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  CAN
THE BIBLE
BE TRUSTED?
Proof of
Supernatural Origin of the Holy Bible
by Pastor Max
Solbrekken, D.D.
THE
HOLY BIBLE IS TRUE - Proof that the Holy Bible comes from supernatural
origins
Can
we trust the Bible? Is the Holy Bible really the Word of God as
theologians and preachers say? Or is The Bible a compilation of
wise, witty and intellectual sayings, recorded by scribes and holy men
down through the centuries?
IS
THE HOLY BIBLE INFALLIBLE? Does God really exist?
Is
the Bible inerrant, authoritative and infallible? And what about
God, does He really exist? Is God all wise, is God all knowing and
is God everywhere present and eternal?
YES
- I BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS INFALLIBLE & THE WORD OF GOD......and YES - I
BELIEVE GOD DOES EXIST AND I CAN PROVE IT
I
believe the answer to both these questions is Yes, and that I can prove it
! The
Greek philosopher, Plato,
said there are three valid sources of knowledge:
1).
The five senses - sight, sound, smell, touch and taste.
2). Reason - which sets men apart from the lower animals.
3). Something he called "divine madness" - referring to the
spiritual world of supernatural communication.
ONLY
TWO SOURCES OF SUPERNATURAL WISDOM EXIST GOD AND SATAN
The
Bible is the divine rule book
There
are only two sources of supernatural
wisdom - God and Satan...Therefore, we need a divinely formulated rule
book as a guide or measuring stick. The Bible is that rule book.
Jesus
Christ endorsed the Holy Scriptures. He said, "Heaven and earth shall
pass away, but not one jot or tittle shall pass from the law until all be
fulfilled".
Multitudes
are looking for a reliable voice of authority. They know they cannot trust
treaties between world leaders, statements by philosophers, scientists and
even church leaders.
But
the Bible, God's Word, is the only real authority we have. Proven
trustworthy throughout the centuries, the Holy Bible sheds light on human
nature, world problems and human sufferings. Beyond that, it clearly
reveals the way to God!
WHO
WROTE THE BIBLE? WHERE DOES THE BIBLE ORIGINATE FROM?
Who
wrote the Bible? Where did it originate and why is it so important?
Biblical scholar, Dr. Moshe Katz, and computer expert, Dr. Menachen
Wiener, of 'The Technion',
Israel's Institute of Technology have concluded that God is its author.
The
conclusion that God is the author of the Bible was reached by Biblical
scholars based on the notion that significant words are concealed in the
Hebrew text of the first five books of the Bible, spelled by letter,
separated at fixed intervals; a system alluded to in Rabbinical literature
used much later.
Dr.
Katz said the researchers' evidence contradicts the belief that the Pentateuch
is a collection of documents written and edited by different persons at
different times.
The
patterns of letters repeated throughout all the text dismiss this theory,
because the statistical probabilities of the pattern are information
appearing at set intervals. By chance, it is extremely low - sometimes one
to three million.
Katz
pointed to the repetition of the Hebrew word "Torah"
(law), which appears in the book of Genesis
repeatedly every fifty characters, and the word "Elohim"
(God), which appears in the same book, then skipping twenty six letters.
The
numbers 50 and 26 have great significance in Jewish tradition.
The burial site of Adam and Eve is never mentioned in the text in the
Bible, but by the letter skipping method the names, "Adam &
Eve" appear in the text where the burial place of Abraham and Sarah,
the patriarch's tomb, is described.
OLD
TESTAMENT NOT
WRITTEN BY HUMAN HAND
Another
extraordinary aspect to emerge from the research is the prophetic nature
of many words revealed in the text, which gives ammunition to Dr. Katz'
conviction that the Old Testament was not written by a human hand.
In
the book of Esther
which is read during the Jewish holiday of Purim,
the story of Haman's
treachery and execution was graphically told. Haman's ten sons were hanged
and their names are listed in the same book.
After
the hangings, Queen Esther was asked by the king what more could be done
for her and her people, the Jews. Her reply was that she wanted
"Haman's ten sons hanged upon the gallows". This puzzled
scholars for centuries, since they had already been hanged.
A
major hint explaining this mystery, said Katz, is the appearance of three
letters. These three letters are "tas, shin and zayin" in the
list of Haman's ten hanged sons (written smaller than the other letters).
