Messiah, 136

~ Messiah Would Be a Descendant of Jesse ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots” (Isaiah 11:1). 

The Messiah  

“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham…  and Jesse begot David the king…  And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ” (Matthew 1:1,6,16).

“Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.  Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: ‘For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name.’  And again he says: ‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!’  And again: ‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!  Laud Him, all you peoples!’  And again, Isaiah says: ‘There shall be a root of Jesse; and He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope.’  Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:7-13). 

~~~ 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

Eternal Life Blessings

~ Some Benefits of Being a Child of God ~

Eternal blessings we now have…

We Possess Eternal Life  ~  “Whoever believes in Him [Jesus Christ] should not perish but have [not “hope” or “might” but “have”] eternal life” (John 3:15). 

Secured By An Eternal Covenant  ~  “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21). 

Saved With An Eternal Salvation  ~  “And having been perfected, He [Jesus Christ] became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9). 

Liberated By An Eternal Redemption  ~  “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His [Jesus Christ’s] own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12). 

We Have An Eternal House  ~  “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1). 

We Are Called To An Eternal Glory  ~  “May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.  To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.  Amen” (1 Peter 5:10-11).  

We Are Encouraged By Eternal Comfort  ~  “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17). 

Eternal blessings to be fully secured in the future…

We Are Kept For An Eternal Inheritance  ~  “For this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15). 

An Eternal Glory  ~  “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

We Shall Dwell In An Eternal Home  ~  Jesus said, “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home” (Luke 16:9).   

Abundant Entrance Into An Eternal Kingdom  ~  “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:10-11). 

Do you have eternal life?  Are you sure?  You can be absolutely confident! 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Eternal Life, 2

~ 10 Aspects of Eternal Life ~

God Is Its Source  ~  Jesus said, “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself” (John 5:26). 

The Risen Christ Is Its Channel  ~  “Who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life” (Hebrews 7:16). 

The Holy Spirit Is Its Power  ~  “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). 

Faith Is Its Receiver  ~  “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36). 

Fruit Is Its Evidence  ~  “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life” (Romans 6:22). 

Christ Himself Is Its Embodiment  ~  “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ.  This is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).

Glory Is Its Manifestation  ~  “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).   

Eternity Is Its Duration  ~  Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28). 

Union With Christ Is Its Meaning  ~  “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day’” (John 6:53-54). 

Its Secret Is Knowing God And Christ  ~  Jesus said, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). 

Do you have eternal life?  Are you sure?  You can be absolutely confident! 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Eternal Possessions

~  4 Present Eternal Possessions Of All Believers ~

God’s Everlasting Love  ~  “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you’” (Jeremiah 31:3).   

Everlasting Life  ~  Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life” (John 6:47).   

Everlasting Salvation  ~  “But Israel shall be saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation; you shall not be ashamed or disgraced forever and ever.  For thus says the Lord, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: ‘I am the Lord, and there is no other’” (Isaiah 45:17-18). 

Everlasting Strength  ~  “Trust in the Lord  forever, for in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:4).   

If the one is eternal, enduring forever, so are the others.  To limit one is weaken all. 

Do you have eternal life?  Are you sure?  You can be absolutely confident! 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW