Some Christianity 101

Christianity 101

Do good people go to hell?

This is a question that gets asked a lot and some people struggle with this one. How can a loving God send people to Hell? People always hear about God’s love, kindness, patients, and forgiveness. The thing to remember here is that God is also righteous. God cannot simply let sin go because he is so loving. What justice would there be if there was no punishment for rape, murder, and so on. God makes it clear in his word that we are all sinners regardless if we murder, steal, or simply tell a lie. The penalty for that one sin is eternal death in a literal place called Hell. Here are a few verses that show that all man is guilty of sin:

Romans 3:9-11 For we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God.

The above verse is where the apostle Paul is speaking about there is no distinction in humanity. It doesn’t matter who you are, all are under sin and all are sinners.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The above verse is simply stating, sin is sin and the end is death. The free gift of God is eternal life only in Jesus.

Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?

Once sin entered the world, humanity was in big trouble. The penalty of any single sin is eternal death in Hell. God is so holy that he cannot simply allow any sin to go unpunished. Yes, God knew that man would sin before he created them but he also knew that he would pay the penalty himself to save them. God loving made us and lovingly saved us if we chose to accept it. God became a man and lived on this earth. He fulfilled OT prophecy by living sinless and paying for the sins of the world. He willingly died on the cross and God the Father poured out his wrath on his son on the cross. 1 Corinthians 5:21 states, “He made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteous of God in Him. When Jesus died on the cross he yelled out, “it is finished” (John 19:30) meaning the work of the cross.

What do I have to believe to be a Christian?

There is one simply prayer that a person has to pray to be a Christian. This unifies all Christians. This is the fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith: Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be save. The breakdown of this verse is like this:

1. I am a huge sinner and can do nothing to save myself from hell.
2. I believe Jesus is God.
3. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and took my punishment that I deserved.
4. I believe that Jesus resurrected from the grave proving everything he said was valid.
5. I confess the above verse and I am now a Christian saved from Hell and headed for Heaven. Some people have an emotional response when they become a Christian but one is not require. Being a Christian is not about emotion but about your faith in Jesus saving you from your sins.

How do I know that I am saved?

If confess Jesus as Lord, he died on the cross and rose from the grave, you will be saved (Romans 10:9). Being assured of your salvation means being sure you confessed Jesus. For me the biggest assurance of my salvation is that Jesus rose from the grave. He even claimed he was going to rise from the grave. The resurrection is so important that if it didn’t happen, Christianity wouldn’t have happened. Only God has the power to restore life after death. Paul states, “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain” (1 Corinthians 15:14).

I prayed the prayer of accept Jesus as my savior, now what?

Go to church, be built up in your faith and try to please the Lord.

Mike

God the Communicator

Good article to check out:

http://www.ocrpl.org/?p=20

Mike

Great resource

If you are looking for a good online commentary (I know there are many), and here is another.

www.biblebb.com

This is John MacArthurs sermons in written form.

Enjoy,

Mike

Update

I know I have posted some long stuff on here. I will start posting some smaller stuff also so you don't feel like you are reading a novel all the time.

Mike

I am the door

I hope you enjoy this one. If you ever want to do a great study, study all of the eight I am statements in John. The punctuation might be a little off on this one but I am tired. I only have one more week in this class. Hurray! I am enjoying it but again, it is time consuming. 

God bless

The gospel of John is the only Gospel that records all of Christ’s “I am” statements. Seven times John records Jesus saying, “I am…,” attaching it to a metaphor (Towns, 2002). These seven statement give us more insight than Jesus just claiming to be the Bread of life (6:35), the Light of the world (8:12, 9:5), the Door (10:9), the good Shepherd (10:11), the Resurrection and the Life (11:25), the Way, and the Truth, and the Life (14:6), and the Vine (15:5). He was identifying Himself with Jehovah of the Old Testament (Towns, 2002). Jesus was claiming to be the “I am” of the Old Testament. He was not just putting Himself equal with God but He was also claiming to be God.

In the Gospel of John there are eight “I am” statements that Jesus stated. In this study it is seven plus one statements. Jesus gave the seven “I am” statements attaching a metaphor and Jesus used the term “I am” (4:26, 8:24,28,58; 13:13,19; 3:14, 18:5-6, 8), which is counted as the eighth “I am”. This claim of “I am” in the Greek is ego eimi. When Jesus spoke this statement the Jews knew exactly what He was claiming. That is why they took up stones to kill Him (John 5:17-18; 8:58-59).

In the book of Exodus when Moses was talking to the burning bush, Moses asked the bush what His name was, Ex 3:14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” The phrase “I AM” in Hebrew is closely related to God’s person name (Ex. 6:3; Jehovah or Yahweh or YHWH) which occurs more than 6,000 times in the Old Testament (AMG, 1990). Jesus said in John 8:58, “Before Abraham was born, I AM”. If the phrase ego eimi, “I am”, was not clear enough, Jesus further referenced that He existed before Abraham (John 8:58). Though the meaning is not completely clear to biblical scholars, it seems to suggest the timelessness of God, the very foundation of all existence (AMG, 1990).

Jesus claimed in the John 10:9, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture”. The events surrounding this “I am” statement are very important and they start in John chapter 8. Jesus had been having a dispute with the Pharisees in the temple at the time of the Feast of the Tabernacles, six months or so before the Passover in which He was crucified (Smith, 2005).

