TAKING GOD'S WORD AS A SINGLE MESSAGE!
IT IS ALL ABOUT JESUS, THE SON OF GOD!
Luke 24:25-27; 44-48 - Then He said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. - - - And He said unto them, These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me. Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.
John 1:43-45 - The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and found Philip, and said unto him, Follow Me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and said unto him, We have found Him, of whom Moses in the Law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
John 5:39 - Search the Scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.
John 14:6 (as I understand the verse) - Jesus said unto him, I AM The Way, I AM The Truth, and I AM The Life: no man comes unto the Father, but by Me.
Acts 4:8-12 - Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent (powerless) man, by what means he is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified, Whom God raised from the dead, even by Him does this man stand here before you whole. This is the Stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the Head of the Corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
2 Timothy 3:12-17 - Yes, and all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax (grow) worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But you continue in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them; and that from a child you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man (children) of God may be perfect, throughly (perfectly and thoroughly) furnished unto all good works.
RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH!
ALL SCRIPTURE HAS A CONTEXT!
John 1:17 - For the Law was given by Moses, but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
There are differences between the Jew, the Gentile and the Church of God.
There are differences between God's promises to different individuals.
There are differences between the seven dispensations (stewardships).
There are differences between the two advents of Christ.
There are differences between the two resurrections.
There are differences between the five judgments.
There are differences between Law and Grace.
There are differences between the believer's standing and his state.
There are differences between salvation and rewards.
There are differences between true believers and false professors.
God wanted Adam to take care of the Garden of Eden.
God wanted Noah to build an ark.
God wanted Abraham to go live in the Land of Promise.
God wanted Moses to free Israel from Egyptian bondage.
God wanted Joshua to conquer the inhabitants of the Land of Promise.
God wanted Israel to view Him as their King.
God wanted David to unite the tribes of Israel.
God wanted Solomon to build His Temple.
God wanted Ezra and Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem.
God wanted John the Baptizer to fulfill the prophecy concerning Elijah.
God wanted Israel to receive His Only Begotten Son.
God wanted the Apostle Paul to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles.
God wants those who truly believe in Him, to love others, even our enemies!
God's instructions differed in each case. God did not tell Adam about Noah. He did not tell Moses about the Church. Why then do most Christians try to claim what God said to Moses and the Old Testament Prophets, for themselves in this, the Church Age? The first rule of Bible study should be to study the context in which God related to individuals. Did it apply to everyone then? Now? There are differences between God's individual promises and His general principles for all believers. He revealed the Law to Israel to show that it is impossible to "work one's way to heaven." The Law teaches us that we all fall short of God's standards, and that we all need a Savior! The Old Testament is the foundation for the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God; He is God's provision of a Savior!
IT IS GOD'S WILL THAT ALL ACCEPT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!
HE HAS OFFERED HIM AS THE PAYMENT FOR OUR SINS!
WE CANNOT EARN HIS FAVOR BY RELIGIOUS WORKS!
WE CAN ONLY HUMBLY TRUST IN JESUS AND BE ETERNALLY THANKFUL!
WON'T YOU PUT YOUR TRUST IN HIM TODAY WHILE YOU STILL CAN?