HELLO, AND MERRY CHRISTMAS.
I’M PASTOR ROB PACIENZA,
AND I WANTED TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT TO TALK WITH YOU
BEFORE WE BEGIN THIS WEEK’S PROGRAM.
WE HAVE SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR AT THIS CHRISTMASTIME,
AS WELL AS CHALLENGES TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2025.
WE ENJOY THIS TIME OF MERRIMENT, WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND
CHURCH AS WE GIVE THANKS FOR THE ARRIVAL OF CHRIST IN BETHLEHEM
A LITTLE OVER 2000 YEARS AGO.
BUT ALSO, WHEN 2025 ARRIVES A LITTLE OVER A WEEK FROM NOW,
THIS MINISTRY NEEDS TO BE POISED AND READY TO
STAND FOR THE FAITH AND PROCLAIM TRUTH TO THE NATION.
SO CAN I ASK YOU TO HELP US WITH THAT?
AS YOU DO YOUR LAST-MINUTE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING,
A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE GIFT TO THE ONGOING WORK
OF THIS MINISTRY WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS BLESSING.
SOME GENEROUS FRIENDS OF CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES
HAVE ESTABLISHED
YOUR DONATION WILL HELP US ADVANCE BIBLICAL TRUTH
ON THE SANCTITY OF LIFE, MARRIAGE, GENDER,
GOD’S ROLE IN GOVERNMENT,
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, THE VALUE OF ISRAEL,
AND A HOST OF OTHER PRESSING ISSUES.
AND IT WILL COME AT A TIME WHEN WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE
AN OUTSIZED IMPACT WITH A NEW CONGRESS AND
PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION ABOUT TO BE SWORN IN.
SO PLEASE, CONSIDER GIVING A GENEROUS CHRISTMAS GIFT,
AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS WITH A VERY, MERRY CHRISTMAS.
WELCOME TO TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM,
A PRODUCTION OF CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES
“CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH,
PROCLAIMING HOPE TO THE NATION.”
AFTER A BUSY MONTH OF SHOPPING AND PREPARING
AND PARTIES AND EVENTS, CHRISTMAS DAY IS ALMOST HERE.
IT’S ALMOST A CLICHÉ TO TELL PEOPLE TO SLOW DOWN AND
REMEMBER THE REASON FOR THE SEASON
THE ARRIVAL OF JESUS CHRIST INTO OUR WORLD.
BUT THE FACT IS, MOST PEOPLE IN OUR CULTURE TODAY KNOW VERY
LITTLE ABOUT HIM, AND WHAT HE ACTUALLY CAME HERE TO DO.
IT WAS NOT PRIMARILY TO BE AN EXAMPLE TO US
OR TO TEACH US HOW TO DO GOOD DEEDS.
ON TODAY’S PROGRAM, YOU’LL FIND OUT
ABOUT HIS TRUE PURPOSE IN COMING TO EARTH.
AND THAT ARRIVAL WAS NOT SOME SUDDEN ACCIDENT.
IN FACT, AS YOU’RE ABOUT TO SEE, IT WAS PLANNED AND
ORCHESTRATED BY GOD-WHICH HE FORETOLD IN PROMISES
THAT HE MADE TO US CENTURIES AHEAD OF TIME.
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, GOD PROMISED TO SEND HIS PEOPLE
A MESSIAH, A DELIVERER, A KING.
THE NEW TESTAMENT ASSERTS THAT
JESUS WAS INDEED THE PROMISED ONE.
WE CAN SEE THIS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN ITS VERY OPENING BOOK,
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW.
MATTHEW WROTE THE FIRST OF THE FOUR GOSPELS.
HE PROVIDES A GOSPEL WHICH IS ADDRESSED PRIMARILY TO THE
JEWISH WORLD TO SHOW THAT THE HEBREW PROPHECIES IN
THE OLD TESTAMENT WERE ACTUALLY FULFILLED IN JESUS OF NAZARETH.
