"The Word and US" Update 16.3.2026
My aim is to research how God has communicated, "The Word of God" with "US"
The "Bible" is associated with both Christian and Jewish traditions and also with the Mormons and Jehovah's Wittnesses. Each faith teaches that a Bible provides reliable evidence of communications from God. In my opinion both Jewish and Christian traditions are correct although a Christian Bible contains more books than a Jewish Bible because Christians have added further books to the Jewish Bible to expand on information in the Jewish Bible in order that changes are explained which followed the death and resurection of Jesus (Jewish name Yeshua). I have set out how Mormons and Jehovah's Wittnesses in my opinion have departed from what the Bible teaches in the section Similarities/differences to the Bible.
Bible comes from a Greek word "Biblos" which means books. The books in a Bible are from ancient scrolls and parchments copied over many centuries written by people who believed they were communicating a message they had received from God - which they often describe as "the Word of God". So what is a Bible? Very simply, a Bible is a library of writings about the "Word of God". You can access a Bible for your self at www.bible.com
God is not restricted to communicate through a Bible. The Bible explains that nature "declares God" (Psalm 19:1,2) and that if everything was written down about Jesus that all the books in the world could not contain the information! (John 21:2)
"US" The message in the Bible is for all Nationalities and all religous traditions. In the section "Similarities/Differences to the Bible" I have looked at various faiths in the order of when I understand each commenced. It should not be surprising that all religons share aspects about God and I comment from my perspective as a Christian always respectfully.Please email any insights which you feel may help future updates to david@jebb.ie
The fact that Jesus (Yeshua Messiah) died, rose again from death and today not only rules our Universe but plans to return makes Christianity totally unique. Please test if what I share resonates! "The Word and US."
The Timeline/Jew/Christian
The oldest documents in the Bible are known as the "Tanakh" The writers of the parchments which comprised the Tanakh (Bible) were Jews from various locations throughout Asia and Europe, in different centuries, up to 600 BC years before Jesus)
What is the meaning of Jew? To be a Jew means being part of a covenant community "called by God"- descendants of Abraham.
Christians have renamed the Tanakh as the "Old Testament" because it is written in the context of various Covenants /promises God made with the people making up the community called to follow God during the period in the timeline before the special Jew called "Jesus" was born as a baby to the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem.
The world changed when Jesus introduced the "New Covenant." The New Covenant impacts all of us because it expanded/redefined the worldwide community to whom God has made promises in Jesus. After the death and resurrection of Jesus, Christians added further writings explaining the changes Jesus had introduced in the "New Covenant.". These writings are known as the "New Testament." ("Testament" is a translation of "Covenant.")
At the time Jesus was preaching in Palestine the parchments making up the Tanakh comprised the Torah (Law) Neviim (Prophets) and the Ketuvim (writings). These hand written parchments/scrolls were in ancient Hebrew and Arabic. There was also a Greek translation- "the Septuagant" written around 300BC at the time "Alexander the Great" (336BC to 323BC) conquered the known world setting up the Greek empire with Greek language. One of the books in the Tanakh "Daniel"contains prophecies given to king Nebuchadnezzar predicting International political upheavals. These are remarkable due to their accuracy in predicting future empires. and are worth reading for your self in Daniel:2. In a vision there is a statue with body parts symbolizing future empires; head of gold -Babylon, chest, and arms of silver- Medo-Persian, (623-562BC) Belly and thighs of bronze Greek and legs of iron, feet of iron and clay -Roman Empire.
The Septuagant translation includes additional writings not in the Tanakh. For example, "Daniel" provides more information in the Septuagant than the Tanakh. HoweverBoth the Tanakh and Septuagant provide a "Timeline" recording God's intervention over centuries and include other prophecies foretelling God's plans.Much is only now being understood being explained by modern day prophets such as www.ntwrightpage.com
Authentication Much in the timeline is supported by archaeological research such as www.biblearchaeologyreport.com
The timeline records; National captivity in Egypt , Rescue led by Moses 1446BC (Bible the Exodus:1-15), capturing land in present day Israel ,civil war and division into two nations Israel and Judah. After the division of Israel and Judah 930BC the northern tribes Israel were conquered and the population absorbed into non-Jewish (Gentile) nations.
