Five Actions of Moses

Hebrews 11:25-27

Moses was born during a nation-wide command by Pharaoh to slaughter all Jewish boys two years of age and younger. As a desperate attempt to preserve his life, his mother placed him in a small boat-like cradle and set him to float in the shallow waters of the Nile so that Pharaoh’s daughter would see him when she came down to bathe. The hopes were that she would be so overwhelmed with sympathy for the baby that she would take him and raise him as her own.

Moses’ mother’s hopes came true. In fact, in a twist of irony, the king’s daughter asked Moses’ sister (conveniently standing nearby) if she would be the nurse to take care of the baby. Throughout his childhood, Moses was raised by his own mother, and was protected by the authority of Pharaoh through his own daughter. This meant that Moses would be taught all the precepts and customs of the Hebrews even while he was officially recognized as an Egyptian.

When Moses was of age, his Egyptian mother brought him into the palace and he became her son. We can only assume that he was afforded the privilege of an Egyptian education, lifestyle and access to the treasures amassed by the Pharaoh. His life as an adult Egyptian, however, was cut short by two incidents:

11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.

12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.

13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?

14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.

15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

Evidently, Moses’ teaching by his real mother had taken hold. He identified more with his Hebrew brethren than the Egyptian citizens. His values were also shaped more by his Hebrew heritage than by the influence of the Pharaoh or the wealth of Egypt. We must carefully analyze his actions because they show the kind of character he had and provided an example for anyone who lives in a pagan society.

The passage in Hebrews do not come to us in the words of Moses or of a record-keeper in Jewish history. This is an analysis, written centuries later, of Moses behavior. Let us take note that it is important for us to do more than read the Bible. We must also make a proper analysis of what happened and how it is to be understood. Then, we must apply the lessons to our lives.

1 Corinthians 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

James 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

Jude 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Five Actions of Moses

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

Moses refused. When do we refuse to do something?

When we sense that it represents a threat to us.

When we understand that we have a better alternative.

Learn how to say no.

· Saying yes, doing yes
This is authentic. If you say yes, do yes. People will know that you keep your word.

· Saying yes, doing no
This is deception. You try to keep the relationship good at first, but don’t keep your word and end up damaging it in the end.

· Saying nothing, doing yes
This is vague, but mostly if you do not answer people assume that you will say yes.

· Saying nothing, doing no
This is vague and deceptive. People assume that you say yes, but you do the opposite. Plenty of room for an argument.

· Saying no, doing yes
This is confusing to say the least. People will not know what your word is worth, saying no clearly does not mean no.

· Saying no, doing no
This is authentic. If you say no, do no. You might disappoint someone, but you are clear and people will know that you keep your word.

Joseph knew how to say no. 8 But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Old Testament saints refused deliverance. Hebrews 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

Refuse to let the devil gain the upper hand in your life.

Refuse your own carnal impulses to rule your life.

Refuse to listen to ungodly speech or to watch ungodly scenes.

Refuse to accept the garbage of the world. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Moses chose. 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Moses saw two main choices before him: suffer the affliction with the people of God or enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

These are hard choices. Who wants to choose affliction? Who wants to deny pleasure?

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The power of choice places the option back in our hands.

But the power of choice also brings with it the responsibility of choice.

There was a woman screaming on Park Avenue yesterday morning, flecks of furious saliva spraying from her twisted mouth as she raged into her cell phone, “It’s not my fault.” Over and over, like the high-pitched squeal of a power saw cutting brick: It’s not my fault and a run of foul names, then It’s not my fault and another run of names. It’s not my fault, you (blank). It’s not my fault, you (blank)ing (blank). It’s…not…my…fault.

…I heard the phrase again yesterday, in the bank’s vestibule after work, among the automatic teller machines. … There in the bank, while I checked my balance, a man was talking on his cell phone, one foot up on the window sill, as the Christmas shoppers hurried past outside, their arms full of packages. “It’s not my fault,” he said. “I’m just the kind of person who has to keep after things.” What is it about self-justification that always makes it seem so false? About that phrase “I’m the kind of person…” that always makes it sound like a lie?

