Podcasts about trinity god

In Dr. Jo Vitale's last weekend with us, we explore the foundational Christian doctrine of the Trinity—God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Learn how Scripture reveals one God in three distinct persons, each fully divine and united in purpose. We'll address common questions and misconceptions, use relatable analogies, and highlight key Bible passages that point to the Trinity in action. Whether you're new to faith or seeking a deeper understanding, this message will help you grasp the mystery and beauty of the Triune God. Connect with us | Text us: (650)600-0402

• God is One and God is also Three—the mystery of the Trinity • God the Holy Spirit; God the Son in the Old Testament • God the Son, Jesus: His life on Earth • Why a virgin birth? – Part 1 How do we understand the concept of the Trinity, that God is one with three personalities? Listen to this lesson to hear the biblical explanations of this. Take a trip through both Old and New Testament Scriptures that reveal three Persons and the character traits that all possess. See that God the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the first chapter of the first book in the Bible and understand the meaning of the Word of the Lord.

Life of Christ - Part 1. April 15, 2025• God is One and God is also Three—the Mystery of the Trinity• God the Holy Spirit; God the Son in the Old Testament• God the Son, Jesus: His Life on Earth• Why a virgin birth? – Part 1How do we understand the concept of the Trinity, that God is one with three personalities? Listen to this lesson to hear the biblical explanations of this. Take a trip through both Old and New Testament Scriptures that reveal three Persons and the character traits that all possess. See that God the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the first chapter of the first book in the Bible and understand the meaning of the Word of the Lord.

Inside our theme of love this month, this week we are focusing on teaching our kids what love is. God has assigned us the role of teaching them about love, to lead and be their example, to help them see by words and actions that authenticity is the only way to understand love, especially His love. Real love and intimacy require vulnerability and sincerity. And God's Word is the original love letter from His heart to ours.Today, we're going to look at the first event in Jesus' life that launched His ministry and started His road to the cross: His baptism. Now, you might ask … what does Jesus's baptism have to do with love? Well, it's really about what happened at Jesus's baptism … listen as I read . …The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God's Spirit—it looked like a dove—descending and landing on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: “This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life.” (Matthew 3:16-17 MSG)Did you hear the words of love and affirmation God spoken over Jesus? Imagine for a moment what John witnessed? The Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—all present at this historic event. Now, listen once again, and afterwards, I'll tell you how you and I are connected to this moment.Whenever we choose to enter into a relationship with Jesus, the reconnection of our spirits to His is completed. Please know then, that He will, for the rest of your life, look at you and say, “This is my son, this is my daughter, chosen and marked by my love, the delight of my life.”I'm betting that is exactly the way you look at your child. But you need to know this is how God sees you. And if you can accept and receive that is the way your Heavenly Father sees you, you will then be able to pass that truth on to your kids. If you believe it, they will more likely come to believe it as well.Repeat this truth out loud right now … I am chosen … I am marked … by my Father's love ... and I am the delight of His life. … Say it to Him … You have chosen me … You have marked me … by Your love … and I am the delight of Your life.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You that You chose me, thank You that my life is marked by Your love. Thank You that I am the delight of Your life. Help me to show my kids that You and I, together, feel that way about them. As above, so below.”

"The God of Creation"Genesis Chapter 1The Book of Genesis Series - In The Beginning, GodPastor Nate ClarkeJanuary 26, 2025NEW KIDS SPACE NOW OPEN!We have expanded with 3x more space for the babies, kids, and youth in your family. https://www.instagram.com/oasischurchva/reel/C8FqHIipr3u/Learn about this year's Kingdom Builder's project: https://www.oasischurch.online/kingdom-buildersHow should Christians think about voting and politics? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak82aD16r04OUR NEW VISION STATEMENT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0WFhtL7h3ISERMON NOTES:- Genesis chapter 1- The God of Creation- Genesis: “origins” - Genesis 1:1- Bara: create from nothing (only God)  Asha: prepare from something that exists (God & us)  Ex Nihilo: “out of nothing”- Various Christian Views of Creation:  1) Historic Old Earth Young Humanity Creationism  2) Young Earth Young Humanity Creationism   3) Old Earth Creation / Intelligent design  4) Literary Framework View- There is one God who is all powerful- Psalm 33:6-7, 9- Colossians 1:16-17- Revelation 4:11- The Trinity - God the Father   Genesis 1:1- God the Father  Acts 4:24- Jesus the Son  John 1:1-3- The Spirit  Genesis 1:2- The Spirit  Psalm 104:30- Genesis 1:26- God is intentional and creative in His design- “The more I examine the universe and the details of its architecture, the more evidence I find that the universe in some sense must have known we were coming.” Freeman Dyson- Psalm 104:24-25- Psalm 95: 4-5- We can enjoy God's creation- Genesis 1:28-30- 1 Timothy 6:17 - Psalm 145:9- We should worship God the creator- Psalm 33:6-8- Psalm 19:1-4- Romans 1:20- Psalm 96:11-12- Romans 1:25- We are uniquely made in God's image - Genesis 1:26-27 - Genesis 1:1-2- Genesis 1:31Oasis Church exists to Worship God, Equip the believers, and Reach the lost.We are led by Pastor Nate Clarke and are located in Henrico north of Richmond, VA.STAY CONNECTEDInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/oasischurchva/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OasisChurchRVA/Website: https://oasischurch.onlineOasis Church exists to Worship God, Equip the believers, and Reach the lost.We are led by Pastor Nate Clarke and are located in Richmond, VA.Stay Connected:Website: https://oasischurch.online Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oasischurchva/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OasisChurchRVA/

In this message, Adrian Rogers describes how Christmas is a tribute to the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/135/29

The story of Christmas is a tribute to the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. In this message, Adrian Rogers shares the mystery, history, and ministry of the Trinity.

In this message, we are reminded of the profound simplicity and power of trusting in the Lord, especially during the Christmas season. Reflecting on the story of the Magi from Matthew 2, we see how God used a star to guide these wise men to Jesus, illustrating the importance of following the light that God provides in our lives. The Magi, despite their pagan background, recognized the significance of the star and followed it, demonstrating a deep trust in the divine guidance they received. This trust is a call for us to move out of our comfort zones and follow God's light, even when it doesn't make sense or when it leads us to unexpected places. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus is the light of the world, a theme we've explored throughout December. Light, as explained, is composed of three distinct rays, paralleling the Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This divine light can dispel darkness, just as Jesus dispels the darkness in our lives. The Magi's journey is a testament to the power of this light and the importance of trusting in God's guidance, regardless of our understanding. As we look forward to 2025, we are encouraged to anticipate a revival, where God will speak to people in unexpected ways. The Magi's story reminds us that God can reach anyone, regardless of their background, and that His ways are often beyond our comprehension. We are called to trust in Him, acknowledging that His plans are perfect, even when they appear simple or humble, like the birth of Jesus in a manger. This Christmas, let us remember the simplicity of God's love and the gift of Jesus, who came to bring us hope, peace, and joy. As we partake in communion, we are reminded of the sacrifice Jesus made for us, and we are encouraged to trust in His light and follow His voice, just as the Magi did.

