Friday, March 1, 2013

THE MOST IMPORTANT FACT!

Suggested Reading: 1 Corinthians 15

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Tarsus was the hometown of the Apostle Paul (Acts 9:11), a city of great importance (21:39) as a learning centre of the ancient world, alongside Alexandria and Athens.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures…

“FIRST OF ALL!” Many Bible scholars believe that this is the first and most concise statement of the very heart and soul of our Christian faith. First Corinthians is considered to be the earliest writing in our New Testament. Our eternal salvation depends totally on the inalterable truth of our key verses. Let us read, memorize, and make these verses a most integral element in our lives.

In a court of law, a witness who is in opposition to the defence, yet admits to the truth of the case for the defence, is the most credible witness. Paul is such a witness for the defence of the Truth of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. In his past, Paul was in total opposition to the message of Christ, so much so that he persecuted the Church (15:9). He used to be Rabbi Saul of Tarsus. He was raised in the intellectual university centre of Asia Minor, the city of Tarsus. He was sent by his Jewish father (a Roman citizen) to study in Jerusalem under the most famous Rabbi of the time, Gamaliel. Gamaliel was the grandson of Hillel, perhaps the most famous Jewish Rabbi of all time. He knew the Jewish High Priest and was appointed the official inquisitor whose job it was to destroy the followers of Jesus. Now known as the Apostle Paul, his testimony is true!! Note that twice Paul repeats the words “according to the Scriptures.” This Hebrew Bible Scholar was absolutely certain of his facts.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, You died and rose from the dead for all the human family, including me. Please grant me the grace to never fear death but to rejoice always in the sure knowledge of the resurrection. Amen & Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

The genius composer, Handel was, in my opinion, at his very best in “The Messiah” when he put the words of 1st Corinthians 15 to music. Every year I attend a performance of The Messiah conducted by the the famous Jewish Maestro, Boris Brott. Crossroads sponsored a performance of The Messiah in Jerusalem several years back. It was thrilling to hear the magnificent Jerusalem orchestra with its Jewish musicians playing to the glory of God. Here is a clip from the Christmas season when Boris was interviewed on 100 Huntley Street, including some footage from the performance of The Messiah in Jerusalem (click here). Also, check out the CTS television listings for a release of The Messiah from Jerusalem this Easter.

I have stood beside many graves and read words from 1st Corinthians 15. What hope! What an assurance that this is not the end but only the beginning of eternity with Christ, clothed in a resurrected body just like the body of Jesus when He left the tomb empty (see photos below). Some of the key leaders of The Human Genome Project for the United States Government are believers in Jesus. There are approximately three billion “letters” that encode the genetic material within each human cell. For God to rearrange those parts into our glorified bodies would not be a problem. Even the most tiny speck of dust from a body has its DNA sequence from which the believer can be reconstructed. I just spent time with one of those believers who worked closely with Francis Collins, the author of “The Language of God,” who headed The Human Genome Project. Check Google to find out what Dr. Collins’ former associate, Dr. Jeffrey Trent, also a world class scientist, is doing now (click here). In my time with Dr. Trent, he was constantly referring to “the Lord.” He is a strong believer in Jesus!

Yours in full confidence that “we shall all be changed!” (15:51b),

David

Visitors entering the Garden Tomb. Many believe that it was inside this tomb in Jerusalem that Jesus' body was laid. The photo below gives you an inside view.

This tomb was originally made for a shorter man, perhaps Joseph of Arimathea, but as you can see on the right, the end was dug out to fit a taller man's body.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

12 thoughts on “Friday, March 1, 2013

  1. He is Risen! He is Risen indeed! What a glorious statement to which all believers in Jesus Christ may attest; for He has broken the earthly bonds of existence, has taken on the sin of the world, has paid our sin-debt in full, and now awaits for us in a place of glory which He has prepared for each and every one of us! Hallelujah!

  2. Praise God for our RISEN SAVIOUR? What a glorious hope we believers have in Jesus the resurrected Lord. May our lives always show to others His glory and share that they too can have that wonderful joy of knowing THE RISEN LORD AND KING?

    Bless you today David, Norma-Jean and all of our fellow bloggers.

  3. This chapter today is a wonderful beginning for March
    …Easter month.
    David, Ron and Reynold, it would be an amazing,
    informative and inspirational read if when we get thru
    the two years David, that all the material could be
    published into a book.
    I’m enjoying this so much and am so grateful to
    the whole team for all you are doing to make this
    a daily blessing to so many.
    God give you strength David and all that you and
    Norma Jean need for this day…love you and your
    family…and the whole team serving God under the
    100 Huntley banner.
    Today is a precious gift for us all …to live for the glory
    of God.

  4. Paul’s writing so fills me up with love and hope because of the sacrifice our Saviour, Jesus, made for us. March 1st has such a ring to it, with spring, soon to come. This reading, this morning, lifts up my heart ,with such joy for today, tomorrow, and everlasting life.

    Be blessed, fellow saints, and thank you, as always, David Mainse!

  5. Such a moving message by the apostle Paul in today’s reading about our resurrection and life everlasting! Also, facinating how he discribes all matter, including celestial bodies. We have already been born into this life and as such, because of Christ, we will be born uncorrupted in the next life. Faith is our evidence of eternal life and our connection to all in Christ.

  6. After my reading today, this hymn came to mind: “He is Lord, He is Lord!
    He is risen from the dead and He is Lord!
    Ev’ry knee shall bow, ev’ry tongue confess.
    That Jesus Christ is Lord!
    Blessings to all.

  7. David, thank you for your heartfelt messages in your blog…I have wanted to reply but this is my first…your joy in the midst of suffering inspire me…glad to hear you have moved into an apt …I can just picture you on the balcony writing!!
    I am the same age as you, married for the second time to a pastor again…he is younger but we are still ministering and will until God shows us to retire….I have followed your programming since the beginning and now look at it on my computer…I don’t have TV ….thanks again…blessings to you and Norma Jean. Know that you are loved. HH>

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