It is advised for Christians to submit to the will of God—to acquire his wisdom and guidance; however, knowledge is pivotal in understanding, interpreting, and taking action towards this discussion (Proverbs 1:7).
God is the one who gives wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to those who explore a genuine relationship with him, but how can you have that honest relationship with God if you lack knowledge of who he is?
Understanding the importance of knowledge and ideas in your Christian journey
Knowledge is information and facts we acquire through education or experiences we pass through. To effectively power your spiritual life and understand God’s plan for your life, you need to understand who he is through learning his word.
In John chapter 1, we learned that in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.
The New Testament was first translated from Hebrew to Aramaic and Greek, and these three translations bear words in their weight, unlike the English translation.
In Greek, the term for “word” is “logos,” which means an expression of an idea. So let us have John chapter one again: In the beginning, there was an expression of ideas, and the expression of ideas was with God, and the expression of ideas was God.
Looking at Chapter 4, we can see that the expression of God’s ideas (logos) is life, which is the light of men. So, you have to know what light is to have life.
The word light in Hebrew means knowledge, and darkness means ignorance, so you need knowledge to understand the expression of God’s idea for the world and your life and shatter all the bonds of ignorance.
Satan can only rule your life to the extent of your ignorance
Satan is referred to as the prince of darkness, but this doesn’t mean he moves around at night; it means he can only take advantage of you in areas where you are least knowledgeable.
This is why Satan is not threatened when emotional preaching is delivered; he is only scared when teachings towards spiritual and personal growth are delivered because he will keep losing grip on you the more you keep acquiring light.
When you tell someone, “do not fornicate,” you only make the idea more pleasurable, but once you teach the same person what it means to be the temple of the Holy Ghost, he or she automatically begins to think about what is good for the temple of the Holy Ghost or not.
More like keeping a jar of candy in front of a kid and asking him not to go for it, you will only pique his attention, and until he steals some of those candies, he won’t be himself.
In Romans 7:7-8, Paul explains how the law makes sin more desirable. Also, in James 2:9–11, we can see the condemning nature of the law, and this is what Satan takes advantage of when he manipulates our minds, keeping us rooted in sin and addiction.
So, knowledge or light is what we need to conquer all spheres of life in accordance with the will of God.
How can we acquire this knowledge?
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing, God’s word (ideas). If you want to change the trajectory of your life positively, you need to change the ideas you have been receiving.
John 1:14 says that the word (God’s ideas) became flesh. So Jesus Christ is God’s ideas in the flesh. This is why Jesus says he is the light (knowledge), and darkness (ignorance) cannot stand or comprehend the light.
God had revealed his thoughts to us—the blueprint for our lives through Jesus, and if you want to acquire this big idea, you have to listen to Jesus.
All the problems we face in the world—crimes, poverty, unemployment, dealing with sin, and a lack of love and empathy are caused by a key thing we are missing that Jesus brings.
We all think the answer to problems is religion and some other ideas, which is why we have numerous ideas and religions littering the earth, but there is still no peace.
For unto us a child is born, and 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 government he is referring to here is not a coup or an election, but of peace (to expel worries) and righteousness (towards the infinite goal), which, if you look at Isaiah 9:7, is the increase of his government upon which there shall be no end.
The kingdom of heaven (Jesus’ government) is like yeast (Matthew 13:33), and I have never seen yeast lose a fight in a dough. Once the yeast is worked in, the dough has no other option other than to keep increasing until it is worded into a fine final product, despite the degree of heat it may face.
Summing up
Knowledge is going to come through a deeper understanding of Jesus, which places you miles ahead of the devil as you can grasp the width of his devices—stopping him in his tracks with the new power you gained in your permanent role in Jesus’s government, which is bound to bring you peace in all the plights of life and make you excel in the face of persecution.
Your life will become the ideas you have accepted as truth. So what truths are you accepting today?
The story of the Bible is the history of God leading His people through the wilderness. The clearest illustration of this is found in the books of Moses and the records of the Hebrew nation and their road to the promised land. It proved to God’s people He would be their leader in the wilderness through Moses, as Psalm 77:20 says, “You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.”
