Who is Jesus Christ? Humble Beginnings
who is Jesus Christ? He is God's only begotten son, yet He came from the throne of His Father to the womb of a woman. He became Son of Man that we might become sons of God.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of a virgin. He lived in poverty, and was unknown outside of Nazareth. He had neither wealth nor influence.
He laid aside His purple robe for a peasant's gown. He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor. He slept in another's stable; He rode another's donkey; He was buried in another's grave.
Who is Jesus Christ? Miraculous Ministry
who is Jesus Christ? History has never known such as He. In infancy, He startled a king. As a boy, He stunned the theologians with His knowledge and wisdom, for His knowledge was directly from God.
In manhood, He ruled the elements and quieted the raging sea. He healed without medicine, and fed thousands from a boy's lunch. Even demons obeyed Him and He gave back life to those who were dead.
Yet He suffered and sustained in body and soul the anger of God against the sin of the whole human race. He was despised and rejected of men. Though He was innocent, He was condemned by a civil judge and sentenced to death on a cross.
Who is Jesus Christ? Life-changing Impact
who is Jesus Christ? By His suffering and death, He paid completely for the sins of all who believe in Him. He set us free from the certain judgment and eternal condemnation of God that was to fall on all of us.
Some have given their lives for others, and great men have come and gone, yet Jesus Christ lives on. Herod could not kill Him. Satan could not stop him. Death could not destroy Him. The grave could not hold Him. Having fully satisfied God's perfect justice, He conquered death and rose on the third day as He said He would.
Who is Jesus Christ? A Question for Each of Us!
Who is Jesus Christ? For the last 2,000 years, every man, woman and child has been confronted with this same question. In Mathew 16:15, Jesus put it this way, 'But who do you say that I am?' One of His disciples, Simon Peter, replied: 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Now it's your turn. Who do you say that He is?
Canli
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Who Is Jesus Christ?
Who is Jesus Christ? Humble Beginnings
who is Jesus Christ? He is God's only begotten son, yet He came from the throne of His Father to the womb of a woman. He became Son of Man that we might become sons of God.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of a virgin. He lived in poverty, and was unknown outside of Nazareth. He had neither wealth nor influence.
He laid aside His purple robe for a peasant's gown. He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor. He slept in another's stable; He rode another's donkey; He was buried in another's grave.
Who is Jesus Christ? Miraculous Ministry
who is Jesus Christ? History has never known such as He. In infancy, He startled a king. As a boy, He stunned the theologians with His knowledge and wisdom, for His knowledge was directly from God.
In manhood, He ruled the elements and quieted the raging sea. He healed without medicine, and fed thousands from a boy's lunch. Even demons obeyed Him and He gave back life to those who were dead.
Yet He suffered and sustained in body and soul the anger of God against the sin of the whole human race. He was despised and rejected of men. Though He was innocent, He was condemned by a civil judge and sentenced to death on a cross.
Who is Jesus Christ? Life-changing Impact
who is Jesus Christ? By His suffering and death, He paid completely for the sins of all who believe in Him. He set us free from the certain judgment and eternal condemnation of God that was to fall on all of us.
Some have given their lives for others, and great men have come and gone, yet Jesus Christ lives on. Herod could not kill Him. Satan could not stop him. Death could not destroy Him. The grave could not hold Him. Having fully satisfied God's perfect justice, He conquered death and rose on the third day as He said He would.
Who is Jesus Christ? A Question for Each of Us!
Who is Jesus Christ? For the last 2,000 years, every man, woman and child has been confronted with this same question. In Mathew 16:15, Jesus put it this way, 'But who do you say that I am?' One of His disciples, Simon Peter, replied: 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Now it's your turn. Who do you say that He is?
Canli
Jesus Praying
Jesus Praying – Where did He pray?
One of the most mysterious and intriguing aspects of Jesus is the way He prayed. We only have snippets of His prayers written in the gospels.
It’s noted that He sometimes prayed all night long. In the garden of Gethsemane, the Bible states that He sweated blood, so great was His conversation with His Father.
His last authored prayer is the infamous ‘Not my will, but Yours’ be done.” These words of total submission to what abuse lay ahead are in sharp contrast to our human tendencies to avoid confrontation and death.
It’s not recorded that Jesus ever prayed in public. He taught His followers not to use their spirituality to call attention to themselves as the priests of that time were known to do.
He prayed in private. He specifically withdrew to a solitary place to avoid being distracted by others. We can follow His example by designating a quiet space for ourselves and schedule it at a time that we are less apt to be bothered by family, friends, and other distractions. Maintaining a focus on God is the main idea, so that we can hear Him speak to us in return.
The Bible teaches us that we should be in an ‘attitude’ of prayer at all times. One of the coolest things about prayer is that we can pray while we are at work, in the home, or at our jobs. We can even pray while we are driving down the road. An attitude of prayer means that we are very much aware of the presence of God and that He is always listening.
“A fervent effective prayer avails much” (James 5:16) means that the most urgent smallest sentences are received with the same power as a prayer that is lengthy. “I believe” has the power to change your life.
Jesus Praying - How did He pray?
When His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray, He told them what is called “The Lord’s Prayer.” The prayer taught them to honor God, seek His perfect will for their lives, to petition for their needs, expect His supply and to offer themselves in service.
A neat way to remember to include these things in your prayer is to think of the word P.R.A.Y., which stands for Praise, Rejoice, Ask, and Yield. This is a great foundation point to build your own prayers.
Jesus Praying – What can we learn?
Prayer is a two-way street. Our Father in heaven yearns to communicate with us. We have been given this wonderful opportunity to have a two-way conversation with our Creator. He already knows our hearts and thoughts, but to express them to Him releases our burdens and desires.
When we confide in God, He makes His answers known to us. We aren’t just praying to hear ourselves think or talk. Prayer builds the relationship we have with Him. Prayer builds our faith.
God responds to our faith, not our need. Prayer is the action that releases our faith. We, too, can pray like Jesus.
Is Jesus God?
Is Jesus God? The Historical Dispute
Is Jesus God? The answer to this question is the only real dispute surrounding the historical Jesus. No legitimate scholar today denies that Jesus is a historic figure that walked on this earth about 2,000 years ago, that he did remarkable wonders and acts of charity, and that He died a horrible death on a Roman cross just outside Jerusalem. The emotionally-charged dispute focuses specifically on whether Jesus was God incarnate who rose from the dead three days after His Crucifixion.
Is Jesus God? The Only Alternatives
Is Jesus God? Many people have dealt with this "spiritual" dispute by intellectually accepting Jesus as a great man, great teacher, or great prophet. However, Jesus and His inspired followers didn't mince words when they declared Him to be God (John 10:30-38, Matthew 16:13-17, Mark 14:61-64, John 14:6, Hebrews 1:8, Colossians 1:16, John 12:40-41 [quoting Isaiah 6:1-10]). Therefore, any type of intellectual compromise calling Jesus a "good man" is logically inconsistent. Why? Because there are really only three legitimate alternatives for the identity of Jesus Christ. He is either a liar, a lunatic or our Lord and God. Since Jesus claimed to be God, His claims are either true or false. If false, He must have been a liar, deliberately misleading the multitudes. Or, He was a lunatic, sincerely believing Himself to be God, when in reality He was just a man. However, if Jesus was a "good man," as most people now agree, how then could He be both good and crazy, or good and a liar? There is only one logically consistent alternative - He must have been telling the truth. In addition to the logical inconsistency, the remarkable historical, archaeological and manuscript evidence shows that Jesus was neither a liar nor a lunatic. Again, the only position left is that His claim is true. Jesus is Lord and God.
