#you know that one Isaiah passage right? right

[veruveritas]

How you are fallen from heaven, O, Morningstar!

Helel (2023)

[moontoonart]

Good and Evil in “Good Omens”: A Theological Reflection on Aziraphale and Crowley ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻

In the world of Good Omens, the eternal debate between good and evil is explored in unexpected and profound ways. The series, based on the novel by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, offers a theological reflection that challenges traditional concepts of divine justice, revealing how the boundaries between good and evil are not always so clearly defined.

Aziraphale and Crowley: The Unlikely Pair of Good and Evil

Aziraphale and Crowley are emblematic characters who represent good and evil, respectively. Aziraphale, the angel, is often seen as a guardian of divine rules, but his tendency to deviate from celestial norms reveals an unexpected complexity. Despite his role as a bearer of goodness, he often questions divine decisions and acts according to his own judgment. For instance, his act of giving the flaming sword to Adam and Eve is initially seen by him as a potentially wrong choice, although Crowley reassures him that, as an angel, Aziraphale cannot truly do anything wrong. This resonates with James 1:17: "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

Crowley, the demon, is also a surprising character. Although he represents Hell, his actions and motivations demonstrate that even a demon can have positive intentions. Crowley reflects on the issue of temptation and worries whether, by tempting Adam and Eve, he acted correctly. His reflection raises questions about the role of the demon in causing trouble or doing good, and suggests that even when a demon seems to act with good intentions, it can create chaos in unexpected ways. Romans 8:28 states: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." This verse suggests that even in the most controversial actions, there may be a divine plan guiding towards good.

The Ineffable Plan of God

The concept of the Ineffable Plan in “Good Omens” is central to the plot and theological reflection. This plan, which transcends human understanding, implies that every action, whether good or bad, fits into a larger, incomprehensible divine design. The Bible itself mentions the ineffability of the divine plan in Isaiah 55:8-9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” This passage underscores that human understanding is limited compared to the divine plan.

The Act of Giving and Tempting One of the main concerns of the characters is whether their actions align with the divine plan. Aziraphale, worried about giving the flaming sword to Adam and Eve, reflects on whether he acted correctly. His concern is eased by Crowley, who reassures him that, as an angel, Aziraphale cannot do anything truly wrong. This reflects the idea that angels, as messengers and servants of God, always act in accordance with divine will, as highlighted in Psalm 103:20: “Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.”

Crowley, on the other hand, is troubled by whether his role as tempter may have had positive or negative effects. He wonders if it is possible that, even if a demon does something right, it could still create disastrous consequences. This theme is explored in 1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” This verse suggests that even in situations of temptation, God provides a way out and guides towards salvation.

The Question of “What is Right and Wrong”

Crowley raises fundamental questions about the concept of divine justice and understanding what is right and wrong. In the series, his reflection poses a crucial question: if a person is punished for a mistake, why not instead guide them to understand where they went wrong? This reflection raises deep questions about the nature of divine justice. If punishment is the only response to errors, then the process of learning and moral growth is sacrificed. Crowley suggests that understanding and guidance are more effective than mere punishment, and that true moral progress comes from awareness and improvement rather than simple sanction. Proverbs 3:12 says: “Because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” This verse highlights that correction and teaching are tools through which God guides and disciplines, rather than mere punishment.

Conclusion: Beyond the Dichotomy of Good and Evil

“Good Omens” invites us to reflect on how categories of good and evil may be more nuanced than they appear. The complexity of Aziraphale and Crowley’s characters, and the concept of the Ineffable Plan, show us that morality is often a gray area rather than a clear-cut boundary. Actions that seem wrong or evil may ultimately serve a higher good, and decisions that appear right can have unexpected consequences.

The series challenges us to reconsider our ideas about justice and redemption, suggesting that true good and true evil are not always what they seem and that a deeper understanding of the divine may reveal a grander and more complex design than we can imagine. Ultimately, good and evil might be more interconnected than we believe, and actions that seem immoral or wrong could, in the grand scheme of things, serve purposes that transcend our immediate understanding.

