CHRIST’S BODILY RESURRECTION ‘I have power to take it again’ Jn 10:18

CHRIST’S BODILY RESURRECTION ‘I have power to take it again’ John 10:18

Watchtower Teaching: ‘Jesus was raised to life as an invisible spirit. He did not take up again that body in which he had been killed . . .’ ‘Let your Name be sanctified.’ (p.266).

The Watchtower teaches that Jesus’ body was disposed of by God.

The NWT mistranslates I Peter 3:18 as ‘being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit’ to teach merely a spiritual resurrection of Christ.

Bible Teaching: I Peter 3:18 refers to when Christ died. His Spirit went and preached to spirits in prison (v. 19,20). After three days, Christ’s physical body was raised.

I Peter 3:18 (KJV) correctly reads: ‘being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.’

Which Scriptures best teach Christ’s bodily resurrection?

1. ‘They were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.’ (v.37) He said unto them, ‘Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.’ (Luke 24:37, 39)

Notice that the resurrected Christ says here that:

(1) He is not a spirit;

(2) His resurrection body has flesh and bones;

(3) His physical hands and feet are proof of His physical resurrection;

Jesus is trying to convince them that He, ‘I myself’ has a permanent physical body which still had the nail scars in His hands and feet. This is opposite to the WT teaching that Christ’s body was disposed of and that He became only a spirit. If the WT claim was correct, then Jesus would be deceiving the disciples here in showing them His body.

2. ‘Then saith he to Thomas, . . . reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.’ (John 20:27)

Here Jesus says that He has a physical side that He challenges Thomas to touch.

3. ‘Neither did his flesh see corruption.’ - Acts 2:30,31

Notice the following:

a) God promised David that ‘according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ’ to sit on his throne.’ (v.30). This is a bodily resurrection of Christ, not spiritual. The NWT omits this because of its corrupt Westcott-Hort Greek text. Well over 38 manuscripts have it.

b) ‘neither did his flesh see corruption’ (v.31) means that Christ’s body did not decay.

Why? Because Jesus was raised from the dead in a material, fleshly body.

4. ‘I will raise it up . . . he spake of the temple of his body.’ - John 2:19-21

‘Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up (v.19). But he spake of the temple of his body.’ (v.21)

Jesus here promised that He Himself would raise up His own body after three days.

Notice how Jesus uses the word ‘body’ meaning a bodily resurrection, not a spiritual resurrection.

5. Christ promises to eat of the fruit of the vine in the Kingdom. Only a body can eat.

‘I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of God shall come.’(Luke 22:18)

Jesus here showed that his resurrected body would be able to eat and drink even in the Kingdom of God. Notice that a non-material spirit cannot eat and drink. Jesus promised the disciples in Luke 22:30 ‘that ye may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom.’

Question: If Jesus expected to become an immaterial spirit, why would He promise the disciples that they would eat and drink with Christ at His table in His Kingdom?

6. Christ ate a broiled fish and a honeycomb in front of them. Luke 24:41,42.

7. ‘he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies’. Rom. 8:11

As Christ’s body was raised physically from the dead, so shall our mortal bodies be raised.

8. His resurrection body could ‘breathe on them’(John 20:22). A spirit cannot breathe, can it?

9. ‘His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives...’ Zechariah 14:4

A spirit does not have feet. Only a physical body has feet as Jesus has at His second coming.

10. ‘One shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands?’ Zechariah 13:6

Question: How can a non-material spirit have wounds in his hands which can be observed?

11. The resurrected, glorified Christ touched John, laying his right hand on him. Rev. 1:17

Watchtower Objection: JWs quote I Corinthians 15:44,50 to support their claim that Jesus was raised from the dead as a spirit creature:

a) ‘It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.’ (v.44)

b) ‘flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.’ (v.50). JWs claim that Jesus must have had a spiritual resurrection, because flesh-and-blood bodies cannot exist in heaven.

They claim that mortality and corruption belong to the fleshly body.

Bible Teaching:

a) The Greek word for body, ‘soma’ (4983), always means a material body, an organised whole made up of parts, when used of a person (Zodhiates, NT Word Study,p.1358). The spiritual

body in I Cor.15:44 is not an immaterial body, but a supernatural, spirit-dominated body.

It is a body directed by the spirit, as opposed to a body under the dominion of the flesh.

There are no exceptions to Paul using ‘soma’ for a material body.

Paul even refers to a believer as a ‘spiritual’ man who judges all things (I Cor. 2:15), yet Paul did not mean an immaterial invisible man with no physical body.

He meant a spirit-controlled man with a flesh and blood body.

QUESTION: In I Corinthians 2:15 (‘He that is spiritual judgeth all things’), is Paul discussing an invisible spirit creature or a material, flesh-and-blood human? Can you see that being ‘spiritual’ does not demand a non-material body? The same is true in I Corinthians 15:44.

b) Key: In v.50 ‘flesh and blood’ is an idiom meaning that mortal, perishable, earth-bound humans, as we are now, cannot have a place in God’s glorious, heavenly Kingdom.

c) ‘this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.’v.53

Nothing is taken away from us (materialness). Instead immortality is ‘put on’ or added to us.

Question: Don’t the words ‘put on’ mean adding something to humanity (that is immortality), not taking away something from humanity (our material body)?

Conclusion: Since Christ’s resurrected body could eat, drink, breathe (John 20:22), show His hands and feet with scars (Luke 24:40), be touched, and have flesh and bones (Luke 24:39), it is certain that this body was a material body. This is especially true since Jesus corrected the disciples’ misconception that they had seen a spirit (Luke 24:37).

For the JWs to say that a body is not a body, is their last resort of redefining common words.

