The Christian life is a gift from God, but to share the gospel with others is to allow them (family and friends) to enjoy the same gift that we have! These short segments will allow you to focus on one aspect of God and His Word (or gospel, also known as the Bible). Sometimes we feel reluctant to share with others because we are not sure what to say or we might feel timid about it. Jesus was clear about this but also provided some solace:
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).
The goal of these segments is to present one of them with someone you know to begin a conversation. This is a good start for sharing the gospel with someone you know.
Is the Word of God sharp enough to work in a person’s life? That is, is it powerful enough to bring a person’s spirit to penitence by changing their spirit so that they confess their sins and put their faith in Jesus Christ? Is it strong enough to change a person’s outlook on life so that they think and act according to it? Certainly, anything that can change a person’s life in this dramatic fashion
One of the interesting aspects of reading any document is the content itself. When we read, we are looking for content that impacts us, that has special meaning, and in some instances empowers us. Our goal upon reading any document is that we are better learned or just a better person after having read a document. The Word of God is no exception. God’s Word is a powerful weapon at the human race level, at
Active Judgment
Category: Relationship with God
Merriam-Webster defines judgment as “the process of forming an opinion or evaluation by discerning [recognizing or identifying] and comparing [italics mine].”[1] The evaluation is first performed by recognizing what is being judged, and then comparing it to a standard. In our society, for example, a court judge would recognize or identify someone’s act, and then compare it to a societal law. After the judge compares the act with a societal norm, the person is either
Our Faith
Category: God’s Provision, Relationship with God
Our faith is built on subjection to God’s Word. Subjection is a difficult task for a Christian to adopt. It requires that one minimize their own will and desires and maximize Christ’s will and desires according to His Word. Our nature tendency is to act on our own will. By nature, we are selfish and automatically think of ourselves first before we think of others. We must put Christ first before our own will and
God’s Word is Effective
Category: God’s Provision
God’s Word is effective in a Christian’s life, but there are some guidelines. God’s Word is not something that we “name and claim” as some have supposed. We should not point to a particular Scripture in God’s Word and then expect God to miraculously give it to us at that moment. It is not a book of magical tricks. For example, Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask and it will be given to you.” This is not
Is it possible that God’s Word refers to events and a “religion” that occurred millenniums ago, or is it relevant today? In particular, can it apply to an individual’s life today? If we try to consider whether or not God’s Word applies to us, then we are only looking at it subjectively from our own perspective. Sometimes what we think is true, may not be true. That is, we are not always right. This is
We do have a relationship with Christ if we are trusting in Him and His Word. We can trust His Word since it is a consistent standard. First of all, it is divinely inspired as mentioned earlier. Secondly, God’s Word is consistent with itself. We looked at prophecies recorded in the Old Testament that were actually fulfilled in the New Testament. This is one type of consistency, but there are others as well. For example,
One might ask, “How does God bring people to Himself?” The apostle Paul shared in his letter to the Romans that it is the Lord Jesus Christ “through whom we have now received reconciliation” (Romans 5:11). God has already reconciled us to Himself through the shed blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, nearly 2000 years ago. It is by faith that we obtain what God has already provided – forgiveness for our sin and an
But why do we have to expose or realize our sin? Romans 6:23 tells us, “For the wages of sin is [spiritual] death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Our eternal existence is either life with Jesus Christ forever or eternal separation from Him (see Isaiah 59:2). God’s Word gives us a hint about what eternal life might look like as Jesus Christ spoke and John recorded in
God’s Word is living and active with respect to sin. Why is sin important and why should it be dealt with? The prophet Isaiah wrote that “our sins have separated us from God” (Isaiah 59:2). This fact should not be minimized. Separation from God in this life means that we do not receive His blessings, especially in time of need. Separation from God for eternity means that our spirits will exist in a lake of
It would be appropriate here to decipher the origin and provocation of sin. After God created the “heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1), He saw what He had made and said it was “good” (verse 31). Later in chapter 2, Adam and Eve were created. Thus, God created Adam and Eve, and they were “good.” We can interpret this as meaning that they were not in rebellion to God, but rather in unity with their
Can we say that the Word of God was only alive as both Jesus and the apostles proclaimed it nearly 2000 years ago, or does it continue to make an impact on people since then? Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth President of the United States, seemed to think so about 1800 years after the time of Jesus and His disciples. In Lincoln’s words, “In regard to this Great Book, I have but to say, it is
The Word of God is Quick
Category: God’s Provision
Merriam-Webster’s definition of quick is, “living, alive.”[1] Is this how we perceive the Word of God? Sadly, our society today does not put a precedence on reading and abiding by God’s Word. Our society is structured so that people are expected to govern their activities themselves. There is no precedent or guidance from God’s Word. People prefer to live their lives themselves in accordance to their own desires, without direction from God and His Word.
