wow...talk about letting a blog slip.

here's something I posted on my other site, and I'll probably follow it up here.

What is important?

As I was pontificating this afternoon, I began to compile a list of things that are or seem to be important to different people and/or different age groups.  I then began to think of what should be important for each person, and then put the two lists side by side and discovered that even in my life what should be important isn't always treated as such.

So basically my question would be...what should be important in a persons life, and also what should be important in a Christian's life?

I was recently reminded that I haven't updated in a while.  Alas, this is obviously true.   My life has been somewhat busy as of late, but I will take the time to fill you in on some recent happenings.

Last month I had the opportunity to go with my wife and a teen in our church to Brazil for a week.  We were going to help run the childrens program at a Missionaries conference.  The week was great, and it was great to be able to work with the kids.

Currently I'm in Indianapolis getting ready to head up to Michigan for the wedding of one of my friends.

Here's some food for thought:

There are many things in the Old Testament that portray or "Typify" Jesus Christ.  However, I feel that sometimes we get carried away and turn things that weren't meant to be "Types."  Take the recent one I heard:  A pastor mentioned that the story of Abraham sending his servant to find a bride for Isaac was a type of God the Father sending the Holy Spirit to find a bride for Christ.  This was the first time I had come across that, and I really had to think about it.  I feel that it's more of an anology than a "type."

What makes a "type" of Christ or the Holy Spirit?
What's the difference between a type and an analogy?

Basically, a type is something God planned to show us Jesus in the Old Testament.  An analogy is a similarity between something. 

Just some thoughts...maybe coherent, maybe not.

We Interupt this study to bring you this mini-sermon by Dr. S M Lockridge.  This has been around for a while, and never gets old.  Probably because it's about my God and Savior...and King!  If you'd rather listen to it than read it go here.

"My King" - Dr. S.M. Lockridge

My King was born King. The Bible says He’s a Seven Way King. He’s the King of the Jews – that’s a racial King. He’s the King of Israel – that’s a National King. He’s the King of righteousness. He’s the King of the ages. He’s the King of Heaven. He’s the King of glory. He’s the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords. Now that’s my King. Well I wonder if you know Him. Do you know Him? Don’t try to mislead me. Do you know my King? David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament show His handiwork. My King is the only one whom there are no means of measure can define His limitless love. No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shore of supplies. No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing. Well, well, He’s enduringly strong. He’s entirely sincere. He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful. That’s my King. He’s God’s Son. He’s the sinner’s saviour. He’s the centrepiece of civilization. He stands alone in Himself. He’s honest. He’s unique. He’s unparalleled. He’s unprecedented. He’s supreme. He’s pre-eminent. Well, He’s the grandest idea in literature. He’s the highest personality in philosophy. He’s the supreme problem in high criticism. He’s the fundamental doctrine of proved theology. He’s the carnal necessity of spiritual religion. That’s my King. He’s the miracle of the age. He’s the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him. Well, He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak. He’s available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He’s strong God and He guides. He heals the sick. He cleanses the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharged debtors. He delivers the captives. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek. Do you know Him? Well, my King is a King of knowledge. He’s the wellspring of wisdom. He’s the doorway of deliverance. He’s the pathway of peace. He’s the roadway of righteousness. He’s the highway of holiness. He’s the gateway of glory. He’s the master of the mighty. He’s the captain of the conquerors. He’s the head of the heroes. He’s the leader of the legislatures. He’s the overseer of the overcomers. He’s the governor of governors. He’s the prince of princes. He’s the King of kings and He’s the Lord of lords. That’s my King. Yeah. Yeah. That’s my King. My King, yeah. His office is manifold. His promise is sure. His light is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His Word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Well. I wish I could describe Him to you, but He’s indescribable. He’s indescribable. Yes. He’s incomprehensible. He’s invincible. He’s irresistible. I’m coming to tell you, the heavens of heavens cannot contain Him, let alone a man explaining Him. You can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hands. You can’t outlive Him and you can’t live without Him. Well, Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilot couldn’t find any fault in Him. The witnesses couldn’t get their testimonies to agree. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him and the grave couldn’t hold Him. That’s my King. Yeah. Praise the Lord. That’s my King. Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Well, all the power belongs to my King. We’re around here talking about black power and white power and green power, but it’s God’s power. Thine is the power. Yeah. And the glory. We try to get prestige and honour and glory for ourselves, but the glory is all His. Yes. Thine is the Kingdom and the power and glory, forever and ever and ever and ever. How long is that? And ever and ever and ever and ever. And when you get through with all of the evers, then, Amen.

Who Is this Christ? Cont.

“The Son of God”

Yet another divine name of Jesus is “The Son of God.”  Now this title is also used of angels in Job 1:6, and humans in passages like Luke 3:38 and Romans 8:14.  When angels and/or humans are described as the son(s) of God it is because they possess God’s image (Genesis 2).  However, when the title “The Son of God” is used of the Lord Jesus, it is used to express His eternal divine relationship and equality with God the Father.

It is important to understand that this title for Jesus existed prior to His incarnation.  In Psalm 2:7, a messianic Psalm, the Psalmist writes, in reference to Christ, “I will declare the decree:  The LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.”  Also in Galatians 4:4 Paul writes “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under law (emphasis added).”  Note that the verse does not say that God made his son at that time, but sent forth.

It’s also clear that the Jews equated the title “Son of God” to be a title of Deity.  In John 5:17-18, and 10:31-36 the Jews are ready to kill Jesus for blasphemy (calling himself God) because Christ used the title “Son of God” speaking of himself.

Another profound reason for why Christ has this title is that in Biblical language, to be the son of someone, or the son of something meant that you possessed or displayed the same character as that person or object.  Hence Christ, as the Son of God, possessed and displayed the character of the Lord God the Father, Jehovah. 

To quote from Barackmans Practical Christian Theology:

In the case of Jesus, He manifested the character of the Father, for He and the Father are one (John 10:30).  This emphasizes Their essential unity, Their having in common the single divine nature.  Thus Jesus is the Son of God because he inherently possesses the divine nature by the Father’s eternal generation.”

Once again, I urge you the reader to take what has been written, use the Bible to look up references, cross-references, and contexts, and let the Bible direct your thinking.  Articles such as this should only be a starting point, or a resource.

Jesus Christ – “The Word”

Another divine name of Jesus is the name “The Word.”  Now at first glance one might not recognize that as a divine title.  The person who does not recognize that as a divine title is one who has never read John 1:1.  John 1:1 is the first place where this title is used and it sets the standard for a subsequent use when referring to Christ.  John writes:  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (emphasis added)

The significance of the name “The Word” is profound.  In language people use words to express thoughts, emotions, feelings, and basically whatever they want to get across.  Basically words convey to someone else who a person is and/or what they are thinking.  In the case of God, there is no way for someone who is not God to know who God is, or what He is “thinking.”  Therefore God became man in the form of Jesus Christ so that mankind could begin to know God.  (God is infinite, therefore man will never fully comprehend God)  Thus, just as a written word communicates the writers thoughts, feelings, etc., so The Word expresses different attributes and qualities of God to mankind.

Jesus did not just become “The Word” when He came to earth as a baby.  Prior to the incarnation God the Son expressed the Father through His creative works (John 1:1-3, Psalm 19:1) and through Old Testament prophets. 

Mankind on its own cannot know God.  God is to big, to infinite, to incomprehensible.  Neither can a man reveal the character of God.  “Only one who is God can fully reveal God”* (Matthew 11:27; Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 1:15; 2:9)

*Practical Christian Theology – Floyd H. Barackman (pg. 144)

Next:  Jesus Christ – “The Son of God”