What Child Is This?

Overview of "Heart of the Matter"

LIVE! From the “Mecca of Mormonism,” Salt Lake City, Utah. This is Heart of the MatterTGNN’s original show where Shawn McCraney deconstructed religion and developed fulfilled theology., “Where Mormonism Meets Biblical Christianity Face to Face,” Show 50, What Child is this? End of the Year 2009. And I’m your host, Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion..

If you have family or friends who cannot get Heart through television, give them a call and tell them to go to WWW.HOTM.TV. And they can watch through streaming video from anywhere in the world!

Resources and Updates

“I was a Born-Again Mormon.” The hard copy is on back order, but remember, we recently made the manuscript available online through a downloadable PDF. Go to www.hotm.tv and you can have the book in your hands within minutes. This is the way we are providing the book free to folks who cannot afford a hard copy. Hope this helps.

Alathea Ministries is taking a one-week break. Our first official break in six years! Calvary Campus is meeting again on Sunday, January 3rd, Heart of the Matter will begin airing its 2010 programs on Tuesday, January 5th, and The Infallible Word will begin airing its new programs on Monday, January 11th. Start 2010 off right and show up or tune in to any or all of what the ministry offers.

We received an email from a woman who recently saw the light and walked from Mormonism altogether. She sent us an email wherein she shared two sad (but true) incidents that happened in her home ward. First, she told us that last year at the Ward Christmas party, the members all got together and sang, “Happy Birthday…” to Joseph Smith! (whose birth was December 23rd). This year, adding insult to injury, the Bishop announced that there would be no ward Christmas party because they had used all the ward budget on the Halloween extravaganza! Perfect. And with that, let’s pray. Hard.

Examining LDS Beliefs

LDS Apostolic Views

“What Child Is This?” GRAPHIC. LDS Apostle James E Faust said, as reported in the May 1984 conference report of the LDS periodical the Ensign: "The first vision (of Joseph Smith) confirms the fact that there are three separate Gods: God the Father – Elohim, to whom we address our prayers; Jesus Christ – Jehovah; and the Holy Ghost – the comforter, through whose spirit we may know the truth of all things."

Aside from the absolutely heretical and non-biblical statement (from this a man who calls himself an Apostle of Jesus Christ) that says the first vision “confirms the fact that there are three separate Gods,” James Faust said that God the Father’s name is “Elohim” and Jesus's name is “Jehovah.” Now understand, the LDS literally believe that God’s name – like my given name is Shawn – that God’s given name is Elohim and that Jesus' given name is Jehovah. Got that?

Every Latter-day Saint that enters one of their temples sees a film. In this film, God the Father is depicted in a body of flesh and bone and is called by the proper noun, “Elohim” and Jesus, also in a body of flesh and bone, is called Jehovah.

Identity of Jesus

We are going to end this year of 2009 with a look at these names, their meaning, to whom they are applied, and how they reveal the true nature of Jesus. There are three primary things enemies of Christianity have attacked since Jesus was born in the manger: His identity, His Word, and His Way. Who Jesus is, the literal Words He said, and what is meant by the Good News. Enemies question or alter His identity. Cynics challenge the reliability of His words. And false religions add or take away from His way of salvation. This has been the case from the beginning.

In John 12:44 Jesus Himself cried out and said, "He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. 45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me." This is very curious speech. In John 8:24, Jesus warned the religious rulers of His day: "if ye believe not that I am, ye shall die in your sins." Not just believing in a personage called Jesus, but believing that this Jesus was and is the I am.

In short, when we are in line with His true identity, we will believe that He is I Am, and only then can we be assured that we will not die in our sins. (BEAT) Do YOU believe that Jesus is the I AM?

In Exodus 3:14, Moses went to God and asked what He should tell the Children of Israel the name of God is. "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM."

