Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts

Sunday, August 5, 2018

Christ in the Bible


~ Jesus Christ Is Revealed in Every Book of The Bible ~

Old Testament  ~  Salvation was available under the Old Testament Scriptures.  The Apostle Paul clearly states that the Scriptures “are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15).  And how was it available?  “Through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”  Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Elijah, Daniel, David and others who are promised eternal life elsewhere in the Scriptures received salvation the same way we do—through faith in Jesus Christ, through faith and belief in a promised Messiah who would redeem them from their sins. 

The Messiah Himself said, “‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?’  And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself” (Luke 24:25-27).

New Testament  ~   The New Testament is a historical account of the life of the Son of God while He was on earth and of the activities (including) problems, of the early church.  The grand subject is Jesus Christ—God manifested in the flesh walking among mankind on the earth.  Like the prior Scriptures it is about how man can be in a right relationship with his/her Creator. 

Jesus said, “It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.  Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.  Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father.  Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.  I am the bread of life.  Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.  This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.  I am the living bread which came down from heaven.  If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world” (John 6:45-51). 

Conclusion  ~  The entire Bible is all about Jesus Christ—The Messiah. 

Summary  ~  All things come together in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  Those who accept His free gift of salvation (based on His finished work—realizing there is nothing they can do to add to His work) will be with Him forever and ever!

The Bottom Line  ~  Christ Jesus—the only One who ever lived a perfect sinless life—is the only possible provision for paying the price of our sins.  Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became the Son of Man so that the sons of men could become sons of God.

the key question: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15).  This is the most important question you will ever answer.  If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:
(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.
(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.
(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 
(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Bible Hourglass



~ This Bible Outline Encompasses All Time ~

Introduction  ~  The hour glass representation begins at the broad base of Creation and moves in ever narrowing fashion to the human family; to the covenant people; to the preserved remnant; and to Jesus Christ, the One in whom the purpose of God is fulfilled.

Then out from the One the story moves in ever expanding fashion to the Apostles; to the Church; to Mankind; and finally to the broad base of the New Creation.  (If you are reading this on a syndicated website and the text below does not communicate the introversion clearly you may have to go to the actual “Abundant Life Now” web page for clarity.)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………
……..……………………An Hourglass of Biblical Time…………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………...…* * * * * * * * * *…………………..………………. 
The Christian……………...….*…………....……*………Original Creation
takes his stand…………….….*...… B.C. …...*..…...Adam and Eve ………...
with Christ at the..……………...*…….…...*……..Abraham—Israel ….…...  
crossroads of history. ...…….… *…….*……...The Remnant ………….…...
Jesus Christ is the focal point! .....**…...The One—Jesus Christ! ….….
He looks back from Christ…......*.......*……...The Apostles ………….……
to creation and forward………*……..…*….....The Church ……………..…
from Christ to the………..…...*...... A.D. ......*…....Mankind ………………....
New Creation. …………....…..*…………....……*……...The New Creation ..
…………………………..……….…* * * * * * * * * * ……..………………………….....    
…………………………………………………………………………………………….……

Comment  ~  The parallels between the events B.C. and the events A.D. are not accidental.  As God created in the beginning and His creation was good so He will create a new heaven and a new earth.  As there was a beginning, so there will be an end; it will not be a dead end, but a new beginning.  All evil will be put down and God will reign forever. 

As the story of Adam and Eve clearly shows the involvement of all men in the problem of evil, so the gospel is directed to all men, for their predicament is essentially the same in all generations (Romans 5:19). 

As God called into being a special people, Israel, as the instrument of His saving purpose, so He called into being the new Israel (the Christian Church) as the body of Christ. 

As there was a remnant within old Israel, so there was a remnant that received Jesus as the promised Messiah and Savior and became the nucleus of the expanding church. 

Jesus is the One who is the key to the whole story of salvation.  

Reference  ~  If you enjoyed this post you may also appreciate a previous ALN post entitled “Bible Introversion” published April 15, 2017.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:
(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.
(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.
(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 
(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Saturday, April 15, 2017

Bible Introversion


~ Introversion Outline of the Bible ~

Introduction  ~  The Bible can be summarized as a symmetrical introverted outline.  (If you are reading this on a syndicated website and the text below does not communicate the introversion clearly you may have to go to the actual “Abundant Life Now” web page for clarity.)  

A. Original creation, heavens and earth – Genesis 1:1
..B. Ruin of creation, sin entered, Satan’s first rebellion – Genesis 1:2, Isaiah 45:18
….C. Earth blessed, then cursed – Genesis 3:17
……D. Mankind dealt with as a whole; Adam to Abraham – Genesis 4-11:
……..E. Israel called to be blessed – Genesis 12 - Malachi 4
……….F. First Advent of Christ, crucifixion – Matthew, John, Hebrews 9:26
…………G. Church taken out of the world – Acts 15:14
…………G. Church taken up from the world – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
……….F. Second Advent of Christ, coronation – Hebrews 9:28, Zechariah 14:4
……..E. Israel recalled and blessed – Romans 11:25
……D. Mankind dealt with as a whole. – Acts 15:17
….C. Earth blessed, curse removed – Amos 9:13-15, Psalm 67:7
..B. Satan’s last rebellion, sin judged – Revelation 20:7-10
A. New heavens and new earth – Revelation 21:1

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:
(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.
(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.
(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 
(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .