Unfortunately, Joel Hemphill is currently profiting off a book he wrote which denies the Holy Trinity and the deity of Jesus Christ. (Yes, you read that right.)
For an explanation and opportunity to form your own opinion, visit http://reformata.org/2008/08/joel-hemphill-does-deny-the-deity-of-christ-2/ or http://jesus-messiah.com/html/hemphill-doctrine.html.
Furthermore, here is a word-for-word excerpt from the book itself:
“Hebrews teaches, and I believe that Jesus did not come in the God family (there is only one God), or the angel family, but in the human family (Heb. 2:7, 9). He is perfect, sinless man, but man nevertheless! “Wherefore in all things it behooved him (was necessary) to be made like unto his brethren… to make reconciliation for the sins of the people” (Heb. 2:17). A God-man could not redeem us. It took a sinless man, the Lamb of God, with righteous blood untainted by the sin of Adam, to redeem mankind. He is the second Adam, not the first God-man. Jesus is: “a priest for ever” (Heb. 5:6). “An high priest for ever” (Heb. 6:20). “A priest for ever “ (Heb. 7:21). “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat on the right hand of God” (Heb. 10:12). Please see also Psalm 110:1 and Acts 2:29-35.
If the disciples who had just seen Jesus ascend to heaven in Acts chapter one, did not pray to him in Acts chapter four, then he is not God! They prayed to “God, the Lord God,” and one time they referred to “thy holy child, Jesus,” and once they said, “by the name of thy holy child Jesus.” (Acts 4:23-31). That is what Jesus had taught them in John 15:16, “Whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” Also in John 16:23, “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.” There is not one verse in the N.T. where we are commanded or encouraged to pray to Jesus.
Jesus was not just a body full of God, he was a man full of God. He had a human mind, soul, spirit and will. Being full of God does not make a person God.”
Scary, yes. And very disappointing. This man neads our prayers. I honestly believe his intentions are good, but his theology has taken a wrong turn down a dead-end road.
