Listen on:
Episodes
Sunday Dec 29, 2024
Sunday Dec 29, 2024
Real Faith
Life is filled with good and wonderful days of joy and fun but also trials and tribulations. Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4.
Life has highs and lows, ups and downs as taught in the wisdom literature in the book of Job and Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
Everyone stumbles and falls in life, including the rich and poor.
The Holy Bible instructs us to be patient, persevere, and endure hardships and difficulties, knowing that patience and continual faithfulness to the Sovereign LORD God, like Job, lead to the Sovereign LORD God’s blessings. Matthew 5:10-12; Job 42:1-17; James 5:7-11.
One God
One God existing as God the Father, God the Son - Jesus, and God the Spirit. Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:2-13; Ephesians 4:4-6; Titus 3:4-6.
Living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth, who is the Holy Father of Christ Jesus our Lord. Deuteronomy 6:4-6; 1 Corinthians 8:4, 6.
One with Son - Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit of God. John 10:30, 36-38.
Love and worship the true and living God of heaven and earth. Exodus 20:3-5; Matthew 22:37.
Repentance
Repentance brings healing and life. Ezekiel 18:23, 32.
Jesus, all the Old Testament prophets, and Jesus’s apostles taught repentance. (Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17).
Count your blessings and each joy.
We can always count on the living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth when we need wisdom and guidance by seeking Him and looking up to heaven in prayer and wholehearted faith. Matthew 7:7-11; Mark 11:23-24; James 1:5-6.
Sovereign LORD God is filled with blessings and goodness from heaven as we humbly and faithfully follow Him. John 3:27; James 1:17.
Crown of Life.
Sovereign LORD God promises His blessings, grace, crown of life, and glory if we faithfully and humbly walk with Him daily. Matthew 6:1-21, 33; 1 Corinthians 9:25; 2 Timothy 4:8; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4.
Sovereign LORD God gives His abundant grace to those who are humble and trust in Him by faith and obedience. James 4:6, 10.
Draw near the Sovereign LORD God, and He will come to you with His goodness and light. Isaiah 1:16; James 4:8.
Sovereign LORD God is good and gracious to everyone - the least and the greatest of these who come to Him by faith and obedience. Matthew 20:1-16.
Flee Evildoing
Walking and following Satan’s evil and dark ways lead to death and destruction. Romans 5:15; Romans 6:23; James 1:12-15.
Flee the evils and temptations of Satan. Isaiah 1:16.
Lay aside and turn away from all Satan’s wickedness and darkness. James 1:21; James 4:7.
Satan’s selfishness and greed lead to wars, fights, murder, and quarrels. James 4:1-4.
Riches and fame are only temporary and can lead to misery and despair if obtained by lying, cheating, and hurting others. James 5:1-6.
Obedience as Doers of God’s Word
Christ Jesus has commanded everyone to obey Him and His Holy Father’s teaching and words. Matthew 7:15-23; Luke 8:21; John 14:15-17.
Good deeds towards others with kindness lead to God’s blessings from heaven. James 1:22-27.
Our daily conduct, actions, and behavior matter in the eyes of the Sovereign LORD God because He wants everyone to live and produce the righteous fruit of His Kingdom - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control and not the evil deeds of Satan’s evil and dark kingdom of division, selfishness, and hatred. Romans 12:1-15:33; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Galatians 5:19-23; Colossians 3:12-15.
Christ Jesus has called everyone to good and faithful service as Kingdom citizens for His Holy Father’s glory. Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27.
Loving others equally and never hating or discriminating against others, whether rich or poor, black or white. James 2:1-8
Mercy and fairness toward others are what Jesus demands of all people. Matthew 5:8; Matthew 7:12; Matthew 9:13; Matthew 12:7; Matthew 22:34-40; Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42; James 2:13; cf. Leviticus 19:18.
Caring and sharing for others. James 2:12-26; 1 John 3:17-18.
Our goodness towards others shines God’s light in the world for His glory. Matthew 5:14-16.
Everyone is justified and declared right or righteous before the Sovereign LORD God by our good deeds and works. James 2:24-26.
According to the New Testament book of James, faith without good works and good deeds is dead faith. James 2:26.
Our good deeds and good works done in humble service reveal our divine wisdom. Galatians 6:7-10; James 3:13.
Let us all aim to do good deeds towards others for God’s glory and praise. Proverbs 3:27; Romans 12:9-14, 21; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Titus 3:8, 14.
True wisdom comes from goodness and helping others, not selfishness, envy, self-indulgence, and greed. James 3:13-16.
Fruits of righteousness…. Peace, love, mercy, truth, and humility. James 3:17-18.
Our Words
Use your words and tongues wisely to encourage and uplift others and yourself, not speak evil of one another. James 4:11.
Our words can bring poison, death, life, hope, blessing, and curses. Matthew 12:36-37; Matthew 15:11, 18; James 3:6-10.
Continual Prayer
We must pray daily and seek the Sovereign LORD God as our loving Heavenly Father for all our daily needs, good health, and life’s enjoyment. Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-13; James 5:13-18.
Pray with persistence. James 5:17-18.
Pray without ceasing. Matthew 7:7-11; Luke 18:1; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
In our daily prayers, we must continually lean upon and trust in the Sovereign LORD God.
Our loving and good Heavenly Father knows what we need, so we can always trust and depend on Him for all our needs. Matthew 6:8, 32.
When praying, confess your sins, always forgive, and not have hate and unforgiveness in your hearts. Matthew 6:14-15; James 5:16.
We must also pray for one another. James 5:16.
Love One Another
Above all, we should continue to love the Sovereign LORD God and one another as Christ Jesus commanded. Matthew 22:34-40; John 15:12, 17; 1 Peter 4:8.
Our love for one another reveals we are Jesus’s disciples - true Christians. John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:23; 1 John 4:7-8, 11-12, 19-21.
Tuesday Dec 24, 2024
Tuesday Dec 24, 2024
Christmas Promise
John 1
The story of Christmas is the Sovereign LORD God’s great gift to world of salvation and His great promise
Story
The story of Christmas is the Sovereign LORD God coming into the world in His Son Jesus the Messiah. John 1:14.
God
Jesus is God and the Word of God. John 1:1-2.
Light and Life
He came from heaven to bring us Light and Life of heaven so that we would no longer walk in Satan’s darks and despair. John 1:3-5; John 3:19-21, 36.
Creator
Jesus is the Creator of the world and all creation was created through Him. John 1:3, 10; Colossians 1:16-17.
Truth and Grace
Jesus is filled with the truth and abundant grace. John 1:14, 16-18; John 14:6.
John the Baptist
Jesus’s cousin John the Baptist announced to the world Jesus’s gift of life and light to everyone from His Holy Father who believes and accepts Jesus so they can come into God’s Kingdom and become a member of God’s family. John was a voice sent to announce Jesus’s coming. Matthew 3:3; Luke 1:36; John 1:6-9, 12-13, 23; Galatians 3:26-29.
Predicted by the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 40:3-5.
Holy Spirit
Jesus baptists and cleanses with the Holy Spirit of God. Matthew 3:11; John 1:26.
Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit of God. John 1:33.
Lamb of God
Jesus is the Old Testament Passover Lamb of God that takes away the sins of all the world. John 1:29, 36; 1 John 2:24.
Predicted by the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 53:5.
