Why did Jesus come?

Posted on December 26, 2023 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Luke 19:10  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

From Ken Sagely’s Facebook Post:

Blessed Be the Name / Christmas Day!

All praise to Him who reigns above
in majesty supreme, who gave His Son for man
to die, that He might redeem!

Why did Jesus come? why was he born in manger
in Bethlehem?

The Bible tells He came for 3 reasons:

1. To demonstrate God’s Love for us

1 John 4.9-10 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
the propitiation (sacrifice) for our sins.

2. To Save from sins

Matthew 1.21 And she shall bring forth a son , and
thou shalt call his name Jesus: for He shall Save
people from their sins.

Luke 19.10 For the Son of man
is come to seek and save that which was lost.

Mark 10.45 For even the Son of Man came not to be
ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a
ransom for many.

3. To Destroy the Works of the Devil

1 John 3.8 He that committeth sin is of the devil,
for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For
this purpose the Son of God was manifested,

Colossians 2.15
And having spoiled principalities and powers he
made a show of them openly triumphing over them
in it.

A MIGHTY FORTRESS
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing
our helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing .
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe–
His craft and pow’r are great, and armed with cruel
hate on earth is not his equal
DID we in our own strength confide our striving would
be losing, were not the right Man on our side, the Man of
God’s own choosing. Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, It is He—Lord Sabaoth His name, from

age to age same–and He must win the Battle.

That He might destroy the works of the devil:

Hebrews 2.14 For as much then as the children are
partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise
took part of the same; that through death he might
destroy him that had the power of death, that is,
devil;

Posted in Bible Promises, Ken Sagely contributions | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Daily Bible Nugget #809, John 1:11

Posted on December 25, 2023 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

John 1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

My Comment:

The most important thing in this life is to be certain you have truly received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior!

John 1:10  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

When Jesus came, the world “knew Him not.” The world today largely still does not know Him.

Make sure you personally know Him!

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (KJV)

Joh 17:3 Now eternal life means knowing you as the only true God and knowing Jesus your messenger as Christ. (Williams New Testament)

I wrote a very thorough post about John 17:3. False cults and religions often quote this verse to “prove” that Jesus cannot be God and that the doctrine of the Trinity is not true. Understanding John 17:3 and context proves the exact opposite of such false claims!

Eternal life means establishing and remaining in a personal and growing, deepening relationship with both the Father and the Son by continuing to grow in grace through the regular reading and studying of God’s Word in the Bible, and growing in our obedience to that written Word.

Failure to experience on a continuing basis this relationship of personally knowing the Father and His Son brings upon ourselves a very dire consequence: If we do not know the Father through His Son, the Son will ultimately pronounce that He never knew us:

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Joh 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Make sure you have received Him!

Make sure you also receive others:

Rom 15:7  Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

On this Christmas Day, be sure you are not holding grudges against anyone but rather extend love and forgiveness to others in your life and circle of contacts.

Was Jesus born on December 25?

Probably not.

But it is very possible that He was conceived in Mary’s womb on this very date, and born into this world as the man Christ Jesus nine months later, which would better fit the fact that shepherds were in their fields watching their flocks by night.

Luk 2:8  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Luk 2:9  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
Luk 2:10  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Luk 2:11  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Luk 2:12  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Luk 2:13  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Luk 2:14  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luk 2:15  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Luk 2:16  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

There are many other significant Bible passages that pertain to the birth of Christ, especially in the Old Testament, including:

Mic 5:1  Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.
Mic 5:2  But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Mic 5:3  Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.
Mic 5:4  And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
Mic 5:5  And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.
Mic 5:6  And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders.

The whole fifth chapter of Micah is of continuing relevance to Bible prophecy and worthy of your careful study.

Merry Christmas to all! May the joy of knowing that Christ is truly in your heart and life be your testimony this and every day.

Posted in Bible Prophecy, Christian Living, Daily Bible Nuggets, Practical Application Bible Studies, Principles of Christian Living | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Daily Bible Nugget #808, Acts 2:24

Posted on December 24, 2023 by Jerry


The Nugget:

Act 2:24  Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. (KJV)

Act 2:24  whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it. (WEB, World English Bible)

Act 2:24 but God raised Him up by loosing Him from the pangs of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held by the power of death. (Williams NT)

Act 2:24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. (ESV, English Standard Version)

Act 2:24 But God set him free from death and raised him to life. Death could not hold him in its power. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

It is helpful to verify the truthfulness of our chosen faith commitment (Romans 14:12) by comparing it to the emphasis seen in the written Word of God as found in the Bible, and particularly the New Testament.

Any religious faith which claims to be Biblical must share the same balance and emphasis the Bible itself contains.

I have found in my reading and study of the Bible that the emphasis in the New Testament is the Apostles’ witness to the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ “on the third day.”

By carefully following the cross references given in center-column reference Bibles and other Bible study cross reference resources like The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge just newly released in printed book form this year (2023) and available on Amazon or The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury available for the e-Sword free Bible software as a premium module from e-Studysource.com you can easily verify that the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ bodily from the dead is the single consistent note present in all their witness–not the necessity of observing the Seventh Day Sabbath!

Here is the evidence to back my claim:

Acts 2:32
32  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
King James Version

Acts 3:15
15  And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
King James Version

Acts 3:26
26  Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
King James Version

Acts 4:10
10  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
King James Version

Acts 4:33
33  And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
King James Version

Acts 5:30
30  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
King James Version

Acts 10:40-41
40  Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41  Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
King James Version

Acts 13:30
30  But God raised him from the dead:
King James Version

Act 13:26  Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
Act 13:27  For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.
Act 13:28  And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.
Act 13:29  And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.
Act 13:30  But God raised him from the dead:
Act 13:31  And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.
Act 13:32  And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,
Act 13:33  God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
Act 13:34  And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.
Act 13:35  Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Acts 17:30
30  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Acts 17:31
31  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
King James Version

Acts 26:23
23  That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
King James Version

Psalms 40:2
2  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
King James Version

Psalms 71:20
20  Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
King James Version

Psalms 105:20
20  The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.
King James Version

Matthew 17:23
23  And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.
King James Version

Matthew 27:63
63  Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
King James Version

Mark 9:31
31  For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
King James Version

Luke 24:3
3  And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
King James Version

Luke 24:5-6
5  And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
6  He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
King James Version

Luke 24:15
15  And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
King James Version

Luke 24:25-26
25  Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
King James Version

Luke 24:39-40
39  Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
40  And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
King James Version

John 2:19-22
19  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20  Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21  But he spake of the temple of his body.
22  When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
King James Version

John 10:17
17  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
John 10:18
18  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
King James Version

John 20:9
9  For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
King James Version

Romans 1:4
4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
King James Version

Romans 4:24-25
24  But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25  Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
King James Version

Romans 6:4
4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
King James Version

Romans 6:9
9  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
King James Version

Romans 8:11
11  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
King James Version

Romans 8:34
34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
King James Version

Romans 10:9
9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
King James Version

Romans 14:9
9  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
King James Version

1 Corinthians 6:14
14  And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
King James Version

1 Corinthians 15:4
4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
King James Version

1 Corinthians 15:12-15
12  Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15  Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
King James Version

2 Corinthians 4:14
14  Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
King James Version

Galatians 1:1
1  Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead; )
King James Version

Ephesians 1:20
20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
King James Version

Colossians 2:12
12  Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
King James Version

1 Thessalonians 1:10
10  And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
King James Version

2 Timothy 2:8
8  Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
King James Version

Hebrews 13:20
20  Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
King James Version

1 Peter 1:21
21  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
King James Version

Posted in Apologetics Issues--Other Faiths, Apologetics--Christian, Daily Bible Nuggets, Doctrinal Discussions, How to Study the Bible, Verse-by-Verse Studies | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Daily Bible Nugget #807, Acts 2:32

Posted on December 21, 2023 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Acts 2:32  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

The Seventh Day Adventist Claim:

EG responded to me:

sure I do not like you. Firstly, if the apostles didn’t kept the sabbath did you think the Jews will not go after them when they persecuted Jesus only to heal in Sabbath? The Bible is clear that the first disciples kept the Saabbth from the resurrection all over the book of Acts . Mat 24:20, Acts 18:4. The issue of your interpretation is that you don’t know that the Sabbath day started prior of three Law, from the Creation Gen 2 , and the commandment says remember the sabbath day, means something already known or in place .

My Response:

You have not carefully addressed the challenge I gave you:

“There is no record in the New Testament that Christians ever met for Christian worship on the Sabbath.”

Your response was:

“The Bible is clear that the first disciples kept the Saabbth from the resurrection all over the book of Acts . Mat 24:20, Acts 18:4.”

It would likely be more correct to say that the first disciples kept the Sabbath until the resurrection.

You make reference to Matthew 24:20,

Mat 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

This is a specifically Jewish reference in the Olivet Discourse. The difficulty for the Jews should their flight happen to take place on the Sabbath involves the fact that Jews in that day were forbidden to travel farther than “a Sabbath day’s journey,” about a mile.

It also involves the difficulty for Jews in that day because of the fact that the gates of the cities through which they must pass to travel the roads to flee would be shut, making escape difficult.

Matthew 24:20 has nothing to do with the supposed proper day of worship for Bible believing Christians of today. We are obviously not living under those circumstances which they faced back then.

You make reference to Acts 18:4,

Act 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

When Paul reasoned every Sabbath in the synagogue, Paul was not present in the synagogue for the purpose of explicitly Christian worship (which involved partaking of the Lord’s Supper), but for witness to the Jews in obedience to the command of Christ found in Acts 1:8,

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Paul was witnessing to the Jew first. The best place to find a group of Jews would be in a Jewish synagogue on the Sabbath day.

The Fourth Commandment is not found anywhere in the book of Genesis, contrary to your implied claim.

The Bible itself claims that the Sabbath commandment was first given on Mount Horeb to Moses, never before:

Deu 5:2 The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.

Deu 5:3 The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.

but with us. This is a most clear statement that the Law was given first on this occasion at Mount Horeb to Moses, and never given at a prior time, including the Sabbath commandment, an affirmation confirmed by the combined witness of the following Bible references:

Nehemiah 9:13

13 Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:

King James Version

Nehemiah 9:14

14 And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant:

King James Version

Ezekiel 20:9-12

9 But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

10 Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.

11 And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.

12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.

King James Version

Ezekiel 20:20

20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.

King James Version

Malachi 4:4

4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

King James Version

The Sabbath Commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy, a commandment observed every week, does not appear in the book of Genesis. Such a command was first given to Israel when the Ten Commandments were given to Moses on Mount Horeb, as the Scripture references I have given you directly state.

 

EG replied to me:

you are so obsessed with your indoctrination that you ignored the Scriptures

Exodus 16 is before the 10 commandments (Exodus 20) so is not logic according to your reasoning that they kept the sabbath before

”And so it was, on the sixth day, that they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one. And all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you will bake today, and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves all that remains, to be kept until morning.’ ” Then Moses said, “Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none.” See! For the Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days. Let every man remain in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.” So the people rested on the seventh day.“

Exodus 16:22-23, 25-26, 29-30 NKJV

 

EG further responded to me:

non commandment was given in the Genesis but Cain was condemned for murder, they knew what was adultery (Abraham wife), etc. don’t be close minded.

