A Scripture for Today, February 24th, 2024

“ And ye shall keep it a feast unto the Lord seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.

Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:” Leviticus 23:41-42

“Thrice in the year shall all your menchildren appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel.” Exodus 34:23

“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up . . .

And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” Deuteronomy 6:6-9

“Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.” Deuteronomy 25:4

Now God commanded His people in the Old Testament to study His Word, and share it with others. He commanded them not to muzzle their oxen. He also commanded them to come and appear before Him at different times during the year.

Now I ask, “If someone didn’t muzzle their ox, would that make them free not to go to appear before the Lord and worship on these feast days?” Obviously not.

 Did reading and  memorizing the Scriptures make it so they don’t have to go? No. Those things are good, and were also required. But so was appearing before the Lord.

Hebrews 10:25 tells us, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

Reading the Bible, and having Godly conduct in our lives outside of the house of God is a must. But God still commands us to assemble with His children to worship.

Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament

Hello everyone. Today I wanted to share with you something that I wrote a while ago. It’s called “Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament”. Not only did Jesus’ birth fulfill so many prophecies, but so did His life. I wanted to share some of them with you today.

Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament

”Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” John 1:45

Seeing the pictures  of Jesus in the Old Testament are some of the most beautiful things one could ever see. There truly is nothing like seeing Jesus. Still, there are many that deny that Jesus is the Messiah, and still so many don’t know what the Scriptures say.  What are some things the Scriptures say?

God was going to send His Son, made of a woman.

“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15

From the beginning, salvation was to come of  the woman’s seed,  and not of the man’s. Jesus was to be born of a virgin.

” Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14
Immanuel, as can be seen from the New Testament means, “God with us” (Matt. 1.23).

“That thou shalt set apart unto the Lord all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the Lord’s.” Exodus 13:12 See also, Exodus 34:19

Not merely the firstborn, but all males,  that opened the womb were to be holy to the Lord.

”For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9:6-7

” But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,” Galatians 4:4

The Lord spake unto Moses.

“I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.” Deuteronomy 18:18-19

This wasn’t just any prophecy of any prophet.  This  is a prophecy of Jesus Christ (Acts 3: 22-23) The Jews were waiting for “that Prophet”.

“Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.” John 6:14

What the Lord said to Moses is exactly what Jesus said unto the Pharisees.

” He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.” John 12:48-49

Jesus Christ is That Prophet!

A ruler was to come out of Bethlehem.

” But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2

” 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.” Matthew 2:1-2


In the beginning, Adam fell in a Garden, full surrounded by plenty. 

Jesus Christ the antitype, overcame sin, hungry and surrounded by nothing.

” But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”  Matthew 4:4

Man was kicked out of a garden for sin. 

 Jesus Christ the antitype walked out of a Garden by His own power for our sins.

” Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.” John 18:4-6

Sin brought thorns and a curse.
”[C]ursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;” Genesis 3:17-18

Jesus bore those thorns on his head.

” And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!” Matthew 27:29

Man was naked because of sin.
” And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” Genesis 3:10

God became flesh(John 1.14), and became naked for us.

” And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.” Matthew 27:35

 ”I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.” Psalm 22:17-18

” Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.” John 19:23-24

The curse was brought by a tree. Jesus took away the curse by a tree.

” Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” I Peter 2:24

” And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.” Deuteronomy 21:22-23

”Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” Galatians 3:13

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:14-15

It was  told aforetime that Jesus would answer His accusers nothing.
”Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.” Luke 23:9-10

” He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” Isaiah 53:7

 
By the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, He was taken and another was set free.

In Leviticus 16, we read of the scapegoat. There were two goats.  One goat was taken for a sin offering, and the other was set free.

“Pilate saith…ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.” John 18:38-40

”He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.” Isaiah 53:8


 They beat Him with stripes.
” He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:3-5

” Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,

And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.” John 19:1-3

They pierced His hand and His feet.

”And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced…” Zechariah 22:10

” For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.” Psalm 22:16

”And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.” Mark 15:25

Jesus Christ our Passover lamb was sacrificed for us. And not a bone of his was broken.

”In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.” Exodus 12:28

“Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.” John 19:32-37

He was poured out like water.

 ”But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” John 19:34“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.” Psalm 22:14

He was offered without the camp.

“For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.”  Hebrews 13:11-12

” Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.” Leviticus 4:12

His body did not remain until morning.

” When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:” John 19:30-33

The Passover sacrifice was not to remain until morning

“And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.” Exodus 12:10
 
He made his grave with the wicked.
”And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.” Isaiah 53:8

And it was because He told the truth.

“But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham…And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.” John 8:40,45

” Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.” Acts 2:23-24

He rose again according to the Scriptures.
”For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” I Corinthians 15:3-4

There was nothing ever to remain of the peace offering after three days. Leviticus 7, 19

“For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12:40

“After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.” Hosea 6:2
” The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.” I Samuel 2:6

“For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” Psalm 16:10

 ” I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.” Hosea 13:14

 Jesus Christ is the God of the Bible!
”For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me” Job 19:25-27

God bless you all this day!

What the Bible Says about Righteousness

Righteousness delivers from wrath.

“Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.” Proverbs 11:4

Righteousness delivers us from death, and in the pathway of righteousness there is no death.

“In the way of righteousness is life: and in the pathway thereof there is no death.” Proverbs 12:28

“Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.” Proverbs 10:2

In the Lord men can have righteousness.

“ Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come . . .” Isaiah 45:24

“[T]heir righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.” Isaiah 54:17

The Bible tells us that there is none righteous.

“For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7:20

“[A]ll our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” Romans 3:10

The Bible teaches that we need to have the Lord’s righteousness to escape wrath. 

“[T]he soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18:4

“[A]nd when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.” Exodus 12:13

The Bible tells us that He would become our salvation.

“The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation . . .” Exodus 15:2

“ Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2

The Lord said that He Himself would save His people from the power of the grave.

“ I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.” Hosea 13:14

“But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave . . .” Psalm 49:15

The Lord said He would bring his righteousness, and would place his salvation.

“I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.” Isaiah 46:13

Believing in the Lord counts to us righteousness.

“And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” Genesis 15:6

Jesus said, “ 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).

The Bible says that every one since Adam and Eve (the first man and woman) has sinned or has done evil (Rom. 3.23). And because of sin that person has to pay the death penalty. (Ezek. 18:4).  That is death of the body in the ground, and death of the soul, which is eternity in Hell. “The wicked shall be turned into hell . . .” (Ps. 9.17)

But, God loved us so much, that He provided a means of escape. God became man, to pay for the sins of mankind (John 1.1; John 1:14; I Timothy 3:16). His name is Jesus Christ. He was born of a virgin woman named Mary, and never sinned. He is the Son of God, and is 100% God, and 100% man.

He gave up His life, on the cross. He did this so that anyone who believes in Him, and  asks for forgiveness, would never perish, but have everlasting life. And He will wash our sins away.

“[A]nd this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness.” Jeremiah 23:6

Jesus rose from the grave, three days later, proving He is God, and that He has the power over death.  When we ask Him into our heart, He promises us that we will live forever. When this life is over we will go on living in Heaven with God, and He will raise up our bodies in the last day.

”As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19

If you have never asked Jesus into your heart, and would like to, you could ask God this:

Dear God,

Your word says that I’m a sinner. That I’ve done bad things. It also says you gave Jesus, to save me from my sins. It also says that, He is the only way to you. I believe you. Please forgive me of my sins, and come into my heart and  save me

In the name of Jesus, I ask.

Amen.

Thoughts on Understanding

The Bible tells us that when we obey God’s commands we understand more of the Word of God.

Psalm 119:99-100 reads,“I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.” 

Jesus said that He would show Himself plainly to those that keep His Commandments (John 14:21).

So if we want understanding, if we want wisdom, if we want to understand the Word of God, we need to keep the Word of God. 

Now Jesus said the Greatest Commandments are these: “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”(Mark 12.30-31).

Without keeping these in mind we won’t understand very much. But surely we fail these so many times in a day. Yet keeping them in mind throughout the day will help us discern the right way. Joshua 1:8 reads,“[B]ut thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” 

If we are trying to do something in a day, and we stop to consider  if we keeping the Greatest Command, that will surely reveal the will of God, and answer a lot of questions for us.

It will help us answer questions such as:

Should I do this now, or wait until later?

Should I do this?

Does this reflect my Saviour?

What would make my Saviour happy?

What would make my Saviour happiest?

Will this make me closer with my Saviour?

Should I get this job?

Should I be seeking out this person to marry?

Would Jesus be comfortable where I am?

Not considering the second command will also hold back much of the Bible from us. Jesus wanted us to be like the Good Samaritan, in contrast to the Pharisees. The Pharisees seemed to have some Scripture memorized. At least they knew about tithing. But there was a lot from God’s Word they were missing. Jesus said,  “But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” Luke 11:42

“But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.” Matthew 12:7

A lot of lost people take Scripture and laws out of context and criticize the Bible. Some passages of the Bible are a record of what happened, not a recommendation. And sadly some religious people in history have perverted Scripture and used it to hurt people. But the laws of God were to protect people. I have wondered how religious people can be so hurtful. But we won’t ever understand the Bible unless we know the author, and look at it through the light of these Commandments. 

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Mark 7:12

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matthew 25:40

And WHO, just WHO, is the LEAST of Jesus’ brethren?

Considering the second  greatest command will give us directions as well.

What does doing this teach my children/ nieces/nephews/ friends?

How will this affect my family?

How will this affect my local covenanted Church?

How will this affect the future generation?

How will saying/doing this affect my witness to my friends and family?

How will this affect the future?

These have been just a few things I have been thinking about. God bless.

“ By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” I John 5:2-3

Also it is Biblical to pray that our love would increase more and more (Philippians 1.9).

How Did People Get Saved in the Old Testament?

Why did they need another way?

Jesus said, “I am the way,

the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”

If people could be saved in a different way, why did Jesus have to die? The Bible tells us that Jesus is the only way to God.
The Bible tells us that people in the Old Testament had faith that a Saviour was coming.

“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:” Job 19:25-26

” But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.” Psalm 49:15 Abraham believed in the resurrection of the dead. “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac. . .Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” Hebrews 11:17-19  Abraham was counting on God raising up his son. This surely wasn’t a half-hearted faith! The resurrection was real to the Old Testament people.

The Apostle Paul said, “[S]o worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” Acts 24:14-15

The  Jews in Paul’s time were waiting for a resurrection of the dead! Acts 10:43 tells us, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

So then all the prophets give witness of belief in Jesus.

And how did all the prophets give witness? By the Spirit of Christ that was in them.“[T]he Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” I Peter 1:11Jesus was working on men even in the Old Testament.

King Solomon said . . .

“If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) . . .” I Kings 8:46 Again in Ecclesiastes, “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7:20

The Law never saved anyone. God even rejected sacrifices in the Old Testament!

“Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.” Isaiah 1:13-14

Isaiah testified, ” But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags . . .” Isaiah 64:6

All of our works are as filthy rags.

Romans 14:23 tells us, “[F]or whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

Now compare that with Hebrews 11:4, “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”

Read the following: “[B]eing witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:21-23

The righteousness of God is by faith in Jesus. This is witnessed by the law and the prophets. The Old Testament.  Righteousness comes upon all that believe. There is no difference. There is no difference because all have sinned. And there is no difference, because all have come short of the glory of God.

“[T]he just shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4

 “And he [Abraham] believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” Genesis 15:6

What  was the Law for?

“Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions . . .” Galatians 3:19

It was added to show us our transgressions or sins. But, notice the word “add”. You add to something.

“And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law . . .cannot disannul . . .” Galatians 3:17  The Law can’t change promises God made before the Law. Before anything else Abraham believed in God. And God promised to bless him. And that happened 400 some years before the law was ever given!

The Law was given as a figure, or picture. “Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;” Hebrews 9:9

The Law was to bring us to Christ.

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Galatians 3:24

. . . .

^“ Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:27-28

“[T]he just shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4

Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament

Hello everyone. Today I wanted to share with you something that I wrote a while ago. It is things that I’ve learned where the Old Testament shows Jesus. I wrote them down and would like to share them with you.

Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament

”Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” John 1:45

Seeing the pictures  of Jesus in the Old Testament are some of the most beautiful things one could ever see. There truly is nothing like seeing Jesus. Still, there are many that deny that Jesus is the Messiah, and still so many don’t know what the Scriptures say.  What are some things the Scriptures say?

God was going to send His Son, made of a woman.

“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15

From the beginning, salvation was to come of  the woman’s seed,  and not of the man’s. Jesus was to be born of a virgin.

” Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14
Immanuel, as can be seen from the New Testament means, “God with us” (Matt. 1.23).

“That thou shalt set apart unto the Lord all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the Lord’s.” Exodus 13:12 See also, Exodus 34:19

Not merely the firstborn, but all males,  that opened the womb were to be holy to the Lord.

