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Jesus Christ, the Red Thread of the bible:Introduction and foundation

Teaching outline:
  1. Introduction

  2. How knowing who Jesus Christ is in every book of the bible opens an entirely new level of understanding of the word of God

  3. Jesus Christ: the old testament

  4. Jesus Christ: the new testament

  5. 21 point Summary

INTRODUCTION

I have seen many different pie charts of comparative religions of the world. One pie chart I saw divided up the world's religions into 6 major groups: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddism, Confucianism, and Judaism. Another chart showed about 60 different religions in a table listing their founders name or names, time the religion started, basic beliefs, etc. In all, there could actually be hundreds of different religions and all their variations or sub-groups.

In dealing with Christianity, perhaps the largest religion in the world, one of the criticisms of the bible is that it's too difficult or confusing to understand. Making matters even worse, equally qualified biblical scholars can have radically different and even contradictory conclusions and beliefs regarding the same verse of scripture.

It seems that everybody has their own opinion or interpretation, resulting in a lot of confusion and conflict among christians, which also hinders evangelism. One of the major reasons for this is that people have not been taught that the bible interprets itself, much less how it does so.

II Peter 1:20
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

Greek lexicon of I Peter 1:20 go to the Strong's column, link #2398

Definition of private
Strong's Concordance #2398
idios: one's own, distinct
Part of Speech: Adjective
Phonetic Spelling: (id'-ee-os)
Definition: one's own, belonging to one, private, personal; one's own people, one's own family, home, property.

HELPS Word-studies
2398 idios (a primitive word, NAS dictionary) - properly, uniquely one's own, peculiar to the individual. 2398 /idios ("uniquely one's own") is "stronger than the simple possessive pronoun ('own'). This emphatic adjective means 'private, personal' " (WS, 222).

According to II Peter 1:20, since no reader of the bible may provide his own interpretation of it, there are only 2 logical alternatives: either there is no interpretation possible, or it must interpret itself.


If there is no interpretation possible, then there is no point in even reading the bible. God wasted his time sending all the prophets to teach the word; Jesus was crucified for nothing, etc. This obviously is not the case.

The only remaining option is that the bible must interpret itself. Therefore, there must be some simple, logical, and consistent principles of how the scriptures interpret themselves, that can be found in the bible so that we can come to a clear, consistent & decisive conclusion and have confidence that we are rightly dividing God's word.

II Timothy 2
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith [believing] of some.

In verse 18, what does "canker" mean?

Greek lexicon of II Timothy 2:17 Go to the Strong's column, link #1044

Definition of canker
Strong's Concordance #1044
gaggraina: a gangrene, an eating sore
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Phonetic Spelling: (gang'-grahee-nah)
Definition: gangrene, mortification.

What is gangrene?

Definition of gangrene
gan.grene [gang-green, gang-green]
noun
1. necrosis or death of soft tissue due to obstructed circulation, usually followed by decomposition and putrefaction.
2. moral or spiritual corruption and decadence that pervades an individual or group: "This church body has been afflicted with a spiritual gangrene that is poisoning our relationship with the Lord," the preacher expostulated.

Synonyms: decay, rot; depravity, degeneracy.
verb (used with object), verb (used without object), gan.grened, gan.gren.ing.
3. to affect or become affected with gangrene.

Origin:
1535-45; from Middle French gangrene (earlier cancrene ) from Latin gangraena from Greek gangraina 'an eating sore'

Verse 17 of II Timothy 2 is not talking about physical gangrene, but as definition #2 says, it's moral and spiritual in nature. Actual gangrene is a disease that has a life of its own. It can spread and devour a person if not treated.

Spiritual gangrene is caused by devil spirit power in the form of words or images that contradict God's holy word. These ungodly words & images are known as fiery darts of the wicked.


It is wrong doctrine that contradicts God's holy scripture that has the effect of destroying the believing in God that many good people have. That is just one of many reasons why we need to rightly divide God's word.

HOW THE PRINCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST AS THE RED THREAD OF THE BIBLE CAN HELP YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE BIBLE

Psalms 12:6
The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Psalms 119
30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.
151 Thou art near, O Lord; and all thy commandments are truth.

John 17:17
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

If there ever is a discrepancy between the words in the verse, the verse and the immediate context, and the remote context, then the problem can only be in 2 places: either there is an error in translation of the text, or we do not have an accurate or complete understanding of those verses.


So the bible is God's pure truth to mankind. What is the central theme of the bible? Jesus Christ explains that in gospel of Luke.

