thomas answered and said unto him,   Mv LORD and my God ." ·  Peter’s confession that Jesus was God and Savior. 2 Peter 1:1  “ Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:   III.  The Character of Jesus The following concepts could be read about more in The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell. The "Trilemma" is as followed: A. Lunatic-  Jesus was deceived about who he was. B. Liar-  Jesus was lying about who he was. C. Lord- Jesus was telling the truth about who he was. A. Lunatic- was Jesus deceived about who he was?  If Jesus was deceived about who he was, then we have no choice but to discard all that he has taught and spoke about. It would be the equivalent to following a person of today who makes outrageous claims about his identity and what he was able to do. Would you follow or even teach the doctrines of someone that claimed divinity, promised eternal life, or eternal damnation if you did or did not believe in them?   Jesus could not have been deceived about whom he was; he was fully aware at all times of the seriousness of his claims. Jesus even predicted his own death and the way in which he would die; he predicted his betrayal by Judas and his denial by Peter; he predicted his resurrection and persecution of those that believed in him. There is too much evidence that suggests Jesus was in fact (1) in control of his life and death, (2) perfectly sound in his mind, (3) absolutely aware of his claims. Jesus could not have been a lunatic. B. Liar- did Jesus lie about who he was. If Jesus was aware of what he was claiming, is it possible that he knew he was stretching the truth? Could Jesus have let power and popularity go to his head, thus making these claims? Well, if it is indeed true and Jesus did lie that would disqualify his from being any type "great leader." This would mean that Christ not only put his own life in jeopardy but knowingly jeopardized the lives of others as well. It also implies deliberate intent to confuse and mislead; claiming that no one can reach God but by believing in him, that he can forgive any and all sins, that he has power over sin, death and hell, that he is the only way to heaven and most of all that those that fail to believe in him will not make it to heaven but hell will be their destination. If Jesus was a liar then we need not to follow any of what he taught and remove him from being a moral leader or any of the similitude. Was Jesus a liar? Impossible! He backed up all his claims; he claimed to have the power of life and death...so he resurrected Lazarus and Himself; he claimed divinity, so he controlled nature and walked on water; he claimed to be present at the time of creation, so he turned water to wine, multiplied fishes and bread feeding hundreds and gave a blind man sight who was blind since birth; he claimed that belief on him was the only way to heaven...I do not think we want to wager this one, and not believe in him. C. Lord- was Jesus who claimed to be? Finally, we have the last option, if Jesus was not delusional or a liar the only solution is that he was telling the truth. If he was telling the truth, then all of humanity will stand before him one day in Judgment. Jesus is the only one to ever claim that you must  believe in him and him alone to get to heaven; Jesus is the only one to ever promise  eternal life in heaven, contingent upon belief in him and him alone. Jesus is the only one to guarantee  eternal death in hell, for those that do not believe in him. These are very hefty claims; thus, one is presented with a choice, choice of hoping that Jesus is wrong and none of what he says is true, but you will not find out until you die. The gamble on your life is not worth the risk. The trilemma is yours to decide: was Jesus confused about who he was, was he a liar, or was he fully conscious and Lord God.   IV. Scriptural Comparisons of Jehovah and Jesus Jesus Is...   TITLE Scriptural Reference God John 1:1 One With God John 10:30 Eternal Revelation 1:17b Omnipresent Ephesians 1:22,23 Omniscient John 21:17 Life Giving John 1:4 EI Olam "The Eternal God" Revelation 22:13 Jehovah-Jirah "The Lord Will Provide" John 6:35 Jehovah-Rohi "The Lord Is My Shepherd" John 10:11 Jehovah-Tsidkenu "The Lord Is Righteous" 2 Corinthians 5:21 Jehovah-Rapha "The Lord Who Heals" 1 Peter 2:24 Jehovah-Shalom  "The God Of Peace" John 14:27 El Shaddai "The All Sufficient One, God Almighty" 2 Corinthians 12:9 Immanuel "God With Us" Matthew 1:23   Jesus as Jehovah (God)   Of Jehovah Mutual Title or Act Of Jesus   Isaiah 40:28 Creator John 1:3 Isaiah 45: 22; 43:11 Savior John 4:42 1 Samuel 2:6 Raise Dead John 5:21 Joel 3:12 Judge John 5:7/[Matthew 25:31 Isaiah 60:19-20 Light John 8:12 Exodus 3:14 I Am John 8:24, 58; 18:5,6 Psalms 23:1 Shepard John 10:11 Isaiah 42:8 ; 48:11 Glory of God John 17:1,5 Isaiah 41:4; 44:6 First and Last Revelation 1:17; 2:8 Hosea 13:14 Redeemer Revelation 5:9 Isaiah 62:5/Hosea 2:16 Bridegroom Revelation 21:2/ Matt. 25:1 Psalms 18:2 Rock 1 Corinthians 10:4 Jeremiah 31:34 Forgiver of Sins Mark 2:7, 10 Psalms 148:2 Worshiped by Angles Hebrews 1:6 Throughout Old Testament Addressed in Prayer Acts 7:59 Psalms 148:5 Creator of Angles Colossians 1:16 Isaiah 45:5 Confessed As Lord Philippians 2:11 Names of God, Rose Publishing, INC., 2033. Josh Mcdowell, Evidence That Demands A Verdict Vol. 1: Historical Evidences For The Christian Faith, Here's Life Publishers, INC., 1979, p. 97 God The Father. God The Son. God The Holv Spirit There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. To help you better understand consider these examples: One Human = mind-body-spirit, One family = father-mother-child, One Egg = shell- egg white -egg yolk, One Government = judicial branch-executive branch-legislative branch, In mathematics and physics describes our world = length – width – height, All three but one in essence and nature. We will now take a look at another fact that points to Jesus as Lord. Genesis 1:1-3 reads , "In the beginning God [God the Father]   created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God [God the Holy Spirit]   moved upon the face of the waters. And God said [the Word/God the Son] , Let there be light: and there was light." Here we see the activity of God in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but present as one. Taking a look at another scripture reveals more of this truth, 1 John 5:7 reads "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. " Here we are told the plain truth about the very nature of God; though it may seem simple enough said it is still a very deep truth. We have to remember that we are just humans with finite minds and understanding. How then can we fully comprehend God, whom by nature is infinite in all things? 