Reprinted with permission from Pastor Keith Piper.   http://www.keithpiper.org/

Dean. www.calvarystudy.info

http://calvary-study.blogspot.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-53GaMT9JMtMPzukkeD6MA

Jesus Christ is the “HUIOS” Son of God, NOT the “Teknon” Son.

Bible Reading: Matthew 16:13-20; Hebrews 1:1-14 

Memory Verse: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matt 16:16; “Express image of his person.” Heb 1:3; “Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Cor 4:4; “Who is the image of the invisible God.” Col.1:15 

Introduction: One of the least understood Bible concepts is “how can Jesus Christ be the Son of God?” This truth is the rock on which Jesus Christ builds His church (Matt 16:18). Most churches don’t teach it. 

This will destroy the Quran, Islam, Watchtower, Iglesia Christo. English has 1 word for son, Greek has 2: 

I. TEKNON (child, offspring, born of, 5043) coming from the verb “tiktoo” (to give birth). 

Jesus is never called the “teknon” “Son of God” or “child of God” because God the Father never gave birth to God the Son, yet this is what Muslims, Quran, JWs wrongly think that Christians believe. NT examples: “the father the child” (Mat 10:21), “leave no children” (Mark 12:19), “they had no child” (Lk 1:7),Ac21:5 

II. HUIOS (same nature as, 5207) means that Jesus has the same nature as God. Zhodiates 1371,1404 1. 

9 Examples: “son of peace” (Luke 10:6) has the nature of peace, “children of light”, “children of the day” (Luke 16:8, I Thess 5:5; John 12:36 lightened with God’s knowledge), “children of disobedience” (Eph 2:2; 5:6; Col 3:6), “sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17), Barnabas was “son of consolation” (Acts 4:36), “children of the resurrection” (Luke 20:36), Judas was “son of perdition” (John 17:12; 2 Thess 2:3 nature of destruction, waste, ruin, damnation), “child of hell” (nature of deserving hell, Matthew 23:15). 2. Jesus is the “only begotten” (Greek: monogenes 3439) son of God in John 1:14,18; 3:16,18; I John 4:9 means “mono” (one) “genes” (same in every detail) as God. 

Jesus has 120 attributes of God.

3. The Son of God is defined as, “being the brightness of his glory, & the express image of his person, upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins” Hebrews 1:2,3. Huios is image of the Father as TV, laptop, iphone screen is image of TV station, hard drive & sim card. 

4. The Son is the part of God who “goes forth” or “goes out” from God to interact with the physical universe, to visit people, to comfort, deliver or bring a message to them in 27 verses. See p.83, 58 Micah 5:2 “he (Son) come forth unto me whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” 

5. If “no man has seen the Father” (John 6:46), then who did OT people see that they said was God? Answer: It was Jehovah God the Huios, who “goes out” from God to visit people on earth. It was God the Huios that visited Adam (Gen 3:8), Hagar (Gen 16:13), Abraham (Gen 19:24), Jacob (Gen 32:30), Moses (Exodus 3:4), in a pillar of cloud (Ex 13:21; 14:19,24), Elders of Israel (Ex24:9-11), to Israel on a rock (Ex 17:5-7), Joshua (5:12-14), Manoah (Judges 13:22), Samuel (I Samuel 3:10,21), Solomon (I Kings 3:5; 9:2), Isaiah (Isaiah 6:5; John 12:41), Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:26,28; 10:20). Und 1269. 

6. Jesus Christ is 100% God the Huios & 100% man, operating through both natures (eg:bi-lingual). Christ’s twin nature in: a) sleeping as a man (Mark 4:35-41), stilling storm as God (Ps.107:29).b) Matt22:45 c) praying as man, walking on water as God (Matt 14:22-27). d) weeping at funeral, raising Lazarus (John 11 e) hungry as man, cursing fig tree as God (Mark 11:12-21). f) crucified as man, blacking sun as God (Mk 15 )

7. Jesus accepted worship (proskuneo):Matt.8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 20:20; 28:9,17;Mark 5:6; Luke 24:52;Jn9:38 

8. Trinity verses: Matthew 28:19; I John 5:7; 2 Cor 13:14; Isaiah 48:12,13,16; 63:7-10; 2 Samuel 23:2,3. 

9. NWT translate ‘proskuneo’ as worship for Father (19), angels (2), devils (14), but ‘obeisance’ for Jesus. 

10. NWT translates “ego eimi” 49/50 times in John as “I am”, except in John 8:58 as ‘I have been’. Why? 

11. 40 Verses teach that Jesus Christ is God: Matthew 28:17-20; (equal with God.John 5:18); (honour the Son even as. Jn 5:23); (If ye believe not that I am John 8:24); (Before Abraham was, I AM. 58,59); (all the Father has are mine 16:15); (glory I had with thee. 17:5); 20:28; (all call on JC. I Cor 1:2); (In him dwells all the fullness of the godhead bodily. Col 2:9); (God bring with him I Thess 4:14); (great God and our Saviour. Titus 2:13; I Tim 3:16; SONIV p.7); (angels of God worship him. Hebrews 1:6); (Thy throne, O God) 8, (Thou Lord in beginning) 10; (Alpha & Omega = First & Last = Almighty; Rev 1:17,18,11,8) (JHVH the King & His redeemer JHVH of hosts Isaiah44:6); 9:6; (this gate shall be shut Ezekiel44:1,2); (I will go.Hosea 5:15); (my price 30. Zechariah 11:4,12,13); (they shall look on me 12:9-10); (JHVH his feet Z14:3-5; Act 1:10-12); (JHVH says JHVH of hosts has sent me Zech 2:8-11); (Lord of all. Acts 10:36); Micah 5:2 (qedmah) = Habakkuk 1:12 (qedmah). Both Father and Huios are the only judge (Ps 82:8; John 5:22), only Saviour (Isa 43:11, John 5:22), only Creator (Mal 2:10; John 1:3), only forgiver of sins (Mark 2:5,7), only Rock (Ps 18:31; I Cor 10:4); only glory (Isaiah 42:8; John 17:5); Jesus & God own the same throne, servants (Rev22:3), face, name 22:4, temple 21:22, light23, priests20:6 

How can Jesus Christ be the Son of God and God the Son?

