Later, the prophet Balaam would predict the Coming One’s appearance as still afar off but certain. “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel,” Numbers 24:17. The prediction of the forthcoming star by Balaam may have been witnessed by the wise men from the East. They asked, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him,” Matthew 2:2.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
The Everlasting Gospel, Part 3
God also revealed to Abraham an important lesson about sacrifice in his old age. When God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac on an altar, Isaac asked about the absence of the sacrificial lamb on their trek. Abraham replied, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering,” Genesis 22:8. And so He did: “…Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son (Isaac),” Genesis 22:13.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
The Everlasting Gospel, Part 2
Certain sites on the internet proclaim that there was no gospel prior to Jesus Christ crucified. While it is fine to pose such a question, to confirm this without searching diligently for the truth reveals a deliberate ignorance. To answer the question, we must look back to the beginning. The gospel was proclaimed in Eden as soon as mankind fell.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
The Everlasting Gospel, Part 1
It is the simplest message one can convey: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall live.” Or is it? The gospel of Jesus Christ has suffered many attempted revisions, amendments, and deletions, yet in its simplicity and purity it is a potent vehicle to reveal divine, inspired truth to fallen man. It is the only truth about God’s method of dealing with fallen man that there is.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Genesis Chapter Ten, Part 4
10:24 and Salah begat Eber
In the lost city of Ebla, a monumental archaeological find of the last century in northern Syria, discoveries have been made that seem to indicate the founder of the city was a man named “Ebrim,” a name that bears remarkable resemblance to the term “Hebrew,” or the name Eber. Tablets in Ebla also make mention of the five cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim, and Zoar; they even name them in biblical order and refer to them as “the cities of the plain.” Secular records confirm the historicity of these five cities that were destroyed by God for their wanton sin and sexual deviance.
In the lost city of Ebla, a monumental archaeological find of the last century in northern Syria, discoveries have been made that seem to indicate the founder of the city was a man named “Ebrim,” a name that bears remarkable resemblance to the term “Hebrew,” or the name Eber. Tablets in Ebla also make mention of the five cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim, and Zoar; they even name them in biblical order and refer to them as “the cities of the plain.” Secular records confirm the historicity of these five cities that were destroyed by God for their wanton sin and sexual deviance.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Genesis Chapter Ten, Part 3
10:9-10 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord…and the beginning of his kingdom was Babel…in the land of Shinar.
The phrase “mighty hunter before the Lord” essentially means “an arrogant hunter before the Lord.” He was defiant to God’s face. Note that verse 10 tells us that the BEGINNING of his kingdom was Babel. Nimrod would aptly be described by the prophet when he wrote, “He is a proud man, and he does not stay at home. Because he enlarges his desire as hell, and he is like death and cannot be satisfied, he gathers to himself all nations, and heaps up for himself all peoples,” Habakkuk 2:5.
The phrase “mighty hunter before the Lord” essentially means “an arrogant hunter before the Lord.” He was defiant to God’s face. Note that verse 10 tells us that the BEGINNING of his kingdom was Babel. Nimrod would aptly be described by the prophet when he wrote, “He is a proud man, and he does not stay at home. Because he enlarges his desire as hell, and he is like death and cannot be satisfied, he gathers to himself all nations, and heaps up for himself all peoples,” Habakkuk 2:5.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Genesis Chapter Ten, Part 2
10:1 Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah
The Hebrew word for “generations” is “toledoth,” and in the Greek is rendered “genesis;” hence the name of the first book of Moses. This word appears in our study of Genesis chapters 1-11 in 2:4, 5:1, 6:9, 10:1, and 11:10, 27. Some postulate that due to the numerous appearances of the word “toledoth” that Genesis was recorded by several authors who were present when the events recorded occurred. Yet Jesus may have inferred to Moses being the sole, inspired author of Genesis when He said, “Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the Sabbath day circumcise a man,” John 7:22. Circumcision, of course, was introduced during the covenant God made with Abraham in Genesis 17:10. Ultimately, this passage is revealing that through Noah (and his sons after him) all human life was perpetuated.
The Hebrew word for “generations” is “toledoth,” and in the Greek is rendered “genesis;” hence the name of the first book of Moses. This word appears in our study of Genesis chapters 1-11 in 2:4, 5:1, 6:9, 10:1, and 11:10, 27. Some postulate that due to the numerous appearances of the word “toledoth” that Genesis was recorded by several authors who were present when the events recorded occurred. Yet Jesus may have inferred to Moses being the sole, inspired author of Genesis when He said, “Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the Sabbath day circumcise a man,” John 7:22. Circumcision, of course, was introduced during the covenant God made with Abraham in Genesis 17:10. Ultimately, this passage is revealing that through Noah (and his sons after him) all human life was perpetuated.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Genesis Chapter Ten
Before beginning with Genesis 10 I would like to examine the prophet Habakkuk’s writing. Habakkuk, in case anyone does not know, wrote when the Chaldean (Babylonian) army was invading Judah. In the third chapter the prophet offers a prayer to God, and the Holy Spirit records his words for our mutual learning.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Simply Christian, Part 11
There is “another Jesus” and a “different gospel” according to Paul, 2nd Corinthians 11:4. It is ministered by false prophets whose gospel and power are provided by Satan, who himself can beguile people as an “angel of light,” 2nd Corinthians 11:13-14. Satan too can use power, signs, and LYING wonders to deceive, 2nd Thessalonians 2:9. This is one more of many reasons why sound doctrine is the foundation of Christian experience; a church that strays from this course is destined to inherit a false gospel and another Jesus whom Paul did not preach.
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