Jesus
Son of the living God. Matthew 16:16; John 11:27.
Great Rabbi - Teacher. John 1:38.
Savior. His Name means salvation. Matthew 1:21.
Messiah - Christ - Anointed One of God. Matthew 1:1, 16-17; Mark 1:1; John 1:41.
Promised from the Old Testament Scriptures. John 1:45; Zechariah 6:12.
Jewish - an Israelite filled with all truth. John 1:47.
True King of Israel and the World. Matthew 2:2; John 1:49.
Vine:
Jesus is the Vine and Way that connects everyone to His Holy Father - the Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth. John 1:51; John 14:6; John 15:1-17.
Prays
Jesus prays for us to His Holy Father that we can share His glory and become one with God. John 17:20-26.
Peace:
Jesus gives us heaven’s peace and joy through His Holy Spirit. Isaiah 9:6-7; John 14:27; John 16:33.
Monday Dec 09, 2024
Monday Dec 09, 2024
Jesus and His Life of History
Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. John 21:25 English Standard Version
A. Introduction and Overview
The New Testament story about Jesus the Messiah is the message of the Sovereign LORD God to the world and continues the Old Testament story of Adam, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel). The New Testament writers wanted EVERYONE to know and believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior because He is the long-awaited Promised Messiah (Christ) and Hosanna from the family line of Abraham and King David predicted in the Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures that brings salvation to the world. Indeed, the Sovereign LORD God sent His Son Jesus and appointed His Son Jesus the King of the Jews and Ruler of the world with all power, authority, glory, and dominion as promised in the Old Testament.
The Old Testament promised that the Sovereign LORD God would save the world through the holy Seed of a woman and defeat Satan by this holy Seed. The Sovereign LORD God’s saving promise to save the world with His covenants to Abraham, Moses, and David, and then the new covenant promised to the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Jesus fulfills these Old Testament promises and continues the Old Testament as the Apostle and High Priest appointed by His Holy Father – the living Sovereign LORD God. The hopeful message about Jesus in the New Testament cannot be separated from the Old Testament storyline.
When the New Testament opens, Jesus the Messiah came with the saving grace and life of God’s Kingdom. Jesus is the Son of Man and the Christ (Messiah, Anointed One) who received the Kingdom from His Holy Father – the Ancient of Days with all glory, power, authority, and dominion. Jesus is the new and better Moses and the great Prophet that Moses predicted would come speaking His Holy Father’s word as He is the Word of God – the Logos. Even more, Jesus is the new Joshua that gives everyone the heart rest from His Holy Father – the Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth. Jesus is the true wisdom that leads us in the ways of God. Significantly, Jesus is the Righteous Servant of God and Immanuel (God with us) predicted by the Old Testament prophets who atoned and gave His sinless life for our sins and the sins of the world as the perfect Lamb of God. Jesus is our Creator, and He deserves our love and worship as Lord like His Holy Father – the Sovereign LORD God. Most important, Jesus is God and the Son of the living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth.
Everyone who believes and accepts Jesus as their Messiah (Christ) and the Son of the living God receives salvation and abundant life now and for eternity through our repentance with faith and obedience to Jesus and His Name. During His short public ministry on earth, Jesus announced that He is the Resurrection and Life as Jesus is the Word of Life and Author of Life that speaks and teaches the Sovereign LORD God’s words. The Name of Jesus means Savior, as Jesus is the Lord and Savior of the world. Jesus’s Greek name is related to the Hebrew name Joshua, which means the Lord is salvation or Yahweh saves. Jesus the Messiah is the Savior and King who changed world history.
Jesus LIVES! The New Testament writers wrote to inform EVERYONE that the Resurrected Jesus is ALIVE, and He was a REAL historical person. The Gospel writers tell of Jesus’s humanness, including His sorrow, disappointment, displeasure, anger, amazement, fatigue, and even uncertainty. Jesus is Lord as the covenant Yahweh of Israel – the Great I AM. The Gospel writer John presented Jesus as the Great “I AM” – covenant Yahweh (LORD) sent from His Holy Father in heaven. John’s favorite designation of Jesus is that Jesus was “sent” by His Holy Father – the Sovereign LORD God. Jesus’s title as Lord is rendered “Kurios” in the New Testament and functions as the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew divine name Yahweh.
The New Testament writers tell the stories of many people who saw and eyewitness Jesus in human flesh and witnessed Jesus’s many miracles, wonders, and divine signs, including His resurrection from complete death to bring salvation and forgiveness to the world. The Gospel writers – Apostle Matthew, John Mark, Luke, and Apostle John – agreed that Jesus’s tomb in Jerusalem was empty on Sunday morning. Mary Magdalene saw the Resurrected Jesus in Jerusalem on Sunday, and Mary Magdalene became the first evangelist as she ran and told the other remaining apostles of Jesus. Then, the Resurrected Jesus appeared with other women who faithfully followed Him during His ministry on Resurrection Sunday. Next, the Resurrected Jesus appeared to two men who were going to Emmaus on Resurrection Sunday. Afterward, the Resurrected Jesus appeared ALIVE as promised to Peter and the other remaining apostles after evil Judas Iscariot plotted with the envious religious leaders to kill Him for the love of money. The Resurrected Jesus appeared to His disciples at Mount Olives in Galilee as He promised before ascension to heaven into the Glory Cloud, and He commanded His disciples to take the Good News (Gospel) of His life and message to the whole world to obey. Even more, the Apostle Paul proclaimed that the Resurrected Jesus appeared ALIVE to more than 500 people and then to His half-brother James and all His apostles. Notably, the Resurrected Jesus appeared to the Apostle Paul on the Damascus Road in His shining glorious light.
The four New Testament Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – give the story and public life of the historical Jesus. The New Testament writers wanted the world to know that Jesus was a real historic man with human flesh and blood, but Jesus was also God. Jesus was the God-Man that walked and lived amongst the world He created. Thus, Jesus was both fully Man and God – the God-Man – united in His Divine Body. The Holy Bible teaches that the Resurrected Jesus lives in the heavens, and He is seated at the right hand of His Holy Father. After Jesus endured suffering on Calvary’s Cross for the sins of the world, Jesus sat down at the right hand of His Holy Father in heaven. Sometimes, the Resurrected Jesus stands at the right hand of His Holy Father when He receives His holy servants into heaven.
Jesus is One with His Holy Father – the Most High God, Yahweh. Significantly, Jesus is filled with His Father’s glory and grace. The King of the Universe has appointed His Son Jesus – the Son of Man – over His Kingdom with all His power, glory, authority, and dominion. Therefore, Jesus has all power and authority in heaven and earth, and He is the King and Head of the church. The King of the Universe appointed Jesus as King and Heir of all things and gave the Resurrected Jesus all authority in heaven and on earth as Lord. Therefore, Jesus deserves all respect and allegiance as God.
Other sources outside the New Testament give evidence that Jesus lived and walked the earth. Proof of Jesus’s existence appears in non-Christian writings from historian Josephus (ca. A.D. 37-100), who wrote the great Jewish War with Rome. Also, Roman historians and other Roman writers noted the existence of Jesus, but they labeled Jesus as a troublemaker and magician who performed miracles. Rabbinic and other Jewish writings such as the Talmud and Midrashim have references to Jesus as “Yeshu” or “Yeshu ha Notzri” (“the Nazarene’), and they also considered Jesus a magician and a deceiver of Israel. The Qur’an references Jesus, His mother Mary, and Jesus’s disciples as well as Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension.