As chapter eight ends with disbelief by the religious leaders, chapter nine starts beautifully with Jesus revealing His deity again. Jesus healed the man that had been blind since birth. This man who was healed was taken before the Pharisees. They recognize that this man was healed but some were more concerned that Jesus broke the Sabbath (v16). Others were perplexed because a man that was not from God could not have done a thing such as these (v16). This caused division among them. The common belief at this time was that a man could be born blind due to his sin or his parent’s sin. At the end of this conversation with the Pharisees, “They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?” So they put him out.”

John 9:35 Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” Jesus continued to talk to this man and in verses 39-41; Jesus tells this man whom He healed, (v39) For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind. The Pharisees overheard this and asked, “we are not blind too, are we” (v40). Jesus asked, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains” (v41).

Chapter 10 would seem to be as just a continuation of this whole movement here of the blind man receiving his sight, being put out by the organized religious system, being taken in by Jesus Christ (Smith, 2005). In a confrontation with the Pharisees following this, Jesus used a series of illustrations from the shepherding industry to teach several biblical principals (Towns, 2008). Jesus uses this illustration of shepherding with the sheepfold because it was an important industry in the economy of Israel. Jesus was using an analogy that everyone could relate to and understand. Here in chapter 10, Jesus addresses the issue by speaking of a new order, a new fold, a new flock of which the once-blind man would be a part (Courson, 2003).

Jesus draws a distinction between thieves and robbers and the shepherd (Towns, 2002). The word thief in the Greek “always refers to those who steal by a means of a plan, usually carefully thought out (Towns, 2002). The word robber on the other hand relates to those who use violence to accomplish their end (Towns, 2002). There is definitely a distinction between thieves and robbers.

John 10:1 gives the situation here. The shepherd is in need to put his sheep in the sheepfold. The sheepfold was used to keep the sheep in for protection during the night. If the shepherd took his flock out to greener pastures, the shepherd would use a temporary sheepfold made of brush. When the sheep remained in the village, however, all of the shepherds of the community brought their sheep nightly into a common sheepfold that had stone walls six or seven feet high (Courson, 2003). Often thieves and robbers would steal sheep from these common sheepfolds. They would steal the sheep by climbing over the walls to get to the sheep, kill them, and throw them back over the other side.

Thieves and robbers never entered by the door of the sheepfold. Sometimes the shepherds left their sheep in the fold in the care of an undershepherd know as a “doorkeeper” (Towns, 2002). Other times, the shepherd would act as the door of the sheepfold and sleep across the entrance. Often there would be no literal door because the shepherd would be the door. No one came in or out of the door except by the shepherd. Jesus declared, “I am the good shepherd” (v11) as well as, “I am the door” (v9). One could read the analogy in John 10:1-5 and then be confused on how Jesus could be the door and the good shepherd. The door and the shepherd severe different functions but sometimes the shepherd was the door.

 The close relationship between a shepherd and his sheep is emphasized when Jesus observes, “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name” (10:3) (Towns, 2002). When the shepherds came to get their sheep in the morning, the sheep would be all mixed together. Each shepherd had a distinctive call, or song, to which only his own sheep responded (Courson, 2003). Another person could try to create the same call or song but the sheep would not respond; the sheep knew the shepherds voice and would only respond to their shepherd’s voice. If someone else would try to go inside the fold or to lead the sheep, the sheep would simply scatter because they did not know him. This would be a picture of the close relationship Jesus would want with His flock.

After Jesus had spoken the proverb (v1-5) to those that were listening, He began to teach the lesson on the proverb (v7-18). Jesus states, “I am the door of the sheep” (v7). Jesus is declaring to be the entrance to the sheepfold. No one comes into the sheepfold except by Him. Jesus is using this to paint a picture of the role of the door in the sheepfold.  By way of application, Jesus is the Door to the fold of salvation (Towns, 2002).

All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them (v8). Jesus is not referring to the prophets who came before him but He is referring to the religious system that Judaism had been formed into. They were trying to make another way to God. Trying to bring men to God through works, through the foolishness of the Pharisees and their endeavor to keep the traditional aspects of the law (Smith, 2005).

Jesus goes on to say, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” (v9). This is a claim to Jesus’ deity and this claim is singular. Jesus is not a “way” or a “door” but He is the way and the door. Jesus would later claim, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). As I have already stated, the term “I am” ego eimi is a reference to the “I am” of the Old Testament. Claiming to be equal with Jehovah. Jesus is claming exclusively that He is the only way. There is no other way except by Him to salvation. This idea of a single way to God is not new to the Jews. In the Tabernacle as outlined in Exodus chapters 25-41, there was a door (gate) that was the only way to the presence of God. Jesus is pictured as “the door” (John 10:9), which is the way to God.

This is an important claim that Jesus is making. He is not starting a new religion or trying to go against the Old Testament. Jesus was the fulfillment of the Old Testament. Claiming to be the door (entrance), Jesus was saying “The religious system of Judaism isn't going to make it for you, you've got to enter by Me” (Smith, 2005). Jesus said that if anyone (sheep) enters through the door (Jesus), he will be saved (salvation/security). When the sheep enter the sheepfold door, it is a place of security for the sheep. They cannot be attacked or killed while the shepherd is acting as the door. This idea of being saved to us means eternal salvation with Him in heaven.

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. The thief is what religious systems do for you. They will rob you and ultimately they’ll destroy you (Smith, 2005). In v10 Jesus is saying that if you go through Him to salvation, you will have life more abundantly. The idea is not a perfect life and we do not have to worry about our good works to reach salvation. Jesus is going to give us life abundantly with the Father. He (Jesus) does for us what we can't do for ourselves, by the indwelling (Smith, 2005). When Jesus said, He is the door; He is exclusively claiming to be the only way and is claiming to be deity. There are not several doors into the sheepfold but only one. Only Christianity is the infusion of God's power to live the life that God would have you to live, that more abundant life in Christ (Smith. 2005).