[0nemorestranger]

while i can't commit to a full read of the bible this month like i intended because i am Simply Not in the Mood, i just plucked NIV from my bookshelf and read from the fall and the passages where lucifer was cast out and now i am somehow more angry and confused than before

like. he told her she would die if she ate the apple. and lucifer came along and said "hey your dad lied to you. eat the apple it'll give you free will and knowledge and wisdom." and god caught wind of this and cast them out of eden??? BECAUSE LUCIFER TOLD THEM THE TRUTH AND THEY TOOK HIM UP ON IT??? AND ALSO THOU SHALT NOT LIE BUT ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS GOD TELLS HIS CREATIONS IS THAT VERY THING?? also not to mention the very obvious loophole that like. god is all-knowing blah blah blah so he knew she would eat it blah blah blah and PUNISHED her for it and we're supposed to believe GOD gave us free will?

i can't remember who said it but there was someone on youtube who said something like "jesus may have died for our sins but lucifer gave up his life as god's right-hand man to burn in hell so we could have free will and that is infinitely more admirable" and like. yeah

belief in a higher power is one thing but the more i learn about how convoluted christianity is the more sad/disturbed i feel for people who still practice it so ardently. there are other walks of life that don't revolve around belittlement, lies, and fear

also the fact that the passages where lucifer is cast out in isaiah and ezekiel never even reference him by name but that's another issue entirely and/or could be my fault because i don't have enough context

[queenlucythevaliant]

If you don't mind me asking, how would you like

to see Proverbs 31 used? The part that always bugs me about how it's used is how the churches I've attended completely ignore the part where the woman described is working and trading outside the home. They try and use it as "you should stay home and raise kids" defense.

Mostly, I'd just like to see it used less?

In my experience, there's an undercurrent to the way that this passage gets used that's like, "...and this is the part of the Bible for women!" This really gets under my skin because it just isn't true at all. The WHOLE Bible is for women and the whole Bible is for men. I don't like the insinuation that women should keep returning again and again to this one passage when there's the entire Bible right there to study. Romans is ours too! And Genesis! Isaiah! 2 Timothy! Joel! Revelation!

Biblical womanhood (whatever we mean by that) must begin with women being well-versed in the whole Bible, and that can't happen if Proverbs 31 is treated like a banner chapter for so much of women's min. Proverbs 30 is actually the one part of Proverbs that really moves me (specifically "Feed me with the food that is needful for me...") and I've never gotten to study it in a formal context! Meanwhile, I've sat through seminars and studies and read books and listened to podcasts giving me Proverbial 31 and telling me, "Here ya go," like it's Necessary and Sufficient for Biblical Womanhood. And these two chapters are right next to each other!

Granted, I'm not a guy, but I don't see men's ministry pulling a few specific bits of Scripture and saying, "These are the Men's Chapters." There's just a presumption that the whole of Scripture is relevant to men.

In fact, if you really want to get into it, Proverbs 31 is actually directed more at men than women, saying, "this is the kind of woman you should marry." If we took half the Proverbs 31 talks directed at women and gave them to men, I think that would be a big improvement.

(I know I'm being somewhat hyperbolic here in places. I've been sitting on this ask for a little while knowing that it was basically unavoidable trying to refine my answer and like. Sorry. I am Frustrated and this is what you get from me.)

[walkswithmyfather]

Isaiah 40:11-26. “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?

Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord, or instruct the Lord as his counselor? Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding?

Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings. Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.

With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him? As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it. A person too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot; they look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.

“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” (NIV“The Greatness of God” By In Touch Ministries:“We can't even begin to comprehend the awesome majesty and power of our Lord.”“When you think of God, what comes to mind? Often, we tend to view Him in the way that best fits our particular need or situation. For example, if we struggle with guilt, we might focus on His forgiveness. The truth is, His character encompasses far more than we could ever comprehend or try to explain. Even if we had all the time in the world, we wouldn’t be able to do more than scratch the surface of how awesome He is. But today, let’s look at one attribute: His greatness. Today’s passage tells us God is greater than creation (v. 12), for it was by His hands that everything we see came into being. He is higher than the nations or any idol fashioned by the finest craftsman (vv. 17-20). In fact, God is above the world and all mankind (vv. 22-23), surpassing even the heavens and galaxies. Our Father’s thoughts and ways are far grander than our own (Isa. 55:9)—and lofty, compared with what we can understand. Psalm 93:1 says, “The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord has clothed and encircled Himself with strength.” Consider the awesome God we serve. He truly is worthy of our praise. As we grasp even a fraction of His greatness, our response should be one of humble worship. After all, who are we that a God like this would desire our friendship—so much so that He sent His Son to die for our sins?”

Isaiah 40:11-26. “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord, or instruct the Lord as his counselor? Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding? Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings. Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him? As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it. A person too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot; they look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple.Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” (NIV)

“The Greatness of God” By In Touch Ministries:

“We can't even begin to comprehend the awesome majesty and power of our Lord.”

