“Great Insight Into The Thinking of Jim Elliot”

~ Book Review of “Jim Elliot” by the Christian Book Club ~

Reproduced immediately below is one of the many positive reviews the book “Jim Elliot” has received.

Title:  JIM ELLIOT: A Christian Martyr Speaks To You

Editor:  Robert Lloyd Russell

ISBN:  9781615797646

This book contains Jim Elliot’s own words in four messages which he spoke before going to the mission field.  Jim was one of the five missionaries martyred in Ecuador in 1956.  The work of these five missionaries and their deaths have had a tremendous impact on thousands of Christians.  Since their deaths over twenty books have been written about these men, their deaths, and the follow-up events.  The editor of this book is a friend of the Elliot family and knew Jim personally.  This book makes Jim Elliot’s own words available to everyone.

The first two messages were given to seventh and eighth-grade students and concern Christian living, including the effect of sin in the life of a Christian.  Another message, based on 1 Peter 1:3, examines the life of the Apostle Peter.  The message “God’s Prophet” traces the history of God’s prophets through the Old Testament and ends with God’s ultimate prophet—His own Son Jesus Christ.  

All of these thought-provoking messages are particularly appropriate for anyone interested in missions, missions history, or victorious Christian living.  My favorite portion of the book is the clear explanation of our need for a desire for God and the effects of sin on the life of an individual. 

This book is quite different in that the messages were transcribed from old wire recordings (which predated magnetic tape).  Jim Elliot had a passion for God and a fervency which was rare in his era, and perhaps even more rare today.  He was a true student of the Word of God and that really comes through in his spoken messages.

In summary, this book provides great insight into the thinking of Jim Elliot and also provides a lot of quotable material.  I cannot recommend this book highly enough for anyone who is interested in a more fulfilling Christian life.  In my opinion, it should be on the reading list of any Christian who seeks a closer relationship with Jesus Christ—especially those in junior high through age 40.  It will positively impact their lives!

~ Christian Book Club

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

There is more information about the book Jim Elliot at the editor’s website. 

You may order directly from Amazon or from Xulon Press. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

4 Rs = 3 Fs

~ Four Foundational Facts ~               

Ruined by Adam’s Fall (our ruin)  ~  “Therefore, just as through one man [Adam] sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—(For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come [Jesus Christ]” (Romans 5:12-14).   

Redemption by Blood (God’s remedy)  ~  “But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:11-12). 

Regenerated by the Spirit (our need)  ~  “Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.” The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit’” (John 3:5-8). 

Reception by Faith (our responsibility)  ~  “So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved’” (Acts 16:31).

“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God’” (John 3:10-21).

summary:  Ruin, Redemption, Regeneration, and Reception are Four Foundational Facts of spiritual reality (4R’s = 3F’s).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Jesus Christ in Leviticus

~ Jesus Christ is Our High Priest and More ~

The Bible is about Jesus Christ  ~  “Jesus said to them, ‘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).

In the book of Leviticus Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is foreshadowed primarily as the High Priest. He is seen as the atoning sacrifice, the way to approach God, and the sacrificial lamb.

Our Great High Priest  ~  Chapter 16 presents the ordinances of the Day of Atonement, a type of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament God did not remove sin but covered it, waiting for the only truly acceptable sacrifice—Jesus Christ. Only the high priest could provide this atonement and in doing so he laid aside his beautiful garments. Christ our great high priest laid aside His glory in heaven to come to earth to provide a sacrifice for us.

“For indeed He [God the Father] does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He [Jesus Christ] had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:16-18).

“Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end” (Hebrews 3:1-6). 

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrew 4:14-16).

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 6:19-20). 

Comment  ~  We have only touched the surface of Christ in Leviticus. Much more could be said about each of the previous examples.

additional comment: While on earth Jesus Christ often quoted the Scriptures including all five books of Moses. He quoted Leviticus 19:18 in the synoptic/parallel passages of Matthew 22:39 and Mark 12:31.

The Apostle Paul told us the Scriptures present many shadows of things to come but the reality is found in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:17). 

~~~ EXPLANATORY “JESUS CHRIST IN EVERY BOOK OF THE BIBLE” SERIES ~~~   

(1)  Approximately once a month ALN posts an overview of how Jesus Christ is seen in a specific book of the Bible.

(2)  In most cases these posts only scratch the surface regarding Jesus Christ in the particular book.

(3)  These posts will typically be in the same order as the books are found in the Bible.

(4)  These serial posts are in addition to our other ALN postings.

(5)  Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar.  Once subscribed you will not miss future posts.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Messiah, 86

~ Messiah Would Possess Zeal for Honoring God’s House ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“Because zeal for Your house has eaten Me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on Me” (Psalm 69:9).

The Messiah  

“Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!” Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up” (John 2:13-17).

~~~ EXPLANATORY “MESSIAH” NOTES ~~~   

(1)  Each Saturday ALN posts an example of a Hebrew Scriptures prophecy (or foreshadowing) related to the coming Messiah which was fulfilled in the birth, life, death, or resurrection of Jesus Christ.

(2)  While extensive it will not be a complete list—there are hundreds of prophecies of the coming Messiah which have been fulfilled by one man—Jesus Christ at His First Coming.

(3)  It is important that there are many more prophecies of the Messiah, yet unfulfilled, which Christians believe will be fulfilled at the time of His Second Coming.  A particularly relevant Scripture verse in this regard is: “Do not despise prophesies” (1 Thessalonians 5:20).

(4)  These posts will typically consist only of Scripture—which speaks for itself.  Sometimes italicized or bold font will be used by ALN for emphasis.

(5)  The numbering of these fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah is used to differentiate individual posts. It is not chronological (either by time of the prophecy or by sequence in the life of the Messiah).  The posting sequence will, for the most part, be in the order that the prophecies appear in Scripture.

(6)  Because of the chosen methodology (#5 above) we will find many specific prophecies repeated multiple times throughout the Scriptures.

(7)  These serial posts are in addition to our regular Tuesday ALN postings on random topics.

(8)  Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar.  Once subscribed you will not miss future posts.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW