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Tag: Jesus

Advent 2 of Christmas Evangelicalism
Advent

‘Advent of what’ we ask?
a Nativity Scene on the mantle for Advent and our annual Christmas feast?

A COVID Christmas – Shall we take Jesus out of the box includes history of Christmas in the U.S. December 1, 2020 C.E.
“Before what?”

Last time in our ADVENT 1 post from this 2024 Common Era series, we asked:

Can we comprehend a time Before the first Christmas?

The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

Genesis 6:11-12 KJV

Command of the LORD & promise of a Covenant

“But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark.. Genesis 6

“I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.” – Genesis 9

READ MORE about God’s covenant with Noah

IMAGINE the historical NOAH preaching to a corrupt church about this ADVENT of the Last Days when JESUS will return to judge creation with fire and fellow sinners sitting right beside you at this year’s Christmas program.

The chosen Before Christ

A PERSONAL interaction between the Creator and Living God of timeless eternity and a created son of Adam and NOAH.

Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who died? and the prophets died; whom dost thou make thyself?’

Jesus said to them,

‘Verily, verily, I say to you, Before Abraham’s coming — I am;’

excerpt from Gospel of John 8: Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)

AFTER this unique time of ABRAHAM Before Christ,
- Judah (and Israel) had yet to be conquered, named, lost, regained and renamed over centuries of the chosen sons of Abraham.
Chosen for Covenant and Curse
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FROM the LAW of Moses 
for the generations of the LORD's chosen; 
administered by Levite priests (sons of Jacob, Isaac and Abraham:
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Additional Blessings of Obedience
- “You must not make idols for yourselves..
- You must keep My Sabbaths
- and have reverence for My sanctuary. I am the LORD.
- .. and I will establish My covenant with you.
How are you doing with your obedience:
- youthful christian Swifty?
- Sunday morning NFL evangelist?
- Latte listeners of amplified praise?
Punishments for Disobedience

If, however, you fail to obey Me and to carry out all these commandments, and if you reject My statutes, despise My ordinances, and neglect to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant, then this is what I will do to you: … Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one pursues you.

18 And if after all this you will not obey Me, I will proceed to punish you sevenfold for your sins. 19 I will break down your stubborn pride…

And YES,

(You know some of the long history of God’s chosen)

it gets worse from here even BEFORE Christ.

YET could the LORD’s prophesy apply even to US?

Our sin and disobedience continue into these Common Evangelical post-Christian times — (notably by some adopted in Christ Jesus).

The Advent of Defeat

You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them.

Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. “For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the LORD will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly.

Deuteronomy 7:2b-4 NKJV
- But if your heart turns away and you do not listen.. – Deuteronomy 30:17a
- Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” – Joshua 24:22
Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. Nevertheless I will not do it in your days, for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of the hand of your son. – 1 Kings 11:11-12 NKJV

King Solomon (the Preacher) & Sin

But King Solomon loved many foreign women.. from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love.

.. his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.

א מְלָכִיםא (1 Kings) 11:1-3 excerpt

All this took place a millennium BEFORE the Common Era centered around the very incarnation of JESUS CHRIST.

Failed Kings Before Christ

Saul, as most of us know, failed in disobedience to the Lord’s word through His Prophet Samuel.

Even David was a failed king, but he repented of his sin before the Lord and publically in sight of Israel.

To name just one king of Israel or Judah who did evil in the sight of the Lord, Ahab (and Jezebel) come to mind due to their zeal to destroy God’s Prophet Elijah.

Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him.

Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.

1 Kings 16:30,32 NKJV

So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.
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READ the compelling contest for your own clarity of faith.
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And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions?
If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.”

But the people answered him not a word.
1 Kings 18:21

Advent of a Common Era

“How long will you falter between two opinions, twenty-first century C.E. christian?
Roger@TalkofJesus.com

In this traditional Advent season of these last days we anticipate more than simply celebrating Christmas in the year of our Lord (A.D.) 2024.

For the similarities of centuries of evil times Before Christ bring to mind our own disobedience to God’s will.

Our incarnate redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man: And NOW celebrate Him in a manger, though our Savior was sacrificed on a Cross for repentant sinners – sinners who love babies and good gifts, even while we fear DEATH and judgment.

SO what does Advent mean to YOU? And how will YOU evangelize Christ our Lord in these brief days before our ever-popular CHRISTmas celebration?

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Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
December 11, 2024
Before Christmas Evangelicalism Advent 1
Before Christ

Have you ever thought of the meaning of it?

Can we comprehend a time Before the first Christmas?

Before Creation

And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

Genesis (Beginning) 2:5 KJV ..in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,

Here witness a time before Adam, before an incarnational Birth of the Christ, yet not Before Jesus the eternal Son of the One Triune God.

Before Re-Creation
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Note that I did not say 'recreation' as we often view these days of the pre-christmas season. 

The Bible points to a renewal of a corrupted creation we noted in the beginning - a creation corrupted by SIN.  
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The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

Genesis 6:11-12 KJV

Have you considered that in the time of Noah and Before Christ

GOD cleansed the earth of all but eight?

ONLY Noah and his wife, along with their three sons and their wives, were chosen to be SAVED from the destruction to come.

The DOOR to salvation on Noah’s ark would not have been open to you. Yet God may have brought you to the Door of Christ Jesus in these last days.

Roger@TalkofJesus.com

Before and After

Before, of course, can mean ‘face to face.’

Then the LORD said to Noah,

“Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation.

Genesis 7:1 ESV פָּנִים

We ought not speak of BEFORE without considering the consequent AFTER.

In the context of TIME, and even before time, what comes after or NEXT typically follows before. We speak of consequence or result of what has come before.

Before I was afflicted I went astray:

but now have I kept thy word.

Psalm 119:67 KJV
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And unique events such as the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ still reflect a TIME before AND (except for the end of days) a TIME after. 
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.. the sun stood still, and the moon stayed..

And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.

Joshua 10: [12-15 context NKJV]

Before our fathers or families

It’s right there from the beginning:

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Genesis 2:24 NKJV

Do you know this one?

אֲנִי הִנֵּה בְרִיתִי אִתָּךְ וְהָיִיתָ לְאַב הֲמֹון גֹּויִם׃

“As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.

“No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.

וְלֹא־יִקָּרֵא עֹוד אֶת־שִׁמְךָ אַבְרָם וְהָיָה שִׁמְךָ אַבְרָהָם כִּי אַב־הֲמֹון גֹּויִם נְתַתִּיךָ׃

בְּרֵאשִׁית (Genesis) 17:14-15 WLC & NKJV

This PERSONAL interaction between the Creator and Living God of timeless eternity and a created son of Adam and Noah wandering through lands of other kings and princes clearly points to a unique time BEFORE CHRIST was born as a Son of Man in a manger in Bethlehem of Judea.

AFTER this unique time Before Christ, Judah (and Israel) had yet to be conquered, named, lost, regained and renamed over centuries of the sons of Abraham.

The chosen Before Christ

For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

Deuteronomy 7:6 KJV
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But I'm getting ahead of myself. 
We'll take a look at Moses and the Law later in this Advent series, God-willing. - RH)
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Jesus Christ, the grown Son of Man born of Mary and Son of God conceived by the Holy Spirit said this to well-schooled leaders of the Jews.

Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who died? and the prophets died; whom dost thou make thyself?’

..it is my Father who is glorifying me, of whom ye say that He is your God..

Abraham, your father, was glad that he might see my day; and he saw, and did rejoice.’

The Jews, therefore, said unto him, ‘Thou art not yet fifty years old, and Abraham hast thou seen?’

Jesus said to them,

‘Verily, verily, I say to you, Before Abraham’s coming — I am;’

excerpt from Gospel of John 8: Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)

Have you ever thought of JESUS’ testament here in terms of ‘Before Christ?‘

The CHILD of MARY in a manger in Bethlehem of Judea IS the Christ, the Messiah of Israel and Savior of souls! Yet even BEFORE these pivotal historic events in the history of mankind, JESUS IS the Son of God — even as HE IS now and forever..

I am the door, through me if any one may come in, he shall be saved, and he shall come in, and go out, and find pasture.
Gospel of John 10:9 YLT – Invitation of Jesus Christ to any who would follow Him

The Lamb of God in a manger

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Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
December 4, 2024
Jesus Christ Lord – 3 Christ of the Christian Church
Christians of the early Church proclaimed Jesus Christ Lord confessing, “JESUS is Lord.”
- What is your relationship to the Son of God and Son of Man?
Jesus Christ IS Lord – 1

Part 1 UPDATED 25 September 2024 CE

So far, we have been reminded that GOD is One – that is: Father, Son and Holy Spirit – Eternal (before all time and and after all time ceases to exist) – separated from His creation (including creatures), that is: Holy.

Previously I pointed out thoughtful teaching QUESTIONS about GOD from the Westminster Shorter Catechism.

Roles and Relationships of JESUS

In Part 2 we read about Jesus Christ from the Nicene Creed.

Jesus Christ 2 the Person and His Roles

“.. of one substance with the Father,..”