"TAS, SHIN, ZAYIN" spell out the number in the Jewish calendar
for the year 1946 on the Gregorian calendar.
On
October 16th, 1946 explained Dr. Katz, ten Nazis were hanged following
their conviction and sentencing at the Nuremberg Trials. (Eleven had been
convicted but Herman Goering committed suicide, by poisoning an hour
before the execution.)
Julius
Steicher, one of the ten hanged, seconds before the noose tightened cried
out, "Purim Fest, 1946"!
Additionally
said Katz, "In 1946 according to the Jewish calendar, October 16th
fell exactly on the annual Jewish holiday, "Hoshana
Raba", which is considered the last day of judgment in a chain of
high holidays, including Hoshana,
Raba and Yom Kippur, a
period of judgment.
"Such
a phenomenon cannot be explained rationally", commented computer
expert, Dr. Weiner. "So we need a non-rational! And ours is
that the Bible was written by God, through the hands of Moses."
The
Bible certainly can be trusted, for it is the living Word of God!
CAN
THE BIBLE BE TRUSTED?
Over
the centuries, a number of very sincere doubters have set out to prove the
Bible to be incorrect.
One
of these was Sir
William Ramsay, who determined to use historical events - especially
the 'Book of Acts' - to disprove the validity of the Sacred Writings!
Sir William
Ramsay's strategy was to travel to every place and do all the things -
recorded by Dr. Luke - which St. Paul and his party experienced.
Using
similar modes of transportation and reconstructing the great Apostle's
missionary journeys, Sir William Ramsay discovered Luke's accounts so
accurate and convincing that he received Jesus Christ as his personal
Saviour.
At
the conclusion of his study, Sir William Ramsay concluded: "Luke is
an historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact
trustworthy; he is possessed of the true historical sense, he fixed his
mind on the idea and plan that rules in the evolution of history, and
proportions the scale of his treatment to the importance of each
incident...In short, this author should be placed along with the very
greatest of historians".
THE
HISTORICAL ACCURACY OF THE BIBLE OVERWHELMED SIR WILLIAM RAMSAY
Another
'notable' to be converted to Christ by the outcome of his own research is
mathematician, Dr. Ivan
Panin. Immigrating to the USA more than a hundred years ago from his
native Russia, the famous atheist was challenged by friends to prove the
Bible erroneous, using mathematics.
The
results of Dr. Panin's scientific research convinced him that the Bible is
indeed a 'mathematical marvel'! He
discovered a miraculous numeric pattern and consistency, which ran like a
thread throughout the entire Bible - Old and New Testaments! Using the
same scientific approach to Greek classics, the Apochrapha and books of
literature, Dr. Panin found no such divine design.
Falling
upon his face he cried out for mercy and received Jesus Christ as his
personal Lord and Saviour! And he devoted the rest of his life speaking
publicly at universities across the USA, proving that the Bible is
inerrant, infallible and divine.
THE
BIBLE STILL WORLD'S BEST SELLER BOOK
It
is small wonder then that the Holy Bible is still the world's best seller.
The American Bible Society reported in 1982, that the Bible had been
translated into 1739 languages and dialects which are spoken by 97 per
cent of the world's population! What
does the Bible say about this?
"Day
unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is
no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone
out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world."
(Ps. 19:2-4)
And
what of the noise made by 'Johnny-Come-Lately's' like the humanistic
theologians who call themselves 'The Jesus Seminar'?
LIKE
THE PROVERBIAL STORY OF THE DOGS WHICH RUN AFTER THE CARAVAN...THE DOGS
BARK, BUT THE CARAVAN MOVES ON!
THE
BIBLE IS MORE SCIENTIFIC THAN MODERN SCIENCE
Dr.
T.A. Pierson says, “There is a danger in pressing the words in the Bible
into a positive announcement of scientific fact, so marvelous are some of
these correspondences.
But
it is certainly a curious fact that Solomon should use language entirely
consistent with discoveries as EVAPORATION and STORM CURRENTS (1:6,7).
Some
have boldly said that Redfield’s theory of storms is here explicitly
stated. Without taking such ground, we ask, who taught Solomon to use
terms that readily accommodate facts that the MOVEMENT OF THE WINDS which
seem to be so lawless and uncertain, ARE RULED BY LAWS AS POSITIVE AS
THOSE WHICH RULE THE GROWTH OF THE PLANT: and that by EVAPORATION, the
waters that fall on the earth are continually rising again, so that the
sea never overflows!
“Ecclesiastes
12:6 IS A POETIC DESCRIPTION OF DEATH. How the ‘SILVER CORD’ describes
the spinal marrow, the ‘GOLDEN BOWL’ the basin which holds the brain,
the ‘PITCHER’ the lungs, and the ‘WHEEL’ the heart. Without
claiming that Solomon was inspired to foretell the CIRCULATION OF THE
BLOOD, 26 centuries before Harvey announced it, is it not remarkable that
the language he uses exactly suits the facts - A WHEEL PUMPING UP THROUGH
ONE PIPE TO DISCHARGE THROUGH ANOTHER."
Note:
This column was carried by the Edmonton Sun & other magazines about 14
years ago (1986).
JESUS
CHRIST DIED FOR YOU
#1
- JESUS CHRIST LOVES YOU
No
more beautiful words were ever spoken by men or angels than these, "I
know God loves me!" Praise God. Say these precious words and
believe them and you will see what a change will be affected within your
life.
#2
- JESUS CHRIST KNOWS ALL ABOUT YOU
"For
the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show
himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward
him." (2 Chronicles 16:9)
"Tis
so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word, Just to rest
upon His promise, Just to know, Thus saith the Lord."
In
every situation of life God knows about you! During every trial,
heartbreak and discouragement in the temptations and struggles of life
Jesus knows about us and makes a way of escape. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
God knows and He is ready to help - Say it to yourself, "God knows
about my existence and He loves me - His eyes are upon me and I know
everything will be alright."
#3
- JESUS CHRIST CARES ABOUT YOU
"Casting
all your cares upon Him, for He careth for you." (1 Peter 5:7)
Life
often seems like a rat race with dog eat dog and whoever gets in first get
what he needs and whoever gets in last misses everything. People can
often be hardhearted and cruel - circumstances and situations can make
life almost unbearable. Many times Satan has filled peoples' hearts
and minds with such tremendous disillusionment and depression that they
have in utter hopelessness taken their own lives.
The
hymn writer penned the words, "What a Friend we have in Jesus, All
our sins and grief's to bear! What a privilege to carry - Everything
to God in prayer."
I
am thrilled with the great news of God's love every time I hear it.
I am thrilled that God loves me, He knows all about me and that He cares
about me - my difficulties and my needs. Praise God! Say it to
yourself - "I know God cares about me and will help me!"
#4
- JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOU
"But
God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
You
can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. No
wonder the Apostle John wrote, "We love Him because He first loved
us." There is a word that is seldom used in today's world but
one which is probably one of the most powerful in our vocabulary. It
is the word "Apodictic" and it means "Evident beyond
contradictions". It is one of my foremost words because it
relates to the gospel and to Christ our wonderful Lord. When you
speak about God, His power, His words, His promises, His grace, His
goodness and His mercy and love, the word Apodictic covers them all!
Evident
beyond Contradiction! His existence is so real that only a foolish
person could try to contradict the fact! No wonder the Bible says,
"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God". (Psalm 14:1)
 NO.
5 ~ JESUS CHRIST AROSE FROM THE DEAD AND WILL HELP YOU TODAY
A
dead man has no power to help anyone - He cannot even help himself! That
is why so many traditional churches and nominal Christians receive no
answers to their prayers and have no victory in their lives. They believe
in and worship a dead Christ. They wear crucifixes that have a resemblance
of Christ, dead on the cross. Beloved friends, the cross is empty - Jesus
Christ is alive for evermore with all power at His disposal.
He
has the power to set His children free from every bondage and situation in
which we find ourselves that is embarrassing, improper, humiliating and
painful.
“Lo
behold the man of sorrow, lo behold Him in plain view. There He stands
that mighty conqueror, since He rent the veil in two."
“I
serve a risen Saviour, He’s in the world today; I know that He is
living, whatever men may say; I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of
cheer and just the time I need Him, He’s always near. He lives, He
lives, Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me and talks with me, along
life’s narrow way. You ask me how I know He lives, He lives within my
heart.” Hallelujah.