THE HEBREW TERMS FOR MESSIAH IS MASHCIACH AND GREEK TERM
FOR THE SAME WORD IS CHRISTOS.
AND SO WHEN YOU SAY- JESUS CHRIST
YOU’RE USING REALLY THE CHURCH’S OLDEST CONFESSION
THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST.
IN FACT, THERE ARE OVER 300 OF THESE KINDS OF PROMISES
KNOWN AS MESSIANIC PROPHECIES SOME WRITTEN
OVER A THOUSAND YEARS BEFORE CHRIST. FOR EXAMPLE,
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE NOTION, VOICED BY SOME CRITICS,
THAT JESUS MERELY MASQUERADED AS THE FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY?
SO THERE ARE THOSE WHO CLAIM THAT JESUS MANIPULATED HIS, UH,
LIFE AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS LIFE IN ORDER
TO APPEAR TO BE A MESSIANIC FIGURE.
THE PROBLEM ABOUT THAT IS THAT, UH,
HIS LIFE IS THE FULFILLMENT
OF 700 YEARS OF PROPHECY BEFORE HE CAME,
THERE WAS A FORETELLING AND
A PREDICTION FROM GOD ABOUT WHAT THIS PROMISED ONE WOULD BE
AND JESUS BY HIS LIFE, BY HIS WORK, BY HIS DEATH
AND BY HIS RESURRECTION FULFILLED OLD TESTAMENT,
PROMISE, PROPHECY AND PREDICTION.
ONE OF THE EARLIEST OF THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES COMES FROM
GENESIS 3:15, WHERE IT SAYS
THE IDEA OF THE, UH, OF THE MAN CRUSHING THE HEAD OF THE SERPENT
IS CALLED THE PROTOEVANGELIUM THE FIRST HINT OF THE GOSPEL,
BECAUSE IT HAS THIS CONFLICT THAT EXISTS
IN THE CREATION BECAUSE OF SIN WHERE
THE SERPENT AND THE MAN FIGHT WITH ONE ANOTHER.
THE SERPENT'S GONNA TRY AND BITE THE HEEL OF THE MAN
BITE THE LEG OF THE MAN.
AND THE MAN'S GONNA TRY AND STOMP
ON THE HEAD OF THE SERPENT.
THAT'S THE PICTURE OF GENESIS 3:15.
AND THE PICTURES EVENTUALLY THAT CHRIST IS THE ONE WHO STOMPS ON
THE HEAD OF THE SERPENT WHO REPRESENTS SATAN AND
THE SPIRITUAL FORCES THAT WORK AGAINST US IN THE WORLD
THAT TEND TO KEEP US SEPARATED FROM GOD.
EVERY BOOK OF THE BIBLE
BASICALLY KEPT POINTING TO JESUS.
HE'S COMING, HE'S COMING, HE'S COMING.
AND THAT IS WHY WHEN THE MAGIS CAME AND THEY WERE ASKING
HEROD IMMEDIATELY RUN TO THE SCHOLARS AND THEY SAID, WELL,
WHERE WAS THE MESSIAH SUPPOSED TO BE BORN?
SO THEY WERE EXPECTING HIM
MARY REJOICED, BECAUSE EVERY LITTLE GIRL IN ISRAEL WAS
THINKING TO BE PRIVILEGED OF BEING THE MOTHER OF THE MESSIAH.
AND SIMEON IN THE TEMPLE, HE TAKES THE BABY JESUS SAID,
NOW LET YOUR SERVANT DEPART IN PEACE.
MY EYES NOW HAVE SEEN YOUR SALVATION.
THAT'S WHO WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.
SOME PEOPLE REJECT JESUS AS THE CHRIST
BECAUSE THE MESSIAH IS TO USHER IN WORLD PEACE
AND TO ESTABLISH JUSTICE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
THINGS THAT ARE YET TO HAPPEN.