Luke 24
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened [Greek word dianoigo] to us the scriptures?

Luke 24
44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

Every book of the old testament contained information about, and pointed to, Jesus Christ.

In verse 45, the word "opened" is used 8 times in the bible, including two occurrences right here in Luke 24. Number 8 means a new beginning.

It's a new beginning, the opening of a whole new vista of understanding, when we finally see and understand Jesus Christ, the red thread, the subject of every book of the bible.


2 in the bible is the number of establishment, so its very significant that Jesus Christ shared about himself out of the old testament twice in this chapter. Both times he opened people's understanding of the scriptures simply by explaining how all the books of the old testament reveal aspects about him.

Greek lexicon of Luke 24:45

Definition of opened
Strong's Concordance #1272
dianoigo: to open up completely
Part of Speech: Verb
Phonetic Spelling: (dee-an-oy'-go)
Definition: I open fully.

HELPS Word-studies
1272 dianoigo (from 1223 /dia, "all the way across" and 455 /anoigo, "the process to open fully") - properly, open fully by completing the process necessary to do so (not the prefix 303 /ana which intensifies the root, oigo).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance #1272
to open up completely
From dia and anoigo; to open thoroughly, literally (as a first-born) or figuratively (to expound) - open. [to open the womb for the first time - Jesus Christ was the first-born male in his family, so he gets all the privileges of a first-born son] See Our birth rights in Christ

Jesus Christ absolutely established twice that we will never fully understand the scriptures unless we have a clear understanding of who he is in every book of the bible. The doctrine of the trinity perverts and destroys the true and unique identity of Jesus Christ in every book of the bible. Thus, it prevents people from fully comprehending the bible and gaining an accurate knowledge of it. It prevents people from rightly-dividing the scriptures. Thus, the trinity could not have originated from the one true God.


II Corinthians 4
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Millions and millions of Christian's eyes have been blinded by Satan to the real depth of God's word.

Definition of understanding
Back to Luke 24:49 - Definition of understanding
Strong's Concordance #4920
suniemi: to set together, fig. to understand
Part of Speech: Verb
Phonetic Spelling: (soon-ee'-ay-mee)
Definition: I consider, understand, perceive.

HELPS Word-studies
4920 syniemi (from 4862 /syn, "together with" and hiemi, "put, send") - properly, put together, i.e. join facts (ideas) into a comprehensive (inter-locking) whole; synthesize.

4920 /syniemi ("put facts together") means to arrive at a summary or final understanding (complete with life-applications). Accordingly, 4920 (syniemi) is closely connected with discerning and doing "the preferred-will of God" (2307 /thelema).
Eph 5:17: "So then do not be foolish (878 /aphron), but understand (4920 /syniemi) what the preferred-will (2307 /thelema) of the Lord is (2307 /thelema)."

One of the consequences of not having an accurate understanding of Jesus Christ's identity in every book of the bible, as the red thread of the bible, is that it will be impossible for you to put all the pieces of the bible "puzzle" together into one simple, logical, clear and cohesive whole that is not confusing or contradictory.


Many Christians use the weak religious excuse that "God is a mystery" and therefore, we are not to understand it. That is another lie from Satan to prevent us from knowing the truth.

Ephesians 3
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

Following are more scriptures demonstrating the need to understand Jesus Christ's central and critical part in understanding the whole word of God. It has been said "You tell me what you think of Jesus and I'll tell you how far you are going to go spiritually".

John 1:45
Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

John 5:39
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Greek lexicon of John 5:39 Go to the Strong's column, link #3140

Definition of testify
Definition of testify
Strong's Concordance #3140
martureo: to bear witness, testify
Part of Speech: Verb
Phonetic Spelling: (mar-too-reh'-o)
Definition: I witness, bear witness, give evidence, testify, give a good report.

John 5
45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.
47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

The books of Moses, commonly known as the Pentateuch, are the first 5 books of the bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy all contain important information about Jesus Christ, the coming messiah.


John 12
34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

Verse 38 is a quote from Isaiah 53:1 "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?" Verse 40 is a quote from Isaiah 6:9 & 10.

Isaiah 6
9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not
10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

The Aramaic text of verses 9 & 10 is as follows:

Web archive of Lamsa bible: the Aramaic text from the 5th century
9 And he said to me, Go, and tell this people, You can hear indeed, but understand not; and you can see indeed, but do not perceive.
10 For the heart of this people is darkened and their ears are heavy and their eyes closed, so that they may not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted and be forgiven.

In John 12:34, it mentions this phrase: "We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever:". Once again, Jesus Christ is the main subject out of the law [of Moses], which is Genesis to Deuteronomy. Without an accurate knowledge of Jesus Christ in the books of the law, we will not fully understand what the bible is all about. We will not see the true depth of the word of God.

Isaiah 29
17 Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.

19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
22 Therefore thus saith the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax [grow or become] pale.

23 But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear [reverence] the God of Israel.
24 They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.

In the book of Isaiah, Jesus Christ, the red thread, is Jacob's branch. In verse 18, "the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness."

When does this occur?

Verse 19 says when there is meekness and rejoicing in "the Holy One of Israel". Who is the Holy one of Israel? Jesus Christ. Look at verse 22 - "they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear [reverence] the God of Israel".

People who don't hear [believe] the words of the book, whose eyes have been blinded and are in darkness, either don't believe in Jesus Christ or they have a false belief about him. False beliefs in Christ are caused by false doctrines. In Isaiah 29, the people didn't see or hear the words of God until they decided to get meek to God's word in light of Jesus Christ.

Mark 7
31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.

33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;
37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

Here, Jesus Christ healed a man who could not physically hear or speak. Based on what we know about the record of the spiritually deaf hearing in Isaiah because of their understanding of God's word in light of Jesus Christ, the healing record in Mark 7 also refers to people being able to spiritually hear the word of God and understand it because of their new understanding who Jesus Christ is in the scriptures.

Speaking of speaking, in verse 37, the man was able to physically speak who had an impediment of speech. Spiritually, it is impossible to speak in tongues unless we get born again of God's spirit. The word for speak is the same word speak used in I Corinthians 12:3 & 14:5.

I Corinthians 12:3 [Amplified bible]
Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking under the power and influence of the [Holy] Spirit of God can [ever] say, Jesus be cursed! And no one can [really] say, Jesus is [my] Lord, except by and under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit.

I Corinthians 14:5
I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

If we are born again of God's spirit, the only way we can really demonstrate and prove that Jesus is our Lord is by speaking in tongues.


Romans 11
7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

Verse 8 is a quote from Isaiah 29:10

Isaiah 29
9 Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
10 For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:

First off, we need to handle verse 10, because it looks like God is deliberately causing them to be spiritually blind and deaf. There is a figure of speech called an idiom of permission here that explains this so that there are no misconceptions or wrong beliefs about God.

An idiom of permission means God allowed them to be blinded and deaf because he gives everybody freedom of will. God will never control anybody or make them do something against their will. Only the devil does that.


II Timothy 2:26
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

So since God allowed them to be blind and deaf, then God cannot be the one who caused them to be blind and deaf in the first place. Therefore, it had to be caused by something other than God. With that being the case, it has to be the adversary, Satan, who blinded their eyes and blocked their hearing, spiritually speaking. This is caused by a devil spirit, not the one true God.

If people continue in their hard-hearted unbelief, then they will be vulnerable to possession by a devil spirit of slumber that will blind their eyes and ears so that they cannot see or understand the word of God. We will be spiritually blind to many things in God's word if we do not have a complete & accurate understanding of Jesus Christ in the bible.

II Corinthians 3
13 And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

In verse 14, we see that the spiritual veil was taken away by the completed works of Jesus Christ. However, there is a deeper meaning here as well.

If we don't know and understand who Jesus Christ is in the books of the bible, there will be a spiritual veil on our hearts that will blind us from the deepest realities of God's fathomless treasures of truth.


II Corinthians 4
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Hebrews 4
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Revelation 5
1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

In verse 5, the Greek word for "open" is anoigo, which has the same root word [oigo] for "opened" in Luke 24:45 [dianoigo]. This word is used 77 times in the bible.

7 is the number of spiritual perfection, so we have here spiritual perfection doubled when we know and believe who Jesus Christ is. Only Jesus Christ can open up the understanding of the scriptures to us, if we will put away religious teachings and get back to simple, logical thinking in the bible.


In Revelation 5:5, Jesus Christ physically opened the book [scroll], but figuratively & spiritually, he opened the book up to them so that they could understand it. Only Jesus Christ can do that. No other so-called "savior" can do that.

Philip understood the importance of Jesus Christ being the subject of every book in the word of God. That is why he went into Isaiah and helped the man of Ethiopia understand the Old Testament scriptures in light of Jesus Christ.

Acts 8
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

In verse 32, the scripture he is referring to was Isaiah 53:7 & 8. In the book of Isaiah, Jesus Christ is Jacob's branch. Over and over again, we see people in the bible teaching about Jesus Christ to open up our understanding of God's word.