Jesus is the Jewish descendant of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel), and King David, as the world’s salvation is from the Jews. The New Testament writers continued Israel’s story and promise from the Old Testament with the coming of the Sovereign LORD God’s only begotten and unique Son, Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah (Christ, Anointed One). In the Old Testament, the Sovereign LORD God made covenants (promises):
• Noah’s covenant regarding the flood (see Genesis 6:18; Genesis 9:1-17) • Abraham with the Promise Land of Canaan (Israel-Palestine) and turning Abraham into a great nation (see Genesis 15:1-21; Genesis 17:1-27)• Israel at Mount Sinai (see Exodus 19:1-24:18)• Phinehas for a priestly dynasty (see Numbers 25:10-13)• King David with the promise of a royal dynasty (see 2 Samuel 7:5-16)• Promise through the prophet Jeremiah to make a “new covenant” of writing God’s Law (Torah) on the people’s hearts (see Jeremiah 31:31-34).
The complete and final fulfillment of the Sovereign LORD God’s covenant with His servant David is found in Jesus the Messiah, the Son of David and the Most High God. The prophet Isaiah predicted that Jesus the Messiah would come from David’s family. However, Jesus the Messiah was more than a descendant of King David because King David called Jesus his Lord.
The Sovereign LORD God, as the King of Glory and King of the Universe, called Abraham and Abraham’s descendants Isaac, Jacob (Israel), and Jacob’s twelve sons (Twelve tribes of Israel) to take His holy message of goodness and justice into all the world as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. With Jesus’s coming, the Sovereign LORD God sent His Son, Jesus the Lamb, into the world to proclaim and continue His message to all the world and bring salvation through repentance with obedience and faith in His Son, Jesus. Jesus brought heaven’s goodness to earth – the Kingdom of God and the transforming Holy Spirit’s power, and He continued His Holy and Righteous Father’s message to the world with a Spirit-driven message of repentance. Jesus’s message of repentance means to actively change one’s mind and whole heart from Satan’s selfish, lawlessness, and evil actions with sorrow for sin and turn through repentance with obedience and faith to Him and His Holy Father, which leads to God’s transformation of life by the Holy Spirit of God. The Sovereign LORD God and His Son Jesus want a world filled with love, mercy, kindness, joy, patience, and peace towards one another and not Satan’s idolatry, murder and hatred, division and prejudice, adultery and sexual sins, lies and corruption, stealing and embezzlement, bribery, greed, and jealousy. The Holy Bible promises that the new heavens and earth will be created and filled with light and righteousness and none of Satan’s evil, sorrows, and darkness.
Saturday Dec 07, 2024
Saturday Dec 07, 2024
a. Good Beginnings and Great Fall
From the beginning of human creation, the living Sovereign LORD God – the King of the Universe – wanted to live in fellowship and harmony with His creation.[1] The Sovereign LORD God visited the earth He created and formed the world where we live with the heavens, seas, trees, and animals.[2] Then, the Sovereign LORD God created Adam and Eve in His likeness and image from the dust of the earth to rule His Kingdom on earth.[3] The Spirit of the living God breathes into human nostrils to give humans life.[4] Adam and Eve are historical humans who represented humanity as a whole.[5] All that the Sovereign LORD God had made was good, created by His wisdom.[6]
The Sovereign LORD God created humans to faithfully worship, serve, and obey Him for His glory and not worship any other gods or idols and pursue Satan’s selfish and evil works.[7] Even more, the Sovereign LORD God created Adam and Eve to live in harmony with His creation and care for the earth responsibly under His rule and sovereignty.[8]Significantly, the living Sovereign LORD God planted a garden in Eden, and in the middle of garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.[9] The wisdom and fruit of the righteous is the tree of life.[10]
Unfortunately, Adam and Eve rebelled and rejected the Sovereign LORD God’s fellowship and command by obeying Satan’s false and deceiving commands, which led to the Great Fall of all humankind and the breaking of communion with God in the Garden of Eden.[11] Adam and Eve tried to obtain their wisdom apart from the Sovereign LORD God and doubted God’s wisdom, goodness, and faithfulness.[12] The rebellion and disobedience against the Sovereign LORD God’s command by Adam and Eve affected the whole course of human history and the beginning of sinful humanity, the earth’s curse, and human death.[13] The world, once a place of joy, goodness, harmony, and fellowship with the Sovereign LORD God in paradise (Garden of Eden), became a place of fear, curses with thorns and thistles, and death.[14] Submitting to Satan’s temptation and rebellion against the Sovereign LORD God always results in death and cuts the sinner off from the Sovereign LORD God’s goodness and life.[15] However, the Sovereign LORD God gave Adam and Eve some Good News that His Son Christ Jesus – the Second Adam – would crush Satan’s head – a victory all believers in Jesus share.[16] Only through the Sovereign LORD God’s redemption in His Son Christ Jesus does everyone have access again to the tree of life and unity with Him.[17]
b. Restoring the Garden of Eden
The rest of the Holy Bible is the living Sovereign LORD God’s attempt to walk and dwell with His creation in fellowship and communion with this Holy Presence, like the Garden of Eden.[18] The Sovereign LORD God has been trying to have fellowship and communion among His people with His Holy Presence on earth, starting with Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and his sons Isaac and Jacob, and then Jacob’s twelve sons – Israel.[19] Thus, the Sovereign LORD God created Cain and Abel. However, Cain did evil and sinned against the Sovereign LORD God by failing to do goodness and murdered his brother Abel.[20] Then, the Sovereign LORD God created Seth, Enoch, and Noah to walk before Him in obedience and righteousness.[21] However, the earth became filled with evil and wickedness as the people lived in rebellion, corruption, and violence towards one another, which grieved the Sovereign LORD God’s heart.[22] Therefore, the Sovereign LORD God sent the Great Flood to cleanse His creation with renewal and restarted humanity with righteous Noah and his three sons – Shem, Ham, and Japheth.[23] All world nations proceed from Noah’s three sons – Shem, Ham, and Japhet.[24]
Then, the Sovereign LORD God called Abraham (Abram), a descendant of Shem, from the land of Ur so Abraham and Abraham’s family – Isaac, Jacob (Israel), and Jacob’s twelve sons – to proclaim His Kingdom message and His blessings to all the peoples on earth.[25] Abraham’s heart was found to be faithful towards the Sovereign LORD God, and He made an everlasting covenant with Abraham to give Abraham and his descendants the Promised Land (Israel-Palestine) to make the land like the original Garden of Eden.[26] The Sovereign LORD God commanded and chose Father Abraham to teach and command his children (descendants) after him to keep His ways by doing what is good and righteous and to walk before Him blamelessly.[27] Then, the Sovereign LORD God sent Jacob and his children into Egypt, and He used Jacob’s son, Joseph, as the savior of His people, Israel.[28] While in Egypt, Jacob’s children became enslaved at the hands of the Egyptians.[29] The Sovereign LORD God heard the cries of His people Israel, and He visited earth during the first Exodus.[30] By His grace, the Sovereign LORD God redeemed and delivered His people Israel from Egyptian slavery so they would be His kingdom of priests and a holy nation and proclaim His commands, decrees, and regulations to the world.[31]
The Sovereign LORD God called His son Israel to obey Him and proclaim His covenant message to the world as His Kingdom of priests and a holy nation.[32] The Sovereign LORD God instructed Israel through His servant Moses at Mount Sinai (Horeb) His commands, decrees, and regulations.[33] The heart of God’s commands, decrees, and regulations are His Ten Commandments – the Covenant.[34] Unfortunately, Israel and her sister Judah (southeastern Israel) could never fully obey the Sovereign LORD God and His covenant message, and they were eventually exiled from His Promised Land (Israel-Palestine) as foretold by the prophet Moses.[35] The Sovereign LORD God loved Israel and Judah, and repeatedly raised up His holy prophets to encourage and warn His people to wholeheartedly repent and return to Him, flee idolatry (the worship of other gods), and obey His covenant commands.[36] The holy prophets of God instructed Israel and Judah to have wholehearted faithfulness and love for the Sovereign LORD God and have faith in His holy prophets to find life and success.[37] However, Israel and her sister Judah angered the Sovereign LORD God and turned to idolatry (worship of other gods) and rebellion against His commandments.[38] Because of Israel and Judah’s repeated evil and disobedience, Israel and Judah experienced the Sovereign LORD God’s wrath with the Great Exile and destruction of Israel by the Assyrian army in 722 BC and the destruction of Judah along with the Jerusalem Temple built by King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army in 586 BC.[39] Israel and Judah spent seventy (70) years in captivity, and they were exiled from the Promised Land (Israel-Palestine) as predicted by the Law of God and the prophet Jeremiah, and the land enjoyed a Sabbath rest.[40]
In the Holy Bible, the Sovereign LORD God Almighty blessed Israel, and no one could curse nor condemn His blessed servant, Israel.[41] Israel is called the firstborn son of God.[42] Jerusalem is the apple of the Sovereign LORD God’s eye, and He loves Jerusalem with a jealous and affectionate love more than any other city in all the world.[43] Abraham and his descendants Isaac and Jacob (Israel) are blessed and favored by the LORD God Almighty.[44] Everyone who blesses Israel is blessed, and everyone who curses Israel is cursed.[45] The Sovereign LORD God loved His chosen people and was jealous of their affection and wholehearted devotion to Him.[46] The Israelites were chosen by the living LORD God for adoption as His firstborn children.[47] Moreover, the people of Israel received the LORD God’s covenant – the Ten Commandments, His glory, and His eternal promises.[48] From the Israelites came Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.[49]
In 539 BC, the Sovereign LORD God allowed Cyrus, the king of the Persians, to capture and defeat the Babylonians.[50]Israel and Judah were saved and returned from Babylonian exile into the covenant Promised Land (Israel-Palestine), and they rebuilt the Sovereign LORD God’s Temple and the Jerusalem wall by the Holy Spirit’s power under the leadership of such great men and women as Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Zerubbabel, and Joshua.[51] The restoration prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, through the Holy Spirit of God, were central in helping the returned exiles to rebuild the Temple of God and restore their allegiance and devotion to the Sovereign LORD God and His covenant message because the Messiah (Christ) was coming.[52] The Second Temple was rebuilt and completed in 516 BC and the Jerusalem wall was finalized by Nehemiah in 445 BC.[53] The restored Israel and Judah still awaited the “new covenant,” predicted by the prophets Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Joel with the arrival of His Holy Spirit that would write the Sovereign LORD God’s covenant on their inner hearts and not stone tablets.[54] For four centuries, Israel awaited the Messiah (Christ) as they suffered under foreign rule by the Persians, Greeks, and Roman governments.
c. Covenants of Hope
In the Old Testament, the Sovereign LORD God announced several covenants to restore the original relationship in the Garden of Eden.[55] The word covenant means the same as testament: an agreement between God and humanity.[56] The Sovereign LORD God’s plan to redeem and restore His people is progressively revealed through His covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and His holy prophets. The covenant promises to Noah, Abraham, David, and the holy prophets pointed forward to Jesus the Messiah-King.[57] The Holy Scriptures declare that the Sovereign LORD God’s covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and the holy prophets are eternal and not obsolete even with the coming of Jesus and His sacrificial death for the sins of the world.
The first recorded covenant was the Noahic covenant found in Genesis 9:8-17. The Sovereign LORD God’s covenant with righteous Noah and his descendants extended to all humankind and the Sovereign LORD God’s unconditional promise never to destroy all earthly life through a flood.[58] The heavenly rainbow in the storm cloud is the Sovereign LORD God’s everlasting covenant sign not to destroy the earth through another flood.[59]
Then, the Sovereign LORD God made covenants to Father Abraham. With the Abrahamic covenant, the Sovereign LORD God promised Abraham and his descendants a land (Canaan – Palestine), a nation (Israel), and that Abraham would be a blessing to ALL PEOPLE so the descendants of Abraham would wholeheartedly do righteousness and justice.[60] The Sovereign LORD God instructed Abraham to leave His country to go to His Promised Land (Israel-Palestine).[61] The Sovereign LORD God gave Abraham an unconditional promise to bless Abraham and his descendants, and in Abraham all the families of the earth would be blessed.[62] Then, the Sovereign LORD God promised to give the land of Canaan – the Promised Land – to Abraham and his descendants.[63] Afterward, the Sovereign LORD God gave Abraham a conditional divine pledge to be His God and the God of Abraham’s descendants if Abraham and his descendants would be wholeheartedly devoted to Him and walk blamelessly before Him.[64] The Sovereign LORD God symbolized His promise by circumcision – an act that symbolized separation from sin and holiness to God.[65] Abraham believed in the Sovereign LORD God’s covenant promises and faithfully obeyed His promises by submitting to the covenant sign of circumcision.[66]
Later, the Sovereign LORD God made a conditional divine promise to Israel at Mount Sinai to be Israel’s God and Protector and bless Israel if Israel wholeheartedly obeyed Him and His Kingdom Law.[67] Under the terms of Moses’ covenant, the living Sovereign LORD God promised to be Israel’s God – Protector and Defender – and Israel promised to be wholeheartedly faithful and obedient.[68] Israel’s obedience and faithfulness to the Sovereign LORD God and His covenant meant blessings and life, while disobedience resulted in God’s wrath and curses.[69]
The goal of God’s Old Testament Mount Sinai covenant, the Tabernacle, then the Temple, and His Son Jesus was the living Sovereign LORD God’s attempt to dwell in fellowship and communion with His creation.[70] Even after sin entered the world because of Adam and Eve’s rebellion, the Sovereign LORD God pursued a relationship with His creation by sending His holy prophets, priests, kings, and finally His Son Jesus.[71] Now, through faith and obedience to His Son Jesus, we can be united with the Sovereign LORD God and come boldly into His Presence to find His grace and mercy because Jesus is God with us - Emmanual.[72]
Then, the Sovereign LORD God’s covenant promise to David and his family was an eternal throne and kingdom to rule Israel forever.[73] The Sovereign LORD God made an unconditional divine promise to David to establish and maintain the Davidic dynasty on the throne of Israel.[74] The New Testament sees the Sovereign LORD God’s promise to King David fulfilled in His Son, Jesus the Messiah (Christ) – the son of David and King of kings forever.[75]
Finally, the covenant Sovereign LORD God made an unconditional divine promise to Israel in the Old Testament to forgive her sins and establish His relationship with Israel through repentance with a new covenant by writing His Law on their inner hearts and giving them a new heart and spirit—a covenant of pure grace—through the Holy Spirit.[76] The Sovereign LORD God has always wanted obedience from His people and have His Law within their hearts.[77]
d. Jesus the New Adam
The Sovereign LORD God placed Adam and Eve and then Israel in His sanctuary—the Garden of Eden and the Promised Land. However, both Adam and Eve and Israel failed to be faithful and obedient to God, and God expelled Adam and Eve and later Israel from His sanctuary.[78] Here is the Good News! Jesus is the Second Adam and New Israel from heaven, bringing our new spiritual life, holiness, and salvation from heaven.[79] Jesus restores what Adam and Eve lost!
