Monday Medley: Reparations Addressed, Advice to Christian Singles, & the Deity of Jesus

It has been some time since I shared something with you. 
Sometimes it's like there are a lot of little fires of stressful situations, and this blog takes a back seat.
Right now my brain is in a fog, but I can at least share a few of the things that I have listened to and learned from recently. 

Addressing Reparations
Some people are calling for reparations based on slavery in America in the past.
The following is a fairly long but worthwhile podcast addressing the issue:
Slavery Reparations • Just Thinking Podcast

Singles, Listen Up!
This week I was listening to a chapel from The Master's University which encouraged young single women to pursue Biblical qualities that will help them fulfill their role in a marriage (should they be so blessed). 
I never chose or desired to stay single myself, but that doesn't mean that I didn't get anything out of this!   God's plans don't always include the things we expect.
The only point I would add is that I also heard this week that we aren't to make disciples of ourselves but of Christ.
Chris Mueller's Biblically - based advice to young women & men.

The Deity of Jesus
Last week I heard Nathan Busenitz pointing out how the New Testament quoted from the Old Testament and applied things that talked about YHWH (the LORD) to Jesus.
It is amazing how God works it out that some things I hear during the week can be useful in online conversations.  This fact was one of them.
This came from another chapel of TMU.
Nathan Busenitz explains how Scripture points to the Deity of Christ.

Who Is Jesus?

(For disclosure, I'm a female, and this is a personal blog.)

Jesus' birth was foretold and He was referred to as God.

There is so much in both the Old and New Testaments that makes it clear that Jesus is God the Son.  From His virgin birth, to His death on a cross, etc.,  it was all foretold in the Old Testament and made manifest in the New.

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.   Isaiah 7:14 NASB
(Immanuel means God with us or "With us is God.")

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6 NASB

"But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity."  Micah 5:2 NASB

Isaiah 53 prophesies His death ...that He bore the sin of many.

Son of God

God the Father sent His Son to take on flesh:

John 3:16-18 refers to Jesus as the only (unique) begotten Son of God.
Since Jesus is eternal, and He was involved in Creation, we know that this helps us to understand that He is a Son different than believers who are adopted children of God.
Cults try to twist this into making people think that He was created rather than being one of the Trinity involved in Creation.

In John 1:1-3, Jesus was called the Word, and the world was created through Him.

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:14 NASB

For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,  Romans 8:3 NASB

He was referred to by John the baptist as the true light coming into the world:

There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.  John 1:9 NASB

Jesus Himself talked about having come down out of Heaven.

"For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world."  John 6:33 NASB   (In John 6:35 He says that He is the bread of life.)

Jesus' equality with the Father....He is not the Father as some twist things into a schizophrenic confused deception - not accepting that God doesn't have to meet our finite understanding.
This is about unity and equality of two of the Trinity.

Jesus announced that He and the Father are one in John 10:30.

God  referred to Himself to Moses as the I AM,.

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”  John 8:58 NASB

So, the Jews wanted to kill Him when Jesus said this,, because He was making Himself equal with God.

The Bible also says:

For in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form,  Colossians 2:9 NASB

In Philippians 2:6-7 it is said that He existed in the form of God, but He took the form of a bondservant "being made in the likeness of men."

Old Testament passages and New Testament passages connect things together:

Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son's name? Surely you know!  Proverbs 30:4 NASB

“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”  John 8:56 NASB

Confession of who Jesus is - is necessary:

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
1 John 4:15 NASB

Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. 1 John 2:23 NASB

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 
1 John 4:2 NAS

He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"  Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Matthew 16:15-16 NASB

🔗 Who do you say that Jesus is?

Do you celebrate Christmas?   Find out more of why He came:
🔗 Understanding Why Jesus Came To Earth To Be Born