And the Word was made flesh

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of
the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

#theWord
#theWordmadeflesh

There was no Jesus until the Word of God was made flesh.

John 1 KJT
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Verse 1 DOES NOT read:
"In the beginning was the Son, and the Son was with God, and the Son was God," but that's how many imagine that.

The Word is the one-natured Divine Person;
The Son is the dual-natured Divine-Human Person.

UNTIL the Word (the Second Person of the eternal Godhead) was made flesh, there was NO Jesus, the only begotten Son of the Father.

A biblical distinction is the essence of sound theology.
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Brainy
Sing, you clearly didn't read the entire thing.
The Word became flesh indicates that the Word and the flesh are the same.
There is no theological fallacy here.

sing
Brainy, if the Word and the flesh are the same, then the incarnation, the Word was made flesh, is redundant; it was a wasted and unnecessary event.

Brainy
Saying there was no Jesus until the Word was made flesh is like saying there was no trinity until Jesus was made.

His name will be Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. If you don't think Jesus was all of that before during and after his conception, you aren't worshiping the right Jesus.

When the Word became flesh, he didn't cease to be the Word. When Jesus walked on the Earth, the Word still existed.

The word flesh is sarx. It typically has a negative connotation. John specifically used this word to say Jesus became more than just a man that you and I can see and touch. He became the very carnal part of human that has a sin nature. Jesus, not being born of sin and living a perfect life would become Sin on the cross. It is a much deeper meaning than "he became a human."

The same way angels manifest themselves in human form, Jesus/God/The Holy Spirit can and did do all those things pre-incarnate Christ.

sing
Brainy @ "Saying there was no Jesus until the word was made flesh is like saying there was no trinity until Jesus was made."

That's your illogical logic!

The Trinity, before there was Jesus, is God, the Word, and the Spirit.

You still don't get it. The Word is the one-natured eternal Divine Being.

The Man Jesus is the eternal Word made flesh, both Divine and human, because the Divine took upon Himself humanity so that He is fit to redeem those men given to Him by God.

Brainy
His name will be Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. If you don't think Jesus was all of that before, during and after his conception, you aren't worshipping the right Jesus.

sing
Isaiah 9:6 KJT — For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

This is a prophecy of what shall be in the distant future. That child was born when "the Word was made flesh." John 1:14.

Luke 1 gives details.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 ¶Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?35 ¶And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Even at that point, when the angel spoke to Mary, all was spoken of in the FUTURE tense concerning the Son:
- Thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son,
- Thou shalt call his name JESUS.
- He shall be great,
- He shall be called the Son of the Highest: and
- The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
- And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever
- Of his kingdom there shall be no end.
- How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
- The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:
- That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

The Word is eternal, John 1:1.
The Son of God was born of the virgin Mary. Lk 1:35

When the Word became flesh, he didn't cease to be the Word. When Jesus walked on the Earth, the Word still existed.

When the divine Word was made flesh, the eternal Word was permanently united to humanity, flesh and blood;

Hebrews 2:14 KJV — Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.

When the divine Word was made flesh, we have the only begotten Son of God, who REMAINS fully divine BUT ALSO fully human

When Jesus walked the earth, He was the Word made flesh, the dual-natured Divine-Human Being, the only begotten Son of God.

Brainy
The word flesh is sarx. It typically has a negative connotation. John specifically used this word to say Jesus became more than just a man that you and I can see and touch. He became the very carnal part of human that has a sinful nature. Jesus, not being born of sin and living a perfect life, would become Sin on the cross. It is a much deeper meaning than "he became a human."

sing
When the Scriptures declare, "And the Word was made flesh..." there is absolutely ZILCH negative connotation with the word flesh.

It's making a marvellous statement of the Divine Word uniting with Himself humanity. When God had made Adam and the woman of flesh and blood, God declared that it was VERY GOOD.

Genesis 1:31 KJV — And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

The Word DIDN'T become more than man; Jesus was fully and completely man as the result of the eternal Word being made flesh.

No, no, no; Jesus DID NOT become the very carnal part of man, NOR did He have a sin nature. He was NOT of the race of Adam; it's impossible for Him to have a sin nature.

Luke 1
34 ¶Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 ¶And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

May our Lord grant you understanding.
Amen

Pastors and Teachers

Feed the flock of God which is among you,
taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint,
but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.
1 Peter 5:2

 

#pastorandteacher

Ephesians 4:11 KJV — And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.

There are FOUR teaching offices here, each marked by the determiner "some" and separated by semicolons.

The four offices are:
- some, apostles;
- and some, prophets;
- and some, evangelists;
- and some, pastors and teachers;

These are the only four teaching offices that Christ, the Head of the church, gave to His church.

The first three were unique to the apostolic age and are no more.
The last office/ministry of "pastors and teachers" is the office normative for the whole gospel age. The qualifications for the office of pastor/teacher are given in the pastoral epistles to Timothy and Titus.

A pastor and teacher is given and called to pastor a New Testament church by teaching the church the word of God. He does the work of an evangelist, too.

 2Timothy 4:2 "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."

 1Timothy 4:16 "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

2 Timothy 4:5 KJT — But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

 

"Theology is life"

 

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Sir, what do you think of this statement: "theology is life."

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Let me share some thoughts

"Theology" is a compound word from theos-logos;
- theos is God,
- logos is the study of
- Theology is the study of God, of His person and His works; His works of creation, providence, and redemption; all three affect us directly and personally, both temporally and eternally.

John 17
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

To know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent is life eternal.

To know requires mental effort to study; disciplined effort to learn and acquire the truth concerning God and His works.

 "life eternal" is not the same as eternal life! The former occurs 4 times; each time it is conditioned upon some activities of man.

"eternal life" occurs no less than 26 times; it's freely bestowed by God's grace when man is dead in trespasses and sin.

John 10:10 KJT — The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Theology is life indeed; it's life eternal, and life more abundantly.

Therefore, LOVE theology; others carelessly and mindlessly loathe it.

Predestination has to do with the eternal destiny of PEOPLE

 

[12/04/2024 11:50]

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Blessed morning, bro. Sing

Genesis 50:20
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

What is your understanding of that verse? The Absoluters use this verse to mean all things are predestinated by God.

----------

Good to hear from you, Dear Brother. I trust things are well with you and your family.

Predestination has to do with the eternal destiny of PEOPLE; God predestinated many out of the fallen, cursed race of Adam to eternal glory; the LORD PRE-DETERMINED their eternal destiny, to eternal glory in Jesus Christ

Things and events have no destiny; they can't be predestined.

The concept is just irrational and unscriptural.

The thrice holy God is against sin; He thunders against sins; it's against His holy nature to foreordain sin; He does not act contrary to His nature.

The evil deeds were from men's own wickedness - "ye thought evil against me." It's blasphemous to say the LORD predestinated them; it makes the LORD the author of sin, no matter how one tries to deny that.

The LORD God of providence who rules and governs over the affairs of men was pleased to turn the wickedness of men unto good for His people; He protected and promoted Joseph, and blessed him as the instrument to save many - temporal salvation - from the devastating famine.

Many Christians loathe the truth of predestination. Just imagine that the LORD God did not predestinate anyone to eternal glory in Jesus Christ, would anyone be saved?

Romans 8 KJT
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Ephesians 1 KJT
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will...
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask further.

Questions on Gospel Regeneration and Millennium

Nov 6, 2010

Alan
Hi Sing, I'm just wondering what your view is, that if there is no point preaching to those who are dead in sins and trespasses, if you say then that was never true of the elect? in other words, as the elect of God, was there ever a time when you were dead in your sins and trespasses?

Sing
I am glad you are inquiring about what I believe. It is better that you do know what I believe, rather than misunderstanding or misrepresenting me. God bless you.

Will you please tell me the point of preaching the gospel to them that are still dead in trespasses and sins. I would like to hear. You know, superstitious Chinese loves to offer good food, really good food like roast chicken and roast piglets, etc. to the dead...

Jesus told Peter, "Feed my lambs.... Feed my sheep... Feed my sheep." Get the point. Jesus didn't say, "Lamb my lambs and sheep" or "Help me raise my dead sheep..."

You asked: as the elect of God, was there ever a time when you were dead in your sins and trespasses?

Let me put this in the simplest form:
- ALL MEN were conceived and born in sins, without exception.
All men by nature are described in Eph 2:1-3
1 ¶ And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Note the various things said:
- dead in trespasses and sins;
- walked according to the course of this world,
- walked according to the prince of the power of the air
- were children of disobedience
- were children of wrath...
- EVEN AS OTHERS, even as the non-elect.

ALL THESE are as true of the elect in their NATURAL state, even as others.

Each individual elect is effectually called to grace and salvation at some point between their conception and death - directly and immediately by the divine activities of God, i.e. without man's aid or instrumentality.

And God sends out preachers to preach the gospel - the good news of what God has done to save His elect through His Son Jesus Christ - to such, so that they may be CONVERTED to the truth, and live as God's children...

I hope the above helps

Alan
And God sends out preachers to preach the gospel - the good news of what God has done to save His elect through His Son Jesus Christ - to such, so that they may be CONVERTED to the truth, and live as God's children...

So again, I agree with what you are saying; however, how do the preachers know to whom to preach the gospel to and how do they know when and where they are being sent? Sorry if I seem dense to you, but my way of thinking says the call is a universal call, but obviously the wind listeth where it wills and only those He blows on are quickened. See, many are called, few are chosen. Don't we beseech all men to repent and believe, knowing that God will give His own the internal call.

Sing
You asked, "However, how do the preachers know to whom to preach the gospel?"
=======
The preacher DOES NOT NEED to know who... and he DOES NOT know who among his hearers are the elect. BUT he must most certainly know that the purpose of his ministry is to reach God's children among his hearers, that his preaching the gospel is relevant ONLY to God's children, THAT IS, the elect whom the Spirit has regenerated. But God's children among his hearers will MANIFEST themselves through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ preached in the gospel.

The preaching of the gospel WILL BRING TO LIGHT, MAKE MANIFEST those that are God's children among the hearers - they will show themselves through their faith in their Saviour.

You asked, "How do they know when and where they are being sent"? Christ is the head of the church, and the Holy Spirit will lead those who are Christ's gift to the church.

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ..."

Too many are called and sent forth by MISSION BOARD... and not by Christ! I see many missionaries as those on baptised exotic holidays paid handsomely by mission boards... mission boards have usurped the role of local churches and the Holy Spirit!

Public proclamation is by its very nature public. It is addressed to all... telling them the glorious gospel of what God has done for His elect people in Jesus Christ, and applied by the Holy Spirit, and calling the hearers to believe. And only God's children among the hearers will believe the gospel.

God's effectual call HAS TAKEN place BEFORE - BEFORE - BEFORE the gospel call issued by the preachers!

You are still stuck with the LIE of gospel regeneration... that God will give His internal call ONLY after the gospel call is issued! You still condition God's internal call to the man's external gospel call!

Oh, that seemingly INCURABLE disease! Worse than AIDS!

Sing
Alan@ "See many are called few are chosen."

Please take your time to consider this carefully.

The parable in Mt 22:1-14 ends with these words." For many are called, but few are chosen."

The phrase 'many are called but few are chosen' has been PROSTITUTED and ABUSED for SO LONG that very few understand what it means anymore.

The phrase must be understood in the context of the parable where it is found! Three rules of interpretation: Context, context, and context!

If the calling and choosing is not restricted to the context of the parable, then it is just plainly OUT OF CONTEXT. So, if 'chosen' is ...equated with 'choosing before foreknowledge' then it is plainly wrong! And if calling is related to gospel calling to eternal salvation, it is also plainly wrong.

The parable is not about getting eternal salvation. The parable informs us something about the kingdom of heaven - though many are called to enjoy its blessings, yet only a few are chosen to enjoy it.

The parable of the kingdom of heaven deals SPECIFICALLY with God's children among the Jews. The kingdom of heaven is a term used specifically to contrast with the earthly theocratic kingdom that God's children among the Jews are so familiar with. They are called to leave it, and to enter the kingdom of heaven... leave the old covenant kingdom to the new covenant kingdom.

That's the context of the 'many are called but few are chosen.'

Many of them are called by the gospel, but only a few of them were chosen to enjoy the blessings of the gospel.

Many of God's children among the Jews are called by the gospel. (NOT ALL of them are called by the gospel call.) Though many of them are called by the gospel call, yet only a few were chosen to believe and experience the blessings of the gospel.

Many of God's children among the Jews were blinded... only a remnant of God's children among the Jews were chosen to believe the gospel.

Read Romans 11...
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Alan
Well, I again agree with you, especially about missionaries, if you're not called, stay home. Second, I am sure that God does not need men to save men. I myself came to believe that through no human agent. God alone quickened me through His Spirit. No, I think regeneration is a complete act of God through the Holy Spirit.

Alan
So Jesus is just addressing the Jews in the parable, I can see that in fact I think that is the case in a lot of the gospel; after all, He came to His own but His own did not receive Him.

Alan
What is your position on eschatology?

Sing
What about eschatology? Any thing specific?

Alan
Just wondering your position; what do you believe concerning the millennium; pre, A or post, I'm wondering because Gill was historic pre. I'm wondering do you hold to the same?

Sing
I believe the millennium is the period between the first and second coming of Christ.

At the end of the gospel age, Christ would return, general resurrection and transformation followed by the great judgment, and the ushering in of the eternal state of blessedness.

This is the beauty and simplicity of the gospel teaching on the millennium - to me anyway. I read the Bible, and that is what it says to me....

Alan
What would be Amil' I agree, can't get past one judgment of the righteous and the wicked,

Sing
This is a test... get a new believer who has never heard of the pre. post or a-mil stuff... get him to read the bible... ask him about the matter... and he will tell you just that... Christ will come at the end of the gospel age, accompanied by general resurrection and general judgment.... Then entering into the glorious eternal inheritance... WITHOUT that childish idea of another thousand years of this sin-sick and cursed world...

Alan
True when I first believed, that's how I read it. You have to do all sorts of theological gymnastics to come up with the dispensational view of end times; in fact, you just about have to re-write scripture, at best, their interpretations are novel.