Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Jesus: From Genesis to Revelation (Part Two)

The article, Jesus: From Genesis to Revelation, concludes with Part Two.

PART TWO: New Testament

Like the Old Testament, the New Testament was written by various authors and contains 27 books. The majority of biblical scholars date the completion of the holy books of the New Testament between 70-96 A.D. The New Testament discusses the teachings and person of Jesus Christ, as well as events in first-century Christianity. While Jesus himself did not actually write any books of the New Testament, he is quoted in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Matthew – the Messiah who is King (King of the Jews)
"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” ~ Matthew 2:1-2
Mark – the Messiah who is a Servant (the Servant)
"And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all." ~ Mark 10:42-44
Luke – the Messiah who is a Deliverer (He Whom is Delivered)
"He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” ~ Luke 24:6-7
John – the Messiah who is a God in the flesh (the Word)
"[The Word Became Flesh] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made." ~ John 1:1-3
Acts – the Spirit who dwells in His people (the Holy Spirit)
"He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." ~ Acts 1:7-8
Romans – the righteousness of God (Christ)
"So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men." ~ Romans 14:16-18
I Corinthians – the power and love of God (Pure Love)
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." ~ I Corinthians 13:1-3
II Corinthians – He is the down payment of what’s to come (Love of Christ)
"For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised." ~ II Corinthians 5:13-15
Galatians – He is our very life (Son of God)
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose." ~ Galatians 2:20-21
Ephesians – the unity of our church (Body of Christ)
"[Unity in the Body of Christ] I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." ~ Ephesians 4:1-3
Philippians – the joy of our life (My Joy)
"So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind." ~ Philippians 2:1-2
Colossians – holds the supreme position in all things (Firstborn of all Creation)
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell," ~ Colossians 1:15-19
I Thessalonians – our comfort in the last days (Lord Jesus)
"Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints." ~ I Thessalonians 3:11-13
II Thessalonians – our returning King (Righteous God)
"This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, hand to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels" ~ II Thessalonians 1:5-7
I Timothy – Savior of the worst sinners (King of the Ages)
"The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever." ~ I Timothy 1:15-17
II Timothy – leader of the leaders (Christ Jesus)
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." ~ II Timothy 3:14-17
Titus – foundation of truth (God our Savior)
"1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;" ~ Titus 1:1-3
Philemon – our Mediator (For the Sake of Christ)
"I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you." ~ Philemon 1:6-7
Hebrews – our High Priest (High Priest)
"Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house." ~ Hebrews 3:1-2
James – He matures our faith (Producer of Steadfastness)
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." ~ James 1:2-4
I Peter – our hope in times of suffering (Shepherd the Flock of God)
"So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock." ~ I Peter 5:1-3
II Peter – the One who guards us from false teaching (The Rescuer)
"Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority." ~ II Peter 2:9-10
I John – source of all fellowship (the Son)
"That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ." ~ I John 1:3
II John – God in the flesh (Jesus Christ in the Flesh)
" For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist." ~ II John 1:7
III John – source of all truth (Sake of the name)
"For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth." ~ III John 1:7-8
Jude – protects us from stumbling (the Only God)
"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." ~ Jude 1:24-25
Revelation – and He is coming again (the God of the spirits of the prophets)

Revelation – in the last book of the Christian Bible, Jesus is assigned many different names throughout the tome, such as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, The Alpha and the Omega, The Beginning and the End. Yet, the one title I would like to credit is... the God of the spirits of the prophets.
"And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.” “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”" ~ Revelation 22:6-7


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