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Posts Tagged ‘Bible’

Easter in Genesis?

Posted in Bible, Easter, Genesis, Old Testament, tagged , , on March 21, 2012|

It is no mystery to the student of scripture that every book of the Bible has a little Easter running through it.  Easter is all about love, God’s love.

The heart of Easter pre-dates creation.  Before man was in need of a Savior, the God who loves enough to give us Easter was.

The need for Easter, however, can be found squarely in Genesis.  When man violated the one rule God had given him, man’s perfect fellowship with God was broken.  Easter represents man’s only hope, his one way back into that fellowship with God.

God is holy.  He alone is holy.  Sinful man* cannot approach or have close relationship with a holy God without dealing with his or her sin problem.  Sin is an abomination to God.

Just as darkness and light cannot co-exist in the physical realm, so holiness and sin cannot co-exist in the spiritual realm.

The promise of Easter is found in Genesis 3:15.  And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

*For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.  James 2:10

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What is your Easter I.Q.? (KEY)

Posted in Bible, Bible Quiz, Easter, tagged , , , , on March 19, 2012|

Here are the questions and answers to the Easter I.Q. Test:

1.  What Jewish holiday was Jesus celebrating right before his trial and subsequent crucifixion?  PASSOVER

2.  What event did the Prophet Zechariah foretell in his statement “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your King is lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.”  (Zechariah 9:9)  JESUS’ TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM

3.  What Easter-related event is predicted to the day in Daniel 9?  MESSIAH’S RIDING INTO JERUSALEM ON A DONKEY (REPRESENTING HIMSELF AS A KING OF PEACE)

4.  Where was Jesus taken first after his arrest? HOUSE OF ANNAS

5.  Upon whose testimony was Jesus sentenced to death?  HIS OWN.  THEY COULD NOT FIND TWO WITNESSES WHO AGREED AND JESUS FINALLY ANSWERED THE QUESTION, “ARE YOU THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD?” “IT IS AS YOU SAY.”

6.  To what representative of the Roman government was Jesus taken for permission to carry out the death sentence?  PONTIUS PILATE, ROMAN GOVERNOR

7.  What prisoner was released instead of Jesus at the request of the crowd?  What crimes was he accused of?  BARABAS, REBELLION, ROBBERY, MURDER

8.  How many men were crucified with Jesus?  THREE

9.  Who are two of the people (there were more than 2) at the cross when Jesus died? JOHN, MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS; MARY’S SISTER; MARY THE WIFE OF CLOPAS; AND MARY MAGDALENE.

10.  What is in the tomb where Jesus was laid after he died on the cross?  NOTHING.  THE TOMB IS EMPTY!  HALLELUJAH!  HE IS RISEN!

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What is your Easter I.Q.?

Posted in Bible, Bible Quiz, Easter, tagged , , , , on March 15, 2012|

Answer the following basic questions about Easter and find out your Easter I.Q. :

1.  What Jewish holiday was Jesus celebrating right before his trial and subsequent crucifixion?

2.  What event did the Prophet Zechariah foretell in his statement “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your King is lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.”  (Zechariah 9:9)

3.  What Easter-related event is predicted to the day in Daniel 9?

4.  Where was Jesus taken first after his arrest?

5.  Upon whose testimony was Jesus sentenced to death?

6.  To what representative of the Roman government was Jesus taken for permission to carry out the death sentence?

7.  What prisoner was released instead of Jesus at the request of the crowd?  What crimes was he accused of?

8.  How many men were crucified with Jesus?

9.  Who are two of the people (there were more than 2) at the cross when Jesus died?

10.  What is in the tomb where Jesus was laid after he died on the cross?

Be sure to write your answers down.  The key to the quiz will be in an upcoming  post.

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Slave by Choice

Posted in Poem, tagged , , , on February 29, 2012|

Long did I suffer,
bound hand and foot with heavy chains
Cruel master, unrelenting,
body and mind bent in subjection
Burdens too heavy to bear,
a prisoner with no escape, no hope
Longing for death,
one with the dirt beneath me
Stepping out of eternity,
according to His purposes, the King came
Offering a hand, He lifted me
offering water, He quenched my thirst
offering freedom, He broke my chains
offering life, I freely gave mine
Bond Servant to the Most High King
I am a slave for life
I am a slave by choice
Copyright 2012

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Romans 12: Acceptable to God

Posted in Bible, Bible Study, God, Romans, tagged , , on February 27, 2012|

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  Romans 12:1

Acceptable to God?  What does it mean to be acceptable to God?

The apostle Paul says “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.  Romans 14:17-18.

The “these things” appears to refer to verse 17, “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”  When we serve Christ in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, this is acceptable to God.

What does righteousness require?  Those who are righteous are in right standing before God.  They meet or match God’s standard of holiness and right conduct.

One doesn’t have to be a Bible scholar to know that no one can meet God’s standard.  The Bible teaches that there is none righteous.  Romans 3:10.   According to God, “all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.”  Isaiah 64:6

Therefore, since my own righteousness is insufficient, I must seek the righteousness of Christ.   When God looks at me, I want Him to see Christ’s righteousness, not my own.   How can this be accomplished?

Paul tells us in Romans:  For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.  For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  Romans 5:6-10.

So it is the blood . . . there is power in the blood . . . covered in the blood of the perfect sacrifice (Jesus), I can be seen by God as having the righteousness of Christ, the only one to ever meet God’s standard.

By grace I have been saved through faith, and that not of myself.  It is a gift of God, not of my works, lest I should try to take credit for the work Christ completed on the cross.

Hallelujah, What a Savior!

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Romans 12: Holy?

Posted in Attributes, Bible, God, Holy, Romans, tagged , , , on February 21, 2012|

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  Romans 12:1

What does it mean for me to be holy?

According to the dictionary, holy  is defined as:  “of, relating to, or associated with God or a deity.”  It can also mean “sacred” or “endowed or invested with extreme purity or sublimity; 3. devout, godly, or virtuous]

Often when I have heard holiness taught on, it is explained as being “Set apart to God” or the idea of being “separate” from the world and/or the things of the world.

But isn’t it usually God who is described as holy?    The answer is that God is holy, but the Bible is clear that the believer, the child of God, is to be holy as well.
  • Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love   Ephesians 1:4
  • That He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish  Ephesians 5:27
  • For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.  1 Thessalonians 4:7
  • But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,  because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”  1 Peter 1:15-16
 The idea of holiness among the children of God is not limited to the New Testament.  The following are Old Testament references that teach this as well:
  • Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.  Leviticus 19:2
  • For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy.  Leviticus 11:44
 Holiness is necessary in order to please God, and for that reason we need to diligently seek it in our lives.  Hebrews 12:12.

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Me, a priest?

Posted in Bible, Bible Study, Church, New Testament, Old Testament, tagged , , , , , on January 12, 2012|

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.   1 Peter 2:9

high priest

Peter, for all his awkwardness during the earthly ministry of Jesus, definitely pulled things together when he wrote his epistles.  This verse in his first epistle is just marvelous.  The whole section in 1 Peter 2 is worth an in-depth study.  The mention of us (the church) being a priesthood is especially interesting given its very “Jewish”  flavor.

Of course, there is nothing new under the sun and Peter lifted this imagery, probably very intentionally, from Exodus  19:5-6 where Moses is given this to tell the children of Israel by God:

 ‘Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

A couple of quick observations:

  • Priests in the Old Testament had privileges that no other member of the society Israel, namely they were the only ones with access to God and the only ones allowed to make sacrifices to God
  • The limited access to God of the Old Testament was represented by the separations in the Tabernacle (Gate, Court, Holy Place, Most Holy Place) and later the temple.  The veil represented the separation between God and man.  Only the High Priest could go past the veil into the Most Holy Place and then only once a year to make atonement for the people
  • When Jesus died on the cross, the veil was torn and the separation between God and man was removed
  • We have access to God by the shed blood of Jesus on the cross
Peter reminds us from whence we have come:  who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.  1 Peter 2:10  It is good news!

