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Introduction to Personal Bible Study - Videos (2007)

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Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Christ Above All

One of the dangers in Bible study is that in our desire to understand the scriptures (a noble and good thing), as we dig, we lose sight of him who makes it all possible. On this blog, we have studied how God has dealt with different people at different times according to different administrations. But there are truths central to all.

We have noted that while some things are limited to certain peoples or dispensations (such as Sabbaths and sacrifices) other truths know no bounds (God is love). In all administrations, the unifying truth and path to life is by faith. No matter the age, no matter the dispensation,  no matter the revelation, faith is the path into entering any blessing.

Central to faith is the Lord Jesus Christ. He declares himself in the Revelation as the "alpha and the omega" (the first and last letters of the classical Greek alphabet), "the first and the last," and "the beginning and the end." He is almighty God. He is one with the Father. He is a member of the triune God.
“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel,
And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
‘I am the First and I am the Last;
Besides Me there is no God.
-Isaiah 44:6
We see that he is the "Aleph-Tav," the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet of Genesis 1:1. Genesis 1:1 contains an untranslatable word. The verse contains 7 words and 28 (4x7) letters.
בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃
Although Hebrew commentators dispute the Aleph-Tav reference to Christ and argue its use is simply a grammatical marker, we have further revelation to help us see the reality.
In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. This word was with God in the beginning. Everything came into being through [the Word], and not one single thing that has come into being came into being apart from [The Word]. -John 1:1-3 (Far Above All)
[The Son] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. -Col 1:15-17 (NKJV)
He is worthy of worship along side the Father and the Spirit of God. In the true "Lord's Prayer" of John 17, the Lord Jesus Christ prays this:
I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
The Lord Jesus Christ is our Great God and Savior for whom we look.
Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. -Titus 2:13-14
There is so much more to be said of our Savior. He gave his life so we might have life through his name by faith. If you don't know our Great God and Savior, the Book of John is sent to you.
Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. -John 20:30-31
You can read it or listen to it HERE: Gospel of John 

For those of us who have placed our faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (especially we Gentiles in the current dispensation), let us pause regularly to reflect upon his glory and the hope of our resurrection life hidden in Him. Let is walk worthy of our calling.
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. -Col 1
The "things of the earth" consist of both activities outwardly sinful and inwardly sinful as the Lord deems them (even if men do not). That is, we must not only seek to live "clean" lives, we must live according to our calling, and that calling concerns a future life "far above the heavens."  We must not get bogged down in "religion." We must not look to Israel's earthly promises and partake in her earthly ordinances. These are all holy and good in their place, but our calling is not of this world.

So, first, we must find our life in Christ alone. He is our first and our last! We must pass from death to life (John 3:16; 5:24-28), then we must walk according to calling to which we have been called (Eph 4:1). The free gift of life can never be taken away, but we must build upon it to his glory.

Hopefully, you will find information regarding both the free gift and the worthy walk throughout this blog. In all, may his name be ever glorified and shine through. He is the foundation and the core of the Christian life. Without him, we can do nothing.

Lift him up, higher and higher!
He must increase, but I must decrease. -John 3:30