Understanding the Nature of God

And he said (or added), Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” The Septuagint translates this, “I am he who exists” the inference being He is self-existent. The Arabic paraphrases these words, saying, “The Eternal, who passes not away.” The Targum of Jonathan, and the Jerusalem Targum paraphrase the words like this: "He who spake, and the world was; who spake, and all things existed." According to the best linguistic scholars, the original words literally signify: “I will be what I will be,” pointing out the eternity and self-existence of God. Even Plato, in his Parmenides, states that “nothing can express God’s nature,” therefore no name can be attributed to him.

Elohiym and Jehovah

Now, there ARE two Hebrew words we must first consider when it comes to understanding God: Elohiym and Jehovah. Elohim, in Hebrew, means God. It is a general title for God. If I said the following sentences in Hebrew: “Satan is the god of this world,” “God created the heaven and the earth,” and “Ozzy Osbourne is the god of rock,” “Elohim” would be used in all three places where the word God is used. Okay, now the personal name of our God – the eternal, the self-existing, the one and only God, the “I AM” – is a word we pronounce as “Jehovah.” Now this name (which is a bad pronunciation of the Hebrew letters YHWH – which is more correctly pronounced “Yahweh") and Yaweh is NOT a title, but is a proper noun – a name – His NAME!

The Tetragrammaton

Isaiah 42:8 I am the YHWH: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Now, the YHWH (what we call Jehovah) is known by a very large word called the tetragrammaton. Almost every time, when we read the Old Testament and see the word God (a capital G with a lower case od) it is the Hebrew word Elohiym. Then, when we see the word LORD – all capitals – it is the Hebrew word YHWH – for Yahway. Alright . . . Now, Elohiym and YHWY are used INTERCHANGEABLY in the Old Testament. This is very important to our discussion today.

If we look at Deuteronomy 4:35 it says: Deuteronomy 4:35 “Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God <'elohiym>; there is none else beside him.” Jehovah He is God and there is none else beside him.

Psalm 100:3 “Know ye that Jehovah he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

1st Kings 18:39 “And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Jehovah, He is the Elohim; the Jehovah, He is the God.” Now the “the here in “the Elohim” is the definite article – ultimate, no other – Jehovah He is THE GOD.

Psalm 97:9 “For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.” (elohiym)

I wanted to establish this in our minds. When Jesus says in John 12:44-45: He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. He is expressing who He is, His identity, and how He is one with the invisible God. Yes, Jesus took on flesh. Yes, as a man, he subjected Himself to the will of the Father, who is spirit, but His purpose was to show us the Father, to bring us the Father’s will in person, to reveal the invisible God to us in living, physical form.

Elohiym and Jehovah: Interchangeable Names

By looking at: Deuteronomy 4:35, Psalm 100:3, 1st Kings 18:39, Psalm 97:9, we are able to discover several absolute truths: First, the name elohiym and Jehovah are wholly interchangeable. Jehovah is THE ultimate and only God (or Elohim) and Elohim is the ultimate and only Jehovah. Second, elohiym is a title, and not a proper noun. Remember, it can even be a title for Ozzy.

Okay, with all that in place, Jesus cries out: He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. It is my hope to spend the next few minutes proving that this babe, born in a manger, was and is wholly, completely, and unquestionably all elohim, and Yahway, all GOD. That if we were to look upon Jesus it would be not one whit different than looking upon God.

The Nature of God and Jesus

"Statements" about God then back them up by scripture prove these very same passages apply wholly to Jesus. By doing this, we will also see that the verses that apply to Jesus apply wholly to God.

It has long been a question how is the YHWH pronounced? Some of the pronunciations include: JEHOVAH, Yehue, Yehveh, Yeve, Jeue, Jao, Iao, Jhueh, Jove. It is also wondered what the name means. Well God Himself sort of defines His own name in Exodus 34.

Moses has shattered the first tablets of stone and God called Him up to make others. And it reads in Exodus 34 beginning at verse 5: And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed by before Moses, and proclaimed: "The YHWH, The YHWH Elohiym, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace., and that will by no means clear the guilty. These words contain the proper interpretation of the venerable and glorious name JEHOVAH.

Attributes of God and Jesus

God raises the dead.
John 5:21
"For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.

Jesus raises the dead.
John 5:21
"For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.

