A sweet young woman came to our door a few months ago wanting to talk with my wife and I about the Bible. I was delighted, because many people we visit with would rather talk about something else.
She asked me if I knew what God's name was. To which I replied, YHWH, pronounced Yahweh. She hesitated a bit, because she would rather I had chosen another name, but she was content with that name.
No sooner had she asked that question, when she had another one. Did you know that Jesus Christ was actually the created Archangel Michael? She didn't like my response, because the Bible doesn't say that. In fact, the Bible specifically states that Jesus wasn't created. The book of Colossians, chapter 1, verse 15 through 17 states: 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Doesn't firstborn mean Jesus was created? If you know your Old Testament history, you might remember that King David was the youngest of seven sons. Yet, God declared this of David in Psalm 89 verse 27, 27 I will also appoint him my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. Didn't God know he wasn't Jesse's firstborn son? Of course. God wasn't declaring his birth order, he was describing his position. He was calling him the most exalted of all the Old Testament kings.
God wasn't declaring the birth order of Jesus by announcing him as the firstborn over all creation. He was declaring him the preeminent one, whose image was God's image, who authored all things, whether visible or invisible, material or non-material, and who holds them all together. In other words, God was declaring Jesus the eternal God.
If the Bible's message is accurate - Jesus is God - then that leaves us with one choice - we must declare Jesus Savior and Lord. How would it benefit you to choose Jesus? Do you know why Jesus came to earth? To save people from their sins - Matthew 1:21. Do you know who has power to forgive sins? Jesus does - Matthew 9:6. How many of us have sinned? All of us - Romans 3:23. Is there anyone else we can go to for salvation? No! Acts 4:12.
Some people try to avoid Jesus by declaring all religions the same. Don't be deceived - no one ever claimed what he claimed. Jesus said, John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me." My advice to you is this - declare Jesus your Savior and Lord.
- Reflections, a column of commentary on the religious scene, is published every Saturday by The Monroe Times. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group and the Times. Rick Haworth is pastor of Hope Evangelical Free Church in Monroe.
She asked me if I knew what God's name was. To which I replied, YHWH, pronounced Yahweh. She hesitated a bit, because she would rather I had chosen another name, but she was content with that name.
No sooner had she asked that question, when she had another one. Did you know that Jesus Christ was actually the created Archangel Michael? She didn't like my response, because the Bible doesn't say that. In fact, the Bible specifically states that Jesus wasn't created. The book of Colossians, chapter 1, verse 15 through 17 states: 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Doesn't firstborn mean Jesus was created? If you know your Old Testament history, you might remember that King David was the youngest of seven sons. Yet, God declared this of David in Psalm 89 verse 27, 27 I will also appoint him my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. Didn't God know he wasn't Jesse's firstborn son? Of course. God wasn't declaring his birth order, he was describing his position. He was calling him the most exalted of all the Old Testament kings.
God wasn't declaring the birth order of Jesus by announcing him as the firstborn over all creation. He was declaring him the preeminent one, whose image was God's image, who authored all things, whether visible or invisible, material or non-material, and who holds them all together. In other words, God was declaring Jesus the eternal God.
If the Bible's message is accurate - Jesus is God - then that leaves us with one choice - we must declare Jesus Savior and Lord. How would it benefit you to choose Jesus? Do you know why Jesus came to earth? To save people from their sins - Matthew 1:21. Do you know who has power to forgive sins? Jesus does - Matthew 9:6. How many of us have sinned? All of us - Romans 3:23. Is there anyone else we can go to for salvation? No! Acts 4:12.
Some people try to avoid Jesus by declaring all religions the same. Don't be deceived - no one ever claimed what he claimed. Jesus said, John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me." My advice to you is this - declare Jesus your Savior and Lord.
- Reflections, a column of commentary on the religious scene, is published every Saturday by The Monroe Times. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group and the Times. Rick Haworth is pastor of Hope Evangelical Free Church in Monroe.