We basically have two very important questions.

How can Jesus Christ be the Son of God?

In English, we have only one word for Son, which is “Son” meaning a boy derived from his parents. The New Testament was written in the Greek language, and Greek has two words for “Son” being: 

1. TEKNON means a boy, derived from his parents. This word, TEKNON is never used in the New Testament to describe Jesus as the “Son of God,” because we all agree, both Muslims, Christians, Quran and the Bible, that God does not have sex, does not have a wife, girlfriend, or babies. True? 

2. HUIOS means same nature as, eg. Son of peace (Luke 10:6) means you have the nature of peace, or sons of disobedience (Eph 5:6). Jesus as “Son of God” means that He has 100% the same nature as God. Jesus is also called in the New Testament the “only begotten”(Greek: mono genes) Son (huios) of God. 

1. “mono” means “one and same”, for example the monorail travels on one rail. 

2. “genes” means “genetics”. We have about 23,600 genes which determine our every detail. So, Jesus as the “only begotten Son of God” means that He has the same genetics and the same nature as God. 

How can Jesus Christ be God? 

 

In Genesis 1:26, “God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” 

This shows that man has a similar image or likeness to God. What is it? Thinking about yourself, you are one man, with three parts. 

1) You have a body giving you world consciousness through your 5 senses. Your body is 100% human. It allows you to interact with the physical universe. 

2) You have a soul made up of your mind, emotions and will, also known as your personality. This gives you self consciousness. It is 100% human. 

3) You have a spirit giving you God consciousness making you think that there is a God. It is your “God detector.” It is 100% human. You are 1 man with 3 parts. You are a trinity, meaning 3 in one. I Thes 5:23 

►We can represent God in a similar manner with 3 circles. Islam, Quran, Christianity and the Bible all believe in one God. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus teaches that there is only one true God by the singular word name, not names, “baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”. The one true God has three parts known as the Father, the HUIOS Son and the Holy Spirit. 

1) As we have a spirit that is 100% human, so God has a Spirit called the Holy Spirit, who is 100% God. 

2) As we have a body that is 100% human that interacts with the physical universe, so God has something like a body through which He interacts with the physical universe, called the Huios who is 100% God. It was God the Huios Son that spoke and appeared to Adam, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Solomon, Isaiah and who was conceived into Mary as Jesus Christ. Before His conception, the Huios Son was only 100% God, but after His conception He was both 100% God and 100% man. It is like you having both an Iranian passport and an Australian passport. This makes you 100% Iranian and 100% Australian. 

3) As you have a soul which is 100% human that tells your body what to do, so God has something like a soul called God the Father who tells the Huios Son what to do, such as to be conceived in Mary. 

Therefore, as you are one man with a spirit, soul and body, each being 100% human, so there is one true God made up of the Father, the Huios Son, and the Holy Spirit, each part being 100% God. As you are a trinity, so God is the Trinity, made up of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

This is in Proverbs 30:4;  Psalm 2:12; Isaiah 9:6; 48:12,13,16; Daniel 3:25; Micah 5:2; Exodus 3:3-15; 24:9-18; John 8:58,59,24.

Reprinted with permission from Pastor Keith Piper.   http://www.keithpiper.org/

Dean. www.calvarystudy.info

http://calvary-study.blogspot.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-53GaMT9JMtMPzukkeD6MA

Psalm 110:1 ‘The Lord (YHWH3068) said to my Lord (Adonai136) sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.’

Psalm 110:1 ‘The Lord (YHWH3068) said to my Lord (Adonai136) sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.’

Watchtower teaching: JWs say that since Jehovah is speaking in this verse and since the ‘Lord’ is a distinct person from Jehovah, then Jesus must not be Jehovah God Almighty.

In Matthew 22:41-45 Jesus claims that He Himself is the ‘Lord’ referred to by David in this Psalm. They therefore conclude that Jesus is not Jehovah, but the one Jehovah speaks to.

Bible Teaching: This verse proves the deity of Christ.

Question 1: Christ asks the Pharisees, ‘Whose Son is he (Christ)?’ regarding the deity of the Messiah. (Matthew 22:42)

Answer: The Pharisees reply, ‘The son of David’. Their answer was correct but incomplete. II Samuel 7:12-16 shows the Messiah to be the human son of David.

Psalm 110:1 shows the human Messiah also to be God (Adonai), a fact that Christ wanted the Pharisees to acknowledge. Christ anticipated the Pharisees’ half-answer.

That’s why Christ then asks a question regarding Psalm 110:1.

Question 2: ‘The LORD (YHWH 3068) said unto my Lord (Adonai 136), sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. If David then call him (Messiah, Christ, Son of David) Lord (Adonai 136), how is he (Adonai=God) his (David’s) son?’(Matt 22:44,45)

Answer: Here the first person of the Trinity (God the Father) invites the second person of

the Trinity (God the Son) to sit at His right hand.

It seems odd that David would call his own son ‘My Lord’ (Adonai, a title used exclusively of God). The Messiah would be David’s son, but He would also be David’s God. He would be both God and man.

