John 10:36; Luke 22:70; Matthew 16:13-17 "Say ye of HIM, WHOM the FATHER has sanctified, and sent into the world, THOU blasphemes; because I said, I AM the SON of GOD ? . . . Then said they all, Art THOU then the SON of GOD ? And HE said unto them, Ye say that I AM. . . . When JESUS came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, HE asked HIS disciples, saying, WHOM do men say that I the SON of MAN am ? And they said, Some say that THOU art John the Baptist: some Elijah and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. HE said unto them, But WHOM say ye that I AM ? And Simon Peter answered and said, THOU art the CHRIST, the SON of the living GOD. And JESUS answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto thee, but MY FATHER which is in Heaven."
Throughout HIS public ministry, JESUS CHRIST made and authenticated two important and remarkable claims about HIMSELF. First, HE declared that HE was Israel's long-awaited MESSIAH ("CHRIST," "ANOINTED ONE"). This claim was carefully woven into the offers HE presented to Israel regarding the kingdom they had been promised throughout the Old Testament. When HE offered the nation of Israel the kingdom, HE was offering to them HIMSELF as their MESSIAH-KING (Matthew 4:17). However, they were hugely disappointed. The nation felt it needed a great warrior deliverer who would throw off the shackles of the Gentile nations, especially the one dominating them at that particular time: Rome. When this lowly Nazarene arrived, the nation reacted in nearly complete rejection (Matthew 12:14-45): There was no way such a peasant could possibly be the ONE WHO would "save HIS people" ! (Matthew 1:21). They failed to see that the real enemy of their soul (individually and collectively ) was not Rome but rather sin and ultimately Satan himself. The need for the DELIVERER went far beyond their mere temporal and present experience. The Jews believed their religious system, developed from an incorrect and perverted interpretation of the Scriptures, could address their sin problem through the attempt to keep strict religious rites and rituals.
CHRIST's first coming was as the SUBSTITUTE for sinners, making the sacrifice that satisfied GOD's wrath (1st.John 2:1-2). HE was the LAMB of GOD, taking away the sin of the world (John 1:29). HE came to die, to save sinners. HE came to buy us back from the slave market of sin. HE came to deliver those who by faith come to HIM for forgiveness.
The Second claim CHRIST made, and verified time and again, was that HE was and is GOD incarnate (in the flesh). From a purely human perspective this is impossible. How could CHRIST be GOD and human simultaneously ? While the first claim was difficult to believe, as we saw above, this assertion was even more problematic to accept for the Jew of that or any day. The fact that the Jews understood exactly what HE was claiming is clear (John 10:33). JESUS proved valid HIS claim through HIS miracles. Throughout the Gospels HE demonstrated HIS power, multiplying fish and bread for thousands (Matthew 14:19-21) and turning water to wine (John 2:7-9), proving HIS authority over creation. HIS power and command over the realm of the "supernatural" were clear as well - at HIS WORD of rebuke, demons were instantly cast out of people (Mark 1:21-28) !
Believers in the twenty-first century have become so accustomed to acknowledging the doctrine of CHRIST's deity that it is hard to understand how monumentally difficult this truth was for the first century Jews and Gentiles to embrace ! For the Jews, it was ingrained in them that GOD is not a man (Numbers 23:19) and that for a person to claim to be GOD was blasphemy. For Gentiles, they had accepted "gods" before in their myths and legends, some even believing in Caesar's deity, but recognizing that JESUS was the GOD was another matter. For all who know the LORD JESUS CHRIST as SAVIOR, the doctrine of HIS deity is one that provides us with great comfort and hope in this life (John 1:1-3; Colossians 2:9). The truth that the GOD of the universe would stoop to become a man is a verity that gives us great confidence in HIS promise and authority to save. GDF
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: The Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.feasite.org
Psalm 10:1-12 " Why stand THOU afar off, O LORD ? why hide THOU THYSELF in times of trouble ? The wicked in his pride does persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire, and blesses the covetous, whom the LORD abhors. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after GOD: GOD is not in all his thoughts. His ways are always grievous, THY judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffs at them. He has said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. He sits in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places does he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor. He lies in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lies in wait to catch the poor: he does catch the poor, when he draws him into his net. He crouches, and humbles himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones. He has said in his heart, GOD has forgotten: HE hides HIS face; HE will never see it. Arise, O LORD; O GOD, lift up THINE hand: forget not the humble."
