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Title: Bless the Blesser for Every Spiritual Blessing Text: Ephesians 1:1-3 FCF: We often struggle appreciating all that the Father has done for us. Prop: Because the Father has given us every Spiritual blessing in Christ, we must praise God. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to the book of Ephesians chapter 1. In a moment we'll begin reading from the Legacy Standard Bible starting in verse 1. You can follow along in the pew bible on page 1317 or in whatever version you prefer. I'll take this opportunity to remind you again of the outline that is available to you in the foyer. This is my outline which I have prepared for you and myself as we study the book together. It is subject to change as we go through the study, but I will endeavor to keep it current and supply a corrected copy, if necessary, at the end of the study. I also create sermon notes each week for those who do better listening by taking notes. There will be fill in the blank, multiple choice, and true false questions each week to help keep your ears engaged as you listen. Let me start this book by simply saying I had a whale of a time deciding how to begin this letter. Let me explain. Verse 3 through verse 14 are not only one thought of Paul's… they are also one sentence in Greek. As such, it was very difficult for me to try to decide what verses to pick to begin this letter. To capture Paul's thought, I'd have to preach a sermon on verses 3-14… but the only way to accomplish that would be to move forward summarizing on a high level all that Paul is saying in each verse. We could do that. I could give you just an overview… But what Paul is saying is so earth shattering, and even to some Christians today, so controversial, and so full of theological language, that the only way for us to even get a true overview of what Paul is saying, is to dissect each phrase in this 202-word sentence. It is quite a catch-22. Here is my solution. Today, we will get through the greeting, which is rich in and of itself, and simply open up the sentence of Paul's first thought to the Ephesians. Fortunately for us, verse 3 serves as a summary statement of all that he will say in verses 4-14. In the coming weeks we will move slowly through each verse, defining each theological term, dissecting exactly what Paul is saying. And at the end of that, when we make it to verse 14, the following week I will preach a sermon over verses 3-14 having defined and looked at each verse specifically. In that sermon we will put it all together to arrive at exactly what Paul is saying. As you can imagine, being a 12 verse sentence, it is probably an important opening thought to the letter. Indeed, it is THE main theological point of the letter. So today, to merely crack open Paul's point, let's look to the text. Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the reading of the Word of God. Invocation: Good and Gracious Father, we come before You today to marvel at Your generosity. You have given Your people all Spiritual blessings in Your Son. We turn to You for grace and peace. We look to You for every help and every fortification we need against the enemy. May we be even more convinced of our need to not only look to You for all things… but to praise You for Your generous and constant supply. We pray this in Jesus' name, amen. Transition: [Slide 2] “God's giving deserves our thanksgiving.” Anonymous “God is never less than generous, even when we are less than grateful.” John Blanchard “God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame.” Elizabeth Barrett Browning [Slide 3] “He who feeds His birds will not starve His babes.” Matthew Henry “God's goodness is the root of all goodness; and our goodness, if we have any, springs out of His goodness.” William Tyndale “God is ever giving to His children yet has not less.” Thomas Watson Let these words help to prepare our heads and hearts to hear from the Lord today. I.) God gives grace and peace to His saints, so we must praise God. (1-2) a. [Slide 4] 1 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, i. If you missed last week, you can, of course, go back and listen to the sermon via the various means we have for recording sermons. ii. We have a Facebook page that saves the services we live stream for several weeks. We also record the video of the sermon on our YouTube channel and post the audio of each sermon on our website and to our podcast channel as well. iii. Paul claims to be an apostle or sent one of Christ Jesus. iv. We saw when we studied Acts 9 that Paul indeed was called by the will of God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ. v. Christ met him on the road to Damascus in a vision. He threw Paul from his horse, rebuked him for opposing the second person of the Godhead, and commanded Paul to go to Damascus and submit to proclaiming the same gospel he was opposing to Jews, Gentiles, Kings and beggars. vi. Paul was not given a choice. He was given a destiny. Could he have chosen to ignore it? vii. In his opening words here, it seems as though he doesn't think so. For it was by the will of God that he became a sent one of Jesus Christ. viii. And as the Scriptures teach, none can thwart the will of God. Not even Paul. b. [Slide 5] To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: i. Since this is a greeting, we might expect there to be some kind of statement addressing the letter to a particular church. ii. Paul addresses this to the saints are at Ephesus who are faithful in Christ Jesus. iii. We are met with somewhat of a dilemma. Saints is a term the New Testament and Paul specifically apply most often to those who have professed faith in Christ. But here we see that he is addressing this letter to saints who are at Ephesus and faithful in Christ. iv. So, does this imply that there are saints that are not faithful in Christ? v. Rather than seeing this as two descriptions of the same people, we should see this as one description. vi. One way we could translate this is, “To the saints who are at Ephesus, that is, the faithful (or believers) in Christ Jesus. c. [Slide 6] 2 - Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. i. This is Paul's standard greeting and I have tried to incorporate this in my conversations with other believers. ii. Grace of course is what? iii. [Slide 7] God's power which He grants to people according to His free will, to enable them to be, receive, or do something which they are unable and unwilling to be, get, or do on their own. iv. Grace is the lifeblood of the Christian. Grace is what enables us to continue to live in obedience to God. v. This is why the historical church spoke of the means of grace or the ways in which God has set forth to communicate or give grace to His people. vi. God gives grace through His Word, read, studied, memorized and preached. God gives grace through prayer, fellowship with other believers, and through the sacraments or ordinances. God enables us to be, receive, or do what He wants through these means. vii. [Slide 8] And what is peace? viii. Peace is much more than the cessation of hostility between God and man, although that is certainly part of it. Peace is much more than the cessation of hostility between unbelieving men and Christians. ix. Peace is wholeness. Completeness. Peace is the setting to right of what has been thrown into chaos. Peace is all things being brought back into the dominion of God. x. As such peace is something only God can give. It is something only God can bring. xi. And so, Paul gives the Ephesian Christians the greatest wish he can. The greatest wish any Christian can give to another Christian. xii. Grace and peace to you. xiii. From God, the Father of Jew and Gentile, and from our one Lord – Jesus Christ. d. [Slide 9] Summary of the Point: Paul begins his letter the same way he begins most of his letters. He desires his recipients to be constantly supplied on the grace and peace of God. Paul also subtly acknowledges that God the Father is not only his Father and the Jews' Father but the Father of all who are in Christ who is also the one Lord over all the church. These are themes he will continue to develop through the rest of the book of Ephesians. God takes center stage. His grace begins the work in them and His peace is the effect produced to greater and greater degrees in them. As such, there is no better hope Paul could have for his readers. What response should the Ephesians have to this? They must praise the Lord for His relationship to them and supply of grace and peace. We must do the same. Transition: [Slide 10 (blank)] Paul, leaving his greeting, now embarks on two prayers. The first forms a doxological eulogy, or a good word of praise, where Paul feverishly praises God for what He has done. The second is Paul's prayer that his readers would understand the depths of what he says in the first prayer. Verse three serves as a great summary of the first prayer. Let's look at it. II.) God gives every blessing from the Spirit to us in Christ, so we must praise God. (3) a. [Slide 11] 3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, i. Paul begins with what will be his primary and governing theological thought of the entire book. ii. We will actually see him address each member of the godhead in this prayer, but Paul begins with the first person of the Godhead, God the Father. iii. The word blessed can have different meanings based on context. iv. If someone has been blessed, it means they have been favored or given a gift. v. If someone blesses, it means they have good hopes or wishes for someone, or gives someone a gift. vi. If God blesses it has more of the idea of grace and favor. vii. But here the word blessed is an adjective. And it is describing God. viii. God does not need favor from anyone, nor does God need good hopes or wishes. God needs nothing so it isn't a gift being given to God. ix. So, in this case, “blessed” inherits the meaning of praiseworthiness. x. God the Father, as a characteristic of His being, is praiseworthy. xi. But what could it mean that the first person of the Godhead is both God and Father of Jesus? Isn't Jesus God? Certainly, He is. xii. [Slide 12] There are actually two things happening here that we must address. 1. First is that Paul is not writing this to deny or downplay Christ's deity, instead Paul writes this to affirm Christ's humanity. a. In pagan mythology, the idea of demigods is actually quite common. b. The gods could take on human form and appear to be humans. The gods could be a certain percentage of god and the rest of men. c. But to get pagans to understand that Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man, would be quite the challenge. d. Indeed, to teach Christians this truth today is very challenging. e. And so, that God is Christ's God and the Father is Christ's Father, would emphasize a unique relationship between God and the MAN Jesus Christ. 2. The second truth this is alluding to is that this is the common way God is addressed in other good words of praise throughout the scriptures. a. Statements like “Blessed be the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Or “Blessed be the God of Israel.” b. This is covenantal language. c. So what covenant is on display with the statement, “Blessed be the God and Father of Jesus Christ?” Certainly, Paul would be referring to the New Covenant. d. A covenant that subsumes all previous covenants. e. The importance of God being the God and Father of Jesus is that Jesus becomes the new representative, the new source of all the covenant blessings from God. f. Israel, the patriarchs, and Adam all failed. g. Christ is the last Adam. Christ is greater than the patriarchs including Abraham. Christ is the King of Israel, making Him all of Israel's head. Christ is the new and final representative of this new covenant of redemption. h. He is responsible for us to make sure all the covenant blessings and promises continue to flow from God the Father. i. And he is a representative who will never fail. xiii. Paul then is expressing the praiseworthiness of God the Father who is both the God and Father of Jesus Christ, who is our Lord. xiv. But why? Why is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ praiseworthy? b. [Slide 13] who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing i. God is praiseworthy because He has blessed us. ii. So, the definition of the word needs to shift. God isn't praising us. iii. What is God the Father doing? iv. He is favoring us. v. How? How is God showing us favor? vi. By giving to us every spiritual blessing. vii. Again, the word blessing needs to take on a new meaning. It isn't praiseworthiness or favor. Now blessing takes on the meaning of a gift given to promote the prosperity of the recipient. viii. And Paul adds the word “spiritual” here. ix. He makes it clear that he is not talking about physical blessings. x. Sometimes Christians talk about hitting every green light on the way to work and getting a job promotion, after which they might say something like “God is really blessing me.” xi. That isn't the kind of blessing to which Paul is referring. xii. Paul is specifically calling out the blessings God has given to us which are spiritual in nature. xiii. But that is just what these gifts aren't. They aren't physical. But what ARE they? xiv. We must see these blessings from God as those from the Holy Spirit. xv. Spiritual in the sense that they originate from the third person of the Godhead. xvi. God the Father is to be praised because He has given us every Holy Spirit blessing. c. [Slide 14] in the heavenly places i. This phrase can be difficult to understand. ii. Because Paul talks about heavenly places in this book several times, and in each he talks about how those places are inhabited by holy and fallen angelic creatures, we must assume that this is a location. A plane of existence if you will. iii. Specifically, this is most likely referring to where spiritual beings dwell. iv. Is Paul saying that this is where these blessings come from? Probably not. v. Instead, this seems to indicate to us that every Holy Spirit blessing given to us is kept for us, or deposited for us in the heavenly realms, safe and secure against any incursion by physical and spiritual attack. vi. Our Holy Spirit benefits are sealed in a place where God not only dwells but also protects. vii. Does this mean that we experience none of these Spiritual blessings before we enter the Kingdom of heaven? viii. No. They are gifts of the Holy Spirit, meaning He has brought them to us, He transmits some of these blessings in growing ways now. ix. But one day we will experience every Spiritual blessing in full. x. How has the Father accomplished this for us? d. [Slide 15] in Christ, i. Christ is the instrument that the Father chose to communicate every single Holy Spirit blessing to us. ii. Christ is the vehicle God the Father has used to give to us every Holy Spirit blessing to ensure that we spiritually prosper. iii. In Acts we discussed how Jews and Gentiles alike were called to believe on Christ and how the only path to remaining a true Jew was to believe on Jesus the Messiah. iv. Those who did not believe on Jesus, ceased being a true Israelite and were dead branches cut off from the tree. v. Paul, in a sense, argues the same point here. vi. God the Father gives every Spiritual blessing for Spiritual prosperity through Christ alone. There is no other instrument the Father has or will use to give these blessings to us. vii. Even the Spirit Himself only came to indwell believers when Jesus ascended and He and the Father sent the Spirit to us. viii. Christ is the chokepoint. ix. But we should know that already since Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father but through Me.” x. The only way to inherit Spiritual blessings, preserved for us until we enter His Kingdom, is by being united to Christ by faith. xi. And the God and the Father of Christ is praiseworthy for giving these blessings through Him. e. [Slide 16] Summary of the Point: Now we might be wondering what exactly those Holy Spirit blessings ARE and what parts of them we have received today and will receive when we enter the Kingdom of heaven. But that will take the rest of the sentence on to verse 14 to explain. We'll get there. For now, it is enough to recognize that God the Father has given those who are saints, namely those who are believers in Christ, every blessing from the Holy Spirit and preserved them for us in the heavenly realms where He sits alone as Sovereign over all. He is the God and Father of Christ and just as He sent His Spirit and all the blessings of His Spirit to Christ, He will also send these blessings to those who are united to Christ. So, what should be our response? The very first word of verse 3. We must praise God the Father for this. Conclusion: So CBC, what have we learned today that refines our beliefs and guides our lifestyles? Basics of Faith and Practice: [Slide 17] God is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has called Jesus His Beloved Son in whom He is perfectly pleased. Jesus Christ is the mediator of a new covenant. He is the last and final human representative of a new cosmic reconciliation plan. In this, God the Father has given every blessing from the Holy Spirit to those who are united to Christ by true faith. Not only has He given these blessings to us, but they are kept secure for us until the consummation of that Kingdom of heaven… when Heaven comes to earth and God dwells with us. What response should God's people have to these great truths? Simply, praise God! Amen? Let's get a little more specific then on what we've learned and how we can live differently. 1.) [Slide 18] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that God the Father gives every Spiritual blessing to us who are in Christ. a. There are a few layers to this truth that we need to understand. b. First, we must see the glory of the Father as a loving and caring Father that provides all His children's needs. i. In the scriptures it is shown that Fathers, even the wicked ones, know how to give good gifts to their children. ii. Christ says, “what father when their child asks for fish the father gives them a snake? What father when their child asks for bread, gives them a rock?” iii. Now that isn't to say that there aren't crummy fathers out there. All Jesus is saying is that you don't have to have God help you be kind to your own children. iv. In this our Heavenly Father is the best possible Father that could ever be. v. He provides all that we would need and abundantly more than we would ask or think. vi. God, as Christ's Father, and Christ as Our Lord, ensures that God is also OUR Father and that He will give us all that He has given to His Son. c. A Second layer of this teaching is that there is nothing lacking in Christ. i. There are many brands of Christianity that disagree with this either by implication or by explicit teaching. ii. Some brands of Christianity insist that Christ has accomplished everything, but in order to access it, we must work hard or do something to get it. iii. Some brands of Christianity insist that without our effort we cannot be justified. iv. Some brands of Christianity insist that once you are converted, there is a second step YOU must take to experience a greater spiritual life, inherit more Holy Spirit blessings, and be closer to God. v. All of these fundamentally disagree with what this passage teaches us. vi. God has given Every blessing of the Holy Spirit to us who are in Christ. If you are a true believer, He has given every blessing to you. vii. That is not to say that you won't grow or progress. But it is to say that there is nothing lacking in you, from the moment you believe to the moment Christ returns. Your Spiritual blessings are given to you and they are secure in heavenly realms. d. A third layer to this is the assertion that grace and peace are included in these Spiritual blessings. i. Grace is how God enables His people to do and be what He wants them to do and be and peace is the result. ii. Therefore, we can confirm that the grace and peace we wish to one another is from God the Father, who has given all Spiritual blessing to us in Christ. iii. So when we wish these things to a true believer, we can rest assured that it is not an empty wish. God will grant our hope for them to have grace and peace. iv. So let's say grace and peace to you instead of “take it easy” “see ya