Defending the Deity of Jesus Christ

Islamic Apologist have made the claim that Jesus Christ was not the Son of God, nor God himself. They acknowledge that Jesus was a messenger of God. They equate him to Moses and other prophets. But they do not see Jesus as superior nor an equal prophet to Muhammad. Muslims maintain that Jesus was only sent to be a prophet to the Jews. Muhammad was a superior and final prophet that was sent to the entire world. There argument is a simple one that says there is no scriptural evidence that God would become a man. They point out that it is a fallacy of logic for the infinite to also be finite; like making a round square. They have said that there are no Old Testament scriptures that speak of the Son of God to come to the earth as a man. They argue that Jesus himself did not ever claim to be God, and so his disciples are wrong.

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However, scripture does speak of God sending his Son as a child of men. Isaiah 9:6 specifically says that “a child is born” to us -to man. The title given to this child, born of men will be “the Mighty God, The everlasting Father”. This prophecy is in direct contradiction to Muslim claims that God never prophesied that he would come in the flesh. Here we see that God said a child is given and his name is God. The child is synonymous with the everlasting Father. This is a fulfilment of an earlier prophecy that God himself gives in the garden of Eden. Where, in Genesis 3, God speaks to the serpent and warns him that the offspring of the woman (child) would bruise the serpent’s head. Interestingly God says that a future descendant of the woman would bruise “his”, the serpent’s head. Not a future serpent offspring, but his head; the serpent that God is speaking to. Tied into this prophecy is the understanding that when the child bruises the head of the serpent, the serpent will also injure the child’s heal. The prophet Zechariah gives a chilling prophecy in relation to this point also. In speaking on God’s behalf he recounts what God said, in saying, “they shall look upon me (God) whom they have pierced” (Zechariah 12:10). This seems ample evidence from the Old Testament prophets that God said that he would not only come in the flesh, but that Israel themselves would look at him after they pierced him. What a clear reference to the crucifixion of Jesus, where they pierced his hands and feet and then stood there looking up at him as he hung on the cross. God hung on the cross while Israel looked upon his pierced hands with the blood of the sacrifice running down his arms. Then there is the sign that God told through the prophet Isaiah. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) This maiden giving birth to the one who would be titled as Immanuel (God with Us) is the sign that God has given us his son, thus, God IS with us.

To alleviate the prophecy of the virgin birth they are willing to concede that Jesus was a significant prophet, the Messiah, and born of a virgin, but he was just a human servant of God, not divine and not equal to God. This approach is a weakness that even the Muslim can recognize, because they have to admit that God said the sign of his coming would be a miraculous birth that did not involve a human father, but a divine act of God. Once faced with this they will quickly switch to another approach. There next argument is that Jesus never claimed to be God.

As for the claim that Jesus never said that he was God, “In such words”. One can take a philosophical look at the error in this argument first. A claim to be someone or something is not necessary to be legitimate. Legitimacy is derived from a variety of sources. Claiming to be something or someone can give one limited credibility, however, true credibility is never accepted by one’s own mouth. There must be validations to establish the legitimacy of a claim. If someone claims to be a ruler, then they must have subjects to validate it. If one claims to be a teacher, then they must have students. If one claims to be a millionaire, then they must have financial statements. Witnesses, documentation, physical or historical evidence must be present to validate a truth claim. For instance, Muslim tradition attributes many physical miracles to Muhammad including the splitting of the moon, providing water and food for thousands, and healing the sick. However, the Quran itself presents a conflict for those claiming Muhammad performed physical miracles. Some Islamic scholars like Muhammad Asad argue the Quran establishes Muhammad never performed a single miracle other than bringing the Quran itself. It is not philosophically required of even profitable for Jesus to claim to be God. It is however necessary to have real witnesses, documentation, deeds, and historical, archaeological evidence, in this case, to validate the truth claim, that Jesus is God; of these we have no shortages.

Jesus may have never claimed to be the Son of God in the synaptic gospels. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that the author of the gospel of John viewed Jesus as God incarnate. John is very clear on his assertion that Jesus is the very Word of God who existed before the Creation, and who is the very Creator of everything that was created. He is, therefore, God (John 1:1-3). Furthermore, there is evidence in the Gospels that Jesus did make truth claims on being God. He said in John 14:12, “…because I go unto my Father.” . Making a direct claim to be the Son of God. In John 8:58 Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” This statement says that he was the God that Abraham worshipped. These are just a few of many statements where Jesus affirmed his deity.

However, Islam does not accept the witness of the New Testament writings. They believe that the writings of the New Testament and especially the gospels have been altered and changed over time. They believe that the belief of Jesus being God was a slow change that occurred over time, after the ascension and after the death of the apostles. Of course, Muslims do not give credit to the Bible as a whole, not even to the New Testament. The Quran declares that the Injil (the Gospel) was revealed as the Word of God. The Muslim speaker, in the debate in question, quickly developed another argument: No matter what the other books of the Bible can say, Jesus is not God in the Gospels

The Quran expressly forbids the worship of Jesus, as Allah (God).
Those who say, “Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary,” have certainly fallen into disbelief. The Messiah ˹himself˺ said, “O Children of Israel! Worship Allah—my Lord and your Lord.” Whoever associates others with Allah ˹in worship˺ will surely be forbidden Paradise by Allah. Their home will be the Fire. And the wrongdoers will have no helpers. (Sura 5:72)

So this approach is common for the Muslim to take in controlling the parameters of what they will accept as suitable defenses to their argument. The Muslim has removed the Christian’s right to use his holy scriptures, yet asserts the authority of the Quran over the New Testament as being more reliable. While questioning the sacred scriptures of other religions, Islam cannot accept the scrutinizing of their writings. In continuation of this limiting of the scope, the Muslim apologist then turns to rely on the Textual Criticism theory of scholars like Bart Ehrman, who argues that the concept of Jesus’s divinity evolved over time, and that not even the apostles or the early church believed that Jesus was divine.

Cliffe Knechtle, and Christian apologist has numerous videos where Muslims have used this argument. When asking Cliffe to prove the deity of Chrit, they say that he cannot use the Gospel of John. The reasoning is that the Gospel of John is believed to be the last gospel written, around 90-95 AD and that it has subsequently been altered to agree with the new Christian view of the deity of Christ. This gospel speaks explicitly of the deity of Jesus. However, these anti-Christian apologists believed that all the previous writings in the New Testament did not call Jesus God, and the church did not believe nor worship Jesus as God until way alter and the Gospel of John was rewritten to include the deity for future generations. The reliability of this gospel is called upon, because of its strong announcement of the deity of Jesus.

Therefore, to the Muslim, the Gospel of John becomes a tainted argument for the deity of Christ. Scholars like Bart Ehrman, MDiv, PhD, a New Testament scholar focusing on textual criticism of the New Testament, and the historical Jesus and early development of Christology came about, also claim that the church did not believe in the deity of Christ until the Nicene creed was adopted in 325 AD. Dr. Ehrman commented in his Introduction to his book, How Jesus Became God: The Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher from Galilee,

One of my theses will be that a Christian text such as the Gospel of Mark understands Jesus in the first way, as a human who came to be made divine. The Gospel of John understands him in the second way, as a divine being who became human. Both of them see Jesus as divine, but in different ways.

This is a concept that is made more popular by the book and movie, The Da Vinci Code.

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Hence the Islamic apologist will not listen to the Christian who turns to John 3:16 to defend his claim on the deity of Christ. He has deemed this gospel of no use in the debate. This is like telling a mechanic to repair an engine without using any tools. However, there is other evidence that can be used to see that Jesus is the Son of God. The anti-Christian is counting on the ignorance of the average Christian to be unable to overcome this layered attack, which is primarily based on inaccurate fact-finding and blatant lies.

The deity of Jesus Christ is not a last-ditch effort to deceive Jews and Muslims into converting to Christianity. The deity of Jesus Christ is a foundational truth of Christianity. Without the belief in the deity of Christ, there would be no such thing as Christianity. This belief is supported by compelling evidence from the New Testament, including Jesus’ self-proclaimed divine titles, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, miraculous works, Jesus’ exercise of divine authority, historical records, and even archeological finds. The Apostle Peter wrote, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”. (1 Peter 3:15) We should have a great understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ because it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes. (Romans 1:16). The Apostle John said that he wrote his Gospel so that you could believe on Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and in believing you could have eternal life. If we must not use the writings of John to prove the truth of Jesus as the Son of God, then how can we?

When confronted by these Islamic apologists Cliffe Knechtle used some very simple logical arguments. They did not depend upon flowing from one point to another. Which is good, because every time he started to answer a question, the Muslim would interrupt and change the condition of the question or move to another question altogether. Cliffe continued with his answer and incorporated the new question into his answer. His method was that he used an orderly framework on the understanding of Christ, his person, his works, the manner in which he was addressed, and even Jewish customs and practices at the time. This would most definitely include the strong-rooted monotheistic practices rooted in the Mosaic Law. His framework was similar to the HANDS method discussed by Robert Bowman Jr. and Ed Komoszeshi in their book, Putting Jesus In His Place: The Case For The Deity of Christ.

The HANDS method is a simple acronym used to organize your knowledge about Jesus Christ and is quite useful in giving an answer for the reason of your faith in Jesus, as the Son of God. The acronym can be easily adapted to things you already know and understand as a Christian. It can be easily recalled because it also is related to a story most of us know concerning “doubting” Thomas in the Gospel of John.

Bowman explains, “Just as an examination of the nail prints convinced Thomas he was beholding the hands of deity, a closer look at the Bible reveals Jesus shares the HANDS of God.” The acronym stands for: Honors, Attributes, Names, Deeds, and Seat of God. In looking at these you can organize your thoughts into arguments that are not impacted by the changing or rephrasing of the question. At the root of the answer is that Jesus has been given and accepts the same honors that are due God. Jesus also, has the same unique attributes that God exhibits which make him God. Attributes would be things like omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, eternal, holiness, and those things which originate from who God is. Jesus also identifies himself with the same names or titles that are only used by God to refer to himself; titles like “I AM”. In scripture Jesus also performs the same deeds that can only be done by God. An example of this would be the healing of the diseased, or the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Then also, Jesus has the same authority of God and therefore shares the same seat as God.

