The Birth of the World’s Saviour, Jesus Christ
The 4 gospels are not just 4 different people’s accounts of Jesus’ life. They each portray Jesus in a different light. Matthew as a King, Mark as a Servant, Luke as a Man and John as the Son of God. Mark and John have nothing on his birth, but begin when he was 30 yrs. old. The Birth of Jesus Christ chronologically begins in Luke:
Luke 1:26-39 The Prophecy of Gabriel
26 Mary’s cousin Elisabeth 6 months pregnant with John the Baptist
27 Espoused—(Betrothed) contractually obligated Usually 10-12 months
28 The Angel came in to her physically, eiserchomai, not in a vision or a dream. Highly Favored—because of her obedience to God
29 Troubled & began to reason—When an angel appears, he doesn’t have a sign on his forehead saying, “Gabriel, the Angel of the Lord.” And he doesn’t have wings to give him away. Ha!
29 He didn’t tell her who he was—he appeared as any other man. (See Judges 6:17-22 Gideon)
30 Fear Not—favor or graciousness with God 2nd time he said it
31 3 things—conceive in womb, have a son and call his name Jesus.
32 “ “ He shall be Great(Megas), called the Son of the Highest, The throne of David
33 reign forever and no end to his kingdom
34 How? I’ve never had sex.
35–39 She went to see her cousin to confirm everything she had been told,
Matthew 1:18-25 The Conception
18 Now, the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: His mother was espoused to Joseph: legally committed to marry.
Before they had intercourse or consummated the marriage
she was found with child( at this point in time Mary must have told Joseph.)
19 Then, Joseph, when he found out was minded to put her away
Secretly or Divorce her; See De. 22:23
20 Then an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream
21 He shall save all people from their sins
22 Fulfilled Is. 7:14,15
23 Joseph took Mary to be his wife
24 But knew her not until after Jesus was born (Knew, had intercourse)
See Mt. 13:55 for his brothers and sisters
Then, we jump to Luke 2:1-17 In vs.12, 16 we have a babe, brephos, a newborn, that the shepherds found. Doesn’t say how many there were.
Now, back to Matthew 2:1-16 Now The Appearance of the Magi
( about 15 months or so after Jesus’ birth)
1 Wise men—Magos—-Oriental scientists thought to be from Persia
2 Where is he born King of the Jews?
See Is. 11:10; Dan. 2:48; 1:19,20
No one else in all Israel was looking for him. The last prophet before this was Malachi in 374 B.C. 400 years earlier. Daniel’s last record was 50 years earlier in 424 B.C.
The Magi had been waiting to see His star about 500 years.
7—Herod enquired of them diligently when the star first appeared
Vs. 8 young child—paidion, an infant around 15 months old, no longer a brephos.
11 They came into a house, oikia not a manger, phatne and worshipped him
12 They went home another way
13 Angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, again
14 Went to Egypt the next morning.
15 + 16 Herod killed all male children 2 yrs. and younger, approximating Jesus’ age from the time the wise men started their journey.
I hope you spend the rest of your Christ-mas holy day truly celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Make him the Lord of your life acc. to Romans 10:9 and search out those less fortunate than you are and help them in their time of need.
See Luke 4:18—–Preach the gospel to the poor, Heal the brokenhearted
Preach deliverance to the captives, restore the sight of the blind, set at liberty them that are bruised.
Blaspheme in Islam; Just what is it?
Muslims have accused some American filmmakers of blaspheme lately. Blaspheme seems to be an arbitrary thing to them. In footnote [1] of the NOBLE QUR’AN (v.2.22) it says that the greatest sin in consideration with Allah is setting up a rival to Allah. The Narrator Abdullah then asked the Prophet what was next. He said, “To kill your son lest he should share your food with you.” He then asked what was next and he said, “To commit illegal sexual intercourse with the wife of your neighbor.” Oddly enough “blaspheme” is not mentioned in the Qur’an, but if it was it would it not be logical for it to be acting contrary to one of these 3 sins?
