The Knowledge of Jesus Christ

(I am going to be on vacation so I'm posting this blog ahead of time. Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!)

Monday, December 28, 2009: 2 Peter 1:2–3

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

What does the knowledge of Jesus Christ become a channel for? Knowledge becomes a channel for divine power for our life to become godly.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009: 2 Peter 1:4

by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

What do the promises given to us by the knowledge of Jesus Christ allow us to do? We partake of love’s divine nature and escape lust’s corruption.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009: 2 Peter 1:5–7

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

God’s arithmetic: Faith + virtue+ knowledge + self-control + perseverance + godliness + brotherly kindness + love.

Thursday, December 31, 2009: 2 Peter 1:8

For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Is knowledge of Jesus Christ enough? It leads to a life bearing fruit for God.

Friday, January 1, 2010: 2 Peter 1:9

For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

What about those who lets the world get in the way? They are like the blind who have forgotten how they were cleansed from their sin.

Death Prophecy

Monday, December 21, 2009: Genesis 3:15

And I will put enmity between you and the woman,

And between your seed and her Seed;

He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

Background: God speaks to the serpent (devil) after deceiving Adam and Eve.

What does bruise imply? This Child born of a virgin will die but rise from the dead, thus reversing the curse of death.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009: Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Background: Isaiah prophecies about Messiah centuries before His birth.

What does ‘given’ imply? Given on the cross to die as a sacrifice, but then usher in the Kingdom of God’s peace.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009: Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Background: Isaiah prophecies about Messiah centuries before His birth.

What does Immanuel mean? It means God with us.

Thursday, December 24, 2009: Luke 2:12

And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

Background: Angels announce the birth of the Savior to humble shepherds.

What were swaddling cloths? Travelers in those days wrapped their abdomen with linen cloths. If they died, they were wrapped in these strips - swaddling cloths! The sign was that He came to die for us.

Christmas, Friday, December 25, 2009: Luke 24:6–7

He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”

Background: The angels speak at the empty tomb of Jesus Christ.

What was the declaration? He is alive!

Birth Anouncement

Monday, December 14, 2009: Genesis 3:15

And I will put enmity Between you and the woman,

And between your seed and her Seed;

He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

Background: God speaks to the serpent (devil) after deceiving Adam and Eve.

What does ‘her seed’ mean? A child will be born to a virgin.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009: Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given;

Background: Isaiah prophecies about Messiah centuries before His birth.

What does ‘unto us’ imply? To mankind, not to Joseph!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009: Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Background: Isaiah prophecies about Messiah centuries before His birth.

How can a virgin conceive? This unique event is the promised bruiser of Satan, the Seed of the woman.

Thursday, December 17, 2009: Luke 2:10–12

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

Background: Angels announce the birth of the Savior to humble shepherds.

Who was the Savior born to? To the Shepherds and to all people!

Friday, December 18, 2009: Luke 24:6–7

He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”

Background: The angels speak at the empty tomb of Jesus Christ.

What was the reminder? He always is the Son of Man.

Parable of the Good Shepherd

Monday, December 7, 2009: John 10:11,14-16

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

How can a dead Shepherd care for His sheep? He cannot, unless He rises from the dead!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009: John 10:17–18

“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

Who has power to die voluntarily and raise self from the dead? Only the sinless Christ Jesus.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009: John 10:19, 22-24

Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings.

Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

What is the Feast of Dedication? Hanukah! This is the only place in scripture where mention is made of this festival. It is alluded to in the non-canonical books, Maccabees.

Thursday, December 10, 2009: John 10:25–27

Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

Why did Christ Jesus say, “My sheep hear My voice?” This was the answer to the Jews’ question, “If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

Friday, December 11, 2009: John 10:28–30

And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”

Do we earn eternal life or try to stay in Christ Jesus’ hand? No, this is His doing.