later” or even worse “good luck”. Ugh! Grace and Peace to you! 2.) [Slide 19] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that the blessings God gives are given from His Spirit and by the mediatorial role of Christ as our covenantal head. a. God does not give us Holy Spirit blessings because we have earned it. b. God does not bless us because we pray or because we read His Word. c. In fact, nothing we do has any impact on what God has given to us in Christ. d. We aren't even in the equation. e. God the Triune has done this. By Himself. f. And we would do well to remember this. g. God the Father gives it from the Spirit through the Son. h. So, what are we? i. Well, we will get to it later, but we are made to be an inheritance given to Christ. We are Christ's reward for His obedience to the Father. And the Spirit is the seal upon that reward to ensure it gets to Him. j. Our salvation, our sanctification, our glorification… is God's gift to His Son sealed by His Spirit. k. We need a HUGE adjustment to how we see salvation. l. So many churches, so many worship songs, so many Christians continue to amplify and expound on how much God loved US to save us. m. This is true… But to say this without the other half… that God saved us because He loved His Son and desired a people who would praise Him for His grace forever… is to misrepresent what salvation is. n. Our salvation is primarily FOR God. It is secondarily FOR us. o. And we would do well to remember this. p. When we do… there are two responses we should have, one negative and one positive 3.) [Slide 20] De-Exhortation: “What actions should we stop doing” or “What behaviors do we naturally practice that this passage tells us to stop doing?” We must stop boasting in any blessing God gives to us, much less any Spiritual blessing. a. What room is there to boast? b. If nothing I've done contributes to God's blessing me, and God's blessing me is primarily to bring praise and glory to the triune God, and if my salvation is simply a reward, an inheritance given to Christ for His obedience… c. Then what do I have to boast about? Is there any room to think highly of me? Am I special? d. The only reason I'm special is because God has made me special. The only value I have is because God has given me value. e. Even my image bearing of God is broken by sin! It is not an image that accomplishes the purpose for which it was formed. It is worth preserving only because of Who made it – but it is not special. In fact, it is so broken, it either needs to be destroyed or to remade. f. There is no room for boasting as a Christian. True Christians don't boast in anything save knowing Christ in His death and resurrection. g. And even that is knowledge we were shown. We did not have it of ourselves. h. Upon Peter's confession of Jesus' Messiahship, Jesus said “Blessed are you Simon Bar Jonah because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but my FATHER who is in heaven.” i. What is the second response we should have to understanding God's gift of every Spiritual blessing in Christ? 4.) [Slide 21] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must praise God the Father for blessing us. a. There is only one good response. b. It is to praise the God and Father of Jesus our Lord. c. It is to praise the Father for His provision to us to give us every Spiritual blessing from His Spirit and to give those blessings through our union to His Son which He provided as our atonement. d. Praise is a simple application for us, but it is not always easy. e. We often neglect to praise God in our day to day. Not usually because we refuse to, but most often because we forget to. And oftentimes we forget because we live ignoring God's active part in our every day lives. f. We live in blissful ignorance of the Creator in the world created by the One we are ignoring! g. But even more devastating than ignoring God and not praising Him for common things – is to ignore God and not praise Him for Spiritual blessings. h. When we have the fortitude to resist temptation, when we have opportunities to love others, when we teach, help, and serve, when we have the opportunity to gather with God's people, when we have the pleasure of partaking of the sacraments, when we sing to God, when we give the offering, when we read the word, when we pray to God, WE SHOULD BE PRAISING GOD ALL THE WHILE. i. Not just on Sunday and not just through song. j. He is worthy of praise and worship for all things, especially the Spiritual blessings He has given us in Christ. k. Don't live your life as if He doesn't exist or that he owes you what He gives. l. Every breath and every Spiritual blessing is a gift. From a God who loves you BECAUSE He loves His Son. 5.) [Slide 22] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” Every Spiritual blessing in the Kingdom of Heaven awaits those who are in Christ. a. We do not inherit all the blessings of the Holy Spirit in this life. b. There are blessings we have yet to know. There are blessings we have yet to receive in full. c. But these blessings are not stored on earth where thieves break in and steal or where moths and rust destroy. d. They are not kept in lower plains of spiritual reality either, open to demonic attack. They are kept in the heavenly realms. A place in which God dwells and rules from. e. Although there are enemies of God that exist in this realm, they operate by the permission and the command of God the Father. f. As Martin Luther so astutely put it… Even Satan is God's Satan. No being, even in rebellion, has the ability to do something that would thwart or topple God's purposes or decrees. g. God has decreed that our Spiritual blessings are secure in the heavenly realms. There they will be preserved for us until that day that we die and come to heaven to be with the Lord or until heaven comes down to earth and the Kingdom of God arrives. h. No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck us from His hand. We are sealed until the day of redemption by the Holy Spirit. i. What can we say to this except… Hallelujah! 6.) [Slide 23] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” Christ is the only path to Spiritual blessings. a. God has compassion and love for those who are not followers of His Son. b. He gives rain and sunshine to those who are wicked. He allows people who hate Him and reject Him to live relatively fulfilling lives, have families, and enjoy all the benefits of His creation. c. But Spiritual blessings – blessings that come from the Holy Spirit, NEVER flow to anyone who is not in Christ. d. Holy Spirit blessings are only given to those whom God has chosen in Christ. We'll get to that next week. e. If you want forgiveness of sins, if you want acceptance into God's family, if you want to be an inheritance for Christ, if you want a destiny in the Kingdom of God, the only path to any of that is through Jesus Christ. f. It is not sincerity to a belief. It is not works of righteousness. It is not church attendance. It is not offerings given. It is not the people you've helped. It is not the poor you've rescued. It is not in religious ritual or practice. g. The only path to Spiritual blessings is in Christ Jesus. That is it. Because Christ alone is the only man with whom the Father is pleased. h. You can't follow Mohammed. You can't follow Budda. You can't follow Plato. You can't follow Paul the apostle. i. It is only in Christ that these Spiritual Blessings are given. j. Christ called everyone He preached to, to repent or turn from their sin and to believe or hope in the gospel which is that He died to save sinners and that He is the Lord of Glory. k. Christ is Savior. Christ is Lord. This is the gospel. l. Do you want Spiritual blessings – including a destiny in His eternal Kingdom of light and life? m. It is only in Christ that you can have it. n. So repent and believe on Christ. [Slide 24 (end)} Let me close with a prayer by the church father Polycarp. Father of Your beloved and blessed Son, Jesus Christ, we have come to know You through Him. You are the God of angels, powers, creation, and the entire race of the righteous who live in your presence. I praise You for everything. I bless and glorify You through the eternal high priest, Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son, through whom and with Him, in the Holy Spirit, be glory unto You, both now and for the ages to come. Amen. Benediction: May grace, the well-spring of all mercies And peace, the crown of all blessings, be bestowed upon you from God our Father. Until we meet again, Grace and Peace to You.
We have a religious reflection centered on the Gospel of Luke and the spiritual value of living an obscure or hidden life. I draw parallels between the Virgin Mary's quiet support and the unheralded logistical teams that enabled General Patton's military success, suggesting that small, unseen actions matter immensely. By examining Jesus' return to Nazareth, the narrative explores how his former neighbors struggled to accept his Messiahship because of his ordinary upbringing. The homily encourages listeners to find supernatural purpose in their daily, mundane duties rather than seeking worldly fame or sensationalism. Ultimately, the emphasis is that faithfulness in insignificance makes an individual significant in God's eyes.
In what stunning way did Jesus declare His Messiahship? Find out with Nathan Jones and Vic Batista on the podcast, The Truth Will Set You Free!
In this study, Luke writes of Jesus' return to Galilee in the power of the Spirit and coming to his home town of Nazareth, Jesus both read the Word of God and spoke to the people.Dr. Mitchell discusses Jesus' exposition of Isa.61:1-2. The application of this Word of God by Our Lord, through this method, later exposes the unbelief of the hometown people and on the other hand, the faith of two Gentiles who lived outside of Israel. However, here Jesus announces that He Himself is at that very day and hour fulfilling this prophecy spoken and written by Isaiah. This prophecy revealed the ministry of the Messiah and Jesus is that Messiah. Dr. Mitchell shares that you and I can continue the ministry of our Lord today.Here is Dr. Mitchell on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast, Luke 4:14.
