Author: Jim

Bible Gifts Part 2

1 Corinthians 12:28
Apostles.  Given to men to carry on the work of Christ until the Scripture would be completed wherein Pastors, Prophets and Teacher would expound on the Word of God.           
Prophets. The gift of prophet is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to communicate the message of God to His people from the Holy Scripture.
Teachers. The gift of teaching is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to communicate information relevant to the health and ministry of the body and its members in such a way that others will learn
Miracles. The gift of miracles is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to serve as human intermediaries through whom it pleases God to perform such powerful acts that are perceived by observers to have altered the ordinary course of nature.
Healings. The gift of healing is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to serve as human intermediaries through whom it pleases God to cure illness and restore health apart from the use of natural means.
Helps. The gift of hospitality is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to provide an open house and a warm welcome to those in need of food and lodging.
Governments. The gift of administration (government) is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to understand clearly the immediate and long range goals of a particular unit of the body of Christ and to devise and execute effective plans for the accomplishment of those goals
Diversities of Tongues. The gift of tongues is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the body of Christ (a) to speak to God in a language they have never learned and/or (b) to receive and communicate an immediate message of God to His people through a divinely – anointed utterance in a language they have never learned.

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What Kind of Body do the Dead have in Heaven? Part 2

On His resurrection day, many graves were opened and bodies came out of the graves Matthew 27:52-53. Were these raised bodies like Lazarus
(John 11:14-44) only to die later? (Lazarus did not come out of the grave with a glorified body). Or did these perhaps follow the Lord Jesus into heaven after His ascension? The scripture is silent on this.

So, the souls/spirits in Paradise had a form (body) that was recognizable to them and to anyone else who might have seen them. But what about today, since the Lord ascended into Heaven? One dies, the body is buried, cremated or otherwise disposed of, prayerfully in a proper way. Soul/Spirit go to be with the Lord (Paul words absent from the body present with the Lord,
2 Corinthians 5:6-8). Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.). We know that the departed do not receive a glorified (Flesh and Bone) body, that is not given until the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Paul expounds on this glorified body (1 Cor 15:35-58).
But what about now? Those Souls/Spirits that are in Heaven right now. It is apparent from the brief study above, they have a form (body) that is identifiable to all and they are in perfect peace and happiness. But we who alive look for that blessed hope (Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;) and our glorified bodies.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Image result for our heavenly body

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Bishop, Elder, Deacon Part 5

Acts 7:35  This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.
Exodus 2:14  And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us?

Acts 7:37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
Deuteronomy 18:15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

Acts 7:40  Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
Exodus 32:23  For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

Acts 7:42-43 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? 43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
Acts 7:49-50 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? 50 Hath not my hand made all these things
Isaiah 66:1-2  Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? 2 For all those things hath mine hand made,

Philip

Acts 8:32-33 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
Isaiah 53:7:8 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. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

Paul

Acts 13:33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
Psalm 2:7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Acts 13:34   And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.
Isaiah 55:3  Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Acts 13: 35  Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Psalm 16:10  For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Acts 13:41  Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you
Ecclesiastes 8:17  Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea farther; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

Acts 13:47  For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
Isaiah 42:6  I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

Acts 23:5  Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
Exodus 22:28  Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

Acts 28:26-27 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Isaiah 6:9-10 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

James

Acts 15:16-17 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
Amos 9:11-12  In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: 12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the Lord that doeth this.
Jeremiah 3:17  At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.

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Bishop, Elder, Deacon Part 4

Acts 4:11  This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Isa 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Acts 4:25-26  Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
Psalm 2:1-2 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed
Stephen

Acts 7:3   And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
Genesis 12:1  Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

Acts 7:7  And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.
Genesis 15:14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

Acts 7:27-28 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?
Exodus 2:14  And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.

Acts 7:32  Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
Exodus 3:6  Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

Acts 7:33-34 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground. 34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.
Exodus 3:5-9 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.7 And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.

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Bishop, Elder, Deacon Part 2

The elders that rule.

In the case of Bishop it’s an office (3:1 ) and Deacon it’s an office (3:10) but not so with elder. Could this just be older men who teach the word and doctrine? (5:17)

Now in Paul’s epistle to Titus he says to ORDAIN ELDERS. To ordain simply means to set apart (for the purpose suggested in Timothy). It does not appear that the elder is a Bishop (pastor) or Deacon (both offices in the church).
Titus 1:5  For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

Elders were to have standards to be ordained.