CHRISTIAN SCHOLARS ANSWER THIS CHARGE BY CONTRASTING
CHRIST’S FIRST COMING -WITH HIS SECOND ONE.
ONE OF THE AMAZING THINGS ABOUT THE FIRST ADVENT
IS THAT IT WAS SMALL.
IT WAS NOT TRIUMPHANT.
JESUS SHOWED UP IN THE LITTLE TINY CITY OF BETHLEHEM
INSTEAD OF IN ROME.
THERE WERE SHEPHERDS THERE INSTEAD OF
GREAT ROMAN GLADIATORS AND ROMAN POLITICIANS.
ALL OF THAT WAS SMALL.
THERE WAS A LOWLINESS TO HIS APPROACH
AND A LOWLINESS OF HIS AUDIENCE.
AND YET WE KNOW THAT THE SECOND COMING
WILL BE ENTIRELY DIFFERENT FROM THAT.
AS TO THE FIRST STRAND OF MESSIANIC PROPHECIES,
2 PASSAGES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT POINT VERY PARTICULARLY
TO JESUS' SUFFERING FOR OUR SINS.
ONE OF THOSE IS IN THE PSALMS.
WELL, THERE ARE SO MANY REFERENCES TO CHRIST IN THE
OLD TESTAMENT IT WOULD TAKE ME FOREVER TO RECITE THEM ALL.
BUT I AND MY COLLEAGUE KNOW THIS AND EVERY TIME I TAKE A GROUP
TO ISRAEL AND WE GO INTO CAIAPHAS’ HOUSE
AND THERE IN CAIAPHAS’ BASEMENT,
IT REALLY IS WHEN THERE'S A NICE STAIRS TO LEAD TO IT NOW.
BUT BACK THEN, THERE WAS ONLY A HOLE IN THE WALL
WHERE THEY DROPPED JESUS THE LAST NIGHT BEFORE
THE CRUCIFIXION AND REPEATEDLY HE RECITE AT PSALM 22,
MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE FORSAKEN ME ON AND ON AND ON.
WRITTEN 1000 YEARS BEFORE CHRIST, PSALM 22 SAYS...
THERE ARE A LOT OF DETAILS IN PSALM 22
THAT SEEM TO BE FORESHADOWING JESUS'S CRUCIFIXION.
NOW THE CASTING LOTS FOR JESUS CLOTHING IS SOMETHING
THAT'S REPORTED BY ALL FOUR GOSPELS.
AND THAT'S PRETTY PROFOUND THAT THAT WOULD HAPPEN SO
WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THE EARLY CHRISTIANS
WOULD BE READING PSALM 22 AND SEE IT AS
PROPHESYING JESUS'S BRUTAL CRUCIFIXION AND
THE TREATMENT HE RECEIVED WHILE ON THE CROSS.
IT SAYS THEY PIERCED MY HANDS AND MY FEET,
THAT’S A REFERENCE TO CRUCIFIXION.
WHAT IN WORLD IS IT DOING THERE?
THE JEWS NEVER CRUCIFIED ANYONE.
THE JEWS STONED PEOPLE.
BUT HERE CENTURIES EARLIER, BEFORE JESUS CAME,
GOD KNOWING THE FUTURE, WROTE IN THAT PSALM,
THEY PIERCED MY HANDS AND MY FEET,
KNOWING THAT SOMEDAY
IT WOULD BE THE ROMANS WHO HAD CRUCIFIED THE MESSIAH.
SO YOU LOOK AT THAT AND YOU SAY TO YOURSELF, YOU KNOW,
GOD CAN SEE AROUND CORNERS AND WE CAN’T AND GOD IS ABLE
TO LOOK INTO THE FUTURE AND CAN PREDICT WHATEVER HE WANTS
BECAUSE ULTIMATELY HE CONTROLS THE FUTURE.