…It’s not my fault — the cry we’ve made every day since Cain was born. Down somewhere in the heart, there’s always an awareness of just how wrong the world is, how fallen and broken and incomplete. This is the guilty knowledge, the failure of innocence, against which we snarl and fight: It’s just the way things are; it’s not my fault. What would genuine innocence look like, if it ever came into the world? I know the answer I am called to believe: like a child born in a cattle shed. But to understand why that is an answer, to see it clearly, we are also compelled to know our guilt for the world, to feel it all the way to the bottom.

Smoking is a choice. So is drinking, using drugs, immoral behavior, keeping wrong company, getting an education, getting a job, spending money, eating certain types of food, etc. Anyone who makes a choice out of all the options must also accept responsibility for the problems that the choice brings.

Following Christ is a choice. It can be a hard choice from certain perspectives. It means affliction and deprivation of pleasure. But the end result makes the difficulties worth it.

Moses esteemed. 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.

The word esteem comes from the same word as estimate. To estimate means to determine the value or worth of something. For example, we estimate the public debt to be at ten trillion dollars! We estimate that it will take us two or more years to get out of Iraq.

Moses estimated that the reproach of Christ—not the glory or wealth—was worth more than the treasures of Egypt.

According to the Museum of Ancient Art in Switzerland there was given a replacement value at nearly a staggering three-quarters of a billion dollars: Insurers have valued the display of opulence from ancient Egypt’s ruler called Tutankhamun at about $680 million.

Stringent security precautions have been taken to protect the dazzling array of the mostly golden or gilded objects, which are insured for $650 million. They were shipped to Basel on two special Egypt Air flights to guard against the loss of the whole collection in

an air crash. $3.86 million for loaning the exhibits. His coffin was the most magnificent. It was made from solid gold, and weighed 2,500 pounds. Today (2009) it is worth $36.4 million.

If I were to offer you $10 billion to deny Christ, would you accept it? No, you say. Yet, that’s what Moses did.

If not $10 billion, how about $1 billion?

$100 million?

$10 million?

$1 million?

$100,000?

$10,000?

$1,000?

$100?

You ask why am I doing this? Because some bargain away Christ for much less than $100. They do it for a drink. A cigarette. A curse word. An admiring look by the world.

Moses had respect unto the recompense of reward. In other words, he knew that the reproach of Christ was a far greater bargain than the treasures of Egypt.

Moses forsook. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king:

Forsaking means cutting all ties. Renouncing any ownership, partnership or remuneration. Not even the fear of Pharaoh was enough to make him change his mind.

You cannot follow Christ without forsaking the world. The modern idea is to bring the world along with you. How much of Egypt did Moses take with him to Midian or to the wilderness? Not their gods. Not their customs. Not their values.

Moses endured. “…for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”

After he refused, chose, esteemed and forsook, he had to endure. Enduring is hardest when you are not sure you made the right decision. When you know you did the right thing, you embrace the affliction with hope. It only hurts for a little while.

Sister Lucas told she had days to live. She said she was not afraid. She had lived all of her life for this moment.

You Can Believe in Jesus

Messianic Prophecies of the Bible

Bible prophecies represent more than just a forecast of the future. If the only thing involved would the linear progression of successive events, then nothing would really be accomplished. When God tells the world what he is going to do, he opens himself for failure, for challenge, for Satan to thwart the purposes of God, and for doubt to enter into the heart of man.

The more detailed the prophecy, the greater the odds are that it will not happen. In fact, the addition of just one condition onto a previous prophecy creates an exponential growth of odds against it. Thus, when a detailed prophecy comes true, it takes a great deal of purposeful denial to continue on as an unbeliever. This is exactly why the Bible is under such great attack in our time. From the secular standpoint, the Bible must be destroyed. Even if a shred of the Bible record remains, it condemns the unbelief of the world.

Hebrews 3:12-19 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Unbelief is one of the scariest states of the human heart. Revelation 21:8 says “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Unbelief is so unnecessary. Ample evidence is provided in the Bible for even the most skeptical of people to accept and believe. Therefore, anyone who is an unbeliever, has as a reason a moral, not a cognitive problem. Thus, the scripture denotes such a person as having an “evil heart of unbelief.”

John 20:26-31 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 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.

1. The Seed of the Woman

• Forecast: Genesis 3:15
• Fulfillment: Matthew 1:18; Galatians 3:16, 19.
• Forecast: Genesis 12:7
• Fulfillment: Galatians 3:16
• Forecast: 2 Samuel 7:8, 12
• Fulfillment: Romans 1:1,3

This prophecy was tested from the very beginning. Genesis 2:17; 3:3-4.

