The Everlasting Covenant
The Covenant of God to redeem mankind, as presented throughout history.
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18.1 Section References
by Hubert F. Sturges, www.everlastingcovenant.com, December 2009
by Hubert F. Sturges, www.everlastingcovenant.com, December 2009
References:
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1. Prophecies of Messiah to be Divine
1. Prophecies of Messiah to be Divine
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
“The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me (Moses); unto him ye shall hearken” (Deuteronomy 18:15).
“I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee (Moses), and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him” (Deut:18:18).
“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth” (Jeremiah 23:5).
“The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me (Moses); unto him ye shall hearken” (Deuteronomy 18:15).
“I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee (Moses), and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him” (Deut:18:18).
“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth” (Jeremiah 23:5).
See 1BC 1017. Prophecies of a “prophet... like unto thee” had an immediate and local application in the prophets and leaders to follow Moses; and eventually applied to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.
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2. Messiah to be a “Sacrificial Lamb”
“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).
“But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered” (Jeremiah 11:19).
“But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth” (Psalm 38:13).
“Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs” (Psalm 38:14).
“But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered” (Jeremiah 11:19).
“But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth” (Psalm 38:13).
“Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs” (Psalm 38:14).
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3. What should the Jews have known?
Daniel 9:24-27 pinpointed the time that Messiah would come.
It was also prophesied that He would be rejected:
3. What should the Jews have known?
Daniel 9:24-27 pinpointed the time that Messiah would come.
It was also prophesied that He would be rejected:
“The stone which the builders refused is become the headstone of the corner.
“This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes” (Psalm 118:22,23).
“Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?” (Matthew 21:42).
“This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes” (Psalm 118:22,23).
“Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?” (Matthew 21:42).
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4. My Covenant:
The covenant, made by the initiative of God, was called “My covenant” fifty one times in the Bible. . “Before the foundation of the world” humans had not yet been created. Since that critical event we have no record of God ending this covenant and making another covenant to take its place. The covenant has been rejected or ignored a number times. People have removed themselves from under its provisions. But God holds His covenant unbroken. “His mercy endureth forever.”
The everlasting covenant did not come to an end at when Jesus died on the cross. Rather it was confirmed, ratified, and made to prevail. It now became a historical fact. All the sacrifices for the previous 1500 years were now made effective (Hebrews 9:15). Men in future generations could now look back to the fact that Christ had made the atonement for them. Through faith, their salvation was assured.
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5. Yeshua Hammashiach. (Dual expectations of Jesus the Messiah)
David Brown (of AMF International) writes:
It is very common for Jewish objectors to point that “Jesus has not fulfilled all the prophecies,” and to scorn the suggestion that some prophecies are for a later time and are to be fulfilled at the “second coming.” The fact is, however, that prophecies about Messiah are of two seemingly mutually exclusive types, as though they were talking about two different Messiahs.
Jewish scholarship refers to Messiah ben-David and Messiah ben-Yosef. One is the positive, victorious Messiah who ushers in a kingdom of peace, the other is a suffering servant (as in Isaiah 53). The popular tendency was to think only of ben-David and ignore ben-Yosef, but the Messianic/Christian view accounts for both in one person. Interestingly, these two prophetic strains are named for David and Joseph, both of which suffered first and emerged victorious in the end.
Joseph is introduced to us with dreams of grandeur, but he was lost to Israel, actually considered dead, before his dreams came true. Eventually however, he had a “second coming” when he came back into the lives of his brothers who once rejected him. Then they bowed down to him and he became the savior of his people by providing for them in a time of famine.
David also, though anointed as King in his youth as far as God was concerned, was rejected by the current King and lived as a fugitive for many years before he finally became the quintessential King of Israel. Both of these historic figures, which Jewish tradition has recognized as being prototypes of Messiah, arrive amid promises, are pushed down, and finally emerge in glory. Shouldn’t the ultimate Messiah follow the same pattern?
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6. The rejection, suffering, and death of the Messiah are prophesied in Isaiah 53. Psalm 22 prophesies remarkable details of His crucifixion:
4. My Covenant:
The covenant, made by the initiative of God, was called “My covenant” fifty one times in the Bible. . “Before the foundation of the world” humans had not yet been created. Since that critical event we have no record of God ending this covenant and making another covenant to take its place. The covenant has been rejected or ignored a number times. People have removed themselves from under its provisions. But God holds His covenant unbroken. “His mercy endureth forever.”
The everlasting covenant did not come to an end at when Jesus died on the cross. Rather it was confirmed, ratified, and made to prevail. It now became a historical fact. All the sacrifices for the previous 1500 years were now made effective (Hebrews 9:15). Men in future generations could now look back to the fact that Christ had made the atonement for them. Through faith, their salvation was assured.