JESUS relates to mankind in roles summarized as King, Prophet and Priest; but none is more foundational than Christ of God.

Roger@TalkofJesus.com

the Trinity of the LORD

Church and Biblical teaching are both clear and mysterious in describing GOD’s ROLES of relationship within HIMSELF, that is:
- FATHER to the SON
- SON to the SPIRIT
- Holy Spirit
  - to the Father
  - and to the Son
Some Christians know and experience a personal relationship to THE ONE GOD. The HOLY SPIRIT speaks to the heart [spirit ] of a uniquely created man or woman, a mortal made of flesh and blood.

Church Doctrine (teaching)

Christian Teachings of the Church from Scripture

In Part 3 of this doctrinal post about the one LORD JESUS CHRIST we will look at scriptural teaching concerning CHRIST from historic catechisms of the Church AND most foundationally, from God’s word in the BIBLE.

Catechisms provide studied ANSWERS to student QUESTIONS

Every Christian has QUESTIONS about the Lord God and about JESUS (who IS God).
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Like ANY learning, the Questions and Answers of a catechism we study and memorize as students seeking a deeper understanding of God.
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Doctrine-based QUESTIONS of Christology
- 21. Who is the redeemer of God’s elect?
  - The only redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever.
- 23. What offices doth Christ execute as our redeemer?
  - Christ, as our redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in His estate of humiliation and exaltation.
- *24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?
  - *
- *25. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?
  - *
- *26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king?
  - *READ the Westminster Catechism [A.D. 1647] for ANSWERS to these and more Questions about God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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If you also wonder about the Holy Spirit, time does not allow further study today.
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What does the Church teach? (Church Doctrine)

Today we’ll study the roles of JESUS’ personal relationship with YOU, with me and with all followers of the Lord.
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Let's begin with a review from the NICENE CREED with its EARLY UNIVERSAL (Catholic) agreement as to the Person and Roles of Christ and God.
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THE CREED OF NICAEA – AGREED AT THE COUNCIL IN 325
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Until the early 20th century, it was universally assumed that the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed (the more accurate term) was an enlarged version of the Creed of Nicaea, which was promulgated at the Council of Nicaea (325). It was further assumed that this enlargement had been carried out at the Council of Constantinople (381) with the object of bringing the Creed of Nicaea up to date in regard to heresies about the Incarnation and the Holy Spirit that had arisen since the Council of Nicaea. - source: Britannica
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JESUS

Who because of us men and because of our salvation came down,

and became incarnate

and became man,

and suffered,

and rose again on the third day,

and ascended to the heavens,

and will come to judge the living and dead,

And in the Holy Spirit.

Nicene Creed, a Christian statement of faith that is the only ecumenical creed because it is accepted as authoritative by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and major Protestant churches. -Britannica

Offices, Titles, Roles and Relationships of JESUS
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As is my practice, linked DEFINITIONS to clarify.
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Christ our Redeemer

“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,

And [after] the last He will rise up over the dust of this world.

Job 19:25 LSB

Redeemer is a specifically Scriptural reference to a person acting to save a person or people from the hold, control or responsibility of another.

The Prophet Isaiah points forward to the Holy One of Israel as the redeemer of Israel for the chosen ones of God.

Lord – κύριος

Jesus asked them, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?”

He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:

‘The LORD said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’ ?

Gospel of Matthew 22:41-46 excerpt New King James Version
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22:45  εἰ οὖν Δαβὶδ καλεῖ αὐτὸν κύριον πῶς υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἐστιν 

Since David called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?” - NLT
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Offices of our Redeemer
- the office of a prophet
- the office of a priest
- the office of a king
Prophet –from נָבָא (H5012) – נָבִיא

Then the LORD came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward. Then He said,

“Hear now My words:
If there is a prophet among you,
I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision;
I speak to him in a dream.

Numbers 12:5 NKJV
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New Testament use of prophet from the Greek:
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προφήτης – Strong’s G4396 – prophētēs

“But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.

Gospel of Matthew 11:9 NKJV [7-15 in contest] JESUS, speaking of John, even comparing John to Elijah and citing Scripture from O.T. Prophets.
- What does the BIBLE teach us about this office of JESUS?
Resurrection Before Jesus

And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying,

That a great prophet G4396 is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

Gospel of Luke 7:16 KJV [vs 11-17 in context] when JESUS raised a boy to life from his funeral casket

Priest – kōhēn – כֹּהֵן

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest H3548 of the most high God.