”For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9:6-7

” But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,” Galatians 4:4

The Lord spake unto Moses.

“I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.” Deuteronomy 18:18-19

This wasn’t just any prophecy of any prophet.  This  is a prophecy of Jesus Christ (Acts 3: 22-23) The Jews were waiting for “that Prophet”.

“Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.” John 6:14

What the Lord said to Moses is exactly what Jesus said unto the Pharisees.

” He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.” John 12:48-49

Jesus Christ is That Prophet!

A ruler was to come out of Bethlehem.

” But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2

” 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.” Matthew 2:1-2


In the beginning, Adam fell in a Garden, full surrounded by plenty. 

Jesus Christ the antitype, overcame sin, hungry and surrounded by nothing.

” But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”  Matthew 4:4

Man was kicked out of a garden for sin. 

 Jesus Christ the antitype walked out of a Garden by His own power for our sins.

” Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.” John 18:4-6

Sin brought thorns and a curse.
”[C]ursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;” Genesis 3:17-18

Jesus bore those thorns on his head.

” And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!” Matthew 27:29

Man was naked because of sin.
” And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” Genesis 3:10

God became flesh(John 1.14), and became naked for us.

” And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.” Matthew 27:35

 ”I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.” Psalm 22:17-18

” Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.” John 19:23-24

The curse was brought by a tree. Jesus took away the curse by a tree.

” Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” I Peter 2:24

” And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.” Deuteronomy 21:22-23

”Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” Galatians 3:13

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:14-15

It was  told aforetime that Jesus would answer His accusers nothing.
”Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.” Luke 23:9-10

” He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” Isaiah 53:7

 
By the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, He was taken and another was set free.

In Leviticus 16, we read of the scapegoat. There were two goats.  One goat was taken for a sin offering, and the other was set free.

“Pilate saith…ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.” John 18:38-40

”He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.” Isaiah 53:8


 They beat Him with stripes.
” He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:3-5

” Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,

And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.” John 19:1-3

They pierced His hand and His feet.

”And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced…” Zechariah 22:10

” For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.” Psalm 22:16

”And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.” Mark 15:25

Jesus Christ our Passover lamb was sacrificed for us. And not a bone of his was broken.

”In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.” Exodus 12:28

“Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.” John 19:32-37

He was poured out like water.

 ”But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” John 19:34“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.” Psalm 22:14

He was offered without the camp.

“For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.”  Hebrews 13:11-12

” Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.” Leviticus 4:12

His body did not remain until morning.

” When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:” John 19:30-33

The Passover sacrifice was not to remain until morning

“And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.” Exodus 12:10
 
He made his grave with the wicked.
”And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.” Isaiah 53:8

And it was because He told the truth.

“But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham…And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.” John 8:40,45

” Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.” Acts 2:23-24

He rose again according to the Scriptures.
”For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” I Corinthians 15:3-4

There was nothing ever to remain of the peace offering after three days. Leviticus 7, 19

“For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12:40

“After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.” Hosea 6:2
” The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.” I Samuel 2:6

“For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” Psalm 16:10

 ” I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.” Hosea 13:14

 Jesus Christ is the God of the Bible!
”For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me” Job 19:25-27

God bless you all this day!

D.N. Jackson: Salvation Before Water Baptism II (Day 7)

Hello Everyone. Today I am  sharing with you the final part of the  transcript of part two of D.N. Jackson’s series on salvation before water baptism.

Continue Transcript:

The fact that one believes on, that is in the Christ, shows he enters Christ, before baptism, as belief precedes baptism.

Paul says one in Christ Jesus is to be baptized. Galatians 3:26,27. He actually believes in the Christ and then he is symbolically baptized into him. Being in Christ by faith, one shows it forth outwardly by baptism. Note these verses of Scripture if you please: John 3:16. Belief in, that is into him e-i-s. John 3:18. Believeth on. That is into him. John 6:40: Believeth on, into him. And the same is also true of verses, John 6:47, John 11:25-26.

Now we find also that there are special blessings that come to the person that believes.

As we read, “He is passed from death unto life”. The person that believes before baptism, therefore he is passed from death into life before baptism. John 5:24: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” He hears the word: that’s present tense. He believes: present tense. He has everlasting life: present tense. He shall not come into condemnation. He is passed from death unto life. This alone should be sufficient to convince anyone that a person is out from under condemnation before he is baptized. John 3:18: The believer is not condemned. “ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

The believer is justified and has peace with God. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”(Rom. 5.1).

The believer is justified before God. To justify, meaning, of course to pronounce righteous, to make or declare right. “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus . . .To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Rom. 3.24,26).

The believer has peace with God. “[I]n me ye might have peace. . . .” (John 16.33). What kind of peace? “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4.7). The justification is through redemption in Christ, and the peace is in Christ. Therefore the believer is justified by the grace of God, and has peace in Christ. And as he believes before baptism, blessings come to him before baptism. He is redeemed, justified, and has peace.

The believer has a pure heart in the sight of God. Acts 15:9, “And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.” The original word means “to make clean”, “to cleanse”, “to purify”. This taking place before baptism, believer then has the promise,  “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matt. 5.8). The believer has the witness of the Spirit “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself . . .”(I John 5.10). The witness testifies that the believer is, not “will be” in baptism a child of God. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”(Rom. 8.16). “ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. . .”(Rom. 8.17). The witness testifies that the believer is sealed. II Corinthians 1:22: “Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” The believer rejoices in God. I Peter 1:8. And Luke 10:20 says, this last verse says one should rejoice because his name is written in heaven. As he believes before baptism, his name is written in heaven before baptism. The believer has both his hunger and thirst satisfied, believing before baptism. This blessing is his before baptism. See, read, if you please John 6:35.

Who then can doubt that a penitent believer is saved before water baptism? And in Acts 16:30 there’s the plain question that was asked by the Philippian jailer, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved”. And the answer came back, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Here’s a plain question. Here’s a plain answer. And it’s the answer that is sustained by all the Scriptures. Not one single example in the Word of God showing that you must be baptized in order to be saved. The person who is saved should be baptized. And if you are saved, do not hesitate to follow your Lord in baptism.

Dear Lord, we pray a blessing upon all who have listened. May these words be accepted because they are thy words. Bless every home. Save the lost. For Christ’s sake we pray. Amen.

End transcript.

D.N. Jackson: Salvation Before Water Baptism II (Day 6)

Hello Everyone. Today I am continuing sharing with you the transcript of part two of D.N. Jackson’s series on salvation before water baptism. As I stated before I plan to share a little each day as the whole transcript is quite long and Brother Jackson already divided it up into sections. I hope you receive a blessing from this.

Continue Transcript:

In the next place the fact that John the Baptist demanded proof meet for repentance before baptism shows that salvation comes before baptism.
“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:” Matthew 3:8. But to bear fruit for Christ one must be in Christ. The branch cannot bear fruit of itself. “I am the vine, ye are the branches . . .” John 15:4,5 Therefore one must be in Christ before he is baptized, because he is commanded to bear fruit, bring forth fruit before he is baptized.

In the next place the fact that there are New Testament cases of people being saved apart from baptism, shows that baptism is not essential to salvation.

The woman in Simon’s house is a clear cut case. Luke 7:48,50 , Christ said unto her, “Thy sins are forgiven. . . And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” Her sins were forgiven or remitted. Yes they were remitted, the same word that’s employed in Acts 2:38. Her sins are remitted. While she obtained salvation she had peace. There were blessing that came to her, and not a word said about her baptism. And then it avails nothing to say that she was under the law of Moses! It matters not if she were. Or if she were, or if she were not! The fact is she came to Christ, not the law for blessing.
Then the thief on the cross is a good example: Luke 23:42,43. The woman at Jacob’s well: John 4:10,15. Zacchaeus: Luke 19:9. And then the blind man: Luke 18:42.

D.N. Jackson: Salvation Before Water Baptism II (Day 5)

Hello Everyone. Today I am continuing sharing with you the transcript of part two of D.N. Jackson’s series on salvation before water baptism. As I stated before I plan to share a little each day as the whole transcript is quite long and Brother Jackson already divided it up into sections. I hope you receive a blessing from this.

Continue Transcript:

In the sixth place the fact that a true confession which is made before baptism signifies the presence of God in the confessor shows that salvation is before baptism.

“And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Acts 8:37

This shows the indwelling of the Spirit before baptism. No one can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. That is truly so as we read in I Corinthians 12:3. It reveals therefore that the Eunuch was a son of God before baptism.

Romans 8:14: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

It also reveals the indwelling of God in the Eunuch before baptism.

“Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” That is positive. Here is a man that says I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. This he made as a confession before he went down into the water, and I John 4:15 says “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” Therefore God was in this man, and he was in God (spiritually speaking of course) before he went down into the water.

