Monday, December 31, 2018

BELIEVE THE WHOLE BIBLE IS TRUE, AND OBEY THAT WITHIN IT THAT APPLIES TO YOU!


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 5:39Search 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 3:12-17Yes, 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 2:15Study 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?







Sunday, December 30, 2018

THE TRIBULATION IS FOR ISRAEL, NOT THE CHURCH!


PASSAGES WHICH HELP UNDERSTAND THE TRIBULATION!

Daniel 9:26-27 - (Daniel's Seventieth "Week")And after threescore and two weeks (sixty-nine "weeks of years") shall Messiah be cut off (the Crucifixion of Jesus, Israel's Christ), but not for Himself (Jesus was sinless - 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15 - He died for the sin of the whole world - Jn. 1:29; 1 Jn. 2:2):  and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary (the "prince that shall come will be from the territory ruled by the Roman Empire, as it was Rome that destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in A.D. 70); and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.  And he (the "Roman prince")shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (the seven-year Tribulation): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease (see Mt. 24:15; Rev. 13), and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Jeremiah 30:4-7 - (The Time of Jacob's Trouble) - And these are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah.  For thus says the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.  Ask now, and see whether a man does travail with child?  Wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail (Isa. 13:8; 21:3; 26:17), and all faces are turned into paleness?  Alas!  For that day is great, so that none is like it:  it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

Matthew 24:1-2 - The Jewish nature of the Tribulation) The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple predicted by Jesus.
Matthew 24:4-5 - The Jews will still be waiting for their Messiah.
Matthew 24:6 - Israel will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but not experience them due to their covenant with the "prince" (the Antichrist - 1 Jn. 2:18; Rev. 13:1-10).
Matthew 24:9 - Believers in Jesus will be persecuted in Jewish synagogues (Mk. 13:9; Lk. 21:12).
Matthew 24:14 - Israel is still awaiting the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant, that their Messiah will establish His kingdom and rule the world (Lk. 1:32).
Matthew 24:15-16 - Only in Israel's Temple could the abomination of desolation occur.  That sign is to be an alarm for Jews in Judea to flee.
Matthew 24:20 - Only Israel celebrates the Sabbath.
Matthew 24:23-26 - Israel still looking for their Messiah.
Matthew 24:27-31 - The event for which Israel is looking is described.

Revelation Chapters 4 - 19 do not mention the Church!  Chapters 2 - 3 discuss the Church and not Israel, with Chapter 4:1 being a picture of John, representing the Church Age, being caught up to heaven.  This is exactly like the removal of the Church (The Rapture) as described in John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54; and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18!

What we learn from all of this, is that God's 490 year dealings with Israel are interrupted by a parenthetical period known as the Church Age.  The Church Age will end with its removal, and the last seven years of the 490 will take place.  It is at the end of the completed 490 years that the Second Coming of Christ occurs, and following the destruction of Israel's enemies, He will establish the 1000 year reign known as the Millennial Kingdom (Rev. Ch. 20).  


SO, THE ORDER OF FUTURE EVENTS AS DESCRIBED IN THE BIBLE ARE:  
THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH; THE TRIBULATION OF ISRAEL; 
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST; THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM, AND ETERNITY (EITHER IN HEAVEN, OR IN THE LAKE OF FIRE!  
CHOOSE NOW TO TRUST IN JESUS, 
AND KNOW THAT YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY WITH HIM!



Saturday, December 29, 2018

QUESTIONS THE BIBLE DOES NOT ANSWER!


GOD HAS PROVIDED ALL A BELIEVER NEEDS TO KNOW!

Matthew 22:29-32 - Jesus answered and said unto them, You do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.  For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.  But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?  God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

John 20:30-31 - And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book:  but these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, you might have life through His name.

John 21:24-25This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things:  and we know that his testimony is true.  And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.  Amen.

Romans 1:16-17 - For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Gentile; non-Jew).  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:  as it is written,  The just shall live by faith.

Romans 15:4 - For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

Galatians 3:22-26 - But the Scripture has concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.  But before faith came, we were kept under the Law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.  Wherefore the Law was our school master to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a school master.  For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:15-17And 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, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

1 John 5:11-13And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He that has (faith in) the Son has life; and he that has not (faith in) the Son of God has not life.  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may (continue to) believe on the name of the Son of God.

Revelation 22:18-20 - For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:  and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.  He Who testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly.  Amen.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

SPEAK WITH AUTHORITY THAT WHICH THE BIBLE TEACHES;
BE SILENT CONCERNING QUESTIONS THE BIBLE DOES NOT ANSWER!

1 Timothy 6:20-21 - O Timothy, keep that which is committed to your trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called (debates from so-called science):  which some professing have erred concerning the faith.  Grace be with thee.  Amen.

2 Timothy 2:23But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strife (lead to conflict).

Titus 3:9 - But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the Law; for they are unprofitable and vain.


GOD HAS TOLD US ALL WE NEED TO KNOW 
ABOUT ALL WE NEED TO KNOW!