Genesis 14:18 KJV (first reference to the office of priest in the Bible)

priest,
principal officer or chief ruler
priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah)
[6 more]
Active participle of כָּהַן (H3547)
Lexicon :: Strong’s H3548 – kōhēn

The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest H3548 for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Psalm 110:4

לְדָוִד מִזְמוֹר נְאֻם יְהוָה לַאדֹנִי שֵׁב לִימִינִי עַד־אָשִׁית אֹיְבֶיךָ הֲדֹם לְרַגְלֶיךָ׃
1. priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah)
2. pagan priests
3. priests of Jehovah
4. Levitical priests
5. Zadokite priests
6. Aaronic priests
7. the high priest
Priest – ἱερεύς

just as He says also in another passage,

“YOU ARE A PRIEST G2409 FOREVER

ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”

Hebrews 5:7 LSB

High Priest or Chief Priest – ἀρχιερεύς – archiereus

Now the main point in what is being said is this: we have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the holy places and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.

Hebrews 8:1-2 LSB

King

.. for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.

Malachi 1:14b KJV

king – meleḵ – מֶלֶךְ

occurs 2,526 times in the Hebrew Bible

Israel follows YAWWEH as its King of kings and Lord of lords.

What other people have GOD as its King by their covenant with the LORD?

king – βασιλεύς – basileus
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Strong's Number G935 matches the Greek βασιλεύς (basileus),
which occurs 118 times in 107 verses in the TR Greek.
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And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING G935 OF THE JEWS.

Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John

Outline of Biblical Usage
1. leader of the people, prince, commander, lord of the land, king
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probably from G939 (through the notion of a foundation of power); a sovereign (abstractly, relatively, or figuratively):—king.
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JESUS showed POWER on earth, signs and miracles no created man could do except the expected Messiah of GOD !

The King, as Judeans had hoped, would be more powerful than Herod the Great (who rebuilt the Temple, a civil project still under construction under one of his sons (King Herod). Jerusalem and all the lands and their kings were subject to ROME and its Caesars.

“Hosanna,

Ὡσαννά εὐλογημένος ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἰσραήλ

hōsanna eulogeō ho basileus israēl

“.. Blessed [is] the King of Israel..

John 12:13c

Rome’s Governor Pilate would decide a pre-ordained mortal fate of this earthly KING Jesus, a man seemingly powerless as Jerusalem’s King Herod and his appointed priests of the Judean Temple.

The Apostles Peter and John also preached Christ crucified and risen with signs from God. ACTS 3-4

JESUS, according to God’s Word

HOW should we address JESUS?
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Wouldn't HOLY SCRIPTURE; written, God-breathed words of the BIBLE (faithfully translated); provide the best, true guidance of how Christian should proclaim JESUS?
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Consider how the New Testament speaks about Jesus - source
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- “Jesus” occurs 980 times in 940 verses in the LSB.
- 942 times in the KING JAMES VERSION
- 1000+ times in translations substituting ‘Jesus‘ for prepositions such as ‘He.’
- “Jesus” AND “prophet” occurs in 5 verses in ‘The Gospels” in the LSB.
  - and JESUS never uses it Himself as a title, only confirming this office.
- “Jesus” AND “priest” occurs 30 times in 14 verses in the LSB.
- He is never addressed as a ‘Priest,’ but the letter of HEBREWS and other Scripture makes clear that JESUS is both Priest and Sacrifice.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us take hold of our confession.

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things like we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 4:14-15 LSB
- “Jesus” AND “king” occurs 18 times in 8 verses in the LSB
- Jesus never refers to Himself as King yet acknowledges the recognition of Him by others.
So Jesus, knowing that they were going to come and take Him by force to make Him king G935, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.

Gospel of John 6:15 LSB – G035 – basileus

The Lord Christ Jesus

“Jesus” AND “Lord” occurs 379 times in 179 verses in the KJV
- The Twelve Apostles and others frequently address the man Jesus as, “Lord.”
- Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. – Matthew 20:30b
- When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. – Luke 5:8
And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

Gospel of Luke 24:23 KJV – the women at the tomb of Jesus on Resurrection Sunday

HE IS RISEN!

Jesus the Christ of GOD

“Christ” occurs 559 times in 522 verses in the KJV.
- The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. – Matthew 1:1
- And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. – Matthew 1:16
- And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. – Matthew 16:16
- For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. – Matthew 24:5
- Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. – Matthew 27:22
- Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, – Romans 1:1
- Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Corinthians 1:3 ESV
He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:8 Christian Standard Bible

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Acts of the Apostles 2:36 Legacy Standard Bible

‘.. what should we do?”

And Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized

in the name of Jesus Christ

for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts of the Apostles 2:38 LSB

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Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
September 30, 2024