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Church Fathers on Jesus' Status as "Without Mother"
Ambrose (A.D. 337 – 397) writes: “He it is Who is without mother according to His Godhead …” (On the Mysteries, Chapter 8, Section 4 Theodoret (A.D. 393 – 457) writes: “On account of this difference of term He is said by the divine Paul to be “without father, without mother, without descent, having neither…
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Is Jesus' Divinity Clearly Revealed in Scripture?
Over in the ever-growing comment box at Called to Communion (a Roman Catholic blog), there is at least one man, Mr. Ciatoris, who is trying to argue that the Scriptures do not clearly teach that Jesus is God. (link to the comment box in question) John Cassian (lived about A.D. 360 – 435) thought differently:…
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Sad News – "Jesus Christ" Not Welcome in PA State House
Apparently this is also old news, but it is reported that chaplains who pray in the Pennsylvania state House of Representatives are forbidden from using the name of Jesus Christ (link). There is such a thing as a state begging for God to send judgment upon it. Let us pray that instead he shows mercy.…
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Gregory of Nyssa on Sinlessness: Only Jesus Sinless
Some folks like to paint Gregory of Nyssa as though he were a Roman Catholic. Certainly, of course, there are points where his theology contains errors. His beliefs would not have squared with the Westminster Confession of Faith in every respect. So, to be clear, Gregory of Nyssa was neither a “Roman Catholic” nor a…
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Hebrews 1:8 – A Proof of Jesus' Divinity
This is a response to a video (link) that seems to suggest that we cannot use Hebrews 1:8 to establish the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ. I respectfully but firmly disagree, for the reasons I set forth in more detail in video (sorry, audio only, plus a slideshow in case you must watch something).…
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Christ's Voluntary Death
I greatly enjoyed the following video by Dr. James White, explaining to a Muslim antagonist the voluntary nature of Christ’s death on the cross: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkRdmuVEVcM&hl=en&fs=1&w=425&h=344] I would add that there is more revelation that declares that Jesus’ sacrifice was voluntary, namely in the prophecy of that great prophet, the prophet Isaiah (prophecying of Jesus…
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The Real Turretin and Pictet on: Christ's Righteousness
Turretin writes: Such is the perfection of the atonement, that it corresponds to the justice of God revealed in the Word, to the demands of the law, and to the miseries and necessities of those for whom it was made. Had it been in its own nature deficient, and derived its sufficiency only from God’s…
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"Jesus Loves Me" – Critique of Hymn 633
One thing I really disliked about Pastor Shishko’s cross-examination of Dr. White in their debate on baptism was Pastor Shishko’s suggestion that believers should teach their children to sing Trinity Hymnal #633, which the hymnal indexes, “Yes, Jesus loves me!” First of all, the only religious songs authorized in Scripture are those found in the…
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Love God – Don't Sin – and Don't Make Excuses
I read some rather feeble responses in letters to the editor at PSU today, on the topic of the Bible’s testimony against homosexuality. (link) Let me summarize the flaws in the letters. 1. Misuse of “Love one another.” Apparently the author of the first letter thinks that convicting others of sin is unloving. But Scripture…
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Christ's Objection to the Corban Exception
In Jesus days, the leaders of the Jews had developed a tradition whereby a child could refuse to assist his parents. In the following pericope, Jesus addresses that tradition: Mark 7:9-139And he [Jesus] said unto them [the Pharisees and scribes], Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.…