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The Bible Says
One Bible prophesy said Christ would be a Nazarene; another said he would come out of Egypt; and a third declared He would be born in Bethlehem. No wonder these scholars were confused! Now we have the Gospel of Matthew that tell us clearly why Christ was born in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:1-7); why Joseph took Him to Egypt (Matt. 2:13-15); why the family returned to Israel (Matt. 2:19-21); and why they finally ended up in the city of Nazareth (Matt. 2:22,23).
Ron Carlson was once confronted by two men who claimed to believe the Bible but did not believe in the Trinity, or the deity of Jesus Christ. Ron first turned to Revelation 1:8 which reads thus: “I am Alpha and Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Ron asked, “who is speaking here?” ‘I am the Alpha and Omega,’ says who?” The younger man answered, “Says the Lord God, Jehovah God!” “You are absolutely right,” Ron replied. “We believe that the Alpha and Omega is Jehovah God, just as it says.” He showed them Rev. 21:5-7 and Rev. 22:13. Each time they agreed that Alpha and Omega, could be said of no one but Jehovah God. Ron continued, “There is just one more passage. Do you think you could help me with it?” “Oh,” they said, “We’d be glad to.” They openly smiled now as Ron appeared to grasp their understanding of Jehovah God. Ron said, “The passage in Revelation 1:17,18. Will you read it for me?” The elder of the two read a few lines and then Ron said, “Stop. I’ve been trying to figure out who the First and the Last is. Tell me who he is.” They replied, “We just saw who the first and the last is. The first and the last is Alpha and Omega, Jehovah God.” Ron asked, “You mean to tell me the First and the Last is Jehovah God?” They replied, “Of course he’s Jehovah God.” Ron replied, “Well keep reading.” I am the Living One , I was dead and behold I am alive for ever and ever. And I hold the keys of death and Hades. (Revelation 1:18). Ron then asked, “When did Jehovah die? When did God die?” Silence reigned. At last, the leader of the two, acknowledged, “I’ve never seen it like that before.” Ron Carlson, & Ed Decker “Fast Facts On False Teachings”(Harvest House Publishers, c.1994) p.127-130 (abridged)
Jesus said: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26). During another session with His 12 disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are the eyes which see the things which ye see: for I tell you many prophets and kings have desired to see those things that ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them” (Luke 10:23,24). How fortunate we are! We might have been born in some remote part of the world where all Bible truth is totally unknown. Or we could have lived in America and educated in one of the schools of higher learning, where our mind was poisoned with unbelief. Again we could have been a typical American, so taken up with pleasure seeking, or earthly cares and frustrations, that we are not the least interested in Bible truth. For those who really want the truth, God has made it available to us. Those early disciples were blessed with an earnest desire to know the truth. They spent 3 1/2 years at the feet of the greatest Teacher earth has ever known. At the end of that time Jesus said, regretfully, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bare them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth . . .” (John 16:12,13).
It includes the entire span of some 33 years when the spotless Son of God lived without sin in a sinful world and then died to save sinners! A synopsis of the Christmas story is briefly stated in
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived of the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
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