“When you think of God, what comes to mind? Often, we tend to view Him in the way that best fits our particular need or situation. For example, if we struggle with guilt, we might focus on His forgiveness. The truth is, His character encompasses far more than we could ever comprehend or try to explain. Even if we had all the time in the world, we wouldn’t be able to do more than scratch the surface of how awesome He is. But today, let’s look at one attribute: His greatness. Today’s passage tells us God is greater than creation (v. 12), for it was by His hands that everything we see came into being. He is higher than the nations or any idol fashioned by the finest craftsman (vv. 17-20). In fact, God is above the world and all mankind (vv. 22-23), surpassing even the heavens and galaxies. Our Father’s thoughts and ways are far grander than our own (Isa. 55:9)—and lofty, compared with what we can understand. Psalm 93:1 says, “The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord has clothed and encircled Himself with strength.” Consider the awesome God we serve. He truly is worthy of our praise. As we grasp even a fraction of His greatness, our response should be one of humble worship. After all, who are we that a God like this would desire our friendship—so much so that He sent His Son to die for our sins?”

[albertfinch]

PERSEVERANCE FOR THE IMPOSSIBLE

As believers we are rooted and grounded in His magnificent love (see Ephesians 3:17). Because we are established in His love, we have a peace that passes all ordinary understanding. As we have a comprehension of our Christ identity, we have boldness and courage, the depth of which is confidence in the Lord. We cannot trust in our own reasoning. Instead, today we declare that we will, “Trust in the LORD with all [our] heart and lean not on [our] own understanding; in all [our] ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct [our] paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

OUR DESTINY AWAITS

Through Him, peace is established deep within us, causing us to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He will lead us and guide us. As we come to understand our Christ calling, He will lead us down the paths that He has DESTINED for our lives! This place of trust is beyond the natural ability of a person. It comes only through seeking His presence with a mindset of advancing His Kingdom that will bring to pass all that He has PURPOSED for us. This work of the Lord is unseen to us, as He is in our days ahead of us, dealing with adversaries of opposition and delays that would hinder us from the open doors and gates that He has pre-ordained for us so we can effectively bear fruit that remains for His advancing Kingdom.

"This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:13,14

Truly, the Lord will be strong on our behalf! This knowledge enables a courage deep within and causes us to be so anchored in seeking to understand and implement His purpose for our life so that our hearts and minds are steadfast. Thus, we will reach a place of focus that comes from being led by the Lord.

SUSTAINED BY FAITH

Our PERSEVERANCE must be innate and sustained by faith, not a product of self-determination. Holy PERSEVERANCE is God-empowered boldness or courage that enables us—deep within—to persevere in bearing fruit that remains for His Kingdom. One way we can define perseverance is simply “to stay the course.” This is a powerful blessing from the Lord that enables us to believe the impossible is possible. It is a work of the Holy Spirit within that enables us to have strength to stay the course, regardless of present circumstances or situations. This is what the prophet Isaiah wrote about:

"Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice." - Isaiah 41:10 AMP

In this passage, the Lord promises to be with us, to strengthen us, to keep us, and to hold us in a place of victory. The Hebrew meaning of the word "strengthen" is “to be strong, alert, courageous, brave, stout, bold, solid, and hard.” Here’s a more in-depth look:

"That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man: that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and ground in love." - Ephesians 3:16,17

THE INCREDIBLE PROMISE:

We can stay the course because we grasp our Christ identity and the enabling strength of the Lord in us!  We are strengthened deep within so that we stand firm for the promises of the Lord for our life. We lean into the Lord with deep courage to believe for the impossible to be possible.

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

[tackyflamingosarah]

This quote is from a book titled “Something That May Shock and Discredit You”. It’s a trans catholic memoir. So, as a Christian transfem, I’d like to share some of my trans positive Bible verses, because contrary to popular belief, it’s in there

Genesis 1:27

This one is often used for transphobic rhetoric; but let’s flip it on its head: the Bible states that “male and female He created them”. Many use this to support the idea that being trans is wrong or use it as intersex erasure. However, when we zoom out into a wider context, the scripture just talked about Him making land and sea, light and dark, land creatures and water creatures. These are all polar opposites; but the Bible doesn’t say the in between aren’t still beautifully made. Estuaries, dusk, and platypi are not any more abhorrent to God’s creation than being trans is!

For the next few selections, I’d like to start by defining what a Eunuch was. A eunuch, in biblical times, was a person (often born male due to the first definition) who had either been castrated or born what we now know as intersex. Eunuchs would often serve roles outside of the gender binary, or serve both male and female roles.

Acts 8:26-40

This passage tells the story of a eunuch from Ethiopia who was able to be baptized. What I found so profound about this selection is that the early church was not discriminatory- Phillip, the one who baptized the eunuch, could’ve easily said “well we’ve never baptized a eunuch before, so I don’t have to accept you.” But Phillip loved them and showed them compassion anyway.