1 Timothy 3:16  reads, "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh [Jesus/God the Son] , justified in the Spirit [God the Holy Spirit] , seen of angels [God the Father] , preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." The first three details in the mystery of Godliness are: "God was manifest in the flesh"- Jesus (God the Son)  "Justified in the Spirit"- the Spirit of God (God the Holy Spirit) "Seen of angels"- eternally existent in Heaven (God the Father)  Though this may be a mystery to our limited thinking, its truth still tells of the deity of Jesus and oneness of God. Deuteronomy 6:4 - "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD. " V.  Things Only God Can Do Jesus As Creator We will start at the very beginning, Genesis 1:1 reads,  "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. " Here, stated at the very beginning of God’s word, God is saying "God created/ The LORD created./I created!" This was said so that there would be absolutely no confusion "who' was the creator. God made it completely and unmistakably clear that it was him in the beginning, it was him that created everything, it was him that was to be recognized and worshiped as the creator. Now let's take a look at John 1:1-3,  it reads, "In the beginning was the Word [Jesus], and the Word [Jesus] was with God, and the Word [Jesus] was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him [Jesus]; and without him [Jesus] was not any thing made that was made. This scripture is referring to Jesus and his identity as God. When you compare Gen l:l  and John 1:1-3  it becomes clear that Jesus is God, "the word was God." Thus, since the beginning Jesus was there as the Creator; as there is only one Creator, God! Jesus Receiver Of Glory Who is the "ONLY" one that can receive glory? God! Isaiah 42:8  reads, "I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. " This and other scriptures proclaim that God alone is due glory and worship, and he will absolutely not give it to any other. Now keeping in mind what we just read, Colossians 1:15-18 reads, "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence ." Again, we see that Jesus is exalted above all things, having "preeminence", there is absolutely nothing above or equal to him. We also read about when Jesus rode into Jerusalem receiving praises and glory,   Luke 19:38-40 reads, "Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him. Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. " Jesus declared that if the people stopped their praises, that the stones  would right away begin praising him! This is indicative of numerous psalms that also declare that nature itself glorifies and praises God. Jesus Receiver Of Worship Another indication that Jesus is God is the fact that he received worship, which just as glory, is only given to God. Exodus 20:3-5  reads, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of than that hate me." Here we have the first and second commandments, to put God first and to worship him only. So if Jesus were not God, he would not have received worship, though in Matthew 28:9   we read. "And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail . And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. " Not only was Jesus worshiped but he also commanded worship! There are also other examples throughout the gospel where Jesus received worship. (Matthew 2:11, Matthew 8:2, Matthew 9:18, Mark 5:6, Luke 24:52, John 9:38, and more). Another very important truth that reveals Jesus is God is in Matthew 4:8-10 , it reads "Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him. All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him. Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. " Why did Satan want Jesus to worship him? Simple, if Jesus worshipped Satan that would make Satan,   God; because Satan wanted God   to worship him! From the very time of Satan's fall, he wanted to be God and worshiped as such; though, the only way this could happen is if God himself transferred his glory to Satan and worshiped him. This is why Satan wanted Jesus to worship him -he wanted God to worship him. We see in other places in scripture where worship was rejected by humans (Peter rejects worship Acts 10:25-26; Barnabas and Paul reject worship 14:11-15). Jesus As The Only Savior The only one able and fully qualified to save is God and only God! Isaiah 43:11 reads, "I. even I, am the LORD; and beside me is no saviour . " There is no one else that exists, existed or will exist that is a savior, other than God himself. This is yet more indication and truth that Jesus is God, as God is the only one capable of being a savior. Referring to Jesus, Acts 4:12 reads, " Neither is there salvation in any other : for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. " Yet another perfect match in scripture; God proclaims the solitariness of who the savior is, himself! The second part of this scripture mentions there is but a single name that brings about salivation, this can be referenced with Joel 2:32 "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered.... " Who is the Lord that we must call upon to be saved? Jesus is his name! Jesus. Forgiver Of Sins It is known that only God can forgive sins due to his perfect and blameless nature. It would be impossible for someone to forgive the entire record of a person’s sins, unless they were God. Mark 2:7  reads, "When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee . But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? " Reading further we read Jesus" own statement of himself Mark 2:10 "But that ye may know that the Son of man hath  power on earth to forgive sins, (lie saith to the sick of the palsy,) " We also read Jesus forgiving sins in Luke 7:47-50   and again his authority is questioned to forgive sins, the only consistent answer is that Jesus is Lord, the only forgiver of sins! Jesus the Greatest Lover What is the greatest act of love? Well, according to scripture, the greatest act of love is for someone to give their life for another, in John 15:13  Jesus states, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. " So, who is the greatest lover? Also, according to scripture, we read that God is the greatest lover because God is love! 1 John 4:16 reads, "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love .... " If Jesus gave up his life for humanity, and the greatest act of love is laying down one's life for another, and God is the greatest lover, then Jesus is God! IF Jesus were not indeed God then ultimately God does not have the greatest love for humanity and if this were true how much does God truly love us? So once again, we see that Jesus is God, committing the greatest act of love for humanity.   VI.  