BIBLES * Bulldogs * & Beards

PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-Shifflett/author/B005H0F1GG Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Matthew 27:46 - And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” “Even in His agony Jesus was still praying.” When life strikes Jesus, in His humanity, the hardest what comes out of Him is what is in Him. It is the Word of God. When someone suffers, do you find out what is on the inside of them? What can Christians learn from this? Is Jesus’ cry, a cry of unbelief? Do Christians need to feel the weight of Jesus’s suffering? “Jesus did not just feel forsaken He was forsaken.” Jesus did not cry out “My God, My God, why do I feel forsaken by You?” Jesus was forsaken. As a sinner, is that my only hope to be saved? Is it a serious sin to diminish the sufferings of Christ in any way? “God the Father could not bear to look at the sin or His Son.” Does God hide His face from the one He forsakes? “God did not let Jesus rot in the grave.” Matthew Henry writes: “Christ, by dying, has taken out the sting of death. He has made atonement for sin; he has obtained remission of it. Death may hiss therefore, but it cannot hurt.” “God will forsake sinners, but He will not forsake you if you will come and meet Jesus Christ at the cross. How does someone meet Jesus Christ at the cross?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That he learned obedience by what he suffered;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Matthew 27:27-44 - Jesus Is Mocked

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Is the Christian life a life of only love?

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

yet he opened not His mouth;

like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,

and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,

so he opened not His mouth.

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

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

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

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

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

Is a part of the punishment for sin, shame?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What, then, if they also spit in mine?

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

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

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-Shifflett/author/B005H0F1GG Matthew 26:39 - And going a little farther He fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” In Gethsemane, Jesus comes to the moment when He must drink that cup. The hour had come. The full horrors of sin and guilt are now present­ed to Him. He is under the shadow of the cross. He wrestles with this. He wrestles in prayer so intense that He fell upon His face on the ground and sweat great drops of blood. What is this cup? Do Christians have an appropriate fear of the wrath of God? Has sin blinded us, so we do not see what sin deserves? “What Jesus recoils from here is not an anticipation of the physical pain associated with crucifixion. Rather it’s a pain infinitely greater – the agony of being abandoned by His Father.” --- Was there something greater to Him in this, something greater even than the dread of God’s holy wrath? He had come to do the will of the Father. Was it for this pur­pose that Jesus came into the world? Psalm 116:13 - I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, “Today you and I find ourselves with another cup in our hands. It’s the cup of salvation.” God’s holy eye still sees the vileness of our sin, yet in Christ there is no condemnation. Romans 8:31-37 - What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

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He Set His Face to Go to Jerusalem – John Piper

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

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

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

Should we rejoice like this on Palm Sunday?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-Shifflett/author/B005H0F1GG True Contemplation of the Cross – Martin Luther Hebrews 12:2-3 - looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. “The true contemplation is that in which the heart is crushed and the conscience smitten.” A fascination with the miraculous Do you think that those who seek miracles are interested in what the miracles point to? "A wicked generation seeks for signs," Jesus said, followed by Paul's reminder that his fellow Jews were so busy looking for miraculous wonders that they stumbled over the Gospel of Christ crucified. Did His disciples understand Him when He said He must suffer and die? A fascination with moralism Is Jesus merely an example of how we should live? Jesus told the Pharisees that despite their devotion to the Scriptures, they did not really understand what they were reading, since he (Jesus) is the point of all of Scripture. Is it possible to go to hell by striving to go to heaven? A fascination with the mysterious Do you think there is a fascination with the mysteriousness of spiritual things, such as “end times”? Should we be content to know God as He has graciously manifested Himself in the written Word? “The more you ponder, the deeper you will tremble.” “If you are so hardened that you do not tremble, then you have reason to tremble.” “The whole value of the meditation of the suffering of Christ lies in this, that man should come to the knowledge of himself and sink and tremble.” How valuable is a human soul? “What should it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what should a man give in exchange for his soul?” Jesus,God,Holy Spirit,devotional,Easter,resurrection,contemplation,jerusalem,innocent,crushed,cup,gethsemane,betrayed,denied,deserted,spit,lamb,silence,suffer,forgive,cries,tears,destroy,devil,thirsty,forsaken,cursed,commit,spirit,blood,water,decended,ascended,savor,sweet-smelling,peace,power,suffering,crucified,crucify,Christ,reformed,Martin Luther,John Calvin,church,christian,worship,devotion,Bible,Scripture,prayer,service,death,saved,life,eternal,heaven,hell,calvinism