This is called the Highway of the Seed. It represents the embryonic history of the Bible. Everything about Christ is contained in seed form. Sufferings, Death, complete Dominion over Satan. Hebrews 2:9-15.

Why is this important? Not only because it verifies the prophecies of the Bible as they were fulfilled in Jesus, but because there were times when grave doubts appeared that the survival of the prophecies would be possible.

• The Flood.
• The intended massacre of the Jews by Haman.
• The massacre of innocent babies by Herod.

The fact that the seed exists gives regenerative life to every prophecy. The seed of the plant is in the fruit. The blood of the martyrs contains the seeds of the church.

2. The Virgin Birth.

• Forecast: Isaiah 7:14
• Fulfillment: Luke 1:31, 34, 35.

The phrase “seed of the woman” is found only in Genesis 3:15 and Revelation 12:17. In Revelation, it is speaking of a symbolic character. Her seed then, refers to the concept of the virgin birth. Otherwise, the scripture would have referred to Adam’s seed, or “his seed.” John 14:30, however, says that the prince of the world has nothing in Christ. Sinful seed never made an investment or a deposit into the Messiah. Sinful seed has nothing to reap, no return, no identity in Christ.

The reason for this is the virgin birth. Mary was with child by the Holy Spirit, not by Joseph or any other man of this world.

Matthew 1:18, 23.

Most births in the Scripture highlight the father. It is remarkable that the birth of Jesus is in reference to the mother. Isaiah 49:1, 5. Jeremiah 31:22. Psalm 22:9. Micah 5:3. Also, the use of the word virgin meant not only the womb yet unopened, but also the consummation of the marriage had not yet occurred. Cruden says that the word used for virgin, parthenos, represented a young unmarried woman who had preserved the purity of her body.

Psalm 51:5 teaches us how all of us were born after Adam’s transgression. Jesus, in order to be the sinless sacrifice, had to be born without sin. Romans 5:12-17 reverses the curse of Adam. Had he been born naturally, he could not have affirmed one of these claims. 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5.

3. The Time of his Birth

• Forecast: Daniel 9:25-26.
• Fulfillment: Luke 2:1, 7, 11; Galatians 4:4.

At the time of her conception and much of her pregnancy, Mary was actually in the wrong place for Jesus to be born. Something had to be done to move her from Nazareth to Bethlehem in a narrow window of time for Jesus to be born. The tax assessment done by Caesar Augustus was not on a regular cycle. There was a tax time four years before Christ was born and another several years afterwards. This, however, was a special taxation that involved the Jews of Judea and forced them out of the north into the province just south of Jerusalem into Bethlehem.

Also, according to Daniel’s prophecy, the Messiah had to come 483 years after a specific date given to Daniel, five hundred years before Jesus came to the temple for his week of passion. Everything had to be precise, in terms of the prophecy.

4. The Place of his Birth

• Forecast: Isaiah 9:1-2; Isaiah 11:1; Hosea 11:1; Micah 5:2.
• Fulfillment: Matthew 2:23 (Branch=Nazarene); Matthew 2:14-15; Matthew 2:1, 5, 6; John 7:42; Matthew 2:2.

5. The Forerunner of his Birth

• Forecast: Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 4:5.
• Fulfillment: Matthew 3:1, 3; Luke 3:3-6; John 1:23.

The Gifts We Bring

“Which one of your Christmas gifts holds the most meaning for you? Perhaps it was a gift that you received, but it may have been one that you gave someone else. A few years ago my sister gave me a gift that still holds incredible meaning to me. It is a beautiful watercolor painting that tends to grab folks from across the room and pull them closer. Once pulled closer, people are able to read the lovely calligraphy verses written within the artwork. But there is more to it. You see the verses written there are things my sister feels God taught her through the struggle and loss of her daughter Sarah Catherine to infant leukemia. Because I know the meaning behind those words, because I lived through the history of those words with my sister, there is much deeper meaning for me in the gift than simply its visible beauty.” Robert K. Marshall

Introductory questions:

• What is the most outstanding gift you ever received?
• What is the best actual Christmas gift you have ever given? (Not love, time, etc.)
• What is your worst gift-giving experience?
• Why is gift-giving so traumatic?

