In this fourth and final episode, Arnie and Fred continue to ask, Is Jesus Jehovah? We look at what Moses and Malachi say about Jehovah being unchangeable. We then note that both Paul and the Hebrew writer discuss that same characteristic. Next, Isaiah says that Jehovah , the Lord, is a stone of stumbling. Listen to our discussion of what Peter says about that. We move on to discuss the Harbinger and what we find Isaiah and Matthew recording about that same subject. We close out this episode by talking about whose name is to be called upon. Joel mentions this in the Old Testament. Both Paul and Peter mention what Joel had to say. Take about 30-minutes to listen in on our discussion. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what we are saying. There is a transcript provided for your convenience.
In this fourth and final episode, Arnie and Fred continue to ask, Is Jesus Jehovah? We look at what Moses and Malachi say about Jehovah being unchangeable. We then note that both Paul and the Hebrew writer discuss that same characteristic. Next, Isaiah says that Jehovah , the Lord, is a stone of stumbling. Listen to our discussion of what Peter says about that. We move on to discuss the Harbinger and what we find Isaiah and Matthew recording about that same subject. We close out this episode by talking about whose name is to be called upon. Joel mentions this in the Old Testament. Both Paul and Peter mention what Joel had to say. Take about 30-minutes to listen in on our discussion. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what we are saying. There is a transcript provided for your convenience.
This is a presentation of the Woodland church of Christ meeting at 3370 Broad Street in Sumter, South Carolina. We meet for worship on Sunday at ten thirty am and five thirty pm. We meet for bible study at nine thirty am on Sunday, and seven pm on Wednesday. If you have questions or comments on this lesson, you may email them to Fred Gosnell at fgosnell@ftc-i.net Or to Arnie Granke, at agranke440718@twc.com
Arnie:Good afternoon. This is Arnie Granke and Fred Gosnell with a church of Christ at Woodland in Sumter, South Carolina. And this is what does the Bible say? Fred, and and I have been talking about Jesus being Jehovah. And, of course, there are a number of groups that don't believe that that's the case. And so what we want to do is, is help you out with that by showing you some passages of Scripture that, that indicate that that's the that's the case. You know, in the, in the King James version of the Old Testament, and I think some other translations as well, we've noted that the Hebrew word YAHWAH, denoting self existent or eternal is consistently rendered Lord in the King James version with with all capital letters. So it's easy for you to pick out the passages that identify Jehovah; that appears 6828 times, we we've noted there. And Jews, for example, when they're reading the Old, Old Testament, and they come to the name, Jehovah, what they do is they actually read it as Adonai, lest, they inadvertently wind up taking God's name in in vain as they're as they're reading that and they don't want to, don't want that to to be the case. But there are other groups that that deny that Jesus is the Son of God, that that Christ is is Jehovah. And so what we've done is we've we found the number of Old Testament passages that, that make some statements concerning Jehovah. And then in the New Testament, we find that similar statements, the same situations are in place with Jesus, as as well, with Christ as well. And therefore the the only possible conclusion is that he's exactly the same as the one that's spoken about in the Old Testament and that, that's Jehovah.
Fred Gosnell:Yes, And of course, we we're going to start here this time and talk about the fact that in the Old Testament, God or the Lord is said to be unchangeable. And in Luke or Numbers 23, 19 and 20. There, Moses writes, he says, God is not a man, that he should lie and neither the Son of man that he should repent, hath he said, And shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless and he hatj blessed and I cannot reverse it. So what what Moses was told by God to do, he's he, he can't change it, because God doesn't change those things
Arnie:He didn't delegate any authority there did he?
Fred Gosnell:No. No. And then in Malachi, Malachi writes and begins in Malachi, three, verses five and six, verse five, he says, I will come near to you to judgment, I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against adulterers and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right. And fear not, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts, for I am the Lord, I change not. Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. So Jehovah doesn't change. And in Moses, said, he doesn't change what he says or what Moses was told to write, to say, he had to say it, God doesn't change it. And we don't have any authority to do so. So the Lord of hosts says, I am the Lord, Jehovah, I chang not therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed. So we'll see whether or not Jesus is said to be the same.
