Category: 4 Gospels + Good News of the NEW Testament
What are the Gospels?
FOUR Gospels:
GOOD NEWS! (That’s what Gospel means.)
Matthew, Mark, Luke & John begin the New Testament proclaiming the Good Newsof Israel’s long-awaited Messiah and talk of JESUS Christ.
The four Gospels are first hand witness + proclaiming GOOD NEWS
by two Jewish Apostles of the Messiah JESUS, Matthew & John
Two gentile(non-jewish) followers of THE WAY of Jesus Christ, Mark & Luke, who proclaim the GOSPEL recorded from witness of Peter, Paul and other Apostles and disciples of JESUS in the first century.
READ the Good News of the Messiah and Savior Jesus from accounts of His twelve Apostles & others witnessing the resurrection of the Lord Jesus from the four Gospels of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
SHARE the Gospel
with your Christian friends and those who do not yet believe in JESUS CHRIST.
Comment on a TalkofJESUS post and SHARE in your social media world.
And Moses called all Israel, and said to them: “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them.
We suppose here (though possibly not specifically in celebrating this Last Seder) that JESUS at various times during His three-year leading of the Apostles routinely recited Scripture from their Jewish Bible to these Jewish disciples of the Messiah.
Excerpts to Bible Translations linked below from: NASB; Somali Bible; Orthodox Jewish Bible;The Westminster Leningrad Codex
Now the Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt.. Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth of this month they are, each one, to take a lamb for themselves, according to the fathers’ households, a lamb for each household.. Your lamb shall be an unblemished male.. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month,
then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to slaughter it at twilight.
Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.
They shall eat the flesh that same night.. and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
Now you shall eat it in this way: with your garment belted around your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in a hurry—it is the Lord’s Passover.
For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and fatally strike all the firstborn…
The Lord’s Supper (Blood of a New Covenant)
and after he had given thanks he broke it and said,
the last disposition which one makes of his earthly possessions after his death, a testament or will
“This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to keep.”
And both the tabernacle and all the utensils of worship he likewise sprinkled with blood. Indeed according to the law almost everything was purified with blood, and
And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant H1285 which I have made with them.
Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever.
Amen.
Letter to the Hebrews of the Church, redeemed saints of the Messiah, 13:20-21 NASB20
4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem..
6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. And so the angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:
to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah [CHRIST], the Lord.
This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”
Jesus
After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Want to know more about the CHRIST of Christmas?
Just follow ANY secure link to the terms above from the Nativity story of the birth of Israel's Messiah, Jesus.
OR
Email Roger@TalkofJESUS.comand ask me ANY question about Jesus Christ, God or the Holy Bible.
WE, as Christians, tend to compartmentalize the tenants of our faith. FATHER, that is GOD of the Old Testament. And then the SON, Jesus born, crucified buried, resurrected in body and Spirit — walking around the earth for fifty days in the flesh — then rising into the clouds on Pentecost. Then finallythe HOLY SPIRIT sent to the Apostles of Jesus Christ to help them take the GOSPEL into all the world.
Is that about it?
Does this come close to your concept of the doctrine of TRINITY and timeline of Scripture?
If so, today I want to challenge and expand your compartmentalized view of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. For this deeper dive into Scripture we turn to the original Greek of the New Testament and the role of the Paraclete.
.. but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you..
And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were watching, and a cloud took Him up, out of their sight.
Source: This post quotes the teaching of R. C. Sproul extensively. Not enough can be said to credit this mentor to many for R.C.'s concise scriptural approach to logical conclusions concerning Christ Jesus. I will provide additional information and a link to R.C.'s lifelong ministry near the conclusion of this post.
With Glory to God and gratitude to R.C. Sproul.
Roger Harned
So what is the Paraclete?
FIRST: What the Paraclete is NOT.
As R.C. Sproul states, he is not the Holy Spirit. Since I have just taught on the Holy Spirit and Pentecost we will not spend much time here.