Matthew 19:12

This passage describes marriage, and how a traditional marriage isn’t necessarily for everyone. Jesus says that there are eunuchs who were born that way (intersex), eunuchs who were made that way by others (castrated), and eunuchs who had become eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. Some interpret that last part as those who choose not to marry to devote themselves more to God, however there is a WIDE range of interpretations, including some that believe that this is Jesus praising trans and non binary individuals. God even says that he will provide a monument to eunuchs in his house in Isaiah 56:1-8, and while this prophecy has not yet been fulfilled to our knowledge, it could relate to Jesus saying that there are those who become eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven, as it is easy to interpret God’s house as heaven.

Psalm 139:13-14

This one describes us as being wonderfully made by God. Some argue that trans folks go against God’s will by changing their gender, but I would argue the opposite. God has made each and every one of us special, and he knows all of our most inner workings. You’re really telling me the God of all creation didn’t plan for us to be expressive in our identities? I believe that God loves us all, and it is a blessing from Him that we get to be unique.

Galatians 3:28

I believe this one to be the nail in the coffin for Christian transphobes. It states that “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus”. That’s it. Doesn’t matter who you are, we are all equal in the eyes of God.

And what if my interpretations are wrong?

Matthew 22:37-40: “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

You have no excuse to use Christianity for hate. And with that, I’d like to close off with a saying from everyone’s favorite talking vegetable show: “God made you special, and He loves you very much.” That’s right. No “if”s. No “but”s. God made you special. He loves you- all of you- very much.

[mimi-cee-hq]

Do you sometimes feel God’s voice tell you not to do something, and then you go do it for the 5 billionth time? And then afterwards, you feel awful and feel as though you failed God and yourself, again.

And yes, this whole situation is me. I feel awful and I don’t know what to do to make me feel whole again with God.

thanks in advance! :’)

Oh anon. I most certainly can relate to this and I think all Christians can. Psalm 51, I find, eloquently expresses those feelings. (Seriously, I encourage you to read it.) I'm going to share some passages in Scripture to let the Word of God speak to you instead of what "Mimi says."

*****

Isaiah 53:4‭-‬6 ESV

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Ephesians 2:1‭-‬10 ESV

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Romans 5:6‭-‬11 ESV

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

*****

I encourage you to think about these passages, reread them, learn what the words mean if any are unfamiliar to you, and meditate on them. And keep asking the Lord to help you through this.

Also, try your best to find a good local church if you already don't go to one. God wants us to be in community with other believers to teach and encourage each other about things like this. And (like what I usually say) I also want to encourage you to study the Bible for yourself to understand what it says.

I'm praying for you!

[freebiblestudies]

Line Upon Line Lesson 016: Three Sinners and One Redeemer

Genesis 16:9 - The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.”

Why would Jesus tell a runaway slave to return to her master who had been mistreating her?  In order to understand this verse, we need to study the entire passage.

Let’s read together Genesis 16:1-3; Deuteronomy 6:16; and Psalm 19:13.

Sarah and Abraham were unable to conceive and have a child.  Abraham began to consider Eliezer, a trusted servant born in his household, to be his heir.  However, Sarah remembered God’s promise to Abraham

In ancient times, it was legal for a woman to give her female slave to her husband to conceive a child.  That child would legally be the child of the woman.  The slave would be considered a wife of the man, but she would not have the same rights as the original wife.

Sarah was trying to fulfill God’s promise on human terms.  Remember, God promised Abraham would be the father of a great nation.  God did not ask Abraham to do anything to achieve this promise.  All Abraham had to do was believe God would fulfill this promise.

In a sense, Sarah was trying to play God in this situation.  Despite her good intentions, Sarah was actually usurping God’s authority.  While human work and effort may be required in certain things, we have to have faith in God’s promises to let Him do what He said He would do.

Let’s read together Genesis 16:4-6; Isaiah 8:20; Matthew 19:4-6; and 1 Timothy 3:2-4.

While Sarah’s scheme succeeded, friction developed in Abraham’s household.  Hagar began to look down upon Sarah since she conceived an heir for Abraham and Sarah had not.  Sarah blamed Abraham for this and he allowed her to mistreat Hagar.

Abraham failed at least three times in this passage.  First of all, Abraham should not have heeded Sarah’s suggestion.  It may have been culturally acceptable, but it went against the word of God.  Furthermore, Sarah’s suggestion introduced the sin of polygamy into Abraham’s household. 

Let’s read together Psalm 123:2; Ephesians 6:9; and Colossians 4:1.

Secondly, Abraham did not say anything to Hagar when she continued to look down on Sarah.  Lastly, Abraham then allowed Sarah to mistreat Hagar so harshly that she ran away.  Abraham should have restrained Sarah’s hand.  Even though she was a slave, Hagar should have been treated with more dignity and respect than she was given.  Abraham chose to appease his wife rather than stand up for what was right.

Let’s read together Genesis 12:16 and  Proverbs 16:18.

Let us be clear.  Hagar was a victim in this story.  As a slave (likely given to Abraham and Sarah as a gift from Pharaoh), Hagar was in a vulnerable position.  She did not have much say in the matter when Sarah decided to give her to Abaham as a wife.  

However, Hagar was also a sinner.  She allowed the sin of pride to fester in her heart.  She looked upon Sarah who couldn’t conceive, while she birthed an heir to Abraham.

Let’s read together Genesis 16:9: Deuteronomy 32:39; and Colossians 1:15-20.

So, why did Jesus tell Hagar to go back to Sarah knowing this whole situation?  First of all, Hagar was a runaway slave.  The penalties for catching fugitive slaves were rather harsh in those days, including death.  Also, Hagar had no idea where she was going.  She could have found herself in another dangerous situation (raiders, wild animals, etc.).  Going back to Sarah may have been the safest option for Hagar.

Let’s read together Genesis 16:10-16;  Numbers 11:23; and James 5:11.

Finally, Jesus is a Redeemer.  This situation was not of God’s devising - it was caused by sinful human beings.  Nevertheless, God heard the cries of a lowly slave girl and answered her.  Jesus was going to redeem this situation.

Friend, no matter how messed up things are in your life, will you believe that Jesus can redeem the situation and you?

[psalmonesermons]

About the bible Part 2(a)

Why should I read the bible?

When Christians read the Bible, we assume that it is the authoritative Word of God by which God can speak to the bible readers. In other words we have assumed that God inspired the writers who recorded the 66 books of the Bible. On this basis most of what has been taught so far in our first study has been full of scripture. Last time we saw that the Bible is self-consistent giving one overall message throughout its 66 books. Secondly, we defined what most fundamentalist Christians believe about the Bible, which is that we believe in the verbal, plenary, infallible, inerrant inspiration of the Bible in its original texts.

However in this study we are going to perform a U- turn and instead of looking out from the Bible we are going to focus in on the Bible itself. Whenever we meet someone who thinks the Bible is merely an ancient book then we need to know how to present our evidence that the Bible is much more than that!

In this study and the next we hope to give answers to the following two questions.

1. Is there any internal evidence in the Bible that it is the Word of God? We will then consider some of the science in the scripture that was known to the writer ahead of any scientific discovery.

2. How did God give the bible to us? How did God give the scriptures to the human writers such as Moses, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Paul etc?

Turning to our first question, what evidence is there that the Bible is not just an ordinary book just like any other ancient book?

There are two standards of evidence required to convince people that the Bible is a communication from God and indeed the very Word of God. The first standard of evidence (internal evidence) should be enough to convince a believer. The second standard of evidence (external evidence) is that needed to convince an unbeliever.

Internal evidence: in Mark 12 Jesus acknowledges a human author but goes on to say there was a divine author working through the human author.

Mark 12:26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have you not read in the book of Moses (Exodus), how in the bush God spoke to him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?

27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: you therefore do greatly err.

Jesus quotes Moses as the author of the scripture in Exodus but indicates here that it was God who was speaking through Moses.

Jesus (quoting from Psalm 110) said in Mark 12: 36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Notice that although Psalm 110 was written by David it was inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Paul in Acts 28:25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spoke the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, quoting Isaiah 28:25.

Paul indicates that although Isaiah wrote the passage in Isaiah 28 that it was God the Holy Spirit who spoke the words through the prophet Isaiah.

There are many other examples in the both testaments where a human author is inspired by the Holy Spirit e.g.

Hebrews 2:11-13 and Psalm 22:2, and Isaiah 8:18

God spoke through the ancient writers, so the scriptures were penned by the human authors as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

As believers, we believe this internal evidence of the scripture is informing other scriptures. However if we present this evidence to an unbeliever, they will probably say that all the major religions have a holy book, and all believe that their God gave them their holy book. So what is so special about the bible?

In our next study ‘Why should I read the Bible part 2b, we will see that the Bible contains many statements given thousands of years ago that have only recently been verified by modern science.

Amen

[isaiah-vs-the-world]

Fake Bible Verse?