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Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross

A collection of readings on the Cross and resurrection

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

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS WITH QUOTES

Martin Luther: True Contemplation of the Cross

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

John Piper: He Set His Face to Go to Jerusalem

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

Alistair Begg: An Innocent Man Crushed by God

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

C. J. Mahaney: The Cup

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

R. Kent Hughes: Gethsemene

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

Ligon Duncan: Betrayed, Denied, Deserted

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

Charles Spurgeon: Spit in His Face

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

Adrian Rogers: The Silence of the Lamb

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

J.C. Ryle: The Sufferings of Christ

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

John MacArthur: Father, Forgive Them

John Owen: With Loud Cries and Tears

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

Skip Ryan: I Am Thirsty

Phillip Ryken: God-Forsaken

R.C. Sproul: Cursed

James Boice: Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit

John Calvin: Blood & Water

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

Jonathan Edwards: A Sweet-Smelling Savor to God

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

Francis Shaeffer: Resurrection Preview

Saint Augustine: Peace Be Unto You

Tim Keller: Knowing the Power of His Resurrection

Joni Eareckson Tada: Knowing the Fellowship of His Sufferings

Stephen Olford: Crucified with Christ

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

“Every heretic has his text.”?

Creeds Reflect the Ministerial Authority of the Church.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Creeds Relativize the Present.

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

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

Is confessional revision always a possibility?

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

Is this kind of counterculturalism important?

Creeds Help to Define One Church in Relation to Another.

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

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

Creeds Are Necessary for Maintaining Corporate Unity.

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

Does the Bible characterizes deviation from true doctrine as divisive?

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

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

Can creeds cause Church discipline to be necessary?

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

Conclusion.

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

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

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Creeds Offer Succinct and Thorough Summaries of the Faith.

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

Two related aspects of using historical creeds:

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

Longevity. Why is this important?

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

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

Second, the succinctness of creeds.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Qualifications of teachers:

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

To Timothy, my true child in the faith:

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

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

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

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

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

Is the ability to teach nonnegotiable?

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

All Churches & All Christians Have Creeds and Confessions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

How can a creed become an idol?

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

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

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

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

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

Why is this true?

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

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

Another look at Herod’s response:

We can yield to Him

We can resist Him and try to destroy Him.

Another Prophecy Fulfilled

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

“A voice was heard in Ramah,

weeping and loud lamentation,

Rachel weeping for her children;

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

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

Jeremiah 31:31-34

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

“There is hope.”

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

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

Safe to go Home?

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

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

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

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

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

“People say, Christmas is for children.”

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

Jesus the Nazarene

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

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

Can anything good come out of Nazareth?

Isaiah 53:2

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

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

Is Christmas the “Dawn of Redeeming Grace”?

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

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

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

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

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

Is this the greatest gift of Christmas?

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

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

O come let us adore Him,

Jesus Christ our Lord!

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

Can You Trust a Herod?

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

“A non-trusting Jesus?”

Should growing Christians develop that kind of spiritual discernment?

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

They trusted Herod.

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

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

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

Following a Star

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

What are we to make of this star?

3 views:

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

2.It was a comet.

3.It was a nova or super nova.

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

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

Finding Christ

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

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

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

Is the way this is worded significant?

Isaiah 9:6-7

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

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

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

A Divine Warning

Matthew 2:12

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

20 facts about the Magi, pages 114-115.

