Have you heard of the Christocentric Principle of biblical understanding? Simply put, it means that everything we know about God, angels, Satan, human hopes, and the whole universe is best understood when viewed in relationship to Jesus Christ. He is at the center.
Recently, I discovered that one of the less familiar Old Testament books, Zechariah, is one of the most Christocentric. This book is a good example because it speaks of Christs humanity (6:12), His humility (9:9), His betrayal (11:12), His deity (12:8), His crucifixion (12:10), His return (14:4), and His future reign (14:8-21).
One especially meaningful passage is Zechariah 12:10, which says, Then they will look on Me whom they pierced. The piercing refers to Israels historic rejection of Jesus as Messiah resulting in His crucifixion. But this verse also predicts a future generation of Jews who will accept Him as their Messiah. At the second coming of Jesus, a remnant of Israel will recognize the crucified One and turn to Him in faith.
This marvelous book should encourage us to look for more Christ-centered truthsboth in other parts of the Bible and in all of life. Keep Jesus in the middle of everything. Live a Christocentric life.
toughts today ... not intended to be debating or arguing with onyone rading this devotional... observation only.
Preaching when I was young was about Jesus the Son of God, and how Jesus came to offer us salvation, was crucified , dead and buried, and resurrected on the third day, to Eternal life.
About 30 years ago preaching began to declare Jesus was God, and God the Father, the Eternal One, Jehovah, ElShadid, Abba Father, began to recede as the messages focused on Jesus.
This has worried me a bit.
Satan wanted to be God. It was a sin that led to his fall from Heaven with one third of the angels.
The mystery of the God head, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit seems to say, God sent the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Of course they are imbued with all powers. Still it makes me feel wrong to praise Jesus as God and leave aside God the Father. The invisible one.
__________________________________________________________
The ten commandments #1
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.
__________________________________________________________
Jesus said, the Father is greater than I. He said, I only do the things/works I have seen my Father do.
All of the God Head (Trinity) are due praise, honor, glory, reverence, obedience.
Changes in the manner of teaching and preaching do change with time.
Hell fire and damanation has receded, as has sin, and hell, and wrath. The church is ‘seeker friendly’ and accepts all comers, (which is great), but, it does not teach living together withour marriage is wrong, nor adultery between men and women is wrong: most take no stand on abortion, divorce or multiple divorce, homo sexuality practice..
Seldom if ever ‘true repentance’ and a change of heart, surrendering our life to God, is preached or referred to as being a necessary part of comeing to God. I fear we are moving away from the truth of the Bible and becoming secular/worldly.
So I pray to God and ask His wisdom, help, strength and understanding of His Word, and how to be pleasing to Him, in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, with the help of the Holy Spirit.
There are many churches disagreeing on doctrine, and the teachings vary. Especially Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Calvinists, etc., gay Ministers,
God help us in our day to walk on the oath of Your Word, in Jesus name amen.
Preaching when I was young was about Jesus the Son of God, and how Jesus came to offer us salvation, was crucified , dead and buried, and resurrected on the third day, to Eternal life.
About 30 years ago preaching began to declare Jesus was God, and God the Father, the Eternal One, Jehovah, Elohim, Abba Father, began to recede as the messages focused on Jesus.
This has worried me a bit.
Satan wanted to be God. It was a sin that led to his fall from Heaven with one third of the angels.
The mystery of the God head, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit seems to say, God sent the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Of course they are imbued with all powers. Still it makes me feel wrong to praise Jesus as God and leave aside God the Father. The invisible one.
__________________________________________________________
The ten commandments #1
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.
__________________________________________________________
Jesus said, the Father is greater than I. He said, I only do the things/works I have seen my Father do.
All of the God Head (Trinity) are due praise, honor, glory, reverence, obedience.
Changes in the manner of teaching and preaching do change with time.
Hell fire and damnation has receded, as has sin, and hell, and wrath. The church is ‘seeker friendly’ and accepts all comers, (which is great), but, it does not teach living together without marriage is wrong, nor adultery between men and women is wrong: most take no stand on abortion, divorce or multiple divorce, homo sexuality practice..
Seldom if ever ‘true repentance’ and a change of heart, surrendering our life to God, is preached or referred to as being a necessary part of coming to God. I fear we are moving away from the truth of the Bible and becoming secular/worldly.
So I pray to God and ask His wisdom, help, strength and understanding of His Word, and how to be pleasing to Him, in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, with the help of the Holy Spirit.
There are many churches disagreeing on doctrine, and the teachings vary. Especially Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Calvinists, etc., gay Ministers,
God help us in our day to walk on the oath of Your Word, in Jesus name amen.