Satan Trying Jesus' Faith in the Wilderness
Volume 3, Number 7The faith of Jesus: Satan's testing in the Wilderness - Part 4:Recap to date: The Gospel writers Matthew and Luke both record three temptations of Jesus by the Devil in the wilderness. We have already examined two in Matthew along with the two similar ones in Luke. The first had to do with turning stones into bread, to which Jesus quoted the Scripture passage: "man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live." Matthew 4:4 & Luke 4:4, as quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3. Our last study... Continue reading →
Satan Trying Jesus' Faith in the Wilderness
Volume 3, Number 6The faith of Jesus: Satan's testing in the Wilderness - Part 3:The Gospel of Matthew (4:1 - 10) records three specific temptations of Jesus, as does the Gospel of Luke (4:1 - 12). The temptations in Matthew are similar to those recorded by Luke but there are differences in the circumstances, the words used to describe them and the order in which they appear in the two Gospels. We will address a possible explanation for these differences after we finish reviewing them.Our last study examined the Devil's first recorded temptation of Jesus in Matthew and Luke: "If you are the... Continue reading →
Satan Trying Jesus' Faith in the Wilderness
Volume 3, Number 5The faith of Jesus: Satan's testing in the Wilderness - Part 2:We continue here with the first incident after Jesus' introduction into public life/ ministry when the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness where He existed for 40 days and nights without food and the Devil tempted Him. In this we see, at least in part, Jesus as the antitype of David when David went up against Goliath, as recorded in 1 Samuel 17 (Faith Studies Volume 2, No's 44 - 47.) At that time the faith of God's son Israel was tried for 40 days while the Philistine... Continue reading →
Satan Trying Jesus' Faith in the Wilderness
Volume 3, Number 4The faith of Jesus: Satan's testing in the Wilderness - Part 1:We observed in our last study that the first incident after Jesus' introduction into public life/ ministry was when the Devil tempted Him in the wilderness.Here we note the stark difference in (the first man) Adam's faith, or lack thereof, as compared to that of Jesus. Adam lived in a beautiful lush garden, with a helpmate God created from Adam's body to provide emotional, intellectual and physical companionship. All the food necessary surrounded him, just for the picking. All the animals created by God were his companions and playmates,... Continue reading →
Faith and the Four Gospel Authors
Volume 3, Number 3The faith of Jesus in the Gospel Accounts:Matthew, Mark, Luke and John each recorded the life and ministry of Jesus Christ according to their unique perspectives and as inspired by the Holy Spirit. The first three give a brief glimpse of His background and/or early 30 years of life and the rest deal with His three years of actual public life/ ministry.Matthew was one of Jesus' apostles. Before Jesus called him he was a tax collector or publican for the Roman government. In the first sentence of his book Jesus is introduced as the son of David and thus the... Continue reading →
Jesus, The Author & Finisher of Faith
Volume 3, Number 2The faith of Jesus, Introduction Part 2:In our last study we examined the Greek word "archegos," translated Author by the King James translators in Hebrews 12:2: "looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of (the word "our" is not in the original) faith, Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." This study will examine the word "Finisher" used in this verse as we learn how it was/is that Jesus "finished" faith.Although the Greek word "archegos," translated "Author" in Hebrews... Continue reading →
Jesus, The Author & Finisher of Faith
Volume 3, Number 1The faith of Jesus, Introduction Part 1:Over the past four and a half years, in Volumes 1 & 2 of Faith Studies, we have examined how the 16 Old Testament Saints named in Hebrews 11 were born witness to by their faith. Now, in Hebrews 12:1 the author, inspired by the Holy Spirit, exhorts the believing Hebrews to whom this book was written to remember the witness of faith of all those mentioned in the eleventh chapter and in Hebrews 12:2 he writes: "looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of (the word "our" is not in the original) faith,... Continue reading →
David vs Goliath - Type of Jesus' Faith
Volume 2, Number 47David's witness of faith vs. Goliath - Jesus Christ vs. Satan (Part 3):In our last study we began to examine how David's witness of faith in facing up to and killing the giant Goliath, 1 Samuel 17, was a type that pointed to the finished work of Jesus. In David's case, Satan was using Goliath to question the truth of God's Word to Israel, thereby trying Israel's faith. For although Goliath was physically bigger and stronger than any individual Jewish soldier, Israel had God's promise they would have victory over their enemies and be invincible as long as they obeyed... Continue reading →
David vs Goliath - Type of Jesus' Faith
Volume 2, Number 46David's witness of faith vs. Goliath/ Jesus Christ vs. Satan (Part 3): Our last study observed Israel paralyzed with fear by Goliath, without God's guidance because their leader King Saul had lost the Holy Spirit and was troubled with an evil spirit after he disobeyed God's Word. Then David, who had no official leadership role over Israel as yet, stepped forward by the power of the Holy Spirit and killed Goliath, saving Israel, 1 Samuel 16 & 17. In today's study we will examine how David's witness of faith, Hebrews 11:32, here was a type of and pointed to Jesus... Continue reading →
david vs Goliath - Type of Jesus' Faith
Volume 2, Number 45Davids witness of faith (vs. Goliath) - Part 2:The Spirit of the Lord came upon David at the anointing by Samuel. It left Saul who then became troubled by an evil spirit, 1 Samuel 16:13 & 14. Saul called David to his court to play the harp when the evil spirit tormented him, so causing it to desist, 1 Samuel 16:23. Then the Scripture records Davids experience with the giant Goliath. Todays study will examine Davids witness of faith therein and our next study will point out how all this was a type pointing to the work subsequently finished by... Continue reading →