The southern tribes Judah were conquered by Assyria. Assyria subsequently merged into Babylon (present day Iran) but unlike the Northern tribes the Southern tribes retained their "JEW" identity despite events like the Holocaust so horrifically documented in various museums today including those located at Auschwitz, Berlin, and Jerusalem
Israel/Palestine so bitterly contested today came into Byzantine control after the Jews were evicted by the Roman emperor Hadrian AD 135, builder of Hadrian's wall between England and Scotland. Jerusalem was renamed Aelia Capitolina, in honour of the family of Hadrian's family "Aelia" and Jupiter "Capitolinus" the chief Roman god. Byzantine control was replaced by Arab Caliphate, followed by the Crusaders, then the Mamluks, after which the Ottoman empire 1517 until British control in 1917. The Balfour Declaration 1917 proposed the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people with equal rights for the existing non-Jewish population. In 1947 the United Nations proposed dividing land between Jewish and Arab states. Since 1948 wars have been fought, many thousands of Palestinians have been displaced whilst Jews throughout the world have been returning and building Israel as a Jewish State.
How the Bible was assembled:
Although not bound as one document the scrolls comprising the Tanakh tended to be stored together in places used for public worship, either Jewish synagogues or the Jerusalem temple. Around 28-30AD Jesus taught that these scrolls which had existed for centuries were about Him! One of many powerful evidences of supernatural inspiration. Bible Luke 24:27, "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets he (Jesus) explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself"
The Jewish leadership not only rejected Jesus claims to be the son of God spoken of in the historic Tanakh documents but incited the Roman army of occupation to carry out a mock trial and execute Jesus by crucifixion.
The resurrection of Jesus launched a movement which became known by a Greek word the "Ecclesia" Assembly of those called.
Today Ecclesia translates to "Church"- Assembly of those Called to follow God.
Please note/compare with the meaning of Church "Assembly of those Called to follow God."
with the meaning of Jew "Community Called to follow God"
Who supplied the writing in the New Testament?
History Saul/Paul The following events happened around AD 50 regarding a Jewish teacher called Saul whose name was changed to Paul;
Acts 15:1-6 Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, (Saul had been involved in the stoning to death of an early follower of Jesus called Stephen.) went to the high priest and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, (following Jesus) whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he travelled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him. He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" He said who are you, LORD?" The Lord said "I am Yeshua, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, then you will be told what you must do"
A man called Hananiah is instructed to meet Saul who had been blinded by his experience. Paul was given a vision that Hananiah would "lay hands" on Saul whose sight would be restored. Acts 15:17 Laying his hands on him, he said Brother Saul, the Lord who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit
After his encounter with Jesus Sauls name was changed to Paul. Paul very successfully promoted the cause of Jesus writing a substantial part of the New Testament, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Phillipians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy, and Romans.
Other New Testament writings are accredited to disciples of Jesus called Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, James, Jude, and Peter.
The "Cannon"- in my opinion an attempt to supplant the authority of the Holy Spirit
An early church leader called Marcion introduced the idea of "The Cannon of scripture". Cannon is derived from a word meaning a rule of measurement ie whatever is in the Cannon can be trusted as "Authorative." The argument appears very plausible but in my opinion has led to confusion and division.
Again, In my opinion creating a "Cannon" gives power to whoever constructs the "Cannon" because by stating what is included in the "Cannon" empowers religous leaders to interpret the meaning and to justify any rules they may wish to impose, for example incorrectly applying scripture to supress women, or to justify apartheid/abusive slavery.So whilst the idea of a Cannon is supposedly to establish that the Bible is the authority, the tragedy of history shows how authority was assumed by religous leaders to apply scriptures whose meanings may have changed from what was intended by the original author.
In introducing this false thinking process Marcion ignored quotes by Paul such as; Romans 14:24,25
"Now to him who is able to establish you according to my Good News and the proclaiming of Jesus the Messiah, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret through long ages, but now is revealed, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known for obedience of faith to all the Nations."
and Romans 15:4
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through perseverance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope
Ignoring the references to
"Mystery which has been kept secret through long ages,"
"The scriptures of the prophets"
"Whatever things were written before"
Marcion proposed a Bible ignoring the Tanak/Septuagant, including only Lukes's gospel after redacting all references to the genealogy of the mother of Jesus and including Paul's writings -although perhaps Marcion had not read Romans 14 or 15? See above.