The only real argument that remains, is that Jesus was just a legend or myth. There is little likelihood that Jesus' claims are legend. There just wasn't enough time for any legendary development of the story to replace what really happened. For instance, we now know that the Gospels were written 30 to 50 years after the crucifixion of Jesus. More dramatically, we now date some of the early Christian creeds, proclaiming the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, to 3 to 10 years after His crucifixion. This includes Paul's letters to the Corinthians, Romans and Galatians. Finally, if Jesus' claim of deity was a myth, the early Jewish opponents of Christianity would surely have presented the fact that these claims never happened. Unlike modern skeptics, the Jewish rabbis never denied that Jesus made the claim that He was God. Instead, they called Him a liar, and tried Him for blasphemy.
Is Jesus God? The Only Answer
Is Jesus God? Once you have asked all your questions, weighed all the evidence, and tested all the arguments, you will ultimately be confronted with this question. In Mathew 16:15, Jesus put it this way, 'But who do you say that I am?' One of His disciples, Simon Peter, replied: 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' What is your reply?
Jesus is Lord
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Jesus is Lord - Excerpts from "One Solitary Life" (author unknown)
Jesus is Lord, yet He declares His Lordship through the power of humility and grace…
"Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty and then for three years was an itinerant preacher. He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put his foot inside a big city. He never traveled more than two hundred miles from the place where He was born. He never did one of those things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself….
"While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed on a cross between two thieves. While he was dying his executors gambled for the only piece of property he had on earth - His coat. When he was dead, He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
"Nineteen long centuries have come and gone and today He is the centerpiece of the human race and the leader of the column of progress. I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever were built, all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life."
Jesus is Lord - Quotes from Joseph Parker (1830-1902)
Jesus is Lord, yet He allows men to crucify Him…
"There are other men who do not come to worship Christ; who simply come to speculate upon him… The patronage they offer the Son of God! It makes me sad to hear how they damn Him with faint praise. What I dread among you is not that you will destroy Christ, but that you will patronize Him. Jesus Christ is nothing to me if He is not the Savior of the world… You will know what Jesus Christ is most and best when you are in greatest need of such service as He can render.
No man can entertain an opinion of indifference regarding Jesus. If he has considered the subject at all, he must worship Christ or crucify Him. Where there is earnestness in the inquiry or the criticism, that earnestness ends in homage or in crucifixion."
Jesus is Lord - Excerpt from "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis (1898-1963)
Jesus is Lord, yet mankind insists on calling Him everything else…
"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg - or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."
Jesus Christ - Who Is He?
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Jesus Christ: Many Things to Many People
Jesus Christ has been called many things by many people, including a great man, a great teacher, and a great prophet. There is no legitimate scholar today that denies that Jesus is a historic figure that walked on this earth about 2,000 years ago, that he did remarkable wonders and acts of charity, and that he died a horrible death on a Roman cross just outside Jerusalem. The only dispute is whether Jesus was God incarnate who rose from the dead three days after His crucifixion. These are all matters of historical record that can be earnestly discovered and tested. Jesus told us who He was – He didn’t mince words. “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” (John 14:6).
Jesus Christ: He is the Way
Jesus Christ declared “I am the Way,” but clearly, not everyone believes Him. What are we all afraid of? The evidence for Jesus and His great works are well documented both in and out of the Bible. The evidence for His crucifixion on the cross, the empty tomb three days later, and His appearances to over 500 eye-witnesses after his resurrection is very compelling. Jesus fulfilled over 300 messianic prophecies written in the Old Testament scriptures. With the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the reliability of the Septuagint version of the Old Testament, both of which have been proven to exist prior to the time Jesus walked on the earth, you can be assured that these prophecies were not “conspired” after-the-fact. They were truly fulfilled by the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Actually, if you look at the polls, most people aren’t afraid of Jesus at all. They’re afraid of Christians. Look at the way many Christians act, and who can deny this fear. Arcane rituals, flamboyant preachers, money, power, hypocrisy – Do these present a real picture of who Jesus is, and who He wants us to be? No. However, Jesus did not ask us to follow men and religion, He asked us to follow Him.
Jesus Christ: He is the Truth
Jesus Christ declared “I am the Truth,” but clearly, many of us have created our own concepts of truth. Moral relativism and religious pluralism pervade our culture. Truth is redefined daily. However, Jesus, through His Word -- the Bible -- gave us absolute truth. With today’s archaeological, historical and manuscript evidence, there’s far less reason to deny the origin of the Bible and its divine authenticity than to deny the legitimacy of works by Homer, Plato and Aristotle. What about your own pursuit of the truth? Is it even a priority in your life? How do you discover Christ’s truth, you might ask? He tells us in Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
Jesus Christ: He is the Life
In Philippians 3:8, Paul said it all when he claimed that everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).
Jesus Christ: He is Who He Said He Was
Jesus Christ said that He was the only way. Jesus is unique. He was either telling the truth, He was crazy, or He was a liar. But since everyone agrees that Jesus was a “good man,” how then could He be both good and crazy, or good and a liar? There is only one logically consistent alternative - He must have been telling the truth. Jesus is who He said He was - He is the only way to God!
Gospel of Judas
Gospel of Judas - What Is It?
The Gospel of Judas was discovered in the 1970s in an Egyptian cave. Until recently, no institutions were willing to pay the exorbitant fee to get the manuscript due to its dubious origin. A foundation in Switzerland eventually purchased the codex to release its content.
In 2006, National Geographic announced that the manuscript has been authenticated by carbon dating, studied, and translated by biblical scholars. However, up to one-third of the gospel according to Judas is missing or illegible.
This manuscript held by National Geographic is likely dated to the 5th century AD.
Gospel of Judas - Who Wrote It and What Does it Say?
It is unknown who wrote the Gospel of Judas. Our biggest clue comes from Irenaeus (a second century Christian) who referenced the Gospel of Judas as invented history of heretics and rebels. In about 180 AD, Irenaeus wrote:
“They declare that Judas the traitor was thoroughly acquainted with these things, and that he alone, knowing the truth as no others did, accomplished the mystery of the betrayal; by him all things, both earthly and heavenly, were thus thrown into confusion. They produce a fictitious history of this kind, which they style the Gospel of Judas.” (Adversus Haereses I.31.1; Roberts-Donaldson translation.)
The Gospel of Judas is a Gnostic Gospel and is consistent with Gnostic viewpoints. The Gnostics believed that the road to salvation was through secret knowledge given by Jesus to his inner circle. The biggest controversy in this text revolves around the theory that Jesus wanted Judas to betray Him in order to fulfill Jesus’ plan. This is contrary to the New Testament, which presents Judas as a traitor.