Question 3: Jesus drove the point home to the Pharisees by asking,  ‘If David then call him Lord (Adonai, Deity), how is he his son?’ (Matthew 22:45)

Answer: The Pharisees should have replied that ‘David called his son Lord because He is God as well as man.’ But they would then be trapped into allowing Christ to be the Messiah, being both man and God. The Pharisees realised their dilemma, so they refused to answer.

Key: Psalm 110:1 proves the undiminished deity of Jesus Christ, because the same word used for ‘Lord’ (Adonai) in Psalm 110:1 of Jesus Christ (Adonai the Son) is also used of the Father (Adonai the Father) many times in Scripture, such as:

1) ‘Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord (Adonai) God (YHWH 3068)’. (Exodus 23:17).

2) ‘For the Lord (YHWH 3068) your God (Elohim 430) is God (Elohim) of gods, and Lord (Adonai 136) of lords, a great God (El 410), a mighty, and a terrible’(Deuteronomy 10:17)

3) ‘Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord (Adonai 136) of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan’. (Joshua 3:11)

4) ‘And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord (Adonai) God (YHWH)...’ (Joshua 7:7)

5) ‘I prayed therefore unto the Lord (YHWH 3068), and said, O Lord (Adonai) God (YHWH 3069), destroy not thy people . . .’ (Deuteronomy 9:26)

Other references to Lord (Adonai136) God (YHWH) are:

Deuteronomy 3:24; Exodus 34:23; 15:17; 4:10,11; 5:22; Judges 6:22; 13:8; 16:28;

II Samuel 7:18,28,29; I Kings 2:26; 8:53; Psalm 68:20; 69:6; 71:5,16; 73:28; 109:21; 141:8;

Isaiah 3:15; 28:16; 22:5,12,14,15; 25:8; 40:10; 48:16; 49:22; 50:4; 52:4; 56:8 etc.

Ask: Did you know that ‘Adonai’ (Lord) used of Jesus Christ in Psalm 110:1 is also used of the Father in Exodus 23:17; Deuteronomy 10:17; Joshua 3:11?

Ask: Can you see that Jesus’ statement to the Pharisees in Matthew 22:42-45 was that the Messiah (Christ) would be David’s son as well as David’s God (Adonai)?

Question: Does ‘Adonai’ mean Jehovah God?

Answer: Yes, for these reasons:

1) It is linked together with ‘YHWH’ (Exodus 23:17).

2) Jehovah calls himself ‘Adonai’ in Isaiah 8:7, ‘The LORD (YHWH) spake also unto me again saying:. . . Now therefore behold the Lord (Adonai) bringeth up ...’

3) WE Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of OT and NT Words, p.140 states that ‘Adonai’ applies to God:

The JW claim that Jesus cannot be God because Jehovah spoke to Him, is faulty because we who are from the finite earthly realm cannot assume that God who is of infinite heavenly realms must fit into our earthly logic patterns with which we are familiar. God’s ways aregreatly above our ways. For example, in Genesis 18:1-3 Abraham addressed the three visitors as ‘Jehovah’. The two who left to visit Sodom, Lot called them ‘Jehovah’ (19:18), yet the one who remained, Abraham continued to address Him as ‘Jehovah’

(18:22,26,27,30,31,32,33).

Note: JWs often mockingly ask the question when Jesus prays to Father: ‘Does God talk to Himself?’ Yes He does, as in Genesis 18:17-19 where God asks Himself a question: ‘And Jehovah said, Am I keeping covered from Abraham what I am doing?’ Later in v. 22 Jehovah separates.

Hence the Father can talk to the Son, with the Son still being 100% God.

Ask: If you reject the Trinity because you can’t understand it, then how do you explain how a brown cow by eating green grass gives white milk?

The Trinity and Bible Proofs that Jesus Christ is God

 The Trinity and Bible Proofs that Jesus Christ is God

1. Matthew 28:17-20 “they worshipped him”, “All power is given to me”, “I am with you always” and “baptizing them in the name (one God) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” = Trinity.

2. In Matthew 3:1-3, Jesus Christ fulfils Isaiah 40:3 to ‘Prepare the way of Jehovah’ and our God.

3. John 1:1 “the word was God” (KJV, NIV), not ‘a god’ (NWT). a) Isaiah 44:8 ‘Is there a God beside me?’ b) The absence of the article before “theos” (God) identifies “word” as the subject (Colwell’s rule)Ans855

‘The subject is identified by the article (ho logos) and the predicate (theos) without it.’ AT Robertson 5,4.

John did not use the word for “Godlike or a lesser god” (theios) to describe Jesus, but used “theos” (God).

All early writers disagree with JWs. (Irenaeus,Theophilus, Clement,Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian, Tatian).

All modern Greek experts disagree with JWs. (Zodhiates, AT Robertson, Wuest, Vine, Vincent, Mantey)

4. John 1:3 “All things were made by him” Malachi 2:10 “Hath not one God created us?” Jesus is Creator.

5. John 3:13 “Son of man which is in heaven.” Jesus is omnipresent (on earth and in heaven at same time)

6. John 4:42 “Christ, the Saviour of the world.” Isaiah 43:11 “Jehovah; beside me there is no saviour.”

7. John 5:18 “said God was his Father, making himself equal with God”. John believed it and quoted it.

8. John 5:23 “all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father” Do you honour the Son as God?

9. John 6:46 “Not that any man hath seen the Father.” Who did OT saints see who they said was God? Is6:5

10. John 8:24 “If ye believe not that I am, ye shall die in your sins.” Jehovah is “I am” in Exodus 3:1-14.

11. John 8:58,59 “Before Abraham was, I am. They took up stones to cast at him.” Jesus said He is God.

12. John 10:30 “I and my Father are One. They took up stones to stone him.” No stoning if agree with God.

13. John 10:33 “thou being a man, makest thyself God. They sought again to take him (39)”. Why?

14. John 16:15 “All things that the Father hath are mine:” All the Father’s attributes as God are Christ’s.

15. John 17:5 “the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” Isaiah 42:8 “I am Jehovah: my glory will I not give to another.” Jesus is Jehovah because he alone shares Jehovah’s exclusive glory.