How a person behaves is vitally connected to what a person believes. Many today believe the satanic lie of evolution, and this has affected human behavior in a major way. For example, leading Nazis and German biologists revealed in their writings that Darwin's theory had a major influence upon Nazi race policies. Although it is no easy task to assess the conflicting motives of Hitler and his supporters, Darwin-inspired eugenics clearly played a critical role. If the Nazi Party had fully embraced and consistently acted on the belief that all humans were descendants of Adam and Eve and equal before the CREATOR GOD, as taught in Scripture, the Holocaust never would have occurred. If a person believes he owes his existence to blind chance, then he can find no real purpose or meaning to his existence. Such a hopeless worldview often leads to lawless conduct since no accountability to a HIGHER BEING is conceded.
Before his death, convicted mass-murderer Jeffrey Dahmer stated the following on the NBC program Dateline (November 29, 1984): "If a person doesn't think that there is a GOD to be accountable to, then what's the point of trying to modify your behavior to keep it within acceptable ranges ? That's how I though anyway. I always believed the theory of evolution as truth, that we all just came from the slime. When we died, you know, that was it, there is nothing, and I've since come to believe that the LORD JESUS CHRIST is truly GOD, and I believe that I, as well as everyone else, will be accountable to HIM." Only a vibrant faith in GOD and HIS inerrant WORD can counter the godless philosophies of our age that so greatly affect the actions of the lost ! GWZ
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.feasite.org
Romans 10:8-17 "But what saith it ? The WORD is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the WORD of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD JESUS, and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation. For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believes on HIM shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same LORD over all is rich unto all that call upon HIM. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved. How then shall they call on HIM in WHOM they have not believed ? and how shall they believe in HIM of WHOM they have not heard ? and how shall they hear without a preacher ? And how shall they preach, except they be sent ? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things ! But they have not all obeyed the Gospel. For Esaias said, LORD, who hath believed our report ? So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the WORD of GOD."
John Paton served the LORD for thirty years seeking to reach South Sea cannibals with the good news of CHRIST. One of his tasks was to translate the Bible into their language.Among his greatest difficulties was trying to find the equivalent for the word faith. His discovery of the right term is fascinating: "One day I was in the mission house anxiously pondering. I sat on an ordinary kitchen chair, my feet resting on the floor. An intelligent native woman entered the room, and the thought flashed through my mind to ask the all-absorbing question once again, in a new light. Was I not resting on the chair ? Would that attitude lend itself to the discovery ? I said, ' What am I doing now? ' Koikai ana, Misi. [You're sitting down, Missi.] ' Then I drew up my feet and placed them on the rung of the chair. Leaning back in an attitude of repose, I asked, 'What am I doing now ? ' ' Fakarongrongo, misi. [You are leaning wholly, Missi. You have lifted yourself from every other support.] ' ' That's it ! ' I shouted exultantly. A sense of holy joy awed me as I realized that my prayer had been answered. To lean on JESUS wholly and only is surely the true meaning of saving faith. And now ' Fakarongrongo JESU ea anea mouri [leaning on JESUS unto eternal life] ' is the happy experience of all who cast themselves unreservedly on the SAVIOR of the world for Salvation. "
May we lean fully upon HIM, resting all of our weight on the person [WHO HE is] and work [what HE has done] and WORD [what HE has said] of JESUS CHRIST. HE will save to the uttermost all those who cast themselves upon HIM and upon HIM alone ! " He that believes on ME hath everlasting life " (John 6:47). GWZ
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.feasite.org
1st.Kings 15:9-14; 22:41-43 "And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah. And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father. And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his father had made. And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron. But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days. . . . And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places."
Twenty kings reigned over Israel (the Northern Kingdom), and they all did evil in GOD's sight. Twenty monarchs, including wicked Queen Athaliah, ruled over Judah (the Southern Kingdom); of these, twelve did evil while eight did what was right before GOD. As we ponder the history of these good kings, we keep reading a sad refrain: "He did what was right; nevertheless the high places were not removed." We see this compromise in the inspired record of the following kings: Asa (15:11, 14), Jehoshaphat (22:43), Joash (2nd.Kings 12:2-3), Amaziah (2nd.Kings 14:3-4), Uzziah or Azariah (2nd.Kings 15:3-4), and Jotham (2nd.Kings 15:34-35). Finally, Hezekiah broke the pattern and removed the high places (2nd.Kings 21:1-3). Young Josiah destroyed the high places so totally that the four wicked kings that followed him did not try to rebuild them (2nd.Kings 23). So, only two of the eight good kings removed the high places.
Are there any idols in your life that need to be destroyed (1st.John 5:21) ? Is there something sinful in your life that you are tolerating and not dealing with ? Is there any area of your life where you are not allowing the LORD to be on the throne ? Are you giving the LORD full access and full control over every room in the house of your soul ? Do you have a room in which you have erected some high place or some idol ? Have you allowed this substitute for GOD to stand in a place that should be reserved only for the LORD ? At CHRIST's judgment seat, will the LORD say these words about you: "He did right in many ways; nevertheless the high places were not removed " ? GWZ
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.feasite.org
Mark 10:17-22 " And when HE was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to HIM, and asked HIM, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life ? And JESUS said unto him, Why callest thou ME good ? there is none good but ONE, that is, GOD. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor thy father and mother.
And he answered and said unto HIM, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then JESUS beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shall have treasure in Heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow ME. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. "
Today's text is the account of the rich young ruler who accosted JESUS with a penetrating question of eternal import but with a form of address that fell short of CHRIST's person - "Good Master (Teacher)" (v.17). Our LORD answered the question but posed a pertinent question of HIS OWN as a preface to HIS response: "Why callest thou ME good ? there is none good but . . . GOD" (v.18). In other words, "If you believe ME to be nothing but a human teacher, why call ME 'good' since there is none good by GOD ?" These words of JESUS were not a denial of HIS deity but an affirmation of it (John 10:30; 14:9) and an appeal to this man to acknowledge that truth (Romans 10:9-10). The LORD challenged the inquirer's faulty perception of "good" and pointed to GOD alone as the true source and standard of goodness. The questioner needed to see himself in the context of GOD's perfect character and to come to HIM in repentance. Sadly, he later abandoned the word good and simply called JESUS "teacher" (v.20), casting off any concept of JESUS CHRIST as GOD - a rejection that was fatal to the soul.
Goodness belongs to GOD alone (Romans 3:12), and the reason that JESUS was truly good is that HE was, and is, truly GOD. Every individual on earth is born of Adam's seed and nature (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:3); the LORD JESUS CHRIST, however, was conceived of the HOLY SPIRIT (Luke 1:30-35; Matthew 1:18) and born of a woman who had not known a man (Matthew 1:21-23). Herein lies the tremendous and vital importance of the truth and doctrine of the virgin birth of our LORD. If JESUS CHRIST is not GOD, come in human, sinless flesh, then we have no SAVIOR. Praise the LORD - HE is, and we do ! JED
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.feasite.org
" Then said JESUS unto them, When ye have lifted up the SON of MAN, then shall ye know that I AM HE, and that I do nothing of MYSELF; but as MY FATHER hath taught ME, I speak these things. And HE that sent ME is with ME: the FATHER hath not left ME alone; for I do always those things that please HIM. As HE spake these words, many believed on HIM. Then said JESUS to those Jews which believed on HIM, If ye continue in MY WORD, then are ye MY disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered HIM, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest THOU, Ye shall be made free ? JESUS answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abides not in the house forever: but the SON abides ever. If the SON therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. " John 8:28-36
As a believer in the LORD JESUS CHRIST and based upon the clear and immutable facts of GOD's WORD, I declare myself to be "free indeed" (v.36) My liberty is seen in three realms: First, concerning the god of this age, to whom I once belonged, I have been "delivered . . . from the power of darkness" and have been "translated . . . into the kingdom" of GOD's beloved SON (Col.1:13), turned "from the power of Satan unto GOD" (Acts 26:18). Second, concerning my relationship to this world system, my SAVIOR gave HIMSELF for me that HE might deliver and rescue me "from this present evil world (age), according to the will of GOD" my FATHER (Gal.1:4). I boast in the cross of CHRIST, by WHOM the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Third, concerning the terrible slavery of sin, the Scriptures declare that though I once was the slave of sin, I am now the slave of GOD (Rom.6:17-22), and "the law of the SPIRIT of life in CHRIST JESUS [has] made me free from the law of sin and death" (Rom.8:2). the source of my liberty is found in the cross of my LORD JESUS CHRIST in which I truly boast (Gal.6:14). The cross is my Statue of Liberty. It was there that my soul was set free. In CHRIST's death I died, and in CHRIST's life I now live (Rom.6:4).
Based on the unchanging truth of GOD's WORD, I joyfully declare myself to be "dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto GOD through JESUS CHRIST our LORD" (Rom.6:11). I am not free to live as I please or do whatever I want. Rather, I am free to faithfully serve and fully depend upon the LORD JESUS CHRIST and to do as HE pleases, living unto the ONE WHO suffered, died, and rose again for me (2nd.Cor.5:15; Gal.2:20).
" This I say then, Walk in the SPIRIT, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the SPIRIT, and the SPIRIT against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the SPIRIT, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, sedition's, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of GOD. But the fruit of the SPIRIT is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are CHRIST's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the SPIRIT, let us also walk in the SPIRIT. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. " Galatians 5:16-26
Again, as a believer in the LORD JESUS CHRIST and based on the facts of GOD's WORD, I declare myself to be "free indeed" (John 8:36). My Declaration was not written by men but by the living GOD. It was not signed by men; it was signed by the LORD HIMSELF and sealed with the blood of CHRIST. GOD has declared me to be truly free, and I am to "stand fast" in the liberty wherewith CHRIST has made me free (Gal.5:1).
My Declaration is not a Declaration of Independence but rather a Declaration of Dependence. I declare myself to be totally dependent upon my GOD. Of myself I cannot keep the Law. I cannot measure up to the LORD's righteous standards. "How to perform that which is good I find not" (Rom.7:18). The more I try in and of myself, the more I seem to fail, "for the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do" (Rom.7:19). I thus acknowledge that JESUS CHRIST is my only deliverance from my wretched self (Rom. 7:24-25). The LORD JESUS CHRIST is my VINE (John 15). HE is my life source. Apart from HIM I can do nothing because HE is my life (Col.3:3-4). Like David of old, I can declare, "The battle is the LORD's" (1st.Sam.17:47) ! HE shall fight for me. My life is the LORD's ! HE shall live in me. Along with the Apostle Paul, I can proclaim, "CHRIST lives in me" (Gal.2:20) and, "For to me to live is CHRIST" (Phil.1:21). I cannot, but HE can. Whenever I try I fail, but whenever I trust HE always succeeds without fail. Thus, with a firm reliance upon my ALMIGHTY GOD I will claim the victory, which HE won and which HE graciously gives to me: "But thanks be to GOD, which gives us the victory through our LORD JESUS CHRIST" (1st.Cor.15:57). GWZ
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.feasite.org
