David’s Final Words are Messianic

Establish the need: How many of us would right away list 2 Samuel 23:1-7 as Messianic Prophecy when asked to list Messianic passages?

Purpose: We will consider four reasons why we know Jesus existed in history.

• David is focusing on the Messiah (v.1)
• Affirmation this is Prophetic (v.2-3a)
• The Messiah’s Righteousness (v.3b-4)
• The Basis of the Messiah’s Coming is the Davidic Covenant (v.5)
• The Messiah’s Judgment (v.6-7)

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The Book of Ruth is Messianic

Establish the need: To the untrained eye one can think a small book like Ruth that read like personal romance has nothing to do with the Messiah; but is this the case?

Purpose: We will consider three points of how the book of Ruth has Messianic trajectories.

• • It might have seemed that God had forgotten about His Messianic promises during the book of Ruth
  • The genealogy in Ruth 4 continues the Messianic hope
  • God works through unlikely situations

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Hannah’s Song is Messianic

Establish the need: Is there any Messianic prophecy in this song?

Purpose: We will consider reasons why we consider Hannah’s Song in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 is Messianic Prophecy.

• • Hannah’s Song is prophetic
  • Hannah’s Song is Messianic prophecy since she was informed by Old Testament Theology
  • The mention of the Messiah seem to refer to Someone greater than a local King of Israel

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Deuteronomy 18 and the Messiah being like Moses

Establish the need: Is the Messiah going to be like Moses in any way?

Purpose: We will consider Deuteronomy 18:15-19 as pointing to Christ with the following five points.

• The focus on an individual prophet like Moses
• Objection: There’s nothing about this about a future prediction
• Deuteronomy 18 is not predicting Joshua
• Deuteronomy 18 is not predicting Muhammad
• Jesus is like Moses

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Guest Post: Trinitarian Redemption

Note: This is a guest post since presently I am teaching overseas. This is by Jeff Chavez. His blog be found here.

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith: 2.3c

but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on him.

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith: 11:4

God did from all eternity decree to justify all the elect,11 and Christ did in the fullness of time die for their sins, and rise again for their justification; nevertheless, they are not justified personally, until the Holy Spirit in time does actually apply Christ to them.

From the 1689 London Baptist Confession and the Scriptures we know that the Triune God works together to accomplish the redemption of His people. Redemption fulfills the Father’s eternal plan. The redemption of God’s people is based on the Son’s perfect life and glorious work on the cross by shedding His blood. The Spirit powerfully applies Christ’s work of redemption.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:7-12 ESV)

The Trinitarian theology in the New Testament is a Christ–centered Trinitarianism.

Teaching: Christ’s redemptive work is the ground and center of the triune God’s perfect redemption. Christ saves His people chosen by the Father, through the regenerating work of the Spirit.

Let’s see today the Particularity, Power, Perfection, and Purpose of Redemption.

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Guest Post: Descriptions of Christ’s Resurrection

Note: This is a guest post since presently I am teaching overseas. This is by Jeff Chavez. His blog be found here.

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
(Matthew 28:1-10 ESV)

This portion of the resurrection like that of the other three gospels (John 20, Mark 16, Luke 24) tells us about the great proof that Christ has satisfied the Father’s justice and wrath and He has paid in full the debt of His people.

From the text, we can glean three descriptions of the resurrection of Christ.

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Guest Post: Daily Service: Jesus is Master

Note: This is a guest post since presently I am teaching overseas. This is by Bruce. His blog be found here.

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Balaam’s Oracles are Messianic Part 2

Establish the need: What are the details of the Messiah in Numbers 24?

Review: Last week we considered five reasons we believe Balaam’s third and fourth discourse found in Numbers 24:5-9 and Numbers 24:14-19 are Messianic prophecies.

1. Clues from the Pentateuch: a prophetic poem at the end of an era
2. Clues from themes from the Abrahamic Covenant in Balaam’s narrative
3. Clues from themes in Genesis 49 in Balaam’s narrative
4. Clues from the narrator of Balaam’s narrative
5. Objection: Isn’t Balaam a false prophet?

Purpose: In this session we will consider three details about the Messiah found in Numbers 24:7-9 and refute an objection

1. The Messianic Seed will be a King of Israel (Numbers 24:7)
2. The Messianic Seed will be come out of Egypt (Numbers 24:8)
3. The Messiah will bless those who bless Him and curse those who curse Him (Numbers 24:9)
4. Objection: Isn’t this about Saul?

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Balaam’s Oracles are Messianic Part 1

Establish the need: Is there Messianic Prophecy in this interesting episode in the book of Numbers?

Purpose: We will consider five reasons we believe Balaam’s third and fourth discourse found in Numbers 24:5-9 and Numbers 24:14-19 are Messianic prophecies.

• • Clues from the Pentateuch: a prophetic poem at the end of an era
  • Clues from themes from the Abrahamic Covenant in Balaam’s narrative
  • Clues from themes in Genesis 49 in Balaam’s narrative
  • Clues from the narrator of Balaam’s narrative
  • Objection: Isn’t Balaam a false prophet?

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250 Alleged Bible Contradictions Answered

Since October 2015 I have blogged responses to alleged Bible contradictions listed on the Skeptic Annotated Bible.  Apparently this week I hit a milestone: I have refuted over two hundred fifty alleged Bible Contradiction!

Below is the listing of these posts, beginning with the newer posts since the last milestone I posted of 200 Bible contradictions:

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Review: I Belong: Heidelberg Catechism Question and Answer One for Children

For this week’s “Wee-kids” Wednesdays here’s a review of a Christian children’s book.

Joyce Holstege.  I Belong: Heidelberg Catechism Question and Answer One for Children.  Jenison, MI: Reformed Free Publishing Association, October 4^th, 2022. 46 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Reformed Free Publishing Association

Purchase: Amazon

Are you looking for a children’s picture book that goes over biblical truths for children to learn about God, Jesus and the Bible especially from a biblical perspective?  If so this book is for you.  It is a devotional explanation of the Heidelberg Catechism Question and Answer 1 which raises the question “What is Thy Only comfort in Life and Death?”  It is meant for ages four to eight to be read by the parents or older children.  I appreciate that the publishers Reformed Free Publishing Association printed a resource for families such as this title.  I enjoyed this so much I do wish the author, illustrator and publisher would consider publishing other books like this one on other Heidelberg Catechism Question and Answers.

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Genesis 22 is Messianic Typology

Establish the need: Does Genesis 22 point us towards Christ?

Purpose: We will consider how Genesis 22 anticipates the Messiah is Jesus.

• The threat to the Messianic line teaches us to have faith in God’s promises
• There are messianic typologies
• To appreciate how this chapter is a type pointing to Christ

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Genesis 49:8-12 is Messianic Prophecy

Establish the need: Did you know that within Genesis 49:8-12 there is a prediction of the coming Messiah?

Purpose: We will consider how Genesis 49:8-12 anticipates the Messiah is Jesus.

1. Clues from context of Pentateuch
2. Clues from within Genesis 49:8-12
3. Clues from the Aramaic Targum
4. Clues from the Rabbis

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Review: Can We Trust the Gospels?

Peter Williams. Can We Trust the Gospels?  Wheaton, IL: Crossway, November 30, 2018.  153 pp

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Want a good book that summarize the apologetics for the Gospels being trustworthy by a reputable New Testament scholar?  Consider picking up Peter Williams’ book Can We Trust the Gospels?  The author is a principle of Tyndale House at Cambridge that leads in biblical research.  The publisher Crossway has provided Christians a great resource and the author was able to summarize the case for the Gospels within the one hundred fifty page range and still gives us readers great food for thoughts and summary of new arguments by other apologists, and scholars.

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Genesis 3:15 is Messianic Prophecy

Establish the need: What was the first place that predicts the coming Messiah?

Purpose: We will consider how Genesis 3:15 anticipates the Messiah is Jesus.

• Clues from within Genesis 3:15
• Clues from Eve’s expectation in Genesis 4:1
• Clues from the Aramaic Targum
• Clues from the expectation of the coming of the Messiah with LamechClue from the expectation of the coming of the Messiah with Noah

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