International Gift-giving

By Terri Morrison
© Copyright 2004, All Rights Reserved

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Gift-giving is an art. It is an ancient social tradition, and is taken very seriously in many parts of the world. In most places, business relationships are built upon personal relationships, and appropriate gifts are a very important means of cementing those bonds. But unfortunately, even if you have the best intentions, some gifts can send the wrong message to your clients. For example:

Taboo Items:
Never give products made from cowhide to Hindus. This precludes wallets, belts, boots, purses, or any other leather item. The cow is so sacred to Hindus that several men were killed in rural India this year over the suspicious death of a cow.

Pork and alcoholic products are prohibited to Orthodox Muslims. Don’t select Virginia hams, Canadian bacon or gift baskets with bratwurst for your Middle Eastern friends. Also be sensitive to the fact that many colognes and perfumes may be alcohol based, and alcohol can be present in many specialty food items (i.e.: chocolate cordials)

Insensitive Gifts:
Make sure your gift wasn’t manufactured in an environment that is controversial for the recipient. For example, don’t give a Greek executive something made in Turkey

The wrong color wrapping paper or flowers can insult international associates. Never send white flowers to an Asian client. They are associated with funerals

Keep your well-honed knives in your kitchen or pocket! Knives symbolize the severing of a relationship in many countries.

Worldwide, there are many occasions when gifts are exchanged. In Japan, gifts absolutely must be given at mid-year (July 15^th) and year-end (January 1^st). They are also often given at first business meetings. Every country also has its own cultural interpretations of the best gifts, the best wrapping and the best way to present it.

Giving and Receiving Gifts

To Celebrate: Reshaping Holidays and Rites of Passage

The practice of gift-giving is as old as Adam and Eve. It may be the original basis for economics. Some authorities believe that in ancient societies gifts were a precursor to bartering, which in turn gave way to buying and selling. Lands and possessions were passed on to children as gifts, beginning a system of family inheritance which kept strict control on land distribution. Gift-giving to deities through sacrifices was an integral part of ancient religions. The purposes of sacrificial gifts were quite varied: to give tribute to the deity as king; to express gratitude; to gain favor; to establish or reestablish ties; to be purged of sin; or to provide sustenance for the deity’s earthly visits.

In many ancient cultures there were special injunctions to make gifts to strangers or sojourners. Some anthropologists suggest that the reason for such behavior was that sojourners, who were thought to have special powers, were mistrusted. The gifts were to ensure the friendship of these transients. In the Hebrew Scriptures, however, injunctions to care for sojourners are not based on fear but on compassion and remembrance: “…you were once sojourners in the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 19:33).

All of the world’s major religions have provision for giving gifts, usually as alms to the poor and needy. However, little is said about this in the Hebrew scriptures. While Israel made it a practice to give alms to the poor, concern for the poor was expressed in broader terms, and involved providing for their overall needs and protecting them against injustice. In one of the classic texts, the prophet Isaiah proclaimed that religious fasts were acceptable to the Lord only when they included freeing the oppressed, sharing bread with the hungry, bringing the homeless into one’s own house, and clothing the naked (Isaiah 58). In the New Testament, Jesus identifies himself with the poor and makes acting on behalf of the poor the standard by which the nations will be judged: “Inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to me” (Matthew 25:31-46).

Connections between gift-giving and ritual celebrations also began quite early. It was customary to exchange gifts on New Year’s Day long before exchanging gifts at Christmas became tradition. On New Year’s Day, Persians exchanged gifts of eggs - symbols of fertility - while Egyptians gave flasks to each other. Romans exchanged objects bearing the imprint of Janus, the god of two faces for whom the month of January is named. The Celtic-Teutonic Druids made gifts of their holy plant, mistletoe. Ancient peoples also celebrated birthdays and weddings with gifts. The Greek poet Aeschylus wrote about the custom of giving presents to children on their birthdays as early as the sixth century BCE.

I know that many people despise this part of the Christmas tradition. Some even refuse to participate. Others give gifts for reasons other than Christmas. Some only give certain kinds of gifts. The story of the wise men, however, seems to give credence to gift-giving. Let’s revisit their story to find out what lessons we can learn from them.

Matthew Chapter 2. “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, ² Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

• · The wise men were probably not kings.
• · They were from the East which meant that they were Gentiles.
• · They were astrologers. This indicates that God often begins to deal with people through natural or physical events.
• · They knew a King had been born and they came to worship him.
• · The fact that they asked the question meant that they didn’t have all the facts to complete their journey. They needed the scriptures to guide them the rest of the way.

