Showing posts with label Messiah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Messiah. Show all posts

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Jesus Is The Messiah, 301of301



~ REVIEW:  Jesus Christ is the Messiah of the Hebrew Scriptures ~ 

Background  ~  Jesus Christ said, “Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me” (John 5:39).  “And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, Jesus explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures” (Luke 24:27).

On each Sabbath day for over five and a half years Abundant Life Now has posted evidence that Jesus Christ was and is indeed The Messiah.  In our final post in this series we are reviewing some of the many factors which clearly show that Jesus Christ is The Messiah.

Many Prophecies He fulfilled  ~  For a quick summary review Abundant Life Now post of November 12, 2016 entitled “Messiah, 287A” which provides a sampling of some of the many fulfilled prophecies. 

Consider the Odds  ~  Mathematicians have calculated that the odds of one person fulfilling just 8 of these prophecies is 1 in 1028.  In other words 1 chance out of 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000!  Jesus Christ fulfilled over 400 prophecies! 

Many Scriptures Point to Jesus Christ  ~  Consider just three chapters from the Hebrew Scriptures:
1) ALN posted 9 times regarding Leviticus 23 (Messiah, 289A thru 297A, dated from November 26, 2016 through January 21, 2017).  Note: Prior posts are indexed by date on the left column of Abundant Life Now.
2) ALN posted 12 times regarding Psalm 22 (Messiah, 49 through 60, dated from June 9 through August 25, 2012).  Prior posts are indexed by date on the left column of Abundant Life Now.
3) ALN posted 12 times regarding Isaiah 53 (Messiah, 186 through 197, dated from January 10 through March 28, 2015).  Prior posts are indexed by date on the left column of Abundant Life Now.
As has been seen during these past years many other Hebrew Scriptures point to Jesus Christ as The Messiah. 

Many Testimonies of His Contemporaries  ~  He was often referred to as “The Christ [Messiah]” by His Contemporaries.  Consider the ALN post “Messiah, 298A(January 28, 2017).

Jesus Christ Claimed To Be The Messiah  ~  Jesus Christ often referred to Himself as The Messiah.  Consider the ALN post “Messiah, 299A” (February 4, 2017).

Many New Testament References  ~  So many references in the New Testament to Jesus Christ related to Him being The Messiah.  Consider the ALN post “Messiah, 300A(February 11, 2017). 

Closing Scriptures  ~  Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.  All things were created through Him and for Him.  And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.  And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:15-18).  Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?  For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.  And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:28-31).

Closing Statement  ~  You are going to bow down to Jesus Christ—The Messiah.  That is a fact.  The only questions are:
  1. “When will you bow down?” 
  2. “Will it be soon for salvation?”  or,
  3. “Will it be when you meet Him as your Judge?” 

~ 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, February 11, 2017

Messiah, 300A



~ The Many New Testament References to the Hebrew Scriptures ~

Background  ~  Jesus Christ said, “Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me” (John 5:39).  “And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, Jesus explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures” (Luke 24:27).

Hebrew Scripture Quotations  ~  One Scholar has listed 613 direct quotations from the Old Testament – there may well be more!

Hebrew Scripture Allusions  ~  It has been documented that there are well over 1,000 allusions to the Old Testament contained within the New Testament. 

Hebrew Scripture Language  ~  A scholar has noted that there are at least 4,150 New Testament verses which use Old Testament language. 

The Key Conclusion  ~  Jesus Christ is who He and many eye witnesses claim He is:  The Son of God…  The Lamb of God…  The Christ…  The Jewish Messiah… 

The Key Questions  ~  1. Who do YOU say that Jesus Christ is?  2. If you are unsure, are you willing to personally study the New Testament Scriptures with an open mind?  3. Or, are you willing to suffer the consequences of overlooking the most important decision you can make during your lifetime? 

~ 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, February 4, 2017

Messiah, 299A



~ Jesus Christ Claimed To Be The Messiah ~                

Jesus Christ—The Messiah said, Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me” (John 5:39). 

The Fourfold Witness  ~  The Messiah said, “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.  There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.  You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth [1st witness].  Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.  He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.  But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish — the very works that I do — bear witness of Me [2nd witness], that the Father has sent Me.  And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me [3rd witness].  You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.  But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.  You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me [4th witness].  But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.  I do not receive honor from men.   But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.  I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.  How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?  Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you — Moses, in whom you trust.  For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.  But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” (John 5:31-47).
note Scripture  ~  “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established” (Deuteronomy 19:15). 

The Healing of the Paralytic  ~  “One day while he was teaching, some Jewish religious leaders and teachers of the Law were sitting nearby.  (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.)  And the Lord’s healing power was upon him.  Then-look!  Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat.  They tried to push through the crowd to Jesus but couldn’t reach him.  So they went up on the roof above him, took off some tiles and lowered the sick man down into the crowd, still on his sleeping mat, right in front of Jesus.  Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, ‘My friend, your sins are forgiven!’  ‘Who does this fellow think he is?’ the Pharisees and teachers of the Law exclaimed among themselves.  ‘This is blasphemy!  Who but God can forgive sins?’  Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he replied, ‘Why is it blasphemy?  I, the Messiah, have the authority on earth to forgive sins.  But talk is cheap-anybody could say that.  So I’ll prove it to you by healing this man.’  Then, turning to the paralyzed man, he commanded, ‘Pick up your stretcher and go on home, for you are healed!’  And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped to his feet, picked up his mat and went home praising God!  Everyone present was gripped with awe and fear.  And they praised God, remarking over and over again, ‘We have seen strange things today’” (Luke 5:17-26 TLB, also see Matthew 9:2-8 and Mark 2:1-12). 

The Jacob’s Well Incident  ~  Consider the account of Jesus Christ interacting with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well in the city of Sychar:  “The woman said to Him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming’ (who is called Christ).  ‘When He comes, He will tell us all things.’  Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am He.’ (John 4:25-26). 

The Sanhedrin Incident  ~  The account of Jesus Christ before the Sanhedrin: “And the high priest [Caiaphas] stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, ‘Do You answer nothing?  What is it these men testify against You?’  But He kept silent and answered nothing.  Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, ‘Are You the Christ [Messiah], the Son of the Blessed?’  Jesus said, ‘I am.  And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven’” (Mark 14:60-62). 

The Road to Emmaus  ~  Consider the incident of Christ appearing to the disciples while they were traveling the road to Emmaus. 
“Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.  And they talked together of all these things which had happened.  So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.  But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.  And He said to them, ‘What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?’  Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, ‘Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?’
And He said to them, ‘What things?’
So they said to Him, ‘The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.   But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.  Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.  When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.  And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.’ 
Then He [Christ, The Messiah] said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!  Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?’  And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:13-27, also see Mark 16:12-13).

With His Disciples After His Resurrection  ~  “Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.’  And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.  Then He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  And you are witnesses of these things.  Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high’  And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.  Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.  And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God.  Amen” (Luke 24:44-53, see also Mark 16:19-20 and Acts 1:9).

The Great “I AM”  ~  “Then the Jews said to Jesus, ‘Now we know that You have a demon!  Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, “If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.”  Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead?  And the prophets are dead.  Who do You make Yourself out to be?’  Jesus answered, ‘If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing.  It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.  Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him.  And if I say, “I do not know Him,” I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word.  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.’  Then the Jews said to Him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?’  Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM’” (John 8:52-58).

~ 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/ .