Project Description
Getting to truth about Jesus, the Son of God – why He came and what He taught. It is in these “last days” that God “has spoken to us by his Son” as the Hebrews writer tells us.
These are just some of the very basic truths about Jesus discovered from Scripture with the help of the BSF.
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
Hebrews 1:1-2
sound doctrine: Jesus
Why did Jesus come to live as a man?
Jesus made three direct statements about His mission on earth. First, He said He came to “seek and to save the lost”3. Possibly the most well-known fact about His mission, it culminated in His death, burial, and resurrection10. The salvation aspect of His mission is repeated and reiterated several times in Scripture in various ways2,5,6, including Jesus’ own analogy of Himself to a door and a shepherd11.
Second, Jesus said that He came to “bear witness to the truth”1. Specifically, the gospel of the kingdom of God9. The words He spoke were from the Father (John 17:14-17) which He embodied12 by becoming flesh (John 1:1,14). This is highlighted when Jesus says He came not to bring peace but a sword4 and when Paul says the Old Law was nailed to the cross7, freeing us from fleshly sin to live in/with His Spirit12.
Third, Jesus said He came “for judgement”8…which links to the first two. Jesus came to judge all mankind8 against the truth1,9 of God’s word. Those that accept/believe Him (enter through “the door”11) receive eternal salvation2,3,8,10.
Wasn’t Jesus’ teaching simple with easy to understand parables?
Jesus was asked this exact question by His disciples1 and we have a rare instance in which Jesus gives a direct answer to a direct question. His reason was not that it was an “effective teaching method” or because it would make it “memorable” or “easy to understand.” In fact, it was just the opposite1,4. The disciples needed to ask what they meant2 and later, Jesus would actually contrast the practice with speaking “plainly about the Father”3.
The message of the kingdom is hidden1,5 for those that are not truly listening2 for it (or, as other Scripture puts it, seeking it). Teaching in parables (or figures of speech3) was Jesus’ practice in order to distinguish those that were truly seeking truth4.
Do only Jesus’ teachings matter, or at least matter more?
The words of Scripture are in fact the words of God – all of them, regardless of who spoke them.1 It’s not that Jesus or the apostles were speaking/teaching something different from person to person, but that they all were united in and through the words of God (and it was the same with the prophets — speaking God’s literal word). All disciples, regardless of who taught them,2,3 are to continue in God’s word.
getting to truth on Jesus is more than a little important, agreed?
Did Jesus bring peace on earth?
Inspired by the Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland in 1998, U2 wrote a song called "Peace on Earth". The song challenged the very premise of its title. In the bombing's aftermath, the Irish-native and lead singer confessed, "the whole 'peace on earth, goodwill to all men' struck a sour [more]
What was God’s plan for a savior?
God's plan for a savior is fundamental to His plan of salvation. Messiah, or "lit. 'the anointed one,' is a saviour or liberator of a group of people". We can read about the life of this Messiah, Jesus Christ, in the four Gospels. However, looking at God's plan for a [more]
Was Jesus’ kingdom established in the first century?
The idea of Jesus' kingdom comes from Jesus Himself, but was Jesus' kingdom established when He walked on earth in the first century? The question of "When?" regarding Jesus' kingdom is debated. Some even say that Jesus came to establish His kingdom but he failed. What will Scripture tell [more]
Was God fully human?
The concept that God was fully human is a difficult one for mere mortals to grasp. Even the phrase "God incarnate" does not give the full impact. According to Dictionary.com the word incarnate means "embodied in flesh; given a bodily, especially a human, form". The idea of "God fully human" [more]
Will Jesus reign 1000 years?
Many believe that Jesus will reign 1000 years when He returns (the doctrine of "millennialism"). In fact, the Bible says that, "they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him [Jesus] for a thousand years." (Revelation 20:6) However, it's just one verse. Could it [more]
Why did Jesus perform miracles?
With the popularity of the "social gospel" that exists today, it's often assumed that Jesus performed miracles purely as an act of compassion. Of course, He was compassionate! But is that Jesus performed miracles when on earth? Miracles (or "signs and wonders") were directed by [more]
Where is Jesus today?
Where Jesus is today is a simple enough question. However, levelsetting on the answer can be foundational in understanding other aspects of the Godhead. It can also be the first step in understanding other characteristics and responsibilities for the Son of God. Jesus is [more]
For whom did Christ die?
What Christian's believe and how they have come to understand what the Bible teaches isn't always shaped purely by scripture. The Ancient Greek influence of Gnosticism has had a profound and enduring effect on Christian thought. Indeed, that may be the case in needing to ask the question, "For whom [more]
Will King David return to reign again?
A literal return of King David is a tenant of much of the modern religious thought today. Purveyors of premillennial doctrine, such as David Jeremiah, teach that King David will return in the flesh to rule alongside Jesus during the thousand year reign on earth. The prophets have much to [more]
Was helping the needy why Jesus came to earth?
Helping the needy was a central activity of Jesus during His short public ministry. Whether He was healing the sick, feeding the poor, even raising the dead, we see Jesus helping the needy in various ways. In fact, his reputation for helping the needy spread and great crowds would [more]
What is the nature of the kingdom of God?
Understanding the kingdom of God and its characteristics is fundamental to understanding much of God's revealed word. How and what one understands the kingdom of God to be will impact their understanding of such monumental events as Jesus coming to earth, His promised return and the final judgment! First [more]
Will Jesus return…to earth?
Jesus will return to earth...this is the unchallenged position of many Christians today. It's part of and foundational to a much broader belief around Jesus' second coming - also known as end times doctrine or eschatology. In addition to Jesus’ return to earth, other popularly believed aspects of His [more]
Will there be a literal one thousand year reign?
A literal one thousand year reign of Jesus on His throne. There are many that believe Jesus' return is for just that - a one thousand year reign (millennium) on earth. It is widely taught and even passed down as "church doctrine." It is a teaching that comes from [more]
Is hearing the gospel the only way to know God’s will?
Someone hearing the gospel is certainly one way for an individual to come to know about God's word and His will. When somebody hears the "good news" they learn about Jesus, His mission on earth and God's plan for mankind's salvation. While hearing the gospel is one way, [more]
What was Jesus’ mission on earth?
Jesus' mission is something that can be confused with His actions. What Jesus came to this world to do (Jesus' mission) and what he did (Jesus' activities) are not necessarily the same thing. For example, one of the things He did was feed the hungry. But was that Jesus' [more]
Do miracles still happen today?
"It's a miracle!" That's an exclamation we hear often and have probably uttered ourselves. It might be used to describe passing a test you didn't study for or to sum up a great, come-from-behind victory. For example, the great Olympic victory by the U.S. Men's Hockey team is known [more]
Is it required that an apostle see Jesus?
Must an apostle see Jesus? This question gets raised when attempting to justify the appointment of apostles today. The word "apostle" in the Greek (apóstolos) literally means "one who is sent" or "to send off" or simply "messenger". Therefore, while the word could be applied to any missionary or emissary, [more]
What is Christ’s church called?
Christ's church goes by many, many different names in this day and time. The signs in front of Christian churches testify to the countless denominations that exist as well as thousands of independent or non-denominational groups. Christ's church may indeed be hard to identify with a sign. Wikipedia defines [more]
Why did Jesus teach in parables?
A parable as defined by Dictionary.com is "a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson" or "a statement or comment that conveys a meaning indirectly by the use of comparison, analogy, or the like." If we were to just take this [more]
Are Jesus’ words (Red Letter Bible) more important than other Scripture?
You've probably seen the red letter Bible -- in fact, you probably own one. These Bibles place all of Jesus' words in prominent red letters in order to stand out from all the other recorded words in Scripture. This is obviously a man-made introduction to Scripture, along with [more]
