Roberta Combs Funeral

Obituary:

Roberta Lee Combs, age 88, of Franklin, Ohio passed away on Tuesday April 16, 2019. Roberta was born on September 14, 1930 in West Liberty, KY to the late Elizabeth Carpenter and Kelly Williams.

The incarnation

Roberta is survived by her two sons, David (Valerie) Combs and Steven (Katherine) Combs; grandchildren, Elizabeth, Stephanie, Timothy, Erica and Julie; great-grandchildren, Daniel and Calvin.

By the incarnation it is accepted that Jesus Christ was both fully divine and fully human. Though this has been a source of contention with cliffs, it is broadly accepted that the scriptures affirm both full natures of Jesus Christ. Limbaugh points out:

Roberta was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Combs; son, Timothy Combs; brother, Daniel Williams; grandchild, Steven Combs.

In Basic Theology , highly respected theologian Dr. Charles Ryrie notes that orthodox Christianity has considered Christ’s dual nature definitive since the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD. 1

Family Speaking:

Stephen

Message:

My Favorite Illustrations Victory through Grace

Victory through Grace

Sometime ago I was told that at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary a poll was taken among the students to discover the most popular hymns. “Victory in Jesus” was first and “Amazing Grace” was second. This is an interesting combination. Amid our turbulent times Christians long for assurance of victory over evil forces that plague us. We find that assurance in Jesus—His victory and ours through Him. God’s amazing grace made those victories possible and available.

Metaphysically, the incarnation cannot allow the natures to be stated or viewed in Christ as mutually exclusive to one another. In other words, the claim is not that all of Jesus’ attributes are either divine or human. Thus, the incarnation should not be viewed as a diminishing of the divine but the addition of the human. Jesus Christ possessed both divine and human attributes that work in coherence. Groothius uses a good example regarding the brain and the mind.

What is he saying?

My brain weighs a certain amount, but my mind weighs nothing. This is not a contradiction, because I am speaking of two different ent aspects of my personhood.2

There is a coming a day when death will be conquered in the saints, and the saints will be prepared for their eternal, bodily existence.

In practical terms, the incarnation had a prophesied location, a specified heritage, a particular time, and many witnesses. The result of the incarnation was that Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man (Luke 2). Glimpses of Christ humanity were evident during his earthly ministry as were glimpses of his deity (John 2:11). Jesus ate, slept, and allowed others to physically touch his body. All of these point to Jesus as being fully human and fully God — neither to the negation or exclusion of the other.

Why is he saying this?

Two problems:

Was Jesus simply a moral teacher? If not, why?

(v. 35) Some are wondering how corruptible bodies can enter an incorruptible existence.

(v. 58) Others are wondering if their work is in vain. Does God really care what I do with my body? (v. 32)

As C.S. Lewis pointed out, Jesus did not leave this option to mankind. Jesus Christ was more than a merely good moral teacher. In the case of someone that may be mad or self-deceived, their moral integrity would be convoluted in morally broad ways. For example, it is broadly accepted that the abuse of children is wrong or that rape and incest is morally wrong. One would be considered possibly made should these objective moral realities were reversed or infringed upon in one’s teaching. In smaller or less broadly accepted areas, one would expect deviations or errors.

What is the point?

Victory over a triad of problems is found in Christ. Thereby, we are assured of an incorruptible state.

Yet, with Jesus Christ, the claims He is making are not merely broad and sweeping, but they are personal (about Himself). He is claiming to be God incarnate. One example of this kind of progression in the teaching of Christ would be in His conversation with the woman at the well in Sychar, Samaria (John 4). There, Christ leads the woman to go beyond merely seeing Jesus as a good teacher and a prophet to the Messiah — the anointed One. Thus, either Jesus is an absolute mad man or He really is the “chosen One.” He does not leave an in-between option for mankind. The question could not have been phrased any better:

Why can’t we do it?

The question is not whether we can assess the legitimacy of moral principles apart from those who teach them but whether Jesus could hold to a set of good moral teachings and be so deceived about his identity. 3

Was Jesus a liar? If not, why?

Our flesh is too weak to keep the law. The law exposes our sinfulness. Our sin demands death. ;

Romans 7:12–14 KJV 1900

Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Romans 8:3 KJV 1900

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

In consideration of this question, a review of several evidences would negate the assertion that Jesus was a liar. First, consider that those closest to him believed Him to be the Christ (Matthew 16:16 - 18). These same individuals, who were cowardly at the crucifixion were death-defying after the crucifixion. What else can explain this sudden type of turn in the lives of His disciples.

How through Christ can this be accomplished?

(1) Victory is given by God (v. 57)

Second, of all nations within which to claim oneself to be deity, the Jewish nation was not the most tolerant. The Jews were strict monotheists, and this claim warranted death. Consider that in the gospel of John Jesus Christ makes multiple “I AM” statements showing that He indeed is the Jehovah of the Old Testament. If he was merely a liar, why go to the death for something that was not true. In fact, Jesus was not only charged with blasphemy, but he was condemned to die. Subsequently, he was tortured and crucified which was a curse according to Jewish Old Testament Law.

(2) Victory is given through Christ (v. 57)

Thirdly, Groothuis makes another good point. If the purpose of the lie was to become successful from a human perspective, then Jesus failed. Why lie, if there is no end of self-advancement? Jesus was the Son of a carpenter with no place for a permanent residence.

Was Jesus a mad man? If not, why?

Victory in fulfillment of the Law

Victory through payment for Sin

Was Jesus merely delusional? No. When the words and actions of Christ are studied, there were times when what he said was hard for the hearers to accept (John 6), but should one accept that Christ was delusional in certain areas such as his teachings and not in other areas? In his reasoning with the Pharisees, his discussions with those the healed, or discussion with family and disciples Jesus appears to be quiet lucid. He not only amazed the observers by what he did, but they were astonished at his teaching (Mark 1). Thus, this arguments seems to lack a little footing.

Was Jesus Lord? If yes, why?

Victory over Death

In addition to Christ’s “I AM” statements, He accepted worship from Thomas. Jesus claimed to be able to forgive sins. Jesus stilled the storm and seas (Mark 4) — a power ascribed to Jehovah in the Old Testament Psalms. Jesus showed supremacy over demons (Mark 5). Jesus called people to follow him (Mark 1). Jesus answered prayer. He showed authority over death. He claimed that the scriptures were his word — a citation from the Old Testament is what He uses in Matthew 24:35. The list could go on, but each of these facts reveal that Jesus Christ did not come to be merely identified as a good, moral teacher.

In addition, Jesus seemed quite clear on His own identity when Satan tempted Him (Matthew 4, Luke 4). The temptations began with, “If thou be the Son of God…” Christ’s impeccable character and responses in the midst of trial proved his clarity about his own identity.

Application:

The LORD: Worship the Lord because of Who He is and what He’s done to give victory over death.

These fact taken from what Jesus Christ said and did show that He is not looking to be identified as merely a good moral teacher; but that He is calling people to accept Him as Lord.

Limbaugh, David. Jesus on Trial: A Lawyer Affirms the Truth of the Gospel (p. 126). Regnery Publishing. Kindle Edition. ↩︎Douglas Groothuis. Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith (Kindle Locations 5662-5663). Kindle Edition. ↩︎Douglas Groothuis. Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith (Kindle Locations 5557-5558). Kindle Edition. ↩︎

Christian Family: The struggle to get her to the church services was not in vain. Labour that is “in the Lord” is never in vain, because of the victory we have in Him.

Biological Family: Roberta is still alive; but there is coming a day when she will receive an incorruptible, material body - because Jesus rose bodily from the grave.

Unbeliever: This is a sobering warning to you. The only hope of victory over the law, sin, and death is in what God has given - victory through Jesus Christ.

Christian: laboring bodily for the Lord is never in vain because Jesus arose bodily from the grave.

Chorus:

O victory in Jesus, My Savior, forever. He sought me and bought me With His redeeming blood; He loved me ere I knew Him And all my love is due Him, He plunged me to victory, Beneath the cleansing flood.