The Gospel of Judas begins with these words: "the secret account of the revelation that Jesus spoke in conversation with Judas Iscariot during a week three days before the celebrated Passover." Later, the text says that Jesus tells Judas, “you will exceed all of them. For you will sacrifice the man that clothed me.” (The Gospel of Judas, Published by the National Geographic Society, 2006.)
This is contrary to the New Testament account. If it was Jesus’ plan for Judas to betray Him, why would Jesus call Judas the “one headed for destruction” in John 17:12? Jesus also stated that it would have been better if Judas had never been born: “For I, the Son of Man, must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for my betrayer. Far better for him if he had never been born!"
The Bible reports that Judas committed suicide when he saw that Jesus was condemned. Why would Judas do this if He was following Jesus’ instructions? Matthew 27:5 says, “Then Judas threw the money onto the floor of the Temple and went out and hanged himself.”
Gospel of Judas - Why Isn't It Accurate?
The Gospel of Judas is considered "Gnostic" in origin. Generally, Gnostics hold that salvation of the soul comes from a quasi-intuitive knowledge of the mysteries of the universe and of secret formulae indicative of that knowledge. The gospel according to Judas is simply a heretical forgery like the Gospel of Mary, Gospel of Thomas, and the Gospel of Philip.
We now have over 25,000 ancient texts and fragments confirming the legitimate biblical accounts. Maybe there’s a reason we’ve only found one copy of the Gospel of Judas laying in an ancient trash heap in the back of a solitary cave. Just as Judas betrayed Jesus Christ, this gospel has betrayed the truth of God.
The Gospel of Judas was discovered in the 1970s in an Egyptian cave. Until recently, no institutions were willing to pay the exorbitant fee to get the manuscript due to its dubious origin. A foundation in Switzerland eventually purchased the codex to release its content.
In 2006, National Geographic announced that the manuscript has been authenticated by carbon dating, studied, and translated by biblical scholars. However, up to one-third of the gospel according to Judas is missing or illegible.
This manuscript held by National Geographic is likely dated to the 5th century AD.
Gospel of Judas - Who Wrote It and What Does it Say?
It is unknown who wrote the Gospel of Judas. Our biggest clue comes from Irenaeus (a second century Christian) who referenced the Gospel of Judas as invented history of heretics and rebels. In about 180 AD, Irenaeus wrote:
“They declare that Judas the traitor was thoroughly acquainted with these things, and that he alone, knowing the truth as no others did, accomplished the mystery of the betrayal; by him all things, both earthly and heavenly, were thus thrown into confusion. They produce a fictitious history of this kind, which they style the Gospel of Judas.” (Adversus Haereses I.31.1; Roberts-Donaldson translation.)
The Gospel of Judas is a Gnostic Gospel and is consistent with Gnostic viewpoints. The Gnostics believed that the road to salvation was through secret knowledge given by Jesus to his inner circle. The biggest controversy in this text revolves around the theory that Jesus wanted Judas to betray Him in order to fulfill Jesus’ plan. This is contrary to the New Testament, which presents Judas as a traitor.
The Gospel of Judas begins with these words: "the secret account of the revelation that Jesus spoke in conversation with Judas Iscariot during a week three days before the celebrated Passover." Later, the text says that Jesus tells Judas, “you will exceed all of them. For you will sacrifice the man that clothed me.” (The Gospel of Judas, Published by the National Geographic Society, 2006.)
This is contrary to the New Testament account. If it was Jesus’ plan for Judas to betray Him, why would Jesus call Judas the “one headed for destruction” in John 17:12? Jesus also stated that it would have been better if Judas had never been born: “For I, the Son of Man, must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for my betrayer. Far better for him if he had never been born!"
The Bible reports that Judas committed suicide when he saw that Jesus was condemned. Why would Judas do this if He was following Jesus’ instructions? Matthew 27:5 says, “Then Judas threw the money onto the floor of the Temple and went out and hanged himself.”
Gospel of Judas - Why Isn't It Accurate?
The Gospel of Judas is considered "Gnostic" in origin. Generally, Gnostics hold that salvation of the soul comes from a quasi-intuitive knowledge of the mysteries of the universe and of secret formulae indicative of that knowledge. The gospel according to Judas is simply a heretical forgery like the Gospel of Mary, Gospel of Thomas, and the Gospel of Philip.
We now have over 25,000 ancient texts and fragments confirming the legitimate biblical accounts. Maybe there’s a reason we’ve only found one copy of the Gospel of Judas laying in an ancient trash heap in the back of a solitary cave. Just as Judas betrayed Jesus Christ, this gospel has betrayed the truth of God.
Gospel of St. Thomas
Gospel of St. Thomas - What Is It?
The "Gospel of St. Thomas" is a collection of teachings that some attribute to Jesus of Nazareth. Portions of Greek versions of the text were found at Oxyrhynchus, Egypt in the late 1800's. A complete version in Coptic (an Egyptian language derived from the Greek alphabet) was found at Nag Hammadi, Egypt in 1945. The complete text has been dated to about 340 AD, while some of the Greek fragments have been dated as far back as 140 AD.
Gospel of St. Thomas - Who Wrote It?
Scholars aren't sure who wrote the Gospel of St. Thomas. The first lines of the text refer to "didymos Judas thomas" as the author. The word "didymos" is Greek for twin and the word "thomas" is Aramaic for twin. It appears the author's name was Judas, and his nickname was "the twin" (set forth in two languages). The canonical Gospels of the Holy Bible mention a man named Thomas, who John called "didymos thomas." There are also several people named Judas mentioned in the New Testament other than the well-known Judas Iscariot. There is no mention of a Judas in the New Testament who was also nicknamed Thomas, "the twin."
Gospel of St. Thomas - What Does It Say?
The Gospel of St. Thomas declares that the Kingdom of God exists upon the earth today if people just open their eyes. There is "divine light" within all of us, which allows us to see the Kingdom of God in our physical surroundings. The Image of God at the beginning of creation (Genesis 1) still exists today. We can assume that Image still, which is different than the image of fallen man (Adam) in Genesis 2. The Gospel of St. Thomas reveals that mankind can and should restore their identities to the image of God now, and see the Kingdom of God on earth now. This text treats the first two chapters of Genesis in a non-traditional way. It holds that there were two separate creations of mankind -- the first was perfect and the second was flawed. Rather than wait for a future end-time Kingdom to come, the writer of this book exhorts people to return to the perfect Kingdom conditions of Genesis 1 now.
Gospel of St. Thomas - Why isn't it in the Bible?
The Gospel of St. Thomas is considered "Gnostic" in origin and viewpoint by many fundamental Christians, and is possibly the reason why the book was kept from the original canon of the Holy Bible (if the text was even known by early Christian followers at all). Generally, Gnostics hold that salvation of the soul comes from a quasi-intuitive knowledge of the mysteries of the universe and of secret formulae indicative of that knowledge. Since Christians view the Bible as a supernaturally-inspired collection of God's word to humans, which is totally integrated in thought and doctrine, there is no such thing as a "lost book" of the Bible with special secrets for the wise. Even from a non-supernatural perspective, if the Bible that we have read for the past 2,000 years reflects the beliefs of original Christianity, then any texts that were originally rejected, discarded or "lost" are not books of the Christian Bible, by definition. A church that adds the Gospel of St. Thomas to its scriptures would move outside the simple lines of fundamental Christianity, and we know of no established denomination that has any notion of doing so... nor should they.
The "Gospel of St. Thomas" is a collection of teachings that some attribute to Jesus of Nazareth. Portions of Greek versions of the text were found at Oxyrhynchus, Egypt in the late 1800's. A complete version in Coptic (an Egyptian language derived from the Greek alphabet) was found at Nag Hammadi, Egypt in 1945. The complete text has been dated to about 340 AD, while some of the Greek fragments have been dated as far back as 140 AD.
Gospel of St. Thomas - Who Wrote It?
Scholars aren't sure who wrote the Gospel of St. Thomas. The first lines of the text refer to "didymos Judas thomas" as the author. The word "didymos" is Greek for twin and the word "thomas" is Aramaic for twin. It appears the author's name was Judas, and his nickname was "the twin" (set forth in two languages). The canonical Gospels of the Holy Bible mention a man named Thomas, who John called "didymos thomas." There are also several people named Judas mentioned in the New Testament other than the well-known Judas Iscariot. There is no mention of a Judas in the New Testament who was also nicknamed Thomas, "the twin."
Gospel of St. Thomas - What Does It Say?
The Gospel of St. Thomas declares that the Kingdom of God exists upon the earth today if people just open their eyes. There is "divine light" within all of us, which allows us to see the Kingdom of God in our physical surroundings. The Image of God at the beginning of creation (Genesis 1) still exists today. We can assume that Image still, which is different than the image of fallen man (Adam) in Genesis 2. The Gospel of St. Thomas reveals that mankind can and should restore their identities to the image of God now, and see the Kingdom of God on earth now. This text treats the first two chapters of Genesis in a non-traditional way. It holds that there were two separate creations of mankind -- the first was perfect and the second was flawed. Rather than wait for a future end-time Kingdom to come, the writer of this book exhorts people to return to the perfect Kingdom conditions of Genesis 1 now.
Gospel of St. Thomas - Why isn't it in the Bible?
The Gospel of St. Thomas is considered "Gnostic" in origin and viewpoint by many fundamental Christians, and is possibly the reason why the book was kept from the original canon of the Holy Bible (if the text was even known by early Christian followers at all). Generally, Gnostics hold that salvation of the soul comes from a quasi-intuitive knowledge of the mysteries of the universe and of secret formulae indicative of that knowledge. Since Christians view the Bible as a supernaturally-inspired collection of God's word to humans, which is totally integrated in thought and doctrine, there is no such thing as a "lost book" of the Bible with special secrets for the wise. Even from a non-supernatural perspective, if the Bible that we have read for the past 2,000 years reflects the beliefs of original Christianity, then any texts that were originally rejected, discarded or "lost" are not books of the Christian Bible, by definition. A church that adds the Gospel of St. Thomas to its scriptures would move outside the simple lines of fundamental Christianity, and we know of no established denomination that has any notion of doing so... nor should they.
Gospel of John
Gospel of John: A Biblical History
The Gospel of John is one of four gospels in the Holy Bible and is the fourth book in chronological order presented in the New Testament. The Gospel of John is a unique perspective of the life of Jesus Christ. It varies from the other three gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke (also known as the synoptic gospels), by focusing more on spiritual themes rather than historical events. The author of this gospel was the disciple John, one of the twelve disciples that followed Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry. The author identifies himself in the last chapter of the gospel: "This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true." (John 21:24). John was also known as "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (see John 13:23, 19:26, and 21:7.). Perhaps this explains the uniqueness of John's record of the life of Jesus. The book is filled with first hand accounts of experiences with Jesus Christ that occurred during Christ's 33 years of life on earth. Scholars generally accept that the Gospel of John was written between 50 and 85 A.D.
Gospel of John: The Outline and Structure
The Gospel of John is organized into 21 chapters. The book begins with a foundational truth from God with a poetic style of presentation. "In the beginning was the Word (Jesus Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God." (John 1:1-2). The accounts of Christ's life begin in chapter one with John the Baptist confirming prophecy and identifying Jesus as "the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). In the first chapter, Jesus also calls His first disciples to follow Him.
In the second chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus performs His first miracle by changing water into wine. In John 2:19, He also predicts His resurrection after three days. Chapter 3 contains two of the most popular verses in the entire Bible, John 3:16 & 17, which summarize the significance of Jesus Christ and His purpose for the world. "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in 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."
The rest of the book contains vivid lessons and instructions from Jesus Christ on how to live according to God's will and what priorities are important in life. Jesus used many parables to teach people effectively. For example, in chapter 15, Jesus explains the significance of having a relationship with Him and the true difference that it can make in life. He describes Himself as the vine and His disciples as the branches that sprout from the vine. He describes God as the gardener that prunes the vine to maximize the harvest. There are many other illustrations from Jesus spoken through parables in the Gospel of John.
The Gospel of John is one of four gospels in the Holy Bible and is the fourth book in chronological order presented in the New Testament. The Gospel of John is a unique perspective of the life of Jesus Christ. It varies from the other three gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke (also known as the synoptic gospels), by focusing more on spiritual themes rather than historical events. The author of this gospel was the disciple John, one of the twelve disciples that followed Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry. The author identifies himself in the last chapter of the gospel: "This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true." (John 21:24). John was also known as "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (see John 13:23, 19:26, and 21:7.). Perhaps this explains the uniqueness of John's record of the life of Jesus. The book is filled with first hand accounts of experiences with Jesus Christ that occurred during Christ's 33 years of life on earth. Scholars generally accept that the Gospel of John was written between 50 and 85 A.D.
Gospel of John: The Outline and Structure
The Gospel of John is organized into 21 chapters. The book begins with a foundational truth from God with a poetic style of presentation. "In the beginning was the Word (Jesus Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God." (John 1:1-2). The accounts of Christ's life begin in chapter one with John the Baptist confirming prophecy and identifying Jesus as "the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). In the first chapter, Jesus also calls His first disciples to follow Him.
In the second chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus performs His first miracle by changing water into wine. In John 2:19, He also predicts His resurrection after three days. Chapter 3 contains two of the most popular verses in the entire Bible, John 3:16 & 17, which summarize the significance of Jesus Christ and His purpose for the world. "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in 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."
The rest of the book contains vivid lessons and instructions from Jesus Christ on how to live according to God's will and what priorities are important in life. Jesus used many parables to teach people effectively. For example, in chapter 15, Jesus explains the significance of having a relationship with Him and the true difference that it can make in life. He describes Himself as the vine and His disciples as the branches that sprout from the vine. He describes God as the gardener that prunes the vine to maximize the harvest. There are many other illustrations from Jesus spoken through parables in the Gospel of John.
Gospel of Luke
Gospel of Luke: A Biblical History
The Gospel of Luke is one of four Gospels in the Holy Bible and is the third book presented in the New Testament. The author of this Gospel, Luke, was an associate of the Apostle Paul and also the author of the book of Acts. Acts is the first book to follow the four Gospels in the Bible. Luke was a doctor and probably well educated according to the style of writing and structure of his text. The Gospel of Luke is specifically addressed to an individual named Theophilus and is focused on the complete story and history of Jesus Christ from His birth and ministry to His crucifixion and resurrection. Luke's Gospel focuses on Christ's teachings about salvation and Christ's fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the coming Messiah. It includes the beautiful birth story of the baby Jesus and the miracle conception by God. Bible scholars generally agree that the Gospel of Luke was written between 59 and 70 A.D. The author is referenced in Colossians 4:14 by the Apostle Paul.
Gospel of Luke: The Outline and Structure
The Gospel of Luke is organized into eight primary sections that describe the life, ministry and miracles of Jesus Christ. This Gospel is filled with details about history and surrounding events of the times. It is careful to include details about the political culture and the families surrounding Jesus during His earthly life. The first section begins with an introduction that explains the purpose of this Gospel from the writer. The second section, beginning in the fifth verse of Chapter One, describes the events surrounding the coming of Jesus Christ and John the Baptist. This section describes the birth of Jesus and some events of His childhood. The first quote of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke appears in the second chapter, verse 49. The third section details the events leading to the public ministry of Jesus, including His baptism (Lk 3:21, 22) and His temptation (Lk 4:1-13). The next four chapters comprise the fourth section of Luke's Gospel, including the beginning of Christ's ministry, choosing His 12 Apostles (Lk 6:12-16), and performing miracles (Lk 4:35, 4:39, 5:13). Throughout these chapters, Jesus displayed many powers that validated His authority given to Him by God, including the authority to forgive sins (Lk 5:20, 7:48), the authority to know our thoughts (Lk 5:22), the authority to heal people (Lk 6:8), the authority to bring peace to people (Lk 7:50), and the authority over nature by calming a storm (Lk 8:24). This section also describes many lessons and teachings of Jesus that are principles for living according to God's way of life.
The fifth section of Luke's Gospel begins with Chapter 9, verse 10, where Jesus performs the miracle of feeding five thousand people with five loafs of bread and two fish (Lk 9:10-17). The Apostle Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ (also known as the Messiah) (Lk 9:20). In verses 9:28-34, the transfiguration is described in detail. The beginning of the sixth section outlines the ministry of Jesus in Judea starting in Chapter 9, verse 51. Jesus gives His followers instructions on how to help others through discipleship (Lk 10:1-17); Jesus teaches us how to pray effectively to God (Lk 11:2-4); Jesus warns people how not to act, including being hypocritical and judgmental (Lk 11:37-52); Jesus tells His followers not to worry about common concerns in life, but to trust God (Lk 12:22-34); and Jesus gives people a stern warning that we must repent (change from sinful ways) or perish (Lk 13:1-5). The seventh section of the Gospel of Luke runs from Chapter 13:22 through Chapter 19:22 and describes many teachings and miracles of Jesus. Jesus almost exclusively uses parables to give lessons about living. The eighth and last section of this Gospel describes the important details about the trial, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus again shows His authority by knowing everything around Him (Lk 19:30). Jesus gives many final instructions about how to live (Lk 21:19,34) and how to rely on God (Lk 22:40, 46). He again confirms His authority as the Son of God (Lk 22:70). Finally, Chapter 24 details the resurrection of Jesus and His ascension to heaven.
Gospel of Luke: What is the Significance?
The Gospel of Luke presents many important facts and significant lessons about Jesus Christ. First, the Gospel clearly establishes that Jesus Christ is the Messiah that was prophesized throughout the Old Testament. Second, it proves that Jesus is the Son of God as He claims. Third, it confirms that Jesus has complete authority over everything in the world, including overcoming evil (Lk 4:12, 35, 9:38, 11:14), controlling nature (Lk 8:22-25, 9:12-17, 5:4-11), overcoming death (Lk 8:41-42, 7:11-15), healing people (Lk 5:12-13, 7:1-10, 4:38-35, 5:18-25, 6:6-10, 18:35-43), the power to forgive sins (Lk 5:24, 7:48), the power to bless people (Lk 6:20-22), and the authority to give people eternal life in heaven (Lk 23:43). Jesus displayed the miracle of overcoming death through His own resurrection after being crucified on a Roman cross. The Gospel of Luke provides a first hand account of the events of Christ's life from the Apostles and other witnesses. The Gospel has absolutely survived the historical, geographical and archaeological scrutiny of the last 2,000 years. Of course, a summary of Luke's Gospel can only provide highlights to the actual text and cannot replace it. You are encouraged to read the Gospel of Luke to learn more about Jesus Christ and the miracles that He can do in your life!
The Gospel of Luke is one of four Gospels in the Holy Bible and is the third book presented in the New Testament. The author of this Gospel, Luke, was an associate of the Apostle Paul and also the author of the book of Acts. Acts is the first book to follow the four Gospels in the Bible. Luke was a doctor and probably well educated according to the style of writing and structure of his text. The Gospel of Luke is specifically addressed to an individual named Theophilus and is focused on the complete story and history of Jesus Christ from His birth and ministry to His crucifixion and resurrection. Luke's Gospel focuses on Christ's teachings about salvation and Christ's fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the coming Messiah. It includes the beautiful birth story of the baby Jesus and the miracle conception by God. Bible scholars generally agree that the Gospel of Luke was written between 59 and 70 A.D. The author is referenced in Colossians 4:14 by the Apostle Paul.
Gospel of Luke: The Outline and Structure
The Gospel of Luke is organized into eight primary sections that describe the life, ministry and miracles of Jesus Christ. This Gospel is filled with details about history and surrounding events of the times. It is careful to include details about the political culture and the families surrounding Jesus during His earthly life. The first section begins with an introduction that explains the purpose of this Gospel from the writer. The second section, beginning in the fifth verse of Chapter One, describes the events surrounding the coming of Jesus Christ and John the Baptist. This section describes the birth of Jesus and some events of His childhood. The first quote of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke appears in the second chapter, verse 49. The third section details the events leading to the public ministry of Jesus, including His baptism (Lk 3:21, 22) and His temptation (Lk 4:1-13). The next four chapters comprise the fourth section of Luke's Gospel, including the beginning of Christ's ministry, choosing His 12 Apostles (Lk 6:12-16), and performing miracles (Lk 4:35, 4:39, 5:13). Throughout these chapters, Jesus displayed many powers that validated His authority given to Him by God, including the authority to forgive sins (Lk 5:20, 7:48), the authority to know our thoughts (Lk 5:22), the authority to heal people (Lk 6:8), the authority to bring peace to people (Lk 7:50), and the authority over nature by calming a storm (Lk 8:24). This section also describes many lessons and teachings of Jesus that are principles for living according to God's way of life.
The fifth section of Luke's Gospel begins with Chapter 9, verse 10, where Jesus performs the miracle of feeding five thousand people with five loafs of bread and two fish (Lk 9:10-17). The Apostle Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ (also known as the Messiah) (Lk 9:20). In verses 9:28-34, the transfiguration is described in detail. The beginning of the sixth section outlines the ministry of Jesus in Judea starting in Chapter 9, verse 51. Jesus gives His followers instructions on how to help others through discipleship (Lk 10:1-17); Jesus teaches us how to pray effectively to God (Lk 11:2-4); Jesus warns people how not to act, including being hypocritical and judgmental (Lk 11:37-52); Jesus tells His followers not to worry about common concerns in life, but to trust God (Lk 12:22-34); and Jesus gives people a stern warning that we must repent (change from sinful ways) or perish (Lk 13:1-5). The seventh section of the Gospel of Luke runs from Chapter 13:22 through Chapter 19:22 and describes many teachings and miracles of Jesus. Jesus almost exclusively uses parables to give lessons about living. The eighth and last section of this Gospel describes the important details about the trial, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus again shows His authority by knowing everything around Him (Lk 19:30). Jesus gives many final instructions about how to live (Lk 21:19,34) and how to rely on God (Lk 22:40, 46). He again confirms His authority as the Son of God (Lk 22:70). Finally, Chapter 24 details the resurrection of Jesus and His ascension to heaven.
Gospel of Luke: What is the Significance?
The Gospel of Luke presents many important facts and significant lessons about Jesus Christ. First, the Gospel clearly establishes that Jesus Christ is the Messiah that was prophesized throughout the Old Testament. Second, it proves that Jesus is the Son of God as He claims. Third, it confirms that Jesus has complete authority over everything in the world, including overcoming evil (Lk 4:12, 35, 9:38, 11:14), controlling nature (Lk 8:22-25, 9:12-17, 5:4-11), overcoming death (Lk 8:41-42, 7:11-15), healing people (Lk 5:12-13, 7:1-10, 4:38-35, 5:18-25, 6:6-10, 18:35-43), the power to forgive sins (Lk 5:24, 7:48), the power to bless people (Lk 6:20-22), and the authority to give people eternal life in heaven (Lk 23:43). Jesus displayed the miracle of overcoming death through His own resurrection after being crucified on a Roman cross. The Gospel of Luke provides a first hand account of the events of Christ's life from the Apostles and other witnesses. The Gospel has absolutely survived the historical, geographical and archaeological scrutiny of the last 2,000 years. Of course, a summary of Luke's Gospel can only provide highlights to the actual text and cannot replace it. You are encouraged to read the Gospel of Luke to learn more about Jesus Christ and the miracles that He can do in your life!
Gospel of Mark
Gospel of Mark: A Biblical History
The Gospel of Mark is one of four gospels in the Holy Bible and is the second book in chronological order presented in the New Testament. Mark (John Mark was his full name) was an associate with Simon Peter, one of the 12 apostles that followed Jesus Christ throughout His public ministry on earth. Peter was the name given to Simon by Jesus Christ personally (Mark 3:16). He was very close to Jesus and after the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, Peter was one of the founders of the early Christian church. Although the book was written by Mark, the facts contained in it are thought to be the accounts of Peter during his ministry with Jesus. The consensus among scholars is that the book of Mark was written between 50 and 60 A.D. The author is referenced several times in the New Testament starting in the book of Acts, chapters 12 and 13, in Colossians 4:10, and finally in 2 Timothy 4:11. The book of Mark was probably written in Italy, and perhaps even Rome. This book has 16 chapters and is the shortest book of the four gospels. However, the details of the events and miracles of Jesus in this book are consistent with the other three gospels; Matthew, Luke and John.
Gospel of Mark: The Outline and Structure
The Gospel of Mark is organized into seven sections that describe the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. The first chapter begins with a quotation from Isaiah, the Old Testament prophet, and John the Baptist, who prophesied the coming of the Messiah. This chapter also details the baptism and the temptation of Jesus. The beginning of the second section of the book describes when Jesus calls Simon Peter and his brother Andrew to follow Him for ministry along with the other ten disciples (Mark 1:14-20). Jesus starts performing miracles during this section of the book (See Mark 1:21) known as His Galilean Ministry through verse 6:29. Section three depicts the withdrawal from Galilee by Jesus and His disciples and the miracle of feeding five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish (Mark 6:37-44). This chapter also describes the miracle of Jesus walking on water (Mark 6:49), Peter's confession that Jesus is the Messiah (Mark 8:29), and the transfiguration (Mark 9:2-5). In the last portion of this section Jesus predicts His death and resurrection (Mark 9:32). Section four, beginning with verse 9:33, covers the period when Jesus goes to Capernaum and preaches to His disciples about who is the greatest (Mark 9:36) and other subjects. Jesus then goes to Judea in section five, starting in Chapter 10. There, He teaches on many subjects, performs the miracle of restoring sight to a blind man that shows faith (Mark 10:52) and again predicts His death and resurrection to His disciples (Mark 10:33, 34). Chapters 11 through 15 start with the triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the back of a colt (Mark 11:1-11:11). In Jerusalem, Jesus teaches many lessons through answering questions, telling parables and gives warnings to people. The Lord's Supper is recounted in verses 14:17-26. Jesus is then arrested, tried and crucified on the cross. The last section of Mark details the account of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the tomb.
Gospel of Mark: What is the Significance?
The Gospel of Mark presents many important facts and significant lessons. First, it clearly establishes that Jesus Christ is the Messiah that was prophesied throughout the Old Testament. Second, it proves that Jesus was the Son of God, whom He claimed to be by living a sinless and perfect life. Third, the Gospel records Jesus' miracles over nature (calming the storm; 4:37-41, walking on water; 6:48-51, and withering the fig tree; 11:12-14). His miracles also include healing many people, including Peter's mother-in-law (1:30-31), the paralyzed man (2:3-12), the woman with bleeding (5:25-29), and the deaf mute (7:31-37). Jesus also displayed miracle powers over death by raising Jairus's daughter from the dead (5:37-39). The most important fact in the Gospel of Mark is the evidence that Jesus Christ overcame the power of death through His resurrection from the tomb. He proved that there is no power that can overcome Him, that He is the authority to forgive the sins of people, and that He is the One and only Son of God. Lastly, Jesus gives people perfect instructions for how God desires people to live, respond through challenging circumstances, and make choices regarding their future for eternity. A few examples of these include having faith (Mark 2:5), replacing fear with trust (Mark 4:40), believing in the power of God (Mark 5:36), following Christ (Mark 8:35), understanding God's will (Mark 9:35), and sacrifices (Mark 10:21). Every word spoken and written in this Gospel can be applied to life in a practical manner. Of course, a summary of this Gospel can only provide highlights to the actual text and cannot replace it. You are encouraged to read the Gospel to learn more about Jesus Christ.
The Gospel of Mark is one of four gospels in the Holy Bible and is the second book in chronological order presented in the New Testament. Mark (John Mark was his full name) was an associate with Simon Peter, one of the 12 apostles that followed Jesus Christ throughout His public ministry on earth. Peter was the name given to Simon by Jesus Christ personally (Mark 3:16). He was very close to Jesus and after the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, Peter was one of the founders of the early Christian church. Although the book was written by Mark, the facts contained in it are thought to be the accounts of Peter during his ministry with Jesus. The consensus among scholars is that the book of Mark was written between 50 and 60 A.D. The author is referenced several times in the New Testament starting in the book of Acts, chapters 12 and 13, in Colossians 4:10, and finally in 2 Timothy 4:11. The book of Mark was probably written in Italy, and perhaps even Rome. This book has 16 chapters and is the shortest book of the four gospels. However, the details of the events and miracles of Jesus in this book are consistent with the other three gospels; Matthew, Luke and John.