The situation here is that Jesus healed the blind man and the Pharisees are again challenging Jesus. Jesus gives the proverb and begins to teach. The Pharisees were not part of God’s ordained plan for leadership of Israel (Towns, 2002). The thieves and robbers are a picture of the legal system but more importantly the Pharisees and religious leaders. They come to steal, kill and destroy (v10). Most scholars agree the doorkeeper (v3) could be a picture of John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus. Another theory is that the doorkeeper (v3) could be the Holy Spirit preparing to open hearts of man; both could be true also. The door is the entrance into salvation and Jesus is the only way. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

After Jesus gave His proverb of the sheepfold in John 10:1-18, this ultimately caused division among the Jews (v19). By Jesus claiming to be God, He was either right or wrong. A person either has to believe what He was claiming or had to reject it all together. This was clear to those who were hearing Jesus teach this proverb. In fact, they believed He was insane or was demon possessed (v20). Others were saying these are not the sayings of one demon-possessed (v21). John wrote his gospel “so that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ” (John 21:31). Jesus is either the door or He is not. There is either one way to salvation or He was an insane demon-possessed teacher. All who heard this knew Jesus’ claim to be ego eimi, the “I am” of the Old Testament, eternal, deity, and they knew He was claiming to be God. The Old Testament points towards the work on the cross and New Testament points back to the work on the cross. Jesus is ego eimi “I am”, deity, and ultimately the door to salvation. 

 

Bibliography

AMG Publishers. (1990). Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible: NASB., Chattanooga.

Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson’s Application Commentary: New Testament. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publisher’s.

Smith, Chuck. "John 9-10." The Word for Today. Blue Letter Bible. 1 Jun 2005. 2009. 27 Apr 2009.
< http:// www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?
AuthorID=1&contentID=7160&commInfo=25&topic=John >

Towns, E. L. (2008). A Journey Through the New Testament. Mason: Cengage Learning

Towns, E. L. (2002). The Gospel of John: Believe and live. Chattanooga: AMG Publishers

Why the Gospel of John was written

This was just a short discussion board I had to write for a class.

 

The fourth Gospel has been said that it is a gospel to the world but however, in 1924 Israel Abrahams said, "To us Jews, the Fourth Gospel is the most Jewish of the four! The fourth Gospel was not the most Jewish; in fact, “no other New Testament writing has been accused more often of an anti-Judaic thrust than the Gospel of John” (Leibig, 1983). The term “the Jews” was used more in a negative context than in any of the other gospels. The Gospel of Matthew intention was to show Jesus as the fulfillment of the law and how he fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. Therefore the Gospel of Matthew would be the most Jewish of the four Gospels.

John shows Jesus’ pre-existent state with God, His deity and essence, as well as His incarnation. John’s gospel can be summed up in this verse, “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31). The Gospel of John focuses on Christ’s deity and it is “a message of grace for the heart and life of man” (Thomas, 1968).

When people first become saved their knowledge of the bible can be limited and for a new believer to start reading the bible it can be confusing. One of the reasons new converts are instructed to start reading the book of John is “seems to be the simplest of all book in the Bible to understand” (Towns, 2002). It could be confusing to start reading in the Old Testament if the new convert does not understand that New Testament truths. The Gospel of John “paints a comprehensive picture of the Lord Jesus Christ – majestic in His humanity yet simply presented in His Deity” (Towns, 2002).

Each Gospel seems to have a different purpose for why it was written. John’s Gospel “communicates perhaps the most profound truths about Jesus Christ found anywhere in Scripture” (Towns, 2002). This is a great place to start new believers since Jesus is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. There is no better way to start a new believer than to build their faith in Jesus. To sum up, The Gospel of John’s “purpose is devotional, spiritual, practical: it is that the record here given may lead to a definite relationship between the reader and the One whose life and work are here depicted” (Thomas, 1968).

 

 

Leibig, J. (1983, Spr). John and the Jews : theological antisemitism in the Fourth Gospel. Journal of Ecumenical Studies, 20(2), 209-234. Retrieved March 28, 2009, from ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials database.

Thomas, W. (1968, July). Purpose of the Fourth Gospel. Bibliotheca sacra, 125(499), 254-262. Retrieved March 28, 2009, from ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials database.

Towns, E. L. (2002). The Gospel of John: Believe and live. Chattanooga: AMG Publishers

The eight miracles record in the Gospel of John

I know this is a long post but I really wanted to post this one. For my Bibl 323 Book of John class I wrote this paper on the eight miracles recorded in the Gospel of John. This was a really cool study. If you ever want to do a great study that will really build your faith, study the eight miracles of John. I also highly recommend the book The Gospel of John: Believe and Live by Dr. Elmer Towns. This is a great commentary on the book of John. I would even recommend just reading the commentary or reading through the Gospel of John while readying the commentary. Here is a link to that book on www.christianbook.com http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=578128&netp_id=275200&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW&view=covers

God bless and I hope you enjoy this paper.

Mike

John shows Jesus’ pre-existent state with God, His deity and essence, as well as His incarnation. One of the ways in which John shows Jesus’ deity is through the signs and miracles that Jesus did during His ministry. John based his entire account upon only eight signs or miracles (Courson, 2003). John’s gospel can be summed up in this verse: “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31). The miracles that John wrote in his gospel showed the deity of Jesus Christ.