“We sometimes miss Pentecost by idolatry of its imagery. (The Holy Spirit is NOT a dove — it descended on men and women receiving it ‘like a dove.’) – Roger@talkofJesus.com
παράκλητος – Paraclete:
The KJV translates Strong’s G3875 in the following manner:
comforter (4x), advocate (1x).
summoned, called to one’s side, esp. called to one’s aid
par-ak’-lay-tos; an intercessor, consoler:—advocate, comforter.
You’ve probably heard all of these used for the Holy Spirit.
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon adds some additional insight:
παράκλητος, παρακλητου, ὁ (παρακαλέω), properly, summoned, called to one’s side, especially called to one’s aid; hence,
“one who pleads another’s cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant; an advocate”
Consider all of these definitions of the Paraclete.
Perhaps the Holy Spirit is a Paraclete, but not our only comforter, counselor, helper or advocate.
And in the Doctrine of Trinity we must allow for some ambiguity due to the One God being Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Christ the Paraclete
Rather than looking to the Acts of the Apostles at Pentecost as we often do, R.C. Sproul suggests that we look to the Gospels.
Consider the context of the words of Jesus Himself before His crucifixion, resurrection, the glory of Jesus rising into the clouds AND the Power given to the Apostles on Pentecost.
Our soft views of contemporary ‘Christianity’ diminish the role of the Hole Spirit, which is NOT a dove nor is it TONGUES of fire or the speaker of tongues. In like manner we also misunderstand the Paraclete.
Click on the link above to John 14:16 and find the source of our misunderstanding. Translations of the Greek [ἄλλον παράκλητον] allos paraklētos vary widely. For example: another Comforter, another Helper, another Counselor or another Advocate.
We cling to very different imagery of each of these descriptions of the same Greek word spoken by Jesus Christ.
“What kind of Paraclete?” Sproul addresses this in his teaching.
“I don’t like the term counselor here.. because it smacks too much of a mentor who gives us guidance, such as the guidance counselor in school.”
more than a ‘comforter‘
We all need comfort, don’t we? Certainly Jesus’ Disciples and the five hundred first century witnesses of the risen Lord all needed the power of some comforter in view of their persecution to come. Again, to quote Sproul:
“It’s certainly true that one of the things the Holy Spirit does in the life of people of God is to bring comfort. Jesus, in fulfilling the role of the original Paraclete, was also given the title.”
“.. another Paraclete..”
R.C. points out that ‘if we’re paying attention to what Jesus says here, he promises.. “another Paraclete.” An he asks, “Who was the Paraclete?”
Christ is the Paraclete, states Dr. Sproul; and allowing for the complete unity of Trinity, so is the Holy Spirit (as ‘another’ Paraclete).
Again quoting Sproul:
“.. but when Jesus said, ‘I’m going to sent another Paraclete,’ he was not saying, ‘I’m going to send somebody whose primary purpose will be to comfort you.’”
Christians would sure like that, wouldn’t we?Yet Jesus does promise us a Paraclete even better than this.
Advocate – Someone called along side
When I hear the word ‘advocate,’ I picture the T.V. courtroom scenes of Perry Mason.
He is the advocate every innocent defendant will want to stand with them to defend against charges brought before the court. (Perry Mason always wins.)
So I like the idea that Jesus will send us a powerful advocate.
Sproul breaks down the literal Greek to Latin translation:
Para – Along side & kletos, from the verb, kaleo, which means “to call.”
Literally, a paraclete or a parakletos was somebody who was called alongside.
R.C. Sproul in Holy Spirit, Counselor
Sproul points out the Greek word was used for an attorney. Furthermore, a family attorney. He will always be there to defend you.
Again, my Perry Mason imagery, “Counsel, approach the bench.”
Jesus sends this one called alongside believers to defend us. Christ comes beside every saint to defend every time. Sproul then takes us to a scene of Stephen inActs 7, defending him before the court of Heaven.
JUDGMENT!
Do you understand that God has appointed Christ to judge the earth?
from the teaching of R.C. Sproul
Now allow me to ask you this:
Who may stand in the Presence of God?
Only Christ Jesus!
He IS holy in a way equal to God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son is perfectly holy as no other man has ever been.
A courtroom scene of Judgment now gets even better than Perry Mason.
Picture this:
Look up to heaven. The courtroom door is opened by an official who summons you to come in. At the bench as Judge sits Jesus.
You’re more than a little afraid! The Apostle John probably describes the heavenly court best in Revelation saying,
“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last..”
‘the Judge is going to stand up from behind the bench, come around to the front, an be our defense attorney, our advocate. Isn’t it incredible that Christ will be our defender?
Christ who comes along side us
What every Christian knows is true differs from the T.V. courtroom scene. Yes, Perry Mason also wins the case; but his client is innocent. What we know for certain is that we are guilty!
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus..
Therefore, every creature in the image of God must have an Advocate to come alongside and Christ Jesus, who died for sinners, is the only One who can represent us, each mortal sinner made from dust into which God has breathed spirit.
‘and they worshipped Him.’
We’ve glanced at the scene of the Apostles looking up at Jesus as the Lord leaves them once more as Luke records in Acts 1. Yet as Sproul points out, back in Luke’s Gospel he adds an important detail.
50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.
And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.
Previously, back in Jerusalem He had said:
“These things I have spoken to you so that you will not be led into sin.. “But because I have said these things to you, grief has filled your heart. But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the [paraklētos] will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. – John 16:1,6-7
the Paraclete will convict the world
I would be remiss to close this case scheduled for the Highest Court with the Paraclete called to your side without presenting R.C.’s plea to the church concerning Judgment.
Sproul makes a case for the Holy Spirit you need to hear.
The Spirit will convince or convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of Judgment.
The Triune God, p.331
‘One of the things Jesus did was expose false theories of righteousness..’ ‘Perhaps what Jesus is saying is, “What I did in my earthly ministry, now the Spirit will do as my replacement –“
We have a choice, my fellow beloved sinner.Who will be your Paraclete at the last Judgment?Hear what the Spirit says to the churches. — Or not.
Are you completely convinced? OR
Will you be convicted along with the world (without Christ Jesus to represent you)?
Why are you a Christian?
In the year of our Lord 2021, the world continues to grow population currently about seven billion, nine hundred million people and increasingly continues in its sin. Yet in these last days Jesus Christ is mocked as He was on the Cross by a world embroiled in sin. Did you sign up for that?
Sproul asks: What brought you to repentance? He continues:
“In addition to the objective evidence of your sin, the Holy Spirit cut through all your deceitful barriers that kept you from coming to the cross of Christ..
And here R.C. adds a judicial foreshadowing of the heavenly court.
“.. throwing yourself at his mercy, and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’ God had to melt your heart.. and it was God the Holy Spirit who brought that inner conviction.”
the Courtroom of Heaven!
And He, when He comes, will convict the world regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgment: regarding sin, because they do not believe in Me..
Jesus Christ IS in heaven, seated at the right hand of the Father. A call will go out from the courtroom of heaven to all mortal flesh.
We cannot see this Highest Court.. And we will not get in until, like any other defendant, we are called.
the Paraclete of Pentecost
Christ Jesus is our Advocate! (Or He may be IF you will make Him your Lord.) Sproul concludes:
The Holy Spirit will not allow the world’s view of sin, righteousness, and judgment to prevail, because he’s the Spirit of truth, sent to the world by the Father and by the Son.
R.C. Sproul – Holy Spirit, Counselor
Heaven’s courtroom door is not the gate of Eden. And we are NOT called up to see heaven until our case comes up on the JUDGE’s docket.
But our time is near — Death! OR even The End of all earthly things…
What will you see when death’s door opens?
Who will you see when your NAME is called?
Will the Judge, seated behind the bench, STAND in your defense?
Roger, [or your Name] – ‘APPROACH THE BENCH’
R.C. Sproul(1939-2017)
With gratitude for his teaching of Scripture, I thank God for the source of most of the previous material, one of the Lord’s most faithful teaching mentors of many scriptural pastors, R. C. Sproul.
For more information and many doctrinally sound sermons and teaching please visit Dr. Sproul’s lifelong library at LIGONIER MINISTRIES.
