History

You can pick up this book for Kindle or hard copy on Amazon and other sites. I bought mine back in 1976 when I also bought H. I. Hester’s “The Heart of Hebrew History.” The books, according to the author, are not designed to take the place of the Old nor New Testaments, but to give an “intelligent view” of both. The first edition of “The Heart of the New Testament” was 1950. The one I purchased was the 30th edition – so some came out in less than a year apart.

I bought it – and the other – because I wanted to learn more about the Bible and in this book Hester used scripture, assigning specific scriptures to each topic. These were used in courses offering college credits, too. Used in connection with the Bible, I could evaluate his three sections: the introduction to the New Testament; the earthly life of Christ as recorded in the four gospels; the growth of the Christian movement in later New Testament books.

Regardless of whether or not men acknowledge him as Saviour and Lord they must pay tribute to him as the world’s outstanding man.

That’s evident in how many non-Christians quote Him, even when they are vilifying today’s Christians for not living up to His commands. The author admits that some believe the world has:

. . .  outgrown Christ in the present progressive period of history; he has lost his appeal to men, and the future can never be influenced by him and his teachings like past centuries have been.  According to those who hold this view the place of Jesus in the lives of men is steadily diminishing and will continue to decrease in the future.

That was published in 1976, and the division remains the same today. There are believers, and there are non-believers. Every single day  there are people who respond to God’s word, and every single day there are those who reject it. I like what happens when one believes and changes their direction:

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, (Luke 15:7a KJV)

Is it strange to consider that all of heaven is not only aware of us, but rejoices when we decide to live there?

I believe John was aware of this as he explains to us why he wrote about Jesus:

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (John 20:31 KJV)

John addresses this again, and again:

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:12-13 KJV)

I’m still studying the Bible, and other books that offer insight into God’s word. I still write in this blog about what I read and believe – and will return to doing so more often – as I truly believe a Christian’s witness is important because Christ tells us:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20 KJV)

I will, and He is.