16. John 20:28 “Thomas said unto him (Jesus), My Lord and my God.” No rebuke for blasphemy or error.

17. Acts 20:28 “Feed the church of God, which he (God) hath purchased with his own blood.” Jesus =God

18. I Cor. 1:2 “all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ.” Prayer to Jesus makes him God.

19. I Corinthians 15:47 ‘the second man is the Lord from heaven’ This is Jesus. No man is from heaven.

20. II Corinthians 13:14 is the Apostolic Benediction:“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.” (II Corinthians 13:14).

Why is there a change in the order of the persons of the Trinity, compared to Matthew 28:19, if not to show that in this Trinity none is before or after the other, and none is better than another?

21. Philippians 2:6 “Who being in the form of God (in His pre-incarnate state Christ had the form of God) thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” (a prize to be held on to, not a prize to be won. AT Robertson).

22. Colossians 2:9 “In him (Christ) dwells all the fullness (exhausts the limits) of the Godhead bodily.”

23. I Thes 4:14 “them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” Jesus returns as God at rapture.

24. I Timothy 3:16 “God was manifest in the flesh.” Jesus is God the Son conceived in Mary.

25. Titus 2:13 “the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Granville-Sharp rule: Jesus is God and Saviour.

26. Hebrews 1:6 “Let all the angels of God worship him.” Only worship God. Matt 4:10, Ps97:7 Son is God

27. Hebrews 1:8 “To the Son he saith, ‘Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever’” Psalm 45:6,7. Son is God.

28. Hebrew 1:10 “And (to the Son he saith), Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:.thou art the same.” Son is unchangeable creator. Ps102:24

29. Hebrews 1:13 To which of the angels said he, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? 35

30. I John 5:7 “There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” 

The heavenly and earthly witnesses in v.7,8 are confirmed in v.9 by God and men.

The masculine article (oi) for “that” in v.7 is derived from the masculine nouns “Father and Word” in v.7.

31. Revelation 1:17,18 “I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth and was dead;” Jesus = first and last.

Revelation 1:11 “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:” Jesus = first and last = Alpha and Omega.

Revelation 22:12,13 “I come quickly; I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.” Jesus=Alpha & Omega.

Revelation 1:8 “I am Alpha and Omega, the Almighty.” Jesus = first & last = Alpha & Omega =Almighty

32. Revelation 22:3 “the throne of God and of the Lamb.” Both God and the Lamb equally own the throne.

Revelation 22:3 “his servants shall serve him:” Both God and the Lamb equally own the same servants.

Revelation 22:4 “they shall see his face.” Both God and the Lamb have the same face.

Revelation 22:4 “his name shall be in their foreheads.” Both God and the Lamb have the same name.

Revelation 20:6 “they shall be priests (of God and of Christ), and shall reign with HIM a thousand years” Revelation 21:22 “for (the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb) are the temple of it.” Both are temple of NJ Revelation 21:23 “for (the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light) thereof.” Both light of NJ

33. God identifies Himself as “us” (a Trinity) in:‘God said “let us make man in our image”’ Genesis 1:26 ‘Jehovah God said, “Behold the man is become as one of us . . .’ Genesis 3:22. ‘Jehovah came down … the Lord said, let us go down.’ Genesis 11:5,7 ‘who will go for us?’ Isaiah 6:8. 34. Exodus 3:14 “I AM hath sent me unto you.” ‘I AM’ is the name of the angel of Jehovah, Jehovah, God (2,4,6) & Jesus in John 8:58 “Before Abraham was, I AM” & John 8:24 “If ye believe not that I AM”

35. Psalm 110:1. God told David that David’s son would be David’s God. ‘The LORD (Jehovah) said unto my Lord (Adonai), Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.’ Jesus applied this to Himself in Matthew 22:41-45 as a question: ‘If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?’ This shows that Jesus Christ would be both a man descended from David and David’s God.

36. Isaiah 6:1-8,5. “Mine eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts” on the throne in heaven. God asked Isaiah “who will go for us?” (‘us’ = trinity). In John 12:37-41, John said, “These things said Esaias when he saw his (Jesus) glory, and spake of him (Jesus).” Jesus was the King, Jehovah of hosts that Isaiah saw.

37. Isaiah 9:6 ‘Unto us a child is born (human Jesus),unto us a son is given (God the Son): his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God.” Jehovah is Mighty God in Isaiah 10:21;Jer32:18; Ps 50:1

38. Isaiah 44:6 ‘Thus saith Jehovah the King of Israel (Father) and his redeemer Jehovah of hosts (Son)”

39. Isaiah 48:12,13,16 “Hearken unto me…Mine hand also has laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand has spanned the heavens:…Come ye near unto me,..the Lord GOD, and his Spirit has sent me.”

Me, mine, my and me is God the Son describing his two works of creation and of incarnation to save man.

40. Ezekiel 44:1,2 “This gate shall be shut…because Jehovah, the God of Israel has entered in by it.”

In Luke 19:45-47 Jesus, who is Jehovah, fulfilled this prophecy, entering the east gate on a colt in 33AD.

41. Hosea 4:1 and 5:15. Jehovah will return to ‘my place’ (heaven), till the Jews admit their offence of killing Jesus. “Hear the word of the LORD (Jehovah) (4:1),.I will go and return to my place (heaven), till they (Jews) acknowledge their offence (of killing Jesus), and seek my face: in their affliction (7 year tribulation) they (Jews) will seek me early.” Jehovah the Son came from heaven to be born of Mary as a man, he was rejected and crucified by the Jews. The resurrected Lord Jesus returned to heaven. Jesus will return when the Jews acknowledge their offence of killing Jesus. This occurs after the 7 year tribulation.

42. Zechariah 11:4,12,13. “Thus saith the LORD (Jehovah) my God; (v.4). If ye think good, give me my price; So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver (v.12)….I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD’ (Zechariah 11:4,12,13). (silver, temple floor, potter field) These three prophecies were fulfilled in Judas betraying Jesus Christ in Matthew 26:14-16 and 27:3-10.

43. Zechariah 12:9-10. When Jesus Christ returns to earth, He is identified as Jehovah God whom Israel pierced on the cross. “I (Jehovah) will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem (v.9). They (Israel) shall look upon me (Jehovah) whom they have pierced.” Jesus fulfilled this in John 19:37.

44. Zechariah 14:3,4,5,9. When Jesus Christ returns to earth on the Mount of Olives, He is identified as Jehovah God (Zechariah 14:3,4). ‘Then shall the LORD (Jehovah) go forth and fight against those nations, And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives (v.3-4)....the LORD (Jehovah) my God shall come, and all the saints with thee (v.5)….the LORD (Jehovah) shall be king over all the earth.’ When Jesus ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives, two angels told those witnesses present that “this same Jesus shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:10-12).

45. In Zechariah 2:8-11, Jehovah the Son states twice that Jehovah the Father has sent Him to Israel. This proves that there are at least two persons in the Godhead, both called Jehovah.

“For thus saith Jehovah of hosts (the Son).. (v.8) Ye shall know that Jehovah of hosts (the Father) hath sent me (v.9). ‘I (Jehovah the Son) will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that Jehovah of hosts (Father) hath sent me unto thee.” (v.11).

Lesson: Jehovah (the Father) sends Jehovah (the Son). Two persons here are named Jehovah. This clearly proves that Jesus Christ in His pre-incarnate state is fully Jehovah God.

46. In Zechariah 3:2 “Jehovah said unto Satan, Jehovah rebuke thee, O Satan”.

One person in the Jehovah Godhead speaks about another person in the Jehovah Godhead. See Isaiah 48:16 Rules of Grammar dictate that: “Jehovah (the first person = person speaking) said unto Satan (the second person = person spoken to), Jehovah (the third person = person spoken about) rebuke thee.”

Reprinted with permission from Pastor Keith Piper.   http://www.keithpiper.org/

Dean. www.calvarystudy.info

http://calvary-study.blogspot.com/

John 17:3 ‘know thee the only true God’

John 17:3 ‘know thee the only true God’

The Watchtower says that, because the Father is called ‘the only true God’, then Jesus cannot be the true God.

The context is Jesus as a man, praying the great high priestly prayer to the Father, and as such it was proper for the man Christ Jesus to call the Father ‘the only true God’.

Christ would not have said this if it was spoken from the viewpoint of His deity.

Ask: Since Jesus being called our only Lord (Jude 4 NWT) does not exclude the Father (Matthew 11:25) and the Holy Spirit from being called Lord, why must the Father being called ‘the only true God’ exclude the Son and Holy Spirit from being called God?

Ask: According to John 17:3, how many true Gods are there? (One).

Do you agree that whatever is not true is false?

If there is only one true God, all other gods must be false gods.

In John 1:1 NWT says that Jesus is a god, right? Is Jesus a true God or a false god?

He cannot be a false god, can He, since that would mean John was guilty of falsely honouring Jesus as a god. Therefore Jesus must be a true God.

But Jehovah is the only true God. Therefore Jesus must be Jehovah.

Reprinted with permission from Pastor Keith Piper.   http://www.keithpiper.org/

Dean. www.calvarystudy.info

http://calvary-study.blogspot.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-53GaMT9JMtMPzukkeD6MA

ABCs of Christian Life. Study # 8. The Holy Spirit

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The Holy Spirit

There is a great deal of confusion about the Holy Spirit. Many cults deny He is a Person and that He is God, saying the Holy Spirit is just a “force” or “influence.” On the other hand, the Christian Movement, which has absolutely swept today’s religious world, places extreme emphasis on the Holy Spirit – teaching such things as “ecstatic utterances,” “healings,” and “exorcism.”

As with all these studies, our aim is to look beyond what men say and see what the Bible teaches!

Study Outline

1.   Who is the Holy Spirit?

2.   What has the Holy Spirit done in times past?

3.   What is the work of the Holy Spirit today?

4.   What does the Holy Spirit do when we are saved?

5.   What is the relationship between the Holy Spirit and me?

6.   What about “Speaking In Tongues” and “Divine Healers?”

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1.   Who is the Holy Spirit?

A.   Look up: Acts 5:3, 4 ³ But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? ⁴ Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

In verse 3, Ananias is said to have lied to the Holy Spirit, but in verse 4 he is said to have lied to God. The conclusion we can draw is that the Holy Spirit is God.

B.   Look up I John 5:7 ⁷ For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

This verse tells us that the Holy Ghost is one with both the FATHER and the WORD (Jesus, God the Son).

C.   Look up Matthew 28:19 ¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Notice the word “Name” is singular, which again shows the Holy Spirit to be God

– the Third Person of the Holy Trinity.