We're taking a short break from the study of Hebrews to try to answer a few questions about Jews and Gentiles.The first question is “Are Gentile born again believers in Yeshua, spiritual Jews?” Do they become spiritual Jews when they are converted? Does the Bible answer this question? Many Gentile believers who love the Jewish people and Israel want to be spiritual Jews and believe that they are. Some Messianic leaders teach this. Is this valid?Let's look at some Scriptures that have a bearing on this question.Romans 4:9–12 NIV9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.So Abram the Hebrew had faith that was credited to him as righteousness. Abram believed God. That is another way of saying that Abram was justified. He was saved. And at that point he had not yet been circumcised and his name had not yet been changed to Abraham. And so the New Testament tells us that he is the father of all who believe and are not circumcised, namely believing Gentiles. And the Scripture also says that he is the father of all who believe and are circumcised, namely believing Jews. So Abraham is the father of all who believe whether they are circumcised or uncircumcised. In the case of Jewish believers in Yeshua or Jesus, Abraham is their physical father and spiritual father. In the case of Gentile believers in Yeshua, Abraham is their spiritual father.Let's look at another Scripture:Galatians 3:26–29 NIV26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.Folks, the Scripture says “for you are all one in Christ Jesus” - this has to mean that we are all one spiritually, not physically. How do we know that? Because the verse also says “nor is there male and female”. Well, we certainly know that in the physical world there is most definitely male and female. I'm a male and my wife is a female.So, Abraham is the father of all believers in Messiah - we are all one. Does that therefore mean that Gentile believers become spiritual Jews when they are born again? The Scripture does not say that. It says that we are all one, we are the same, spiritually. Let me pose this question: When a Jew is born again, does he or she become a spiritual Gentile? The answer is no. So, I believe the answer to the question “Does a Gentile become a spiritual Jew when he or she is born again?” is no. Rather Jews and Gentiles become one. They are the same spiritually. Now what do I say if my Gentile believer friend says, like the great Francis Schaeffer said, “I'm a spiritual Jew” and my friend means this in a way that is clearly honoring to Jews and expresses his or her love and support for Jews and for the Jewish Nation, Israel? I say, “Welcome to the Body of Messiah, brother!” or “Welcome to the Body of Messiah, sister!”Now let's consider something else today, another question. Are the Jewish people God's chosen people? The Torah has something to say about this. Not long before the Jewish people entered the promised land, Moses spoke to them.Deuteronomy 7:6 NKJV6 “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.Deuteronomy 14:2 NKJV2 For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.In these two verses God through Moses told the Jewish people - all the Jewish people - that they were a holy people, meaning set apart, a people chosen by God for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. God did not say to them that they were righteous or justified as He had said earlier to Abraham. Now folks, this is important. But what does it mean? Does it mean that every single Jewish person will inherit salvation? No. God did not say that. But how could that possibly be? After all how could the Jews not all inherit salvation?The New Testament helps us to answer this question. And remember folks, the Old Testament and the New Testament are one book and these two testaments do not contradict each other. So what does the New Testament have to say about this question? Let's read:Romans 9:6–7 NKJV6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.”The apostle Paul had just finished enumerating the special privileges of the Jewish people in the previous two verses:Romans 9:4–5 NKJV4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God,and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, theeternally blessed God. Amen.With all of this how could the Jewish people participate in the crucifixion of Christ and as a nation refuse to accept Yeshua as their very own Messiah? Now folks, the Messiah was resurrected on the third day. He did not remain dead. And you and I all put Him on the cross to die because of our sins. He died to atone for our sins. So, the dispersion of the Jews from the Land of Israel and the centuries long persecution of the Jews was not because the Jews killed Jesus. It was due to something else. That something else was and is the rejection of the Messiahship of Yeshua. But how could God's chosen people reject the Messiahship of Jesus? They could do it because not all the chosen people are in fact righteous or justified. Not all are the children of promise. Or, to again quote the apostle Paul, For they are not all Israel who are of Israel.There is another passage in the New testament that speaks to this very same thing:Galatians 6:15–16 NKJV15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.Folks, the apostle Paul is speaking here about people who are born again, people who are in Christ, people who are new creations. It doesn't matter whether they are circumcised, meaning Jewish, or uncircumcised meaning not Jewish. And to those in this category - those who walk according to this rule, those who are new creations - peace and mercy be upon them and upon the Israel of God. Folks, there are two groups here: the circumcision and the uncircumcision, the them and the Israel of God. The them are Gentile believers and the Israel of God are Jewish believers.There is a final question that I believe we have to answer today and when we are finished doing that some of you who are listening or reading might brand me an antisemite. I'm not an antisemite. Please pay attention to the application at the end of this talk and you will see what my motivation is.Romans 2:25–29 NKJV25 For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.This is a heavy passage especially for a Jewish person! A Jew, a physical descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, may be circumcised in the flesh but if he does not obey the Law - if he practices unrighteousness - he is not a Jew inwardly and his circumcision is not of the heart, it is not spiritual. He is one of the chosen people but he has not inherited salvation. He is not saved. His heart is not circumcised. This passage does not say that an uncircumcised man who obeys the Law becomes a Jew. Rather it says that his uncircumcision will be counted as circumcision. He is a righteous man; he is justified.Moses talked about circumcision of the heart to the Jewish Nation shortly before the people entered the Promised Land.Deuteronomy 30:6 LSB6 “Moreover Yahweh your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your seed, to love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.As of January 2026 this has still not happened to the Jewish Nation but it will yet happen. It has happened and will continue to happen to individual Jews.So, what is the bottom line?* Jews and Gentiles are saved the same way, through faith in the finished work of Messiah on the cross at which time He paid for the sins of all who would put their faith in Him.* A saved Gentile does not become a spiritual Jew.* A Jew, a member of the chosen people, who is physically circumcised but who's heart is not circumcised will not inherit salvation.So, what is the application of all this my Jewish friend?Call upon the name of the Lord, Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah, today. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins and to save you. Ask Him to circumcise your heart. If you are sincere, He will do it. Don't wait. Ask Him to do it today.Until the next time my friends, may the Lord bless you and keep you.This is Art Wolinsky. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit awolinsky.substack.com
The Day of Pentecost marked a pivotal moment where God united the scattered Israelites, fulfilling ancient prophecies. Jews from all nations congregated in Jerusalem, drawn by God's call, and heard the gospel in their native tongues through the Holy Spirit. Dr. Smith reveals this event signified salvation, the end of exile, and the birth of the Church, a new family open to all who believe, including Gentiles. Peter emphasized that Jesus, through His death and resurrection, sent the Holy Spirit, signifying His Lordship and Messiahship. This unified the twelve tribes into one kingdom under Christ, offering salvation and a new life to all who turn from sin and embrace Jesus.
The Day of Pentecost marked a pivotal moment where God united the scattered Israelites, fulfilling ancient prophecies. Jews from all nations congregated in Jerusalem, drawn by God's call, and heard the gospel in their native tongues through the Holy Spirit. Dr. Smith reveals this event signified salvation, the end of exile, and the birth of the Church, a new family open to all who believe, including Gentiles. Peter emphasized that Jesus, through His death and resurrection, sent the Holy Spirit, signifying His Lordship and Messiahship. This unified the twelve tribes into one kingdom under Christ, offering salvation and a new life to all who turn from sin and embrace Jesus.
SUKKOTSukkot is a seven-day festival that follows five days after Yom Kippur. It was to be observed by “living” in “booths,” or the “sukkah,” which served to remind the Jewish people of the forty years they wandered in the wilderness, when the nation came out of Egypt, in route to the Land of Promise. They dwelt in temporary structures, and the Lord Himself dwelt in the Tabernacle. Because the “sukkah” was a weak structure, it symbolized the fragility of their own lives, and the loss of Israel's national aspirations. It also served to remind the nation of their future hope of restoration and glory when Messiah returns and establishes the Messianic Kingdom (Amos 9:11).According to Leviticus 23:33-43, four plants were to be used in the worship of the Lord on this occasion. First, is the פְּרִי עֵץ הָדָר “fruit of goodly trees,” or the etrog, which is a citrus-type fruit much like an extra-large lemon. Second, is the כַּפֹּת תְּמָרִים “branches of palm-trees,” known as the lulav. Third, is the עֱנַף עֵץ-עָבֹת “boughs of thick trees,” also called the hadass, the branch of a myrtle tree. Fourth, is the עַרְבֵי-נָחַל “willows of the brook,” referring to the aravah, the willow branch. It ought not surprise us then that on Sukkot, Yeshua, himself, would make certain statements regarding his Messiahship in connection with these two most important ceremonies. During the water pouring ceremony, which symbolized Israel's prayer for rain and the outpouring of the Spirit of God upon the nation, Yeshua said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from his innermost being” (John 7:37-38). In connection with the “lighting of the lampstands” ceremony, Yeshua proclaimed on Sukkot, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12). Prophetically, Sukkot will have its fulfillment during the Messianic kingdom. While the first four festivals were all prophetically fulfilled by the first coming of Messiah, so the latter three festivals will be fulfilled by the second coming of Messiah. Zechariah foretells, “Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem, will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles” (Zechariah 14:16).SIMCHAT TORAHSimchat Torah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. Simchat Torah is a component of the Biblical Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret ("Eighth Day of Assembly"), which follows immediately after the festival of Sukkot in the month of Tishrei (occurring in September or October on the Gregorian calendar).YouTube: https://youtu.be/AnJGKyLWYBISend us a text
The sermon explores the theme of rejecting divine truth, drawing parallels between the contemporary demand for tangible signs and the Pharisees' resistance to Jesus's claims of Messiahship. It highlights the importance of a humble heart over intellectual reasoning, exemplified by the story of Ignaz Semmelweis and the parable of Jonah, demonstrating that a stubborn refusal to accept truth, even in the face of overwhelming evidence, stems from a heart issue rather than a lack of proof. Ultimately, the message underscores the necessity of faith in Jesus Christ as the resurrected Lord, emphasizing that true belief transcends mere intellectual assent and requires a complete surrender of the heart to God's truth.