Mystery of God Philippians 2:6-8 – Kenosis Philippians 2:6-8   reads, W ho, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. The Greek term in verse 7 is ekenosen (or kenosis), which is translated into the English word “emptied.” Ekenosen means to pour out. God “poured out” his nature into the human form we know as Jesus. Here we are told that Jesus is God! He was in the 'form' of God, that is to say, he was completely 100% God in every sense. Then he ‘poured out’ his 'form" as God and made himself in the form and likeness of men, which is to say, God became flesh and bones. It is important to understand that God did not abandon his position as God—he poured his nature into human form and took on 100% humanity. This scripture points to the mystery of Godliness, simply because our minds cannot imagine nor understand the dynamics of how 100% God became a man. However, we again are told plainly that Jesus was in the form of God; thus, Jesus is God!   Hypostatic Union   Hypostatic union is from the Greek word hypostasis. Hypostasis means substance, person, or divine essence. Hypostatic union refers to the two natures of Christ, fully human and fully God. The hypostatic doctrine is simple, yet of grave importance. As God (John 8:58; 10:30), Jesus is able to serve as our sacrifice once and for all time (Hebrews 10:1-18). As a human, he is able to qualify as a propitiation for our sins and empathize with our struggles (Hebrew 2:17-18).

Lecture Notes:   I. Classifications Methods A.   Absolute and Relative B.    Natural and Moral C.    Transcendent and Immanent D.   Incommunicable and Communicable II. Incommunicable Attributes III. Communicable Attributes IV. Omnis of God V. Sovereignty of God VI. Names of God     I. Classification Methods A.   Absolute and Relative Attributes ·  Absolute relates to those attributes that exist independently from any relation. ·  Relative relates to those attributes that exist or are experienced in relationship with God. Example Scriptures: ·  Exodus 15:11 (ESV) Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? [Holy] ·  Ephesians 4:7 (ESV) 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. [Gracious] Theologian: Augustus Hopkins Strong   B. Natural and Moral Attributes ·  Natural relates to his nature. ·  Moral relates to his nature manifested in humanity. Example Scriptures: ·  Malachi 3:6 (ESV) For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. [Immutability] · Luke 18:7 (ESV) And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? [Justice] Theologians: Henry C. Thiessen, Vernon D. Doerksen   C.    Transcendent and Immanent Attributes · Transcendent being those attributes that exist apart from our material universe. ·  Imminent being those attributes that intimate to our human experience.   Example scripture: ·  Isaiah 57:15 (ESV) For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” [Eternality and Compassionate]   Theologian: Augustus Hopkins Strong   D.   Incommunicable and Communicable Attributes ·  Incommunicable refers to his attributes that are humanly inconsistent with human reason and observations. ·  Communicable refers to his attributes that can be understood through a human experience or understanding. Theologians: William G. T. Shedd, Charles Hodge, Louis Berkhof, Herman Bavnick   II.         Incommunicable A.   Aseity of God – Self-existence [and Self-sufficient]. Aseity means “from himself” in Latin. ·  Isaiah 40:12-14 (ESV) “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel? Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?” ·  Exodus 3:14 “I AM Who I AM” ·  Acts 17 – Address to the Athenians. “It is in God we live, move and have our being.” ·  Colossians 1:16-17 (ESV) For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.   B.    Infinity – Without limits, constraints, or bounds. Immensity – Transcendent of spatial (space) limitation. · 1 Kings 8:27 (ESV) But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! · Psalm 147:5 (ESV) Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. ·  Job 11:7-9 Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? It is higher than heaven—what can you do?  Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea. · God’s Omni’s   C.   Eternality –  Not confined by time; existing outside time. ·      Psalm 90:2 (ESV) Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. ·      Romans 1:20 (ESV) For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. ·      Revelation 1:8 (ESV) “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” ·      Genesis 1:1 (ESV) - In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.   D.   Immutability – Perfection that does not change, improve, or diminish. ·  Psalm 102:25-27 (ESV) Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end. (Also see Hebrews 1:10-12) ·  Malachi 3:6 (ESV) For I the Lord do not change. ·  James 1:17 (ESV) 7 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.    III. Communicable A. Love & Compassion ·  1 John 4:8 (ESV) Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. ·  Psalm 136 – Throughout entire psalm. ·  Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV) The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ·  1 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV) All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. ·  Isaiah 54:10 (NASB) For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken, Says the Lord who has compassion on you. B.    Mercy and Goodness ·  Isaiah 55:7 (ESV) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. ·  Psalm 136:1 (ESV) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. · Hebrews 4:16 (ESV) Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.   ·  Romans 2:4 (ESV) Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? C.   Grace ·  Romans 3:23-24 (ESV) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. ·  Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ·  Titus 3:3-7 (ESV) For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.   D.   Justice and Righteousness – Related to his moral nature. His morality is perfect. Toward ungodliness. Romans 1:18-32 God’s wrath against sin. The oppressed. Psalm 72:12-14 (NLT) He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them. He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him. God’s laws are holy. Romans 7:12 (ESV) So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Psalm 19:7-11 (ESV) The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules[d] of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 119 – Praise and admiration of God’s law.   IV.  Omnis of God – Omni means “all” A.   Omnipotent – God is all-powerful. More accurately, God can do all things that are consistent with his nature. ·  Jerimiah 32:27 (ESV) Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me? ·   Isaiah 40:28-29 (ESV) Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. B.    Omnipresent – God is everywhere at once. ·  Jerimiah 23:23-24 (NLT) Am I a God who is only close at hand?” says the Lord. “No, I am far away at the same time. Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the Lord. ·  Psalm 139:7-12 (ESV) Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. C.    Omniscient – God is all-knowing. · 1 Samuel 2:3 (ESV) Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. ·  Psalm 147:5 (NSAB) Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite. ·  Romans 11:33 (ESV) Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways. ·  Job 21:22 (ESV) Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those who are on high? ·  Job 37:16-18 (ESV) Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge, you whose garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind? Can you, like him, spread out the skies, hard as a cast metal mirror? D.   Omnisapient – God is all-wise ·  Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. ·  James 1:5 (ESV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.   V.  Sovereignty of God Meticulous Providence – Romans 1:11 (ESV) In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.   · Job 12:13 With Him are wisdom and might; To Him belong counsel and understanding. “Behold, He tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt; He imprisons a man, and there can be no release. “Behold, He restrains the waters, and they dry up; And He sends them out, and they inundate the earth. “With Him are strength and sound wisdom, The misled and the misleader belong to Him. · Psalm 103:19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. · Daniel 4:17 The Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world. He gives them to anyone he chooses—even to the lowliest of people. v.34 - his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation. ·  Romans 9:10-13 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” ·  Joseph’s sold into slavery – Genesis 45 ·  God against the prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel – 1 Kings 18

Lecture Notes:   I. Classifications Methods A.   Absolute and Relative B.    Natural and Moral C.    Transcendent and Immanent D.   Incommunicable and Communicable II. Incommunicable Attributes III. Communicable Attributes IV. Omnis of God V. Sovereignty of God VI. Names of God     I. Classification Methods A.   Absolute and Relative Attributes ·  Absolute relates to those attributes that exist independently from any relation. ·  Relative relates to those attributes that exist or are experienced in relationship with God. Example Scriptures: ·  Exodus 15:11 (ESV) Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? [Holy] ·  Ephesians 4:7 (ESV) 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. [Gracious] Theologian: Augustus Hopkins Strong   B. Natural and Moral Attributes ·  Natural relates to his nature. ·  Moral relates to his nature manifested in humanity. Example Scriptures: ·  Malachi 3:6 (ESV) For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. [Immutability] · Luke 18:7 (ESV) And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? [Justice] Theologians: Henry C. Thiessen, Vernon D. Doerksen   C.    Transcendent and Immanent Attributes · Transcendent being those attributes that exist apart from our material universe. ·  Imminent being those attributes that intimate to our human experience.   Example scripture: ·  Isaiah 57:15 (ESV) For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” [Eternality and Compassionate]   Theologian: Augustus Hopkins Strong   D.   Incommunicable and Communicable Attributes ·  Incommunicable refers to his attributes that are humanly inconsistent with human reason and observations. ·  Communicable refers to his attributes that can be understood through a human experience or understanding. Theologians: William G. T. Shedd, Charles Hodge, Louis Berkhof, Herman Bavnick   II.         Incommunicable A.   Aseity of God – Self-existence [and Self-sufficient]. Aseity means “from himself” in Latin. ·  Isaiah 40:12-14 (ESV) “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel? Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?” ·  Exodus 3:14 “I AM Who I AM” ·  Acts 17 – Address to the Athenians. “It is in God we live, move and have our being.” ·  Colossians 1:16-17 (ESV) For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.   B.    Infinity – Without limits, constraints, or bounds. Immensity – Transcendent of spatial (space) limitation. · 1 Kings 8:27 (ESV) But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! · Psalm 147:5 (ESV) Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. ·  Job 11:7-9 Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? It is higher than heaven—what can you do?  Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea. · God’s Omni’s   C.   Eternality –  Not confined by time; existing outside time. ·      Psalm 90:2 (ESV) Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. ·      Romans 1:20 (ESV) For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. ·      Revelation 1:8 (ESV) “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” ·      Genesis 1:1 (ESV) - In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.   D.   Immutability – Perfection that does not change, improve, or diminish. ·  Psalm 102:25-27 (ESV) Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end. (Also see Hebrews 1:10-12) ·  Malachi 3:6 (ESV) For I the Lord do not change. ·  James 1:17 (ESV) 7 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.    III. Communicable A. Love & Compassion ·  1 John 4:8 (ESV) Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. ·  Psalm 136 – Throughout entire psalm. ·  Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV) The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ·  1 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV) All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. ·  Isaiah 54:10 (NASB) For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken, Says the Lord who has compassion on you. B.    Mercy and Goodness ·  Isaiah 55:7 (ESV) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. ·  Psalm 136:1 (ESV) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. · Hebrews 4:16 (ESV) Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.   ·  Romans 2:4 (ESV) Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? C.   Grace ·  Romans 3:23-24 (ESV) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. ·  Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ·  Titus 3:3-7 (ESV) For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.   D.   Justice and Righteousness – Related to his moral nature. His morality is perfect. Toward ungodliness. Romans 1:18-32 God’s wrath against sin. The oppressed. Psalm 72:12-14 (NLT) He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them. He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him. God’s laws are holy. Romans 7:12 (ESV) So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Psalm 19:7-11 (ESV) The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules[d] of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 119 – Praise and admiration of God’s law.   