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Is Jesus the Focus of All
Human History?
The story of Jesus, was it a myth or can we prove Jesus to be the
true focus of all of human history?
Answer: Yes, a Christian can prove that Jesus is the focus of all of
human history! We live in a world where folks repeat questions as if
those questions have no answers. Atheistic college professors pat
each other on the back… but never get around to asking the right
people to get their questions answered. It is generally a shock to
realize that the majority of sermons summarized in the New Testament
texts are focused on “proving” Jesus to be Messiah as their base.
Today, we cannot claim to follow the teaching of the apostles,
unless we follow their lead in “how” to lead others to Jesus.
Honestly, it makes little difference what the Bible says if it
didn’t come from God… if there is a God! So… step 1 is to make the
case for the Bible being the Word of God. If the Bible is the word
of God, by default we have shown that there is a God.
Do you know the difference between the faith of an adult and the
faith of a child? You can tell a child anything, but an adult will
not blindly follow anyone anywhere… hopefully! If they do, we call
it naiveté.
The apostle Peter wrote what today is known as the book of II Peter
in order to say goodbye to the church when his martyr’s death
appeared eminent. Consider Peter’s parting words addressed to us . .
.
II Peter 1:13-21
“I consider it right, as long as I am in this {earthly} dwelling, to
stir you up by way of reminder, knowing that the laying aside of my
{earthly} dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has
made clear to me. And I will also be diligent that at any time after
my departure you will be able to call these things to mind. For we
did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the
power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses
of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the
Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic
Glory, "This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased"-- and we
ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with
Him on the holy mountain. {So} we have the prophetic word {made}
more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp
shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star
arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy
of Scripture is {a matter} of one's own interpretation, for no
prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the
Holy Spirit spoke from God.
Note that Peter sets forth three major points here…
He makes us a promise that after he is dead, we would be able to
remember. Through the Bible he (and others) kept that promise..
Human eyes (Peter’s eyes) witnessed and evaluated miraculous things.
Scripture was overseen, directed by and protected by the Holy Spirit
(God).
Today’s article will set about to prove that Peter’s incredible
assertion is so.
Our approach will be to note the fact that all of human history
focuses simply on the coming of Jesus. The human calendar is divided
by Jesus. It is not a fluke, but was in the purposed will of God.
The Bible boldly makes this assertion!
“But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son,
made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under
the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Galatians
4:4-5
You might wish to read Galatians 4:1-9 to catch the context. This
claim that the coming of Jesus is a prepared, expected event is not
unique. There are similar descriptions scattered through the Bible,
for example…
“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for
the ungodly.” Romans 5:6
In fairness, I suppose it is natural that Christians would feel like
the coming of Jesus was unique, but our question today is do
Christians have a right to feel this way? Can it be established from
history that the coming of Jesus was “prepared for?” In other words,
was it in fact the “fullness of time”, or the “right time,” rather
than just “any time?”
Both, Muhammad and Joseph Smith just arrived and said, “Here I am…”
But not Jesus!
Others announced Jesus.
An entire nation (that had been scattered over the entire world) was
looking for Jesus!
Ok, the task before us is now clear. Let’s make our case.
I would begin by noting God’s ancient explanation of “why” He
established the nation of Israel. The Jews claim God gave them the
nation of Israel. Christians claim God gave them the nation of
Israel. Today people are still arguing over it all.
So, let’s ask God, “Why?”
“Why, God? Why did you establish Israel?”
Did you know that almost every relevant question that you frame
within your mind is answered somewhere in scripture? No, the Bible
doesn’t address every question of the secular world. But the
questions that matter… will generally be addressed somewhere in
scripture in almost the same words you might wish to ask them.
I would recommend that you read Psalm 78:1-7 for a more complete
answer. For the purposes of this study, I will concentrate on the
punch line.
“For He established a testimony in Jacob And appointed a law in
Israel, Which He commanded our fathers That they should teach them
to their children, That the generation to come might know, {even}
the children {yet} to be born, {That} they may arise and tell {them}
to their children.” (Vs 5-6)
Hmm… God’s ancient explanation has to do with preserving His
testimony for future generations of what He has done. The Bible
really must have been “overseen” as Peter said.
Now, we must ask… What testimony was so crucial that an entire
nation was established (and other nations had to be uprooted) for
it’s preservation? What testimony was so essential that the future
of the world depends on it? What testimony was so incredible that
even His enemies would end up becoming powerful witnesses to its
truth?
“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you,
while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which
were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the
psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they
might understand the scriptures.” Luke 24:44-45
Jesus is the focus of human history! ~
From an article by Jerry Blount
(To be continued)
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What Kind
of Flood?
Edwin L. Crozier
I have heard Bible
believers debate the flood. I use the term “Bible believers” loosely
here, because some of these so-called believers can’t seem to accept
the Bible for what it says. Genesis 6:17 says, “I will bring a flood
of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath
of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die” (ESV).
That is plain. God said He would flood the earth and destroy all
living things on it.
That, however, is not palatable to some. Perhaps they can’t believe
God would actually do it. Perhaps they can’t believe such a feat is
possible in the natural world. Perhaps they believe there is not
enough “scientific” evidence for it. They want to make the Bible
digestible for the masses, so they say, “It was a local flood around
the Black Sea.”
These believe they are performing a noble task. More people will
accept the Bible if they think the flood was local instead of a
cataclysmic world event. Thus, they think they are being
evangelistic, performing God a service by clearing up this
difficulty. On the surface, I appreciate that these are trying to
help people believe the Bible. However, when I scratch beneath the
surface, I wish they would stop their incessant and inane babbling.
They are not helping God’s cause or the Bible. Instead, they are
making the Bible out to be nothing but lies and contradictions. Who
can believe the Bible if their assertions are correct?
Aside from not taking the Bible at its word, these “thinkers” have
produced a lie in the Bible. If Genesis 6:17 was hyperbole to show
how awful the sin was and how serious God’s judgment was, then
Genesis 9:11ff is the same exaggeration. God’s point in Genesis 9 is
He will never again do what He did in Noah’s day.
He set the rainbow in the sky as a reminder of His covenant. Every
time we see a rainbow, we can remember God’s power in the
destructive flood and His promise not to do it again. Further, we
can remember He has promised to destroy the world with fire (cf. 2
Peter 3:8-13). But not if these so-called believers are correct.
If they are correct, every time we see a rainbow, we are reminded
God lies. If this was about local floods, God lied. I have one word
here—Katrina.
People should cease trying to make the Bible more palatable to the
masses. Either accept what it says and live by it or reject it.
Don’t say you accept it and then twist it to fit what you think you
really can accept. In the end, you will only make God out to be a
liar and yourself a fool.
God did destroy the earth by flood and He does plan to destroy the
earth by fire. Let’s not twist it to be more acceptable. Let’s
accept it and live it.
~via Franklin Church Bulletin; Franklin, Tennessee.
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