by Ed Allen | Mar 14, 2016 | Articles, What Do You Think?
Acts 10: 34 Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. 36 “The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)— 37 you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 38 “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 “We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. 40 “God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 “And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. 43 “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” (Background) After God showed Peter in a vision that the good news about Jesus was meant not only for the Jews but also for the Gentiles He sent him to...
by Ed Allen | Feb 15, 2016 | Articles, What Do You Think?
Luke 21: 34 “Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; 35 for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. 36 “But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Observation) The day of the return of the “Son of Man” will come upon the earth “suddenly like a trap.” Jesus warns against allowing one’s heart to be “weighted down” by the world. He also advises prayer for strength to escape the calamities preceding his return and “to stand before the Son of Man.” (Interpretation) Since all will stand for judgment when Jesus returns and since the day of His return has not been revealed to us we are to be prepared as if it will be today. It appears that whatever the distractions and temptations and worries, even calamities that we now face are, it will become worse as the day of His return approaches. Therefore we are to resist the things that will contribute to “dissipation.” As things get worse, we will surely appreciate His good advice to pray “for strength.” There will be no exception, all “men will have to give account on the day of judgment.” (Cross-reference) Romans 14:10 …For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE...
by Ed Allen | Jan 18, 2016 | Articles, What Do You Think?
John 20: 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her. (Observation) When Jesus appears to Mary, she only recognizes Him when He calls her by name. When she clings to Him, He stops her saying “I have not yet ascended to the Father.” He instructs her to “go to My brethren” and tell them He is about to ascend to the Father. (Interpretation) I suggest to you that verse 17 implies that the time for clinging to Jesus begins after His ascension, for after His ascension believers will cling, hold on, “keeping faith” in Him on whom they have believed. Except for the time Jesus gestures to His disciples and says to a messenger “Behold My mother and My brothers,” I know of no other incidence in the four gospels when Jesus calls His disciples “My brethren.” So, it follows, I further suggest, that once the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus...
by Ed Allen | Dec 14, 2015 | Articles, What Do You Think?
1 Corinthians 15: 1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. (Observation) The gospel by which a man is saved, which Paul preached, which the Corinthians believed, was in accordance with the Scriptures. The death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ was witnessed by many, including Paul. (Interpretation) The truth of the Old testament prophesies about Jesus and the truth of the words of Jesus Christ about Himself are demonstrated in His death burial and resurrection. I submit to you that the passage also demonstrates the ability of Jesus to keep His promise “…that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (Cross-reference) John 14: 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through...
by Ed Allen | Nov 9, 2015 | Articles, What Do You Think?
Matthew 14: 15 When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, “This place is desolate and the hour is already late; so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!” 17 They said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” 18 And He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 19 Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds, 20 and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets. 21 There were about five thousand men who ate, besides women and children. (Observation) The disciples ask Jesus to execute on their own proposed solution to the problem. Instead Jesus tells them to perform the impossible. Jesus asks for the food they have and feeds everyone. Each disciple picks up more food than Jesus started with. (Interpretation) God is able to make provision for the work he commands His disciples to do. (Cross- Reference) Ephesians 3: 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to...
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