In this episode, we discuss the theological concept of the Trinity–God as Creator of the universe, Jesus of Nazareth, and the Holy Spirit. April gives the historical context for how the early church wrestled to explain their experiences with God within their own cultural context, and how folks argued over words in the creeds–some of it was about conviction, but it was also a power struggle. Ultimately, the early church and all Christians since have been grasping at language to a Mystery that cannot be defined. April and Anna find resonance in the idea that God is love, so of course God would be a community of self-giving and receiving love with Themself–and God invites us to join in that ecstatic dance of Love. We have merch! Get your Bible Dyke Energy Tee and more here: https://www.redbubble.com/people/rtgardenpodcast/shop  Our social media: @reclaimingthegarden on Insta, and Reclaiming the Garden on Facebook. Our personal accounts: @thatpunchabletheaternerd and @April_TheWriter. Also, our podcast account follows a bunch of awesome folks + podcasts in the exvangelical/deconstruction world and progressive Christian world, so if you're looking for more resources, that's a great place to start!

Today, Michael Acock speaks in week 3 on the Trinity. We will spend time this fall focusing on each of the persons in the Trinity, as well has extended time on the gifts of the Spirit. Today's message focuses on the person of God the Father. The Trinity is not simply a doctrine to know but our God that we are meant to experience. We are meant to be loved by the Triune God and to love in response. Over the course of this series, we will spend time on the God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. At Christian Fellowship, we love to say "we are seated in the Father's love, centered on Jesus, and empowered by the Holy Spirit." We hope this message encourages you and helps you know Jesus in a more real way. You can find the full sermon notes and other resources at our website.  Subscribe to us at our YouTube channel, on Apple Podcasts or on Spotify. You can also visit us at Facebook or Instagram.

Today, Michael Acock speaks in week 2 on the Trinity. We will spend time this fall focusing on each of the persons in the Trinity, as well has extended time on the gifts of the Spirit. Today's message focuses on the person of God the Father. The Trinity is not simply a doctrine to know but our God that we are meant to experience. We are meant to be loved by the Triune God and to love in response. Over the course of this series, we will spend time on the God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. At Christian Fellowship, we love to say "we are seated in the Father's love, centered on Jesus, and empowered by the Holy Spirit." We hope this message encourages you and helps you know Jesus in a more real way. You can find the full sermon notes and other resources at our website.  Subscribe to us at our YouTube channel, on Apple Podcasts or on Spotify. You can also visit us at Facebook or Instagram.

Genesis 1: 1-5 In the last of the sermons in this series, we look at the First Person of the Trinity: God the Creator. But we will also use this sermon to talk about what the Trinity means in the first place.

Chapter 2.2: Of God and of the Holy Trinity – God's External Relations God, having all life,17glory,18goodness,19 blessedness, in and of Himself, is alone in and unto Himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creature which He hath made, nor deriving any glory from them,20 but only manifesting His own glory in, by, unto, and upon them; He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things,21 and He hath most sovereign dominion over all creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever Himself pleases;22 in His sight all things are open and manifest,23 His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to Him contingent or uncertain;24 He is most holy in all His counsels, in all His works,25 and in all His commands; to Him is due from angels and men, whatsoever worship,26 service, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever He is further pleased to require of them. 17 John 5:26 18 Ps. 148:13 19 Ps. 119:68 20 Job 22:2–3 21 Rom. 11:34-36 22 Dan. 4:25,34–35 23 Heb. 4:13 24 Ezek. 11:5; Acts 15:18 25 Ps. 145:17 26 Rev. 5:12-14.

"Brothers and sisters, today's topic of Treasures for the Soul is “The Father has loved us as He has loved the Lord.” John 17:23 and 26 tell us that the Father has loved us as He has loved the Lord. This love is the highest and greatest. It is unconditional, and will never change. This love helps us to overcome all feelings, accusations from the devil, and comparisons with others. This love is very real. We need to use our faith to enjoy it and experience it. The Lord explains His love-desire, and the heart and love dream of the Trinity God in His prayer in John 17:24. It's so precious that we can enjoy and experience this love."

Few subjects in Christianity have as much confusion, mystery, or just lack of knowledge around it as the topic of the Holy Spirit. So, in this series, we're going to address it head-on, and explore what the Bible says about the oftentimes “forgotten” Third Person of the Trinity: God the Holy Spirit.In this message, we wrap up our series by taking a look at what the Holy Spirit does THROUGH us. Once we know who He is & what He does, and how He produces the Fruit of the Spirit IN us, we learn that He also wants to work THROUGH us. He gives supernatural, spiritual gifts to every believer to “build up the body of Christ”, the Church. Which means, every Christian has a part to play in God's purposes here on earth!We hope you're encouraged by this podcast! If you have questions about our church or what it means to follow Jesus, we'd love to hear from you! Check out our Instagram @fellowshipya, website www.fellowshipar.com/young-adults, or send us at email at youngadults@fellowshipar.com.Young Adults | Fellowship Bible ChurchA post on Fellowship Bible Church provided by: https://www.fellowshipar.com

Few subjects in Christianity have as much confusion, mystery, or just lack of knowledge around it as the topic of the Holy Spirit. So, in this series, we're going to address it head-on, and explore what the Bible says about the oftentimes “forgotten” Third Person of the Trinity: God the Holy Spirit. In this message, we see that once the Holy Spirit has come to indwell believers in Jesus Christ, things begin to change within us. Once we know who He is and what He does in an overarching sense, we can look more personally at the next question, "What does the Holy Spirit do IN US?" The answer: He begins to produce the Fruit of the Spirit. Healthy things grow. So, if we're spiritually healthy, these things will begin to grow in our lives. We hope you're encouraged by this podcast! If you have questions about our church or what it means to follow Jesus, we'd love to hear from you! Check out our Instagram @fellowshipya, website www.fellowshipar.com/young-adults, or send us at email at youngadults@fellowshipar.com. Young Adults | Fellowship Bible Church A post on Fellowship Bible Church provided by: https://www.fellowshipar.com

Few subjects in Christianity have as much confusion, mystery, or just lack of knowledge around it as the topic of the Holy Spirit. So, in this series, we're going to address it head-on, and explore what the Bible has to say about the oftentimes “forgotten” Third Person of the Trinity: God the Holy Spirit.In this message, our Young Adults Pastor, Brent Cummings, gives an overarching introduction to the Holy Spirit, answering the three big questions of 1) Who is He?, 2) What does He do?, and 3) Why does it matter for us as young adults today?We hope you're encouraged by this podcast! If you have questions about our church or what it means to follow Jesus, we'd love to hear from you! Check out our Instagram @fellowshipya, websitewww.fellowshipar.com/young-adults, or send us at email at youngadults@fellowshipar.com.Young Adults | Fellowship Bible ChurchA post on Fellowship Bible Church provided by:https://www.fellowshipar.com

Luke 16

What is the Trinity? Paul helps us understand in this episode of TURNING HOME called "The Trinity-God's Holy Filter".

John 3:1-17Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do the signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus said to him, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can one be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?”Jesus said to him, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born of water and spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh and what is born of the spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I have said to you, ‘You must be born from above.' The wind blows where it chooses and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus said, “Are you a teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?Very truly I tell you, we speak about what we know and we testify to what we have seen and you do not receive our testimony. If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man, and just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” Holy Trinity Sunday can be kind of a chore for preachers and kind of a snore for those who show up for worship – and on a holiday weekend, no less. On Holy Trinity Sunday, preachers are invited – and expected, maybe – to do the theological gymnastics of TEACHING more than PREACHING, it seems to me, about the doctrine of God's identity that church people call the Trinity … about the namesake of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit … about how they are three in one and one in three … about how they relate to and through one another and to you and me in a very academic sense. Like I said … a chore and a snore. There's a place for all of that, don't get me wrong. I'm just inclined to think it's more meaningful in the classroom than in the sanctuary. It's a head thing, not a heart thing, if you will. And I believe worship is a place for more of the latter.One of the redeeming things, though, about the lectionary on a high-minded, theologically taxing day like today, is that we get to wonder about this moment between Jesus and Nicodemus as part of it all. See, I imagine Nicodemus seeks Jesus out, looking for something like a little academic instruction … some intellectual insight … some theological gymnastics of his own that he can use to either find some common ground or fight with Jesus about it all.And Jesus surprises Nicodemus by being all “you must be born from above” … and “what is born of the flesh is flesh,” and “what is born of the spirit is spirit” … and “the answer my friend, is blowing in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind.” And Nicodemus is like, “How can these things be?!?!”I had a conversation not long ago, that came to mind when I read, again, about Nicodemus coming to Jesus – by night – with his questions about life and faith, flesh and spirit, signs and salvation, and the nature of God. My questioner came by night, too. We were in a bar. This young man knew what I do for a living and, like Nicodemus, had some questions. (I don't remember them exactly, to be honest. Did I mention we were in a bar? And had been there for quite some time, if you know what I mean.)Anyway, he wanted to know something about things like grace and forgiveness and about what it means to “be saved” or “to get into heaven,” and – in short, I think it's fair to say – do we all make the cut? Is there a way to know for sure? Are there any limits to the grace, mercy, and love of God, that churches like ours preach, teach and talk about so much? Like so many of us do, my questioner had been hearing competing versions of the story. Like Nicodemus, he was surprised and skeptical about what I tried to say. “How can these things be!?!”I had another conversation a week or so ago (this time over the phone, not at the bar) with a mother – not from here – whose daughter, away at school, was being forced out of a Christian organization she helped bring to her college campus, because she refused to sign a document or make a profession of faith that denounced and excluded and otherwise deemed LGBTQ+ people to be sinners in need of repentance in order to be worthy of God's love.Like Nicodemus, this wise, faithful, grace-centered, love-your-neighbor-as-yourself kind of young woman was asking, incredulously, “How can these things be!?!”In both of these conversations – and the many others like them that I have fairly often – my go-to Bible verses include this one from John, chapter 3. It's one most people have seen or heard before. But, as some of you know, I prefer verse 17 to verse 16 – or at least I don't like so much that John 3:16 gets all the press and verse 17 never makes it onto the T-shirt or the poster board. Verse 17 says, “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” Jesus came NOT to condemn, but to SAVE. And I think it's safe to assume that if that was God's goal and intention, then it's likely God can make that happen.My other go-to is that bit from Romans where Paul is convinced – and convinces me – that nothing in all of creation – not hardship, or distress, or persecution – not famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword – not death or life, not angels or rulers, not things present or things to come, not powers, or height, or depth – not who or how you love – not the color of your skin – not your gender or your pronouns, and not even if they match the way the world thinks they should – not anything else in all creation, Paul says – nothing – no thing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.“How can these things be!?!”I'm just getting to know – by way of his writing and speaking – a guy named Pádraig Ó Tuama. Among so many other things, he's an Irish poet and a theologian. His book, In the Shelter, was the first thing I read when I started my Sabbatical, a year ago, and he's been popping up in meaningful ways ever since. In Christian Century magazine recently, an interviewer said to him, “My sense is that you are not particularly interested in questions about belief. If that's the case, what does interest you?”Ó Tuama replied, “I mean, what is God? God's just a sound that we make with our mouths. Whatever God is … is discovered … in the possibility of doing something surprising. That sounds like something Jesus would say. “The wind blows where it chooses … you hear it … but you don't know where it comes from or where it's going.”And Ó Tuama also said this: “I don't believe in God as character, but I do believe in God as plot.”And I like that, because it, too, sounds like something Jesus might say. And it resists our temptation and the pretense of Holy Trinity Sunday, that we can put God in a box, labeled with a name – or even three names. “I don't believe in God as character, but I do believe in God as plot.”In other words, for me, at least, God is a plot that doesn't sit still long enough to be defined in the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions of even the wisest, most learned theologians – unless, maybe, that theologian is also a poet.God is the love that lives and moves and breathes among us. God is the hope that allows us to love one another when too many others refuse to share that love. God is the peace that passes all understanding, that catches us off-guard, when we least expect or deserve it.God is plot – in action, on the move, alive and well – not a character, with a single name, standing still, waiting to be painted and hung on a wall or captured with words and printed on a page. [Even God refused to name God's self when they met up with Moses at the burning bush, way back in Genesis. God was “I Am,” whatever that means. And Moses, in his own way, was like, “How can these things be?!?”]God is plot – the unfolding of a story, the development of the narrative, the movement of grace gathering us together and moving us along, too, toward one another and out into the world. God is plot – being born, rushing like water, blowing like wind, ascending and descending, lifting up and being lifted, sending and saving – never perishing, not condemning.My hope for Holy Trinity Sunday – and every day – is that we'll always be on the lookout for the surprising ways of God in our midst. That we'll communicate that with one another and out there in the world – not just by wrestling with doctrine and definitions – but by wrestling with ways to get in on the PLOT of God's plan that we love one another, forgive one another, share grace and generosity that is undeniable, abundant, and as life-giving as the God we know in Jesus, crucified and risen – not to condemn – but to SAVE the whole wide world and God's people in it.Amen

Trinity Sunday is the one Sunday in the church year when we do something a little different. Instead of talking about Old Testament stories or Jesus' teachings or healings, we talk about the Trinity-God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is not specifically mentioned in the Bible, but it is there. Trinity is not an easy concept to understand or explain. In fact, many preachers decide to take Trinity Sunday off!  In order to understand the Trinty, we have to understand both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The time of the Old Testament was the time of God the Father, and that is referred to indirectly in Isaiah 6:1-8. The New Testament era was the time of God the Son in the form of Jesus Christ, followed by the time of God the Holy Spirit, who dwells in the hearts and minds of all believers.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sermons-from-my-heart--2423678/support.

Galatians 4:4-6 — When we think of Christmas, we usually tend to associate it with Scripture passages from the books of Luke or Matthew, but are there other passages in the Bible that shed more light on what happened that day when Jesus Christ became a man born in Bethlehem? Preached just a few days before Christmas, this sermon by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones draws truths from Galatians 4:4-6 that are crucial to our understanding of the celebration of Christmas. First, all three members of the Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit— are involved in our salvation. Second, the focal point of all of this is the coming of Jesus into the world, the reason behind the celebration of Christmas. Paul says that Jesus was “sent forth”— a phrase that has caused many questions throughout the centuries among New Testament scholars, but Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides answers to help us understand what this means. Third, what does Paul's statement of “the fullness of time” mean? Is it in an evolutionary sense that the present is better than the past? No! Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphatically demonstrates that it means God is in control of time and that God has predetermined all of the major events having to do with our salvation. How does this apply to us as we think of Christ's coming? Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds us that ultimately, because of God's sovereignty, our worst time is his best time, and we can rest in that.

Galatians 4:4-6 — When we think of Christmas, we usually tend to associate it with Scripture passages from the books of Luke or Matthew, but are there other passages in the Bible that shed more light on what happened that day when Jesus Christ became a man born in Bethlehem? Preached just a few days before Christmas, this sermon by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones draws truths from Galatians 4:4-6 that are crucial to our understanding of the celebration of Christmas. First, all three members of the Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit— are involved in our salvation. Second, the focal point of all of this is the coming of Jesus into the world, the reason behind the celebration of Christmas. Paul says that Jesus was “sent forth”— a phrase that has caused many questions throughout the centuries among New Testament scholars, but Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides answers to help us understand what this means. Third, what does Paul's statement of “the fullness of time” mean? Is it in an evolutionary sense that the present is better than the past? No! Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphatically demonstrates that it means God is in control of time and that God has predetermined all of the major events having to do with our salvation. How does this apply to us as we think of Christ's coming? Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds us that ultimately, because of God's sovereignty, our worst time is his best time, and we can rest in that. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/603/29

We are a Spirit-Empowered church Acts 1:4-5, 8  //  On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Dunamis Acts 17:6 (NKJV)  //  These who have turned the world upside down have come here too… What is it? Cessationism Practical Cessationists We reject things we don't understand. He is not an it. THE TRINITY: God the Father God the Son God the Holy Spirit THE TRINITY: God for us God with us God in us Ruach – a wind, breath, a violent exhalation, blast of breath. Genesis 1:1-2  //  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Pneuma – a current of air, blast of breath, a strong breeze. He's not weird. He is my inner voice. John 16:8  //  “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.” 1 Corinthians 12:3  //  No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. He is my teacher. John 14:26  //  “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” 1 John 2:27 (NLT)  //  But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know... He is my guide. John 16:13  //  “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” Isaiah 30:21  //  Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” He is my friend. John 14:16  //  “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.” Parakletos 2 Corinthians 13:14 (MSG)  //  “The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.” Ephesians 4:30 (MSG)  //  Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted. “Holy Spirit show me.” Ezekiel 36:26-27  //  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Psalm 139:23-24  //  “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” “Holy Spirit change me.” 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (NLT)  //  For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom... And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. "Holy Spirit fill me.” Ephesians 5:18  //  “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Acts 13:52 (NASB)  //  And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Holy Spirit doesn't make me better than you, it makes me better than me.

Understanding the Trinity is not only important for theology and doctrine, but it's also about enhancing our spiritual journey and strengthening our connection with God. It reveals His multifaceted nature – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – helping us comprehend His profound love for us and how He interacts with us in various ways. Knowing the Trinity also shapes our prayers, worship, and how we live out our faith in a world in need of God's love and grace.

This Sunday(Palm Sunday) at Stonehill is going to be important! We're wrapping up our series on the Trinity, focusing on God the Son - Jesus Christ. It's all about digging into who Jesus really is and why He's such a big deal in the Trinity.Think of it like this: Jesus isn't just a historical figure; He's the heart of our faith. This Palm Sunday, we're diving deep into why Jesus matters and how knowing Him changes everything.

"Confused" is a word many would use to describe their understanding of the Holy Spirit. However, the Holy Spirit doesn't need to be confusing. Using the definition of the Trinity, along with how the Spirit Empowers, Purifies, Reveals, and Unifies, we can know well the third person of the trinity.  And in knowing Him well we can be obedient to His calling.  The Trinity  = God is one in being and three in person.Being = that which makes you WHAT you are.Person = that which makes you WHO you are.• Think less about the ‘What', and more about the Work of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit Empowers Life Physical Life - Job 34:14-15Spiritual Life - Romans 8:11Our Life - Acts 1:8The Holy Spirit Purifies Hearts1 Corinthians 6:11The Holy Spirit Reveals TruthGalatians 5:16Ephesians 1:17-18The Holy Spirit Unifies AllWhat would the Holy Spirit have you do?Need Prayer?

Inside our theme of love this month, this week we are focusing on teaching our kids what love is. God has assigned us the role of teaching them about love, to lead and be their example, to help them see by words and actions that authenticity is the only way to understand love, especially His love. Real love and intimacy require vulnerability and sincerity. And God's Word is the original love letter from His heart to ours. Today, we're going to look at the first event in Jesus' life that launched His ministry and started His road to the cross: His baptism. Now, you might ask … what does Jesus's baptism have to do with love? Well, it's really about what happened at Jesus's baptism … listen as I read . … The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God's Spirit—it looked like a dove—descending and landing on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: “This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life.” (Matthew 3:16-17 MSG) Did you hear the words of love and affirmation God spoken over Jesus? Imagine for a moment what John witnessed? The Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—all present at this historic event. Now, listen once again, and afterwards, I'll tell you how you and I are connected to this moment. Whenever we choose to enter into a relationship with Jesus, the reconnection of our spirits to His is completed. Please know then, that He will, for the rest of your life, look at you and say, “This is my son, this is my daughter, chosen and marked by my love, the delight of my life.” I'm betting that is exactly the way you look at your child. But you need to know this is how God sees you. And if you can accept and receive that is the way your Heavenly Father sees you, you will then be able to pass that truth on to your kids. If you believe it, they will more likely come to believe it as well. Repeat this truth out loud right now … I am chosen … I am marked … by my Father's love ... and I am the delight of His life. … Say it to Him … You have chosen me … You have marked me … by Your love … and I am the delight of Your life. Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You that You chose me, thank You that my life is marked by Your love. Thank You that I am the delight of Your life. Help me to show my kids that You and I, together, feel that way about them. As above, so below.”

Jesus is the Living Word, and the Bible is that most precious book that leads us to Him. in many Christian's lives, the Bible has come to be a replacement for all that Jesus Himself is meant to be, even replacing an entire member of the Trinity- God the Holy Spirit. How can we revere the Scriptures and still keep Jesus first?

Perhaps another name for this series could be “The Truths Every Christian Should Believe and How They Change Us”. There are certain core beliefs that are so vital to the Christian faith that without them you cease to be a Christian. This series is meant to help us discern which doctrines are non-negotiable (closed-hand) and which ones leave room for conversations and questions (open-hand). Today we continue our look at the role the Holy Spirit plays in our spiritual growth (sanctification).THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) February 4, 2024Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Paul teaches us about a Living Hope  Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to  God's chosen people  living as foreigners God the Father knew  chose you long ago,   his Spirit has made you holy.  As a result:  you have obeyed him   have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace. This is the Trinity: God who chose us  The Spirit who makes us holy  Jesus who cleanses us from our sin  He praises God for the rebirth because of Christ  All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Great mercy that we have been born again, God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. As a result of the Resurrection  we live with great expectation,   we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.   God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. (This is judgment day) We can't have this inheritance apart from being born again.    Be glad even in trials Be truly glad wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while  trials will show that your faith is genuine. Trials tests us and purify us  It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. When go is purified and is heated up all the impurities float to the top and they skim off the the impurities so that the the What's Left Behind is the goal that is useful God refines Us by our trials and tests so that we can be used by him  faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. How do you measure a faith that has never been tested?  The tests shows if the faith is genuine and if it is strong And sees what needs to be purified and removed    You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you  rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.  Thomas also known as doubting Thomas wanted to physically stick his hands in the wounds of Jesus or he said that he would not believe but Jesus says that blessed are you who have not seen me and yet believe our faith is a promise that we will see him face to face if we believe in the right now God knows the future and so we hang to the hope that our reward is resting in Trust and our reward is stored for us in heaven  The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. We love him by seeking his glory and allow him to get Glory out of all our circumstances we believe in Jesus by obeying him and we rejoice in Jesus by thanking and praising him because we have a future reward that awaits us in eternity  This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you.  They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ's suffering and his great glory afterward. No amount of Trials or persecution can take away the eternal life promise to those who believe in him  How are you holding on during trials?   The Chew  We hold on to our faith until Jesus returns  

Perhaps another name for this series could be “The Truths Every Christian Should Believe and How They Change Us”. There are certain core beliefs that are so vital to the Christian faith that without them you cease to be a Christian. This series is meant to help us discern which doctrines are non-negotiable (closed-hand) and which ones leave room for conversations and questions (open-hand). Today we continue our look at the Doctrine of the Trinity and the mysterious third person of the Trinity (God the Holy Spirit) and begin to look at His role in our lives of Faith.THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) January 28, 2024Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Perhaps another name for this series could be “The Truths Every Christian Should Believe and How They Change Us”. There are certain core beliefs that are so vital to the Christian faith that without them you cease to be a Christian. This series is meant to help us discern which doctrines are non-negotiable (closed-hand) and which ones leave room for conversations and questions (open-hand). Today we continue our look at the Doctrine of the Trinity by studying the mysterious third person of the Trinity: God the Holy Spirit.THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) January 21, 2024Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Perhaps another name for this series could be “The Truths Every Christian Should Believe and How They Change Us”. There are certain core beliefs that are so vital to the Christian faith that without them you cease to be a Christian. This series is meant to help us discern which doctrines are non-negotiable (closed-hand) and which ones leave room for conversations and questions (open-hand). Today we continue our look at the Doctrine of the Trinity by studying the first person of the Trinity: God the Father. Who is He and why do we call Him “Father”? THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) January 14, 2024Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Our God, who is three in one, wants to be in relationship with you. God is not a proposition to be debated, but a presence to be experienced! 2024 Estimate of Giving: https://www.tmumc.org/pledge Worship Check-in: https://www.tmumc.org/here Online Giving: https://www.tmumc.org/give 

The Holy Spirit is the helper that empowers and partners with me to follow Jesus daily. Synopsis: The Holy Spirit - He is perhaps the most misunderstood and therefore, the most overlooked person of The Trinity. However, He is very active in our lives as we partner with Him to follow Jesus daily. In this series, we will explore The Holy Spirit by asking two questions: Who is He? What does He do?

This episode is from 2021 but I felt led to post it again! The podcast has grown so much in the past year and I believe you can never go wrong talking about WHO God is.The Trinity: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), God the Spirit (The Holy Spirit). Who are the persons of the trinity? Why does it matter? How does learning the Trinity actually change my relationship with God?We answer all of this in this episode of A Christian Podcast with Kevin Wilson.

Can anyone fully understand the functionality of God's triune nature? The doctrine of the trinity has been called "too complex" and outright "pagan." However, the majority of Christianity believe in the trinity, that is, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, which is, essential to their faith. On the contrary, majority of trinitarian Christians have a difficult time attempting to explain exactly how God is 3-in-1. To provide much needed clarity, and explanation of the doctrine of the trinity, Edward Dalcour (Ph.D.) stopped by to talk with Trevy Trev about the triune nature of God.    If you wish to get into contact with Dr. Dalcour, or purchase his books, please do so at: https://christiandefense.org  For more of Dr. Dalcour in featured debates and dialogues, please visit his Youtube page at:  (313) Department of Christian Defense - YouTube     ***Use of the video clip audio is protected under the Fair Use Act. We do not own the rights to the video or audio used in this podcast.***   Please feel free to donate towards our efforts of expanding the podcast: CashApp: $tbthosea46 PayPal: paypal.me/tbthosea46   Find us on social media at: IG @tbthosea46 FB: facebook.com/tbthosea46 Twitter: @tbthosea46

Topic: Knowing God, Discussion of the Trinity (God the Father)

Step into the ancient city of Athens alongside Paul and hear him uncover the identity of the unknown God. This story contains important insights into what is going on today. Join us in this engaging episode as we delve into the parallels between Paul's message and the challenges we face in today's world. Journey with us as we unravel the deception of the mystery Trinity God and uncover the profound truth about the true God.

Our Awesome God -- Part 3: Trinity; Jesus, the Christ MESSAGE SUMMARY: We pray and sing to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – the Trinity: one God and yet three persons in the one God. All analogies fall shot in explaining an incomprehensible God and the Trinity. The Trinity is a mystery, and the word Trinity is not found in the Bible – the Bible has inferences to the Word Trinity and each of its component persons without naming the overarching word “Trinity”. However, the authority of speaking about the Trinity comes from the Bible. During the first few centuries of the Church, Christians wrestled with how to describe and communicate God in writings and teachings. These early Christians, in their study of the Scriptures, saw that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were all Devine; however, they knew that God was one. Therefore, these early Christians concluded that the Scriptures taught that there was only one God; but that the Father is God, the Son is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God – what we now call the Trinity. Today, we will look at the second person of the Trinity – Jesus. Jesus is the rock upon which Christianity is built. Typically, we refer to “Jesus Christ”; however, “Christ “is not Jesus last name. “Christ” is a title that means Messiah. Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, is viewed from three perspectives: 1) the pre-incarnate Christ; the incarnate Christ (God man); and the post-incarnate Christ. In John 1:1-5, the Apostle John tells us that the pre-incarnate Christ was the Word (Logos) and in the beginning. Also, the pre-incarnate Christ was a person, but He was: with God, a deity (God), and a participant in the Creation. Also, the pre-incarnate Christ, in the Old Testament, is referred to as “The Angel of the Lord” (Exodus 3:1-18). Whenever The Angel of the Lord appears in the Old Testament, God ends up being referenced as the person speaking. In John 8:58, Jesus removes all doubt that He was God, The Angel of the Lord, speaking to Abraham in Exodus 3: “Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.'". In John 1:14, the Apostle John identifies the God-man Jesus, the incarnate Christ, as God: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.". Jesus was the person of God's Son and He was Devine. In the year 325, leaders from all over the Church met in Nicaea to debate and understand who Jesus was. These Church leaders came out of this meeting saying that Jesus was co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father. In the Incarnation, Jesus remained God; but, also, Jesus became fully a sinless human – Son of Man and Son of God. The incarnate Christ was crucified, and He was resurrected; and He is living today as the post-incarnate Christ. As the post-incarnate Christ, Jesus is the reigning and redeeming Christ. Also, we are told that the post-incarnate Christ will return. Therefore, Jesus is the visible expression of the invisible God. It is because of Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, that we are able to have access to the first person of the Trinity – God the Father. God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are inseparable because they are one God together in the Trinity. We are God's children; but God, our Father, has no grandchildren. Jesus tells us in John 14:6-7: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.'". The understanding of the Godhead and the Trinity are a gift to us through our Salvation brought to us by Jesus.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus' name, amen.    Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): John 1:1-5; Exodus 3:1-18; John 8:58; Exodus 17:1-6; 1 Corinthians 10:4; John 1:14; Luke 1:35; John 14:6-12; 1 Corinthians 15:3-11; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 1:19-24; Revelation 19:1-21; Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:15; Ephesians 2:18. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Jesus Followers' Righteousness Will Flow, with the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit, from Their Heart Through Their Personal Relationship with Jesus”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Originally published June 2021The mystery of the Trinity is the mystery of God's inner life.  Revealing it to us in Jesus Christ, God shares with us his own deep intimacy so that we can know and love him.  The Trinity is also a mystery in which every Christian is enveloped.    By the work of the Holy Spirit, we are made children of God the Father in God the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. https://comeawaybyyourselves.com

In Apple TV's “Physical,” Sheila Rubin believes that she needs to look great to matter. In the show, we're let in on her inner dialogue which consists of nitpicking different aspects of her body. Her negative self-talk motivates her to diet and exercise, but it also results in compulsive behavior, an eating disorder, and unending body shaming of those around her. By the end of season one, she's successful, but it's come at great cost. She's fit, but she's pushed away everyone she's ever loved. The show is a good illustration of the truth that bad ideas about ourselves and God aren't neutral; they're toxic. Check out Rev. Ben DeHart's sermon on the Trinity — God!

2 John 1:7-13Rev. Erik Veerman5/7/2023The Truth about DeceptionOur sermon text this morning is 2 John verses 7-13. You can find that on page 1214 In the church Bibles.Last week we considered the first half of this short letter. Even though it's written to the elect Lady, we discussed how John was likely writing to a specific church. Given the letter's emphasis and language, that understanding makes sense.John opens the letter with a warm salutation. It's very focused on truth and love. And it turns out that truth and love are the main themes of the first half. He calls on them to walk in truth and love. Not just truth, alone, and not just love, alone, but both truth and love. God's truth and agape love, which comes from God's unconditional covenant love for his people.And that brings us to verse 7… where John makes a shift to now address a specific situation. False teachers, whom he calls deceivers, had been traveling around spreading false beliefs about Jesus. In these verses, he gives this church guidance about their teaching and what they should do about it.Let's now come to God's Word.StandReading of 2 John 7-13.PrayerA few years ago, a famous Vermeer painting was on display at the High Museum of Art. So, we went to see it. It's named The Girl with a Pearl Earing. It's probably Johannes Vermeer's most famous painting. He painted it in 1665. It's worth something like $100 million dollars. One of the reasons is that there are only 36 known Vermeer paintings in the world.In fact, back in 1937, a new painting was found. They named it Supper at Emmaus. Art critics were amazed. One well known famous expert called it “the masterpiece of Johannes Vermeer.” A famous art society purchased it for a very large sum of money – millions in today's dollars.The interesting thing is that over the next few years, 5 more Vermeer paintings were found. And all of them found by the same person. Han van Meegeren. But it all came crashing down. Van Meegeren had sold one of the paintings to a high-ranking Nazi official. Because of that, the Dutch government arrested him. At which point he confessed that that they were all forgeries. Van Meegeren had duped all the art experts. The paint was authentic to the period. He had perfected the style. He slightly baked the paintings in an oven and rolled them on a roller to make the paintings appear old with cracks.It's known as one the greatest art forgeries in history. In a word, Van Meegeren was a deceiver. The thing is, the paintings looked so real. People swore that they were authentic. When you compared the brush strokes, the colors, the style, the lighting and shadows on the painted faces, the background, and the paper, it all looked authentic, but it was a great deception.And that is the warning that the apostle John is giving this church. There were teachers who claimed to be Christians. They sounded good, looked good, and had an aura of authenticity. In fact, many of the words they spoke were probably true. But in the end, they were merely deceivers peddling false teaching…. Or to use John's words, their “wicked works.” verse 11.And I would say, this is still very relevant to us today. Every generation, false teachers arise who claim to be teaching truths about Jesus or the Bible or Christianity, yet the heart of their teaching is a false Gospel.These verses answer two questions for us:1. How do we determine when someone's teaching is true or false? And just to be sure, John is not talking about secondary matters. No, John is referring to essential matters. How do we evaluate when someone's teaching undermines the heart of Christianity? That's the first question.2. The second question is, how should we relate to these false teachers? You see, John doesn't just give them a warning about false teaching, but he also gives them clear guidance. So, what should they do? That's the second question these verses answer.To give us some organization this morning, we'll take those questions in that order. First, how do we identify false teaching? And second, how should we deal with false teachers?Identifying False TeachingThe reason John had just emphasized walking in truth and love is because these teachers were not walking in truth and love. They claimed to be a part of the church, but their teaching contradicted their claim.So, how should we determine whether someone's teaching strikes at the heart of Christianity? That's what we are talking about: a perversion of the central truths of Christianity. Beliefs that invalidate the teaching and the teacher. Notice the words that John uses to describe them at the end of verse 7. They are deceivers and antichrists. In fact, those words are not plural. He writes, “such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.” He's basically calling them the devil. He's not saying there's just one deceiver, he's already said there are many. Rather, their deception originates from the great enemy of the faith. They are each the anti-Christ. He could not use a stronger word to describe them.That word, in fact summarizes their false teaching: anti-Christ. Opposed to Christ. Their teaching undermines the Christian faith – Christ himself. This is the main problem with their teaching.Look down at verse 7. It says, “many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh.” Right there, he hones in on exactly the problem. These teachers do not confess that Jesus is the Christ. In other words, they do not believe that the man Jesus is the promised Messiah. Oh, they believed in Jesus, the man. They believed he was a good teacher. After all, they identified themselves as part of the church. But they did not believe in Jesus' deity.We talked a little bit about this in 1 John. At the time, Gnosticism was on the rise. That was a human philosophy that focused on higher spirituality. To a gnostic, all matter was evil, which included our bodies. For that reason, they did not believe that Jesus was the Christ in the flesh. How could God become something evil – flesh and blood. That was their line of thinking. Therefore, they rejected Jesus as the promised Messiah. They rejected the incarnation, God becoming flesh. They did not believe that Jesus was the son of God in the flesh.Let's go back up to verse 3. In the salutation, John gave a preview of this central issue. Notice in that verse 3 blessing, he emphasizes that Jesus is the Christ and that he is God the Father's Son. That's very intentional because the truth and love of God centers around Jesus as the Son of God - God in the flesh. If you take that part away, you strip the Gospel of its power. In other words, redemption from sin requires Jesus' fullness as God. In order for the death of Jesus on the cross to be effective as a payment for sin, Jesus needed to be fully and truly God. He also needed to be fully and truly man. Being the mediator between God and man for our sin requires a God man. Able to atone for us as a perfectly righteous man, and able pay the depth of the penalty for sin, as God himself. That is the heart of the Gospel.Notice in verse 9… that is the teaching of Christ himself. It says, “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God.” Jesus himself testified over and over that he was God's son, in the flesh. He demonstrated that. It's why the religious leaders hated him. Jesus claimed to be God, claimed to be the Christ. Therefore, to them, he was a blasphemer and deserved death.Let me put it this way, when someone claims to be teaching the truth of God, but denies or twists an essential element of the Gospel, that teaching is not just false in that one area, rather the whole Gospel is undermined.Let's set aside forged paintings. Let me give you a real example.You've probably never heard of Charles Taze Russell. He grew up in the 1850s and 60s in a Presbyterian church in Pennsylvania. As a teenager, he was described as loving the Bible. When he was 18, he started a Bible study with his father. But soon thereafter, Charles Russell began questioning central tenants of the Christian faith, including questioning the validity of the Trinity – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He still considered himself to be a Christian, but he denied that the Holy Spirit was God and he denied that Jesus was God in human flesh. To be sure, he believed in Jesus the man – a special created man, at that, just not Jesus' divine nature. Russel began teaching these things. He also started a magazine and an association called The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Maybe you've heard of that. These false teachings began to spread rapidly. By the 1880s, 16 million copies of his literature had been published. He became very well known all throughout the eastern and northeastern United States. The movement grew. Even after Russell's death, his disciples and other false teachers continued on. In 1931, The Watchtower Society was renamed the Jehovah's Witnesses. It continues today with about 8 million adherents. They have a presence in Tucker.The teachings of the Jehovah's Witnesses are the modern-day parallel to the deceivers in John's day. They claim to have the truth, but they do not believe that Jesus is the incarnate eternal Son of God. Rather, they believe Jesus is a created being with special powers given but not the eternal God. For that reason, as John puts it, “they do not have God.” They are deceivers. Their works are wicked. That is strong language! That's because it is anti-Christ, as John says. The apostle Paul said it this way in Galatians 1, “if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” He repeated that twice in Galatians 1.The Jehovah's Witnesses are just one example today. How can these deceivers be identified? The answer is if any part of their teaching undermines the person or work of Christ. • That would include denying either Jesus as truly God or truly man. • A false teacher would also include anyone who denies the need for the atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross• …or who denies the bodily resurrection of Jesus • …or who denies that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation.• it would also include any kind of denial of the Trinity.Any one of those denials, just one, would go against the teaching of Jesus himself and the apostles as recorded in the Scriptures.And what does the apostle John warn? He writes, “watch yourselves,” verse 8, “so that you may not lose what we have worked for.” They were in a fragile time. The church was in the first few decades of growth. John was the last living disciple of Jesus. And the New Testament was not yet available. In other words, this antichrist teaching threatened to unravel the work which had begun. That is what John is referring to. These false teachers, often unknowingly, were being used by the devil to attack the church. Besides the content of their teaching being heresy, it threatened the unity and spread of the church, which they had worked for.So, this was a matter of utmost importance. In summary: These teachers were denying core beliefs about Jesus and true faith in him, and they therefore threatened the church.Dealing with False TeachersAnd the natural next question is this: what should they do about it?That is the second question this morning. How should they, how should we, deal with these false teachers?Well, John answers that. But before considering what he says, a little context would be helpful. In that time, it was very common for pastors to travel around to different congregations in their region. Small churches didn't have the means to have full-time pastors. These churches were scattered around in villages and towns. Remember, this was before the New Testament was complete. They had some New Testament letters and Gospel accounts but it was limited. At that time, the teaching of Jesus and the apostles was passed down orally. Apostles like John, Peter, and Paul taught their disciples, who would then teach the people. In other words, there were more congregations than there were trained pastors and elders. So, they shared. It was a common thing for a teacher to come into town. The church was expected to greet them and provide for their needs.And by the way, that happens today all over the world. Especially in rural settings. In fact, the seminary that I went to, RTS, has a campus in Jackson, Mississippi. Jackson is a decent size town, but when you get outside the city, it becomes very rural very fast. It's not like Atlanta. And one of the ways that the seminary supports the smaller churches in the area is to send their divinity students to preach. It both helps the small churches and gives the students experience.So, there's nothing wrong with the idea of preachers or teachers travelling around. The issue was the content of their teaching.That background helps us understand verse 10. It says, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting.” They should not be supporting these travelling false teachers. The word “house” could either be hosting them (not giving them a place to stay), or it could be referring to the houses where they worshipped. Whatever the case, the church was not to accommodate them. Don't help them. Don't even greet them with the customary greeting as a brother. Doing either would be supporting their deception. Instead, they were to make a very clear statement that these teachers were not teaching the truth about Jesus nor his Gospel.Now, maybe you're thinking, “ok, but how is that loving? After all, John just said to walk in truth and love. But now he's telling them to not do loving things!” That's a legitimate question. I think the answer is, it would be unloving to receive them. By doing so would cause confusion among the believers. Remember, these were false teachers travelling around. He's not talking about your regular person on the street who is not a Christian, or who may have beliefs contrary to true faith. For them, the call would be to sit down and teach the truth of the Gospel… to reveal Jesus in the fulness of who he is and in the Gospel of grace.But for the teachers, they were propagating false beliefs. In the book of James, chapter 3, it says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” That is a humbling and dauting reality for any teacher of God's Word and truth.Perhaps the Holy Spirit would use the rejection to shake them. To reveal to them their wicked words that they may come to know the true truth of Christ. But the main purpose in rejecting these deceivers is to protect and love the church and clearly call out their deception.What would that look like today?Well, here's one example. Maybe you've seen the two Jehovah's Witnesses women who are often on Main Street. They are there a couple of times per month. Sometimes right outside our office. If I were to invite them in and let them use our office as a base of operations, that would be a problem. In other words, if we support them in any way, we are participating in their false teaching. Now, that's different than wanting to talk to them and open up God's Word and share the truth in a loving way.Another example would be platforming false teachers. That could be inviting a false teacher to teach or preach. It could be endorsing them, or encouraging people to read their books or listen to their podcasts and sermons. We should not do those things. Instead, we should give clear guidance on what is faithful and true versus unfaithful and false.In fact, over the last few months, our youth group has been studying just that. They've been guided through false teaching in the broader American church. That has included a comparison and a contrast of faithful Biblical teaching verses teaching that has gravely strayed from the truth. The thing is, to go back where we started, false teaching can look and sound authentic. It can be packaged in the latest cultural words and ideas that may come across as winsome and relevant and good, but which merely lead people astray.Do not receive them or greet them or platform them. Call out their wicked works.ConclusionBeloved, instead, “abide in the teaching of Christ,” end of verse 9. Believe in Jesus as the “Son of the Father,” verse 3. Confess that “Jesus Christ has come in the flesh,” verse 7.Why?• Because as the author of Hebrews put it, “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.”• As we learn in Colossians 1, “For…all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 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.” And then it says this: “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.”• As John writes in his Gospel. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” And “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us”• As Jesus himself declared, “I and the Father are one.”• As the Angel declared in Luke 1 at Jesus birth, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”• As the Lord himself revealed in Revelation 1 “I am the Alpha and the Omega… who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”• Really, all of the book of Revelation declares that Jesus is reigning as Lord. Seated on the throne. The heavenly hosts declared day and night, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” He is the great victor. The multitude rejoiced over the lamb who was slain but who is now reigning. They sang, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.” On his heavenly robe and thigh, written “King of kings and Lord of Lords”This is who we worship! Christ Jesus, the eternal God who has come to us in the flesh. As the apostle Paul writes in 1 Tim 2, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” He is our hope, our mediator, he has accomplished in his death as God and man, redemption.Beloved, May we lay hold of the precious truth of our Savior. May we reject anything that maligns him or twists the truth about him or his Gospel. Instead, may we believe and confess him in truth and love. Amen

We arrive at the beating heart, not just of Philippians, but of the gospel itself. We see a mini-biography of the second person of the Trinity - God from eternity past, Lord to eternity future - and right in the middle is Jesus's condescension to humanity - one of humility, obedience, and trust in the Father. It's no wonder he is now the King of kings and Lord of lords forever and ever.

Inside our theme of love this month, this week we are focusing on teaching our kids what love is. God has assigned us the role of teaching them about love, to lead and be their example, to help them see by words and actions that authenticity is the only way to understand love, especially His love. Real love and intimacy require vulnerability and sincerity. And God's Word is the original love letter from His heart to ours. Today, we're going to look at the first event in Jesus' life that launched His ministry and started His road to the cross: His baptism. Now, you might ask … what does Jesus's baptism have to do with love? Well, it's really about what happened at Jesus's baptism … listen as I read . … The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God's Spirit—it looked like a dove—descending and landing on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: “This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life.” (Matthew 3:16-17 MSG) Did you hear the words of love and affirmation God spoken over Jesus? Imagine for a moment what John witnessed? The Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—all present at this historic event. Now, listen once again, and afterwards, I'll tell you how you and I are connected to this moment. Whenever we choose to enter into a relationship with Jesus, the reconnection of our spirits to His is completed. Please know then, that He will, for the rest of your life, look at you and say, “This is my son, this is my daughter, chosen and marked by my love, the delight of my life.” I'm betting that is exactly the way you look at your child. But you need to know this is how God sees you. And if you can accept and receive that is the way your Heavenly Father sees you, you will then be able to pass that truth on to your kids. If you believe it, they will more likely come to believe it as well. Repeat this truth out loud right now … I am chosen … I am marked … by my Father's love ... and I am the delight of His life. … Say it to Him … You have chosen me … You have marked me … by Your love … and I am the delight of Your life. Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You that You chose me, thank You that my life is marked by Your love. Thank You that I am the delight of Your life. Help me to show my kids that You and I, together, feel that way about them. As above, so below.”