Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Teaching Notes - Prophecies Fulfilled by יֵשׁוּעַ "Yeshua" - JESUS

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Teaching Notes - Prophecies Fulfilled by יֵשׁוּעַ "Yeshua" - JESUS

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Teaching Notes - Prophecies Fulfilled by יֵשׁוּעַ "Yeshua" - JESUS

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BIBLICAL PROPHECIES FULFILLED BY JESUS  [1]

Prophecy

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Introduction

The passion of Jesus Christ stands alone as the most important event creation has ever known. The Bible tells us that long before the world began, God had planned that the crucifixion of Jesus would be the method and payment for sin – the only payment that would reconcile sinners to a holy and loving God.

1 Peter 1:19-20 – “He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose Him for this purpose long before the world began, but now in these final days, He was sent to the earth for all to see. And He did this for you.”
Down through history, God provided us a roadmap. He foretold various signs and conditions through His prophets. These prophets spoke of things that mankind should watch for so that the Messiah would be recognized and believed. These signs or prophecies were given to us in the Old Testament. The Old Testament is the part of the Bible written before Jesus was born. Its writings were completed in 450 B.C. The Old Testament, written hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, contains over 300 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled through His life, death and resurrection.
Mathematically speaking, the odds of anyone fulfilling this amount of prophecy are staggering. Mathematicians put it this way:

1 person fulfilling 8 prophecies: 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 1 person fulfilling 48 prophecies: 1 chance in 10 to the 157th power 1 person fulfilling 300+ prophecies: Only Jesus!

It is the magnificent detail of these prophecies that mark the Bible as the inspired Word of God. Only God could foreknow and accomplish all that was written about the Christ. This historical accuracy and reliability sets the Bible apart from any other book or record.

The New Testament was written after the death of Jesus Christ. Archeologists have found thousands of manuscripts of the New Testament. Some of these pieces of manuscript are dated less than 100 years after the original letters were written. In terms of historical reliability, the Bible is superior to any other ancient writings.

This is the miraculous and reliable record of the Word of God. God gave us these prophecies to build our faith and point the way to His Son. As 1 John 1:1-3 states:

“The One who existed from the beginning is the One we have heard and seen. We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands. He is Jesus Christ, the Word of Life. This One who is life from God was shown to us, and we have seen Him. And now we testify and announce to you that He is the One who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then He was shown to us. We are telling you about what we ourselves have actually seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.”

In this booklet, we will take a look at just a few of the prophecies concerning the life and passion of Jesus Christ. Our prayer is that your faith will be increased and your witness strengthened as you understand and are able to communicate more clearly that Jesus Christ is indeed the Lamb of God, slain before the foundation of the world. (See Revelation 13:8.) Our hope is that you will know beyond doubt that His death and resurrection are the sacrifice for our sins; and in His death, “He takes away not only our sins but the sins of all the world” (1 John 2:2).

A Word About God's Prophets

The prophets of God were often sent on dangerous missions. The prophets were to warn the people about God’s coming judgment against sin. They were sent to call the people back to God in repentance and to assure them of God’s continuing love and purpose for them.

PROPHECIES FULFILLED BY JESUS

 The Messiah Will Be Born In Bethlehem

Micah 5:2 – “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village in Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.”

ABOUT THE PROPHECY OF Micah

Micah was an eighth century B.C. prophet. He lived at the same time as the prophets Amos, Hosea and Isaiah.

The Book of Micah tells how the judgment of God will fall on Samaria and Jerusalem due to sin, and afterwards, God will give restoration.

Micah describes a wonderful future where the city of Bethlehem will give birth to a ruler greater than David. He also prophesies of a time when Jerusalem will become the religious center of the world.

THE FULLFILLMENT

Matthew 2:1-6 – “Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We have seen His star as it arose, and we have come to worship Him.’ Herod was deeply disturbed by their question, as was all of Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law. ‘Where did the prophets say the Messiah would be born?’ he asked them. ‘In Bethlehem,’ they said, ‘for this is what the prophet wrote: ‘O Bethlehem of Judah, you are not just a lowly village in Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”

Luke 2:4-5, 7, 15 – “And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was obviously pregnant by this time. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped Him snugly in strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn. When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, ‘Come on, let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’”

John 7:42 – “For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.”

The Messiah Will Be Born Of A Virgin

Isaiah 7:14 – “All right then, the Lord Himself will choose the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call Him Immanuel – ‘God is with us.’”
Isaiah 9:6-7 – “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on His shoulders. These will be His royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of His ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the Lord Almighty will guarantee this!”

ABOUT THE PROPHECY OF Isaiah

The prophet Isaiah lived in Jerusalem in the eighth century B.C. The book of Isaiah is one of the four major prophetic books in the Old Testament, along with Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel.
Chapter 7 of Isaiah was written about 735 B.C. King Ahaz was on the throne and Isaiah was sent with the message that God was sending Judah a sign – this sign would be a child called “God is with us.”

THE FULLFILLMENT

Matthew 1:20-23 – “As he considered this, he fell asleep, and an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. ‘Joseph, son of David,’ the angel said, ‘do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary. For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’ All of this happened to fulfill the Lord’s message through His prophet: ‘Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and He will be called Immanuel (meaning, God is with us).’”

The Messiah Will Be A Prophet Like Moses

Deuteronomy 18:15 – “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites, and you must listen to that prophet.”

About the Prophecy in Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 1:1a states: “This book records the words that Moses spoke to all the people of Israel while they were in the wilderness east of the Jordan River.” These words were written about 1260 B.C. Throughout the book of Deuteronomy, Moses talks to the people of Israel as they are about to enter the Promised Land. He reminds them of their covenant with God and their glorious future, if they obey Him.

THE FULLFILLMENT

John 7:40-42 – “When the crowds heard Him say this, some of them declared, ‘This man surely is the Prophet.’ Others said, ‘He is the Messiah.’ Still others said, ‘But He can’t be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee? For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.’”

Acts 3:20-23 – “Then wonderful times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and He will send Jesus your Messiah to you again. For He must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through His prophets. Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up a Prophet like me from among your own people. Listen carefully to everything He tells you.’ Then Moses said, ‘Anyone who will not listen to that Prophet will be cut off from God’s people and utterly destroyed.’”

The Messiah Will Be Tempted By Satan

Psalm 91:10-12 – “No evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling. For He orders His angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.”

ABOUT THE PROPHECY OF The Psalms

The Psalms are a collection of the hymns of ancient Israel. Scholars divide them into five groups:
Hymns in praise of God’s glory
Community lamentations
Royal hymns for special occasions
Individual prayers
Individual praise and thanksgiving
It is difficult to date the individual psalms. King David is credited with writing many of them, and the collection of these hymns continued after the days of Israel’s exile. It is believed the collection was finalized before the second century B.C.

THE FULLFILLMENT

Matthew 4:5-7 – “Then the Devil took Him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, ‘If You are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, “He orders His angels to protect you. And they will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.”’ Jesus responded, ‘The Scriptures also say, “Do not test the Lord your God.”’”
The Messiah Will Enter Jerusalem Triumphantly

Zechariah 9:9 – “Rejoice greatly, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey – even on a donkey’s colt.”

ABOUT THE PROPHECY OF Zechariah

Zechariah the prophet came from a priestly family. He was a visionary, who with the prophet Haggai worked on the rebuilding of the Temple. The New Testament Gospels quote Zechariah more than any other prophet.

Part one of the book of Zechariah was written in 520 B.C. Zechariah spoke about the judgment and salvation of God and about the coming Messiah who would be a priest, governor, humble king and afflicted shepherd.

THE FULLFILLMENT

Matthew 21:8-11 – “Most of the crowd spread their coats on the road ahead of Jesus, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. He was in the center of the procession, and the crowds all around Him were shouting, ‘Praise God for the Son of David! Bless the One who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!’ The entire city of Jerusalem was stirred as He entered. ‘Who is this?’ they asked. And the crowds replied, ‘It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.’”

Luke 19:35-37 – “So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for Him to ride on. Then the crowds spread out their coats on the road ahead of Jesus. As they reached the place where the road started down from the Mount of Olives, all of His followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.”

John 12:12-15 – “The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A huge crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet Him. They shouted, ‘Praise God! Bless the One who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel! Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: ‘Don’t be afraid, people of Israel. Look, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.’”

The Messiah Will Be Rejected By His Own People

Isaiah 53:1, 3 – “Who has believed our message? To whom will the Lord reveal His saving power? He was despised and rejected – a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way when He went by. He was despised, and we did not care.”

ABOUT THE PROPHECY OF Isaiah

Chapters 40–55 in the book of Isaiah address the people in exile in Babylon – directly before the time of their return – about 538 B.C.

Chapter 53 is known as the great prophecy of the Suffering Servant.

THE FULLFILLMENT

John 1:10-11 – “But although the world was made through Him, the world didn’t recognize Him when He came. Even in His own land and among His own people, He was not accepted.”
John 12:37-38 – “But despite all the miraculous signs He had done, most of the people did not believe in Him. This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted: ‘Lord, who has believed our message? To whom will the Lord reveal His saving power?’”

Matthew 26:3-4 – “At that same time the leading priests and other leaders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, to discuss how to capture Jesus secretly and put Him to death.”
The Messiah Will Be Betrayed By One Of His Followers

Psalm 41:9 – “Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” (NIV)

Psalm 55:12-13 – “It is not an enemy who taunts me – I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me – I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you – my equal, my companion and close friend.”

ABOUT THE PROPHECY OF The Psalms

Psalm 41 is a psalm of David. He speaks of his own isolation and his trust in God. He describes how the sharing of food unites people in loyalty and friendship.

Psalm 55 is a psalm of David as well. In this psalm, he outlines the betrayal of a trusted friend, who was seemingly a follower of God.

Both of these psalms prophesy the betrayal of Jesus by a close and trusted friend.

THE FULLFILLMENT

Matthew 26:47, 49-50a – “And even as He said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a mob that was armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent out by the leading priests and other leaders of the people. So Judas came straight to Jesus. ‘Greetings, Teacher!’ he exclaimed and gave Him the kiss. Jesus said, ‘My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.’”

Luke 22:21-22, 47b – “ ‘But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray Me. For I, the Son of Man, must die since it is part of God’s plan. But how terrible it will be for My betrayer’! A mob approached, led by Judas, one of His twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus and greeted Him with a kiss.”

John 13:18, 21, 26 – “ ‘I am not saying these things to all of you; I know so well each one of you I chose. The Scriptures declare, “The one who shares My food has turned against Me,” and this will soon come true’. Now Jesus was in great anguish of spirit, and He exclaimed, ‘The truth is, one of you will betray Me!’ Jesus said, ‘It is the one to whom I give the bread dipped in the sauce.’ And when He had dipped it, He gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.”

The Messiah Will Be Betrayed For 30 Pieces Of Silver

Zechariah 11:12-13 – “And I said unto them, ‘If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord.” (KJV)

ABOUT THE PROPHECY OF Zechariah

In chapter 11 of the book of Zechariah, the prophet refers to 30 shekels of silver as a “goodly price.” This amount also refers to the amount paid for the life of a slave. Zechariah’s prophecy speaks about the amount paid for the Lord and His life.

THE FULLFILLMENT

Matthew 26:14-16 – “Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, ‘How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?’ And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas began looking for the right time and place to betray Jesus.”
Matthew 27:3-4a – “When Judas, who had betrayed Him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and other leaders. ‘I have sinned,’ he declared, ‘for I have betrayed an innocent man.’”
The Messiah Will Be Tried And Condemned

Isaiah 53:8 – “From prison and trial they led Him away to His death. But who among the people realized that He was dying for their sins – that He was suffering their punishment?”

ABOUT THE PROPHECY OF Isaiah

Written in 538 B.C., chapter 53 of the book of Isaiah is known as the Great Prophecy of the Suffering Servant.

THE FULLFILLMENT
Matthew 27:1-2 – “Very early in the morning, the leading priests and other leaders met again to discuss how to persuade the Roman government to sentence Jesus to death. Then they bound Him and took Him to Pilate, the Roman governor.”

Luke 23:1, 23 – “The entire council took Jesus over to Pilate, the Roman governor. But the crowd shouted louder and louder for Jesus’ death, and their voices prevailed.”

Acts 4:26-28 – “‘The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against His Messiah.’ That is what has happened here in this city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, Your holy Servant, whom You anointed. In fact, everything they did occurred according to Your eternal will and plan.”

The Messiah Will Be Silent Before His Accusers

Psalm 35:11 – “Malicious witnesses testify against me. They accuse me of things I don’t even know about.”

Isaiah 53:7-8a – “He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet He never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, He did not open His mouth. From prison and trial they led Him away to His death.”

ABOUT THE PROPHECY OF The Psalms and Isaiah

Psalm 27 is a psalm of David. In this hymn, he reassures those who are right with God that they have nothing to fear. He calls on God to pay back his enemies who have unjustly come against him. The prophecy in this psalm shows the confidence of the Messiah to entrust His life to God, who will answer and judge His accusers.

Again, the 53rd chapter of Isaiah was written in 538 B.C. It is known as the Great Prophecy of the Suffering Servant.

THE FULLFILLMENT

Matthew 27:12-14 – “But when the leading priests and other leaders made their accusations against Him, Jesus remained silent. ‘Don’t you hear their many charges against You?’ Pilate demanded. But Jesus said nothing, much to the governor’s great surprise.”

Mark 15:3-5 – “Then the leading priests accused Him of many crimes, and Pilate asked Him, ‘Aren’t You going to say something? What about all these charges against You?’ But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate’s surprise.”

1 Peter 2:22-23 – “He never sinned, and He never deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when He was insulted. When He suffered, He did not threaten to get even. He left His case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.”

The Messiah Will Be Smitten And Spat Upon

Micah 5:1 – “Mobilize! Marshal your troops! The enemy is laying siege to Jerusalem. With a rod they will strike the leader of Israel in the face.”

Isaiah 50:6 – “I give My back to those who beat Me and My cheeks to those who pull out My beard. I do not hide from shame, for they mock Me and spit in My face.”

ABOUT THE PROPHECY OF Micah and Isaiah

The book of Micah, by the prophet Micah, was written in the eighth century B.C. He describes how the restoration of God follows His judgment of sin. Micah describes the future of Jerusalem as the center of religious activity for the whole world.

Chapter 50 in the book of Isaiah was written in 538 B.C. In the Servant Song of Isaiah, chapter 50, we see the first glimpse of the Messiah’s suffering and rejection.

THE FULLFILLMENT

Matthew 26:67-68 – “Then they spit in Jesus’ face and hit Him with their fists. And some slapped Him, saying, ‘Prophesy to us, You Messiah! Who hit You that time?’”

Matthew 27:30 – “And they spit on Him and grabbed the stick and beat Him on the head with it.”
Mark 14:65a – “Then some of them began to spit at Him, and they blindfolded Him and hit His face with their fists.”

Mark 15:19 – “And they beat Him on the head with a stick, spit on Him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship.”

John 19:1-3 – “Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on His head, and they put a royal purple robe on Him. ‘Hail! King of the Jews!’ they mocked, and they hit Him with their fists.”

The Messiah Will Be Mocked And Taunted

Psalm 22:7-8 – “Everyone who sees Me, mocks Me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying, ‘Is this the One who relies on the Lord? Then let the Lord save Him! If the Lord loves Him so much, then let the Lord rescue Him!’”

ABOUT THE PROPHECY OF The Psalms

Psalm 22 is a psalm of David, and in it he describes an execution. The early portion of the psalm speaks of the Messiah’s suffering; the later portion describes the universal deliverance the Messiah makes possible.

THE FULLFILLMENT

Matthew 27:39-40 – “And the people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. ‘So! You can destroy the Temple and build it again in three days, can You? Well then, if You are the Son of God, save Yourself and come down from the cross!’”

Luke 23:11, 35 – “Now Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Then they put a royal robe on Him and sent Him back to Pilate. The crowd watched, and the leaders laughed and scoffed. ‘He saved others,’ they said, ‘let Him save Himself if He is really God’s Chosen One, the Messiah.’”

The Messiah To Die By Crucifixion, With Pierced Hands And Feet

Psalm 22:14-16 – “My life is poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within Me. My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of My mouth. You have laid Me in the dust and left Me for dead. My enemies surround Me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on Me. They have pierced My hands and feet.”

Zechariah 12:10a – “Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on all the people of Jerusalem. They will look on Me whom they have pierced and mourn for Him as for an only son.”

ABOUT THE PROPHECY OF The Psalms and Zechariah

Again, Psalm 22 is a Psalm of David. In this psalm he is describing an execution. The early portion of this psalm describes the Messiah’s suffering; the later portion describes the universal deliverance the Messiah makes possible.

In Chapter 12 of the book of Zechariah, the prophet speaks of God’s own representative who is killed at the hands of His people. At a future point, the people of God will realize whom they have pierced and will mourn for “the son” who died.

THE FULLFILLMENT

Matthew 27:31 – “When they were finally tired of mocking Him, they took off the robe and put His own clothes on Him again. Then they led Him away to be crucified.”

Mark 15:20 – “When they were finally tired of mocking Him, they took off the purple robe and put His own clothes on Him again. Then they led Him away to be crucified.”

John 19:15-16 – “‘Away with Him,’ they yelled. ‘Away with Him – crucify Him!’ ‘What? Crucify your king?’ Pilate asked. ‘We have no king but Caesar,’ the leading priests shouted back. Then Pilate gave Jesus to them to be crucified.”

The Messiah Will Suffer With Sinners

Isaiah 53:12a – “I will give Him the honors of One who is mighty and great, because He exposed Himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners.”

ABOUT THE PROPHECY OF Isaiah

The prophet Isaiah lived in Jerusalem in the eighth century B.C. The book of Isaiah is one of the four major prophetic books in the Bible, along with Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. Chapter 53 is known as the Great Prophecy of the Suffering Servant.

THE FULLFILLMENT

Matthew 27:38 – “Two criminals were crucified with Him, their crosses on either side of His.”
Mark 15:27 – “Two criminals were crucified with Him, their crosses on either side of His.”
Luke 23:32-33 – “Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with Him. Finally, they came to a place called The Skull. All three were crucified there – Jesus on the center cross, and the two criminals on either side.”

The Messiah’s Garments Will Be Divided By Casting Lots

Psalm 22:18 – “They divide My clothes among themselves and throw dice for My garments.”

ABOUT THE PROPHECY OF The Psalms

Again, Psalm 22 is a psalm of King David. In this hymn he describes an execution. The early portion of the psalm speaks of the Messiah’s suffering and the later portion describes the universal deliverance He made possible.

THE FULLFILLMENT

Matthew 27:35 – “After they had nailed Him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for His clothes by throwing dice.”

Mark 15:24 – “Then they nailed Him to the cross. They gambled for His clothes, throwing dice to decide who would get them.”

John 19:23-24a – “When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided His clothes among the four of them. They also took His robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said, ‘Let’s not tear it but throw dice to see who gets it.’ This fulfilled the Scripture that says, ‘They divided My clothes among themselves and threw dice for My robe.’”

The Messiah’s Bones Will Not Be Broken

Numbers 9:12 – “They must not leave any of the lamb until the next morning, and they must not break any of its bones. They must follow all the normal regulations concerning the Passover.”

ABOUT THE PROPHECY OF Numbers

Numbers is the fourth of the five books written by Moses. It is the travel history of Israel’s journey in the desert.

It begins two years after leaving Egypt and ends just before entry into Canaan. It is a 38-year record of the murmurings of the nation of Israel and the constant companionship of God. It is a record of God’s ongoing work to produce repentance in His people.

Chapter 9 discusses the proper observance and preparation of Passover and prophetically describes Jesus, the Passover Lamb.

THE FULLFILLMENT

John 19:31-37 – “The Jewish leaders didn’t want the victims hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath at that, because it was the Passover), so they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that He was dead already, so they didn’t break His legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced His side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out. This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account; it is presented so that you also can believe. These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, ‘Not one of His bones will be broken,’ and ‘They will look on Him whom they pierced.’”

1 Corinthians 5:7b – “Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.”

The Messiah Will Die As A Sin Offering

Isaiah 53:5-6, 8, 12 – “But He was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on Him the guilt and sins of us all. From prison and trial they led Him away to His death. But who among the people realized that He was dying for their sins – that He was suffering their punishment? I will give Him the honors of One who is mighty and great, because He exposed Himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners.”

ABOUT THE PROPHECY OF Isaiah

Isaiah the prophet lived in Jerusalem in the eighth century B.C. Chapter 53 of Isaiah is known as the Great Prophecy of the Suffering Servant.

THE FULLFILLMENT

John 1:29 – “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Acts 10:43 – “He is the One all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in Him will have their sins forgiven through His name.”

Acts 13:38-39 – “Brothers, listen! In this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in Him is freed from all guilt and declared right with God – something the Jewish law could never do.”

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – “I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me – that Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and He was raised from the dead on the third day, as the Scriptures said.”

Ephesians 1:7 – “He is so rich in kindness that He purchased our freedom through the blood of His Son, and our sins are forgiven.”

1 Peter 2:24 – “He personally carried away our sins in His own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. You have been healed by His wounds.”

Revelation 1:5b – “All praise to Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding His blood for us.”

The Messiah Will See His Seed

Isaiah 53:10-11 – “But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush Him and fill Him with grief. Yet when His life is made an offering for sin, He will have a multitude of children, many heirs. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s plan will prosper in His hands. When He sees all that is accomplished by His anguish, He will be satisfied. And because of what He has experienced, My Righteous Servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for He will bear all their sins.”

ABOUT THE PROPHECY OF Isaiah

The Great Prophecy of the Suffering Servant reveals the incredible purpose of God in sending the Messiah to suffer for our sins. Isaiah wrote this chapter in the eighth century B.C. He foretold that the Messiah would see His heirs, those who would find salvation through His sacrifice.

THE FULLFILLMENT

Ephesians 1:4-5, 21-23 – “Long ago, even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave Him great pleasure. Now He is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come. And God has put all things under the authority of Christ, and He gave Him this authority for the benefit of the church. And the church is His body; it is filled by Christ, who fills everything everywhere with His presence.”

Hebrews 12:2 – “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy He knew would be His afterward. Now He is seated in the place of highest honor beside God’s throne in heaven.”
The Messiah Will Be Buried In A Rich Man’s Tomb

Isaiah 53:9 – “He had done no wrong, and He never deceived anyone. But He was buried like a criminal; He was put in a rich man’s grave.”

ABOUT THE PROPHECY OF Isaiah

Once again, the Great Prophecy of the Suffering Servant reveals the incredible purpose of God in sending the Messiah to suffer for our sins. Isaiah wrote this chapter in the eighth century B.C. He foretold that the Messiah would die and be buried in a rich man’s grave.

