What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
Advent candle lighting makes me nervous. My mom's Romiano family used statues, beads, and candles to elicit penance for their Roman Catholic religion. Mom was converted to Christ when I was six. Penance is nowhere in the Bible. Repentance is nowhere in Catholicism. Just the same the five advent candles can provide a thought provoking study of Christ's first advent. The prophecy candle asks that one examine no less than eighty verses of Bible prophecy about it. Of them Jesus said, “These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me” (Luke 24:44).
The law of Moses tells that the seed of woman would crush Satan's head, and possess the gate of those who hate Jacob's house, in the seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed, and that this is an everlasting covenant (Genesis 3:15, 24:60; 12:3, 28:14; 17:19, 28:15, 49:10).
In the prophets the child would be born of a virgin, be called Immanuel, the Prince of Peace, the Mighty God, and the Everlasting Father (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7). The prophets also reveal that this Jewish Messiah will be the elect servant, will be “wounded for our transgressions”, and that “the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 42, 49, 52, 53). They tell when he will be born, where he will be born, that he will fill the temple with glory, and come riding upon a colt the foal of an ass to say to them which are not my people, “Thou art my people” (Dan 9:25-26, Micah 5:2, Haggai 2:7, Zech 9:9, Hosea 2:23).
The Psalmist reveals that Messiah will be the only begotten son of God; the Good Shepherd that, via crucifixion, gives his life for his sheep; the Great Shepherd, who gives peace through his blood; and the Chief Shepherd, who is the King of Glory (Psalm 2:7, 22, 23, 24, cf John 10:11, Heb 13:20, 1Pet 5:4).
Prophecy reveals excruciating details of his crucifixion, the thirty pieces of silver, unbroken bones out of joint, lots cast for his garment, his soul going to hell, and his resurrection from it. Eighty verses of Biblical prophecy can well prepare us for worship at the second advent candle, the Bethlehem Candle.
An Essay for week #48 Nov 29, 2020
Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs201129.mp3
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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
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