God Searches the Hearts and Minds of All Men

When King David addressed the special assembly gathered to observe the coronation of his son, the man after God's own heart addressed the future king:1 Chronicles 28:9 (NASB) "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD [YHWH, Yahweh] searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you…

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Is Jesus Omniscient?

God's knowledge and understanding are beyond measure.  Indeed, Scripture describes God in incomparable terms.  For example, it says God knows all things,[1] and His understanding is infinite and inscrutable.[2]  The Bible also says that God knows the secrets of the heart and understands every intent of the thoughts.[3]  In addition, it says that God reveals the profound and hidden things.[4] He also knows what we are going to say before we say it, and what we need before we ask Him.[5]  Truly, who can fathom…

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Read more about the article Jesus Existed in the Form of God:       An Examination of Philippians 2:5-11
El Greco, c. 1600

Jesus Existed in the Form of God: An Examination of Philippians 2:5-11

One of the most often quoted passages in support of Jesus' deity is also one of the most contested.  Trinitarians and non-Trinitarians alike each assert that it supports their own Christological view:  Philippians 2:5-11 (NASB) Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6  who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7  but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.…

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Read more about the article Jesus is the Image of God
Mosaic of Jesus Christ (13th century), found in the church of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey.

Jesus is the Image of God

Scripture tells us that God is spirit.[1]  As such, He is invisible and therefore, has not and cannot be seen:[2]   1 John 4:12a (NASB)  No one has seen God at any time... (emphasis added) 1 Timothy 6:16 (NASB) [God] who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.[3] (emphasis added) Even though we cannot see God with our natural eye, nevertheless, we can "see" Him by looking at…

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Jesus Became the Source of Eternal Life

An Examination of John 11:25 - I Am The Resurrection and The Life Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days when Jesus traveled to Bethany and spoke with his sister, Martha: John 11:21-27 (NASB) Martha then said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22  "Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." 23  Jesus *said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24  Martha *said to Him, "I know that…

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The Importance of Reading the Bible as a Jewish Book

The Bible is a Jewish book.  Although we read it, study it and memorize it in English, it is not an American book.  All but one of its forty or so authors was Jewish, and it was written from a decidedly Hebraic perspective.  Therefore, in order for us to understand its meaning, we must read it in the way its authors and God intended it to be read.  What were they trying to communicate to their original audience?  How would they have understood it?  These…

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Read more about the article How Plato Influenced Our View of God
Trifacial Trinity: Anonymous, Cusco School c. 1750

How Plato Influenced Our View of God

Many Christians sitting in the pew believe that their view of God, indeed orthodoxy's view, is derived solely from the Bible.  They would never suspect, however, that the roots of their belief in a triune God comes, not from Scripture, but from Greek philosophy.  Nor could they imagine that the respected early Church Fathers were to blame for synthesizing pagan philosophy, such as Plato's, with the sacred texts.  While the average Christian is unaware of such matters, Biblical scholars find this to be old news.…

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Jesus is Lord

Jesus is Lord.  A simple yet profound statement that we must embrace if we are to be saved:Romans 10:8-9 (NASB) But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9  that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; (emphasis added)The word confess here means more than just a recitation of…

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Jesus’ Pre-existing Glory: An Examination of John 17:5

One of the passages cited as proof that Jesus pre-existed in heaven before being incarnated into the world comes from what is referred to as Jesus' high priestly prayer:John 17:4-5 (NASB) "I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. 5  "Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. (emphasis added)The Definition of GloryThe word "glorify" in the Greek is doxazô, and it means to render or…

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Read more about the article The Son of Man
René Magritte. The Son of Man (1964).

The Son of Man

Renè Magritte's self portrait entitled, The Son of Man, is considered to be his most famous piece.  In it, the Belgian surrealist is wearing a bowler hat, and his face is partially hidden behind a bright green apple.  In simple terms, the concept behind Magritte's painting is that what is visible is simultaneously hidden.[1]Today's post has more in common with Magritte's painting than simply the title.  By examining Scripture, we will discover that Jesus' identity as the Son of Man has been partially obscured, not…

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