In using this framework an apologist does not need to memorize endless amounts of scripture. The believer in Jesus can find one or two scriptures per category and memorize those. He can even use the spelling out of HANDS in his mind to keep a logical flow to the argument. By way of example the H that represents HONORS we only need to consider how honors are shown to military commanders, foreign dignitaries, or magistrates. For those we see red carpets are rolled out for their entry, displays of military prowess are shown, trumpets and honor guards are presented, and gifts may even be exchanged. An awareness of importance in the dignitary is openly shown.

An example from the Old Testament can be found in Exodus 20:2-3 where God tells the Israelites that they will worship no other God, because he alone is God. This is an expectation of honor that is only due to God. He is supreme and honors will not be given to any other god. In the book of Hebrews, the author tells us that Jesus is more honorable than Moses. Moses was compared to a house, and Jesus as the one who built the house (Moses), so he has more honor than Moses. (Hebrews 3:1-5) When we see a feat of architecture, we might admire the building. However, all the praise and admiration go to the architect who designed and oversaw its construction. The book of Hebrews which was written somewhere between 64-68 AD also tells us that Jesus is to be glorified forever. (Hebrews 13:21) Remember in Exodus, cited above, the Jews were forbidden to worship anyone of anything as God except God himself, yet Matthew records, “Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:33) The gospel of Matthew was written somewhere around 50-60 AD. This is within 20-30 years of the ascension of Christ. Yet these lifelong Jews who were forbid by the Law of Moses, and the traditions of their ancestor to worship anything, or anyone else as God, worshiped Jesus as God before he was even crucified.

This basic technique of using the HANDS of God (Jesus) to defend one’s belief in the deity of Jesus is quite simple and easy to speak to. The same types of arguments can be progressed through the rest of the acronym to show scriptures from the Old Testament on the Attributes of God. Then you can match those with verses in the New Testament that show the same attribute of God in Jesus. The key thing here is that studying and memorization of the scriptures is principal. Many who do not believe on Jesus prey on the ignorance and unpreparedness of the believer. They exploit the believers lack of knowledge in their own bible and cultural history. To tell people about the Honors, Attributes, Names, Deeds, and Seat of God, you must know God and the honor that is due him. You must know what the attributes of God are. You need to be acquainted with the names and titles of God are and what they mean. You should also recognize the authority that comes with the seat of God. An ambassador cannot represent or speak to things that they do not know. Modern Christians are not the only ones who have been deceived because of their ignorance.
From a historical viewpoint it is true that some early people who called themselves Christians did not believe the same things concerning Jesus. The apostle Paul wrote the Galatians concerning these false gospels.

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9)

Paul said, “so soon removed”, he had recently taught the Galatians the truths about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God and could not understand how they could listen to lies presented by others. These false teachers had no apostleship, and no connections with the true church. We suffer from the same issues today. Kieth Green, a Christian evangelist and musician, was fond of saying, “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to Mac Donald’s makes you a hamburger.” Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;…”(Matthew 7:21a) From the very 1st Century there were early departures from the true doctrines of the church that included Arianism, Adoptionism, and Docetism. However, this does not mean that the church did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. Historical evidence for the belief in Jesus Christ’s divinity comes from both biblical sources and early Christian writings, as well as from the actions and writings of the early church, and writings of those who witnessed the church in action. These sources demonstrate that the belief in Jesus’ divinity was not a later development but was present from the earliest days of Christianity. The gospels and even the earliest books of the New Testament attest to Jesus as being worshiped and honored as the Son of God.

The apostle Paul was an avid evangelist who continued to stay in touch with the churches of Asia through letters that taught the doctrines of the church in his absence. His earliest writings of 1 Thessalonians are believed to have been between 49-51 A.D. This puts them within 15 years of the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven. Prior to the writing of these letters Paul had been spreading the preaching of Jesus being the Son of God throughout the region. He had been to Antioch Syria, Cyprus, Perga, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lustra, Derbe, Pamphylia, and even to Jerusalem by this time, suffering for the cause of the deity of Jesus Christ. Paul had been starved, beaten, stoned, left for dead all for the gospel of Jesus. Surely, he would not have suffered all of this if he did not fully believe in Jesus as God.

In 1st Thessalonians Paul opens with, “…unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”, Thus he equates Jesus with God. Later in chapter 3 Paul claims that Jesus is God again, “Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.” (1 Thessalonians 3:11). Colossians is another letter from Paul written from 60-62 AD where Paul says that Jesus is the Creator (God) who created everything. “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:16-17).

Paul, according to the book of Acts, was originally a zealous persecutor of the church. He was a devout Jew from a sect called the Pharisees. These members of the Pharisees were looked upon with great respect in the Jewish community because they were distinguished by their strict observance of the traditional (Oral) law and the written law (Torah). He was a well-educated man, from a proud tribe of Isreal, in the original line of King Saul. Perhaps even named after him. Saul (Paul in Greek) caused great fear in the Chrisitan, so much that they fled Jerusalem. Then he was given special papers of authority to hunt down and imprison Christians so that they could be brought back for trial. Paul thought that every Christian should be stoned to death for worshiping Jesus as God. Then he met the risen Jesus on the road. This meeting with Jesus changed what Paul believed concerning the deity of Jesus.

Paul, an early convert who at first did not believe in Jesus, came to believe that Jesus is the very God of Genesis who created and who sustains everything. This was written and distributed prior to the writing of the Gospel of John. In the book of Acts (9:20) it tells us that when Paul was converted, “straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.”. This means from the very start, the church taught that Jesus is the Son of God. Within a matter of months, Paul was persecuting Christians and having them stoned to death because they believed in Jesus as God, and then he himself began to teach the same thing after he met Jesus, as God.

In looking at extra biblical references of believers who believed that Jesus is the Son of God prior to the Nicene creed we can look at the writings of Clement of Alexandria (AD 150-215), Tertullian (AD 150-225), Polycarp (AD 69-155), and Ignatius of Antioch (AD 50-117). These are all church fathers who believed in the deity of Jesus Christ.
In 93 AD Josephus, an early Jewish Historian, published the Jewish Antiquities. In a portion of this known as The Tesitmonium Flavianum, Josephus records what many believe is a testimony about Jesus Christ and it shows that 1st Century Christians believed that Jesus was the Messiah and Son of God.

About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who performed surprising deeds and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Messiah. And when, upon the accusation of the principal men among us, Pilate had condemned him to a cross, those who had first come to love him did not cease. He appeared to them spending a third day restored to life, for the prophets of God had foretold these things and a thousand other marvels about him. And the tribe of the Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared.- Jewish Antiquities, 18.3.3 §63(Based on the translation of Louis H. Feldman, The Loeb Classical Library.)

This and other comments made by Josephus, do not say that Josephus believed that Jesus was the Christ of the Son of God, but they do demonstrate that early Christians did believe in the deity of Jesus from the very beginning of Church history. Not only that it shows that they believed that Jesus was the fulfillment of prophecy concerning the Messiah, the Son of God. These letters are a small sampling of many more. There are also archeological finds that support the early belief the of the church that Jesus is God.

In the area of Megiddo Prison, a discovery was made in 2005. This discovery has been dubbed as the greatest find since the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is called the Megiddo Mosaic and dates to the early third century A. D. This site is one of the earliest found Christian worship centers in northern Israel. In this mosaic at this location is the earliest known inscription to identify Jesus as God. The inscription simply states it is to the “God Jesus Christ”.

Archeology can also refute the claims of the authenticity and reliability of the Gospel of John. Papyrus 52 (P52) is a witness discovered in Egypt which dates to the early mid-second century A. D.; approximately 125 A.D. This is long before the Nicene Creed. P52 is the oldest surviving manuscript evidence of any canonical text of the Christians. It contains on one side the verses of John 18:31-33 and on the other side, John 18:37-38. In these verses Jesus is on trial before Pilot. Jesus answers Pilots inquiries by stating that he “came into the world for this purpose”. He is fulfilling the will of the Father, he existed prior to his becoming a man. He is the truth of God. He came for this trial, this condemnation, this death on the cross, this resurrection.

When Jesus was asked what was his sign to show that he was the Messiah, he said, “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:” (Matthew 12:39) Jesus told them that as Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and nights, so would the Son of Man (God) be in the heart of the earth (the grave) for three days and three nights. He also told them that if you destroy this temple, he will restore it in three days; meaning the temple of his body. The Apostle Peter recorded the importance of the resurrection in 1 Peter 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Paul reinforces this belief in Jesus being revealed as God and the hope that exists because of the resurrection many times. Once such reassurance is this, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:18) As if Paul had to confront the same questions in the past, as are asked today, he wrote the Romans from 56-58 A.D. this testimony,

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: (Romans 1:1-4)

Paul is very clear about his office and relation to Jesus. He is his servant, his apostle. He was sanctified by God to share his gospel, the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is also clear that the gospel of Jesus that includes that he is the Son of God come in the flesh, crucified, buried, and resurrected was all foretold in the scriptures of what we call the Old Testament. Paul believes these things and these are very evidently things that he has been teaching from the beginning.

To preach a false gospel and Christ is to be damned (Galatians 1:8-9) If your Christology is not correct them you are not saved. Salvation comes from believing in Jesus as Christ and as the Son of God and the shedding of his blood for the atonement of sin. John 20:31 states, But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. This is why the Muslim seeks to remove the Gospel of John from the discussion of the deity of Christ. Because it is written that you might believe, and in believing, you have eternal life. Bless the Lord that God has recorded the truth in other parts of scripture, in historical testimonies, in archaeology, and in the hearts of men who believe.

The Apostle Peter recorded, “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:” (2 Peter 1:1). Clear words from Peter, a 1st hand witness to Jesus’ ministry, confirming his belief that Jesus is God and Savior. Paul, passed down to a young pastor Titus, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” (Titus 2:13). Paul wanted to confirm the faith of this pastor and teacher that Jesus is God and Savoir.

The Deity of Jesus Christ is defensible. It is a true testimony that is given by the Holy Apostles from before Jesus was crucified. It is a true testimony given by the earliest of Jesus’ disciples as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles and the writings of John, Matthew, Peter, Mark, James, Jude, and Paul. It was believed and taught by the next generation of Pastors like Timothy and Titus. It was taught by Apollos, Percilla, and many other teachers within the first 10 years of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Roman officials wrote letters back and forth on how to deal with these kindhearted worshipers of Jesus Christ, who worshiped him as the only God. Archeology shows shrines over a thousand years old that are dedicated to the God Jesus. Then there are the hundreds of written witnesses from the forefathers of the early church, like Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Polycarp, and Ignatius of Antioch.

There are those who will refuse to see the truth. Their hearts have been hardened, and their eyes have been blinded. The truth falls upon deaf ears. But to those who are seeking the truth. The truth is Jesus is the Christ, the anointed of God, who is the Word of God, the Lamb of God who was sent into the world to redeem the world. He is God incarnate. Those who want to know God and are willing to hear the truth, and have faith in God, will be rewarded. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6). There comes a point where one has to make a choice to believe the truth, or to reject it. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

Works Cited
Bibleical Archaeology Society. earliest-new-testament-fragment. 1975. https://library.biblicalarchaeology.org/sidebar/earliest-new-testament-fragment/ (accessed September 11, 2025).

Bowman, Robert M Jr.., and J Ed Komoszewski. Putting Jesus in His Place: The Case for the Deity of Christ. Kregel Publications, 2007.

Ehrman, Bart D. How Jesus Became God: The Exaltation of a Jewish Preache From Galilee. First. Harper Collins, 2014.

Jesus-Islam.org. Jesus-Islam » Jesus Christ » Do the Gospels teach that Jesus is God? 2025. https://jesus-islam.org/questions/evangiles-enseignent-jesus-dieu/.

Josephus.org. Tesimonium. 1995. https://josephus.org/testimonium.htm.
King James Bible Online. King James Bible Online. Vers. King James Version:

Cambridge Edition 1769. 2025. http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org (accessed 09 05, 2025).

Museum of the Bible. The Megido Mosaic Foundations of Faith. 2025.

https://www.museumofthebible.org/exhibits/megiddo.

Quran.Foundation. https://quran.com/5/72. 2025. https://quran.com/5/72.

Extra! Extra! Jesus Declared as God!

Jesus Declared God

There has been a lot of resurging discussion lately on when Jesus was declared and worshiped as God. It appears that many believe that Jesus was declared God in AD 325. This was recorded at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD in what has become known as the Nicene Creed.

The argument that many antichrist apologists make from this council meeting, is that the church did not see Jesus as God until 300 years after his death. That is became a part of church doctrine, but the original followers of Jesus and early church did not believe that Jesus was God, and they did not worship him as such. This argument is spread way to easy by those who do not understand history or church doctrine. Unfortunately many Christians do not study their own cultural history, or scriptures and leave themselves vulnerable to such an attack, which can be so easily defeated with the TRUTH.

This council of the Christian church was called by the emperor Constantine I. It was the hope of the emperor to put to rest a problem created in the Eastern church by Arianism. This problem stemmed from a heresy brought about from the teachings of Arius of Alexandria that stated that (Jesus) Christ was not divine but was a created being. The council condemned this as heresy and incorporated the work homoousios. This word is the key doctrinal term that affirms Jesus is the Son of God in equality with the Father. Thus, Jesus is divine. The Nicene Creed is the only ecumenical creed because it has been repeatedly reaffirmed in subsequent church councils, and it is accepted as authoritative by the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox, Church, the Anglican Church, and the Protestant churches of the Lutherans, Presbyterians, and Methodist. Although the Baptists do not subscribe the use of creeds in general, they are in agreement with the affirmation of the Nicene Creed.

The following is the wording of the Nicine Creed as shared by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages.

God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sin, and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.[i]

Therefore, the edit and resulting creed was not to establish Jesus as the Son of God and divine, but to affirm the belief that already existed in the face of an unfounded heresy. It simply confirmed the truth already accepted by the church.

There are other historical references that show this belief that include the following.

Thales – Palestinian historian – 232-245 A.D.

Tertillian – “Founder of Western Theology”, “Father of Latin Christianity” – 220 A.D.

Titus Flavius “Clement of Alexandria” – Theologian, Philosopher, Teacher – 200 A.D.

Bishop Irenaeus – 185 A.D.

Justin Martyr – author – 150 A.D.

Josephus – Jewish historian – 94 A.D.

These are just a few to show that there are extrabiblical writings showing that the church worshiped Jesus as divine long before the council of Nicene. Perhaps the most compelling arguments that support that the early church believed that Jesus is the Son of God comes from the scriptures themselves. All of the books of the New Testament were written no later than 110 A.D. It is commonly accepted that Jesus was resurrected around the year 33 A.D.

In these:

The gospel of John is believed to have been written as early as 90 – 110 A.D. John 10:30 reveals that Jesus claimed to be God. “I and my Father are one.” It further shows evidence that the Jewish leaders understood this claim made by Jesus (John 8:52-59). Later Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples who at first doubted Jesus’ resurrection declared that Jesus was his Lord and his God. (John 20:28).

The gospel of Mark is believed to have been written between 64-70 A.D. In his gospel we hear of the Roman Centurian’s believe that Jesus is the Son of God (Mark 15:39)

When we factor in that these gospels and early writings had to be circulated and generally accepted by the early church through public readings, teachings, and personal studies, it is easy to draw the conclusion that the church has always believed that Jesus it the Son of God, divine, and always in existence.

Please, my dearly children, beloved of God and Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, arm yourself with the truth. Believe upon the name that is above every name, Jesus the Christ. Remember the words of the apostle Paul to the Colossians where he declares that Jesus is the dear Son of God (1:13), “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” (Colossians 1:14) Walk in strength of knowledge and in the power of heavenly wisdom. Be at peace and answer the heretic with unwavering faith, love, and hopeful anticipation that the truth will set them free also.

[i] (United Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2025)https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe

Version Comparison Zechariah 13:6

THE JPS TANAKH-1917 (Hebrew Bible) is recognized as the most authoritative and preferred English translation of the Hebrew Bible according to The Jewish Publication Society. For almost a century this has been the prominent English version of the Hebrew Bible. In it Zechariah 13:6 reads, ” And one shall say unto him: ‘What are these wounds between thy hands?’ Then he shall answer: ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.’”

The King James reads:

And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

The Holman Christian Standard Bible reads:

If someone asks him: What are these wounds on your chest?—then he will answer: I received the wounds in the house of my friends.

The American Standard Bible reads:

And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds between thine arms? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

English Standard Version

And if one asks him, ‘What are these wounds on your back?’ he will say, ‘The wounds I received in the house of my friends.’

Contemporary English Version

And if any of them are asked why they are wounded, they will answer, “It happened at the house of some friends.”

This verse and the context which comes with it, is a clear prophecy to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In fact the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus refers to Zechariah 13:7 when he says, “All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.” (Matthew 26:31). This pointing to the crucifixion is clearly indicated in the Hebrew Tanakh (1917) and in the King James Version. However, as we can see with these few samples above, almost every modern translation fails to show the piercing of the hands. This is an important part of the gospel. So important that God mentions it more than in just this passage.

“For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.” (Psalm 22:16).
My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest. (Job 30:17)
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10)

Is this not how the serpent beguiled Eve? By taking what God said and twisting it into something similar; but not the truth? Tell me again how it doesn’t matter what translation you are using. How they all say the same thing. Because these do not say the same thing. Were his wounds on his hands, his chest, somewhere between the arms, on his back, or just some unmentioned location (as in the CEV)? This removes one of the most important prophecies concerning the method in which the messiah would suffer.

I will stick with the King James Version.

And The Virgin’s Name Was Mary

Luke 1:26-27 – And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

What an amazing introduction to this young couple. The betrothed couple of Joseph and Mary. This is a very important presentation that has valuable information. This was a couple, that according to Jewish law was no longer viewed by society as two individuals, but as one family. To break a betrothal, there would have to be a formal writ of divorce. This is such a foreign concept to almost all cultures in modern society. Especially with modern Western Culture who hold the concept of sex before marriage is an acceptable and necessary practice. However, this is not the view of historical Judaism, Islam, or Christianity.

Still, this is not just a practice of non-premarital sex, but a purposeful dedication to the one you are espoused to, so much that to desire another would be considered adulterous. Even with this acceptance of being basically already wed to one another they’re wedding day and consummation had not yet occurred. Both Joseph and Mary were unknown to one another, or anyone else. They are both virgins. To this couple was sent a messenger, Gabriel.

Gabriel was a messenger of God that was sent to Daniel to give an interpretation of a vision that was received in Daniel chapter 8. We also find out from Luke that the angel Gabriel also appeared to Zachariah and Elizabeth to let them know that their son would be filled with the “spirit of Elijah (Luke 1:17). Who was prophesied to come before the coming messiah. (Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:1-3) This preceding of the messiah was prophesied by Isaiah and was fulfilled in John the Baptist. The messenger from God, Gabriel was assigned with explaining the fulfillment of the prophecy to the baby’s parents.

Likewise in such a manner, Gabriel had to explain the rest of the fulfillment to Joseph and Mary. Elizabeth was barren and past the age of delivery, but God made her barren womb to bear the child named John, who would become John the Baptist. The messenger Elijah who bore witness to the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He would finger Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah.

His birth would be glorified by angels, witnessed by shepherds and wise men who would bring gifts to celebrate the birth of the King of Heaven. Simeon would remark, “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” (Luke 2:30-32) Oh what a wonderful day for this elder of Israel to have his prayers answered, to lie down to sleep knowing that the salvation of the Lord God had finally come. God had come to his people and fulfilled the promises and prophecies.

One of which was the sign of his coming. Not only the fulfilling of the messenger before the message of salvation, but the method of his coming. He will be born flesh and blood. In a way more miraculous than a barren woman giving birth. This sign would be something impossible to reproduce, it God were not involved. It would ensure the holiness of the baby. This baby would be born of a virgin. This to would not be a last-minute detail, but a promised sign that is unique to this messiah.