Prophecies
Category: God’s Provision
Do you know of anyone who can accurately predict the future? Let’s consider the prophecies in the Word of God which at the time, predicted the future. Many Prophecies were uttered in the Old Testament by both men and women. The key component to a prophecy is whether or not it was fulfilled (i.e. a true prophecy). Prophecies given by human beings themselves are not likely to happen because, as we all know, human beings
Archaeological Discoveries
Category: Human Existence
There are other documents which are still extant (or still in existence).[1] For example, the Ebla archive was found in northern Syria in the 1970s. It comprises the true stories about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (the forefathers or Patriarchs of Israel), as recorded in the book of Genesis (chapters 17-32). These accounts were written on clay tablets dating back to about 2300 B.C. – the time of the Patriarchs. Furthermore, some archaeologists working in northern
Textual Accuracy
Category: God’s Provision
We can also appreciate the trustworthiness of God’s Word from an archeological perspective because of a number of scrolls which were found in caves situated near the Dead Sea in modern day Israel. In 1947, a shepherd boy discovered a jar in one of the caves containing scrolls inscribed with the words we have today pertaining to many of the books in the Old Testament. These scrolls were manufactured by the Essenes, a monastic group
God’s Word is Trustworthy
Category: God’s Provision
But what does it mean that the Word of God is trustworthy? Merriam-Webster defines it as “worthy of confidence: dependable.”[1] This speaks a lot about how one can feel when reading, meditating on, and incorporating the Word of God into one’s life. Do we guard ourselves whenever we read a news clip or something from social media? Hopefully, we are careful about what we read. When God promised the earthly kingdom forever to King David,
Paul, Silas, and Timothy later wrote these words to the church at Thessalonica: “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Is it possible, then, that God’s Spirit did influence these writers? Jesus instructed the
Every Word of God is Pure
Category: God’s Provision
How do we know that the Word of God is exact? Are the words trustworthy? If so, then we should give them the utmost consideration. Perhaps one of the biggest concerns is knowing what the Word of God tells us. We cannot possibly evaluate its importance in our lives until we first read and become acquainted with it. Once we are aware of the contents of God’s Word, we can then ascertain how effective it
Jesus’ Omnipotence
Category: God’s Provision
God’s (Jesus’) omnipotence (all-powerful) defines his authority when it comes to His Word. If we truly subscribe to the fact that God created everything out of nothing (ex nihilo), then it follows that His Word is also true, accurate, and authoritative. As human beings, we must accept the fact that we are imperfect, and thus, not in a position to question the all-powerful God. Richard Muller noted this as follows, “. . . the word
Jesus is the Word of God
Category: God’s Provision
How can we identify Jesus Christ? He is one of the manifestations of the triune God (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – see 2 Corinthians 13:14, Matthew 28:19, and 1 Peter 1:2). But what is His relationship to human beings? In Matthew 1:20-23, the virgin (Mary) gave birth to a son, as the angel foretold, and Mary and Joseph were to give him the name of Jesus. So here
One of the most intriguing tenets of why the Bible is the Word of God is the frequent usage of the phrase, “This is what the LORD says . . .” This phrase occurs 426 times in the Old Testament. It reflects God’s dealings with people almost to the time of Christ. It is one thing if a person says something to someone else. But when a deity like the LORD says it, it then
Is God’s Word Infallible
Category: God’s Provision
But one may ask, “How is God’s Word infallible?” We need to identify how God’s Word matches up to this determination. First, we must state the fact that there are some typographical errors, particularly in the case of some names and numbers.[1] This is because copies of the Old and New Testaments were made over the centuries by the human hand. Keep in mind that there were no Microsoft Word spellcheckers or other word-based tools
Evidence of God’s Word
Category: God’s Provision
If we need to look for hard evidence as to the credibility of God’s Word, we need to look no further than the substance of His Word itself. For example, there are numerous miracles and prophecies that cannot be disputed, but yet reveal God in all of His glory as He deals with both people and circumstances. These records show the perfection of God and His Word. There are 83 miracles in the Old Testament
The Bible is the Word of God
Category: God’s Provision
The Bible and the Word of God are two interchangeable terms. The term Bible comes from the Greek biblos and Latin biblia, meaning books. That is, there are 66 individual books that comprise the Bible. But more importantly, it is the contents of these 66 books which not only astonishes humanity, but it shows the divinity and perfection of God who revealed Himself to us. The apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “And we also
Origen of the Word of God
Category: God’s Provision
The sixty-six books in the Word of God were written by forty writers over a span of 2000 years. They are sectioned into the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament is comprised of thirty-nine books and the New Testament has twenty-seven. The Old Testament is sometimes referred to as Hebrew Scripture, since it records the events taken place in what was and still is Israel. The Israelites were also known as the Hebrews. Scripture
How then do we define God’s will? God’s will is embodied in the concept of love. God could have created the universe, and then reclined from any intervention in the doings of humanity. That is certainly within His right because He is God. However, God did choose to intervene out of love. First, He wanted to identify Himself as the Creator, the One who deserves the credit for His creation. Our response should be an
A Truly Inspired Message
Category: God’s Provision
The Word of God is the truly inspired message that God brought to us through human writers. The apostle Peter further proclaimed: “For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21). The words written in God’s Word were inspired by God upon men via His Holy Spirit. They were written by men, but their thoughts
The apostle Peter knew Jesus Christ personally. He spent three years with Christ during the course of His ministry. Peter observed first-hand the message and power of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Here are some words that Peter expressed about God’s Word: “We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day
In addition to God’s righteousness, He has also revealed His salvation to us. Consider God’s words written by a psalmist: Sing to the LORD a new song, For he has done marvelous things; His right hand and his holy arm Have worked salvation for him. The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. (Psalm 98:2) God’s Word is effective because it reveals God’s salvation to us.
What is the Word of God?
Category: God’s Provision
In the simplest sense, God’s Word reflects the mind and will of God. There is no other reference available to us but God’s Word to understand the nature of God. Many have sought to conjecture who God is and how He operates, but there is no other source for this information other than God’s Word. God empowered human authors by His Holy Spirit to record His Word in one volume, unchanged over the centuries: “For
For a Christian, there are two components that allow us to function in the spiritual realm as shown in the figure: a person’s spirit and their soul (Hebrews 4:12). A person’s spirit is what allows them to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. This component of a person (whether they have a relationship with Christ or not) allows them to live after their physical body dies. For those who have a relationship with Jesus Christ,
Why is the Word of God (the Bible) necessary in a person’s life? Have you ever considered that? There are so many concerns that require our attention in our lives today: God, family, work, friends, hobbies, house/apartment chores/maintenance, relaxation, etc. It seems that our time is already consumed before we even think about God or His Word. However, we should consider God’s Word in conjunction with God Himself as the number one priority in our
A Relationship with God
Category: Relationship with God
It is human nature to recognize the things we can see with our eyes and relate to them. We recognize cars and houses and form an opinion as to how we are going to relate to them. We also see and hear others and decide how we are going to interact with them – that is, how we are going to have a relationship with them. But having a relationship with God is unique because
Our faith, and the building up thereof, is what constitutes our trust that God will deliver us from this world into eternal life. We do not have any store receipts telling us that we have eternal life. The assurance we have comes from our faith. That is why Jude (brother of the apostle James) said, “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep
The Gift of God
Category: God’s Provision, Relationship with God
The apostle Paul taught those in Rome who were Christians regarding sin and eternal life. At one point, he spoke these words, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:22-23). Jesus Christ
Eternal life actually starts when a person humbly asks Jesus Christ for forgiveness of their sins and chooses to follow Jesus Christ and His Word. For many who are living their physical lives right now, eternal life has already started. When Jesus prayed in the company of His disciples, He made this statement: “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3;
There are two obstacles that some people face regarding eternal life: (1) we are focused with the here and now – we are not interested in deferred rewards, and (2) we like to be independent. Regarding the first obstacle, we are certainly focused on the here and now. It is human nature to take care of our existence which is the immediate state we find ourselves in. I witnessed to a twenty-year old one time
What form shall we be when our souls depart these physical bodies is not clear from God’s Word. Certainly, God knows what our form will be like, it’s just not made clear to us yet. Perhaps we cannot fully understand it in human terms. The apostle John subscribes to this: “Dear friends, we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,
The Guarantee of Eternal Life
Category: Uncategorized
How can we be sure of this? Do we know for sure that our eternal life begins in this physical life and then continues on once we pass from these physical bodies? We make bank transfers and trust the people who develop the technology that these transactions will be completed properly. If we trust mere mortals with bank transfers then can we trust God with the transfer of our souls? A.W. Pitzer viewed the confidence
Before we came to Christ and His Word, our souls were “asleep” in our bodies. We were awake, even for many years, but we did not have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Then one day, we heard about Christ’s sacrifice for our sins. We confessed our sins and asked Him for forgiveness and endeavored to follow Him and His Word forever. That is when our souls came alive and began to grow in God’s Word.
This reminder works in us every day. It governs the way we live our lives. Knowing that God forgives us, loves us, is concerned about us, and helps us, gives us the confidence we need to make proper decisions and to take right actions. The apostle Paul was a Pharisee (a very strict Jewish sect) before He came to Christ. Not knowing Christ, he persecuted Christians on a regular basis. After his conversion to Christianity,
Christ is Trustworthy
Category: Relationship with God
Christ was not just a man or just a prophet. He is God the Son. The sacrifice of His own body on the cross for our sins was a divine sacrifice, not a human sacrifice. In that sacrifice, Christ took upon Himself the sins of all people. Only a perfect God could handle the sins of so many people. When He died on the cross, He put to death all of our sins so that
True Faith
Category: Relationship with God
On several occasions, I have come into contact with someone who believes that they are a “good person” and that the good works they do will “earn” their way into heaven. Certainly, their intentions are sincere. But what we think is the path to heaven and what God has determined may be two different things. Our justification, or right to enter into heaven, is not based on what we do because we are imperfect beings.
The Beginning of Faith
Category: Relationship with God
But faith first starts by hearing the message. Somehow, somewhere, and probably through someone else, we hear the message that Jesus Christ died for our sins. This author first heard the message from an audiotape from a pastor that a co-worker was playing. Later on in ministry, this author also shared the message with about 1,000 homeowners in East Providence, Rhode Island. You see, in order for us to have an opportunity to place our
What is Faith?
Category: Relationship with God
Having faith in Jesus Christ is the crux of Christianity. It is the focal point for anyone having a relationship with God. It takes a certain level of faith for us to trust in a close relative or someone we love. These are people that we can see with our own eyes. However, we cannot see God with our physical eyes. Therefore, it takes a special kind of faith to trust in God. God first
Do we really believe in Jesus Christ? Is He just a person who lived about 2000 years ago? Is He really God? Did He really die on the cross for our sins? Our faith in Christ determines our ability to ask Him for forgiveness of sins. If we are lacking in our faith in Him, then seeking forgiveness for our sins and establishing or re-establishing our relationship with Him is fruitless. John Moment claims, “From
Evidence of Faith
Category: Relationship with God
The Council of Nicea was organized in 325 A.D. by the Roman Emperor Constantine, who was a Christian. The Council was arguably the best collection of ministers in the known world (Europe, Asia, and Africa) at that time. The comprehensive list of ministers included Christian ministers from these groups of people: Syrians, Cilicians, Phoenicians, Arabians, Palestinians, Egyptians, Thebans, Lybians, Persians, Scythians, Galatians, Pamphylians, Cappadocians, Phrygians, Thracians, Macedonians, Achaians, Epirotes, and Spaniards.[1] This Council sought to
Faith in Christ
Category: Relationship with God
When it comes to a relationship with someone, forgiveness is an important step in repairing the relationship. However, the maintenance and continuance of a relationship is based on the faith one has in someone else. Merriam-Webster[1] provides three definitions for the word faith: Allegiance to a personBelief and trust, especially when there is no proofBelief in someone with strong conviction Think about someone who is special to you. Would you be willing to apply these
The apostle Paul appeared much later than the original disciples. Paul and his co-workers were involved with spreading the gospel message throughout Asia Minor. Paul spoke at the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch, encouraging the Jews there about Jesus Christ. At one point he said, “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a
Forgiving Others
Category: Human Existence, Relationship with God
Forgiveness that we receive from God is contingent upon forgiving others. If we truly have a penitent heart, then God can work with us. Jesus Christ indicated that “If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sin, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15). Forgiveness operates in a pristine environment. If there is unforgiven sin between
A Change of One’s Heart
Category: Human Existence
One of the disciples at the Last Supper, Peter, later proclaimed a message after Jesus Christ ascended into heaven at the day of Pentecost (40 days after Christ ascended into heaven) in Acts 2. On this particular day, God poured out His Spirit on the crowd and each one spoke in a different tongue (language). Peter explained to those in the crowd who were bewildered that God raised Jesus from the dead and poured out,
As we continue to live our daily lives, we occasionally become aware of accumulated sins, and we need to confess those to God as well and ask Him for forgiveness. So it is possible for an imperfect person to have a relationship with a perfect God, provided the person has gained forgiveness. This is how we are reconciled to God and continue to maintain a proper relationship with Him. Note that when we first come
The authority of Jesus Christ[1] to forgive sins was exemplified in Mark 9:1-8. A paralyzed man was brought to Jesus. Jesus, being moved by the faith of the men carrying the man, said to the man “your sins are forgiven.” The teachers of the Old Testament law took exception to this statement because they believed that only God could forgive sins. Jesus countered by asking them if it was easier to forgive the man his
The sacrifice of Christ on the cross and the forgiveness we receive for our sins are really two concepts that go together. The apostle Paul noted this when he wrote the following words to the Colossians: “In whom [Christ] we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14). The word redemption comes from the Greek word apolytrosin which means a release brought about by paying a price or ransom.[1] This is a reference to Christ’s
Christ Our Mediator
Category: Relationship with God
Christ, who was sent by God the Father and is God, is also interceding for us. He is the bridge between us and God the Father. When anxiety or trouble comes, He is right there watching over us and making available to us the strength and blessings we need from God the Father. This is important because the self-less act that Christ performed by dying on the cross for our sins was not just a
Sin our sin has separated us from God, what provision is there to wipe away its ramifications? How can we initiate a relationship with God or have it restored? Psalm 49 gives us some insight into this. The redemption or provision for sin is not something that can be bought at the store. The stain of sin is spiritual, and therefore, it must be dealt with in a spiritual fashion. Who or what method is
The Result of Sin
Category: Relationship with God
What effect does sin have on a person’s soul for all eternity? What do you think happens to us (i.e. our souls) once our physical bodies die? I think we can all agree that these are important questions. We think it is important enough to consider what happens to us each and every day of our lives; after all, that is how we describe our existence. But eternity? Do our souls have a place in
Dealing with Sin
Category: Relationship with God
Our relationship with God is affected by our sin nature. Why is this so? God is perfect and knows no sin. Therefore, He cannot be a part of any relationship where sin is present. Sin is a stain on a person’s soul; it is a cancer which in an uncorrected state, separates a soul from God. Isaiah 59:2 tells us that our sins have separated us from God. We cannot have any fellowship with God
God’s principle for living the Christian life involves both Christians and non-Christians. Spending time with other Christians provides encouragement to them while at the same time, gaining encouragement for oneself. Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see
God’s Word (the Bible)
Category: Relationship with God
When you meet someone you love, aren’t you interested in what they have to say? So it is with our relationship with Jesus Christ. We know from John 1:1 that Jesus Christ is the Word of God who became flesh. John 1:1 also says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Since God’s Word is authoritative, it should be treated as such in our lives.
What is Prayer?
Category: Relationship with God
The first part of a relationship with God is prayer. Prayer is how we communicate with God. It is a communication using our hearts. When we first come to God in a relationship with Him, we pray. We ask Him for forgiveness for our sins and we tell Him that we want to trust Him as the Lord of our lives. Sometimes we verbalize our prayers to God, but many times we think them from
Saving Grace
Category: Human Existence
One of the difficult topics to bring up is sin. Most of us do not think about it when we get up in the morning and go about our business. However, we do live in a world created by God, and since He created everything, His rules apply. When we disobey God’s Word (the Bible) we sin. The consequence of our sin is separation from God and everlasting torment for our souls. However, God’s Word
Faith is a Gift
Category: God’s Provision
The opportunity to come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ is called faith. Faith is a gift from God as His grace – we cannot earn it. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” In these trying times we might be looking for
Insight: John 5:19-6:15 Jesus again performed a miracle by walking on the water at the Sea of Galilee. This was to authenticate His authority as the Son of God. He subsequently taught the people at Capernaum that He is the “bread of life.” His teaching reflected that not only is He the Son of God (as reflected in the Trinity with the Father and the Holy Spirit), but the only road to God and eternal
Insight: John 5:19-6:15 Jesus indicated that “by Himself He can do nothing.” He seeks to please the One who sent Him. Jesus showed that these He is authoritative in what He spoke by performing a miracle in the feeding of the five thousand. God and People God the Father and the Son do the same thing. The Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does. The Father raises the dead and gives them
Insight: John 4:43-5:18 Jesus continued His Ministry by healing a royal’s son and a man at Bethesda. These are the second and third miracles He performed after the miracle of changing the water to wine at Cana. Jesus’ healing ministry was to show the people that He has all authority in God’s Kingdom and on earth. God and People God the Father is always at work as He directs His Will through His Son, Jesus.
Insight: John 4:1-42 Jesus continued His Ministry by sharing about Himself with a Samaritan woman. Samaria is an area in northern Israel where Israelites were re-populated after being captured by the Assyrians in 720 B.C. Samaritan Jews were shunned upon by the Judean Jews since they were viewed as “half-Jews.” Jesus shared how to obtain eternal life with this woman. After she believed in Jesus, she went to the townspeople and shared about Jesus with
Insight: John 2:23-3:36 Jesus continued His Ministry by teaching other people in addition to the disciples. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council. Jewish leaders were generally opposed to Jesus’ message and His Authority because they did not recognize Him as the Messiah. There are numerous Scripture references in both the Old and New Testaments that testify to Jesus as the Messiah. Nicodemus was an exception. God and People The