Gospel of Mark: The Outline and Structure
The Gospel of Mark is organized into seven sections that describe the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. The first chapter begins with a quotation from Isaiah, the Old Testament prophet, and John the Baptist, who prophesied the coming of the Messiah. This chapter also details the baptism and the temptation of Jesus. The beginning of the second section of the book describes when Jesus calls Simon Peter and his brother Andrew to follow Him for ministry along with the other ten disciples (Mark 1:14-20). Jesus starts performing miracles during this section of the book (See Mark 1:21) known as His Galilean Ministry through verse 6:29. Section three depicts the withdrawal from Galilee by Jesus and His disciples and the miracle of feeding five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish (Mark 6:37-44). This chapter also describes the miracle of Jesus walking on water (Mark 6:49), Peter's confession that Jesus is the Messiah (Mark 8:29), and the transfiguration (Mark 9:2-5). In the last portion of this section Jesus predicts His death and resurrection (Mark 9:32). Section four, beginning with verse 9:33, covers the period when Jesus goes to Capernaum and preaches to His disciples about who is the greatest (Mark 9:36) and other subjects. Jesus then goes to Judea in section five, starting in Chapter 10. There, He teaches on many subjects, performs the miracle of restoring sight to a blind man that shows faith (Mark 10:52) and again predicts His death and resurrection to His disciples (Mark 10:33, 34). Chapters 11 through 15 start with the triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the back of a colt (Mark 11:1-11:11). In Jerusalem, Jesus teaches many lessons through answering questions, telling parables and gives warnings to people. The Lord's Supper is recounted in verses 14:17-26. Jesus is then arrested, tried and crucified on the cross. The last section of Mark details the account of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the tomb.
Gospel of Mark: What is the Significance?
The Gospel of Mark presents many important facts and significant lessons. First, it clearly establishes that Jesus Christ is the Messiah that was prophesied throughout the Old Testament. Second, it proves that Jesus was the Son of God, whom He claimed to be by living a sinless and perfect life. Third, the Gospel records Jesus' miracles over nature (calming the storm; 4:37-41, walking on water; 6:48-51, and withering the fig tree; 11:12-14). His miracles also include healing many people, including Peter's mother-in-law (1:30-31), the paralyzed man (2:3-12), the woman with bleeding (5:25-29), and the deaf mute (7:31-37). Jesus also displayed miracle powers over death by raising Jairus's daughter from the dead (5:37-39). The most important fact in the Gospel of Mark is the evidence that Jesus Christ overcame the power of death through His resurrection from the tomb. He proved that there is no power that can overcome Him, that He is the authority to forgive the sins of people, and that He is the One and only Son of God. Lastly, Jesus gives people perfect instructions for how God desires people to live, respond through challenging circumstances, and make choices regarding their future for eternity. A few examples of these include having faith (Mark 2:5), replacing fear with trust (Mark 4:40), believing in the power of God (Mark 5:36), following Christ (Mark 8:35), understanding God's will (Mark 9:35), and sacrifices (Mark 10:21). Every word spoken and written in this Gospel can be applied to life in a practical manner. Of course, a summary of this Gospel can only provide highlights to the actual text and cannot replace it. You are encouraged to read the Gospel to learn more about Jesus Christ.
Gospel of Matthew
Gospel of Matthew: A Biblical History
The Gospel of Matthew is one of four gospels in the Holy Bible and the first book in chronological order presented in the New Testament of the Bible. Matthew was one of the 12 apostles that were with Jesus Christ throughout His public ministry on earth. The consensus among conservative scholars is that this book in the Bible was written between 50 and 70 A.D. Matthew was a Jewish tax collector that left his profession to follow the Lord. Matthew gives a personal witness account of many miracles that Jesus performed prior to being crucified on a Roman cross. The purpose of this book is to prove to readers that Jesus is the true Messiah that was prophesized in the Old Testament of the Bible. It is an artistically written book and proves to be consistent with the other three gospels in the Bible; Mark, Luke and John regarding the historical events that occurred during the life of Jesus on earth. With 28 chapters, it is the longest Gospel of the four.
Gospel of Matthew: The Outline and Structure
This Gospel of Matthew is divided into eight sections that describe different parts of Jesus' life. It begins with the Genealogy of Jesus that establishes and proves that He was a descendant of King David. This fact is important because it is consistent with the Old Testament description of the Messiah. The first section also describes the miracle birth story of Jesus. The second section of the Gospel records the beginning of Jesus' ministry. It also describes in detail the baptism of Jesus and His temptation by Satan in the desert. After 40 days and nights of fasting Jesus resisted all temptation. The next section beginning in the middle of chapter 4 through the middle of chapter 14 covers accounts of the ministry of Jesus while in Galilee. During this time, He commissions the 12 Apostles, preaches The Beatitudes, performs miracles and teaches many lessons on very important subjects including; adultery, divorce, giving, prayer, judging, worry, treasures in Heaven and warnings to people. Also, in chapter 13, Jesus begins teaching in parables to provide examples to His lessons. Jesus withdraws from Galilee in section four and performs the miracle of feeding five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:17). He also walks on water (Matthew 14:25). Chapter 17 describes the transfiguration that was witnessed by three disciples, John, Peter and James (Matthew 17:1). Section six indicates the return of Jesus to Galilee and the prediction of His death. The seventh section beginning in chapter 21 marks the triumphal entry by Jesus into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey and ends in the trial and crucifixion of Jesus on the cross as a sacrifice for all the sin in the world. The eighth and last section, describes the events of the resurrection and Jesus defeating death.
Gospel of Matthew: What is the Significance?
The Gospel of Matthew presents many important facts and significant lessons. First, it clearly establishes that Jesus Christ is the Messiah that was prophesized throughout the Old Testament. Second, it proves that Jesus was the Son of God, whom He claimed to be through living a sinless and perfect life. Third, the Gospel records Jesus performing miracles over nature (calming the storm; Mat. 8:23-27), healing people (curing the servant; Mat. 8:5-13) and raising the dead (Jairus's daughter; Mat. 9:18-19). Fourth, Jesus personally gives over 200 real and practical lessons of how God desires people to live, respond through challenging circumstances, and make choices regarding their future for eternity. A few examples of these include: having faith (9:29), dealing with fear (8:26), God answering prayers (8:2), the promise of salvation (10:22), obeying God (15:19), loving your neighbor (19:19), sacrificing (20:22), resolving legal issues (5:25), how to give to others (6:2), forgiving others that sin against you (6:14), resisting temptation (4:2), being a hypocrite (23:28), acknowledging Christ (10:32), and the image of Heaven and Hell (13:49,50). Every word spoken and written in this Gospel can be applied to life in a practical manner. Of course, a summary of this extremely important book of the Bible can only provide highlights, and is not a replacement for reading the actual text.
Gospel of Matthew: The Final Chapter & Great Commission
The last chapter of the Gospel of Matthew specifies the calling of all disciples of Christ: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:19-20). This is the mission of all Christians that have a faithful commitment to Jesus Christ. It is to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world and teach the lessons that He commands.
