PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William...Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.comPhilippians 3:7-11 “Do you believe in the resurrection as a historical event, and have you also had that profound personal experience of spiritual resurrection?” 1. Belief and Experience: Tim Keller mentions the resurrection as both a fact and an experience. Can we truly know the power of the resurrection without personal connection? “To be a Christian is not just to believe in a set of propositions.” 2. How can prayer, reflection, and participation in worship deepen our personal experience? 3. Sharing the Power: Paul describes his desire to "make known the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:8). How can we, inspired by his passion, share the transformative power of the resurrection with others, both through words and actions? “A person with a passion for Christ is not necessarily always talking about Christ but is looking at everything through Christ.” 4. Transformation in Action: How does experiencing the power of the resurrection impact our relationships with others? Does it lead to greater compassion, forgiveness, and service towards our fellow human beings? “It's one thing to believe that Jesus loves you in a general way. It's another thing to have His love come down.” He is talking about a man 100 years ago praying and “God’s great love flooded his soul”. v. 10 “share in His sufferings”. Some would say this doesn’t make sense. To know the power of His resurrection and share in His sufferings, what does it mean? 5. Obstacles: What are some potential obstacles that might hinder us from truly connecting with the power of the resurrection? How can we overcome these obstacles and deepen our experience? 6. A Lifelong Journey: Is the power of the resurrection an ongoing process, or a one-time event? How can we stay committed to growth and transformation? “When the body dies, our spirits burst into flame in His presence, and we burn bright with His energy, power, and goodness with all of His glory flowing in and out of us. That’s what we’re in for. We’ll be like Him, and His resurrection power will be complete in us.”

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PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-Shifflett/author/B005H0F1GGDisagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.comLuke 24:36-45 Initial Reactions: When Jesus first appears to his disciples, they are startled and think they see a ghost. What does this tell us about their emotional state, and how are their expectations challenged? 2. Healing of Doubts: In Luke 24:36-45, Jesus greets his disciples with "Peace be unto you," despite their initial fear and doubt. How does this greeting speak to the power of forgiveness and the reassurance Jesus offers to those who have no peace? 3. Proof of the Resurrection: Jesus offers tangible evidence of his physical body, including showing his hands and feet. How does this address the disciples' doubts? 4. Wounds and Scars: Augustine mentions Jesus' wounds being healed yet scars remaining. How can we interpret this symbolism? Do the scars represent the reality of his suffering or serve as a reminder of his victory over death? 5. Scars as Signs of Victory: Augustine mentions that Jesus' wounds were healed but his scars remained. How do these scars, instead of being symbols of weakness, become powerful signs of His victory over death and sin? 6. Healing the Wounds of the Heart: Augustine says the scars offer healing for the disciples' "wounds of the heart." What were these wounds? (Unbelief) They were “troubled” v.38. How does Jesus' presence and sacrifice offer comfort and hope? 7. Transforming Fear: Fear and confusion were the initial emotions of the disciples. How can we experience similar transformation in our own lives when facing challenges or uncertainties? 9. Living with Scars: Many people carry their own "scars" of past experiences. How can reflecting on Jesus' scars offer comfort and strength to those who bear the weight of past hurts and traumas? 10. Personal Reflection: How can we share Christ’s peace with others who may be struggling with fear, doubt, or sin? “Thou dost admonish them out of the Scriptures, and yet they understand thee not. Their hearts are closed. Open and enter in. Open, O Lord, yea, open the heart of him who is in doubt concerning Christ. Open his understanding who believes that Christ was a phantom. “Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures.” v.45 11. Sharing the Message of Peace: How can we actively share the message of peace and hope found in Jesus' resurrection with others in our communities and the world?

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Chapter 2 – Grain Offerings (loveliness of Christ).Incarnation and Perfect Obedience: Leviticus 2 describes the grain offering, consisting of fine flour, representing the firstfruits of the harvest. How does this offering foreshadow the significance of Christ's incarnate/sinless life? Discuss how Christ's life, perfectly obedient to the Law (Matthew 5:17), becomes the offering that fulfills the demands God could not make of sinful humanity. Supporting scripture, Philippians 2:5-8, Hebrews 7:26, and Romans 5:18-19.Faith and Works in Harmony: The grain offering required specific actions (grinding, mixing with oil), alongside the offering itself. How does this foreshadow justification by faith alone, but with good works as a necessary fruit of genuine faith? Discuss how Christ's perfect offering on the cross secures salvation, while the grain offering points to the believer's response of living a life pleasing to God. Explore Romans 3:28, James 2:14-26, and Ephesians 2:8-10.Christ as our Bread of Life: The grain offering is a reminder of God's provision and sustenance for His people. How does this foreshadow Christ's identification as the "bread of life" (John 6:35)? Discuss how Christ, through his sacrifice and ongoing presence through the Holy Spirit, nourishes and sustains the spiritual lives of believers. Explore passages like John 6:48-51, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, and Colossians 3:1-4.Chapter 3 – Peace Offerings (Christ our peace).Reconciliation and Communion: Leviticus 3 outlines the peace offering, involving a sacrifice shared between the offerer, the priests, and God. How does this offering foreshadow the future work of Christ in reconciling humanity to God and establishing a new covenant of fellowship? Discuss how Christ's sacrifice not only appeases God's wrath but also allows for restored communion between God and His elect people. Explore scripture like Romans 5:1-2, Ephesians 2:13-18, and Hebrews 9:11-15.Types and Antitypes: The peace offering has elements foreshadowing aspects of Christ's ministry. The burning of fat on the altar signifies the offering being pleasing to God, while the blood points to atonement. How does this support the understanding of typology, where the peace offering serves as a type and Christ as the ultimate antitype, fulfilling the foreshadowed realities? Are there other typological connections between the peace offering and Christ's work?Gratitude and Joy of Salvation: The peace offering is associated with thanksgiving and fellowship. How does this foreshadow the future joy and peace experienced by believers through the redemptive work of Christ? Discuss how Christ's sacrifice not only secures forgiveness but also allows for a life characterized by gratitude and the joy of salvation. (Romans 5:1-11, Philippians 4:4-7, and Colossians 1:12-14)

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PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-Shifflett/author/B005H0F1GGDisagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.comUnveiling Glory: Setting the Scene: What is the context of Jesus' transfiguration as described in Matthew 17:1-8? What specific elements stand out, and how do they contribute to the overall experience? Beyond the Mountaintop: Transfiguration in Context: The Transfiguration in Matthew 17:1-8 takes place within a specific narrative context. How does understanding this context (e.g., Jesus' predictions about his suffering and death) deepen our interpretation of the event as a "Resurrection Preview"? Beyond the Mountaintop: Contextualizing the Transfiguration: In Matthew 17:1-8, the Transfiguration occurs shortly after Jesus predicts his own suffering and death. How does this context influence our understanding of the event as a "Resurrection Preview"? 2. Glimpse of the Future: Francis Schaeffer suggests the transfiguration offers a "preview of the resurrection." How does this event foreshadow the resurrection of Jesus and, by extension, the resurrection of believers? 2. Glory Revealed, Glory Concealed: The Transfiguration shows Jesus in his divine glory, yet veiled for the disciples. How does this tension between revelation and concealment shed light on the nature of God and our limitations in understanding it? 2. Glimpse of Glory: The Transfiguration describes Jesus being transfigured with dazzling light and Moses and Elijah appearing. What does this vision symbolize about the nature of Jesus and the future reality for believers? How does it differ from earthly glory and power? 3. Beyond Earthly Limits: The transfiguration transfigures Jesus' appearance. What does this transformation symbolize, and how does it challenge our understanding of physical limitations and human nature? 3. Conversation with Eternity: Moses and Elijah appear alongside Jesus, representing Law and Prophets. How does this encounter foreshadow the unity of God's plan throughout history and its culmination in Christ? 3. Echoes of the Book of Revelation: Francis Schaeffer connects the Transfiguration to the Book of Revelation's depiction of the resurrection. Explore relevant passages in Revelation (e.g., 21:1-4) and discuss how they echo the themes of transformation and new creation seen in the Transfiguration. 4. Witnessing Divinity: Peter, James, and John witness the transfiguration firsthand. How does their experience impact their understanding of Jesus and their faith? What can we learn from their reactions? 4. A Glimpse of Our Future: Francis Schaeffer claims the Transfiguration offers a "preview of the resurrection." What aspects of the Transfiguration support this claim? How can contemplating this future reality impact our present lives? 4. Beyond a Fairy Tale: Schaeffer argues against reducing the Transfiguration to a mere "fairy tale" experience. How can we avoid this pitfall and grasp the profound theological and existential implications of this event? 5. From Seeing to Believing: Peter, James, and John are overwhelmed by the experience. How does this reaction connect to the broader theme of faith in the New Testament? What challenges and encouragements does it offer for our own faith journey? 6. From Preview to Reality: How can we, as believers, live in light of the promised resurrection? How does understanding the transfiguration motivate us to live differently here and now? Living in Light of the Resurrection: How does contemplating the "Resurrection Preview" offered in the Transfiguration change our perspective on suffering, death, and the ultimate hope we have in Christ? How can we live in light of this reality?

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.comChapters 1 – 6 – Offerings. Question: How does the concept of sacrificial offerings throughout Leviticus foreshadow Christ's sacrifice (Leviticus 1-7)?Answer: The sacrificial system, with the innocent animal taking the place of the guilty person (atonement), foreshadows Christ as the perfect Lamb of God, sacrificing himself for the sins of humanity (John 1:29). 1-3 Sweet savor offerings (person of Christ). Chapter 1 – Burnt Offerings (Christ our substitute).Covenant Head and Substitutionary Atonement: Leviticus 1 details the burnt offering, a perfect animal offered entirely to God. Within a Reformed framework, how does this offering foreshadow Christ's role as our Covenant Head, taking the place of his elect people and bearing the full brunt of God's wrath for their sin, fulfilling the demands of the broken covenant? Discuss scriptural support for this interpretation from places like Isaiah 53:4-6, Romans 5:12-19, and 2 Corinthians 5:21.Sinlessness and Imputation: The burnt offering requires a blemish-free animal (Leviticus 1:3). How does this foreshadow the sinlessness of Christ, essential for his role as a perfect sacrifice? How does this connect to the Reformed doctrine of imputation, where Christ's righteousness is credited to believers, while their sins are imputed to him on the cross? Explore scripture passages like Hebrews 4:15, 1 Peter 2:22, and Romans 3:21-26 to support your discussion.Limited vs. Full Atonement: Leviticus outlines a sacrificial system requiring continual offerings. How does this foreshadow the sufficiency and finality of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, according to the Reformed doctrine of Limited Atonement? Discuss the concept of Christ's sacrifice atoning for the elect only, contrasted with a universal atonement view. Find support from scripture passages like John 10:11-15, Romans 8:28-30, and Ephesians 1:3-14.

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PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William...Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.comBeyond a single word: While "propitiation" holds significance, how does it relate to other aspects of salvation like redemption, justification, and reconciliation? How does understanding these concepts together provide a broader picture of Jesus' work? Beyond consequences: Unpacking God's anger: Romans 3:23 mentions God's wrath, while Ortlund says God's anger "shows how serious His love is." How can we understand these seemingly contradictory statements? Explore the biblical concept of God's anger and how it relates to his love and justice. Beyond Wrath: Understanding God's Anger: Raymond Ortlund, Jr. says, "God's anger shows how serious His love is." How does this statement challenge our traditional understanding of God's anger? How can we reconcile the concept of a loving God with His righteous judgment? Divine love and anger: Raymond Ortlund Jr. connects God's love and anger. How can we reconcile these seemingly contradictory attributes? How does understanding God's perfect justice and holiness help us grasp the seriousness of sin and the necessity of propitiation? 2. More than appeasement: Unveiling the depths of propitiation: The word "propitiation" goes beyond calming anger. What does it truly mean in the context of Jesus' sacrifice? How does it differ from simply appeasing or satisfying a demand? From offense to reconciliation: Romans 3:23 speaks of our "falling short" of God's glory. How does propitiation address this problem of sin and pave the way for reconciliation between God and humanity? 3. Offense and atonement: How much did we offend God? Romans 3:23 states "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." How does understanding the gravity of our offense deepen our appreciation for the magnitude of Christ's sacrifice? 3. Bloodshed and Sacrifice: The concept of propitiation often involves the shedding of blood. How do Old Testament sacrifices foreshadow Christ's sacrifice on the cross? What makes Jesus' sacrifice unique and ultimately sufficient? The cost of propitiation: Ortlund states that God doesn't demand our blood, but offers his own. How does contemplating the sacrifice of Jesus, God's Son, deepen our understanding of the gravity of sin and the magnitude of God's love? 4. From demand to gift: Deconstructing the blood offering: Ortlund states, "The God you have offended doesn't demand your blood; He gives His own." How does this statement challenge traditional views of sacrifice and atonement? How does it reveal the heart of God towards humanity? Propitiation and personal application: How does the concept of propitiation impact our personal lives? How does it inform our relationship with God, our sense of forgiveness, and our responsibility to share this message with others? 5. Justice and grace: Can both coexist? Some struggle with the idea of a God who demands justice yet offers grace in Jesus. How does the concept of propitiation reconcile these seemingly opposing realities? 5. More Than Appeasement: Ortlund states, "The God you have offended doesn't demand your blood; He gives His own in Christ Jesus." How does this move the concept of propitiation beyond mere appeasement of God's anger? What does it reveal about the nature of God's love and sacrifice for humanity? propitiation impact our relationship with God? How does it affect our views of sin, forgiveness, and our own responsibility? What are the practical implications for our lives? Sharing the Message: How can we effectively share the message of propitiation with others in a way that is both truthful and compassionate? How can we address potential misunderstandings or objections?

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PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-Shifflett/author/B005H0F1GGDisagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.comBeyond appeasement: Exploring "well-pleased": Both Ephesians 5:2 and Hebrews 9:26 mention God being "well-pleased" with Christ's offering. What does this go beyond simply appeasing God's anger? How does it relate to concepts like divine love, justice, and the nature of sacrifice? Beyond appeasement: Exploring divine pleasure: Both Ephesians 5:2 and Hebrews 9:26 describe Jesus' sacrifice as a "sweet-smelling savor" to God. How does this concept move beyond simply appeasing God's anger, and what does it reveal about the depth of God's love and delight in his Son? Sweetness and savor: Sensory imagery and deeper meaning: The language of "sweet-smelling savor" evokes sensory experiences. How does this imagery help us understand the nature of Christ's offering and its impact on God? What cultural and historical context might add depth to this imagery? Perfume and sacrifice: Historical and cultural context: In ancient cultures, offerings of sweet-smelling aromas were significant expressions of worship and devotion. How does understanding this context enrich our appreciation of Jesus' sacrifice as the ultimate offering to God? Beyond Christ's work: Our response: While the focus is on Christ's offering, how does our response to it factor in? How can our lives, choices, and actions become a "sweet-smelling savor" to God as well? The righteousness of Christ: Jonathan Edwards emphasizes God's delight in Jesus' "righteousness." How does Jesus' perfect obedience and sinlessness contribute to the "sweet-smelling savor" of his sacrifice, and what does this mean for our own pursuit of righteousness? Living sacrifices: In Romans 12:1, we are called to present ourselves as "living sacrifices" to God. How can we cultivate hearts and lives that are fragrant offerings to him, reflecting the character and love of Christ? Infinite delight: Edwards' perspective: Jonathan Edwards emphasizes God's "infinite delight" in Christ's righteousness. How does this concept challenge simplistic views of God's emotions and deepen our understanding of his love for his Son? From Christ to us: How does the concept of Jesus' sacrifice as a "sweet-smelling savor" apply to our lives as Christians? Can our own acts of love, service, and obedience also be considered offerings pleasing to God? Righteousness as the foundation: The quote highlights Christ's "righteousness" as the basis for God's delight. How does Jesus' perfect life and sacrifice fulfill God's standards of righteousness and provide a foundation for our own salvation? Beyond good works: While good works are important, what differentiates Jesus' sacrifice from our own offerings? How does his unique position and divine nature make his sacrifice infinitely valuable and the foundation of our salvation? Worship and praise: Flowing from the offering: Recognizing the sweetness of Christ's offering can lead to a deeper expression of worship and praise. How can our understanding of this concept shape our personal and communal worship practices? Gratitude and transformation: How does contemplating the "sweet-smelling savor" of Jesus' sacrifice cultivate gratitude in our hearts? How can this gratitude translate into a transformed life, one that increasingly reflects the love and holiness of the One who offered himself for us?

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Beyond the grave: The meaning of "He descended into hell": The Apostles' Creed states Jesus "descended into hell." While some interpret this literally, others understand it metaphorically. Which view aligns more closely with J.I. Packer's quote about Jesus preceding us, and why? Explore different interpretations and their theological implications.

Beyond the grave's shadow: The Apostles' Creed states Jesus "descended into hell," often interpreted as the realm of the dead. How do different theological interpretations understand this descent, and what does it signify about the state of the dead and our own hope in the afterlife, as J.I. Packer suggests?

Beyond the Creed: Scriptural basis: While the Apostles' Creed states "He descended into hell," the specific term "hell" isn't used in the Bible for this event. What biblical passages can help us understand the nature of Jesus' descent and its significance in the salvation story?

Conquering death: How does Jesus' descent bring comfort in the face of mortality? Drawing on Packer's quote, how does knowing Jesus conquered death personally affect your view of your own mortality and your preparation for the end of life? Discuss biblical passages that offer hope and assurance.

Victory in the unseen realm: Some interpretations connect Jesus' descent to conquering death and evil in the unseen realm. What biblical passages support this view, and how does it impact our understanding of Christ's victory over death?

Conquering the grave: What did Jesus "descend" into? Different interpretations exist about Jesus' descent. Did he conquer death itself, experience the realm of the departed, or something else? Explore these interpretations and consider their implications for our understanding of death and the afterlife.

Ascension: Beyond just going up: Packer describes the Ascension as "exaltation to a condition of supreme dignity and power." How does this differ from simply "going to heaven"? Explore the significance of Jesus' Ascension according to the New Testament and its impact on our understanding of his role and power.

Implications for humanity: What does Jesus' Ascension mean for believers? How does Packer's quote connect Jesus' Ascension to our lives? Explore the implications of Jesus' reign in heaven for believers on earth, including aspects like prayer, intercession, and hope for the future.

Living in light of the Ascension: How does Jesus' reign affect our daily lives? Recognizing Jesus' "supreme dignity and power," how should this reality impact our daily choices, priorities, and actions? Discuss practical ways to live in light of his reign and authority.

Implications for our lives: What practical implications does Jesus' ascension have for our daily lives? How can we live in light of his reign and authority over all things, including our challenges and choices?

From earth to heaven: Implications for our lives: How does Jesus' ascension shape our understanding of our own destiny as Christians? Does it imply a future escape from the world or a call to live differently within it, reflecting his heavenly reign?

Hope for the future: What does the ascension promise? The ascension is often linked to the future hope of resurrection and eternal life. How does understanding this connection shape our perspective on suffering, injustice, and the ultimate destiny of humanity?

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John 19:33 states that Jesus' legs were unbroken, fulfilling Psalm 34:20. And, Exodus 12:46 forbids breaking any bones of the Passover lamb. How does this link Jesus to the Passover sacrifice, and what does it tell us about the significance of this?

John Calvin connects the blood and water from Jesus' side to atonement and washing. How does this imagery align with other Biblical references to water and blood (e.g., Gen 2:7, Lev 17:11, Rev 7:14), and what message does it convey about Jesus' sacrifice?