If no commandment about murder why Cain was condemned?

 

My response to EG:

Very clearly, your belief directly contradicts the explicit statement given in Deuteronomy 5:3,

Deu 5:3 The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.

“This covenant,” which contained the Ten Commandments, was not made “with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.”

I furnished you with additional passages in the Bible which confirm this explicit statement of Moses, including Nehemiah 9:13, 14; Ezekiel 20:9-12, 20; Malachi 4:4.

The text of the book of Genesis does not contain the Sabbath commandment regarding a weekly day of rest. There is no evidence in the book of Genesis of any regular observance of such a day.

By necessary inference we can discern that in Patriarchal Times the Patriarchs (“our fathers”) had knowledge of the true God. They were aware of the use of altars, animal sacrifices, prayer, the tithe, and some of the basic morality later enshrined in the Ten Commandments. But what we now call the Fourth Commandment regarding the strict observance of a weekly Sabbath we find no trace.

 

My further response to EG:

If, as you claim, the Sabbath Law was already well-known to the Israelites before the Ten Commandment Law was given to Moses at Mount Sinai after the Exodus from Egypt, how do you explain the necessity to “remember the Sabbath” given with great particularity including dire consequences for failure to obey the directive if the Israelites already were most familiar with that Law?

Rather, as I have stated, and I have proved from Deuteronomy 5:3 and several confirmatory statements from the Old Testament itself, the Sabbath Commandment, the Fourth Commandment, was not made known to the fathers who lived before those assembled at Sinai when the Ten Commandments were first given.

In regard to the issues Paul addressed in the book of Galatians, you stated:

“Secondly, the problem in Galatian’s was not the Sabbath but the ceremonial laws, and they want to go back to the old system.”

First, the Galatians were Gentile believers so they were never in a position to “go back to the old system” for they had never been part of it. Rather, they were being deceived by those who were Judaizers who brought false doctrine accompanied by false practice.

Second, the practice Paul sternly warned against was the matter of observing the weekly seventh day Sabbath in obedience to the Law of Moses, which the Judaizers insisted was required for salvation.

Unfortunately, Seventh Day Adventists have sided with the Judaizers in this matter and are guilty of doctrinal apostasy in their mistaken emphasis upon the Sabbath.

 

EG responded:

as you deflected from my previous comment I will repeat again. Who Cain was condemned if not commandment was given ?

Exodus 16 is before Exodus 20 (Ten Commandments)so is evident that the observance of Sabbath was prior. Or you still want to argue that’s ?

Nevertheless, you make one good point why he has to remember? As you may know they were in Egypt as slaves and they kind of merge with the egipcias culture and was very difficult to slave to keep the Sabbath.

Again the Sabath is prior to the 10 commandments and came directly from the Creation since God rested the sabbath but some may think they are above Him

 

I responded to EG:

That Cain in fact was condemned for murder shows that long before the Ten Commandments were given to Moses, God had revealed or conveyed much truth to the Patriarchs. This truth included a knowledge about the coming Messiah (Genesis 3:15). We read of altars, sacrifices, the tithe, monogamy as opposed to polygamy (which Jesus also appealed to on the basis of Genesis 2:24 in Mark 10:6-8), but in the book of Genesis itself there is no mention of a weekly observance of a Sabbath day of rest.

In the New Testament, the Seventh Day Sabbath Commandment is NEVER ONCE listed in any of the several listings of the Ten Commandments, and is NEVER stated in the imperative mood of command.

In order for us today to be in line with, in conformity with, and obedient to the truth as it is now given to us in the New Testament, it is necessary for us to maintain the balance of truth in our teaching as it is found in the New Testament itself.

The New Testament itself emphasizes the apostolic witness to the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the grave “on the third day” (Luke 24:21. Acts 2:32). This is the message of the Gospel that must be believed in order to be saved (Romans 10:9, 10). Observance of the Seventh Day Sabbath is never seen in the New Testament as any part of the Gospel message.

Posted in Apologetics Issues--Other Faiths, Apologetics--Christian, Daily Bible Nuggets, Doctrinal Discussions, Sabbath Issues | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Daily Bible Nugget #806, Galatians 4:10

Posted on December 14, 2023 by Jerry


The Nugget:

Gal 4:10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. (KJV)

My Comment:

I read today in a Facebook post claims regarding the beliefs of Seventh Day Adventists taken from Testimonies for the Church, pages 223-224.

No name which we can take will be appropriate but that which accords with our profession and expresses our faith and marks us a peculiar people. The name Seventh-day Adventist is a standing rebuke to the Protestant world. Here is the line of distinction between the worshipers of God and those who worship the beast and receive his mark. The great conflict is between the commandments of God and the requirements of the beast. It is because the saints are keeping all ten of the commandments that the dragon makes war upon them. If they will lower the standard and yield the peculiarities of their faith, the dragon will be at peace; but they excite his ire because they have dared to raise the standard and unfurl their banner in opposition to the Protestant world, who are worshiping the institution of papacy.

Testimonies for the Church (Vol. 1, p. 223). (1855). Pacific Press Publishing Association.

There is more, but you can see that I have this material in my Logos Bible software library.

My Response to the Opening Post which contained the above material:

Unfortunately, most Christians, and many of our pastors are not equipped to answer the mistaken claims of the SDA’s. For those who have access to my published resource, The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury, available as a premium module for the free e-Sword Bible software program, you may find my note at Galatians 4:10 helpful.

I have also answered SDA’s claims in discussions on my Real Bible Study site.

Response to my comment by EG:

[It] is easy to make a claim of “false claims” and you think any reasonable people will buy it ? Is just your opinion. Regardless, I refer to my previous comment. God bless you

My Response to EG:

You will carefully note that in my comment I shared where I have placed my careful claims about SDA. Reasonable people who are concerned about these important issues will take the time to check things out for themselves.

What I claim is not “just [my] opinion”!

Here is the referenced Note for Galatians 4:10 from my Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

years. Sabbatic years, and years of jubilee. While it is improbable that the Galatian churches had actually been observing a year of jubilee, yet if they observed the least of the ceremonial days, they acknowledged the principle, and it was as though they had observed them all. The Apostle had heretofore mentioned only circumcision as indicative of the declension of the Galatian believers. But of course they could not draw the line at that; once they put themselves under the law, they became debtors to do all the law enjoined (Gal 5:3). Moreover, the religious observance of days [including the Sabbath] is inconsistent with the spirit of the gospel; to keep a day is a tacit admission that that day is, in some sense, holier than other days, whereas, to the Christian, every day is holy (see Hogg & Vine, pp. 202, 203).

Paul received his doctrine directly by revelation from our Lord Jesus Christ (Gal 1:12). The gospel Paul preached and taught did not include the necessity of Sabbath observance. Paul criticizes the Galatians for listening to the Judaizers that had come among them, and warned them that to follow their lead would be to deny Christ, and lose the benefit of Christ’s death for them (Gal 2:21; Gal 5:2), and make Paul’s labour to bring them the gospel utterly in vain (Gal 4:11). Falling from grace (Gal 5:4) surely means loss of salvation.

Paul nowhere in Galatians suggests that the Galatians had gone this far (Gal 3:26), and speaks of them as brethren (Gal 4:12), but the warning is clear. While Paul grants some degree of liberty in the matter of choice of day of worship (see Rom 14:5, 6), yet he clearly teaches here that to observe the Sabbath as a matter of keeping the Fourth Commandment is to turn back, thus to turn away from Christ, to place one under bondage (Gal 4:9).

It is very striking that the Fourth Commandment is never once given as a command in the New Testament, though the other nine are repeated as commands for Christians [(1) Exo 20:3 with Col 3:5 and 1Jn 5:21; (2) Exo 20:4 with Act 17:29 and 2Co 6:16, 17; (3) Exo 20:7 with Rom 2:24, 1Ti 6:1, and Jas 5:12; (4) Exo 20:8 but not enjoined in the NT, though mentioned as observed by Jesus (Luk 4:16) and the Jews (Luk 23:56); (5) Exo 20:12 with Luk 18:20 and Eph 6:1, 2; (6) Exo 20:13 with Mar 10:19 and Rom 13:9; (7) Exo 20:14 with Mat 5:27, 28 and Jas 2:11; (8) Exo 20:15 with Mat 19:18 and Rom 13:9; (9) Exo 20:16 with Luk 18:20 and Rom 13:9; (10) Exo 20:17 with Luk 12:15 and Rom 7:7; Rom 13:9].

Christians never met for specifically Christian worship on the Sabbath in order to keep the Sabbath. In obedience to the command of Christ (Acts 1:8), Jewish Christians attended the Synagogue on the Sabbath for witness to the Jews, not for Christian worship. They regularly met upon the first day of the week (Act 20:7 note. 1Co 16:2) for Christian worship and fellowship.

The Sabbath was never changed to Sunday. Jews still worship on the Sabbath, but properly taught Christians worship Christ on the First Day of the week, and have done so since the beginning of the New Testament Church. See related note at Isa 58:13 note. Lev 25:2, 3, 4, 5; Lev 25:8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17.

Posted in Apologetics Issues--Other Faiths, Apologetics--Christian, Daily Bible Nuggets, Doctrinal Discussions, False Religions, Sabbath Issues | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Daily Bible Nugget #805, Isaiah 26:4

Posted on December 12, 2023 by Jerry


The Nugget:

Isa 26:4  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

My Comment:

One of the most helpful ways to study the Bible is to make use of cross references. Cross references are “links” to other verses or passages in the Bible that are connected in some way to the verse being studied.

Below I share the cross references for Isaiah 26:4 as they are given in four different published Bible study resources: (1) The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (1836); (2) The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (1992 & 2023); (3) Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible (2007); (4) The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury (2016).

The easiest resource to use for beginners is likely The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. I developed the other three newer resources with the intent to provide more cross references. The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury has many more cross references and notes than any of the other resources. Having more cross  references gives the user a greater sampling of the other verses in the Bible which explain the verse under study–in this case, Isaiah 26:4.

Here are the cross references given for Isaiah 26:4.

Cross references for Isaiah 26:4 from the original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

Isaiah 26:4
Trust: Isa 12:2, Isa 50:10; 2Ch 20:20, 2Ch 32:8; Psa 55:22, Psa 62:8; Pro 3:5, 6

in the: Isa 45:17, Isa 45:24, Isa 63:1; Job 9:19; Psa 46:1, Psa 62:11, Psa 66:7, Psa 93:1, Psa 125:1; Mat 6:13; Mat 28:18; Php 4:13

everlasting strength: Heb. the Rock of ages. Isa 17:10, Isa 32:2; Deut 32:4, Deut 32:15; 1Sa 2:2; Psa 18:2

Cross references for Isaiah 26:4 from The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

Isaiah 26:4
Trust. Is ✓Isa 12:2; *Isa 50:10; 2Ch 13:18; +*2Ch 20:20; 2Ch 32:8; Psa 46:1; Psa 55:22; *Psa 62:8; Psa 91:2; Psa 115:9, 10, 11; Psa 118:8; Psa 118:9; ✓Pro 3:5; Pro 3:6; Rom 4:20; Rom 4:21

for ever. Heb. olam plural, +Psa 61:4. +Psa 9:18 (❅H5703, ad).