The
very essence of Christianity, the heart of the gospel and the foundation
truth of the church is that Jesus Christ, God’s Son died upon a cross
for our sins and that He was raised from the dead on the third day for our
Justification! (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
Of
all religions only Christianity can boast a resurrection and only Christ
is a Saviour, for He only is Alive Forevermore. Praise His Name.
JESUS
IS THE ONLY WAY
No
wonder Peter said, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there
is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be
saved”. (Acts 4:12)
Why?
Because the name of a dead man can save no one but Jesus is not dead HE IS
ALIVE FOREVERMORE! Hallelujah. His entire ministry while upon this earth
revolved around preaching the gospel, healing the sick, forgiving the
sinful, restoring the diseased back to health, feeding the hungry and
raising the dead.
When
He was crucified His ministry came to an end abruptly - until 50 days
later - after He had risen from the dead and spent 40 days with His
disciples He ascended into heaven and poured out upon His followers the
“Baptism of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4) Then His ministry
continued greater than ever through those who believed upon Him - The
blind saw, the deaf heard, the lame walked, the dead were raised and the
gospel was preached to multitudes.
“Now
Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer,
being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was
carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called
Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing
Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
And
Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he
gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter
said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the
name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the
right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones
received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with
them into the temple, walking, and leaping and praising God.” (Acts
3:1-9)
“And
by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the
people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. And of the
rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And
believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and
women.)
“Insomuch
that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds
and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might
overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities
round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed
with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.” (Acts 5:12-16)
THE
GREAT COMMISSION
It
is evident the Book of Acts is a continuation of the ministry of Jesus
Christ through His followers by the power of the Holy Spirit, and that it
is God’s will for His power to continue to bring blessing and healing to
His people in every generation until the church age is over and Christ
sets up His kingdom and ushers in the millennium -
Notice
His words to all who believe, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the
world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And
these signs shall follow them that believe, In my name shall they cast out
devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents;
and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay
hands on the sick, and they shall recover”. (Mark 16:15-18)
The
Holy Bible says, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto
you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as
the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:38-39)
If
you are called, you are saved and if you are saved, the baptism of the
Holy Ghost and power is for you! Again see what St. James writes to the
church, “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the
church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of
the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall
raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven
him”. (James 5:14,15)
THE
SCRIPTURE CANNOT BE BROKEN
Now
in closing let us see what Jesus Himself said concerning praying and
receiving an answer....
“Ask,
and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be
opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh
findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7,8)
“Believe
me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for
the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on
Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these
shall he do; because I go unto My Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in
My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If
ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:11-14)
“Jesus
said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that
believeth.” (Mark 9:23)
“Again
I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any
thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is
in heaven.” (Matthew 18:19)
“If
ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and
it shall be done unto you.” (John 15:7)
My
beloved friend, Jesus Christ is indeed alive and waiting to hear from you.
If you will accept Him as your personal Saviour and trust in Him you will
definitely receive answers to your prayers and the assurance that all is
well with your soul, for He has promised and guaranteed you that His word
is true and the scripture cannot be broken. (John 10:35)
Amen.
THE
DEVIL IS TO BLAME
God
didn't argue with Adam. He turned to Eve and said, "Woman,
what is this that thou hast done?" Eve made more sense than
her husband. She put the blame where it belong. "The
serpent beguiled me and I did eat."
I
agree with Eve. Satan (the devil) is the culprit. The devil is
to blame for all the sin, fear, heartbreak, divorce, alcoholism, drug
addiction and juvenile delinquency. He is the architect of all that
is evil, wicked and destructive. Riots, anarchy, thievery, murder,
sickness, disease and war are the outcroppings and results of his plans,
goals, purposes and seduction.
SATAN
(the devil) IS TO BLAME. Shout it loud and clear - the devil is the
troublemaker.
JESUS
CALLED THE DEVIL A LAIR & MURDERER
Jesus
called him a liar, deceiver, murdered and thief. (John 8:44; John
10:10) Our Lord said, "The thief cometh not for to steal,
kill and destroy. I am come that they might have life and more
abundantly." (John 10:10)
YES
- THE DEVIL IS TO BLAME FOR ALL SIN
God
said, "THE SEED OF THE WOMAN SHALL BRUISE THE SERPENT'S HEAD."
Almighty
God called out "Because thou hast done this, cursed art thou among
all the beasts of the field. Upon thy belly shalt thou go all the
days of thy life..." (Genesis 3:14-15)
It
is noteworthy that some scientists believe that at one time serpents and
snakes walked upright and didn't crawl on their bellies as today.
"And
I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed (the
wicked) and her seed (the righteous). It (Jesus, the seed of the
woman) shall bruise thy head..."
JESUS
DEFEATED THE DEVIL WITH HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS
On
Golgotha's Hill, Jesus defeated the devil. When Jesus paid the
supreme sacrifice for the sins of the world, and rose again from the dead.
He had delivered the death blow to Satan.
When
Jesus cried, "It is finished", He had defeated Satan (the devil)
and since that very hour the blood of Jesus Christ washes away all the
sins of the repentant sinner, and His stripes bring healing to the
believing, sick person..
The
Bible says, "He (Jesus) was wounded for our transgressions, He was
bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him;
and by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
WHY
DID JESUS COME INTO THE WORLD?
The
Bible says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have
everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn
the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John
3:16-17) Hallelujah.
The
Bible says: "Neither is there salvation through any other, for
there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby you may be
saved, but by the Name of Jesus"! (Acts 4:12) "There is
one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus." (1
Timothy 2:5)
JESUS
CAME THAT WE MIGHT HAVE LIFE
Jesus
said, "I am come that they might have life and have it more
abundantly." (John 10:10) And St. John stated:
"For this purpose was the Son of God manifested that He might destroy
the works of the devil". (1 John 3:8) The Scripture says, "When
the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with
devils: and He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that
were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the
prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our
sicknesses." (Matthew 8:16-17)
WHAT
DID ISAIAH PROPHESY?
Hear
it and hear it well: "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He
was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was
upon Him (Jesus) and by His stripes we are healed."! (Isaiah 53:5)
The
Bible says, "Who His own self (Jesus) bare our sins in His own
body on the tree (cross) that we, being dead to sins should live unto
righteousness, by Whose stripes ye were (at the cross) healed"!
(1 Peter 2:24) "He that believeth on the Son hath
everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life;
but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36)
THERE
IS ONLY ONE WAY - JESUS CHRIST IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH & THE LIFE
Jesus
said, "I am the way, the truth and the life and no man cometh unto
the Father but by Me." (John 14:6) Again our blessed
Saviour said, "I am the door, by Me if any man enter in, he
shall be saved..." (John 10:9) Again He said, "Come
unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you
rest." (Matthew 11:28)
WHY
DID JESUS HAVE TO DIE?
The
Bible says, "Without the
shedding of blood there is no remission for sins."
(Hebrews 9:22) "It is the blood that maketh atonement for
the soul." (Leviticus 17:11) Again, "The
soul that sinneth it shall surely die." (Ezekiel
18:20)
In
Old Testament times, an animal - without spot or blemish - would be
sacrificed, spilling his blood. (Atonement means "covering")
AS THE LAMB DIED ON THE ALTER IN THE TEMPLE, JESUS THE LAMB OF GOD, DIED
ON THE CROSS TO PAY FOR THE SINS OF THE WORLD.
The
Scripture says, "If we walk in
the light as He is in the light we have fellowship one with the other, and
the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." (John
1:7)
Jesus
is the Lamb of God, Who was slain for our sins! "One of the
elders saith unto me, weep not: behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the
Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven
seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the
throne...stood a lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven
eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
And
He came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the
throne. And when He had taken the book, the four beasts and four and
twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps
and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints."
"And
they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to
open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and hast redeemed us to God by
thy blood of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;....Worthy
is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and
strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing."
"And
every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth,
and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,
Blessing, and honour, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne,
and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." (Revelation 5:5-13)
JESUS
SPOILED SATAN'S KINGDOM
The
Bible says, "And you, being dead in your sins and the
uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having
forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances
that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way,
nailing it to His cross, and having spoiled principalities and powers, He
made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians
2:12-15) Oh, Praise God.
We
serve a risen Saviour, he's in the world today. I know that
He is living, whatever men may say...
I see His hand of mercy....I hear His voice of cheer....And just
the time I need Him....He's always near.