D.   Look up John 14:16, 17 ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; ¹⁷ Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

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John 14:26 ²⁶ But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

How many personal pronouns (He, Him, Himself) that apply to the Holy Spirit do you count in these scriptures? = 6

E. Look up John 16: 7, 8 ⁷ Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. ⁸ And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

John 16:13, 14 ¹³ Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. ¹⁴ He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Can you draw a conclusion that the Holy Spirit (The Spirit of God) is a

person… not just an impersonal force?

F.    List three (3) ways the Holy Spirit may be affected as a Person:

You can lie to Him - Look up Acts 5:3 ³ But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

You can resist Him - Look up Acts 7:51 ⁵¹ Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

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You can grieve Him - Look up Ephesians 4:30 ³⁰ And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

2.   What has the Holy Spirit done in times past?

A.   Look up Genesis 1:2 ² And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Job 33:4 ⁴ The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. (spoken by Elihu ?) The Holy Spirit was active in the formation of the Earth and all things.

B.    Look up II Peter 1:21 (starting with verse 20) ²⁰ Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. ²¹ For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit is the author of prophecy!

C.   Look up Luke 1:35 ³⁵ And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. The Holy Spirit was part of the miracle of the birth of Jesus.

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D.   Look up Romans 1:4 ⁴ And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Romans 8:11 (starting with verse 10) ¹⁰ And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. The Holy Spirit was instrumental in the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

3.   What is the work of the Holy Spirit today?

A.   Look up John 15:26 (starting with verse 25) ²⁵ But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

²⁶ But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: ²⁷ And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. The Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus Christ.

B.   Read John 16: 8-11 (and more) ⁸ And when he is come, he will reprove (convict)

the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹ Of sin, because they believe not on me; ¹⁰ Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; ¹¹ Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (The

Holy Spirit will convict men of: sin, righteousness, and judgement.) ¹² I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. ¹³

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Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. ¹⁴ He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

C.   When we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, it is thwe Holy Spirit who doeas the work of regeneration (we are “born again”):

i.      Look up Titus 3:5 ⁵ Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

ii.     Look up John 3:5 ⁵ Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

iii.    Look up John 6:63 ⁶³ It is the spirit that quickeneth (make alive); the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

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4.   What does the Holy Spirit do when we are saved?

A.   Look up Romans 8:9 ⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. He comes and DWELLS in you.

B.    Look up John 14:23 ²³ Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him,

and make our abode with him. God will live in the heart of every believer.

C.   Look up I Corinthians 6:19 ¹⁹ What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Our fleshly body will become a temple for the Holy Ghost.

D.   Look up to see that every Christian is Sealed with the Holy Spirit.

i.      Ephesians 1:13 ¹³ In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

ii.     Ephesians 4:30 ³⁰ And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

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E.    Look up John 16:17 ⁷ Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter.

F.    Look up Romans 8:26 – 27 ²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for

we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. The Spirit makes intercession for us.

5.   What is the relationship between the Holy Spirit and me?

A.   He is always dwelling in us: II Timothy 1:14 ¹⁴ That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

B.   He enables us to know the things of God’s Word, for He is our teacher. Look-up: I Corinthians 2:12-14 ¹² Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. ¹³ Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. ¹⁴ But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for

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they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

C.   A Christian can grieve the Holy Spirit: Ephesians 4:30 ³⁰ And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: ³² And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

[more on next page]

Sins that grieve the Holy Spirit: bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking and malice.

Godly attributes: kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another.

This is the opposite of what the “world” believes is strength!

D.   A Christian can quench the Holy Spirit: Look-up: I Thessalonians 5:19 [reading

from verse 14] ¹⁴ Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. ¹⁵ See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good,

both among yourselves, and to all men. ¹⁶ Rejoice evermore. ¹⁷ Pray without ceasing. ¹⁸ In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. ¹⁹ Quench not the Spirit. ²⁰ Despise not prophesyings. ²¹ Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. ²² Abstain from all appearance of evil. ²³ And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit

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and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

E.    The Holy Spirit is our power. Acts 1:18 ⁸ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

F.    In Ephesians 5:18, Christians are commanded to be filled with the Spirit: ¹⁸ And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

The “be not drunk with wine” insinuates a Christian is be under the influence of the Holy Spirit (in lieu of wine).

The work of the Holy Spirit in me is to produce the fruit of the Spirit: Galatians

5:22-23 ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,

gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. This is what the “world” believes is weak and boring!

The “secret” to allowing the Spirit to do this work in your life unhindered is

found in John 15:4-8: ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. ⁶ If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast

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them into the fire, and they are burned. ⁷ If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. ⁸ Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

G.   The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers: I Corinthians 12:4-11: ⁴ Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. ⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. ⁸ For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; ⁹ To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; ¹⁰ To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: ¹¹ But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

i.      Every Christian has at least one spiritual gift (verses 7, 11)

ii.     These gifts are not for personal use (I Corinthians 14:12 ¹² Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.)

iii.    Some of the gifts are temporary, and ceased when the written New Testament was completed. These gifts (tongues, interpretations, miracles,

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healing, prophecy, knowledge, and discernment) were given as signs to the nation of Israel:

a.    Mark 16:17,18 ¹⁷ And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; ¹⁸ They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. ¹⁹ So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

b.    I Corinthians 1:22 ²² For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

c.     I Corinthians 14:21,22 ²¹ In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. ²² Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. (and much more!...)

d.    Hebrews 2: 3, 4 ³ How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; ⁴ God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost,

according to his own will?

These temporary gifts ceased in 70 AD when Israel was dispersed among nations. The Bible says they (the gifts) would vanish when “that which is

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perfect (the completed Word of God) is come” I Corinthians 13:8-10 ⁸ Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. ⁹ For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰ But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

iv.   Romans 12:6-8 lists the Holy Spirit’s permanent spiritual gifts:

…  ⁶ Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,

whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; ⁷ Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

⁸  Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with

cheerfulness.