Once God brought His people through the Red Sea and guided them to Mount Sinai, He defined for them a new relationship with Him through the Torah, His laws. Paul tells us in Galatians 3:23-24 that “we were kept in custody under the law,” the law becoming a tutor (one who leads children) to lead us to Christ. God’s plan was that He would be with them, His presence going before them as a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. His presence would reside in the middle of all religious activities as the Ark of the Covenant to remind them of His holiness. Ultimately, the Father was guiding His people through the wilderness to find His Son. He was teaching them how to be led and how to follow.
While the Tabernacle and all its elements were being constructed, Moses would move his tent outside the camp as the tent of meeting where Moses would meet with God, evidenced by the pillar of cloud (Exodus 33:7-9). The people would spend more than a year in this place, getting oriented to this new way of experiencing God. Moses asked God not to lead them anywhere unless His presence went with them (verse 15). God acknowledged that He would honor Moses’ request in verse 17: “The Lord said to Moses, ‘I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.’”
Then in Numbers 10:11-12, the cloud left Sinai “in the second year, in the second month,” heading to Kadesh-barnea (interpreted as “a holy place in the desert”). It turned out to be a regular stopping point as the people wandered in the wilderness before entering the promised land. It also was from this place that Moses would send spies into the promised land in Numbers 13. God wanted them to immediately “go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers” and their descendants (Deuteronomy 1:8).
But that’s not what happened.
Two Conclusions
God instructed Moses to choose twelve men who would sneak into the promised land to “See what the land is like, and whether the people who live in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many” (Numbers 13:18). In verses 27-29, ten of them reported that the land was truly fruitful, but the people living in the land were too strong for them to overcome. These ten spoke for the masses. The other two had a different take. They told Moses, “We should, by all means, go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it” (Verse 30). These two recognized that the people were not limited by their own ability and that the Lord would be the difference. Caleb and Joshua’s testimonies were not enough to sway the people, and the nation ended up wandering in the wilderness for another 38 years.
What caused this difference in conclusions? It had to do with the relationship that each had with God. It is one thing to follow, and it is another thing to trust in the leader. In Numbers 14:24, “But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it.” God was promising Caleb that he and his descendants would enjoy the fruit of the promised land, unlike those who could not trust Him. In addition, God chose Joshua to succeed Moses in leading the people into the new land because he was “a man in whom is the Spirit” (Numbers 27:18), one who could be trusted because he was a man being led by the Holy Spirit. According to Joshua 14:8, he says, “I followed the Lord my God fully.”
Following the Leader
2 And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, “You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh and all his servants and all his land; 3 the great trials which your eyes have seen, those great signs and wonders. 4 Yet to this day, the Lord has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear. 5 I have led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandal has not worn out on your foot. 6 You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or strong drink, in order that you might know that I am the Lord your God. 7 When you reached this place, Sihon, the king of Heshbon and Og the king of Bashan came out to meet us for battle, but we defeated them; 8 and we took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites. 9 So keep the words of this covenant to do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.” (Deuteronomy 29:2-9)
In the process of finding an individual and personal conviction to follow God, the believer finds others who appear to follow the Lord and gets behind them. This is the process of following those placed in one’s life as an example since they have proven themselves by their consistent walk. In Philippians 3:17, Paul writes, “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.” Moses was that example for the Hebrews in the wilderness while they learned to trust in the Lord’s provisions. All the provisions necessary for fullness in the believer’s life are realized in the process of following. In Verse 6, “You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or strong drink, in order that you might know that I am the Lord your God.” Even victories over enemies are found there. It is God’s way of demonstrating that this quality of life is possible and real.
The Spirit of Christ
If we are to fully follow God, we must believe on and trust in the One whom we follow. Jesus left us with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, Who will guide us into all the truth. The Spirit is also referred to as the Spirit of Christ in Romans 8:9 and 1 Peter 1:11. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Without faith in Who Jesus is, we become no more than people wandering in the wilderness, just like the nation of Israel. Moses was a great man of faith, and Hebrews 11:27 tells us, “By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.” Moses saw Jesus as he was being led!
14 “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Romans 8:14-16)
The leading of the Holy Spirit produces maturity, sons rather than just children. This happens when we see our heavenly Father as “Abba,” Daddy, and then our relationship with Him becomes personal and not abstract. It produces an assurance, a confidence that we truly are His children, part of His royal family. We are then able to trust Him no matter where He leads us.
From the time Abraham received promises from God in response to his faith in Genesis 12:1-3 (approximately 2000 BC) until God gave Moses the entire Law on Mount Sinai in Exodus 20 (approximately 1476 BC), the Hebrew nation functioned spiritually under this covenant God gave to Abraham that He would bless those who bless Abraham. For a number of those years, the Hebrews were held in bondage in Egypt by pharaohs until Moses was raised up to lead the nation across the Red Sea into the wilderness. The question arises as to why God would introduce the Law of Moses to His people when it was to be a temporary covenant, until such a time as Messiah would introduce the new covenant nearly 1,500 years later? What purpose did this old covenant serve?
In Galatians 3:19, Paul asks and then answers the question, “Why the Law then?” The conclusion is understood in the context of the covenant made with Abraham that the inheritance from the promise of God is not based on law, but through faith in the promise made to Abraham, who is the father of us all (Romans 4:16). The Law, then is added because of transgressions, meaning that it was intended to lead us to Christ, “so that we may be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24). In verse 23, Paul explains that those who put their faith in the Law of Moses are being kept in custody under [the power of] the Law until Messiah would come. The benefits of spiritual life are realized by faith in God’s promises and not in the celebration of religious rituals and legal obedience.
A different gospel
The churches of Galatia were struggling with the influence of those who were teaching that Christians need to keep the Law of Moses in order to be justified into the Christian faith. There had been a Council led by James (Jesus’s half-brother) held in Jerusalem dealing with this matter and described by Luke in Acts 15. The results of that account were reported in Acts 15:19-20 where James states, “Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.” Christians would not be required to keep the Law of Moses. This conclusion did not end the controversy and there remained those, known as Judaizers, who would continue to require it. Attempts like these continue to this day as men try to complicate the new covenant with old covenant and other man-made requirements.
In Galatians 1:6-7 Paul says, “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.” When Jesus said He came to fulfill the Law of Moses (Matthew 5:17), He meant that there was to be a newly defined relationship with God, known as the new covenant (promised to Israel in Jeremiah 31) and enacted on better promises (Hebrews 8:6), therefore making the old covenant obsolete (Hebrews 8:13). The old covenant represents God’s perfect justice, but without the spiritual ability to fulfill it. It had to be kept perfectly or the follower would be classified as a transgressor (James 2:10).
Righteousness of the Law
In Romans 7:7-12, Paul further explains that “the Law is holy and righteous and good” (verse 12), but its intended purpose is to help followers of the Law to understand that righteousness is not derived from the Law, but that the Law makes sin come alive and exposes the sin that is “taking opportunity through the commandment” (verse 11) and deceives me resulting in separation from God (spiritual death). In 1Timothy 1:8-10, “But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching”.
In Romans 10, Paul addresses the Jewish nation of his day, clearly defining how the Law cannot lead to righteousness because Jews do not “subject themselves to the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:3), but rather their own ability to keep the law, otherwise known as “righteousness based on the law”, and that attempt produces a self-righteousness. God’s righteousness can never be earned (see Romans 4:4-5) but is received by faith in the One Who is righteous! Romans 10:4 summarizes the argument when it concludes “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes”. Faith in Jesus as the Christ is the only avenue to God’s righteousness (see John 14:6).
Righteousness by faith
According to Galatians 3:12-14, trying to be a Christian and yet attempting to live under the Law of Moses is a curse and Messiah had become a curse for us so that Jews and Gentiles “would receive the promise of the Spirit by faith”. This promise is only realized through a real faith in Jesus as Messiah, having trusted in His sacrificial death and resurrection and not in one’s own efforts to be or become righteous. In verse 11, Paul quotes the Old Testament passage found in Habakkuk 2:4 as his evidence and confidence: “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH”.
Under the old covenant, salvation came from God and was perceived to be experienced when one became a part of God’s people. Rahab, a Gentile is a good example of this principle, as Joshua 6:25 says: “However, Rahab the harlot and her father’s household and all she had, Joshua spared; and she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day, for she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.” She became a Jew by believing in the God of Israel and acting on that faith. According to the Apostle Paul in Romans 9:8, “That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants”. Faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob has always been the avenue of salvation.
Uniting the Jew and Gentile
The new covenant encourages believers to assemble together often and all the more as the time of Jesus’s second coming draws near (Hebrews 10:25). The locations of the gatherings are not defined nor the particular means of worship, etc., unlike the old covenant. Yet the new covenant has ordained that both Jew and Gentile will come together since the dividing wall between the two has been broken down in Christ (Ephesians 2:14) and all are members of God’s household. This is only possible because the “Law of commandments contained in ordinances” is no longer a requirement and therefore peace is established between the two groups. In Romans 5:1, “Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” Faith in Jesus as Christ resolves all divisions.
In Ephesians 2:20, Paul connects the foundation of the apostles [new covenant] and prophets [old covenant] as one foundation, meaning both groups now have the same foundation and it is not the Law of Moses. In Romans 3:21, Paul states, “But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets”, meaning that the Old Testament Scriptures predicted that it would take a “prophet” (Messiah) Who will speak with God’s words as was given to Israel in Deuteronomy 18:15, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him”.
Jesus Christ, our point of reference
The fact is that Messiah’s arrival did not create a large fanfare among the Jews (John 1:11) and the Jewish leadership fought constantly against His acceptance as the Promised One since it meant that their positions of leadership were threatened. Isaiah (53:1) warned of this rejection and was quoted by Paul in Romans 10:16-17, “However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” As Galatians 3:24 states, the Law is intended to lead us to the Messiah. The point of reference is not the Law of Moses, but the person of Jesus Christ.
The Law of Moses included not only the moral law, but also the ceremonial law (Jewish festivals) as well as the worship requirements associated with the tabernacle and later the temple. In Hebrews 9, the writer begins the conversation of the “regulations of divine worship” associated with the tabernacle, including a description of the various elements within the tabernacle that became the center of worship for the nation while in the wilderness. The priestly activities associated with each of these elements was always intended to point to the Messiah as High Priest, who would be the fulfillment of eternal redemption. As an example, the lampstand represents Jesus as the light of the world (John 8:12) and the table of the sacred bread is a picture of Jesus as the bread of life (John 6:35). The daily priestly activities were always pointing to the coming Messiah! In Psalm 27:5, David says, “For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock” (a reference to Christ in 1Corintians 10:4).
Christ is the fulfillment
The Jewish festivals also have their fulfillment in the first coming and second coming of Christ. For example, Passover (Leviticus 23:4-5) was fulfilled at the Last Supper, Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6-8) at Calvary, First Fruits (Leviticus 23:9-14) on Easter and Feast of Weeks (Leviticus 23:15-22) at Pentecost in Acts 2 and the coming of the Holy Spirit. These festivals are all celebrated in the spring. The final three festivals are references to the second coming of Messiah, Trumpets (Leviticus 23:23-25) to be fulfilled at the Rapture (1Thessalonians 4:16-18), Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:26-32) speaks of the Tribulation, and Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33-43) refers to the 1,000-year reign of Messiah (the Millennium). These last three festivals happen in the fall.
The 1,500 years of life under the old covenant was meant to reveal the person of Jesus as Messiah for those who were fully engaged with their hearts. The symbols and types associated with the old covenant worship are a direct link to Jesus Christ as Messiah and Jesus would become recognizable to many because of the connections to the various aspects of regular worship. The new covenant is the only covenant referred to in Scripture as eternal (Hebrews 13:20), meaning it has always existed as the fulfillment of the fullness of God in man.
The current war in Israel against Hamas is highlighting the climate around the world regarding the attitudes toward the Jews. Antisemitism is rearing its ugly head all over the world, evidenced by protests and other public displays against Israel’s right to defend itself against the horrific evil perpetrated by Hamas against the civilian population near Gaza on October 7, 2023. It is of great importance for the Christian believer to understand the history and the nature of this condition.
According to the U.S. State Department, “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” It exists prevalently not just in nations that are opposed to Israel and its existence, but even within the Christian community in America and worldwide.