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_and_blasphemy to see all the things that are considered blasphemous according to Sharia Law. There are way too many to begin to list here.
If Allah existed he would be on the same level as YHWH (who is The Holy Spirit) the God of Jews and Christians. If Muhammed were living he would be on the same plane as Jesus Christ. Even Muslims know and believe that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, but this fact still does not make Jesus Christ any different from the rest of the prophets. Somewhat illogical don’t you think?
In the Bible, blaspheme against “the Son of Man” who is Jesus Christ is a forgivable offense. Blaspheme against God, YHWH, who is The Holy Spirit is not forgivable.
Lk 12:10: And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. KJV
The Bible lays out a very clear distinction here between the Father and the Son. In our Christian world there are no penalties here and now for blaspheme. Our laws, based upon the Constitution have nothing comparable to Sharia Law. What we see in the above verse is that unforgivable blaspheme can only be committed against God.
If you look up blaspheme in regards to Islam you will see that there are many, many ways commit it, most of which concern Muhammed, who according to Muslims is no different or better than Jesus Christ. Yet it is blaspheme to convert from Islam to Christianity or even try to convert someone from Islam. Practicing yoga, drinking alcohol, being alone with the opposite sex who are not blood relatives are some examples.
Blasphemy against God
Islamic law makes a distinction between a blasphemer who insults God and a blasphemer who finds fault with Muhammad. The distinction is based on the notions of the “right of God” and the “right of Man.” Reviling God violates the “right of God,” who has the power to avenge the insult. Reviling Muhammad violates the “right of Man,” who, in the case of Muhammad, does not have the power to avenge the insult. A blasphemer who violates the “right of God” can seek forgiveness through repentance.[2] (This is not an option in Judeo-Christian beliefs).
The Qur’an speaks of punishment in relation to those who make mischief in opposition to God and Muhammad:
The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter;So, what is the Unforgivable Sin against The Holy Spirit, God? Can you see how much Grace we have in Christianity?
Is Your Faith based on “Another” Gospel?
When Paul spoke about another gospel he was speaking about anything other than his own gospel which he was preaching:
Gal 1:11-12
But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. KJV
Paul did not receive the revelation of Matthew, Mark Luke and John. He received the gospel of Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians. These epistles are in the exact same order in every Greek Manuscript.
Romans, Ephesians and Thessalonians are Doctrinal
Corinthians and Philippians are Reproof
Galatians and Colossians are Correctional.
The revelation Paul received from our Lord Jesus in these letters supersedes everything else, as these are written directly to the church of God which is the body of Christ. These represent the Sacred Secret that God kept from everyone until Paul.
To confirm that Jesus did not know about this secret, he told his disciples that some of them would not die until they saw him returning in the clouds. Yet, they all died. Jesus and the disciples believed that the Great Tribulation described in the book of Revelation and Daniel would begin immediately after his ascension. They all expected Jesus to return within 7 years.
But, God threw them all a curve ball for the sake of the Gentiles. Thank Him He did! We are now living in that time period, the Age of the Secret, the Administration of Grace. Essentially the book of Revelation has been held in abeyance for about 2,000 yrs now.
See Romans 2:16, 16:25; 2Ti 2:8 concerning Paul’s gospel. See also the word “doctrine” in 1st and 2nd Timothy. God bless!
A BETTER PLACE?
How many times have you heard “they are in a better place,” concerning someone who has recently died? It is spoken with sincerity the purpose of comforting a friend, relative or possibly even a surviving spouse. It sounds good, but if you really think about it what better place is there besides right beside the survivor? If there were a better place to be why wouldn’t we all be there?
