Is The Holy Spirit God?

 (Matthew 28:19)"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," (ESV)

This verse is strong evidence for the Trinity.  There is one God in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).  It is hard to see why you would baptize disciples in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit if all three are not God.  

(Matthew 12:31)"Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven." (ESV) 

Blasphemy is speaking wrongly or carelessly about God.  Blasphemy can only be committed against God.  Therefore the Holy Spirit is God. 

(Acts 5:3)"But Peter said, Ananias why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?" (ESV) 

In Acts 5:4 Peter then tells Ananias, You have not lied to man but to God." If you have lied to the Holy Spirit you have lied to God.  Therefore the Holy Spirit is God. 

Blessed Are The Meek? (Matthew 5:5) (Short Commentary Series)

(Matthew 5:5)"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." (ESV)  

The word blessed refers to a state of well being with God.  The meek are those who are not self promoting and who do not assert themselves above others or even above God.  Of course this is the exact opposite of what the world teaches us.  But the wisdom of the world is found to be foolishness.  

The meek trust in God who controls all things.  The ultimate example of meekness is Jesus himself (Matthew 11:29, Matthew 21:5, 2 Corinthians 10:1).  The background for this verse is Psalm 37:11.  

(Psalm 37:11)"But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace." (ESV) 

Matthew 5:5 (A Bible Translation Comparison)

 (ESV)"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."  

(LSB)"Blessed are the lowly, for they shall inherit the earth."  

(NIV)"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."  

(CSB)"Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth."  

(NASB95)"Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth."  

All these Bible translations are very similar on their rendering of Matthew 5:5.  The ESV has the most traditional translation.  

Each version maintains the word "blessed" at the beginning.  The ESV and NIV have "meek." The LSB has "lowly", the CSB has "humble", and the NASB95 has "gentle." The ESV, LSB, and NASB95 have the traditional word "shall." The NIV and CSB translate it as "will." 

ESV (English Standard Version)

LSB (Legacy Standard Bible)

NIV (New International Version)

CSB (Christian Standard Bible)

NASB95 (New American Standard Bible 1995)

How Do You Answer An Unbeliever Who Rejects The Bible?

 How do you answer an unbeliever who rejects the Bible?  The book of Proverbs provides us with a wise answer.  

(Proverbs 26:4-5)"Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.  Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes." (ESV) 

The unbeliever is called a fool because of his rejection of God, not because he is deficient as a person.  These verses provide a two step process in answering the unbeliever.  

In the first step we are told not to answer a fool according to his folly.  It is often said that Christians cannot use the Bible when doing apologetics (defending the faith).  This approach is actually answering a fool according to his folly.  

The unbeliever is not operating on neutral ground because there is no neutral ground.  He is assuming or presupposing a foundation of unbelief.  One must have a starting point of belief or unbelief.  The Christian must operate on the foundation of belief upholding the authority of God and his Word.  The Bible is the ultimate and final authority, it is not dependent on any other authority for it's validation.  Scripture is self attesting, there is no greater authority to which it can appeal.  

In the second step we are told to answer a fool according to his folly.  For the sake of argument we are to assume the worldview of the unbeliever and do an internal critique.  All worldviews based on unbelief will ultimately end in contradiction, nonsense, and absurdity.  

Only the Christian worldview provides the necessary preconditions for intelligibility.  It is what must be in place in order for anything else to even be.  Apart from the Biblical worldview nothing even makes sense. 

Love Is Love (Biblical Thinker Responds)

Love is love is a favorite phrase of the LGBTQ community meant to normalize and legitimize homosexuality.  They seek to persuade people that homosexual relationships are the same as heterosexual relationships.  The worldview behind love is love assumes human autonomy (self rule).  In other words love is whatever you decide it is.  But humans are not the ultimate and final authority.  God is the ultimate and final authority who defines love, as well as right and wrong.  

(Genesis 1:1)"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." (ESV) 

God is the Creator and everything else is creation.  Therefore God is the ultimate and final authority.  We must maintain the Creator/creature distinction.  If we do not our thought and our life will end up being wrong. 

God considers homosexuality to be an abomination (Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13), unnatural (Romans 1:26-27), and says those who practice homosexuality will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).  

God hates homosexuality, it is contrary to nature and a violation of his creative design. Those who practice homosexuality are on the road to hell, not heaven.  

(1 Corinthians 13:6)"it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth." (ESV) 

The Word of God says that love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Those living and promoting the homosexual lifestyle do the exact opposite.  They rejoice at wrongdoing and reject the truth.  

(Romans 12:9)"Let love be genuine.  Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good." (ESV) 

Homosexuality is rebellion against God, therefore it is evil.  We should abhor homosexuality while loving the people involved in it.  The homosexual lifestyle is not rooted in love, it is sin against God.  Love is never opposed to God, instead it honors and obeys him.  

(John 3:16)"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (ESV) 

Homosexuals need to repent of their sin and turn to Christ for salvation.  This is the message of true love.    

Mars Hill Examiner Now Biblical Worldview Review

My blog title has now changed from Mars Hill Examiner to Biblical Worldview Review.  

biblicalworldviewreview.blogspot.com 

Books You Should Read About The Origin, Reliability, And Authority Of The Bible

 Scripture Alone by James White

Scribes And Scripture by John Meade & Peter Gurry 

Canon Revisited by Michael Kruger

The Heresy Of Orthodoxy by Andreas Kostenberger & Michael Kruger 

The Origin Of The Bible edited by Philip Comfort