He
lives....He lives...Christ Jesus lives today.
He walks with me and talks with me, along life's narrow way.
He
lives...He lives....Salvation to impart....
You ask me how I know He lives....He lives...within my heart.
What
power! What might! What strength, and what great ability Jesus
has. St. Paul brings it out so graphically in his epistles.
Drink in these truth and be set free and filled with all knowledge, joy
and Holy Ghost power.
"The
eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the
hope of His calling, and what the riches of glory of His inheritance in
the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward
who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He
wrought in Christ, when he raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His
own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and
power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in
this world, but also in that which is to come. And hath put all
things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the
church." (Ephesians
1:18-22)
The
Bible says, "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in
us." (Ephesians 3:20)
St.
Paul writes, "Who (God) hath delivered us from the power of
darkness (Satan) and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son
(Jesus Christ) IN WHOM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, even the
forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13)
In
referring to Jesus, John the Baptist made the startling statement, "Behold
the Lamb of God which taketh away from the sins of the world."
(John 1:29) To this agree the angel's words to Joseph, "Ye
shall call His name Jesus (Salvation) for He shall save (salvage) His
people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)
"Let
this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the
form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself
of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in
the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled
Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore
God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name is above every
name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven
and in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
(Philippians 2:5-11)
THIS
DAY IS THE SCRIPTURE FULFILLED
The
book of Isaiah is called the "Gospel of the Old Testament".
The 53rd chapter prophecies the death of Messiah Who would bring
forgiveness and healing to His people. Isaiah 7:14 speaks of His
virgin birth; Isaiah 9:6 speaks of His Kingship and the fact that He is
very God; Isaiah 28:11-12 foretells the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the
end-time phenomena of glossalalia, or "speaking with other
tongues" as a gift of God to bring stability, rest and peaceful
strength to the Church in times of pressure and tension. Isaiah
61:1-3 prophecies the Gospel Age of His salvation with forgiveness,
healing, deliverance and joy!
"And
he came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was,
He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
And there was delivered unto Him the book of the prophet Esaias. And
when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written,
"The
Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because he hath anointed Me to preach the
gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach
deliverance to the captives, the recovering of sight to the blind, to set
at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the
Lord."
"And
He closed the book, and He gave it again to the minister and sat down.
And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on Him.
And He began to say unto them, This day is the scripture fulfilled in your
ears." (Luke 4:16--21)
Jesus
entered the synagogue in Nazareth and read from Isaiah the Prophet.
He ended the reading by saying, "This day is this scripture
fulfilled in your ears". He declared Himself the Son of God and
Jewish Messiah by those words.
The
year of Jubilee could not begin until first the Great Day of Atonement had
taken place. He would die on the cross like the lambs died on the
alters of Jerusalem because He is the Lamb of God which taketh away the
sins of the world." (John 1:29)
He
would fulfill the Old Testament 'Great Day of Atonement' when the high
priest entered into the Holy of holies with the blood of the sacrificial
animal. Jesus was not only the sacrifice but also the high priest
Who carried His own blood into the Holy of holies in Heaven itself.
(Hebrews 9:11-14)
The
scapegoat (Leviticus 16:7-21) is also a type of Jesus carrying away our
sins. He is our substitute! Every 50th year Israel celebrated
the 'fear of Jubilee' when all the prisoners and slaves were freed and
debts were forgiven. This is a picture of the Gospel Age when
everyone is set free by the blood of Christ and His everlasting Gospel!
THEY WERE OFFENDED IN HIM.
My
dear friend, Let me admonish you to receive him into your heart and life
as your Lord, Saviour, Redeemer, Healer, Baptizer and King.
JESUS
CAME TO SEEK & SAVE THE LOST
Jesus
said, "I am come to seek and save that which was lost." (Luke
19:10) You are included in that number, for "All have sinned and
come short of the glory of God". (Romans 3:23) You say, 'I
cannot live a Christian life in my own strength'!
You
are absolutely right. You can't do it in your own power, but He will
change you and give you the power to live for Him.
The
Bible say: "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.
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." (John 1:11-12)
Jesus
promised, "Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is
come upon you...." (Acts 1:8) Finally Jesus said, "I will
never leave thee nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5) "...and
lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Matthew
28:20)
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