In Acts 26, the apostle Paul was teaching what the prophets and Moses taught about the coming of Jesus Christ in the future.

Acts 26
21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

Once again, Paul is teaching people what the Old Testament law and prophets said about Jesus Christ because he knew of its critical importance for our understanding of the word of God. In verse 23, it is Christ that shows the light "unto the people, and to the Gentiles".

Acts 28
22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

Wow, look at that. The great apostle Paul taught the people about Jesus Christ from the law & the prophets. Every book of the bible contains information about Jesus Christ that will illuminate the scriptures from a whole new angle that you most likely have never seen before.

Luke 16
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

What did Moses and the prophets teach about? Just a few chapters ahead, in Luke 24, Jesus Christ himself taught 2 apostles "which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms" about himself. Here, Jesus Christ himself divided up the old testament into only 3 categories: "the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms", which all contained information about himself.

If people don't believe what the Old Testament says about Jesus Christ, then they are so blinded that they still won't believe in God's word, even if somebody gets raised from the dead by the power of God!


That's how important Jesus Christ, the red thread, is to understanding the word of God completely and accurately.

Acts 10
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick [living] and dead.
43 To him [Jesus Christ] give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Once again, the focus of the prophets was Jesus Christ. So the modern-day Jews, which say they believe only in the old testament, is actually a lie according to God's word because if they truly believed what the old testament said about Jesus Christ, then they would get born again and no longer follow the Jewish religion. They would live the word of God that is written directly to them.

John 20
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

On page 468 of E.W. Bullinger's figure of speech book, there is a figure of speech called Symperasma, or concluding summary - [it's used eight times in the book of Acts alone].

Symperasma literally means a finishing or end. In logic it is the conclusion of a syllogism. It is from [the Greek word] sun, together with, and peraioo, to carry over or across. Hence, symperasma means to conclude along with, to end together, and is used when what has been said is briefly summed up, and when certain foregoing enumerations are given in a brief epitome. It is also called athrcesmos, to collect or gather together.

John 21
24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

We know that the purpose of the book of John was to emphasize Jesus Christ, [the red thread of the bible], as the son of God. But it goes beyond that. The 4 gospels are actually the completion of the Old Testament. Once we have established that fact in the following section, then we will see these 2 verses in John 21 from a whole new light.

Galatians 4 [New English Translation (NET Bible)]
4 But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights.

So Jesus Christ was born under the law, which refers to the law of Moses, the Mosaic law.

Matthew 5
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

One of Jesus Christ's many purposes was to fulfil the old testament law. He did that during his ministry, which was recorded in the gospels. Therefore, the gospels are the completion of the old testament law. The day of Pentecost, in 28AD, recorded in Acts 2, is the beginning of an entirely new biblical administration, the age of grace. This occurred because Jesus fulfilled all the old testament laws that was possible to fulfill.

Thus, when we are aware of and understand the dynamics of the figure of speech symperasma in John 20:31, we can now see it from a whole new perspective: as the last verse in the second to the last chapter of the book of John, it is a summary and concluding statement of the entire old testament [Genesis - gospel of John] and reveals one of its purposes: that Jesus is the son of God.


Here is another purpose of the old testament that fits in with the previous one: it was written for our admonition & learning.

I Corinthians 10:11
Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Romans 15:4
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

The word "aforetime" refers to the day of Pentecost in 28AD, which ushered in an entirely new and different biblical administration: the age of grace. In the scriptures below in Acts & Psalms, we have 2 verses that mention the coming of Christ as the son of God.

Acts 13
26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
27 For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

28 And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.
29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.

30 But God raised him from the dead:
31 And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.

32 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,
33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

Psalms 2
6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

So these verses in Acts 13:33 & Psalms 2:7 confirms what John 20 said: that one of the purposes of the old testament is to show Jesus Christ as the son of God.

With the new understanding of the gospel of John as the last book of the old testament, we are going to look at the entire bible numerically for another new perspective on the true old and new testaments.

If we count I & II Kings as one book [Kings], and I & II Chronicles as one book [Chronicles], and knowing that originally, Ezra & Nehemiah were written as one book, etc, we can see that there are still 39 books of the old testament [Genesis to the gospel of John], with the book of Acts being the 40th book of the bible. What is the significance of the number 40 in the bible?

E. W. Bullinger's number in scripture book online [Go to page 2, then scroll down to PART II SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE, then to #40 on page 3.