AND PERHAPS MOST FAMOUSLY OF ALL,
ISAIAH 53 POINTS US TO THE SUFFERING MESSIAH WHO WOULD
ULTIMATELY PAY FOR THE SINS OF HIS PEOPLE ON THE CROSS.
IN 750 BC, THE PROPHET ISAIAH WROTE...
ISAIAH 53 IS A VERY STRONG STATEMENT ABOUT THE DEATH
AND CRUCIFIXION REALLY OF THE MESSIAH.
IT IS SO EXPLICIT THAT MANY HAVE SAID
THIS HAS CHRISTIAN INTERPOLATIONS BACK INTO IT,
BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE A REALLY GOOD COPY OF ISAIAH,
A REALLY OLD COPY OF ISAIAH
UNTIL THE FINDING OF THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS.
WITH THE FINDING OF THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS,
WE FOUND A COPY OF ISAIAH THAT WAS PRE-JESUS
AND IT HAD VIRTUALLY THE EXACT SAME ISAIAH 53
AS WE HAVE TODAY IN OUR HEBREW BIBLES.
SO IT'S CLEAR THAT ISAIAH 53 WAS WRITTEN ABOUT
A MESSIAH WHO WAS COMING FROM GOD,
WHO WAS GOING TO BE CRUCIFIED AND REVILED AND REJECTED OF MEN,
AND THAT WHEN ONE READS THAT, IN LIGHT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT,
IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO THINK
OF JESUS AS THE ONE WHOM,
ABOUT WHOM THAT PASSAGE IS WRITTEN.
THE BIBLE IS WRITTEN OVER A 1500 YEAR PERIOD,
AND THE OLD TESTAMENT MAKES PROMISES, PROPHECIES AND
PREDICTIONS THAT ARE FULFILLED
IN THE PERSON OF THE LORD, JESUS CHRIST.
AND YOU REALLY CAN PUT YOUR BIBLE TOGETHER,
OLD TESTAMENT AND NEW TESTAMENT
IN SUMMARIZING AROUND JESUS THAT WE HAVE IN
THE OLD TESTAMENT PROMISES MADE AND PROMISES FULFILLED.
AND THOSE PROMISES ARE FULFILLED IN THE LORD, JESUS CHRIST.
THE DETAILED PROPHECIES OF THE COMING MESSIAH
WHICH WERE FULFILLED IN STUNNING DETAIL BY JESUS CHRIST
ARE AMONG THE MANY PROOFS
THAT JESUS OF NAZARETH IS INDEED THE PROMISED MESSIAH.
BUT PEOPLE TODAY HOLD MANY FALSE IDEAS ABOUT
WHO JESUS IS AND WHY HE CAME.
AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, YOU’LL OFTEN HEAR THE IDEA
THAT HE CAME TO US AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW TO LOVE EACH OTHER
AND BE KIND. BUT THE TRUTH IS,
THE MISSION OF JESUS COMING INTO THIS WORLD
WAS FAR LARGER AND MORE SHOCKING THAN THAT.
MY PASTOR AND MENTOR, DR. D. JAMES KENNEDY EXPLAINS,
IN HIS MESSAGE, “WHO IS THIS JESUS?”
WHO IS THIS JESUS?”
IS THE QUESTION I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS WITH YOU THIS DAY.
THIS ONE WHOSE BIRTH WE CELEBRATE THIS WEEK,
CELEBRATED BY SO MANY FRIVOLOUS, THOUGHTLESS PEOPLE,
MANY OF WHOM HAVEN’T A CLUE ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE CELEBRATING.
WHAT IS IT REALLY ABOUT?
WHO IS THIS JESUS THAT HAS COME INTO THE WORLD.
IS HE JUST A GREAT TEACHER, A PROPHET,
A GOOD MAN AS MANY HAVE SAID?
WELL LET’S GET ONE THING VERY CLEAR.