in the Lord Jehovah. Isa 12:2; Isa 45:17; Isa 45:24; Isa 63:1; Exo 3:13; Exo 3:14; Exo 6:3; Job 9:19; Psa 46:1; Psa 62:11; Psa 66:7; Psa 83:18; Psa 93:1; Psa 125:1; Mat 6:13; Mat 28:18; *Php 4:13

everlasting strength. Heb. the Rock of ages. ƒ22 (L3), +Deut 32:31. F/L Isa 17:10; Isa 30:29; Isa 32:2; Isa 44:8; Deut 32:4; Deut 32:15; Deut 32:18; Deut 32:30; Deut 32:31 ≥℘. 1Sa 2:2; 2Sa 23:3; Psa 18:2; Psa 18:46; Psa 62:1; Psa 62:2; Psa 144:1 mg. Hab 1:12; Mat 6:13; =Mat 16:18; =1Co 10:4; *Php 4:13; Heb 13:8

Cross references for Isaiah 26:4 from Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible:

Isaiah 26:4
Trust. Is 12:2. 50:10. 2 Ch 13:18. +2 Ch 20:20. 32:8. Ps 46:1. 55:22. 62:8. 91:2. 115:9, 10, 11. 118:8, 9. Pr 3:5, 6. Ro 4:20, 21.

for ever. Heb. olam plural, +Ps 61:4. +Ps 9:18 (S#5703h, ad).

in the Lord Jehovah. Is 12:2. 45:17, 24. 63:1. Ex 3:13, 14. 6:3. Jb 9:19. Ps 46:1. 62:11. 66:7. 83:18. 93:1. 125:1. Mt 6:13. 28:18. Phil 4:13.

everlasting strength. Heb. the Rock of ages. Is 17:10. 30:29. 32:2. 44:8. Dt 32:4, 15, 18, 30, 31. 1 Sa 2:2. 2 Sa 23:3. Ps 18:2, 46. 62:1, 2. 144:1 mg. Hab 1:12. Mt 6:13. 16:18. 1 Co 10:4. Phil 4:13. He 13:8.

 

Cross references for Isaiah 26:4 from the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Isaiah 26:4
Trust. **Isa 12:2; *Isa 50:10; Isa 57:13, Gen 22:3, 2Ch 13:18; 2Ch 14:11; +*2Ch 20:20; 2Ch 32:8, Psa 2:12; Psa 4:5; +**Psa 9:10 note. Psa 11:1; Psa 16:1; Psa 46:1; Psa 55:22; *Psa 62:8; Psa 86:2; Psa 91:2; Psa 112:7; Psa 115:9, 10, 11; Psa 118:8, 9, **Pro 3:5; **Pro 3:6; Pro 16:20; Pro 22:19, Jer 17:7, Rom 4:20, 21.

in the. +*Exo 20:3.

Lord. Heb. Jah. Isa 12:2; Isa 38:11, +Exo 15:2, Psa 68:4.

for ever. Heb. olam plural, +Psa 61:4. +Psa 9:18 (*S# H5703, ad). Deut 33:27, Psa 131:3.

in the Lord Jehovah. Isa 12:2; Isa 45:17; Isa 45:24; Isa 63:1, Exo 3:13, 14; Exo 6:3, Job 9:19, Psa 46:1; Psa 62:11; Psa 66:7; Psa 83:18; Psa 93:1; Psa 125:1, Mat 6:13; Mat 28:18, *Php 4:13.

everlasting strength. Heb. the Rock of ages. FS22L3, +Deut 32:31. F/L Isa 17:10; Isa 30:29; Isa 32:2; Isa 44:8, Deut 32:4; Deut 32:15; Deut 32:18; Deut 32:30, 31 <rp. 1Sa 2:2, 2Sa 23:3, Psa 18:2; Psa 18:46; Psa 59:9; Psa 62:1, 2; Psa 62:7; Psa 144:1 mg. Pro 18:10, Hab 1:12, Mat 6:13; =Mat 16:18, Luk 6:48, Rom 1:20, =1Co 10:4, *Php 4:13, **Heb 13:8.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #804, Isaiah 26:4

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Isa 26:4  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

From Ken Sagely’s Facebook post:

DAILY LIGHT ISAIAH 26.4
Trust ye in the Lord forever:
for in the Lord Jehovah is
everlasting strength.

Trust Cross references:

Isaiah 12.2
Behold, God is my salvation,
I will Trust and not be afraid;
for Yah, the LORD is my strength and song;

He also has become my salvation.

ISAIAH 50.10
Who is among you fears the Lord?
Who obeys the voice of His Servant?
Who walks in darkness And has no light?
Let him Trust in the name of the Lord
and rely upon his God.

2 CHRONICLES 20.20
Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be
established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

PSALM 55.22
Cast your burden upon the LORD,
and He shall sustain you:
He shall never permit the the righteous
to be moved.

PROVERBS 3.5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and lean not on your own understanding
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths

PSALM 46.1
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.

PSALM 66.7
He rules by his power forever
His eyes observe the nations;
Do not let the rebellious
exalt themselves.

MATTHEW 28.18
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying,
All authority as been given to Me in heaven
and earth.

PHILIPPIANS 4.13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION
How Firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord
is laid for your faith in His excellent word! What
more can He say than to you He hath said–to you,
for refuge to Jesus have fled?

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Daily Bible Nugget #803, Hebrews 5:7

Posted on December 8, 2023 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Hebrews 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; (KJV)

My Comment:

Anyone who has carefully read the New Testament, or even the Bible as a whole, knows immediately as they read Hebrews 5:7 that this verse does not say that Jesus was saved from death, therefore He did not die on the Cross!