THE FULLFILLMENT

Matthew 27:57-60 – “As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who was one of Jesus’ followers, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance as he left.”
The Messiah Will Be Raised From The Dead

Psalm 16:10*
For you will not leave my soul among the dead*  or allow your holy one* to rot in the grave.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead*  or allow your holy one* to rot in the grave.
 – “For You will not leave my soul among the dead or allow Your Godly One to rot in the grave.”
Psalm 30:3 – “You brought me up from the grave, O Lord. You kept me from falling into the pit of death.”

ABOUT THE PROPHECY OF The Psalms

The Psalms are a collection of the hymns of ancient Israel. The collection of Psalms was finalized before the second century B.C.

Psalm 16 is a psalm of David. In this hymn he reminds us that as we set our hearts on God and trust our lives to His care, we will find joy and security. David prophesies that the Messiah will not be abandoned in the grave, and His body will not decay.

Psalm 30 is a psalm written by David, for the dedication of the Temple. In it he prophesies that the Messiah will be raised from the grave.

THE FULLFILLMENT

Matthew 28:5-7 – “Then the angel spoke to the women. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He has been raised from the dead, just as He said would happen. Come, see where His body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell His disciples He has been raised from the dead, and He is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there. Remember, I have told you.’”

Mark 16:6-7 – “The angel said, ‘Do not be so surprised. You are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He has been raised from the dead! Look, this is where they laid His body. Now go and give this message to His disciples, including Peter: Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there, just as He told you before He died.’”

Acts 2:27-31 – “‘For You will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. You have shown me the way of life, and You will give me wonderful joy in Your presence.’ Dear brothers, think about this! David wasn’t referring to himself when he spoke these words I have quoted, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on David’s throne as the Messiah. David was looking into the future and predicting the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that the Messiah would not be left among the dead and that His body would not rot in the grave.’”

1 Corinthians 15:17, 20 – “And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless, and you are still under condemnation for your sins. But the fact is that Christ has been raised from the dead. He has become the first of a great harvest of those who will be raised to life again.’”

The Messiah Will Sit At God’s Right Hand

Psalm 110:1 – “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit in honor at My right hand until I humble Your enemies, making them a footstool under Your feet.’”

ABOUT THE PROPHECY OF The Psalms

Psalm 110 is a psalm of David. It is a prophetic psalm that seems to speak of a coming coronation. This royal psalm clearly speaks of the coming Messiah.

THE FULLFILLMENT

Mark 16:19 – “When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.”

Acts 2:32-36 – “This prophecy was speaking of Jesus, whom God raised from the dead, and we all are witnesses of this. Now He sits on the throne of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as He had promised, gave Him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit in honor at My right hand until I humble Your enemies, making them a footstool under Your feet.”’ So let it be clearly known by everyone in Israel that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified to be both Lord and Messiah!”

Hebrews 10:12-13 – “But our High Priest offered Himself to God as one sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then He sat down at the place of highest honor at God’s right hand. There He waits until His enemies are humbled as a footstool under His feet.”

JESUS AND YOU


As you have just read, it was God’s plan from before the world began that Jesus would come to earth and be crucified as a holy and final offering for sin. Because of God’s deep love for each one of us, He provided the way of salvation – the only way that we are able to enter a relationship with Him.

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[1]

This content was developed and written by CBN of Virginia Beach, VA.  No claim of ownership or © is claimed by this blog or author.  CBN owns the © and it maintains All Rights Reserved.  This material is presented for non commercial scholarship and teaching pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 107, et seq.  And, it is put forth in the spirit and use of Matthew 28:16-20.  (paraphrase) Go forth into all the world preaching and teaching the good news of salvation in the name of The Christ.  And the free gift of salvation is offered to anyone and everyone, pursuant to Romans 10:9.

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New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

& & &

Hugh C. Wood, Atlanta, Georgia

END


Sunday, September 29, 2019

Teaching Notes Background of Letter to GALATIANS

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Teaching Notes Background of Letter to GALATIANS

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Paul's Letter to the Galatians
Illuminated Manuscript
Approx. 1250AD Vellum


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BACKGROUND OF GALATIANS

Background of Letter to Galatians
By Grace, Not by Law 
Finality of the Gospel 
Maybe 57AD

Galalia: In Central Asia Minor, see map. Region of Paul's 
First Missionary Journey. Its borders at times varied. It included 
Derbe, the cities of Iconium, Lystra, and probably 
Pisidian Antioch. Read Acts 13 and 14.                                



Galatians were a branch of Gauls, originally from north of 
the Black Sea, split off from the main migration westward to 
France, and settled in Asia Minor, 3rd century BCE.

Occasion of This Letter

Paul’s work in Galatia had been extremely successful.  Great 
multitudes, mostly Gentiles, had enthusiastically accepted Christ. 
Sometime after Paul had left Galatia, certain Jewish teachers 
came along insisting that Gentiles could not be Christians without 
keeping the Law of Moses.  The Galatians gave heed to their 
teaching with the same whole—heartedness with-which they had 
at first received Paul’s message; and there was a general epidemic 
of Circumcision among these Gentile Christians. Circumcision is 
the name of the Initiatory Rite into Judaism. Paul heard of the 
movement. 

And then it was that Paul wrote this Letter to explain to them 
that Circumcision, while it had been a necessary part of Jewish. 
National Life, was not a part of the Gospel of Christ and had. 
nothing whatever to do with Salvation. 

Date of the Letter to Galatians

Paul had founded these Galatian Churches about 45-48 AD. 
He had. re-Visited them, as he was setting out on his Second 
Journey about 50 A D, Acts 16:1—6; and again, as he was starting 
on his Third Journey, about 54 AD, Acts 18:23. 


https://www.ccel.org/bible/phillips/CPn09Galatians.htm


The commonly accepted traditional date of the writing of this 
Letter is about 57 AD, at the close of Paul’s Third Missionary 
Journey, while he-was in Ephesus, or Macedonia",  Corinth, 
shortly before he wrote the Letter to the Romans.

Some think it more probably was written about 49 AD, from 
Antioch, soon after Paul’s first return from Galatia, before the 
Jerusalem Council of. 50 AD, whose Letter stating that Circumcis- 
ion was Not Necessary was carried without delay to the Galatian 
Churches, Acts 15:1-16-4; for, if written after that, it seems like 
Paul would have referred to the Jerusalem Letter. But “first”, 
4:13, favors the later date.

The Judaizers 




Judaizers were a sect of Jewish Christians who, not, willing to 
accept the teaching of the Apostles on the question, Acts 15, 
continued to insist that Christians must come to God through 
Judaism, that a Gentile, in order to be a Christian, must become 
a Jewish Proselyte, and keep the Jewish Law.

They made it their business to visit and unsettle and trouble 
Gentile Churches. They were simply determined to stamp Christ 
with the Jewish Trademark.

Against this Paul stood like adamant. “Had the observance of. 
the Law been imposed on Gentile converts Paul’s whole lifework 
Would have been wrecked.”

“The expansion of Christianity from a Jewish sect into a World 
Religion was Paul’s consuming passion, in pursuit of which he 
broke every hindering tie, and strained every faculty of mind-and 
body for upwards of thirty years.” 

The effort to Judaize the Gentile Churches was brought to an 
end by the Fall of Jerusalem, 70 AD, which “Severed all rela- 
tion between Judaism and Christianity. Up to this time Christian- 
ity was regarded as a Sect or Branch of Judaism. But from 
then on Jews and Christians were apart. A small sect of Jewish 
Christians, the Ebionites, remained, in decreasing numbers, for 
two centuries, hardly recognized by the general Church, and re- 
garded as Apostates by their own race.” 

Circumcision was the name of the initiatory physical rite of 
Judaism, if a male, not born a Jew, wished to become a Jewish 
Proselyte, he could do so by being Circumcised, and observing 
the ceremonial law of the Jews; in some respects, as a foreigner 
may become a citizen of our country. 

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Papyri 46  (also at Chester Beatty) 








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New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

This content adapted from Halley, Henry H., Bible Handbook, Grayson Publishing, Minneapolis, MN.  © 1927 - 1959, 1964.

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Hugh C. Wood, Atlanta, Georgia

END

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Teaching Notes HEBREWS Chapter 12 and 13

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Teaching Notes HEBREWS Chapter 12 and 13

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HEBREWS

CHAPTER 12

Chapter 12. Keep Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Surrounded by a vast crowd of those who, in former ages, had
run their race for God Victoriously, and who were now gazing
with breathless interest at the initial struggle of the New-Born
Church, the runners are urged to Keep their Eyes on the Goal,
and Strain Every Nerve and Muscle to Win, 1.2.

And Be Not Discouraged by their Sufferings, for Chastening
is one of the means by which God’s Saints are Perfected, 3-13.
And be Very Careful to Guard against Deming themselves in
any way, lest they Sell their Birthright, 14-17.

Sinai and Mount Zion, 18-29. 




















The terrifying demonstration of the 
inauguration of the Old Covenant are contrasted with the Heav-
enly Fellowships of the Church: One Vast Brotherhood, in which
Saints on Earth, and Spirits of the Redeemed, and Infinite Hosts
oì—Angels, are in Sweet and Mystic Communion around the
Throne of God, Forever and Ever and Ever, 22-24.

CHAPTER 13

Chapter 13. Gracious Exhortations

This Epistle, though argumentative in nature. closes with tender
appeals to its readers to be Loyal to Christ, and to Follow Him
in all the Ways of Life, especially in Brotherly Love and Kind-
ness and Purity and Goodness, and with Unceasing Prayer and
Unwavering Faith in God.