            The first miracle was turning the water into wine at Cana (John 2:1-11). At the beginning of chapter 2 in the book of John, Jesus and His disciples arrived at the wedding and Jesus’ mother is already there. “Little is known about the wedding itself” (Towns, 2002) but many scholars believe that Jesus knew either the bride or groom and somehow Mary was involved with the wedding. There are several different theories regarding what Mary wanted Jesus to do but He told her, “His hour had no yet come” (John 2:4). This could speak of several different things including His hour to be glorified or His hour to begin His miracles.

Regardless of why Mary asked Jesus to do something, Jesus ultimately turned the water into wine. He didn’t call the crowds, or do this miracle in front of the wedding guests. The people that witnessed this miracle were the servants who Mary instructed to do whatever Jesus tells them. Jesus’ first miracle is an act of creation just as Gen 1:1 started with creation. Jesus turned the water at the wedding into wine, which speaks of joy (Courson, 2003). Jesus ultimately starts His miracles with a symbol of Joy.

            The second miracle Jesus did was healed the nobleman’s son (John 4:46-54). When Jesus entered Cana of Galilee, the people went to see Him because of the miracles that He had done (v45). The nobleman heard that Jesus was in town and went to Him so that He would heal his son (v46). Jesus said, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe” (v48). While the Samaritans simply heard His word and believed (v42), “the Galileans needed miracles, signs, and wonders to believe” (Courson, 2003). The first expression of faith by the nobleman (v50) “was faith in the word of God, and the second expression of faith was in the incarnate Word of God” (Towns, 2002). This miracle was significant because Jesus showed he had power over space. He did not have to see the nobleman’s son to heal him but Jesus just had to speak the word. This would show those around Him that His power did not come from touch but He had absolute power of space. His power was not limited.

            The third miracle Jesus did was healing the lame man by the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-17). Jesus was going up to Jerusalem probably for the feast of Passover (v1). During this feast thousands of people went down to the pool of Bethesda because they believed this pool had healing powers. There were several who were lame who wanted to be heeled (v3). Jesus saw a certain man and knew he had been ill for 38 years (v6). Jesus asks this man, “do you wish to get well?” (v6). The sick man had no man to put him into the pool. This lame man made several statements that “suggests his hope had deteriorated” (Towns, 2008). 

            Jesus simply told this man, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk” (v8). Once Jesus spoke those words, the man immediately became well. Here we see “the Jews” questioning this man who was healed instead of rejoicing with him. This miracle starts two major themes in the book of John. The first is, “it records the beginning of the bitter hostilities of the Jews toward Christ” (Towns, 2002) and second, “this chapter includes the strongest arguments for the deity of Christ” (Towns 2002). This miracle shows that Jesus has power over time. This miracle was important to reveal Jesus’ deity because it showed the Jesus had the power to restore this man’s defect regardless of how long he had been lame. If the people around believed that this mans condition was due to sin, the people would think this man in a way heal him of his sin. Jesus comes and delivers a man in the place of competition and tradition, rules, and regulations (Courson, 2003).

            The fourth miracle was Jesus feeding the 5,000 (John 6:1-14). Apart from the resurrection, this is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels and the only miracle in John that is found in any other gospel (Towns, 2008). At the beginning of chapter 6, we see Jesus trying to get away to spend some time with His disciples to rest (Mark 6:31) but the multitudes followed Him. In fact, “the crowds were so constant He and His disciples found it difficult to find time even to eat together” (Towns, 2008). The multitudes followed Him “not so much because they wanted to be with Him, but because they were curious about Him” (Courson, 2003).

            The last miracle we see Jesus do a work in the lame man (singular) and now we are going to see Jesus do a work for the multitudes (plural); He is also working on His disciples (v5-9). Jesus asked Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” (v5). The following verse states the Jesus did that to test Philip but Jesus already knew what he was going to do before He even asked Philip. Philip was being analytical but Jesus was looking for a statement of faith. Andrew brought Jesus something that He could use, a lad who had five barley loaves and two fish (v8-9).

            Andrew could have brought this small amount of food remembering that Jesus took the water and made wine in Cana in Chapter 2 of John. Jesus used what little Andrew had brought to Him. As the disciples passed out the food, Jesus instructed them to give the crowds as much as they wanted. This is a good illustration for how God works; “He uses the most available resource at His disposal” (Towns, 2008). Jesus helped take care of their physical need but even after this, the crowd had their own agenda. The crowd wanted to make Him king. Not because they thought he was the Christ but a prophet (v14). The Jews wanted to take Jesus and have Him use His power against the governing Romans. They failed to realize their need was not for battling against the Romans but for the Christ.

            This miracle has some key factors to learn from. God does not just care for our spiritual need but he also takes care of our physical needs. The people were hungry and He allowed them to eat as much as they wanted. Jesus also made sure that none of the food was wasted but rather gathered up (v13). Jesus has the power over food. He can take what we have and use that. Jesus would later on say “I am the bread of life” (6:35).

            The fifth miracle is Jesus walking on water (John 6:15-21) and this miracle took place in the same 24hour period as the feeding of the five thousand. The people wanted to take a hold of Jesus and Jesus knowing this, withdrew by Himself to the mountain (v15). Quickly Jesus got His disciples in the boat and sent them to Bethsaida in Galilee (Towns, 2008). His disciples were obviously tired after feeding the 5,000 and started a slow journey across the sea. When it had become dark a storm had hit. In the middle of this storm, the disciples thought they saw something; it was Jesus walking on water. The disciples were at first afraid (v19) but Jesus spoke to them saying “It is I; do not be afraid” (v20).

            This story has several applications and reveals the deity of Jesus in several ways. Jesus not only was able to stop the storm but He is the creator of the storm. The disciples need was for Jesus. He has power over creation and the natural laws as we know them. The account of John states that when they received Him, they immediately were at land at their destination (v21). He calmed the storm. In the past miracles of turning water into wine, healing the lame man, and the feeding of the five thousands were good “tricks”. Jesus seems to be revealing His power starting with a miracle of Joy and by now revealing that His power is really endless. This Man has power over creation and He can be no other that deity (God).

            The sixth miracle is Jesus healing the man that was born blind (John 9:1-12). This miracle starts out by the disciples asking Jesus who sinned, this man or his parents (v1-2). This was a “foundational question of all suffering” (Courson, 2003). The “rabbi’s taught man could sin from the womb” (Courson, 2003), and a persons defect could be from other generations in the family. Jesus taught that this man’s defect was not due to sin but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him (v3). One of the next things Jesus stated is that while He is in the world, I am the Light of the world (v5). This is one of the eight “I am” statements in the book of John. Jesus was claiming to be the “I am” of the Old Testament. This is a claim to be the God of the Old Testament and no doubt angered the religious leaders.

            Jesus knew that sin did not blind this man since birth but rather “this man’s misery gives Me opportunity for ministry” (Courson, 2003). Jesus spit on the ground and made clay and applied it to this man’s eyes (v6). Then Jesus instructed him to go to the pool of Siloam and wash. The healing power did not come from the spit, clay, or the washing from the pool. Jesus had healed other blind men by speaking the word or by touch. Spit was believed to have curative powers (Towns, 2002). Jesus might have use spit with dirt to create clay to show that He could use anything to heal a man. Jesus told this man to wash and the man obeyed without question. This miracle reveals that Jesus has power over physical laws. This healing of the blind man was different because Jesus used what they believed to have healing powers and showed them He could heal this man by touch, speaking the word, or with “spit”.

            The seventh miracle is the death and resurrection of Lazarus (John 11:1-45). Lazarus is sick and Jesus was going to use this to glorify God and that He would be glorified by it (v1-4). After Jesus heard about Lazarus He stayed two days longer where He was (v6). Jesus loved Lazarus (v5) and why did He not rush to the heal him? Jesus did not rush to heal Lazarus or speak the word yet was He would ultimately show His power and deity in a different way.

            When Jesus was on His way to see Lazarus, Martha went out to meet Him (v20) and Jesus told her that her brother will rise again (v23). As they talk, Jesus used this to declare another “I am” statement; Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (v25-26) She answered yes (v27). Jesus asks, “Where have you laid him?” (v34) and then Jesus wanted them to remove the stone to reveal the body of Lazarus (v39).

They didn’t want to remove the stone because his body was most likely decomposing and started to smell. An interesting irony in the account of the raising of Lazarus concerns attitudes towards Jesus’ timing (Towns, 2008).  Jesus’ timing was perfect; He would ultimately be glorified by it (v4,15, 25,40-42). Jesus then cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth” (v43).  Lazarus who had been dead four days had been resurrected from the dead. Jesus used Lazarus’s death to show He has power over death and Jesus even spoke one of the great “I am” statements in the bible; “I am the resurrection and the life” (v25). Jesus once again shows His deity and equality with the Father in Heaven; the “I am” of the Old Testament.

            The eighth miracle is the catching of fish (John 21:1-11). The disciple decided to go fishing on the Sea of Tiberias and there Jesus would appear to His disciples. They would not recognize Him at first but from the shore Jesus instructs them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. The disciples got a great number of fish, so many they could barely get the fish to the shore. This miracle shows that Jesus had power as He did in all the other miracles that John wrote about.

            The book of John shows Jesus is the “I am” of the Old Testament and it also shows the deity of Jesus. John 20:31 states: “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name”. John wrote his gospel to show the deity of Jesus and John was very selective in what he chose to record (Courson, 2003). John is able to show Jesus’ power over creation, space, time, food, natural laws, physical laws, death, and power over all!

 

 

Bibliography

Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson’s Application Commentary: New Testament. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publisher’s.

Towns, E. L. (2008). A Journey Through the New Testament. Mason: Cengage Learning

Towns, E. L. (2002). The Gospel of John: Believe and live. Chattanooga: AMG Publishers

Pictures of Christ in the Feasts of Tabernacles!

This was a post I had to do for a discussion board.

The Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booth was one of the three feasts every year on the Jewish calendar (Lev 23:34) that every Male Jew was required to attend (Deut 16:16). During this feast, the male Jews were commanded by the Lord to live in booths (Lev 23:40-42). Lev 23:43 states, “that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God”. Sometimes these booths were small tents and can be referred to as tabernacles. This feast commemorated Israel’s wandering in the wilderness and the end of the harvest.

There are several types of pictures and symbolism in the Old Testament that point forward to Jesus coming and what he would do. “One of the most generally accepted types in Scripture is that of the tabernacles” (Towns, 2002b). In Exodus 25-31 God gives directions for building the tabernacle. The tabernacle was direction on how to worship God. Jesus is the fulfillment of its typology, “for it sets forth a picture of His early ministry” (Geisler, 2007).