³ When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. ⁵ And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, ⁶ And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule^a my people Israel.

Herod was troubled because he was the reigning King of the Jews, authorized by Rome. Obviously, the news threatened his position, but it also caused unrest throughout the city of Jerusalem. Herod’s next step was to convene a group of experts on the Hebrew scripture. Micah 5:2 and 2 Samuel 5:2 became the focal point of their interest. Indeed, the Bible says that such a king would be born in Bethlehem and that he would be ruler or a prince over Israel. They may have used Isaiah 9:6 as well.

⁷ Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

Herod, of course, had ulterior motives in asking for them to return to him. He did not want to worship the new King. He wanted to kill him.

⁹ When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. ¹¹ And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented^b unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

When they opened their treasures signified that they perhaps had much more with them, but they selected the most appropriate gifts to give to a king.

• Gold: Precious metal, speaking to his Royalty.
• Frankincense: Highly aromatic, speaking of worship and praise.
• Myrrh: Used for medicinal purposes, speaking of healing and restoration.

¹² And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way

Can you name some specific things that people have given to Christ?

• Money
• Possessions
• Music
• Art
• Writing
• Craftsmanship
• Leadership

What is the most important thing we can give to God?

2 Corinthians 8:1-5 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; ² How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality^a. ³ For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; ⁴ Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. ⁵ And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

How do we give ourselves to the Lord?  Isn’t this really the essence of Christianity?

The best gift:

• Isaiah 9:6 Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
• Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
• Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
• Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
• 1 Timothy 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
• Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

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^a rule: or, feed

^b presented: or, offered

^a liberality: Gr. simplicity

A Deeper Look at the Word of God

1 Thessalonians 2:11-13

1. The Bible

A. Miraculously written.

B. Verbally inspired. II Peter 1:21

C. Infallible. Psalm 111:7; 119:160

D. Forever settled. Luke 21:33

2. The Word of God

A. Logos - True Word John 1:1

B. Rhema - Dynamic Word - Matthew 4:4, John 6:63

C. Jesus Christ is identified as the Word - John 1:14

3. Receiving the Word

A. Reading - Obtained

B. Preaching - Proclaimed

C. Teaching - Explained

D. Meditating - Entertained

4. Interacting with the Word.

A. Illuminates. Psalm 119:105, 130

B. Creates. Genesis 1:3, 6; Hebrews 11:3

D. Edifies.

E. Reproves, rebukes, corrects, instructs.

5. Applying the Word.

A. The Word is food for the mind.

1. Logical.

2. Rational.

3. Reasonable.

B. The Word is food for the heart. “Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11

When we take this scripture a step further, there seems to be a deep, almost involuntary work that takes place on a subliminal level when we hide the Word of God in our hearts. It has an inner washing, a cleansing effect upon our conscience, our soul and our very being.

The first Psalm indicates the value of this inner work of the Word. (Read) When we have no specific agenda, when we don’t know what’s wrong, when we have no target for thought, we simply allow the Word to run through our hearts and minds as a cleansing agent.

B. Recognizing the unconscious depths of the heart. Jer. 17:9-10.

1. Conscious and subconscious levels of the mind.

2. Habits, feelings, inclinations that are not deliberately chosen.

3. Matthew 15:19.

4. The human heart has stains, stubborn dirt and grime, deeply ingrained faults that we cannot address directly. But these can be removed through a continual exposure to, dealing with, daily processing by and application of the Word of God.

C. The Word of God acts like a detergent.

1. Pre-Treat: Pour ALL directly on tough stains. Rub in. Eph. 5:26; John 15:3; John 17:17.

2. Measure: Fill cap to line for normal loads. Use more for heavily soiled loads. Acts 20:27

3. Pour: Add ALL to washer as water level rises, then add laundry. We do not add the Word of God to our lives, but we cast our lives into the Word of God.

(Rich young ruler)

4. The Word of God is not a mixture but a solution.

D. Ingredients:

1. Cleansing agents. Psalm 119:9

2. Buffering agent. Hebrews 4:12

3. Stabilizer.

4. Perfume. Psalm 119:103

5. Brightening agent. Psalm 119:130

6. Colorant.

E. Disclaimers:

1. ALL does not contain phosphorus.

2. The surfactants in ALL are biodegradable and safe.

F. The agitator helps get the clothes clean by making sure every square inch of the material comes in contact with the detergent.