From E.W. Bullinger's book, Number in Scripture, page 252
"Forty has long been universally recognized as an important number, both on account of the frequency of its occurrence, and the uniformity of its association with a period of probation, trial, and chastisement - (not judgment, like the number 9, which stands in connection with the punishment of enemies, but the chastisement of sons, and of a covenant people). It is the product of 5 and 8, and points to the action of grace (5), leading to and ending in revival and renewal (8). This is certainly the case where forty relates to a period of evident probation. But where it relates to enlarged dominion, or to renewed or extended rule, then it does so in virtue of its factors 4 and 10, and in harmony with their signification."

The first 40 books of the bible, from Genesis to Acts, begins and ends the probation period, followed by a new beginning, a revival, which is the age of grace, when the great mystery was finally revealed to mankind. During this time, 16 more books of the bible were written, completing it. This is 8 [a new beginning] times 2 = 16 books, so we have in the true new testament [Romans - Revelation] a doubling or establishment of a new beginning. So the bible is even perfect mathematically.


The great book of Ephesians reveals the mystery which has been hid in God for eons.

Ephesians 3
1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation [administration] of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship [administration] of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things.

JESUS CHRIST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

The bible has a built-in system of checks and balances to keep us on the right track if we get off course. Jesus Christ, as the red thread of the bible, serves as one of the systems of checks and balances. Jesus Christ is the one who ties all the books of the bible together and gives them all a unique and powerful identity and contribution to the whole.

Definition of context

The words in a verse, the verse itself, the immediate context and the remote context are all nested inside each other in a sequence. They are related in 4 simple steps:
  1. The words in the verse must be in harmony with each other
  2. The verse must be in harmony with the immediate context
  3. The immediate context must be in harmony with the remote context - who Jesus Christ is in the book of the bible that contains the immediate context
  4. The remote context 2 - this book of the bible must be in harmony with the part of the bible that it is in, either the Old or New Testament

This is how the biblical system of checks and balances work.

So if we are reading some verses, and come to a particular conclusion, we must make sure that conclusion agrees or fits in with the theme of the book those verses are in. If it doesn't, then we know we made a mistake somewhere and we have to do some more research to find out where the error is.

It's like you have probably heard: if a sailor is only a tiny bit off course in a vast ocean [assuming he has no instruments to guide him], he may not detect that error until he ends up a few hundred miles off course when his trip ends on the other side of the ocean. But, in contrast, if you constantly keep track of where you are, with precision instruments, in light of your destination, then you can make corrections along the way to make sure you arrive at the correct destination.

God's word is just like that. If we don't know what the remote context is [our destination, Jesus Christ], then if we get off the word, we will never know it because without a reference point, we have no way to measure or know whether or not we are off course.

Jesus Christ has a particular aspect of his nature revealed in every book of the bible. This is the theme of that book.


Once we know that, [our destination, the remote context], then all chapters and verses and conclusions we make must be in alignment with that theme. If any of those disagree with the remote context, [who Jesus Christ is in that book], then we do not have the original word of God, for it was perfect when originally given. We must go back to our principles and tools of biblical research to find out where the problem is in order to rightly divide God's word.

OLD TESTAMENT
  1. Genesis: the promised seed of the woman
    Genesis 3:15
    And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

    Galatians 3:16
    Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

  2. Exodus: the passover lamb
    I Corinthians 5:7
    Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

  3. Leviticus: the high priest
    Leviticus 20:10
    And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;

  4. Numbers: the star to rise out of Jacob
    Numbers 24:17
    I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

  5. Deuteronomy: the two laws - love God and love your neighbor

    Deuteronomy 6
    4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
    5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
    6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

    Deuteronomy 10
    19 Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
    20 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.

    Deuteronomy 11
    1 Therefore thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.
    13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,

    14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.
    22 For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him;

    Deuteronomy 30:16
    In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

  6. Joshua: the captain of the lord of hosts [army]
    Joshua 5
    14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant?
    15 And the captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

    Notice the connection and association to Jesus Christ in the new testament.

    Luke 3:16
    John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

    Now back to the concept of captain.

    Hebrews 2
    9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
    10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
    11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

    Ephesians 1
    19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working [energizing] of his mighty power,
    20 Which he wrought [energized] in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

    21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
    22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

    23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

    Because Jesus Christ is the captain or head of God's army, the head of the body of Christ, he is also over the prince of the power of the air, the devil, and all his lower ranking devil spirits.

    That is why we can defeat our adversary the devil every time we believe what God's word says.

  7. Judges: the covenant angel named wonderful

  8. Ruth: the kinsman redeemer
    Ruth 4
    14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.
    15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.

  9. Samuel: the root and offspring of David

  10. Kings: The greater than the temple
    I Kings
    37 As the Lord hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.
    47 And moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed.

    Matthew 12:6
    But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

    Jesus Christ is the head of the body, which makes him greater than the temple, which is the body of Christ.

    Ephesians 1:22
    And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

    Ephesians 4:15
    But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

    Ephesians 5:23
    For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

    Ephesians 2
    20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
    21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

  11. Chronicles: the king's son

  12. Ezra and Nehemiah: the rebuilder

    Ezra 3:10
    And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.

  13. Esther: the savior of God's people

    Esther 8
    15 And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
    16 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
    17 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear [reverence] of the Jews fell upon them.

    Esther 8:17 [amplified bible]
    In each and every province and in each and every city, wherever the king’s command and his decree arrived, the Jews celebrated with gladness and joy, a feast and a holiday. And many among the peoples of the land became Jews [embraced Judaism], for the fear [reverence] of the Jews [and their God] had fallen on them.

    So due to the operations of the manifestations of holy spirit on Esther and Mordecai and the benefits and victory, many crossed over from their pagan beliefs to Judaism, which, by definition, is a proselyte.

    Definition of proselyte:
    someone who has been persuaded to change their religious or political beliefs:

    Acts 2
    8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
    9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
    10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
    11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

    Ephesians 5:23
    For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

  14. Job: the daysman [mediator]
    Job 9:33
    Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

    I Timothy 2:5
    For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

    Definition of mediator:
    a person whose job is to mediate in a disagreement [talk to the people or groups involved to help them find a solution]:

    Genesis 3:15
    And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

    I John 2
    1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
    2 And he is the propitiation [payment] for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

    From verse 1, the biblical definition of advocate:
    Strong's Concordance #3875
    paraklétos: called to one's aid
    Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
    Phonetic Spelling: (par-ak'-lay-tos)
    Usage: (a) an advocate, intercessor, (b) a consoler, comforter, helper, (c) Paraclete.

    HELPS Word-studies
    3875 paráklētos (from 3844 /pará, "from close-beside" and 2564 /kaléō, "make a call") – properly, a legal advocate who makes the right judgment-call because close enough to the situation. 3875 /paráklētos ("advocate, advisor-helper") is the regular term in NT times of an attorney (lawyer) – i.e. someone giving evidence that stands up in court.

  15. Psalms: the song
    Psalm 28:7
    The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

    Psalm 42:8
    Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

    Psalm 69:30
    I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

    Psalm 118:14
    The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

    Psalm 144:9
    I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.

    Revelation 15:3
    And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

  16. Proverbs: the wisdom of God

  17. Ecclesiastes: the one among a thousand
    Theme verse:
    Ecclesiastes 7:28
    Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

  18. Song of Solomon: the bridegroom of the bride

    Matthew 25
    1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
    2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

    3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
    4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

    5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
    6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

    7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
    8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

    9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
    10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

    11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
    12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

    13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.


  19. Isaiah: the Jacob's branch
    Isaiah 11
    1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
    2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
    3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
    4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
    5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

  20. Jeremiah: our righteousness

    Jeremiah 33:15
    In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.

    Jeremiah 23:6
    In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness.

    Jeremiah 51:10
    The Lord hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God.

  21. Lamentations: the unbeliever's judgment
    Lamentations 3:59
    O Lord, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.

    John 5
    22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
    27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

  22. Ezekiel: the true shepherd
    Ezekiel 34:23
    And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.

    Ezekiel 37:24
    And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.

  23. Daniel: the stone that became the head of the corner
    Daniel 2
    34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
    35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

    Psalm 118:22
    The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

    Matthew 21:42
    Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

    Mark 12:10
    And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:

    Luke 20:17
    And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

    Acts 4:11
    This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

    1 Peter 2
    4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
    5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
    6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
    7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
    8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

  24. Hosea: the latter rain
    Hosea 6
    1 Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
    2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
    3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

    The first rain softens the dry ground and enables the seed to be planted in good soil.

    The latter rain [Jesus Christ] causes the crop to grow, mature and produce fruit for the harvest.

    John 15
    1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman [vine dresser; farmer].
    2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

    3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
    4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

    5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
    6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

    7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
    8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

  25. Joel: God's dwelling in Zion
    Joel 3:17
    So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.

  26. Amos: the raiser of David's tabernacle
    Amos 9:11
    In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
    12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the Lord that doeth this.

    Acts 15
    15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
    16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
    17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

  27. Obadiah: the deliverer on mount Zion
    Obadiah
    17 But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
    21 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord's.

  28. Jonah: our salvation
    Jonah 2:9
    But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.

  29. Micah: the lord of kings
    Micah 2:13
    The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the Lord on the head of them.

  30. Nahum: the stronghold in the time of trouble
    Nahum 1:7
    The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

  31. Habakkuk: our joy and confidence

    Habakkuk 3
    18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
    19 The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

    Ephesians 3:12
    11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
    12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

  32. Zephaniah: our mighty lord

    Zephaniah 2:7
    And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the Lord their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.

    Ephesians 4:8
    Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

    Zephaniah 3:15
    The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.

    Zephaniah 3:17
    The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

    Jesus Christ is God's only begotten son and is therefore, also his first born son. In the Hebrew culture, this gives him many of the same rights and power of God his father. Thus, Jesus Christ walked in the power of God on a daily basis.

  33. Haggai: the desire of the nations

  34. Zechariah: our servant - the branch
    Zechariah 3:8
    Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch.

    Zechariah 6
    12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The Branch; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord:
    13 Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

  35. Malachi: the son of righteousness
    Malachi 4:2
    But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

  36. Matthew: Jehovah's King

    The phrase "kingdom of heaven" occurs 32 times in the bible and all 32 usages are in the gospel of Matthew! When you breakdown the word "kingdom" it literally means the reign of a king. Of heaven is more accurately translated from heaven and its referring to Jesus Christ, the son of God.

    Matthew 4:17
    From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

    The gospels were written directly to Israel and NOT to the christians today in the age of grace.

  37. Mark: Jehovah's servant
    Mark 10:44
    And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

  38. Luke: Jehovah's man
    Luke 11
    29 And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
    30 For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.

  39. John: Jehovah's son

    John 20
    30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
    31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

    It is most ironic that many verses in the gospel of John are actually used to promote the trinity!!

    As can be seen above, that contradicts verse 31 that says Jesus Christ is the SON of God and not "God the son", a phrase that never occurs in scripture.

    Therefore, due to the stated purpose of the gospel of John, all verses therein MUST be understood in this context of truth.

    If we believe that Jesus Christ is anybody other than "THE son of God", then we cannot overcome the world, which reveals the true objective and purpose of the trinity:
    * the objective is to corrupt our believing
    * the purpose is to prevent us from overcoming the world.

  40. Acts: the gift of holy spirit

    Acts 1:8
    But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost [the gift of holy spirit you receive into manifestation by speaking in tongues the wonderful works of God] is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

    Acts 2
    1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
    2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
    3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
    4 And they were all filled with the [the word "the" is not in the critical Greek texts.] Holy Ghost, [these words are referring to the gift of holy spirit that we receive when we get born again and are manifesting it by speaking in tongues the wonderful works of God, so it is better translated "holy spirit"] and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit [God] gave them utterance.

JESUS CHRIST IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

TRUE NEW TESTAMENT
  1. Romans: the believer's justification
    Romans 4:25
    Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

  2. Corinthians: the believer's sanctification
    I Corinthians 1:30
    But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

  3. Galatians: the believer's righteousness

    Galatians 2:21
    I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

    Galatians 3
    23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
    24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
    25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
    26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

  4. Ephesians: the believer's heavenly standing
    Ephesians 2:6
    And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

  5. Philippians: the believer's self adequacy
    Philippians 4:11
    Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

    Definition of "content":
    Strong's Concordance #842
    autarkés: self-sufficient, sufficient
    Part of Speech: Adjective
    Phonetic Spelling: (ow-tar'-kace)
    Definition: self-sufficient, contented, satisfied, independent.

    HELPS Word-studies
    Cognate: 842 autárkēs (the adjectival form of 841 /autárkeia, "contentment") – properly, self-sufficient, content in the sense of being satisfied because living in God's content (fulness). This inward sufficiency is as valid in "low times" (suffering) as in "high times" (temporal prosperity). See 841 (autarkeia).
    842 /autárkēs ("sufficiency within") occurs only in Phil 4:11 where it refers to positive self-sufficiency (inward adequacy) – i.e. that comes through the indwelling power of Christ.
    [842 (autárkēs) comes from autos ("self") and arkein ("sufficient") meaning "self"-sufficiency, which is entirely God-produced.]