Messianic Apologetics editor John McKee goes over some of the significant factors involved with evaluating the Messiahship of Yeshua. This is then followed by a review of important stories and issues from the past day or so, largely witnessed on social media.
We read in the gospels that Jesus entered into Jerusalem triumphantly on a donkey just days before His death. This entrance and declaration of Messiahship were the catalysts for His death. Why did He arrive publicly that way, and what did that look like 2,000 years ago? Pastor Jim Scudder will teach about this very important day this in this message at Quentin Road.
We read in the gospels that Jesus entered into Jerusalem triumphantly on a donkey just days before His death. This entrance and declaration of Messiahship were the catalysts for His death. Why did He arrive publicly that way, and what did that look like 2,000 years ago? Pastor Jim Scudder will teach about this very important day this in this message at Quentin Road.
How do we understand this strange story of Jesus only partially -- and then, ultimately -- healing a blind man? After making the case that the text invites us to interpret symbolically, Zack discusses our (and the original apostles') partial sight -- Jesus is Messiah, but we don't really know what that means. He then expounds Messiahship in terms of humility, in terms of servant-of-all. Do we really appreciate what Jesus' Messiahship means?
1 John 5 emphasizes faith in Yeshua (Jesus) as the Messiah, obedience to God's commandments, and God's testimony about His Son. From a Hebraic perspective, faith in Yeshua brings to fullness, rather than abolishes, the Torah.Faith & Love – True belief in Yeshua leads to love for God and obedience to His commandments (1 John 5:1-3, Deut. 6:5).Victory Through Faith – Those born of God overcome the world through faith in Yeshua (1 John 5:4-5, Joshua 1:8-9).Three Witnesses – The Spirit, water (baptism), and blood (sacrifice) testify to Yeshua's Messiahship (1 John 5:6-8, Deut. 19:15).God's Testimony is Supreme – Rejecting Yeshua is rejecting God's truth (1 John 5:9-10, John 16:13).Eternal Life in Messiah – Yeshua is the source of eternal life, fulfilling the Torah and prophetic promises (1 John 5:11-12, Daniel 12:2).Love is demonstrated through obedience, aligning with Torah (Exodus 20:6, John 14:15).Overcoming the world mirrors Israel's victory by faith and obedience.The testimony of Yeshua as Messiah is established through multiple divine witnesses.Faith in Yeshua, obedience to God's Word, and trusting His testimony lead to victory, assurance, and eternal life.
Episode 114: Year C – 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time In today's episode, we focus on six details in the readings for this upcoming 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C. The first detail is the whole of the first reading, taken from Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, and 8-10. It's not necessarily a detail that comes up in apologetical discussions. But it does serve an apologetical purpose insofar as it gives biblical justification for the Catholic Liturgy of the Word. The next three details come from the second reading, taken from 1 Corinthians 12:12-30. The relevant apologetical topics are the intercess…
Episode 114: Year C – 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time In today's episode, we focus on six details in the readings for this upcoming 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C. The first detail is the whole of the first reading, taken from Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, and 8-10. It's not necessarily a detail that comes […]
Episode 109: Year C – 4th Sunday of Advent In this episode, we focus on several details from all three readings for this upcoming 4th Sunday of Advent. The first detail comes from the first reading, which is taken from Micah 5:1-4a. The relevant apologetical topic is Jesus' Messiahship. The second detail is found in […]
Episode 109: Year C – 4th Sunday of Advent In this episode, we focus on several details from all three readings for this upcoming 4th Sunday of Advent. The first detail comes from the first reading, which is taken from Micah 5:1-4a. The relevant apologetical topic is Jesus' Messiahship. The second detail is found in the second reading, which is taken from Hebrews 10:5-10, and the relevant apologetical question there is whether this text supports the “once saved, always saved” doctrine. Finally, in the Gospel reading, taken from Luke 1:39-45, there is a cluster of details that all relate …
Interview with James Brown. James, a scientist and author, shares his journey of faith and the evidence he found supporting the existence of God, the Messiahship of Jesus, and the reliability of Scripture.
James Brown is the author of Three Proofs of God, which presents a new and surprisingly precise solution to Daniel's passage and verifies it using objective evidence. This solution confirms God's existence, Jesus' Messiahship, and Scripture's reliability.In the 1st part of our conversation, James shared with us his journey on being an author and him hearing the presentation in 2013 about how the Book of Daniel predicted the exact day that Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem which led him to start researching and writing about it, and also why he decided to write Daniel 9:25.Make sure to follow us so you don't miss the rest of our conversation. I promise you wouldn't want to miss it.You can buy his book in amazon by going to: https://a.co/d/1pk3HgD and you can also go to his website to buy the book and get more information about James by going to:www.threeproofsofgod.com/Thank you for listening and supporting us and always remember to Come to Jesus Daily!We would love to hear from you so make sure to send us any comments or questions that you may have for us in any of our social media links. Connect with us through our Social Media Links:Email us at cometojesuswithannette.mahal@gmail.com Twitter and Instagram: @AnnetteMahal FB: Come to JesusYou can help support our podcast ministry and partner with us reach further to build God's Kingdom by either giving a onetime donation to our coffee podcast ministry or be a part of our monthly supporters. By partnering with us, you will get an invitation to join and be a part of our livestream events as it happens, unlock exclusive post and get a full access to all our bonus/special episodes, shout out to our new members, get a one-time gift for joining, be a part of our special community for our members only, receive a newsletter once a month, and most importantly partner with us as we share God's message to the world and that is by going to:www.buymeacoffee.com/cometojesusYou can also send us a voice message if you are listening in Spotify or by sending your questions or comments to (571)601-0067.
Episode 94: Year B – 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time In this episode, we focus on several details that come from the Gospel reading for this upcoming 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B, taken from Mark 7:31-37, two of which tie into the first reading, taken from Isaiah 35:4-7a. The key apologetical themes for the details that tie into the first reading are Jesus' Messiahship and Divinity. The other details in the Gospel reading give rise to the opportunity to talk about the historical reliability of the event recorded in this Gospel reading, which is Jesus' healing of the deaf man, along …
Jesus answers John the Baptist with scriptural evidence of his Messiahship. Then he gives one of the most memorable and important metaphors of how we can be aided by Him in our lives.
Messianic Apologetics editor John McKee discusses what are today's four main gateways to apostasy from faith in Yeshua: (1) denial of Messiahship, (2) Bible difficulties, (3) deconstruction, and (4) religious scandals. Will there be more to add to this list?
*Henry B. Smith, Jr: is our guest. He's the Administrative Director of the Shiloh Excavations with Associates for Biblical Research (ABR). Henry is the host of both ABR's podcast and television program, Digging for Truth. Henry was a square supervisor at the Khirbet el-Maqatir Excavations in 2012 and 2013, and at Shiloh in 2017 and 2018. Born and raised in northwestern NJ, he earned a Bachelor's in Economics from Rutgers and later graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Religion degree, emphasizing apologetics and Biblical languages. He is presently a PhD student in the Biblical Studies program at Amridge University. He is presently heading up the The Genesis 5 and 11 Genealogy and Chronology Research Project for ABR, authoring numerous works and videos on the subject, including: Primeval Chronology Restored, The Case for the Septuagint's Chronology in Genesis 5 and 11, and On the Authenticity of Kainan, Son of Arpachshad. *Manuscript Traditions: Here is a chart of the genealogies of Genesis 5 & 11 in all three manuscripts that underlie the translations of the Bible we use today. (the Masoretic, the Septuagint, and the Samaritan Pentateuch). *Dismissing the Septuagint? Hear Bob address the topic of the Septuagint with Ann Habermill on the air, and in his Bible study through Isaiah. *Chronomessianism: Hear about the history of chronological messianic speculation at the time of Jesus, and afterward. *Motive, Means & Opportunity: Could the spiritual conflict regarding Jesus' Messiahship have inspired a calculated effort to change the texts? Hear Henry's evidence, check out the links above, and form your own opinion. *No Excuses: We're thankful to have the inerrant Word of God available to us. The Holy Spirit assures us "The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart...” (Rom 10:8) . Whether one believes in the providential preservation of the text itself, or the necessity for systematic and serious studies of the scriptures present in a variety of manuscript & translations, this we know: "the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse..." (Rom 1:18-20).