JESUS CHRIST WAS NOT A “GOOD MAN,”
HE SAID SO HIMSELF.
DO YOU REMEMBER SOMEONE RUSHED UP TO HIM AND SAID TO HIM,
“GOOD MASTER,” HE SAID,
“HOLD IT RIGHT THERE.” THAT’S A REVISED TRANSLATION.
HE SAID, “WHY CALLEST THOU ME GOOD?
THERE IS NONE GOOD BUT ONE, GOD”
THEREFORE, WHY CALLEST THOU ME GOOD?
YOU SEE, HE HUNG THIS MAN UP ON THE HORNS OF A DILEMMA.
JESUS WAS NOT A GOOD MAN; HE WAS EITHER THE GOOD GOD OR HE WAS,
IF A MAN, A SINNER LIKE ALL OF THE REST.
“FOR ALL HAVE SINNED, AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD”.
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE”.
JESUS WAS NOT A GOOD MAN.
HE WAS THE GOOD GOD, THE BELOVED SON OF THE FATHER.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO TESTIFY TO WHO THIS JESUS IS.
FIRST OF ALL, GOD, THE FATHER.
WHAT SAYETH HE ABOUT WHO IS THIS JESUS?
WELL, JESUS HIMSELF CALLED THE FATHER TO BEAR WITNESS.
HE SAID, “THERE IS BUT ONE WHO HATH BORNE WITNESS OF ME.”
AND TO WHAT WAS HE REFERRING?
AS CHRIST BEGAN HIS MINISTRY, AT HIS BAPTISM,
THERE AT THE JORDAN WHEN JOHN AND A VAST MULTITUDE
WERE GATHERED AROUND WHEN JESUS WAS TO BE BAPTIZED,
SUDDENLY OUT OF THE HEAVENS THERE CAME A GREAT VOICE SAYING,
“THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED”
NOW, JESUS IS NOT “A SON OF GOD.”
I AM A SON OF GOD.
JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD.
“FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD,
HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON”
THERE IS NONE ELSE LIKE HIM WHO IS BY NATURE
THE EVERLASTING SON OF THE FATHER,
THE SECOND PERSON OF THE TRIUNE GODHEAD
FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT.
HE IS GOD, THE SON.
WHAT DID JESUS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT HIMSELF?
HE SAID, HE IS OMNIPOTENT BECAUSE HE IS GOD.
AGAIN HE SAID, ALL JUDGMENT IS GIVEN INTO THE HANDS OF THE SON;
THAT HE MAY BE EQUAL WITH THE FATHER.
HE IS THE JUDGE OF ALL OF THE EARTH.
“I AM THE RESURRECTION, AND THE LIFE”.
HE IS THE ONE WHO WILL CALL FORTH
ALL MEN OUT OF THE GRAVE IN THAT GREAT DAY,
THE GREAT ASSIZE, WHEN MEN SHALL STAND BEFORE HIM.
“PHILIP SAITH UNTO HIM, LORD, SHOW US THE FATHER,
JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM,
HAVE I BEEN SO LONG TIME WITH THEE PHILIP,
AND YET HAST THOU NOT KNOWN ME?
HE THAT HATH SEEN ME HATH SEEN THE FATHER.”
THAT IS WHAT JESUS SAID OF HIMSELF.
DID HE CLAIM TO BE THE MESSIAH?
SOME UNLEARNED PEOPLE HAVE EVEN SAID HE NEVER MADE THE CLAIM.
BUT DO YOU NOT REMEMBER THE WOMAN AT THE WELL
IN SAMARIA WHO SAID, FINALLY,
“WE KNOW THAT MESSIAH COMETH,
AND WHEN HE COMETH HE WILL EXPLAIN ALL THINGS TO US.
AND JESUS SAITH TO HER, I THAT SPEAK UNTO THEE AM HE”.
HOW MUCH CLEARER COULD ANYTHING POSSIBLY BE?
