The Bible can be described in many ways including God's plan of salvation for man and the genealogy of Jesus. But it can be noted that the Bible is a great history book. The Old Testament begins with the creation, the first people and follows human history almost to the time of Jesus.
There is a 400 year period between the OT and the NT which is not covered historically in the Bible. Note that world history shows that during this period there are 3 major kingdoms ruling. The first is the end of the Medo-Persian rule, then the kingdom of Greece including the reign of Alexander the Great, and finally the rise of the Roman Empire. As the NT opens, the Romans are in power and are ruling Israel where Christ is born.
It is interesting that the Bible, while not giving detail of this 400 year period, it is does not totally disregard it. The book of Daniel tells of these future kingdoms long before they come into existence. Daniel 10:6 says, "...the prince of Greece will come.." And Daniel 11:3 predicts, "Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and do according to his will." This is king Alexander.
The Bible knew and teaches what was to come during this 400 year period. Once again we see that God's word is true.....always.
Thanks for reading. Feel the love.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
The Second Gospel Sermon
Peter led the other apostles in making the first gospel sermon as recorded in Acts 2. Then we get the second one in Acts 3. Peter, still in Jerusalem, had just healed a lame man and the people were wild with amazement. Verse 11 says, "Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed. So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: 'Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.' " Peter here does two things: 1) he makes it clear that he and the apostles are not the power; it is God. And 2) he convicts them of their wrongdoing; they killed the Savior.
He gives the solution to the problem in verse 19: "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things...." This is advice not only to these people, but to us as well. We need to give ourselves completely to Him.
Then he quotes Moses in verse 22, "For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.' Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.' To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from you iniquities."
Galatians chapter 3 tells us that the "seed of Abraham" is Jesus Christ. And it is through Jesus that all the earth is blessed; blessed in being able to receive all that Jesus is, all that He did for us, His grace and His salvation, and His peace. We are the heirs of all these spiritual blessings. Praise God.
Thank you for reading again. Bless you!
He gives the solution to the problem in verse 19: "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things...." This is advice not only to these people, but to us as well. We need to give ourselves completely to Him.
Then he quotes Moses in verse 22, "For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.' Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.' To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from you iniquities."
Galatians chapter 3 tells us that the "seed of Abraham" is Jesus Christ. And it is through Jesus that all the earth is blessed; blessed in being able to receive all that Jesus is, all that He did for us, His grace and His salvation, and His peace. We are the heirs of all these spiritual blessings. Praise God.
Thank you for reading again. Bless you!
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Death and resulting Pain
There is a great story in John 11 where Jesus loses a close friend, and His humanity is shown so fervently. This is the story of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha. John 11:5 says, "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus." Jesus finds out in this story that Lazarus is sick. He delays going to him for two more days, seemingly to let Lazarus die and to raise him to God's glory. It is interesting to note that Jesus had close friends, friends that He loved and spent time with and showed great concern for, and friends who loved Him as well.
"Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if You had been here, by brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will giveYou.' Jesus said to her, 'Your brother will rise again.' Martha said to Him 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.' Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?' She said, 'Yes, Lord, I believe......' "
Later, Jesus said, " 'Where have you laid him?' They said to Him, 'Lord, come and see.' Jesus wept." Jesus wept. Jesus was so concerned that, even though He was about to raise Lazarus, He was touched by the scene.
And so, when we lose someone special, and I am feeling that today, we can at least know that Jesus understands. He loved Lazarus so much. And I sure know how He felt........
"Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if You had been here, by brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will giveYou.' Jesus said to her, 'Your brother will rise again.' Martha said to Him 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.' Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?' She said, 'Yes, Lord, I believe......' "
Later, Jesus said, " 'Where have you laid him?' They said to Him, 'Lord, come and see.' Jesus wept." Jesus wept. Jesus was so concerned that, even though He was about to raise Lazarus, He was touched by the scene.
And so, when we lose someone special, and I am feeling that today, we can at least know that Jesus understands. He loved Lazarus so much. And I sure know how He felt........
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Question re: Old Testament non-Jews
I received a question regarding people of the Old Testament who were not Jews; did they have access to God, and does the Bible address these people. The answer is that the Bible does address this, and they did have access to God.
We recognize that God did set aside the Jewish people, also called Hebrews or Israelites in the OT. Starting with Abraham and his descendants, the OT follows the happenings of the Jews down through history. And not only is the history recorded; God watches over His people, protects them as long as they sincerely try to follow Him. It would seem that one major reason that these people are singled out is that they are the lineage, the family, the forefathers of Jesus. This genealogy is recorded in Matthew 1 and Luke 3. Jesus was born a Jew, and He lived that way.
As for the other people who were not Jews, we see many references to them throughout the OT, but they typically are idol worshipers and not followers of the true God. In Romans 1, starting with verse 18, Paul is discussing the unrighteous people, saying, "..what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful." He then goes on to describe in some detail the evil that men get into when they don't follow God.
Another passage that gives us some understanding of the subject is found in Acts 17. In verse 22, we find Paul in Athens talking to a non-Jewish audience about the true God. The Athenians were idol worshipers and were quite confused about their beliefs. Paul said in verse 26, "..He has made from one blood every nation of men...so that they should seek the Lord." Speaking of idol worshipers, he says in verse 30, "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent."
So in Romans 1, he says that God's attributes have always been visible to all people. In Acts 17, it is emphasized that the time for excuses is over. All men are to follow God in the same way, i.e., through Jesus Christ.
I hope that this helps. Have a great week!
We recognize that God did set aside the Jewish people, also called Hebrews or Israelites in the OT. Starting with Abraham and his descendants, the OT follows the happenings of the Jews down through history. And not only is the history recorded; God watches over His people, protects them as long as they sincerely try to follow Him. It would seem that one major reason that these people are singled out is that they are the lineage, the family, the forefathers of Jesus. This genealogy is recorded in Matthew 1 and Luke 3. Jesus was born a Jew, and He lived that way.
As for the other people who were not Jews, we see many references to them throughout the OT, but they typically are idol worshipers and not followers of the true God. In Romans 1, starting with verse 18, Paul is discussing the unrighteous people, saying, "..what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful." He then goes on to describe in some detail the evil that men get into when they don't follow God.
Another passage that gives us some understanding of the subject is found in Acts 17. In verse 22, we find Paul in Athens talking to a non-Jewish audience about the true God. The Athenians were idol worshipers and were quite confused about their beliefs. Paul said in verse 26, "..He has made from one blood every nation of men...so that they should seek the Lord." Speaking of idol worshipers, he says in verse 30, "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent."
So in Romans 1, he says that God's attributes have always been visible to all people. In Acts 17, it is emphasized that the time for excuses is over. All men are to follow God in the same way, i.e., through Jesus Christ.
I hope that this helps. Have a great week!
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