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Grounded-In-Biblical-Truth | |
Sovereign Grace Doctrines
Concerning 'THE GOSPEL' - JESUS CHRIST
Christ as Jehovah (3):
Various other ascriptions to Jehovah
Applied to Christ (points i.-ix.)
GENESIS 22:14
GOOD NEWS FROM THE REDEEMER
DANIEL E. PARKS, PASTOR
AUGUST 7, 1999 - RADIO MESSAGE #279
Jesus Christ is Jehovah! This fact has been demonstrated in the preceding messages on Genesis 22:14. Old Testament references to Jehovah are applied to Christ in the New Testament. We have already observed: 1. Jehovah’s titles are also Christ’s. We here continue by observing that ...
2. Various other ascriptions to Jehovah are also Christ’s.
i. The tempting of Jehovah by Israel in the wilderness (Numbers 21:5f) -- which resulted in the deaths of many. This tempting of Jehovah was expressly the tempting of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:9): “nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents.”
ii. Jehovah’s inherent power to give life. This power belongs to Jehovah alone (1 Samuel 2:6): “Jehovah ... makes alive.” This power belongs also to Christ (John 5:21): “For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.”
iii. The delight found in tasting Jehovah (Psalm 34:8): “Oh, taste and see that Jehovah is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (To taste Jehovah is to believe in Him.) One tastes Jehovah by tasting Christ (1 Peter 2:3ff): “if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” (This “Lord” is identified as Christ in vv.4ff.)
iv. Jehovah’s throne and scepter over the universe. This throne and scepter belongs to Jehovah alone (Psalm 45:6f). This Old Testament text is expressly applied by the Father to Christ (Hebrews 1:8f): “But to the Son He says [quoting Psalm 45:6f]: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore, God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than all Your companions.’”
v. Jehovah’s immutability. This attribute belongs to Jehovah alone (Psalm 102:25-27). This Old Testament text is also expressly applied by the Father to Christ (Hebrews 1:8-12): “But to the Son He says [quoting Psalm 102:25-27]: ... ‘You, Jehovah [note “LORD” in the NKJV text], in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands; they will perish, but You remain; and they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not fail.’”
vi. Jehovah’s power to calm storms. This power belongs to Jehovah alone (Psalm 107:29): “He calms the storm, so that its waves are still.” This power belongs also to Christ (Matthew 8:23-27): “... Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea. And there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, ‘Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?’”
vii. Jehovah’s power to receive the spirits of mortals at death. This power belongs to Jehovah alone (Ecclesiastes 12:7): “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” This power belongs also to Christ (Acts 7:59): “And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’” (“God” = “Lord Jesus.”)
viii. The appearance of Jehovah seen by Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-10): Isaiah said “I saw the Lord” (v.1). This appearance of Jehovah was the appearance of Christ (John 12:37-41): After quoting the words spoken by Jehovah when He was seen by Isaiah, John added, “These things Isaiah said when he saw [Christ’s] glory and spoke of Him.” To see Christ is to see Jehovah! (John 14:9).
ix. Jehovah’s forerunner. Jehovah prophesied of His coming being preceded by a forerunner (Isaiah 40:3): “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of Jehovah; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’” This prophecy is expressly applied to John the Baptist, the forerunner who preceded the coming of Christ as Jehovah (Mark 1:1-8ff).
(To be continued from point x in the next message, D.V.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
QUESTIONS REGARDING
THE SALVATION OF OUR CHILDREN
1. Am I truly concerned for the salvation of my children? John the apostle (by extension of application) was (3 John 4): “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
2. Do I pray for the salvation of my children? Abraham did (Genesis 17:18): “And Abraham said to God, ‘Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!’”
3. Do I ascertain that my children regularly hear the gospel? God commands us to do so -- with a blessed promise to the obedient (Proverbs 22:6): “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” And God specifically commands fathers to do so (Ephesians 6:4): “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” Timothy had been blessed because his mother and grandmother had done so (2 Timothy 3:15): “... from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (cp. 1:5).
4. Do I exemplify the gospel before my children? God requires us to do so (Philippians 1:27): “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ ....”
5. Do I beseech the Lord to forgive the iniquities of my children? Note Job’s example (Job 1:4f): “Now his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, ‘It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’ Thus Job did regularly.”
6. Have I done all within my power to bring my children to Christ? The Savior exhorts us to do so (Mark 10:14): “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them ....”
Your servant for Jesus' sake.
Address all questions to pastor
Daniel E. Parks (2 Corinthians 4:5) e-mail RedeemerBC@aol.com
Pastor, Redeemer Baptist Church
2801 Cleveland Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40206 / 502.899-9205