AS ONE WRITER HAS SAID IF YOU CANNOT SEE THROUGHOUT
THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS AND THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT
THE FACT OF HIS DIVINITY,
THEN YOU ARE BLINDER THAN THE MAN WHO LOOKS UP
INTO THE SKY AT HIGH NOON ON A CLOUDLESS DAY
AND CANNOT FIND THE SUN.
THROUGHOUT THE SCRIPTURES, HE IS THUS DESCRIBED,
HE SAID, “BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM”
ABRAHAM WAS IN HIS GRAVE 2,000 YEARS,
BUT JESUS SAID, “BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM.
THE GREAT NAME FOR GOD, YAHWEH, JEHOVAH,
THE TETRAGRAMMATON. THE 4-LETTER WORD FOR
“I AM THAT I AM,”
SAID JEHOVAH FROM THE MOUNTAIN OF SINAI.
AND SO CONCURS THE TESTIMONY OF THE SCRIPTURES,
FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN.”
NOTE THAT A CHILD WAS BORN, THE HUMAN CHRIST.
BUT A SON IS GIVEN.
THE EVERLASTING SON OF GOD WAS GIVEN BY THE FATHER
AND THE TWO MET
THE HUMAN NATURE AND THE DIVINE MET IN THE ONE GOD-MAN,
THE THEANTHROPOS, THE ETERNAL ONE,
THE INFINITE FINITE ONE, THE SAVIOR.
AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR,
THE MIGHTY GOD.
THAT’S WHO THIS CHILD WHOSE BIRTH
WE CELEBRATE THIS WEEK WAS.
THAT IS WHO CHRIST IS.
HE IS THE EVERLASTING SON OF GOD.
THE THEOLOGIAN W.E. BIEDERWOLF SAID,
“A MAN WHO CAN READ THE NEW TESTAMENT
AND NOT SEE THAT CHRIST CLAIMS TO BE MORE THAN A MAN
CAN LOOK ALL OVER THE SKY AT HIGH NOON ON A CLOUDLESS DAY
AND NOT SEE THE SUN.”
NO, IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE ETERNAL GOD.
NOW HE IS NOT ONLY THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD,
BUT MY PERSONAL SAVIOR, AS WELL.
CAN YOU SAY THAT?
IF NOT, YOU ARE STILL AMONG THOSE
THAT SIT IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH AND DARKNESS;
YOU ARE STILL AMONG THOSE THAT HAVE NO HOPE.
YOU ARE STILL AMONG THOSE THAT ARE GETTING READY TO
SOON PLUNGE OUT INTO ETERNITY WITH
NO HOPE, NO SAVIOR, NO FORGIVENESS, NO HEAVEN
NOTHING BUT THE JUST PUNISHMENT OF GOD FOR YOUR SINS.
AH, DEAR ONE, DON’T MISS OUT
ON THE GREATEST GIFT THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN,
BROUGHT TO US BY THE GREATEST PERSON WHO EVER LIVED,
JESUS CHRIST, THE BELOVED SON OF GOD,
THE SAVIOR OF ALL THAT WILL TRUST IN HIM.
HI, I’M JENNIFER KENNEDY CASSIDY.
MY FATHER, DR. D. JAMES KENNEDY,
NEVER GREW WEARY OF PROCLAIMING THE JESUS CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS.
HE WANTED EVERYONE TO COME TO A SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS,
AND ALSO TO KNOW HOW JESUS PROFOUNDLY AFFECTED
THE CIVILIZATION AROUND US.
HIS SUCCESSOR AND PROTEGE,
DR. ROB PACIENZA SHARES THAT PASSION,
AND IS LEADING CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES INTO 2025 AND BEYOND.