*Henry B. Smith, Jr: is our guest. He's the Administrative Director of the Shiloh Excavations with Associates for Biblical Research (ABR). Henry is the host of both ABR's podcast and television program, Digging for Truth. Henry was a square supervisor at the Khirbet el-Maqatir Excavations in 2012 and 2013, and at Shiloh in 2017 and 2018. Born and raised in northwestern NJ, he earned a Bachelor's in Economics from Rutgers and later graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Religion degree, emphasizing apologetics and Biblical languages. He is presently a PhD student in the Biblical Studies program at Amridge University. He is presently heading up the The Genesis 5 and 11 Genealogy and Chronology Research Project for ABR, authoring numerous works and videos on the subject, including: Primeval Chronology Restored, The Case for the Septuagint's Chronology in Genesis 5 and 11, and On the Authenticity of Kainan, Son of Arpachshad. *Manuscript Traditions: Here is a chart of the genealogies of Genesis 5 & 11 in all three manuscripts that underlie the translations of the Bible we use today. (the Masoretic, the Septuagint, and the Samaritan Pentateuch). *Dismissing the Septuagint? Hear Bob address the topic of the Septuagint with Ann Habermill on the air, and in his Bible study through Isaiah. *Chronomessianism: Hear about the history of chronological messianic speculation at the time of Jesus, and afterward. *Motive, Means & Opportunity: Could the spiritual conflict regarding Jesus' Messiahship have inspired a calculated effort to change the texts? Hear Henry's evidence, check out the links above, and form your own opinion. *No Excuses: We're thankful to have the inerrant Word of God available to us. The Holy Spirit assures us "The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart...” (Rom 10:8) . Whether one believes in the providential preservation of the text itself, or the necessity for systematic and serious studies of the scriptures present in a variety of manuscript & translations, this we know: "the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse..." (Rom 1:18-20).
Three Proofs of God James Brown Have you ever tried to conduct your own Bible study about timelines in the Bible? Especially trying to calculate the “Soon Return of Jesus?” It's difficult to do… and when you finish – or at least when I finish – my notes are so jumbled, I'm more confused than when I started… Amen! Well, today we are going to have a very special discussion on the soon return of Jesus! We are living in times where many are wondering just how close we are to this pivotal moment. To help us dive into this topic, I am thrilled to introduce our special guest, James Brown, the esteemed author of "Three Proofs of God." His book provides detailed information on the prophetic timeline of the first coming of Jesus, the timeline of His life, and most intriguingly, the timeline of His soon return. James has pinpointed exact dates that bring new insights into our understanding of these events. He's conducted detailed research and I'm excited to get into today's interview and explore the profound implications of these timelines. Join us as we uncover the signs, prophecies, and current events that point towards the fulfillment of this significant promise. Amen! Help me welcome to the program, James Brown! James, I do appreciate your time today and I can't tell you how much I've been looking forward to today's interview! First question, other than that brief information I just shared, can you tell us in your own words, “Who is James Brown?” Three Proofs of God presents a new and surprisingly precise solution to Daniel's passage and verifies it using objective evidence. This solution confirms God's existence, Jesus' Messiahship, and Scripture's reliability. Your book is unique… I've never encountered one that goes into so much detail – but makes it easy to comprehend what you are sharing… What motivated you to write this type of book? How long did it take you from concept to publication? In the Bible, Jesus directly asked us to understand a key passage from the prophet Daniel. To this day, people have not yet fully agreed on that passage's precise meaning. Why do you think that is? Share with us the “Three Proofs of God?” What are they? You've demonstrated in your book that the “Seventy Weeks of Daniel” are accurate… very accurate. That being the case, can you give us the “window” of the “Return of Jesus?” Are we “in that window now?” There have been many different books over the years that tried to pinpoint these dates… why did they get it wrong all of this time? One thing I've noticed lately is the prophecy coming true that “the entire world” will be against Israel. Recently, the United Nations, the United States and other nations have come out against Israel, basically “demanding” they surrender to Hamas by stopping all military action and leave Rapha and the Gaza Strip. The Prime Minister issued a statement that said, basically, that “Israel would fight on by itself if necessary.” Do you see the Hamas war as something that was included in your book? You have a QR code for each chapter. Can you explain how that benefits the reader? Your book,
Podcast Interview with James Brown About James Brown In the Bible, Jesus directly asked us to understand a key passage from the prophet Daniel. To this day, people have not yet fully agreed on that passage's precise meaning. James Brown is the author of Three Proofs of God, which presents a new and surprisingly precise solution to Daniel's passage and verifies it using objective evidence. This solution confirms God's existence, Jesus' Messiahship, and Scripture's reliability. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-bernabe/support
The Fourfold Witnesses to the Messiahship of Jesus Part 3 To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1331/29
The Fourfold Witnesses to the Messiahship of Jesus Part 2 To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1331/29
The Fourfold Witnesses to the Messiahship of Jesus Part 1 To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1331/29
In this episode, we delve into the early chapters of 1 Samuel, exploring the redemptive story of Hannah's deep longing for a child, her fervent prayers, and her solemn vow to dedicate her son to God—a narrative echoing the consecration of Samson by his parents. The focal point of this episode is Hannah's prayer in the presence of Eli after she hands her son over to him to serve the Lord in the Tabernacle. Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 2 is not merely a song of gratitude but a prophetic vision that sets a thematic foundation for the books of 1 and 2 Samuel. This prayer remarkably forecasts pivotal events and introduces the first connection in the Bible between kingship and messiahship - a connection that will remain tightly linked through the narratives of Samuel, Saul, and David, and continue throughout the Old Testament. As we explore this connection between the concept of the "anointed one" or "mashiach" with kingship, we transition to the New Testament, focusing on the figure of Jesus "the anointed" or "Christ." Drawing from the story of Simeon in Luke 2, we show how the ancient promise that Simeon would not see death before he had seen "the Lord's Christ" emphasizes Jesus' role as the ultimate fulfillment of Israel's kingship. Here, the term "Christ" aligns with the royal connotations established in passages like Psalm 2, portraying Jesus as the definitive King of Israel. Concluding the episode, we reflect on how Jesus, recognized as the Christ, embodies not only the messianic expectations but also fulfills the destiny of every human being. Join us as we explore these interconnected themes of devotion, prophecy, and kingship, unveiling how they culminate in the figure of Jesus, the anointed King who completes the story of Israel and humanity. Key Passages: 1 Samuel 2:1-10 Luke 2:25-33 Explainer Video on how to use www.biblehub.com and www.blueletterbible.org Leave us a question or comment at our website podcast page. * Intro Music: "Admirable" Carlos Herrera Music --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/onelifenash/support
Messianic Apologetics editor John McKee reviews a number of issues involving Biblical reliability, which can often be associated with discussing the Messiahship of Yeshua. Part 2 of 2.
Messianic Apologetics editor John McKee reviews a number of issues involving Biblical reliability, which can often be associated with discussing the Messiahship of Yeshua. Part 1 of 2.