Arnie:Well, I've got two passages of scripture here about that in the New Testament. Let's start with Second Timothy chapter two. And beginning in in verse eight. And of course, Paul I was writing to Timothy. And he said, Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed to David was raised from the dead according to the Gospel; Wherein I suffer trouble as an evil doer, even under bonds, but the Word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elects sakes, that they may also obtain salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying, For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with Him. If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful, He cannot deny us, cannot deny himself. So so obviously, here that that would cause a change in God's thinking, and he doesn't change that is the point that that Paul is making. And then in the Hebrew, Hebrew letter in Hebrews chapter 13. And and verse eight, the writer says, concerning Jesus, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever, he does not change,
Fred Gosnell:Well, then he, he must be the same as Jehovah.
Arnie:That's the only conclusion you can reach.
Fred Gosnell:That's the unavoidable conclusion, as as we sometimes say. Well, you know, Jehovah is also referred to I think, it's Isaiah, does that, refer to as the stone of stumbling. And in Isaiah eight, verses 13 through 15. There, Isaiah writes, he says, Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself, and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary, but for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offense to both the Houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble and fall and be broken and be snared and be taken. Of course, the problem that they had was if they refuse to do what Jehovah said, and he became a rock of offense, and a stone of stumbling. So then again, we find that that that same phrase, those same words end up in the New Testament. Who Of course he is he's specifying, he's talking says that Arnie?
Arnie:Peter, Peter, of course, is the one that that said that. And in First Peter chapter two, beginning in verse six, Peter says, Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture. And now he's telling what that is. Behold, I lay in Zion, a chief cornerstone. Interesting, he's, he's gone right back there. to Isaiah's language talking about stones there. A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you, therefore which believe he is precious, but unto them which are disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense. Just like Isaiah had, had said, Stone of the stumbling, a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth, the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness, and into his marvelous light, which in times past, were not a people, but are now the people of God, who had, which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. So of course, Peter is is is writing to people that would have would be in what we would think of as Turkey at the present in our present society in the the world as we as we classify things now. Turkey of course, faces onto the Mediterranean Sea. And in the middle of that section is, is the area that Peter is writing to, people in Bithynia, and a number of other places that are mentioned, there. And so these are people that had not been people of God before, in that area of the world, except whenever Jews might have happened to move into the, into the area, and some had; but now, these that he's writing to become disciples themselves, and he's talking, writing to saints, they're in in that area, and and identifying them as, as being a chosen generation and a royal priesthood, and, and so forth. A peculiar people that they should show praises unto unto him that had called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. about Jesus there. That's right.
Fred Gosnell:And applying it to what Isaiah had said long ago about Jehovah. Well, then, Isaiah again, talks about a, a harbinger, an individual that's, that's going to provide information and guidance about someone else, who is who is supposed to show up. And in Isaiah 40, verses three through five, Isaiah says, The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, notice prepare you the way of Jehovah; Make straight in the desert, a highway for our God, every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. And the glory of the Lord, again, the glory of the Jehovah, shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. For the mouth of the Lord, the Jehovah, has spoken it. So Isaiah says, what I am saying, it's Jehovah's telling me to say it, I am, I am, Jehovah. And there's going to be one that will provide this guidance to the people at a particular time. And of course, that time is some sometime in the future. And of course, when we get to the New Testament, Arnie, I think you've got the passage that, that someone quotes that.
Arnie:Well, Matthew speaks about that, in Matthew chapter, chapter three. And and of course, he speaks about John the Baptist and and how John the Baptist, began his, his work. In those days in verse one, In those days, camw John the Baptist, or the Baptizer, would be more correctly. And even better, yet, the immerser, The word for baptism doesn't have anything to do with sprinkling water, or, or anything else. But I suppose that'll be for another, for another discussion there, Fred. But, but here, here is John who had been baptizing in in Jordan. And he came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. One of the things that's amazing about some of the Old Testament prophets, and I think a lot of people don't, don't always recognize, is that there are a number of quotations just like this, about different things with regard to things that those prophets have been, have been instructed to address. And so Isaiah, chapter 40, that you read, of course, had had spoken about someone. Didn't give him a name, didn't say that it was John or, or anything of that sort. Just said, to prepare the way of the Lord and make straight in the desert in the desert, a highway for our God. And then in in Matthew, we see that, that it is John the Baptist, that fulfills that, that prophecy that Isaiah has, has said and the New Testament writers, writing by inspiration, very often do as, as Matthew did here. And that is a quote from from the Old Testament as well.
Fred Gosnell:So also, there's more about the about the Harbinger that is, that is said, and I think Malichi again, does some teaching on that Malachi chapter three in verse one. And he begins he says, Behold, I will send my messenger and he shall prepare the way before me. And the Lord, Jehovah, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant whom ye delight in. Behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts, him Jehovah of hosts. And of course, Malachi, one of the interesting things about Malachi; Course Malecon is the last book in the Old Testament. And as as you pointed out there previously, Malachi has has talked about John, matter of fact, the last thing he says, talks about John, and but then when we get to New Testament, in the New Testament, some of the first things that we find out in the New Testament is a beginning of discussing what John had to say. So Malachi has is writing what Jehovah is saying. He says, Jehovah says, I will send my messenger and he shall prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom ye speak, Jehovah, Who you seek shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger again of the covenant, whom you delight in, behold, he shall come saith the LORD of hosts. So So Malachi's writing again about this Harbinger, this individual that's going to be identified, and by an individual, the messenger again and again, in the New Testament, we find that that occurs and there is an identification of who this individual is, that is the gonna come to his temple quickly.
Arnie:Well, well as Luke tells about that in Luke chapter one, because he sort of opens by explaining about John the Baptist. And John's father, of course, was, had been a priest in in the temple, and he's filled with the with the Holy Spirit. So he becomes a, a prophet himself. In Luke chapter one, beginning in verse 57, sixty seven. His father, Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us, in the house of his servant David. As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began, that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, the oath which he swear to our father, Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our live, and thou child, speaking to John, Thou child, shall be called the Prophet of the highest, thou shall go before the face of the Lord, to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation unto his people, by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day spring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Well, that's going from one extreme, one terrible extreme, to a very good extreme, there in that that last line, To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death. Wow. To guide our feet in the way of peace.
Fred Gosnell:Yeah, and of course, in this case, John is the one that is going to do the identification of this, this particular individual and of course, the individual's Jesus. And of course, the problem was the Jews in the first century didn't, didn't accept or recognize Jesus as the one that is being talked about here. And of course, John was the one that identified him. But then in Matthew 11, seven through 10, we have Jesus specifying that John was that one. And we begin in verse seven. And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, he says, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye for to see? A man clothed and soft raiment? Of course, that's, that's basically what they were looking for. Behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings houses. But what went you have to see for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom is written Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. And of course, he is speaking specifically about John as the Matthew begins, in the beginning, in verse seven. So Jesus reminds them that John is the one that was sent, the Harbinger, if you will, was was sent by God to identify the Lord, Jehovah. And of course, Jesus was that individual. And Jesus himself specified, John as being that and then he, he quoted the passage in the verse 10, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare the way before thee. So. so Jesus is Jehovah. And there's, there's no doubt about it. And I think we got one more passage and in John, Arnie, right?
Arnie:John three, and verse 26, is a good starting point. They came unto John and said to him, Rabbi He that was with thee, these are, these are John's disciples, Rabbi he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom now beareth witness behold the same baptizeth and all men come to Him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except to be given him from heaven, ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I'm not the Christ, I am sent before Him. And so you know, John wants to make sure that everybody understands correctly, who the Messiah is. And and it's not him. He was simply the Harbinger. And he was the one that, that that provided the, the truth. He was the one that baptized Jesus. And when when Jesus came up out of the water, of course, there was a dove came down from heaven and sat upon him and and John recognized Him. That was the sign that God had given him that Jesus is indeed the, the Christ, so he wants everybody to understand. This is his full job right here is identifying who the Messiah is.
Fred Gosnell:Yes. And of course, Jesus identified him and so that again, the unavoidable conclusion is that Jesus is Jehovah, just as the Father is. And so, we also find, Joel talks about the name to be called upon to, for for blessings or whatever situation you may be. In Joel two, 27 through 32. Joel begins in verse 27. He says, Ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, that I am the Lord your God, there's Jehovah again, Jehovah your God, and none else, and my people shall never be ashamed. It shall come to pass afterwards that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams. Your young man shall see visions, and also upon the servants and upon the Handmaid's, in those days, will I pour out of my spirit, and I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood and fire and pillars of smoke, the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord. It shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance as the Lord has said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call. And again the this the last passage there, verse 32. Notice again, It shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord, Jehovah, shall be delivered for out of in mount Zion and Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Jehovah has said, and in the remnant whom the Jehovah shall call. So specified by Joel a particular time there would be a time that this would occur, and there would be a place in Jerusalem. So then we need to find out whether or not that occurred in the New Testament. Now, do we find that again Arnie?
Arnie:Well, we can. But before I read that, let me just mention that in in verse 28, that that you had just read there, It shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out upon my spirit. The word afterward might be a little confusing in the King James version to a number of readers. So let me just point out that afterwards, probably not the best translation for, for that. It's referring to in the last days or in the last times, and of course, that would be after everything else. So understand that the speaking about things that are occurring in this period of time that we're a part of now. Romans 10 is a passage you were referring to Fred, in and beginning in in verse six for Paul writes and says, The righteous, the righteousness which is of faith, speaketh on this wise, Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend up to heaven, that is to bring Christ down from above, or Who shall descend into the deep, that is to bring up Christ again from the dead. But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart, that is the word of faith, which we preach, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth, the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shall be saved. For with the heart, man believeth, unto righteousness, with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. There's no difference between the Jew and the Greek. For the same Lord overall is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved. So there it is.
Fred Gosnell:Yeah, if you, if you shall confess with thy mouth, the Lord Jesus, so Jesus is the one that that they are to call upon. And of course, you would have to call upon Jehovah. And so Jesus is Jehovah as Paul has identified. Well, you know, we've we find the same thing said in Acts chapter two, by Peter in verses 16, through through 21. Peter says, This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel. And of course, what he's referring to there is the Holy Spirit had fallen upon the apostles, and they spoke in various languages of the people that were there, and they heard them in the language that they spoke in. So Peter says, This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel, then he quotes Joel, It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh, your sons and your daughters shall prophesy and your young men shall see visions. Your old man shall dream dreams and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit, they shall prophesy and I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs in the earth beneath,` and fire and vapor of smoke, the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come. It shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved and again, calling on the name of the Lord, Romans said, Jesus is the one that you call upon for that. And of course, Peter quotes what Joel had said, and Peter applies what Joel's prophecy was to the day of Pentecost, Acts chapter two. And then he again quotes the end of it, Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. So Jesus is the one to do, to call upon. So undeniably, then Jesus is Jehovah.
Arnie:And it's interesting here in in Acts chapter two, as as Peter is speaking, he quotes verbatim from the prophecy that we read a little while ago in in Joel Chapter Two. Your old men shall dream dreams, young men shall see visions and, and so forth there. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy young men shall see visions old man shall shall dream dreams. You compare those two, they're identical. It's it's, it's a prophecy. And Peter is showing the fulfillment of that.
Fred Gosnell:That's That's what the Bible says.
Arnie:That's what the Bible says. Is this a good stopping place Fred?
Fred Gosnell:Yes.
Arnie:Why don't we we'll look forward to being with you again next Lord's day and between now and then we hope that you will have a very good week.