History of Israel
Understanding the nature of antisemitism requires an active look at the history of the Jewish nation and the world’s response to its existence. It begins with Abram and God’s promises to be a blessing to the nations of the world (Genesis 12:1-3). In Genesis 13:15-17, God promised Abram a particular tract of land, commonly referred to as the promised land: for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever. “I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered. “Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you.” According to many Scripture references, God promised that He would give it to Abram and his descendants forever!
The actual birth of the nation of Israel did not take place until Jacob moved himself and his family to Egypt with Joseph’s family. They were held in slavery in Egypt until Moses led them to the wilderness and eventually, the promised land. Joshua led them to take control of the promised land and the land was distributed among the twelve tribes according to God’s commands.
A Partial Hardening
For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.” “THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.” From the standpoint of the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God areirrevocable. (Romans 11:25-29)
The rejection of Jesus as Messiah by the Jewish leadership of Jesus’s day was not the end of the story for Israel. Paul writes to the Roman church that the partial hardening that has happened will not be ended until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, referring to the end of the church age and Jesus’s return in the second coming. God promises that her sins will be taken away and that the Jews are still the people of God since the gifts and the calling of God areirrevocable. Paul teaches that their rejection of the gospel had a purpose: But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous (Romans 11:11). God will use their jealousy, that other nations have access to some of the same privileges previously reserved for Israel, to bring them back to God. The Jews will be the center of attention in the Kingdom Age, when “In those days ten men from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you” Zechariah 8:23.
Laying Down Your Life for the Sheep
“I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. For this reason, the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.” (John 10:14-18)
The world would blame the Jews for Jesus’s death even though Jesus gave up His life willingly. The Roman Emperor Constantine had a Christian conversion experience around 312 and declared tolerance for Christianity in 313. The Council of Nicaea took place in 325, and he wrote a letter referring to Jews as polluted wretches and to have no fellowship with the perjury of the Jews and that we have nothing in common with the usage of these parricides and murderers of our Lord. Even Martin Luther had strong feelings of antisemitism, as he wrote in The Jew and Their Lies (1543):
What shall we Christians do with this damned, rejected race of Jews? Since they live among us, and we know about their lying, blasphemy, and cursing, we cannot tolerate them if we do not wish to share in their lies, curses, and blasphemy. In this way, we cannot quench the inextinguishable fire of divine rage (as the prophets say) nor convert the Jews.
Antisemitism Throughout the Church Age
Several early church fathers saw the Jews as somewhat or totally culpable for the death of Jesus Christ. Justin Martyr (100-165) thought that the Gentiles replaced the Jews in God’s redemptive plan. Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, wrote that those who celebrated Passover with the Jews were partakers with those who killed the Lord. And Tertullian (160-220), in his work Against the Jews, blamed the entire Jewish race for the death of Jesus.
Various Catholic leaders who had great influence over public thought throughout the church age, including Saint Gregory of Nyssa (335-394), Saint Augustine (354-430), Saint Jerome (374-419), Pope Innocent III (1160/61-1216), and Pope Pious IV (1499-1565), had varying feelings of antisemitism. Pope Pious made the following statement: The Jews who deny that Messiah has come and that He is God, lies. Herod is the devil, the Jews demons; that one is King of the Jews, this one the King of demons.
Antisemitism in America
Peter Stuyvesant, the first governor of Manhattan, was strongly antisemitic, constantly seeking ways to disqualify the Jews from public benefits to make them feel unwelcome. He referred to them as repugnant, blasphemers of Christ, and “Christ Killers.” He wrote the following in the 1650’s:
“We have, for the benefit of this week and newly developing place and the land in general, deemed it useful to require them (the Jews) in a friendly way to depart; also praying most seriously in this connection, for ourselves as also for the general community of your worships, that the deceitful race – such hateful enemies and blasphemers of the name of Christ – be not allowed to infect further and trouble this new community.”
In the 1920s, Harvard and Yale began to restrict Jewish acceptances in response to the fact that they had been outperforming their Gentile classmates. At Yale, Dean Frederick Jones got the administration to consider “character” in addition to scholarship. He stated, “In terms of scholarship and intelligence, Jewish students lead the class, but their characteristics make them markedly inferior.” His perceived solution to this character flaw would be conversion to Christianity.
