Time Flies!

Wow, it's been over a year since I've posted anything. Time to get back into it. Have had a very busy year and things have settled down a bit. I must admit that I might have lost some interest in publishing posts because of lack of comments. But I need to get back into posting again because I'm doing this first of all for my own benefit, but also to gain some new insights through research and the input of others. So check back soon, I will be changing the focus of this blog just a little bit. The focus will always be on Jesus, but I will be looking at some different aspects of His Glory. (That's a hint!)

Later,

FreddieVenture

<;))))><

Who is Jesus? The Lamb that was Slain!

In the last post, (Who is Jesus? Jesus is God) we established the deity of Jesus. And in this post I would like to explore the sacrifice of Jesus.

One day when John was baptizing in the Jordan river he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29

The sacrifice that Jesus made on Calvary was foretold and even demonstrated centuries earlier in the Old Testament days of Abraham. God tested Abraham by instructing him to take his only son Isaac and sacrifice him on one of the mountains in the land of Moriah. So they traveled for three days, carrying the wood for the sacrifice. (Note the parallels to Jesus' crucifiction) When the time came that Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac, the angel of the Lord stopped him and instead provided a suitable sacrifice. Genesis 22: 1-14

ISAAC AS TYPE OF CHRIST.
A. Carried wood.
B. Yielded to will of father.
C. Dead in mind of Abraham three days

In the 12th chapter of Exodus, God tells Moses to instruct the congregation of Israel to take a lamb for each household and sacrifice it, then taking some of the blood and put it on the doorposts and the lintel in order to escape the coming judgement that was to occur in the land of Egypt. Exodus 12:1-13

So far then have a demonstration of the sacrificial lamb and the atoning blood from a sacrificial lamb. Now let us see how this is carried out in the New Testament with Jesus.

One day, John the Baptist, was baptizing in the Jordan river, and saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" 'John came as a preacher of repentance, yet he told his followers that they were to look for the pardon of their sins to Jesus only, and to his death. It agrees with God's glory to pardon all who depend on the atoning sacrifice of Christ. He takes away the sin of the world; purchases pardon for all that repent and believe the gospel.' 1

'But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him,' Romans 5:8-9. Here we see how the shed blood saves us from the wrath of God as was demonstrated in Exodus 12:1-3.

Now we have established Jesus Christ as the sacrificial lamb who was slain so that through His shel blood we can be saved. I would encourage you to use a Strong's Exhaustive Concordance or Nave's Topical Bible and investigate even more references on this topic.

1- pg 981, Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers

Who is Jesus? - Jesus is God!

In the introductory post I indicated that for the first study, I wanted to take on a controversial subject. A subject that has been misrepresented by many people and many cultures in just as many ways. And that is the subject of Jesus.

First off I would like to start with an aspect of Jesus which I have to admit was a shock to me. Really though, it is a 'no-brainer', but being raised in the type of church that didn't teach Biblical doctrine, it was initially shocking. Jesus is God!

There a some religions that would immediately take offense to this statement, but if you trust that the Bible in its original form is God's word, then the only result can be that Jesus is in fact God. In this post I will be using both the old and new testaments to illustrate each example.

THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA (THE FIRST AND THE LAST)

God addresses Himself as several times in the Old Testament as the first and the last. Isaiah 41:4, 44:6, 48:12

When John was writing his revelations on the Island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea, he had a vision of Jesus. Jesus declared himself to John, ...'I am the first and the last,..(Revelations 1:17)

"I AM"

When Moses had his first encounter at the mountain Horeb, (Mt. Sinai) he asked God what should he tell the people what the name is of the God of their fathers. God answered him by saying, "I AM WHO I AM". Exodus 3:13,14

In the new testament when Jesus was at the temple teaching, Pharisees were attempting to trap Jesus in a doctrinal issue. John 8:1-11 In John 8:58, he declares to them that he is God. "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am."

When he said this, the crowd grasped stones to kill him for blashemy. "I AM" is the revelation name of God in the Old Testament and Jesus statement is a bold and unequivocable claim to diety.(1)

IMMANUEL - 'GOD WITH US'

Prophecy of Jesus is announced in Isaiah 7:14 '....and she will call His name Immanuel.', and is fulfilled in the New Testament in Matthew 1:23.

INCARNATION OF GOD

Prophesized in Isaiah 9:6 'For a child will be born to us;...Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.'

The story of Jesus' birth is told in Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-20

This is by no means an exhaustive study on this subject, but hopefully it has whetted your appetite to dig further.

Till next time,

In Christ,

Scott <)))))><

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(1) page 553 Illustrated Bible Handbook, Lawrence O. Richards, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Copyright 1982,1987 by Word, Inc.

Ventures in Life!

The Venture Begins!
In my quest to grow as a Christian I sometimes find myself in a time of drought. By this I mean that my walk is not at all what I want it to be. And looking back at these times I can see that I was not in God's word. Not abiding in Him.
(6) If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up, and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. (7) If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:6,7 nasb

So then my purpose for being here is to explore Gods word. I recognize that the Holy Bible, in its original form, is the ultimate and final authority in all areas of biblical doctrine. That our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus paid the ultimate price for our redemption and that it is only by his blood atonement that we can approach the throne of grace, that our lives should be a reflection of that price paid, striving to grow in the love and knowledge, building up one another for the glory of Jesus Christ.

I will be using the New American Standard Bible for all references unless otherwise noted plus other references which are readily available.

In the time of Paul, he and Silas were sent to Berea where they taught those who received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. (Acts 17:10,11) So let us be like the Bereans and search out the truth. No assumptions will be made as to what you do or do not know, just open up your bible and follow along. Feel free to comment and ask questions, if I can't answer them, I know who can.

So where to start. I would like to begin with a controversial subject. This subject has been misrepresented by so many different people and cultures in just as many different ways. But once this subject is examined in the light of biblical truth, all misconceptions fall away to reveal the truth. And that truth is 'Jesus'.

So for now, I will leave this posting as an introduction and the study of 'Who is Jesus?" Will begin with the next posting. As of this time I do not know what the schedule of the postings will be, but that will come as I learn this process. So for now grab your bible, and a concordance and start studying. 'Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.' IITimothy 2:15

Until next time,
In Christ,
Scott <)))))><