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Jesus Christ, the Bearer of Sin
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeThe prophecies of Jesus Christ, as seen in Isaiah 53, reveal the profound suffering He would endure for humanity's sake. Isaiah 53:4-6 foretells that He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, being wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes, we are healed. The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all, mirroring the ritual of the azazel in Leviticus 16, where the high priest laid the sins of Israel on the goat to bear them into the wilderness. Isaiah 53:11-12 further prophesies that by His knowledge, My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities, and He poured out His soul unto death, being numbered with the transgressors and bearing the sin of many. Additionally, I Peter 2:24 confirms that He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, enduring extreme suffering, shame, reproach, anguish, and piercing during those hours, that we might live for righteousness. This bearing of sin was not merely a legal act but a real, physical, and emotional ordeal. Galatians 3:13 states that Christ became a curse for us, redeeming us from the curse of the law by hanging on the tree, fulfilling the dreadful role of the azazel. Hebrews 13:12 notes that He suffered outside the gate, akin to the azazel being led outside the camp, emphasizing that His sacrifice involved prolonged agony while bearing our transgressions in His body.
The Birth of Jesus Christ (Part One): Annunciation
'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. RitenbaughThe prophecies of Jesus Christ, as conveyed through the angel Gabriel, hold profound significance in revealing the divine purpose of His birth. Gabriel speaks to Mary, announcing that she has found favor with God and will bear a Son named Jesus, meaning Savior, fulfilling ancient Messianic prophecies. Drawing from Isaiah 7:14, the angel declares that a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son called Immanuel, meaning God with us, emphasizing that God Himself will be present through this Child. Additionally, Gabriel echoes Isaiah 9:6-7, underscoring the extraordinary nature of this birth and the Child's role in God's plan. To Joseph, Gabriel confirms that Mary's Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit, will be named Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins, and He will be known as God with us, aligning with the prophetic promises. These divine messages highlight the fulfillment of Scripture and the sovereign preparation by God for the arrival of His Son, destined to bring salvation.
Jesus' Final Human Thoughts (Part One)
Article by StaffThe prophecies of Jesus Christ reveal profound insights into His final hours as a human being. According to Isaiah 53:11, He shall see the travail of His soul and be satisfied, and by His knowledge, My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. Jesus knew the exact timing of His suffering, understanding that to fulfill all things, His torture and execution must occur during the Passover Day in the year referred to as AD 31, and that He must be dead and entombed as that day drew to its close. Isaiah 53 also foretells that Jesus is despised and rejected, a reality that extends across generations, showing that He has been rejected by all of mankind. Additionally, Isaiah 53:8 prophesies that Jesus would be cut off from the land of the living, separated from His human brothers and sisters whose sins caused His suffering and death, and more painfully, cut off from communication with His perfect, loving, and eternal Father.
Why Is Christ, the Son, Called 'the Everlasting Father' (Isaiah 9:6)?
Bible Questions & AnswersFor unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. This prophecy points to Jesus Christ of Nazareth as the promised Son of God, bearing the title Everlasting Father among others. The God of the Old Testament, identified as Christ, fulfilled the role of Father to Israel by redeeming them from slavery in Egypt, creating them, and founding them as a nation. In Jeremiah 31:9, He speaks of a future time when Israel will repent, affirming that He will be a Father to Israel, with Ephraim as His firstborn. This relationship will endure throughout eternity as He returns to establish His world-ruling government, truly embodying the title Everlasting Father.
Jesus' Final Human Thoughts (Part Two)
Article by StaffDuring His final hours, Jesus Christ was deeply aware of the prophecies concerning His suffering and separation from His Father. He fulfilled a prophecy from Psalm 22:1 by crying out, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" as He hung on the stake, marking the peak of the agony He and His Father had foreknown and planned. This utterance, even in His delirium, was rooted in His own inspired Word, demonstrating His unwavering commitment to the divine plan. Additionally, prophetic verses inspired through David depict the human Jesus sinking under the weight of the world's sins, enduring immense physical and emotional strain while waiting for reunification with His Father. Jesus bore this agony with the knowledge that He must complete His human journey, as foretold, to achieve the ultimate purpose of His sacrifice. Throughout His trials, He remained resolute, aware that the Scriptures of the prophets must be fulfilled, as He affirmed to His disciples that all events transpired to accomplish what had been written.
Jesus' Sufferings on Passover
CGG Weekly by Ronny H. GrahamThe prophecies of Jesus Christ, as they unfolded during His final hours, reveal the depth of His suffering and the fulfillment of God's plan. Isaiah 50:6-7 foretold the physical abuse He endured, as He gave His back to those who struck Him, His cheeks to those who plucked out His beard, and did not hide His face from shame and spitting. Isaiah 52:14 further prophesied the extent of His torment, stating that His visage was marred more than any man, reflecting the brutal scourging that left Him unrecognizable. These ancient words were realized as Jesus faced betrayal, arrest, beatings, and mockery, enduring each act of humiliation and pain with unwavering resolve, setting His face like flint to secure a future for humanity in His Family.
The First Prophecy (Part One)
'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. RitenbaughGenesis, the book of origins, contains the foundational elements of prophecy, including the first prophecy in the Bible recorded in Genesis 3:14-19. This prophecy, often overlooked, establishes fundamental principles for understanding the nature of satan's relationship to Christ and the church, as well as the broader implications of sin and human suffering. Within this context, God speaks prophetically of the consequences of Adam and Eve's disobedience, revealing satan's ultimate guilt and punishment, mankind's struggles, and the necessity of a Savior to mend the damage caused by sin. Addressing the serpent, God sets it apart from other creatures to symbolize the devil, the originator of sin, using figurative language to signify humiliation. The imagery of the snake crawling on its belly and eating dust represents abasement due to sin, serving as a constant reminder to humanity and satan of the devil's ultimate fate of humiliation before God. This theme of satan's degradation continues throughout Scripture, emphasizing his eventual imprisonment and punishment. God further predicts a spiritual war between the serpent and the woman, symbolizing the church, and between their respective seeds. The singular Seed of the woman is identified as the Messiah, Jesus Christ, while satan's seed represents those who rebel against God. The prophecy details the conflict's outcome, with the Seed crushing the serpent's head, rendering him powerless, while the serpent merely strikes the Seed's heel, causing a temporary wound. This imagery underscores the Messiah's dominance and satan's subservience, with the crushing of the head by the heel symbolizing submission and mortification. The wounding of the Messiah emerges as a recurring theme, prefiguring His suffering and death. This wounding, though painful, is temporary and serves a greater purpose, as seen in various scriptural references where Christ's afflictions are detailed as payment for humanity's sins. Through His suffering, He qualifies to replace the serpent as ruler over the earth, a central focus that permeates later writings. Remarkably, by the third chapter of Genesis, God outlines the major elements of His plan, preaching the gospel in symbolic language to the first sinners immediately after their transgression. This prophetic revelation ensures they are not ignorant of the truth, laying the groundwork for the spiritual battle and the ultimate victory of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, over the serpent.
Prophecy's Place
'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Old Testament contains an estimated three hundred prophetic references to the Messiah that Jesus Christ fulfilled in His first coming. These references include major proofs like His virgin birth as foretold in Isaiah 7:14 and fulfilled in Matthew 1:18, 24-25 and Luke 1:26-35, as well as minor details such as His burial in a rich man's tomb as predicted in Isaiah 53:9 and recorded in Matthew 27:57-60. Through the fulfillment of biblical prophecy, we see evidence of God's existence and power as described in Isaiah 40:12-29. Only Almighty God could orchestrate events with such precision in detail and timing, demonstrating His sovereignty over history and human affairs. Prophecy serves to glorify God, revealing His plan over millennia and bringing His purpose to pass with stunning accuracy. It also acts as a means to produce faith, hope, and love in God's people, encouraging obedience and righteous character among His elect.
Scripture Fulfilled in Christ's Death
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsThe Scriptures reveal the profound fulfillment of prophecies concerning Jesus Christ, demonstrating that every detail of His crucifixion was orchestrated by the hand of God. The apostle John meticulously records the fulfillment of Old Testament predictions during the crucifixion, noting specific events that align with ancient Scriptures. No less than twenty prophecies related to the events surrounding Christ's death, written centuries before His arrival, were fulfilled with precision within a twenty-four-hour period at the time of His crucifixion. John highlights four specific prophecies in his account. The first is the division of Christ's garments among the soldiers and the casting of lots for His seamless tunic, as prophesied in Psalm 22:18. The second is the offering of vinegar, or sour wine, to Jesus to drink, fulfilling Psalm 69:21, provoked by His exclamation, "I thirst," as recorded in John 19:28-29. The third prophecy involves the decision not to break Jesus' legs, while the legs of the two thieves crucified with Him were broken, aligning with Psalm 34:20, as noted in John 19:31-33, 36. The fourth is the piercing of Christ's side with a spear, fulfilling Zechariah 12:10, as described in John 19:34-35, 37. These fulfillments underscore that God was in control of these events, that the Scriptures are unerring, and that Jesus is indeed the anointed One, the Messiah. The precision of these prophecies, evident in the actions and words during the crucifixion, reveals the divine plan unfolding exactly as foretold. Moreover, Jesus Himself actively participated in fulfilling Scripture, as seen when He cried out, "I thirst," to ensure the prophecy of Psalm 69:21 was completed, demonstrating His commitment to aligning His actions with God's will.
