Category Archives: Theology

Sermon Shorts from Spurgeon – Sermon 4: The Personality of the Holy Ghost

Posted on by

But is it not said in Scripture, and do we not feel it, dear brethren, that it is the Holy Ghost who regenerates the soul? It is the Holy Ghost who quickens us. “You hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins.” It is the Holy Spirit who imparts the first germ of life, convincing us of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment to come. And is it not the Holy Spirit, who, after that flame is kindled, still fans it with the breath of his mouth and keeps it alive? Its author is its preserver. Oh! can it be said that it is the Holy Ghost who strives in men’s souls; that it is the Holy Ghost who brings them into the sweet place that is called Calvary—can it be said that he does all these things, and yet is not a person? It may be said, but it must be said by fools; for he never can be a wise man who can consider these things can be done by any other than a glorious person—a divine existence.

From the Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Volume 1, Sermon 4 by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

https://ccel.org/ccel/spurgeon/sermons01/sermons01.iv.html

Forgiving Sins, Healing the Lame

Posted on by

Here is another passage where Jesus’ words (and actions) demonstrated that He is truly God in the flesh. It involves His teaching ministry and the religious leaders of His day learned more than they could handle.

And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. 19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. 25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. (Luke 5:17-25)

First, notice the priority of the lame man’s friends. They had to get him to Jesus! And they weren’t above destroying the roof of the house to do it! This prompted an immediate response from Jesus.

Pages: 1 2

Equal with God

Posted on by

Several times in the Gospels, Jesus said or did things which demonstrated to others that He is truly God in the flesh. As we have seen in previous articles, sometimes it was a direct statement of Jesus or others affirming His divinity. However, in the passage today, it was the implication Jesus’ hearers perceived which showed His divine nature. In addition, He then claims to have the ability to do something which only God could do—raise the dead.

But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. (John 5:17-21)

These two words, “My Father”, caused offense among the Jews. They understood this as Jesus stating that He and God were equal. In Greek, it’s the word isos, which can mean equal in either quantity or quality. Here, it is obviously quality. That’s why the Jew were upset.

In verse 19, Jesus goes on to explain that the Father’s work and His work are the same. Then Jesus tells them that they haven’t seen anything yet! (vs. 20) As a matter of fact, Jesus tells them that He can raise the dead! (vs. 21) That was something only God Himself could do. Since God created life, He can give life to whoever He wills. Likewise, Jesus said that He could do the same thing. Notice in verse 21 that Jesus states that He can quicken (make alive) whoever He (Jesus) wills.

Do not miss the significance of this. The Jews accuse Jesus of making Himself equal with God, then Jesus goes on to state that (1) the Father and the Son do the same things, (2) the Father reveals His works to the Son, and (3) the Father and the Son both have the power to accomplish them. Essentially, Jesus was telling the Jews that they were absolutely correct—He is equal with the Father.

See Jesus, See the God the Father

Posted on by

Jesus had an interesting conversation with Philip in John 14.

Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. (John 14:8-11)

Philip desires to see God the Father. Jesus essentially says, “Here He is! He’s standing right in front of you.” (vs. 9) This was a startling revelation to Philip who, based on the context, was obviously looking elsewhere for the Father.

Jesus further confirms that when He speaks, God speaks. (vs. 10) So Jesus’ words are the very words of God which bring about the works of God. This is because Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in him. This emphasizes the close relationship between the Son and the Father, similar to that referred to in the previous lesson in this series.

For this reason, Philip should believe that Jesus and the Father are one in the same based on the confession of Jesus Himself. (vs. 11) Otherwise, Philip should at least believe “for the very works’ sake.” Philip, nor anyone else, could argue against the works performed by Jesus being the work of God, due to their miraculous nature and the power displayed.

This passage is just one example of Jesus attributing deity to Himself. There are scholars who state that Jesus never claimed to be God, but they do this only by discounting Jesus’ own words. On the contrary, Jesus said it and we need to accept it.

Coronavirus: The True Christian Response

Posted on by

Coronavirus?  Don’t worry.  Kenneth Copeland’s got this.  He pronounced it “destroyed forever”.  Is this the true Christian response to a pandemic?

https://www.christianpost.com/news/televangelist-kenneth-copeland-calls-forth-supernatural-heatwave-to-kill-coronavirus-in-nyc.html

In March, he claimed to heal people of COVID-19 while he prayed for them as they laid their hand on their TVs.  (One wonders why he doesn’t visit hospitals.)  Then he told those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic to continue paying tithes.  (Since 10% of 0 is 0, I guess that wouldn’t be a problem for them.)  Then he said he would continue to have church services even if he had to pass out thermometers to everyone, and if someone had a fever, that he would “get it healed right there.”  (Hard to argue with that.)

Why do people listen to this guy??

The true Christian does not call down the “wind of God” upon the coronavirus and pronounce it “destroyed”. Kenneth Copeland is a charlatan who is just interested in money which he extracts from people by acting like he has special powers imbued upon him by God. Suffice it to say, he does not.

Pages: 1 2