Unlike Adam, Eve, and Israel, who rebelled and disobeyed God, Jesus was faithful and obedient to His Holy Father—the Sovereign LORD God.[80] Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant—the true Offspring of Abraham, who brings the Sovereign LORD God’s blessings to all the world.[81] Everyone who trusts and obeys Christ Jesus is one with God and is considered Abraham’s seed (offspring) and heir to the covenant promises through the new covenant.[82]
Jesus is the perfect Son of Abraham and David who never rebelled and disobeyed His Father – the Sovereign LORD God, and He fully obeyed His Father even in hunger, weakness, and suffering.[83] The Sovereign LORD God announced from heaven that Jesus was His Son, and everyone must listen to Jesus because He gave Jesus all authority and power on heaven and earth.[84] During His public ministry on earth, Jesus taught and depended upon but, even more importantly, obeyed His Holy Father, the Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth, and not His power and will for His provision and needs to complete the work His Holy Father had given Him to do while on earth.[85] In addition, Jesus relied upon the Law of His Holy Father to sustain Himself during Satan’s testing and temptation allowed by His Holy Father while in the wilderness.[86] Jesus celebrated the Jewish Passover and other festivals found in the Law of His Holy Father, including the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah created by Maccabees during the intertestamental period between the Old and New Testaments.[87] Because of Jesus’s faithfulness and obedience, the Sovereign LORD God has placed His seal of approval – the Holy Spirit of God – upon His Son, Jesus.[88] Christ Jesus is the Redeemer from God and the Second Adam promised to Adam and Eve, and He has defeated Satan and saved God’s people.[89] The Sovereign LORD God continued love and mercy for His people – Israel and her sister Judah, and He saved a descendant of David to remain King of Israel.[90] From Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’s son – Judah, the Sovereign LORD God produced kings, including King David and Jesus the Messiah – the eternal King and Savior of the World.[91]
e. Hope of Eden Restored
One day, the living Sovereign LORD God will create a new heaven and new earth, and earth will be restored to the days of Eden before the Fall of humankind.[92] The Sovereign LORD God will make all things new.[93] Believers of Jesus’s newness that began with their confession of trust and faith in Christ Jesus is finally realized in the new heaven and earth.[94] Furthermore, the new heaven and new earth represent the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy that the Sovereign LORD God will create new heavens and new earth.[95]
In the new heaven and earth, the Sovereign LORD God and His Son Jesus the Lamb will live among His people face to face, and He will be with them forever in paradise – Eden Restored.[96] The book of Revelation gives the most intimate picture of Emmanuel – God with us and God’s faithful and holy people in continual fellowship and communion as initially intended in the Garden of Eden.[97] The world’s kingdoms will become the Kingdom of God and His Son, Christ Jesus the Lamb.[98] In paradise, the Sovereign LORD God will eliminate the curse and the fatal infections of evil that began with the Great Fall of Adam and Eve’s rebellion and sin against the Sovereign LORD God in Genesis.[99] The living Sovereign LORD God promises no more pain, hunger, brokenness, tears, death, or mourning because He will eliminate all death and the curse on humanity and the earth that started with Adam and Eve’s rebellion and sin against Him and His command.[100]
In paradise, the Sovereign LORD God and His Son the Lamb will give everyone thirsty and hungry an outpouring of divine food and the Holy Spirit – the spring of living water.[101] The spring of living water will flow freely from the throne of the living Sovereign LORD God and His Son Jesus the Lamb.[102] This spring of living water was the same water that brought new life to creation in the Garden of Eden.[103] Significantly, the New Jerusalem contains the tree of life seen initially in the Garden of Eden.[104] The tree of life will bring forth continual fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree will heal the nations.[105] Everyone who walks in holiness and faithfulness to the Sovereign LORD God and Jesus the Lamb has access to the tree of life and the New Jerusalem in the Paradise of God.[106]
In the new heaven and new earth, there is a New Jerusalem – Eden Restored. The New Jerusalem is a glorious Holy City and the Bride of the Lamb (Christ).[107] The Holy City of the New Jerusalem will shine with the glory of God and brilliance like precious jewels, and there will be no more nights.[108] The New Jerusalem does not need a sun or moon to shine because the glory of God gives the Holy City light, and this everlasting light is the Sovereign LORD God and His Son, Jesus the Lamb – the Light of the world.[109] The gates surrounding the New Jerusalem have the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and the city wall has twelve foundations written with the names of the twelve apostles of Jesus the Lamb.[110] The Holy City was made of pure gold with precious metals and a perfect cube (square) like the Most Holy Place of the original Tabernacle and the Temple.[111] In the New Jerusalem, there is no Temple because the living Sovereign LORD God Almighty and His Son Jesus the Lamb are the Temple.[112] The Sovereign LORD God’s promise to Abraham is fulfilled as the nations will walk in God’s light and blessings.[113] God’s holy people of every tribe, nation, and tongue will continually serve and worship the Sovereign LORD God and His Son Jesus the Lamb.[114] Everyone who remains wholeheartedly faithful to the Sovereign LORD God and Jesus the Lamb with a pure heart cleansed by Jesus’s blood will be called His children, and they will shine with God’s glory and holiness, reigning with Him forever and forever.[115] Blessed are those who have been washed clean and made holy through our repentance with confession in Jesus’s sacrificial death and blood for their sins.[116]
At the end of the book of Revelation, the original Sinai covenant given to Moses is fulfilled. In the Holy City, the people will be righteous and holy, and there is no unrepentant cowards, rebellion against parents, murder, lies, stealing, envy, coveting, sorcery, and witchcraft, and importantly everyone exclusively worships the Sovereign LORD God and His Son, Jesus the Lamb.[117] Nothing impure, unholy, nor Satan’s evildoers live inside the Holy City, but only those who remained wholeheartedly faithful and true to Jesus the Lamb and are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.[118] Chief features of the Holy City are truth, justice, and goodness as the Sovereign LORD God and His Son Christ Jesus is truth, justice, and goodness.[119] Everyone who has rejected Christ Jesus’s love and forgiveness and followed Satan’s darkness and evildoing will experience the final death, condemnation, and God’s curse.[120] Notably, the book of Revelation viewed all unrepentant liars and deceivers as the root of sin because Satan is a deceiver and father of lies who deceives and tricks the nations.[121] However, everyone that has repented of their sins and walked faithfully to the Sovereign LORD God and His Son Jesus the Lamb in word and deed will receive everlasting blessings and reward.[122] God’s grace saves us through faith in Christ Jesus, but our good works and loving deeds reveal our faithfulness and obedience to the Sovereign LORD God and His Son, Christ Jesus.[123] Jesus has called EVERYONE to repent, turn from Satan’s evildoing and dark deeds, and sin no more, and instead walk in God’s salvation, goodness, and light.[124] Significantly, Jesus does not want anyone to stay in slavery and bondage to Satan’s darkness, lies, and sins that lead to destruction and eternal death.[125] Everyone who loves and obeys Christ Jesus and His teaching will NEVER see eternal death and separation from Him.[126]
f. Conclusion
Genesis began with the Sovereign LORD God in paradise with His creation without sin and evil, and Revelation ends with Him once again in paradise with His creation without sin and evil.[127] The Sovereign LORD God will remove His enemies – Satan, night, death, and evil – that entered the storyline in Genesis 3 so that the new heaven and new earth will return to paradise – Eden Restored.[128] One day, the new heavens and a new earth will be created and filled with Jesus’s light and righteousness and none of Satan’s evil and darkness.[129] All of creation and the seas, rivers, and mountains will praise the Sovereign LORD God when His Son Jesus the Lamb returns in the Glory Cloud with His holy angels with great power and His reward to bring the earth’s restoration – Eden Restored.[130] Come Lord Jesus come!
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. AMEN. Revelation 22:21
[1] Genesis 3:8-10.
[2] Genesis 1:1-2:25; see also 1 John 1:1-3.
[3] See e.g., Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:7, 18, 21-25; Genesis 3:19; Genesis 5:1-2; Genesis 9:6; see also 1 Chronicles 1:1; Psalm 146:4; Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6; 1 Corinthians 11:8-12; 1 Corinthians 15:45-49.
[4] See e.g., Genesis 2:7; Genesis 7:22; Job 33:4.
[5] See e.g., Genesis 3:20; Genesis 4:25; Genesis 5:1-5; 1 Chronicles 1:1; Hosea 6:7; Luke 3:38; Romans 5:15; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 45; 1 Timothy 2:13-14; Jude 1:14.
[6] Genesis 1:31; see also Psalm 24:1-2; Psalm 65:9; Psalm 104:24; Psalm 136:5-9; Proverbs 3:19; Jeremiah 10:12; Jeremiah 51:15; 1 Corinthians 10:26, 28; 1 Timothy 4:4.
[7] Genesis 2:15-17; Genesis 3:5; Genesis 11:4, 6; see also Exodus 20:3-5; Leviticus 26:1-2; Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Isaiah 1:17; Isaiah 43:7; Zephaniah 2:3; Matthew 6:33; Matthew 22:37; Luke 12:31; 1 John 5:21; Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:9.
[8] Genesis 1:26, 28; Genesis 2:8, 15; see also Psalm 8:6-8; Hebrews 2:5-9.
[9] See Genesis 2:9
[10] See Proverbs 3:18; Proverbs 11:30.
[11] Genesis 3:1-24; see also John 8:44; Romans 5:12-15, 19; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; 1 John 3:8-10; Revelation 12:9; Revelation 20:7-10.
[12] See Genesis 3:1-5.
[13] Genesis 3:8-11, 16-19, 23-24; Genesis 5:29; see also Romans 5:12-21; Romans 8:20-22.
[14] See Genesis 1:31; Genesis 2:15; Genesis 3:17-19, 23; Genesis 5:29; Romans 8:20-22.
[15] See e.g., Psalm 1:4-6; Psalm 37:1-2; Proverbs 11:19; Ezekiel 18:4; Ezekiel 33:8-9; Romans 5:12; Romans 6:16, 23; James 1:14-15.
[16] Genesis 3:15; see also Romans 8:1; Romans 16:20; 1 Corinthians 15:57-58; 1 John 5:4; Revelation 12:1-9, 17; Revelation 20:1-10.
[17] Genesis 3:24; see also John 14:15-17, 21, 23; John 17:11, 21-23; Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Revelation 2:7; Revelation 22:2, 14, 19.
[18] See e.g., Leviticus 26:3, 11-12; John 14:15-17, 21, 23-24.
[19] See Genesis 4:4-7, 25-26; Genesis 5:1-3, 23-24, 29-32; Genesis 6:8-9; Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 17:1-7; Genesis 46:8-27.
[20] Genesis 4:1-8; see also 1 John 3:12-15.
[21] See Genesis 5:1-4, 22-23, 29-32; Genesis 6:9; see also 1 Chronicles 1:1-4; Luke 3:36-38.
[22] See Genesis 6:5-6, 11-13.
[23] See Genesis 6:6-9, 17; Genesis 8:15-17; Genesis 9:1; see also Hebrews 11:6.
[24] Genesis 9:1, 18-19; Genesis 10:1, 32; see also 1 Chronicles 1:4-23.
[25] See e.g., Genesis 11:10, 26-27, 31; Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 17:5, 21; Genesis 18:10. 14; Genesis 21:1-3; Genesis 25:9, 20-27; Genesis 32:28; Genesis 35:23-26; see also Exodus 19:5-6; 1 Chronicles 1:24-28, 34; 1 Chronicles 2:1-2; Luke 3:34; Acts 7:1-8; Galatians 3:6-8; Hebrews 11:11-12.
[26] See e.g., Genesis 15:6, 18-21; Genesis 22:1-3; Nehemiah 9:8; Romans 4:3, 9, 22.
[27] See e.g., Genesis 17:1-5; Genesis 18:19.
[28] See Genesis 46:1-47:12; Genesis 50:19-20.
[29] See Exodus 1:1-2:25.
[30] See e.g., Exodus 2:23-25; Exodus 3:7-8.
[31] See Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 4:5-8.
[32] Exodus 4:22; Exodus 19:5-6; Exodus 20:1-18; Deuteronomy 4:5-9; Deuteronomy 5:6-21; Nehemiah 9:9, 13; Hosea 11:1; Romans 7:12; 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10.
[33] See Exodus 19:1 through Numbers 10:12.
[34] See Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21.
[35] See e.g., Leviticus 26:33; Deuteronomy 28:15-68; Judges 2:11-14; 2 Kings 17:7-23; 2 Kings 25:1-21; 2 Chronicles 36:17-21; Nehemiah 9:16-38; Psalm 106:6-7; Jeremiah 44:1-30; Daniel 9:4-19; Acts 7:51-53; Acts 15:10.
[36] See e.g., 2 Chronicles 24:19; 2 Chronicles 36:15-16; Jeremiah 3:6-19; Jeremiah 4:4, 14; Jeremiah 7:13, 25-26; Jeremiah 18:11; Jeremiah 25:3-7; Jeremiah 35:14-15; Jeremiah 44:4-6; Ezekiel 18:30-32; Ezekiel 33:10-11; Zechariah 1:4-6; Zechariah 7:7, 12.
[37] 1 Chronicles 28:9, 20; 2 Chronicles 7:13-15; 2 Chronicles 15:2; 2 Chronicles 20:20; see also Psalm 1:1-6; Isaiah 55:6-7; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Hosea 6:6; Joel 2:12-15; Amos 5:4, 6, 14-15; Micah 6:6-8.
[38] See e.g., 2 Chronicles 24:18, 20, 24.
[39] 2 Kings 17:23; 2 Kings 25:1-26; see also 2 Chronicles 36:17-21; Jeremiah 25:8-11; Jeremiah 39:1-2, 8-10; Jeremiah 44:1-6, 9-14, 20-23; Jeremiah 52:3-30; Ezekiel 36:16-21. The Sovereign LORD God warned His people in His covenant – the Law – that their disobedience, idolatry, and rebellion against Him and His covenant would cause them to be exiled, scattered, and deported from His land (see Leviticus 26:27-39; Deuteronomy 28:64-68).
[40] Jeremiah 25:11-12; Jeremiah 29:10; see also Leviticus 26:14-43; 1 Chronicles 9:1; 2 Chronicles 36:21; Ezra 1:1; Daniel 9:2; Zechariah 1:12.
[41] See e.g., Leviticus 25:55; Numbers 22:11-12; Numbers 23:7-8.
[42] See e.g., Exodus 4:22-23; Jeremiah 31:9; Hosea 11:1.
[43] See e.g., Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalm 87:1-2; Zechariah 1:14; Zechariah 2:8; Zechariah 8:3.
[44] See e.g., Deuteronomy 7:8; Deuteronomy 10:15; Isaiah 51:1-2; Romans 9:6-13; Hebrews 11:8-12.
[45] See e.g., Genesis 12:3; Numbers 24:9.
[46] See e.g., Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 4:24; Deuteronomy 5:9; Deuteronomy 6:15. In the New Testament, Jesus declared that everyone who accepts, loves, and obeys Him become part of His family and grafted into God’s people – Israel and Abraham’s seed (see e.g., Matthew 12:50; John 1:12-13; Luke 8:21; Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 2:19-22).
[47] See e.g., Exodus 4:22; Deuteronomy 7:6; Hosea 11:1; Jeremiah 31:9; Romans 9:4.
[48] See e.g., Exodus 40:34; Deuteronomy 4:13; 1 Kings 8:11; Romans 9:4.
[49] See e.g., Matthew 1:21; John 1:29; Acts 13:23; Romans 9:5.
[50] See e.g., 2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4; Isaiah 44:28; Daniel 5:30.
[51] See e.g., Ezra 3:1-6:22; Nehemiah 1:1-6:19; Esther 4:14.
[52] See e.g., Haggai 1:1, 12; Haggai 2:4, 7; Zechariah 4:6; Zechariah 9:9-10; cf. Jeremiah 23:5-6.
[53] See Ezra 6:13-15; Nehemiah 6:15-19.
[54] Jeremiah 31:31-34; Jeremiah 32:39-40; Ezekiel 11:18-21; Ezekiel 36:16-37:14; Joel 2:28-32; see also Exodus 19:16-18; Exodus 20:1-17; Exodus 24:3-4, 12; Exodus 31:18; Exodus 32:15-16, 19; Exodus 34:1-5, 27-29; Deuteronomy 4:11-13; Deuteronomy 5:22-24; Deuteronomy 10:1-5; Psalm 99:7; Acts 2:1-4, 17-21, 33, 38-40; Hebrews 8:8-13. Moses fasted forty days and forty nights on Mount Sinai when he received the Law of God (Ten Commandments) from the Sovereign LORD God on the stone tablets written by God’s finger (see Exodus 31:18; Deuteronomy 9:9-10, 18).
[55] See Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008), p. 19.
[56] New Student Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992), p. 1324.
[57] See e.g., Matthew 1:1.
[58] See e.g., Genesis 6:9; Genesis 8:21; Genesis 9:11; Isaiah 54:9.
[59] See e.g., Genesis 9:12-17.
[60] See e.g., Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 13:15-17; Genesis 15:5-6, 9-21; Genesis 17:1, 5-8; Genesis 18:17-19; Genesis 26:2-6, 12-16, 23-25; Genesis 28:13-14; Deuteronomy 4:9-10; Psalm 15:1-5; Psalm 24:3-5; Psalm 106:3; Isaiah 51:1-2; Acts 3:25-26; Acts 7:3-5; Romans 4:11-12, 16; Galatians 3:26-29; Hebrews 11:8-12; James 2:17-20; James 4:7-8.
[61] See e.g., Genesis 12:1; Genesis 13:12; Acts 7:2-3; Hebrews 11:8-9.
[62] See e.g., Genesis 12:2-3; Deuteronomy 1:10; Deuteronomy 26:5; Acts 3:25; Galatians 3:8, 16.
[63] See e.g., Genesis 12:7; Genesis 13:15; Genesis 15:7-21, Genesis 17:7-8; Genesis 24:7; Genesis 26:3-4; Numbers 34:2; Deuteronomy 34:1-4; Joshua 1:1-4; Acts 7:5.
[64] See e.g., Genesis 17:1-14, 19, 21, 23-27; Genesis 18:19.
[65] See e.g., Genesis 17:9-14; Leviticus 12:3; Acts 7:8.
[66] See e.g., Genesis 17:1; Exodus 4:25-26; Exodus 12:44, 48.
[67] See e.g., Exodus 19:1-24:7.
[68] See Exodus 19:1-23:33.
[69] See e.g., Leviticus 26:1-46; Deuteronomy 28:1-68; Deuteronomy 30:19-20.
[70] See e.g., Exodus 29:45-46; Leviticus 26:11-12; 1 Kings 8:10-11; Isaiah 7:14; Ezekiel 37:26-27; Matthew 1:23.
[71] See e.g., Hebrews 1:1-3.
[72] See e.g., Matthew 1:21, 23; Ephesians 2:8-10, 18-22; Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 10:19; cf. Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 8:8, 10.
[73] 2 Samuel 7:5-16.; 1 Kings 8:16; see also Psalm 2:6-7; Psalm 89:25-27; Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 1:31-35.
[74] See e.g., 2 Samuel 7:5-16.
[75] See e.g., Matthew 1:1; Luke 1:31-33, 69; Romans 1:3; Revelation 22:16.
[76] See e.g., Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 11:19-20; Ezekiel 18:31; Ezekiel 36:26-27; Ezekiel 37:24-26; Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 3:11; Luke 24:49; John 14:15-17, 26; John 15:26; Acts 1:4-5, 8; Acts 2:1-4, 16-21, 33, 38-40; Romans 8:2-4; Hebrews 8:8-13; Romans 10:16-18.
[77] See e.g., 1 Samuel 15:22-23; Psalm 1:1-3; Psalm 37:30-31; Psalm 40:6-8; Psalm 119:16, 24, 35, 92.
[78] See Genesis 3:23-24; 2 Kings 17:7-23; 2 Kings 25:1-21; 2 Chronicles 36:17-21.
[79] See e.g., John 3:3-8, 15-17; Romans 5:1-2, 12-21; Romans 1:7, 16-17; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30; 1 Corinthians 15:45-50; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Titus 3:3-8.
[80] See e.g., Matthew 6:10; Matthew 26:39, 42; John 5:30; John 6:38; John 14:31; Romans 5:15; Philippians 2:8.
[81] Matthew 1:1; see also Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 22:17-18; Galatians 3:16.
[82] See e.g., John 14:15-17, 21, 23; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Galatians 3:26-29.
[83] Matthew 1:1; Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13; Romans 1:3-4; Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 5:8; Revelation 5:5; Revelation 22:16; cf. 1 Kings 2:1-4; 1 Kings 8:25; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 11:10; Ezekiel 37:23-24.
[84] See e.g., Matthew 3:17; Matthew 7:29; Matthew 10:1; Matthew 11:28-30; Matthew 16:18; Matthew 17:5; Matthew 28:18; Mark 1:11; Mark 9:7; Luke 3:22; Luke 9:35; John 1:34; John 5:22, 27; John 17:2; Acts 10:42; Acts 17:31; 2 Peter 1:17.
[85] see e.g., John 3:34; John 4:34; John 5:19, 30; John 6:38; John 8:26-30; John 9:4; John 10:37-38; John 12:49-50; John 14:10, 24, 31; John 15:10-12; John 17:4; cf. Deuteronomy 18:18; Philippians 2:6-8.
[86] See e.g., Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13; John 7:19; John 15:10.
[87] See e.g., John 2:13; John 5:1; John 6:4; John 7:2; John 10:22; John 13:1-2.
[88] John 6:27; see also Genesis 15:6; John 14:15-17, 21, 23-24, 31; Romans 4:9-11; Romans 8:23; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30; 2 Timothy 2:19-22; Revelation 7:2-3.
[89] See e.g., Genesis 3:15; Luke 1:31-35; Romans 16:20; 1 Corinthians 15:57; 1 John 5:5.
[90] 2 Kings 25:27-30; see also 2 Samuel 7:12-16.
[91] Genesis 49:8-10; see also Numbers 24:17; Ruth 4:18-22; 2 Samuel 7:12-16; 1 Chronicles 17:12-14; Psalm 2:7; Psalm 89:26-27, 30; Psalm 132:11; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 11:1-10; Matthew 1:1-6, 16-17, 21, 23; Matthew 2:2; Luke 1:31-35; Luke 3:23, 31, 34; John 4:42; 1 John 4:14; Revelation 1:5; Revelation 5:5; Revelation 22:16.
[92] Revelation 21:1-22:5; see also 2 Peter 3:13.
[93] Revelation 21:5; see also Genesis 1:1.
[94] See e.g., 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15-16.
[95] See Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22.
[96] Revelation 21:3; Revelation 22:3-4; see also Leviticus 26:11-12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27; Zechariah 2:10; Ephesians 2:21-22; 1 John 3:2-3.
[97] Revelation 22:3; see also Matthew 1:23; John 1:14.
[98] See Revelation 11:15.
[99] Revelation 22:3; see also Genesis 3:14-19; Zechariah 14:11.
[100] Revelation 7:16-17; Revelation 20:14-15; Revelation 21:4; Revelation 22:3-5; see also Genesis 3:17; Psalm 23:1; Isaiah 25:8; Isaiah 60:20; Isaiah 65:19-20; Zechariah 14:11; Romans 8:19-22; 1 Corinthians 15:26, 54-55.
[101] Revelation 7:17; Revelation 21:6; Revelation 22:1, 17; see also Psalm 36:9; Isaiah 55:1-2; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Ezekiel 47:1-12; Zechariah 14:8; John 4:10, 14; John 6:32-35; John 7:37-39.
[102] See Revelation 22:1.
[103] See Genesis 2:8-14.
[104] Revelation 22:2, 14; see also Genesis 2:9; Genesis 3:22, 24.
[105] Revelation 22:2; see also Ezekiel 47:12.
[106] See Revelation 2:7; Revelation 22:2, 14.
[107] See Revelation 19:7-9; Revelation 21:2, 9-11, 27.
[108] Revelation 21:10-11, 23, 25; Revelation 22:5; see also Isaiah 60:1-2.
[109] Revelation 21:23-24, 27; Revelation 22:5; see also Exodus 40:34; Psalm 36:9; Isaiah 24:23; Isaiah 60:19-20; Zechariah 2:5; John 1:4-5; John 3:19; John 8:12; John 9:5; John 12:35-36; 1 Timothy 6:16; 1 John 1:5.
[110] Revelation 21:12-14; see also Ezekiel 48:30-35; Ephesians 2:20.
[111] See Revelation 21:16-21.
[112] Revelation 21:22; see also John 4:21, 23.
[113] Revelation 21:24-25; see also Genesis 12:3.
[114] See Revelation 4:1-5:14; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 22:3.
[115] Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10; Revelation 20:4, 6; Revelation 21:7, 9-11; Revelation 22:5; see also Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 60:12-14; Daniel 7:13-14, 18, 27; Matthew 5:8; 1 Peter 2:5, 9-10.
[116] Revelation 3:4-5; Revelation 6:11; Revelation 7:9-10, 14; Revelation 19:13; Revelation 22:14; see also Acts 4:10-12; Acts 13:38-39; Acts 16:30-31; Romans 1:7; Romans 10:9-13; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30; 2 Corinthians 5:15-21; Ephesians 5:26; Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:22.
[117] Revelation 21:7-8, 27; Revelation 22:14-15; see also Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21; Isaiah 60:21; Matthew 5:21, 27; Matthew 19:17-19; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 1:29-31; Romans 13:8-10; Ephesians 6:2-3; James 2:10-11.
[118] Revelation 14:4-5; Revelation 20:12; Revelation 21:7, 27; Revelation 22:3, 14-15; see also Psalm 15:1-5; Psalm 24:3-5; Isaiah 60:21; Joel 3:17; Zechariah 8:8; Matthew 5:1-12; Mark 13:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-5; Philippians 4:3; 2 Timothy 2:11-13; Hebrews 3:6, 14; Hebrews 6:11-12; Hebrews 10:36; Hebrews 12:14.
[119] John 1:14, 16-17; John 4:24; John 14:6, 15-17; see also Psalm 31:5; Isaiah 1:15-17; Isaiah 60:1-22; Isaiah 65:16; Jeremiah 9:23-24.
[120] Revelation 20:7-15; see also John 3:16-18, 35-36; Romans 1:29-32; 1 Corinthians 16:22; 2 Timothy 3:2-5; Jude 1:14-15.
[121] Revelation 12:9; Revelation 20:2-3, 7-8; Revelation 21:8; see also Genesis 3:1-7; John 8:44; 1 John 2:4.
[122] Revelation 2:21-23; Revelation 11:18; Revelation 20:12-13; Revelation 22:12; see also Proverbs 24:12; Isaiah 40:10; Isaiah 62:11; Matthew 16:27; John 2:23-25; 2 Corinthians 5:10.
[123] See e.g., Matthew 5:1-16; Matthew 7:14-27; Luke 6:47-49; John 8:39-41; John 13:34-35; Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2:14-26.
[124] See e.g., Matthew 4:17; Matthew 5:13-16; Mark 1:14-15; John 1:4-5; John 3:16-21, 35-36; John 5:14; John 8:11-12; 2 Corinthians 7:1, 9-11; Philippians 2:12-15; 1 John 3:3.
[125] See e.g., John 8:21, 23, 31-32, 34, 44; Romans 6:16, 19, 23; cf. Ezekiel 18:4.
[126] See e.g., John 5:24; John 8:51; John 11:25-26.
[127] See Genesis 1:1-2:25; Revelation 21:1-22:5.
[128] Revelation 20:7-10, 14; Revelation 21:8, 25, 27; Revelation 22:5, 15; see also 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5.
[129] See e.g., Isaiah 60:19-21; Isaiah 65:17-18; Isaiah 66:22-23; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1, 7-8, 23, 27; Revelation 22:5.
[130] Revelation 22:12; see also Matthew 16:27; Matthew 24:30-31; Mark 8:38; Mark 14:61-62; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:22-23, 51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.
Saturday Nov 23, 2024