Let this be a careful warning to every reader of the Bible that the Bible must be read in its total context.

I encourage everyone to read the New Testament in its entirety for themselves. Yes, contrary to the teaching of some churches and religious organizations, the Bible can be understood by the ordinary person who will read it regularly and faithfully.

Based on my experience going back to August of 1953, I recommend that you read the New Testament long enough each day (at least a total of 20 minutes) and often enough each week (at least four days a week) on a continuing basis to get the great benefit such Bible reading can provide to your life.

The Challenge:

I read an Opening Post that brought up Hebrews 5:7 on a Christian and Muslim discussion site. Muslims make a fatal mistake when reading Hebrews 5:7 by not following the Rules of Interpretation I have discussed here in the October 2010 Archives found on the right-hand side of every page on this site. Many Muslims apparently believe that Hebrews 5:7 proves that Jesus prayed that He would not die, and God answered that prayer and saved Jesus from death on the Cross.

Let me share the discussion I had with the author of the Opening Post. I furnish absolute proof based upon the grammar of the underlying Greek text of Hebrews 5:7 that what Muslims believe about this Bible text is utterly mistaken.

The Discussion:

From the Opening Post:

*During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.(Hebrew 5:7) This verse clearly indicates Jesus was saved.

*There are no single reference where Jesus said “I will be killed” or “I will die for your sin” or any other direct reference to himself. Instead he always said “ Son of Man” which is not a definite evidence of Jesus himself.

Even more interesting is when I ask a Christian to explain it, every Christian will have a different answer. Seems like it’s not important what Bible says or what Jesus said about but it’s all about how to make it look good and logical regardless of verifiable evidence.

 

My Response:

Your interesting questions can be answered by carefully reading and studying the New Testament as well as the Old Testament.

Jesus foretold His manner of death. Jesus predicted He would arise bodily from the dead “on the third day.” This was well-known to His enemies. Otherwise, why did His enemies take special care to guard the tomb where He was placed?

If even His enemies understood this at the time, why is it that you do not understand this now?

Jesus predicted His own death and resurrection.

You think He was wrong in His predictions.

Was Jesus a false prophet?

Post author’s response to me:

if Jesus already knew when and where he will be killed, why he fled to Egypt from King Herod ?
He should have known that his killer is not Herod and not the time yet.

My reply:

The flight to Egypt was advised if not commanded by an angelic message to Joseph when Jesus, humanly speaking, was just an infant.

Pro 22:3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Post author’s response to me:

Angel clearly said Herod planned to kill Jesus and that’s why Jesus went to Egypt

My reply:

Jesus was taken to Egypt to preserve His life as an infant when threatened by Herod. That represents no weakness on the part of our Lord Jesus Christ but prudence on the part of his parents who heeded the warning brought by the angel.

Above, you stated:

“*There are no single reference where Jesus said “I will be killed” or “I will die for your sin” or any other direct reference to himself. Instead he always said “ Son of Man” which is not a definite evidence of Jesus himself. “

You need to read the New Testament in the manner I suggested so you can understand it more accurately:

Read the New Testament long enough each day (at least a total of 20 minutes) and frequently enough each week (at least four days a week) on a continuing basis to get the benefit of the new spiritual life it will bring.

Your statement that “”*There are no single reference where Jesus said “I will be killed” or “I will die for your sin” or any other direct reference to himself” represents a flaw in your logic that is called “the exact word fallacy.” Jesus repeatedly predicted both His death and His bodily resurrection “on the third day.”

Jesus used the title “Son of man” repeatedly of Himself, starting at Matthew 8:20,

Mat 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

When this title is used in the Gospels it is always a reference to our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a title taken by our Lord Jesus Christ from Daniel 7:13-14,

Daniel 7:13-14
13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
King James Version

Post author’s reply:

God can be threatened by human ?

My Reply:

That may be a “loaded question”!

God the Father can not be threatened by man:

Psa 2:2 Kings take their stands. Rulers make plans together against the LORD and against his Messiah by saying,
Psa 2:3 “Let’s break apart their chains and shake off their ropes.”
Psa 2:4 The one enthroned in heaven laughs. The Lord makes fun of them. God’s Word translation

God the Son, Jesus the Messiah, likewise could not and cannot be threatened by man:

John 7:6
6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
King James Version

John 7:30
30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
King James Version

John 8:20
20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
King James Version

John 10:17-18
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
King James Version

Post author’s response:

such a long essay to avoid answering
Father can’t be threatened but son can two different types of God ?

My reply:

What I presented is hardly a long essay! I demonstrated that neither the Father nor the Son can be threatened. I gave you direct references quoted in full to support my answer to your challenge.

Now as to “such a long essay”–that well describes your Opening Post.

You refer to Hebrews 5:7 and make the mistaken interpretation that Hebrews 5:7 asserts that Jesus did not die because His prayers were answered.

The problem with that interpretation is that it does not agree with the grammar of the underlying Greek text. Where most English translations read “able to save him FROM death,” the Greek text actually reads “able to save him OUT OF death.”

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; (King James Version)

More accurate or more literal translations properly read “out of death”:

Heb 5:7 For during His human life He offered up prayers and entreaties, crying aloud with tears to Him who was always able to save Him out of death, and because of His beautiful spirit of worship His prayer was heard. (Williams New Testament)

Heb 5:7 Who, in the days of his flesh, having offered up, both supplications and entreaties unto him that was able to save him out of death, with mighty outcries and tears, and been hearkened to by reason of his devoutness, (Rotherham, Emphasized Bible)

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of His flesh, having offered up both prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to the One being able to save Him out of death and having been heard because of His obedient fellowship, (Lavender’s New Testament)

The correct translation is not FROM death, for the Greek word is EK, not APO. He went down INTO DEATH but was saved OUT OF (Greek, EK) it by resurrection, as explained in the margin note of the Companion Bible.