I do not believe there is any better place to be than being alive. I know the Bible doesn’t teach anything contrary to this even though most Christians think it does. Muslims evidently believe there is a better place or so many wouldn’t be killing themselves to get there. No one is any good to God or to the false god Allah, dead. The Bible describes being dead as being asleep, but one of the differences between the two, since blood is no longer being pumped to the brain, there is no dreaming.
The Bible tells is in Ecclesiastes that there is no reasoning in the grave where we all go when we die; it goes on to say in 9:10 that there is no
- work–ma’aseh–action, doing or labor
- device–chesbown–reasoning, reckoning, intelligence
- knowledge–da’ath–perception, understanding, wisdom
- wisdom–chokma–shrewdness, prudence, skill
- no lovingkindness–goodness– will be displayed there Ps 88:11
- no giving of thanks, no memory Ps 6:5
Besides, if you could see there you wouldn’t be able to see anything because there is no light, just darkness. The grave is where every person who has ever died is today, with the exception of Jesus Christ. Even Jesus was in the grave for a full 72 hours before he saw the light of day. One of the reasons so many believe contrary to what I am showing you from the Bible is, when Jesus was dying on the stake he said to one near him that they would be with him in paradise. One misplaced comma (,) makes all the difference in the world. What Jesus really said, was “I say unto you today, thou shalt be with me in Paradise.”
What he didn’t say was “I say unto you, today thou shalt be with me in Paradise,” because Jesus didn’t go anywhere that day, but to the grave, where he stayed for 3 days and 3 nights! Paradise is always on the earth and nowhere above it. It does not even exist at the present time, but when it does come into existence that individual to whom Jesus spoke those words will be there with him.
There is no better place to be than right here with the ones who love you and the ones whom you love, contrary to popular belief. God bless,
Water Baptism is All Washed Up
The book of The Acts of the Apostles shows the transition from the Law of Moses to the grace of God in Christ Jesus. What we should see if we have not been spiritually blinded (a lot have been and cannot see it), is that John fulfilled the purpose of his ministry according to Acts 13:25. We are told by Jesus himself in 1:5 that in the future (which is now), believers would be baptized with holy spirit, not water.
In 18:25 a married couple who were believers, named Aquila and Priscilla, took aside another believer who spoke and taught the ways of the Lord Jesus fervently, but knew only of the baptism of John. It that these two expounded to him the way of God more perfectly.
in 19 the apostle Paul found a group of disciples who did not know anything about spirit baptism (which first occurred in 2:4). He asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit since they believed. They said they had not heard that there was any such thing. Paul then asked them “unto what then are you baptized?” They said, “John’s baptism.” Ac 19:4-7 goes on to say:
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.7 And all the men were about twelve. KJV
No one receives the gift of holy spirit which represents Christ in you with water baptism. This is why I say, “it is all washed up!” Our young supposedly “Pastors” are continuing in the same error that has been perpetrated by the church for centuries. This is the spirit of antichrist, to teach for faith and practice, that which is contrary to the revelation received by the apostle Paul from our Lord, Jesus Christ himself.
Paul told Timothy that many things like this would happen. I cannot believe that they who practice and teach such things do so knowing it is not the “way of God more perfectly.” 2Cor 4:4 says that many people are blind to the truth. I used to think that only applied to those who did not believe at all. Now, I know it applies to those who supposedly believe, as well.
Through the ages since Acts 2:4 cunningly devised fables have been handed down from generation to generation. These developed into “sophisms,” plausible, but fallacious arguments meant to render one wise in a sinister acceptation. They look good on the surface, but with a little digging you find they are completely erroneous. 2Ti 4:4 and 2Pe 1:16 speak of them.
I pray that all who practice false doctrine will soon see the error of their ways. It sickens me to see and hear of pastors touting the number of people they perpetrate this error upon. I heard one say recently that he was going for a Guinness Book of World Records for the number of water baptisms. People end up thinking they are saved, when they are not. What a rude awakening they may have after the Rapture, to see they are still here. It is a shame.
God bless,
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