Category: God

GOD HAS SPOKEN

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Shelby G. Floyd

 

The Hebrew writer without introduction states his main theme: the superior rank and dignity of Jesus Christ over angels, Moses, prophets and priests:

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:1-3 NKJV).

The message is simple—God has spoken to man! God has spoken to us at the end of the Jewish economy by His Son—Jesus Christ. And he spoke to us through his apostles “once” (hapax), for all time: “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3 NKJV). Therefore, the “last days” includes the whole Christian age.

Christ is superior to all who spoke for God that went before him because: (1) He is the unique Son of God; (2) God appointed him heir of all things; (3) God made the world through Christ; (4) Jesus is the effulgent image of God the Father; (5) Christ upholds all things by his powerful word; (6) He purged our sins by the sacrifice of himself on the cross; and last of all, (7) He sat down as the reigning Monarch of the Kingdom of Heaven at the right hand of His majesty Jehovah!

Thus Christ is our prophet—he spoke for God; he is our great high priest—he purged our sins; and he is our Mighty King reigning on David’s throne on high—reigning over the Everlasting Kingdom that will stand forever (Daniel 2:44-45).

The term “spoke” in verse two is aorist indicating completed action in the past. It is the leading verb in the context. God previously in ancient times “spoke” to the fathers by (in) the prophets. He did so in many ways and at various times. “Spoke” is from (laleo) and means to speak to one using words in order to declare one’s mind and to disclose one’s thoughts. God therefore speaks to man today through the written word handed down to us in the Old and New Testament. Let us then give heed to and obey God’s Word.

Copyright © 2017 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved

Eighty 5-21-17

Shelby G. Floyd
Heartland Church of Christ
1693 West Main Street
Greenwood, IN 46142

THE GODHEAD

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Shelby G. Floyd

The Bible teaches that there is just one God or Godhead, but this one Godhead involves three distinct persons. In a discussion with a Jewish scribe, Jesus referred to the Old Testament Scriptures which taught that God is one Lord. The scribe had asked, “Which is the first commandment of all?” Jesus answered him,

“The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Mark 12:29).

Jesus here referred to the statement of Moses as found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5. Continue reading “THE GODHEAD” →

WHAT IS GOD’S NAME?

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Shelby G. Floyd

gods-name

God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and revealed himself to the great prophet. He promised Moses he world be with him when he went before Pharaoh to demand that he let the children of Israel go free from their slavery.

“I AM WHO I AM”

Moses replied to God that the Israelites would want to know God’s name. He asked what he should say. God’s answer was, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:13-14). “I AM” is God’s name and his name means “The Self Existent One.” God is also known by “God Almighty”—El-Shaddai; “Elohim”—Lord; and “Jehovah.” God also said to Moses, “I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them.” (Exodus 6:2-3). The name “Lord” in the Hebrew is equal to I AM (Exodus 3:15). Continue reading “WHAT IS GOD’S NAME?” →

COME CLOSE TO GOD

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Shelby G. Floyd

Close to God

Our God is great, but he wants a close relationship with all of his people. Sadly, many Christian people never realize the nearness of God in their daily walk with God. Many of God’s children feel that God is far away and not interested in their joys and sadness. However, this is not the case. God has demonstrated over and over again, that if we will seek him out he will be found to be close at hand.

Near the end of the New Testament revelation, the apostle James exhorted the Christians of the dispersion to, “Come close to God and He will come close to you” (James 4:8). Man left God, but God did not leave sinful man. Because of the great love, mercy and grace of God, he made the first and last move to reconcile man back to himself. This he did by sending his beloved Son from heaven to earth to redeem us from eternal separation. Now it is up to each one of us to make our move back to God and enjoy the close fellowship that was enjoyed in the Eden Paradise. Continue reading “COME CLOSE TO GOD” →

SEEK GOD OVER GOLD

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Shelby G. Floyd

God over Gold

Our Pilgrim ancestors came to the shores of America in search of freedom to seek and serve God according to their conscience. Others came seeking gold and material wealth. While God has given us all good things to richly enjoy, he wants us to put the spiritual above the material world.

About one hundred sixty-seven years ago when gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill in California, it caused the stampede of the Gold Rush. Many found fortunes and spent it all in worldly pursuit. The same thing happened on the Klondike at Dawson City, Canada and on the golden shores Nome, Alaska in 1898-1900. Today the worship of wealth is called American Greed. Many who have trusted in their gold have been wiped out by the present economic crisis. If one does not have God in his life what is left but despair and death? Continue reading “SEEK GOD OVER GOLD” →

IN GOD’S PRESENCE

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Shelby G. Floyd

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The sweet Psalmist of Israel yearned to be in the presence of Almighty God: “How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God” (Psalms 84:1-2). Where God is worshipped in spirit and truth God is present. David longed to be present in the temple courts at Jerusalem to worship the Lord. Later in this same Psalm he said, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked” (Psalms 84:10). Continue reading “IN GOD’S PRESENCE” →