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Posts tagged ‘Jesus’

The Star and the Search: Understanding the Wise Men’s Path

It’s a common saying that men don’t ask for directions. Recently, I pondered this as December began, a time when thoughts naturally drift to the birth of Jesus and the visit of the Wise Men. The Bible recounts that the Wise Men followed a star from the East to Israel. Their precise origin and the exact number of these Wise Men remain uncertain.

Matthew 2:1-9

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.  And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,  And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

We see that they stopped at the palace to ask directions. Then they were sent to Bethlehem by Herod. Herod said that he wanted to come and worship him also. 

Matthew 2:11-18

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

Numerous male children were slain. Had the wise men not halted to seek directions and simply continued to follow the star, Herod would have remained unaware of Jesus’s birth.

The stereotype that males typically do not ask for directions makes one ponder if this notion could have originated from the wise men’s actions.

Overcoming Challenges: Faith in Modern Society

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The Link Between Righteousness and Effective Prayer

What Does Righteousness Have to Do with Prayer?

 Proverbs 15:29

 The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

James 5:16 

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

  •  Righteousness is the key to effective prayer.
    • Psalm 66:18-20: If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
      • Iniquity (meaning)
        • gross injustice : wickedness
        • a wicked act or thing : sin
  • The Great Transfer
    • Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
      • No one is righteous.
    • 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
      • Righteousness:
        • Equity of character
        • Justification
        • “Right standing with God”
          • God made Jesus to know sin so that we could be reconciled to Him. He will hear us only if we come to him and repent of all our sins.
  • Clean Heart and Confession
    • Psalm 51:5-17 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.  Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
    • 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
      • Humble yourself
      • Turn from sin
    • James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
    • 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
    • Confess your sins. Then come to him with your cares, wants, needs, desires, heartaches, etc.

The Essential Guide to Effective Prayer Practices

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Understanding 4 Types of Prayer

4 Types of Prayer

Prayers: General communication between God and man

  • To pray to God
  • Worship
  • Includes waiting before God in silence, seeking His face, calling upon His Name

1 Timothy 2:1-4: I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

3 Reasons to Pray

  1. For a peaceful life
  2. It is good and acceptable to God
  3. It helps to bring others to salvation

4 Types of Prayer:

  • Supplications
    • Supplication
      • to beseech
      • to beg
      • to plead
      • to make a petition or request
      • to appeal to God
    • Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
  • Intercession
    • intercession:
      • To speak or argue in favor of a person or cause before God
      • To stand in the gap
    • Exodus 32:10-12 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. And Moses besought the Lord his God, and said, Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?  Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath and repent of this evil against thy people.
      • Moses stood between God and the Israelites. He could have allowed them to perish in their sins, but he chose to intervene. Moses, driven by compassion, chose to intercede.
    • Psalms 106:23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
    • Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
  • Thanksgiving
    • Thanksgiving:
      • Psalms 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
      • Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
  • In the Spirit
    • Praying in the Holy Spirit
      • Corinthians 14:14-15 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
      • Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
      • Ephesians 6:18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
      • Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
The Essential Guide to Effective Prayer Practices

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The Power of Prayer in 2 Chronicles 7:14

The Call to Prayer

2 Chronicles 7:14: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The Godly Shall Pray

  • Psalm 32:6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
  • Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
    • There is a time when the Lord will not answer. The Godly are told to pray while he may be found.

Pray without ceasing

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
    • Uninterruptedly, without omission (something neglected or left undone), without ceasing
    • This means praying throughout the day every day.
  • Luke 18:1-8 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
    • The Woman in the parable did not give up. She come every day.
    • Jesus is asking will he find such faith. Will the people still be coming to him every day throughout the day?
  • Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
    • Again, we are commanded to always be in prayer.

Prayer for all Things

  • Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
    • We are told not to worry. Instead take our needs to God in Prayer.
    • Pray about everything. God is not too busy to hear about all our worries, concerns, and needs.