God is the Word.
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Jesus is the Word.
John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

God heals all diseases.
Psalm 103:2-3
Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,

Jesus heals all diseases.
Matthew 8:16
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses."

Unchanging Nature and Creative Power

God never changes.
Malachi 3:6
"For I am the LORD, I do not change;”

Jesus never changes.
Hebrews 13:8
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

God created the Universe/Earth Himself.
Isaiah 44:24
Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: "I am the LORD, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Jesus created the Universe/Earth.
John 1:3 (speaking of Jesus)
All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

Colossians 1:16
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Hebrews 1:10
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

God is the first and the last.
Isaiah 41:4
Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.

Jesus is the first and the last.
Revelation 1:17-18
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God..

Forgiveness and Redemption

God forgives sins.
Psalm 103:2-3
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Mark 2:7
The Jews said, “who can forgive sins but God only?”

Jesus forgives sins.
Mark 2:5
When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

God is our redeemer.
Isaiah 63:16
Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.

Jesus is our redeemer.
Titus 2:13-14
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

God is one. (One Apostle Faust)
Deuteronomy 6:4
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

Jesus and God are One.
John

Understanding the Identity of Jesus Christ

10:30 (Jesus said)
I and my Father are one.

John 14:9
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

1st John 5:7
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

God has a son.

Psalm 2:7
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Jesus is God’s Son.

John 5:18
Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

God's Identity as "I Am"

God is, “I Am.”

Exodus 3:13-14
Ex 3:13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Jesus is, “I Am.”

John 8:58
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Worship and Glory

Only God is worshipped.

Matthew 4:10
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Exodus 34:14
Ex 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

Jesus is worshipped.

Matthew 9:18
While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

Hebrews 1:6 (speaking of Jesus)
And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

John 20:28
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

From Everlasting to Judgment

God is from everlasting.

Psalm 93:1-2
The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.

Jesus is from everlasting.

Speaking prophetically of Jesus in Micah 5:2, the prophet said of Him: he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Only God is glorified.

Isaiah 42:8
I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Jesus to be honored as God is honored.

John 17:5
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

God is the Judge of the whole world.

Psalm 94:1-2
O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself. Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.

Jesus is the Judge of the whole world.

John 5:22
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

God is the Holy One.

Psalm 71:22
I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.

Jesus is the Holy One.

Luke 4:34
(Devils) saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are–the Holy One of God!"

God is the only Savior.

Isaiah 43:11
“I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior.”

Luke 1:47
“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.”

Jude 1:25
Titus 2:10
1st Timothy 4:10

Jesus is the only Savior.

John 4:42
“And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

Now get a pencil because I am going to list

How about some very supportive passages that help us know the identity of Jesus Christ, our Lord?

1st Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit,

The Identity of Jesus

Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

Humility and Divinity

Philippians 2:5-8
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

1st John 5:7
For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.

Acts 20:28
"Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Acts 7:59
And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

Colossians 1:13-19
Paul writes of God, saying: “Who . . . hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God (NOT a God with flesh and bone), the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

Jesus and the Godhead

Colossians 2:9
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Speaking prophetically of John the Baptists, Isaiah said in 40:3
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

John 10:33
The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

And finally, in Matthew 1:23!
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Before we go to the phones, just one more: God is the Messiah

In Handel’s Messiah, which the LDS are great at reciting with a tremendous amount of blindness at this time of year, the composer quotes Isaiah 9:6.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Jesus is the Messiah
John 4:25-26
The woman saith unto him, “I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her,

“I that speak unto thee am he.”

And unless we believe that He is the I Am we will die in our sin.

Let’s open up the phone lines –

(801) 973-8820
(801) 973-TV20

First time callers, please.
LDS callers if and when possible!
And please turn down thy TV sets once the operator clears your call.

Well that’s it for tonight.

Remember . . .

Calvary Campus will begin 2010 on Sunday January 3rd, Heart of the Matter’s will begin airing its 2010 programs on Tuesday January 5th, and The Infallible Word will begin airing its new programs on Monday, January 11th and the Grey Generation, God willing on Saturday night Jan 16th.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!