Once again, the prophet Isaiah is called on to give this account of the Word of the Lord. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23) and once again Gabiel would be called to explain to Mary and Joseph that they would be the ones by which the prophecy would be fulfilled. You see when Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6) he was standing on earth as the only one who had been born of the flesh and of the Spirit.

What a shame that some rogue translations of the English bible remove this word “virgin” from their translations. It is to their detriment that they alter the Word of God. They will be judged for this crime against God and for the souls they have mislead. They try to hide the facts, that Jesus is the Son of God, born of the virgin as prophesied. They try to dissuade you from the miraculous and powerful hand of God. They seek to make his word untrustworthy. But his word remains. “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18) The penalty for altering his word is severe. They bring the judgement and wrath of God upon themselves. (Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18-19). The sad thing is that their in no excuse. Everyone who has altered the word of God is well aware of the consequences, they just have no fear of God, and therefore lack knowledge. For, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”(Proverbs 9:10)

Therefore, the scripture reads; “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.”

In the sixth month! The sixth month in the Hebrew calendar is a special month. It is a representation of the relationship of God to his people. Dvora Waysman wrote in the Jerusalem Post, September 2022, “There is a rabbinic allusion that the month was named from the initial letters of Ani le’dodi ve’dodi li (I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine), describing the relationship between God and His people.” [1]

With this special time of the year when Jews are considering their relationship to God, how much more fitting is the precious story of the arrival of Gabiel to the homes of Mary and Joseph. The special relationship between God and his people Israel just got “real”! God is coming in person! He has chosen you, a virgin! Even better… Mary… he knows your name. Joseph… he knows your name! How wonderful it is that Jesus says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31)

The area of Galilee is also of great importance. The prophets Micah, Elijah, and Jonah are all mentioned as coming from the area of Galilee (Micah 1:1; 1 Kings 17:1; 2 Kings 14:25; Joshua 19:13) Many believe that Nahum and Hosea may have also come from the Galilee area. Isaiah prophesied that the messiah would come out of Galilee in Isaiah chapter 9.

Isaiah 11, Jeremiah 23, and 33 all indicate that the Messiah would come from the lineate of David, from the tribe of Judah. Even way back in Genesis 49:10 God promises that the scepter will not depart form Judah that the tribe is the Law giver is with them. In 1 Samuel 20:6 the scripture further solidifies the Messiah coming from the House of David, from Bethlehem. (1 Samuel 20:6; Micah 5:2)

This message is a divine orchestration of time and circumstance. It is important to showing the working of the divine will and authority in working in heavenly wisdom. God must fulfill his complete word. In a broken people, in a rebellious world, with an active enemy trying to make him break his word. Yet God put all the pieces together in his own time and in the manner he foretold. On top of this, he did it with a willing virgin. He did not violate anyone’s free will to complete his will.

What great lengths the God Almighty will go to so that he can keep his word. We can trust the Word of God. He is faithful. He is not bound by our understanding, or even our lack of faith.

Bibliography

WAYSMAN, D. (2022, September 17). Jewish Holidays. Retrieved from Jerusalem Post: https://www.jpost.com/judaism/jewish-holidays/article-717249

[1] (WAYSMAN, 2022) Article: What is special about Elui…

I Corinthians 11:17-34 – The Heart and the Manner of The Lord’s Supper

I Corinthians 11:17-34 – The Heart and the Manner of The Lord’s Supper

When most of us look at the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper we reference I Corinthians 11:23-34. In this we gain the specifics of how the ceremony should be performed. We also gain an insight into the heart of the participants and the Lord’s seriousness of this ceremony. One thing we miss in starting at verse 23 is the intention that the church should come together, no matter what the circumstances of the church or the individual trials of the member are.

We should come together in unity of the local church, in Christ, and perform this ceremony before the Holy Spirit who testifies with our spirit that we are the children of God. This is an encouragement to us, to solidify our faith, and to give a continuous testimony of Jesus Christ until he returns.

Below is the passage I Corinthians 11:17-34. Read it and pray about it. Meditate upon its meaning. I have put my personal summary afterward. I pray this is a blessing to you, and a help in you daily walk.

17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.

18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.

21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.

22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.

34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

1 Corinthian 11 has a lot to say about the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. The gathering of the fellowship should include the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. It should be a reverence to the Lord, not for the filling of the belly. The Lord’s Supper should not be a time of gluttony. It is therefore not a feast, or celebration like that of Thanksgiving, nor is it a festival like that of a wedding or a birthday. One should have eaten your normal portion prior to attending, or perhaps after the ceremony. No drunkenness or excess should be exhibited. Greed in not a virtue of God.

There is no favoritism before God. So, in the church there is no special treatment or special arranging of seats, or unequal portions for prominent church members of guests. There is not a separation of Jew, to Gentile, free man to slave, nor rich to poor. All who come to the table should be fed equally of the Lord’s portion. One should not come to be served but to serve. If any must wait, surely it is the Pastor who should partake last, to ensure all believers have their portion of participation. The Pastor is after all the utmost servant of the local church in direct service of office to Jesus Christ.

[The last supper] by Library of Congress is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0

The sacraments of the Lord’s Supper should be taken in reverence and remembrance with a pure heart. One must be clean of conscience, confessed of sin, and with a heart of repentance. One should not be holding of anything against his brother, instead one should be forgiving at heart, as he was forgiven by God in Christ Jesus.

This is a time of reflection and of hope in his death and his return. It should have a ceremonial atmosphere, and in accordance with the manner in wick it was handed down from Jesus to the Apostles. Thanksgiving should be given for the ceremony, the sacraments provided, and the blood and the body sacrificed by the death of Jesus Christ. By whose blood we have atonement.

We should also be warning of others to not take this lightly. Participation in this ceremony is only for the true believer. To partake of this sacrament unworthily brings death. It is a mockery and a blasphemy of the Holy Spirit to partake unworthily. Each man should examine himself, to see of he is worthy to participate. Is his heart of clean conscience before the LORD? If not then he must leave his gift at the altar and make it right. All things must be done in faith, or they are sin.

The Ascension of Christ by Ventura Salimbeni is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0

Therefore, the participant must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God who came and lived among us as a man, who died for our sins, was buried, and rose again, overcoming death once and for all men. He then ascended to heaven with a promise of return. This is what you testify to when you participate in the Lord’s Supper, until his return. Participation says I trust you LORD and I await your return, doing the work of a good servant. In obedience to your commandments. I await you Holy bridegroom with my lamp filled with oil, and the light of hope burning, piercing the darkness of this world in trust and hope in you, Jesus Christ.

Are Mormon Doctrines Christian Doctrines?

If you look at Later Day Saints (Mormon) websites and publications, they clearly state that they are Christians and that they believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. However, they have many non-Christian doctrines, and even some that refute their own claims of being a Christian religion. Below are some that I found in some quick searched of their material. Some of these below may seem ridiculous or minuet, however, there is a clear progression that shows the rejection of many Christian doctrines. It can be easily said that the Mormons might know the name Jesus, but that they fall short on knowing Jesus, and much more so in trusting him for salvation. On the one hand they say that Jesus is their salvation, but on the other they say that there is no salvation outside of Joseph Smith. Just that alone would label them a cult, not Christians.

It is a sin to drink caffeine. “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as it is formally known, determined that a reference to “hot drinks” in religious texts only applied to tea and coffee, not all caffeine products.” (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41351251)
Baptizing for the dead, you can be baptized for someone who had died and remove their sin
Mormons used to believe that people of color could not be saved because they fell from heaven with Lucifer, changed in 1978.
Believe that they are the real Christians. The time between Jesus and Joseph Smith was the age of apostacy and so the only true church is the one who follows Joseph Smith’s teachings. (Some believe that Joseph Smith will be a part of the Holy Trinity.
The Garden of Eden is in Missouri.
Jesus has a goddess as his wife.
Jesus had children with the goddess mother.
Jesus and Satan are brothers.
There is not just one God but many “And they (the Gods) said: Let there be light: and there was light,” (Book of Abraham 4:3)
salvation is attained through obedience to the law and doing good works (Miracle of Forgiveness, Spencer W Kimball, page 206)
There is no salvation without Joseph Smith as a prophet of God (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, page 188)
God used to be a man on another planet, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 321; Joseph Smith, Times and Seasons, vol. 5, p. 613-614; Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p. 345; Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 333).
God resides near a star called Kolob, (Pearl of Great Price, p. 34-35; Mormon Doctrine, p. 428)
“The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s…” (Doctrines and Covenants 130:22).
God is in the form of a man, (Joseph Smith, Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 3).
“God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!!! . . . We have imagined that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea and take away the veil, so that you may see,” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345).
After you become a good Mormon, you have the potential of becoming a god, (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345-347, 354).
There is a mother goddess, (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 443).
God is married to his goddess wife and has spirit children, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 516).
The Trinity is three separate Gods: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. “That these three are separate individuals, physically distinct from each other, is demonstrated by the accepted records of divine dealings with man,” (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 35).

“As these sins are the result of individual acts it is just that forgiveness for them should be conditioned on individual compliance with prescribed requirements -‘obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel,’” (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 79).
“One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan and propounded by man is that man is saved alone by the grace of God; that belief in Jesus Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation,” (Miracle of Forgiveness, Spencer W. Kimball, p. 206).
Good works are necessary for salvation (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 92).
“We know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do,” (2 Nephi 25:23).
Must be certified as qualified to enter the Mormon Temple. “Every individual who qualifies for a temple recommend is also qualified as a faithful Latter-day Saint. He or she will be a full-tithe payer, will observe the Word of Wisdom, will have good family relationships, and will be a better citizen of the community” (“Opening Remarks,” Ensign (Conference Edition, November 2005, p4)
Joseph Smith received ancient scriptures – previously unknow – from an angel

A short list of scriptures from the King James version on what the scriptures say concerning some of these claims by the Latter-Day Saints.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 – Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Ephesians 4:4-7 – There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
1 Timothy 2:5 – For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Isaiah 43:10-11 – Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
Galatians 1:8-9 – But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

There are many more scriptures that we could bring to bear upon the false doctrines of the Mormon Church, but these are clear enough to point out that their doctrines are different than the doctrines taught in the Holy Bible. This is because their cannon of scripture is different then all other “Christian” religions. The Mormons has redefined what it means to have a cannon. Their cannon it 2 fold, it is expanded (in comparison to other Christian religions) and it is “open”. “The first is that compared to the rest of the Christian world, ours is an expanded canon. In addition to the Bible, we accept as canonical three other books of holy scripture—the Book of Mormon (531 pages), the Doctrine and Covenants (294 pages), and the Pearl of Great Price (61 pages).” (https://rsc.byu.edu/historicity-latter-day-saint-scriptures/latter-day-saint-concept-canon). An open cannon means that is it open to new revelation, interpretations, and additions, as is needed.

