October 14, 2006 - Isaiah 43-44 and I Thessalonians 2
I want to focus on one main truth from Isaiah 43 this morning. It is an essential point of theology, and I believe it is important for all of us. In Isaiah 43:10-11 we are told that there was no God formed before the True God, and that no God would be formed after Him either. This fact tells us that Jesus could not have been created as a lesser god as some teach. Then, verse 11 proclaims that God is the only savior. Therefore, for Jesus to be the Savior He must be God and not just a man. Can you see how important this passage is to our theology? It tells us that there is only one God and Savior. Therefore, when we read the New Testament, we realize that God is one God in three Persons, Father, Son, and Spirit. All of the persons of the God-head are fully God. None of them are part God or a lesser God. Jesus is our Savior, because He is God who became a man so that He could die for us by giving His blood as the payment for our sins. Notice all of the verses in this passage that refer to God as the only God. Isaiah is clearly showing us that we must not fall into believing in idols or lesser gods.
Then, I Thessalonians 2 is a great portrait of Paul's ministry to the believers. He was both like a nursing mother and like a father. (v.7,11) How could that be? The Holy Spirit enabled him to do this, because they were his spiritual children in the Lord, and every child needs a mother and a father. The same is true for believers today. We may only want the mercy and comfort of a mother, but we need the discipline of a father, too. The main thing that comes across in this chapter is how much Paul loved them, and how the believers accepted God's Word and were gloriously changed. That is what we should do today, too. We should give ourselves to others, so they can come to know Christ as their Savior and experience the change that only He can give.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 45-46 and I Thessalonians 3.
Then, I Thessalonians 2 is a great portrait of Paul's ministry to the believers. He was both like a nursing mother and like a father. (v.7,11) How could that be? The Holy Spirit enabled him to do this, because they were his spiritual children in the Lord, and every child needs a mother and a father. The same is true for believers today. We may only want the mercy and comfort of a mother, but we need the discipline of a father, too. The main thing that comes across in this chapter is how much Paul loved them, and how the believers accepted God's Word and were gloriously changed. That is what we should do today, too. We should give ourselves to others, so they can come to know Christ as their Savior and experience the change that only He can give.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 45-46 and I Thessalonians 3.