King James Bible Study – “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34
Date: Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Chapters: Matthew 27-28
Message: Solely Living By Faith
Hello My Friend,
Faith; Belief; The assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, without other evidence. The assent of the mind or understanding to the truth of what God has revealed. Simple belief of the Scriptures, of the being and perfections of God, and of the existence and doctrines of Christ, without other evidence. As Christians, we talk a lot about faith, and while we do have faith, more often then we care to admit, we do not live by faith. Living by faith is knowing and accepting that everything is possible with God, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Let me tell you, our faith is going to be tried, one; by God to see if we are going to trust Him, and two; by the devil, to see if we are going to forsake God (Job 1:6-12). You see, while God truly knows everything about us, the only thing the devil knows is our lusts, doubts, and fears, and that is what he uses to tempt us with. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” – I Peter 4:12-13.
Religion is great at proclaiming God, they pride themselves of their job well done in removing the infidels from the earth. What they fail to realize is that it is not the Almighty God they doing all this for, they are actually doing this for the devil himself. All man made religion is orchestrated and controlled by the devil. And as for the churches proclaiming Christ, just read Revelation, Chapter 2, and you will see just how much the devil controls many of them as well. When the chief priests and Jews captured Jesus they thought they had everything under control, they were going to rid the nation of the man that was turning people away from their religion to believing He is the only way to God and heaven. While Jesus was taken to the counsel, the disciples were scattered, but Judas, who betrayed Jesus, realizing what he had done, went to the chief priests and elders.
“When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.” – Matthew 27:1-6,9-10.
“when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself,” Judas knew the second they captured Jesus that he betrayed Him. I can only imagine those words Jesus spoke at the Passover supper of knowing that one of the disciples would betray Him haunting him so much that he thought his only option was to kill himself. There is always another option, faith in Jesus Christ. If he only believed in Christ, then Christ would have forgiven him. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” – Romans 3:10-11,21-24.
Now, the Jews thought if they could convince the governor that Jesus was guilty of a crime then He would be sentenced to death, then they would be off the hook for killing Him themselves. So, they send Jesus to Pilate, but he knew that Jesus did no wrong, in fact, he wanted nothing to do with sentencing Him to death.
“Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.” – Matthew 27:1718,20-24.
“For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.” There are three different religions of the world, who’s faith will send them straight to hell. The religious, those who actually believe in the Gospel of Christ, but have never received Him because they trusted the religion over Christ. The agnostic, those who believe in God or a spiritual power, but not in Christ. And there are those who proclaim their god, wholeheartedly despise Jesus, and everything He stands for, and they will do anything they can to destroy Christ’s testimony. Now, here is Jesus, hanging on the cross as thousands of onlookers watch, some in pain as their Saviour was dying, some just waiting to see if angels or God would show up, some even sitting there on the ground, watching Him.
“And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there; And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.” – Matthew 27:35-42.
“let him now come down from the cross,” They claim that if Jesus jumped down from the cross, or if an angel or prophet would come down from the heavens that they would believe in Him. Faith in God, or Christ has nothing to do with seeing something to believe in Him, it has everything to do with believing in Him without the physical proof, and then seeing how real He is as He works in your life. God does not work in your life unless you make effort. You can get saved by grace, through your faith in Christ, but faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26). Now, if the miracles did not convince them that Jesus is the Christ, His death should have.
“Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.” – Matthew 27:50-54,59-60,62-64.
“the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom;” The veil that separated the holy place from the most holy place (the place God dwelt at one time) was ripped in two from the top down, this signified that Jesus would not be the mediator between God and man. “and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,” These are those who died in their faith prior to Christ’s passion. We do not know who they were, but they were believers, and obviously people the Jews knew as it says they appeared. “Truly this was the Son of God.” These soldiers believed and were saved, but the Jews still refused. “so the last error shall be worse than the first.” The deceiver, were they serious? Of course, they were. These were the chief priests and Pharisees, the ones who prided themselves for crucifying Jesus, and they knew they were wrong, they were just too proud to admit that everything Jesus said was true, even after all they saw, and even after He arose three days later. In fact, when they found out that Jesus was not in the tomb, they paid the soldiers to say that the disciples took His body.
“In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.” – Matthew 28:1-6,11-13.
“and stole him away while we slept.” The wicked will do anything to discredit Jesus still today, and they may seem to have the last laugh, but there will come a day when every knee will bow (Philippians 2:10), and then where will they be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). As Christians, we are not put on this earth to blend in with the crowd, we are here to stand out in faith, knowing that everything in the Bible is true. Our only defense is to get in the Word of God and show them that we will not give up on our God and King. “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.” – Isaiah 45:22-24.
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, To the world, everything I believe in and stand for about You is a joke and untrue, I am so glad that I am not part of them. I understand that I am not saved by my works of righteousness, but by my believing and accepting that Your work on the cross is all I need to save me. I am trusting only in You Jesus to keep me out of hell and know that no matter what I have done or will do I am forgiven and You will never leave nor forsake me. To show my appreciation and love for You I want to live my life with You in it. Lead me and guide me, help me to be a witness and a testimony to the amazing life that I now live with You, and let me be bold to speak the truth when others want to tear me down for my faith. I love You, Lord and pray in Your name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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