Yes. You read that one right. A fake made-up bible verse has been created. Though I'm sure that there have been people in the past who have made up some things about the bible that aren't true, no one has ever taken it to this level or even made it sound so believable. Artificial intelligence has taken the modern world by storm. There have been so many technological advancements within the last fifty years, it blows my mind. Now, we're not talking about Iron Man-type technology, but at the rate we're going I would not be surprised if something like that was accomplished soon too. I don't know if you have ever heard of ChatGPT. ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence chatbot that uses natural language processing which allows you to have human-like conversations and much more. It is run by a company called OpenAI that was established in 2015. So now that you know the background behind this "artificial intelligence," let's get on with the real story. A Reddit user under the name Psychological_Dog527 was "feeling sad" so he asked ChatGPT to generate a fake biblical passage about Jesus accepting transgender people which he then posted on the "r/trans" channel. The passage reads, "And a woman, whose heart was divided between spirit and body, came before him. In quiet despair, she asked, 'Lord, I come to you estranged, for my spirit and body are not one. How shall I hope to enter the kingdom of God?'" The passage goes on, "Jesus looked upon her with kindness, replying, 'my child, blessed are those who strive for unity within themselves, for they shall know the deepest truths of my Father's creation. Be not afraid, for in the kingdom of God, there is no man nor woman, as all are one in spirit. The gates of my Father's kingdom will open for those who love and are loved, for God looks not upon the body, but the heart." Pretty good, right? "I know it’s not real, but it gave me some comfort," the user posted. However, this passage was so good that pro- LGBTQ+ outlet The Advocate posted about the passage on Aug 16. People were aware that this passage wasn't real, but that didn't seem to make a difference. So, yes. A bible verse that isn't even real is going viral right now. That's pretty crazy right? This blog is called "The World According To Isaiah Olson" for a good reason because all the world seems to do is keep surprising me.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

[from my flickr files]

* * * *

MS. TIPPETT: You have your Bible with you. If I asked you just to read what, for you, is a — I want to also step back and say there are a number of prophets, right? They have very different characteristics, voices, themes. They were speaking to different times in the history of the Israelites, so there’s not one prophet or one prophetic voice. But if I just ask you to choose a quintessential passage, maybe Jeremiah, maybe Isaiah, or maybe just one that has remained especially meaningful to you over the years.

MR. BRUEGGEMANN: Since the prophets characteristically revolve around judgment and hope, I’ll do two passages, one of each of them. The judgment passage that I’ll read is in Jeremiah 4. It goes like this: “I looked” — and you don’t know who “I” is — “I looked on the earth, and lo, it was waste and void; and to the heavens, and they had no light. I looked on the mountains, and lo, they were quaking, and all the hills moved to and fro. I looked, and lo, there was no one at all, and all the birds of the air had fled. I looked, and lo, the fruitful land was a desert, and all its cities were laid waste…before his fierce anger.”You get the “I looked,” “I looked,” “I looked,” and what that text really is, is Creation in reversal. You go from heaven and earth to mountains, to birds, to humans. He’s describing it all being taken away at one time. When I hear that kind of poetry, I get chill bumps because it seems to me so contemporary that I think that’s how very many people are now experiencing the world. It is as though the ordered world is being taken away from us, and it’s just so powerfully exquisite.

[music: “Lullaby” by Newstead Trio]

MR. BRUEGGEMANN: The other text I’ll read is Isaiah 43. It’s a very much-used passage. “Do not remember the former things nor consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” And apparently, what he’s telling his people is just forget about the Exodus, forget about all the ancient miracles, and pay attention to the new miracles of rebirth and new creation that God is enacting before your very eyes. I often wonder when I read that, what was it like the day the poet got those words? What did it feel like, and how did he share that? Of course, we don’t know any of that, so it just keeps ringing in our ears.

[From wonderful interview with WALTER BRUEGGEMANNThe Prophetic Imagination]

[alive on all channels]

[jurgan]

Jesus at the Temple- Rereading an Old Story

           Lately there’s been a lot of talk about the story of Jesus “cleansing” the Temple, or “the Temple Tantrum,” as many have taken to calling it.  I’m not the type to say scripture is inerrant, I’m happy to criticize when I think it’s valid, but I also try my best to discern what is in the text from what we add to it. My eyes glanced down to the passage in Luke 19 during Sunday’s church service: “45 When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. 46 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’[c]; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’[d]”

[d] Jer. 7:11

*Record-scratch*

What?  There’s a reference?  When Jesus quotes the Torah or the prophets, he’s doing it for a reason, this might be the key to the whole thing!  I’ve gotta check this out right now!

Jeremiah 7:

“‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. 3 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. 4 Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!” 5 If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, 6 if you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, 7 then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors for ever and ever. 8 But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.

9 “‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury,[a] burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, 10 and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things? 11 Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord.”

 Am… am I the only one who sees this?  Doesn’t this make the meaning of the story blatantly obvious?  If you’re mistreating your fellow man in your day-to-day life, and if you’re worshipping other gods on the side, you can’t hide from the consequences in the Temple.  As several other people have pointed out, the “den” is where the robbers hide out from the law after they’ve committed robberies.  Jeremiah, and by extension Jesus, are saying that God isn’t going to protect you from the consequences of your actions.  It’s not just Jeremiah, Isaiah says this, Micah says this, Ezekiel says it.  They all say that the ritual observances of your religion are empty at best and insulting at worst if they don’t inform the way you live your life.  None of them are saying “the system of sacrifices is bad and exploitative.”  How does everyone get this wrong?  

To be clear, I’m not saying “Jews are wrong to say this is antisemitic,” they have every right to feel that way given how it’s been used.  I’m saying “we Christians are doing a terrible job reading this story, twisting it into a form that lets us attack Jews.”  I don’t know how I never saw that citation before, and I will plead ignorance, but I do blame my teachers for never pointing out the obvious. Now I don’t know who specifically he’s talking to here, but of course not everyone who worked in or attended the Temple was an upstanding citizen.  He MAY be saying the people who run the Temple are in bed with the Roman Empire, but that’s not a criticism of the fact that they exchange money for sacrificial animals.  The link with Jeremiah suggests Jesus is positioning Rome as the new Babylon, and calling people to repent so God can deliver them.  This isn’t a radical replacement for the Covenant, it’s demanding the people of God start following it again.  It’s not saying that commercial activity is off-limits in the Temple, it’s saying that you shouldn’t use it to paper over your transgressions outside. If we want a lesson here, it should be “going to church once a week isn’t enough if it doesn’t affect the rest of your life.”  That’s a lesson any faith that believes in justice should be able to embrace (substituting whatever formal observation you have in place of “going to church”).

               So, how do we keep getting it wrong?  Well, as usual it starts with John.  The synoptic gospels aren’t perfect (Matthew is the origin of the “blood curse”), but John went whole hog on antisemitism.  If you read the synoptic accounts of the Temple Tantrum, they’re pretty brief and basically just say he turned over a few tables.  It was theatrics to make a point. Disruptive, sure, but doing stunts to get attention is well within the prophetic tradition (look at Ezekiel). John is the one who brings in the whip, and he also changes “den of robbers” to “house of commerce.”  So John makes Jesus violent (potentially- it’s not said if he actually struck anyone or just threatened) and implies the system of commerce itself is a problem.  I saw a claim that he was quoting Zechariah, and that would require more study on my part, but frankly I’m less inclined to give John the benefit of the doubt. Being the latest writer, John was motivated to drive home that Christians and Jews are two different faiths (ironic given how many Christians today want to appropriate seders).  He frequently referred to The Jews as antagonists throughout his gospel.  John’s version of the story strikes me as indefensible.

               Then the text fell into the hands of Protestants and progressives, both of whom eye religious authorities in general with suspicion. Everyone likes to see ourselves in our heroes, so we want to think that Jesus was fighting a corrupt version of his religion as well.  But that’s not what the text says.  My current pastor likes to say that anytime we think Jesus is criticizing someone else, we should stop and think if he’s actually criticizing us.  We need to stop acting like this story is about how ancient people were misguided until we came along and fixed things.  The criticism of people who follow the form of religion without the substance isn’t a cudgel, it’s a mirror.

               As always, I welcome any disagreement or correction on mistakes I may have made.

[anythingforstories]

Sometimes reading the Bible has the same vibes as analyzing a very long series. Like take the famous Christmas passage of Isaiah 9:1–7.

Verse 1: Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan

This makes so much sense when you understand that Israel had split into two nations; neither of them were particularly good at following God’s laws but the northern kingdom, which included (among others) the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, was particularly not good at it. And in Isaiah’s time, the northern kingdom was conquered by Assyria. The land of Galilee was being humbled.

But you know where Mary and Joseph lived? You know where Jesus spent most of his ministry?

Yup, that’s right, Galilee.

Verse 4:  For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,    you have shattered the yoke that burdens them,    the bar across their shoulders,    the rod of their oppressor.

Midian’s defeat! That’s back hundreds of years in Israel’s history, with the story of Gideon. Midian was not giving Israel an easy time back then; raiding parties stealing crops and all that.

So what does God do? He picks Gideon, this Nobody who was hiding out, and is like, “You’re the warrior who will chase the Midianites away.” And Gideon is like “lol nope I’m a nobody” but God insists, and two times Gideon asks God to give him a sign because he was scared, and two times, God gave him a sign. So Gideon gathered a bunch of troops, and two times, God had him send many of them away so that instead of thousands, it was just a few hundred against their oppressors. And how did they win? Not through a direct attack, but through torches and breaking jars! And God threw their oppressors into confusion, and they fought each other.

It’s an incredible story of a Nobody who was called, and a tiny force defeating a giant army. It’s a story of God being the one to break the rod of the oppressor.

Verse 7a:  He will reign on David’s throne    and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it    with justice and righteousness    from that time on and forever.

David’s throne! David was the second king of Israel, and it had been prophesied for many years that the Promised One would come through his line.

