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Friday, February 4, 2011

If The Church is to Live Correctly, The Church NEEDS Right Theology

"So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You.'" (Hebrews 5:5)
 
 I took part in a survey over 25 years ago in a prominent church in Pittsburgh.  One of the questions had to do with the Trinity.  It was shocking to hear that very many "mature" Believers (if not most; I can't recall) believed that the Doctrine of the Trinity proclaimed three Gods.   Now maybe you can understand my obsession with Trinitarian Theology.  Such error in belief will produce error in behavior, yes it will.  When people, however, get a better understanding (for that is all we can do concerning the Godhead) of the Blessed Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we will not be duped by such comments I have heard in recent years, "We need to give more honor to the Father."  Jesus made it very, very clear, "....All should honor the Son just as they honor the Father.  He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him."  It just cannot be made any more clear.  
 
John 1:18, says, "No one has seen God at any time.  The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him."  The word here translated, "Son," is not the Greek word for, "Son;" it is "Theos," the Greek word for, "God."  Two translations get it more closely to the "intent" of the Holy Spirit.  The NASB says, "No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten (brought forth, revealed) God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him."  The NIV says, "No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only...has made him known."        
The word, "Begotten," is from the Greek word monogenes, which means "only-born, i.e., sole."  Vine says, "With reference to Christ, the phrase 'the only begotten from the Father,' John 1:14, RV, indicates that as the Son of God He was the representative of the Being and character of the One who sent Him.  In the original the definite article is omitted both before 'only begotten' and before 'Father,' and its absence in each case serves to lay stress upon the characteristics referred to in the terms used.  The apostle's object is to demonstrate what sort of glory it was that he and his fellow apostles had seen.  That he is not merely making a comparison with earthly relationships is indicated by [the Greek word], para, 'from.'  The glory was that of a unique relationship and the word 'begotten' does not imply a beginning of His Sonship.  It suggests relationship indeed, but must be distinguished from generation as applied to man."
 
Father, in Jesus' Name, I declare with Isaiah, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,..He will teach us His ways."  Amen.
 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

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