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Stephen’s Defense – Acts 7

Stephen’s Defense – Acts 7

I. High Priest: “Are these things so?” “These things” were the accusations of blasphemy against Moses (no such biblical prohibition against blasphemy toward a deceased person), blasphemy against God, blasphemy against “this holy place,” & blasphemy against the law. Specifically, the men contending with Stephen said he said that Jesus would destroy this place & change the customs delivered by Moses. While reading Stephen’s brilliant defense in chap. 7, listen for any blasphemy of the type of which he’s accused. His 53-verse speech is a historical survey of the Jewish people. Along with evidence of blasphemy, listen for references to the temple & to what he focuses on in Israel’s history.

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The Trinity as Witnesses – Judgment

The Trinity as Witnesses – Judgment

The Trinity as Witnesses– Download the Doc

The Trinity, an eternally existing community of equally-divine persons living in perfect harmony & love, defines the ideal community.  The Trinity explains the basis for God’s creation of plural persons & how He expects them to live in community.  Otherwise, how would a single, lone Creator even have a concept of community among equals. Even if He had created angels of equal dignity, how does this Creator, who had never had to deal with anyone as an equal, teach them to live as equals?

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Jacob has been Slandered by Preachers & Teachers 2

Jacob – A Bad Rap 2

Download a pdf of this discussion:  Jacob

Jacob abandoned, dreaming the way to heaven

Third, in only one event in his life did Jacob ever deceive anyone – his father, when his mother ordered him to pretend to be his brother, Esau, in order to receive his father’s blessing. But let’s look at that situation in its entirety. All of Jacob’s life, his father Isaac had disobeyed God and ignored his wife. His wife, Rebecca, had heard from God Himself that Jacob was to receive the birthright. Yet, Isaac ignored the word of God, preferring his own interests in Esau the hunter and in the human law that required that the inheritance and birthright go to the firstborn. For over 40 years, instead of listening to God’s word and analyzing the character of his sons based on what they placed as priorities, Isaac followed legalism and his own desire. Rebecca knew this, and even Isaac admitted this when he proclaimed about Jacob after the deception: “And he will be blessed.” How could Jacob be truly blessed by taking something by fraud? Could not Isaac have said the opposite? Something like: “Jacob, you stole the blessing by deception; therefore, it is invalid. It shall go to Esau.”

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