This information will undoubtedly make its way into a class on cults that I will develop, but lately I see a bunch of people trying to unify Christianity with Mormonism. I believe that you should search the scriptures yourself and do your own investigation into what the scriptures say, what the Mormon doctrines say, and see if they line up. What I have provided in this short and insufficient paper is a starting point for your own prayerful investigation. I repeat the words of the Apostle Paul, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).

In the Beginning

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” – Genesis 1:1

This is a simple statement. Yet this statement is all inclusive and it assumes one key element. It is all inclusive in that it includes Space, Matter, Time, and Scientific Laws. The phrase, “in the beginning” implies that there is the start of a time frame. Time has a starting point in the initial creation of the heaven and the earth. Note also that heaven, at this point, is singular. This would also mean that these, the heaven and the earth are somehow contained in something.

When I teach a class on Genesis 1:1 I often draw a cube on the whiteboard and explain that this is very similar to the aquarium that someone would put into their home. In order to set up an environment to keep fish in, one must first have the space to put everything into. In this manner is how we can see that a container is necessary for God to put the heaven and the earth into. We also know that the universe runs in set patterns and dependencies. Everything has its place and function. There are scientific principles and laws of nature that govern how things interact within the universe. By way of example, we have the Law of Gravity, the Laws of Physics, and such things as these. We also have quantitative Scientific laws like mathematics, chemistry, and engineering. All of these things existed from “in the beginning”.

To have intelligent conversations on any subject, certain things must be agreed upon as a starting point. This first verse of Genesis is assumptive that we can agree that God exists. Therefore, it does not explain the existence of God, or where he came from. It does not do so, because the purpose of the story being relayed is not to explain the existence of God. It is given us the explanation of our existence. So, it only tells us that God it is who created. God created everything. Knowledge of God is assumed, even if we do not know who he is. God himself is taken as a literal, legitimate individual. What we learn is that it is God who had the ability to create things. Scripture says that a fool says that there is no God (Psalm 14:1).

The assumption is that any intelligent person in their right mind should know that there must be a God. The understanding that the universe could not have come into existence by itself is something that anyone who has intellect, should know. Therefore, the notion that the universe suddenly created itself, or that it somehow was always in existence is for the weak minded and unlearned. All that one has to do is to look and see how everything in this universe breaks down, wears out, and degrades over time, if it does not have something else to maintain it, or to act upon it for its restoration or betterment. Nothing in nature ever evolves into a higher lifeform. The necessity of God for creation and maintenance is plain to see throughout the universe. It is a universal law.

The Jewish and Christian beliefs of God creating everything from nothing is not shared with any other belief system in the world. This is referred to in the Latin, “creatio ex nihilo” (creation from nothing) and has been a long-held belief in Christianity dating back the beginnings of the Church. The idea that God is so absolute in his power that he can cause something to be in existence from nothing is what makes the Judeo-Christian God unique from all other God’s and belief systems in history. This ability makes him the only creator in existence.

Some other Creation Stories:

Greek Mythology – In the beginning was chaos. This is not a creation from nothing.
Norse Mythology- In the beginning was a chasm. This is not a creation from nothing.
Rig Veda (an ancient Sanskrit writing) – There was the “first fashioner” he created Earth and Sky, but before him there were cosmic waters. This is not a creation from nothing.
Chinese Mythology- Heaven and earth were in a state of chaos or cosmic egg for 18,000 years and it broke apart and formed the heaven and the earth. This is not a creation from nothing.
Mesopotamian Mythology- the Earth was made from the killing and dividing of another god.
Egyptian Mythology has three different creation myths. The predominant one has two gander producing eggs that are the sun and the earth. This is not a creation from nothing.
Zoroastrian Mythology- creation was made after a cosmic war between “lies” and “truth”. Truth won and created the earth, then tried to destroy it, but cosmic man thwarted the plan by returning to earth as a plant stalk and repopulating the earth with vegetation. From the stalks we then see the produce of the first man and woman. This is not a creation of everything from nothing.
Hindu and Buddhist see the universe as eternal with no beginning or end, it has always existed
Scientology from what I can see of it seeks to claim that it is the oldest of creation beliefs and that the cosmic lifeforce may have initiated a spark on non-active substances and then created all things. This still is not a creation from nothing.

Now I know that these are extremely abridged versions of these beliefs. But I only have them here to show you that Judaism and Christianity are not the only cultures who believe in a creation event that is not some string of cosmic accidents that somehow led to men being formed. Instead, in these we see that generally all cultures in history have believed that there was an actual creation event in antiquity, and that one or two gods or entities are responsible for this spectacular one-time experience in cosmic history. The purpose of Genesis 1:1 is to introduce God (the I AM) as the ONE who is the actual creator. This is where Judaism and Christianity differ from all other people, religions, philosophies, and theories that have ever populated the earth. We believe, according to scripture, that God is the one who created all things from nothing. That means that there was absolutely nothing when God created everything. God is the point of origin for all things we know. This means that everything we have ever seen, touched, smelled, and felt comes from God who created all things:

Psalm 90:2 – Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Colossians 1:16-17 – For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
John 1:1-4 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Revelations 4:11 – Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Therefore, having read these verses, we can see, with just a quick glance, that God existed before the creation. There is only one God and he created everything. All powers and authorities within this creation are subject to his creation authority. We can also see that everything was created for his own pleasure, not ours.

Yet there is another theology out there that rejects this whole premise of a God, or even an unnamed divine essence that created everything. They reject all matters of faith in the claims of science. This theology is known as Atheistic Humanism. They are armed with what they call scientific evidence that destroy the faith-based creation of Christianity. They attempt to remove God from the creation event. In doing so they are attempting to remove his authority over them. The approach is simple, their claim is that someone who could believe in an invisible God to create everything and to just take it on faith is unhealthy thinking and ludicrous. However, when you get to investigating what Atheists accept (believe) as truth, you will find that it also takes a great amount of faith. Lee Strobel who has become famous for switching his stance from atheism to Christianity tweeted, “To continue in atheism, I would need to believe that nothing produces everything, non-life produces life, randomness produces fine-tuning, chaos produces information, unconsciousness produces consciousness, and non-reason produces reason. I simply didn’t have that much faith.”[1]

I like you have known quite a few individuals, some friends, some family, who have looked down their nose at me for believing in Jesus Christ, and for taking the Word of God at face value. Yet this statement made by Mr. Strobel is one that I have heard from many people who used to be atheist. At some point their mind realizes that everything they believe to be true is just that… it is a belief and when confronted with the lack of real evidence to support their rational mind, they concede that this belief takes just as much faith as believing in Jesus and the Word of God. Then they begin to ask questions. They begin to want real answers. In finding no answers anywhere else then turn back to that ignorant Christian, and to what God says. They begin to examine the Word of God and for the first time they begin to see what God has been telling all of us.

Isaiah 45:11 – Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.

The Lord is not hiding in the darkness and hoping to not be seen. Instead, he is putting out an invitation to all men. To seek him out. He says to ask about the work of his hands. The entirety of creation speaks to his glorious work. (Psalm 19:1-7; Romans 1:20) God wants us to know that he is the creator. That is why Genesis 1:1 starts with “In the beginning God Created the heaven and the earth.”. Later the gospel of John tells us that in the beginning was the word and that all things were made by him. (John 1:1-3) The very word of God is tied to his being the creator. “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.” (Psalm 33:6) God’s revelation of himself in the first verse of Genesis, and the steps that he took to create everything, is his guarantee of his word. It is given to us so that we can have confidence in everything else that is revealed in the scriptures. The first sentence in Genesis is the foundation of all Jewish and Christian faith. God exists. God created everything. God is all powerful. God has all authority. The word of God is trustworthy. Psalm 148:8 says, “Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” What a strong foundation for faith and hope. If he created all things, then he can make you a new creation in Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

God tells us that we can ask him about his works. He tells us that the heavens declare his majesty. Everyday we can look up to the skies and see proof of the work of his hands. The creation shows knowledge. No matter what language you speak or education level you reach, God’s creation is speaking to you about the God who created all things, including you.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. (Psalm 19:1-7)

It is amazing to me that this verse speaks of the cycles of nature and the manner in which the sun circles the earth. This reveals from the very beginning that people of faith have always know the earth was circular, well if they read anyways. Approximately 150 B.C. the ancient Greeks made a globe to represent the earth. It is believed that Moses wrote the Pentateuch (1^st five books of the Old Testament) around 1445 B.C. I make this point to show you that men and women of faith do not need to fear what science says. Instead, we should run to science and get involved and ensure that the science being performed is in fact science. Just because someone claims a theory, that does not make the theory true. The book. “On the Origin of Species” published in 1859 which is used to promote the theory of Evolution has yet to be proven with the principles of the scientific method. Yet it is taught as an indisputable fact. Now this undisputable fact is not just one set of facts or a unified theory either. Darwin had four principles to his theory. Enst Mayr writes saying that Darwin had five theories of evolution. [2] Within each of these theories there are many more theories that have changed over time. Other theories on the origins of like include:

The Big Bang
The Electric Spark
Extra-terrestrial Origen (Panspermia)
Spontaneous Origin
Biochemical Evolution
Community Clay

These are just a few of the many that Humanistic Theology seeks to use in their running away from the truth. When you look at these theories (fancy ford for “belief”) you will see some very big leaps taken on speculation. Talk about “faith”. It is a tragic comedy that those who believe in a constantly changing and scientifically unsupported theory are calling those who believe in an unchanging biblical view of creation to be fools. We see the proper demonstration of the pot calling the kettle black.

Christians have been told that they are stupid and ignorant to believe in the Bible when science so clearly disproves it. I would say yes, Christians have been stupid and ignorant, but not because of science disproving the Bible. Because science has not disproved the Bible, instead the deeper the science and the more serious the scholar and the archeologist looks, they find that the Bible is validated by the scientific studies performed.

Therefore, we have been stupid for trusting the wrong source for our information. Trusting in the religion of humanism and being willfully ignorant to the fact that lies are we listening to are well within the scope of words among prideful, self-seeking men. Especially those who hate and reject God and are willing to go to any length to discredit his word. We are ignorant of what science truly says concerning creation, the flood, and the events we now see unfolding as we come to the end of the age. Just as the Word of God revealed the beginning it revealed the end also. God is the one constant from the beginning to the end. It is his design, his plan, and it is for his purposes.

No, the Christian does not need to fear science. The Christian should seek out honest science and seek out the truth of God revealed in the Holy Bible. God has never said that we should bury our heads in the sand. Instead, he says to think, gain wisdom, seek knowledge, get understanding. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7) God does not want us to be ignorant of his creation. Creation teaches us about God. Good science that follows the principles of science and discovery teaches us about this creation that God has made. In this proper study we can find out so much about God and his handywork. We can see how much love he has poured into the universe, the earth, and into men and women like you and me.

There is an importance in what we discover in scripture and in science. We find that we can trust the scriptures as passed given and preserved by God as they have been passed down from one Godly man to the next generation. There are clear points in scripture where the author has put their own pen to the page and those are noted in the passages. But the events that happen in the first chapters of Genesis, especially “in the beginning”, could have only been know by God. It is God himself who passed these events to Adam. We must therefore take what we have been given by God as the very Word of God and accept the truth of what it says. We must take the text of the Creation as literal events and not try to bend them or twist them in order to make them fit into the theories of men. I repeat the warning of Paul the Apostle, “Let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightiest be justified in thy sayings, and mightiest overcome when thou art judged.” (Romans 3:4). If we cannot believe that God performed creation that way that scripture tell us that he did, then we cannot believe anything else that the scripture states about God, Sin, or Salvation in Jesus Christ.

Photo by Muhammad Rayhan Haripriatna on Pexels.com

Therefore, humanistic theology tries so hard to discredit the first 11 Chapters of Genesis, especially the creation. If it did not happen the way it is recorded, then everything else is subject to ridicule and reinterpretation. This is the same approach that the serpent took with Eve in the Garden of Eden when he asked, “Yeah, hath God said…?” (Genesis 3:1). I encourage you to put away the fables of men, and to study the scriptures and the science for yourself. There are plenty of resources available today for you to look at the science that disproves the theories of men. You will find that the only reason you are having problems is because of your own ignorance and unfounded fear of the evidence concerning creation. Evidence that supports a short earth. Evidence that supports a catastrophic flood. Evidence that proves that man was a purposeful and fully functional creation, unique from anything else on the earth. Man was not the biproduct of an accident that took billions of years to form, instead he was a thought out, purposefully engineered creation by a God who loves and cares for him, and for you as a unique and designated offspring of that life. Adam was designed for a purpose, and so are you.

Strobel, L. (2017, Dec 12). @LeeStrobel Tweet.

[1] (Strobel, 2017) Tweet from Lee Strobel Dec 24,2017@11:22AM

[2] (Gruyter)

Bibliography

Gruyter, W. d. (n.d.). https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9781400854714.755/pdf. (D. Gruyter, Ed.) Retrieved Apr 21, 2022, from https://www.degruyter.com/: https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9781400854714.755/pdf

Is Tithing Different Than Other Commandments?

Many Christians seem to think that we are set free from sin because of Grace, but we must absolutely pay tithes or suffer consequences from God. They seem to think that if they become a believer and then commit a sin afterward that the Lord will forgive if they confess and then they move on with no other consequences. The exception to this is tithing. They believe that because tithing was instituted prior to the Law of Moses that the Lord handles that sin of disobedience differently and will curse them with failing to obey that commandment. They receive this belief because many preachers teach that very doctrine.

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These teach that God had instituted tithing before he instituted the Law and so the act of tithing is separate from the Law and Grace issues of salvation and obedience. But is this a true doctrine that is supported by the scripture? Did God only institute tithing before the Law and so separate the lack of tithing from other sins? Does God hold you accountable because Jesus fulfilled the Law? If Jesus only fulfilled the Law and somehow the command to tithe is exempt, did he save anyone from condemnation? I move that God did not only institute tithing prior to the Law and so is expected with believers under grace, but that he also instituted the general law of righteousness and expects believers to adhere to those also. For now let us look at the tithe doctrine.

Where do we get this doctrine? Well, there is a story way back in Genesis that predates Moses and the giving of the Law in Exodus. This story involves Abram (Abraham) and Lot. When Abram was living in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron (modern day location is in the West Bank). In this story his nephew Lot and he had separated because of issues with their herdsmen and the resources available to feed their flocks. Lot went towards Sodom and Abram to Hebron. Sometime after there arose a war between the kings of the region, and Lot got swept up in the ones who were taken as slaves and pillage from several of the nearby kingdoms. Just on a short side note. This might serve as a good lesson on being to close to the world. Ok, back to the main topic of this writing.

When Abram heard wind of it, he took his men and “smote” the enemies and brought back all those who were captured and all of the things that were pillaged. When this occurred there was a king that came to honor Abram for his righteousness and obvious blessings of the Lord. The name of this king was Melchizedek. He was the king of Salem (Peace). He brought bread and wine as a gift to Abram. Abram in return gave him a 10^th of everything he had to show honor to God’s king and priest, and to give thanks for the blessing God gave him. This is affirmed by the writer of Hebrews, see Genesis 14:20 and Hebrews 7:2, in the King James Version, for comparison.

Genesis 14:20 – And blessed be the most-high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

Hebrews 7:2 – To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

Now a little more on Melchizedek and Salem. Melchizedek (Melchisidech) was a king and priest to El ‘Elyon (Hebrew for “God Most High”), of Canaanite origin. The name Melchizedek is an old Canaanite name meaning “My King Is [the god] Sedek”, or “My King Is Righteousness”. Salem is believed to be Jerusalem in later texts. The name Salem means “complete or perfect peace”. You can probably see where the writer in Hebrews was headed. Jesus is considered by the writer of Hebrews to be a king and priest after the order of Melchisidech. This then shows that with Christ there is a change in the priest hood. The priesthood of Melchizedek was changed to the Levitical priesthood under the Law of Moses. Now the priesthood in the manner of Melchizedek could pick up under Grace. This would show that tithes were expected prior to the Law, and now after the Law.

Further we see that Jacob also offered tithes to God. Now this tithe was a promise to be faithful to God because God was faithful to Jacob. It is put a little differently, however, it can still be seen of the giving of 10% of everything that God had given Jacob.

Genesis 28:20-22 – And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

Once more we see that the tithing of Jacob was prior to the Law given in Exodus. One could even make the argument that the requirement of tithes for Israel comes from the vow that Jacob made to God, that he would give the place Bethel as a temple and he would give a tenth of all he had from the Lord back to the Lord as gratitude.

Here next we can see the command and the purpose of the tithe.

Leviticus 27:30 – Tithe is declared the Lord’s
Numbers 18:21 – God says tithes are for the support of his priests
Malachi 3:8 – God says that to not tithe is robbing him
Haggai 2:8 – any treasure we have belongs to God
Deuteronomy 12:11-14 – bring all sacrifices, offerings, and tithes to the house of God

We an see that before the Law, Abram honored God by giving to his servant priest because of the priestly duties of king Melchizedek and in honor of what God had given Abram. We also see that Jacob, who is Israel, performed an oath before the Lord to place a temple and to tithe. Under the Law we see that the reasoning that God applies. The Hebrews in their exhale seem t have forgotten the vow and the reasoning of the tithe, so God reminds them in the Law. The tithes are a thanks offering to God for what he has given. Since God does not need what is made by man, the tithes are used to support the priest in their duties and the maintenance of the temple. In this tithe offering to God the priests gain the ability to concentrate on their priestly duties. In the modern-day church this is reflected in church practice of paying a pastor, providing a parsonage, or giving a love offering to an evangelist, or charity to a missionary. We are commanded to care for our clergy.

1 Corinthians 9:9-14 – don’t muzzle an ox, he needs to eat while working

Luke 10:7 – ministers should eat what is given them by their hosts

Philippians 4:16-19 – shows Paul giving thanks for provisions given to him by the church

There is therefore a clear precedence for the continuation of tithing. Now, if we cannot under grace ignore such a decree of God that he finds pleasing, how can we then ignore other items that please him? Did you just get a confused look on your brain?

Remember the premise. Many Christians believe that Grace covers us from sins like lies, murder, sexual immorality and such. They believe this because scripture does tell us this. “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14). That is straight from the Apostle Paul. In this chapter of Romans, Paul goes at length to explain how it is that we are dead to sin, all is forgiven, and we are not held accountable to the Law unto death anymore. Well, those who believe on Jesus the Son of God as both Savior and LORD, and I mean the only LORD who is God, they are saved -and only those. The Apostle of Christ even explains how when we sin, it is not really us who have been redeemed, but this flesh that is still holding us. Paul tells us that we can rejoice because we are no longer slaves to sin, we can choose who we submit to, we do not have to submit to our flesh and transgress… Uh oh. That means that since we have been set free from sin, we should be servants not to sin, but to righteousness. That means we are now set free to choose to be morally upright like Jesus our Master.

So how does all of this relate? Well first let us see the truth. This does not only apply to the Law of Moses, but to the Law AND the prophets… the entirety of scripture. Jesus said,

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-20)

Now without getting too theological, there are those who will say that Jesus was talking to the Jews. I will agree with that. There is evidence that God deals with different people in different manners depending on his purposes. He is God and I must concede this point, much as I treat my children different according to age, maturity, trust worthiness, and so forth. I think it reasonable that God knows that people are different and must be dealt with by different methods. Keeping in mind the truth of the Gospel that anyone who truly believes and submits to Jesus as the Son of God who is both savior and Lord of their life is saved, Jew first then Gentile. However, it still appears that Jesus is referring to his kingdom, that would mean that it covers his servants, wether under the Law or Grace. Jesus expects that you will still be righteous in heart and actions. We call this sanctification.