In Geisler’s (2007) book A Popular Survey of the Old Testament, He illustrates the following:

The door of the tabernacle taught that there is only one way to God; Jesus said, “I am the door” (John 10:9). The brazen altar taught substitution is necessary for atoning sins; Jesus said, “I give my life a random for many” (Mark 10:45). The laver pictured purification is needed for God’s presence (John 13:8). The lamps symbolized illumination is needed to do God’s work and Jesus said, “ I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). The bread was a picture of sustenance is needed for God’s people and Jesus said, “I am praying for them” (John 17:9). The veil pictured a separation between God and His people and Jesus went behind the curtain for us (Heb 6:19-20; 10:20). The mercy seat was a beautiful picture of how only blood can make atonement for sin and Jesus “is the expiation for our sins” (1 John 2:2). Lastly the priest was a picture that God must be approached through representation and Jesus is our representation (Heb 6:19, Heb 9:25). (p. 61)

The Tabernacle was a way of teaching the children of Israel of Christ and what he would do. It was the “identification of the presence of God for Israel” (Ex 40:34), “It was an illustration of God’s plan of salvation for the world “ (Heb 9:9-11), “it was an incarnation of the person of God for His people (John 1:14), and it was prefiguration of the pattern of God in heaven (Heb 9:23,24; Rev 4-5). The tabernacle was pitched among the people and John 1:14 says He dwelt (pitch His Tent) among us. Christ also is presented as our high priest who makes intercession for us (Heb 7:25).

         There are many symbolisms in the bible that point forward to how the messiah would come and what he would do. The fulfillment of the pictures of the Feast of Booths and the Tabernacle is standing among the people. On the great day, the last day of the feast, the priests provided a powerful picture of Israel’s longing for her messiah (Courson, 2003). The priest would gather water from the pool of Siloam and pour it in the temple as a sign of God provision for the thirst of their bodies (Courson, 2003).

On the last day of the feast, the priests returned from the pool of Siloam with empty pitchers as an illustration of their need for the One to satisfy the thirst of their hearts. It was during this time that Jesus cried out with a loud voice, if any man thirst, let him come to me and drink and out of His belly will flow living water (John 7:37-39). Jesus was referring to the Spirit that would come after His death on the cross. When the people heard this, it was causing division among them. The Jews knew that this was a claim to be the messiah. Jesus was the perfect fulfillment of the picture of the tabernacle, the feast of booths, and the ceremonial need for God’s provision through living water.

Reference:

Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson’s Application Commentary: New

Testament. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publisher’s.

Geisler, N. L. (2007). A Popular Survey of the Old Testament. Grand

Rapids: Baker Academic

Towns, E. L. (2002a). The Gospel of John: Believe and Live. Chattanooga:

AMG Publishers.

Towns, E. L. (2002b). Theology for Today. Belmont: Wadsworth

Bible Study Help

Many people read there bible but do not know how to study it. I came across this bible study guide and thought that I would just copy and paste it. You can go to www.air1.com if you want to know what website I went to.

Here is the bible study guide:

How to Study the Bible


The Psalmist declared, “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path."(Psalms 119:105 NLT) His word lights the way, giving direction for each step (“for my feet”) and giving wisdom for long-range plans (“for my path”). Let God’s word guide, correct, instruct, lead, teach, and confirm, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.” (2 Tim 3:16-17 NLT)

Practical:

Start with prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you understanding of the truths you’re reading and for a greater hunger for God’s word. See Psalms 5:3

Make a commitment to regularly spend time in God’s word. God commanded Joshua to “meditate on it day and night”See Joshua 1:8

Have a plan, a systematic approach to your study. It’s a lifetime endeavor so approach it with purpose. Our random, “God give me something today” approach while flipping open the Bible is not the best consistent plan. See Psalms 119:15

Make it a priority by scheduling it into your day. The “if I have time today” approach doesn't seem to work. Something always seems to squeeze it out. See Psalms 90:12

Have a notebook close at hand to write insights gleaned from your study. See Proverbs 2:3

Meditate on a text, read and reread. Meditate on it throughout the day, memorize key verses. See Psalms 119:48

Conclude in prayer. Ask the question, “How will I be different today because of what I have just read?” Then ask God help you to live it out. See Ephesians 4:16

Principles:

These are some principles of interpretation to keep in mind as we are admonished, “Work hard so God can approve you. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.”(2 Tim 2:15 NLT)

Start with your favorite translation of the bible when studying and not a paraphrase.

NOTE: A "translation" attempts to communicate word-for-word from the original language. A "paraphrase" takes the meaning of a verse or passage of scripture and attempts to express the meaning in the “plain language” of today.

Let scripture interpret scripture: Consider all of God’s word in regards to any topic. Refrain from isolating one verse and building a doctrine or position.

Context is important – interpret a passage in the light of its context. Context is the portions of scripture surrounding the passage being studied, both before and after it.

Language can be tricky. Interpret according the correct meaning of the words. Some words change their meaning over a period of time. Use a bible dictionary to understand the original meaning and the grammar of a sentence.

What's the intention? Ask yourself “Why did the author write the text?” Knowing the purpose of the writing can help in interpreting texts.

Interpret the scripture in the light of the historical, geographical and cultural background as far as can be known. There are many reference books that will help you in this process.

With the help of reference books search out the literary form of a passage. Is it a narrative, poetry, teaching, prophecy, etc?

While studying look for repeated words and phrases. These can have great significance in a passage.

Personal:

There are many tools and techniques available at your local Christian bookstores to aid and enhance personal Bible study. One such tool is called “journaling” and consists of systematic daily bible reading, along with writing a journal following the acronym S.O.A.P.

S FOR SCRIPTURE

Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. Highlight, underline or place a mark in the margin of your bible next to the scriptures that stand out. When you are done, reread the verses you marked, look for one that particularly spoke to you that day, and write it in your journal.