Around 300AD Latin was the language of the Roman Empire but Greek remained widely used in the Eastern Mediterranean; Greece, Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine, and Egypt. A Roman Christian theologian called Jerome translated into Latin the writings by Paul, disciples Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, James, and Jude along with the Tanakh. All these books were bound into one "library" which was known as the "Vulgate." "Vulgate" means "language of the people." There were other writings which were not included.
History of Christian division
Prior to the Latin Vulgate the denominations which today are known as "Orthodox" and "Roman Catholic" both used the Septuagant. In what is known as "the "Great Schism" 1054 AD the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches split into separately governed institutions. The Roman Catholic church taught that The Vulgate was the Cannon, the only version of the Bible authorised for use in the Roman empire.
In 1534 the Church in England ceased to recognise the authority of the Pope and submitted to the leadership of Henry VIII. (However, see above quote from Colossians concerning Jesus "He is the head of the body, the assembly") The Bibles used in the Church of England were "The great Bible," in English, based on Tyndale's translation and in Latin the Vulgate. A "prayerbook" was introduced in 1549 which extensively quotes from the Bible but also includes statements of belief such as the "Nicene creed" and prayer templates written by Thomas Cranmer and other Bishops. Cranmer was executed by Queen Mary 1556 for treason and heresy.
"The great Bible" was updated to the "Bishops Bible" in 1568 (in English) and further updated to the "King James Bible" 1604 -1611 (also in English) and distributed throughout the British Empire
As an Irishman I am particularly interested that in 1662 after the Church of Ireland became independent of the Church of England the Church of Ireland revised and continued to use a prayer book comparable to that used by the Church of England with the latest revision having taken place in 2004. I think the leaders in the Church of Ireland have provided good management of the two separate jurisdictions in Ireland because in Northern Ireland the prayerbook guides us to pray for the king of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland whilst the prayer book used in the Republic of Ireland guides us to pray for the Irish President. There is no contradiction both are following Pauls teaching 1Timothy 2:2 I exhort therefore, first, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high places, that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence
History; 1946 Dead Sea Scrolls discovery -Alternative evidence source discovered after formation of Bible
There are some who allege the Old Testament is fraudulent, and prophecies were inserted after the events predicted. For example, the above prophecy in Daniel predicting future historic empires is so accurate!
There was a remarkable 1946 discovery known as the Dead Sea Scrolls, still being researched today. Thousands of scrolls were discovered in caves in the Qumran desert. This evidence source predates and so validates scrolls that had been used in the millions of "King James" and other Bible translations already in circulation in numerous languages at the time of the Dead Sea discovery, which in themselves already had two sources the Hebrew Tanakh and the Greek Septuagant.
Signs in the Timeline.
I mentioned above how Jesus claimed that the scriptures spoke of him and how this is remarkable evidence of the inspiration of scripture. An example of a sign that Jesus would be born of a virgin is told in the story of Sarah could and would give birth to Isaac even though Sarah and Abraham had passed normal child bearing age (Genesis 17:17 21:1-7) Abraham had been told that through His seed the Messiah would come . The supernatural birth of Isaac was a real-life sign pointing to a future date when the Virgin Mary would give birth to Jesus
A further sign was given (Genesis :22) pointing to a future date when Jesus would die for the sins of the world. Having been told by God that Abraham's "seed" (Jesus) would be a blessing to all the world Abraham was asked to offer Isaac as a human sacrifice! Abraham was required to make a long journey (3days travel) to Mount Moriah to perform the sacrifice – incredibly I discovered when visting Jerusalem is that Mount Moriah this is the region where Jesus was to be crucified many generations later!
The story of God asking for a human sacrifice is quite shocking but is another real-life sign that sin is as repulsive to God as human sacrifice, sin must die. However, God is so loving that Jesus would be begotten from God as "the lamb" to die for our sin. At one level the sign was to test and demonstrate Abraham's obedience of faith in God and at another level a sign pointing to a future date when God would require Jesus to demonstrate his obedience of faith in God.
In the scripture quoted below please note; "your only son"- even though Abraham had another son Ishmael (Isaac's older brother) a normal birth to Abraham and Hagar. When I visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque (Dome of the Rock Jerusalem) I learnt that the Muslims believe it was Ishmael and not Isaac who Abraham was asked to sacrifice but this contradicts the scripture below.
The story of the instruction to sacrifice is a sign pointing forward to when God would have only one "begotten son" (John :3), born through a virgin's womb. The words used evidence inspiration by God. This prophetic sign pointed to the future event of the crucifixion of Jesus who was born of the virgin Mary as indicated in the sign of Isaac's supernatural birth.
He said, "Now take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love and go into the land of Moriah, offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you of
Abraham obeys to the point of binding Isaac on the altar and at the point where Abraham has taken his knife to kill his son;
Bible Genesis 22:11 The Lords angel called to him out of the sky, and said, Abraham, Abraham! He said "Here I am" he said don't lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now, I know you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son from me
Note at the start of Genesis 22:1 it is God the Father who speaks to Abraham but in verse 11 it is "The Lords angel" I believe the title "Lords angel" speaks of Jesus
Bible Genesis 22:13 Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and saw that behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him for a burnt offering instead of His son Abraham called the name of that place "THE LORD WILL PROVIDE" – a sign pointing to Jesus many generations later Evidence supporting that this is a sign;
Further commentary on the sign of God asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac
Bible Hebrews 11:17-19
By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his only born son, to whom it was said, your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac, concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead
Bible John 8:56 Jesus speaking
"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it and was glad"
James writes about Abraham and faith in God
Bible James 2:19-26 You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe – and shudder. But do you want to know vain man, that faith apart from works is dead. Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected. So, the scripture was fulfilled which says Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness (James is quoting Romans4:3) and he was called the friend of God. You see then that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith. In the same way wasn't Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way. For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead
Abraham's son Isaac provides Abraham with two grandsons called Esau and Jacob After wrestling with God (Genesis32:24-36) Jacob's name was changed to "Israel" which means "one who contends with God" This drama of wrestling with God is foretelling when Jesus would wrestle with God in a garden called Gethsemane before being crucified
Israel has a son called Joseph who is sold into slavery to the then superpower Egypt by his brothers. Miraculously Joseph becomes the most powerful person in the country next to the Pharoh. Joseph is given the opportunity to show grace and forgiveness to his family and resettle them as freemen in Egypt a sign pointing to how God can bless us.
In a few generations the people of Israel are forced into slave labour and genocide of their sons when born. When Moses is born, he is rescued from being killed by being hidden in an ARK- similar idea to Noah's Ark a sign of how Jesus can be our ark
God uses Moses to rescue the entire nation after providing physical signs which speak of future judgements also spoken of in Revelation, note climate issues today. Moses leads "Israel" in a 40 years desert experience which climaxes s follows;
Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel. You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my Treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites
So, Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words of the Lord had commanded him to speak. The people all responded together, "We will do everything the Lord has said" Exodus 19:3-8
"Everything the Lord has said we will do" Exodus 24:3
The 10 commandments given to Moses are a sign that we cannot keep the promises we intend to keep
(i)God requires sacrifices for Sin – "For the wages of sin is death" Romans 6:23
(ii)To obey 10 commandments given to Moses (Bible Exodus 20)
You shall have no other gods before me
You shall not make for yourself an idol in any form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
You shall not murder
You shall not commit adultery
You shall not steal
You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour
You shall not covet your neighbour's house. You shall not covet your neighbour's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.
In addition to the commandments there was also a requirement to make an Altar. Whilst no offerings were to be made to the gods offerings to God were mandatory alongside obedience.
There were clarifications on the commandments and the introduction of community festivals (Bible Exodus 21to 23)
As he was instructed early the following morning Moses built an altar, setting up one pillar for each for the twelve tribes, (of Israel) and offered burnt offerings and fellowship/peace offerings two types of sacrifice. Burnt offerings were completely consumed by fire to atone for sin. Fellowship/peace offerings expressed gratitude, peace, or fellowship with God. Only part of the animal was burnt on the altar, while the rest was eaten by the worshiper and their family or friends. This offering celebrated Gods presence and blessing in their lives using half the blood to sprinkle on the altar and half to place in bowls to enable blood to be sprinkled over the worshippers.
Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said. (Bible Exodus 24:4)
After having had the importance of obedience carefully explained the people responded;
"Then he took the book of the covenant and read it to the people They responded We will do everything the Lord has said, we will obey" Exodus 24:7 (Note three times they promised to obey)
Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said "This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words" (Bible Exodus 24:8)
Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu went up and saw the God of Israel Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God and they ate and (Bible: Exodus 24.9-12)
Even after having such a close experience with God as to see Him the ongoing presence of God still required more than good intentions to be obedient. Gods ongoing presence was and is contingent on ongoing obedience. At the first sign of wickedness/disobedience God withdrew his presence.
The problem of evil in the world today and not seeing Gods intervention to stop evil is bluntly summarised in Deuteronomy 30 :17-18
"But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed."
The stories of Israel after Deuteronomy recorded for example in the Bible books Samuel, Kings demonstrate how ignoring the warnings of Deuteronomy 30 led to national disaster. Intentions to serve God fail for lack of power to obey.
More signs are promised;
Bible Micah 5:1,2 The prophet Micah pinpointed the birth of Jesus to Bethlehem, and provides a prophecy about His mock trial.
They will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah (means fruitful place) being small amongst the clans of Judah, out of you one will come out of me who is to be ruler of Israel; whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times
Bible Isaiah 7:14
Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel
Isaiah wrote the above nearly 600 years before Jesus was born. He was warning about injustice in his culture and is inspired to write that a future sign of Emmanuel (God with us) would be a virgin birth. Isaiah also wrote;
Isaiah 10:17 The light of Israel will be for a fire, and His Holy One for a flame and it will burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day
Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Note the 53:5 scripture is written in the past tense although it was scribed centuries beforethe crucifixion event. The scriptures below are also written centuries before Jesus hands and feet were pierced on a cross, and the Roman soldiers gambled for the Cloak Jesus had been wearing!
Bible Psalm 22:16, they have pierced my hands and my feet
Bible Psalm 22:18 They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing
Bible Zechariah 12:10 They will look on me, the one they have pierced
The timeline tells us the definition of Jew is widened. Sons and daughters of Ishmael are not disadvantaged. Gentiles are not disadvantaged. In the widened definition the sign of physical circumcision is changed to "circumcision of the heart." God supernaturally cuts the heart's desire from serving of self to seeking after God
Bible Hosea 2:23 Romans 9:25
Hosea is an incredible story of a prophet (Hosea) being asked to marry a prostitute who is unfaithful a sign of how the people called by God are unfaithful. Gods love is for both Jew and Gentile
"… and I will tell those who were not my people You are my people; and they will say, You are My God
Paul explains this, Bible. Romans 9:6 But it is not as though the word of God has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel that are of Israel. Neither, because they are Abraham's offspring, are they all children. But your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac. That is it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise
Bible Jeremiah 33:7 "I will restore the fortunes of Judah and Israel and will build them as at the first."
Bible Jeremiah 33:9 This city (the new church community of Jew and Gentile followers of Jesus ) will be to me for a name of joy, for praise, and for glory, before all the nations of the earth, which will hear all the good that I do to them, and will fear and tremble for all the good that I do to them , and will fear and tremble for all the good and for all the peace that I provide it"
Bible Jeremiah 33:14 "Behold, the days come" says the Lord, "that I will perform that good word* which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and concerning the house of Judah. In those days and at that time, I will cause a Branch of righteousness to grow up to David. He will execute justice and righteousness in the land "
The prophecy I believe speaks of Jesus (the Branch of righteousness) uniting Jew (Judah) and the church (Israel) to provide "Levitical Priests" (Ministers) who live in a future city/church community
Bible Ezekiel (593BC to 571BC) is a prophecy in the timeline, which starts with a glimpse into the spiritual world
Bible Ezekiel 1:4-6 I looked and behold a stormy wind came out of the north: a great cloud, with flashing lightning, and a brightness around it, and out of the middle of it as it were glowing metal ,out of middle of the fire. Out of its centre came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: They had the likeness of a man. Everyone had four faces, and each one of them had four wings The creatures described (later called cherubim) are not unlike the creatures modelled to cover the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle built to represent what is in the heavens. (see below)
Bible Ezekiel 1:26 Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne , as the appearance of a sapphire stone. On the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above. I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it all around, from the appearance of his waist and upward; and from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. As the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud in the day of rain,so was the appearance of the brightness all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the LORD's glory
Bible Ezekiel 34:25 I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause evil animals to cease out of the land. They will dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. I will make them and the places around my hill a blessing
Bible Ezekiel 36:24 For I will take you from amongst the nations and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you ,and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes. You will keep my ordinances and do them.
Bible Ezekiel 37:7-9 So I prophesised as I was commanded. As I prophesised, there was a noise, and behold there was an earthquake. Then the bones came together, bone to its bone. I saw and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them
Bible Ezekiel 37:10 So I prophesised as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up on their feet, and exceedingly great army
Bible Ezekiel 37:16,17 You, son of man, take one stick and write on it "For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions Then take another stick and write on it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions. Then join them for yourself to one another into one stick that they may become one in your hand
Bible Galatians 3:26,27,28 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise
Jesus explained how the 10 commandments apply in his kingdom in what is called the Beatitudes
Bible Matthew 5 :3-16 (also Luke 6:20-26)
Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of God
Blessed are those who mourn For they will be comforted
Blessed are the meek For they will inherit the earth
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst For righteousness For they will be filled
Blessed are the merciful For they will be shown mercy
Blessed are the pure in heart For they will see God
Blessed are the peacemakers For they will be called sons of God
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness For theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a light and put it under a bowl Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven
Paul's analysis;
According to Paul in Romans 1:18 when society is not living in obedience;
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against the godlessness and wickedness of men
How Gods wrath is revealed Romans 1:24, 29 Therefore God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. What Paul haswritten almost 2000 years ago totally applies to what I see in the world today.
God's remedy
In Romans 1:5 Paul introduces obedience that comes from faith. "Circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit not by the written code" God has intervened to provide a righteousness that is not dependant on our strict adherence to the letter of the law but our faith
Bible Romans 3:21 "righteousness apart from the law"
How do we meet the requirements of the 10 commandments Exodus 21-23 and sacrifice for sin
Bible. Romans 3:25 Paul explains that the requirement of an altar has been met in Yeshua Paul explains that God has offered Christ Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement.
Bible Romans 3:26 Paul infers even God has faith in the blood of Jesus such that justice was not compromised when the sins of people under the Old Covenant were not punished. The men like Abraham believed GOD without knowing the detail of how GOD was going to offer a sacrifice of atonement. "To demonstrate his justice at the present time to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus
Bible Romans5:9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, we shall be saved from Gods wrath through him"
Bible Romans 5:11 "Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation
Bible Romans 6:10-18
"The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives he lives to God In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer your selves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master because you are not under law but under grace.
What then shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey – whether you are slaves to sin which leads to death, or to obedience which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted You have been set free from sin and have become slaves of righteousness
Bible Romans 7 :13 But in order that sin might be recognised as sin, it produced death in me
Society does not recognise that people are sinful. Society says look at the good that is in you/me. Yes, we are made in the image of God but we die, that is why we our bodies become weaker in our seventies, as our bodies begin to wind down for the great transition.
Bible Romans 8:4 And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit
Bible Romans 8:9 You, however, are not controlled by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you and if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ but if Christ is in you your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness
Bible Romans 8:14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God
Bible Romans 8:19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed for the creation was subjected to frustration, not of its own choice but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God
Bible Romans 9:17 "For the scripture says to Pharaoh, I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth"
Bible Romans 10 Paul quotes from Deuteronomy 30:10 which says
If you obey the Lord your God and keep His commands and decrees that are written in the book of the law and turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you must ask, who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so that we may obey it. No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so that you may obey it. See I set before you today life and prosperity death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them , I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. This day I call *heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings, and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice and hold fast to Him.
(*the spiritual world also as referenced in Ezekiel above)
Bible Romans 10 :6 The righteousness that is by faith says "Do not say in your heart Who will ascend to heaven?(that is to bring Christ down)or who will descend into the deep (that is to bring Christ up from the dead)But what does it say The word is near you ; it is in your mouth and in your heart , that is the word of faith we are proclaiming : That if you confess with your mouth "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved
How are we to understand this teaching?
Bible Romans 6:17 Paul writes "you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching"
Bible Galatians 1:15,16 Paul writes When God, who set me apart from birth and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult anyone , nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him 15 days.
Bible Galatians 2:1 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be the leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain
It took Paul over 17 years to work out what he believed! After 50 plus years I am still working it out! In the above Romans 10 quote Paul tells us the requirements first set out in Deuteronomy 30 are met by believing and confessing. The word is near, ie God is close.
I believe many people worry whether they have enough belief. Romans 6:25 precedes the Romans 10 quote "who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification" My understanding therefore is that if Jesus had not been raised from the dead I would not be justified. My confession is that I believe Jesus died for my trespasses, and Jesus was raised because I was justified! Therefore, it is not about my extent of belief, it is about God being satisfied that my trespasses are paid for and raising Jesus from death.
What do we do now?
Bible Ephesians: 3:8,9 the purpose of the church, (the "called" of God)
"To preach to the gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in GOD, who created all things. His intent was that now through the church, the manifold wisdom of GOD should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to His eternal purpose which He accomplished in CHRIST JESUS our LORD. In HIM and through HIM we may approach GOD with freedom and confidence.
Paul further explains Romans16:25,26,27 "the proclamation of JESUS CHRIST, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal GOD, so that all nations might believe and obey HIM- to the only wise GOD be glory for ever through JESUS CHRIST AMEN"
Conclusions
It would seem reasonable that all religons and therefore all religous writings would call us to do good and that being good is a prerequisite to pleasing God.However today there are many religous groups each claiming their scripture is the "Cannon" (as explained above) setting out the actions we need to take to please God. The result is confusion. The saying "the devil is in the detail " comes to mind.
For years my mind was very muddled by my confusing the Bible with its subject- "the Word of God" It came to me that we would not call a Physics book "Physics," a Chemistry book "Chemistry," or a Geography book "Geography." Commonsense tells us a Chemistry book is abour "Chemistry," a Physics book about "Physics," a Maths book about "Maths" We do not stop believing in "Chemistry" because new discoveries make our schoolboy Chemistry book inaccurate, we do not stop believing in "Physics" because new discoveries make our schoolboy Physics book incorrect. The Bible is not the Word of God any more than a Chemistry book is "Chemistry" The Bible is about the Word of God The Bible is a timeline of the Word of God climaxing in a person, a man called Jesus (Yeshua Messiah) The Bible we have today as first assembled by Jerome (explained above) has errors due to translation/meanings of words changing but there is extensive evidence to substantiate the message. Yeshua has risen from the dead , Yeshua is the Lord of creation.
The expression "Word of God" or "Word of the Lord" was widely used by the diverse writers from different centuries and different locations combined by Jerome into the Bible. Using the expression "Word of the Lord came to" is evidence that the writer believed what he was writing was from God.
The timeline contained in the Bible shows the terrible impact of Adam and eves disobedience to God, God's promises to Abraham (a Jew) that Abrahams seed would rescue not just Jews but the world. Then we learn the seed is Jesus and that the definition of Jew is expanded in that the sign of a Jew is no longer physical circumcision but circumcision of the heart.
Bible John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
Bible 1 John 1:1 That which was from from the beginning which we have heard which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life
Bible Revelation 1: 1-2 The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John who testifies to everything he saw that is the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Bible Revelation 19: 11-13 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire , and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that nobody knows bur he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horsesand dressed in linen white and clean.
We have prayed Bible Matthew 6:10 "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven "
Jesus perfectly obeyed the law, made a sacrifice of atonement for Jew and Gentile and offers US His righteousness so that without compromising God's Holiness wherever there is discord God can intervene with US! We ask the Holy Spirit to continually empower us to respond to the call of obedience of faith in Jesus
The Word and Us.