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.

Precious in God's Sight

Monday, November 30, 2009: 2 Peter 1:1

Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ
Why is the true Christian faith so precious? Our faith is precious because it is similar (like) and it depends, NOT on our good works, (righteousness) but the righteousness of God.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009: 1 Peter 1:6–7

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ
Why is the testing of our faith important? The genuineness of our faith only emerges through trials.

Wednesday, December 2, 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.
Is there any use of God’s promises, great and precious though they are? Any promise that remains unaccepted is still only a promise.

Thursday, December 3, 2009: 1 Peter 1:18–19

knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
Don’t your donations of silver and gold help redeem you from the Pawn Shop of sin? Only the precious blood of Christ can redeem you. Nothing else can.

Friday, December 4, 2009: 1 Peter 3:3–4

Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
What is valuable in God’s sight in a woman? The incorruptible beauty of a quiet spirit is precious!

Thanksgiving & Worship

Monday, November 23, 2009: Hebrews 13:10, 15

We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

What is the only sacrifice we can now make? Through our High Priest, Jesus Christ, we offer the words of our prayers as a sacrifice, praising God for His grace to us.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009: Matthew 15:7–9

Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,

And honor Me with their lips,

But their heart is far from Me.

And in vain they worship Me,

Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

What must worship include? Worship, as set apart from thanksgiving, is from the heart, a response to God’s salvation apart from the law (or the sub-laws made by man) in a group setting.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009: John 4:23–24

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

What is true worship, as expressed by Jesus Christ? Individuals expressing themselves as led by their spirit and their true feelings of thanksgiving for Christ’s sacrifice.

Thursday, November 26, 2009: Colossians 4:2

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving

What is the vehicle of thanksgiving to God? Prayer offered with thanks for recognized favors of God.

Friday, November 27, 2009: Philippians 4:6–7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Can we give thanks for a prayer request before it is answered? Yes, because God always gives an answer, be it yes, no or wait.

Righteous and Justified

Monday, November 16, 2009: Matthew 13:49–50

So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Why is separation between the wicked ones and the just ones needed? They are so similar that mankind cannot separate the two: only angels can.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009: Matthew 25:46

And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
What does everlasting or eternal mean? Exactly what it says.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009: Mark 2:17

When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Is anyone righteous? No, only self-righteous: these think they are not sinners.

Thursday, November 19, 2009: Romans 5:7–9

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
How do sinners become righteous? Only the blood of the Lamb of God wipes sin away.

Friday, November 20, 2009: Romans 3:21–24

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
Can a sinner ever have the righteousness of God? Yes, and that freely in Christ Jesus.