Birth of Jesus Christ

Foretold Messiah 2 a Voice giving The Word to His servants

June 11, 2019Marcus Ampe13 Comments

In the previous chapter we have seen that already soon in history Jehovah God promised a solution against the curse of death.

Already in the first book of the Bible (third chapter) there is spoken of the “Seed of a woman” (virgin birth) what would become a reality many centuries later, God His saying or His Word becoming a reality, His Word becoming into the flesh, Jesus being that sent one from God, born in Bethlehem.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(John 1:1 NHEBJE)

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children.
(Galatians 4:4-5 NHEBJE)

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this; for after his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
(Matthew 1:18 NHEBJE)

Satan or the adversary of God going to be bruised by the one who would be born to help and even save the seed of Abraham.

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.”
(Genesis 3:15 NHEBJE)

Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For, truly, he did not come to help the angels, but to help the seed of Abraham. Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
(Hebrews 2:14-18 NHEBJE)

He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.
(1 John 3:8 NHEBJE)

Because of the many sins of all people it was necessary to reveal to the world who would be the one to follow and to have the relationship between God and man restored. Jehovah God declared Himself to be well-pleased with him.

A voice came out of the sky, “You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased.”
(Mark 1:11 NHEBJE)

Since the dove was a symbol of peace or freedom from judgment (Gen. 8:8-12) many people there around the river Jordan could see the Holy Spirit’s presence like a dove signifying that this man standing there (Jeshua or Jesus) would bring salvation to those who were willing to turn to him. The Voice of God authenticated Jesus by alluding to Psalm 2:7 and Isaiah 42:1.

I will tell of the decree. Jehovah said to me, “You are my son. Today I have become your father.
(Psalms 2:7 NHEBJE)

“Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delights?I have put my Spirit on him. He will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout, nor raise his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street. He won’t break a bruised reed. He won’t quench a dimly burning wick. He will faithfully bring justice. He will not fail nor be discouraged, until he has set justice in the earth, and for his law the coastlands will hope.” Thus says God Jehovah, he who created the heavens and stretched them out, he who spread out the earth and that which comes out of it, he who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk in it. “I, Jehovah, have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand, and will keep you, and make you a covenant for the people, as a light for the nations; to open the blind eyes, to bring the prisoners out of the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness out of the prison. “I am Jehovah. That is my name. I will not give my glory to another, nor my praise to engraved images. Behold, the former things have happened, and I declare new things. I tell you about them before they come up.”
(Isaiah 42:1-9 NHEBJE)

Jehovah could have made an end to Adam and Eve there in the Garden of Eden and/or could have created straight ahead new people who would be willing to be faithful to Him. Straight there in the Garden Jehovah God could have made an end to those sinful people and could have made and end to the punishment He had given to the first man. God is not such an unrighteous non-loving god He would have had so many people suffering, to come to earth in a later stadium (as so many believe God would have come to earth in the form or guise of Jesus) to fake His temptation (because God cannot be tempted) and to fake His death (because God can not die, Him being an immortal Eternal Spirit) and after such a theatre act, leaving the people still suffering for many centuries (like we still have to suffer). No, God wanted people to see His creation and His works, letting the world see that His creatures also could be clean of heart and spirit and that a man could be faithful to the Will of God. The world had to come to see that Jesus is that person of flesh and blood who is able to do the Will of God, and to live accordance His Will and regulations.

The other servant of God, king David, is the predecessor of Jesus. Out of his seed Jesus would be born. When David made his songs for His Most Beloved Master Creator he seemed to intended to speak of his own case and experience but the Holy Spirit led him to use language, which in its full meaning can be applied to none but the servant Jesus himself.

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you have prepared for me. You have not required burnt offering and sin offering. Then I said, “Behold, I have come. It is written about me in the book on the scroll. I delight to do your will, my God. Yes, your Law is within my heart.” I have proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great assembly. Behold, I will not seal my lips, Jehovah, you know. I have not hidden your righteousness within my heart. I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not concealed your loving kindness and your truth from the great assembly.
(Psalms 40:6-10 NHEBJE)

Jesus also did not pray to himself nor asked people to pray to him. Jesus taught people to pray to his heavenly Father, the Only One True God.

Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
(Matthew 6:10 NHEBJE)

He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and he knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
(Luke 22:41-42 NHEBJE)

Jesus was fully aware of his predestination and the task given to him by the Divine Creator. In the Old Writings, we shall see, the Most High gave His Word to mankind to come to see and hear His many servants, like Moses,Joshua, Samuel, Gad, Nathan, Jeremiah, Ezra, Nehemiah, David, Solomon, Isaiah Ezekiel, Daniel, Joel Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Malachi who would prepare the world for the one to come and to tell the people what they had to do to live according to the Will of God. They all prepared the way for the prophet who would further explain the Will of God and who would live according to that Will. Jesus was going to make all those previous teachings clearer to understand, for those who by that time still did not see what God wanted from them.

Heavens declare God, but not many people come to see it. The ancient prophets therefore told about the one servant who would be sent by God to declare the Good News.

But Jesus, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Many followed him; and he healed them all, and commanded them that they should not make him known: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen; my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit on him. And he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not strive, nor shout; neither will anyone hear his voice in the streets. He won’t break a bruised reed. And he won’t quench a smoking flax, until he leads justice to victory. And in his name, the nations will hope.”
(Matthew 12:15-21 NHEBJE)

He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the scroll, and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
(Luke 4:16-19 NHEBJE)

God is an immortal Singular Spirit Being, to Whom no man can do something, but Jesus being a mortal being is that one spoken about whose heel would be bruised with nails on the wooden stake. The world had to come to see that there was that man of flesh and blood, like all of us frail, apparently destructible or possible to be put to death, now becoming both a lamp and a reed, humble, but not to be broken, and the “light of the world“.

Being killed, God was going to take him out of the dead, so that the world would have a proof that man can step out of death. In case God would have come to the world and would have faked His death and having come out of the dead, we naturally would still have no proof at all that man can resurrect. Now with the resurrection of Jesus we should have no doubts at all. What God did with him He is willing to do with us also. That is one of His promises.

For those who would have doubts, Jesus after his resurrection showed himself, proving it was him, who is of flesh and blood and not a spirit like his heavenly Father is a Spirit.

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
(John 4:24 NHEBJE)

As they said these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be to you.” But they were terrified and filled with fear, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. He said to them, “Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.”
(Luke 24:36-39 NHEBJE)

They not only could see Jesus, they also could touch him and feel the wounds he had endured. In his resurrection we should have the hope for our resurrection and should have faith that Jesus is that sent one from God, who is the Way to God and for the whole world the light.

When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be to you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”
(John 20:19-21 NHEBJE)

Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
(John 8:12 NHEBJE)

We all should come to believe in him who is that sent one from God and the Messiah, the giver of life.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, God’s Son, he who comes into the world.”
(John 11:25-27 NHEBJE)

Preceding

A solution for a damaged relationship 3 Insight and prophesies given

Foretold Messiah 1 First mentioning

Out of the seed of Eve

First mention of a solution against death 4 A seed for mankind

First mention of a solution against death 5 Evil its law of death

First mention of a solution against death 6 Authority given to the send one from God coming out of the woman

First mention of a solution against death 7 Human sacrifice

Messianic prophesies 1 Adversary – Root of the first prophecy

Messianic prophesies 2 Adversary – Root of the first prophecy

Additional reading

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How Many Persons Created the Heavens and the Earth?

February 23, 2015Guestspeaker24 Comments

It is commonly believed that the One who speaks as the Creator of all things in Isaiah chapters 44 and 45 is the triune God consisting of three Persons. The language of Isaiah 44:24 cannot possibly be reconciled with the popular idea:

“Thus says the Lord (Yahweh) your Redeemer who formed you from the womb: ‘I am the Lord who made all things, who stretched out the heavens alone, who spread out the earth. Who was with me?’” (RV)

The implied answer is, of course, that no one was present with the one Lord in the act of creation. Yahweh stretched out the heavens alone. The Hebrew word rendered “alone” means “in a state of separation, by one’s self” (Brown, Driver and Briggs, Lexicon of the Old Testament, p. 94). No one assisted God, the Father at the creation. Moreover, the Creator is one Person, not three:

“Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us?” (Malachi 2:10).

Nowhere does the Old Testament speak of a Trinity of Persons in the Godhead.

Elsewhere in the Old Testament it is said:

“You, God, even You alone, You have made the heaven…the earth and all things” (2 Kings 19:15).

“You are the Lord, even You alone; You have made the heaven, the earth and all things” (Nehemia 9:6).

The Lord God is always distinguished from the promised Messiah. They are never said to be members of one Godhead.

English: a Venn diagram-like symbol for the Ch... — Venn diagram-like symbol for the Christian Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit) a so called monotheism but having a triune god (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This simple information should prevent us from ever believing that Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God, was present with the Father when the latter created the heavens and the earth. The idea that Jesus actually created the heavens and earth of Genesis 1:1 has been promoted by the Worldwide Church of God. Their teaching was that there are two members in the one “God-family.” Isaiah 44:24 (cited above) clearly states that ONE person alone created the heavens and the earth. Language has no way of expressing this more distinctly.