Titus 1:6  If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
Titus 1:7-9  For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;  But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;  Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

However, If we put TITUS 1:5-9 all together it would appear that ELDER in verse 5 should have been better translated BISHOP. Leaving the only offices in a Church (according to Paul) would be BISHOP (Pastor) and DEACONS.

This use of elder probably refers to an older man, not a pastor.
1 Timothy 5:1  Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;

As with this instruction, elder refers to older women, not an office.
1 Timothy 5:2  The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

 Acts 1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
Psalm 69:25 Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.
Psalm 109:8 Let his days be few; and let another take his office.

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Jew – Old Testament

a member of the people and cultural community whose traditional religion is Judaism and who trace their origins through the ancient Hebrew people of Israel to Abraham.
The word JEW is only used in the Old Testament 12 times, and it first appears in the book of ESTHER where it is used 10 times. In each case it refers to Mordecai and his people:

Image result for Mordecai the Jew

2:5 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
3:4 Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.
5:13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.
6:10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.
8:7 Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.
9:29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.
9:31 To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.
10:3 For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.

The last two occurrences of the word are found in Jeremiah and Zechariah,
That the word JEW and Hebrew are synonymous is seen:
Jeremiah 34:9 That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being an Hebrew or an Hebrewess, go free; that none should serve himself of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother.
Zechariah 8:23 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.

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Jew – New Testament

a member of the people and cultural community whose traditional religion is Judaism and who trace their origins through the ancient Hebrew people of Israel to Abraham.

The word JEW(S) appears in the New Testament 28 times, and each time it refers to an individual or group of people. It appears in the Gospels only 3 times. Each time referring to the Lord Jesus.

John 4:9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
 John 18:35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?

And in the book of Acts 9 times. Each time referring to an individual or group of people. ACTS:

10:28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
13:6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
18:2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
18:24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
19:14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
19:34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
21:39 But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.
22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.              

The last 16 times the term is used is found in the epistles written by the apostle Paul, the Jew.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 2:9-10 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
Romans 2:17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
Romans 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Romans 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

1 Corinthians 9:20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

Galatians 2:14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Be sure to read the verses sited in context.

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To Jews Only

When Jesus sent forth His 12 apostles he gave them instructions NOT to deal with Gentiles:
Matthew 10:5-6   These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
And during his ministry he spoke with a woman of Canaan (gentile) seeking healing for her daughter telling her he was here for the house of Israel (Jews only).

Image result for the woman of canaan and her daughter

Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
After the resurrection, His apostles continued only to going to the house of Israel (Jews) only:
Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Acts 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
After Saul’s conversion (and he became Paul) he would go to Jewish synagogues to present Jesus as the messiah, but as they would not receive him he turned to the Gentiles and started the Church.
Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Image result for paul going to the gentiles

From then on, both Jew and Gentile, to be saved, had to believe in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 
Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

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God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob

Image result for abraham isaac jacob

Why does the Scripture refer to God as the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob/Israel?

The Lord Jesus used the phrase:
Matthew 22:32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
Mark 12:26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
Luke 20:37 Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
Peter speaking to the men of Israel used the phrase:
Acts 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him …
Stephen quoted it in his defense of why he believed Jesus was the Messiah:
Acts 7:32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
Why is it so important to mention all three men? 
A study of Abraham in Genesis shows that God gave Promises, Covenants to Abraham and his seed. Abraham was the father of two (2) important men (and many other children Gen 25:1-3) Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael was blessed by God and had many children, but was not in line for the Promises, Covenants. Isaac (the promised son) had two (2) sons, Easu and Jacob. Easu, although blessed of God was not in line for the Promises, Covenants. Jacob, later named by God, Israel was. He had twelve (12) sons who became the twelve tribes of Israel. All of the Promises, Covenants given to Abraham passed to Isaac and on to Jacob/Israel and the twelve sons who became the Jewish Nation.
Many peoples in the world, particularly the middle east can lay claim to being the children of Abraham through the blood of Ishmael or Abraham’s second wife Keturah, or through Isaac’s son Easu. But the Promises, Covenants, can only be claimed by the Jew, children who come through the line of ABRAHAM, ISAAC, and JACOB.

