Session 9: WCF Chapter II Of God, and of the Holy Trinity, Section 2

“The ‘medical examination’ to which abductees are said to be subjected, often accompanied by sadistic sexual manipulation, is reminiscent of the medieval tales of encounters with demons. It makes no sense in a sophisticated or technical framework: any intelligent being equipped with the scientific marvels that UFOs possess would be in a position to achieve any of these alleged scientific objectives in a shorter time and with fewer risks.” - Dr. Jacques Vallee, Confrontations, p. 13

“Whenever a planet has problems like Earth is experiencing now, a special person is born on the planet to help. Even my home planet Surak had problems way back in its past, and the Son of God was the person who was called on to help. He has also been born on other planets. It is always the same soul that is born; however, it is not quite the same because there were different mothers. - Alien Contact: The Messages They Bring, Bonnie Meyer, pg. 186

Did Jesus Save E.T.? There is only one true God. Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4, 6; Galatians 3:20 Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father, so no other Christs or paths exist. John 14:6 Jesus Christ died only once for all, so he can’t have died again elsewhere. 1 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 9:27-28; Hebrews 10:10 Jesus Christ died only for mankind (not even the fallen angels). Hebrews 2:16 Jesus Christ became our kinsman redeemer, which is the only legal means of redeeming another. Leviticus 25:47-55

CHAPTER II - Of God, and of the Holy Trinity 2. God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of Himself; and is alone in and unto Himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which He hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting His own glory in, by, unto, and upon them. He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever Himself pleaseth. In His sight all things are open and manifest, His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to Him contingent, or uncertain. He is most holy in all His counsels, in all His works, and in all His commands. To Him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience He is pleased to require of them.

Ch. II, § 2, Prooftext (1) God Has All Life Jeremiah 10:10 John 5:26 God Has All Glory Acts 7:2 God Has All Goodness Psalm 119:68 God Has All Blessedness 1 Timothy 6:15 Romans 9:5 God Is in and of Himself and Is Alone in and unto Himself All-Sufficient, Not Standing in Need of Any Creatures Which He Has Made Acts 17:24-25

Ch. II, § 2, Prooftext (2) God is the Alone Fountain of All Being, of Whom, through Whom and to Whom Are All Things Romans 11:36 God Has Most Sovereign Dominion Over Them, to Do by Them, for Them, or Upon Them Whatsoever Himself Pleases Revelation 4:11 Daniel 4:25, 35 1 Timothy 6:15 In God’s Sight All Things Are Open and Manifest Hebrews 4:13 God’s Knowledge Is Infinite, Infallible, and Independent Upon the Creature Romans 11:33–34 Psalm 147:5

Ch. II, § 2, Prooftext (3) Nothing Is Contingent or Uncertain to God Acts 15:18 Ezekiel 11:5 God Is Most Holy in All His Counsels, in All His Works, and in All His Commands Psalm 145:17 Romans 7:12 To God Is Due from Angels and Men, and Every Other Creature, Whatsoever Worship, Service, or Obedience He Is Pleased to Require of Them Revelation 5:12-14

Is the List of Ch. II, § 2, Complete? What words would you add?

Isaiah 47:4 Psalm 19:14 Romans 8:22-23 Luke 21:28

Controversy of the Week!

Does God Need Us for Anything? Some of God’s attributes appear to require an object. Can God be the Creator without having created anyone or anything? Can God be the Redeemer without having redeemed anyone or anything?

Personal Personal Focus Focus

A Christmas Gift for You...

What Are the Odds of Correctly Fulfilling the Old Testament Messianic Prophecies? There are several hundred Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming Messiah (456 per one source). About 600 Students in a dozen Christian Evidence classes at the Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship of Pasadena City College conservatively estimated the odds of fulfilling only eight of the prophecies. The results were reported in Science Speaks, Peter Stoner. http://sciencespeaks.dstoner.net/Christ_of_Prophecy.html

1. Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem: But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. (Micah 5:2) Fulfilled in Matt. 2:1-7; John 7:42; and Luke 2:47. 7,150 ÷ 2,000,000,000 = 1 in 2.8x105

2. Messiah was to be preceded by a messenger: A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” (Isaiah 40:3) Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. (Malachi 3:1a) Fulfilled in Matthew 3:1-3; 11:10; John 1:23; and Luke 1:17. 1 in 103

3. Messiah was to enter Jerusalem on a donkey Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9b) Fulfilled in Luke 35-37; and Matthew 21:6-11. 1 in 102

4. Messiah was to be betrayed by a friend: Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. (Psalm 41:9) ...it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me - then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. (55:12b-13) Fulfilled in Matthew 10:4; 26:49-50; and John 13:21. 1 in 103

5. Messiah was to be sold for 30 pieces of silver: Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver. (Zechariah 11:12) Fulfilled in Matthew 26:15; and Matthew 27:3. 1 in 103

6. The money for which Messiah was sold was to be thrown to the potter in God’s house: Then the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord, to the potter. (Zechariah 11:13) Fulfilled in Matthew 27:5-7. 1 in 105

7. Messiah was to be silent before His accusers: He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7) Fulfilled in Matthew 27:12. 1 in 103

8. Messiah was to be executed by crucifixion: ...they have pierced my hands and feet. (Psalm 22:16b) ... so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced... (Zechariah 12:10) But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities... (Isaiah 53:5a) Fulfilled in Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27,28; Luke 23:33; and John 20:25. 1 in 104

(2.8x105) x(103) x(102) x(105) x(104) = 2.8x1028 One man in roughly 1028 men is expected to fulfill all eight prophecies.

Roughly 9 billion (about 1010) people have ever lived. Therefore, the odds that any one person has fulfilled all eight prophecies is about 1028 ÷ 1010 = 1018 -- 1 in 1018 1,000,000,000,000,000,000

How do you relate to God knowing that He does not need you?