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If all we know of Jesus and the bible is the Christmas story it's like opening a book to the middle and reading one random paragraph! You would be left with so many questions. How does the story begin? What kind of obstacles and conflict do the characters face? Do they triumph? What happens to the bad guy? And nothing would really make any sense. You will never get the full impact of the story that way. The very same thing is true with the bible, God's precious Word to us. Most people know the Christmas Story but you can't get the full impact if that's all you know. A Savior is born. Savior for who? Savior from what? How did the story begin? How does the story end? Here I will give you a picture of what His Story looks like, but in order for you to receive what this story has for you, you will need to dig into the real deal, the Bible-God's Living Word. Remember too, that you have a special place in this story...We are living out the last book of the bible and if you are reading this you still have time to choose your place in the story and how it ends for you. Will you spend Eternity with God or will you spend it apart from Him? His desire is to have you choose Him, it's why we have the bible, it's why we were given a choice in the garden, it's why He came to us in human form (Jesus) to die for our sins, we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ, that's it, nothing else. We are all sinful people but God LOVES US, Romans 5:8 For God demonstrates HIS OWN LOVE for us in this-While we were STILL sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US.

The  bible tells the story of God and humanity from the creation of all  things right through to the very last day of life on this planet as we  know it. God created the heavens and the earth and everything in it.  When looked at intently all of creation undeniably showcases a  magnificent Creator. As a matter of fact many scientists are finding as  they go deeper and deeper into multiple facets of creation, that there  HAS to be "intelligent" design! God has left His fingerprint on  EVERYTHING! Every aspect of creation is specifically and  intricately designed to function in its particular environment, designed  with a very special purpose . For example, a fish is created to have  the ability to breathe and live underwater. Think about that... I found  it fascinating that a camel was created with three sets of eyelids,  which helps to keep the sand out of its eyes and it also has the ability  to hold 30 gallons of water! The Creator knew what the camel would  need!  All the wonders of the universe, the planets sitting perfectly in  space, the earth rotating and orbiting around the sun, the perfect  positioning of the earth to the sun, gravity-all of it working perfectly  together to sustain life on earth! Ever wonder where Columbus got the  idea that the earth was round? Perhaps from Isaiah  40:22 He sits enthroned above the CIRCLE of the earth! At that point in  history before we could see above the earth, only the Creator could  KNOW that the earth was indeed round. Look at the miracle of human  life, this is not something that can be explained away! Think about the  eye and how it works, the brain and how it operates, how the blood clots  so we don't bleed to death from a small cut. The amount of information  stored in just ONE DNA cell is mind-blowing! It takes more faith to  believe everything came into existence by random chance than it takes to  believe that there is intelligent design behind it all. Every organ and  cell and it's  function in the human body has purpose and points to a  Creator! Every created work of God was made with purpose, everything has  a very special job to do while here in this life, including you!  You  matter and what you do in this life matters very much! Everything in all  of God's spectacular creation is perfectly and wonderfully made and  it's purpose is to reveal and bring glory to God, it's undeniable  Creator.

When God created Adam and Eve He enjoyed a personal relationship with them. Right from the very beginning relationship has always been what God desired with us. Not religion. Religion is man trying to work their way to God with their own rules, regulations and traditions. God came to us and gives us His Word so we can know Him personally! As their loving Father, God had provided a wonderful environment for Adam and Eve to live and flourish in. Wonderful like beyond what our minds could ever imagine! Their every need was met, there was no pain or suffering or even death! What's far greater is that they were in the very presence of God, in perfect UNBROKEN  relationship with Him. 

Then came the day when they chose to listen to the lies of the enemy. He got them to doubt God, a tactic he still uses today (Did God really say...?)  When they disobeyed God, sin and death entered the world and EVERYTHING in God's beautiful creation was broken. It was no longer functioning in God's perfect design. The relationships they had with each other, self, the world and most importantly their relationship with God, were now filled with darkness, brokenness, sickness and death. Although this angered God he still cared for Adam and Eve and clothed them. Because of their sin, they were now separated from God and could no longer live in the garden. Sin would now rule in their hearts rather than God. God made a promise in the garden that a seed from Eve's offspring would crush the enemy, the enemy would bruise His heel, but He would ultimately crush the enemy putting an end to sin, evil and death forever. That was the first of many, many prophecies of the coming Savior, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, coming into His own story to rescue His people and bringing through Salvation, the restoration of His entire Creation! God had an incredible plan for humanity.

What is the significance of Israel? We see Israel in the headlines everyday but why is Israel considered the Holy Land? What makes it Holy?  Holy simply means- set apart, sacred.

The first and very essential part of God's plan was to establish for Himself a nation, a nation set apart from the rest of the world.  God established the nation of Israel through a man named Abraham. This would be God's chosen people to carry out several tasks that are crucial in God's plan to redeem and restore all of creation. First, this group of people, (called Hebrews, Israelites, or Jewish-all the same), would be responsible to record and preserve God's very Word to us! They would also reflect to the entire world what it means to belong to God, and that He is indeed the One True God. Most importantly, it is through this bloodline that the Promised Messiah, God Himself, would be born (that's pretty significant right?!). God made a covenant with Abraham, promising him that He would make Abraham into a great nation and that all people on earth would be blessed through him (blessed by the Savior that would come to rescue sinners).

Throughout the story of Israel we see a pattern form. The people of God have faith and start off being obedient to God which always brings blessings. As time goes on and they have an over abundance of all they could ever want, their need for God diminishes and it's not long before they turn their backs on God, start living sinful lives and worshipping other gods! (Sounds a lot like us Americans doesn't it?) God pours out His righteous discipline on them and they begin to turn back to God again, out of desperation. This happens over and over again. God always remains faithful even when His people are not! He never cuts off His Mercy and Grace.  All the while God keeps speaking of what will happen before it happens (Prophesy), continually proving who He is, that He is faithful and true so that we will believe. Over 700 years before Jesus was born Isaiah wrote about the Messiah. Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Check out Isaiah 53. God, through the prophet Isaiah describes Jesus, and what He would do for us. 

This brings us to God's Promised Messiah!

God wrote over 300 prophesies describing the coming Promised Messiah. Over 300!! AND if there was just 1 prophesy that was not fulfilled- just one- that person WOULD NOT be the Messiah. Jesus Christ fulfilled EVERY ONE of them! This also ties in with the argument of "which books belong in the bible". There are many writings outside of the completed Canon (the bible in it's entirety) of scripture. The Jewish people had the responsibility given to them by God Himself of writing and recording His word. The Catholic church added several books to the Old Testament that were never included in the original finished work of the Old Testament, therefore, they are not included in the Canon. In order for a New Testament book to be considered part of the Canon it must pass the Messiah Test. The Messiah Test is the "measuring stick" to which scripture is measured against. New Testament books must line up EXACTLY with Old Testament prophesy about the Promised Messiah. Canonical books are identified as books written by the Divine inspiration of God through various men. 

We all know the Christmas story, a Savior is born! The long awaited Messiah! Jesus Christ, God Himself, born to redeem, rescue and restore His entire Creation! Because people are incapable of living a sinless life and because God loves us so very much, He himself came to take the punishment for our sin so that we could live forever in His very presence. God is a Just God and so sin, ALL sin needs to be paid for. We like to think that we don't commit any sin worthy of punishment but we need to measure our sin against God's standard not ours. Here is the big piece of God's plan that we get wrong most of time- We look at God and His laws as a list of things we can't do or He will send us to hell, end of story. But God doesn't end it there, Jesus Christ, God Himself, willingly took the punishment. If you give Him your life, to do with it whatever He pleases, the punishment for your sin has been satisfied, paid in full, you belong to God, an exchange has taken place-His life for yours. Nothing will ever separate you from Him-EVER!! 

Jesus proved Himself to be God when He rose from the dead. First, He said He would, then He did it! 

During His time on earth Jesus showed us how we are to live, not for this life, but for the next one, sacrificing and laying our lives down to bring others into His Kingdom. He showed us the Love of the Father and that it was not the Law that He desired but a loving relationship with us. 

We are living in what's called the church age. There is great prophecy and promises that are still yet to come. God tells us these things to prove His word true. Why???

1) We are saved by FAITH, by believing,  AND

2) Because it is His will that NONE should perish, but that everyone would come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) He (Jesus) endured the cross for the JOY set before Him-YOU AND I ARE THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM!! We are His beloved, loved and cherished above all created things...By proving His word true, through prophecy, we are given great evidence that is difficult to dispute. He wants us to believe, so that we can enter into His presence for all of Eternity. Right now the last book of the bible is unfolding right before our eyes. If you are interested in learning what's to come and see the signs that are being fulfilled right now Pastor Michael Woodward is doing an in-depth study on the book of Revelation. You can find it at  www.osbc.org go to Sermons, scroll down to WOKE the book of Revelation. 

God's plan from the very beginning has always been to restore the perfect relationship He had with us before the fall. Restoration of all that had been broken and destroyed by sin. Bringing us back to Eden, the paradise He had designed. This is a promise for God's people. Those who have said "Yes" to His invitation. We see only two kinds of people throughout the entire bible. Those that have a relationship with Him, and those who have rejected Him. Every one of them are sinners, all that separates them is whether they have accepted Jesus as Lord over their life or not. Today is the day of Salvation, we are not promised tomorrow- take that step with Him, surrender, ask Him into your heart and life. These promises can be yours too...

John 11:25-26 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Revelation 21:3-5 “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”