The Abrahamic Promises, Covenants DO NOT apply to the Church today. Our Promises come from the pen of the Apostle PAUL found in the epistles: Romans through Philemon. And they are only for those who believe the Gospel

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Death, Burial and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
God promised Abraham a land, a kingdom, a people and a king to reign forever and made a Covenant with him.
SEE: Genesis 12:1-3, 15:18, Exodus 19:5-8,
Deuteronomy 30:1-10, 2 Samuel 7:4-17
The Apostle Paul reminds the Hebrews (Jews) of Gods Covenant/Promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel: Hebrews 6:13-17, 11:9
The phrase “God of” appears 456 times.     23 times as “God of heaven” –
201 times as “God of Israel” – 17 times as “God of Abraham” – 6 times “God of the Hebrews” 
Some Interesting references to scripture where all three men are names:
Genesis 28:13 And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land …
Genesis 32:9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord which saidst unto me, …
Exodus 3:6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; …
Exodus 3:15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and …
Exodus 3:16 Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, …
Exodus 4:5 That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared …
1 Kings 18:36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and …
1 Chronicles 29:18 O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, …
2 Chronicles 30:6 So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, … saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, …
If a person does not come thru the generations of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob: they are not a JEW!

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Letter to a Jewish Friend

My daughter-in-law wrote this to a Jewish friend. I thought it good to share it:   

A Letter to a Jewish Friend:                                      

Suzanne, just to clarify, everything I’m sharing is all Scripture-based.  I’m happy you’ll be able to look things up for yourself.  I’ve attached two documents along with this and hope you find them helpful.  One is a chart my father-in-law put together of a bird’s eye view of the Bible.  The second is Law and Grace by Scofield, a great Bible scholar and teacher.  He says what I was trying to in a much more eloquent way, but I encourage you not to take his word for it (which I kind of doubt you will….SMILE), but look up everything he references. 

What I hope God reveals to you is that the layer is LAW and NOT Jesus.  The law condemns us, but Jesus sets us free.  Without looking at the entire Bible, it’s difficult to understand God’s overall plan and hard to address your comment “if the Messiah has already come then what are we still doing here?”  I can’t prove to you the Bible is true any more than you can prove to an atheist that God is real.  My prayer is that you will read the entire Bible and seek God’s truth.

Additionally, there is a passage in Exodus when God is about to give Moses the Ten Commandments.  The Israelites actually hear God’s voice.  They were so terrified that they said to Moses, “Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”  The Israelites didn’t want direct access to God.  God used prophets, priests, judges, and even allowed them kings at their request.  They wanted layers between them and God and wanted to avoid dealing with God directly.

I would encourage you to read through Genesis chapter 3 regarding the “her seed” comment made by God to the serpent.  You mentioned that a Jewish woman gets her identity from her mother, but Adam and Eve were not Jewish.  Race did not happen until the Tower of Babel, and God had not set aside Israel as His chosen people at that time.  Also, Adam and Eve were the only two humans, so it wouldn’t have been necessary for God to make such a distinction as Eve had no options BUT Adam as the father of her offspring.  The comment references “her seed” because Jesus would be virgin born and not have a biological human father.  Otherwise, God created Adam first and should have said, “I’ll put enmity between thy seed and Adam’s seed.”  I think there’s only one other time in the Bible that “her seed” is used when God is speaking directly to Rebekah.  Therefore, this is a very specific and unique reference by God.

Regarding the Messiah, I reviewed the website your rabbi recommended.  For convenience, it says: “The moshiach will be a great political leader descended from King David (Jeremiah 23:5).  The moshiach is often referred to as “moshiach ben David” (moshiach, son of David).  He will be well-versed in Jewish law, and observant of its commandments (Isaiah 11:2-5).  He will be a charismatic leader, inspiring others to follow his example.  He will be a great military leader, who will win battles for Israel.  He will be a great judge, who makes righteous decisions (Jeremiah 33:15).  But above all, he will be a human being, not a god, demi-god or other supernatural being.  It has been said that in every generation, a person is born with the potential to be the moshiach.  If the time is right for the messianic age within that person’s lifetime, then that person will be the moshiach.  But if that person dies before he completes the mission of the moshiach, then that person is not the moshiach.”  However, if you look up all three passages, you will see that “Branch” and “King” are capitalized.  Capitalization in the Bible is denoting God or Deity, not man.

⇛ continue reading Letter to a Jewish Friend Part 2
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