Post author’s reply to me:

verse clearly says he left because Herod was planning to kill Jesus

My reply:

I suspect you already said this.

Jesus, according to the New Testament record, was fully human and fully divine. He had two natures in one Person. In theology this is called the hypostatic union.

As an infant, the human Jesus was under the care of Joseph and Mary. This was by divine appointment.

Are you suggesting that Joseph and Mary should have disregarded and disobeyed the warning given to Joseph by the angel that for the child’s safety he and Mary should escape to Egypt until the danger was past?

That would be to tempt God in the same manner the devil or Satan suggested to Jesus during the temptation in the wilderness that Jesus jump off the temple:

Mat 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
Mat 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Mat 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Satan knew how to quote what the Bible says, but in doing so, he revealed that he does not choose to follow the rules of interpretation.

In turn, Jesus answered Satan’s challenge by properly quoting applicable Scripture that settled the matter.

My Conclusion:

It is clear that the Muslim author was not able to follow an argument and answer it.

As part of the Opening Post the Muslim author criticized how Christians have failed to meet his challenges then concluded with a text from the Koran:

Some Christians will come up with a counter question or find every possible excuse to avoid answering. Some Christians will get angry or come up with silly question like “How many wives Muhammad had ?”
I wonder what his marriage has to do with the crucifixion of Jesus ? It’s like asking a woman about her weight. Anger or insult should be expected instead of logical fact based answers. Truth should make me proud and confident facing any difficult questions. If I find myself dodging a question or embarrassed to give a clear honest answer, I can’t claim to defend truth.

This can be summarized by this verse in Quran 4:157,

“those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.”

I find it very interesting that the very criticisms he makes about how Christians fail to meet his arguments or answer his questions are the very things he has done in this discussion with me!

If the Koran teaches that Jesus did not die on the cross, then the Koran contradicts the New Testament record, and on this point at least the Koran is proven wrong.

Posted in Apologetics Issues--Other Faiths, Bible Historicity and Validity, Daily Bible Nuggets, Doctrinal Discussions, False Religions, How to Interpret the Bible Correctly, How to Study the Bible | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Daily Bible Nugget #802, Matthew 24:34

Posted on December 6, 2023 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

My Initial Comment:

This verse (Matthew 24:34) appears to be one of the main “proof texts” of those who believe in a prophetic school known as preterism.

In notes I have provided in my Bible study resource, The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury, I describe preterism this way in my note on Revelation 4:1,

Interpreters differ widely in their understanding of the book of Revelation. Four major schools or systems of interpretation have been:

(1) the preterist, which takes all the events in the book to have been fulfilled in John’s own day, the position held by many respected scholars and critics;

(2) the historicist, which understands the prophecy to be in continuous fulfillment from John’s day to the end of history;

(3) the idealist, or spiritual scheme of interpretation, which takes the prophecies not as prophetic of future events but places a “spiritual” interpretation upon them, believing they reveal timeless truth about the conflict between good and evil, the spiritual history of the church, the ultimate victory of Christ over the powers of darkness, and are meant to provide spiritual comfort in times of trial;

(4) the futurist, which holds that the majority of the book deals with end-time events which are still future.

Most Bible-believing Christians today would probably opt either for the historicist or the futurist position of interpretation. The historicist position is reflected in the original notes of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

The historicist position suffers from the inability of interpreters of this school to arrive at provable and consistently agreed upon events in world history which fulfill the prophecies. The method requires the student of Revelation to go outside the Bible and seek for the fulfillment of predictions in the past events of world history, and to one not well taught in history the method is impossible to carry out, leaving the book of Revelation largely closed to the ordinary reader.

The futurist position suffers, in the opinion of some, because it makes the book largely inapplicable to the original readers of the book, or to anyone since then, since the events are all placed in the future. A sufficient answer to such an objection is that the practical object of prophecy is to motivate us to holy living in watchful expectation of our Lord’s return (+**Luk 21:36, **2Pe 3:14), and Scripture itself teaches us that we have “a more sure word of prophecy” to serve as a light in dark times (2Pe 1:19).

All Bible prophecy was written with both a near and a distant vantage point. A prophet predicted some things which transpired during his own lifetime, as verification that he was a true prophet of God (Deut 18:22), but also spoke of things in the distant future, which only the passing of time could verify (see the excellent discussion of these matters in R. B. Girdlestone, The Grammar of Prophecy, Chapter 3, “Tests of the Truth of Prophecy,” pp. 16-24).

The futurist position is the only position which can be entirely consistent in interpreting the prophecies of the book of Revelation in harmony with the rest of the prophecies of the Bible. Any system of prophetic interpretation, to be correct, must follow a consistent principle of literal interpretation for all of Scripture (using the same principle for prophetic as is used for non-prophetic portions), and must appeal to Scripture (not tenuous and unsubstantiated historic parallels) for its justification (+*Isa 8:20).

What John writes in Revelation corresponds to the predictions in the Old Testament (Isa 11:11 note), the prophetic discourses of Christ himself, such as the most significant Olivet discourse in Matthew 24 and parallels [Mark 13 and Luke 21], and the prophetic teaching of the Apostle Paul (Tit 2:13 note).

