Truths That Transform

D. James Kennedy;Rob Pacienza - Who Is This Jesus?

December 23, 2024 | S24:E52

Truths That Transform presented by Coral Ridge Ministries featuring Dr. Robert J. Pacienza, with sermon commentary from Dr. D. James Kennedy and Dr. Pacienza. Each program provides a compelling analysis of current moral and cultural controversies all from a biblical perspective.

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Truths That Transform | D. James Kennedy;Rob Pacienza - Who Is This Jesus? | December 23, 2024

Hello, and merry christmas.
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I'm pastor rob pacienza,
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And i wanted to take just a moment to talk with you
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Before we begin this week's program.
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We have so much to be thankful for at this christmastime,
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As well as challenges to look forward to in 2025.
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We enjoy this time of merriment, with family and friends and
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Church as we give thanks for the arrival of christ in bethlehem
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A little over 2000 years ago.
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But also, when 2025 arrives a little over a week from now,
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This ministry needs to be poised and ready to
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Stand for the faith and proclaim truth to the nation.
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So can i ask you to help us with that?
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As you do your last-minute christmas shopping,
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A tax-deductible gift to the ongoing work
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Of this ministry would be a tremendous blessing.
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Some generous friends of coral ridge ministries
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Have established
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Your donation will help us advance biblical truth
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On the sanctity of life, marriage, gender,
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God's role in government,
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Religious liberty, the value of israel,
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And a host of other pressing issues.
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And it will come at a time when we have an opportunity to make
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An outsized impact with a new congress and
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Presidential administration about to be sworn in.
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So please, consider giving a generous christmas gift,
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And may god bless you and yours with a very, merry christmas.
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Welcome to truths that transform,
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A production of coral ridge ministries
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“contending for the faith,
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Proclaiming hope to the nation.”
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After a busy month of shopping and preparing
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And parties and events, christmas day is almost here.
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It's almost a cliché to tell people to slow down and
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Remember the reason for the season
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The arrival of jesus christ into our world.
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But the fact is, most people in our culture today know very
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Little about him, and what he actually came here to do.
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It was not primarily to be an example to us
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Or to teach us how to do good deeds.
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On today's program, you'll find out
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About his true purpose in coming to earth.
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And that arrival was not some sudden accident.
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In fact, as you're about to see, it was planned and
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Orchestrated by god-which he foretold in promises
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That he made to us centuries ahead of time.
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In the old testament, god promised to send his people
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A messiah, a deliverer, a king.
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The new testament asserts that
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Jesus was indeed the promised one.
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We can see this, for example, in its very opening book,
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The gospel according to matthew.
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Matthew wrote the first of the four gospels.
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He provides a gospel which is addressed primarily to the
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Jewish world to show that the hebrew prophecies in
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The old testament were actually fulfilled in jesus of nazareth.
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The hebrew terms for messiah is mashciach and greek term
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For the same word is christos.
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And so when you say- jesus christ
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You're using really the church's oldest confession
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That jesus is the christ.
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In fact, there are over 300 of these kinds of promises
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Known as messianic prophecies some written
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Over a thousand years before christ. for example,
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But what about the notion, voiced by some critics,
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That jesus merely masqueraded as the fulfillment of prophecy?
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So there are those who claim that jesus manipulated his, uh,
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Life and circumstances of his life in order
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To appear to be a messianic figure.
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The problem about that is that, uh,
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His life is the fulfillment
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Of 700 years of prophecy before he came,
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There was a foretelling and
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A prediction from god about what this promised one would be
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And jesus by his life, by his work, by his death
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And by his resurrection fulfilled old testament,
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Promise, prophecy and prediction.
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One of the earliest of the old testament prophecies comes from
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Genesis 3:15, where it says
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The idea of the, uh, of the man crushing the head of the serpent
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Is called the protoevangelium the first hint of the gospel,
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Because it has this conflict that exists
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In the creation because of sin where
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The serpent and the man fight with one another.
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The serpent's gonna try and bite the heel of the man
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Bite the leg of the man.
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And the man's gonna try and stomp
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On the head of the serpent.
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That's the picture of genesis 3:15.
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And the pictures eventually that christ is the one who stomps on
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The head of the serpent who represents satan and
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The spiritual forces that work against us in the world
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That tend to keep us separated from god.
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Every book of the bible
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Basically kept pointing to jesus.
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He's coming, he's coming, he's coming.
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And that is why when the magis came and they were asking
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Herod immediately run to the scholars and they said, well,
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Where was the messiah supposed to be born?
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So they were expecting him
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Mary rejoiced, because every little girl in israel was
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Thinking to be privileged of being the mother of the messiah.
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And simeon in the temple, he takes the baby jesus said,
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Now let your servant depart in peace.
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My eyes now have seen your salvation.
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That's who we've been waiting for.
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Some people reject jesus as the christ
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Because the messiah is to usher in world peace
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And to establish justice throughout the world.
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Things that are yet to happen.
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Christian scholars answer this charge by contrasting
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Christ's first coming -with his second one.
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One of the amazing things about the first advent
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Is that it was small.
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It was not triumphant.
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Jesus showed up in the little tiny city of bethlehem
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Instead of in rome.
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There were shepherds there instead of
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Great roman gladiators and roman politicians.
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All of that was small.
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There was a lowliness to his approach
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And a lowliness of his audience.
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And yet we know that the second coming
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Will be entirely different from that.
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As to the first strand of messianic prophecies,
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2 passages in the old testament point very particularly
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To jesus' suffering for our sins.
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One of those is in the psalms.
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Well, there are so many references to christ in the
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Old testament it would take me forever to recite them all.
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But i and my colleague know this and every time i take a group
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To israel and we go into caiaphas' house
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And there in caiaphas' basement,
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It really is when there's a nice stairs to lead to it now.
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But back then, there was only a hole in the wall
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Where they dropped jesus the last night before
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The crucifixion and repeatedly he recite at psalm 22,
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My god, my god, why have forsaken me on and on and on.
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Written 1000 years before christ, psalm 22 says...
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There are a lot of details in psalm 22
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That seem to be foreshadowing jesus's crucifixion.
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Now the casting lots for jesus clothing is something
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That's reported by all four gospels.
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And that's pretty profound that that would happen so
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We can understand why the early christians
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Would be reading psalm 22 and see it as
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Prophesying jesus's brutal crucifixion and
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The treatment he received while on the cross.
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It says they pierced my hands and my feet,
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That's a reference to crucifixion.
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What in world is it doing there?
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The jews never crucified anyone.
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The jews stoned people.
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But here centuries earlier, before jesus came,
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God knowing the future, wrote in that psalm,
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They pierced my hands and my feet,
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Knowing that someday
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It would be the romans who had crucified the messiah.
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So you look at that and you say to yourself, you know,
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God can see around corners and we can't and god is able
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To look into the future and can predict whatever he wants
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Because ultimately he controls the future.
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And perhaps most famously of all,
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Isaiah 53 points us to the suffering messiah who would
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Ultimately pay for the sins of his people on the cross.
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In 750 bc, the prophet isaiah wrote...
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Isaiah 53 is a very strong statement about the death
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And crucifixion really of the messiah.
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It is so explicit that many have said
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This has christian interpolations back into it,
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Because we didn't have a really good copy of isaiah,
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A really old copy of isaiah
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Until the finding of the dead sea scrolls.
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With the finding of the dead sea scrolls,
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We found a copy of isaiah that was pre-jesus
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And it had virtually the exact same isaiah 53
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As we have today in our hebrew bibles.
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So it's clear that isaiah 53 was written about
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A messiah who was coming from god,
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Who was going to be crucified and reviled and rejected of men,
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And that when one reads that, in light of the new testament,
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It is virtually impossible not to think
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Of jesus as the one whom,
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About whom that passage is written.
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The bible is written over a 1500 year period,
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And the old testament makes promises, prophecies and
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Predictions that are fulfilled
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In the person of the lord, jesus christ.
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And you really can put your bible together,
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Old testament and new testament
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In summarizing around jesus that we have in
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The old testament promises made and promises fulfilled.
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And those promises are fulfilled in the lord, jesus christ.
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The detailed prophecies of the coming messiah
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Which were fulfilled in stunning detail by jesus christ
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Are among the many proofs
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That jesus of nazareth is indeed the promised messiah.
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But people today hold many false ideas about
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Who jesus is and why he came.
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At this time of year, you'll often hear the idea
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That he came to us as an example of how to love each other
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And be kind. but the truth is,
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The mission of jesus coming into this world
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Was far larger and more shocking than that.
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My pastor and mentor, dr. d. james kennedy explains,
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In his message, “who is this jesus?”
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Who is this jesus?”
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Is the question i would like to address with you this day.
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This one whose birth we celebrate this week,
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Celebrated by so many frivolous, thoughtless people,
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Many of whom haven't a clue about what they are celebrating.
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What is it really about?
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Who is this jesus that has come into the world.
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Is he just a great teacher, a prophet,
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A good man as many have said?
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Well let's get one thing very clear.
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Jesus christ was not a “good man,”
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He said so himself.
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Do you remember someone rushed up to him and said to him,
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“good master,” he said,
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“hold it right there.” that's a revised translation.
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He said, “why callest thou me good?
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There is none good but one, god”
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Therefore, why callest thou me good?
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You see, he hung this man up on the horns of a dilemma.
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Jesus was not a good man; he was either the good god or he was,
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If a man, a sinner like all of the rest.
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“for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of god”.
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“there is none righteous, no, not one”.
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Jesus was not a good man.
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He was the good god, the beloved son of the father.
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Now, jesus is not “a son of god.”
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I am a son of god.
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Jesus is the son of god.
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“for god so loved the world,
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He gave his only begotten son”
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There is none else like him who is by nature
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The everlasting son of the father,
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The second person of the triune godhead
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Father, son and holy spirit.
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He is god, the son.
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What did jesus have to say about himself?
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He said, he is omnipotent because he is god.
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Again he said, all judgment is given into the hands of the son;
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That he may be equal with the father.
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He is the judge of all of the earth.
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“i am the resurrection, and the life”.
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He is the one who will call forth
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All men out of the grave in that great day,
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The great assize, when men shall stand before him.
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“philip saith unto him, lord, show us the father,
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Jesus saith unto him,
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Have i been so long time with thee philip,
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And yet hast thou not known me?
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He that hath seen me hath seen the father.”
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That is what jesus said of himself.
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Did he claim to be the messiah?
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Some unlearned people have even said he never made the claim.
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But do you not remember the woman at the well
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In samaria who said, finally,
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“we know that messiah cometh,
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And when he cometh he will explain all things to us.
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And jesus saith to her, i that speak unto thee am he”.
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How much clearer could anything possibly be?
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As one writer has said if you cannot see throughout
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The teachings of jesus and throughout the new testament
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The fact of his divinity,
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Then you are blinder than the man who looks up
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Into the sky at high noon on a cloudless day
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And cannot find the sun.
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Throughout the scriptures, he is thus described,
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He said, “before abraham was, i am”
00:17:52.641 --> 00:18:02.284
Abraham was in his grave 2,000 years,
00:18:02.284 --> 00:18:06.388
But jesus said, “before abraham was, i am.
00:18:06.388 --> 00:18:12.528
The great name for god, yahweh, jehovah,
00:18:12.528 --> 00:18:17.432
The tetragrammaton. the 4-letter word for
00:18:17.432 --> 00:18:21.837
“i am that i am,”
00:18:21.837 --> 00:18:24.106
Said jehovah from the mountain of sinai.
00:18:24.106 --> 00:18:29.244
And so concurs the testimony of the scriptures,
00:18:29.244 --> 00:18:33.615
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.”
00:18:33.615 --> 00:18:37.119
Note that a child was born, the human christ.
00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:42.257
But a son is given.
00:18:42.257 --> 00:18:44.126
The everlasting son of god was given by the father
00:18:44.126 --> 00:18:47.629
And the two met
00:18:47.629 --> 00:18:49.298
The human nature and the divine met in the one god-man,
00:18:49.298 --> 00:18:53.335
The theanthropos, the eternal one,
00:18:53.335 --> 00:18:56.939
The infinite finite one, the savior.
00:18:56.939 --> 00:19:01.176
And his name shall be called wonderful, counselor,
00:19:01.176 --> 00:19:04.880
The mighty god.
00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:08.183
That's who this child whose birth
00:19:08.183 --> 00:19:11.019
We celebrate this week was.
00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:13.622
That is who christ is.
00:19:13.622 --> 00:19:16.625
He is the everlasting son of god.
00:19:16.625 --> 00:19:20.429
The theologian w.e. biederwolf said,
00:19:20.429 --> 00:19:23.899
“a man who can read the new testament
00:19:23.899 --> 00:19:25.734
And not see that christ claims to be more than a man
00:19:25.734 --> 00:19:29.438
Can look all over the sky at high noon on a cloudless day
00:19:29.438 --> 00:19:34.309
And not see the sun.”
00:19:34.309 --> 00:19:37.546
No, it is very clear that jesus christ is the eternal god.
00:19:37.546 --> 00:19:44.553
Now he is not only the savior of the world,
00:19:44.553 --> 00:19:48.056
But my personal savior, as well.
00:19:48.056 --> 00:19:52.594
Can you say that?
00:19:52.594 --> 00:19:53.795
If not, you are still among those
00:19:53.795 --> 00:19:56.765
That sit in the shadow of death and darkness;
00:19:56.765 --> 00:19:59.434
You are still among those that have no hope.
00:19:59.434 --> 00:20:01.837
You are still among those that are getting ready to
00:20:01.837 --> 00:20:04.339
Soon plunge out into eternity with
00:20:04.339 --> 00:20:07.142
No hope, no savior, no forgiveness, no heaven
00:20:07.142 --> 00:20:11.747
Nothing but the just punishment of god for your sins.
00:20:11.747 --> 00:20:16.451
Ah, dear one, don't miss out
00:20:16.451 --> 00:20:20.222
On the greatest gift the world has ever seen,
00:20:20.222 --> 00:20:24.960
Brought to us by the greatest person who ever lived,
00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:28.830
Jesus christ, the beloved son of god,
00:20:28.830 --> 00:20:32.634
The savior of all that will trust in him.
00:20:32.634 --> 00:20:37.839
Hi, i'm jennifer kennedy cassidy.
00:20:38.607 --> 00:20:40.909
My father, dr. d. james kennedy,
00:20:40.909 --> 00:20:43.145
Never grew weary of proclaiming the jesus christ of christmas.
00:20:43.145 --> 00:20:47.215
He wanted everyone to come to a saving knowledge of jesus,
00:20:47.215 --> 00:20:50.852
And also to know how jesus profoundly affected
00:20:50.852 --> 00:20:53.855
The civilization around us.
00:20:53.855 --> 00:20:55.757
His successor and protege,
00:20:55.757 --> 00:20:57.592
Dr. rob pacienza shares that passion,
00:20:57.592 --> 00:21:01.196
And is leading coral ridge ministries into 2025 and beyond.
00:21:01.196 --> 00:21:05.367
Like my dad, pastor rob sees the importance
00:21:05.367 --> 00:21:08.737
Of god's rule over peoples and nations,
00:21:08.737 --> 00:21:11.740
And he's written a new book
00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:13.342
That you'll not only want to read for yourself,
00:21:13.342 --> 00:21:15.377
But share with your children and grandchildren.
00:21:15.377 --> 00:21:17.679
It's entitled, true, good, and beautiful:
00:21:17.679 --> 00:21:20.816
God's design for a flourishing world ,
00:21:20.816 --> 00:21:23.251
And we'd like to send it to you
00:21:23.251 --> 00:21:24.786
As our thanks for your generous donation.
00:21:24.786 --> 00:21:27.255
In this book, dr. pacienza lays out the biblical basis
00:21:27.255 --> 00:21:31.159
For god's design in creation, marriage,
00:21:31.159 --> 00:21:34.096
Gender, government, work, and more.
00:21:34.096 --> 00:21:37.099
So many of our cultural and personal ills come from
00:21:37.099 --> 00:21:40.602
Ignoring our creator's design in these key areas.
00:21:40.602 --> 00:21:44.072
If all those who claim the name of christ in america
00:21:44.072 --> 00:21:47.976
Had a clear understanding of god's design, many of
00:21:47.976 --> 00:21:51.713
Our biggest cultural problems would significantly improve.
00:21:51.713 --> 00:21:55.417
Find that clarity in this newly-published book,
00:21:55.417 --> 00:21:58.253
True, good, and beautiful:
00:21:58.253 --> 00:22:00.188
And if you're able to give a donation of $100 or more,
00:22:00.188 --> 00:22:03.525
We'll send you not only the book,
00:22:03.525 --> 00:22:05.360
But also the eight full-length video messages
00:22:05.360 --> 00:22:08.130
That pastor rob delivered at
00:22:08.130 --> 00:22:10.165
Coral ridge presbyterian church on god's design,
00:22:10.165 --> 00:22:13.235
A complete study guide, and additional video content
00:22:13.235 --> 00:22:16.671
So that you can use it for a sunday school class,
00:22:16.671 --> 00:22:19.040
A small group, or your own personal study.
00:22:19.040 --> 00:22:21.977
And this is the perfect time to give,
00:22:21.977 --> 00:22:24.279
Because some generous friends of this ministry have established
00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:31.386
That means any gift you give before midnight on december 31st
00:22:32.654 --> 00:22:37.058
Will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to
00:22:37.058 --> 00:22:39.828
$250,000 which essentially doubles
00:22:39.828 --> 00:22:43.265
The impact that your gift will have.
00:22:43.265 --> 00:22:45.634
We need you to help us finish the year on solid fiscal ground,
00:22:45.634 --> 00:22:49.371
And head into 2025 ready to face
00:22:49.371 --> 00:22:52.307
The many challenges that await our nation.
00:22:52.307 --> 00:22:54.676
Your gift enables us to contend for the faith,
00:22:54.676 --> 00:22:57.579
And proclaim hope to the nation.
00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:59.815
So please, give your best christmas gift offering now.
00:22:59.815 --> 00:23:03.351
We'll send you dr. rob pacienza's new book,
00:23:03.351 --> 00:23:06.154
True, good, and beautiful:
00:23:06.154 --> 00:23:07.956
God's design for a flourishing world,
00:23:07.956 --> 00:23:10.525
As thanks for your generous donation.
00:23:10.525 --> 00:23:12.794
And the book plus the companion 8-message video series,
00:23:12.794 --> 00:23:16.798
Brand-new study guide,
00:23:16.798 --> 00:23:18.233
And additional video curriculum resources,
00:23:18.233 --> 00:23:21.036
As thanks for your generous donation of $100 or more.
00:23:21.036 --> 00:23:24.739
Simply write to us at coral ridge ministries:
00:23:24.739 --> 00:23:32.080
Or call toll free:
00:23:32.614 --> 00:23:37.652
Or go online to:
00:23:38.119 --> 00:23:43.425
As you heard a few minutes ago from dr. kennedy,
00:23:44.526 --> 00:23:47.262
Jesus is not only the savior of the world,
00:23:47.262 --> 00:23:49.798
But he's my personal savior as well.
00:23:49.798 --> 00:23:52.234
What about you - are you trusting in jesus to save you?
00:23:52.234 --> 00:23:55.837
If not, you are still among those who still
00:23:55.837 --> 00:23:58.807
Sit in the shadow of death and darkness, who have no hope.
00:23:58.807 --> 00:24:02.978
That sounds like a dark message to deliver at christmastime.
00:24:02.978 --> 00:24:06.081
But it really isn't, because jesus did come into the world.
00:24:06.081 --> 00:24:09.718
He did die on the cross.
00:24:09.718 --> 00:24:11.453
He did rise from the dead.
00:24:11.453 --> 00:24:13.355
And because of that,
00:24:13.355 --> 00:24:14.623
You can have salvation and everlasting life.
00:24:14.623 --> 00:24:17.459
That's what christmas is about
00:24:17.459 --> 00:24:19.494
And that's what the good news is.
00:24:19.494 --> 00:24:21.129
Jesus offers you this salvation as a free gift.
00:24:21.129 --> 00:24:23.965
You cannot buy it, and you cannot earn it
00:24:23.965 --> 00:24:26.334
You can only receive it.
00:24:26.334 --> 00:24:27.769
Perhaps during this time of year,
00:24:27.769 --> 00:24:29.604
You look around wondering what all the fuss is about.
00:24:29.604 --> 00:24:32.407
Maybe you feel like you're going through the motions
00:24:32.407 --> 00:24:34.776
Because going to parties and putting up decorations
00:24:34.776 --> 00:24:37.479
Is just what people do at this time of year.
00:24:37.479 --> 00:24:39.714
But you can actually experience for yourself
00:24:39.714 --> 00:24:42.517
What christmas is all about.
00:24:42.517 --> 00:24:44.486
You can make this your best christmas ever-in fact,
00:24:44.486 --> 00:24:47.956
Your first real christmas -by accepting jesus into your life.
00:24:47.956 --> 00:24:51.826
You can do that right now,
00:24:51.826 --> 00:24:54.029
By praying with me sincerely from your heart.
00:24:54.029 --> 00:24:56.665
“father, i know that i am a sinner.
00:24:56.665 --> 00:24:59.134
I have disobeyed you and ignored you and scoffed at your law,
00:24:59.134 --> 00:25:03.605
And i deserve your condemnation for that.
00:25:03.605 --> 00:25:06.241
But i now realize that jesus is truly your son,
00:25:06.241 --> 00:25:09.711
And really was born on this earth.
00:25:09.711 --> 00:25:12.047
I believe that he lived the righteous life
00:25:12.047 --> 00:25:14.149
That i've failed to live,
00:25:14.149 --> 00:25:15.817
And that he died on the cross in my place
00:25:15.817 --> 00:25:18.186
To pay the penalty of my sins.
00:25:18.186 --> 00:25:20.822
I believe that he rose from the dead,
00:25:20.822 --> 00:25:22.791
Defeating death so that i too could have
00:25:22.791 --> 00:25:25.827
Everlasting life in your presence.
00:25:25.827 --> 00:25:27.662
And i believe that all of this happened because you love me.
00:25:27.662 --> 00:25:31.399
Lord, i want to receive that free and permanent
00:25:31.399 --> 00:25:34.502
Gift of salvation from you right now.
00:25:34.502 --> 00:25:37.973
Lord, help me put aside my sins and live a life of obedience
00:25:37.973 --> 00:25:42.444
In love and gratitude for this gift.
00:25:42.444 --> 00:25:45.146
I thank you, father, in jesus' name. amen.”
00:25:45.146 --> 00:25:49.250
If you sincerely prayed that prayer with me just now,
00:25:49.250 --> 00:25:52.354
Then you just experienced the true miracle of christmas.
00:25:52.354 --> 00:25:56.358
We want to encourage you and send you a free gift
00:25:56.358 --> 00:25:59.094
To help you grow in your new faith.
00:25:59.094 --> 00:26:00.795
It's beginning again , dr. kennedy's book
00:26:00.795 --> 00:26:03.298
For new believers to help you
00:26:03.298 --> 00:26:05.033
Get started in your relationship with christ.
00:26:05.033 --> 00:26:07.702
Contact us to receive your copy today.
00:26:07.702 --> 00:26:10.405
And may god richly bless you.
00:26:10.405 --> 00:26:13.274
Coral ridge ministries is
00:26:13.274 --> 00:26:16.811
If you're ever in south florida, we welcome you to join us
00:26:18.013 --> 00:26:20.982
For sunday morning worship right here
00:26:20.982 --> 00:26:23.118
At coral ridge presbyterian church,
00:26:23.118 --> 00:26:25.120
Or you can always join on livestream at:
00:26:25.120 --> 00:26:29.024
And we also want to invite you
00:26:29.758 --> 00:26:31.459
To connect with us on social media at:
00:26:31.459 --> 00:26:35.397
And check out our vast library of video resources at:
00:26:36.564 --> 00:26:42.170
And finally, all of us at
00:26:42.804 --> 00:26:45.040
Coral ridge ministries want to wish you and your loved ones
00:26:45.040 --> 00:26:48.643
A very merry and blessed christmas.
00:26:48.643 --> 00:26:51.346
Thanks for joining us,
00:26:51.346 --> 00:26:52.614
And here's a look at the next truths that transform.
00:26:52.614 --> 00:26:55.016
And i harkened back to the synagogue growing up
00:26:56.084 --> 00:26:58.553
And i remember that our rabbi in the torah readings
00:26:58.553 --> 00:27:01.556
Always skipped isaiah 53
00:27:01.556 --> 00:27:04.392
That's next week
00:27:04.859 --> 00:27:08.396
This has been a production of coral ridge ministries
00:27:09.564 --> 00:27:09.564

D. James Kennedy;Rob Pacienza - Who Is This Jesus?

December 23, 2024 | S24:E52

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