IV.  Omnis of God – Omni means “all” A.   Omnipotent – God is all-powerful. More accurately, God can do all things that are consistent with his nature. ·  Jerimiah 32:27 (ESV) Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me? ·   Isaiah 40:28-29 (ESV) Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. B.    Omnipresent – God is everywhere at once. ·  Jerimiah 23:23-24 (NLT) Am I a God who is only close at hand?” says the Lord. “No, I am far away at the same time. Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the Lord. ·  Psalm 139:7-12 (ESV) Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. C.    Omniscient – God is all-knowing. · 1 Samuel 2:3 (ESV) Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. ·  Psalm 147:5 (NSAB) Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite. ·  Romans 11:33 (ESV) Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways. ·  Job 21:22 (ESV) Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those who are on high? ·  Job 37:16-18 (ESV) Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge, you whose garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind? Can you, like him, spread out the skies, hard as a cast metal mirror? D.   Omnisapient – God is all-wise ·  Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. ·  James 1:5 (ESV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.   V.  Sovereignty of God Meticulous Providence – Romans 1:11 (ESV) In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.   · Job 12:13 With Him are wisdom and might; To Him belong counsel and understanding. “Behold, He tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt; He imprisons a man, and there can be no release. “Behold, He restrains the waters, and they dry up; And He sends them out, and they inundate the earth. “With Him are strength and sound wisdom, The misled and the misleader belong to Him. · Psalm 103:19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. · Daniel 4:17 The Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world. He gives them to anyone he chooses—even to the lowliest of people. v.34 - his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation. ·  Romans 9:10-13 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” ·  Joseph’s sold into slavery – Genesis 45 ·  God against the prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel – 1 Kings 18

Lecture Notes:   I. Classifications Methods A.   Absolute and Relative B.    Natural and Moral C.    Transcendent and Immanent D.   Incommunicable and Communicable II. Incommunicable Attributes III. Communicable Attributes IV. Omnis of God V. Sovereignty of God VI. Names of God     I. Classification Methods A.   Absolute and Relative Attributes ·  Absolute relates to those attributes that exist independently from any relation. ·  Relative relates to those attributes that exist or are experienced in relationship with God. Example Scriptures: ·  Exodus 15:11 (ESV) Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? [Holy] ·  Ephesians 4:7 (ESV) 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. [Gracious] Theologian: Augustus Hopkins Strong   B. Natural and Moral Attributes ·  Natural relates to his nature. ·  Moral relates to his nature manifested in humanity. Example Scriptures: ·  Malachi 3:6 (ESV) For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. [Immutability] · Luke 18:7 (ESV) And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? [Justice] Theologians: Henry C. Thiessen, Vernon D. Doerksen   C.    Transcendent and Immanent Attributes · Transcendent being those attributes that exist apart from our material universe. ·  Imminent being those attributes that intimate to our human experience.   Example scripture: ·  Isaiah 57:15 (ESV) For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” [Eternality and Compassionate]   Theologian: Augustus Hopkins Strong   D.   Incommunicable and Communicable Attributes ·  Incommunicable refers to his attributes that are humanly inconsistent with human reason and observations. ·  Communicable refers to his attributes that can be understood through a human experience or understanding. Theologians: William G. T. Shedd, Charles Hodge, Louis Berkhof, Herman Bavnick   II.         Incommunicable A.   Aseity of God – Self-existence [and Self-sufficient]. Aseity means “from himself” in Latin. ·  Isaiah 40:12-14 (ESV) “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel? Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?” ·  Exodus 3:14 “I AM Who I AM” ·  Acts 17 – Address to the Athenians. “It is in God we live, move and have our being.” ·  Colossians 1:16-17 (ESV) For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.   B.    Infinity – Without limits, constraints, or bounds. Immensity – Transcendent of spatial (space) limitation. · 1 Kings 8:27 (ESV) But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! · Psalm 147:5 (ESV) Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. ·  Job 11:7-9 Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? It is higher than heaven—what can you do?  Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea. · God’s Omni’s   C.   Eternality –  Not confined by time; existing outside time. ·      Psalm 90:2 (ESV) Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. ·      Romans 1:20 (ESV) For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. ·      Revelation 1:8 (ESV) “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” ·      Genesis 1:1 (ESV) - In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.   D.   Immutability – Perfection that does not change, improve, or diminish. ·  Psalm 102:25-27 (ESV) Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end. (Also see Hebrews 1:10-12) ·  Malachi 3:6 (ESV) For I the Lord do not change. ·  James 1:17 (ESV) 7 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.    III. Communicable A. Love & Compassion ·  1 John 4:8 (ESV) Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. ·  Psalm 136 – Throughout entire psalm. ·  Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV) The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ·  1 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV) All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. ·  Isaiah 54:10 (NASB) For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken, Says the Lord who has compassion on you. B.    Mercy and Goodness ·  Isaiah 55:7 (ESV) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. ·  Psalm 136:1 (ESV) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. · Hebrews 4:16 (ESV) Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.   ·  Romans 2:4 (ESV) Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? C.   Grace ·  Romans 3:23-24 (ESV) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. ·  Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ·  Titus 3:3-7 (ESV) For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.   D.   Justice and Righteousness – Related to his moral nature. His morality is perfect. Toward ungodliness. Romans 1:18-32 God’s wrath against sin. The oppressed. Psalm 72:12-14 (NLT) He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them. He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him. God’s laws are holy. Romans 7:12 (ESV) So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Psalm 19:7-11 (ESV) The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules[d] of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 119 – Praise and admiration of God’s law.   IV.  Omnis of God – Omni means “all” A.   Omnipotent – God is all-powerful. More accurately, God can do all things that are consistent with his nature. ·  Jerimiah 32:27 (ESV) Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me? ·   Isaiah 40:28-29 (ESV) Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. B.    Omnipresent – God is everywhere at once. ·  Jerimiah 23:23-24 (NLT) Am I a God who is only close at hand?” says the Lord. “No, I am far away at the same time. Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the Lord. ·  Psalm 139:7-12 (ESV) Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. C.    Omniscient – God is all-knowing. · 1 Samuel 2:3 (ESV) Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. ·  Psalm 147:5 (NSAB) Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite. ·  Romans 11:33 (ESV) Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways. ·  Job 21:22 (ESV) Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those who are on high? ·  Job 37:16-18 (ESV) Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge, you whose garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind? Can you, like him, spread out the skies, hard as a cast metal mirror? D.   Omnisapient – God is all-wise ·  Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. ·  James 1:5 (ESV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.   V.  Sovereignty of God Meticulous Providence – Romans 1:11 (ESV) In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.   · Job 12:13 With Him are wisdom and might; To Him belong counsel and understanding. “Behold, He tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt; He imprisons a man, and there can be no release. “Behold, He restrains the waters, and they dry up; And He sends them out, and they inundate the earth. “With Him are strength and sound wisdom, The misled and the misleader belong to Him. · Psalm 103:19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. · Daniel 4:17 The Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world. He gives them to anyone he chooses—even to the lowliest of people. v.34 - his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation. ·  Romans 9:10-13 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” ·  Joseph’s sold into slavery – Genesis 45 ·  God against the prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel – 1 Kings 18

Lecture Notes: The words of scripture are God-breathed; they are the sum total knowledge of who God is. Every word in scripture helps to reveal who God is and the dynamics of his culture. Think of it as social studies where the study of a culture’s history, economics, government, social relationships, and every other aspect that makes up that culture, is used to create a properly educated citizenry. This is the way we come to know God and live Christ-centered lives by meditating on his Word day and night, desiring to know every aspect of his holy culture. ​ Pillars to Understanding When beginning your journey to understanding God and his word, there are certain prerequisites one must believe for a proper understanding of his Word. ​​ 1. You must believe (have faith) that God, is God ​ Hebrews 11:6 NLT “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” John 8:47 NLT “Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”​ ​ ​2. Final Authority ​ You must believe that God’s Word supersedes our opinions and culture. We must be willing to adapt our thinking to scripture and not interpret scripture based on our opinions and culture. Proverbs 30:5-6 NLT “Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.” Psalms 119:89 “Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.” ​ 3. Inerrancy You must believe that the affirmations of scripture are without error. Psalms 19:7-11 NLT “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.” 4. All Sufficiency You must believe that all scripture contains everything you need for effective living in every area of your lives. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 5. Infallibility You must believe that scripture cannot fail and that God’s Word will always achieve its purpose. Isaiah 55:10-11 NLT “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” 6. Inspiration 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV) “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” Inspiration is the idea that God organically used men, knowing all personal and cultural contexts to communicated his will to man. ​ ​ General Revelation vs. Special Revelation General revelation refers to God’s word revealed through natural means like nature, the bible, and our conscious. Special revelation refers to God’s word revealed through the Holy Spirit. Special revelation will never contradict God’s word. ​ Cessationists vs. Continuationism Cessationist are those who believe that spiritual gifts (such as: tongues, healing, prophecy, signs, miracles, revelation) have ceased. This position holds that the spiritual gifts were given to the early church (or in some cases, only the apostles) as a sign to confirm the ministry of Christ and establishment of his church. Continuationist believe that these gifts are still active according to the Holy Spirit and did not end with the Apostolic Age. The primary argument on this topic is how this impact sola scriptura (Latin for “by scripture alone”). ​ Understanding Your Biases ​ When reading and interpreting and studying the Bible we must understand first God is the expert and we are all the novices. Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT declares, “ ‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’ ” It will be important to realize this because there will be times that the Word will challenge the way you are used to thinking and doing things. You will then have to choose if you will allow scripture to transform your thinking or will you attempt to force scripture to conform to your paradigm. ​ As a student of the Word, you will always be in the position of the learner in relationship to God. We all come to God with our own experiences and frames of references; however, these experiences should not always be relied upon and always tested against the Word. Experiences, though they grant us insight, may filter our perspective and skew how we understand a matter. This is why throughout the process of studying the Word we must remain unbiased often questioning our own assumptions. When we question our own assumptions, we allow the Word to transform our minds and recreate our thinking. Romans 12: 2 NTL tells us, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” ​ Once you have settled in your heart that God is real, and his Word is the final authority, without error, all-sufficient, never fails, and once you understand the biases that you may bring to interpreting his Word, then begins actual studying. In part two of How to Study & Interpret the Bible we will examine the role the Holy Spirit plays in aiding us in our studies. We will also explore Biblical hermeneutics, which is concerned with exactly how we interpret scripture and exegesis, which critically interprets scripture and extracts meaning from scripture. ​ Hermeneutics & Exegesis ​ Acts 17:11 “These [Bereans] were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” ​ In Acts 17 we find Paul and Silas in Thessalonica preaching the Word. The scriptures tell us that Paul went to the synagogue service for 3 week in a row, just to reason and explain that Jesus was the Messiah. With the converting of some Jews and Greeks, Paul and Silas began to once again experience persecution from those who did not believe and wanted them to stop preaching. Upon this uproar Paul and Silas were sent to Berea which was about 30 miles west of Thessalonica; this was all within the modern day Greece region. Once in Berea they went to the synagogue and began to preach. The Bereans were said to search the scriptures daily, confirming what they heard was truth. As a result many Jews and Greeks were converted and believed on Jesus. These accounts provide us with a picture of how we should have a willingness to engage unbelievers, taking the time to thoroughly go through scripture. It also shows us that as a learner of the scriptures, we should search and study them to confirm whether or not a teaching is true. Both of these aspects are gravely missing in today’s Church. In this section of teaching we will take a look at Biblical hermeneutics, which is the science of interpretation or translation of scripture; it focuses on “how to interpret.” Exegeses is the actual interpretation and examination of scripture; it answers the question of “what this scripture means.” Hermeneutics is how your perspective approaches scripture; an exegesis then draws out the meaning and understanding from scripture. There can also be an eisegesis which is applying your own meaning to scripture not allowing the scripture to interpret itself. ​ The need to correctly understand God’s Word is critical. There was a time in history when it was illegal for the common person to read the Bible, or to understand it in their own language; the Bible was only read and interpreted by designated clergy. A man by the name of William Tyndale (1494-1536) understood the importance of everyone understanding scripture, and made a statement indicating his goal is that even a boy working in the field will have more knowledge of scripture then the Pope. Tyndale was the first to print the New Testament in English and smuggled thousands into England (John Wycliff was to first to translate the Bible into English). This is our same goal, that everyone has an understanding of scripture regardless of your position in life. ​ We will review some of the most common approaches to Biblical hermeneutics: Literal, Grammatical, Histo-Cultural, Allegorical and Liberal. ​ Literal Interpretation ​ This is the normal interpretation, the plain interpretation, the “what you see is what you get” interpretation. Unless the context of the scripture clearly calls for a different understanding, one should always first look to understand scripture in a normal common-sense fashion. Unfamiliar phrases and symbols must be understood as the author intended; reading between the lines is prohibited. This is for the obvious reason of applying unnecessary and unwarranted meaning to scripture. For example if you read Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” the literal interpretation or common sense interpretation would be instructing us to set a Christ-like example to those who see us. It is not telling us to turn on our house lights or that we will physically illuminate. ​ Some beginning questions that may be asked are: Are there any immediate or obvious allegories in this text? Is there any reason why I should not interpret this literally? Did Jesus, the apostles or the early church interpret this literally? Grammatical Interpretation ​ The grammatical approach to interpreting God’s Word examines the words themselves to help reveal the meaning of scripture or passage. The use of lexicons and concordances will aid with this approach. In addition, knowing other grammatical rules such as syntax, part of speech and word form will further aid in grammatical interpretation. An example of this can be found in Genesis where the word “day” is used. If you take a grammatical approach then you would translate day from English to Hebrew, getting the Hebrew word “yom.” Then you would use Biblical Hebrew grammar rules to determine if “yom” means 24 hours or a generalized time period within its use in Genesis 1. Since “yom” is used with an exact time period, along with other Hebrew grammar rules, it can be concluded that day means a 24 hour period. (If interested, you can view more information about the 24 hour day in Genesis at. ​ Some beginning questions that may be asked are: 1. What is the meaning of the word?2. What form, tense or part of speech is the word in?3. How is the word used in this sentence and/or passage?4. How is this word related to the other word in the sentence? ​ Historical (Cultural) Interpretation ​ This approach looks closely at the culture in which a passage was written and the audience it was first written to. There are many influences that may contribute to what a particular passage may mean. Meanings, of course, can get lost or become obscured over time requiring the reader to consider the mind of the author. A writer today would not be able to write within the context of the 21st century and expect a reader 2000years from today to know all the references, phrases and places without some aid. Bible dictionaries and other historical records help todays reader become better acquainted with the life and mind of both the author and first audience. An example of this would be finding out the significance of Paul being a Roman citizen and the privilege that came along with being a citizen versus a non-citizen. ​ Some beginning questions to ask are: ​ Who is the author and who were they writing