PART 1 – Bible History
The greatest message for the world is not told by politicians or world rulers, but by the one who created it, God. The Bible contains His plan for the salvation of men and women. It is the source of learning how we can come to know God through His Son Jesus Christ and be part of a better world.
The First book of the Bible: Genesis
The Old Testament tells the story of how God first introduced morality to His creation, and how they rejected God (Adam and Eve). It then shows how God provided a ‘way back’ to Him again (Bible book of Genesis). Men again rejected God, so God selected one family of faith (Noah).
After a major flood, this family populated the then known world and finally God again selected a family of faith – Abraham and Sarah’s. God was pleased with Abraham’s and Sarah’s faith and gave them 
wonderful promises for the future. God promised to give them the land (modern day Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and the Sinai in Egypt) for their children, and to make them the progenitors of a huge nation which would bring blessings to the whole world (through their offspring, Jesus).
Abraham’s sons Ishmael and Isaac were the fathers of the Arabs and the Israelites; each with their own promise. Isaac had two sons, Esau and Jacob. Esau was the ancestor of the present-day Jordanians, and Jacob was the ancestor of today’s Israel. Jacob had twelve sons (later called the twelve tribes of Israel). These twelve were jealous of the favourite son (Joseph) and sold him into slavery in Egypt. While there, God revealed to Joseph the meaning of the Egyptian King’s dreams. Joseph was able to save the Egyptians from a seven-year drought. During this drought, all the family of Jacob left their ‘promised land’ and came to live in the Nile delta in Egypt. God changed Jacob’s name to Israel and the family of Israel lived in Egypt for the next 400 years.
Escape from Egypt – The 10 Commandments
During this time, the Egyptians enslaved them, and so the ‘children of Israel’ became the slaves of the Egyptians. God selected an Israelite called Moses to lead the people out of Egypt back to the ‘promised land’ (present day Israel). With God’s power, Moses brought ten plagues on the Egyptians to force them to release the Israelites (Bible book of Exodus). 
The last plague was the death of all firstborn in Egypt. The Israelites were saved from this plague if they killed a lamb, spread its blood over the doors, and roasted and ate the lamb. This was called the ‘Passover Feast’ and was a strong symbol of us of being saved from death by the sacrifice God’s lamb – Jesus. The Egyptians finally let the Israelites go – only to pursue them again. Moses brought the Israelites to the edge of the Red Sea – where God miraculously opened the water to provide a path to the other side. The Egyptian army followed, and God caused the sea to come back and drowned the Egyptians.
Travel to the Promised Land
On their travels to the Promised Land, God gave Moses a set of 10 Commandments as well as other laws. The first 5 books of the Bible became known as ‘The Law of Moses’. God also decreed that they set up a priesthood from one of the ‘twelve tribes’ and also commanded that they build him a tent (called the ‘Tent of Meeting’) which housed the ‘Ark of the Promise’. The lid was of pure gold with cherubim at each end. It symbolised the place of atonement. But the Israelites were faithless and so God condemned them to wander for forty years in the Sinai desert before coming to the border of Israel (called Canaan).
Joshua
When they arrived at the border of Canaan (ancient name of Israel), Moses died and Joshua took over as their leader. The Bible book of Joshua tells of the battles the Israelites had to gain the land promised to their ‘father’ Abraham. The Israelites displaced most of the population (the Canaanites), and then Joshua died.
The Judges of Israel
For the next 300 or so years, the Israelites were ruled over by ‘mini kings’ called judges; people such as Deborah, Gideon and Samson. The Bible book of Judges covers this period. The Israelites began to worship other gods and so provoke their own God to anger, and so He would let other nations defeat and rule over them. But when they repented, God would send a ‘saviour’ or ‘a Judge’ to deliver them. This pattern was repeated over and over. During this time the Bible Book of Ruth describes the great faith of a Jewish woman and a Moabite woman. The final judge was Samuel.
The Time of the Kings
The people rejected God as their King and wanted a King like the other nations. God conceded to their demands and chose a king for them, Saul, whom the people liked. But he was a weak king who failed to understand his role and so God selected another king – David, who was to be the greatest of Israel’s kings, until Jesus. Not only a great warrior, but he was also a great musician and wrote many of the Psalms we now have in the Bible book of Psalms. Under David, the Kingdom of Israel spread as far north as Assyria, and south to Egypt. David grew old and died and was replaced by his son Solomon. Solomon built a huge Temple to God with the help of foreigners. (1 Chron. 22:2, 1 Kings 7:13-14, 1 Kings 5:18, Ezekiel 28:14)
The Kings often had many wives even though God said they were not to multiply wives. Solomon had 1000 wives! However, in his old age, Solomon was seduced away from worshiping God, to worshiping idols, so God promised to tear 10 of the 12 tribes away from his control.
After Solomon died, his son Rehoboam reigned. He was a foolish king who taxed the people excessively. Finally, ten tribes of Israel rebelled and set up their own Kingdom just as God had promised Solomon. Only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin stayed loyal to Rehoboam. The Northern kingdom retained the name ‘Kingdom of Israel’, while the Southern Kingdom was called Judah (after the biggest tribe). The King of Israel, Jeroboam, set up idol worship throughout Israel, while the people of Judah still worshipped God in the Temple at Jerusalem. This period is covered in the Bible books of 1and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles.
The Prophets
For about the next 400 years, God sent many prophets (Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Joel, Amos etc.) to plead with the people of Israel and Judah to stay loyal to Him. They didn’t. Finally, God allowed the Assyrian Kings to conquer Israel and take them all away into captivity (into modern day Iraq).
Then God sent more prophets to Judah begging them to learn from Israel’s mistakes. They didn’t. The prophet Jeremiah was still preaching when the Kingdom of Babylon came and took Judah captive.
The prophets Ezekiel and Daniel were among the captives of Judah taken to Babylon. The Bible books of Ezekiel and Daniel give wonderful prophecies of Israel coming back to their ‘Promised Land’, as well as future world history.
The Kingdom of Persia overtook the Babylonian Kingdom, and so the Persians became the rulers of the people of Judah. The Word Judah was shortened to ‘Jew’. The Persian King Cyrus decreed that the Jews could return to their native homeland. Zerubbabel led the first return and the temple was re-built, but the offer of foreign help was rejected.
The Bible book of Esther tells of a courageous Jewish woman who married a Persian King and saved the Jews from destruction at the hands of the Persians during this period.
Some 50- 60 years after the first return, Ezra and Nehemiah led more Jews back and the city of Jerusalem was rebuilt. The offer of foreign help was again rejected.
The Greeks then fell to the Romans who set up ‘puppet Kings’ like Herod and governors like Pontius Pilate. This was the world into which Jesus the Christ was born and died, but rose to life. After seeing Christ back from the dead, His followers (disciples) took the message of the Gospel – the ‘Good News’ of God’s salvation, beyond the borders of Israel into all the world.
The Romans continued to rule the land of Israel. In 70 AD they destroyed the temple and the city of Jerusalem. Hadrian re-built Jerusalem and named it Aelia Capitolina. In 135 AD he crushed the final Jewish rebellion and banished Jews. He re-named Judea ‘Syria Palaestina’. The Jews were scattered from their homeland.
The Bible:
Consists of two sections:
The Old Testament made up of 39 books. The Law of God for Israel, The Histories, The Poetry, and the Prophets.
The New Testament is made up of 4 Gospels, The History of the early Christian Church, The letters of Apostles to the believers and Prophecy.
PART 2 – How to become a Christian
Love
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus was asked:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” [Matthew 22:36-40]
The greatest of all Christian principles is to love both God and people.
Jesus also said in the Gospel of John
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” [John 13:34-35]
And although a Christian life is also built on faith and hope as well as love, Paul tells us that the greatest of these is love:
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” [1 Corinthians 13:13]
Faith
Hebrews 11 is a wonderful chapter about faith in the lives of believers. In part it states:
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” [Hebrews 11:6]
The Bible Book of Hebrews also tells us in chapter 11
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. [Hebrews 11:1]
We are not asked to follow a blind faith – but a faith based on solid evidence. Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans
“Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” [Romans 1:19-20].
The Old Testament book of Psalms chapter 19 says
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” [Psalms 19:1-4].
So our faith is built on the evidence God has provided.
How do we get this faith?
The apostle Paul writes in the book of Romans
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” [Romans 10:17].
The word of God is our Bible. It is here that we learn of God and develop our faith. God has given us the Bible which contains His message to all his prophets and faithful women and men of all ages.
Paul writes to his friend Timothy saying,
“All Scripture, given by inspiration of God, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man/woman of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” [2 Timothy 3:16-17].
Although God spoke through many servants – He has finally spoken to us through Jesus. In the book of Hebrews we read
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” [Hebrews 1:1-2].
Grace
Jesus gave us the perfect pattern of living. Perfect faith, perfect love. We are asked to follow in the path which Jesus laid out. The first letter of Peter says
“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” [1 Peter 2:21].
Jesus himself said this:
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” [Matthew 16:24-25].
But we all fail. We all make mistakes and fail to properly live a Godly life. But – all is not lost. We are told;
“But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He supplies forgiveness for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” [1 John 2:1-2]
Forgiveness which we don’t deserve, but is freely given to us is called grace. We can never save ourselves by trying to be good all the time – but rather our salvation comes from God’s grace.
Paul tells the Ephesians,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” [Ephesians 2:8-9].
We have all sinned – we all depend on God’s grace.
“ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” [Romans 3:23].
Faith in Action
We need to put the faith and love in our lives into action. James [very probably Jesus’ brother] wrote:
14 What does it profit, my brothers, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him?…. 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I, by my works, will show you my faith. [James 2].
To love is to help the poor, the needy and the downtrodden.
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” [James 1:27]
35 “For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’… 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” [Matt. 25]
We are not saved by our works (it is by Grace we are saved), but we demonstrate and proclaim our faith by following the example of Jesus and serving others, not ourselves.
Why Do We Sin?
We only have ourselves to blame if we sin:
“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one; but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” [James 1: 13].
But we can come to Jesus to seek forgiveness when we sin:
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” [1 John 1:8-10].
We are not saved by our own goodness, but by grace freely given.
Then what does the Bible say of the Devil?
Many churches have now realise that there is no supernatural devil.
The Church of England voted to change its baptism service which will no longer includes a promise by parents and godparents to “reject the devil and his rebellion against God”. Instead, they will be asked to “turn away from sin and stand bravely against evil.”
This is a true representation of what the Bible says. Many Christians are now coming to realise that the concept of a supernatural devil in not in the Bible.
The Old Testament of the Bible was written in the language of the Jews – Hebrew. The Hebrew word for devil is sa`iyr, which simply means a goat. Here is an example:
“And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils (goats), and for the calves which he had made.” [2 Chronicles 11: 15].
So – there is no supernatural devil in the Old Testament.
The New Testament of the Bible was written in the common language of the time – Greek. There are two Greek words used for devil in the Bible. The first is daimonizomai which represents the mental illnesses some people suffer. Some Bibles use the word devil and others demon for this Greek word. As people in the ancient world had no idea what caused mental illness – they assumed an evil demon had invaded a person’s body. Here are some examples:
“… and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with diverse diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic (mentally ill), and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.”[Matthew 4:24].
“Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic (some Bible versions say epileptic here) … And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.” [Matthew 17:15,18].
So, clearly, a devil is simply a mental disease or epilepsy.
The other Greek word for devil is diabolos which simply means a slanderer or a liar. As an example, the first letter of Peter says
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil (the liar, slanderer) prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” [1 Peter 5:8].
The devil here was the Roman Empire falsely accusing Christians and throwing them to lions.
In the Gospel of John we read:
“Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” [John 6:70].
Clearly Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus, was the liar.
Sometimes the word devil just represents the rebellion and sin which is in us all. The snake in the garden of Eden was a liar, and was the first ‘devil’. Jesus said:
“ You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” [John 8:44].
Here Jesus accused the church leader of following the lying snake in Eden. The devil (liar) represents all falsehood against Jesus and God.
What about Satan?
It used to be thought that Satan was another name for the devil, but many churches have come to realise that just as there is no supernatural devil – so there is no Satan.
The Old Testament (Hebrew) for Satan is Satan. Wow – what a coincidence – the English and Hebrew words are the same. No – it’s not a coincidence! The translators decided NOT to translate the word – even though it has a perfectly good English meaning. They wanted us to believe Satan was something mysterious – a supernatural person. The Hebrew word Satan simply means an adversary or enemy.
“And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for a Satan (adversary) against him.” [Numbers 22:22].
Here the Bible calls an angel of the Lord Satan, because he opposed Balaam. In another place it says:
“And David said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be Satans (adversaries) unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel?” [2 Samuel 19:22]
Here, King David called men ‘Satans’
| 1 Chronicles 21:1And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. | 2 Samuel 24:1 Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel. He moved David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” |
These two passages describe the same event. One says God caused David to act, the other passage says Satan did. Is God Satan? Yes – because God was an adversary to Israel.
The New Testament (Greek) word for Satan is Satanas, simply the Greek form of the Hebrew word Satan. Again, it just means adversary or enemy.
In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus says:
“Then Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are standing in My way. You are not thinking how God thinks.” [Matthew 16:23].
Jesus called Peter Satan because he was being an enemy to God’s plan.
Sometimes Satan can be used to represent the power of sin, as sin is always the enemy of God. We read:
“Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.” [Luke 22:3].
This simply means that the thoughts of sin took over Judas’ mind, and Judas became an enemy of God. Satan becomes a personification of sin: that is it takes on a personal identity representing sin.
In many places the word Satan just means sin which is the enemy of God. We read:
“Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan (the enemy) has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit…” [Acts 5:3].
Greed and the love of money had filled Ananias’ heart – they are God’s enemies.
What happens to people when they die?
The Bible states clearly that we all die, lie in the grave until the return of Jesus and the judgement of God. Many churches now realise that the concept of ‘Hell’ as a place of eternal torment is not in the Bible – and has been misunderstood.
A Church of England report says
“In the past the imagery of hell-fire and eternal torment and punishment … has been used to frighten men and women,” says the report. “Christians have professed appalling theologies which made God into a sadistic monster. … Hell is not eternal torment, but is the final and irrevocable choosing of that which is opposed to God so completely … that the only end is total non-being.”
An Observer (Anglican on-line post) editorial noted that the state church is saying that if
“Heaven is where life with God continues forever, hell is now personal annihilation. Game over, just as atheists always believed.”
The Bible is really clear on what happens to us after death. In the book of Daniel we read:
“Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” [Daniel 12:2-3].
Clearly those who have chosen Jesus will be rewarded with eternal life – and those who have rejected Jesus will be rejected back to death (God’s contempt).
“For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him……For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. [1 Corinthians 15:21-26].
This is so clear – we will be raised and given eternal life.
Even the people of Jesus day expected to die and wait in the grave for ‘the resurrection’.
“Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live.” [John 11:23-25].
So, clearly, when we die, we stay in the grave until Jesus comes and we are resurrected to judgement. We do not go to heaven or hell and we have no immortal soul.
But, what of hell in the Bible?
In the Old Testament, hell is the Hebrew word “she’owl” simply meaning the grave. In the book of Samuel in the old King James Version, we read:
“The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;” [2 Samuel 22:6].
But the more modern New International Version says
“The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.”
They recognise that hell is just the grave.
Everywhere in the Old Testament the word for hell is just the grave.
In the New Testament, is seems more difficult. There are two New Testament words for hell. The most common is hades, a word the Greeks used for the underworld, the place of the dead. But Jesus did not speak Greek – he spoke Hebrew or Aramaic. So – what did Jesus say? We can find out by matching the Greek version of the Old Testament with the Hebrew version. Everywhere hades is used in the Greek Old Testament, the Hebrew word is she’owl. So, we now know that when our Greek Bible says hades, Jesus actually said she’owl – the grave.
Jesus says:
“ And I say also unto you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell (hades, she’owl, the grave) shall not prevail against it.” [Matthew 16:18].
All new Bible versions replace hell with hades, the grave or death.
Another word often used in the New Testament is Gehenna. This was a literal rubbish dump outside of Jerusalem where rubbish was burned, and the bodies of uncollected criminal were thrown. The fire was never extinguished – so it was thought to be everlasting. The bodies of criminals and animals were thrown here and infested with maggots. It represented utter destruction.
Jesus says:
“If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell (Gehenna).” [Matthew 5:29].
Jesus didn’t intend this to be taken literally or for anyone to lose an eye. It was a figure of speech. Jesus was saying it is better to lose something that distracts you in this life than to face eternal destruction (death) in the next.
Further, Jesus says
“And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell (gehenna), where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.” [Mark 9:47-48].
This is a direct reference to the rubbish dump which was always burning and the bodies were full of worms perpetually.
The Promise of Jesus
Jesus did not just arrive in the New Testament from nowhere. He was predicted many times in the Old Testament, where God made wonderful promises about our salvation through Him.
God has made great and wonderful promises to us all. Right after the first sin by Adam and Eve, God gave this promise.
“To the serpent He said: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” [Genesis 3:15].
This was the first promise of Jesus.
The snake represented sin (human rebellion against God). The offspring of the woman was Jesus.