A Kingdom That Endures Forever
When Israel was finally recognized as a nation by the world in 1948, the Jews had just experienced the extermination of 6 million of its own, nearly 1/3 of the world’s Jewish population, by the Nazis. Immediately after May 14, 1948, five surrounding Arab nations declared war on the fledgling nation and this condition has defined Israel’s history since. The six-day war in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War of 1973 were intended to destroy Israel completely, but miraculously, Israel ended up adding territory in both wars. Israel has demonstrated throughout modern times that it is only interested in co-existing with Arabs, but the Moslem nations surrounding Israel, for the most part, are not interested in negotiating a lasting peace; their primary motive is in its destruction.
In the end, God will use all of the persecutions and other unfair attacks against the Jews to bring them to a knowledge of their Messiah. Israel and the Jews will be on center stage as the Kingdom Age is established by the Messiah.
Especially around the end of each year, when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, we need more than ever to be sure about who He is. Was Jesus just a wise man who made the news headlines over two thousand years ago for speaking out against the rulers of the day? Was He a prophet with a direct line to God? Or was He indeed the Christ, our Savior, the Messiah?
Jesus knew it was vital His followers had no doubt about His identity. He asks them directly:
But who do you say that I am? Peter replies: “You are the Messiah.” (Luke 9:20)
We need to be as unequivocally certain as Peter was.
Why does it matter what we believe?
Believing Jesus is the Son of God, a member of the Holy Trinity, validates many of the key principles of our faith. We can be certain Jesus is God’s solution for this fallen world; that He is the only Way to salvation; that His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection brings us into good standing with God and eternal life.
In this article, we share Scripture that firmly establishes Jesus as the Son of God, and God Himself. As believers, we find truth and confirmation in the pages of the Bible, the authoritative Word of God.
For those who have a tough time believing the Bible, there are countless historical facts and testimonies that have stood the test of time, collaborating these truths. If you, or someone you love grapple with this, do not be afraid to explore some of these trusted resources that bring one to the very same truth. Sometimes the Holy Spirit uses science or history to lead people to God!
Proof Jesus is the Son of God found in the Bible
The Father publicly proclaimed Jesus as His Son
Not once, but twice God audibly spoke to people in a very public setting, claiming Jesus as his son, first at Jesus’ baptism with John the Baptist, and again on the mountain where Jesus was transfigured.
…the heavens opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, who I love. I am very pleased with him.” (Matthew 3:16-17)
…suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, who I love. I am very pleased with him. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:1-8)
Jesus identifies Himself as God
In John 8:25, the Jews ask Jesus, “Who are you?” In His response, He uses language they would understand, words that connect his identity with how God has always identified Himself to them:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58)
Others agree!
People who encountered Jesus, including the prophets of the Old Testament, His disciples and especially the authors of the books of the Bible, made claims in terms of his divinity by (1) applying divine names to Him, (2) ascribing divine attributes to Him, and (3) telling of the myriad of divine works He performed.
His divine names
The prophet Isaiah proclaimed the Lord’s deity and oneness with the Trinity in Isaiah 9:6:
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Councilor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
In Romans 9:5, the apostle Paul says of Jesus:
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.
And finally,
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (Colossians 1:15)
His divine attributes
Eternal
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. (John 1:1-2; also Isaiah 9:6, Revelation 1:8, 22:13)
Omnipotent
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority/power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18; also Isaiah 9:6, Philippians 3:21, Revelation 1:8)
Omniscient
And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them… (Matthew 12:25)
But he knew what they were thinking, and he said to the man… (Luke 6:8; also John 2:24-25, 21:17, Revelation 2:23)
Sharing the same attributes as the Father
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form. (Colossians 2:9)
Immutable (unable to change, forever the same)
He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; …but you remain the same, and your years will never end.” (Hebrews 1:10-12)
His divine works
The New Testament brims with stories of the wonderous miracles Jesus performed, instances where He changed lives dramatically and, most often, publicly with many witnesses in tow to spread the Good News. While sceptics try to discredit His acts as if it were mere trickery, there are works that leave no doubt as to the divine power of Jesus Christ.
