Question – Jesus, 140

 

~ Regarding Testing ~

 

Introduction  ~  This series is about questions involving Jesus.  Some were asked by individuals involved with Jesus Christ while He walked on earth.  Others are questions that Jesus Christ asked others.  We will look at questions on over 160 topics (some may split into two or more posts).  Even so, it is far from an exhaustive list. 

 

Scripture  ~  “Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk.  And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.  Tell us, therefore, what do You think?  Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?’

 

“But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, ‘Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?’

 

“‘Show Me the tax money.  So they brought Him a denarius.  And He said to them, ‘Whose image and inscription is this?’ 

 

“They said to Him, ‘Caesar’s.’

“And He said to them, ‘Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’  When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way” (Matthew 22:15-22).  

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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God Is My… , 24

 

~ God Is My Bread From Heaven ~

 

Introduction  ~  Previously (July 16, 2017 – January 6, 2019) ALN posted a series of 82 posts of “Jesus is…,” and then we looked exclusively at who “God is…” from the Book of Psalms (February 9, 2020 – December 5, 2021).  We are now considering “God is…” statements from non-Psalms passages. 

 

Passage  ~  “The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, ‘I am the bread which came down from heaven.’  And they said, ‘Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?  How is it then that He says, “I have come down from heaven”?’  Jesus therefore answered and said to them, ‘Do not murmur among yourselves.  No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.  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’” (John 6:41-48).

 

Other Passage  ~  “And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.  But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.  All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.  For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.  This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.  And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day’” (John 6:35-40).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Called by God, 8

 

~ The Obedience Call As His Ambassador ~

 

Series Note  ~  In this set of postings we will look at the calling of God from three aspects.  First there is the Universal Call to all mankind for salvation.  Second there is the call that all Christians receive—the Obedience Call.  Finally, there is a call which all Christians receive, but sadly few accept, the Career Call. 

 

In the first post in this series, we considered the Universal Call.  In posts 2-5 we look at the new responsibilities for Christians who have accepted the Obedience Call.  In posts 6-12 we examine the new roles of Christians who have accepted the Obedience Call. 

 

Comment  ~  An ambassador is one who represents another person or another country in another location or another country.  In our last post in this series, we observed the fact that we are citizens of heaven.  While on earth we are ambassadors for our new Master and for His country – heaven. 

 

Scripture  ~  Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21). 

 

“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints — and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I [the Apostle Paul] am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:14-20).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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