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5. Yeshua Hammashiach. (Dual expectations of Jesus the Messiah)
David Brown (of AMF International) writes:
It is very common for Jewish objectors to point that “Jesus has not fulfilled all the prophecies,” and to scorn the suggestion that some prophecies are for a later time and are to be fulfilled at the “second coming.” The fact is, however, that prophecies about Messiah are of two seemingly mutually exclusive types, as though they were talking about two different Messiahs.
Jewish scholarship refers to Messiah ben-David and Messiah ben-Yosef. One is the positive, victorious Messiah who ushers in a kingdom of peace, the other is a suffering servant (as in Isaiah 53). The popular tendency was to think only of ben-David and ignore ben-Yosef, but the Messianic/Christian view accounts for both in one person. Interestingly, these two prophetic strains are named for David and Joseph, both of which suffered first and emerged victorious in the end.
Joseph is introduced to us with dreams of grandeur, but he was lost to Israel, actually considered dead, before his dreams came true. Eventually however, he had a “second coming” when he came back into the lives of his brothers who once rejected him. Then they bowed down to him and he became the savior of his people by providing for them in a time of famine.
David also, though anointed as King in his youth as far as God was concerned, was rejected by the current King and lived as a fugitive for many years before he finally became the quintessential King of Israel. Both of these historic figures, which Jewish tradition has recognized as being prototypes of Messiah, arrive amid promises, are pushed down, and finally emerge in glory. Shouldn’t the ultimate Messiah follow the same pattern?
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6. The rejection, suffering, and death of the Messiah are prophesied in Isaiah 53. Psalm 22 prophesies remarkable details of His crucifixion:
| Old Testament Prophecy - Ps 22 | New Testament Comparison | |
| v.1: "My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” | Matthew 27:46: "About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi lama sabacthani?,' which means, 'My God, My God why have you forsaken Me?'" | |
| 6-8: "But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by people. All who see me mock me. They hurl insults shaking their heads; 'He trusts in the Lord, let the Lord rescue Him. Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him.'" | Matthew 27:41-44: "In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the Law and the Elders mocked Him. 'He saved others.' they said, 'But He can't save Himself! He's the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God, let God rescue Him now if He wants Him, for He said "I am the Son of God." ' In the same way the robbers who were crucified with Him also heaped insults on Him." | |
| 14-15: "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint, my heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death." | John 19:34: "Instead one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.” (NOTE - This is a precise description of the crucifixion process where the hanging weight of a person's body would cause his bones to come out of joint, and would make him as one lying in the "dust of death") John 19:28: "Later, knowing that all was completed, and so that the scripture may be fulfilled, Jesus said, 'I am thirsty.' “ (NOTE - Medically the flow of blood and water would mean that the heart of the person had literally burst , i.e. had "turned to wax" and "melted away", in complete fulfillment of this verse of the Psalm!) |
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| 16: "Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men have encircled me; they have pierced (kaaru) my hands and feet." (NOTE - This prediction was made when crucifixion did not even exist at the time!) |
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| 17-18: "I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They have divided my garments and cast lots for my clothing." John 19:23-24: "When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took His clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 'Let's not tear it,' they said to one another, 'let's decide by lot who will get it.' " |
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7. What can we personally do to overcome sin?
7. What can we personally do to overcome sin?
1. We must know the will of God so that we can recognize a temptation.
2. Determine now to always and immediately, by the grace of God, do what is right.
3. When tempted, immediately turn to God. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you”
(James 4:7). Pray for guidance and grace from the Holy Spirit.
4. Do not put yourself in the way of temptation (Romans 13:14).
5. If you find yourself being tempted, look for that “way of escape” and do not linger.
2. Determine now to always and immediately, by the grace of God, do what is right.
3. When tempted, immediately turn to God. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you”
(James 4:7). Pray for guidance and grace from the Holy Spirit.
4. Do not put yourself in the way of temptation (Romans 13:14).
5. If you find yourself being tempted, look for that “way of escape” and do not linger.
Because of what Jesus did on the cross, it is by grace that we are saved through faith. Do we have a part to play in this? Here is a beautiful statement:
“If we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service.” Ellen G. White: The Desire of Ages. 668
8. The word “Testament” in the New Testament. It is important to understand the meaning of these verses as “testament” is equivalent to the word “covenant.”
Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many ...
Mark 14:24 ... This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
Luke 22:20 ... This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
1 Corinthians 11:25 This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, ... in remembrance of me.
2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; ... but of the spirit:
2 Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were blinded: ...in the reading of the old testament;
Hebrews 7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
Hebrews 9:15-20 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death,
for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament,
... vs 16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
... vs 17 a testament is of force after men are dead: ... no strength at all while the testator liveth.
... vs 18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
... vs 20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
Revelation 11:19 temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen ... the ark of his testament:
Jesus’ blood of the new testament is the same blood of the everlasting covenant. This covenant was made before the foundation of the world, and was ratified / confirmed by Jesus on the Cross. It is New, as grace was a “new again” concept to the Jews at the time of Christ; and New as Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary was the new and real sacrifice to which all the sacrifices of the Old Testament pointed. In His sacrifice, all the sacrifices and rituals came to a close.
Jesus Christ added a third model, that of a last will and testament. At the Last Supper, he interpreted his own life and death as the perfect covenant (Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20).
The Father loves the Son, commissions him, gives him a people, the right to judge, and authority over all mankind (John 3:16; 5:20, 22, 36; 10:17 - 18; 17:2, 4, 6, 9, 24; Psalm 2:7 - 8; Hebrews 1:8 - 13); the Son loves the Father, delights to do his will, and has shared his glory forever (Hebrews 10:7; John 5:19; 17:5). The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit commune with each other; this is one of the meanings of the Christian doctrine of the Trinity.
He will bestow on them the grace they need to confess his name and live with him forever; in humble dependence on him for their every need, they will live in trustful obedience from day to day. This latter, called faith in Scripture, is the sole condition of the covenant, and even it is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8 - 9).
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9. Jesus given to humanity for eternity
11 “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
2 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).
21 “who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21, NIV).
6 “And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends” (Zechariah 13:6).
4 “His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden” (Habakkuk 3:4, NIV).
3 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21:3, NIV).
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10. From the Foundation of the World
10. From the Foundation of the World
8 “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8).
35 “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 13:35).
34 “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34),
24 “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24).
19 “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:19-20)
35 “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 13:35).
34 “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34),
24 “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24).
19 “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:19-20)
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11. Were the Human Agents Necessary to fulfill the prophecy of Jesus’ sacrifice?
11. Were the Human Agents Necessary to fulfill the prophecy of Jesus’ sacrifice?
17 “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:17-18),
7 “Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh” (Matthew 18:7)!
21 “The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born” (Mark 14:21).
46 “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day” (Luke 24:46):
18 “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:17-18),
7 “Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh” (Matthew 18:7)!
21 “The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born” (Mark 14:21).
46 “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day” (Luke 24:46):
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12. Our Lives will be Changed
12. Our Lives will be Changed
17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
4 “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4).
3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
4 “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4).
3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
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13. Timing of the Event:
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6 NIV).
“But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law” (Galatians 4:4 NIV).
“And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15 KJV).
9 “And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
10 “to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ” (Ephesians 1:9-10 NIV).^ Return to Top
14. Mine Hour is not yet Come.
13. Timing of the Event:
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6 NIV).
“But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law” (Galatians 4:4 NIV).
“And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15 KJV).
9 “And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
10 “to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ” (Ephesians 1:9-10 NIV).^ Return to Top
14. Mine Hour is not yet Come.
4 “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come” (John 2:4).
6 “Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready” (John 7:6).
8 “Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come” (John 7:8).
30 “Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come” (John 7:30).
20 “These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come” (John 8:20).
6 “Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready” (John 7:6).
8 “Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come” (John 7:8).
30 “Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come” (John 7:30).
20 “These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come” (John 8:20).
15. My Time is at Hand. (Matthew 26:18; Matthew 26:45; Mark 14:35; Mark 14:41; Luke 9:51; John 12:23; John 12:27; John 13:1; John 17:1)
16. This is My Beloved Son. (Matthew 3:17; 17:5; 2 Peter 1:17)^ Return to Top
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17. Did Jesus Die the Second Death on Calvary?
Even as Abram believed the promise of God, he still needed reassurance that the promises would be fulfilled. On God’s direction a ratification ceremony was carried out. Animals were taken and divided in half. At sundown Abram fell into a deep sleep, “and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him” (Genesis 15:12).
There is a peculiar significance in these words that is not explained here. A number of verses tell us that God is light and is the source of light. Here is one:
“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).
There are also verses that associate sin and evil with darkness and the absence of God. “An horror of great darkness” indicates that Abram looked into an eternity of darkness without life and without God. This was a portrayal of the great darkness that Jesus looked into when on the Cross he cried out, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”
The concept is sometimes expressed that Jesus died the second death for sinners. Since all sinners die the death of sleep until He comes again, for Jesus to simply “sleep” would not be adequate. When He died on Calvary, He saved us from the second death, and only by experiencing the second death could the atonement be made.
The problem in this is that He was resurrected on the third day, and there is no resurrection from the second death. I believe that Abraham was given an experience as an example of what Jesus was to suffer.
In Gethsemane, during the trial and crucifixion, Jesus could not “see through the portals of the tomb.” In His humanity, He shrank from the separation from the Father that His becoming sin for us would cause. On the Cross, when He cried out, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?” He was experiencing the “horror of great darkness.” He looked into an eternity without God and without hope.
Then His faith was revived. He remembered when the Father said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” These words sustained Him in the 40 days in the wilderness, and they came back to strengthen Him now. The “faith of Jesus” is to hold onto God’s promises when there seems no reason to hope. Jesus bowed His head, and said, “Into thy hands I commend my spirit.” His victory on the cross is for each one of us.
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18. What is Truth?
Religious perceptions of a people develop over time, and are influenced for years and even generations by a strong founder. When lack of interest or unbelief leads to ineffective Bible study and prayer, an incomplete understanding can skew a belief. The sinful nature of man driven by worldly emotions will lead a person or a people astray.
Each person has what I call his "model of reality," that is to say, "the truth." We need to realize that much of our belief is really just that, a "model." This model is made up of a well supported framework of truth revealed from the Bible. But the framework is not complete. We automatically fill in the spaces with conjecture of how we think it is. This then becomes a mental picture of what we think truth is.
Closely associated with this is the milieu that develops within every cohesive group. Persons in this group tend to think the same, develop even a “language” and ways of speaking that is foreign to “outsiders.”
We often are not able to discriminate between the revealed framework supported from the Bible and the conjecture that we fill in. Much of this conjecture is based on systems of belief, but we still must discriminate between revealed truth and conjecture even in the writings of the great men of the past.
Each of us have certain truths that are not negotiable. I will be frank and state mine:
The concept is sometimes expressed that Jesus died the second death for sinners. Since all sinners die the death of sleep until He comes again, for Jesus to simply “sleep” would not be adequate. When He died on Calvary, He saved us from the second death, and only by experiencing the second death could the atonement be made.
The problem in this is that He was resurrected on the third day, and there is no resurrection from the second death. I believe that Abraham was given an experience as an example of what Jesus was to suffer.
In Gethsemane, during the trial and crucifixion, Jesus could not “see through the portals of the tomb.” In His humanity, He shrank from the separation from the Father that His becoming sin for us would cause. On the Cross, when He cried out, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?” He was experiencing the “horror of great darkness.” He looked into an eternity without God and without hope.
Then His faith was revived. He remembered when the Father said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” These words sustained Him in the 40 days in the wilderness, and they came back to strengthen Him now. The “faith of Jesus” is to hold onto God’s promises when there seems no reason to hope. Jesus bowed His head, and said, “Into thy hands I commend my spirit.” His victory on the cross is for each one of us.
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18. What is Truth?
Religious perceptions of a people develop over time, and are influenced for years and even generations by a strong founder. When lack of interest or unbelief leads to ineffective Bible study and prayer, an incomplete understanding can skew a belief. The sinful nature of man driven by worldly emotions will lead a person or a people astray.
Each person has what I call his "model of reality," that is to say, "the truth." We need to realize that much of our belief is really just that, a "model." This model is made up of a well supported framework of truth revealed from the Bible. But the framework is not complete. We automatically fill in the spaces with conjecture of how we think it is. This then becomes a mental picture of what we think truth is.
Closely associated with this is the milieu that develops within every cohesive group. Persons in this group tend to think the same, develop even a “language” and ways of speaking that is foreign to “outsiders.”
We often are not able to discriminate between the revealed framework supported from the Bible and the conjecture that we fill in. Much of this conjecture is based on systems of belief, but we still must discriminate between revealed truth and conjecture even in the writings of the great men of the past.
Each of us have certain truths that are not negotiable. I will be frank and state mine:
God is a God of love
God is not a respecter of persons. Everyone is on equal standing with Him.
God does not change. His Plan of Salvation is the same in all ages.
God is the Creator of this earth and of all that is in it.
God is not a respecter of persons. Everyone is on equal standing with Him.
God does not change. His Plan of Salvation is the same in all ages.
God is the Creator of this earth and of all that is in it.
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Articles In this section
14.0 Messiah Prophesied
14.5 Carpenter of Nazareth
15.0 Wilderness Temptation
16.0 Covenant Confirmed
16.5 Why Did Jesus Die?
17.0 Gethsemane
18.0 Calvary
18.1 References Calv.
18.2 Trial & Crucifixion -pdf
18.2 Trial & Crucifixion -htm
18.3 Oblation to Cease
19.0 The Resurrection
19.2 The Walk to Emmaus
20.0 Early Christian Church
20.1 References ECC
20.3 The Vision of Stephen
20.5 Stephen: a Prophet
20.6 Who is Michael?