PRAY!<\/p>\n
Read Acts 16:16-34 (CSB)<\/p>\n
A Christian looking for guidance and instruction would look to the Bible<\/strong>. What is your worldview? Or should I ask \u201cwhat is your view of eternity<\/strong>?\u201d Yet, despite its diversity, the Bible tells a single unfolding story<\/strong>: I would like to take a moment to explore what any genuinely seeking person, would find with a serious look into that Bible.<\/strong><\/p>\n First, I would like to consider what the Bible says about itself<\/strong>. In the book of Daniel 10:21 they are called \u201cThe scriptures of truth<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n In the Bible truth is not relative<\/strong>, it is absolute <\/strong>and that is what the Bible claims for itself 2 Tim 3:16, 2 Pe 1:20,21, John 10:35,2:19, 1 John 3:8<\/p>\n So the scripture says of itself, it is God breathed<\/strong>, it is absolute truth<\/strong>, and it cannot be destroyed! God\u2019s unbreakable rule is you must decide<\/strong> for yourself<\/p>\n God\u2019s command to me <\/strong>is to make<\/strong> the way of salvation known<\/strong> to you<\/strong> so you can make <\/strong>an enlightened choice\u2026 choose wisely.<\/strong><\/p>\n We have a Problem that needs to be Fixed We have a Provision that needs to be Found We have a Path that needs to be Followed First, people, by nature do not always do the right thing. God\u2019s burning desire is to make Himself known and develop a relationship with us. The Bible makes it very clear that God is love, and God does love!<\/p>\n God begins in the first part of the Bible, called After that, the second part is called \u201cThe New Testament<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n The New Testament (New Covenant)<\/strong> is God\u2019s agreement with humanity<\/p>\n It was established by the death of Christ; and after his resurrection it was published through the Gospel<\/p>\n The Gospel by which the salvation of men is secured,<\/p>\n Matt. 26:28; Luk 22:20; 1 Cor 11:25<\/p>\n Listen to Paul describe the Gospel:<\/p>\n \u201cNow I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to A new situation is seen as the Lord Jesus, the Christ or Messiah While there is a wealth of knowledge, understanding and wisdom to be gain As we read the NT it is as if we turn the focus adjustment of a projector\u2026 a crystal-clear image comes into view. Someone, not reading deep enough might consider The New Testament, in the writings of Matthew, identifies that person as the Lord Jesus<\/strong> and clarifies that And a bit farther down the page we read \u2013 John 1:14 (CSB) Farther again we read John 1:18 (CSB)<\/p>\n No one has ever seen God. Philip said to Him, \u201cLord, show us the Father\u201d (John 14:9)<\/p>\n Paul wrote 1 Tim 3:16 The writer of the Hebrews<\/strong> begins describing the Lord Jesus as Now that we have learned that the Lord Jesus came as \u201cGod with us\u201d, we can then ask more exactly why He came.<\/p>\n
\nIt is the place where the Christ<\/strong> of Christianity is found.
\nIt is the place where His reason for coming<\/strong> is explained.
\nIt is the place where what He accomplished<\/strong> here is explained.
\nIt is the place where God\u2019s one and only way of salvation <\/strong>is explained<\/p>\n
\nIs there a God<\/strong>, does He care\u2026 get involved <\/strong>in things down here?
\nIs there life after death<\/strong>?
\nIs there more than one final destination<\/strong> beyond death?
\nCan we do anything to obtain or avoid<\/strong> any of the destinations beyond death?.
\nSuch fundamental questions are answered definitively in the Bible
\n<\/strong>
\nThe Bible is a collection of 66 books<\/strong> written over about
\nfifteen hundred years<\/strong> by about forty different authors<\/strong>.
\nAuthors from many different walks of life<\/strong>.
\nSome authors were kings<\/strong>, some were peasants, fishermen, herdsmen, a physician, a tax collector and more.<\/strong>
\nIt was written in different times and places<\/strong>
\n(including three different continents<\/strong>)
\nusing three different languages<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
\nGod the Son became human.<\/strong> His motivation was love<\/strong> for fallen humanity
\nHis mission<\/strong> was to provide a way of salvation<\/strong>, a way of overcoming the fall, overcoming sin\u2026<\/p>\n
\nThe word \u201cBible\u201d is not found in any major versions, but we can see the word \u201cScripture<\/strong>\u201d over 50 times. (Word of God 44X)
\nThese are words <\/strong>that have God\u2019s wisdom and authority <\/strong>behind them!<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n(Man’s Ruin Through Sin)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\n(God’s Remedy Through Sacrifice)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\n(Man’s Responsibility Through Submission)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nThey do things that are contrary to the will of the God of the Bible.
\nHe calls that sin<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
\nHis vehicle for that is His word, the Bible, and His Son, the Lord Jesus.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cthe Old Testament <\/strong>\u201d, to reveal Himself.
\nIt describes a time before the Lord Jesus was born.<\/p>\n
\nyou, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved,<\/em><\/strong>if you hold fast to the word I preached to you
\n\u2014unless you believed in vain.
\nFor I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received:
\nthat Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that
\nhe was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with
\nthe Scriptures<\/strong>,<\/em>\u201d (1 Corinthians 15:1-2,3-4, ESV)<\/p>\n
\n\u201ctakes centre stage\u201d as it were.<\/p>\n
\nin the Old Testament<\/strong>, it will remain a bit blurry<\/strong>\u2026 out of focus
\nwithout at least a cursory grasp of the NT.<\/p>\n
\nThings which in the OT <\/strong>were said to be coming <\/strong>in the NT
\n<\/strong>are seen fulfilled and explained<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
\nthe Lord Jesus as just a man<\/strong>.
\nBut with a closer look we read in Isaiah of the Old Testament of someone called \u201cImmanuel<\/strong>\u201d. Is 7:14<\/p>\n
\n\u201cImmanuel (Emmanuel)\u201d means \u201cGod with us\u201d <\/strong>Mat 1:23
\nAs John writes in his gospel
\n\u201cIn the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
\nand the Word was God\u201d
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe Word became flesh and dwelt among us<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe one and only Son<\/strong>, who is himself God and is at the
\nFather\u2019s side- he has revealed him.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\u201cGod was revealed in the flesh\u201d or \u201cHe was shown to us in a human body\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cthe shining out of God\u2019s glory, the exact representation
\nof His essence\u201d.
\n<\/strong>So, in the Lord Jesus<\/strong> we see God\u2019s further revelation of Himself <\/strong>to us.<\/p>\n