to? What were the relevant laws of that time? Why did they write this work? What were the cultural norms? Allegorical Interpretation ​ The word allegory simply means a symbolic representation, thus, an allegorical interpretation would be a symbolic interpretation. This method is an eisegesis approach because it involves reading into or applying one’s own ideas into scripture. Looking for hidden meaning and spiritual connections within the scripture can have both great reward and great calamity with this approach. To better understand some of the errors that can come from this method, consider this was the Roman Catholic Church’s approach and is the reason behind much of its doctrine. This symbolic interpretation, amongst other things, gave rise to Protestant Reformers (e.g. Martin Luther). They believed that the Church was neglecting the literal, plain meaning of scripture, allegorizing everything. Although, there are apparent abuses, we should not disregard this method altogether. Galatians 4:21-26 reads: ​ Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. ​ From this scripture we learn that Paul is explaining to the Churches in Galatia the difference between the old and new covenants. He uses the Old Testament account of Abraham’s two sons, Isaac and Ishmael, as symbols to explain truth. If we do away with the allegorical approach then what of the bread or water or blood or any number of Old Testament symbols? ​ It is important to understand that the entire Bible is not meant to be understood allegorically, because then the literal understanding of things like murder, sexual immorality, prayer and other Biblical truths become subjective. Alternatively, not symbolizing can depreciate truths such as not having hate in your heart or not looking upon someone with lust; thus the use of multiple and honest approaches. The most important principle to remember is that the Holy Spirit will not reveal anything contradictory to the already established scriptures. ​ Some beginning questions to ask are: Does it go against already established scripture? Can I support my interpretation with other scripture that has been correctly rendered? Is the context clearly allegorical? Am I regarding myself or my interpretation more significant than the author intended. Devotional Interpretation ​ This approach is employed most often in the lives of many Christians. As the approach suggests, personal interpretation of scripture is used to apply to one’s life. The question most asked is “What does this mean for me?” This method is often used without consideration of cultural, historical or literal context. Since it is used in this way, it is absolutely imperative then one is prayerful and led by the Holy Spirit when studying with a devotional approach. The danger here, if one has not yielded to Christ, is the potential to fall into the spirit of error. ​ While God’s Word needs only the interpreter of the Holy Spirit, there are still times where we must consult Godly men and women for understanding. Consider in Acts chapter 8 where Philip was commanded by God to travel south towards Gaza. On his way he met an Ethiopian man who was reading writings from the prophet Isaiah. The Ethiopian then asked the question “How can I [understand scripture], unless someone instructs me?” –Acts 8:31 Thus, here we see that personal devotion is not without its additional aids. ​ Some beginning questions to ask are: Have I prayed and asked for clarity in my devotional study? Am I being led by the Holy Spirit or am I letting my flesh lead? Am I applying personal application of scripture or universal application of scripture? Does my interpretation still applicable to scripture? Liberal Interpretation ​ The last school of interpretation we will discuss is the liberal hermeneutic approach. The liberal approach varies greatly as it’s primarily based on relativism. Those who study and interpret the Bible this way tend to see scripture as a humanist experience and thus scripture is fallible and with error. Supernatural experiences and events such as miracles may be redefined into more rational terms. Modern science may also provide the foundation and context to understanding scripture more logically. All scripture becomes relative to the interpreter with no objectivity, which permits one to dismiss a scripture or passage that is not in harmony with personal experience. There is a heavy emphasis on God’s love and a push towards inclusivity and egalitarianism. ​ The obvious error in this approach is the prominence of man’s intellect and experience over the mind and ways of God. We are told many times throughout scripture that man’s understanding is limited in comparison to God’s (Isaiah 55:8-9, Jeremiah 32:27, Job 38, Romans 11:33, 1 Corinthians 1:25, 1 Corinthians 3:19, Matthew 19:26). It is not encouraged that this hermeneutical approach be practiced as it will subjectify the Word of God making it no different than an atheistic approach, save the belief in Jesus. ​ ​ Healthy Hermeneutical Principles ​ While there are undoubtedly many principles one can use for Biblical hermeneutics, the list can become quite exhaustive. Therefore, the principles below are the core and most important guidelines to an honest approach to interpretation. ​ Holy Spirit Led –It is impossible to take God’s Spirit of the equation and ever expect to rightly divide the Word. Above all things one must believe that the Holy Spirit is real and has the real power to speak understanding into a person. It the Holy Spirit’s role is changed, devalued or left out altogether then there can be no confidence in a correct interpretation of scripture. Literal Sense –Remember that is was not God’s intention to mystify his message to us and God is not the author of confusion. While there are times study will be required, God’s overall Word is to be taken just as it reads in plain text. Context –Keep things in their immediate verse, chapter and the setting in which they are happening. This includes understanding the social, cultural and historical influences of period in which you are reading. ​ Scripture with Scripture –Do not assign meaning to something unless it can be supported with other scripture. There are many things in scripture that transcend the period in which it was recorded or written. Many truths, practices and principles are just as relevant for us today as it was when they were first recorded. The key is scriptural support, can you justify one scripture with other scriptures which all have the same meaning. Understand the Genre –Be mindful of the style you are reading from. Are you reading from a historical book like Genesis; are you reading from a legal book such as Leviticus; are you reading from a poetic book such as Psalms, are you reading from an Apocalyptic book such as Daniel. Thus, remember what type of book you are reading.