Month: January 2016

Knowing God As Father

Posted on by admin

Is God Everyone’s ‘Father’?

God the Father is the first person of the Trinity or triune God. Many people assume that because God is the Creator of all things that all people are His children. If we follow that reasoning, then everything in the universe, including the rocks, would have the right to call God their Father.  But John 1:12 states that ‘ as many as received Him (Jesus) gave He the power to become the sons of God.’  From this verse we see clearly that only those who receive Jesus Christ as Saviour are entitled to call Him ‘Father.’  Although there are references to all members of the Godhead in the Old Testament most are to God as the Father.  In the Old Testament God was referred to by several names, including Elohim, Adonai and most commonly Jehovah.  It is understood that all of these names were references to God the Father.  Also, throughout the Old Testament God is referred to as the Father of Israel.  In the New Testament God the Father is more often thought of as the Father of Jesus.  Jesus often spoke of His Father God as the One for whom He came to earth to redeem mankind – in obedience to His Father’s will.  And in spite of the Father/Son relationship, Jesus spoke of Him and His Father being One.  And, as mentioned earlier, 1 John 3:1 confirms that God is the Father of all Christians when he writes ‘Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God.’  Jesus responded to the disciples’ request to teach them to pray, by telling them to direct their prayers to ‘Our Father.’  In the next meditation we will consider the attributes of God our Father and His great love for us.             There is an error with the captcha. This may because cookies are turned off.

The Trinity

Posted on by admin

Is the God of the Bible a Trinity?

Matthew 3:16,17  ‘Jesus, when He was baptized, went up directly out of the water: and, behold, the heavens were opened unto Him, and he (John) saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting on Him: and, behold, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’

The Trinity has long been a subject of controversy, often because the word is not found in the Bible.  ‘The Trinity’ is the term used to describe the three distinct persons of the ‘Godhead’.  Although each person is distinct and unique, they also share common attributes such as omnipresence, omnipotence and omniscience. The above verses are direct evidence of the existence of the Trinity.  When Jesus, Who was God incarnate, was baptized in the river Jordan, God the Holy Spirit descended upon Him from heaven in the likeness of a dove, and God the Father spoke from heaven commending His Son.  Although the mere fact of the existence of a ‘three in one’ God is beyond human comprehension, many verses in the Bible confirm the work and character of each.  Some have used the analogy of time when explaining the Trinity.  The present, past and future are all distinct and different, yet all three are integral parts of time.  In the final chapter of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus commanded the apostles to ‘teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit’, in this case specifically naming each member of the Trinity.  Also, throughout the Bible all three persons are referred to as God, leaving no doubt as to the deity of each. In future meditations we will look at each person of the Trinity individually, and see the consistency of character and attributes of each.

Meditation Bytes

Posted on by admin

Welcome to Bible Bits and Bytes

There is an error with the captcha

Is the God of the Bible a Trinity?

Matthew 3:16,17  ‘Jesus, when He was baptized, went up directly out of the water: and, behold, the heavens were opened unto Him, and he (John) saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting on Him: and, behold, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’

The Trinity has long been a subject of controversy, often because the word is not found in the Bible.  ‘The Trinity’ is the term used to describe the three distinct persons of the ‘Godhead’.  Although each person is distinct and unique, they also share common attributes such as omnipresence, omnipotence and omniscience. The above verses are direct evidence of the existence of the Trinity.  When Jesus, Who was God incarnate, was baptized in the river Jordan, God the Holy Spirit descended upon Him from heaven in the likeness of a dove, and God the Father spoke from heaven commending His Son.  Although the mere fact of the existence of a ‘three in one’ God is beyond human comprehension, many verses in the Bible confirm the work and character of each.  Some have used the analogy of time when explaining the Trinity.  The present, past and future are all distinct and different, yet all three are integral parts of time.  In the final chapter of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus commanded the apostles to ‘teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit’, in this case specifically naming each member of the Trinity.  Also, throughout the Bible all three persons are referred to as God, leaving no doubt as to the deity of each.  In future meditations we will look at each person of the Trinity individually, and see the consistency of character and attributes of each.

 

Who is the God of the Bible?

Exodus 20:2,3  ‘I am the Lord your God…you shall have no other gods except Me.’

To begin our meditations, we’ll take a few days to consider just who is the God that is revealed in the Bible.  Many people have a variety of concepts of God, ranging from a harsh judge who just sits somewhere out in the universe waiting for us to sin and then convict and condemn us, to one who is unable to help us even if he wanted to.  Some don’t even believe in the existence of God, and if He does exist He couldn’t care less about humanity in light of all the violence and destruction that’s occurred throughout the earth over centuries, and still continues.  But the God of the Bible is very different from these descriptions, and not only is He the Creator of the universe and mankind, but He cares deeply about each person, and desires nothing but the best for His creation, both here and hereafter.  God created man in His image, but in His wisdom, did not take away man’s freedom to choose between good and evil.  Since man decided to choose a path in contradiction to God’s plan and desire, humanity has been paying a severe price for it’s disobedience and rebellion.  Although God is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing) and omnipresent (present everywhere), He will not control the will of any individual, since doing so would effectively make every person a robot.  Instead, God has clearly revealed His will for mankind through the Bible, and given us the option of choosing obedience and life, or disobedience and death.  God wants each of us to choose life, which is found only by acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord.  Have you made that decision?

—————————————————————————————————————

A little byte to meditate upon

Jesus replied, “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Luke 19:40

The Rock

—————————————————————————————————————-

Jan 13th, 2016

The Effect Of The Sanctuary

In our bible study,last night, the pastor read psalm 73. The
following verse stuck in my mind.

Psalm 73:17  "Until I went into the Sanctuary of God, 
then understood I their end." 

 This psalm was written by Asaph the seer, or prophet. All Israel 
used to sing songs written by him and David.

Martin Luther said of this psalm, "It is a psalm that instructs
us against that great offence and stumbling block concerning which
all prophets have complained, that is, the wicked flourish, they 
enjoy prosperity and increase in abundance, while the godly suffer 
cold and hunger and are afflicted and spat upon, being despised 
and condemned." 

Many of us, who are in Christ, think like this today....
You can continue reading the complete meditation, 
The Effect Of The Sanctuary, by Hedley Palmer,here