There are so many things in this passage, and all over the place, that you don’t understand until you’ve read the whole thing.

It activates the same parts of me that get excited about One Piece and Naruto and Fairy Tail and My Hero Academia and all these other really long stories with foreshadowing and whatnot. Except I get even more excited about this stuff because (1), the content is longer and there’s more to draw from, and (2), the Bible has the story of redemption that God Almighty has given us. And that’s, y’know, the most important thing in the history of Things.

[childofchrist1983]

The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. - Isaiah 50:4-5 KJV

This Bible passage from Isaiah is one of what are called the "Servant Songs". These passages portray a just man who is suffering for others. Here, it also mirrors Jesus Christ's scourging and mocking by Pilate's soldiers. These would be just some of the indignities that Jesus Himself suffered for us.

Over the years, many who work for justice have suffered similar indignities. Protestors have been beaten, spit upon, and jailed. They have had dogs unleashed on them, fire hoses spraying water to push them back, had cars driven into them and even killed. Some of these protesters were fighting for the right to vote, others against unfair or dangerous working conditions. Some were working to save us from companies that polluted the environment or for the protection of endangered animals. No matter the cause, they were motivated by a desire for justice, especially for those people who had no voice.

The protests I am referring to were peaceful protests. These were not people attacking with weapons. The just man in Isaiah is also referred to as a lamb being led to the slaughter who offered no resistance. Jesus also offered no resistance to those who would arrest Him. Those who were arrested in these demonstrations offered no resistance. What do you or I feel so strongly about that we would put ourselves at risk? How do we react when we are challenged? During the Holocaust, people were willing to take the place of others who had families and were killed. There were also people who risked their lives by harboring their Jewish neighbors. Jesus Christ said that the greatest love was to lay down one's life for a friend (John 15:13). Jesus went above and beyond, as He laid down His life for friend and enemy alike. God taught us about the Suffering Servant and He also sent us His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who lived, suffered and died for us. May we stand up for Him and for others in His mighty name, no matter the cost.

Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His almighty power and saving grace. For He alone is able to save us, forgiving our sins and gifting us eternal salvation and entry into His Kingdom of Heaven. It warms my heart to experience the restful peace and presence of His Truth, light and love and to hear the delight and joy in song as He and all of Heaven celebrates my rescue, and it is with joy and thanksgiving that I raise my voice in praise, rejoicing and song to celebrate with Him, and all because of Him. May we all feel the same.

May we make sure that we give our hearts and lives to God and take time to seek and praise Him and share His Truth with the world daily. May the LORD our God and Father in Heaven help us to stay diligent and obedient and help us to guard our hearts in Him and His Holy Word daily. May He help us to remain faithful and full of excitement to do our duty to Him and for His glorious return and our reunion in Heaven as well as all that awaits us there. May we never forget to thank the LORD our God and our Creator and Father in Heaven for all this and everything He does and has done for us! May we never forget who He is, nor forget who we are in Christ and that God is always with us! What a mighty God we serve! What a Savior this is! What a wonderful Lord, God, Savior and King we have in Jesus Christ! What a loving Father we have found in Almighty God! What a wonderful God we serve! His will be done!

Thanks and glory be to God! Blessed be the name of the LORD! Hallelujah and Amen!

[tonysolomon4jc]

Here are 70 Bible verses that show us that Jesus Christ is God...

Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Philippians 2:5-7 - Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond-servant, and coming in the likeness of men.

John 17:21 “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”

John 1:18 “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.“

Colossians 2:9-10 “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily. and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.“

John 10:30-33 Jesus answered them, “I and My Father are one.” Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”

John 5:18 “This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.“

John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.“He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made...

John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.“

1 John 5:7 "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."

1 John 5:20 “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.“

Romans 10:13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

John 8:57-58 “The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!”

John 8:22-24 “This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?” But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

John 13:18-19 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’ “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am.

Isaiah 44:6 “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.”

1 Corinthians 8:6 “Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.”

Revelation 2:8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.“

Revelation 1:17-18 “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.“

Matthew 2:1-2 “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Matthew 28:8-9 “So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.“

Acts 7:59-60 “And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.“

Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 13:14 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

John 20:27-28 “Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

2 Peter 1:1 “Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.“

Acts 20:28 “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.“

1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

Colossians 1:15-18 He [Jesus] is the (visible) image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

John 14:8-11 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

Titus 2:13 "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;"

Isaiah 9:6  For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 43:10-11 “You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no Savior.”

John 5:23 that 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.

John 14:6-7 Jesus said to him, “I AM the way, the truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

Acts 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 20:28 "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."

Revelation 1:5-6 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,"

Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 22:13 “I AM the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

Revelation 2:16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches.”

1 Timothy 6:14-16 - “our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.”