The Gospel of Matthew is one of four gospels in the Holy Bible and the first book in chronological order presented in the New Testament of the Bible. Matthew was one of the 12 apostles that were with Jesus Christ throughout His public ministry on earth. The consensus among conservative scholars is that this book in the Bible was written between 50 and 70 A.D. Matthew was a Jewish tax collector that left his profession to follow the Lord. Matthew gives a personal witness account of many miracles that Jesus performed prior to being crucified on a Roman cross. The purpose of this book is to prove to readers that Jesus is the true Messiah that was prophesized in the Old Testament of the Bible. It is an artistically written book and proves to be consistent with the other three gospels in the Bible; Mark, Luke and John regarding the historical events that occurred during the life of Jesus on earth. With 28 chapters, it is the longest Gospel of the four.
Gospel of Matthew: The Outline and Structure
This Gospel of Matthew is divided into eight sections that describe different parts of Jesus' life. It begins with the Genealogy of Jesus that establishes and proves that He was a descendant of King David. This fact is important because it is consistent with the Old Testament description of the Messiah. The first section also describes the miracle birth story of Jesus. The second section of the Gospel records the beginning of Jesus' ministry. It also describes in detail the baptism of Jesus and His temptation by Satan in the desert. After 40 days and nights of fasting Jesus resisted all temptation. The next section beginning in the middle of chapter 4 through the middle of chapter 14 covers accounts of the ministry of Jesus while in Galilee. During this time, He commissions the 12 Apostles, preaches The Beatitudes, performs miracles and teaches many lessons on very important subjects including; adultery, divorce, giving, prayer, judging, worry, treasures in Heaven and warnings to people. Also, in chapter 13, Jesus begins teaching in parables to provide examples to His lessons. Jesus withdraws from Galilee in section four and performs the miracle of feeding five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:17). He also walks on water (Matthew 14:25). Chapter 17 describes the transfiguration that was witnessed by three disciples, John, Peter and James (Matthew 17:1). Section six indicates the return of Jesus to Galilee and the prediction of His death. The seventh section beginning in chapter 21 marks the triumphal entry by Jesus into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey and ends in the trial and crucifixion of Jesus on the cross as a sacrifice for all the sin in the world. The eighth and last section, describes the events of the resurrection and Jesus defeating death.
Gospel of Matthew: What is the Significance?
The Gospel of Matthew presents many important facts and significant lessons. First, it clearly establishes that Jesus Christ is the Messiah that was prophesized throughout the Old Testament. Second, it proves that Jesus was the Son of God, whom He claimed to be through living a sinless and perfect life. Third, the Gospel records Jesus performing miracles over nature (calming the storm; Mat. 8:23-27), healing people (curing the servant; Mat. 8:5-13) and raising the dead (Jairus's daughter; Mat. 9:18-19). Fourth, Jesus personally gives over 200 real and practical lessons of how God desires people to live, respond through challenging circumstances, and make choices regarding their future for eternity. A few examples of these include: having faith (9:29), dealing with fear (8:26), God answering prayers (8:2), the promise of salvation (10:22), obeying God (15:19), loving your neighbor (19:19), sacrificing (20:22), resolving legal issues (5:25), how to give to others (6:2), forgiving others that sin against you (6:14), resisting temptation (4:2), being a hypocrite (23:28), acknowledging Christ (10:32), and the image of Heaven and Hell (13:49,50). Every word spoken and written in this Gospel can be applied to life in a practical manner. Of course, a summary of this extremely important book of the Bible can only provide highlights, and is not a replacement for reading the actual text.
Gospel of Matthew: The Final Chapter & Great Commission
The last chapter of the Gospel of Matthew specifies the calling of all disciples of Christ: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:19-20). This is the mission of all Christians that have a faithful commitment to Jesus Christ. It is to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world and teach the lessons that He commands.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Jesus Christ Biography
Jesus Christ Biography
What would it say? Unlike most biographies, the Jesus Christ biography does not begin with His birth, or even with His conception. Jesus Christ's biography can be understood more fully if we realize the Bible uses many names to refer to Jesus Christ. John referred to Jesus Christ as "the Word" when he wrote, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning" (John 1:1-2). This tells us that the Jesus Christ biography begins in eternity past - with God. The first recorded acts in Jesus Christ's biography go back to creation. "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made" (John 1:3).
Although not mentioned by name, this Scripture tells us that He was there, and Scripture records God's words as "Let US make man in OUR image, in OUR likeness. . ." (Genesis 1:26), indicating that the Father was not alone at the time of creation. Birth: Some would think of a Jesus Christ biography in terms of His life here on earth. For that we must begin not at His birth but at His conception, for both of these events were unlike any other in history. The earthly life of Jesus is the only one that begins with a spiritual conception, with no man present. This conception was foretold by the angel Gabriel in Luke 1:26-35. His birth was the only one to ever open a womb, since He was born of a young Jewish virgin. Because of a government census His mother, Mary, and His stepfather, Joseph, had to travel to Bethlehem. This is where Jesus was born in a lowly stable. His birth was announced by angels to shepherds, and by a special star to wise men in a far country. At eight days of age, he was dedicated in the Temple according to Jewish custom. Childhood: At an early age, Jesus and his family fled to Egypt because an angel warned Joseph in a dream of impending danger. When they returned from Egypt, they settled in Galilee, in the town of Nazareth. At the age of twelve, Jesus traveled to Jerusalem with Mary and Joseph to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. When His parents could not find Him in their group of relatives and friends on the return trip, they returned to Jerusalem and "After three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers. When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. His mother said to Him, 'Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.' 'Why were you searching for me?' he asked. 'Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?' "(Luke 2:46-49). After that, He returned to Nazareth with them, was obedient, and continued to grow "in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." (Luke 2:52) Adult/ Public Ministry: At approximately 30 years of age, Jesus entered into the public awareness. John the Baptist had preached of the coming Messiah, preparing the way for Jesus' ministry. John baptized Jesus, and as Jesus prayed at the time of His baptism, "heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: 'You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.'" (Luke 3:21-22).
After this, Jesus went into the wilderness for a time of fasting and prayer in preparation for His ministry. Then the devil came to Him and tempted Him. Rather than succumbing to the temptations, Jesus answered with Scripture, setting a pattern for His followers to handle temptations for ages to come. Jesus began to preach a message of repentance, and from among His followers hand-picked twelve men with whom He worked most closely, teaching them even more intensely than to the multitudes. These men have come to be known as the twelve disciples, or the apostles. The teaching and preaching of Jesus convicted, challenged, or encouraged those who heard, while some were simply entertained and others were angered. Jesus performed many miracles of healing and restoration, as well as miracles designed to teach a lesson. A Jesus Christ biography is intensely interesting - and can be studied in depth in the pages of Scripture, especially the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. However, the primary reason for Jesus' earthly life was "to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10) Jesus sought the lost through His teaching and preaching. Then He provided the way of salvation from sin (the only way to Heaven) by way of the ultimate sacrifice, the one that only He could make - His crucifixion on Calvary, followed by His resurrection from the dead after three days. Thus He conquered death and the grave for all who would put their faith in Him.
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