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

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

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

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

Come to Christ.

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Wise Men from the East

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

Who were these “wise men”?

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

What possessed them to make the wearisome journey?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Dangerous Turning

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

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

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

Who was Herod the Great?

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

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

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

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

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

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

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

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

Knowing Without Going

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

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

Matthew 2:5-6

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

John 5:39-40

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

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

Herod’s reaction was to destroy Him.

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

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

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

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Are dream revelations normal and frequent in Scripture?

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

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

“TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY”?

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

Is the fear of God a mark of grace?

What does fearing God mean?

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

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

Was this the mark or sign of a new beginning?

How much did Joseph understand about what was happening?

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

Is this costly and can it be overwhelming at times?

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

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

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

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

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

Has this changed?

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

The OT - “ISAIAH HATH FORETOLD HIM”

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

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

and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us).

Does this verse explain exactly who Jesus is?

Is God’s timing perfect?

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

Is this what Christmas is all about?

THE WAY OF OBEDIENCE

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

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

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

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

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

Is Joseph unimportant in the Christmas story?

JOSEPH’S RESTRAINT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Did Jesus live to please Himself?

Lord transform us more and more into your likeness.

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A VIRGIN CONCEPTION

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

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

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

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

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

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

Can this pattern be found throughout Scripture?

We find all we need in Him.

A WAKING NIGHTMARE

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

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

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

Why did Joseph not act in haste?

Was God restraining him from acting?

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

DREAM ANGEL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Are numbers important in the Bible?

Are they symbolic?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tamar (1:3)

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

Rahab (1:5)

She was a Jericho prostitute. ((Joshua 2)

Ruth ((1:5)

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

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

She committed adultery with David.

What do these women have in common?

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

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

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

Did Christ die for all or for only the elect?

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

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

Hebrews 4:15-16 - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

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

God keeps His promises in ways we could never anticipate.

Psalm 139:11-12 - If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,”

even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

Who is like the Lord our God?

Strong to save faithful in love

My debt is paid, and the victory won

The Lord is my salvation.

Glory be to God, the Father

Glory be to God, the Son

Glory be to God, the Spirit

The Lord is our Salvation.

Christmas is a time of new beginnings.

God is sovereign.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

129. What doth the word “Amen” signify?

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

Assurance of our faith.

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

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

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

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

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

The Canons of Dort (1619)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Westminster Standards.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Westminster Confession of Faith:

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

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The Book of Concord.

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

Martin Luther’s quirky quotes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Book of Concord is a collection of 10 writings:

The Apostle’s Creed

The Nicene Creed

The Athanasian Creed.

The Augsburg Confession:

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

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

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

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

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

The Apology of the Augsburg Confession:

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

The Smalcald Articles:

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

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

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

The Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope:

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

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

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

The Formula of Concord:

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

Final thought from Martin Luther:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Moses was mediator of the Old Covenant of Law.