Jesus Disqualified?
'Ready Answer' by Richard T. RitenbaughThe prophecies and proofs of Jesus Christ as the Messiah are central to affirming His divine role and authority. The miracles, healings, resurrections, exorcisms, and other signs that Jesus performed daily stand as powerful evidence of His Messiahship. The Father Himself proclaimed Jesus to be His Son, and thus our Messiah, providing undeniable validation. Jesus openly acknowledged His identity as the Messiah, further solidifying His claim. Matthew meticulously highlights numerous Old Testament prophecies that Jesus fulfilled, demonstrating that the odds of any one person fulfilling even a few of these hundreds of specific prophecies are astronomical, yet Jesus fulfilled them all, offering spectacular proof that He is indeed the Christ. Moreover, Jesus of Nazareth embodied the essence of a Messiah by becoming the Savior of all mankind, living a perfect life, dying for our sins, rising on the third day, and ascending to heaven as our High Priest and soon-coming King. These actions and qualities confirm that if He acts like a Messiah and possesses all the attributes of a Messiah, He must be the Messiah.
Christ's Death, Resurrection, and Ascension
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe prophecies of Jesus Christ, as detailed in the Old Testament, reveal a profound alignment with the events of His life, death, resurrection, and ascension. These ancient writings, composed nearly 1,000 years before their fulfillment, demonstrate an intricate succession of occurrences that point to Him as the Messiah. Three consecutive Psalms of David—Psalm 22, Psalm 23, and Psalm 24—beautifully foretell His death, resurrection, and ascension to glory in fine detail. Psalm 22 vividly prophesies the crucifixion of Jesus, long before such a form of execution was practiced in the region. It begins with the exact words He uttered on the cross, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" as recorded in Psalm 22:1. The Psalm describes His suffering, with verses such as Psalm 22:6-8 capturing the mockery He endured, and Psalm 22:16-17 detailing the piercing of His hands and feet, as well as the visibility of His bones due to severe scourging. Psalm 22:18 foretells the casting of lots for His garments, a direct fulfillment seen in the gospel accounts. Later verses, such as Psalm 22:26-27, highlight the blessings and hopes resulting from His death, promising that all the ends of the world shall turn to the Lord. The connection between Jesus and the Passover lamb is evident in multiple scriptures. Exodus 12:3-14 outlines the selection and slaying of a lamb without blemish on the fourteenth day of the month, with its blood serving as a sign to protect from the death of the firstborn. Jesus, as the perfect antitype of this lamb, was crucified on Passover day, Nisan 14, fulfilling this type precisely. Scriptures such as I Corinthians 5:7 name Him as our Passover, sacrificed for us, while John 1:29 identifies Him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Revelation 13:8 further emphasizes His role as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. His blood, like that of the Passover lamb, redeems us from the second death, covering our sins as we accept Him as our Savior. The resurrection of Jesus on the Sabbath, coinciding with the cutting of the wavesheaf, fulfills another significant type. Leviticus 23:10-11 and Deuteronomy 16:9 describe the wavesheaf offering, brought on the day after the Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread. Historical records indicate the sheaf was reaped at dusk as the Sabbath ended, a moment Jesus fulfilled by His resurrection at the close of the Sabbath, exactly seventy-two hours after His burial. I Corinthians 15:20-23 declares Him the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep, symbolizing the best of God's spiritual harvest. Psalm 23, often seen as a Sabbath Psalm, reflects this rest and restoration, with verses like Psalm 23:1-3 portraying the Lord as His Shepherd, leading Him in paths of righteousness, and Psalm 23:4 depicting His journey through the valley of the shadow of death with the assurance of God's presence. Finally, the ascension of Jesus, corresponding to the waving of the wavesheaf on the morning after the Sabbath, completes the fulfillment of these types. John 20:17 records His words to Mary Magdalene early that morning, indicating He had not yet ascended to His Father, but would soon do so. Historical accounts suggest the wavesheaf was waved around the third hour, or 9 a.m., aligning with the time of His ascension to be accepted as our High Priest and Redeemer before God. Psalm 24 captures this glorious ascent, with verses such as Psalm 24:3-4 questioning who may ascend into the hill of the Lord, answered by the One with clean hands and a pure heart—Jesus Himself. Psalm 24:7-10 exalts Him as the King of glory, the Lord strong and mighty, who has qualified through His sinless life and sacrificial death to rule as King of kings and Lord of lords, as affirmed in Revelation 19:11-16. These prophecies and their fulfillments in Jesus Christ underscore the precision of God's timing and the perfection of His plan, as every event occurred at the exact moment to a
Was Jesus Resurrected on Easter Sunday?
'Ready Answer' by StaffProphecies of Jesus Christ are intricately woven into the fabric of Scripture, revealing the precision of God's timing and fulfillment. In Matthew 12:40, Jesus declares that as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, indicating a total of 72 hours. In John 2:19, responding to the Jews' request for a sign of His messiahship, He states that if they destroy this temple, referring to His body, in three days He will raise it up. Additionally, Zechariah 9:9 prophesies Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, which occurs five days before the Passover, symbolically selecting Him as the Passover lamb on the tenth of Abib/Nisan. This entry, occurring on a Sabbath, aligns with the scriptural timeline leading to His crucifixion on Wednesday, the fourteenth of Abib/Nisan, and His resurrection 72 hours later as the Sabbath ends, fulfilling the prophecies with divine exactness.
Christian Optimism
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughPaul wrote some of his most optimistic letters from prison, under the possibility of execution, but absolutely convinced that ultimate victory was imminent.
Announcing . . . Christ's Birth!
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe blending of paganism with inspired Scripture has degraded and obscured the meaning and glory of what happened in the announcement of Jesus Christ's birth.
David the Prophet
'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. RitenbaughAmong his many other accomplishments, King David was a significant prophet. Psalm 22, for example, is a clearly recognizable prophecy of Christ's suffering.
No Private Interpretation
'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. RitenbaughPeter warns that prophecy is not 'of any private interpretation.' Wild or self-serving speculating, as Judas Iscariot did, can lead to grave consequences.
The Branch
'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Branch is a well-known Old Testament prophetic figure, identified as the Messiah by most people. Yet, is there more to it than that? What does it mean to us?
You Are My Witnesses That I Am God
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsChrist's trial and crucifixion were not historical accidents; rather, God prophesied both events in minute detail in Old Testament scriptures.
Until the Kingdom
Sermonette by Bill OnisickJesus' statement, 'I will not drink of this fruit of the vine ... until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom" looks like a contradiction.
'Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive . . .'
'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. RitenbaughTo some, the virgin birth is a major teaching, but it is only one of several signs that prove Jesus is the Messiah. Its major purpose is not to glorify Mary.
Why Hebrews Was Written (Part Eight): Hebrews 1
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughHebrews 1 delivers a knock-out punch to skeptics like many first-century Jews who claimed He falls short in qualifying as our High Priest and Savior.
John (Part Four)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughThe apostle John has provided at least eight separate forms of witness, establishing the veracity of Jesus Christ's identity as God in the flesh.
Matthew (Part Twenty-Six)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughTrue greatness does not come from dominance but from serving with the attitude of a slave. Willingness to sacrifice self is the secret to success.
To Do Your Will, O God!
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsThe necessity for Christ's death stems from God's holiness and absolute intolerance of sin and His obligation to judge righteously.
Joseph of Arimathea
Article by Mike FordJoseph of Arimathea has always been a shadowy figure among the well-known personages of the Bible. Here is clarity on this important disciple's life.
Recognizing the Second Witness
Article by Charles WhitakerJesus Christ has and will make a witness in His two advents. Will we devoutly accept Him or reject Him because He does not fit our preconceptions?
'After Three Days'
Booklet by Richard T. RitenbaughA scriptural explanation of the time of Christ's death, burial and resurrection, showing that He died on a Wednesday and rose from the dead on the Sabbath.
Do We Need the Old Testament?
'Ready Answer' by John ReissHere are five significant reasons why Christians should consider the Old Testament to be just as valuable and necessary to their salvation as the New.
The Shout of a King
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeThe prophecy in which the daughter of Jerusalem must shout to her king riding on a donkey was fulfilled when Jesus triumphantly rode into Jerusalem.
God the Father in the Old Testament
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Hebrew Scriptures reveal the existence of the Father. Deuteronomy 6:4 refers to God as one, signifying unity of purpose and identical character.
A House Left Desolate
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod is a God of mercy, but He has a stiff core of justice which will not be placated unless we repent. To whom much has been given, much will be required.
The Two Witnesses (Part One)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod wants us to recognize prophecies as they occur or shortly afterward. To cling to an interpretation before the events happen leads to missing vital details.
John (Part Twenty-Seven)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ remained totally in control of the events of His trial, including His own prediction that He would be crucified under Roman law.
Cain's Assumption (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeIs it possible Cain saw himself as the great protagonist, the conqueror of Satan—even the Savior of the world? Did Cain literally have a "Messiah complex"?