Philippians Chapter 2

 Chapter 2

Christ's Example of Humility

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Lights in the World

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise, you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy's proven worth, how, as a son with a father, he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed, he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Why We Are Called to Share The Gospel

 Why did Jesus give us the Great Commission? 

Welcome. Do you know Jesus? He came, lived a sinless life, was stripped, mocked, abused, beaten, and hung on a cross. He was dead, yet rather, He rose on the third day. On the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished.” Meaning He has completed His mission, and the price of sin has been paid. Following the resurrection, He said this. 

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20

That was for his disciples. True. That would be you as well. Yes? This is what we will be discussing today. Let us pray. 

LORD God, we come together to hear your Word. To learn your ways. To help each other grow in our faith. Last time we discussed how sinners die without knowledge. How do they get this knowledge? By following your Great Commission. By us sharing your Word. Please help us to see, hear, and understand what you want us to know today, and bless our time together, in Jesus name, Amen! 

Last time we wrapped it up with this. Romans 10:14-21

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” 

Continue in Matthew 

“And how are they to preach unless they are sent?” 

That is you. Jesus just sent you. 

“As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:14-21

Why does it ever surprise us that those in the world do worldly things? Or those in the flesh, fleshly things? Why does a cat prowl, or a goat bleat? A dog barks? It is what they do. A carnal mind does carnal things. 

“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:6-8

How do those who have a carnal mind change? How do they realize they are sinners and they require a Savior? It may come down to a short answer. You.  “But I’m not a preacher. I would not know what you say.” Jesus saves. Jesus loves you. Jesus died for you. Show them this in Romans 10

 

“But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

How? 

“For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.”

“What does that mean? That I too can be saved?” Yes

“For ‘everyone’ who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 

Say that with me. “Everyone.” Anyone. All. You, me, them. All. This is why all of God’s children need to be sowers of the seed, tellers of truth, and showers of the way. 

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”

Is that meant to be you? 

“And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” 

How does faith come? By hearing. By someone talking to them and telling them the truth. 

“But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed, they have, for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world." Romans 10:8-18

That is you. Or it should be. "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world." “Again, I am not a pastor, preacher, or evangelist. Sure. I can say to them that they need to believe in Jesus, and they can be saved. What if they ask how it works?” Give them one of the most common of all the passages. John 3:16 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him.”

“Hey, I saw that at a sporting event.”  Chances are, so did they. It will be familiar. They are now on the same page. But do not stop there. 

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

God does not condemn you. He made it so very simple. So very easy to understand. 

“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” 1 John 5:12-13

“So Jesus life, and without Jesus you cannot go to heaven?” Yes. It really is, just that simple. Then go back to John 3, starting at verse 19

“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." John 3:16-21

“Wow.” Maybe it is not so hard to tell someone the truth. But what if they hate me? What if I lose a friendship or a job, or whatever?” That does not matter. Jesus tells us that whatever we may lose for His sake, we will get back that and then some. Matthew 19:29. If you want to be comforted, read 2 Timothy  1:5-12 

“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, and 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 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”

This time is coming. It will affect everyone, regardless of whether they believe it. 

“They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”2 Timothy 1:5-12

You may be the only “Jesus” that person ever sees. What are they seeing? What are they hearing you say? What are they watching you do? Is there any difference between you and the rest of the world they know? No pressure, but this moment in time may never be repeated. You perhaps will never see them again, but you do at that moment. Now is the time. Today is the day. Be a sower of the seed. 

There will come a time when it is too late. This is what we will discuss next time. 

Remember, you can always find this, and so much more, in the archives, over at TAG

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the Lord our God go before you as your way maker, as well as behind you as your rear guard, and may He be with you, always. 

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Philippians Chapter 1

 Chapter 1

Greeting

1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thankfulness and Prayer

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Christ Is Preached

12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: 16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.

To Live Is Christ

19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, 26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

Striving and Suffering for Christ

27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. 29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

Sinners Perish Without Knowledge

Sinners Perish Without Knowledge 

Here we are. Gathered together in Jesus name. We are here to share life. We are here to honor God. Learn from, and to love God, and be loved by God. We are here to learn His ways. His plans. His love. This is indeed a joyous time. 

What about those who are not here? Those who do not believe, or refuse to receive? This is what we will be talking about today. Let us pray. 

Heavenly Father, Lord God. We do gather together in your name. We are here to share life. We are here to honor you. Learn from, and to love you, Father. We are here to learn your ways. Your plans. We thank you, with praise and unbelievable thanksgiving, that you have given us the Spirit of adoption that we may cry Abba Father. As we enter into your Word, we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and the ability to receive what you want us to know. In Jesus name, amen!

