Messiah’s First Appearance Was Prophecied

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Messiah’s First Appearance Was Prophecied Zechariah 9:9 9Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt the foal of an ass (ASV 1901).  This text is one of the most Messianic and significant passages in the entire Bible. Both Jewish and Christian Bible students commonly apply it this way. Judaism sees in it a basis for a royal single messianic appearance, whereas the New Testament and Christianity see a prophecy of the triumphal entry of Jesus …

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Question: “What is the conviction of sin?”

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Answer: The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin (John 16:8). To help us understand what the conviction of sin is, we can look at what it is not. First, it is not simply a guilty conscience or even shame over sin. Such feelings are naturally experienced by almost everyone. But this is not true conviction of sin. Second, conviction of sin is not a sense of trepidation or a foreboding of divine punishment. These feelings, too, are commonly experienced in the hearts and minds of sinners. But, again, true conviction of sin is …

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“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9

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Jesus, the great I AM, is the entrance into the true church, and the way of access to God himself. He gives to the man who comes to God by him four choice privileges. 1. He shall be saved. The fugitive manslayer passed the gate of the city of refuge, and was safe. Noah entered the door of the ark, and was secure. None can be lost who take Jesus as the door of faith to their souls. Entrance through Jesus into peace is the guarantee of entrance by the same door into heaven. Jesus is the only door, an …

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“I remember thee.” Jeremiah 2:2

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Let us note that Christ delights to think upon his Church, and to look upon her beauty. As the bird returneth often to its nest, and as the wayfarer hastens to his home, so doth the mind continually pursue the object of its choice. We cannot look too often upon that face which we love; we desire always to have our precious things in our sight. It is even so with our Lord Jesus. From all eternity “His delights were with the sons of men;” his thoughts rolled onward to the time when his elect should be born into the …

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Recognizing God’s Open Doors

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Suffering in our life can be an opportunity for unbelievers to witness God at work in us. Acts 16:16-34 16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name …

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GOD’S PERFECT TIMING

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“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:4,5 KJV). As today’s Scripture indicates, the birth of Jesus Christ was no accident—God planned its exact moment from eternity past. When God placed the first man, Adam, on earth, He purposed that man would “subdue [control] it,” to “have dominion” over it and everything on it (Genesis 1:28). Nevertheless, Adam sinned by joining Satan in his rebellion against God. Because …

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A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

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God wants a relationship with you—and paid a high price for it. 1 John 4:7-10 (KJV) 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be …

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Walking in Circles

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Reflections See, I have given into your hand Jericho….and you shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times. (Josh. 6:2-4) Jericho was the FIRST city taken by Israel upon entering the promised land by faith. As the FIRST – it stands as God’s template. Israel took this city without a shot being fired. It was all God. They were simply along for …

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Names of Jesus: The Redeemer

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A Bible Study by Jack Kelley Jesus had to be God to forgive our sins, but He had to be human to redeem us. “…our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:13b-14) The Messianic title Kinsman Redeemer originated from the Law specifying that only a close kinsman could redeem a person or his property (Lev. 25). Only with God as His father and Mary as His mother (Luke 1:31-32) could …

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“Before the Holy Spirit fixes the heart of a sinner upon Christ He first quickens him into newness of life (Ephesians 2:1-6)

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There must be life before there can be sight, believing, or good works performed. One who is physically dead is incapable of doing anything; so he who is spiritually dead is incapable of any spiritual exercises. First the giving of life unto dead Lazarus, then the removing of the grave-clothes which bound him hand and foot. God must regenerate before there can be a “new creature in Christ Jesus.” The washing of a child follows birth.” ~ Arthur Pink, “Practical Christianity”

“Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened.” Isaiah 48:8

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It is painful to remember that, in a certain degree, this accusation may be laid at the door of believers, who too often are in a measure spiritually insensible. We may well bewail ourselves that we do not hear the voice of God as we ought, “Yea, thou heardest not.” There are gentle motions of the Holy Spirit in the soul which are unheeded by us: there are whisperings of divine command and of heavenly love which are alike unobserved by our leaden intellects. Alas! we have been carelessly ignorant–“Yea, thou knewest not.” There are matters within which we ought …

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“Come unto me.” Matthew 11:28

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The cry of the Christian religion is the gentle word, “Come.” The Jewish law harshly said, “Go, take heed unto thy steps as to the path in which thou shalt walk. Break the commandments, and thou shalt perish; keep them, and thou shalt live.” The law was a dispensation of terror, which drove men before it as with a scourge; the gospel draws with bands of love. Jesus is the good Shepherd going before his sheep, bidding them follow him, and ever leading them onwards with the sweet word, “Come.” The law repels, the gospel attracts. The law shows the …

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An Introduction to The Bible and Theology

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This Winter starting on January 19th We will again be offering a robust course titled “An Introduction to The Bible and Theology.” It is designed as an introduction to the Bible for Seminary students. It will benefit Church elders, Sunday school teachers and serious lay people. This 15 week course will touch on all the key aspects of the Bible. On-Line lectures will be once a week for 2-3 hours on a webinar format and be taught by an outstanding faculty with many years of experience.