In the seventh place the fact the Apostle Paul testifies that he begat, that is brought into life people without baptism.

Administered by himself shows that salvation does not depend on the act of baptism. Paul says I Corinthians 4:15, “ . . . in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” Begotten is from the original word which means “to bring into life”. Again Paul said, “ I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius . . .  And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.”( I Cor. 1.14,16). Therefore Paul brought the Corinthians into life without baptism.

And having been brought into life without or before baptism, here are some blessings they received before baptism.

Note first the believer is begotten or brought into life: I John 5:1. This is done before baptism, as one believes before baptism.

Second the believer or the one begotten, brought into life is freed from sin: I John 3:9. He is freed from sin before baptism, as he is begotten before baptism.

In the third place he overcomes the world. Who is the man that overcomes the world? I John 5:4. It is the one that believes. He’s the one that is born again. He’s the one that is begotten of God. This is done before baptism.

And then he is out of Satan’s control before baptism: I John 5:18. That’s the one that is born again, begotten of God, brought into life. And these are the blessing that come before baptism!

D.N. Jackson: Salvation Before Water Baptism II (Day 4)

Hello Everyone. Today I am continuing sharing with you the transcript of part two of D.N. Jackson’s series on salvation before water baptism. As I stated before I plan to share a little each day as the whole transcript is quite long and Brother Jackson already divided it up into sections. I hope you receive a blessing from this.
Continue Transcript:

In the fourth place salvation is obtained before for the reason we are freed from condemnation before baptism.

I read Romans 10:4, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2

If Baptism stands between the law and Christ, and one is saved when he is baptized then baptism and not Christ becomes the end of the law. But John 3:18 says, “ He that believeth on him is not condemned . . .”

In the fifth place salvation is before baptism for the reason one comes under the blood before baptism.

It is blood before water. This is shown typically in the example of the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. The Israelites came under the blood of the Paschal Lamb (Ex.12.12-13), before they came under the baptism at the Red Sea as we read in I Corinthians 10:1-2. As the lamb is a type of Christ, the blood on the houses is a type of Christ’s blood of redemption.

“ . . .For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:”(I Cor. 5.7).

“[W]hen I see the blood,“ put the emphasis on the blood, not the Red Sea, “I will pass over you”. This shows that the Lord was looking at the blood, not the water for the redemption of the nation.

Coming therefore to the blood before water, here are some benefits one obtains before baptism.

First, Peace. Colossians 1:2

Second, Redemption and forgiveness. Colossians 1:14: Ephesians 1:7

Third, Justification and Salvation. Romans 5:9.

Propitiation. Romans 4:25.

And then a cleansing. I John 1:7

Again washing from sins. Revelation 1:5.

And a purging from dead works. Hebrews 9:14

These are all blessings that come to the person that is under the blood of Christ, and we come to the blood before we come to the water of baptism. With all these blessings before baptism, who can deny one is saved before baptism?

The Israelites came under the blood the night of the Passover in Egypt, not at the Red Sea. “ . . .It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. . .” When did He deliver “the houses”? The night of the Passover. Read it in Exodus, Exodus 12:27. The Passover event was memorialized and observed by the Israelites in after years not their baptism at the Red Sea. Read Exodus 12:41;43. The deliverance effected at the Red Sea, Exodus 14:30, was not from bondage, but from the pursuing Egyptians. From the night of the Passover, the Israelites, were never in bondage to the Egyptians one moment of time. Therefore they went from the Passover to the Red Sea they delivered free people. While they were bodily still in Egypt they were not of Egypt. This is like the Lord’s people who while they were in the world, were not of the world. See John 18:15-16 [John 17:15-16] for the proof of this statement. Jesus told his disciples you’re in the world, but you’re not of the world. And the Israelites while they were in Egypt, before crossing the Red Sea, they were not of Egypt. They had been delivered from the bondage of Egypt. And not one moment after the time of the Passover were the people under bondage to the Egyptians. Not one moment. They were a free people. Free from that very night. From the time they came under the blood of the Paschal Lamb.

Thus two different groups went to the Red Sea. One under the blood. And the other without the blood. Only those under the blood were protected at the sea. Believers go to baptism under the blood of Christ. And therefore have all the benefits named before they reach the water. Therefore it is a picture of the fact that we are delivered from the bondage of sin before we come to the baptism in water.