John Calvin connects the blood and water to atonement and washing. How do these elements resonate with the Old Testament symbolism of the Passover sacrifice and the cleansing power of water in Jewish tradition? (Explores Biblical context and historical connections)

The soldier's action of piercing Jesus' side with a spear seems callous, yet John emphasizes its fulfillment of prophecy (Zechariah 12:10). How does this paradox help us understand God's sovereignty and the intersection of human agency and divine will? (Raises theological questions about free will and predestination)

Beyond symbols: Personal connection: While the blood and water hold symbolic meaning, they also represent Jesus' physical suffering. How does contemplating the physical reality of his wounds deepen our understanding of his love and sacrifice for us?

While Calvin suggests the spear wound symbolizes rejection of God's word, other interpretations link it to Zechariah 12:10 and John's own testimony (John 19:35). How can these different perspectives be reconciled, and what unique insights do they offer into the significance of the event?

Calvin describes the spear wound as a response to "obstinate contempt of His Word." How might this connect to the historical context of Jesus' rejection and the ongoing struggle between faith and unbelief? (Engages with historical and spiritual applications)

The blood and water also evoke imagery of baptism. How does this link Jesus' sacrifice on the cross to the sacrament of baptism and the concept of new birth in Christ? (Connects Scripture to another sacrament and its spiritual significance)

Water of life, wellspring of grace: John 7:38 speaks of "rivers of living water" flowing from those who believe in Jesus. How does the water flowing from Jesus' side foreshadow the Holy Spirit's work in the lives of believers, and how can we tap into this wellspring of grace?

Some interpretations suggest the blood and water represent distinct spiritual realities (e.g., sacraments, the church). What are the strengths and weaknesses of such interpretations and what are some alternative ways to understand the symbolism within historical and theological context?

The study title mentions being "near the cross." How does contemplating the physical details of Jesus' suffering, like the piercing of His side, deepen our emotional and spiritual connection to His sacrifice? (Encourages personal reflection and application)

Blood and water: Sacramental connection: Throughout church history, water and wine have been used in sacraments like baptism and communion. How do these practices connect to the symbolism of blood and water in John 19:33, and how can they deepen our understanding and appreciation of Jesus' sacrifice?

Drawing near the cross: Personal reflection: Considering today's discussion, what does it mean for you personally to "draw near the cross"? How can contemplating Jesus' suffering and the symbolism of blood and water transform your relationship with him and your commitment to following him?

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PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-Shifflett/author/B005H0F1GGDisagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.comLuke 23:46 - Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Again we see Jesus quoting Scripture and the Scripture is from the Psalms. It's Psalm 31 verse 5. Do Jesus’s words show that He was in total control of the situation? “None of us can die this way.” It's almost like Jesus decides when He's going to commit His spirit to God. The Romans don't decide when He dies, the Jews don't decide when He dies; He decides when He dies. He decides when He gives His spirit to God. Can we simply dismiss our spirits as Jesus did? 1 Peter 2:21- For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. Is Jesus showing Christians how to die? Do we learn from Jesus’s words that there is life beyond the grave? “Jesus committed His spirit to God.” How is this spirit different from the Holy Spirit? Is this how the saints of all ages have died? Does Jesus teach us to commend our souls in death, not just in life? “Jesus was strengthened His spirit by clinging to the promises of God.” Jesus did that His whole life, didn’t He? Shouldn’t Christians be doing the same? “If you do not do it now, how will you ever find strength to do it when you come to die?” Our Savior was doing something that was literally marvelous for us on the cross. Receive it by faith in Him.

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PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William...Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.comDeuteronomy 21:23 - his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance. Galatians 3:13 - Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” When most people speak today of the idea of curse, what do we think of? Is everyone that fails to keep God’s law cursed? Are we justified by the law? Jews executed by stoning, why is this significant? “Just as the scapegoat was driven outside the camp, outside of the Holy City where the presence of God was concentrated, so Jesus was sent into the outer darkness.” On the cross, was Jesus forsaken by the Father and sent into the outer darkness, away from the merciful presence of God? “The sign of the new covenant was circumcision.” “The rite had two meanings, a positive and negative.” What are the meanings? Many have died on a cross, but did anyone else receive the full measure of the curse of God? “It is finished.” What was over, His life, the pain of the nails? What does it mean to us that the curse is over?

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PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-Shifflett/author/B005H0F1GGDisagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.comMatthew 27:46 - And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” “Even in His agony Jesus was still praying.” When life strikes Jesus, in His humanity, the hardest what comes out of Him is what is in Him. It is the Word of God. When someone suffers, do you find out what is on the inside of them? What can Christians learn from this? Is Jesus’ cry, a cry of unbelief? Do Christians need to feel the weight of Jesus’s suffering? “Jesus did not just feel forsaken He was forsaken.” Jesus did not cry out “My God, My God, why do I feel forsaken by You?” Jesus was forsaken. As a sinner, is that my only hope to be saved? Is it a serious sin to diminish the sufferings of Christ in any way? “God the Father could not bear to look at the sin or His Son.” Does God hide His face from the one He forsakes? “God did not let Jesus rot in the grave.” Matthew Henry writes: “Christ, by dying, has taken out the sting of death. He has made atonement for sin; he has obtained remission of it. Death may hiss therefore, but it cannot hurt.” “God will forsake sinners, but He will not forsake you if you will come and meet Jesus Christ at the cross. How does someone meet Jesus Christ at the cross?

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.comPASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William...John 19:28 - After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” Jesus was dying, He was hot and thirsty. Are food and water luxuries? Food and water are necessities, not luxuries; if we don’t eat or drink, we will die. And so it is in the spiritual realm: Is Jesus a luxury? Jesus Christ is not some luxury; He is a necessity. Without Him, our spirits will die. “Spiritually speaking, if God is not at the center of our souls, then we do not have that which can ultimately meet our thirst and quench it. The real danger of that thirst is eternal death in hell.” Luke 16:19-31 - The Rich Man and Lazarus – Tell us how the rich man’s heart is revealed. “The water he seeks will not fill his soul and not satisfy him.” John 4:13-14 - Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” What is the secret of satisfaction? “In the whole passion account we never once hear Jesus complaining about any of the physical torture and agony into which He was placed.” When Jesus says, “I am thirsty”, do you think He means physical thirst? John 7:37-38 – On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Is water an image of spiritual abundance? Exodus 17:5-6 - And the Lord said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 1 Corinthians 10:4 - and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Is it a stretch to say this was a glorious illustration of our salvation? First Corinthians 10:11 says, “All these things happened to them as examples.” Isaiah 53:4 says, “Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.” Did that rock picture the Lord Jesus Christ, the Rock of Ages, stricken for us? Jesus, the Rock of Ages, was smitten for us. And because Jesus was smitten for us, out of His side came forth water. He was stricken and smitten, that we might be refreshed.

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.comPASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William...Hebrews 2:14-15 - Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. “Have you ever been filled with a sense of amazement and wonder at the drama of the cross? - the drama, the conflict, the fight?” “As we look at the cross, why do we see all this feeling, why all this hatred? There is only one explanation. It is the devil that is fighting. It is the devil in these men and women.” “The world was very pleased with itself, as it looked upon Him there dying upon the cross. That is why they laugh. That is why they are joking. At last they had got Him, they had nailed Him, they had killed Him. They thought He was finished. - Was He?” Colossians 2:13-15 - And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him. “The devil has no power of his own.” What does he mean by this? “The moment we are out of touch with God, we are the devil’s helpless tools. And that is the position of the entire human race.” “Christ defeated our ultimate enemy, the devil, the one who originally brought man and the universe down.” Was it the devil that brought us down or Adam’s sin? 1 John 3:8-9 - Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. To bring us to glory and to destroy the works of the devil. That is the object of our Lord's coming, correct? Also, sanctification? I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God. You see that you present your bodies a living sacrifice. On the cross, Jesus ruined Satan’s kingdom, and now Satan has no power or authority over us. So, Jesus destroyed the destroyer.

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Matthew 27:46 - And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Psalm 22:1 - My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?

Hebrews 5:7-8 - In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save him from death, and He was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.

In prophecy the supplications here intended are called his “roaring:”

Psalms 22:1-3, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from דִּבְרֵי שַׁאֲתִי ,” “the words of my roaring?” “Rugitus,” the proper cry of a lion, is κραυγὴ ἰσχυρά , “clamor validus,” “a strong and vehement outcry.” And it is used to express such a vehemency in supplications as cannot be compressed or confined. For it is not merely the outward noise, but the inward earnest intension and engagement of heart and soul, with the greatness and depth of the occasion of them, that is principally intended.

We may consider the same matter as related in story by the evangelists. The prayers intended are those which he offered to God during his passion, both in the garden and on the cross. The first are declared Luke 22:44, “And being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was as drops of blood falling on the earth.” The inward frame is here declared, which our apostle shadows out by the external expressions and signs of it, in “strong cries and tears.” ᾿Εν ἀγωνίᾳ γενόμενος , “constitutus in agonia.”

Psalms 22:15, “I am poured out like water;” that is, ‘my blood is so, by an emanation from all parts of my body, descending to the ground.’

In what sense were His prayers heard if He was praying that He be saved from death?

His outward sufferings were indeed grievous; but yet, considered merely as such, they were, as to mere sense of pain, beneath what sundry of His martyrs have been called to undergo for his name’s sake. And yet we know that many, yea, through the power of his grace in them, the most of them who have so suffered for him in all ages, have cheerfully, joyfully, and without the least consternation of spirit, undergone the exquisite tortures whereby they have given up themselves unto death for Him. And shall we imagine that the Son of God, who had advantages for his supportment and consolation infinitely above what they had any interest in, should be given up to this dreadful, trembling conflict, wherein His whole nature was almost dissolved, out of a mere apprehension of those corporeal sufferings which were coming on him? Was it the forethought of them only, and that as such, which dispelled the present sense of divine love and satisfaction from the indissoluble union of his person, that they should not influence his mind with refreshments and consolation? God forbid we should have such mean thoughts of what he was, of what he did, of what he suffered. There were other causes of these things, as we shall see immediately.

That he learned obedience by what he suffered;

Was Jesus 'delivered from his fear' or 'delivered because he had fear' of God?

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Luke 23:34 - And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Was the whole point of the incarnation forgiveness? It was the very thing Jesus was dying for. It was what He was praying for. And it is what He exemplified in His death. Again, He gave us an example we are solemnly charged to follow.

Why did He pray, “Father, forgive them,” when in the past He had simply forgiven sinners Himself (cf. Luke 7:48)? Hadn’t He already shown that “the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Matthew 9:6)?

Whom Christ was praying for? Was it the Jews who had conspired to sentence Him to death? The Roman soldiers who actually nailed Him to the cross, then gambled for His clothing? The mocking crowd who taunted Him? The answer must be all of the above, and more.

Extended Forgiveness - In a sense, is every pardoned sinner who ever lived an answer to Christ’s prayer? Since our guilt put Him on the cross in the first place, we bear responsibility for His death just as surely as those who actually drove the nails through His hands and feet. Is the forgiveness He extended on the cross to those who put Him to death the same forgiveness He extends to sinners today?

We who have experienced such forgiveness have a solemn duty to extend a similar mercy to others as well (Ephesians 4:32).

Can we look at this scene on the cross and understand the depth of His passion, then justify our own unwillingness to forgive our neighbor?

Should we show mercy even as we have received mercy (cf. Matthew 18:21–35)?

Is forgiving enemies, and to beg forgiveness for them, the true character of the Christian spirit?

May the Lord grant us grace to follow in His steps of mercy!

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Matthew 27:27-44 - Jesus Is Mocked

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

Let us observe in the first place, the extent and reality of our Lord's sufferings.

“Jesus had a real human body, was it a body exactly like our own, just as sensitive, just as vulnerable, just as capable of feeling intense pain?“

Our Lord, we must remember, had already passed a night without sleep, and endured excessive fatigue. They spit upon Him. They smote Him on the head. And finally they led Him out of the city, to a place called Golgotha, and there crucified Him between two thieves.

What was a crucifixion? How can we realize it and understand its misery?

Let us meditate frequently on these things. Let us often read over the story of Christ's cross and passion. Let us remember, not least, that all these horrible sufferings were borne without a murmur. No word of impatience crossed our Lord's lips. To the very last, Satan found nothing in Him. (John 14:30-31.) I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here. Was Christ in His death, as He was in His life, perfect?

Let us observe, in the second place, that all our Lord Jesus Christ's sufferings were vicarious. He suffered not for His own sins, but for ours. He was eminently our substitute in all His passion.

Was He scourged? It was that "through His stripes we might be healed."

Was he condemned, though innocent? It was that we might be acquitted though guilty.

Did He wear a crown of thorns? It was that we might wear the crown of glory.

Was He stripped of His clothing? It was that we might be clothed in everlasting righteousness.

Was he mocked and reviled? It was that we might be honored and blessed.

Was He reckoned a malefactor, and numbered among transgressors? It was that we might be reckoned innocent, and justified from all sin.

Was he declared unable to save Himself? It was that He might be able to save others to the uttermost.

Did He die at last, and that the most painful and disgraceful of deaths? It was that we might live for evermore and be exalted to the highest glory.

Let us ponder these things well. Are they are worth remembering? Is the key to peace a right understanding of the vicarious sufferings of Christ?

Last, but not least, let us ever learn from the story of the passion, to hate sin with a great hatred. Sin was the cause of all our Savior's suffering. Our sins platted the crown of thorns. Our sins drove the nails into His hands and feet. On account of our sins His blood was shed. Surely the thought of Christ crucified should make us loathe all sin. Well says the Homily of the Passion, "Let this image of Christ crucified be always printed in our hearts. Let it stir us up to the hatred of sin, and provoke our minds to the earnest love of Almighty God."

Is the Christian life a life of only love?

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Isaiah 53:7 - He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,

yet he opened not His mouth;

like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,

and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,

so he opened not His mouth.

How was Jesus’ response at His trials and crucifixion different from ordinary human nature?

It was crass coldhearted sin that judged Jesus guilty and brought Him to the cross.

Jesus never protested or sought to justify Himself. He was silent in the face of His accusers.

We are not saying that he never uttered one word at any point in any of His trials. Matthew 26:63 - But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

When we read these scriptures, we wonder (why Jesus did not say something to vindicate Himself?). Why was our dear Savior so silent?

Is a part of the punishment for sin, shame?

He opened not His mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.” Pilate said, “Why don’t You say something? Don’t You hear what these people are accusing You of? Why don’t You say something? If You’re the Son of God, tell us! Speak!” But He doesn’t say a word. Boy, when I read that, I say, “Jesus, tell them who You are. Do something, don’t just stand there, don’t just take it. Why don’t You turn Pilate into a frog? You could do it if You wanted to.”

Why doesn’t He do that? Because, friend, the purpose of the cross is substitution, and along with our sin comes shame. You see, Jesus could not have justified Himself without condemning me. I mean, Jesus could not have said, “Well, I’m here, but it’s really not My sin I’m suffering for, it’s Adrian’s sin.” Then He would have been the hero. But He did not die as a hero. He died as a criminal. He died as a thief. He died as an ignoble, no good. And the Bible said in Isaiah 53 verse 4, “We did esteem Him, smitten, stricken of God and afflicted,” saying, “Good enough for Him. He’s getting what He deserves!”

He died in shame, hanging naked on a cross for you! It’s amazing you have to beg people to come forward sometime to confess their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ when He did that for you. Do you think there are some Christians that at times act like they are ashamed of Him?

The Bible says in Romans 10:11, “When we believe on Him we will not be ashamed.” The Apostle Paul said in Romans 1:16, “I‘m not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it’s the power of God unto salvation.” Ashamed of Jesus, and can it be? Ashamed of that One who died for us upon the cross?

He took our shame and by God’s grace and for God’s glory, I’ll never be ashamed of Jesus Christ. I hope you’re never ashamed of the Lord Jesus Christ. I hope you’re not ashamed to carry your Bible. Hope you’re not ashamed to bow your head in a restaurant and pray. I hope you’re not ashamed to witness. I hope you’re not ashamed to get up in that baptistery and be baptized as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, who upon that cross took your sin and He took your shame.

If Jesus had protested and proclaimed His innocence, would that have left us guilty?

They accused Jesus of blasphemy, lying, sedition, and many of things, but the Savior answered not a word. This is the amazing silence of the Lamb.

“Christ went more willingly to the cross than we do to the throne of grace.” ― Thomas Watson

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Matthew 26:67 - Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him,

Observe that these men, the priests, and scribes, and elders, and their servitors, did this shameful deed after they had heard our Lord say, “Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” Why did what Jesus say upset them so much? The high priest was supposed to be the head of everything good. Are there those that some look to today as religious, that are spitting in His face?

This spitting shows us, first, how far sin will go. If we want proof of the depravity of the heart of man, I will not point you to the stews of Sodom and Gomorrah, nor will I take you to the places where blood is shed in streams by wretches like to Herod and men of that sort. No, the clearest proof that man is utterly fallen, and that the natural heart is enmity against God, is seen in the fact that they did spit in Christ’s face, did falsely accuse him, and condemn him, and lead him out as a malefactor, and hang him up as a felon that he might die upon the cross. Why, what evil had Jesus done? What was there in his whole life that should give them occasion to spit in his face?

He had healed their sick, he had fed their hungry, he had been among them a very fountain of blessing up and down Judaea and Samaria; and yet, “then did they spit in his face.” How could He bear this spitting when, with one glance of his eye, had he been but angry, the flame might have slain them, and withered them all up?

There are still some who spit in Christ’s face by denying his Godhead. They say, “He is a mere man; a good man, it is true, but only a man;” Would a good man claim to be God if He were not God?

They also do the same who rail at his gospel. There are many, in these days, who seem as if they cannot be happy unless they are tearing the gospel to pieces.

Wherefore judge yourselves in this matter, and if ye have ever denied Christ’s Deity, or if ye have ever assailed his atoning sacrifice, it might truly have been said of you, “Then did they spit in his face.”

Further, this evil is also done when men prefer their own righteousness to the righteousness of Christ. There are some who say, “We do not need pardon, we do not want to be justified by faith in Christ, we are good enough already,”

The same thing is, oh! so sadly true when anyone forsakes the profession of being a follower of Christ.

Yet, alas! how many are thus still spitting in Christ’s face? Perhaps some now present are doing it.

What, then, if they also spit in mine?

for as he was put to such terrible shame, everyone who has been redeemed with his precious blood ought to count it an honour to be a partaker of the shame, if by any means we may screen him from being further despised and rejected of men.

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Matthew 26:47-56 - While He was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize Him.” 49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed Him. 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and He will at once send Me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. 56 But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled. From the beginning, Jesus knew Judas was the one who would give Him up. Still, Jesus taught him the ways of God; he modeled for him the way of humility. Judas heard Jesus’ call to love God and neighbor; he watched as Jesus had compassion on the sick, poor and hungry. How could Judas not see that this is indeed the Christ of God? Have you ever felt completely betrayed, has someone you trusted thrown you under the bus? Betrayal, rejection, abandonment hurt deeply. Do we have a Saviour that knows the pain that we suffer? Many had seen him teaching in the temple; they knew he was a man of peace, a teacher with authority. Such a man would be easy for temple guards to overpower and take into custody. So why the mob; why wait until the dead of night? “Jesus was conscious that God’s plan was being worked out and nobody, not Peter, not Judas, not the mob, nor anyone else was going to keep that plan from being fulfilled.” “Jesus is going to the cross because He has chosen to go to the cross.” Was the cross plan B? Matthew 26:56 But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled. When the moment of truth came, not even Peter was bold enough to stay with Jesus. Is it easy for us to overestimate our own faithfulness? “If the actions of the disciples in v56 teach us anything, they teach us not to trust in ourselves, but to wholly lean on Jesus.”