As Malachi was the Old Testament’s final message to the Nation
founded to bring the Messiah into the world, so the Epistle to
the Hebrews is the New Testament’s final message to the Nation
after the Messiah had come. written shortly before the Jewish
State was swept away by the Fall of Jerusalem, “One of the most
appalling events in all history."



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Hebrews 12 

New International Version (NIV)

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

God Disciplines His Children

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[a]

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,”[b] so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

Warning and Encouragement

14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.

The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy

18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”[c] 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”[d]

22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”[e] 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”[f]

Footnotes:
Hebrews 12:6 Prov. 3:11,12 (see Septuagint)
Hebrews 12:13 Prov. 4:26
Hebrews 12:20 Exodus 19:12,13
Hebrews 12:21 See Deut. 9:19.
Hebrews 12:26 Haggai 2:6
Hebrews 12:29 Deut. 4:24

Hebrews 13 New International Version (NIV)

Concluding Exhortations

13 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you.”[a]

6 So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?”[b]

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.

11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.

Benediction and Final Greetings

20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

22 Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly.

23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.

24 Greet all your leaders and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy send you their greetings.

25 Grace be with you all.

Footnotes:
Hebrews 13:5 Deut. 31:6
Hebrews 13:6 Psalm 118:6,7

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New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Some content adapted from Halley, Henry H., Bible Handbook, Grayson Publishing, Minneapolis, MN.  © 1927 - 1959.

& & &

Hugh C. Wood, Atlanta, Georgia

END

Teaching Notes HEBREWS Chapter 11

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Teaching Notes HEBREWS Chapter 11

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HEBREWS

CHAPTER 11

Chapter 11 FAITH: SURE OF WHAT WE HOPE FOR

Abel's Faith: First Sacrifice for Sin, 4: Gen 4:1-15.

Enoch's Faith: Walked with God; Translated, 5,6; Gen 5:22.24.




Noah's Faith: Kept on building the Ark when nobody thought
there would be any use for it, 7; Gen 6:14-22.

Abraham’s Faith: Started, he knew not where, to find the City
of God: was willing to offer his son. in Confidence that God would
bring him back to Life: 8:10; 17-19; Gen 12:1-7; 22.

Sarah's Faith: Came to Believe what she at first had laughed at
as impossible: 11.12; Gen 17:19; 18:11-14.

Isaac's Faith: Foretold the Future, 20; Gen 27:27-29.

Jacob’s Faith: God would fulfill His Promises, 21; Gen 49.

”Joseph’s Faith: Bones to rest in Canaan, 22; Gen 50:25.

Moses' Faith: Chose to suffer with Israel: Forsook Egypt: Kept
the Passover: Crossed the Red Sea: Saw Him who is Invisible:
23-29; Ex 2:2-11; 12:21.50; 14:22-29.



Joshua’s Faith: Walls of Jericho Fell, 30; Josh 6:20.
Rahab’s Faith: Cast her lot with Israel, 31; Josh 2:9; 6:23.
Gideon's Faith: Waxed Mighty in War, 32; Judg 7:21.
Barak’s Faith: Subdued Kingdoms, 32; Judg 4.
Samson's Faith; From Weakness Made Strong, 32,34; Judg 16:23.
Jepthah's Faith: Defeated Armies, 32,34; Judg 11.
David’s Faith: Obtained Promises, 32,33; II Sam 7:11-13.
Daniel’s Faith: Stopped Mouths of Lions, 32,33: Dan 6:22.
Jeremiah’s Faith: Was Tortured, 32,35; Jer 20:2.
Elijah’s Faith: Raised the Dead, 32,35; I Kin 17:17-24.
Elisha’s Faith: Raised the Dead, 32,35; II Kin 4:8-37.
Zechariah's Faith: Was Stoned, 32,37; II Chron 24:20,21.
Isaiah’s Faith: Sawn asunder, 32,37; Tradition.

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Hebrews 11 New International Version (NIV)

Faith in Action

11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a] For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[b] considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[c] 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.

23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.

31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.[d]

32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[e] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.

39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Footnotes:
Hebrews 11:5 Gen. 5:24
Hebrews 11:11 Or By faith Abraham, even though he was too old to have children—and Sarah herself was not able to conceive—was enabled to become a father because he
Hebrews 11:18 Gen. 21:12
Hebrews 11:31 Or unbelieving
Hebrews 11:37 Some early manuscripts stoning; they were put to the test;

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New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Some content adapted from Halley, Henry H., Bible Handbook, Grayson Publishing, Minneapolis, MN.  © 1927 - 1959.

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Hugh C. Wood, Atlanta, Georgia


END