Category Archives: Bible Study

Theology Summary Bible Study Pt. 14: The Human Nature and the Personal Union

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This study continues with the testimonies to Christ’s Divine nature by looking at the Scriptural accounts which speak of Jesus as “the Son of God” and describe Him as “(only) begotten.”   The heavenly Father bears witness that Jesus is His Son in Psalm 2:7 and in the words of our baptism(Mt 28:19).  When Jesus’ enemies bore witness that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God(Jn 5:18), they knew what that term meant-“…But (He) also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God” (Jn 5:18).  The word, “begotten” (Jn 1:14, 3:16, and 5:26) bears witness to the divine nature, as well.

The Scriptural testimonies to the human nature of Christ declare that He is “flesh and blood” and “like His brethren” (Hebrews 2:14-17 and 4:15).  It speaks of “the days of His (Jesus’) flesh” in which He suffered(Heb 5:7-10). There are also certain names which show forth the human nature of the Christ.  Some of those names are: “Son of Man” (Dan 7:13, Mat 1:1), “seed” or “offspring” (Gen 3:15, Fen 22:18, Gen 28:14, and 2 Sam 7;12), and “firstborn” (Mt 1:25, Col 1:15,18, and Rom 8:29) and others.

The Christ, our promised Redeemer has both a divine nature and a human nature united in one person.  This union of two natures in the one Christ is called the personal union.

Handout 1:  The-Christ-August-26-2018.pdf

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State of Confession

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This first document is a summary of all the documents, audio files, etc.
Our State of Confession Against Six Points
The Six Points (Post 2004 Convention)

The following are in timeline Order:
SID Phoenix Committee at Rend Lake, IL (January 28-29, 2003)
Phoenix Committee at Rend Lake Jan 28 2003

LCMS 2004 Convention
2004_lcms_convention_report

Four Newsletter Articles on State of Confession (August, September, October and November 2004)
Newsletter Articles on State of Confession

Contemporary Worship Bible Studies (Dec 2004 and Jan 2005)
Study One

Study Two

Study Three

State of Confession Bible Study (January 9, 2005)

Trinity’s Lay Elder’s Presentation at Greater Egypt Circuit Forum (Feb 13, 2005)

Lutherans United (March 2005)

Lutherans United March 2005d

Herrin Lay Elders at Greater Egypt Circuit 3 & 4 (June 5, 2005)
1. Brian and Tony Presentation at Circuit #3 and #4 on June

2. District President Herb Muller Response Presentation

3. Questions and Answers at Circuit #3 and #4 on June 2005

CTCR Dissent Paper (September 18, 2005)
CTCR dissent paper

Update on State of Confession (November 13, 2005)

  1. Timeline for Nov 13 2005
  2. Handouts – Crisis in the LCMS
  3. Handouts 2 Crisis in the LCMS

Southern Illinois District Convention (February 23-25, 2006)
SID Convention 2006 Wrap Up Synod Talk 1

AELLP (May 2006)
Henson Presentation at AELLP

AELP April 2006 b

Question and Answer at AELLP

Synod Talk #1 (October 22, 2006)

  1. SID Convention 2006 Wrap Up Synod Talk 1
  2. Synod Talk 1 Handouts

Synod Talk #2 (November 26, 2006)

  1. Synod Talk #2
  2. Synod Talk 2 Handouts

Synod Talk #3: 2007 Convention Preparation (January 28, 2007)

  1. Synod Talk #3
  2. Synod Talk 3 Handouts 1
  3. Eldona Tri-fold
  4. The Lutheran Herald August 2006
  5. Eldona Niles and Malone

Wallace Schultz (April 1, 2007)
The_LCMS_ITS_PAST_AND%20FUTURE_Revised_4_3

Lutheran Church–MIssouri Synod Convention 2007 (July 15-19, 2007)

  1. Overtures Letter 1 31 2007
  2. Lay Ministry Overture 1
  3. Unionsim Syncretism Overture 2
  4. Structure Overture 3
  5. Structure Overture 4
  6. Structure Overture 5
  7. Structure Overture 6
  8. Women Overture 7
  9. Closed Communion 8
  10. Contemporary Worship Overture 9
  11. State of Confession Overture 10
  12. Overtures Letter 6 25 2007
  13. Letter Jun 27_2007
  14. X8 11 02 and X2 01 05A

Synod Talk #4: Post 2007 LCMS Convention Update (July 22, 2007)

  1. July 2007 Newsletter 4 pages
  2. Synod Talk 4 handouts
  3. Presuppositions of the LCMS 2007 Convention g
  4. Final Report on Six Points of Dissent 2007d
  5. Evaluation of 2007 Synodical Convention

Leaving the LCMS (August 19-20, 2007)

  1. Letter to leave Synod
  2. Henson Letter to leave Synod
  3. Harroun Letter to leave Synod

Free Conference in Oregon, “Called to Confess”  (April/May? 2008)
Part 1

Part 2

Free Conference January 28-29, 2009
Paper: Satis Iam – Enough Already!

Refuting Objective Justification

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The Norwegian Narrative

The above paper was presented in 2014 as an evaluation of H. A. Preus’ Doctrine of Objective Justification.

————-

The first video (On November 9, 2014) in the Refuting Objective Justification Series.

This is the PDF of the overheads and handouts for the class:  Documents for Class 1 Nov 9 2014p

 

The second video:

Documents for Class 2 Nov 16 2014p

The third video:

Documents for Class 3 Nov 23 2014p

The fourth video:

Documents for Class 4 Nov 30 2014p

The fifth video:

Documents for Class 5 Dec 7 2014p

The sixth video:

Documents for Class 6 Dec 14 2014p

The seventh video:

Documents for Class 7 Dec 21 2014p

The eighth video:

Documents for Class 8 Dec 28 2014p

 

The ninth video:

Documents for Class 9 Jan 4 2015

The tenth video:

Documents for Class 10 Jan 11 2015p

The eleventh video:

Documents for Class 11 Jan 18 2015p

The twelfth video:

Documents for Class 12 Jan 25 2015p

The thirteenth video:

Documents for Class 13 Feb 1 2015p

The fourteenth video:

Documents for Class 14 Feb 8 2015p

The fifteenth video:

Documents for Class 15 Feb 15 2015p

The sixteenth video:

Documents for Class 16 Feb 22 2015p

The seventeenth video:

Documents for Class 17 Mar 1 2015p

The eighteenth (and last) video:

Documents for Class 18 Mar 2 2015p

Unedited #1

 

Unedited #2

 

Unedited #3

 

Theology Summary Bible Study, Pt. 13: The Divine Christ

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In this study, St. John (1:1-3) uses “Word” (Logos) to describe the Second Person of the Trinity. The Word describes the Christ before creation, and thus, it is a reference to His divine nature. It is not until verse 14, that we hear of Christ’s incarnation saying “the Word became flesh.”

Continually, we are forced to  hold our reason captive. The Word is described as “with God” indicating a distinction, and then with the words “was God” indicating no distinction. In Colossians 1:15-16, the Christ is “the image of the invisible God,” which is quite contradictory to human reason. Furthermore, the Christ is described as “the brightness of His glory” and  “the exact image of His person”(Hebrews 1:1-3). Those who wish to know the Father must look to the Christ.  Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).

Handout: The Christ Aug 12 2018

[Note: Picture of Divine Savior Lutheran Church, Niwot, CO]

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The Flood Bible Study

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The world-wide flood and the saving of Noah and his family in an ark is an historical event (Gen 6-9).  The Lord was grieved at the general wickedness of man.  This widespread corruption  is seen in the actions of Cain’s descendants (Gen. 4:17-24).  In contrast, the descendants of Seth (Gen 4:25-5:32) give us a description of the church and her righteous-by-faith members.  Like Noah, those who trust in God for salvation through the promise of the Savior are declared righteous and find favor with God.

Our Lord Jesus Christ warns us that that the destruction worked by the flood is a sign to warn us of God’s judgment upon unbelievers at the return of the Son of Man (Mt 24:36-39).  Until that day comes, we see the Divine long-suffering and kindness of God in showing mercy(Isaiah 54:7-10), and inviting to salvation.  Our Triune God is continuing to send out preachers to direct us, Noah’s descendants, to the water of Holy Baptism, which saves by uniting us with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:18-22).  Thus the account of the ark also comforts believers that “the Lord knows how to deliver  the godly out of temptations” (2 Peter 2:4-10).  The ark is a sign of God’s promised means of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Handout: Noah-and-Flood-Aug-5-2018.pdf

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Creation/Evolution Bible Study

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The Bible is not a science book, nor is it designed with the purpose of presenting to us scientific principles, nevertheless, where the Bible speaks of creation it always tells the truth. The Triune God created the world in six normal days as described by Genesis, chapter one.  Both theistic evolution and atheistic evolution deny the inerrancy of the Holy Scriptures and the truth of the doctrines it presents. Even more importantly, evolution negates the need for Christ’s atonement for sin.

Handout: Creation-Evolution-July-29-2018.pdf
Answers to the Line of the Promise Handout: Answers-Line-of-Promise-July-29-2018.pdf

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Theology Summary Bible Class, Pt.12: Helpful Observations

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Class #12:  This week we  examined a host of Bible passages which bear witness to our one God and three persons.  Applying the rules we learned concerning the internal and external works of  the Trinity, we went through some useful and helpful observations that can help us in clearly speaking about the Holy Trinity–so that we neither confound the persons, nor divide the substance.

Handout: opera ad extra and opera ad intra July 15
Handout 2: Trinity and Unity Heresies July 15 (yellow sheet)
[Picture: Pr. Henson in front of Christ Lutheran Church (Richmond, MO)

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Theology Summary Bible Class, Pt. 11: The External Works of the Trinity

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Class #11:  Last week we learned that the external works of God are undivided.  “When God outside His essence works something among His creatures, then the three persons are together and work together, because there is one doer and maker.”  The corollary, which needs to be maintained, is: “For in the external works the three persons are together and work together, AND YET with a certain order and with the properties of each person preserved” (p.75)

Thus, we maintain the order and properties of each person!  Only the second person of the Trinity took on human flesh.  Therefore, we cannot say, “The Father took on human flesh.”  But we can say, “God took on human flesh.”  We can say that when Jesus died for us, God died for us, or that the death is the work of God.  Similarly, when Jesus was born, we call Mary the theotokos, the God-bearer.

Handout:  opera-ad-extra-and-opera-ad-intra.pdf
Handout 2:  Trinity-and-Unity-Heresies-July-15.pdf

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Theology Summary Bible Class, Part 10: The Works of the Trinity

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Class #10:  How do we speak about the Triune God?  The Athanasian Creed correctly instructs us that we need to do it “not confounding the persons nor dividing the substance.”  In order to speak correctly, we must understand where the Holy Scriptures are speaking about the unity of God and where they are speaking about the Trinity of persons.

There are two rules to help us.  1. The external works of God are undivided.  “When God outside His essence works something among His creatures, then the three persons are together and work together, because there is one doer and maker.”   2. The internal works of God are divided.  “The works which God does outside of all created things, within Himself, are not common to the three persons, but are peculiar to only one person, so this it is characteristic of the Father to beget, of the Son to be begotten, and of the Holy Spirit to proceed from both.”  (Loci Theologici, p.74)

Handout: opera ad extra and opera ad intra

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Theology Summary Bible Class Pt.9: Face to Face

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Class #9:  We think that God is working, when we are victorious and everything is going our way.  When tragedy hits, we think that God has abandoned us. That kind of thinking  is dead wrong.  We learned from Jacob’s wrestling with God(Gen 32) and Manoah’s visit from God that we don’t recognize God. We don’t have spiritual receptors. Like Moses we want to see the glory (Ex 33:18). God tells him, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live” (v.20). God promises to go with Moses and show him goodness, graciousness, and compassion. The Divine Service proclaims those same promises of forgiveness and Jesus’ presence with His church.  We call that revelation proclaiming “the name of the Lord” (v.19). With that promise revealed to us in the Word, we can face anything, even death.  God is mightily working through suffering and the cross.  Sometime after the fact, we get to see God’s back–where He has been working.

The prophet Moses is unlike any other prophet.  Moses does get to talk with God like a man speaks to his friend face-to-face, mouth-to-mouth. He doesn’t see the essence of God(Jn 4:24), but a similtude or form(Num 12:8).

Handout: Jacob Wonderful Name
Handout: The Name of the Lord Jun 24 2018

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