“I will put enmity (make you enemies) between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he (Jesus) shall bruise your head (a mortal wound – Jesus killed sin and death by his sacrifice), and you (the serpent – the power of sin) shall bruise his heel (a non-mortal wound – Jesus died but rose again to life eternal).”
Another promise of Jesus.
God found a faithful couple in Abraham and Sarah. Then, because of Abraham’s faith, God gave another promise of Jesus. God said to Abraham: 
“I will indeed bless you, and I will multiply your seed (people of faith) as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore. And your seed shall possess the gate of His enemies (Jesus conquered death and will rule the world), and by your seed (Jesus) shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” [Genesis 22:17-18].
We, who are not literal descendants of Abraham are ‘adopted in’ by faith in Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul tells us:
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise”. [Galatians 3:28-29].
Still another promise of Jesus.
David was a great King of Israel and was faithful to God (although he made many mistakes) and so God extended His promises to him.
“When your days are fulfilled and you lie down (in death) with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you (a descendant of David – Jesus), who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever (Jesus will reign forever). [2 Samuel 7: 12-13].
The temple which Jesus was to build is a spiritual Temple – the letter of Peter says Christians make up that temple
“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house”.[ 1 Peter 2:5]
Yet another promise of Jesus.
The promise of salvation in Jesus was added to by the prophets:
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David (he will be Jewish – from David’s lineage), and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore.”[Isaiah 9:6-7].
And so, Jesus was born as the fulfilment of all these promises – to save man from a destiny of sin and death. Jesus was the son of God (Jesus had no earthly father) and the son of David (through Mary).
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”[John 3:16].
When Jesus died on the cross – it seems that all these promises failed. But his resurrection brought them all to life again.
Passover Symbol of Jesus
The Jewish people were slaves in Egypt (Book of Exodus). Pharaoh felt threatened by them and commanded all male Jewish babies to be killed. To release them, God proposed to destroy the firstborn of every family in Egypt. The only way to be saved from this fate was to take the blood of a perfect lamb and spread it over your door posts. God instructed
“…On the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household… 5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect… 6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all … of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses…” [Exodus 12:1-9].
We are destined to death. Our only hope of salvation is through the ‘Lamb of God’. The Passover lamb became a household pet for 3 ½ days – Jesus was God’s ‘loved one’ for 3 ½ years. The lamb was without defect – as Jesus was sinless. The people took shelter under the blood of the lamb on their door frames, just as we take shelter under the blood of the cross to save us from death.
“The Law (of Moses) was only a shadow of good things to come and could never with the same sacrifices…make perfect those drawing near.” [Hebrews. 10:1]
The Nature of Jesus
We read in Isaiah
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” [Isaiah 7:14].
Immanuel means ‘God with us’. This promise was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus:
“Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emman′u-el” [Matthew 1:23].
This sounds like Jesus was God – but this cannot be so. The name Immanuel has also been given to Israel in the very next chapter of Isaiah
“Its (Assyria’s) outspread wings will cover the breadth of your land, Immanuel!” [Isaiah 8:8].
Here, God is calling the nation of Israel Emmanuel. Israel were God’s chosen people, and should have represented God to the whole earth – but they failed.
Anyone who represents God is permitted to bear His name.
Often the name of the Lord is used for angels (who are not God):
“The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak… When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior… The Lord turned to him and said…” The Lord answered, “I will be with you…And the Lord said, “I will wait until you return.” … The angel of God said to him…” [Judges 5:11-20].
It is very acceptable to carry the name of God when someone is in His service.
Jesus never claimed to be God. But He did claim to be God’s Son and carry God’s name
“We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’ (Psalm 82:6) ? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came …what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?” [John10:33-36].
Jesus claimed to be God’s Son … not God.
When Jesus was taken into heaven – He promised to return.
In the book of Acts it says
“So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (the disciples expected him to set up David’s throne again) He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. (Jesus is saying that David’s Kingdom will be set up again – but in God’s good time)… And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” [Acts 1:6-11].
Jesus’ disciples expected His return to set up God’s Kingdom on earth.
Those who have died will be raised from the dead to be given everlasting life.
The prophet Daniel says
“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” [Daniel 12:2-3].
The apostle Paul writes
“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.” [1 Thessalonians 4:16-17].
So – we who wait for His return, depend on His grace for the forgiveness of our sins.
REASONS TO BELIEVE
God has given us solid reasons to believe. An evidence-based faith.