Praying for Needs

  • James 5:13-18 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
    • Physicals needs are to be Prayed about.

Continue in Prayer

  • Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
The Essential Guide to Effective Prayer Practices

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How to Communicate with God through Prayer

What is Prayer

2 Chronicles 7:14

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

    James 4:7-10

Prayer: (Webster’s Dictionary):

  • an address (such as a petition) to God or a god in word or thought
  • a set order of words used in praying
  • an earnest request or wish
  • the act or practice of praying to God or a god
  • a religious service consisting chiefly of prayers —often used in plural
  • something prayed for
  • a slight chance


In Hebrew:

  • palal: To pray, to intercede, to judge
  • Original Word: פָּלַל
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • Transliteration: palal
  • Pronunciation: pah-LAHL
  • Phonetic Spelling: (paw-lal’)
  • Definition: To pray, to intercede, to judge
  • Meaning: to judge, to intercede, pray

Prayer is communicating with God.

Communication: (Webster’s Dictionary):

  • a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior
  • exchange of information
  • information communicated : information transmitted or conveyed
  • a verbal or written message


Prayer Involves:

  1. Speaking
    • Psalm 54:2 Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.
    • You must speak for God to be able to hear.
  2. Listening
    • 1 Samuel 3:9-10 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
    • John 10:4-5 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
    • You must listen to hear God
    • John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
    • You must listen in order to learn. 
  3. Seeing
    • Habakkuk 2:1-3 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
    • Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
    • Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
    • Sometimes God speaks by showing you dreams or visions. 
    • Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 
    • God says to watch and pray. Watching normally involves sight. 
The Essential Guide to Effective Prayer Practices

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Understanding the Cross: Salvation and Redemption Explained

 
 
 
Look to Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God!!!
(Hebrews 12:2)
 
The Cross
  • the will of the Father -God
  • God’s own arm brought forth salvation
  • God set forth Jesus as a propitiation (sinless substitute) by His blood
  • the willing sacrifice – the offering of the body of the Son- Jesus Christ
  • Jesus humbled Himself and was obedient to the point of death – the cross
  • Jesus was delivered up (crucified) for our offenses (sins) and raised (resurrected) for our justification
  • the righteousness of God revealed; demonstrated
  • the demonstration of God’s love for us while we were still sinners
  • Jesus now sits at the right hand of the throne of God -it is finished!!!
  • Jesus has triumphed over all principalities and powers
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God
  • sinners (that’s you and me!) are now justified (declared righteous) freely by God’s grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
  • we are now justified by faith (belief, trust in Jesus)
  • we are now reconciled unto God (at peace with God through the blood of the cross)
  • we are now saved by Jesus’ life
  • we are now made alive with Jesus
  • we are forgiven of all our trespasses (sins)
  • we now have access by faith into God’s grace
  • we now stand in God’s grace
  • we now rejoice in the hope of the glory of God
Work of the Cross and Work started at the Cross
  • propitiation – substitute
  • redemption – price paid
  • reconciliation – peace restored
  • justification – imputed/declared righteous
  • sanctification – walk it out
  • glorification -perfected, completed
The Picture of Baptism
Crucified with Christ
  • old man (flesh – sin nature) crucified
Buried with Christ through baptism of death 
  • dead to sin
Raised with Christ 
  • alive to God
  • death no longer has dominion
 
Walk in newness of life 
  • present myself as an instrument of righteousness for holiness
 
I have been buried, raised and made alive with Christ. my life is now hidden
with Christ in God. Christ is now my life. (Rom 6; Colossians 2: 12-13, 3:3)
 
…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin, which so easily ensnares us, and
let us run with endurance the race that is set before us!!! Hebrews 12:1) 
Please read Romans 6

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Understanding the Natural, Carnal, and Spiritual Man

 
The Natural, Carnal, and Spiritual Man
 
The Natural Man 
    • The natural man is one who lives without God – who lives his/her life “in the flesh”. The “flesh” in this sense means the sinful (lower) nature- the nature which became a part of man after the fall (sin) of Adam and Eve. Now, this sinful nature is passed down to all men. 
  • The illustration shows that the door of the spirit (that part of man that relates to God) is closed. the door of the flesh is open. The natural man must be born again – his spirit made alive.
  • 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 
  • Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
  • Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
  • Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
  • Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
  • Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
The Carnal Christian 
The carnal Christian is one who lives his/her life “according to the flesh” Though the carnal Christian has received Christ and is a partaker of the divine nature of God they have failed to continue to grow spiritually. The carnal Christian follows the dictates of his/her fleshly nature more often than those of his/her spiritual nature.
The illustration shows that the carnal Christian has opened the door of the spirit by receiving Christ, but has not closed the door of the flesh.
  • 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
  • Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
  • Galatians 5:16-17 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
  • Romans 7:15-25   For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
The Spiritual Christian 
 The Spiritual Christian is one who lives his/her life “in the Spirit” – sold out to Jesus! Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior, and their life is totally dependent upon Him.
The illustration shows that the spiritual Christian has closed the door to the flesh. The spiritual Christian lives in the Spirit and walks in the Spirit.
  • Galatians 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
  • Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
  • Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
  • Romans 6:12-14 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
  • 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
  • I Corinthians 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
  • Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 
  • Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

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Understanding the Fall of Man and Redemption

 
 

Conscience

…that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. (Romans 1:19 NAS)

  • Man: The Fall
    • The effect of the fall leaves man physically alive and spiritually dead; the outer self and inner self are no longer in union with God. Man is now separated from God. The sinful nature/the flesh is now part of man’s personality. 
    • The temptation; Man’s sin
    • Man’s fear, shame, and blame
    • God’s judgement
    • God’s mercy / promise
  • Man: A new creation
    • “Ye must be born again”
      • union with God restored, new creation
    • John 3:3, 5 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
    • John 3:16 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 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
    • Titus 1:2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
    • John 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
    • 1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
    • John 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
    • Ephesians 1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
    • James 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
    • 2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
    • Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
    • Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
    • Galatians 6:15  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
  • First Adam – Second Adam Compared 
    • Romans 5:12-21 and 1 Corinthians 15:22; 44-50
    • Romans 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
    • Romans 6:23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
    • Romans 10:10-11  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
    • Romans 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
    • John 3:16  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.
    • Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

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Man: Created in God’s Image

 

Conscience

…that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. (Romans 1:19 NAS)

  • Man: In the image of God
    • Genesis 1:26-27 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
    • Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
    • Job 33:4 The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
    • Job 32:8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
    • Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
    • Zechariah 12:1 The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
    • Isaiah 42:5 Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
    • Psalm 139:13-18 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
    • Psalm 119:73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
    • Isaiah 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
    • Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
  • Man: a three-part being
    • 1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    • Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
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Body

Soul

Spirit

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Formed/made

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Relates to physical environment “tent”

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Senses: touch, taste, sight, smell, sound

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Breathed

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Mind, will, emotions (personality)

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Breathed

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Divine nature

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Divine power

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God’s likeness/ image

 In the Garden of Eden before man sinned, man was physically and spiritually alive – the outer self and inner self were in union with God. 

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Eternal Truths from the Foundation of the World

 

The Foundation of the World

  • Kingdom Prepared
    • Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
  • Jesus utters Kept Secrets
    • Matthew 13:35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
  • Jesus Given Glory – Loved by the Father
    • John 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
  • Chosen in Christ
    • Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
  • Works Finished
    • Hebrews 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
  • Christ Foreordained
    • 1 Peter 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
  • Book of Life – Lamb Slain
    • Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
  • Book of Life
    • Revelation 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
  • Eternity in our Heats
    • Ecclesiastes 3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world (eternity) in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
    • Ecclesiastes 3:14-15 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

Exploring God’s Eternity: A Comprehensive Bible Study

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