As a final thought, let us consider our purpose as this “chosen generation,”  “this royal priesthood,” and “this holy nation.”  For Peter does tell us the why:  “that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”  1 Peter 2:9

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Why a Savior?

Posted in Bible, Bible Basics, Christmas, Jesus, New Testament, Roman's Road, salvation, tagged , , , , on December 22, 2011|

The celebration of Christmas includes the understanding that the baby Jesus came to save, but that imbedded idea can be lost in the festivities.   Understanding why humanity needs a Savior can help us to keep our focus throughout the year on the Christmas message.

Why a Savior?

  • Because God is righteous and holy, and there are none who can meet His standard.  All men have turned their backs on God.  Romans 3:10-18.
  • Because all of humanity has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  Romans 3:23.
  • Because we are slaves to sin without Christ.  (Romans 6:6)
  • Because we lack the righteousness required to be in the presence of God, to dwell with Him for eternity.  2 Corinthians 5:21.

May you see clearly the darkness of your own soul and your total and utter helplessness to save your self, and therefore, your unquestionable need for a Savior – Jesus.

Merry Christmas!

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Christmas is only the beginning

Posted in Bible, Christmas, tagged , on December 20, 2011|

Christmas celebrates the day on which the prophecies of old, prophecies which promised that a Savior of God’s people would come, were finally fulfilled.   The fact that His birth, His life and His death are well documented in secular history is not a great surprise.   What is remarkable is that Jesus’ birth, ministry, death, resurrection and second coming were foretold many hundreds of years before His birth.  Fulfillment of these prophecies gives witness to His identity as the Messiah, the Promised One.

Christmas is the first part of  the story which will include both death and resurrection.  It is one of the most encouraging pictures of God’s faithfulness to His people, who were totally faithless and without hope.

But Christmas is also an indictment because He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.  He was light that came into the world, but men loved darkness more than light, so they rejected the light for it revealed the nature of their evil deeds and dark motives.

Even today, Jesus is a light to those who are searching for God, for relationship with God, but those who seek to do evil, those who seek after self-satisfaction and self-gain, they mock and reject the light, seeking instead to live in the darkness.  They are futile in their thoughts and their foolish hearts are darkened.

As you celebrate this Christmas, consider the “rest of the story” . . .

This baby Jesus will grow up and make His way to Calvary.  He will bring you to Easter Sunday.  Make sure you don’t leave Him at the manger, but follow Him to the cross . . . then to the tomb . . . and to the sky . . .  for this Jesus will ascend to the right hand of the Father.  He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end!

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Finding Genesis in the Christmas story

Posted in Bible, Books of the Bible, Christmas, Genesis, New Testament, Old Testament, tagged , , , , on December 19, 2011|

Don’t look so surprised.  Genesis is not some lofty preamble to the Bible, but rather it is its spine, giving support and reinforcement for many of the later events which are recorded in other books of the Bible.

In Luke 1, starting in verse 26, we read of the angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary and announcement of God’s plan for her life, a plan that would be the salvation of all.  In the exchange between Mary and Gabriel regarding this baby that she was to bear, we see a glimpse of Genesis 1.

Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”  And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you.”  Luke 1:34-35

In Genesis 1:2, we read “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”    Just before He created the world, God hovered.  Then in a moment, God spoke and the world was created.  It was His glory shown forth.

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.  Psalm 19:1

And so it was with Mary.  The Holy Spirit came upon her, the power of the Highest overshadowed her and the glory of God was once more shown forth.  God became man.  The Christ was born of a virgin, in Bethlehem, and a Great Light came to those in darkness.  Promises kept.

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.  1 Timothy 3:16

Jesus is the glory of God shown forth.  It was the glory of God to not spare His own son, but deliver Him up for us all that we might have the chance to know God, to fellowship with God, to live in the glory of God forever.

The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.  Revelation 21:23

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