A Deeper Look at the Oneness of God

Ephesians 4:1-6

I. God is one.

A. The monotheistic principle is the foundation of all theology. Deuteronomy 6:4-15

B. Jehovah is identified as the only true God. Exodus 6:2-3.

C. No other gods…Exodus 20:3-5

D. No graven image… A graven image compromises the essential spiritual nature of God.

E. Idolatry was considered an abomination to God.

1. Genesis 35:2-4

2. Exodus 12:12

3. Exodus 23:13

F. The oneness concept is reiterated in the N. T. Acts 17:22-30

G. There is only one God.

1. Mark 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

2. Romans 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

3. 1 Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

4. Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

5. 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

6. James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

7. Galatians 3:20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

II. God cannot be anything other than One.

A. Ten characteristics of the number One.

1. Indivisibility. God is One. The number one is a whole number. If it is divided, the quotient either results in a fraction or a number greater than one. If God is a trinity, each person must either be one-third of God or the Godhead must be more than one. God is not merely one in unity or agreement, but one in number. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:32)

2. Essentiality. God exists as One. The whole number one is not a composite of several elements. One has integrity and uniformity throughout. God does not possess an essential threeness. Man may admire the beauty and symmetry of the triangle and try to ascribe its form to God, but the essence of God is one, not three. At Bethlehem, God manifested himself in flesh to save man, but the deity in Jesus Christ was essentially Jehovah God. (1 Timothy 2:5)

3. Cardinality. God is the Primary One. One is the primary number. It represents the cardinal status of the subject. As Creator, Sustainer and Life-Giver, God occupies the place of foremost importance in the material or abstract universe. He possesses a sovereign, monarchial status because he is the cardinal one. (Isaiah 37:16)

4. Ordinality. God is the First One. The number one always comes first because it is the beginning of ordinal numbers. God is not progressively, partially or interchangeably ordinal. He is first, now and always. God is first of all so-called deities, and because he fulfills every conceivable definition of God, he leaves nothing so that another deity could exist anyway. (Isaiah 41:4; Revelation 1:11)

5. Specificity. God is The One. The number one focuses on a single subject. It imposes limits of definition to remove all rivalry, duplicity or ambiguity. God is the specific focus of all glory, honor, power, worship, praise and adoration. All power emerges from him and all glory converges upon him. Any view of the Godhead that confuses or lacks specificity violates the character of the number one. (Isaiah 42.8)

6. Exclusivity. God is the Only One. By definition, the number one disallows all pretenders or competitors. God divides absolutely nothing of His Godhead with another. While He is not isolated or lonely, God does exist in solitude and aloneness. He shares no set nor subset of divinity with angel, man, beast or contrived deity. (Colossians 1:9-10; 1 Timothy 6:15)

7. Supremacy. God is the Highest One. The number one represents the best, finest and highest in the realm of possibilities. Those who compete in any given field want to be called number one because it makes them the best in the world. Every attribute, taken to its superlative state, characterizes God. He exemplifies every virtue, wears every honor, boasts every feat and deserves every expression of worship. (Psalm 145:3)

8. Identicalness. God is the Unequalled One. The number one is equal only to itself. Any other number that corresponds to all its attributes cannot actually be another, but the same number! Therefore, no other so-called god, nor other supposed person of God need exist because it would only be a redundancy of God himself. (Isaiah 40:25; 46:5)

9. Originality. God is the One Source. In its purest sense, number one may be considered self-initiating and self-perpetuating, having no precedent. God has no creator. He exists uncreated, unbirthed and uncaused. God, as the One God, originates everything else. He is the source of all that exists, the fountainhead of all knowledge and the First Cause of all effects. He owes no fealty, serves no obeisance, borrows from no other power, nor does he act in behalf of another. (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16-17)

10. Eternality. God is always One. In the abstract, the number one always exists, regardless of time or subject. God exists as One, transcendent over time and oblivious to circumstance. There has never been a time when God needed to be more than one. (1 Timothy 6:16; Revelation 1:17)

Any theology that declares God to be three, must assume the inadequacy of one. It denies a measure of deity to one or two supposed persons of the Godhead in order to necessitate the existence of three. But a triumvirate of inadequate persons represents a flawed Godhead. God is indivisibly, essentially, cardinally, ordinally, specifically, exclusively, supremely, identically, originally and eternally One! It is for this reason, therefore, that the Oneness view of God is unrivaled in importance.