Jesus Christ is mediator of the New Covenant of Grace.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Pastor William Shifflett discusses PART SEVEN - The Early Church - Chapter 3 The Creedal Imperative by Carl R. Truman The Council of Chalcedon. 451 The last of the early councils which is of major relevance to modern Protestants. It effectively put into place four boundaries for future christological discussion: Christ is must be fully God; Christ must be fully human; the two natures must not be so mixed together that either disappears into the other or that a third hybrid nature is produced; and the two natures must not be separated so as to undermine the unity of the one person. There are strong element of negative theology in Chalcedon. What is negative theology? Defining where one should not go with one’s christology. It places boundaries. Generated new questions: If Christ is one person and two natures, how many wills does He have? As noted, each time one problem is solved, new questions are generated. Your response to his quotes - “Indeed, Christian orthodoxy is sometimes the sum of the least number of doctrinal difficulties, complications, and strange statements with which one is prepared to live.” “Historical theology, the genealogy of doctrinal discussion and formulation, is thus an important part of Christian education and should be part of every pastor’s background. It should also be a central part of the teaching ministry in all churches.” The Athanasian Creed. Played a significant role in the life of the church, both East and especially West. For example, it is part of the liturgy of the Book of Common Prayer. The name implies that it was Athanasius who was behind it. Not the case, Western provenance, written in Latin by person unknown. (around 320-420). 2 contentious clauses 2 and 44: 1. Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith; 2. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. 44. This is the catholic faith, which except a man believe faithfully he cannot be saved. “Such anathemas, fall foul of contemporary tastes.” Why is this the case? Exclusion. Boundaries are vital to the healthy, orthodox Christianity. Like other ancient creeds, it was not dealing with trivial matters. It was dealing with the very identity of God in such a manner that denial of its affirmations placed one’s soul in serious jeopardy. Conclusion. 1.The fact that the early church developed them in the first place. The church as whole came to the conclusion that binding creedal formulas were on way of attempting to establish public criteria for orthodoxy. Creeds are simply “forms of sound words”. 2.The early church creeds focus on the most basic building blocks of the faith. 3.They all address the very identity of God. They seek to answer the most basic question in Christian theology and in the life of every believer. 4.If you want to abolish the early church creeds, you are going to need to replace them with something straightaway. 5.The Lord has graciously provided us with a great cloud of witnesses throughout history who can help us to understand the Bible and to apply it to our present day. 6.Of course as Protestants, we do not believe that the ancient creeds say everything that a church committed to teaching the whole counsel of God needs to say to the world. For Protestants, discussion of creedalism cannot stop with Chalcedon. It must also address confessional developments in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It is to these we turn in the next chapter.

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Genesis 37-50 Joseph

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

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

THE BELOVED SON (GENESIS 37:1-3)

3) THE SUFFERING SERVANT

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

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

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

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

i) Genesis 45:1-3

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

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

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

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

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

i) Genesis 45:4-5

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

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

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

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

(1) Genesis 50:20

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

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

upon the cross.

c) He commissioned his brothers.

i) Genesis 45:4, 9

(1) Our faith is summed up in this:

(a) “Come to me.”

(i) Matthew 11:28

(b) “Go to all the world.”

(i) Mark 16:15

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

(1) Genesis 45:26-27

(a) His brothers have now become evangelists.

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

(1) We once rejected Him.

(2) Now Jesus has been raised on high.

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

(4) The world is at His feet.

(5) He has forgiven our sins.

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

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

(1) That is the Jesus we preach today.

6) CONCLUSION

a) The Bible is an amazing book.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The 7 Ecumenical Councils:

The 1st Council of Nicaea.325

The Council of Constantinople.381

The 1st Council of Ephesus.431

The Council of Chalcedon.451

The 2nd Council of Constantinople,553

The 3rd Council of Constantinople,680-681

The 2nd Council of Nicaea,787

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

The 1st Council of Nicaea. 325

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

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

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

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

Significance of Nicaea:

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

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

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

The Council of Constantinople. 381

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

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

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

Tradition ascribes the Nicene Creed was actually formulated here.

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

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

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

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

The 1st Council of Ephesus. 431

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

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

The issue at Ephesus was Nestorianism.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Preaching to the Spirits in Hell

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

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

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

The Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church #634 – 635

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

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

(1Pe 3:18-20 NAS)

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

(1Pe 4:6 NAS)

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

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

(John 5:25, 28-29)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is Christian Nationalism? with Jason Richards

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

#Jesus

#God

#Christian

#politics

#america

#republican

#democrat

#united states

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

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

Ignatius of Antioch:(?-98) #Ignatius

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

Irenaeus:(around AD 130-202)

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

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

Tertullian:(155-220)

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

Hippolytus of Rome:(170-236)

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

Athanasius:(296-373)

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

Augustine of Hippo:(354-430)

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

2.Doctrinal Content:

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