BIBLES * Bulldogs * Beards

PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/Haunting-Justice-House-William-Shifflett/dp/B0D8VJC14Q/ Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com , if we use your question on the podcast, we'll send you a free hat! Proposition #1: The Church Of Jesus Christ Embraces Both Jews And Gentiles As Part Of The Messianic Kingdom. The Messianic Kingdom Includes Jewish And Gentile Believers As Citizens On An Equal Basis. 23: How does the modern Jewish state align with or differ from Proposition 1? 24: How does Jesus Christ's fulfillment of the Law relate to the inclusion of Gentiles in the Messianic Kingdom? Does His fulfillment supersede the Law for both Jews and Gentiles? 25: How does Jesus Christ serve as the focus of worship in the Messianic Kingdom, and how should that shape our worship services? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------; For many Christians, it is very important (even a biblical mandate) that world governments should support, approve, and encourage the present day state of Israel specifically under the pretense that said state is integral to the outworking of God's plan of salvation for the nations. Some Christians today expect not only a future conversion of ethnic Israel, but some even anticipate a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, complete with resumed sacrifices and priesthood. SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS!

PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/Haunting-Justi... Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com , if we use your question on the podcast, we'll send you a free hat! Proposition #1: The Church Of Jesus Christ Embraces Both Jews And Gentiles As Part Of The Messianic Kingdom. The Messianic Kingdom Includes Jewish And Gentile Believers As Citizens On An Equal Basis. “In Jesus Christ, a Jew is no longer distinct from a gentile as far as religion is concerned. In fact, since AD 70 when the temple was destroyed, true religious Judaism ceased to exist. The Gentile in Christ is no longer distinct as far as his spiritual condition is concerned. For those in Christ the only identity that matters is their identity in Him. There is no Jewish or Gentile Christianity, white or black Christianity, male or female Christianity, free or slave Christianity. Our Lord has only one church. The new person in Christ is not simply a Jew or gentile who now happens to be a Christian. He is no longer a Jew or gentile but only a Christian.” John MacArthur How does MacArthur's perspective on the end of "true religious Judaism" in AD 70 impact his eschatological view? Does it align more with a premillennial or postmillennial perspective? “The Lord by His declaration of peace affects the creation of a third race of men—neither Jew nor gentile but Christian.” UTNT “This is ‘the third race' which is different from both Jews and Gentiles.” Word Biblical Commentary So, the “third race” is called Christian? How does the concept of a "third race" relate to the distinction between Law and Grace? Does it imply a new legal or spiritual status that transcends both? How do Reformed Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism interpret the concept of a "third race"? Does it align more closely with one perspective than the other? SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS! Calvinism,Zionism,Palestinian,Tribulation,O. Palmer Robertson,Amillennial,Abrahamic,Covenant,Dispensational,Premillennial,Antisemitism,Replacement,Theology,Israel,Gaza,Hamas,Armageddon,Revelation,Prophecy,Prophetic,Supersessionism,Judaism,Jerusalem,Israeli,Islam,Church,Christianity,Jews,Gentiles,War,End-times,Holy,Trinity,1948,1967,Christ,Bible,woke,catholic,protestant,best podcast,christian,torah,old testament,prophet,trump harris,reformed,apostlic,Jesus,Tel Aviv,John MacArthur

PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/Haunting-Justi... Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com , if we use your question on the podcast, we'll send you a free hat! Proposition #1: The Church Of Jesus Christ Embraces Both Jews And Gentiles As Part Of The Messianic Kingdom. The Messianic Kingdom Includes Jewish And Gentile Believers As Citizens On An Equal Basis. Pastor, what is Replacement Theology? John 10:16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. Isaiah 56:6-8 “And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant—these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, “I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered.” Ephesians 1:10 As a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth. The ESV digital Bible links these three passages as cross references. Compare also Ephesians 2:11-16 especially verse 15 “by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace.” Ephesians 2:11-16 How do these passages fit into the narrative of redemptive history? How do they contribute to understanding God's plan for redemption and the inclusion of all people? v.15 - Does Christ's fulfillment of the Law abolish the Law for Christians? “In Jesus Christ, a Jew is no longer distinct from a gentile as far as religion is concerned. In fact, since AD 70 when the temple was destroyed, true religious Judaism ceased to exist. The Gentile in Christ is no longer distinct as far as his spiritual condition is concerned. For those in Christ the only identity that matters is their identity in Him. There is no Jewish or Gentile Christianity, white or black Christianity, male or female Christianity, free or slave Christianity. Our Lord has only one church. The new person in Christ is not simply a Jew or gentile who now happens to be a Christian. He is no longer a Jew or gentile but only a Christian.” John MacArthur How does MacArthur's perspective on the end of "true religious Judaism" in AD 70 impact his eschatological view? Does it align more with a premillennial or postmillennial perspective? “The Lord by His declaration of peace affects the creation of a third race of men—neither Jew nor gentile but Christian.” UTNT “This is ‘the third race' which is different from both Jews and Gentiles.” Word Biblical Commentary So, the “third race” is called Christian? How does the concept of a "third race" relate to the distinction between Law and Grace? Does it imply a new legal or spiritual status that transcends both? How do Reformed Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism interpret the concept of a "third race"? Does it align more closely with one perspective than the other? Is the only thing that can establish a person as one of God's people* is to experience a new creation by God's grace? (*Israel of God; Gal. 6:16) How does Chrysostom's perspective on the unity of Jews and Gentiles in the "new creation" relate to Paul's referring of Christ as the cornerstone in Ephesians 2:20? Romans 10:12-13 Galatians 3:28 Could these verses be called the cornerstone of Proposition #1? SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS!

PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/Haunting-Justi... Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com , if we use your question on the podcast, we'll send you a free hat! Proposition #1: The Church Of Jesus Christ Embraces Both Jews And Gentiles As Part Of The Messianic Kingdom. The Messianic Kingdom Includes Jewish And Gentile Believers As Citizens On An Equal Basis. Was Abraham a Jew? No. “The term Jew is a derivative of Judah the fourth son of Jacob and the dominant last surviving tribe of Israel. The Hebrew term meant “man of Judah,” and that term is first used in the Bible in 2 Kings 16:6. After the exile the term Jew came to be used for anyone descended from these people regardless of other considerations. Mordecai is identified as both a Jew and a descendant of Benjamin in Esther 2:5.” Oxford Companion To The Bible. 5: Was God's promises of a land, a seed, and a blessing given to Abraham alone? Was it Abraham that was called and no other? Initially it was given to Abraham, then extended to Issac and Jacob. Ultimately the blessing was connected to Christ who came to bring the two, both Jew and Gentile together. 6: Exactly who is "Abraham's seed"? Physically, anyone descended from him genetically. This would include some of the Arab nations. Spiritually, or redemptively, it is anyone who has believed in Abraham's seed, Jesus Christ. This again undermines the idea of a distinction between Jew and Gentile. 7: From the beginning, could a Gentile become a Jew? Yes. This required undergoing circumcision and adopting adherence to the Law. With the New Covenant eliminating the need to convert to Judaism, becoming aJew to find God's favor was no longer necessary. 8: By the Exile, had Abraham's descendants become "Not My People"? Hosea 1:8-9 - When she had weaned No Mercy, she conceived and bore a son. 9 And the Lord said, "Call his name Not My People, for you are not my people, and I am not your God." 9: What/Who is the fallen tent in Amos 9:11? This was the Davidic kingdom which had been corrupted and ruined by sin. Because God promised David a ruling heir in perpetuity that Kingdom would need to be rebuilt. This is done through Christ who in His rule united Jews and Gentiles as seen in James's quotation of this verse in Acts 15. 10: Did Jesus indicate that the Kingdom would be taken from the Jews in Matt. 21:43? (Romans 11:20-21) He did based on their failure to produce fruits in keeping with their calling within the Kingdom as seen in verses 33-41. In Romans Paul refers to this action on God's part as breaking off the natural branches so that the Gentiles could be grafted in. 11: Pastor, what is Replacement Theology? #Israel #jew #gentile #christian #rapture #endtimes #theology #muslim #eschatology #Abraham #seed #God

PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William... Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com , if we use your question on the podcast, we'll send you a free hat! Proposition #1: The Church Of Jesus Christ Embraces Both Jews And Gentiles As Part Of The Messianic Kingdom. The Messianic Kingdom Includes Jewish And Gentile Believers As Citizens On An Equal Basis. 3: How do different eschatological perspectives (premillennialism, amillennialism, postmillennialism) influence the understanding of the Church's relationship to the Kingdom of God? Does this Proposition support or challenge specific eschatological views? It does challenge eschatological views when there is a distinction made between Israel and the church. Premillennialism typically sees the two as separate entities in spite of what Christ is said to have done. “Dispensationalism one variety of premillennialism has a commitment to a literal interpretation of prophetic scripture resulting in three well known tenants. [1] A distinction between the prophecies made about Israel in the Old Testament and the church in the New Testament must be maintained.” (Progressive dispensationalists agree on this point. Four Views on the Book of Revelation. Dispensationalists typically see the Jews/Israel as a separate set of God's people distinct throughout the present and the future or at least till the end of the millennium with God having a separate plan for both. Conversely Scripture always portrays the two as being united in Christ as one people. Amillennialists take a view much more consistent with proposition 1. 4: Was Abraham a Jew? No. “The term Jew is a derivative of Judah the fourth son of Jacob and the dominant last surviving tribe of Israel. The Hebrew term meant “man of Judah,” and that term is first used in the Bible in 2 Kings 16:6. After the exile the term Jew came to be used for anyone descended from these people regardless of other considerations. Mordecai is identified as both a Jew and a descendant of Benjamin in Esther 2:5.” Oxford Companion To The Bible. 5: Was God's promises of a land, a seed, and a blessing given to Abraham alone? Was it Abraham that was called and no other? Initially it was given to Abraham, then extended to Issac and Jacob. Ultimately the blessing was connected to Christ who came to bring the two, both Jew and Gentile together. SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS! Jesus,God,Holy Spirit,resurrection,jerusalem,gethsemane,deserted,lamb,forgive,destroy,thirsty,forsaken,cursed,spirit,blood,ascended,peace,power,crucified,Christ,reformed,Martin Luther,John Calvin,church,christian,devotion,Bible,Scripture,prayer,death,saved,eternal,heaven,hell,R C Sproul,Torah,shadow,risen,Israel,end-times,people,land,jews,muslims,worship,last days,Armageddon,Revelation,conflict,replacement,Eschatology,end of the world,Palestine,war,rapture,gentiles,rise,theology,70ad

PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William... Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com , if we use your question on the podcast, we'll send you a free hat! Proposition #1: The Church Of Jesus Christ Embraces Both Jews And Gentiles As Part Of The Messianic Kingdom. The Messianic Kingdom Includes Jewish And Gentile Believers As Citizens On An Equal Basis. 1: How do we define the Messianic Kingdom? Is it primarily a spiritual realm, a future earthly kingdom, or a combination of both? Currently it is primarily a spiritual realm though touching on natural, earthly things. The future kingdom will be characterized by features of both. 2: What model(s) of church leadership and worship best reflect the unity of Jews and Gentiles? Since we have been made one in Christ there should be no distinct difference or uniqueness other than those elements which are characteristic of earthly cultures. For example, clothing styles, length of service, music styles etc. The worship should center on Christ as redeemer and the leadership should strive to keep that central rather than ethnic heritage. 3: How do different eschatological perspectives (premillennialism, amillennialism, postmillennialism) influence the understanding of the Church's relationship to the Kingdom of God? Does this Proposition support or challenge specific eschatological views? It does challenge eschatological views when there is a distinction made between Israel and the church. Premillennialism typically sees the two as separate entities in spite of what Christ is said to have done. “Dispensationalism one variety of premillennialism has a commitment to a literal interpretation of prophetic scripture resulting in three well known tenants. [1] A distinction between the prophecies made about Israel in the Old Testament and the church in the New Testament must be maintained.” (Progressive dispensationalists agree on this point. Four Views on the Book of Revelation. Dispensationalists typically see the Jews/Israel as a separate set of God's people distinct throughout the present and the future or at least till the end of the millennium with God having a separate plan for both. Conversely Scripture always portrays the two as being united in Christ as one people. Amillennialists take a view much more consistent with proposition 1. 4: Was Abraham a Jew? 5: Was God's promises of a land, a seed, and a blessing given to Abraham alone? Was it Abraham that was called and no other? 6: Exactly who is "Abraham's seed"? 7: From the beginning, could a Gentile become a Jew? 8: By the Exile, had Abraham's descendants become "Not My People"? Hosea 1:8-9 9: What/Who is the fallen tent in Amos 9:11? 10: Did Jesus indicate that the Kingdom would be taken from the Jews in Matt. 21:43? (Romans 11:20-21) 11: Pastor, what is Replacement Theology? 12: How does this quote and these passages below fit into the entire narrative of redemptive history? "The Greek does not have to become a Jew. Rather both enter into a new condition. His aim is not to bring Greek believers into being as different kinds of Jews but rather to create both anew. Rightly he uses the term create rather than change to point out the great effect of what God has done." John Chrysostom (12: How do these passages fit into the entire narrative of redemptive history?) 13: How do they contribute to understanding God's plan for redemption and the inclusion of all people? . SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS!

PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William... Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Crucified with Christ – Stephen F. Olford Galatians 2:20 “Crucified with Christ is Restating Romans 8:8-4" - For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Pastor, unpack these verses for us. Please try not to answer all my questions. Pastor Olford says, “God exacted the Law”. What does exacted mean? 1. The Reality of Christ's Crucifixion: Galatians 2:20 states, "I have been crucified with Christ." Do we understand this as a metaphor, or as a spiritual reality that impacts our lives? 2. Understanding True Crucifixion: What does it mean to "be crucified" with Christ in a spiritual sense? 3. Beyond Self-Effort: How does being crucified with Christ differ from the idea of self-denial or self-sacrifice? What does being crucified with Christ reveal about our relationship with Christ? 4. Dying to Self: Of course, we cannot physically crucify ourselves, what does it mean to "die to self"? How can we identify areas in our lives where our self-centeredness needs to be surrendered to Christ? 5. Beyond Suffering: Embracing the Resurrection: The Valley of Vision quote prays for the "resurrection life" to rule me and empower me. What does it mean to live in the power of the resurrection in our daily lives? 6. Beyond Guilt and Shame: If we are already "crucified with Christ," where does the struggle against sin and temptation fit in? - Slow agonizing death. How can we avoid feelings of guilt or shame while acknowledging our ongoing need for growth and transformation? 7. Sharing the Victory: How can we share the message of "crucifixion with Christ" and the power of the resurrection life with others, especially those struggling with sin, addiction, or despair? 8. Surrender and Transformation: How does our "crucifixion with Christ" lead to personal transformation and growth in holiness and worship? What are the practical implications for our thoughts, actions, and relationships? 9. If we do not accept our crucifixion, how can we accept our resurrection in Christ? 10. Witnessing to the Resurrection: How can our own experiences of "dying to self" and embracing the "resurrection life" become a powerful witness to the transforming power of Christ in the world? -------------------------------------------------------------- Pastor, tell us how you and your family celebrate Resurrection Sunday and how it affects you personally.

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com What is a biblical chiasm? CHIASMUS How can they help us understand the Bible? Trespass Offerings (sin as an act), (5:14-6:7). Trespass offerings deal with sins against one's neighbor, highlighting the relational impact of sin. Restitution is often a key part of the process, pointing towards the need to restore broken relationships. Leviticus 5: Specific Trespasses and Restitution: Justice and Restoration: The trespass offering process, with an emphasis on restitution, foreshadows the future work of Christ in not just forgiving sin but also bringing about God's justice and ultimate restoration. How does Christ's work address not only the vertical dimension of sin (offense against God) but also the horizontal dimension (offense against neighbor)? Imperfect Restitution and Christ's Perfect Work: The act of restitution under the trespass offering system is incomplete. How does this foreshadow the necessity of Christ's perfect offering, not only atoning for sin but also fully restoring the broken relationship between God and humanity? Discuss the concept of Christ's work bringing not just forgiveness but also reconciliation. Leviticus 6: Guilt Offerings and Dealing with Denial: Conviction of Sin and Repentance: The guilt offering is linked to a realization of wrongdoing and a desire to make amends. How does this foreshadow the role of the Holy Spirit in convicting believers of sin and leading them to repentance? Discuss how genuine faith involves not just intellectual knowledge but also a transformed heart that seeks to live righteously. Sacrifice and Transformation: The trespass offering involves both sacrifice and restitution. How does this foreshadow the ongoing work of Christ in believers' lives, not just through justification but also through sanctification, the process of becoming more Christ-like? Explore the concept of Christ's sacrifice not only securing forgiveness but also empowering believers to live transformed lives.

PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William... Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com https://joniandfriends.org/ Philippians 3:10 - that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death. Joni talks about a little boy's fellowship at one of her retreats. What does the word fellowship mean and what is true Christian fellowship? 1. Understanding God's Shared Pain: Joni talks about God not only empathizing with our suffering, but that He takes it personally. How can we reconcile this image of a suffering God with our traditional understanding of Him being all powerful and unchangeable? Joni says, “God watched His child die. His one and only Son.” What can Christians learn from this” Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Ephesians 4:30 - And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, 2. God's Empathy and Suffering: Joni says God "identifies with us in our sufferings" and "feels the sting in His chest." How does this challenge traditional views of a distant God? How can it offer comfort and hope in times of pain? 3. Suffering as an Invitation: Joni also mentions suffering as an "invitation to know God." How can suffering, often seen as negative, lead to a deeper connection with God? 4. Beyond Personal Suffering: How can "sharing His sufferings" extend past our individual experiences, giving us empathy and action towards the suffering of others? 5. Suffering with Him, not for Him: Joni talks about "suffering with Him," not "for Him." How can we avoid the trap of believing our suffering somehow appeases God? 6. Comforting Others in Suffering: Knowing that God shares our pain, how can we better comfort and support others who are experiencing suffering? 7. Hope and Healing: How can we better translate our hope into action and outreach to others? “The invitation to know God – really know Him – is always an invitation to suffer. Not to suffer alone, but to suffer with Him.” Amazing love, how can it be?

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Chapter 4 & 5 – Sin Offerings (sin as a nature) (4:1-5:13). Question: How can the sin offering rituals in Leviticus 4 be seen as foreshadowing Christ's work as High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16)? Answer: The High Priest acting as mediator between God and man during sacrifices prefigures Christ's role as our eternal High Priest, interceding for us before the Father (Hebrews 7:25). Question: The concept of the sin offering being outside the camp (Leviticus 4:11-12) can be seen as symbolic. How does this foreshadow the significance of Christ's crucifixion outside the city walls (Hebrews 13:11-12)? Answer: The sin offering being placed outside the camp signifies the removal of sin. Christ's crucifixion outside Jerusalem foreshadows his role in bearing the sin of the world (John 1:29). Leviticus 4 and 5 deal with sin offerings for various situations. Here are some discussion prompts from a Reformed perspective on how these foreshadow Christ's work: Shared Themes: Both chapters highlight the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement. The concept of transferring sins symbolically onto the animal points towards a future substitutionary sacrifice. Leviticus 4: Priest, Levite, Ruler, and Ordinary People: Limited vs Universal Atonement: The specific offerings for different classes (priest, ruler, ordinary people) can be seen as foreshadowing the Reformed doctrine of Limited Atonement. Discuss how these distinctions point towards Christ's sacrifice being particularly for the elect, rather than universally applicable. Explore potential arguments against this view and how they might be addressed from a Reformed perspective. Mediatorial Role of Christ: The role of the priest mediating the sin offering foreshadows Christ's role as the sole mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5). Discuss how Christ's sacrifice offers the only path to forgiveness and reconciliation with God. Leviticus 5: Unintentional Sins and Guilt Offerings: Imperfect Atonement and Christ's Perfection: The sin offerings address unintentional sins, highlighting the ongoing struggle with sin even for believers. How does this foreshadow the necessity of Christ's perfect sacrifice, once for all, to cover the entirety of sin's debt for the elect? Discuss the concept of Christ's sacrifice being sufficient and final. Confession, Restitution, and Forgiveness: The sin offering process involves confession, sometimes restitution, and then the sacrifice. How does this foreshadow the importance of confession and repentance in the life of a believer, alongside the assurance of forgiveness through Christ's sacrifice? Explore scripture like 1 John 1:9, Proverbs 28:13, and Romans 8:1 to support this concept. Additional Considerations: Discuss the limitations of typology and how it should be used alongside clear scriptural teaching. Explore how these foreshadowings connect to the concept of imputation of sin to Christ and his righteousness to believers. Consider how these Reformed interpretations can bring comfort and assurance of salvation to believers who trust in Christ's work.

PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William... Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Philippians 3:7-11 “Do you believe in the resurrection as a historical event, and have you also had that profound personal experience of spiritual resurrection?” 1. Belief and Experience: Tim Keller mentions the resurrection as both a fact and an experience. Can we truly know the power of the resurrection without personal connection? “To be a Christian is not just to believe in a set of propositions.” 2. How can prayer, reflection, and participation in worship deepen our personal experience? 3. Sharing the Power: Paul describes his desire to "make known the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:8). How can we, inspired by his passion, share the transformative power of the resurrection with others, both through words and actions? “A person with a passion for Christ is not necessarily always talking about Christ but is looking at everything through Christ.” 4. Transformation in Action: How does experiencing the power of the resurrection impact our relationships with others? Does it lead to greater compassion, forgiveness, and service towards our fellow human beings? “It's one thing to believe that Jesus loves you in a general way. It's another thing to have His love come down.” He is talking about a man 100 years ago praying and “God's great love flooded his soul”. v. 10 “share in His sufferings”. Some would say this doesn't make sense. To know the power of His resurrection and share in His sufferings, what does it mean? 5. Obstacles: What are some potential obstacles that might hinder us from truly connecting with the power of the resurrection? How can we overcome these obstacles and deepen our experience? 6. A Lifelong Journey: Is the power of the resurrection an ongoing process, or a one-time event? How can we stay committed to growth and transformation? “When the body dies, our spirits burst into flame in His presence, and we burn bright with His energy, power, and goodness with all of His glory flowing in and out of us. That's what we're in for. We'll be like Him, and His resurrection power will be complete in us.” --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog0/message

PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-Shifflett/author/B005H0F1GG Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Luke 24:36-45 Initial Reactions: When Jesus first appears to his disciples, they are startled and think they see a ghost. What does this tell us about their emotional state, and how are their expectations challenged? 2. Healing of Doubts: In Luke 24:36-45, Jesus greets his disciples with "Peace be unto you," despite their initial fear and doubt. How does this greeting speak to the power of forgiveness and the reassurance Jesus offers to those who have no peace? 3. Proof of the Resurrection: Jesus offers tangible evidence of his physical body, including showing his hands and feet. How does this address the disciples' doubts? 4. Wounds and Scars: Augustine mentions Jesus' wounds being healed yet scars remaining. How can we interpret this symbolism? Do the scars represent the reality of his suffering or serve as a reminder of his victory over death? 5. Scars as Signs of Victory: Augustine mentions that Jesus' wounds were healed but his scars remained. How do these scars, instead of being symbols of weakness, become powerful signs of His victory over death and sin? 6. Healing the Wounds of the Heart: Augustine says the scars offer healing for the disciples' "wounds of the heart." What were these wounds? (Unbelief) They were “troubled” v.38. How does Jesus' presence and sacrifice offer comfort and hope? 7. Transforming Fear: Fear and confusion were the initial emotions of the disciples. How can we experience similar transformation in our own lives when facing challenges or uncertainties? 9. Living with Scars: Many people carry their own "scars" of past experiences. How can reflecting on Jesus' scars offer comfort and strength to those who bear the weight of past hurts and traumas? 10. Personal Reflection: How can we share Christ's peace with others who may be struggling with fear, doubt, or sin? “Thou dost admonish them out of the Scriptures, and yet they understand thee not. Their hearts are closed. Open and enter in. Open, O Lord, yea, open the heart of him who is in doubt concerning Christ. Open his understanding who believes that Christ was a phantom. “Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures.” v.45 11. Sharing the Message of Peace: How can we actively share the message of peace and hope found in Jesus' resurrection with others in our communities and the world? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog0/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Chapter 2 – Grain Offerings (loveliness of Christ). Incarnation and Perfect Obedience: Leviticus 2 describes the grain offering, consisting of fine flour, representing the firstfruits of the harvest. How does this offering foreshadow the significance of Christ's incarnate/sinless life? Discuss how Christ's life, perfectly obedient to the Law (Matthew 5:17), becomes the offering that fulfills the demands God could not make of sinful humanity. Supporting scripture, Philippians 2:5-8, Hebrews 7:26, and Romans 5:18-19. Faith and Works in Harmony: The grain offering required specific actions (grinding, mixing with oil), alongside the offering itself. How does this foreshadow justification by faith alone, but with good works as a necessary fruit of genuine faith? Discuss how Christ's perfect offering on the cross secures salvation, while the grain offering points to the believer's response of living a life pleasing to God. Explore Romans 3:28, James 2:14-26, and Ephesians 2:8-10. Christ as our Bread of Life: The grain offering is a reminder of God's provision and sustenance for His people. How does this foreshadow Christ's identification as the "bread of life" (John 6:35)? Discuss how Christ, through his sacrifice and ongoing presence through the Holy Spirit, nourishes and sustains the spiritual lives of believers. Explore passages like John 6:48-51, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, and Colossians 3:1-4. Chapter 3 – Peace Offerings (Christ our peace). Reconciliation and Communion: Leviticus 3 outlines the peace offering, involving a sacrifice shared between the offerer, the priests, and God. How does this offering foreshadow the future work of Christ in reconciling humanity to God and establishing a new covenant of fellowship? Discuss how Christ's sacrifice not only appeases God's wrath but also allows for restored communion between God and His elect people. Explore scripture like Romans 5:1-2, Ephesians 2:13-18, and Hebrews 9:11-15. Types and Antitypes: The peace offering has elements foreshadowing aspects of Christ's ministry. The burning of fat on the altar signifies the offering being pleasing to God, while the blood points to atonement. How does this support the understanding of typology, where the peace offering serves as a type and Christ as the ultimate antitype, fulfilling the foreshadowed realities? Are there other typological connections between the peace offering and Christ's work? Gratitude and Joy of Salvation: The peace offering is associated with thanksgiving and fellowship. How does this foreshadow the future joy and peace experienced by believers through the redemptive work of Christ? Discuss how Christ's sacrifice not only secures forgiveness but also allows for a life characterized by gratitude and the joy of salvation. (Romans 5:1-11, Philippians 4:4-7, and Colossians 1:12-14) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog0/message

PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-Shifflett/author/B005H0F1GG Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Unveiling Glory: Setting the Scene: What is the context of Jesus' transfiguration as described in Matthew 17:1-8? What specific elements stand out, and how do they contribute to the overall experience? Beyond the Mountaintop: Transfiguration in Context: The Transfiguration in Matthew 17:1-8 takes place within a specific narrative context. How does understanding this context (e.g., Jesus' predictions about his suffering and death) deepen our interpretation of the event as a "Resurrection Preview"? Beyond the Mountaintop: Contextualizing the Transfiguration: In Matthew 17:1-8, the Transfiguration occurs shortly after Jesus predicts his own suffering and death. How does this context influence our understanding of the event as a "Resurrection Preview"? 2. Glimpse of the Future: Francis Schaeffer suggests the transfiguration offers a "preview of the resurrection." How does this event foreshadow the resurrection of Jesus and, by extension, the resurrection of believers? 2. Glory Revealed, Glory Concealed: The Transfiguration shows Jesus in his divine glory, yet veiled for the disciples. How does this tension between revelation and concealment shed light on the nature of God and our limitations in understanding it? 2. Glimpse of Glory: The Transfiguration describes Jesus being transfigured with dazzling light and Moses and Elijah appearing. What does this vision symbolize about the nature of Jesus and the future reality for believers? How does it differ from earthly glory and power? 3. Beyond Earthly Limits: The transfiguration transfigures Jesus' appearance. What does this transformation symbolize, and how does it challenge our understanding of physical limitations and human nature? 3. Conversation with Eternity: Moses and Elijah appear alongside Jesus, representing Law and Prophets. How does this encounter foreshadow the unity of God's plan throughout history and its culmination in Christ? 3. Echoes of the Book of Revelation: Francis Schaeffer connects the Transfiguration to the Book of Revelation's depiction of the resurrection. Explore relevant passages in Revelation (e.g., 21:1-4) and discuss how they echo the themes of transformation and new creation seen in the Transfiguration. 4. Witnessing Divinity: Peter, James, and John witness the transfiguration firsthand. How does their experience impact their understanding of Jesus and their faith? What can we learn from their reactions? 4. A Glimpse of Our Future: Francis Schaeffer claims the Transfiguration offers a "preview of the resurrection." What aspects of the Transfiguration support this claim? How can contemplating this future reality impact our present lives? 4. Beyond a Fairy Tale: Schaeffer argues against reducing the Transfiguration to a mere "fairy tale" experience. How can we avoid this pitfall and grasp the profound theological and existential implications of this event? 5. From Seeing to Believing: Peter, James, and John are overwhelmed by the experience. How does this reaction connect to the broader theme of faith in the New Testament? What challenges and encouragements does it offer for our own faith journey? 6. From Preview to Reality: How can we, as believers, live in light of the promised resurrection? How does understanding the transfiguration motivate us to live differently here and now? Living in Light of the Resurrection: How does contemplating the "Resurrection Preview" offered in the Transfiguration change our perspective on suffering, death, and the ultimate hope we have in Christ? How can we live in light of this reality? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog0/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Chapters 1 – 6 – Offerings. Question: How does the concept of sacrificial offerings throughout Leviticus foreshadow Christ's sacrifice (Leviticus 1-7)? Answer: The sacrificial system, with the innocent animal taking the place of the guilty person (atonement), foreshadows Christ as the perfect Lamb of God, sacrificing himself for the sins of humanity (John 1:29). 1-3 Sweet savor offerings (person of Christ). Chapter 1 – Burnt Offerings (Christ our substitute). Covenant Head and Substitutionary Atonement: Leviticus 1 details the burnt offering, a perfect animal offered entirely to God. Within a Reformed framework, how does this offering foreshadow Christ's role as our Covenant Head, taking the place of his elect people and bearing the full brunt of God's wrath for their sin, fulfilling the demands of the broken covenant? Discuss scriptural support for this interpretation from places like Isaiah 53:4-6, Romans 5:12-19, and 2 Corinthians 5:21. Sinlessness and Imputation: The burnt offering requires a blemish-free animal (Leviticus 1:3). How does this foreshadow the sinlessness of Christ, essential for his role as a perfect sacrifice? How does this connect to the Reformed doctrine of imputation, where Christ's righteousness is credited to believers, while their sins are imputed to him on the cross? Explore scripture passages like Hebrews 4:15, 1 Peter 2:22, and Romans 3:21-26 to support your discussion. Limited vs. Full Atonement: Leviticus outlines a sacrificial system requiring continual offerings. How does this foreshadow the sufficiency and finality of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, according to the Reformed doctrine of Limited Atonement? Discuss the concept of Christ's sacrifice atoning for the elect only, contrasted with a universal atonement view. Find support from scripture passages like John 10:11-15, Romans 8:28-30, and Ephesians 1:3-14. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog0/message

PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William... Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Beyond a single word: While "propitiation" holds significance, how does it relate to other aspects of salvation like redemption, justification, and reconciliation? How does understanding these concepts together provide a broader picture of Jesus' work? Beyond consequences: Unpacking God's anger: Romans 3:23 mentions God's wrath, while Ortlund says God's anger "shows how serious His love is." How can we understand these seemingly contradictory statements? Explore the biblical concept of God's anger and how it relates to his love and justice. Beyond Wrath: Understanding God's Anger: Raymond Ortlund, Jr. says, "God's anger shows how serious His love is." How does this statement challenge our traditional understanding of God's anger? How can we reconcile the concept of a loving God with His righteous judgment? Divine love and anger: Raymond Ortlund Jr. connects God's love and anger. How can we reconcile these seemingly contradictory attributes? How does understanding God's perfect justice and holiness help us grasp the seriousness of sin and the necessity of propitiation? 2. More than appeasement: Unveiling the depths of propitiation: The word "propitiation" goes beyond calming anger. What does it truly mean in the context of Jesus' sacrifice? How does it differ from simply appeasing or satisfying a demand? From offense to reconciliation: Romans 3:23 speaks of our "falling short" of God's glory. How does propitiation address this problem of sin and pave the way for reconciliation between God and humanity? 3. Offense and atonement: How much did we offend God? Romans 3:23 states "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." How does understanding the gravity of our offense deepen our appreciation for the magnitude of Christ's sacrifice? 3. Bloodshed and Sacrifice: The concept of propitiation often involves the shedding of blood. How do Old Testament sacrifices foreshadow Christ's sacrifice on the cross? What makes Jesus' sacrifice unique and ultimately sufficient? The cost of propitiation: Ortlund states that God doesn't demand our blood, but offers his own. How does contemplating the sacrifice of Jesus, God's Son, deepen our understanding of the gravity of sin and the magnitude of God's love? 4. From demand to gift: Deconstructing the blood offering: Ortlund states, "The God you have offended doesn't demand your blood; He gives His own." How does this statement challenge traditional views of sacrifice and atonement? How does it reveal the heart of God towards humanity? Propitiation and personal application: How does the concept of propitiation impact our personal lives? How does it inform our relationship with God, our sense of forgiveness, and our responsibility to share this message with others? 5. Justice and grace: Can both coexist? Some struggle with the idea of a God who demands justice yet offers grace in Jesus. How does the concept of propitiation reconcile these seemingly opposing realities? 5. More Than Appeasement: Ortlund states, "The God you have offended doesn't demand your blood; He gives His own in Christ Jesus." How does this move the concept of propitiation beyond mere appeasement of God's anger? What does it reveal about the nature of God's love and sacrifice for humanity? propitiation impact our relationship with God? How does it affect our views of sin, forgiveness, and our own responsibility? What are the practical implications for our lives? Sharing the Message: How can we effectively share the message of propitiation with others in a way that is both truthful and compassionate? How can we address potential misunderstandings or objections? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog0/message

PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-Shifflett/author/B005H0F1GG Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Beyond appeasement: Exploring "well-pleased": Both Ephesians 5:2 and Hebrews 9:26 mention God being "well-pleased" with Christ's offering. What does this go beyond simply appeasing God's anger? How does it relate to concepts like divine love, justice, and the nature of sacrifice? Beyond appeasement: Exploring divine pleasure: Both Ephesians 5:2 and Hebrews 9:26 describe Jesus' sacrifice as a "sweet-smelling savor" to God. How does this concept move beyond simply appeasing God's anger, and what does it reveal about the depth of God's love and delight in his Son? Sweetness and savor: Sensory imagery and deeper meaning: The language of "sweet-smelling savor" evokes sensory experiences. How does this imagery help us understand the nature of Christ's offering and its impact on God? What cultural and historical context might add depth to this imagery? Perfume and sacrifice: Historical and cultural context: In ancient cultures, offerings of sweet-smelling aromas were significant expressions of worship and devotion. How does understanding this context enrich our appreciation of Jesus' sacrifice as the ultimate offering to God? Beyond Christ's work: Our response: While the focus is on Christ's offering, how does our response to it factor in? How can our lives, choices, and actions become a "sweet-smelling savor" to God as well? The righteousness of Christ: Jonathan Edwards emphasizes God's delight in Jesus' "righteousness." How does Jesus' perfect obedience and sinlessness contribute to the "sweet-smelling savor" of his sacrifice, and what does this mean for our own pursuit of righteousness? Living sacrifices: In Romans 12:1, we are called to present ourselves as "living sacrifices" to God. How can we cultivate hearts and lives that are fragrant offerings to him, reflecting the character and love of Christ? Infinite delight: Edwards' perspective: Jonathan Edwards emphasizes God's "infinite delight" in Christ's righteousness. How does this concept challenge simplistic views of God's emotions and deepen our understanding of his love for his Son? From Christ to us: How does the concept of Jesus' sacrifice as a "sweet-smelling savor" apply to our lives as Christians? Can our own acts of love, service, and obedience also be considered offerings pleasing to God? Righteousness as the foundation: The quote highlights Christ's "righteousness" as the basis for God's delight. How does Jesus' perfect life and sacrifice fulfill God's standards of righteousness and provide a foundation for our own salvation? Beyond good works: While good works are important, what differentiates Jesus' sacrifice from our own offerings? How does his unique position and divine nature make his sacrifice infinitely valuable and the foundation of our salvation? Worship and praise: Flowing from the offering: Recognizing the sweetness of Christ's offering can lead to a deeper expression of worship and praise. How can our understanding of this concept shape our personal and communal worship practices? Gratitude and transformation: How does contemplating the "sweet-smelling savor" of Jesus' sacrifice cultivate gratitude in our hearts? How can this gratitude translate into a transformed life, one that increasingly reflects the love and holiness of the One who offered himself for us? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog0/message

PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-Shifflett/author/B005H0F1GG Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Beyond the grave: The meaning of "He descended into hell": The Apostles' Creed states Jesus "descended into hell." While some interpret this literally, others understand it metaphorically. Which view aligns more closely with J.I. Packer's quote about Jesus preceding us, and why? Explore different interpretations and their theological implications. Beyond the grave's shadow: The Apostles' Creed states Jesus "descended into hell," often interpreted as the realm of the dead. How do different theological interpretations understand this descent, and what does it signify about the state of the dead and our own hope in the afterlife, as J.I. Packer suggests? Beyond the Creed: Scriptural basis: While the Apostles' Creed states "He descended into hell," the specific term "hell" isn't used in the Bible for this event. What biblical passages can help us understand the nature of Jesus' descent and its significance in the salvation story? Conquering death: How does Jesus' descent bring comfort in the face of mortality? Drawing on Packer's quote, how does knowing Jesus conquered death personally affect your view of your own mortality and your preparation for the end of life? Discuss biblical passages that offer hope and assurance. Victory in the unseen realm: Some interpretations connect Jesus' descent to conquering death and evil in the unseen realm. What biblical passages support this view, and how does it impact our understanding of Christ's victory over death? Conquering the grave: What did Jesus "descend" into? Different interpretations exist about Jesus' descent. Did he conquer death itself, experience the realm of the departed, or something else? Explore these interpretations and consider their implications for our understanding of death and the afterlife. Ascension: Beyond just going up: Packer describes the Ascension as "exaltation to a condition of supreme dignity and power." How does this differ from simply "going to heaven"? Explore the significance of Jesus' Ascension according to the New Testament and its impact on our understanding of his role and power. Implications for humanity: What does Jesus' Ascension mean for believers? How does Packer's quote connect Jesus' Ascension to our lives? Explore the implications of Jesus' reign in heaven for believers on earth, including aspects like prayer, intercession, and hope for the future. Living in light of the Ascension: How does Jesus' reign affect our daily lives? Recognizing Jesus' "supreme dignity and power," how should this reality impact our daily choices, priorities, and actions? Discuss practical ways to live in light of his reign and authority. Implications for our lives: What practical implications does Jesus' ascension have for our daily lives? How can we live in light of his reign and authority over all things, including our challenges and choices? From earth to heaven: Implications for our lives: How does Jesus' ascension shape our understanding of our own destiny as Christians? Does it imply a future escape from the world or a call to live differently within it, reflecting his heavenly reign? Hope for the future: What does the ascension promise? The ascension is often linked to the future hope of resurrection and eternal life. How does understanding this connection shape our perspective on suffering, injustice, and the ultimate destiny of humanity? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog0/message

PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-Shifflett/author/B005H0F1GG Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com John 19:33 states that Jesus' legs were unbroken, fulfilling Psalm 34:20. And, Exodus 12:46 forbids breaking any bones of the Passover lamb. How does this link Jesus to the Passover sacrifice, and what does it tell us about the significance of this? John Calvin connects the blood and water from Jesus' side to atonement and washing. How does this imagery align with other Biblical references to water and blood (e.g., Gen 2:7, Lev 17:11, Rev 7:14), and what message does it convey about Jesus' sacrifice? John Calvin connects the blood and water to atonement and washing. How do these elements resonate with the Old Testament symbolism of the Passover sacrifice and the cleansing power of water in Jewish tradition? (Explores Biblical context and historical connections) The soldier's action of piercing Jesus' side with a spear seems callous, yet John emphasizes its fulfillment of prophecy (Zechariah 12:10). How does this paradox help us understand God's sovereignty and the intersection of human agency and divine will? (Raises theological questions about free will and predestination) Beyond symbols: Personal connection: While the blood and water hold symbolic meaning, they also represent Jesus' physical suffering. How does contemplating the physical reality of his wounds deepen our understanding of his love and sacrifice for us? While Calvin suggests the spear wound symbolizes rejection of God's word, other interpretations link it to Zechariah 12:10 and John's own testimony (John 19:35). How can these different perspectives be reconciled, and what unique insights do they offer into the significance of the event? Calvin describes the spear wound as a response to "obstinate contempt of His Word." How might this connect to the historical context of Jesus' rejection and the ongoing struggle between faith and unbelief? (Engages with historical and spiritual applications) The blood and water also evoke imagery of baptism. How does this link Jesus' sacrifice on the cross to the sacrament of baptism and the concept of new birth in Christ? (Connects Scripture to another sacrament and its spiritual significance) Water of life, wellspring of grace: John 7:38 speaks of "rivers of living water" flowing from those who believe in Jesus. How does the water flowing from Jesus' side foreshadow the Holy Spirit's work in the lives of believers, and how can we tap into this wellspring of grace? Some interpretations suggest the blood and water represent distinct spiritual realities (e.g., sacraments, the church). What are the strengths and weaknesses of such interpretations and what are some alternative ways to understand the symbolism within historical and theological context? The study title mentions being "near the cross." How does contemplating the physical details of Jesus' suffering, like the piercing of His side, deepen our emotional and spiritual connection to His sacrifice? (Encourages personal reflection and application) Blood and water: Sacramental connection: Throughout church history, water and wine have been used in sacraments like baptism and communion. How do these practices connect to the symbolism of blood and water in John 19:33, and how can they deepen our understanding and appreciation of Jesus' sacrifice? Drawing near the cross: Personal reflection: Considering today's discussion, what does it mean for you personally to "draw near the cross"? How can contemplating Jesus' suffering and the symbolism of blood and water transform your relationship with him and your commitment to following him? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog0/message

PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-Shifflett/author/B005H0F1GG Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Luke 23:46 - Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Again we see Jesus quoting Scripture and the Scripture is from the Psalms. It's Psalm 31 verse 5. Do Jesus's words show that He was in total control of the situation? “None of us can die this way.” It's almost like Jesus decides when He's going to commit His spirit to God. The Romans don't decide when He dies, the Jews don't decide when He dies; He decides when He dies. He decides when He gives His spirit to God. Can we simply dismiss our spirits as Jesus did? 1 Peter 2:21- For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. Is Jesus showing Christians how to die? Do we learn from Jesus's words that there is life beyond the grave? “Jesus committed His spirit to God.” How is this spirit different from the Holy Spirit? Is this how the saints of all ages have died? Does Jesus teach us to commend our souls in death, not just in life? “Jesus was strengthened His spirit by clinging to the promises of God.” Jesus did that His whole life, didn't He? Shouldn't Christians be doing the same? “If you do not do it now, how will you ever find strength to do it when you come to die?” Our Savior was doing something that was literally marvelous for us on the cross. Receive it by faith in Him. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William... Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Deuteronomy 21:23 - his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance. Galatians 3:13 - Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” When most people speak today of the idea of curse, what do we think of? Is everyone that fails to keep God's law cursed? Are we justified by the law? Jews executed by stoning, why is this significant? “Just as the scapegoat was driven outside the camp, outside of the Holy City where the presence of God was concentrated, so Jesus was sent into the outer darkness.” On the cross, was Jesus forsaken by the Father and sent into the outer darkness, away from the merciful presence of God? “The sign of the new covenant was circumcision.” “The rite had two meanings, a positive and negative.” What are the meanings? Many have died on a cross, but did anyone else receive the full measure of the curse of God? “It is finished.” What was over, His life, the pain of the nails? What does it mean to us that the curse is over? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-Shifflett/author/B005H0F1GG Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Matthew 27:46 - And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” “Even in His agony Jesus was still praying.” When life strikes Jesus, in His humanity, the hardest what comes out of Him is what is in Him. It is the Word of God. When someone suffers, do you find out what is on the inside of them? What can Christians learn from this? Is Jesus' cry, a cry of unbelief? Do Christians need to feel the weight of Jesus's suffering? “Jesus did not just feel forsaken He was forsaken.” Jesus did not cry out “My God, My God, why do I feel forsaken by You?” Jesus was forsaken. As a sinner, is that my only hope to be saved? Is it a serious sin to diminish the sufferings of Christ in any way? “God the Father could not bear to look at the sin or His Son.” Does God hide His face from the one He forsakes? “God did not let Jesus rot in the grave.” Matthew Henry writes: “Christ, by dying, has taken out the sting of death. He has made atonement for sin; he has obtained remission of it. Death may hiss therefore, but it cannot hurt.” “God will forsake sinners, but He will not forsake you if you will come and meet Jesus Christ at the cross. How does someone meet Jesus Christ at the cross? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William... John 19:28 - After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” Jesus was dying, He was hot and thirsty. Are food and water luxuries? Food and water are necessities, not luxuries; if we don't eat or drink, we will die. And so it is in the spiritual realm: Is Jesus a luxury? Jesus Christ is not some luxury; He is a necessity. Without Him, our spirits will die. “Spiritually speaking, if God is not at the center of our souls, then we do not have that which can ultimately meet our thirst and quench it. The real danger of that thirst is eternal death in hell.” Luke 16:19-31 - The Rich Man and Lazarus – Tell us how the rich man's heart is revealed. “The water he seeks will not fill his soul and not satisfy him.” John 4:13-14 - Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” What is the secret of satisfaction? “In the whole passion account we never once hear Jesus complaining about any of the physical torture and agony into which He was placed.” When Jesus says, “I am thirsty”, do you think He means physical thirst? John 7:37-38 – On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'” Is water an image of spiritual abundance? Exodus 17:5-6 - And the Lord said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 1 Corinthians 10:4 - and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Is it a stretch to say this was a glorious illustration of our salvation? First Corinthians 10:11 says, “All these things happened to them as examples.” Isaiah 53:4 says, “Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.” Did that rock picture the Lord Jesus Christ, the Rock of Ages, stricken for us? Jesus, the Rock of Ages, was smitten for us. And because Jesus was smitten for us, out of His side came forth water. He was stricken and smitten, that we might be refreshed. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William... Hebrews 2:14-15 - Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. “Have you ever been filled with a sense of amazement and wonder at the drama of the cross? - the drama, the conflict, the fight?” “As we look at the cross, why do we see all this feeling, why all this hatred? There is only one explanation. It is the devil that is fighting. It is the devil in these men and women.” “The world was very pleased with itself, as it looked upon Him there dying upon the cross. That is why they laugh. That is why they are joking. At last they had got Him, they had nailed Him, they had killed Him. They thought He was finished. - Was He?” Colossians 2:13-15 - And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him. “The devil has no power of his own.” What does he mean by this? “The moment we are out of touch with God, we are the devil's helpless tools. And that is the position of the entire human race.” “Christ defeated our ultimate enemy, the devil, the one who originally brought man and the universe down.” Was it the devil that brought us down or Adam's sin? 1 John 3:8-9 - Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. To bring us to glory and to destroy the works of the devil. That is the object of our Lord's coming, correct? Also, sanctification? I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God. You see that you present your bodies a living sacrifice. On the cross, Jesus ruined Satan's kingdom, and now Satan has no power or authority over us. So, Jesus destroyed the destroyer. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-Shifflett/author/B005H0F1GG Matthew 27:46 - And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Psalm 22:1 - My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? Hebrews 5:7-8 - In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save him from death, and He was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 1. In prophecy the supplications here intended are called his “roaring:” Psalms 22:1-3, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from דִּבְרֵי שַׁאֲתִי ,” “the words of my roaring?” “Rugitus,” the proper cry of a lion, is κραυγὴ ἰσχυρά , “clamor validus,” “a strong and vehement outcry.” And it is used to express such a vehemency in supplications as cannot be compressed or confined. For it is not merely the outward noise, but the inward earnest intension and engagement of heart and soul, with the greatness and depth of the occasion of them, that is principally intended. 2. We may consider the same matter as related in story by the evangelists. The prayers intended are those which he offered to God during his passion, both in the garden and on the cross. The first are declared Luke 22:44, “And being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was as drops of blood falling on the earth.” The inward frame is here declared, which our apostle shadows out by the external expressions and signs of it, in “strong cries and tears.” ᾿Εν ἀγωνίᾳ γενόμενος , “constitutus in agonia.” Psalms 22:15, “I am poured out like water;” that is, ‘my blood is so, by an emanation from all parts of my body, descending to the ground.' In what sense were His prayers heard if He was praying that He be saved from death? His outward sufferings were indeed grievous; but yet, considered merely as such, they were, as to mere sense of pain, beneath what sundry of His martyrs have been called to undergo for his name's sake. And yet we know that many, yea, through the power of his grace in them, the most of them who have so suffered for him in all ages, have cheerfully, joyfully, and without the least consternation of spirit, undergone the exquisite tortures whereby they have given up themselves unto death for Him. And shall we imagine that the Son of God, who had advantages for his supportment and consolation infinitely above what they had any interest in, should be given up to this dreadful, trembling conflict, wherein His whole nature was almost dissolved, out of a mere apprehension of those corporeal sufferings which were coming on him? Was it the forethought of them only, and that as such, which dispelled the present sense of divine love and satisfaction from the indissoluble union of his person, that they should not influence his mind with refreshments and consolation? God forbid we should have such mean thoughts of what he was, of what he did, of what he suffered. There were other causes of these things, as we shall see immediately. That he learned obedience by what he suffered; Was Jesus 'delivered from his fear' or 'delivered because he had fear' of God? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William... Luke 23:34 - And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. Was the whole point of the incarnation forgiveness? It was the very thing Jesus was dying for. It was what He was praying for. And it is what He exemplified in His death. Again, He gave us an example we are solemnly charged to follow. Why did He pray, “Father, forgive them,” when in the past He had simply forgiven sinners Himself (cf. Luke 7:48)? Hadn't He already shown that “the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Matthew 9:6)? Whom Christ was praying for? Was it the Jews who had conspired to sentence Him to death? The Roman soldiers who actually nailed Him to the cross, then gambled for His clothing? The mocking crowd who taunted Him? The answer must be all of the above, and more. Extended Forgiveness - In a sense, is every pardoned sinner who ever lived an answer to Christ's prayer? Since our guilt put Him on the cross in the first place, we bear responsibility for His death just as surely as those who actually drove the nails through His hands and feet. Is the forgiveness He extended on the cross to those who put Him to death the same forgiveness He extends to sinners today? We who have experienced such forgiveness have a solemn duty to extend a similar mercy to others as well (Ephesians 4:32). Can we look at this scene on the cross and understand the depth of His passion, then justify our own unwillingness to forgive our neighbor? Should we show mercy even as we have received mercy (cf. Matthew 18:21–35)? Is forgiving enemies, and to beg forgiveness for them, the true character of the Christian spirit? May the Lord grant us grace to follow in His steps of mercy! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William... Matthew 27:27-44 - Jesus Is Mocked 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him. Let us observe in the first place, the extent and reality of our Lord's sufferings. “Jesus had a real human body, was it a body exactly like our own, just as sensitive, just as vulnerable, just as capable of feeling intense pain?“ Our Lord, we must remember, had already passed a night without sleep, and endured excessive fatigue. They spit upon Him. They smote Him on the head. And finally they led Him out of the city, to a place called Golgotha, and there crucified Him between two thieves. What was a crucifixion? How can we realize it and understand its misery? Let us meditate frequently on these things. Let us often read over the story of Christ's cross and passion. Let us remember, not least, that all these horrible sufferings were borne without a murmur. No word of impatience crossed our Lord's lips. To the very last, Satan found nothing in Him. (John 14:30-31.) I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here. Was Christ in His death, as He was in His life, perfect? Let us observe, in the second place, that all our Lord Jesus Christ's sufferings were vicarious. He suffered not for His own sins, but for ours. He was eminently our substitute in all His passion. Was He scourged? It was that "through His stripes we might be healed." Was he condemned, though innocent? It was that we might be acquitted though guilty. Did He wear a crown of thorns? It was that we might wear the crown of glory. Was He stripped of His clothing? It was that we might be clothed in everlasting righteousness. Was he mocked and reviled? It was that we might be honored and blessed. Was He reckoned a malefactor, and numbered among transgressors? It was that we might be reckoned innocent, and justified from all sin. Was he declared unable to save Himself? It was that He might be able to save others to the uttermost. Did He die at last, and that the most painful and disgraceful of deaths? It was that we might live for evermore and be exalted to the highest glory. Let us ponder these things well. Are they are worth remembering? Is the key to peace a right understanding of the vicarious sufferings of Christ? Last, but not least, let us ever learn from the story of the passion, to hate sin with a great hatred. Sin was the cause of all our Savior's suffering. Our sins platted the crown of thorns. Our sins drove the nails into His hands and feet. On account of our sins His blood was shed. Surely the thought of Christ crucified should make us loathe all sin. Well says the Homily of the Passion, "Let this image of Christ crucified be always printed in our hearts. Let it stir us up to the hatred of sin, and provoke our minds to the earnest love of Almighty God." Is the Christian life a life of only love? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William... Isaiah 53:7 - 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. How was Jesus' response at His trials and crucifixion different from ordinary human nature? It was crass coldhearted sin that judged Jesus guilty and brought Him to the cross. Jesus never protested or sought to justify Himself. He was silent in the face of His accusers. We are not saying that he never uttered one word at any point in any of His trials. Matthew 26:63 - But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” When we read these scriptures, we wonder (why Jesus did not say something to vindicate Himself?). Why was our dear Savior so silent? Is a part of the punishment for sin, shame? He opened not His mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.” Pilate said, “Why don't You say something? Don't You hear what these people are accusing You of? Why don't You say something? If You're the Son of God, tell us! Speak!” But He doesn't say a word. Boy, when I read that, I say, “Jesus, tell them who You are. Do something, don't just stand there, don't just take it. Why don't You turn Pilate into a frog? You could do it if You wanted to.” Why doesn't He do that? Because, friend, the purpose of the cross is substitution, and along with our sin comes shame. You see, Jesus could not have justified Himself without condemning me. I mean, Jesus could not have said, “Well, I'm here, but it's really not My sin I'm suffering for, it's Adrian's sin.” Then He would have been the hero. But He did not die as a hero. He died as a criminal. He died as a thief. He died as an ignoble, no good. And the Bible said in Isaiah 53 verse 4, “We did esteem Him, smitten, stricken of God and afflicted,” saying, “Good enough for Him. He's getting what He deserves!” He died in shame, hanging naked on a cross for you! It's amazing you have to beg people to come forward sometime to confess their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ when He did that for you. Do you think there are some Christians that at times act like they are ashamed of Him? The Bible says in Romans 10:11, “When we believe on Him we will not be ashamed.” The Apostle Paul said in Romans 1:16, “I‘m not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it's the power of God unto salvation.” Ashamed of Jesus, and can it be? Ashamed of that One who died for us upon the cross? He took our shame and by God's grace and for God's glory, I'll never be ashamed of Jesus Christ. I hope you're never ashamed of the Lord Jesus Christ. I hope you're not ashamed to carry your Bible. Hope you're not ashamed to bow your head in a restaurant and pray. I hope you're not ashamed to witness. I hope you're not ashamed to get up in that baptistery and be baptized as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, who upon that cross took your sin and He took your shame. If Jesus had protested and proclaimed His innocence, would that have left us guilty? They accused Jesus of blasphemy, lying, sedition, and many of things, but the Savior answered not a word. This is the amazing silence of the Lamb. “Christ went more willingly to the cross than we do to the throne of grace.” ― Thomas Watson --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William... Matthew 26:67 - Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, Observe that these men, the priests, and scribes, and elders, and their servitors, did this shameful deed after they had heard our Lord say, “Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” Why did what Jesus say upset them so much? The high priest was supposed to be the head of everything good. Are there those that some look to today as religious, that are spitting in His face? This spitting shows us, first, how far sin will go. If we want proof of the depravity of the heart of man, I will not point you to the stews of Sodom and Gomorrah, nor will I take you to the places where blood is shed in streams by wretches like to Herod and men of that sort. No, the clearest proof that man is utterly fallen, and that the natural heart is enmity against God, is seen in the fact that they did spit in Christ's face, did falsely accuse him, and condemn him, and lead him out as a malefactor, and hang him up as a felon that he might die upon the cross. Why, what evil had Jesus done? What was there in his whole life that should give them occasion to spit in his face? He had healed their sick, he had fed their hungry, he had been among them a very fountain of blessing up and down Judaea and Samaria; and yet, “then did they spit in his face.” How could He bear this spitting when, with one glance of his eye, had he been but angry, the flame might have slain them, and withered them all up? There are still some who spit in Christ's face by denying his Godhead. They say, “He is a mere man; a good man, it is true, but only a man;” Would a good man claim to be God if He were not God? They also do the same who rail at his gospel. There are many, in these days, who seem as if they cannot be happy unless they are tearing the gospel to pieces. Wherefore judge yourselves in this matter, and if ye have ever denied Christ's Deity, or if ye have ever assailed his atoning sacrifice, it might truly have been said of you, “Then did they spit in his face.” Further, this evil is also done when men prefer their own righteousness to the righteousness of Christ. There are some who say, “We do not need pardon, we do not want to be justified by faith in Christ, we are good enough already,” The same thing is, oh! so sadly true when anyone forsakes the profession of being a follower of Christ. Yet, alas! how many are thus still spitting in Christ's face? Perhaps some now present are doing it. What, then, if they also spit in mine? for as he was put to such terrible shame, everyone who has been redeemed with his precious blood ought to count it an honour to be a partaker of the shame, if by any means we may screen him from being further despised and rejected of men. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Matthew 26:47-56 - While He was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize Him.” 49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed Him. 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and He will at once send Me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. 56 But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled. From the beginning, Jesus knew Judas was the one who would give Him up. Still, Jesus taught him the ways of God; he modeled for him the way of humility. Judas heard Jesus' call to love God and neighbor; he watched as Jesus had compassion on the sick, poor and hungry. How could Judas not see that this is indeed the Christ of God? Have you ever felt completely betrayed, has someone you trusted thrown you under the bus? Betrayal, rejection, abandonment hurt deeply. Do we have a Saviour that knows the pain that we suffer? Many had seen him teaching in the temple; they knew he was a man of peace, a teacher with authority. Such a man would be easy for temple guards to overpower and take into custody. So why the mob; why wait until the dead of night? “Jesus was conscious that God's plan was being worked out and nobody, not Peter, not Judas, not the mob, nor anyone else was going to keep that plan from being fulfilled.” “Jesus is going to the cross because He has chosen to go to the cross.” Was the cross plan B? Matthew 26:56 But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled. When the moment of truth came, not even Peter was bold enough to stay with Jesus. Is it easy for us to overestimate our own faithfulness? “If the actions of the disciples in v56 teach us anything, they teach us not to trust in ourselves, but to wholly lean on Jesus.” --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William... John 18:1- When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. In one garden, there was the greatest fall. In the other garden the greatest victory. Romans 5:18 - Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. Two gardens, two Adams. The first Adam said, “Not your will be done, but mine.” The second Adam said, “Yet not what I will, but what you will.”. Are there more contrasts between the two gardens? “The understanding of what the sacrifice meant, caused our Lord to break out in a bloody sweat.” Are we seeing Christ's humanness in Gethsemane? Is Christ's humanity different than ours in that His grief and weakness is never mixed with sin? Hebrews 5:7-10 - In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. What does “He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” mean? John 10:17-18 - For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.” Was Gethsemane the doorway of Calvary? What is the importance of Gethsemane? Is there any sin not died for at Calvary? Is there any sin which Jesus' shed blood did not cover? “We could not have paid for our own sins even if we were punished for them for all eternity.”SHOW LESS --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-Shifflett/author/B005H0F1GG Matthew 26:39 - And going a little farther He fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” In Gethsemane, Jesus comes to the moment when He must drink that cup. The hour had come. The full horrors of sin and guilt are now present­ed to Him. He is under the shadow of the cross. He wrestles with this. He wrestles in prayer so intense that He fell upon His face on the ground and sweat great drops of blood. What is this cup? Do Christians have an appropriate fear of the wrath of God? Has sin blinded us, so we do not see what sin deserves? “What Jesus recoils from here is not an anticipation of the physical pain associated with crucifixion. Rather it's a pain infinitely greater – the agony of being abandoned by His Father.” --- Was there something greater to Him in this, something greater even than the dread of God's holy wrath? He had come to do the will of the Father. Was it for this pur­pose that Jesus came into the world? Psalm 116:13 - I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, “Today you and I find ourselves with another cup in our hands. It's the cup of salvation.” God's holy eye still sees the vileness of our sin, yet in Christ there is no condemnation. Romans 8:31-37 - What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William... Isaiah 53:10 - 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. “Jesus, the beloved and precious to the Father, is about to be destroyed at the hands of God.” Is it as if Isaiah himself was an eyewitness to Jesus' death even though he lived centuries before our Lord went to the cross? Romans 8:32 - He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? 2 Corinthians 5:21 - For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. Does God's perfect justice demand some form of atonement for sin? Which is more accurate: “God sacrificed Himself to Himself to save us from Himself” or “Jesus, God in the flesh, sacrificed Himself to pay the penalty we deserve for our sins, thereby saving us from ourselves.”? God cannot die. A human being can die. Is that why Jesus had to be born a man? “There is no story in all human history like this. There is no notion in all religions of the world that comes close to touching this.” Are we capable of saving ourselves? Proverbs 17:15 says, “He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.” How can it be just for God to accept the death of His innocent Son as the payment for the sins of the guilty? Our sin and guilt were imputed to Christ. “It wasn't that Jesus simply stepped up and sad, ‘I'll do this for you.' It is that Jesus became the very embodiment of all that sin is.” If we focus just on Jesus' life but not His death, do we miss why He really came? Is this the amazing story of the mercy, grace, and love of God? Hebrews 2:3- how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William... He Set His Face to Go to Jerusalem – John Piper Luke 9:51 - When the days drew near for Him to be taken up, He set his face to go to Jerusalem. Luke 19:37-38 - As He was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of His disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” “The long-awaited Messiah had come, the King of Israel, and not just of Israel but of all the earth. Jerusalem would be His capital city. From here he would rule the world in peace and righteousness. What a day this was!” Should we rejoice like this on Palm Sunday? The book of Revelation pictures the final fulfillment of Palm Sunday in the age to come like this: I looked and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!" (Revelation 7:9, 10) Is our worship in this age a rehearsal for the age to come? “Had Jesus taken His throne on that first day of palms, none of us would ever be robed in white or waving palms of praise in the age to come. There had to be the cross, and that is what the disciples had not yet understood.” Does a misunderstanding of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem result in a misunderstanding of the meaning of discipleship? “Jesus' journey to Jerusalem is our journey, and if He set His face to go there and die, we must set our face to die with Him.” Is Jesus' Journey the Journey of the majority of modern-day Christians? Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me”. To follow Christ, must we be crucified? Jesus paid a great cost, is there a great cost to be His disciple? Jesus is resolved to go to Jerusalem, can you know the real Jesus without seeing the cross and seeing Him emerge from the empty tomb? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-Shifflett/author/B005H0F1GG True Contemplation of the Cross – Martin Luther Hebrews 12:2-3 - looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. “The true contemplation is that in which the heart is crushed and the conscience smitten.” A fascination with the miraculous Do you think that those who seek miracles are interested in what the miracles point to? "A wicked generation seeks for signs," Jesus said, followed by Paul's reminder that his fellow Jews were so busy looking for miraculous wonders that they stumbled over the Gospel of Christ crucified. Did His disciples understand Him when He said He must suffer and die? A fascination with moralism Is Jesus merely an example of how we should live? Jesus told the Pharisees that despite their devotion to the Scriptures, they did not really understand what they were reading, since he (Jesus) is the point of all of Scripture. Is it possible to go to hell by striving to go to heaven? A fascination with the mysterious Do you think there is a fascination with the mysteriousness of spiritual things, such as “end times”? Should we be content to know God as He has graciously manifested Himself in the written Word? “The more you ponder, the deeper you will tremble.” “If you are so hardened that you do not tremble, then you have reason to tremble.” “The whole value of the meditation of the suffering of Christ lies in this, that man should come to the knowledge of himself and sink and tremble.” How valuable is a human soul? “What should it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what should a man give in exchange for his soul?” Jesus,God,Holy Spirit,devotional,Easter,resurrection,contemplation,jerusalem,innocent,crushed,cup,gethsemane,betrayed,denied,deserted,spit,lamb,silence,suffer,forgive,cries,tears,destroy,devil,thirsty,forsaken,cursed,commit,spirit,blood,water,decended,ascended,savor,sweet-smelling,peace,power,suffering,crucified,crucify,Christ,reformed,Martin Luther,John Calvin,church,christian,worship,devotion,Bible,Scripture,prayer,service,death,saved,life,eternal,heaven,hell,calvinism --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/William-Shifflett/author/B005H0F1GG Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross A collection of readings on the Cross and resurrection Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross is a collection of 25 short readings drawn from the works of classic and contemporary theologians and Bible teachers that will lead readers into thoughtful contemplation of the cross. The short meditations are drawn from a number of sources including books, other writings, and sermonic materials from: C. J. Mahaney, Adrian Rogers, Phillip Ryken, John Owen, Stephen Olford, Skip Ryan, Martin Luther, John Piper, Tim Keller, Martin Lloyd-Jones, Ligon Duncan, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, Saint Augustine, J. I. Packer, John Calvin, Alistair Begg, John MacArthur, Ray Ortlund, Jr., Francis Shaeffer, J.C. Ryle, James Boice, R.C. Sproul, R. Kent Hughes, and Joni Eareckson Tada. Deeper than shallow “inspirational” thoughts, and more scripture-based and theologically sound than other “spiritual” guides available, each essay expounds on a particular aspect of the Cross and Resurrection and includes the appropriate scripture passage from the ESV. TABLE OF CONTENTS WITH QUOTES Martin Luther: True Contemplation of the Cross “The whole value of the meditation of the suffering of Christ lies in this, that man should come to the knowledge of himself and sink and tremble. If you are so hardened that you do not tremble, then you have reason to tremble.” John Piper: He Set His Face to Go to Jerusalem “When Jesus set his face to walk the Calvary road, he was not merely taking our place; he was setting our pattern.” Alistair Begg: An Innocent Man Crushed by God “It wasn't that Jesus simply stepped up and said “I'll do this for you.” It is that Jesus became the very embodiment of all that sin is.” C. J. Mahaney: The Cup “What Jesus recoils from here is not an anticipation of the physical pain associated with crucifixion. Rather it's a pain infinitely greater—the agony of being abandoned by His Father.” R. Kent Hughes: Gethsemene “The intensity of his agony and his sovereign resolve to bear it, his control over his captors, his protection of his own, his grace to the wounded, all proved he is an omniscient, all-powerful God.” Ligon Duncan: Betrayed, Denied, Deserted “Jesus was conscious that God's plan was being worked out and nobody, not Peter, not Judas, not the mob, nor anyone else was going to keep that plan from being fulfilled.” Charles Spurgeon: Spit in His Face “The clearest proof that man is utterly fallen, and that the natural heart is enmity against God, is seen in the fact that they did spit in Christ's face.” Adrian Rogers: The Silence of the Lamb “Jesus held back any words that would have relieved Him from the shame and blame of sin. He was not a sinner, but He took fully the sinner's place.” J.C. Ryle: The Sufferings of Christ “Our sins twisted the crown of thorns; our sins drove the nails into his hands and feet; on account of our sins his blood was shed. Surely the thought of Christ crucified should make us loathe all sin.” John MacArthur: Father, Forgive Them John Owen: With Loud Cries and Tears Martin Lloyd-Jones: That He Might Destroy the Works of the Devil Skip Ryan: I Am Thirsty Phillip Ryken: God-Forsaken R.C. Sproul: Cursed James Boice: Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit John Calvin: Blood & Water J.I Packer: He Descended into Hell and Ascended into Heaven Jonathan Edwards: A Sweet-Smelling Savor to God Ray Ortlund, Jr.: The Most Important Word in the Universe Francis Shaeffer: Resurrection Preview Saint Augustine: Peace Be Unto You Tim Keller: Knowing the Power of His Resurrection Joni Eareckson Tada: Knowing the Fellowship of His Sufferings Stephen Olford: Crucified with Christ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com What more do they need to believe and understand than the teenager who was converted last Sunday morning on his first visit to the church? “Every heretic has his text.”? Creeds Reflect the Ministerial Authority of the Church. “Creeds are corporate documents which are authored and owned by corporate churches.” “As Protestants, we are of course naturally wary of any kind of claims for church authority that would place the church over Scripture or exhibit any tendencies we associate with Roman Catholicism.” “Instant gratification.” “Many of us are inclined to believe that if something does not make sense the first time we look at it, it - and not we - must be wrong.” “Respect for the authority of the church and respect for the creeds and confessions that churches adopt must become an important part of our Christian lives if we are to be truly biblical.” Creeds Represent the Maximum Doctrinal Competence That Can Be Expected from a Congregation. “Many countries have laws that its citizens know will be broken.” “Laws set before us a vision of the kind of society we would like to see realized.” “Creeds send a signal to the congregation about what the church considers to be important.” “If a church has a six-point creed she essentially communicates to her people that these six things, and only these, are important.” We would not want to exclude from membership the educationally challenged? “The church should not send a signal to the congregation that members should simply be satisfied with a basic, mere Christianity.” God expects us to grow. “Thus, the questions ministers need to ask themselves are: What vision do we wish to give our people, from the most recent convert to the long-established church member? Is a creed a stick with which to beat people with? “This should also lead us to be wary of the role parachurch organizations play in the Christian life. They are to serve the church not vice versa.” “They can be a helpful and encouraging activity but should not supplant the absolute priority of the local church.” Creeds Relativize the Present. “If something has proved significant over the centuries, one can have a reasonable degree of confidence that it is of importance to more than just this day and generation.” “Creeds speak to issues that the church has found important for generations.” Is confessional revision always a possibility? Do the creeds connect us to the past and indicate that our identity is rooted in that past? Is this kind of counterculturalism important? Creeds Help to Define One Church in Relation to Another. Church members are able to point others to a succinct summary of the church's position on key doctrines. “It is convenient, honest, and transparent. It leaves nobody in any doubt about what the church is and what she teaches.” Creeds Are Necessary for Maintaining Corporate Unity. “We live in an age that fears exclusion.” “Churches have often been part of the problem, not the solution.” Brought about phrases like “love unites, doctrine divides” and “belonging before believing”. Does the Bible characterizes deviation from true doctrine as divisive? “Not all who cry “Lord, Lord” have a real saving knowledge of God.” Is exclusion necessary in the church? “Creeds establish boundaries of belonging and exclusion. Both are necessary if the church is to have a meaningful corporate identity and unity.” Can creeds cause Church discipline to be necessary? “More often, unity will manifest itself with the congregation reciting (and rejoicing in) the words of the creeds on Sunday mornings.” Conclusion. “Each of the above points is grounded in the apostle Paul's concern for the health of the church through her careful stewardship of God's truth, and the handing of that down from generation to generation.” May God help us to be faithful stewards of His truth. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Creeds Offer Succinct and Thorough Summaries of the Faith. Is there anything that offers a more thorough summary of the faith than the historic creeds and confessions? Two related aspects of using historical creeds: First, creeds focus the church's mind on the main things. Longevity. Why is this important? Is it unlikely for a church that holds to a historic creed to become sidetracked by the issues of the passing moment? Does it help to focus instead on the great theological categories that touch on matters of eternal significance? Second, the succinctness of creeds. “Today we have the woeful influence of things like Wikipedia in leading some to think that all important knowledge can be swiftly grasped in short sentences and after a few minutes of cursory reading.” “Would one really want to have a church confession that said nothing about the doctrine of Scripture, the doctrine of God, the nature of justification and sanctification, the definition of the church, and so on?” “A church confession needs a level of complexity in order for each of its doctrines to be stable and to function correctly.“ Does the history of doctrine in the church give ample witness to this fact? Creeds Allow for Appropriate Discrimination between Members & Office-bearers. Should laypeople be required to subscribe to a church's doctrinal standards in the same way as an elder or deacon? “Typically, Presbyterians set the bar for full communicant church membership very low: a simple but publicly coherent profession of faith in the line of Romans 10:9-10 is sufficient.” Qualifications of teachers: 1 Timothy 1:1-7 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. “the careful communication of the faith in a manner that focuses on the straight forward teaching of the gospel.” “maturity and discernment” “He is also to make sure that his ambition is to teach, not to be a teacher.” What is the difference? So, in order to teach, the teacher is to have a certain competence in doctrine that does not typically mark the church member. Is the ability to teach nonnegotiable? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com “Two important aspects of pastors: doctrinal competence and authority. That the two are linked is crucial.” Doctrinal competence without authority. What are the consequences of this? Authority without doctrinal competence. Same question. “In order to establish church power within appropriate limits, several things need to be in place:” First, there needs to be a clear understanding of what the church is. It's stated purpose. Are some church's purpose confusing to people? Second, there needs to be a statement of the church's beliefs; a creed or confession of faith. Would this confession describe the message which the church is to preach? Would it limit the church's power to what is contained within that document? Third, there needs to be a set of procedures that articulate and define how the confession of faith is to be practically applied within the congregation. Paul had to address issues of the abuse of church power. Galatians 5:12-13, the teaching that the Galatians need to be circumcised. “The NT church's power is delimited by the Gospel.” “We see a similar situation in Colossians 2:16 - Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. Was this connected to a dictatorial church eldership? In these contexts, could confessions be helpful? How else could we create a church community where what is regarded as normal belief and practice is publicly stated in such a fashion: that it expresses biblical teaching, can be challenged and tested in the light of Scripture, and allows both elders and laypeople to know exactly where they stand in relationship to each other? Does a creed or confession guarantee that abuse of power will not take place? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com “In this last chapter I want to conclude by listing a series of further advantages that the church can enjoy if she gives creeds their proper place in her daily life.” All Churches & All Christians Have Creeds and Confessions. “No church or Christian simply believes the Bible.” What is a Bible believing church? When asked by a friend what the Bible teaches, how do we usually answer them? (we all try to offer a summary of what the Bible says.) When we reflect on how we read the Bible, does what we think as a whole shape how we understand individual verses, chapters, & books? “Paul gives an imperative for the church and her leadership: the stable transmission of the gospel from one generation to another.” How do creeds fulfill this vital role? “Some say they have no creed, but they just will not write it down and allow you to look at it and scrutinize it in the light of Scripture.” Why do you think this is true? “A confession is not enough. The church also needs mechanisms to ensure that, on the one hand, the confession does not become an unassailable idol and, on the other hand, that it is not subject to arbitrary wild interpretation.” Become a mere ritual. How can a creed become an idol? “Imagine a church that has “no creed but the Bible”, where the minister one week is convinced that baptism should be restricted to only professing believers and the next week changes his mind and thinks babies can be baptized too. Can he be held to account?” “If he thinks the Bible teaches Pelagianism one Sunday and Calvinism the next, who is to contradict him and how could they do so?” Confessions Delimit (sets boundaries) the Power of the Church. “Creeds serve to delimit the power of the church and of her officer-bearers.” “This is possibly one of the most important functions confessional documents can fulfill.” Why is this true? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com We now live in another point of John's vision. V17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea. How does the dragon “make war on the rest of her offspring”? As we look around, is he winning? Another look at Herod's response: We can yield to Him We can resist Him and try to destroy Him. Another Prophecy Fulfilled Matthew 2:17-18 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” What did Matthew mean by saying the the words of Jeremiah 31:15 were fulfilled? Jeremiah 31:31-34 Is Matthew assuming that our minds and memories will run on to the new covenant promise? “There is hope.” “These verses remind us of how cruel live can be, and with what unexplained tragedies so many have to live.” How can Christians spread the comfort of the good news of salvation in Christ? Safe to go Home? Matthew 2:19-22 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. Christmas can be a time of joy and stress, is this a description of life in general? In His earthly life would Jesus ever be free of the Herod family? Is there a parallel between the Herod's and the long conflict of the seed of the serpent and the Seed of the woman? “People say, Christmas is for children.” How do we give our children an example of love for Jesus this Christmas? Jesus the Nazarene Matthew 2:23 - And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene. How did living in Nazareth fulfil the expectation of the prophets? Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Isaiah 53:2 “The suffering servant.” “The cross was the destiny of this newborn infant.” Is this the watermark on every page of the gospel story? Is Christmas the “Dawn of Redeeming Grace”? There is nothing more important than welcoming Jesus as Joseph did. There is no journey more significant than to go in search of Christ like the wise men. There is no fellowship more wonderful than to bow with them before Immanuel. Galatians 4:4-7 - But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Is this the greatest gift of Christmas? With humility, Christ came to sacrifice Himself to save us in our sin when we had no hope of redemption. And let's remember what we owe to Him: our full devotion and allegiance as Lord over our time, our talents, our treasures, our testimony, and our entire lives in word and deed. O come let us adore Him, Jesus Christ our Lord! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Matthew 2:13-23 Long Journeys For many of us, Christmas is a time for making long journeys. Timeline. 1.Joseph and Mary journey to Bethlehem. 2.Jesus is born. 3.Shepherds from the fields come to see Him. 4.A week later Jesus is circumcised and officially name. 5.A few weeks later a visit to Jerusalem takes place for Mary's purification. 6.They return to Bethlehem and find a house to stay. 7.The wise men arrive. Do you agree with this timeline? Luke 2:34-35 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” How do these verses apply to the Christmas story? “The wise men and the parents shared one thing in common: knowing Jesus means taking up the cross and following Him.” Do you agree? For Mary and Joseph, could life ever be the same? “Each of the people gave Jesus all they had.” How can Christians apply this to our current lives? Out of Egypt Matthew 2:13-14 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt Is Matthew's point to evoke pity for this little family or to shame governments into doing more for today's refugees? How easily do we sometimes miss the point? Matthew 2:15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Are there echoes of the story told in Genesis and Exodus? Was Jesus taken into Egypt simply for His own safety? Is the Christmas story all about salvation? The Child Pogrom Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Does this part of the Christmas story leave a bad taste in our mouth? If we skipped this part, would we be missing something that Matthew wants to tell? “This was the opening of a war that would be waged against our Lord for the rest of His life.” Revelation 12:1-5 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com 3.A hostility that manifests itself often in an antagonism to Christ, His people, the lifestyle He taught, and the exclusive claims He made about Himself. Realize that He is the promised Saviour and King - but seek to destroy Him like Herod.” Can You Trust a Herod? John 2:23-25 - Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs that He was doing. But Jesus on His part did not entrust Himself to them, because He knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for He Himself knew what was in man. “A non-trusting Jesus?” Should growing Christians develop that kind of spiritual discernment? Matthew 2:7-9a -Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. They trusted Herod. During the Christmas season is it easy to be fooled that all around us is sweetness and light? Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper wrote: “If once the curtain were pulled back, and the spiritual world behind it came to view, it would expose to our spiritual vision a struggle so intense, so convulsive, sweeping everything within it's range, that the fiercest battle ever fought on earth would seem, by comparison, a mere game.” So, our King has enemies, and therefore so do we. Following a Star Matthew 2:9-10 - After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. What are we to make of this star? 3 views: 1.It may have been a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. 2.It was a comet. 3.It was a nova or super nova. Was it one of these or, a supernatural phenomenon created by God exclusively for the occasion? Was the star all they needed to find Christ? God indeed reveal Himself in the world, but we need His revelation? Finding Christ Matthew 2:11 - And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. First the wise men saw the star, then they saw Herod the Great and the Scripture, then they saw the star again and followed it. “they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him.” Is the way this is worded significant? Isaiah 9:6-7 Do you think Matthew's words would remind 1st century Jews of these verses? It is significant that it is being seen through the magi's Gentile eyes? When they saw Christ they recognized Him as King and fell down and worshiped Him. Is this a good description of conversion? Was it God's providence that drew them to Christ? A Divine Warning Matthew 2:12 Does God warn us today about anything we should avoid returning to? 20 facts about the Magi, pages 114-115. “From Matthew's perspective, the Lord's hand had clearly been on these men from the very beginning of the story. God worked out His purposes through an unusual providence in the magi's ordinary working lives combined with an inner personal compulsion to respond to it. And over a period of the He brought them to Christ.” “We can trace a pattern.” An awakening, then a drawing, then a discovering, and then worshiping. Is this the way God works in the lives of His children? God knows exactly what is needed to bring us to trust in the Lord Jesus. Come to Christ. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Wise Men from the East Matthew 2:1-2 - Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Who were these “wise men”? How did they know that a king of the Jews had been born and why did they go to worship Him? What possessed them to make the wearisome journey? How did this star make such an impact on their lives? Numbers 24:17 - I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. Daniel 7:13-14 - “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. Could the “wise men” been able to put these verses together? Listening to some TV preachers, I must ask, Is Christ's role to give us all our wants and desires? “Something compelled them. Or Someone. John Calvin called it “a secret instinct of the Holy Spirit”. Knowing parts of the Bible is one thing; responding to them is another.” Should Christians be able to look back and see God's hand at work in their lives? A Dangerous Turning Verse 1 tells us Jesus was born in Bethlehem, was the wise men's final destination the palace of Herod the Great? Sometimes we seek God's will and make wise decisions, but is it easy for Christians to stumble off God's path? Matthew 2:3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;. Who was Herod the Great? Why was all of Jerusalem trouble by the news of the wise men? Human wisdom tells us a king should be born in a palace, but what does divine wisdom tell us? Will God's plans ever be dis-railed by our missteps? 1 Corinthians 1:18-21 - For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. Do we sometimes confuse our self-assurance with God's wisdom? Are we prone to forget that our Saviour was poor and lowly, meek and gentle? Knowing Without Going Matthew 2:3-4 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. Herod and these men possessed something that the wise men lacked, what was it? Matthew 2:5-6 They had the scriptures but, “They lacked what the wise men had - the desire to find Him”. John 5:39-40 Is it possible to know the Bible well and yet be deaf to it's message? “During this season we are perhaps in more danger than other times of saying the right things with our lips without really engaging our hearts.” Herod's reaction was to destroy Him. “There are 3 responses to the good news of Jesus Christ. 1.A hunger to hear more; Learn about Him and seek Him - as the wise men. 2.An indifference that passes itself off as sophistication; Know about Him but be indifferent to Him - like the Jewish scholars. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Are dream revelations normal and frequent in Scripture? Should we beware of people who claim that God regularly reveals Himself to them through dreams or by angel visits? Joseph needed to be sure that he was doing God's will and not just his own. How can we do the same? “TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY”? “For Joseph it was not fear of marriage but a fear of God.” Do you agree? Is the fear of God a mark of grace? What does fearing God mean? Matthew 1:21 - She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” “Jesus birth was not supernatural, His conception in the womb of a virgin was.” Was this the mark or sign of a new beginning? How much did Joseph understand about what was happening? Was Joseph challenged to receive and welcome Jesus the Saviour and devote the rest of his life to Him? Is this costly and can it be overwhelming at times? WHAT'S IN A NAME? Matthew 1:21 - She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. There is no one named Jesus in the genealogy of Matthew 1:1-17. God chose the name of His Son. Why is this important? “Jesus in not only a name; it is who He is.” What does it mean when we say, “Jesus the Christ”? Has this changed? Philippians 2:9-11 - Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The OT - “ISAIAH HATH FORETOLD HIM” Matthew 1:22-23 - All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). Does this verse explain exactly who Jesus is? Is God's timing perfect? God works in our humanity, Mary was passive not active, she couldn't do it on her own. Can we save ourselves, or is it all of God? Is this what Christmas is all about? THE WAY OF OBEDIENCE Matthew 1:24 - When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, “Joseph heard the word of God; he believed the word of God; and he obeyed the word of God, whatever the cost may be.” - How should this fit into a Christian's celebration of the birth of Christ? “To us Joseph seems a silent man. He appears only once in the Gospels outside of the birth narratives. … But he is a wonderful illustration of John Newton's hymn: ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved.” Your thoughts? “Joseph was the man God chose and prepared to protect and nurture his incarnate Son.” Is Joseph unimportant in the Christmas story? JOSEPH'S RESTRAINT Matthew 1:24-25 - When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. “he knew her not”. “It is a physical way of communication our total devotion and lifelong commitment.” Did God create sex to be simply a satisfaction of our own desires? Was there anything wrong with Joseph and Mary having normal sexual relations? Is “there is nothing wrong with it, so I going to do it” a Biblical principle? How can we live wisely, for the glory of God and for the blessing of others? We should ask: Is it helpful? Will it enslave me? How will it affect others? Does it edify? Did Jesus live to please Himself? Lord transform us more and more into your likeness. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com A VIRGIN CONCEPTION Matthew 1:18 - Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. What does it mean to be “betrothed”? Was it more than an engagement? “she was found to be with child” Was Joseph “okay” with this? “the man God uses he first bruises” & “When Christ comes, He turns lives upside down and inside out. He changes everything.” How does this apply to Joseph and how does it apply to all Christians? Does the Lord bring us low, to use us for His purpose? Can this pattern be found throughout Scripture? We find all we need in Him. A WAKING NIGHTMARE Matthew 1:19 - And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. What does it mean when it says, “Joseph, being a just man”? In Joseph's eyes had Mary committed a capital offence? Why did Joseph not act in haste? Was God restraining him from acting? How do we know God's will? Flavel page 39. DREAM ANGEL Matthew 1:20 - But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. Was the “dream angel visit” meant to reassure Joseph that God was continuing to reveal Himself to His people? Did God do this in a way that prevented Joseph from thinking he had worked it out for himself? Joseph knew the Scriptures, should he have been expecting Jesus the Messiah? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com 2.“The Hopes and Fears of All the Years”. “Matthew is cramming almost 2000 years of Bible history into 16 verses and 42 generations are listed.” Matthew divides the names into 3 groups of 14 generations each: Abraham to David, David to the Babylonian exile, and from the exile to Christ. We see 14 three times, is Matthew trying to tell us something? Are numbers important in the Bible? Are they symbolic? Do we need to be careful not to read too much into number? There were times in Israel's history when God seemed to have forgotten His promises. What application can modern day Christian's get from this? “Matthew is painting on the large canvas of history a picture of God's sovereignty and faithfulness.” Do you think most Christians believe in God's sovereignty? Why is it important? 3.Cherchez la Femme? (Look for the woman). “When it comes to the genealogy of Jesus, look for the woman is good advice.” Some women may feel slighted by Christianity. Would you explain why they shouldn't be? Tamar (1:3) She gave birth to the twin sons of her father-in-law, Judah. (Genesis 38) Rahab (1:5) She was a Jericho prostitute. ((Joshua 2) Ruth ((1:5) She was a Moabite. (Moabites were barred from the congregation of Israel Deut. 23:3) The wife of Uriah the Hittite (1:6 Bathsheba) She committed adultery with David. What do these women have in common? “Matthew gives us hints to 3 important biblical principles.” God extends His grace beyond the chosen people of Israel and brings Gentile into His covenant. Matthew 28:18-20 - And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Did Christ die for all or for only the elect? God over comes the effects of sin and shame as He works out His purposes. Hebrews 2:17 - Therefore He had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 4:15-16 - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. We often hear people say, “You have no idea what I'm going through”. Is there anything that we can experience that Christ cannot comfort us with? God keeps His promises in ways we could never anticipate. Psalm 139:11-12 - If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. Who is like the Lord our God? Strong to save faithful in love My debt is paid, and the victory won The Lord is my salvation. Glory be to God, the Father Glory be to God, the Son Glory be to God, the Spirit The Lord is our Salvation. Christmas is a time of new beginnings. God is sovereign. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. - 1 Timothy 1:15 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Dr Ferguson begins his introduction by saying “time is relative”. This is a phrase that we hear often, what does it mean and how does it apply to Christmas? He also mentions a verse from Charles Wesley's hymn, Hark the Herald Angels Sing: “Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of the Virgin's womb.”. Late in time, did Jesus come late? Dr Ferguson spends time looking at Matthew's account of the birth of Jesus. We join him in reflecting on the prologue to the greatest story of all - the story of Jesus Christ. 1.In the Beginning - Matthew 1:1-17 “The first words of a book are important.” Why is this true? “The opening section of Matthew isn't exactly an attention-grabber for most of us.” It was for the 1st century Jew, why so? “Literally they read, “Book of the genesis of Jesus Christ, son of David, Son of God”. How is the birth of Jesus a new beginning? Each of the four gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—paints a unique portrait of Jesus. They show us the same Jesus but portray Him from different perspectives. “Matthew's Gospel has sometimes been described as ‘The Gospel of the Kingdom'”. Why is it described that way, and what Kingdom is it describing? Matthew 28:18-20 - “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Is Jesus ruling now, or is will He rule after He returns? The list of names are important because of the 3 ways in which Matthew describes Jesus. Jesus is the Christ (1:1, 16, 17, 18). Genesis 3:15 - I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” Jesus is the son of David (1:1). 2 Samuel 7:12-13 Jesus is the son of Abraham (1:1). Genesis 12:1-3 - 2.“The Hopes and Fears of All the Years”. “Matthew is cramming almost 2000 years of Bible history into 16 verses and 42 generations are listed.” Matthew divides the names into 3 groups of 14 generations each: Abraham to David, David to the Babylonian exile, and from the exile to Christ. We see 14 three times, is Matthew trying to tell us something? There were times in Israel's history when God seemed to have forgotten His promises. What application can modern day Christian's get from this? “Matthew is painting on the large canvas of history a picture of God's sovereignty and faithfulness.” Do you think most Christians believe in God's sovereignty? Why is it important? 3.Cherchez la Femme? (Look for the woman). “When it comes to the genealogy of Jesus, look for the woman is good advice.” Some women may feel slighted by Christianity. Would you explain why they shouldn't be? Tamar (1:3) She gave birth to the twin sons of her father-in-law, Judah. (Genesis 38) Rahab (1:5) She was a Jericho prostitute. ((Joshua 2) Ruth ((1:5) She was a Moabite. (Moabites were barred from the congregation of Israel Deut. 23:3) The wife of Uriah the Hittite (1:6 Bathsheba) She committed adultery with David. What do these women have in common? “Matthew gives us hints to 3 important biblical principles.” God extends His grace beyond the chosen people of Israel and brings Gentile into His covenant. Matthew 28:18-20 Did Christ die for all or for only the elect? God over comes the effects of sin and shame as He works out His purposes. Hebrews 2:17 Hebrews 4:15-16 We often hear people say, “You have no idea what I'm going through”. Is there anything that we can experience that Christ cannot comfort us with? God keeps His promises in ways we could never anticipate. Christmas is a time of new beginnings. God is sovereign. t. - 1 Timothy 1:15 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com Creeds Liturgy and Formalism Do you think some churches simply go through the motions of praise without ever actually engaging their hearts and their minds? “spontaneous” Why do you think some feel the need to be “spontaneous”? “The only real point of difference between churches on this issue is the level of self-consciousness and explicit formality with which they are held.” Explain? Does the lack of a stated form mean that the same basic routine is not followed, week in, week out? Where would one go in the NT to find “being spontaneous” as being a hallmark of genuine Christian worship?” “It often appears that people use the term spontaneous to refer to nontraditional liturgical structures.” … “where nobody but the worship leader is entirely sure how many times the chorus is repeated” All are pre-planned using set forms of some kind, the content is fixed in advance of the service. Does our society put great stock in the idea that what makes us who we are is our individual self-creation and self-determination? “consumerism.” Should our faith be the faith of the other people in the church, both today and throughout the ages? “If reciting the creeds become formalism, it is not the fault of the creeds themselves.” Are creeds merely a tool for achieving a desired end? The Threefold Aspect of Creedal Doxology Creeds Offer a Corporate Summary of the Bible's Teaching Is one of your complaints the theological and biblical illiteracy of congregants compared to previous generations? “Two short Bible readings and one thirty minute sermon each Sunday will not solve the problem.” How should churches address such a lack? “As the congregation recites the creeds each week they are reminded of the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith.” Does a person who knows the creed have a potentially profound grasp of theology? Can and should Catechisms be used in preaching or as part of the worship service? Creeds Are Countercultural Is the recitation of a creed in a worship service one of the most counter-cultural things that Christians can do? Is worship is meant to be counter-cultural? “seeker-sensitive services” “offering both traditional and contemporary services” “cultural conformity” 1 Corinthians 14:23-25 - If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you. Is there any evidence here of any attempt to make the unbeliever comfortable? “It is the difference that the unbeliever finds so striking.” How do these challenge the world: The public reading of God's Word? Singing praises to God? Corporate reading of a creed? “As soon as the congregation says, We believe in one God …” Aren't creeds a devastating blow against cultural conformity? The church looks to Christ, not the world. Creeds Ascribe to God What Belongs to Him and Him Alone. “The nature of us as fallen human beings is to forget who God is, and to remake Him in our own image.” How true is that? Why does God tell us to “not forsake assembling together”? Is worship: giving to God what is His? Why would a church that uses songs that are written beforehand and sung in unison object to reciting a creed? Simply a judgement based on taste. Pleasing ourselves rather attempting to please God. Conclusion. “I would argue that if one takes Scripture seriously and sees it as regulating both the form, content, and purpose of Christian praise, then it is hard to see why creedal material should not be included in a worship service.” Next chapter: On The Usefulness of Creeds and Confessions. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com “The development of Trinitarian and christological discussion was driven in part by the need to give a coherent account of the worship cry ‘Jesus is Lord'.” … Were the Trinitarian controversies heated debates about the nature of Christian worship and Christian belonging? “Thus, the Trinitarian controversies of the early centuries are nothing if not heated debates about the nature of Christian worship and the nature of Christian belonging.” “The separation of doctrine and Christian experience was, arguably, a species of liberalism, in which human religious psychology is definitive of Christianity.” Do you agree? “Yet we must remember that liberalism is not primarily a rejection of the supernatural; it is a reconfiguration of the nature of Christianity in such a way as to highlight religious psychology or experience and downplay or marginalize doctrine.” Do you agree? Does the identity of God form the content of how we praise Him? “The identity of whom we praise actually informs the content of how we praise Him.” “The identity of God is foundation to, and constitutive of, the content and forms of biblical revelation and that is foundational to, and formative of, the Christian response in praise and worship.” “This point cannot be stressed enough with regard to doxology: the identity of God has priority over the content of Christian praise.” What does this mean and why it is true? Does a faulty understanding of God and how to respond to Him lead to praise that inadequate in both it's motivation and it's expression? In reciting the creeds, is the purpose to simply declare a set of biblical truths? “They are expressing their common belief with every other Christian throughout history who has used these words to witness to Christ.” “The creeds, in liturgical context, become a means of fulfilling the public declaration that Romans 10 demands of believers.” How and why is this true? The Creeds and Trinitarian Worship “Is the Trinity the result of infighting churchmen in the early centuries and not something that connects to modern life? Is the Christian life Trinitarian by its very nature.” Is the Church as a body Trinitarian.” Is Baptism Trinitarian.” Is the Trinity a doctrine that both shapes our worship and pervades our worship? Is simply reciting the creed enough? “it needs to be connected to clear teaching.” “Christians should expect worship to always be a learning experience.” Do you think modern day Christians look at worship in this way? “The creeds take a few minutes to memorize and recite but a lifetime to master.” --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message

Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; ⁠http://www.biblebulldog.com Ex. 17:6 “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. So in Exodus 17, Moses obeyed God by striking the rock, but in Numbers 20 Moses disobeyed God by striking the rock instead of speaking to it. The incident in Numbers 20 was the second time Moses struck the rock, the first time being in Exodus 17. Therefore, we teach that Moses was punished for striking the rock twice in the sense of striking it Numbers 20 and in Exodus 17, not in the sense of striking it two times in Numbers 20. New Testament Scripture in 1Corinthians teaches that the rock in the desert was intended by God to be a picture of His Son, Jesus Christ: 1Cor. 10:1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; 1Cor. 10:2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 1Cor. 10:3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 1Cor. 10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. The tabernacle teaches about Jesus First and foremost the tabernacle is a picture and type of that which takes the place of pre-eminence in the Bible - and that is the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is the true fulfillment of this structure. As the amplified Bible brings out; ' And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.' The tabernacle teaches about presence and holiness of God We read above that God said that the tabernacle was constructed so that 'I may dwell among them'. God wanted to be in the midst of His people... but His people were sinful and at times that is being kind!. How could He dwell with them? The tabernacle taught God's desire for fellowship along with His pure holiness (while thankfully also showing us the way into His presence). The tabernacle teaches about the plan of salvation The earthly tabernacle pictures salvation. This is true of what it cost Jesus to provide the means of salvation and also of the steps necessary for those who want to be saved. Concerning the former, Jesus had to fulfil His role as the High Priest of the New Covenant, entering into the Heavenly tabernacle as the book of Hebrews teaches: Hebrews 9:11-12, 24 ' When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption... For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence.' The tabernacle teaches about the the dispensations and ages in the plan of God The tabernacle teaches about God's plan concerning the different ages or dispensations in His dealings with man. Each of the three distinct areas (the outer court, the Holy place, the Holy of Holies) represents a different dispensation and the objects found within each area are true to that age. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/biblebulldog/message