Tag Archives: Jesus

By Their Fruit…

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Question: How can you tell if someone is truly a Christian or not?  Are there things that demonstrate a person’s spiritual condition?  Also, if you see someone living a very immoral lifestyle, contrary to the Scriptures, is it wrong to assume they are not a Christian?  Or is that just judging?

My Answer: Good questions.  In a culture that is infatuated with “tolerance” and acceptance of every lifestyle and belief system, it seems harsh to state that any certain person is not a Christian.  Indeed, if you say that about someone, you very likely will be accused of being judgmental and mean-spirited.  As always, the Bible itself provides the best answers.

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The Power of Truth

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“For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth” (2 Corinthians 13:8).

A. W. Tozer was an amazing man of God.  I love to read his books, but I can count on coming away with sore toes.  He inspires, challenges, rebukes, convicts and encourages.  His works are not light reading, or for anyone who likes a candy-coated, fluffy message.  Consider this quote from Tozer:

“Little by little, Christians these days are being brainwashed. One evidence is that increasing numbers of them are becoming ashamed to be found unequivocally on the side of truth. They say they believe, but their beliefs have been so diluted as to be impossible of clear definition. Moral power has always accompanied definite beliefs. Great saints have always been dogmatic. We need a return to a gentle dogmatism that smiles while it stands stubborn and firm on the Word of God that lives and abides forever.” 

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Eternal Son of God?

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Q:  The Bible does not use the expression “the eternal Son of God.”  Does this mean that Jesus was not the “Son” before he came to earth?  Is he eternally the Son of God?  Or is this a role he assumed in the plan of salvation?

A:  This is an interesting question.  There are two schools of thought regarding this matter.  There are some who believe that the preexistent Christ existed only as the Logos, or Word of God.  As a member of the Trinity, he was a distinct Person himself.  However, he was not the “Son” of God.  The Father/Son relationship within the Godhead only came about through an act of God in time, most likely at the Incarnation.  The other position is that two of the three divine Persons in the Trinity exist in an eternal relationship of Father and Son within the Godhead.  For all eternity the Father has been the Father, and the Son has been the Son.  The real issue is what do the Scriptures say?  I believe that the Bible is clear that the Logos has always been the Son of God.  Let me explain why I say this. Continue reading →

Pardon My Anger, But…

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I think that almost of all us feel the same way about family.  They can irritate you to the point of distraction at times.  And because of this, you may complain about them, criticize them.  And in a way, that’s okay. But… But if someone else says something critical about a member of my family—well, watch out.  You don’t talk about my family.  I can say what I want, because I am family.  But you’re not family.  So keep your opinions off my family!

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Christ’s Deity in the Synoptics

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I have been reading a book lately about the history of Christian doctrine.  In this work, the author comments on the differences between the Gospel of John and the other three Gospel writers.  Matthew, Mark, and Luke are often called the Synoptic Gospels.  The world “synoptic” basically means “seeing together.”  You may have noticed that these three Gospels present a great deal of similar material in a roughly parallel format.  So these Gospel writers often share the same material but with their individual perspectives and approaches.  The Gospel of John, however, is dramatically different from the Synoptics.

One of the chief differences is that John’s Gospel is very explicit in presenting Christ as divine.  The deity of our Lord is most clear in John.  The author of the book I am reading emphasizes this.  Yet, he goes beyond this, and states that it is only in John that we see Christ’s deity.  According to him, the Synoptics present Jesus as merely a man, Messiah perhaps, but certainly not divine.  Continue reading →