A SHORT HISTORY OF THE HOLY BIBLE The Holy Bible is not only the greatest and best of all books, but it is also the oldest. Its history has been very difficult to trace, yet the same Divine guidance that set its authors to work to write it has made Christians delve into the mists of the past to learn all about it. We find out more about it every day through the research of learned men, and things that are now hidden from us regarding it doubtless will be revealed in the course of time. As to its authors and age, however, we know a very great deal. It was written by about forty different men and as it comes to us it took about sixteen hundred years to compose. We know pretty accurately that Moses began it about the year 1500 B.C. and that John, who wrote the last book, Revelation, finished it about the year 90 A.D., which estimate fills out the sixteen centuries. The Bible gets its name from a Greek word which means “the little books.” Gradually, in the course of many years, this word came to stand for something more than “little books,” of which the Big Book was composed. It came to mean “the book,” the “holy book,” and finally it came to mean just what it means today—the Holy Book of Books. This great work is composed of two parts—the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament has in it thirty-nine books or parts. It contains God’s account of the creation of the world, a history of the Jewish people and God’s dealings with them, a number of books written by the great Jewish prophets in which are foretold the things that happen in the New Testament, as well as a number of beautiful books of purely a religious character, such as the Psalms. The men who wrote the Old Testament discontinued working on it about four hundred years before Jesus Christ was born. The New Testament begins with the birth of Jesus and covers a period of about seventy-five years down to the time when the faith of Christianity was being extended by the men Jesus Himself chose to go out into the world and tell about it. The New Testament contains twenty-seven books, four of which are known as Gospels, because they tell particularly of the life of Jesus. Some learned men think the word “gospel” means “God story” or “narrative of God,” while some think it means “good story” or “good tidings,” because of the tidings of salvation that it brings to those who read it. I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS QUICK REFRESHER TO BE INTERESTING, AND YOU WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE FROM IT. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
FAITH, WHAT IS IT? What is the meaning of faith? It’s in the Bible, Hebrews 11:1, TLB. “What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.” Jesus is the source of faith. It’s in the Bible, Luke 17:5, TLB. “One day the apostles said to the Lord, ‘We need more faith; tell us how to get it.'” Romans 10:17, NIV says, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.” Real faith is believing in what Christ has done for us. It’s in the Bible, Romans 5:1, TLB. “So now, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith in his promises, we can have real peace with Him because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” Faith is trusting God in everything. It’s in the Bible, Hebrews 10:38, TLB. “And those whose faith has made them good in God’s sight must live by faith, trusting Him in everything. Otherwise, if they shrink back, God will have no pleasure in them.” Weak faith can become strong faith with God’s help. It’s in the Bible, Mark 9:24, TLB. “The father instantly replied, ‘I do have faith; oh, help me to have more!'” DO YOU HAVE FAITH IN GOD? IS YOUR FAITH IN GOD WEAK? IF YOUR FAITH IS WEAK ASK GOD TO STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
THE BIBLE SPEAKS TO US ABOUT VALUES Micah 6:8 ESV He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Proverbs 19:1 ESV Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. Colossians 3:12-14 ESV Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Proverbs 22:1 ESV A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. Luke 6:31 ESV And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. Proverbs 10:9 ESV Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE AND BE BLESSED BY GOD. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Christ’s Coming Blessedness for Those Who Are Found Watching In the parable of the lord returning from the wedding, Christ enforces and emphasises the Coming of Himself—Luke 12:35–48. The distinctiveness of our Lord’s return is declared no less than nine times in connection with the words: “He cometh,” “will come,” “come,” “The Son of Man cometh,” and “He shall come.” In relation to the last, our Lord declares that when “He shall come” and find His servants waiting and watching, those servants are “blessed.” They shall be “blessed” in many ways— 1. They shall be “blessed” with His approval, because they will be ready to “open unto Him immediately,” when “He cometh and knocketh” (v. 36). 2. They shall be “blessed” with His service, for, finding them watching, “He will come forth and serve them” (v. 37). 3. They shall be “blessed” in not suffering loss, for Christ implies in the parabolical language used, the man who does not watch against “the thief” finds his house “broken through”—v. 39, 40. 4. They shall be “blessed” for faithful and wise stewardship in being appointed rulers over the Lord’s household, and in ministering to others—v. 42–44. The fact that those who are found watching shall be “blessed” implies that those who are not so found, will suffer loss and disapproval; yea, more, those servants will be “beaten with many stripes,” who knew their Lord’s will and did not “prepare” themselves; and also those who did not know their Lord’s will, receive few stripes; and yet again, those who professed to be His servants, and presumed upon their position, will be “cut” off—v. 45–48. ALLOW THIS QUICK STUDY TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