Permanent gifts: The motivation and ability to:

a. Prophesy – declare God’s truth.		b.  Giving – be a channel for God-given assets
		of the Word of the Lord
c.	Ministry –serve others in practical	d.  Ruling – lead others in accomplishing the
	ways	work of God
e.	Teaching present the Word of	f.   Mercy – identify with and share in the
	God clearly and accurately	suffering and joys of others as a
		comforter
g.	Exhorting – encourage others
	through the application
	of Truth

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6. What about “Speaking In Tongues” and “Divine Healers?”

The Charismatic Movement is a modern phenomenon which had its beginning in the USA just before the turn of the century. In the last 60 years, it has snowballed in to the most active movement within Christendom. One of the main reasons for this is because spiritual “deadness” of most mainline denominational churches – and the apparent “aliveness” of the Charismatics.

Don’t be fooled!! – II Corinthians 11:13-15 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. The test of whether someone is right or wrong is not determined by how it feels or by who’s doing it, but by “What saith the Lord?” – Isaiah 8:20

A.   The Bible defines “tongues” as known, understandable foreign

languages. Look-up Acts 2:4-11 ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

⁵  And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation

under heaven. ⁶ Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. ⁷ And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? ⁸ And how hear we every man

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in our own tongue, wherein we were born? ⁹ Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, ¹¹ Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

The Charismatics do not practice this. They speak in a babbling gibberish – which at the least is a psychologically induced, ecstatic aberration that comes about when the conscience mind loses control and the subconscious takes over.

B.   In the Bible, the miraculous gift of being able to speak in an unknown foreign language was a sign to unbelieving Jews:

•      I Corinthians 1:22 ²² For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

•      I Corinthians 14:21, 22 ²¹ In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other

lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

²² Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

•      Isaiah 28:11 ¹¹ For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

In each recorded case in the New Testament where the miracle of tongues occurred (only 3) – Jews and at least one apostle, were present:

•      Acts 2:5 ⁵ And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

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•      Acts 10:45-46 ⁴⁵ And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.

•      Acts 19:6 ⁶ And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

C.   The Bible says “tongues shall cease” and goes on to say when they would cease.

•      I Corinthians 13:8-10 ⁸ Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. ⁹ For we know in part,

and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰ But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Charismatics argue “that which is perfect” refers to Christ and that tongues will continue until the Second Coming of Christ. But Joel 2:28-31 indicates an

outpouring of the Holy Spirit associated with gifts after the rapture.

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: ²⁹ And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. ³⁰ And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. ³¹ The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come.

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Also, “That which is perfect refers to the “more sure” Word of God, which replaced the gift of prophecy – II Peter 1:19-21 ¹⁹ We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

²⁰Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private

interpretation. ²¹ For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

D.   The gift of tongues was still operative today, which is not, the Bible

would place certain restrictions on its use:

I Corinthians 14:27 - 28 ²⁷ If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. ²⁸ But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

•     No more than three people to speak in a foreign tongue during any meeting.

•     Each speaker must follow after the other has finished (not all at once).

•     One person is to interpret.

•     If there is no interpreter is available, then no one should speak in another language.

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•      The Holy Spirit NEVER takes anyone out of control. I

Corinthians 14:32 ³² And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the

prophets.

•     Women are not to speak (in tongues or otherwise).

I Corinthians14:34 ³⁴ Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.

The modern Charismatic movement is dominated by women.

E.    The Charismatic Movement is dangerous because it elevates “experiences” above the Word of God. Remember, the devil can give you any experience you desire. The Christian must walk by the Word of God:

•      II Corinthians 5:7 ⁷ (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

•      Romans 10:17 ¹⁷ So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

F.    The truly spiritual person will acknowledge the supremecy of the

Written Word over any religious experience: I Corinthians 14:37 ³⁷ If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

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G.   Many Charismatic groups say or imply, you arte not saved unless you have spoken in tongues. They claim to have the “full” Gospel. But, the

real full Gospel is given in I Corinthians 15: 1,3, 4 ¹ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ² By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. ³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how 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:

Those that add something to this are in fact preaching another

gospel: Galatians 1:6-9 ⁶ I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that

called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: ⁷ Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. ⁹ As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Remember Colossians 2:10 ¹⁰ And ye are complete in him, which is the

head of all principality and power:

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H.   By focusing so much on these alleged gifts, the Charismatic movement elevates the Holy Spirit above the Son of God. The Spirit is God. He is equal to the Father and the Son in every way – but he is the shy Member of the Godhead. He does not speak about Himself, but always of Christ:

•      John 15:26 ²⁶ But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

•     John 16:13-14 ¹³ Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. ¹⁴ He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

I.      The miraculous gift of healing was also a “sign gift” to Israel.

Mark 16:17-18 ¹⁷ And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; ¹⁸ They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

J.    Healings were overshadowed by Gospel preaching and conversions: See all of Acts 3 and Acts 4.

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K.   Healings were sometimes done on unsaved people: II Corinthians

12:7-9 and I Timothy 5:23

L.    Today we are instructed to pray for Gods healing mercies, but not to seek or expect a miraculous, instantaneous healing.

James 5:14-15 ¹⁴ Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: ¹⁵ And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

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Study Outline

1.   Who is the Holy Spirit?

2.   What has the Holy Spirit done in times past?

3.   What is the work of the Holy Spirit today?

4.   What does the Holy Spirit do when we are saved?

5.   What is the relationship between the Holy Spirit and me?

6.   What about “Speaking In Tongues” and “Divine Healers?”