Trinitarians hold that the second member of the triune God was instrumental in the creation of Genesis 1:1. This, however, contradicts the statement that the one Creator was the Father (Malachi 2:10, cited above).

When Jesus came into being at his birth he enjoyed a unique communion with his Father. Thus he says,

“I am not alone, because the Father is with me” (John 16:32).

Jesus always speaks as a person distinct from his Father, exactly as every son is an individual separate from his father. The personal “I” of the New Testament never refers to the Father and Son together. So also in the Old Testament the personal “I” refers to one Person, not three.

Jesus prays that the disciples may be

“one even as we [the Father and I] are one” (John 17:11).

This is a unity of purpose and will. Jesus prays also:

“May they [the disciples] all be one as You, Father, are in me and I in You, so that they may also be in us” (John 17:21).

It is obvious from these texts that the Father and Son use the ordinary personal pronouns to distinguish themselves as any father and son would. It is thus beyond question that Jesus was not with the Father when the latter described His act of creation:

“Thus says the Lord [Yahweh], your Redeemer…I am the Lord who made all things, who stretched out the heavens by myself…Who was with me?” (Isaiah 44:24).

Jesus did not exist as a person when the Lord God created all things. God, the Father, was alone responsible for the creation of the universe. (The “us” of Genesis 1:26, in connection with the creation of man, probably refers to attendant angels, cp. Job 38:7.) Most believers in the Trinity no longer use Genesis 1:26 as a proof of the triune God.

Jesus came into being as the Son of God when Mary conceived him supernaturally. Luke is careful to tell us that it was because of the miraculous conception in Mary’s womb, not because of any so-called “eternal generation,” that Jesus was the Son of God:

“Holy Spirit will come upon you [Mary] and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, and for that reason the child conceived will be holy, the Son of God” (Luke 1:35).

If God, the Father (the Lord, Yahweh of the Old Testament) was alone the author of the creation, why does the belief that Jesus was an active agent in the creation persist?

The answer is that two creations have become confused in the minds of Bible readers. Jesus is indeed the mediator of the New Creation (Colossians 1:15-18). But he is not the creator of the universe. That creation is the work of the One God, the Father who acted alone when He stretched forth the heavens and the earth (Isaiah 44:24).

Unfortunately, one or two verses in the New Testament have been translated to give the impression that all things were made “by” Jesus. In fact the original states that all things were made “through” Jesus (see the margin of Colossians 1:16: “in him,” “through him” and “for him,” not “by him”).

Jesus was indeed the reason for God’s creation. The Father “foreknew” him from the beginning (1 Peter 1:20). In God’s great purpose Jesus was “slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). But he came into existence as the Son of God at his conception (Luke 1:35). There is no biblical text to support the idea that the Son of God was alive before his conception (though a few verses in John’s gospel have been used to support the idea).

When Jesus prayed to receive the glory which he had with the Father before the foundation of the world, he was asking for the glory which had been reserved for him and which he would receive after his resurrection (John 17:5). Peter speaks of an inheritance which is “reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4). That inheritance is, of course, the earth which Jesus has promised to the meek (Matthew 5:5) and which he will give them when he returns to establish the Kingdom of God. The same glory which was planned for Jesus from the beginning had also been given already (John 17:22) to the disciples, even those not yet born! (John 17:20). This glory is a glory which all disciples “have” even though they have not yet received it. Similarly Jesus “had” glory laid up for him with the Father long before his birth. In John 17 he prays to receive it.

Isaiah 44:24 should settle forever the question about who created the universe, and Hebrews 1:10 should be read with careful attention to the fact that the writer says he is speaking there of the inhabited earth to come (i.e., of the future):

“God did not subject to angels the world to come of which we are speaking” (Hebrews 2:5).

There is no contradiction between the two Testaments on this issue. Jesus will indeed be instrumental in laying the foundations of the coming new heavens and earth (Isiah 51:16). But the original creation is the work of the One God, the Father, alone (Isaiah 44:24).

Preceding articles:

The very very beginning 1 Creating Gods

Genesis 1:26 God said “Let us make”

Additional reading:

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For once, AmChurchSpeak makes an important point: Lent is a journey to Calvary… (denvercatholic.org)
For two weeks, the Letter to the Hebrews draws on images from the Old Testament to introduce us to that “great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God:” a mediator between God and humanity who “has been tempted as we are” and with whom we can “with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” [Heb 4: 14-16]. Here, the biblical author writes, we find that “great cloud of witnesses” in whose company we are enabled to “run with perseverance the race that is set before us” [Heb 12: 1] Here is “Mt. Zion … the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” to which we are brought through the mediation of Jesus, and where we join “innumerable angels in festive gathering” [Heb 12: 22].
The Liberation of the Triune God (derekzrishmawy.com)
One of the helpful emphases of the Reformed tradition is its acknowledgment of the continuity as well as discontinuity of Old and New Testaments. This comes through very strongly in Turretin’s Institutes and even makes an appearance in his doctrine of the Trinity. After a couple of clarifying questions, as well as a lengthy question devoted to proving the doctrine of the Trinity from New Testament Scripture, he moves on to try and demonstrate the revelation of the Trinity in the Old Testament. For while it is admittedly true that God reveals himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with greater clarity in New Testament, that does not at all mean that we cannot see him revealed as such in the Old as well.
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There are a number of features worth noting in this treatment. The first is Turretin’s view of the Angel of the LORD, or the Angel of YHWH. As he makes clear in a number of places, Turretin views this as an appearance of the pre-incarnate Son. It is an appearance in angelic/human form that is, nonetheless, distinct from his incarnation in that there is no hypostatic union, but only concrete manifestation. Still, this is a thesis that Christian theologians have long appealed to in order to explain the way the Angel is both identified as a distinct agent who nonetheless is identified as the LORD somehow.
Learn From Christ (birdchirp.wordpress.com)
To prove that He was the Son of God by turning stones to bread was not necessary for Jesus or for Satan. Satan already knows all about Jesus Christ.
The Beauty of John’s Prologue (christianity201.wordpress.com)
The first 18 verses of John’s gospel (commonly known as the Prologue) represent a literary masterpiece of inspired Scripture. On the one hand, John’s introduction is so simple a child can understand it, yet it is also so theologically deep, the most intellectual scholars could never mine every detail held within its verses.

There have been many debates regarding the structure of John’s prologue. The most convincing in my opinion is that the first 18 verses are a narrative which summarize not only the entirety of John’s gospel but make a broad sweep of salvation history. The prologue begins in eternity before creation, declaring that in the beginning the Word already existed. It proceeds through the creation (all things were made by Him) and He is the source of all life and light. Then John skips over the majority of Israel’s salvation history and shows that a final prophet, John the Baptist, came to testify to the light. This light is the revelation of God Himself. He came into the world and was rejected by the world. Yet, those who received Him became the sons of God.

The prologue finishes by showing the culmination of Israel’s salvation in Jesus. The law (which was itself a grace given to men) came through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Jesus has completely explained the Father. Jesus is the Father’s final word to man. – This culminates salvation history. So, we see that the prologue begins in eternity past and concludes with God’s final word of salvation and redemption.
The Day Son of God Jesus Preaches (brentkuhlman.wordpress.com)
Now is the perfect time for Jesus to flex His Son of God muscles. Pull out all His divine Son of God stops. Unload the whole enchilada of His almighty Son of God power to break the bonds of systemic oppression, bust Locusts and Wild Honey out of jail, overthrow the wicked Roman oppressors and establish a Son of God millennial utopian reign that would make all community organizers of the world jealous!
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You’re in charge of your own life. You’re in full control. The master of your universe.

That’s precisely why Son of God Jesus preaches. With Him the promised and long awaited kingdom of God has come! God reigns on the earth in Jesus. God is at hand! It’s Messiah Time! And it’s perfectly obvious then that you need a preacher – Against Your Wishes! Against Your Desires! Against Your Idolatry! Otherwise, … well, let’s just say it will all end hellaciously for you. You’d be held captive eternally – kept under lock and key — in Satan’s gloomy prison!
Names, Titles, and Characters of Jesus Christ (goodnewsnow.wordpress.com)
The Blue Letter Bible has published a page with information taken from the whole Bible about the God we worship, Jesus Christ. Seeing all the names, titles and other attributes with which he is labeled in both the Old and New Testaments and contemplating those titles and their meaning to me personally is a wonderful way to worship Him. Worshiping Him is what we are made for. Worshiping Him is what those who know Him will do for all eternity. These Name, Titles and Attributes allow practice in this life.

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	Essential Knowledge… on A solution for a damaged relat…
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	Essential Knowledge… on First mention of a solution ag…
	Essential Knowledge… on First mention of a solution ag…
	Should we really acc… on Are people allowed to have…
	Infant baptism versu… on A solution for a damaged relat…

Messiah For All

Presenting Jesus Christ our Saviour

Foretold Messiah 2 a Voice giving The Word to His servants

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How Many Persons Created the Heavens and the Earth?

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