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.comPASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William...John 18:1- When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. In one garden, there was the greatest fall. In the other garden the greatest victory. Romans 5:18 - Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. Two gardens, two Adams. The first Adam said, “Not your will be done, but mine.” The second Adam said, “Yet not what I will, but what you will.”. Are there more contrasts between the two gardens? “The understanding of what the sacrifice meant, caused our Lord to break out in a bloody sweat.” Are we seeing Christ’s humanness in Gethsemane? Is Christ’s humanity different than ours in that His grief and weakness is never mixed with sin? Hebrews 5:7-10 - In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. What does “He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” mean? John 10:17-18 - For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.” Was Gethsemane the doorway of Calvary? What is the importance of Gethsemane? Is there any sin not died for at Calvary? Is there any sin which Jesus' shed blood did not cover? “We could not have paid for our own sins even if we were punished for them for all eternity.”SHOW LESS

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.comPASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-Shifflett/author/B005H0F1GGMatthew 26:39 - And going a little farther He fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” In Gethsemane, Jesus comes to the moment when He must drink that cup. The hour had come. The full horrors of sin and guilt are now presented to Him. He is under the shadow of the cross. He wrestles with this. He wrestles in prayer so intense that He fell upon His face on the ground and sweat great drops of blood. What is this cup? Do Christians have an appropriate fear of the wrath of God? Has sin blinded us, so we do not see what sin deserves? “What Jesus recoils from here is not an anticipation of the physical pain associated with crucifixion. Rather it’s a pain infinitely greater – the agony of being abandoned by His Father.” --- Was there something greater to Him in this, something greater even than the dread of God’s holy wrath? He had come to do the will of the Father. Was it for this purpose that Jesus came into the world? Psalm 116:13 - I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, “Today you and I find ourselves with another cup in our hands. It’s the cup of salvation.” God’s holy eye still sees the vileness of our sin, yet in Christ there is no condemnation. Romans 8:31-37 - What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.comPASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William...Isaiah 53:10 - Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush Him; He has put Him to grief; when His soul makes an offering for guilt, He shall see his offspring; He shall prolong His days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. “Jesus, the beloved and precious to the Father, is about to be destroyed at the hands of God.” Is it as if Isaiah himself was an eyewitness to Jesus’ death even though he lived centuries before our Lord went to the cross? Romans 8:32 - He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? 2 Corinthians 5:21 - For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. Does God’s perfect justice demand some form of atonement for sin? Which is more accurate: “God sacrificed Himself to Himself to save us from Himself” or “Jesus, God in the flesh, sacrificed Himself to pay the penalty we deserve for our sins, thereby saving us from ourselves.”? God cannot die. A human being can die. Is that why Jesus had to be born a man? “There is no story in all human history like this. There is no notion in all religions of the world that comes close to touching this.” Are we capable of saving ourselves? Proverbs 17:15 says, “He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.” How can it be just for God to accept the death of His innocent Son as the payment for the sins of the guilty? Our sin and guilt were imputed to Christ. “It wasn’t that Jesus simply stepped up and sad, ‘I’ll do this for you.’ It is that Jesus became the very embodiment of all that sin is.” If we focus just on Jesus’ life but not His death, do we miss why He really came? Is this the amazing story of the mercy, grace, and love of God? Hebrews 2:3- how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?

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He Set His Face to Go to Jerusalem – John Piper

Luke 9:51 - When the days drew near for Him to be taken up, He set his face to go to Jerusalem.

Luke 19:37-38 - As He was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of His disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

“The long-awaited Messiah had come, the King of Israel, and not just of Israel but of all the earth. Jerusalem would be His capital city. From here he would rule the world in peace and righteousness. What a day this was!”

Should we rejoice like this on Palm Sunday?

The book of Revelation pictures the final fulfillment of Palm Sunday in the age to come like this:

I looked and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!" (Revelation 7:9, 10)

Is our worship in this age a rehearsal for the age to come?

“Had Jesus taken His throne on that first day of palms, none of us would ever be robed in white or waving palms of praise in the age to come. There had to be the cross, and that is what the disciples had not yet understood.”

Does a misunderstanding of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem result in a misunderstanding of the meaning of discipleship?

“Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem is our journey, and if He set His face to go there and die, we must set our face to die with Him.”

Is Jesus' Journey the Journey of the majority of modern-day Christians?

Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me”. To follow Christ, must we be crucified?

Jesus paid a great cost, is there a great cost to be His disciple?

Jesus is resolved to go to Jerusalem, can you know the real Jesus without seeing the cross and seeing Him emerge from the empty tomb?

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.comPASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-Shifflett/author/B005H0F1GGTrue Contemplation of the Cross – Martin Luther Hebrews 12:2-3 - looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. “The true contemplation is that in which the heart is crushed and the conscience smitten.” A fascination with the miraculous Do you think that those who seek miracles are interested in what the miracles point to? "A wicked generation seeks for signs," Jesus said, followed by Paul's reminder that his fellow Jews were so busy looking for miraculous wonders that they stumbled over the Gospel of Christ crucified. Did His disciples understand Him when He said He must suffer and die? A fascination with moralism Is Jesus merely an example of how we should live? Jesus told the Pharisees that despite their devotion to the Scriptures, they did not really understand what they were reading, since he (Jesus) is the point of all of Scripture. Is it possible to go to hell by striving to go to heaven? A fascination with the mysterious Do you think there is a fascination with the mysteriousness of spiritual things, such as “end times”? Should we be content to know God as He has graciously manifested Himself in the written Word? “The more you ponder, the deeper you will tremble.” “If you are so hardened that you do not tremble, then you have reason to tremble.” “The whole value of the meditation of the suffering of Christ lies in this, that man should come to the knowledge of himself and sink and tremble.” How valuable is a human soul? “What should it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what should a man give in exchange for his soul?”Jesus,God,Holy Spirit,devotional,Easter,resurrection,contemplation,jerusalem,innocent,crushed,cup,gethsemane,betrayed,denied,deserted,spit,lamb,silence,suffer,forgive,cries,tears,destroy,devil,thirsty,forsaken,cursed,commit,spirit,blood,water,decended,ascended,savor,sweet-smelling,peace,power,suffering,crucified,crucify,Christ,reformed,Martin Luther,John Calvin,church,christian,worship,devotion,Bible,Scripture,prayer,service,death,saved,life,eternal,heaven,hell,calvinism

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PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-Shifflett/author/B005H0F1GG

Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross

A collection of readings on the Cross and resurrection

Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross is a collection of 25 short readings drawn from the works of classic and contemporary theologians and Bible teachers that will lead readers into thoughtful contemplation of the cross. The short meditations are drawn from a number of sources including books, other writings, and sermonic materials from: C. J. Mahaney, Adrian Rogers, Phillip Ryken, John Owen, Stephen Olford, Skip Ryan, Martin Luther, John Piper, Tim Keller, Martin Lloyd-Jones, Ligon Duncan, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, Saint Augustine, J. I. Packer, John Calvin, Alistair Begg, John MacArthur, Ray Ortlund, Jr., Francis Shaeffer, J.C. Ryle, James Boice, R.C. Sproul, R. Kent Hughes, and Joni Eareckson Tada.

Deeper than shallow “inspirational” thoughts, and more scripture-based and theologically sound than other “spiritual” guides available, each essay expounds on a particular aspect of the Cross and Resurrection and includes the appropriate scripture passage from the ESV.

TABLE OF CONTENTS WITH QUOTES

Martin Luther: True Contemplation of the Cross

“The whole value of the meditation of the suffering of Christ lies in this, that man should come to the knowledge of himself and sink and tremble. If you are so hardened that you do not tremble, then you have reason to tremble.”

John Piper: He Set His Face to Go to Jerusalem

“When Jesus set his face to walk the Calvary road, he was not merely taking our place; he was setting our pattern.”

Alistair Begg: An Innocent Man Crushed by God

“It wasn’t that Jesus simply stepped up and said “I’ll do this for you.” It is that Jesus became the very embodiment of all that sin is.”

C. J. Mahaney: The Cup

“What Jesus recoils from here is not an anticipation of the physical pain associated with crucifixion. Rather it’s a pain infinitely greater—the agony of being abandoned by His Father.”

R. Kent Hughes: Gethsemene

“The intensity of his agony and his sovereign resolve to bear it, his control over his captors, his protection of his own, his grace to the wounded, all proved he is an omniscient, all-powerful God.”

Ligon Duncan: Betrayed, Denied, Deserted

“Jesus was conscious that God’s plan was being worked out and nobody, not Peter, not Judas, not the mob, nor anyone else was going to keep that plan from being fulfilled.”

Charles Spurgeon: Spit in His Face

“The clearest proof that man is utterly fallen, and that the natural heart is enmity against God, is seen in the fact that they did spit in Christ's face.”

Adrian Rogers: The Silence of the Lamb

“Jesus held back any words that would have relieved Him from the shame and blame of sin. He was not a sinner, but He took fully the sinner’s place.”

J.C. Ryle: The Sufferings of Christ

“Our sins twisted the crown of thorns; our sins drove the nails into his hands and feet; on account of our sins his blood was shed. Surely the thought of Christ crucified should make us loathe all sin.”

John MacArthur: Father, Forgive Them

John Owen: With Loud Cries and Tears

Martin Lloyd-Jones: That He Might Destroy the Works of the Devil

Skip Ryan: I Am Thirsty

Phillip Ryken: God-Forsaken

R.C. Sproul: Cursed

James Boice: Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit

John Calvin: Blood & Water

J.I Packer: He Descended into Hell and Ascended into Heaven

Jonathan Edwards: A Sweet-Smelling Savor to God

Ray Ortlund, Jr.: The Most Important Word in the Universe

Francis Shaeffer: Resurrection Preview

Saint Augustine: Peace Be Unto You

Tim Keller: Knowing the Power of His Resurrection

Joni Eareckson Tada: Knowing the Fellowship of His Sufferings

Stephen Olford: Crucified with Christ

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What more do they need to believe and understand than the teenager who was converted last Sunday morning on his first visit to the church?

“Every heretic has his text.”?

Creeds Reflect the Ministerial Authority of the Church.

“Creeds are corporate documents which are authored and owned by corporate churches.”

“As Protestants, we are of course naturally wary of any kind of claims for church authority that would place the church over Scripture or exhibit any tendencies we associate with Roman Catholicism.”

“Instant gratification.” “Many of us are inclined to believe that if something does not make sense the first time we look at it, it - and not we - must be wrong.”

“Respect for the authority of the church and respect for the creeds and confessions that churches adopt must become an important part of our Christian lives if we are to be truly biblical.”

Creeds Represent the Maximum Doctrinal Competence That Can Be Expected from a Congregation.

“Many countries have laws that its citizens know will be broken.” “Laws set before us a vision of the kind of society we would like to see realized.”

“Creeds send a signal to the congregation about what the church considers to be important.”

“If a church has a six-point creed she essentially communicates to her people that these six things, and only these, are important.”

We would not want to exclude from membership the educationally challenged?

“The church should not send a signal to the congregation that members should simply be satisfied with a basic, mere Christianity.” God expects us to grow.

“Thus, the questions ministers need to ask themselves are: What vision do we wish to give our people, from the most recent convert to the long-established church member?

Is a creed a stick with which to beat people with?

“This should also lead us to be wary of the role parachurch organizations play in the Christian life. They are to serve the church not vice versa.”

“They can be a helpful and encouraging activity but should not supplant the absolute priority of the local church.”

Creeds Relativize the Present.

“If something has proved significant over the centuries, one can have a reasonable degree of confidence that it is of importance to more than just this day and generation.”

“Creeds speak to issues that the church has found important for generations.”

Is confessional revision always a possibility?

Do the creeds connect us to the past and indicate that our identity is rooted in that past?

Is this kind of counterculturalism important?

Creeds Help to Define One Church in Relation to Another.

Church members are able to point others to a succinct summary of the church’s position on key doctrines.

“It is convenient, honest, and transparent. It leaves nobody in any doubt about what the church is and what she teaches.”

Creeds Are Necessary for Maintaining Corporate Unity.

“We live in an age that fears exclusion.” “Churches have often been part of the problem, not the solution.” Brought about phrases like “love unites, doctrine divides” and “belonging before believing”.

Does the Bible characterizes deviation from true doctrine as divisive?

“Not all who cry “Lord, Lord” have a real saving knowledge of God.” Is exclusion necessary in the church?

“Creeds establish boundaries of belonging and exclusion. Both are necessary if the church is to have a meaningful corporate identity and unity.”

Can creeds cause Church discipline to be necessary?

“More often, unity will manifest itself with the congregation reciting (and rejoicing in) the words of the creeds on Sunday mornings.”

Conclusion.

“Each of the above points is grounded in the apostle Paul’s concern for the health of the church through her careful stewardship of God’s truth, and the handing of that down from generation to generation.”

May God help us to be faithful stewards of His truth.

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Creeds Offer Succinct and Thorough Summaries of the Faith.

Is there anything that offers a more thorough summary of the faith than the historic creeds and confessions?

Two related aspects of using historical creeds:

First, creeds focus the church’s mind on the main things.

Longevity. Why is this important?

Is it unlikely for a church that holds to a historic creed to become sidetracked by the issues of the passing moment?

Does it help to focus instead on the great theological categories that touch on matters of eternal significance?

Second, the succinctness of creeds.

“Today we have the woeful influence of things like Wikipedia in leading some to think that all important knowledge can be swiftly grasped in short sentences and after a few minutes of cursory reading.”

“Would one really want to have a church confession that said nothing about the doctrine of Scripture, the doctrine of God, the nature of justification and sanctification, the definition of the church, and so on?”

“A church confession needs a level of complexity in order for each of its doctrines to be stable and to function correctly.“

Does the history of doctrine in the church give ample witness to this fact?

Creeds Allow for Appropriate Discrimination between Members & Office-bearers.

Should laypeople be required to subscribe to a church's doctrinal standards in the same way as an elder or deacon?

“Typically, Presbyterians set the bar for full communicant church membership very low: a simple but publicly coherent profession of faith in the line of Romans 10:9-10 is sufficient.”

Qualifications of teachers:

1 Timothy 1:1-7 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

To Timothy, my true child in the faith:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

“the careful communication of the faith in a manner that focuses on the straight forward teaching of the gospel.” “maturity and discernment”

“He is also to make sure that his ambition is to teach, not to be a teacher.” What is the difference?

So, in order to teach, the teacher is to have a certain competence in doctrine that does not typically mark the church member.

Is the ability to teach nonnegotiable?

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com“Two important aspects of pastors: doctrinal competence and authority. That the two are linked is crucial.” Doctrinal competence without authority. What are the consequences of this? Authority without doctrinal competence. Same question. “In order to establish church power within appropriate limits, several things need to be in place:” First, there needs to be a clear understanding of what the church is. It’s stated purpose. Are some church’s purpose confusing to people? Second, there needs to be a statement of the church’s beliefs; a creed or confession of faith. Would this confession describe the message which the church is to preach? Would it limit the church’s power to what is contained within that document? Third, there needs to be a set of procedures that articulate and define how the confession of faith is to be practically applied within the congregation. Paul had to address issues of the abuse of church power. Galatians 5:12-13, the teaching that the Galatians need to be circumcised. “The NT church’s power is delimited by the Gospel.” “We see a similar situation in Colossians 2:16 - Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. Was this connected to a dictatorial church eldership? In these contexts, could confessions be helpful? How else could we create a church community where what is regarded as normal belief and practice is publicly stated in such a fashion: that it expresses biblical teaching, can be challenged and tested in the light of Scripture, and allows both elders and laypeople to know exactly where they stand in relationship to each other? Does a creed or confession guarantee that abuse of power will not take place?

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“In this last chapter I want to conclude by listing a series of further advantages that the church can enjoy if she gives creeds their proper place in her daily life.”

All Churches & All Christians Have Creeds and Confessions.

“No church or Christian simply believes the Bible.” What is a Bible believing church?

When asked by a friend what the Bible teaches, how do we usually answer them? (we all try to offer a summary of what the Bible says.)

When we reflect on how we read the Bible, does what we think as a whole shape how we understand individual verses, chapters, & books?

“Paul gives an imperative for the church and her leadership: the stable transmission of the gospel from one generation to another.” How do creeds fulfill this vital role?

“Some say they have no creed, but they just will not write it down and allow you to look at it and scrutinize it in the light of Scripture.” Why do you think this is true?

“A confession is not enough. The church also needs mechanisms to ensure that, on the one hand, the confession does not become an unassailable idol and, on the other hand, that it is not subject to arbitrary wild interpretation.” Become a mere ritual.

How can a creed become an idol?

“Imagine a church that has “no creed but the Bible”, where the minister one week is convinced that baptism should be restricted to only professing believers and the next week changes his mind and thinks babies can be baptized too. Can he be held to account?”

“If he thinks the Bible teaches Pelagianism one Sunday and Calvinism the next, who is to contradict him and how could they do so?”

Confessions Delimit (sets boundaries) the Power of the Church.

“Creeds serve to delimit the power of the church and of her officer-bearers.”

“This is possibly one of the most important functions confessional documents can fulfill.”

Why is this true?

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We now live in another point of John’s vision. V17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

How does the dragon “make war on the rest of her offspring”? As we look around, is he winning?

Another look at Herod’s response:

We can yield to Him

We can resist Him and try to destroy Him.

Another Prophecy Fulfilled

Matthew 2:17-18 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

“A voice was heard in Ramah,

weeping and loud lamentation,

Rachel weeping for her children;

she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

What did Matthew mean by saying the the words of Jeremiah 31:15 were fulfilled?

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Is Matthew assuming that our minds and memories will run on to the new covenant promise?

“There is hope.”

“These verses remind us of how cruel live can be, and with what unexplained tragedies so many have to live.”

How can Christians spread the comfort of the good news of salvation in Christ?

Safe to go Home?

Matthew 2:19-22 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.”

And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee.

Christmas can be a time of joy and stress, is this a description of life in general?

In His earthly life would Jesus ever be free of the Herod family?

Is there a parallel between the Herod’s and the long conflict of the seed of the serpent and the Seed of the woman?

“People say, Christmas is for children.”

How do we give our children an example of love for Jesus this Christmas?

Jesus the Nazarene

Matthew 2:23 - And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

How did living in Nazareth fulfil the expectation of the prophets?

Can anything good come out of Nazareth?

Isaiah 53:2

“The suffering servant.” “The cross was the destiny of this newborn infant.”

Is this the watermark on every page of the gospel story?

Is Christmas the “Dawn of Redeeming Grace”?

There is nothing more important than welcoming Jesus as Joseph did.

There is no journey more significant than to go in search of Christ like the wise men.

There is no fellowship more wonderful than to bow with them before Immanuel.

Galatians 4:4-7 - But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Is this the greatest gift of Christmas?

With humility, Christ came to sacrifice Himself to save us in our sin when we had no hope of redemption.

And let’s remember what we owe to Him: our full devotion and allegiance as Lord over our time, our talents, our treasures, our testimony, and our entire lives in word and deed.

O come let us adore Him,

Jesus Christ our Lord!

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.comMatthew 2:13-23Long JourneysFor many of us, Christmas is a time for making long journeys.Timeline.1.Joseph and Mary journey to Bethlehem.2.Jesus is born.3.Shepherds from the fields come to see Him.4.A week later Jesus is circumcised and officially name.5.A few weeks later a visit to Jerusalem takes place for Mary’s purification.6.They return to Bethlehem and find a house to stay.7.The wise men arrive.Do you agree with this timeline?Luke 2:34-35 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”How do these verses apply to the Christmas story?“The wise men and the parents shared one thing in common: knowing Jesus means taking up the cross and following Him.” Do you agree?For Mary and Joseph, could life ever be the same?“Each of the people gave Jesus all they had.”How can Christians apply this to our current lives?Out of EgyptMatthew 2:13-14 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to EgyptIs Matthew’s point to evoke pity for this little family or to shame governments into doing more for today’s refugees?How easily do we sometimes miss the point?Matthew 2:15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”Are there echoes of the story told in Genesis and Exodus?Was Jesus taken into Egypt simply for His own safety?Is the Christmas story all about salvation?The Child PogromMatthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Does this part of the Christmas story leave a bad taste in our mouth?If we skipped this part, would we be missing something that Matthew wants to tell?“This was the opening of a war that would be waged against our Lord for the rest of His life.”Revelation 12:1-5 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne,

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3.A hostility that manifests itself often in an antagonism to Christ, His people, the lifestyle He taught, and the exclusive claims He made about Himself. Realize that He is the promised Saviour and King - but seek to destroy Him like Herod.”

Can You Trust a Herod?

John 2:23-25 - Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs that He was doing. But Jesus on His part did not entrust Himself to them, because He knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

“A non-trusting Jesus?”

Should growing Christians develop that kind of spiritual discernment?

Matthew 2:7-9a -Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way.

They trusted Herod.

During the Christmas season is it easy to be fooled that all around us is sweetness and light?

Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper wrote: “If once the curtain were pulled back, and the spiritual world behind it came to view, it would expose to our spiritual vision a struggle so intense, so convulsive, sweeping everything within it’s range, that the fiercest battle ever fought on earth would seem, by comparison, a mere game.”

So, our King has enemies, and therefore so do we.

Following a Star

Matthew 2:9-10 - After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

What are we to make of this star?

3 views:

1.It may have been a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn.

2.It was a comet.

3.It was a nova or super nova.

Was it one of these or, a supernatural phenomenon created by God exclusively for the occasion?

Was the star all they needed to find Christ? God indeed reveal Himself in the world, but we need His revelation?

Finding Christ

Matthew 2:11 - And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

First the wise men saw the star, then they saw Herod the Great and the Scripture, then they saw the star again and followed it.

“they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him.”

Is the way this is worded significant?

Isaiah 9:6-7

Do you think Matthew’s words would remind 1st century Jews of these verses? It is significant that it is being seen through the magi’s Gentile eyes?

When they saw Christ they recognized Him as King and fell down and worshiped Him. Is this a good description of conversion?

Was it God’s providence that drew them to Christ?

A Divine Warning

Matthew 2:12

Does God warn us today about anything we should avoid returning to?

20 facts about the Magi, pages 114-115.

“From Matthew’s perspective, the Lord’s hand had clearly been on these men from the very beginning of the story. God worked out His purposes through an unusual providence in the magi’s ordinary working lives combined with an inner personal compulsion to respond to it. And over a period of the He brought them to Christ.”

“We can trace a pattern.” An awakening, then a drawing, then a discovering, and then worshiping.

Is this the way God works in the lives of His children?

God knows exactly what is needed to bring us to trust in the Lord Jesus.

Come to Christ.

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Wise Men from the East

Matthew 2:1-2 - Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Who were these “wise men”?

How did they know that a king of the Jews had been born and why did they go to worship Him?

What possessed them to make the wearisome journey?

How did this star make such an impact on their lives?

Numbers 24:17 - I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob,

and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.

Daniel 7:13-14 - “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.

And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

Could the “wise men” been able to put these verses together?

Listening to some TV preachers, I must ask, Is Christ’s role to give us all our wants and desires?

“Something compelled them. Or Someone. John Calvin called it “a secret instinct of the Holy Spirit”.

Knowing parts of the Bible is one thing; responding to them is another.”

Should Christians be able to look back and see God’s hand at work in their lives?

A Dangerous Turning

Verse 1 tells us Jesus was born in Bethlehem, was the wise men’s final destination the palace of Herod the Great?

Sometimes we seek God’s will and make wise decisions, but is it easy for Christians to stumble off God’s path?

Matthew 2:3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;.

Who was Herod the Great?

Why was all of Jerusalem trouble by the news of the wise men?

Human wisdom tells us a king should be born in a palace, but what does divine wisdom tell us?

Will God’s plans ever be dis-railed by our missteps?

1 Corinthians 1:18-21 - For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

Do we sometimes confuse our self-assurance with God’s wisdom?

Are we prone to forget that our Saviour was poor and lowly, meek and gentle?

Knowing Without Going

Matthew 2:3-4 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

Herod and these men possessed something that the wise men lacked, what was it?

Matthew 2:5-6

They had the scriptures but, “They lacked what the wise men had - the desire to find Him”.

John 5:39-40

Is it possible to know the Bible well and yet be deaf to it’s message?

“During this season we are perhaps in more danger than other times of saying the right things with our lips without really engaging our hearts.”

Herod’s reaction was to destroy Him.

“There are 3 responses to the good news of Jesus Christ.

1.A hunger to hear more; Learn about Him and seek Him - as the wise men.

2.An indifference that passes itself off as sophistication; Know about Him but be indifferent to Him - like the Jewish scholars.

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Are dream revelations normal and frequent in Scripture?

Should we beware of people who claim that God regularly reveals Himself to them through dreams or by angel visits?

Joseph needed to be sure that he was doing God’s will and not just his own. How can we do the same?

“TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY”?

“For Joseph it was not fear of marriage but a fear of God.” Do you agree?

Is the fear of God a mark of grace?

What does fearing God mean?

Matthew 1:21 - She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

“Jesus birth was not supernatural, His conception in the womb of a virgin was.”

Was this the mark or sign of a new beginning?

How much did Joseph understand about what was happening?

Was Joseph challenged to receive and welcome Jesus the Saviour and devote the rest of his life to Him?

Is this costly and can it be overwhelming at times?

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Matthew 1:21 - She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.

There is no one named Jesus in the genealogy of Matthew 1:1-17. God chose the name of His Son. Why is this important?

“Jesus in not only a name; it is who He is.”

What does it mean when we say, “Jesus the Christ”?

Has this changed?

Philippians 2:9-11 - Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The OT - “ISAIAH HATH FORETOLD HIM”

Matthew 1:22-23 - All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us).

Does this verse explain exactly who Jesus is?

Is God’s timing perfect?

God works in our humanity, Mary was passive not active, she couldn’t do it on her own. Can we save ourselves, or is it all of God?

Is this what Christmas is all about?

THE WAY OF OBEDIENCE

Matthew 1:24 - When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,

“Joseph heard the word of God; he believed the word of God; and he obeyed the word of God, whatever the cost may be.” - How should this fit into a Christian’s celebration of the birth of Christ?

“To us Joseph seems a silent man. He appears only once in the Gospels outside of the birth narratives. … But he is a wonderful illustration of John Newton’s hymn:

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved.” Your thoughts?

“Joseph was the man God chose and prepared to protect and nurture his incarnate Son.”

Is Joseph unimportant in the Christmas story?

JOSEPH’S RESTRAINT

Matthew 1:24-25 - When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. “he knew her not”.

“It is a physical way of communication our total devotion and lifelong commitment.”

Did God create sex to be simply a satisfaction of our own desires?

Was there anything wrong with Joseph and Mary having normal sexual relations?

Is “there is nothing wrong with it, so I going to do it” a Biblical principle?

How can we live wisely, for the glory of God and for the blessing of others?

We should ask: Is it helpful? Will it enslave me? How will it affect others? Does it edify?

Did Jesus live to please Himself?

Lord transform us more and more into your likeness.

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A VIRGIN CONCEPTION

Matthew 1:18 - Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

What does it mean to be “betrothed”? Was it more than an engagement?

“she was found to be with child” Was Joseph “okay” with this?

“the man God uses he first bruises” & “When Christ comes, He turns lives upside down and inside out. He changes everything.”

How does this apply to Joseph and how does it apply to all Christians?

Does the Lord bring us low, to use us for His purpose?

Can this pattern be found throughout Scripture?

We find all we need in Him.

A WAKING NIGHTMARE

Matthew 1:19 - And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

What does it mean when it says, “Joseph, being a just man”?

In Joseph’s eyes had Mary committed a capital offence?

Why did Joseph not act in haste?

Was God restraining him from acting?

How do we know God’s will? Flavel page 39.

DREAM ANGEL

Matthew 1:20 - But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Was the “dream angel visit” meant to reassure Joseph that God was continuing to reveal Himself to His people?

Did God do this in a way that prevented Joseph from thinking he had worked it out for himself?

Joseph knew the Scriptures, should he have been expecting Jesus the Messiah?

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2.“The Hopes and Fears of All the Years”.

“Matthew is cramming almost 2000 years of Bible history into 16 verses and 42 generations are listed.”

Matthew divides the names into 3 groups of 14 generations each:

Abraham to David, David to the Babylonian exile, and from the exile to Christ.

We see 14 three times, is Matthew trying to tell us something?

Are numbers important in the Bible?

Are they symbolic?

Do we need to be careful not to read too much into number?

There were times in Israel’s history when God seemed to have forgotten His promises.

What application can modern day Christian’s get from this?

“Matthew is painting on the large canvas of history a picture of God’s sovereignty and faithfulness.”

Do you think most Christians believe in God’s sovereignty? Why is it important?

3.Cherchez la Femme? (Look for the woman).

“When it comes to the genealogy of Jesus, look for the woman is good advice.”

Some women may feel slighted by Christianity. Would you explain why they shouldn’t be?

Tamar (1:3)

She gave birth to the twin sons of her father-in-law, Judah. (Genesis 38)

Rahab (1:5)

She was a Jericho prostitute. ((Joshua 2)

Ruth ((1:5)

She was a Moabite. (Moabites were barred from the congregation of Israel Deut. 23:3)

The wife of Uriah the Hittite (1:6 Bathsheba)

She committed adultery with David.

What do these women have in common?

“Matthew gives us hints to 3 important biblical principles.”

God extends His grace beyond the chosen people of Israel and brings Gentile into His covenant.

Matthew 28:18-20 - And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Did Christ die for all or for only the elect?

God over comes the effects of sin and shame as He works out His purposes.

Hebrews 2:17 - Therefore He had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 4:15-16 - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 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.

We often hear people say, “You have no idea what I’m going through”. Is there anything that we can experience that Christ cannot comfort us with?

God keeps His promises in ways we could never anticipate.

Psalm 139:11-12 - 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.

Who is like the Lord our God?

Strong to save faithful in love

My debt is paid, and the victory won

The Lord is my salvation.

Glory be to God, the Father

Glory be to God, the Son

Glory be to God, the Spirit

The Lord is our Salvation.

Christmas is a time of new beginnings.

God is sovereign.

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. - 1 Timothy 1:15

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Dr Ferguson begins his introduction by saying “time is relative”.This is a phrase that we hear often, what does it mean and how does it apply to Christmas?He also mentions a verse from Charles Wesley’s hymn, Hark the Herald Angels Sing:“Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of the Virgin’s womb.”.Late in time, did Jesus come late?Dr Ferguson spends time looking at Matthew’s account of the birth of Jesus. We join him in reflecting on the prologue to the greatest story of all - the story of Jesus Christ.1.In the Beginning - Matthew 1:1-17“The first words of a book are important.” Why is this true?“The opening section of Matthew isn’t exactly an attention-grabber for most of us.”It was for the 1st century Jew, why so?“Literally they read, “Book of the genesis of Jesus Christ, son of David, Son of God”.How is the birth of Jesus a new beginning?Each of the four gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—paints a unique portrait of Jesus. They show us the same Jesus but portray Him from different perspectives.“Matthew’s Gospel has sometimes been described as ‘The Gospel of the Kingdom’”.Why is it described that way, and what Kingdom is it describing?Matthew 28:18-20 - “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”Is Jesus ruling now, or is will He rule after He returns?The list of names are important because of the 3 ways in which Matthew describes Jesus.Jesus is the Christ (1:1, 16, 17, 18).Genesis 3:15 - I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”Jesus is the son of David (1:1).2 Samuel 7:12-13Jesus is the son of Abraham (1:1).Genesis 12:1-3 -2.“The Hopes and Fears of All the Years”.“Matthew is cramming almost 2000 years of Bible history into 16 verses and 42 generations are listed.”Matthew divides the names into 3 groups of 14 generations each:Abraham to David, David to the Babylonian exile, and from the exile to Christ.We see 14 three times, is Matthew trying to tell us something?There were times in Israel’s history when God seemed to have forgotten His promises. What application can modern day Christian’s get from this?“Matthew is painting on the large canvas of history a picture of God’s sovereignty and faithfulness.”Do you think most Christians believe in God’s sovereignty? Why is it important?3.Cherchez la Femme? (Look for the woman).“When it comes to the genealogy of Jesus, look for the woman is good advice.”Some women may feel slighted by Christianity. Would you explain why they shouldn’t be?Tamar (1:3)She gave birth to the twin sons of her father-in-law, Judah. (Genesis 38)Rahab (1:5)She was a Jericho prostitute. ((Joshua 2)Ruth ((1:5)She was a Moabite. (Moabites were barred from the congregation of Israel Deut. 23:3)The wife of Uriah the Hittite (1:6 Bathsheba)She committed adultery with David.What do these women have in common?“Matthew gives us hints to 3 important biblical principles.”God extends His grace beyond the chosen people of Israel and brings Gentile into His covenant.Matthew 28:18-20Did Christ die for all or for only the elect?God over comes the effects of sin and shame as He works out His purposes.Hebrews 2:17Hebrews 4:15-16We often hear people say, “You have no idea what I’m going through”. Is there anything that we can experience that Christ cannot comfort us with?God keeps His promises in ways we could never anticipate.Christmas is a time of new beginnings. God is sovereign. t. - 1 Timothy 1:15

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.comCreeds Liturgy and FormalismDo you think some churches simply go through the motions of praise without ever actually engaging their hearts and their minds?“spontaneous” Why do you think some feel the need to be “spontaneous”?“The only real point of difference between churches on this issue is the level of self-consciousness and explicit formality with which they are held.” Explain?Does the lack of a stated form mean that the same basic routine is not followed, week in, week out?Where would one go in the NT to find “being spontaneous” as being a hallmark of genuine Christian worship?”“It often appears that people use the term spontaneous to refer to nontraditional liturgical structures.” … “where nobody but the worship leader is entirely sure how many times the chorus is repeated”All are pre-planned using set forms of some kind, the content is fixed in advance of the service.Does our society put great stock in the idea that what makes us who we are is our individual self-creation and self-determination? “consumerism.”Should our faith be the faith of the other people in the church, both today and throughout the ages?“If reciting the creeds become formalism, it is not the fault of the creeds themselves.”Are creeds merely a tool for achieving a desired end?The Threefold Aspect of Creedal DoxologyCreeds Offer a Corporate Summary of the Bible’s TeachingIs one of your complaints the theological and biblical illiteracy of congregants compared to previous generations?“Two short Bible readings and one thirty minute sermon each Sunday will not solve the problem.” How should churches address such a lack?“As the congregation recites the creeds each week they are reminded of the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith.”Does a person who knows the creed have a potentially profound grasp of theology?Can and should Catechisms be used in preaching or as part of the worship service?Creeds Are CounterculturalIs the recitation of a creed in a worship service one of the most counter-cultural things that Christians can do?Is worship is meant to be counter-cultural?“seeker-sensitive services” “offering both traditional and contemporary services” “cultural conformity”1 Corinthians 14:23-25 - If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.Is there any evidence here of any attempt to make the unbeliever comfortable? “It is the difference that the unbeliever finds so striking.”How do these challenge the world:The public reading of God’s Word?Singing praises to God?Corporate reading of a creed? “As soon as the congregation says, We believe in one God …”Aren’t creeds a devastating blow against cultural conformity?The church looks to Christ, not the world.Creeds Ascribe to God What Belongs to Him and Him Alone.“The nature of us as fallen human beings is to forget who God is, and to remake Him in our own image.” How true is that?Why does God tell us to “not forsake assembling together”?Is worship: giving to God what is His?Why would a church that uses songs that are written beforehand and sung in unison object to reciting a creed?Simply a judgement based on taste. Pleasing ourselves rather attempting to please God.Conclusion.“I would argue that if one takes Scripture seriously and sees it as regulating both the form, content, and purpose of Christian praise, then it is hard to see why creedal material should not be included in a worship service.”Next chapter: On The Usefulness of Creeds and Confessions.

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com“The development of Trinitarian and christological discussion was driven in part by the need to give a coherent account of the worship cry ‘Jesus is Lord’.” … Were the Trinitarian controversies heated debates about the nature of Christian worship and Christian belonging? “Thus, the Trinitarian controversies of the early centuries are nothing if not heated debates about the nature of Christian worship and the nature of Christian belonging.”“The separation of doctrine and Christian experience was, arguably, a species of liberalism, in which human religious psychology is definitive of Christianity.” Do you agree?“Yet we must remember that liberalism is not primarily a rejection of the supernatural; it is a reconfiguration of the nature of Christianity in such a way as to highlight religious psychology or experience and downplay or marginalize doctrine.” Do you agree?Does the identity of God form the content of how we praise Him?“The identity of whom we praise actually informs the content of how we praise Him.”“The identity of God is foundation to, and constitutive of, the content and forms of biblical revelation and that is foundational to, and formative of, the Christian response in praise and worship.”“This point cannot be stressed enough with regard to doxology: the identity of God has priority over the content of Christian praise.” What does this mean and why it is true?Does a faulty understanding of God and how to respond to Him lead to praise that inadequate in both it’s motivation and it’s expression?In reciting the creeds, is the purpose to simply declare a set of biblical truths? “They are expressing their common belief with every other Christian throughout history who has used these words to witness to Christ.” “The creeds, in liturgical context, become a means of fulfilling the public declaration that Romans 10 demands of believers.” How and why is this true?The Creeds and Trinitarian Worship“Is the Trinity the result of infighting churchmen in the early centuries and not something that connects to modern life?Is the Christian life Trinitarian by its very nature.”Is the Church as a body Trinitarian.”Is Baptism Trinitarian.”Is the Trinity a doctrine that both shapes our worship and pervades our worship?Is simply reciting the creed enough?“it needs to be connected to clear teaching.”“Christians should expect worship to always be a learning experience.” Do you think modern day Christians look at worship in this way?“The creeds take a few minutes to memorize and recite but a lifetime to master.”

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; ⁠http://www.biblebulldog.comEx. 17:6 “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.So in Exodus 17, Moses obeyed God by striking the rock, but in Numbers 20 Moses disobeyed God by striking the rock instead of speaking to it. The incident in Numbers 20 was the second time Moses struck the rock, the first time being in Exodus 17. Therefore, we teach that Moses was punished for striking the rock twice in the sense of striking it Numbers 20 and in Exodus 17, not in the sense of striking it two times in Numbers 20. New Testament Scripture in 1Corinthians teaches that the rock in the desert was intended by God to be a picture of His Son, Jesus Christ:1Cor. 10:1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea;1Cor. 10:2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;1Cor. 10:3 and all ate the same spiritual food;1Cor. 10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.The tabernacle teaches about JesusFirst and foremost the tabernacle is a picture and type of that which takes the place of pre-eminence in the Bible - and that is the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is the true fulfillment of this structure. As the amplified Bible brings out; ' And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.' The tabernacle teaches about presence and holiness of GodWe read above that God said that the tabernacle was constructed so that 'I may dwell among them'. God wanted to be in the midst of His people... but His people were sinful and at times that is being kind!. How could He dwell with them? The tabernacle taught God's desire for fellowship along with His pure holiness (while thankfully also showing us the way into His presence).The tabernacle teaches about the plan of salvation The earthly tabernacle pictures salvation. This is true of what it cost Jesus to provide the means of salvation and also of the steps necessary for those who want to be saved. Concerning the former, Jesus had to fulfil His role as the High Priest of the New Covenant, entering into the Heavenly tabernacle as the book of Hebrews teaches: Hebrews 9:11-12, 24 ' When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption... For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence.' The tabernacle teaches about the the dispensations and ages in the plan of God The tabernacle teaches about God's plan concerning the different ages or dispensations in His dealings with man. Each of the three distinct areas (the outer court, the Holy place, the Holy of Holies) represents a different dispensation and the objects found within each area are true to that age.

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.comConfession as praise. “For Paul, doctrine and doxology are not separated.” Philippians 2:6-11 - who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.Should Christians separate doctrine and doxology?“This is both descriptive and prescriptive.” How is it descriptive and how is it prescriptive?… “It is a superb example of what it enjoins: theological confession as doxology”.1 Timothy 3:14-16 - I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world,taken up in glory.Is there any difference between doctrine and doxology here? Do our creeds and confessions arise out of a desire to praise God?1 Timothy 1:15-17 - The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. “This is a remarkable example of how doctrine, personal testimony, and praise can be wonderfully intertwined in the words spoken by a Christian.” I have heard people say, “your personal testimony is not the gospel” is this true?Polemic - How is praise polemic? “Praise is rooted in the identity of God. It is thus always going to be polemical in a fallen world that flees God and prostrates itself before idols.”Theology - “doctrine or dogma is part of the very essence of Christianity.” … Is Believing is the means of belonging?Doxology - “Christian believing and belonging are two sides of the same coin” … Is praise that expresses the content of our belief the means by which our belonging is given publicly?Early Creeds and Christian PraiseIs the worship aspect of creeds evident in the early church?Didache 9. The prayer of thanksgiving after the meal. Page 140“This is magnificent theology” Did church doxology develop along with doctrinal statements in the early church?“Doctrinal statement and doxology are corresponding developments within the church and we must not lose sight of the latter in our reflections upon the former.”

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; ⁠http://www.biblebulldog.com1 Corinthians 5:7-8 - Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51) “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) “I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7,9) “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25)“I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11, 14) “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) “I am the true vine.” (John 15:1, 5)Exodus 12The PassoverThe Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2 “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. 3 Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household. 4 And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, 6 and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.7 “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 8 They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. 10 And you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. 11 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.21 Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. 22 Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. 23 For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you. 24 You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever. 25 And when you come to the land that the Lord will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service. 26 And when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ 27 you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.’” And the people bowed their heads and worshiped.

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com“It is easy even for those who delight in creeds to forget that doxology or praise is a vital aspect of their function.” Do you think most Christian’s think of creeds as a form of praise?“Christian theology as a whole is one long extended reflection upon the meaning and significance of that most basic doxological declaration, ‘Jesus is Lord’.” … ”If we fail to make this connection, then our appreciation of the creeds and confessions will be dramatically impoverished as, I would argue, will be our understanding of Christian worship itself.” Why is this true?“The term ‘Jesus’ carries with it a vast amount of implicit doctrinal content.” Can anyone talk about Jesus without using doctrine?“The basic worship cry ’Jesus is Lord’ is in itself a confession in the sense that it is both a public declaration of praise and a public declaration of doctrinal commitment.” Does this statement sum up the Christian life and the church’s worship?The Bible and Confessional PraiseRomans 10:9-10 - because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.Why is “with the mouth one confesses” significant? Can’t we just believe in our heart?A public act.“The confessing to which Paul refers is is a public act, and such public acts of confession serve a variety of purposes.Confessing before the world.Why should Christians confess before the world?Confessing within the church.How and why do Christian confess within the church?

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.comThe Westminster Larger Catechism:

Are the Westminster less pastoral than the Heidelberg catechism?

No confessional or catechism stands by itself; it is part of an ecclesiastical way of life, one element of our lives as Christians.

“Confessions are far more than a set of dry propositions that never touch real life and experience.”

Larger - “chapter 15.5 ‘Men ought not to content themselves with a general repentance but it is every man’s duty to repent of his particular sins, particularly.’” “Condemning by implication the lazy tendency that we can have as Christians to repent in general terms and let that be sufficient.

Confessionalism is not simply about abstract doctrine; confessions also bind one to certain practices, certain ways of life. Christianity as a set of beliefs or a way of life.

What is the Westminster Larger Catechism, and why was it included in the Westminster Standards?

How does the Westminster Larger Catechism reflect the theological beliefs of the Presbyterian tradition, particularly with regard to the nature of salvation and the role of faith?

What was the historical context in which the Westminster Larger Catechism was written, and how did this context shape its contents?

What is the significance of the Westminster Larger Catechism for modern Presbyterian theology, and how does it continue to shape Presbyterian understanding of salvation and faith?

The Westminster Shorter Catechism:

What is the Westminster Shorter Catechism, and why was it included in the Westminster Standards?

How does the Westminster Shorter Catechism reflect the theological beliefs of the Presbyterian tradition, particularly with regard to the nature of God and the role of humans in the world?

What was the historical context in which the Westminster Shorter Catechism was written, and how did this context shape its contents?

What is the significance of the Westminster Shorter Catechism for modern Presbyterian theology, and how does it continue to shape Presbyterian understanding of God and humanity?

Conclusion.

Classic orthodox Protestantism has a rich confessional heritage.

All stand within the basic Trinitarian and christological framework laid out in the early church creedal formulations.

There is a remarkable degree of consensus on the basics of salvation.

There are differences. Lords supper, baptism,

What we have today in confessional evangelical circles is an eclectic pick ‘n’ mix approach.

Holding to some or all 5 points of Calvinism does not make one confessional.

Confessions are only really confessions when they are adopted and confessed by a church.

Thus, to say that one is a confessional Christian requires that one also specify to which confession one adheres and in what specific church context one does so.

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What doth the word “Amen” signify?

“Amen” signifies it shall truly and certainly be, for my prayer is more assuredly heard of God than I feel in my heart that I desire these things of Him.

Assurance of our faith.

What is the Heidelberg Catechism, and why was it included in The Three Forms of Unity?

How does the Heidelberg Catechism reflect the theological beliefs of the Reformed tradition, particularly with regard to the nature of salvation and the role of faith?

What was the historical context in which the Heidelberg Catechism was written, and how did this context shape its contents?

How does the Heidelberg Catechism differ from other Protestant catechisms, particularly those of the Lutheran tradition, in terms of its theological emphases?

What is the significance of the Heidelberg Catechism for modern Reformed theology, and how does it continue to shape Reformed understanding of salvation and faith?

The Canons of Dort (1619)

What are the Canons of Dort, and why were they included in The Three Forms of Unity?

A direct response to the Five Remonstrant Articles of 1610, set forth by the followers of Jacob Arminius. - Conditional election, universal atonement, a modified understanding of depravity, and the resistibility of grace, along with an article that questioned perseverance.

How do the Canons of Dort reflect the theological beliefs of the Reformed tradition, particularly with regard to the doctrine of predestination and the nature of sin and grace?

The Canons of Dordt responded by asserting total depravity, unconditional election, particular redemption (“limited atonement”), irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints.

“The Canons were thus not intended as anything approaching a comprehensive statement of Christian doctrine.”

What was the historical context in which the Canons of Dort were written, and how did this context shape their contents?

How do the Canons of Dort differ from other Protestant confessions, particularly those of the Lutheran tradition, in terms of their theological emphases?

What is the significance of the Canons of Dort for modern Reformed theology, and how do they continue to shape Reformed understanding of predestination and grace?

“Anybody who thinks that Protestant confessionalism is a hard, dry creed needs to read the Heidelberg Catechism. Only the willfully stupid or deluded could possibly dismiss such a document.”

The Westminster Standards.

The Westminster Standards is a collective name for the documents drawn up by the Westminster Assembly (1643–49). These include the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the Westminster Larger Catechism, the Directory of Public Worship, and the Form of Church Government,[1] and represent the doctrine and church polity of 17th-century English and Scottish Presbyterianism. The Westminster Confession of Faith and Larger and Shorter Catechism have been adopted as doctrinal standards by a number of Reformed and Presbyterian Christian denominations, but not the Church of Scotland nor those derived directly from it.

What are the Westminster Standards, and why were they written?

The standards indicate that the authors were men of acute pastoral insight.

How do the Westminster Standards reflect the theological beliefs of the Protestant Reformation, particularly those of the Presbyterian tradition? Westminster has a much stricter view of the fourth commandment when compared to the Heidelberg Catechism.

In what ways do the Westminster Standards demonstrate the importance of theological precision and the use of creeds in the modern church?

What is the structure of the Westminster Standards, and how does this structure contribute to their usefulness as a confessional document?

The Westminster Confession of Faith:

gard to the doctrine of God and the nature of salvation?

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The Three Forms of Unity.

The Three Forms of Unity is a collective name for the 'Belgic' Confession of Faith, the Canons of Dort, and the Heidelberg Catechism, which are accepted as official statements of doctrine by many of the Reformed churches, including the URCNA.

What are The Three Forms of Unity, and why were they written?

“Part of the reformation that looks to the continental Reformation (as opposed to the Anglo-Scottish Reformation).” Modern day Belgium and the Netherlands (Dutch).

How do The Three Forms of Unity reflect the theological beliefs of the Protestant Reformation, particularly those of the Reformed tradition?

In what ways do The Three Forms of Unity demonstrate the importance of theological precision and the use of creeds in the modern church?

What is the structure of The Three Forms of Unity, and how does this structure contribute to its usefulness as a confessional document?

How does The Three Forms of Unity differ from other Protestant confessions, such as the Westminster Confession or The Book of Concord, in terms of its theological emphases and historical context?

The Belgic Confession: (1561)

What is the Belgic Confession, and why was it included in The Three Forms of Unity?

“In Article 9 it accepts the teaching of the Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian creeds.” Why is this important? “Holding fast to sound words.”

How does the Belgic Confession reflect the theological beliefs of the Reformed tradition, particularly with regard to the doctrine of God and the nature of salvation?

“And this holy church is preserved by God against the rage of the whole world, even though for a time it may appear very small in the eyes of men-as though it were completely extinguished.”

A great encouragement.

What was the historical context in which the Belgic Confession was written, and how did this context shape its contents?

What is the significance of the Belgic Confession for modern Reformed theology, and how does it continue to shape Reformed understanding of God and salvation?

The Heidelberg Catechism (1563)

“omits any direct teaching on predestination.”

“According to the introduction, the Heidelberg Catechism was to provided a basis for confessional unity, a model for training youth, and a guide to teachers and pastors to prevent them from adopting doctrinal changes at will.” Why is this important?

52 sections.

“The tone and phrasing of the first and last questions:

What is thy only comfort in life and death?

That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who, with His precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto Him.

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The Book of Concord.

The Book of Concord (1580) or Concordia (often referred to as the Lutheran Confessions) is the historic doctrinal standard of the Lutheran Church, consisting of ten credal documents recognized as authoritative in Lutheranism since the 16th century.

Martin Luther’s quirky quotes.

“May God punish you, I say, you shameless, barefaced liar, devil’s mouthpiece, who dares to spit out, before God, before all the angels, before the dear sun, before all the world, your devil’s filth.”

From Against the Roman Papacy, an Institution of the Devil, pg. 349 of Luther’s Works, Vol. 41

“For you are an excellent person, as skillful, clever, and versed in Holy Scripture as a cow in a walnut tree or a sow on a harp.”

From Against Hanswurst, pg. 219 of Luther’s Works, Vol. 41

“You are like a magician who conjures gulden into the mouths of silly people, but when they open their mouths they have horse dirt in them.”

From Against the Roman Papacy, an Institution of the Devil, pg. 264 of Luther’s Works, Vol. 41

The Book of Concord is a collection of 10 writings:

The Apostle’s Creed

The Nicene Creed

The Athanasian Creed.

The Augsburg Confession:

The Augsburg Confession is a key document of the Lutheran tradition that outlines the basic beliefs of the Lutheran Church. It was written in 1530. e Augsburg Confession consists of 28 articles that cover a range of topics. Some of the key points of the Augsburg Confession are:

Justification by faith: The Augsburg Confession emphasizes that salvation is a free gift of God that is received through faith alone.

The authority of scripture: The Augsburg Confession affirms the authority of scripture as the final authority in matters of faith and practice.

The sacraments: The Augsburg Confession affirms the importance of two sacraments, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and rejects the Catholic teaching of transubstantiation.

The priesthood of all believers: The Augsburg Confession emphasizes that all believers have direct access to God through Christ, and that there is no need for a mediator between God and humanity.

The Apology of the Augsburg Confession:

The Apology of the Augsburg Confession is a document written by Philipp Melanchthon, a German reformer, in 1531. It was written as a response to the Roman Catholic Church’s rejection of the Augsburg Confession.

The Smalcald Articles:

The Smalcald Articles are a Lutheran confession of faith that was written by Martin Luther in 1537. The Smalcald Articles were written in response to the Council of Trent.

They are a statement of faith that outlines the key beliefs of the Lutheran Church.

The Smalcald Articles affirm the Lutheran belief in salvation by grace through faith alone and reject the Catholic belief in salvation through good works

The Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope:

The Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope is a document written by Philip Melanchthon, a German reformer, in 1537.

The Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope was written to clarify the Lutheran position on the role of the Pope in the Church.

It affirms the Lutheran belief in the authority of the Bible as the sole source of Christian doctrine.

The Formula of Concord:

The Formula of Concord is a Lutheran confession of faith that was written in 1577. It was a response to divisions within the Lutheran Church and aimed to unify Lutheran beliefs and practices.

Final thought from Martin Luther:

“I’m fed up with the world, and it is fed up with me. I’m quite content with that. The world thinks that if it is only rid of me everything will be fine, and it will accomplish this. After all, it’s as I’ve often said: I’m like a ripe stool and the world is like a gigantic anus, and so we’re about to let go of each other.” (Martin Luther, Table Talk, 5537).

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Matthew interprets Joseph’s flight to Egypt with Mary, his wife, and child “until the death of Herod” by his comment: “And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called my son’ ” (Matt. 2:15, NIV). His citation is from Hosea 11:1, where the prophet recalls Israel’s exodus from Egyptian bondage by her faithful covenant God. How can Matthew turn this historical Exodus into a Messianic promise? Matthew applies here his Christian theology, which views Jesus as the promised Davidic King (1:1). He presents his typological correspondence, not as a coincidence, but as a divine intention to foreshadow a Messianic “fulfillment.” This typological interpretation of Hosea 11 originated in the Spirit-filled, or charismatic, exegesis of Matthew and can be accepted only by faith in Christ Jesus.

The understanding of Israel’s exodus from Egypt as a type of Christ fi nds its starting point in the New Testament. Matthew adds more unsuspected parallels between Jesus’ acts and Israel’s history. In particular, he presents Jesus as a corporate person who embodies Israel in his narratives of Jesus’ baptism and His “temptation” experiences in the wilderness at the beginning of His ministry (Matt. 3:13–16; 4:1–10).

For example, Jesus wanted to be baptized to demonstrate His solidarity with Israel in her need, and thus to “fulfi ll all righteousness” (3:15). At that moment He receives the anointing of the Spirit to accomplish His mission. The same Spirit directs Jesus into the desert “to be tempted by the devil” (Matt. 4:1; Luke 4:1, “full of the Holy Spirit”). Jesus resists Satan’s suggestions to manifest His Sonship (“If you are the Son of God”). He appeals three times to a central part of Israel’s Scripture, Deuteronomy 6–8 (see 6:13, 16; 8:3). This particular section of Moses’ writing is representative of the entire Torah, because it begins with the historic credo of Israel, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deut. 6:4, 5, NRSV).

This summary of Israel’s covenant bond is the heart and core of the Torah, the greatest of all the commandments. The following parts (in chaps. 6–8) describe the alluring temptations for Israel in the Promised Land. Moses calls on Israel at the end of the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness to trust and obey the Lord, stating, “Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you” (Deut. 8:5, NIV; cf. Exod. 4:22, 23). Jesus applied Moses’ farewell address to Himself: As Israel was tempted for 40 years in the wilderness, Jesus (“being led by the Spirit”) parallels this testing time by going into the desert for 40 days. Where Israel succumbed to the temptation to disregard the commandments of God (see Pss. 78 and 95), Jesus stands the test of character and true worship. His responses demonstrate that He had set His mind on loving God supremely, “even if He takes away your soul.”

Thus Jesus Himself introduced the time of the anti-types with its qualitative “newness” that exceeded the imperfect forms and limitations of the old covenant, stating, “ ‘No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. . . .Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. . . . No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved’ ” (Matt. 9:16, 17, NIV). In His redemptive ministerial deeds, Jesus realized Israel’s prophetic hope for the inauguration of the Messianic age, which surprised even John the Baptist (see Matt.11:2–6; cf. Isa. 35:5, 6; 61:1). Jesus also embodied the transition from the old to the new covenant at His last supper. Thus He dramatically demonstrated His new-covenant typology.

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Jesus is the Passover Lamb foreshadowed in the first Passover meal (Jn 1:29; 1 Cor 5:7; 1 Pet 1:18–19)

and the true Israel who journeyed to Egypt (Mt 2:15; cf. Hos 11:1).

Christ is the true covenant mediator (cf. Ex 19:16–20; Heb 8:6–13) who comes from the house of Levi (Ex 2:1) to serve as prophet (Heb 1:2) and permanent priest (Heb 7:26–27).

Israel, as the physical “kingdom of priests” and “holy nation” (19:6), is restored in the NT as the spiritual people of God (Eph 1:14; 1 Pet 2:9), the Church.

With this in mind, church ordinances are viewed in the NT as the antitype of the Israelites’ passage through the Red Sea (baptism; 1 Cor 10:1–3) and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Lord’s Supper; Lk 22:20; 1 Cor 11:23–26; cf. Ex 24:8).

The Church now travels toward the promise land (Heb 11:10) and awaits a city that has no temple (Rev 21:22).

There, Christians will sing the song of Moses (Rev 15:3–4).

Moses was hidden away in Egypt as a baby for his own protection when Pharaoh decreed that all Hebrew baby boys were to be killed.

Jesus was hidden away in Egypt as a baby for his own protection when Herod sought to kill Him.

Moses, willingly left his royal home and high position in Pharaoh’s palace for the sake of his people.

Jesus, the royal Son of God, willingly left the glory of heaven to come to earth for the sake of His people.

In due course Moses came up out of Egypt and spent 40 years in the wilderness.

In due course Jesus also came up out of Egypt. He spent 40 days in the wilderness.

Moses was the deliverer of Israel out of the bondage and slavery of Egypt. He redeemed the Israelites from their hard-taskmasters with the blood of the Passover lamb.

Jesus is the deliverer of not only Israel but also of the Gentiles. He has delivered us from our bondage and slavery to sin. He has redeemed us from our hard-taskmaster (Satan) with His very own blood.

“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

Moses interceded for the Israelites when they corrupted themselves and worshipped a golden calf. In Exodus 32:32 Moses offered his own life on behalf of the people. Such was his love for them that he was prepared to take their guilt upon himself and to die for them.

Jesus interceded for the whole of humankind, utterly corrupted and gone astray as we were. Jesus actually did lay down His life on behalf of humankind. Such is His love for us that He did take our sin and guilt upon Himself and was offered to God in our place.

Moses was mediator of the Old Covenant of Law.

Jesus Christ is mediator of the New Covenant of Grace.

“For the law was given through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17

Christ is the true Moses (Mt 5–7), The Sermon on the Mount

the true Israel (Mt 2:13–15), “and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

the true tabernacle (Jn 1:14), “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son[a] from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

the giver of true manna (Jn 6:35), “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

and the ultimate Passover Lamb (Mt 26:28). “for this is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Christ’s church is restored Israel (1 Pet 2:9). “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Pastor William Shifflett discusses PART TWO - Classical Protestant Confessions Chapter 4, The Creedal Imperative by Dr. Carl Trueman.The Anglican Articles (Confessions).What is the Anglican Church and where did it get it’s beginning?Henry VIII played a pivotal role in the formation of the Anglican Church itself. In 1534, he broke with the Roman Catholic Church and declared himself the Supreme Head of the Church of England, establishing the Church of England as a separate entity from the Roman Catholic Church.What are the Anglican Articles?The Anglican Articles are a collection of statements of faith that define the beliefs of the Anglican Church. They were first published in 1563 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and have since been an important part of Anglican theology and doctrine.What are some of the topics in the Anglican Articles?The Articles cover a wide range of topics, including the nature of God, the authority of Scripture, the sacraments, the role of the church, and the relationship between church and state. They reflect the unique history and identity of the Anglican Church, which emerged out of the English Reformation and sought to strike a balance between Catholic and Protestant traditions.What role have the Anglican Articles play in history?The Articles have played an important role in shaping Anglican theology and practice, providing a foundation for the church's liturgy, teaching, and governance. They have also been a source of controversy and debate, as different groups within the church have interpreted them in different ways over the centuries.Today, the Articles continue to be an important part of Anglican identity and serve as a guide for Anglicans around the world. They are often cited in theological discussions and debates, and remain a central part of the church's historical and theological heritage.The Book of Homilies.The Books of Homilies are authorized sermons issued in two books for use in the Church of England during the reigns of Edward VI and Elizabeth I. They were to provide for the Church a new model of simplified topical preaching as well as a theological understanding of the Reformation that had taken place in England. Thomas Cranmer broached the idea of a Book of Homilies in 1539, but it was not authorized by the Church's Convocation until 1542. Within a year the twelve homilies of the first book were collected and edited by Cranmer, who also wrote at least five of them. They were not published, however, until 1547. The first six homilies present distinctive Protestant theology, namely the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, the radical sinfulness of man, justification by faith alone (entitled "Of the Salvation of All Mankind"), evangelical faith, and sanctification. The Homilies were revoked under Queen Mary but reinstated by Elizabeth.The Book of Common Prayer.The first English Book of Common Prayer, published in 1549.In September 1548 a committee under the presidency of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, met to draft what was to become the first English Book of Common Prayer. It was authorised by the first Act of Uniformity passed on 15 January 1549 and published later that year.Following the Reformation and the translation of the Bible into vernacular languages, the plan was to make prayers available in the vernacular as well and to provide one book for all the services of the church and all occasions of life. Thus it was written in English rather than the usual Latin.The Thirty-nine Articles.The Thirty-nine Articles of Religion (commonly abbreviated as the Thirty-nine Articles or the XXXIX Articles), finalised in 1571, are the historically defining statements of doctrines and practices of the Church of England with respect to the controversies of the English Reformation.

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Pastor William Shifflett discusses PART ONE - Classical Protestant Confessions Chapter 4, The Creedal Imperative by Dr. Carl Trueman.Dr. Trueman writes about the fragmentation of the church in the 16th century. Was the primary factor for that fragmentation the Protestant Reformation?Did it also involve territorial politics?What role did the territorial politics of the time play in shaping the confessions?What was the role of the Confessions in the establishment and consolidation of territorial churches?How did the Confessions function as a means of defining and enforcing orthodoxy within Protestantism?How did the confessions and creeds of this era influence theological thought and debate? How do the Confessions reflect the tensions between individual conscience and the authority of the church?How did the development of confessions and creeds impact the unity of the church at that time?What can we learn from the dual impulses of theology and politics behind the production of Confessions?How did the Protestant confessions and creeds impact religious practices and beliefs in the 1600s and beyond?How have these confessions and creeds impacted Protestant Christianity today?

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Pastor William Shifflett discusses PART SEVEN - The Early Church - Chapter 3 The Creedal Imperative by Carl R. Truman

The Council of Chalcedon. 451 The last of the early councils which is of major relevance to modern Protestants. It effectively put into place four boundaries for future christological discussion: Christ is must be fully God; Christ must be fully human; the two natures must not be so mixed together that either disappears into the other or that a third hybrid nature is produced; and the two natures must not be separated so as to undermine the unity of the one person.

There are strong element of negative theology in Chalcedon. What is negative theology? Defining where one should not go with one’s christology. It places boundaries.

Generated new questions: If Christ is one person and two natures, how many wills does He have? As noted, each time one problem is solved, new questions are generated.

Your response to his quotes - “Indeed, Christian orthodoxy is sometimes the sum of the least number of doctrinal difficulties, complications, and strange statements with which one is prepared to live.” “Historical theology, the genealogy of doctrinal discussion and formulation, is thus an important part of Christian education and should be part of every pastor’s background. It should also be a central part of the teaching ministry in all churches.”

The Athanasian Creed. Played a significant role in the life of the church, both East and especially West. For example, it is part of the liturgy of the Book of Common Prayer.

The name implies that it was Athanasius who was behind it. Not the case, Western provenance, written in Latin by person unknown. (around 320-420).

2 contentious clauses 2 and 44: 1. Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith; 2. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. 44. This is the catholic faith, which except a man believe faithfully he cannot be saved.

“Such anathemas, fall foul of contemporary tastes.” Why is this the case? Exclusion. Boundaries are vital to the healthy, orthodox Christianity.

Like other ancient creeds, it was not dealing with trivial matters. It was dealing with the very identity of God in such a manner that denial of its affirmations placed one’s soul in serious jeopardy.

Conclusion. 1.The fact that the early church developed them in the first place. The church as whole came to the conclusion that binding creedal formulas were on way of attempting to establish public criteria for orthodoxy. Creeds are simply “forms of sound words”. 2.The early church creeds focus on the most basic building blocks of the faith. 3.They all address the very identity of God. They seek to answer the most basic question in Christian theology and in the life of every believer. 4.If you want to abolish the early church creeds, you are going to need to replace them with something straightaway. 5.The Lord has graciously provided us with a great cloud of witnesses throughout history who can help us to understand the Bible and to apply it to our present day. 6.Of course as Protestants, we do not believe that the ancient creeds say everything that a church committed to teaching the whole counsel of God needs to say to the world. For Protestants, discussion of creedalism cannot stop with Chalcedon. It must also address confessional developments in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It is to these we turn in the next chapter.

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Genesis 37-50 Joseph

Joseph is most definitely a typological fulfillment of Jesus if you just look at the details of his life.

He is the object of his father’s special love.

THE BELOVED SON (GENESIS 37:1-3)

3) THE SUFFERING SERVANT

4)THE EXALTED SOVEREIGN (GENESIS 41:38-57)

5)THE SEEKING SAVIOR (GENESIS 45:1-5)

He saves his rebellious brothers from death when they realize who he is.

a) Like Jesus, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers.

i) Genesis 45:1-3

ii) They never would have known who Joseph was had Joseph not revealed himself to them.

(1) Joseph was older, dressed like an Egyptian and spoke the Egyptian language.

iii) The only way that we will know Jesus is for Jesus to reveal Himself to us.

(1) God the Holy Spirit reveals to us that Jesus is Lord.

b) Like Jesus, Joseph forgave and restored his brothers.

i) Genesis 45:4-5

(1) In this passage, Joseph gave his brothers an invitation to come to him, and they responded and came.

(2) We have an invitation to come to Jesus today.

ii) When Joseph told his brothers to not feel badly, he was not trying to minimize their sin but to maximize God’s grace.

iii) From man’s viewpoint, Calvary was earth’s greatest tragedy; from God’s viewpoint, it was earth’s greatest triumph.

(1) Genesis 50:20

He embraces God’s purpose even though it brings him intense physical harm.

(2) When Hell was doing its worst, God was doing His best when Jesus died

upon the cross.

c) He commissioned his brothers.

i) Genesis 45:4, 9

(1) Our faith is summed up in this:

(a) “Come to me.”

(i) Matthew 11:28

(b) “Go to all the world.”

(i) Mark 16:15

ii) Joseph invited his brothers to come to him, he forgave them, he restored them, and then he commissioned them to go and tell a specific message.

(1) Genesis 45:26-27

(a) His brothers have now become evangelists.

iii) As a child of God, we have this message to share with the world:

(1) We once rejected Him.

(2) Now Jesus has been raised on high.

(3) He has been given a name that is above every name.

(4) The world is at His feet.

(5) He has forgiven our sins.

(6) He wants us to be with Him and share His glory.

iv) Joseph’s brothers preached that he was risen, rich and reigning.

(1) That is the Jesus we preach today.

6) CONCLUSION

a) The Bible is an amazing book.

i) So long ago in the first book of the Bible, God painted such a detailed portrait of the Lord Jesus Christ.

b) God wants to save us; He wants us to know Jesus.

c) As Joseph invited his brothers to come, Jesus is inviting us to come to Him.

d) What Joseph said to those who have come, Jesus is saying to us: “Go and tell others.”

Genesis 49:8-10 “Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down before you. 9 Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? 10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples

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Pastor William Shifflett discusses PART SIX - The Early Church - Chapter 3 The Creedal Imperative by Carl R. Truman

The 7 Ecumenical Councils:

The 1st Council of Nicaea.325

The Council of Constantinople.381

The 1st Council of Ephesus.431

The Council of Chalcedon.451

The 2nd Council of Constantinople,553

The 3rd Council of Constantinople,680-681

The 2nd Council of Nicaea,787

“It is not the purpose of this book to outline in detail the history of individual councils.”

The 1st Council of Nicaea. 325

Is there a more important question than the one Jesus asked His disciples: "Who do you say that I am?" (Matt. 16:15)?

The correct answer to that question is, in some respects, simple enough for a child to be saved, but also complex enough to keep theologians busy for all eternity.

A Hebrew phrase, called the “Shema,” was memorized and repeated: “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One” (Deut. 6:4). This is good and true teaching! Nevertheless, if the Lord is “One,” how does Jesus fit into the equation?

The Arian Controversy. What was the Arian Controversy? Arianism — is alive today in cults such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses. It may also be held unwittingly by Christians who have not received good teaching and believe, implicitly, that the Father is a “higher” God than the Son.

Significance of Nicaea:

The issue of the Son’s relationship with the Father.

Recent scholarship has demonstrated that Nicaea 1 did not play a significant part until the 350s.

Nicaea 1 was extremely important, provoking the church to reflect on the doctrinal content of the gospel, on the need to fashion an extra-biblical vocabulary for expressing this, and on the need for this vocabulary to be established as normative across the church.

The Council of Constantinople. 381

The complex struggles - linguistic, theological, ecclesiastical and political in the half century after Nicaea culminated in the great Council of Constantinople.

But there were still some unconvinced troublemakers. They would not bow their knees to the notion of a full incarnation of the eternally divine Son of God. They pushed the envelope further and said that Jesus was “unlike” the Father in His substance.

John 17:3 says, “And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

Tradition ascribes the Nicene Creed was actually formulated here.

Debated the nature of God existing in 3 persons and that the Holy Spirit is fully God.

The Nicene Creed enjoyed normative status as definitive of catholic orthodoxy. This remains until present day.

The creed contains considerable elaboration of the deity of the Spirit and represents a more Trinitarian description of who God is. - Wasn’t this in Baptismal formulas and the most basic liturgical actions of the church?

“If doctrine develops, does this mean that what unites us to Christ Changes over time, too?”

The 1st Council of Ephesus. 431

Creeds do not simply offer new doctrinal models and establish new vocabulary with which to solve particular issues; the also generate new problems and questions and set the terms for future debates.

How do these two substances, the divine and the human, relate to each other in Christ?

The issue at Ephesus was Nestorianism.

Nestorianism is a heresy, which will be condemned at this council in 431, which believed that the human body of Jesus, that was from Mary, but the divine Logos replaced the human soul. Nestorianism taught that Jesus was not truly human.

“This is one of the reasons why theology cannot simply be done by reading the Bible: the fine-tuning of concepts an vocabulary is a cumulative and traditionary exercise. It means one will search in vain for the terms “Trinity”, “substance”, or for that matter, “conversion experience, “personal relationship with Jesus”, “missional”, “relational”, and “no creed but the Bible!”

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Pastor William Shifflett discusses PART FIVE - The Early Church - Chapter 3 The Creedal Imperative by Carl R. Truman

The “Rule of Faith” is a summary of the essentials of Christianity that occurs in various verbal forms in the writings of numerous early church fathers.

The Apostles’ Creed. Did the apostles write it, from where did it come?

The similarities with the Rule of Faith are obvious, but there is no consensus on the literary origins of the creed. It probably has its origins in the third century. It was formalized somewhere around 800 AD.

Early catechisms used the Apostles’ Creed as the framework for teaching doctrine. Both Lutheran and the Heidelberg include it. Liberal & conservative theologians use it. Why does it have such a universal presence?

It contains the controversial and disputed clause that “Christ descended into hell”.

The basic teaching of “He descended into Hell” from - https://apostles-creed.org/interpreta...

Those in Hell will not only see God, God will be present in their torment.

They will have an ever reminder of God in plain view. Is this correct?

Preaching to the Spirits in Hell

The Roman Catechism teaches that, when Christ was dead and in the tomb, He was in Hades or Hell preaching the gospel to those who were dead prior to Christs crucifixion. The Roman Catholic Catechism states,

“The gospel was preached even to the dead.” The descent into hell brings the Gospel message of salvation to complete fulfillment. This is the last phase of Jesus’ messianic mission, a phase which is condensed in time but vast in its real significance: the spread of Christ’s redemptive work to all men of all times and all places, for all who are saved have been made sharers in the redemption.

Christ went down into the depths of death so that “the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” Jesus, “the Author of life”, by dying destroyed “him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and [delivered] all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage.” Henceforth the risen Christ holds “the keys of Death and Hades”, so that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”

The Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church #634 – 635

One section in the Bible that the writers of the Roman Catechism get this teaching from 1st Peter.

For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.

(1Pe 3:18-20 NAS)

For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

(1Pe 4:6 NAS)

Another section of the Bible that is used to support this is found in John chapter 5.

Truly, truly, I say to you, a time is coming and even now has arrived, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live… Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.

(John 5:25, 28-29)

Does this refer to the 1st or 2nd coming of Christ?

Reformed pastor Daniel R. Hyde; “the words simply express the OT prophecies of the death and resurrection of Christ.”

Dr. Trueman; “We should not abandon a clause in a creed simply because we do not understand it at first reading.”

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Docetism: derived from the Greek verb dokeō , which means “seem” or “appear”; thus, the name of the heresy points to its teaching that Jesus did not have a real physical body. Instead, He only seemed to possess physicality. His body was an illusion, something that looked real but in fact was not a part of the physical order at all.

Pastor, we see this in the Bible don’t we? 2 John 7 - For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

The Apostle John says it is false teaching to deny that Jesus Christ came “in the flesh.” He is referring to docetic teaching or at least to teaching that would later blossom into full-fledged docetism.

Gnosticism: Gnosticism was a prominent movement that grew up around the church in the second century, although it was partly of pre-Christian origin. It was a cocktail of Persian, Egyptian, Jewish, and Christian ideas, with some Greek philosophy thrown in. The word gnōsis itself is Greek and means “knowing” or “having knowledge.” “Having knowledge” is a significant part of Gnosticism. Do we see this in the Bible as well? Simon Magus is described in the book of Acts. He’s been called the first Gnostic, and according to Acts chapter 8, “he amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great.”

Gnostics can’t believe that the Son of God actually took on human flesh forever in the incarnation, because all matter is evil. So as a result, many of them argued that Jesus merely took on human form temporarily, rather like putting on a moldy smelling old coat that you can’t wait to take off as soon as you put it on. What is the biggest problem with gnosticism? The problem of course, is that Jesus’ atonement for human sin requires that He be both truly God and truly human.

Marcion: a heretic we need to know: https://reformedperspective.ca/marcion-a-heretic-we-need-to-know/

“His major distinctive was his insistence on the Christian gospel as exclusively one of love to the extent that he came to a complete rejection of the Old Testament and only a qualified acceptance of those parts of the New Testament which he considered to be consistent with his central thesis.”

Marcion sounds like he could be the minister at many churches of today.

1.Out with wrath. 2. Out with the OT. 3. Out with God’s songs.

4.-Making God unknowable. - “Ultimately, I think it will push “the God who is there” back into the realm of the unknowable and make our god a mere projection of our own psychology, and make our worship simply into group therapy sessions where we all come together to pretend we are feeling great.”

“The struggle over the tradition of apostolic teaching and the extent and content of the biblical canon were significant.” Does this struggle still exist?

Dr. Trueman - “Reformed worship places the Word at the center because the declaration of the truth of the Gospel is central. Ideally, this truth shapes the liturgical actions of the Reformed community. For example, in the church service, the minister reads the Decalogue and brings words of judgment down on God’s people, reminding them of their death in Adam. He leads them in a corporate confession of sin and then reads words from Scripture, pointing toward the promise in Christ of comfort, forgiveness, and the final resurrection to come. Fall, death, forgiveness, resurrection: The basic elements of the Christian message find concise and precise expression in Reformed liturgical practice.

The congregation responds with a hymn of praise to God for His goodness. Here, the beauty and the distinctiveness of the Reformed faith become evident. The congregation, reminded of who they are—sinners who stand before God condemned for their unrighteousness and uncleanness—receive the promise in Christ that, grasped by faith, seals forgiveness upon their hearts and moves them to praise and thanksgiving.”

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What is Christian Nationalism? with Jason Richards

An impromptu, off the cuff, discussion about Christian Nationalism with two southern gentlemen.

Jesus

God

Christian

politics

america

republican

democrat

united states

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Pastor William Shifflett discusses PART THREE - The Early Church/Church Fathers - Chapter 3 The Creedal Imperative by Carl R. Truman

Does the study of church history/fathers point us to the Roman Catholic Church?

Ignatius of Antioch:(?-98) #Ignatius

Warned the church against heresies that threatened peace and unity, opposed Gnosticism and Docetism. Is there anything more you can tell us about him?

Irenaeus:(around AD 130-202)

Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons (located in present-day France). In his work Against Heresies, Irenaeus confronts the teachings of Gnosticism, appealing to apostolic tradition as the final arbiter of truth.

Again, is there anything more you can tell us about him?

Tertullian:(155-220)

The first of the ancient church fathers to use the term Trinitas, or “Trinity,” is often credited with saying, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” Same question.

Hippolytus of Rome:(170-236)

He was the last Roman theologian to write in the language of the New Testament. And because the use of Greek died out in Rome by the mid fourth century, many of Hippolytus’ works were forgotten and even lost. Same question.

Athanasius:(296-373)

Athanasius, the fourth-century bishop of Alexandria. During the fourth century, the church was forced to deal with the Arian controversy. This controversy was named after Arius who was a well-known teacher in the church at that time. Arius denied that Jesus was eternally divine. Rather, he said that Jesus was only a god-like creature. Same question.

Augustine of Hippo:(354-430)

Augustine became bishop of Hippo in 395 and exerted an enormous influence on the church. He argued against the British monk Pelagius who denied original sin and said that a person did not need special grace in order to be saved. Augustine’s work on the Trinity became very influential in the history of Christian theology. His Confessions is one of the most important autobiographies ever written. Same question.

2.Doctrinal Content:

How important is it to keep doctrine pure, and how can it be done?

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IV.REBEKAH A TYPE OF THE “BRIDE OF CHRIST.”

THE CONCERN OF THE FATHER

Provide a bride V 4 go and bring back a bride.

Matt 2:22 The Father is seeking a bride for His Son.

Eph 1:22 - 23 the fullness of Him that filleth all in all

The church completes the Lord Jesus.

As Rebekah believed and yielded to the pleadings of Eliezer, so the Church believes and yields to the pleadings of the HOLY SPIRIT.

As Rebekah was willing to separate herself from her kinsfolk for Isaac’s sake, so the Believer is willing to separate himself from his kinsfolk for JESUS’ SAKE.

THE COMMISSION OF THE SPIRIT

A servant, a helper of God.

As Eliezer on the way to Isaac told Rebekah all about his Master Isaac, and what was in store for her, so the Holy Spirit as we journey on our earthly pilgrimage tells us what is in store for us when we shall meet our Isaac-JESUS.

THE COURTSHIP OF THE BRIDE

Chosen us before the foundation of the world.

God takes the initiative and sends the Holy Spirit

V35 Brags on Abraham and Isaac, The father is rich as the son

John 15

V58 I will go. The Holy Spirit convinces us. 1 Peter 1:8

Companion - He stayed by her side.

V53 riches of the Father, resources of the Son - comforter.

THE COMING OF THE GROOM

V63 - waiting for the bride.

V7 - the wife is to be presented to the Groom

THE CONSUMATION OF THE MARRIAGE

V64 - It is my Master. Eliezer says that’s Him.

She runs to meet him.

The symbolism is so rich in the story. Think about it: how long was it between when God announced that Isaac was to die until he was symbolically resurrected? It was a three-day journey from where God gave the command to where Isaac was to be sacrificed. So 3 days later he was resurrected and got up from the altar that he was to be sacrificed on.

It's also rich and amazing. Think about it: Abraham said to Isaac when Isaac asked where the lamb was, God will provide himself a lamb. First of all it says that God will provide himself. Then notice it says that God would provide himself a lamb. But what was it that was provided in the thicket when the angel of the Lord stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac? It was a ram! This should leave you asking the question at the end of the story, where is the lamb? where is the lamb? That’s the cliff hanger that nags at the Israelites for over 2000 years before Jesus… Then boom! John the Baptist comes along and John chapter 1 verse 29 and says behold the Lamb of God!

Jacobs Dream

The Stairway To Heaven

Jacob's ladder is an Old Testament prophecy of a New Testament Savior.

A PICTURE OF THE SINNER

V11 - Shrouded in darkness, Surrounded by desert, rock for a pillow. Alone, without God, hope, joy, peace. “The way of the transgressor is hard”. Sentenced by death. 27:41 Esau was going to kill him

A PICTURE OF THE SAVIOR

V12 - The Lord was at the top of the ladder.

John 1:47-51 - An OT prophecy of a NT savior. Jesus is the ladder.

REACH OF THE LADDER - reaches to heaven. Only one ladder, Jesus.

RELIABILITY OF IT - v13, the Lord stood above it.

RESOURCE OF IT - v 12 Angels are ministering spirits. Heb. 1:13-14

Jesus is the way we go to God, and Jesus is the way that God comes to us.

Promise

Presence v13-14

Protection

Only one ladder, Jesus is the only way to heaven.

A PICTURE OF SALVATION

V16- CONSCIENCENESS OF GOD - surely the Lord is in this place. The reality of God brings a reverence of God. Romans 10, Jacob had an awareness of the presence of God.

CONVERSION TO GOD - v18 made an altar, named place Bethel. Bethel means the house of God. Vowed a vow, my God. Not only was it a new morning, he was a new man.

COMMITMENT Through GOD - v22 give a tithe. Spirit of giving.

Do you have a Bethel, I do.

JESUS IS THE STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN!

Genesis 28:10-16

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathaniel

John 1:43-51

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Pastor William Shifflett discusses PART TWO - The Early Church - Chapter 3 The Creedal Imperative by Carl R. Truman

The Rule of Faith. The “Rule of Faith” is a summary of the essentials of Christianity that occurs in various verbal forms in the writings of numerous early church fathers.

The postapostolic period presented 2 challenges.

1.Leadership structure: Due to the death of the apostles.

What was Paul’s main concern in his letters to Timothy & Titus?

The Didache (AD 70 to AD 100): https://www.reformation21.org/miscellaneous/window-on-the-past-the-didache-editorial-director-reformation21.php

Derek Thomas, “The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, or its subtitle, The Teaching of the Lord Through the Twelve Apostles (neither of which are thought to be original) is known today simply as The Didache ("The Teaching"). … The document itself contains five discernible parts, though there is no chapter or section division in the document itself. Issues and themes move from one to another with a breathtaking abruptness. These sections are:

1) A Training Program in "The Way of Life" (1:1 - 6:2) [44%]

2) Regulations regarding eating, baptizing, fasting, and praying (6:3 - 11:2) [22%]

3) Regulations regarding hospitality and the testing of various classes of visitors (especially "prophets" - itinerant preachers dependent on the kindness of the church for their well-being and among whom might well be hucksters and charlatans (11:3 - 13:2) [15%]

4) Regulations regarding offerings: firstfruits and "sacrfices" (13:3 - 15:4) [10%]

5) Closing Apocalyptic section of warning and hope (16:1 - 8) [9%]

This sounds similar to a creed. Where is it similar and where is it not?

Was it written by the apostles? Were any of the apostles aware of the Didache?

“Church government issues are significant topic of discussion in the early second century church.” Would you say that this is still true in the church today? Which is Biblical?

Before we discuss the church fathers I want to touch on this. In my studies for this podcast I came across this quote: “I remember reading a Protestant scholar, an article he wrote a few years ago. He said that the most arrogant thing he thought that a Catholic had ever said was “to be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant.” Of course, from Cardinal John Henry Newman. … So when you look at the history of the church, Catholicism fully blooms. Now, he took great chagrin at this because this particular scholar was a Protestant church historian.” - Trent Horn https://www.catholic.com/audio/cot/protestant-distortions-of-the-church-fathers

Does the study of church history/fathers point us to the Roman Catholic Church?

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Pastor William Shifflett discusses PART ONE - The Early Church - Chapter 3 The Creedal Imperative by Carl R. Truman

One of the frequent objections to creeds is that the Bible does not contain any. Is this true?

Creeds and confessions are biblical. This is illustrated by the fact that the Old Testament people of God confessed their faith every morning and evening with the words of Deuteronomy 6:4, the basic confession of the Old Testament: "Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God: the LORD is one."

Where else are there examples of creeds in Scripture?

Peter confessed Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:16). This was the basic creed of the New Testament. Paul went on to elaborate on this in places such as 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, where he summarized the faith of the church in this creed: "Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures … he was buried … he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures." In the previously referenced Ephesians 4:4-6, Paul gave what many scholars believe to be a creed that was recited when a new convert was baptized: "There is one body and one Spirit … one hope … one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father." One last example of a New Testament creed is 1 Timothy 3:16, where Paul wrote to the young pastor Timothy, saying, "Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory."

When we move from the period of biblical history into the post-apostolic age, creed-like formulations start to appear.

We need to understand that Creeds have a 2 fold aspect:

1.Content: Which is designed to serve the transmission of the faith, the doctrinal concern.

2.Normative nature (implying, creating, or prescribing a norm or standard):

The ecclesiological concern. Concerns in the study of the Church.

How would you define orthodoxy?

The Rule of Faith. The “Rule of Faith” is a summary of the essentials of Christianity that occurs in various verbal forms in the writings of numerous early church fathers.

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com with Pastor William Shifflett

2 Timothy 1:13 - Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. What is the “form of sound words” and why is it important? p74 Dr Truman says that there is both a theological and a pastoral concern. What is the theological concern? p74 What is the pastoral concern? p75

Why is an established, conventional vocabulary for orthodox teaching a great help to the church? p75 Are creeds and confessions a “form of sound words”? p75 How does this affect the claim of “no creed but the Bible”? p75-76 Is continuity of teaching crucial? p77 2 Thessalonians 2:15 - Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Why do some Christians view traditions as things that they should avoid? Why does the world view traditions as a strange notion? p77 Is the notion of tradition, of the need to hand on the gospel, embedded in the gospel itself? p78 Our worship consists of sermons, hymns, and prayers. Is this a “form of sound words”? p78

Does failure to continue in the true traditions or teaching bring strong words and action from the Apostle Paul? p78

Conclusion. The past is important. Language must be an appropriate vehicle for the stable transmission of truth. There must be a body or an institution that can authoritatively compose and enforce creeds and confessions. The Bible clearly teaches all three elements. Next time: The Early Church.

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with Pastor William Shifflett

A Form of Sound Words.

1 Peter 5:1-3- So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,[a] not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;[b] not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

Elders are to be examples, is this why they will be judged more strictly? p72

If words are central to God’s identity, to human identity, and to the relationship that exists between the two, then are those words to be connected to a specific content? Why? p72

“There are legitimate … and illegitimate ways … of understanding the significance of the cross. The message of the cross involves a fixed field of meaning that must be respected by those who claim to teach its true significance.” What are some legitimate ways? What are some illegitimate ways? What is the fixed field of meaning? p73

“God is a God who reveals himself through actions and words.” Is this why the Reformers made the pulpit central? p73

God remains the same, humans continue to be made in His image and face the same questions concerning God. Does God require the same response from all despite of race, culture, or whether we are male or female?

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Pastor William Shifflett discusses PART THREE of Chapter 2 - The Foundations of Creedalism - The Creedal Imperative by Carl R. Truman

The logic of Romans 5 and of 1 Corinthians 15 depends upon corporate solidarity. p63 What does he mean by that?

So how does all this apply to creeds and confessions?

The Church as an Institution.

What does he mean by the existence of the church as an institution? p66

The biblical church acknowledges authority at a number of levels. P66

Basic to belonging to the church are two things. p67 Romans 10:9-10 Is doctrine-both in terms of belief and content-still important to this profession?

Does the New Testament envision that church members will over time grow and deepen in their knowledge and understanding of the Christian faith? p68

Why does the Bible lay out clear principles by which leaders are to be selected and by which they are to rule the church? p69

Is an overseer to have both the ability to teach true doctrine and to refute those who teach falsehood? p69

“The whole notion of eldership runs counter to modern tastes.” Why is this true? p70

Are elders the equivalent of hired hands? p70

“Church leadership is to be marked by service to others.” Is this the way the world sees leadership? p71

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Pastor William Shifflett discusses PART TWO of Chapter 2 - The Foundations of Creedalism - The Creedal Imperative by Carl R. TrumanHow are words a vital means of communicating the message of God? p60“Words are a normative and normal part of Christianity.” Why is this true? p60-61Human Nature as a Universal.There is a distinction between Creator and creation. Why is this important to understand? p61How are human beings distinguished from all other creatures? p61Humans have a specific mandate from God. What is this mandate? p62 Gen. 1:26, 28-30Adam names all other creatures. p62 Gen. 2:19Humans are linguistic beings. p62Is human nature something which is more basic than gender, class, culture, location, or time? p63We are all made in God’s image; and He addresses us all through His word. p63All humans are partakers of a common human nature. p64

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Pastor William Shifflett discusses PART ONE - Chapter 2 - The Foundations of Creedalism - The Creedal Imperative by Carl R. Truman

The Adequacy of Words.

Genesis 1:1-4 - In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.

John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Pastor, our God is a God who speaks. p52 His word is powerful and creative. p53, true?

All divine acts are performed by speech.

(1) His eternal plan (eternal inter-trinitarian communication), Gen.

1:26,Ps.2:7-9, 110,45:6-8, Matt. 11:25-27, John 5:20, 17:1-26, Acts

2:33-36, John 4:34,6:38£

(2) Creation, Gen. 1:3, Ps. 33:6,9,148:5, Prov. 8:22[, John 1:3,10,

Heb.11:3, II Pet. 3:5-7

(3) Providence, Gen. 1:9,11,22, 8:21f, Ps. 145:15f, 119:89-91, 148:8, Job

37:12, 33:11f, Ps. 18:15,28:3-9, Matt. 8:27, Heb. 1:3, II Pet. 3.

(4) Judgment, Gen. 3: 17ff, 6:7, 11 :6f, Ps. 46:6

(5) Grace: Luke 7:1-10, Rom. 1:16

His word is a means of His presence. p53

How is divine speech a fundamental aspect of the special relationship that exists between God and those made in His image?

The Word as God’s Presence

God's name is placed upon his people; Gen. 17:5, Num. 6:21, Deut. 12:5, etc.

(cf. above, A, 2,8), I Sam. 12:22, Isa. 43:1,7, 45:3f, 62:2, Amos 9:12, Matt.

28:19f, Rev. 2:17,22:4.

The word is written on their heart: Deut. 6:6, Prov. 3:3,7:3, Ps. 119:11, Ezek.

11:19[, 18:31,36:26,37:23,27, Isa.ll:9, 51:7,54:13, Hab. 2:14, Ps. 37:31,40:8,

Jer. 24:7,32:40, John 6:45, II Cor. 3:2f, I Thes. 4:9, Heb. 8:8-12, I John 2:27,

Jer. 31 :31-34 key text.

His word is active and powerful. p54

“As Lord, God controls all things, and controls them by his speech. All of God s actions are performed by his word, his speech. His "decretive will," therefore, by which he controls the whole course of nature and history , is a function of his word. Everything happens

because God has ordered it to happen by his word.” - Dr John Frame

Words are the means God has chosen for His presence. p57

Presence, or Covenant Solidarity (priestly office)

a. "I will be with you," Gen. 26:3,28:15,31:3,46:4, Ex. 3:12,93:14, Deut.

31:6,8 23, Judges 6:16, Jer. 31:33. Isa. 7:14, I Cor. 3:16ff, John 17:25,

Matt. 28:20, Rev.21:22.

God’s chosen means for revealing Himself to His people. p57

Knowing God

God knowable (Rom. 1:21 ), but incomprehensible (Isa. 55 :8-9).

a. In one sense, all people know God (Rom. 1:21 )

b. Only believers possess saving knowledge, knowledge of God as friend

(John 17:3, Matt. 11:27, John 1:14,1 Cor. 2:9-15,1 John 5:20). Some of

what I say below will pertain to both kinds of knowledge, but I am

focusing on the first.

To know God is to know him as Lord (Ex. 14:18,33:11-34:9,1 Kings 8:43, I

Chron.28:6-9): "that they may know that I am the Lord."

Without a clear word from God, a clear promise, we are without hope.

Words in Service of the Divine.

Are human use of words important in theology?

Words are the human means of responding to God and communicating with each other about God. p57

The importance of history. p58 Exodus 12:26-27 - And when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ 27 you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.’” And the people bowed their heads and worshiped.

Is the ritual of Passover meaningless without the historical framework in which to understand it?

What was the role of the prophet?

Does the role of prophet continue in the New Testament?

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com PART FIVE of Chapter 1 - The Cultural Case against Creeds and Confessions by Dr. Carl Trueman with Pastor William ShifflettSolemn vows taken before God and the church.The Fear of Exclusion.The fear of exclusion, of drawing boundaries such that some people belong and other people do not. In the silly extremes of political correctness, it almost seems that anything at which I choose to take offense is to be deemed oppressive.A confession is a positive statement of belief, it inevitably excludes those who disagree with its content. Would a Unitarian let a Trinitarian preach at their service?There is a fear of Christianity that is committed to truth that apply beyond the community of faith or which exclude certain people from that community is profoundly at odds with the cultural current.Yet prisons are full. Legislation is pass against discrimination.Coalition movements.Conclusion: Creeds, Confessions, and Distasteful Christianity.The pastor who thinks he is being biblical by declaring he has no creed but the Bible may actually, upon reflection, find that his position is more shaped by the modern world that he at first realized. Rather than instinctively taking his cue for the historic practices of the church, he may in fact really be shaped by the wider world.Creeds strike hard at the cherished notion of human autonomy and of the notion that I am exceptional, that the normal rules do not apply to me in the way they do to others.We are naive as Christians if we think that our thinking is not shaped by the cultural currents that surround us.A challenge.Next time: Chapter 2 - The Foundations of Creedalism.

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Pragmatism, the notion that truth is to be found in usefulness. When someone says “ I just know in my heart that it is true”, what they are saying is, “This works for me; it has some actual, practical result that I like”. The important thing to them is not so much the content of the belief as the result.Pragmatic books. The Eden Diet, New Bible Cure for Cancer, Financial planning, Self-fulfillment.Christianity is all about what it can do for you in the here and now.Pragmatism of the wider world is alive and well within the walls of the church.Creeds don’t offer a personal trainer, a wonderful health experience, financial prosperity, or a cure for cancer.Ask yourself this: if my church put on a conference about how to have a great Christian marriage and fulfilled sex life, would more of fewer people attend than if we did one on the importance of the incarnation or the Trinity?Anti-authoritarianism.While many today reject traditional forms of external authority, those same people often accept rather uncritically other forms of external authority. Pop star, celebrities.They are authorities not because of their knowledge or skills but because of their status in society.With a credit card in your pocket, you can become whatever you want to be. Authority lies within you, or at least that is the message the marketing people send. External authority is a repressive force that prevents you from being whoever and whatever you wish to be.Blogs and tweets. “I have yet to read a comments thread on any topic of significance that does not quickly degenerate into moronic commentary that is as notable for its vacuousness as it is for it personal abuse.”“The culture of the comments thread is one which has confused the right to speak with the right to be heard.”Wikipedia. Little weight is placed upon expertise and the idea that competence in some things only comes after extended periods of hard work and training.

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PART 3 of Chapter 1 - The Cultural Case against Creeds and Confessions by Dr. Carl Trueman with Pastor William Shifflett

A world in which human nature is merely a construct put together by the individual or by the specific community in which the individual is placed is a world where historical documents, such as creeds, can have no transcendent significance but are doomed to be of merely local or antiquarian interest.

Words, Mysticism, and Pragmatism.

The current suspicion of words as reliable means of communication.

Genesis 11:1- Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 7 Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.

Psalm 127:1-2 - Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

Indeed, a whole school of literary theory has developed around the notion that words have become little more than tools to be used to marginalize and manipulate others. - Nazi propaganda film.

That Christianity is a way of life and not a set of doctrines has become something of a mantra among younger Christians in the last ten years.

There is also a popular strain of mysticism that pervades modern culture and that is profoundly suspicious of words. The notion that certain emotional sentiments or responses constitute truth, something that is often epitomized by the kind of statements made with remarkable regularity on TV talk shows, “I just know in my heart that it is true”.

It it feels good. How can it possibly be wrong?

There is no way you can refute this person’s claim because it is not a claim expressed using public criteria commonly known as words and logic. It makes truth something mystical, something to be experienced, not something subject to normal criteria of public evaluation.

In some churches preaching has been relativized and now stands alongside dramatic performances, candles, incense, and small group discussion.

The authoritative voice of the preacher has been replaced by a more democratic dialogue.

Schleiermacher offered an account of Christian theology which understood doctrine not so much as statements about the nature of God as a description of religious psychology. Doctrinal Christianity was exchanged for something mystical and experiential.

Mysticism is alive and well within evangelical circles. Anyone that has been at a Bible study where the burden has been to explain “what the text means to me” has experienced it.

Justin Peters - For those of you who may not be aware of what these Word of Faith teachings are, they believe that faith is a force, and your words are the containers for this force. They teach that you can create your own reality by speaking it into existence. They believe that God wants all believers to be healthy and wealthy, and if you’re not, then there must be some unconfessed sin in your life, or you just don’t have enough faith.

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; ⁠http://www.biblebulldog.com⁠ PART TWO - The Cultural Case against Creeds and Confessions by Dr. Carl Trueman with Pastor William Shifflett

Devaluing the Past: In Consumerism.

“Consumerism can be defined as an over-attachment to material goods and possessions such that one’s meaning of worth is determined by them. … It is not just the attachment to material things, it is also the need for constant acquisition of the same. Life is enriched not simply by possessing goods but by the process of acquiring them.”