What about those who are not here? Those who do not believe, or refuse to receive? Sadly? Sinners, like us, are living their lives. Unlike us, they have not believed in the Truth, The Way, and The Life. Sadly, this means one very tragic thing. They will die. They will perish without knowledge. Turn to Psalm 53

“To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good. 

God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; none does good, not even one. 

Have those who work evil no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God? There they are, in great terror, where there is no terror! For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; you put them to shame, for God has rejected them. 

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.” Psalm 53

Now remember, in Christ, there is no Jew, no Greek, no difference at all. We are not black, white, male or female, but we are red. The color of the blood that Jesus shed for us all. Like the doors in Egypt, with the lamb's blood painted on them, Exodus 12:6-7. The blood was applied to the doorposts to signify that the Israelites were under God's protection. We are under God’s protection. As the spirit of death passed over them, the spirit of death will pass over us. 

What does this mean for those who have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; none does good, not even one? What happens to those who work evil with no knowledge, who eat up the Children of God as they eat bread, and do not call upon God? Those without knowledge of the love of God and His desire that they should be saved? Simply put, they perish. 

Listen to God here. 

“Because I have called and you refused to listen,

have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, 

because you have ignored all my counsel 

and would have none of my reproof, 

I also will laugh at your calamity;

I will mock when terror strikes you, 

When terror strikes you like a storm

and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, 

when distress and anguish come upon you. 

Then they will call upon me, 

But I will not answer; 

They will seek me diligently

but will not find me. 

Because they hated knowledge 

and did not choose the fear of the LORD,

would have none of my counsel 

and despised all my reproof, 

therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, 

and have their fill of their own devices. 

For the simple are killed by their turning away, 

and the complacency of fools destroys them;

But whoever listens to me will

dwell securely and will be at ease,

without dread of disaster."

Sadly, the sinner will come to the knowledge that God is real and that Jesus is real. And be remorseful when it is too late. God says, “Because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have the fill of their own devices."

As Romans 1 says, there will come a time when God simply gives them what they want. 

“And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.”  Romans 1:28

But I didn’t know? How? You were told. I did not believe. Well, as you could read in Job 36:12

“But if they do not listen, they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.”

Or perhaps you could have read what Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 

“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, and 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 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”

This may be hard for some to hear. This is not me. This is the Word of God.  

“They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.”

Yes. I know some hate to hear this. But there is no other way. There is no living in sin and believing in God, and being saved. This is just the truth. There is a time coming when it will be too late. 

But I didn’t know. It’s not fair. I don’t believe you. 

“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." John 3:19-21

Yes, we are heavy in the Word today. I want, no. I need you to understand, this is reality. This is the truth. This is not my opinion. This is not what religion says. This is straight from God’s Word. 

“For by people of strange lips and with a foreign tongue the LORD will speak to this people, to whom he has said, 'This is rest; give rest to the weary; and this is repose, yet they would not hear. And the word of the LORD will be to them precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little, that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Isaiah 28:11-13 

This is where we come in. This is why it is so important for us to share the Gospel. 

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 10:14-15

They can’t. They won’t. Sadly, they will reject you. They will attack you. They will mock you. Sound familiar? Remember, they are in the flesh. Of the flesh. For the flesh. They do not hear you. They do not want to hear you if it means giving up the things of the flesh. This is why Paul warns us in Romans 8:6-8

“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Yes. God is real. Yes, heaven and hell are real. Yes, Jesus is real. Yes, you have to repent and leave yourselves behind. Leave your willful sins behind. This is true if you believe it or not. Receive it or not. Like it or not.

“And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23

Willfully rejecting something does not provide an excuse. “I didn’t know” is very different from “I did not believe.” This is why Jesus gave us the Great Commission.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20

This is why. “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” 

More on this next time.

Why We Are Called to Share The Gospel.

Join us, won’t you? 

Remember, you can find so very much in the archives at TAG 

The Email is, as always, truthbygod1@gmail.com 

May the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the peace of our Lord Jesus be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Coming Up Here At TAG, Philippians

Chat with Peter

Hey Folks, it is that time again. The time when we dedicate Wednesdays to a more in-depth look at an entire Book in the Bible. Starting next week, we will begin in the Book of Philippians, often called the "Epistle of Joy," which is one of the most beloved letters in the New Testament. 

The relationship between Paul and the church at Philippi was arguably the most affectionate and harmonious of all his apostolic connections. Unlike his letters to the Corinthians, which dealt with chaos, or the Galatians, which dealt with legalism, Philippians reads like a thank-you note between best friends.

The church in Philippi was the first one Paul established in Europe. It was around 50 AD. During his second missionary journey. The core of the church began with an eclectic group: Lydia, a wealthy businesswoman and dealer in purple cloth. The Philippian Jailer, who was a Roman official, converted after an earthquake struck the prison where Paul was held. Along with a slave girl, who was healed by Paul from spiritual oppression.

Joy in all circumstances: Paul wrote this letter while imprisoned, likely in Rome, yet the words "joy" or "rejoice" appear 16 times. It serves as a reminder that happiness is situational, but joy is internal. Chapter 2 contains a famous passage describing Jesus’ humility, emptying himself and taking the form of a servant, as a model for how believers should treat one another. The Goal of Life: Paul expresses his singular focus: "To live is Christ, and to die is gain." Another famous passage is Philippians 4:6-7: "Do not be anxious about anything..." Guidance on finding peace through prayer. Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Often quoted in sports and trials. Philippians 3:13-14 "Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead..." Why it resonates Today. 

Philippians is incredibly practical. It doesn't just offer abstract theology; it addresses anxiety, interpersonal conflict, and how to find contentment when life doesn't go according to plan. Paul’s "secret" to contentment remains a profound psychological and spiritual anchor for many.

The primary reason Paul wrote the letter was to acknowledge a financial gift they had sent via Epaphroditus. He wanted them to know that even though he was in chains, their investment was paying off because the Gospel was still spreading.

This is a short book. Only four chapters. Won't you join us for the next four weeks, and let's read the book of Philippians together. 

Remember, you can find this and much, much more over at TAG

You can always reach out to me for questions, comments, or just say "Hi" at truthbygod1@gmail.com. 

Join us every Sunday for various messages, led by God, from His Word, without the traditions of men called religion. Just the Truth According to God.

May the Lord be your way maker, as well as your rear guard. May God be with you. 

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Word of God

 Word of God. 

This is one of those messages that needs to be given often, because it is a question that Christians get often. Why this? Why the Bible? With so many religious books out there, all claiming to be right and true, what makes you believe that the Bible is any different? What is the reason I should trust the Bible? This is what we will be discussing today. Let us pray.

Father, LORD God, we come before you today with praise and thanksgiving. We come together to discuss your love letter to us. Your Word. The Holy Bible. As we do, we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and the ability to not only hear and see, but to receive and digest your Word. In the name of Jesus, amen.

There are many differences. However, there is one that makes it absolutely final. Everything you need to know is right here (Holding up the Bible.) Now, what about those who are going to feel the Bible is nothing more than just another "religious book" and means little to nothing? Some will tell you that the Bible is full of contradictions and false information. Not true. There is not one single contradiction in the Bible. No, not one. There are misunderstandings, differing points of view, and poor translations, but zero contradictions.

As we have talked about before, one of the easiest ways to disprove the Bible is also one of the easiest ways to prove the Bible is the Truth. There are 1,239 prophecies in the Old Testament and 578 prophecies in the New Testament for a total of 1,817. This is according to “The Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy” by J. Barton Payne.

If the Bible makes all these predictions, and even some are proven false, then the Bible is indeed false. However, if the Bible makes all these predictions, some 26 percent of the total Bible is made up of prophecies, then predictions that have been proven correct prove the Bible true. Here are some examples.

Israel itself is a prophecy fulfilled. As we know it today? The exact location and construction sequence of Jerusalem's nine suburbs were predicted by Jeremiah about 2600 years ago. Jeremiah 31:38-40, Ezekiel 37:21-22. Isaiah 66:7-8 describes this taking place in one day. This rebirth became history in 1948, in one day, and the construction of the nine suburbs has gone forward precisely in the locations and in the sequence predicted.

God created animals “after their kind.” Genesis 1:11-13 Nineteenth-century biologists argued that animals evolved from other, very different animals, but today biology confirms that creatures reproduce within their own kind.

Mankind? Genesis 3:20, 1 Corinthians 15:45, The Bible claims that all humans are “one blood” descended from one man and one woman. Some nineteenth-century biologists argued that different races descended from lower animals, but today genetics has verified that there is only one human race.

One of my favorites? How about the flat earth? The flat earth model is an archaic conception of the earth's shape as a plane or disk. Many ancient cultures subscribed to a flat earth cosmography, including Greece until the classical period 323 BC, the Bronze Age and Iron Age civilizations of the Near East until the Hellenistic period 31 BC, India until the Gupta period (early centuries AD), and China until the 17th century. Believe it or not, there are still some today that believes this to be true.

What does the Bible say? Isaiah 40:22

"It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in."

Wait, it says "he who sits above the circle of the earth." The Circle. No question there. We could go on and on.

Jesus and His life? Isaiah 53. To name one. Who is Jesus? Where does He come from? How does He live? How does He die? How does He rise from the dead? These are all in the Bible, thousands of years before Jesus was even born. In extreme detail.

As a matter of fact, Jesus is in the entire Bible. Yes, the Old Testament as well as the New. Without Jesus, there is no Bible. No other “religious book” can say this. Others are written telling stories of their leaders, teachers, and messiahs. But the Bible IS Jesus. Therein lies the difference. Jesus IS the Bible. He IS The Word of God. He was with God, is with God, and IS God. There is no Bible, New or Old Testament, without Jesus. He has no beginning and no end.

Jesus was there in the beginning.

“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 anything made that was made.” John 1:1-3

"All things were made by him;" The Word is a Him??? "and without him was not anything made that was made." "Without HIM, was NOTHING Made." Then, a little bit later, John makes it clear.

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14.

Jesus even tells us directly that the Bible is all about Him.

"And the Father himself, who has sent me, has borne witness of me. You have neither heard his voice at any time nor seen his form. And you have not his word abiding in you: for whom he has sent, him you believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And you will not come to me, that you might have life." John 5:37-40

What is Jesus saying here? He is saying, you, the religious folks, look to the Bible for salvation, yet reject Jesus Himself. He said you can't do that. Why? Because all Scripture points to Him. He is saying that if you reject Him, then you must reject the very Word of God because HE is the Word of God. He, Jesus, IS the Word of God in the flesh. The Bible IS the very Word of God, who IS, Jesus in the flesh. Are you following? Look at two things that are truly amazing about Jesus. I know, right? Just two? But these illustrate He IS.

Isaiah 53

Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. ... Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment, he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Out of the anguish of his soul, he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.”

Just picture Jesus when you read these words. There is no other. Remember, this is hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus. You can clearly see where it all lines up. All these predictions, or prophecies, about Jesus and His death came true. Isaiah painted a clear picture of Jesus and His life that Jesus fulfilled.

What about one of those things in the Bible that many consider to be just not possible? Jesus sweating blood. This is mentioned in Luke 22:44. Well? Science has again caught up to the Bible and proved it true.

Commonly referred to as Hematidrosis or Hemohidrosis, this condition results in the excretion of blood or blood pigment in the sweat. Under conditions of great emotional stress, tiny capillaries in the sweat glands can rupture, thus mixing blood with perspiration. This condition has been reported in extreme instances of stress. 76 cases of Hematidrosis were studied and classified according to causative factors. The most frequent causes of the phenomenon were found to be “acute fear” and “intense mental contemplation.” So yes, Jesus, facing all He was about to, including the Cross, did indeed sweat blood.

There is no other figure in history that matches this so exactly.

The Servant came from unimpressive beginnings. “Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” John 1:46

The Servant was rejected by Israel. “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.” John 1:11

The Servant was condemned via oppression and judgment. Pilate declared Jesus innocent, and an angry mob demanded that Jesus be killed Luke 23:4-25.

The Servant submitted to his sentence without resistance. “But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.” Matthew 27:14

Are you following? Let's keep it going so there is no doubt.

The Servant suffered for the sins of others. “For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21

The Servant was beaten beyond recognition.

“Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.” Matthew 27:26

He was beaten, his flesh was falling off, and he was barely recognizable.

The Servant died. “And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last.” Mark 15:37

The Servant will be raised from the dead. Read Matthew 28:1-10.

By knowing the Servant, many will be accounted righteous. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

Every prediction that the Bible has made has come to pass. There are oh so many. If this is true, and it is, then we had better be looking forward to those still to come. Don’t you think?

This (Holding up the Bible) is not a history book. Although there is history in it. This (Holding up the Bible) is not a book of poetry. Yet there is poetry in it. This (Holding up the Bible) is not a religious Book. Yet entire Religions have been built up around it. This (Holding up the Bible) is the very LIVING WORD OF GOD.

“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.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

With it?

“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17

All those other religious books will be destroyed; they will simply go away. Yet?

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Matthew 24:35

So the next time someone tells you, "Oh, that is a book of fiction. That is not important to read to be with God. Oh, that is just another religious book, and there are so many." First, you know it is not true. Second, you can use some of this if you choose to prove them wrong. Or just understand this truth as well.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

Why do you think so many become offended by it? Learn from He who made the world. Use this manual for life, by the one who gave you life. The one who created all that is, or ever will be. Who do you think knows better? The creature? Or the Creator? My bet is on God.

As always, you can check the archives here at TAG.

The email if you want to reach out is Truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the peace of our Lord Jesus be with you all. May God bless and be with you always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!