That aside, is there precedence on other sins other than the lack of giving tithes that God has revealed prior to the Law of Moses? Yes, there is. He is a short list (that means not all inclusive).

Genesis 3:1-20 – Fall of Adom and Eve = lies, deceit, covetousness, not trusting the Word of God, disobedience; false god; idolatry; lust; covetousness; unrepentance
Genesis 4:5 – Cain and Able = Disobedience, False Worship, Vanity, Pride
Genesis 6:5-7 – Cain and Able = wickedness evil imaginations, lust
Genesis 6:9 – Cain and Able = Lies; unrepentance
Genesis 6:8-10 – Cain and Able = Murder (killing); lack of honor for parents
Genesis 6:11, 13 – Noah and the Flood = violence; disobedience; unrepentance
Genesis 9:5-6 God holds murderers accountable to death
Genesis 9:21-25 – Drunkenness; disrespect to parents
Genesis 11:1-9 – Babel= False gods, idolatry, pride, disobedience
Genesis 19:1-38 Sodom and Gomorrah; sexual immorality, violence, idolatry, disobedience, lack of fear of the Lord, unrepentance

All the above are just a small portion of the things that man did that God disapproved of prior to the Law of Moses. Tithing is not mentioned in any of the things that resulted in punishment in these texts. However, if we hold that the reason, we must tithe is because that it was demanded prior to the Law of Moses then we must also be in compliance with these other items that are identified prior to the Law. So, either grace covers all our sins or it does not. Don’t worry, it does cover all sin and no works are necessary (Romans 11:6).

Do we then have an excuse to refrain from tithing? Paul says, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” (Romans 6:1) That seems like a valid argument. Paul is quick to answer. “God forbid”. If we are truly dead to sin, then we cannot, and must not sin just because our sins have been forgiven. Instead, we should live a new life. A life of love and gratitude towards God. Our lives and everything in them are a gift of what God has already given. Out tithe is then an offering of thanksgiving for what God has already done. Not for what he might bless us with. Certainly not an obligation under or outside of the Law. Indeed, our tithe is no longer a tithe, but 100% of all we are and posses.

If we see the tithe as an offering to God, as the ancient Hebrews saw all their sacrifices, then this is a different issue all together. The Hebrews viewed all their possessions as actually belonging to God. Without the blessings of God, then they would have nothing at all. Therefore, they gave God back the best portion of what he had given them. The tithe was not only in money, but in grain, livestock, currency, etc. The motivation was not for the blessings but rather, it was to be pleasing to God. God had already given the blessings. This tithe was simply a show of respect and gratitude in honor of God’s provisions. It is a reasonable service. This it the same thing that Paul says concerning our sacrifice of love towards God and one another.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

Here, Paul says that Jesus Christ has given us life. How do we just give 10% of life back to Christ? We do not. We must give all that he has given us. For if we are truly dead to sin, then we died. The only life we have now, is in Christ. That means 100% is now our offering. The first fruits of life is love. We must give love back to God. We do this by presenting not part, but all of our lives as a living sacrifice, sanctified – set apart for him in Jesus Christ. He has become not only our savior, but our Lord. Not just Lord but the one and only LORD.

With this mindset the heart is freed to give. This is just one part of what Paul was trying to explain. Since we have been set free from the penalty, we are now free to love God of our own choosing. We can now give not only our tithes, but so much more. We can not only chose obedience in tithes but in not bearing false witness, no gossiping, no showing respect to some people and disrespect to others, no murders, no abortions, no sexual immorality, etc.

We know that God is not trying to steal from us, nor is he trying to keep us from good things. But we are simply allowing God’s plan to work. What plan? His plan of redemption. The furtherance of the gospel is supported with your sanctification and your giving. The tithe is for the maintenance and care of the temple (church), and the food and caring of the priests (clergy) so that they can perform their duties before God and man. It is reasonable that we should care for these things before God. It should be understandable that we are the manner in which God cares for his servants.

Many times, I receive calls from people who desire to take from the church, and even expect that the church should give to them. However, if the storehouse of the Lord is empty because his people have neglected to fill it, then the Lord will not be pleased, and the outreach cannot be sustained. Without the tithing the building falls in disrepair, and the pastor must make choices between service to the Lord of feeding of his family. From the unbeliever, seeing a church in disrepair, or clergy that are starving and in debt or working two jobs is a sign on unbelief from the congregation. Who would want to believe a God who cannot take care of his own clergy and temple?

Look at Malachi chapter one. The Lord says that bringing second best is a show of disrespect. Giving with bitterness in your heart of contempt from feeling like your have been forced or coerced to give is not love, and neither is giving in expectant of blessings in return. He says that you profane the altar of the Lord when you hold back from him. I often have eyebrows raised when I tell those in attendance that if they cannot give their tithes with a happy heart then they should not give at all. The altar of mercy is desecrated by complacency. Even with that stern rebuke the Lord is still merciful. Even though we should not expect a blessing in return for tithing, the Lord will bless you for giving joyfully.

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, Smith. The LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:10)

Therefore, we cannot say that tithing is different than any other commandment under the Law. We cannot say that tithing is not covered under Grace. We can say that obedience in tithing, like obedience in not committing other sins, brings blessing that are inclusive of Gods good nature. For the Lord says, “Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of they life shat be many.” (Proverbs 4:10) So then should we not tithe? No, rather we should tithe, but for the correct reason.

Is this “The Greatest Story Ever Told”?

I heard this on the radio this morning. The host said, “What if I told you a story about someone who could heal all your hurts.” Then they went on to say, “well it is not a story”. It is the greatest story ever told. They went on to explain that Jesus came to heal all of their hurts. Then they just said that we should have joy over that. It was not a bad thing to say at the first hearing. I assumed that their reference was to the movie, “The Greatest Story Ever Told” that was released in 1965 by directory George Stevens. This is a movie adaptation of the biblical telling of Jesus of Nazareth, from his birth to his ascension, after his resurrection from the crucifixion. Or maybe it was referring to the Gather song, “It’s Still the Greatest Story Ever Told” which sings of the coming of the messiah as the baby Jesus, and how God became his own flesh and blood creation out of love for mankind. Now, this is the greatest story ever told. It also happens to be true. God became man. The Creator became his own creation to reveal his love of his to his creation. But to say that Jesus came to heal your hurts is the greatest story is a sweet little lie, or at the minimum a very incorrect statement, and no where near the truth.

You see, since the ancient of times, we have had great men of renown (Genesis 6:4). We have had wise men, like Solomon to give us sage advice and provide a model of sound judgement. Men like his father King David to show us how to protect the weak and provide for one another have been around since the beginning. We have even had men who have walked and talked to God, men like Enoch, Job, Noah, Moses and Abraham. We even have references to peoples hurts and sicknesses being healed in the Old and the New Testament, without it being a miracle. The author of the Gospel of Luke and Acts was a physician himself. God, from his throne was already reaching out to his people and healing their lands, their health, and giving them protection from their enemies. Jesus did not need to come here for any of that kind of stuff. Jesus did not come here for that kind of stuff. Did Jesus heal? Yes, he did. Did he come here to heal, yes, but not superficially. Does he care for you and your problems? Yes, he does. But that is not the reason why him coming is, “The Greatest Story Ever Told”. You see we can already do all of these things for one another, if we so chose to do.

We can provide emotional support and care. We can provide medical treatment, and life saving measures. We can prolong life beyond what would have been. We can deter the effects of many diseases and even put many in remission. We can provide food and clothing to the orphans and widows. We can encourage one another when going through rough patches. But what we cannot do, is restore our relationship to God. We cannot raise ourselves from spiritual death, and make ourselves holy before God. This is what makes “The Greatest Story Ever Told”. God sent his only Son to restore our relationship to himself. Only God can give life. Only God can sustain life. Therefore, only God and bring us back to life.

In the beginning God created man with his own hands, and gave him life. Genesis 1:26-27 – And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 2:7 – And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Here we see the special relationship that God and man had from the very beginning. God created man with a special vision and purpose in mind. He created man as a model after himself and man was to be the caretaker of creation. He was God’s representative on earth. God planned him out, formed him with his own hands from the earth. This shows man’s relationship to God and to his creation. The God breathed life into man. God gave man life in an intimate and direct manner. Then man became a living soul. Man from the very beginning was flesh, spirit, and soul. Man was alive and if you were to continue reading in Genesis you would see that he was in fellowship with God. He walked and talked to God with no mediator in between, no fear.

Then a horrible event took place. Man was deceived by an enemy of God, who was once one of God’s chief angels. This fallen angel wanted to God. So he used cunning words to deceive the woman and the man that God was unfair and unjust. This deceptive picture of God caused man to question God’s word and authority. This led to the first sin of disobedience against God. Because man’s image of God had been distorted by what they were told about God, they believed incorrectly, and sinned. This is the same reason that I am writing this today. This false image of who Jesus is and why he came is a deception that must be confronted, lest anyone come to Jesus for the wrong reasons, and miss out on the real reason he came. Did Jesus heal people of their hurts, diseases, and deliver them from devils? Yes, he did. However, those were just signs to prove his authority for why he really came. The reason he came is so much more important than just physical healing or food for your stomach. He came to give you life, life that you have never had before. He came to deliver you out of the hands of death.

You see sin, brought death. Not just spiritually, but physical death also. Diseases, famine, pestilence, injustice, mental illness, and far more are all brought about by sin. These are not brought about by God, but by our fallen condition, caused by sin. We have never known a day without sin, since the fall of mankind in the beginning. This is part of the reason we cannot redeem ourselves. We do not even have an idea of what true justice, or righteousness looks like. But God does. He above all knows the cost that sin has had upon us, his special creation. Therefore, Jesus came to make us his righteousness. He was sent by the Father because someone had to die for the sin that we were trapped in. It had to be someone who had never sinned, nor was a receiver of the curse of sin through the bloodline of Adam.