Episode 70: Year B – Palm Sunday In this episode of the Sunday Catholic Word, we focus on nine details found in this upcoming Sunday Mass readings for Palm Sunday, Year B. The first two details come from the Gospel reading for the procession with palms, which is taken from Mark 11:1-10. The relevant apologetical topic is Jesus' Messiahship. The next set of details come from the second reading, taken from Philippians 2:6-11. The relevant apologetical topics that arise with these details are Christ's divinity and Christian universalism, the idea that all we will be saved in the end. The la…
Episode 65: Year B – 1st Sunday of Lent In this episode of the Sunday Catholic Word, we focus on several details found in the second reading and Gospel reading that are relevant to doing apologetics. The first two come from the second reading, which is taken from 1 Peter 3:18-22. The relevant apologetical topics are the Sacrifice of the Mass, Purgatory, and the Sacrament of Baptism. The last three details are found in the Gospel reading, which is taken from Mark 1:12-15, and the relevant topic is Jesus' Messiahship. Readings: Click Here Looking for Sunday Catholic Word Merchandise? Look …
Episode 61: Year B – 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time In this episode, we're going to focus on three details that are relevant to apologetics. The first comes from the first reading, which is taken from Jonah 3:1-5, 10. The related apologetical topic is God's immutability (the doctrine that God can't change). The other two details are in the Gospel reading, which is taken from Mark 1:14-20. The related apologetical topics are Jesus' divinity and Messiahship. Readings: Click Here Looking for Sunday Catholic Word Merchandise? Look no further! Click Here Hey everyone, Welcome to Th…
The Messianic community of faith presently finds itself at a very serious crossroads, not just a crossroads in determining its long term purpose and where it is going to be in the next few decades, but most seriously in its theology and how we are to approach the Bible. The enemy desperately wants us to get off course and away from the mission of seeing the restoration of the Kingdom to Israel accomplished (Acts 1:6). He wants us to not be a movement of positive change and transformation, where people are empowered by the Lord to accomplish His tasks in the world—but rather be one of mischief, confusion, and apostasy. The enemy wants us to seriously “mess up” and gain a bad reputation so that people will (rightly) stay away. One of the most significant ways that this has happened over the past several years has been seen when various Messianic individuals deny the Divinity of Yeshua the Messiah. There have been both Messianic teachers and laypersons who have decided that Yeshua the Messiah was nothing more than a human being empowered by God, but certainly not God in the flesh. They have stripped away the reality of His Incarnation, and made Him little more than a mortal like one of “us.” It is not all that surprising, but among a significant number of those who deny Yeshua's Divinity are those who later deny His Messiahship. Not content with their entirely human Yeshua, these people then question whether or not Yeshua is even the Messiah and whether they truly need Him. Outsiders to the Messianic community who witness this trend, often believe that the Messianic movement is not something that God has raised up to restore the lost Hebraic and Jewish Roots of the faith, or even just see a generation of Jewish people brought to Yeshua—but rather is a move of the Adversary to lead people away from the salvation available in Yeshua and the truth of the gospel. Is this truly the case? Are we nothing more than a revolving door, leading people into our midst for a short season, and then into the open arms of a Messiah-less Synagogue?
4th Sunday of Advent, Year B In this episode of the Sunday Catholic word, we focus on two details in the Gospel reading for this upcoming 4th Sunday of Advent, which is taken from Luke 1:26-38. One of the two is read in tandem with the first reading, taken from 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16. The apologetical topic that it relates to is Jesus' Messiahship. The other detail deals with the Blessed Mother, particularly her perpetual virginity. Readings: Click Here Looking for Sunday Catholic Word Merchandise? Look no further! Click Here Hey everyone, Welcome to The Su…
Christians differ on a lot of things, and sometimes these differences can be troublesome. The basics we all agree on are centered on Jesus. We believe he died for our sins, and we believe he came to give his truest followers the opportunity to be in heaven with him. We also believe he is the Messiah. As a matter of fact, we look at the Old Testament prophecies and have a hard time comprehending why those of the Jewish faith aren't able to recognize his Messiahship. It seems obvious! Obvious until we realize a few startling scriptural facts. First, the label “Messiah” is only used twice in the Old Testament. It is only used twice in the New Testament as well. This means that what we see as overtly obvious, may in fact be more hidden than we ever thought. So, what do we do now? Anointed The word translated “Messiah” only twice in the Old Testament is used 37 other times. Because this word simply means “anointed” or “consecrated,” it actually applies to many individuals. The priests of the Jewish Law were “anointed.” Kings of Israel were “anointed.” As a matter of fact, King Saul was one of those anointed ones. When Saul was pursuing David to kill him and David had opportunities to do Saul harm, his reaction was always the same. He continually repeated that he would not touch the Lord's anointed. But there are a lot of chosen ones! This tells us the position of being one anointed by God is a very special designation. It shows us they have been chosen to do God's work and represent His way. So, does this minimize our Christian perspective of THE Messiah? Does it make him just another chosen one in a long line of chosen ones? While the short answer is “of course not,” this answer certainly needs a lot of explanation. By digging into many Old Testament prophecies, we learn that Messiah is represented in many different ways. While rarely called the Messiah, he is often described as a king, a priest, a shepherd and a lawgiver. The list goes on. Was Jesus disqualified? This understanding helps us to see the comprehensiveness of exactly who Messiah is and what he stands for. However, there are other issues. According to the perspective of some Jewish faithful, Jesus could not be the Messiah due to several points. First, they claim the genealogies given in Matthew and Luke have a variety of problems that would disqualify Jesus. Second, they state that because Jesus died, it means he failed, and that failure disqualifies him as well. What do we do with all of this? Check out our December 18, 2023 podcast, “How Do We Know Jesus is the Promised Messiah? (Part I)” for answers. We open several prophecies, put scriptures in context and uncover the deep truths of how Jesus is plainly shown as THE Messiah. There are inspiring scriptural discoveries here you don't want to miss!
Reach out and connect to my ministry and help me to continue to make and share great FREE Biblical content everyday by supporting my ministry at | PatreonPodcast Episode Notes: "Jesus as an Infant: Insights from Luke 2:21-38"Introduction:Opening reflections on common associations with Jesus (Christmas and Easter stories).Highlighting the significance of Jesus as a storyteller during his ministry.Section 1: Exploring Jesus' Early Years (Luke 2:21):Introducing the focus on Jesus' infancy.Reflecting on the limited information available about Jesus' life before ministry and emphasizing the importance of Jesus' name. Connecting the name to Jesus' mission of saving people from their sins.Section 2: Jesus' Dedication (Luke 2:22-24):Detailing the purification rites required by the Law of Moses for Mary.Discussing the offering of two turtledoves and two pigeons, indicating the family's economic situation.Reflecting on the significance of Jesus growing up in a modest, financially insecure household.Section 3: Encounter with Simeon (Luke 2:25-29):Introducing Simeon, a righteous and devout man waiting for the consolation of Israel.Explaining Simeon's revelation from the Holy Spirit that he would see the Lord's Messiah.Describing the moment Simeon holds Jesus and praises God for the salvation revealed in the infant.Section 4: Simeon's Prophetic Words to Mary (Luke 2:30-35):Analyzing Simeon's declaration of having seen God's salvation.Emphasizing Jesus as a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Israel.Highlighting the prophetic aspect of Jesus' destiny, foretelling both the rise and fall of many.Section 5: Introduction to Prophetess Anna (Luke 2:36-38):Introducing Anna, a prophetess from the tribe of Asher, known for her devotion and age. Background on Anna's marriage, widowhood, and her continuous worship in the temple. Emphasizing Anna's gratitude upon seeing Jesus and her subsequent actions. Discussing her role as a witness, sharing the news about the child with those anticipating Jerusalem's redemption.Conclusion:Summarizing key points: Jesus' dedication, the recognition of his Messiahship, and the prophetic insights shared by Simeon and Anna. A call to reflect on recognizing the divine in seemingly ordinary moments.Support the showBack my future Calvin Project on Kickstarter http://kck.st/47lp772My Amazon Author Pageamazon.com/author/jeremymccandlessJeremy McCandless is creating podcasts and devotional resources | PatreonHelp us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com