Should the church be calling out the selfish deceitfulness of consumerism?

“Ads that preach; What you have now is not enough for your happiness, you nee something else, something new, in order to find true fulfillment.’

Satan appeals to our selfish desires. We see this in the Garden of Eden, when Eve saw that the fruit was good food and desired the wisdom the serpent told her it would give her.

How many viewers are wearing clothes they bought ten years ago? How many are using computers or cell phones that are 5 year old? Or driving cars that are more than 15 years old?

In Christ, no longer do you have your outlook geared to things that you can weigh and see and feel and touch and count and take to the bank.

You want to know how rich you really are? Add up everything that you have that money cannot buy and that death cannot take away.

In today’s topsy-turvey world, youth has status.

Churches make the point that certain young people have left: we need to do something.

Some churches act as if they need to respond to the needs of the consumer.

The consumer is king mentality renders all established and time-tested practices unstable and utterly negotiable.

Devaluing the Past: In The Disappearance of “Human Nature”.

The idea of a human nature that connects people in one time and place to another is today often neglected or ignored.

We are created in the image of God with three parts of our human nature—spirit, soul, and body.

God formed us, sin deformed us.

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.comGenesis 22:15-18 And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, "By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies,18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice."

The whole story of Abraham and Isaac and Eliezer are and Rebecca is symbolic of The Father and The Son and The Holy Spirit and the Church.

ISAAC AND REBEKAH

Gen. 24:1-67.

In this story-

I.ABRAHAM IS A TYPE OF “GOD.”

II.ISAAC A TYPE OF “CHRIST.”

Both Isaac and Christ were CHILDREN OF PROMISE. Gen. 15:4. Isa. 7:14.

The birth of both was PRE-ANNOUNCED. Gen. 18:10. Luke 1:30-31

Both were NAMED BEFORE THEIR BIRTH. Isaac-Gen. 17:19. Jesus-Luke 1:31.

The birth of both was CONTRARY TO NATURE

Sarah was barren. Gen. 11:30.

Mary was a virgin. Matt. 1:18-20.

Both are called an ONLY SON. Gen. 22:2 (Heb. 11:17). John 3:16.

Both mocked and persecuted by their OWN PEOPLE. Gen. 21:9-10. Gal. 4:28-29. Matt. 27:29.

Neither Isaac nor Christ had BROKEN THE LAW that they should be offered up. Gen. 22:2. Matt. 27:24.

As Isaac carried the wood on which he was to die, so Christ carried His OWN CROSS. Gen. 22:6. John 19:17.

As Isaac went willingly to the “altar,” so Christ went willingly to the “CROSS.” Gen. 22:9. John 10:17.

Both apparently given up or FORSAKEN BY HIS FATHER. Gen. 22:12. Matt. 27:46.

Both rose from the place of death in RESURRECTION. Heb.11:17-19. Matt. 28:6.

In both cases GOD interposed.

III.ELIEZER A TYPE OF THE “HOLY SPIRIT.”

As Eliezer was a servant of Abraham, so the Holy Spirit is a “Servant of God.”

As Eliezer’s mission was to go to Haran and get a bride for Isaac, so the Holy Spirit has been sent from Heaven to get a BRIDE FOR CHRIST.

As Eliezer was not sent to get a bride for Isaac until after he was symbolically offered up, so the Holy Spirit was not sent to get a Bride for Christ until AFTER HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION.

As Eliezer did not talk about himself, but about his Master’s son, so the Holy Spirit does not talk about HIMSELF, BUT ABOUT CHRIST.

As Eliezer was urgent, so the Holy Spirit is URGENT. Gen. 24:53-56. 2 Cor. 6:2.

As Eliezer by the precious gifts he gave Rebekah revealed the wealth of his Master Isaac, so the Holy Spirit by His Gifts gives us a foretaste of what is in store for the Bride of Christ, the Church.

When Eliezer got Rebekah’s consent to be the bride of Isaac he himself took her back; he did not send her back while he remained with her kinsfolk. So when The Holy Spirit takes us and starts a work in us, he continues that work until it is fully completed.

IV.REBEKAH A TYPE OF THE “BRIDE OF CHRIST.”

As Rebekah believed and yielded to the pleadings of Eliezer, so the Church believes and yields to the pleadings of the HOLY SPIRIT.

As Rebekah was willing to separate herself from her kinsfolk for Isaac’s sake, so the Believer is willing to separate himself from his kinsfolk for JESUS’ SAKE.

As Rebekah was somewhat a Jew-Gentile bride, so the Church of Christ is a Jew and GENTILE Bride.

While Rebekah was a kinswoman of Isaac, she was a Gentile, for while Abraham was the first Hebrew, his kinspeople were Gentiles, for the Jews are the descendants of Judah, the fourth son of Abraham’s grandson Jacob.

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com PART ONE - The Cultural Case against Creeds and Confessions by Dr. Carl Trueman with Pastor William Shifflett“There are powerful forces at work within our modern world that militate against adherence to historic statements of the Christian faith.”“There are 3 basics presuppositions to which I hold that must be true for the case for confessions to be a sound one.” Three Assumptions:1.The past is important and has things of positive relevance to teach us.“Any cultural force that weakens the belief that the past can be a source of knowledge is a force that serves to undermine the relevance of creeds and confessions.”2.Language must be an appropriate vehicle for the stable transmission of truth across time and geographical space.“Any force that undermines general confidence in language as a medium capable of conveying information or of constituting relationships is also a force that strikes at the validity of creeds and confessions.”3.There must be a body or an institution that can authoritatively compose and enforce creeds and confessions.“Any cultural force that undermines notions of external or institutional authority effectively removes the mechanisms by with creeds and confessions can function.”Devaluing the Past:Devaluing the Past: In Science.“Science, by its very nature, assumes that the present is better that the past and the future will be better than the present.” Follow the science.“The problems is that science also comes loaded with a certain philosophical bias, that the past is inferior to the present. It has a built-in narrative of progress … built on the assumed inferiority of the past.” Science changes direction, improves, and builds upon itself. But the Word of God remains unchanged and unmovable.Our hope is not to be found in science. There’s no blessing in the book of science. Friend, the blessing and our hope is in Jesus Christ.Dr. Trueman gives us his response to a student in one of his classes on the ancient church when she questioned the value of her attendance. After all, “’some documents written in the seventh century seem to have very little to do with’ her ministry.” But Trueman’s response is perfect…”I suggested with every ounce of gentleness and tact I could muster that she might perhaps better ask herself not so much what relevance they have to her ministry but what relevance her ministry had to the church” Devaluing the Past: In Technology.“No longer is the younger dependent on the older; rather, the older is dependent upon the younger.”God cannot be explained by technology.

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Do you think pastors that say they hold to “no creed, Scripture alone” use only the Scripture to prepare their sermons?

John Calvin: “Protestants have the true tradition, Roman Catholics have moved away from the truth.” Agree?

Dr. Trueman: “The Reformation was not Scripture versus tradition, but scriptural tradition versus unscriptural tradition.” Define each.

Carl Truman: “Creeds and confessions represent a public statement of what a particular church or denomination believes that Scripture teaches in a synthetic form.”

What does he mean by synthetic form?

Why is it important for creeds to be public?

Carl Truman: “I am aware that there can be a rather distasteful, not to mention sinful, tendency among many confessional writers to look down with scorn and derision on those who are not confessional.” Why do you think that is true?

The case he wants to make:

That creeds and confessions are thoroughly consistent with the belief that Scripture alone is the unique source of revelation and authority.

That creeds and confessions are, in fact, necessary for the well-being of the church, and that churches that claim not to have them place themselves at a permanent disadvantage when it comes to holding fast to that form of sound words which was so precious to the aging Paul as he advised his young protege, Timothy.

That it is at least arguable, based on Scripture, that the need for creeds and confessions is not jus a practical imperative for the church but is also a biblical imperative.

Next episode, Chapter 1, The Cultural Case against Creeds and Confessions.

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The next illusion to Christ would only be a couple chapters later with the flood.

Genesis 6:17-18 - For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.

Just a little side note there notice that it says come into the ark and not go into the ark.

Christ is our covenant in which we escape the destruction of judgment in Him.

The New Testament actually makes this connection as well.

1Peter 3:18-22 ISV 18 For the Messiah also suffered for sins once for all, an innocent person for the guilty, so that he could bring you to God. He was put to death in a mortal body but was brought to life by the Spirit, 19 in which he went and made a proclamation to those imprisoned spirits 20 who disobeyed long ago in the days of Noah, when God waited patiently while the ark was being built. In it a few, that is, eight persons, were saved by water. 21 Baptism, which is symbolized by that water, now saves you also, not by removing dirt from the body, but by asking God for a clear conscience based on the resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah, 22 who has gone to heaven and is at the right hand of God, where angels, authorities, and powers have been made subject to Him.

What did Noah do when he got off the ark?

One of the 1st things Noah did when he got off of the ark was to offer a blood sacrifice.

Genesis 8:20 - Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Burnt offerings were the propitiatory sacrifices in ancient Israel. For God to maintain His justice, He must punish sin.

The burnt offering solved the problem of the Lord’s wrath, but it did not purify the one offering the sacrifice. There still needed to be expiation, or the removal of sin’s pollution, from the worshipers and the instruments of worship. The blood of the sin offering accomplished this cleansing.

The next example of a prophecy pointing to Christ is in Genesis chapter 12.

Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Galatians 3:7-9 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

So, the gospel was preached to Abraham and promises were made?

Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.

Galatians 3:28-29 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. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

Genesis 19 - God Destroys Sodom

Genesis 19:23-25 - The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. 24 Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven.25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.

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PART 3 - Introduction of The Creedal Imperative by Carl R. Truman with Pastor William Shifflett

Scripture alone is the sole authority, correct?

Of what use therefore are further documents?

How can one ever claim such documents have authority without thus derogating from the authority of Scripture?

Dr Truman: “Christians are not divided between those who have creeds and confessions and those who do not.” Do you agree?

Public and unwritten creeds.

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1 John 3:8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.Now you may say, well what do those two passages have to do with this verse in Genesis? The key is in that a bruise to the heel is it dangerous injury but a bruise to the head is a deadly injury and the seed of the woman will supposed to crush the head of the serpent who is the devil. Jesus dealt a devastating and deadly blow to Satan at the cross by defeating death altogether and taking away any accusative power that Satan would have against God’s people. Now the clearest illusion to this passage would be in Romans 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.So we see right at the first sin, God had already revealed a very small part of his plan to redeem mankind. That's how the prophecies of Jesus in the Old Testament work. It starts out as a very small mustard seed and as it grows you see more and more details of what the gospel and redemption was going to look like until you get to the revelation of Christ and his death and resurrection and Ascension when you see clearly what the whole Testament had been pointing to and growing into the whole time.Now remember, these are very small bricks that are building a large building. Individually looking at each one of these the image of Christ is obscure and hard to see but as you put them all together you see the various aspects of the gospel and the Messiah to come.Another small brick would be the testimony of the blood of Abel in Genesis 4:10 - And the LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.So there is blood that can cry out?Jesus adds to the understanding of Abel's blood in Matt 23:34-35 by saying that it was righteous blood. Matt 23:34-35 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.So from the biblical data we have righteous blood that cries out and gives a testimony. Hmmm. Hebrews 11:4 - By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. There were two offerings: Genesis 4-3-5(1)Cain offered the fruit of the ground, which were vegetables.(2)Abel offered to the Lord a slain lamb of the firstlings of the flock.God accepted the offering of Abel, but He did not accept the offering of Cain. Why did God not accept Cain’s offering?Cain was a tiller of the ground.The ground had been cursed. Genesis 3:17-19What Cain offered to God was his own toil, sweat and effort. Genesis 3:17-23Jude 11- Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain … and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion.The way of Cain is to try to save yourself by your own good works rather than by the grace of God. It represents culture rather than Calvary.Hebrews 9:22- Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.Why did God accept Abel’s offering?Hebrews 9:22Abel learned about the blood offering from his parents.The blood offering was a shadow of the Lord Jesus Christ.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/biblebulldog/message

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What is a Creed? What is a Confession?

Dr. Truman: “Creeds and confessions are vital to the present and future well-being of the church.” Does his claim not strike at the very heart of the notion of Scripture alone?

Does it not place him in jeopardy of regarding both Scripture and something outside Scripture, some tradition, as being of coordinate and potentially equal authority?

Is there not a danger that commitment to time-bound creeds and confessions might well doom the church to irrelevance in the modern world?

Carl Truman is a professor at a confessional Presbyterian seminary, Westminster in Philadelphia, and a minister in a confessional Presbyterian denomination, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

What does it mean to be Presbyterian?

What does it mean to be confessional?

Is there not a danger of the tail wagging the dog, by treating the summary of Scripture by which we read Scripture?

Dr. Truman: “The fact that I am a confessional Christian places me at odds with the vast majority of evangelical Christians today.” Do you agree?

Some churches have “Statements of faith”. What is the difference between a statement of faith and a creed or confession?

Scripture alone is the sole authority, correct?

Of what use therefore are further documents?

How can one ever claim such documents have authority without thus derogating from the authority of Scripture?

Dr Truman: “Christians are not divided between those who have creeds and confessions and those who do not.” Do you agree?

Public and unwritten creeds.

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For those who may not know: What is the Torah?

There is a red river of redemption that begins to flow in the book of Genesis and flows all the way through to the book of Revelation.

Colossians 2:17 (speaking of the OT) - These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

The Old Testament is a book of shadows that point to New Testament truths.

A shadow must have light and something to shine upon, correct?

Yes. The light is the Old Testament Scripture.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the one upon whom the shadow shines.

Let’s talk about Biblical Evangelism - I have 2 questions :

What are some biblical methods to compel people to come to Christ?

What are some practical and effective ways to bring people to Christ?

You may think that these two questions are mutually exclusive and that the answers are different but they are actually two questions with the same answer.

Joel Osteen may bring some practical and effective ways to get the seats in his church filled but he is not bringing people to Christ.

The apostles in the book of Acts give us our template that teaches us how we are to compel people to come to Christ.

What did they do? They testified to the resurrection of Christ and testified to his fulfillment of OT prophecy.

Luke 24:25-27, 44-47 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

44-47 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

John 5:45-47 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of Me. 47 But I if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

So that is sufficient for us to see that Jesus has said that prophecies and shadows of him are found even in the books of Moses.

But where?

What passages would we go to in order to show Jesus if we were only to go to the first 5 books of the Bible?

Genesis 3:14-15 The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”

Now everyone say “Protoevangellion”

Now everyone say, “he didn't say it right”.

This is just a transliterated word that comes from the two Greek words for first and gospel.

What is the difference between a transliterated word and a translated word?

Heb 2:14 ISV Therefore, since the children have flesh and blood, he himself also shared the same things, so that by his death he might destroy the one who has the power of death (that is, the devil)

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PART ONE - Introduction of The Creedal Imperative by Carl R. Truman with Pastor William Shifflett

What is a Creed? What is a Confession?

Dr. Truman: “Creeds and confessions are vital to the present and future well-being of the church.” Does his claim not strike at the very heart of the notion of Scripture alone?

Does it not place him in jeopardy of regarding both Scripture and something outside Scripture, some tradition, as being of coordinate and potentially equal authority?

Is there not a danger that commitment to time-bound creeds and confessions might well doom the church to irrelevance in the modern world?

Carl Truman is a professor at a confessional Presbyterian seminary, Westminster in Philadelphia, and a minister in a confessional Presbyterian denomination, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

What does it mean to be Presbyterian?

What does it mean to be confessional?

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Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com

As Christians are changed, so is the environment in which we will live. Psalm 102:25-26 - Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26 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, 2 Peter 3:13 - But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Why must the earth be made new? How is this different than the Garden of Eden? The different trees?

Rev. 21 Made possible because of Jesus Christ. “There is liberty from the bondage that has held all of creation.” Romans 8:18-23 - For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. So, when Adam sinned, the earth was cursed. Christ redeemed the earth? 3.Our sonship. We are conformed to Christ our elder brother. Romans 8:29 - 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. Colossians 1:18 - And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. What is the difference between our glorification and the glorification of God, and specifically of Jesus Christ? 1 John 3:1-2 - See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. We are made like Him, but we are not Him; correct? 1 Corinthians 15:24 - Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. “Then comes the end”. What end? “Then the beginning will come. - Then shall we enter into the world of eternal light and joy!” So, for true Christians the “final days” are not the final days and the “end times” are not the end times. A practical application for today: 1 John 3:3 - And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure. Will the bodies of unbelievers also be raised? Psalm 8 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? 5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, 7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 9 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

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1.The resurrection.

Colossians 1:27 - To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Without the cross, there is no resurrection and without the resurrection, there is no Christianity.

“Because Jesus lives in resurrection power, so shall we live.”

Romans 1:4 - and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by His resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

Romans 6:8-10 - Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death He died-He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God.

In glorification we live. Do we live to God? What does that mean?

Philippians 3:20-21 - But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.

What does it mean to have citizenship in heaven?

2.The Transformation.

“The change.”

Romans 8:29 - 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.

This verse is sometimes used in talking about sanctification. Is is describing glorification, sanctification or both?

How is glorification different from sanctification?

A.Like a seed planted.

1 Corinthians 15:35-36 - But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.

We live in a different time now. When I was growing up, most families I knew had a garden.

How do we explain these verses to those who don’t know how planting works?

B.Our bodies will be different.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 - So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

Will we have a natural body, a physical body or a spiritual body?

C.The body belongs to a different (heavenly) order.

1 Corinthians 15:51-54 - Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

V53 says, “we must put on the imperishable”. Can anyone enter heaven without being glorified?

Is it true to say that the resurrection of Jesus removed the sting of death, and the resurrection of the saints will swallow up death in victory?

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dogs #cats #rainbowbridge #rainbowbridgedogs #heaven #podcast #christian #pets #bulldog

Are pets in heaven?

Pastor William Shifflett and Scott get off topic in this episode, but touch on some interesting thoughts. Do Bulldogs go to Heaven?

Dogs ? Cats ? Rainbow Bridge ? Pets ? Heaven ?

“The goal of the Christian’s vision is not his own death, but stretches beyond that to the return of Christ and the consummation of His kingdom.”

Glorification involves the return of Christ, the resurrection of the body, our reunion with all of the saints of all time, and our eternal home of the new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells.

We have briefly covered the Christian Life from predestination up to glorification.

Glory is a divine attribute.

Pastor, is glorification - sanctification made perfect?

Colossians 3:4 - When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

In His grace, our holy God has granted that we will actually share in His glory.

Do you think that we can fully understand this blessing?

There are four fascinating facets of this Biblical teaching.

A.After death, Something greater lies in store for Christians.

Philippians 1:21 - For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

It’s more than presence with God. We need to think in terms of “Then and now, before and after.”

“Glorious though the immediate presence of God must be, there is something greater still in store for us!”

Why is the glorification of Christians necessary?

Are Christians able to sin in glory?

B.Something greater lies in store for Christ.

Hebrews 2:9 - But we see Him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 - For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

How can Paul say that "the dead in Christ shall rise first" Aren't the dead already with Christ?

Pastor, how do we see the glorification of the Son at the cross?

Is our Lord is returning in His glorified body?

C.How this will happen is the third thing to note.

1 John 3:2 - Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as he is.

Isaiah 59:2 - but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God,

and your sins have hidden His face from you so that he does not hear.

Revelation 22:4 - They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.

Not only will we see Him in all His glory — but we will share in His glory.

D.This will take place in the experience of the whole church at the same time.

Colossians 3:4 - When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Christians can all experience the great joy of glorification as a family.

What will our bodies be like?

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“Death is not the end”