  6. Colossians: the believer's completeness
    Colossians 2:10
    And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

  7. Thessalonians: the believer's soon glorification

    I Thessalonians 4
    13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
    14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
    15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
    16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
    17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
    18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

  8. Timothy: the faithful men
    II Timothy 2:2
    1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
    2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
    3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

  9. Titus: the fellow laborer
    2 Corinthians 8:23
    Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

    2 Corinthians 8
    6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
    16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

    II Corinthians 12
    17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
    18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
    19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

    Philippians 4:3
    And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

    Titus 1:4
    To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

  10. Philemon: love of a believer
    Philemon 1:5
    Hearing of thy love and faith [believing], which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

  11. Hebrews: the high priest for sin
    Hebrews 2:17
    Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

  12. James: the royal law

  13. Peter: the pastor
    1 Peter 2:25
    For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

    Strong's Concordance #4166
    poimén: a shepherd
    Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
    Phonetic Spelling: (poy-mane')
    Definition: a shepherd; hence met: of the feeder, protector, and ruler of a flock of men.

    HELPS Word-studies
    4166 poimḗn – properly, a shepherd ("pastor" in Latin); (figuratively) someone who the Lord raises up to care for the total well-being of His flock (the people of the Lord).
    [4166 (poimḗn) is closely associated with 1066 /Gedeṓn ("to feed the flock"), see Jn 21:15-17.]

  14. I, II & III John: as we are

    I John 3
    1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
    2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

  15. Jude: the beloved
    Jude
    17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
    18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
    19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
    20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the [the word "the" is not in the critical Greek texts.] Holy Ghost, [these words are referring to the gift of holy spirit that we receive when we get born again and are manifesting it by speaking in tongues the wonderful works of God, so it is better translated "holy spirit"]


  16. Revelation: the king of kings and lord of lords
    Revelation 19:16
    And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.

SUMMARY

Colossians 1
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
  1. II Peter 1:20 - Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of one's own interpretation.

  2. Therefore, the bible, God's greatest work, must interpret itself. Therefore, there must be some simple, logical and consistent principles of how the bible interprets itself that can be found in scripture and applied in our biblical studies

  3. II Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

  4. Ungodly words and images that contradict God's word can spiritually eat away at us like gangrene if we believe them

  5. The words in a verse, the verse itself, the immediate context and the remote context are all nested inside each other in a sequence. They are related in 4 simple steps:

  6. The words in the verse must be in harmony with each other

  7. The verse must be in harmony with the immediate context

  8. The immediate context must be in harmony with the remote context - who Jesus Christ is in the book of the bible that contains the immediate context

  9. The remote context 2 - this book of the bible must be in harmony with the part of the bible that it is in, either the Old or New Testament

  10. Twice in Luke 24 Jesus Christ teaches about himself out of the scriptures and opens people's understanding of God's will, the bible

  11. the word "opened" in Luke 24 is used 8 times in the bible. Number 8 means a new beginning. It's a new beginning, the opening of a whole new vista of understanding, when we clearly see and understand Jesus Christ, the red thread, the subject of every book of the bible

  12. The word "open" means "open fully by completing the process necessary to do so" & "to open the womb for the first time - Jesus Christ was the first-born male in his family, so he gets all the privileges of a first-born son"

  13. In Luke 24:45, the word "understanding" means "join facts (ideas) into a comprehensive (inter-locking) whole; synthesize". In other words, if we do not have a clear understanding of who Jesus Christ is in every book of the bible, we will never be able to accurately put all the puzzle pieces of the bible together

  14. There are dozens upon dozens of scriptures throughout the old and new testaments that testify of the importance of who Jesus Christ is, one of the most important identities of him is that he is the son of God by divine conception

  15. The doctrine of the trinity perverts and destroys the identity of Jesus Christ in every book of the bible, thus making it impossible for us to have an accurate and comprehensive understanding of the entire bible

  16. The gospel of John is the last book of the old testament and its purpose for being written was "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

  17. John 20:31 has the figure of speech symperasma, a summary and concluding statement for the book of John and the entire old testament

  18. There are 39 books of the old testament, Genesis - John, with the 40th book being the book of Acts

  19. The # 40 is associated with periods of probation, trial, and chastisement as the Mosaic law was finally completed

  20. That leaves 16 books of the bible for the true new testament, which is 8 [a new beginning or revival] times 2 [the # of establishment]. So the new testament is a new beginning doubled or established

  21. The great book of Ephesians reveals the mystery which has been hid in God for eons which is that the gentiles "should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel" and each one of them would have "Christ in you, the hope of glory"