439// What Angers Jesus? Devotional, Bible Study: Matthew 21:1-22 In this episode, Rachael continues the devotional study of Matthew chapter 21. She explores Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, his actions in the temple, and the symbolism behind these events. Rachael highlights the Messianic text and Jesus' declaration of his own Messiahship. She also discusses the significance of Jesus' anger in the temple and the exploitation of the poor. The inclusion of the blind and lame in the temple and the metaphor of the fig tree for Israel are explored. Calling all kids (and parents of kids)! Check out my new show Hearing Jesus for Kids - be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode! This episode is a companion to Episode 56 of the Hearing Jesus for Kids Podcast. Episode Resources: To Sponsor a Child through Compassion International: Compassion.com/hearingjesus Or Text HEARINGJESUS to 83393 For family discussion guides, journaling worksheets, bonus content, and our private discussion forum, please visit our Patreon page: patreon.com/HearingJesus Coaching/Spiritual Direction: https://shehears.org/coaching Learn: https://shehears.org Shop: https://shehears.org/resources Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Maybe a better title would be The Circumcised Heart vs The Red One. In last week's epsiode, we referenced the Jewish expectation of the Seven Shepherds during Chanukkah. It explains why Yeshua (salvation) was challenged specifically about his Messiahship during Chanukkah at the Temple: Bare Your holy arm and hasten the end for salvation - Avenge the vengeance of Your servant's blood from the wicked nation. For the triumph is too long delayed for us, and there is no end to days of evil, repel the Red One in the nethermost shadow and establish for us the seven shepherds. The siddur explains the key players of the Chanukkah liturgy: "The Red One (Admon) refers to Esau/Edom, whose descendants brought the current exile. The seven shepherds of Micah 5:4 will conquer Israel's oppressors.” (Scherman, p. 832) The Red One whose descendants brought the "current exile" is Rome. In Daniel's vision of the Beast, Rome's iron legs were mingled with clay in the feet and toes, representing the many beast "systems" that have now infected the nations of the world. The Chanukkah prayer refers to the Seven Shepherds and Eight Princes prophecy of Micah, which gives us a glimpse of how the Kingdom of Heaven will one day defeat and repel the infected world systems. The central shepherd of the seven is thought to be David, and the eighth of the princes to be Messiah. (Micah 5:5) Although Roman Christianity went to a solar calendar and began to observe "Christmas," they retained the date of the 25th (although it now fell in a solar "month" of December instead of Kislev). Their holiday still includes original Chanukkah symbology associated with prophecy and its institution as a second Sukkot: shepherds and sheep, the birth of a king, a prince of peace, a sukkah, a light to the nations, etc. as depicted in the Gospels. When King Messiah returns and re-calibrates the earth with its Scriptural calendar month, Chanukkah will not be so hard for them to understand. They've been awfully close to the Chanukkah prophecies of Messiah in the Books of Haggai and Micah all this time! King Messiah will rule and reign during the Seventh Millennium, preparing the world for the Eighth Millennium, a period associated with "circumcision." A circumcised heart no longer struggles against the Spirit of its Creator and no longer desires to dominate the Creator with its own will. The Red One is simply the great world systems attempting to keep human pride over its Creator alive and dominating the rule of the world (or so it may seem). The Feast of Trumpets (Rosh HaShanah) kicks off the fall season of feasts that includes Atonements and Sukkot. Sardis, which represents Rosh HaShanah in the Book of Revelation, literally means “Red Ones.” Enemies scatter when the Torah goes forth on Shabbat, and the Red Ones along with the Wicked One are scattered in winter, Chanukkah. The other mention of “winter” in the Brit HaChadasha (New Testament) was the inquiry addressed to Yeshua in the Temple: At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, ‘How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.' King Solomon dedicated the First House, so it was no accident that Yeshua was questioned in the portico of Solomon. Are you the Prince of Peace? Are you the prophesied Eighth Prince King Messiah? “The Jews” ask Yeshua if he is the 8th Shepherd Prince desired at Chanukkah to deliver the Temple from the Romans, Edom, the Red One, The Wicked, the Abomination that Causes Desolation. Because Messiah Son of David is the last of the seven shepherds, the Jews say that it is time for Yeshua to speak plainly…and he did! Yeshua spoke of himself as the central Shepherd, the Son of David, calling sheep,
John McKee discusses the great tragedy, particularly of various non-Jewish people who get involved in Messianic things—how they can be seen to commit apostasy against the God of Israel. This happens by abandoning the Pauline letters as Scripture, the Divinity and Messiahship of Yeshua, and later abandoning a Supreme Being altogether.
Have you ever pondered the true identity of Jesus, the Son of God, and how His divine love has the power to transform lives? Are you ready to dive into the depths of theological exploration?Join Pastor Jeff Cranston at Kitchen Table Theology as he poses a question: How well do you know the Gospel according to John? Brace yourself for a captivating journey of divine love, eternal life, and the power of faith. Get ready to be inspired, equipped, and transformed as you unravel remarkable stories and delve into profound theological themes.Let your faith grow stronger, and your love for Jesus and others soar to new heights in this extraordinary episode![00:04 - 06:57] "Exploring the Power of Love: An Overview of the Gospel According to John"• Overview of the New Testament book of the Gospel According to John • Story about Judge Lee Shapiro and his "hugger kit"• John was the closest disciple to Jesus • John wrote his book between 80 70 and 8,100[06:57 - 14:09] Uncovering the Theological Themes of John's Gospel: Belief, Glory, and Redemption• John twice refers to the Sea of Tiberius, which was widely used for the Sea of Galilee near the end of the first century• John's lack of reference to the Sadducees suggests he wrote after 80, 70 when they ceased to exist• Tradition suggests John wrote his gospel after the other three, giving it a later date• John wrote with evangelistic intent for both Jews and Gentiles[14:11 - 21:09] Exploring Themes of Messiahship, Judgment, and Eternal Life in John's Gospel• John declares Christ as the son of God who has come to save the world• People come under God's judgment by rejecting Christ and find life by coming to faith in Him.• John speaks of a final judgment at the end of time and also when people refuse to believe. • Themes of physical life and eternal life are present in the gospel. [21:09 - 26:38] The Triumph of Truth and Love• John's gospel reveals the power of evil works through deception, hatred, and death. • Jesus defeats evil with truth and love and gives us the gift of eternal life. • God continues to love the world and sent Christ to redeem it. • Believing in Jesus leads to real and eternal lifeQuote: "God sent his son, and he reconciled us to himself. And throughout the gospel of John, we discover as you read it the wonderful gifts God offers us through His Son." - Pastor Jeff CranstonJoin the ConversationWe love your feedback! If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review. If you have any questions or comments on today's episode, email me at pastorjeff@lowcountrycc.orgVisit my website https://www.jeffcranston.com and subscribe to my newsletter. Join me on Sunday mornings at LowCountry Community Church. Check-in with us on Facebook or Instagram @pastorjeffcranstonRemember, the real power of theology is not only knowing it but applying it. Thanks for listening!
Paul's “My Gospel”By Tammy LacockThis week, Warren Litzman digs deeper into what the Apostle Paul means by “my gospel” in Romans 2:16, 16:25, and 2 Timothy 2:8.Paul's “my gospel” is meant to contrast his unique revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-16) from the other gospel centered in Christ, the Kingdom gospel, which was preached by Peter and the other apostles. The Kingdom gospel, preached to only the Jews, centered on Christ's Messiahship by his death and resurrection and an assurance of the kingdom to come. Peter and the apostles also commingled Judaic law within the kingdom gospel. In contrast, Paul's gospel of grace has no history of law. Whether Jew or Gentile, by simply believing in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, we are saved, born-again new creations by the very life of Christ now living in us. This is the Body of Christ Paul talks about … a brand-new race of people. In fact, Paul's gospel of grace, although new to him and to the world, goes back to the beginning, before history was made. Paul calls his gospel a “mystery” many times because it was in God's mind before the foundation of the world, yet now revealed to him (Ephesians 1:4; Romans 16:25). Christ entrusted only Paul to deliver this gospel of completion to both Jews and Gentiles alike. “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.” (Colossians 1:25-26 KJV)It was extremely difficult for Jews to accept Paul's gospel of grace because of their history and background in law. Gentiles, however, had no godly history, nothing to hold onto, so they were eager to accept and embrace Paul's gospel of grace.Churches are still preaching a commingled gospel of law and grace. Paul tells us several times throughout his epistles, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1; 4:16; and Philippians 3:17). Similarly, he tells us many times that his gospel is from “me to you” (Ephesians 3:2; Colossians 1:26).The gospel for today is Paul's gospel of grace only. Simply put, we are saved by nothing we do or don't do. By just believing, we are saved by Christ's work — His death, burial, and resurrection. By Him, we are freed from the bondage of sin, death, and law. By Him, we are born again, making us brand-new creations, now bona fide sons and daughters of God. Our sin-natures have been uprooted, and God's very seed, Christ, has been planted within us.“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27 KJV)
Episode 26: Year A – The Ascension of the Lord In this episode of the Sunday Catholic Word, we focus on five details that come each of the readings for the Ascension of the Lord, Year A, which for most dioceses in the United States was transferred from May 18th to this Sunday, May 21st. The topics that these details highlight are as follows: Jesus' resurrection, the baptism of the Holy Spirit and its relation to the Sacrament of Confirmation, Jesus's Messiahship, Jesus' Divinity, and the trinitarian formula for the Sacrament of Baptism. Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/05…
In this shortcast Kerry explores how raising Lazarus from the dead shifted the way Jesus was viewed. He also further explores Christ's teachings about His relationship with the Father.We are grateful for our sponsor, Lisa Spice, and our editor, Alexia Muhlestein, and to Rich Nicholls, who composed and plays the music for the podcast.
Third Sunday of Advent, Year A In this episode of The Sunday Catholic Word, we focus on four apologetical themes that all arise out of the Gospel reading for the Third Sunday of Advent (Year A), which is taken from Matthew 11:2-11. The four themes are as follows: 1) the Messiahship of Jesus, 2) the divinity of Jesus, 3) the historicity of the “messenger” text, and 4) the greatness of John the Baptist in relation to the Blessed Virgin. Looking for Sunday Catholic Word Merchandise? Look no further! https://shop.catholic.com/catholic-answers-merchandise/?q=sunday Speaker 1: This is the Sunday Ca…
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