LIKE MY DAD, PASTOR ROB SEES THE IMPORTANCE
OF GOD’S RULE OVER PEOPLES AND NATIONS,
AND HE’S WRITTEN A NEW BOOK
THAT YOU’LL NOT ONLY WANT TO READ FOR YOURSELF,
BUT SHARE WITH YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
IT’S ENTITLED, TRUE, GOOD, AND BEAUTIFUL:
GOD’S DESIGN FOR A FLOURISHING WORLD,
AND WE’D LIKE TO SEND IT TO YOU
AS OUR THANKS FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION.
IN THIS BOOK, DR. PACIENZA LAYS OUT THE BIBLICAL BASIS
FOR GOD’S DESIGN IN CREATION, MARRIAGE,
GENDER, GOVERNMENT, WORK, AND MORE.
SO MANY OF OUR CULTURAL AND PERSONAL ILLS COME FROM
IGNORING OUR CREATOR’S DESIGN IN THESE KEY AREAS.
IF ALL THOSE WHO CLAIM THE NAME OF CHRIST IN AMERICA
HAD A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S DESIGN, MANY OF
OUR BIGGEST CULTURAL PROBLEMS WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE.
FIND THAT CLARITY IN THIS NEWLY-PUBLISHED BOOK,
TRUE, GOOD, AND BEAUTIFUL:
AND IF YOU’RE ABLE TO GIVE A DONATION OF $100 OR MORE,
WE’LL SEND YOU NOT ONLY THE BOOK,
BUT ALSO THE EIGHT FULL-LENGTH VIDEO MESSAGES
THAT PASTOR ROB DELIVERED AT
CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ON GOD’S DESIGN,
A COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE, AND ADDITIONAL VIDEO CONTENT
SO THAT YOU CAN USE IT FOR A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS,
A SMALL GROUP, OR YOUR OWN PERSONAL STUDY.
AND THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME TO GIVE,
BECAUSE SOME GENEROUS FRIENDS OF THIS MINISTRY HAVE ESTABLISHED
THAT MEANS ANY GIFT YOU GIVE BEFORE MIDNIGHT ON DECEMBER 31ST
WILL BE MATCHED, DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR, UP TO
$250,000 WHICH ESSENTIALLY DOUBLES
THE IMPACT THAT YOUR GIFT WILL HAVE.
WE NEED YOU TO HELP US FINISH THE YEAR ON SOLID FISCAL GROUND,
AND HEAD INTO 2025 READY TO FACE
THE MANY CHALLENGES THAT AWAIT OUR NATION.
YOUR GIFT ENABLES US TO CONTEND FOR THE FAITH,
AND PROCLAIM HOPE TO THE NATION.
SO PLEASE, GIVE YOUR BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT OFFERING NOW.
WE’LL SEND YOU DR. ROB PACIENZA’S NEW BOOK,
TRUE, GOOD, AND BEAUTIFUL:
GOD’S DESIGN FOR A FLOURISHING WORLD,
AS THANKS FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION.
AND THE BOOK PLUS THE COMPANION 8-MESSAGE VIDEO SERIES,
BRAND-NEW STUDY GUIDE,
AND ADDITIONAL VIDEO CURRICULUM RESOURCES,
AS THANKS FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION OF $100 OR MORE.
SIMPLY WRITE TO US AT CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES:
OR CALL TOLL FREE:
OR GO ONLINE TO:
AS YOU HEARD A FEW MINUTES AGO FROM DR. KENNEDY,
JESUS IS NOT ONLY THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD,
BUT HE’S MY PERSONAL SAVIOR AS WELL.
WHAT ABOUT YOU - ARE YOU TRUSTING IN JESUS TO SAVE YOU?
IF NOT, YOU ARE STILL AMONG THOSE WHO STILL
SIT IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH AND DARKNESS, WHO HAVE NO HOPE.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A DARK MESSAGE TO DELIVER AT CHRISTMASTIME.
BUT IT REALLY ISN’T, BECAUSE JESUS DID COME INTO THE WORLD.
HE DID DIE ON THE CROSS.
