Head-dibs

Proof of the deity of Christ. "Jesus Christ ... declared to be the Son of God with power ... by the resurrection from the dead" (Romans 1:3-4). An integral part of the gospel. " The gospel ... how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures " (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). The seal of the finished work of Christ. " When He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high " (Hebrews 1:3). Essential for salvation. " If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins " (1 Corinthians 15:17). " 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 " (Romans 10:9). Evidence of the believer's justification. " Jesus our Lord ... was delivered for our offenses, and was raised ...

A North Carolinian asked, “ how did his father raise him up from the dead? Does Jesus have power? ” I think I can answer both questions by looking at WHO Jesus is; that is, Jesus is plainly and clearly identified as being God. Consider a few things that are said of God in the Old Testament and what is also said of Jesus in the New Testament: He is the Creator ( Psalm 102:24-27 and Hebrews 1:10-12 ); He was seen by Isaiah ( Isaiah 6:1-4 and John 12:41 ); He was preceded by a forerunner ( Isaiah 40:3 and Matthew 3:3 ); He disciplines His people ( Numbers 21:6ff and 1 Corinthians 10:9 ); He is Holy ( Isaiah 8:13 and 1 Peter 3:15 ); He leads the captives ( Psalm 68:18 and Ephesians 4:8 ); He is the object of faith ( Joel 2:32 and Romans 10:9 and 13 ). This is my favorite passage: Look at Revelation 1:8 —who is speaking? Now look at Revelation 22:13 —who is speaking, and what does He call Himself? Finally, turn back to Revelation 1:17 —who is speaking? Now look at the next verse, Reve...

Yesterday’s Daily Bread devotional (written by Philip Yancey) brought some deep reflections after dinner last night. He wrote of the miracle of restraint, of God’s choice to curb His own power. “The miracles Satan suggested to Jesus (Luke 4:3, 9-11), the signs the Pharisees demanded (Matt. 12:38; 16:1), the final proofs I yearn for offer no obstacle to an omnipotent God. More amazing is His refusal to perform, to overwhelm. God’s terrible insistence on human freedom is so absolute that He granted us the power to live as though He does not exist. Jesus must have known this as He faced the tempter in the desert, focusing His power on the energy of restraint. I believe God insists on such restraint because no pyrotechnic displays of omnipotence will achieve the response He desires.” I’m not a Yancey “fan” but every once-in-a-while I come across something he writes and I am intrigued. When I read the devotional, I was reminded of conversations I’ve had (such as the one last week) where unb...