The Sovereignty of God Maintains the Holy Bible

While there may be some discrepancies between copies and versions of the Holy Bible today, we have no business claiming it has errors, or that any parts are not inspired by God. We do have very old copies in original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts, but God is the only One who has true knowledge of the contents of the originals. That does not make our copies erroneous, or not part of inspired Scripture, for God's sovereignty maintains the accuracy of the Holy Bible.

Almighty GOD is not living within our time. Time was created for us.

He sees the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:9-10). God is talking to Adam in the Garden of Eden, even as He is accepting our worship on the new earth. He is Eternal. Time does not exist in God's realm of eternal being. GOD is the I AM.

God is instructing Moses to write the 1st five books of the Bible. He is overseeing Jeremiah write his books. Matthew, Mark, Luke & John are writing the gospels per God's guiding inspiration even as you sit and read the Holy Bible at your table in this instant. Pick a writer of one of the 66 books of the Bible and God by His infinite wisdom is having it penned even as you think on it.

Hold your fingers together as tight as possible, until they hurt. The space between your fingers is still longer than your lifespan.

God indwells His people yesterday, today and forever. (John 14, Ephesians 1:13,14, Galatians 3). He indwells believers before us and He will indwell believers after us. (even if we are raptured today)
In every Bible study, or Biblical teaching/preaching, the eternal existing God is actually watching over the person writing the book we are reading at the same instance.

I am not talking multiple dimensions, I am talking about God's BEING. God IS the I AM.

WOW! WE SERVE AN AWSOME GOD!!!

The Bible that the world has today, no matter what version, or language is being preserved by God Himself, outside of time. This is the Holy Bible of the Christian, not the religious books of other world beliefs.

If any parts of the Bible could be in error, in any language or translation, then don't you think Almighty God is able to correct His word, which He is overseeing the writings of even now?

We don't have the originals, but God does.

If today's Bible study guides are exalted over the Holy Bible, that's saying to God the writers of the study guides know more about the Bible than He does.

Consider the danger of your own error attempting to correct God.

Considering that the Author of the Bible is Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent God, if you decide that you can identify parts of the Holy Bible that are in error, consider these two scenarios:

#1

For some spectacular reason, you can move through the dimensions of Time and Space.

Today, a Christian brother has just watched a group of ISIS militants rape and murder his wife. In the next hour he will be beheaded for his faith in Christ. But he is steadfastly remembering the verses he has memorized from his Bible as he faces this horrible death. (it doesn't matter what language or translation the Bible is written in, it's a Holy Bible, maintained by Sovereign God)

Suddenly, you pop into his presence and announce, "My Bible study guide says that certain parts of certain translations and versions of the Bible are wrong and are not inspired by God because we have discovered they are not in the 'Best Manuscripts". We have decided that they are in error and we no longer teach them as being the inspired words of God."

And you disappear as suddenly as you arrive, leaving this brother alone wondering if the verses he has memorized are the parts that are not Inspired by God.

#2

Still jumping through Time and Space, you travel back to a cold, dark cell in the German Concentration Camp Ravensbruek, where two young women are huddled together with a Bible open between them. One is reading scripture to her dying sister. (it doesn't matter what language or translation the Bible is written in, it's a Holy Bible, maintained by Sovereign God)

Suddenly, you pop into their cell, point to their Bible and say, "In the future, we learn that certain parts of certain translations and versions of the Bible are wrong and are not inspired by God because we have discovered they are not in the 'Best Manuscripts". So we have decided that they are in error and we no longer teach them as being the inspired words of God."

And just as suddenly, you disappear from their sight, leaving Corrie Ten Boom and her sister, Betsie, holding worthless scraps of paper.

What has your knowledge just done to these people who have no access to whatever Bible study guide you may have read. Where is your proof that your Bible study guide is true and their Bible's are wrong? Your so-called knowledge gained form your study guides is of no advantage.

Only God has the knowledge to maintain His word as without error and all Scripture is inspired by God. (2 Timothy 3:16)

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of
Scripture is of any private interpretation,

for prophecy never came by the will of man,
but holy men of God spoke as they

were moved by the Holy Spirit"
2 Peter 1:20,21.