In Jesus’ own words:
Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father. (John 10:37-38)
Let us explore a few of his specific powers or responsibilities … and stand in awe:
Jesus forgives the sins of man and gives eternal life
When Jesus told the paralyzed man in Mark 2:5-12, “Son, your sins are forgiven,” the teachers of the law was upset and asked, “Who can forgive sins but God along?” They had a point; but they did not grasp that the Man before them was indeed God. Jesus knew what they were thinking (His omniscience in play) and answered (v10):
“But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” (Also Matthew 9:2-7, Colossians 3:13)
Jesus receives and answers prayers
No ambiguity here! Jesus invites his followers to ask (pray) and assures them that their prayers will be answered–by Him!
You may ask me anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:14)
Christ created, upholds, and preserves all things
All things!
For in Him all things were created…. All things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:17)
Spend a bit of time here. What does it mean to you, personally, when you read that He holds all things together?
Jesus’ role in the resurrection
We have read about his immutability, the fact that He is Lord yesterday, today and will be tomorrow. He is also part of the final scenes of the world as we know it:
…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)
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead… (2 Timothy 4:1)
Having read that, what else can we do but pray: “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, we bow in awe and thankfulness. You are mighty and worthy and we praise you as the forever true Almighty God and King of our lives. Amen.”
After the incredible power that the Lord displayed at Mount Carmel through Elijah in 1 Kings 18 with the killing of 450 prophets of Baal, Jezebel threatened Elijah that his life was now in jeopardy because of these prophets of Baal. In response, Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. In 1 Kings 19:14, he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” He was not able to discern the 7,000 who “have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him (verse 18).” Paul quoted this in Romans 11:4-5 in reference to the remnant, those that return or remain, speaking of those who would be overcomers, spiritual Israel.
The term is often used to identify the Hebrew people who remain firm in their faith despite significant life challenges and threats. They continue to trust in the Lord despite all obstacles. Consider Isaiah 10:20-23, a prophecy of the return of the House of Israel from Assyrian captivity:
“Now in that day, the remnant of Israel, and those of the house of Jacob who have escaped, will never again rely on the one who struck them but will truly rely on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. For though your people, O Israel, maybe like the sand of the sea, only a remnant within them will return; a destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness. For a complete destruction, one that is decreed, the Lord God of hosts will execute in the midst of the whole land.”
No Other Gods
The Book of Isaiah starts with a complete indictment of the spiritual condition of Israel (see Isaiah 1:4-7), concluding that “unless the Lord of hosts had left us a few survivors, we would be like Sodom, we would be like Gomorrah” (verse 9). Like Elijah before him, only a few would commit themselves to the Lord’s righteousness and not succumb to idolatry. Isn’t this a foundational principle of one’s relationship with God? The first two of the ten commandments say, “You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol or any likeness of what is in heaven above, on the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God” (Exodus 20:3-5). Idolatry can take on many different forms, not just the creation of idols for worship.
In Isaiah 37, King Hezekiah seeks Isaiah in light of Assyria’s attack against Jerusalem, the Southern Kingdom. Isaiah assures the king, “Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land. And I will make him fall by the sword in his own land” (verse 7). Although Jerusalem was surrounded by the enemy so that the people could not work the fields for food sources, God had a provision:
“Then this shall be the sign for you: you will eat this year what grows of itself, in the second year what springs from the same, and in the third year, sow, reap, plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. The surviving remnant of the house of Judah will again take root downward and bear fruit upward. For out of Jerusalem will go forth a remnant and out of Mount Zion survivors. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Therefore, thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, ‘He will not come to this city or shoot an arrow there, and he will not come before it with a shield or throw up a siege ramp against it.’” (Isaiah 37:30-34)
Be Fruitful
The Lord promised He would provide food even when the people could not work the fields in the first and second years, and then, they could sow, reap, plant, and eat their fruit. When the remnant would take root downward and bear fruit upward, He was teaching them the spiritual principle that would allow them to survive against any obstacles. Psalm 1:2-3 speaks to this principle in light of the believer’s attitude toward the Word of God, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and His law, he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.”
In Jeremiah 17:7-8, the Lord addresses the one who trusts in the Lord, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord.For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.”
Fruitfulness has always been the Lord’s priority in His relationship with His people; the believer’s willingness to trust God and prioritize His Word are vehicles to spirituality.
“But I will leave among you a humble and lowly people, and they will take refuge in the name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel will do no wrong and tell no lies, nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths; for they will feed and lie down with no one to make them tremble. Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away His judgments against you; He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; Youwill fear disaster no more.” (Zephaniah 3:12-15)
Kingdom Age
Through the prophet Zephaniah, God prophesied a coming restoration of Israel, to be fulfilled in the Kingdom Age, the 1,000-year reign of the Messiah. In it, the Lord further defined the remnant as a humble and lowly people, and they will take refuge in the name of the Lord. They live by God’s standards and lie down with no one to make them tremble. The ultimate victory over every enemy, including their sin nature, is found when the Lord, the King of Israel, is in your midst; Youwill fear disaster no more.
“Then it will happen on that day that the Lord will again recover the second time with His hand the remnant of His people, who will remain from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And He will lift up a standard for the nations and assemble the banished ones of Israel and will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. Then the jealousy of Ephraim [Northern Kingdom] will depart, and those who harass Judah [Southern Kingdom] will be cut off; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, and Judah will not harass Ephraim. They will swoop down on the slopes of the Philistines on the west; together, they will plunder the sons of the east; they will possess Edom and Moab, and the sons of Ammon will be subject to them. And the Lord will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt, and He will wave His hand over the River with His scorching wind, andHe will strike it into seven streams and make men walk over dry-shod. And there will be a highway [mesillah – a major roadway, a key travel route] from Assyria for the remnant of His people who will be left, just as there was for Israel in the day that they came up out of the land of Egypt.” (Isaiah 11:11-16)
When Isaiah refers to recovery the second time, he is not referring to the return from Assyrian captivity, but rather the second recovery to take place in the Millennial Reign of Messiah. This passage refers to the return of both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms to their Messiah. None of each kingdom’s enemies during their first return will be able to interrupt their passage. Even rivers and streams, which would otherwise be an obstacle, will be dried up to make men walk over dry-shod. The highway will be a major roadway, a key travel route to bring the remnant under the dominion of their God to walk in His righteousness. Isaiah 35:8-10 tells us it is a Highway of Holiness:
“A highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be called the Highway [derek – a traveled pathway] of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for him who walks that way, and fools will not wander on it. No lion will be there, nor will any vicious beast go up on it; these will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk there, And the ransomed of the Lord will return and come with joyful shouting to Zion, with everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”
Across Every Generation
God’s plan is for the remnant of God to be represented in each generation as a means of fully manifesting His righteousness to anyone in search of a righteous God. During the captivities, the remnant was represented by Esther, Mordecai, Ezekiel, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, to name a few. Each one, in their way, faced the challenge of an authority who wished to supplant the lordship of Yahweh. In Ezekiel 6:8-10, “However, I will leave a remnant, for you will have those who escaped the sword among the nations when you are scattered among the countries. Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations to which they will be carried captive, how I have been hurt by their adulterous hearts which turned away from Me, and by their eyes which played the harlot after their idols; and they will loathe themselves in their sight for the evils which they have committed, for all their abominations. Then they will know that I am the Lord; I have not said in vain that I would inflict this disaster on them.”
When David was first anointed King, he was 30 years old, and it took place at Hebron; Jerusalem was still under the control of the Jebusites. It was the Lord’s intention that David would ultimately reign from Jerusalem and not Hebron. Hebron means “association” or “affiliation,” a reference to one’s horizontal relationship to others. On the other hand, Jerusalem represents the presence of God, a vertical relationship to Him. In 2 Samuel 5:5, At Hebron, he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem, he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah. Yahweh’s authority over all of Israel takes place at Jerusalem. The believer’s relationship with God begins at Jerusalem where His presence is experienced. He is a jealous God.
“At that time,” declares the Lord, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.” Thus says the Lord, “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness—Israel when it went to find its rest.” The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have drawn you with lovingkindness.” (Jeremiah 31:1-3)
