Miles McPherson, Pastor of The Rock Church in San Diego CA is now broadcasting his Sunday sermons on Rock TV. The current TV series is also available on the new website that shares videos of the sermons he presents at the church every Sunday. The new series is called Who Is God? Here are links to the first three broadcasts:
Miles McPherson: Rock TV Episode One - Who Is God?
Miles McPherson: Rock TV Episode Two - Who Is God?
Miles McPherson: Rock TV Episode Three - Who Is God?
Who Is God?
Isn't that a question that all of us end up asking? Who is God? For me, being raised in the Catholic church I later realized just how little I knew about God. As a child, I can still recall looking up at the huge crucifix of Jesus on the wall of the church and asking, why did he have to die like that? Did he really need to die for me? For you? For us all?
As I grew older, I gradually came to learn what was missing. It was a lack of understanding what the Bible says about God, Creation, our sinful nature, Who was actually worthy to forgive the sins of the world, and why Christ's sacrifice on the cross was necessary for the salvation of mankind.
In turn, my part was to believe in Christ and accept what Jesus offered, confess my sins, repent of my sins, and ask Jesus to enter into my heart to be Lord and Savior of my life. Jesus promised that he would send the Holy Spirit to live inside of me -to help guide me in my walk with Christ and to help me understand what the Bible had to say.
Jesus asks each of us, "Who do you say that I am?" How we answer that question determines where each of us will spend eternity.
It is my hope and prayer that those who read here will take the time to follow this series. Who knows? Perhaps the questions that you have had your entire life about Who Is God? will be answered!
God bless,
Christine
Hat Tip:
Miles McPherson.com
Friday November 22nd – Open Thread
46 minutes ago
Posts
6 comments:
Someone here has told me that our tiny, finite human minds cannot understand God.
Obviously, God is so deep and complex a subject that it requires a special class of interpreters to explain him to the world. These interpreters, strangely, have the same tiny, finite minds as those whom they attempt to explain to. (Few people dare to point that out, however.)
Jesus asked The Question only once, of his disciples. Only one answered it to his satisfaction, and then:
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God."
Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. Luk 9:20~21 (NIV)
He then told them some good words:
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? 9:25
...and some bad (or at least wrong) ones:
I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God. 9:27
Everything that is 'known' about God is in the bible. It shows him as he is, warts and all. Trouble is, most people believe that God isn't supposed to have any warts, which is why this class of interpreters spend their entire lives explaining the nonexistent to the non-comprehending. Miles McPherson is just the latest in a long, long line.
Obviously, you didn't watch or listen to the videos. Just making the same ole' tiresome (and previously refuted) arguments.
"Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. Luk 9:20~21 (NIV)"
"Why did Jesus give that warning at that particular moment in time? Because at this point they didn't fully understand the significance of that confession - nor would anyone else. Everyone still expected the Messiah to come as a conquering king. But even though Jesus wasw the Messiah, he still had to suffer, be rejected by the leaders, be killed, and riise from the dead. When the disciples saw all this happen to Jesus, they would undertand what the Messiah had come to do. Only then would they be equipped to share the gospel around the world." - NIV Application Bible notes
"I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God." - Luke 9:27 notes:
"When Jesus said some would not die without seeing the kingdom, he was referring (1) to Peter, James, and John, who would witness the transfiguration eight days later, or in a broader sense (2) to all who would witness the resurrection and ascension or (3) to all who would take part in the spread of the church after Pentecost. Jesus' listeners were not going to have to wait for another, future Messiah- the kingdom was among them, and it would soon come in power." - NIV Application Bible notes
Re the NIV Application:
(1) witnessing a transformation is not the same thing as seeing a kingdom, especially one 'not of this world'.
(2) Who witnessed the resurrection? No one: the disciples saw him later, alive and scarred, but no one actually saw him leave the tomb.
If (3) is true, then the Kingdom was truly a secret one; although it spread, it took Emperor Constantine to make the church 'come in power' three centuries after the ascension.
Why do I need this McPherson to tell me who God is? All I'll get from him is his idea of who God is, which may not be accurate. What makes his description of God any better than, say, Martin Luther's?
In the old days, God reportedly spoke with people personally. Even when he was doing some heavy-duty smiting, he did much of it himself--he didn't farm it out.
I repeat: everything that is 'known' about God is in the bible. It shows him as he is, warts and all. It tells us all about him, often in his own words. If God wants to revise that in any way, all he has to do is appear to the world and say “That part is wrong.” And if he wants me to know him, well...he knows where to find me. I can't hide from him, right?
But he hasn't done it, so I have to conclude (a) he's already predestined me for the Nasty Place; (b) he doesn't care whether or not I know who he is; (c) he doesn't exist.
First of all GM, it's not transformation that was seen by the disciples. The event was called the transfiguration.
From Dictionary.com:
"Transfiguration
Transfiguration, in the New Testament, manifestation wherein Jesus appeared "shining" before Peter, James, and John. The traditional explanation is that in it Jesus' divine glory shone in his earthly body. Mt. Tabor is usually said to be the mountain where it took place. The event is commemorated in the feast of the Transfiguration on Aug. 6.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia Copyright © 2004.
Licensed from Columbia University Press
Go to the webpage and read several commentaries about the huge significance of the transfiguration.
In addition, it is important to acknowledge that during the transfiguration, Jesus "was talking" with Elias and Moses.
See Mark 9:1-9
GM wrote:
"2) Who witnessed the resurrection? No one: the disciples saw him later, alive and scarred, but no one actually saw him leave the tomb."
Are you attempting to present that question as a serious one?
Christ was dead on the cross and now he is alive again - and forevermore! The scars on his hands and feet serve as proof it was Jesus.
The disciples and over 500 more people saw the resurrected Christ over the course of 40 days that he stayed on the earth in his resurrected body. Then, the disciples did witness Jesus' ascension back to the Father in heaven.
BTW, your free will choice to reject the God of the Bible and His Son, Jesus Christ, as the way for salvation of your soul is what "predestines you for the Nasty Place." You have no one to blame but yourself.
It never ceases to amaze me just how arrogant liberals are no matter how eager they are to reveal it.
"Everything that is 'known' about God is in the bible. It shows him as he is, warts and all."
Yes, the liberal mind has such a superior sense of morality, that he is capable not only of judging God, but of identifying God's failings. What's that, you say? You thought that people were supposed to conform to God's will? Tut! Tut! And another Tut for good measure. No need. We, the liberals, have all that is moral covered. Perfect morality is what we say it is, until we need to change it, and we can do that because we know best.
I seem to recall a very prominent Biblical character that had similar ideas. It did not end well for him...
Gary, you always come around with the best comments - and make me chuckle at the same time. LOL
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