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Copyright 1994 by the Christian Research Institute.
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"Words from the Founder" (a column from the Christian Research
Newsletter, Volume 2: Number 6, 1989, page 5) by Dr. Walter
Martin.
The editor of the Christian Research Newsletter is Ron
Rhodes.
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_The Newsletter staff is pleased to introduce this new
column, based on excerpts from the writings and taped messages of
the late Dr. Walter R. Martin -- founder of Christian Research
Institute.
The following excerpts are from Dr. Martin's tape, "Best of
Martin: Questions and Answers at Bible Class" (Part 1)._
*_Please clarify the apostle Paul's statement, "I have become
all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save
some" (1 Cor. 9:22)._*
Paul is saying, "I will do nothing to offend any person's
sensitivity, and I'll do whatever I can to make others sensitive
to the gospel. I become all things to all people. When I'm with
the Jews, I'll talk as a Jew. When I'm with the Gentiles, I'll
talk as a Gentile. Depending on my audience, I become as a Jew or
I become as a Gentile."
Now, Paul is _not_ saying he would deny Christ when he talked
to the Jews; nor is he saying he would ignore Judaism when
talking to the Gentiles. He's saying, "when I'm talking to
different people, I talk in _their_ context, on the common ground
of _their_ lives. I'll do that every time," says Paul, "that by
all means I might win some to Christ." But Paul _never_
compromised his commitment to the gospel, no matter _who_ he was
talking to.
*_After Jesus had taken the sins of the world on Himself at
the cross, what happened to those sins so that Jesus could once
again be in the Father's presence?_*
You need to understand that Jesus Christ _paid the penalty_
for _our_ sins on the cross. Jesus Himself did not become a
sinner. That's a very important distinction. Let me repeat: _He
didn't become a sinner._ Jesus did not have to go and present
Himself to God the Father with sin on His soul. He was utterly
holy and righteous. He bore _our_ sins by dying _in our place,_
as a _substitute._ And our sins were completely paid for by
the blood Christ shed on the cross.
*_Jehovah's Witnesses sometimes ask: If Jesus is God, then
why did He address the Father as "My God" in John 20:17?_*
Jesus is man as well as God. As a man, He was a Rabbi. As a
man, He was circumcised as a Jew and was identified with the
Hebrew race and the covenants of Israel. He was a _true_ man. And
then -- paradoxically at the same time -- He was the eternal God
living in human flesh....
When Thomas worshipped Jesus, he said "My Lord and my God"
(John 20:28). Jehovah's Witnesses run from this passage; they
literally run from it! I've had them read the passage aloud in
dialogues hundreds of times, sometimes publicly. I would say,
"Now read the passage aloud." And they would read, "Thomas said
unto Jesus, 'My Lord and my God.'" Then I'd say, "according to
your own translation (_The New World Translation_), the Greek
word for 'God' in this verse is 'Jehovah'...._Thomas worshipped
Jesus as Jehovah._ Look at it."
Next I'd say: "Now, if Thomas called Jesus _Jehovah,_ and
Jesus doesn't deny it, He must be Jehovah, right?" "Wrong! I can
explain that passage," one Jehovah's Witness responded to me. He
then said, "When Thomas saw Jesus, he got so scared that he said,
'O my lord, O my God.'"
So I said to him, "Wait a second. Are you suggesting that
Thomas took the name of Jehovah God in vain? If he did, as a
Rabbi Jesus would have had to rebuke him. After all, Exodus 20:7
says 'Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.'
But Jesus didn't rebuke him; He _congratulated_ him. He said,
'Because you have seen me, _you have believed;_ blessed are those
who have not seen and yet have believed.'" This is an excellent
passage to use with Jehovah's Witnesses.
Another good verse to show Jehovah's Witnesses is Hebrews 1:8
where _the Father calls the Son "God"_: "Your throne, _O God,_
will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the
scepter of your kingdom." Who is the Father talking to? The Son!
And the Father addresses the Son as "God."
* _This tape (catalog number C-127, $5.95) may be ordered
from CRI._
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End of document, CRN0017A.TXT (original CRI file name),
"Words from the Founder"
release A, March 21, 1994
R. Poll, CRI
(A special note of thanks to Bob and Pat Hunter for their help in
the preparation of this ASCII file for BBS circulation.)
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