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. This is the statement made by God through the apostle Paul. The only payment for sin is death. That is the only reward that sin ever brings – eternal death. But God gives eternal life through Jesus Christ. The apostle John recorded the words of Jesus as this, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) So, let us take a moment to reflect on these two statements made by God. Sin, of which we are all guilty of by inheritance, action, or omission is punishable by death. There is no alternative to this debt. Unless the debt is paid for us.

Now, here comes the Creator. He loves us so much, that he created us with a special purpose and in an intimate manner and remembers the intimacy we once had. He desires to have this intimacy once again with his creation (you and me) so much that he decides to pay the death penalty for us. He does this though sacrificing his own son, Jesus Christ. Since Jesus died in our place, anyone who believes and accepts this payment of our death debt through the death of Jesus can be saved based on that belief. Now we who believe are brought from death to life. We are not just spared death and given a life, but we are given eternal life.

So what is eternal life? Jesus put it like this, And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3) Eternal life is the restoration of the creation to the Creator. We once again are able to walk in fellowship with God. Remember, he is the source of life. Life emanates from him. Without him there is no life. We are tied into the source of life for eternity because he is eternal. He does not change, nor die, and neither do we. We have eternal life through Jesus Christ unto God the Father, sealed by the Holy Spirit.

What is the difference in what you believe? He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36) You see we must have a clear understanding of who Jesus is and why he came. He came to do far more that just heal our hurts. He came to restore our relationship to God himself. He came to deliver us from death and from the wrath of God. Those who reject him, or who do not believe on him, are already under the wrath of God. Deliverance from the wrath of God comes in this way…

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That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)

Believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Believe that he was sent by God the Father to redeem you. Believe that Jesus did everything necessary to redeem you though his death, burial, and resurrection. Believe from the heart is not a feeling, but a choice to fully believe this as the truth. Belief on Jesus is what makes you righteous before God, and confession of this faith in Jesus Christ is what ties this belief to your acceptance of salvation. This is because it is prof of your belief. Not for God, but for yourself and for those who need to hear the truth. God Saves… this is “The Greatest Story Ever Told”. It is the story of how God loved you so much that he sent his son Jesus Christ to die for you, so that you could live with him. God has done for you what you could not do. He saved you from wrath, and death. He gave you eternal life.

Does God Ignore Some Prayers?

There seems to be a lot of confusion over the question of prayer, and if God answers all prayers. Many Christians sit in pews and listen to pastors who teach that God answers all prayers. The pastors say that sometimes God will say “yes”. They will admit that sometimes God says “no”, or even “maybe”, or “wait”. These are all valid answers. I have seen examples of such answers that I have given to my own children in seeking to be a good parent. Children sometimes ask for things that are not good for them. Or for things that are inappropriate for them. However, there were times to when they were asking things with the wrong attitude, or the while they were being punished, or things that they just knew that I would not allow, but they asked anyway.

On those occasions, I simply ignored the pleading. I had all the right to as a parent. Just because I was asked, it did not mean that I must answer or even that I had to listen. You may have been in a similar situation with your children. Lucky for us we serve a God who is the essence of what is good. He loves us from his goodness, and his goodness gives us love. Therefore, He always seeks our best interest, within his will. We are his children, and we are treated as such. But, what about those who are not his children? Does God have to pander to their requests? Does he have the right to disregard their prayers?

The Holy Bible starts out with a simple assumption, that God exists. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) If God exists, and he created the heaven and the earth then God is sovereign. We either must believe that or not. Now if we believe that God is sovereign then we must believe that he is not under our jurisdiction. He is free to determine what he must and must not do. God gets to choose his own actions. God’s actions are governed by his own character.

This character is what has been the demonstration of what is true in love, charity, longsuffering, righteousness, and all things that are good. Our since of justice comes from the character of God. God as creator does not have to answer for himself to his creation. We simply must accept that he can choose to answer any prayer that he so chooses to answer. In accepting that as truth we must also accept as truth; God can choose to not answer, and even ignore some prayers. We do not dictate the terms to God. It is God who dictates terms to his creation.

To ignore the sovereignty of God would put us in the same place as Satan. “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” (Ezekiel 14:12-14) You would think that we would see and understand that to stand in the presence of God and make demands of him is to put ourselves in the position of God. This is what happened in the Garden of God in Eden. There Satan tempted Eve to sin, by telling her that she would be like God. (Genesis 3:5) We must listen to what the Word says and not what we desire. So, are there times that God chooses to ignore prayers? What does the Word say about unanswered and ignored prayers?

Well James the half-brother of Jesus wrote, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (James 4:3) The epistle of James is believed to have been written around 49-50 AD, that would make it the earliest written letter written, after the Ascension of Christ, in the New Testament. Here James is answering the same question that we are still asking today. Why doesn’t God answer all prayers? In this short sentence James tells us that if we ask to consume it in our lusts, that is to say, to satisfy fleshly desires, or in self-serving desire, then you are asking in vain because God will not honor that prayer. So, the motivation of our prayer has to be sincerely unselfish. So, is it wrong to ask for the things we need? No, Jesus himself told us that we should ask that our joy may be full. Jesus also says that we should seek the kingdom of God first, because the Father knows everything we need, and he will supply our need. So, James does not contradict Jesus. Both Jesus and James, tell us that we should ask with the proper motivation.

We also see that the Lord will not hear those who think immorality in their heart. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” (Psalms 66:18) What an eye opener this verse is. To put it in context, the writer is actually praising God for hearing his prayers, and NOT those of the wicked. He draws a contrast and comparison between himself as a righteous man before God who seeks to do the will of God and those who do not seek the will of God. These who enjoy and keep sin in their hearts will have their prayers unanswered because they are separated from God and God will not hear them. Pay close attention to what Isaiah says, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2) Iniquities are knowledgeable sins. These are sins we know are wrong and choose to continue in them. These separate us from God, and then he will not hear us. This is what leads the Apostle John to write, “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.” (John 9:31) There seems to be a theme developing here. The theme that wrongly motivated prayers and a desire to continue in sin are some things that motivates God to NOT answer prayers. Heck it even seems that he ignores those who do such things.

In fact, God tells the prophet Jeremiah, because Israel has violated these two principles and rejected God, he will not hear them when they pray, and he forbids prayer for them. Did you hear that? Don’t believe me? Listen to Jeremiah 14:10-12, “Thus saith the Lord unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the Lord doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins. Then said the Lord unto me, Pray not for this people for their good. When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.” Wow he will not hear their prayers, not anyone else’s prayers for them. He will not listen even if they fast, no matter how often nor how long they pray, because they have rejected him. I think that it is fair enough to say that the doors of heaven can be closed to those who leave God, should he so choose.

Ok so far we see that God can choose to ignore prayer from those who have improper motives rooted in selfishness. God will not hear those who choose to live in sin, or who have forsaken God for another god. Now we move on to those who have actually rejected God. Scripture tells us that Jesus is the Word of God and the Word of God was with God in the beginning and created all things. The Word also tells us, “The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.” (Proverbs 3:19-22) and then scripture also tells us that this wisdom of God that Created, this Word of God that Created, this Jesus that Created, if you reject him. Then you will cry out and the Father will not hear you.

• Proverbs 1:24-28 – Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
• Matthew 10:33 – But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
• John 14:6 – Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

There we clearly that the rejection of Jesus Christ means that the Father does not know you. That would mean that he is not your Father. You would not then be his child. He would be under no obligation to hear those who have rejected Jesus.
God does have a real heart for those who listen to him, those who abbey his will, and those who care for others. So much so that Zachariah tell us that God proclaims that those with hard hearts, who refuse to listen to the Lord and his commandments he will not hear. (Zechariah 7:11-13). Proverbs 28:9 tells us that those who turn there ears away the hearing of the Law of God, God considers their prayers an abomination. That means that God thinks that those who do not even bother to listen to his law and then want to pray to him, that their prayers are an outrage. There is another form of ignoring that God does not particularly care for and will cause prayers to be unheard. Those who ignore the plight of the poor, when they ask of God, their prayers will be, likewise, ignored. (Proverbs 21:13)
God will not hear the prayers of those who mistreat his people either. These are those who hate good, love evil, who seek to hurt and kill the Saints of God.

• Psalm 18:40-41 – Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me. They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the Lord, but he answered them not.
• Micah 3:2-4 – Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron. Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.

These have cried in the past and the Lord choose to ignore their pleas. There are other examples of prayers that do not get answered. Prayers from those who worship idols (Jeremiah 11:11-14; Ezekiel 8:15-18. Those who do not believe will not receive anything from the Lord. (James 1:6-7).

So then if we are all unrighteous, who does God hear?
Those who seek and call upon him in belief that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek him to know who he is.

• James 1:5 – But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
• Jeremiah 29:12 – Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
• Job 33:26 – Then he will pray to God, and He will accept him, That he may see His face with joy, And He may restore His righteousness to man.
• Psalm 91:15 – “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
• Psalm 145:18 – The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.
• Psalm 65:2 – O You who hear prayer, To You all men come.

• Jeremiah 36:7 – Perhaps their supplication will come before the Lord, and everyone will turn from his evil way, for great is the anger and the wrath that the Lord has pronounced against this people.”
• Matthew 7:11 – If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
• John 14:13 – Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
• John 14:14 – If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.
• John 16:23 – In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.
• John 15:7 – If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
• James 5:16 – Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
• Matthew 21:22 – And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
• 1 John 5:14 – This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
• 1 John 5:15 – And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.
• Romans 10:12 – For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;

Scripture is clear. God is sovereign and he chooses to ignore those who do not recognize or who ignore his sovereignty. But to those who sincerely seek him, and desire to know him. He will reveal himself to them. Those who are repentant and who confess that Jesus is the Son of God who died, was buried, and rose again from the grave, and desire to perform his will, God will hear, and answer. He will fulfill the desires of that person’s heart. God hears those who hear him. If you first ask to hear God, he will let you hear him, that your joy may be full. You want to hear something really neat? God prays for us. (Romans 8:27; John 17:15; 1 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 9:15) In addition, for those who accept Jesus as Christ, those have been made righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21) This means the unrighteous man that John said God would not hear… we are no longer that unrighteous man. Therefore, God hears us, because of Jesus Christ, in order that the Son of God may be glorified of the Father. What wonderful news!