Yahweh (Jehovah) means “to be” and identifies the true God as the eternally existing One. “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, Jehovah, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations” (Exo 3:14-15, ASV).

     Jesus claimed to be I AM, thereby affirming Himself to be eternal God: “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” (Jno 8:58). By claiming eternality, Jesus claimed to be Jehovah. Those who heard Him tried to stone Him for blasphemy (Jno 8:59; cf. 10:30-33).

     Jesus is fully God (deity) and fully man (humanity). In Jesus dwells “all the fullness of the Godhead bodily”…“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” (Col 2:9; Jno 5:23). Those who say Jesus is less than Jehovah God dishonor the Son and the Father who sent Him.

     Here are some Old Testament Jehovah passages that are applied to Jesus Christ in the New Testament. Each of them affirms that Jesus is Deity: Yahweh, eternal God.

     1. Psalm 102:25-27 and Hebrews 1:8, 10-12. The Psalmist praises Jehovah (102:18-19) as the Creator and Eternal God. He will endure although the earth and the heavens will perish. The Hebrew writer identifies the Son as the One to whom this was said. Jesus is Jehovah God.

     2. Isaiah 6:3-10 and John 12:37-41. Isaiah saw a great vision of the glory of Jehovah of hosts (Isa 6:3-4). The apostle John quotes Isaiah 6:9-10 and applies it to those who rejected Jesus. Isaiah spoke these things when he saw the glory of Jesus Christ (Jno 12:41). The glory of Christ Jesus is the glory of Jehovah God.

     3. Isaiah 40:3 and Matthew 3:3. A voice in the wilderness would cry out to prepare the way of Jehovah. This is applied to and fulfilled by John, the Messiah’s messenger (Jno 1:2-23, 29-34). John prepared the way for Jehovah when he prepared the way for Jesus. Jesus is Jehovah God.

     4. Isaiah 44:6 and Revelation 1:17. Jehovah, the Redeemer of Israel, is the First and the Last; the only true God. Jesus Christ describes Himself as “the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last” (Rev 1:11, 17). Jesus is Jehovah God.

     5. Joel 2:32 and Acts 2:21. Whoever calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved is applied to Jesus of Nazareth. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord (Jesus) is calling on the name of Jehovah. Jesus is Jehovah God.

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The word of God is described by various figures in the Bible, each one teaching us something about its nature and purpose. The word of God is a seed to be planted, bearing good fruit (Lk 8:11, 15). It is a lamp that lights our path (Psa 119:105). God’s word is pure like tried silver (Psa 12:6). It is a sword in the arsenal of the armor of God we use to battle and stand against our adversary, the devil (Eph 6:17). It is a two-edged sword, living and powerful to expose the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb 4:12).

James says the perfect law of liberty is a mirror into which one looks to observe his spiritual appearance: ²²“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ²⁵But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (Jas 1:22-25).

We look into God’s mirror by hearing God’s word. We “look into the perfect law of liberty” to see ourselves the way God sees us, instead of being misled by the deception of sin (1:22).

God’s mirror shows us who we really are. God’s word does not give a distorted view of who we are. The reflection we see in God’s word may show a heart that hears the truth but will not do it; this is the “forgetful hearer” (1:25). God’s word may show a person’s heart is hardened by sin (Heb 3:12-13). It may show one who is ignorant of God’s will (Acts 3:17-19). The word of God may reveal a heart that is negligent of or apathetic toward the will of God (Heb 6:11-12). On the other hand, God’s mirror may show “a doer of the work”; one who observes himself, remembers what he sees about himself and sets about improving himself by obeying God (1:25; Matt 7:24-25).

What do you see when you look into the mirror of God’s word? Absorbing what we see will not help us unless we then use that knowledge to improve ourselves. Through self-examination and obedience to God, every sin we discover will be cleansed. Those who ignorantly sinned by killing the Son of God were told to repent and be converted (be baptized) to be saved (Acts 3:19; 2:37-38). You can do the same things if you are living outside of Christ in the ignorance of sin (Gal 3:26-27). If you are a Christian struggling with sin, God’s mirror tells you to change your heart (repent) and confess it in prayer to God in order to be forgiven (Acts 8:20-24; 1 Jno 1:9). God’s mirror will then reflect an image of a sinner who has been reconciled to God.

We look into God’s mirror to see ourselves. We do not look into a mirror to first investigate others, but ourselves. It is when we are “doers of the word” and not “hearers only” that we are then able to truly help others who need to overcome sin in their lives (Gal 6:1-2). Otherwise, our help is hypocritical and harmful (Matt 7:1-5).

God’s mirror is a great blessing. Imagine living in a world without mirrors; what a blessing! Yet, we may be trying to live without God’s mirror. Be blessed by obeying God’s word (Jas 1:25). Be a doer of God’s word and you will be blessed in what you do.

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

1. This heresy redefines grace, fellowship and a host of other Bible terms, 1 Pet 4:11.
2. The G-F heresy is designed to give an assurance of salvation that is foreign to the Scriptures in order to sanction fellowship in spite of doctrinal disagreement (UID).

I. THE GRACE-FELLOWSHIP PLEA FOR UNITY IS NOT THE BIBLE PLEA.

  A. It is a Plea for Unity, but not the Unity of Eph 4:1-6.
  B. It is a Plea for Unity, but not the Unity for which Jesus Prayed in Jno 17:21-23.
  C. It is a Plea for Unity, but not the Unity Based on Heaven’s Words Given from the Father to Christ to apostles, Jno 17:8, 14.

II. HISTORY OF THE G-F HERESY.

  A. Original Intent: To have Fellowship to all Segments of the Restoration Movement.
  B. Developed into Fellowship with Denominations. Acts 2:41, 47; 10:22, 33; 11:14 (10:47-48)

III. FUNDAMENTAL ERRORS OF GRACE-FELLOWSHIP HERESY.

  A. Principle Defense: Gospel/Doctrine Distinction. Ro 1:5; 6:17; 16:26; 1 Tim 1:10-11
  B. Primary Assault: Attack Knowing and Conforming to the Truth, Eph 3:3-4; Gal 2:1-14; 1 Cor 5:1-3 (4-5); 2 Tim 2:17-18.
  C. Practical Result of the Grace-Fellowship Heresy is Unity in Diversity, Gal 1:6-9; 2:4-5; 1 Cor 15:12; Matt 19:9; 1 Cor 5:11 (2 Ths 3:6);

Bible: Have no fellowship with sin, Eph 5:11; 2 Cor 6:14-17.

Conclusion
  However well-intentioned, this is destructive heresy, 2 Pet 2:1-2.

You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

1. G-F heresy builds a false framework for salvation and fellowship; non-controversial approach appeals to many, Jude 3-4.
2. At its core it denies Bible doctrines of sin, salvation and fellowship.

I. PRINCIPLE DOCTRINES OF THE GRACE-FELLOWSHIP HERESY.

  A. Neo-Calvinism.
    1. Born with a Sinful Nature (modified).
      a. Allows for ignorance and weakness to be the reason to say all brethren are in error, ignorant of many of God’s requirements and too weak to do all He says for us to do.
      b. Be alert to: “man, because he is man, sins”; “man has to sin”; “we’re only human”; “We’re all ignorant of some things”, Eph 5:17 (1 Ths 4:13).

    2. Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ, 1 Pet 3:18. (Faith, Ro 4:3, 5, 9; He 11:7)
    3. Grace, Faith and Works. It confuses the basis with the condition of salvation, Titus 2:9; Eph 2:8-9; Matt 7:21.

  B. G-F Heresy Broadens Fellowship Beyond the Doctrine of Christ, 2 Jno 9-11.
    1. Defines and Distinguishes Levels of Fellowship, 1 Jno 1:7.
    2. Says Fellowship does not Imply Endorsement, Gal 2:9; 2 Jno 10-11.
    3. Uses Romans 14 to Condone Fellowship in Spite of Doctrinal Disagreement.

  C. Errors about Sin.
    1. Continuous Cleansing: Automatic forgiveness of sins of weakness and ignorance, cf. 1 Jno 1:8-9; Rom 4:5-8.
    2. Classification of Sins; some do not require repentance, Lev 5:17-19; Acts 3:17-19; 1 Tim 1:13-16 (Acts 22:16); 1 Jno 1:6-7; 2:3, 5.

Conclusion
  Grace is dispensed acc. to the word of His grace, the gospel (Acts 20:24, 32).

NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)

Men Need Not Apply?
Joe R. Price

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Created by Chuck Sibbing.  08/16/2010