B. God cannot be two or more.

1. The Scriptures emphatically forbid it. (Isaiah 43:10-12)

2. Violations of the principle of One.

3. Proscriptions against idolatry. (Isaiah 44:15-18)

4. Corruption of the typology.

a. One ark.

b. One Door.

c. One tabernacle.

5. Created relationship capacity

a. Man is created for one vital relationship

b. We have one human father

c. One human mother

d. One wife/husband (Genesis 2:24)

C. Either God is One or he is infinite in number

1. Some regard three as the perfect number.

a. Three dimensions, Stability, Symmetry, Balance

b. I John 5:7 (Textual criticism)

c. Yet, three is also used in less than complimentary fashion: (Numbers 22:32; Matthew 26:34)

d. Doctrinal positions should not be based upon human fixations or obsessions about numbers other than those numbers which are clearly stated in scripture. Any given number may have both good and bad associations.

1) Satan, Antichrist, False Prophet

2) Pagan trinities

3) Multiple personality persons are considered dysfunctional.

2. If God is more than one, where can we stop?

a. Two? If taken as persons, only two represent the Godhead in most cases—-Father and Son.

b. Truant Holy Ghost?

c. Four? - Ezekiel. 1:5, 28

d. Seven? - Revelation. 3:1; 4:5

e. Nine? - Spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12)

f. Ten? - Deuteronomy 4:13

g. Twelve? - Revelation. 22:2

h. Hundreds? God’s names

D. God’s oneness cannot be described as a unity.

1. Unity combines dissimilar elements.

2. Unity of essence equals oneness.

3. Hebrew “elohim” (A plural form regarded as an abstract plural emphasizing the concept of deity. I Kings 11:5 shows that elohim is a general term for a deity, not a plural form as a precursor of the trinity.)

E. The Biblical Principle of One

1. “If your eye is single…”

2. A double-minded man is unstable…

3. One greatest commandment: Love

4. One sin (Romans 5)

5. One man’s righteousness

6. One savior

7. Ephesians 4:1-6

III. The Problem of Incarnation

A. The salvation of man required death, burial and resurrection.

B. No man qualified to be this sinless sacrifice.

C. God could not be the sacrifice because he had no body or blood.

D. The Spirit of God could not die without ceasing to be God.

E. Had God existed as a trinity, there would have been no need to search for a redeemer. (Isaiah 59:16; 63:5).

F. The dilemma can only be resolved by one God who incarnated himself to become the sacrifice for man.

1. 2 Corinthians 5:19 “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”

2. Colossians 1:15 “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.”

IV. The Godhead

A. A mystery explained - I Timothy 3:16

1. God was Manifest in the flesh

2. God was…Justified in the Spirit

3. God was…Seen of angels

4. God was…Preached unto the Gentiles

5. God was…Believed on in the world

6. God was…Received up into glory

B. Jesus was God made visible for the purpose of redemption. (Colossians 1:20)

C. The key to understanding - Romans 1:20

1. The Godhead is clearly seen.

a. It is not irrational.

b. It is not incomprehensible.

c. It is not paradoxical.

2. The Godhead is understood by the things that are made.

a. The material universe testifies to oneness

b. No trinity exists in nature.

c. No beast is a trinity

d. Man is not a trinity.

1) Body, soul and spirit.

2) Yet, one person

e. There is no viable trinitarian model.

D. Missed scriptural opportunities to state the trinity

1. John 10:30

2. John 14:1-9

3. Colossians 2:6-10

V. As the Old Testament is monotheistic, the New Testament is Cristocentric

A. John 17:3; 14:8-9.

B. Jesus is the one central, unique personage.

1. The mind of Deity is eternally centered in Christ.

2. All angelic thought and ministry are centered in Christ.

3. All Satanic hatred and subtlety are centered at Christ.

4. All human hopes and occupations find fulfillment in Christ.

5. The whole material universe in creation is centered in Christ.

6. The entire written Word is centered in Christ.

C. The Oneness in Revelation

1. One claiming the attributes of deity.

2. One sitting on the throne.

3. One receiving worship and honor.

4. One sending his angel.