Logic
Isaac Newton – One of the most influential scientists of all time, said –
“This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent Being.”
Arthur L. Schawlow (Professor of Physics at Stanford University, 1981 Nobel Prize in physics): “It seems to me that when confronted with the marvels of life and the universe, one must ask why and not just how. The only possible answers are religious”
Look around -The World itself testifies to a Creator – As the apostle Paul said
“By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see.” Romans 1:29 MSG Bible
Almost 1,000 years earlier, King David said much the same thing – “The heavens declare the glory of God. The skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1
Bruce Barton put it this way –
“When you can dump a load of bricks on a corner lot, and let me watch them arrange themselves into a house – when you can empty a handful of springs and wheels and screws on my desk, and let me see them gather themselves together into a watch – it will be easier for me to believe that all these thousands of worlds could have been created, balanced, and set to moving in their separate orbits, all without any directing intelligence at all.”
Testimony of Eyewitnesses
First Century eyewitnesses and those who followed in their steps, were willing to suffer and die for their testimonies – some were thrown to the lions for being Christians – such was their conviction after seeing Jesus back from the dead and faith in something better to come.
Accurate, Fulfilled Prophecy
During Old Testament times, two great powers competed for control – Babylon and Egypt. God knew their future – and told their fate before it happened.
He said the city of Babylon would become an uninhabited ruin
“Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians’ pride, will be overthrown…She will never be inhabited or lived in through all generations.” Isaiah 13:19-20
This happened – Just about all other ancient capitals are still lived in, to this day – but not Babylon!
The promise to Egypt was different: It would remain inhabited, but be the lowest of nations – “It will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself above the other nations.” Ezek. 29:15 – Never to rule the world again.
The prophecies of Babylon and Egypt are both amazingly accurate.
ISRAEL: God said he would scatter the Jews from one end of the earth to the other because they broke their covenant with Him. He said they would
“Become a thing of horror, a byword and an object of ridicule among all the peoples where the LORD would drive them.” (Deuteronomy 28:37)
This prophecy was also fulfilled and for almost 2,000 years the Jews were a witness to its accuracy, in their dispersion.
But the prophecies continue. In the end times God would bring the Jews back to the Promised Land – “I will bring you back to the land of Israel.” Ezekiel 37:11
This happened after the 2nd World War. No other nation has been scattered as prophesied and then brought back as foretold in advance. Once the Jews returned, Jerusalem was prophesied to be a source on contention –
“I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples. Zech. 12:2
This is an astounding prophecy. Jerusalem is the most contested piece of real estate on the planet.
FUTURE PROPHECIES
God has said there will be a Holy war over Jerusalem. Who would have thought such a prophecy would come true, yet the signs are there for a future war in the name of religion.
Holy War – Joel 3:9 “Proclaim this among the nations (around Israel): Prepare for holy war!” (sanctify a war)
Jesus comes in the midst of this war to save Israel and make those in Israel who accept Him dwell securely. (Isaiah 59:20, Zechariah 12)
After the holy war, others come to ‘take a spoil’ – not realising that Jesus has returned. What ‘spoil’ could Israel have that would draw in other countries – surely the huge reserves of newly discovered gas and their technology –
“You will say, “I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will come against a tranquil people who dwell securely, all of them living without walls or bars or gates – in order to seize the spoil and carry off the plunder.” Ezekiel 38:11
Armies of the world swept away – Another prophecy speaks of the futile attempt of any army to come against Jesus
The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed … The One enthroned in the heavens laughs;…He rebukes them in His anger, and terrifies them in His fury:“I have installed My King on Zion, My holy hill.” Psalm 2:4-6
What Must We do to be Saved?
Paul tells the Ephesians
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God, not because of works, lest any man should boast.” [Ephesians 2:8]
How do we come to this grace?
In Acts 2, the apostle Peter preached Jesus to the very crowds who had killed Him. They were convicted of their sin:
“Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…” [Acts 2:37].
We, likewise, need to repent and to be baptised, as an adult with full emersion
“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” [Romans 6:3].
Jesus last words were:
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” [Mark 16:15-16].
Choose Eternal Life
In these uncertain times, it’s reassuring to know that God has a wonderful plan for the earth that we can be part of. God has given us the ultimate choice, life or death.
Choose life – Eternal life. Follow Jesus.
This article will soon be available as a printed booklet –
CONTACT
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Please Contact
John Thatcher: Email: john.thatcher555@gmail.com
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