O FOR OBSERVATION

What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you. Paraphrase and write this scripture down in your own words in your journal.

A FOR APPLICATION

Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, revelation of a new promise or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write how this scripture can apply to you today.

P FOR PRAYER

This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or it may be a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two-way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Then, write it down.
Resources:

Many of these resources can be bought at your local Christian Book store or even checked out at your local library.

A bible dictionary will define the meaning of a word in the original language.
A concordance will help you locate other passages that contain the same word.
Commentaries illustrate how other men of God have interpreted a specific text.
Other bible translations or paraphrases: reading text stated in a different way may allow for a greater understanding of the passage.
There are many online resources to enhance your study and provide tools to dig deeper into God’s word and enrich your study. Here are just a couple to get you started:
http://www.klove.com/Interact/Links.aspx
http://www.biblegateway.com/
http://www.studylight.org/

May God’s blessing be upon you as you endeavor to be a faithful follower of Jesus, living out the command, “Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed.”(Joshua 1:8b NLT) And may the promised blessing be yours; “…be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”(Joshua 1:9 NLT)

Mike

I? rebuke you Satan?

I decided to write on the topic of people rebuking the devil(Satan). I have heard of people rebuking Satan and no matter what happens negetively in their life, it is the devil! So the answer: rebuke the devil! I don't think so. I am going to dig into scripture to see what the Bible says about this topic. Should we rebuke Satan? Lets find out!

First off, I just want to raise the question about Satan. Can Satan be everywhere at once(omnipresent)? Satan is a fallen angel (Rev 12:9). We know from the bible that angels are powerful. Also, Satan is called the prince of this world (John 21.31). As Christians, what do we do about this? Does the bible tell us to rebuke the devil and do battle with him mono-e-mono? Praise the Lord NO!

The devil has power abslutely. Just look at the sinful world we live in. A few verses came to mind:

1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?

These two verses really help me understand that God is greater than Satan and if God is for us(believers), who can be against us? Did you notice that Rom 8:31 is in reference to Gods power and not ours. Just because God is for us does not mean that by our own might we are ready to do battle against Satan, demons, or the spiritaul realm. If it is you(me) against the devil by our own power, we are going to loose.

God limits Satans power and God will allow Satan to do certain things in this world. Will God allow Satan to test believers? Absolutely. The book of Job is a great story in how a man that was walking with the Lord was tested, it was said that Job was blameless (Job1:1). In Job Chapter 1, notice that Satan and his demons have access to Heaven and to God (Job1:6). God and Satan are having a conversation about Job. Satan try's to tell God that Job only follows God because He has blessed Job. God allows Satan to test Job but only allows Satan to do certain things (Job1:12). Chapter 1 and 2 go on to tell the story about God allowing Satan to test Job. When it looks like Job has been cursed by God, Job still did not blame God (Job1:22). Satan continues to test Job in Chapter 2 and God allows it. Job continued to love the Lord and in the end of the book of Job, God blessed Job with two fold what he had before (Job42:10). Why did God allow this? He was doing a work in Job all along to bless him in the end. Job had no idea that a conversation was going on with Satan and God about him. God allowed it to happen in the end to further bless Job, build his faith, let Satan fail, and for God himself to get the glory.

That was only one example of how God will allow us believers to be tested and God will allow us to be tested by satan. The Bible speaks about this subject many times and all you have to do is read your bible for more examples.

So God allows Satan to test believers. Job not once rebuked Satan. Job's friends were trying to convince him of many reason of why he was going through a bad season (if you will). God in the end told Job his friends were wrong.

So what? Job didn't rebuke Satan big deal. Maybe he should of! If that is what you are thinking, I want to draw your attention to the book of Jude. This is powerful 1 chapter book. Read it slowly! Jude 1:9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!". Wow. That is powerful.

Michael, a big huge powerful archangel, a warrior angel, is having a conversation with Satan over the body of Moses and did not dare rebuke Satan but said, "The Lord rebuke you". If you didn't know, angel are more powerful than us and Michael is probably one of the most powerful warrior angels. Even he understands that it is not by his own power but by the Lord's power.

So if we cannot rebuke the devil by our own power what do we do? I would suggest that do not be children of darkness but be children of light. Too many christians focus on the devil and "I rebuke you satan!". I would suggest focussing on the Lord. Here is some scripture to help you out.

James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Eph 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light

The answer is always the Lord. Submit to God and His Word and He will be faithful. Eph 6:12 tell us:

Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world force of this darkness, against spiritual {forces} of wickedness in the heavenly {places}.

So oh no! The bible tells us not to rebuke Satan but that we struggle against dark spiritual forces. That simply means that some things that are going on in our life might have a spiritual significance in the spiritual realm in eternity or things that we cannot comprehend or understand. Need an example? Just like in the book of Job. Job didn't have a clue what was really going on.

What should we do? There could be spiritual things going on that I cannot comprehend, I cannot rebuke the devil/demonic forces, I am powerless, and subject to the be crushed if I am left to defend myself by my own power.

The answer: Jesus!

For our power and might does not come from ourselves but from God. Just as Michael the archangel's power came from the Lord and not himself. I want to leave you with letter you know how to combat spiritual attacks.

Put on the armor of God!

Eph 6:10-19
V10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armory of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view be on alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19

What is the Armor of God?
Belt of truth (v14) - Commit to live your life God's way.
Breastplate of Righteousness (v14) - Live holy today.
Shoes of the Gospel of Peace (v15) - Relish our peace with God.
Sheild of Faith (v16) - Unwavering trust in His Word and promises.
Helmet of Salvation (v17) - Looking to the future in Heaven.
Sword of the Spirit (v17) - Thorough the understanding of God's word.

How do you put on the armor? V18-19 Prayer! Pray for the spiritual needs of others and the evangelistic efforts of other believers!

In a spiritual battle put on the Armor of God and who is victorious in a spiritual battle? V10 The Lord fights victoriously and Satan does not listen to us. Notice our power comes from the Lord and by his might we are victorious.

In the end, whatever you are going through, put on the armor of God, pray, read your bible, give all the glory to God.

Give glory to the Lord,
do all things unto the Lord, and
praise his name in all things!


Mike

Bringing up your children in the way of the Lord.

Recently, I have started doing a bible study with the family immediately after dinner or right before bed as an alternative. This idea came from a friend. Right after him and his wife finished dinner, he grabbed the bible that was right next to the dinner table to read a little bit in the bible.

What a cool idea to start at the beginning and read to the end with the family at the dinner table. That idea has bless my family so much. I highly recommended that right at the dinner table you start reading the word towards the end of a the meal. If this is not doable the alternative is before bed. Just carve out some time specifically before bed or better yet after dinner!

Cassie and I definitely talk to the kids about God, prayer, and church regularly. We even do devotion's with them and pray daily. BUT! There is a huge difference between prayer, church, and actually going through the bible with them. Any church goer that has been a christian for a while knows the power of the word. 

Since we started in Gen 1:1 the kids have had several good questions that might have not come up in a kids devotional book. 

I just want to leave you with a few verses on this subject:

Deu 6:6-7 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 

* This verse is letting us know that we just don't take our kids to Sunday school and call it good but that as parents we should teach them continuously.

Prov 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

*Ever wonder if you child is going to stray from the faith? There is a promise from God's word. 

Eph 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

*Dad's and husbands - it all starts with you. Be the spiritual leader in your home. 

This is not an alternative to seeking the Lord early in the morning but rather another great time to include Jesus. Jesus was always seen eating in the Gospels so why not include him at the dinner table? Even if you do not have kids that doesn't mean you can include Jesus at the dinner table.

God Bless

Mike

Helpful hints with Proverbs

Proverbs:

A teachers manuel of wise sayings.

Proverbs teach universal or general truths in a didactic form and they express great truths in capsule form (simple but profound).

Types of Proverbs:

A. Synonymous

Pride goes before destruction

A haughty spirit before stumbling (16:18)

B. Antithetical

A merciful man does himself good,

But a cruel man does himself harm (11:17)

C. Synthetic

He who conceals hatred has lying lips

He who spreads slander is a fool (10:18)

D. Comparative 

Like cold water to a weary soul

So is good news from a distant land (25:25)

E. Absurdity

Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom

When he has no sense? (17:16)

F. Classification

The naive believes everything,

But the prudent man considers his steps. (14:15)

I hope the about helps with proverbs. The reference for the above is Old Testament Survey Notes by Ed Hindson.

Mike

Parallelism in Hebrew Poetry

Here are a few things I learned in my Bible class. This really helps me understand Hebrew poetry better. I hope this outline helps. 

A. Synonymous parallels (same thought)

Wine is a mocker

Strong drink is a brawler (Prov 20:1)

B. Antithetic parallels (opposite thought)

A wise son gladdens a father

A foolish son grieves his mother (Prov 10:1)

C. Synthetic Parallels (thoughts build)

He is like a tree planted by streams

That yields its fruit in its season

And its leaf does not wither

In all he does, he prospers (Psa 1:3)

D. Exemplar parallels

Iron sharpens iron

As one man sharpens another (Prov 27:17)

E. External-Internal parallels

1. Hear the Word of the Lord

2. Rulers of Sodom

1. Give ear to the Law of the Lord

2. People of Gommorah

TO REFERENCE THIS OUTLINE - OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY NOTES BY ED HINDSON

Mike

The Spirit Guiding Us

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5).

On a busy day oat an airport, tone man was particularly rude. He had more bags than allowed, they were overstuffed, and the skycap mentioned this to him. He demanded that his bags be checke. The skycap went about his business, and the man didn't give him a tip. A couple standing next in line said to the skcap, "you certainly seemd cool. That man was so rude to you, it's hard to believe you didn't retaliate." The skycap smiled and said, "No big deal. That man's going to New York, and his bags are going to Brazil." The skycap had total control over the bags. In the same way, the Holy Spirit not you or me changes the eternal destiny of people. (Ref - Introduction to Evangelism by Alvin Reid p166). 

I read this and thought it was good story. We may be on a journey but ultimately the spirit will guide us according to His will. 

Mike

I wanted to start this blog to share bible study tips, guides, notes, and my own person bible studies. I have been a Christian for several years and I currently go to Athey Creek Christian Fellowship. It is a non-denominational church in Tualatin Oregon. One of the reason I really enjoy my church is that it is biblically based and it is a through the bible study (book by book, chapter by chapter). Going to a through the bible church means that we don’t skip over any subjects that could be missed. I am not against topical churches but I would just rather attend a through the bible type of study.

The main purpose of this blog is to help those who are interested be able to study the bible better on their own. For some the bible can be confusing and I have met people who try to read it to eventually give up because they do not understand. As I go through my own person study I will post topics and other helpful stuff as I study.

Also I am attending Liberty University through their distance learning program. As I learn certain helpful things and as I write certain papers I feel that would be helpful I will post them. Please feel free to comment or ask a question.

Mike