HE DID RISE FROM THE DEAD.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT,
YOU CAN HAVE SALVATION AND EVERLASTING LIFE.
THAT’S WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT
AND THAT’S WHAT THE GOOD NEWS IS.
JESUS OFFERS YOU THIS SALVATION AS A FREE GIFT.
YOU CANNOT BUY IT, AND YOU CANNOT EARN IT
YOU CAN ONLY RECEIVE IT.
PERHAPS DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR,
YOU LOOK AROUND WONDERING WHAT ALL THE FUSS IS ABOUT.
MAYBE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS
BECAUSE GOING TO PARTIES AND PUTTING UP DECORATIONS
IS JUST WHAT PEOPLE DO AT THIS TIME OF YEAR.
BUT YOU CAN ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE FOR YOURSELF
WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT.
YOU CAN MAKE THIS YOUR BEST CHRISTMAS EVER-IN FACT,
YOUR FIRST REAL CHRISTMAS -BY ACCEPTING JESUS INTO YOUR LIFE.
YOU CAN DO THAT RIGHT NOW,
BY PRAYING WITH ME SINCERELY FROM YOUR HEART.
“FATHER, I KNOW THAT I AM A SINNER.
I HAVE DISOBEYED YOU AND IGNORED YOU AND SCOFFED AT YOUR LAW,
AND I DESERVE YOUR CONDEMNATION FOR THAT.
BUT I NOW REALIZE THAT JESUS IS TRULY YOUR SON,
AND REALLY WAS BORN ON THIS EARTH.
I BELIEVE THAT HE LIVED THE RIGHTEOUS LIFE
THAT I’VE FAILED TO LIVE,
AND THAT HE DIED ON THE CROSS IN MY PLACE
TO PAY THE PENALTY OF MY SINS.
I BELIEVE THAT HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD,
DEFEATING DEATH SO THAT I TOO COULD HAVE
EVERLASTING LIFE IN YOUR PRESENCE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE YOU LOVE ME.
LORD, I WANT TO RECEIVE THAT FREE AND PERMANENT
GIFT OF SALVATION FROM YOU RIGHT NOW.
LORD, HELP ME PUT ASIDE MY SINS AND LIVE A LIFE OF OBEDIENCE
IN LOVE AND GRATITUDE FOR THIS GIFT.
I THANK YOU, FATHER, IN JESUS’ NAME. AMEN.”
IF YOU SINCERELY PRAYED THAT PRAYER WITH ME JUST NOW,
THEN YOU JUST EXPERIENCED THE TRUE MIRACLE OF CHRISTMAS.
WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU AND SEND YOU A FREE GIFT
TO HELP YOU GROW IN YOUR NEW FAITH.
IT’S BEGINNING AGAIN, DR. KENNEDY’S BOOK
FOR NEW BELIEVERS TO HELP YOU
GET STARTED IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.
CONTACT US TO RECEIVE YOUR COPY TODAY.
AND MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU.
CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES IS
IF YOU’RE EVER IN SOUTH FLORIDA, WE WELCOME YOU TO JOIN US
FOR SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP RIGHT HERE
AT CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
OR YOU CAN ALWAYS JOIN ON LIVESTREAM AT:
AND WE ALSO WANT TO INVITE YOU
TO CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT:
AND CHECK OUT OUR VAST LIBRARY OF VIDEO RESOURCES AT:
AND FINALLY, ALL OF US AT
CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES WANT TO WISH YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES
A VERY MERRY AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS.
THANKS FOR JOINING US,
AND HERE’S A LOOK AT THE NEXT TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
AND I HARKENED BACK TO THE SYNAGOGUE GROWING UP
AND I REMEMBER THAT OUR RABBI IN THE TORAH READINGS
ALWAYS SKIPPED ISAIAH 53
THAT'S NEXT WEEK
THIS HAS BEEN A PRODUCTION OF CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES