Hi Phil, I've just now listened to the Chuck Smith video. Very thought provoking and compelling.
It actually raises more questions than answers. Especially someone such as myself who has never been a student of biblical studies.
Where in the bible does Jesus claim to be the Son of God? In that it became a central tenet for him to be put on trial, hence Mary being unable to say he was not (Conceived immaculately).
Jesus claimed that He said so (
John 10:36). Jesus clearly implies it in John 11:4. The demons called Jesus the Son of God (Matthew 8:29; Luke 4:41; Mark 3:11). The charge against Jesus was that He claimed to be the Son of God (Matthew 27:43; John 19:7), a claim He never denied, and virtually admitted (Luke 22:70).
Moreover, Jesus is called God himself in numerous places, John 1:1 is the best example,
written by John, the Apostle and Revelator; This verse shows the eternal nature of the Logo's,. i.e. The Word - Beginning, as in Creation, the Word or Logo's being the very catalyst of all that is seen.
"From before the worlds foundations were laid, I AM..."
"In him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily."
Colossians 2:6
8 Beware lest anyone
[e] cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead [f] bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all [g] principality and power.
The Beginning
(
Genesis 1:1-2)
"
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."
The Witness of John
(
Malachi 3:1-5)
The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
That verse lays out the pre-eminence of Christ, that he was with God "in the beginning" And that all things were made through him and nothing that was made was made apart from him. These words show beyond doubt that Jesus/Yeshua is God, manifest in the flesh.
It's good that the issue of how Jesus was conceived is raised.
My whole problem with the immaculate conception is it's promotion of misogyny, in that women need to remain as virgins if they are to be pure, (Jesus never had a sibling).
It's good that the issue of how Jesus was conceived is raised.
My whole problem with the immaculate conception is it's promotion of misogyny, in that women need to remain as virgins if they are to be pure, (Jesus never had a sibling).
I believe a thorough study of this subject will show you otherwise. I will post more on the conception idea. But in essence the world was condemned through Adam, not individual sins or state of sin. Romans 5 is a must for understanding this issue. Thus it was needful for God to provide the seed of the Messiah, for as you will see in Romans 5, "For in Adam all died, so in Christ all men will be made alive." Christ became the 2nd Adam to represent the
New Creation. e.g. Galatians 6; I will also post it later showing Jesus/Yeshua did indeed have a family, one of his brothers was named James.
So to summarize, God had to provide the seed for the Messiah as he had to be born
"apart from sin." This no doubt, at least for me, was done through
divine fiat, creating Christ as God created the rest of Creation, through divine fiat and the Word, Logo's. e.g. And God spoke, and said, let there be light.
and it was so." The idea of God rolling in the hay with Mary is repulsive and a myth created by critics.
In him is no darkness at all." "God created
all things by the Word of his Power."
I believe that TPTB carry out their agendas by design, using biblical prophecies as a form of blueprint as part of the mind fuck.
I believe this as well. But because they do this,
it does not necessarily follow that the prophecies are false. My own theory on the "tribulation, the 7 year period which begins with the catching away of his congregation on earth unto himself, and terminates with God's Holy City coming down from the heavens and setting it's foundations in greater Israel, is the tribulation will be triggered by the leaders of the world in the second to last final chance of defeating YHWH and his armies of Heaven and will result in
retribution from God. The great Rebellion! Then after he defeats the nations he will judge the nations. And after his judgements he will sit upon his throne as per prophecy to David; And one will take the throne of David and he shall reign 1000 years over the nations with an iron fist, but the end is not yet...
The world leaders will try and
fake the tribulation, the "Time of Jacobs Trouble," (not Armageddon) using mass media control and
every other tool at the disposal and that this hoax will actually be the
"first shot fired." What they think is their "hoax of the tribulation" will in turn start the tribulation. And the 7 years which follow this
"first shot" will be Gods retribution for this worlds rebellion against God and his Christ. That's my present theory and best guess. It might even include a
fake alien invasion for many good reasons. When Gods begins his retribution against the Christ rejecting world and its leaders that led the rebellion, it will at that time be to the Jews first, and then to the Gentiles. "And they made war against he Lamb of God and his people..."
First to the Jews for rejecting him and not recognizing the day of his appearance, Christ first appearance as Son of Man. Son of God.," and then to the Gentile nations for rejecting his gospel/good news of reconciliation with God through Christ and the good news of his Grace. That God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not counting men's sins against them. 2 Corinthians 5:8 The Ministry of Reconciliation. In 1 Corinthians the Apostle Paul tells us exactly what the gospel/good news of Christ is and how simple it is to receive salvation freely offered during this present dispensation; To all men small and great, Jew or Gentile alike. For God has concluded all men under sin. For in Adam all died.
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, |
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body .
45 So also it is written, The
first man Adam became a
living soul. The
last Adam became a
life-giving spirit.
46 Howbeit that is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; then that which is spiritual.
47 The
first man is of the earth, earthy: the
second man is of heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Where O Death is Your Victory? O Death where is Your Sting?
(
Isaiah 57:1-2)
cheers
phil
