We have advertised the way you see, above left, because we think first if someone makes such colossal, some will say, unbelievable claims as are in the verses above, they should be able easily to find the failings of such claims. ​​ Second, since God’s plans seem very impressive, they are well worth a few minutes to test their​​ credibility. ​​ Before we get down to business, let us whet your appetite with a peep into God’s plans that He says, “will never fail”.

³ ​​​​ Trust in the LORD, and​​ do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.​​ ⁴ ​​​​ Delight thyself also in the LORD; and​​ he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.​​ ⁵ ​​​​ Commit thy way unto the LORD;​​ trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​  ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Psalm 37

He promises the wicked and all evil shall be removed from the earth.​​

^9​​  For​​ evildoers shall be cut off: but​​ those that wait upon the​​ LORD, they shall inherit the earth.​​ ¹⁰​​  For yet a little while, and​​ the wicked​​ shall​​ not​​ be: yea,​​ thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it​​ shall​​ not​​ be.​​ ¹¹​​  But​​ the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.​​   Psalm 37

Beauty and tranquillity of nature will be re-established like the Garden of Eden.​​

¹​​  The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and​​ the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.​​ ²​​  It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon,​​ they shall see the glory of the​​ LORD,​​ and​​ the excellency of our God.​​ ³​​  Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.​​ Isaiah 35​​ 

Just one more​​ Biblical insight into the future, before we look at the key question.

^4​​  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.​​    Revelation 21

The Bible promises wonderful things for the individual in a​​ world free of evil and wickedness. ​​ A world at peace, full of beauty, comfort, joy and much more. Clearly, we need to know the integrity and reliability of the book before we commit to studying its pages.​​ The best test of the Bible is are the prophecies made in it recorded before the event. For instance, the Jews, who knew the Old Testament scriptures, were expecting the coming of the Messiah – Jesus Christ. ​​ For instance, when John the Baptist was preaching and baptising we read in Luke,

¹⁵​​  And as​​ the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John,​​ whether he were the Christ, or not;​​ ¹⁶​​  John answered, saying unto​​ them​​ all, I indeed baptize you with water; but​​ one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not​​ worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.​​   Luke 3​​ 

Long before that, soon after Jesus was born, we read again, in the same gospel,

^25​​  And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name​​ was​​ Simeon; and the same man​​ was​​ just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.​​ ²⁶​​  And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that​​ he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.​​ ²⁷​​  And he came by the Spirit into the temple:​​ and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,​​ ²⁸​​  Then​​ took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,​​ ²⁹​​  Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.​​   Luke 2​​ 

More significant than that were the wise men that came from the East,​​

²​​  Saying,​​ Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.  ​​ Matthew 2

This greatly disturbed Herod, the cruel, power-hungry ‘king’ who was a puppet ruler under the Roman occupancy of Israel and wanted no rival.​​

⁴​​  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together,​​ he demanded of them where Christ should be born.​​ ⁵​​  And they said unto him,​​ In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,​​ ^6​​  And​​ thou Bethlehem,​​ in​​ the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.​​    Matthew 2

The leaders of Israel too were expecting their Messiah, and they quoted to Herod the Old Testament prophet Micah,

^2​​  But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah,​​ though​​ thou be little among the thousands of Judah,​​ yet​​ out of thee shall he come forth unto me​​ that is​​ to be ruler in Israel; whose​​ goings forth​​ have been​​ from of old, from everlasting.​​   Micah 5

There are many more Old Testament prophecies of the coming of the Messiah. ​​ The 2nd​​ Psalm is all about God’s Son, who would, only then, be named Jesus Christ when he came to Israel .

^2​​  The​​ kings of the earth set themselves,​​ and the rulers take counsel together,​​ against the​​ LORD, and against his anointed,​​ saying,​​ ³​​  Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away​​ their cords from us.​​ … …​​ ⁷​​  I will declare the decree:​​ the​​ LORD​​ hath said unto me, Thou​​ art​​ my Son;​​ this day have I begotten thee.​​         Psalm 2

But, the key question is, were these prophecies about Jesus Christ certainly written before he lived? ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​

That is, simply put, can it be proved that the Old Testament,​​ so full of​​ prophecies concerning the Lord Jesus that he has since fulfilled,​​ was written well before his birth? ​​

An amazing sequence of events began in 1947 when a young Arab shepherd was collecting his flock and saw one of his goats up on the rocks.

“Scholarly consensus dates these scrolls from the last three centuries BCE and the first century CE. The texts have great​​ historical, religious, and linguistic significance because they include the second-oldest known surviving manuscripts of works later included in the Hebrew Bible.” (Old Testament). ​​ “The Dead Sea Scrolls contain parts of all, but one, of the books of the Tanakh, of the Hebrew Bible.” ​​ The book of Esther is the only one not represented.

Now you will see why we wanted you to know, if you don’t already, about the Dead Sea scrolls. ​​ Scholars and scientists, Christian and non-Christian are agreed that​​ there is overwhelming evidence that the youngest books of the Old Testament were written at least 150 years before Jesus was born, and that there are many manuscripts of earlier books that are older than that. ​​ 

This means that, certainly, there is a God who is in control of this world​​ because no man or woman could have known about the birth and life of Jesus in Old Testament times except by reading God’s Word in the Hebrew Bible. ​​ In fact, there are many other prophecies about people, nations, and events, that happened after The Old Testament it was completed. ​​ Therefore, logic tells us all the words that God instructed the Hebrew prophets to write about Himself and His purpose are absolute truth.  ​​ ​​ ​​​​

^5​​  I​​ am​​ the​​ LORD, and​​ there is​​ none else,​​ there is​​ no God beside​​ me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:​​ ^6​​  That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that​​ there is​​ none beside me. I​​ am​​ the​​ LORD, and​​ there is​​ none else.​​ ⁷​​  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the​​ LORD​​ do all these​​ things. … …​​ ^11​​  Thus saith the​​ LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker,​​ Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.​​ ¹²​​  I have made the earth, and created man upon it:​​ I,​​ even​​ my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.  Isaiah 45​​ 

What is more, if He can so control the writing of His words and the events that followed, it is completely reasonable that He should be able to, and does ensure His word is preserved through the centuries. Historians give us fascinating details of​​ efforts of the enemies of Bible truth, efforts to destroy God’s words and the amazing ways in which it was preserved. God told the Israelites who wrote and copied the manuscripts as they wore out,

²​​  Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish​​ ought​​ from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the​​ LORD​​ your God which I command you.​​  Deuteronomy 4

As a consequence of this command, the​​ scribes took great care copying manuscripts and made meticulous checks between the old and new treasured documents.​​

God tells us He created the earth for a purpose, which includes it being inhabited, and He has explained what is His purpose in His Word -​​ the Holy Scriptures – the Old and New Testaments.​​

¹⁸​​  For thus saith the​​ LORD​​ that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it,​​ he created it not in vain*, he formed it to be inhabited: I​​ am​​ the​​ LORD; and​​ there is​​ none else.​​ ¹⁹​​  I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain:​​ I the​​ LORD​​ speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.  ​​​​  *vain =​​ ‏תֹּהוּ‎​​ -​​ tōhû ​​ (Hebrew) ​​ meaning: ​​ to lie​​ waste; to lie waste; a​​ worthless​​ thing Isaiah 45

God says creation itself witnesses that He is there and the universe is His handiwork.​​

²⁰​​  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the​​ things that are made,​​ even​​ his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:​​   Romans 1

The only way a man or woman can know about life and the future is by reading God’s Word. ​​ There, He has in His Word explained all the mysteries and puzzles that we need to know to reach the joys we mentioned near the beginning of this article. ​​

^9​​  But as it is written,​​ Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. …​​ … ​​ 

No man or woman can know God, His will, or His purpose, except they listen to His Word, or His Apostles to whom He has told it. ​​ We invite you to share it with us … …​​

¹⁰​​  God hath revealed​​ them​​ unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the​​ deep things of God.​​   1 Corinthians 2

These are the wonderful things that God has given to faithful men by His spirit to teach others and record in His word we called the Bible.

¹⁶​​  All scripture​​ is​​ given by inspiration of God, and​​ is​​ profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:​​ ¹⁷​​  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.​​   2 Timothy 3​​

This is the glad tidings, the good news, the gospel that Jesus and the apostles​​ taught … ​​

¹​​  And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village,​​ preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve​​ were​​ with him.​​  ​​ Luke 8​​ 

And details of the many aspects of that gospel can be​​ found in other articles on this website, which we invite you to browse, but we must end this article here. ​​ To go to another article giving different evidence of the truth of the Bible follow this link.

• How can Israel be God’s witnesses? – April 2021

Understanding Jesus Christ – part one.

11  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  ​​ ​​​​ Luke 2

We find the birth of Jesus recorded in The Gospel of Matthew where we read:
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just​​ man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered​​ this, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying,
​​ ‘’Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’’​​   Matthew​​ 1:18-21 RSV
This birth was uniquely different because never before had a young woman who had not known a man conceived a child. Yet, for those who knew their Scriptures, this was not an unexpected occurrence for some 800 years before the prophet Isaiah had, under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, prophesied that this was exactly what should happen.​​
‘Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.’​​  Isaiah 7:14 ​​
Not only would this birth be factual, but he stated, as we can see, that the child would be a son whose character and attributes would exactly mirror those of his Heavenly Father so that, in that sense alone, he could be termed ‘Immanuel’, that is, ‘God with us’. So the actuality of this extraordinary event was known – they just did not know when, and to whom it should happen.​​ ‘A virgin shall conceive and bear a son’;​​ that is all that was known of the young​​ woman.

But when the time for this miraculous birth arrived, Mary knew because as we have read, an angelic messenger from God told her; and further, Joseph was told not to be at all concerned about taking ​​ her as his wife, for she had done no wrong; her condition had come about by the action of God’s Spirit power. The corresponding record of his birth is to be found in Luke 1:26-35.

To the natural mind this birth was extraordinary; but this was of God and​​ ‘with God all things are possible …’​​ ​​ (Matthew 19:26)​​ ​​ This is a fundamental principle we have to accept; God’s power is immense and by it He can achieve whatever He wishes.

So, the egg in Mary, fertilized by God’s power, developed and in due time Jesus was born into the world – a male child of flesh and​​ blood through his mother’s nature and therefore subject to death – like you and I – possessing through that nature the same desires and tendency to disobey we all have, being​​ ‘… made of a woman, made under the Law’. (Galatians 4:4).​​ ​​ The Apostle Paul is here making reference to the Law of sin and death introduced by God as the result of the disobedience of Adam and Eve. (Genesis 3:17-19).

It should be noted that the descriptions of Christ’s birth we have referred to, precludes the possibility of Christ having a prior existence; the words used, conceive, birth, made of a woman, are all descriptive of the beginning of a life.

At this point it is pertinent to ask, ‘Why was he born and what is it that makes him so important to mankind?’ ​​ Paul, writing to the​​ Galatians tells us:
‘God sent forth his son, made of a woman, made under the law,​​ to redeem them​​ that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons’.​​  Galatian 4:4-5. ​​
That is to say that by adoption, all men and women might have the​​ opportunity to escape death and become related to God eternally, as sons and daughters. ​​ It is this intention that was in the mind of God from the very beginning; a fact confirmed in​​ John 1:1 &14​​ where we read ‘​​ In the beginning was the Word (Gk. Logos meaning ‘purpose or intent’) ……’ and the Word (Logos) became flesh and dwelt among us’. ​​​​ Christ’s saving role is also indicated in other titles used of him e.g. ‘Christ the Redeemer’, and ‘Christ the Saviour’.

From his birth onwards we know little of his childhood, save what is written in Luke’s Gospel where we read​​ … …
‘And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him’.​​   Luke 3:39 
It is clear his wisdom came from the Jewish Old Testament Scriptures, and no doubt from the guidance he received from his God-fearing parents. ​​ His knowledge of those scriptures was soon to astound his hearers. When he was 12 years old, his parents went to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem, and Jesus, having gone missing, was eventually found in the Temple among the Doctors of the Law, hearing them and asking them questions, and they were astonished at his understanding, as the scriptures tell us.​​
‘And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers’ ​​ Luke 12:46
. ​​​​ Clearly he had immersed himself in the wisdom of God as revealed in the Scriptures, and when rebuked by his mother for leaving them he said,​​
‘How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers business?​​  Luke 2:49
This answer indicates his awareness of the role God intended for him; his obedience to his earthly parents and obvious love of God and obedience to His commandments became a fitting preparation for the rest of his short life.

His work really began when he​​ was baptized by John and God’s Spirit power was conferred upon him.
‘And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him; and there came a voice from heaven saying, Thou are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’.​​   Mark 1:10-11
Not only was his status as the Son of God confirmed at this time, but the power that was now his, was​​ to enable him to perform the most amazing miracles, even to raising the dead, as proof that he spoke and acted with Divine authority. In everything he did he gave the glory to God as he later said:​​
‘… as my Father hath taught me , I speak these things’.​​ John 8:28​​ ;

​​ and ‘the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me’.​​ John 6:36
He recognized that without God’s help and guidance he was powerless.

His primary role was to preach the Gospel, aided by men chosen by him to carry on this preaching effort after his death. To this end he appointed twelve disciples – men from a variety of​​ occupations, who, through close contact with him and his words were to believe in him, as the one sent by God to preach salvation to mankind. ​​ John recognized this when he declared:
‘Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God’.​​   ​​ John 6:68-9
It is this that makes his role in life so important for us for as Matthew states,
‘He shall save his people from their sins’. Matthew 1:21. ​​
Sin, which is disobedience to God, brought death; Christ was to make salvation possible by doing what the first Adam failed to do – by perfectly obeying his Father’s will, no matter the personal cost. God Willing, our next article will describe how well he succeeded in fulfilling​​ the role for which he was destined.​​ 

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