Futurists, consistent with the divinely provided divisions of the book of Revelation (Rev 1:19), place the events of chapters 4—22 in the future, understanding them to be events particularly connected with the Seventieth Week of Daniel’s prophecy (+*Dan 9:27 note), and the time of the Great Tribulation. Futurists are correct in understanding Bible prophecy to be a self-consistent whole, and interpret the book of Revelation in the light of the rest of the covenants and prophecies of Scripture, and find the explanation of the book of Revelation to be contained in the rest of Scripture, and the method of interpretation which is most satisfactory to be a comparison of Scripture with Scripture (2Pe 1:20 note). **Rev 1:19, *Gen 41:25, >Dan 2:29.

What prompted this post

A very astute friend on Facebook recently created and posted a “meme” consisting of just two Bible references:

Matthew 24:34

Revelation 21:4

When I turned to these two references in my Bible I believe I recognized the point of the meme immediately:

Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Rev 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

My Comment:

Full Preterists believe that all the prophecies in the New Testament were completely fulfilled at or by the time of the destruction of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, within the time frame of those living when our Lord Jesus Christ predicted in Matthew 24:34–the “this generation,” for a generation is usually said to be 40 years, and these events all took place within 40 years of the time Jesus spoke this prophecy in 30 or 33 AD.

The answer to this very mistaken position is found in Revelation 21:4, where it is very clear that the prophecy given there has not yet been fulfilled:

Rev 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

We still have tears. We still experience physical death. We still experience sorrow. We still experience pain. These things have not yet passed away!

Those “preterists” who recognize this take shelter by saying they are “partial preterists.”

I have spent more than a full month of late reading the scholarly volumes written by preterists in support of their position (whether “full” or “partial”). They  think the “futurists” are dead wrong and all mixed up. I believe it is the preterists, of whatever variety, who are themselves dead wrong and all mixed up!

There is an ongoing discussion about these things on this site where a number of preterists among others are discussing these subjects and more. It is in the comment section of the article I wrote about Genesis 12:3. To reach the page, just type into the search box the Bible reference Genesis 12:3.

 

 

Posted in Bible Prophecy, Daily Bible Nuggets, Doctrinal Discussions | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Daily Bible Nugget #801, Isaiah 40:8

Posted on November 25, 2023 by Jerry


The Nugget:

Isaiah 40:8  The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. (KJV)

Isaiah 40:8  The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever. (WEB, World English Bible)

My Comment:

A question came up in an on-line discussion. If we do not have the exact words in the language Jesus spoke them, how do we know what He really said?

The conversation began with this question:

“if bible has all the witnesses, why they had to revise it so many times and 2000 years later still so many different opinions ?”

My Answer:

Bible “revisions” are made periodically so that those who read the Bible in their own language can understand the Bible better. Modern languages change over time. Many readers of the Bible today understand its message better when reading it in a modern English translation.

There are many different “opinions” about what the Bible means or says. Careful study of the Bible will correct most of the mistaken opinions, possibly all of the mistaken opinions. There are rules of interpretation that apply to all written and spoken communication. Mistaken interpretations can be identified because mistaken interpretations violate those rules.

Reply to my comment:

KJV revised 5 times, all English

which is from Jesus ?

Anyone can add or delete any part of it ?

My reply:

The King James Version of the Bible has been revised as many times as it has been to reflect changes in the English language which has changed over the years since 1611 when it was first published.

Revisions also reflect the fact that since 1611 many additional manuscripts of the New Testament have been found. Combining these findings, we now have a more accurate Greek text to work from than the King James translators did.

As for the varying count of how many books are or belong in the Bible, the answer is simple: the Bible contains 66 books. There are 27 primary source first century historical documents which make up the New Testament. There are 39 books in the Hebrew Old Testament as used by the Jews in Israel and our Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles. Other books included with the Bible by some faith communities are of historical or religious interest but are not counted as divinely inspired Scripture.

Reply to my comment:

if you don’t have the original words that Jesus used, how you can verify accuracy of translation ?

My Answer:

We do have the original words that Jesus used. We have them recorded in the New Testament. Many Bible readers do not realize that Jesus was multi-lingual. He could speak in Greek as well as Aramaic. We know this because Jesus used Figures of Speech as He taught. Those Figures of Speech “work” in Greek but not in Aramaic. This is why careful scholars understand that the Gospel of Matthew, for example, was originally written in Greek, and is not “translation Greek” from another language such as Aramaic.

There seems to be a logical fallacy in the idea that since we supposedly have only the translated words of Jesus, we don’t have the exact words that He spoke. But if we have the translated words, those words reflect what was said in the original language itself. Therefore, with careful study, using the advanced tools we have today, we can get back to what was said in the original language in any case.

Reply to my answer:

every Christian claims to have it but none can give me the link of the original bible

My reply:

If you mean by “original” Bible the original autographs penned by the authors, of course no one today has any of those.

The evidence that we have extremely accurate copies of the originals is that for the New Testament we have ancient manuscripts and manuscript fragments of the 27 first century New Testament writings. When the oldest copies are compared with handwritten copies from later centuries there are no significant differences.

Among the Dead Sea Scrolls there were found manuscript copies and manuscript fragments of all the Old Testament books except the book of Esther. The extreme care and accuracy of the copying process used over many centuries is evident by the fact that there are no significant differences between the Hebrew manuscripts used by the Qumran group which produced, used, and subsequently hid them and the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible used today.

Therefore, all of us can easily obtain a copy of the Bible in our own language or even in Hebrew and Greek should we wish. Our present day copies are so accurate that there is really no concern about their being precisely equivalent to the autographs because they are.

I like to suggest to anyone and everyone that to understand the Bible, take time to read it for yourself.

I suggest that a good practice is to read the New Testament long enough each day (for a total of 20 minutes a day) and often enough each week (at least four days a week) on a continuing basis so that you get the full benefit of the help this will be to your life.

 

Posted in Apologetics Issues--Other Faiths, Bible Historicity and Validity, Daily Bible Nuggets | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment