How can Old Testament believers be saved by believing in Jesus?

How were Old Testament people saved. What did they understand about Christ and His sacrifice?

Statements like John 3:36, 14:6," TARGET="_blank">John 3:36, 14:6, Acts 4:12" TARGET="_blank">Acts 4:12 and I Timothy 2:5" TARGET="_blank">I Timothy 2:5 allow us to infer from Scripture that it is impossible to be saved apart from the work of Christ and personal faith in Him. That inference is justified by the clear teaching of Romans 3:25,26." TARGET="_blank">Romans 3:25,26. The statement "the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God" is linked with the propitiatory death of our Lord Jesus. He was the foreordained Lamb. His death was a certainty in the purposes of God and enabled God, in His forbearance, to forgive sin in light of a coming Calvary (Psalm 32:1)." TARGET="_blank">Psalm 32:1). It is wonderful to think of the Spirit of God gently dealing with a devout Hebrew who was searching for God and wondering what the significance of the many sacrifices was. I Peter 1:10," TARGET="_blank">I Peter 1:10,11 refers to those who searched diligently for the meaning and time of the fulfillment of prophecies relating to salvation. Imagine Daniel's awe when it was revealed to him that Messiah would be "cut off!" Many of those Old Testament believers could join us in singing, "O wondrous hour when God to me, a vision gave of Calvary."

E. Higgins

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Is Hobab in Numbers 10:29 the same person as in Judges 4:11?

Is Hobab in Numbers 10:29" TARGET="_blank">Numbers 10:29 the same person as in Judges 4:11" TARGET="_blank">Judges 4:11?

Two problems underlie this question: both Raguel and Hobab are called Moses’ father-in-law; one is a Midianite, the other a Kenite. Reuel (Exodus 2:18)" TARGET="_blank">Exodus 2:18) is the same word as Raguel (Numbers 10:29)" TARGET="_blank">Numbers 10:29) the Midianite, which makes it clear that he was Moses’ father-in-law. Jethro (Exodus 18:1, 27)" TARGET="_blank">Exodus 18:1, 27) is another of his names. In Numbers 10:29," TARGET="_blank">Numbers 10:29, Raguel is Hobob’s father, but Hobab is also called Moses’ father-in-law in Judges 4:11." TARGET="_blank">Judges 4:11. The word translated "father-in-law" in both these cases is also translated "son-in-law" (1 Samuel 18:21," TARGET="_blank">1 Samuel 18:21, etc.) and "mother-in-law" (Deuteronomy 27:23)." TARGET="_blank">Deuteronomy 27:23). It signifies anyone related by marriage. In Judges 4:11," TARGET="_blank">Judges 4:11, the relationship is brother-in-law. Moses’ father-in-law is both a Kenite (Judges 1:16)" TARGET="_blank">Judges 1:16) and a Midianite (Numbers 10:29)," TARGET="_blank">Numbers 10:29), so his son Hobab is the same man in these 2 passages.

D. Oliver
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In what way were there none greater than John the Baptist?

In what way were there none greater than John the Baptist (Matthew 11:11)" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 11:11)?

Gabriel had told Zecharias before John’s birth that "he shall be great in the sight of the Lord" (Luke 1:15)." TARGET="_blank">Luke 1:15). That greatness is in the context of remarks about John’s person or character. This assessment in Matthew, however, follows the Lord’s statement about John’s exalted service: he "shall prepare Thy way before Thee." Among all men, what a great privilege and honor it is to be entrusted by the Lord with a work to do for Him. Among all to whom the Lord has entrusted a work, no one’s responsibility involved a higher privilege and honor than John’s; he prepared the way before the Lord, personally introducing to God’s chosen people the long-promised Messiah, Deliverer, and Lamb of God. In a unique sense, John was "My messenger"; four of the five times that expression occurs it refers to John. This is quite an honor bestowed on John!

D. Oliver

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sunday school lessons for children

Sunday School Lessons for Children

There are several good resources here for Sunday school lessons for children. Choose one of the following:

1. Lesson plans - in order to help you develop a long-term plan as well as apply Bible stories to life, over 250 Sunday school lessons for children will keep you on track for about three years of Sunday school teaching. Each lesson contains several talking points and a memory verse.

2. Printable activities - printable maps, 3D models, puzzles, self-evaluation quizzes and games will help you make your Sunday school lessons for children of all ages more engaged in your story. Most of these activities are PDF files or Power Point presentations. Most of projects require taping and cutting or coloring to complete.

3. worksheets - although somewhat repetative, puzzles can be used occasionally to review the points you make in your Sunday school lessons for children. The worksheets include crosswords, word finds, word scrambles and others. Each worksheet is specific to a Bible story which avoids the problem with most puzzle books - general questions that apply to no specific part of the Bible.

4. Newsletter - when Saturday night comes to your house and you need to invent another Sunday school lesson for your children, a weekly lesson in your inbox might be just what you need to start your thinking process started. The visitor metrics to this site spike every Saturday by about 20% above the normal amount of daily visitors. Each week the new items are added to the printable activities section. This newsletter will get you the newest updates to the site first. Feedback from subscribers provides new ideas for future activities.

All material on the site is free to use. Please use it and share it with others who are creating Sunday school lessons for children. Although the activities retain their copyrigh, permission is granted for non-profit use in an educational environment.

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Is Israel ever going to be removed from it's land again?

Does the Bible teach that Israel will never again be removed from its land?

The promises to Abraham concerning the Land make it clear that it will be Israel's forever. The Scriptures show that this promise will be made good when Christ returns in glory and the Spirit is poured out on the nation (Luke 21:24;" TARGET="_blank">Luke 21:24; Matthew 24:31;" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 24:31; Isaiah 32:15-20;" TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 32:15-20; Jeremiah 30:4-11; 31:31-37; 39:25-29;" TARGET="_blank">Jeremiah 30:4-11; 31:31-37; 39:25-29; Micah 4:4-7;" TARGET="_blank">Micah 4:4-7; Joel 3:20;" TARGET="_blank">Joel 3:20; Zechariah 8:3-8)." TARGET="_blank">Zechariah 8:3-8). The Land's being theirs eternally does not necessitate its being theirs permanently now. They have returned in unbelief. The recovery mentioned in Deuteronomy 30:1-6" TARGET="_blank">Deuteronomy 30:1-6 is dependent upon confession and restoration. The recovery of Isaiah 11:11" TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 11:11 is simultaneous with "that day," mentioned earlier in the chapter. Neither condition has been fulfilled in the current "regathering" of Israel to the land, therefore this may not be the prophesied regathering. A principle of prophecy is that God gives foretastes of a fulfillment before the actual fulfillment.

Israel must be in the land to fulfill the terms of Daniel's 70th week, but we have no Scriptural authority relating this to those currently there. Believers should not be shaken if Israel were driven into the sea, as the Arab nations have long threatened.

A. Higgins

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Funny Bible Questions

Funny Bible Questions grouped into eight categories:

Funny Bible Questions 8

Funny Bible Questions about Adam and Eve

Funny Bible Questions 7

Funny Bible Questions about Banking and Finance

Funny Bible Questions 6

Funny Bible Questions about Moses

Funny Bible Questions 5

Funny Bible Questions about David

Funny Bible Questions 4

Funny Bible Questions about Famous Places

Funny Bible Questions 3

Funny Bible Questions about Bible Names

Funny Bible Questions 2

Funny Bible Questions about Sports

Funny Bible Questions 1

Funny Bible Questions about Noah

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Is

WEAKNESS IN TESTIMONY

Is “The Church of God” in ruins, as held and taught by many?

If by the “Church of God” is meant “the Church which is His Body,” the statement is quite erroneous, for that is preserved for ever. But “Church of God” is used by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:9;" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:13," TARGET="_blank">Galatians 1:13, in an extended sense of all Christians he could get at, though the term generally refers to the local expression of the Church. Thus, in 1 Corinthians 10:32," TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 10:32, the inhabitants of the city are divided into “Jews,” “Greeks,” and “the Church of God” (see Acts 20:28;" TARGET="_blank">Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 1: 2; 11:22)." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 1: 2; 11:22).

We have, too, the expression the “Churches of God” (see `1 Corinthians 11:16;" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 11:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:14)." TARGET="_blank">1 Thessalonians 2:14). The expression, “IN RUINS,” would apply rather to some WORLDWIDE ORGANISATION. When that breaks down, they say the Church is in ruins, but it is THEIR ORGANISATION. None of God’s assemblies, low as their state was, was ever said to be in ruins, though Ephesus was warned lest her lampstand be removed. The testimony, too, is of a remnant character, and in weakness; but such as it is, it is not “IN RUINS,” nor ever need be. Such an expression is not applied in the Scriptures to a Church of God.

W.H.

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In what ways can elders help develop others

In what ways can elders help develop others’ gift in preaching the gospel?

God intends an assembly to be the garden where gift develops. Elders are responsible for this (1 Timothy 4:14)." TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 4:14). Sunday night gospel meetings are not the place to begin developing gospel gift. A healthy assembly will have a variety of scriptural gospel activities involving younger believers (1 Thessalonians 1:8)." TARGET="_blank">1 Thessalonians 1:8).

One of the most important helps in preaching is personal witnessing. This teaches a person what truth to present and how to present it effectively. Helping in a Sunday School class or in children’s meetings by teaching children verses or telling a brief Bible story with a simple application is good training. Holding the attention of children during a lesson develops gift. Accompanying a trusted, experienced brother as he presents the gospel in a home visit is valuable. To reach into neighboring communities with the gospel, elders can encourage younger believers to help older workers (Acts 20:4)" TARGET="_blank">Acts 20:4) or to initiate children’s meetings or gospel meetings in rented buildings.

D. Oliver
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Is the role of an elder's wife as significant as her husbands?

Is her role just as significant as her husband’s?

Yes. Eve was equally responsible for the work entrusted to them on creation’s sixth day (Genesis 1:28)." TARGET="_blank">Genesis 1:28). Her role in fulfilling that work was different, but inseparable from Adam’s role. Competition between a man and his wife is unbecoming; marriage should reflect the wonderful union between Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:32)." TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 5:32). Each rejoices in the usefulness of the other and supports and encourages the other in fulfilling God’s will.

A husband who fails to appreciate the significance of his wife’s role does not understand God’s intention in his marriage. Having responsibility as an overseer never exempts a man from his responsibilities as a husband. He is equally accountable to the Lord for both roles. Caring for and nurturing his wife (Eph 5:29)" TARGET="_blank">Eph 5:29) will express the kindness, sensitivity, and concern that should mark his shepherding work in the assembly (see 1 Thessalonians 2:7)." TARGET="_blank">1 Thessalonians 2:7). In caring for his marriage, he will be better equipped to "take care of the church of God" (1 Timothy 3:5)." TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 3:5).

D. Oliver

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Is there a difference between being gathered to His name and being gathered to Him?

Is there a difference between being gathered to His name and being gathered to Him?

Strictly speaking, the New Testament doesn’t speak of "being gathered to Him." The Hebrew believers however were to "go forth" to the Lord, bearing His reproach (Hebrews 13:13," TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 13:13, JND). These believers were to identify themselves with Christ because the despised, yet exalted Jesus of this epistle drew them.

"Being gathered together unto My name" (Matthew 18:20," TARGET="_blank">Matthew 18:20, JND) is passive, emphasizing that the "two or three" present did not per se gather themselves to His name. Because the Spirit works to glorify Christ (John 16:14)," TARGET="_blank">John 16:14), the Spirit is likely the One Who gathers believers to His name. What is the Spirit’s purpose in gathering believers to that name? The Lord’s name, like Hebrew names, reveals His character; it testifies about Him. God said regarding Solomon’s temple, "My name shall be there" (1 Kings 8:29)." TARGET="_blank">1 Kings 8:29). The greatness of the temple that bore God’s name testified to the greatness of God. Thus, at present the Spirit gathers believers to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ because God has established a testimony in a locality; the church of God is to express the character and glory of Him Whose name it bears.

Love to Christ causes us to be identified with Him ("gathered to Him") in assembly fellowship; the Spirit gathers us to His name, establishing and maintaining a testimony regarding the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

D. Oliver
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