But of Bible Studies and study guides, the bookshelves are breaking from the strain. Be very careful of what you read outside of the Bible itself, for God has not breathed the words of Bible Study Guides, only the words of the Holy Bible. (John 17:17, 2 Timothy 3:16. 2 Peter 1:20, 21, Rev. 22:18,19, Is. 55:10,11, Eccl. 12:11.12,13,14.)

If something you read has an argument pointing to an error, stop and hold up any version of the Bible and say to the One who sits on the throne in Heaven, "Holy Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient GOD, because of this or that I've read about Your word, I know for certain that this text of this Bible is in error and is not inspired by You. You, Almighty God must have made a mistake putting this into this version of Your Bible, because this man, or this woman said so. So, now You, God are corrected by my knowledge."

Aren't you putting a lot of confidence in the idea the authors of study guides know more than God knows about His word?

Then you are telling God He is not Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent God.

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Hard Questions

These are personal study questions at the back of my EBook

Squished! Why God Seemingly Destroys Our Fruit

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*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

How strong is your faith in Christ Jesus, the Lord? Maybe you will never have to face anything as severe as Joseph, Job, Ruth, or Esther but when everything appears to deteriorate, focus on the joy of the Lord; the joy that we have because we are “they who are looking for a country of their own” (cf Hebrews 11:13,14,15). These scenarios intend to challenge you to think about how close your personal walk is with Jesus and how much is earthly baggage.

*  *  *

1. How would you respond if your house burned down today? Everything in it is now ashes, not one thing survives. Mentally walk through your house right now and look at the things you have. Right now, it is gone! It no longer exists!

What are you feeling the loss of most?

What will replace that loss?

Whom are you going to trust to relieve the loss?

What is it you are afraid of facing the most at the loss of your house?

*  *  *

2. How would you respond if your spouse died today? Are you walking close enough to the Lord to accept it? How do you answer these questions if the person you love never comes back to you alive today?

Do they know you love them?

Have they trusted the Lord as their Savior?

Have you prayed for them lately, really prayed for their safety, well being, love, strength, spiritual growth? That they are walking close to the Lord daily.

Are they ready to meet the Lord Jesus today?

If the scenario was your children died today, ask the previous questions for this also.

*  *  *

3. What if your home church burned, there is not a shred of anything left; to what do you associate the building?

What constitutes as loss when the building is no longer available?

How does this affect your worship?

How strong is your feeling toward the activities that you attended?

How much are you accustomed to what was available inside the building?

If how you served depended on the material inside the building, how will you serve now?

*  *  *

4. What does the pastor mean to you in terms of your church attendance and service?

Do you come to church to hear him or God?

Do you feel uncomfortable when someone unfamiliar speaks?

Are you reluctant to listen to the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart through a different speaker?

Do you think all sermons are supposed to speak personally to you?

*  *  *

5. What happens if you died today?

Are you ready today to meet Jesus?

Is your daily desire to meet Jesus face to face?

Is your family’s faith strong enough to walk with Jesus after your death?

Is there someone you need to tell about Jesus?

*  *  *

How much of your life since your salvation would be considered building with straw, hay, and stubble?

How much of your life since salvation would be considered building with gold, silver, and precious stones?

These questions are not to depress you but to help you examine your daily spiritual life. Where are your values? Is it your stuff, your people, your activities? Today, can you walk through your house and say to Jesus, ‘I throw it all away.’ The challenge is to do just that.

Where have your thoughts been lately?

Where are they right now?

Do these scenarios hurt? Why or why not?

With the Psalmist say, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23,24). Ask Jesus to clean your house, physically and metaphorically. Ask Jesus to show you where your stuff is hindering your service to Him. Be real.

*  *  *

Are you ready today for the rapture?

Do you really want to go home?

Is your desire to stand before the Lord and see exactly what He is and whom He is?

Do you love Him enough to let Him have everything?

Do you fear Him that much?

*  *  *

In the next month do this daily. Think about these scenarios and pray about your thoughts daily.

Revival begins when we want to live. Revival begins when we want others to live.

LIVE!

Revival begins with Jesus!

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A Good Commentary or The Bible?

Do you need to read commentaries when you read the Bible? Do you spend your devotional and study time reading other people's writings more than the Bible?

While there are many great books written by godly men and women, those writings are not God inspired nor are they alive with Godly power the way the Bible is. (2 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 4:12)

If you enjoy books about the Bible more than enjoying reading the Bible for yourself, you're missing out on the voice of God speaking to you. You're missing out on God directly teaching you.

God has placed His power in His word. Knowledge and understanding are found in the Bible. Knowledge and understanding of war and peace, of life and death, of honesty and deceitfulness, of working and laziness, of money and spending, of having and giving, of marriage and parenting, of learning and practical wisdom, of God's miracles and false testimonies, of truth and heresy, of love and blasphemy.

And the Bible instructs us of Jesus' grace, love, compassion and mercy. Of Jesus' justice and wrath.

It teaches to see where Satan works his evil and where he is delivering murder and destruction to the world he hates.

All this wisdom is found between Genesis 1:1 and Revelation 22:21.

Brothers and sisters, read the Bible more today than ever before.

"But Jesus answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God' Matthew 4:4.

"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 nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" John 1:1-4.

"And the Word became 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.

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Jesus Is God From Everlasting To Everlasting

My favorite verse is  "For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" Romans 10:17.

The Bible holds all the power of God in it's words, so knowing some good verses (they're all good) to speak when witnessing helps allow the powerful Spirit of God to convict the person to whom you are witnessing.

Jesus said… “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Matthew 9:12, 13

The Webster Dictionary definition of repent is a verb, a visual action on our part. Latin poenitēre, to cause to feel sorry, regret. “Being sorry for my wrong.” Outward visual of grief over committing a wrongdoing.

Webster’s defines penitent as an adjective, a description of an action, also in the definition of the Latin root repent and to suffer. Paenit-(ere) plus pa-ti.

“I am sorry and turning from my wrongdoing and doing the correct.” The penitent person displays a distinct visual action from wrong to right, a change of heart for accountability and credibility.

Webster’s defines mercy as a noun, an object, or something of substance. Latin root word: mercēd: wages, reward. Late Latin root word: favor, leniency. “I will pity.” The action of not giving punishment deserved by a wrongdoing. 

Jesus came to the lost, unrepentant world,

to save us to repentance

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10: 35

Jesus hates sin. Sin came into the world through Adam’s willful rebellion in the Garden of Eden. We inherited Adam’s sin because we all descended from Adam. That means that the absolute best behaved, most generous, most morally right person ever to live is still a sinner. Because of sin, no one can be in God’s presence. Only perfect people can stand before God, and no one is perfect. Our imperfection is sin. We have all missed having sinless perfection.

‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’ Romans 3:23

All people are sinners

Jesus loves sinners

‘But God demonstrates His own love toward us, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ Romans 5: 8

God is perfect. God’s perfection cannot and will not tolerate sin. He must and will destroy any and all imperfection.

‘Who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.’ 1 Timothy 6:16
We all are condemned to death—to separation from God in the ‘outer darkness, where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 8:12

‘For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ Romans 6:23

The gift He gives that we don’t deserve

‘As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no not one; There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.’ Romans 3: 10, 11, 12

The Good news is: ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not die but have eternal life.’ John 3:16
 

Grace

is

God’s favor

on an

unlovable,

undeserving,

sinful world!

Christians are born again believers, once were unrepentant, He has now made penitent. Those trusting in Jesus for Salvation can and will stand in the presence of God. The grace of God allows them to come near Him. Our Salvation is our faith in Jesus.

‘And being found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.’ Philippians 3: 9

If you do not have the Son of God, you are not His. You are still in your sins, unrepentant, and destined for eternal death.

‘He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.’ 1 John 5: 12

The Good News: ‘…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,…’ 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4

Jesus, God, came to earth, was born of a virgin, died on the cross for the sin of the world, buried in a tomb, rose again the third day from the grave because His sacrifice for mankind fulfilled the death penalty required. He ascended back to heaven to sit on the throne beside the Father, and He will return someday to take believers to live with Him forever and to judge the unbelievers to separation forever. Without Jesus, there is no hope of salvation. That is the Gospel taught in the Bible from Genesis 1: 1 to Revelation 22: 21.

That is the Gospel. He does not want anyone to die and be eternally separate from God in the outer darkness, where there will be wailing a gnashing of teeth. He came and died so no one would have to be lost forever.

‘In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.’ 1 John 4: 10

May it be every believing, born again Christian’s desire that no one die and be eternally separate from God in the ‘outer darkness, where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.’

We attend church, perform good works, and pray. We sing, fellowship, and worship but He desires mercy from us, not just the performance done in His name. He commands that we are to let others know about the wonderful miracle He gives to the whole world; eternal Salvation. Let us have mercy on the lost and dying world and tell them the gospel of Jesus.

“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.” Matthew 28: 19

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The Strange & Worshipful Story-Luke Chapter 2

David Ray Jr.

This was the Introduction I wrote for the 2015 Christmas Program at Grace Bible Church, Sangerville, Maine. This wasn't read, because our Pastor, David Ray Jr., prepared a better opening.

However, this says much about God's plan to save all mankind from their sin. And if it hadn't been for the strange birth of God becoming a Man, we never would have had the Cross to celebrate at what we call Easter.

They Missed Christmas

Introduction:

Before God ever created the world, He knew everything that would happen on earth. He knew that man would sin and destroy the perfect world God created. Man would reject Him and rebel and sin would rule.  Because of this flaw, God had to destroy the sin and that meant destroying the sinners. But God so loved His wonderful creation, He had a plan to save everyone from their sins. That plan was that He would come and be destroyed in the place of all the people God lovingly created for His pleasure.

Over 2000 years ago, God fulfilled part of that plan when He became a man, born of a virgin and living here among us for 33 and a half years. Then He died the death that sin deserves so he could allow us back into His perfection again.

On the day we call Christmas, we remember the day that God came to earth. God came to earth as a small, poor baby and that was just the beginning of the life God planned for Himself. The story is strange and beautiful, full of worship, and anger, and love and murder. Several people knew and embraced the miracle of the first Christmas, and yet at the same time, many rejected it and missed Christmas.

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Bits and Pieces From A Notebook

As I listen to preachers on the radio, read scriptures, and have daily Bible devotions, I scribble notes here and there. Here is a selection from my collection of notes and quotes.

# #

Sin entered the world when Adam and Eve ate themselves out of house and home.

The Results of Justice = Jesus took my punishment
The Results of Mercy = God didn't punish me
The Results  of Grace = God lavished His favor on me

#

Justice is getting a ticket

Mercy is not getting a ticket

Grace is Jesus paid for my ticket

#

Salt purifies, preserves, gives flavor, protects, sterilizes, absorbs, irritates.

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled by men" Matthew 5:13.

Light reveals, spotlights, highlights, burns, dispels darkness, heals, brightens, shines, guides, gives safety, comforts.

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" Matthew 7:14,15,16.

#

We need to take a heavenly perspective on earthly situations.

"Set your mind on things above,
not on things of the earth"
Colossians 3:2

#

"Money is a great servant, but a terrible master"

Unknown

#

"He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Micah 6:8.

3 Ways to put Others before yourself:

• 1. Recognize that Jesus went to the cross for them too. He sees us all the same.
• 2. Pray for others' needs when you are in distress--you will probably know someone else who is struggling with whatever you are struggling with at that time.
• 3. Recognize we all have the same basic needs. As sinners in need of a Savior, we are no different than anyone else.

#

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" Acts 1:8.

    If we are saved in Jesus, we are witnesses to what He has done for us. We are in the courtroom, in the witness box, with the unsaved world staring at us as we relate what Jesus has done.

Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!

#

We are surrounded by the unsaved, yet are we using
our resources right to help them see Jesus?

#

The Grace Gifts of God are all the power of God 

in us by God's grace to give the lost hope in the

salvation of Jesus. Let us not sporadically toss our

knowledge at them, but let God empower us to

tell them the gospel.

#

As in water face reflects face: So a man's heart reveals the man" Proverbs 27:19.

    I pray my actions, words, deeds and life choices reveal the changes Jesus has made in me. May my Christianity reveal to others that I do not have 'religion' but a personal relationship with Jesus. He is not only My God but a loving Person to whom I return love. He is not only my Teacher, but my Friend. May others want what I have in Jesus.

#

"You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD, according to Your word. Teach me good judgement and knowledge, for I believe in Your word. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word" Psalm 119:65,66,67.

 God is perfect in justice; perfect in punishment.

    The repentant acknowledge their affliction may be God's chastisement for sin. Something needed correction and God brought some punishment that corrected the trouble, thus teaching His child the way he should go. The now corrected one praises and thanks God for starting them in the right direction again.

• I need to accept God's correction.

     As a loving Father, when He corrects me, He knows exactly what punishment is right. He knows just the right amount of punishment. And He knows just the right time for my punishment.

    God says I am His child if I accept chastisement. May I learn from God, my Father, the way I should go and the correct way to live for His glory.

"My son, do  not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives"
Hebrews 12:5,6.

#

"Why do the nations rage, and the people
plot a vain thing?"

Psalm 2:1.

Why be so foolish as to rebel against God?

"He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;

The LORD shall hold them in derision"

Psalm 2:4.

#

"Vanity of vanities", says the Preacher;

"Vanity of vanities, all is vanity"

Ecclesiastes 1:2.

Vanity = soap bubbles

Vanity = ephemeral beauty

Vanity = gusts of wind refreshing the face for a moment

#

When it comes to authority we have a warped sense of right.

"There is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is the way of death" Proverbs 16:25.

#

Relying on our own sense of spiritual direction

is like blindly running into a brick wall.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path"

Psalm 119:105.

# #

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4 Lessons From Paul

"For you will be a witness for him to tell all men what you have seen and heard" (Acts 22: 15 Good News for the Modern Man).

Paul is a good example of a changed life.  Paul was a Pharisee of Pharisees. He knew his religion and kept the rules down to the last one. When this man met Jesus he went from being zealous for formal religious rituals to a man zealous for the peaceful and life-changing love of God. 

This is the foundation of Christianity. God loves us all-sinners everyone, yet all can be saved by the love of God--in Jesus.

Paul says, "This is a true saying, to be completely accepted and believed, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I am the worst of them, but it was for this very reason that God was merciful to me, in order that Christ Jesus might show his full patience with me, the worst of sinners, as an example for all those who would later believe in him and receive eternal life" (1 Timothy 1: 15, 16 Good News for the Modern Man).

Here are four things we can learn from the Apostle Paul's life.

1. Humility.

The hard part of true love is humility. Do you find it hard to be humble? It goes against our natural self-preservation. Paul had to learn how to be humble but he says he learned it. "I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little" Philippians 4:12. (NLT) This man, who at one time was so proud of his social stature, had to be let out of a window in a basket to save his life. Paul, the law-keeper, would have most likely stood up to his persecutors, but Paul the evangelist took to his heels for the sake of the little church just being born in Damascus. (2 Corinthians 11:33) That takes humility.

2. God-Dependent

Paul's life made a 180 degree turn after he learned Jesus truly is God. Before his conversion he was faithful to everything he could do in keeping the law and all the Pharisaical rules. After he was talked to by Jesus, he went from self-sufficiency to God-sufficiency. "For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God's approval. So I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ" Galatians 2:19. (NLT)

3. Be Encouraging

Today's times are hard for God's church. All around the world persecutions are arising more and more, and even more in America, the church is now being turned on vigorously by those in political power. In the 1st century church, when Emperor Nero was running amok and killing Christians, Paul sent letter after letter encouraging his small churches. We know Paul sent many encouraging letters from prison cells. If this man could comfort others while being so debased and socially degraded, today's Christians need to be sending encouraging letters, email's, texts, tweeting, phone calls, any way possible to all those in their sphere of social activities. 

4. A Student of God's Word

By God's power and grace, Paul's letters are now a part of our Holy Bible. One familiar passage God had Paul record is "All Scripture inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do" 2 Timothy 3:16, 17. (NLT). If it is that important for God to record, then it should be vitally important for all Christians to read and study it.

Historically, and in Scriptures, we could name Paul as a very great man, yet he made himself every man's friend, brother, and co-laborer for the sake of the Gospel. Paul understood that all his work only made sense if he told others about the Free Salvation offered by Jesus' death on the cross.

Whatever our background, let us also be good examples of a changed life. Show Jesus in all we do. Give Him the glory and honor and praise for all things whether alone or publicly. Because of the mercy God has shown us sinners, He deserves all praise.

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Re-Post: Jesus--Nazarene, (Nazirite?)

Originally posted May 2014

There is no evidence Jesus was ever under the law of the Nazirite though I have often heard Christians make the statement that He was a Nazirite. The Bible actually contradicts the idea of Jesus being a Nazirite because of the restrictions listed in the written law.

So what does the Bible say about Jesus, the Nazarene?

Matthew 2: 23, Joseph moved his family to Nazareth, a village in the Galilean region thus fulfilling prophetic scripture, ‘He shall be called a Nazarene.’ Though Jesus lived in Nazareth, none of the prophecies concerning Jesus states He was to keep the Law of the Nazirite.

In His lifetime on earth, Jesus separated Himself unto the work of God in all aspects, thus more consecrated to God then those under the Law of the Nazirite.

• Law of the Nazirite

Numbers 6: 2, Anyone placing themselves under the Law of the Nazirite, separates themselves to God.

Numbers 6: 3, 4, 5, Anyone under a Nazirite vow separates themselves from wine or similar drink: vinegar wine, or fermented vinegar of any kind; no grape juice, fresh grapes or raisins. A Nazirite separates himself from all produce of the grapevine, seed to skin.

Numbers 6: 5, All the days of his vows, no razor shall touch his head.

Numbers 6: 6-8, All the days of his vows, he shall not go near a dead body.

Numbers 6: 9-12, If anyone under a Nazirite Vow is touched by; has touched, or unintentionally touches, a dead person, they must go through a special cleansing ritual preformed at the temple in sight of the priest.

• Jesus was a citizen of the town of Nazareth, hence a Nazarene.
• But NOT a Nazirite

John 2: 1-11, Jesus first miracle was to turn water to wine.

The Gospels record Jesus ate meals with many people, including enemies, but not once is it recorded anyone ever tempted Him to break a Nazirite Vow with wine, or other drink.

Luke 22: 17, 18, The bible records Jesus is the giver of the cup of wine that is the predecessor of our Communion Service. If Jesus had been under the Law of the Nazirite, He would never have touched any ‘fruit of the vine’.

Matthew 11: 19, If Jesus had been under the Law of the Nazirite, His enemies accusation of him being a drunkard and a glutton would have been accurate. By observing Him drinking anything fermented, they would prove Him a false teacher and a Hypocrite.

1 Corinthians 11:3-16, Only a man avowed under the Law of the Nazirite would let their hair grow for the length of their vow. All other Jewish men are to have their hair worn short. Jesus would have had short hair as a common man.

(Acts 18:18, The Apostle Paul took a Nazirite vow for a season.)

John 11, Jesus brings Lazarus back to life. (Mark 5:41, Jesus raises Jairus’ daughter. (Luke 7: 14, Jesus raises the widow’s son. (Mark 5: 1-17, Jesus goes to the region of Gadarene and drives out a legion of demons from a man living in a graveyard. 

The Law of the Nazirite forbade touching dead people, or being near the dead. Any such contact required a cleansing ritual. (Numbers 6: 9-12) Jesus never broke any of the OT Laws. There is no record of Him needing the required cleansing ritual after exposure to the dead.

Isaiah 53:2, The bible records Jesus wasn't someone who stood out in a crowd. Had He been under a Nazarite Vow, long hair would have made Him noticeable. The bible records Jesus was able to disappear in a crowd.

Judas identified Him with a kiss in the Garden of Gethsemane. A Nazirite would have been identifiable among the others. 

If God could say "This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased," Jesus couldn't have been a Nazirite and break all these regulations of the Nazirite Vow clearly spelled out in the law given to Moses.

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Guest Blog (YouTubeVideo) Focus On Jesus

This is a video of a friend speaking at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Exeter Maine.

Linda Griffin Handzel uses her great sense of humor, combined with her love of 

Jesus and trust in God in ministering to women around Maine and New England. 

Through tragically losing her husband in a motorcycle accident, 

she learned to love Jesus more and more. In her personal grief 

during her painful circumstances that stretched her faith, God 

brought Linda to a new place of service into a ministry to help 

widows and hurting women.

Linda's delivery of the Good News is a fresh a dose of smiles and laughter in anyone's day.

This video is a good representation of Linda's style and wonderful personality. 

Click this link Linda Griffin Handzel Video YouTube to 
see and hear Linda's comedic approach to Peter walking on water 
from Matthew 14, while applying a great lesson of keeping your 
eyes on Jesus. There is nothing better for a Christian in a
storm to do than call out to Jesus for help.

Click this link to go to Linda's Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/lists/493303820757115

Please leave her a comment

& Cornerstone Baptist Church's website

http://www.cbcexeter.com/

Permission to post this video was given by 

Cornerstone Baptist Church 

&

Linda Griffin Handzel