SEARCHLIGHT
Why can you be confident that the Bible is divinely written, and that Jesus Christ is God?
SCRIPTURE
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are form of old, from ancient times. Micah 5:2 NIV
SPOTLIGHT
There are many reasons to believe the Bible to be divinely inspired by God and also to believe Jesus Christ is God. One reason is the number of fulfilled prophecies in Scripture. Throughout the Old Testament numerous verses point to the coming of the Messiah. These are called Messianic prophecies. “Messiah” refers to the deliverer who would establish the kingdom of God. “Christ” is the Greek equivalent.
When you read the New Testament, you see these prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus Christ. In the Scripture focus above, Micah, the prophet, was preaching about the coming Messiah. Being inspired by the Holy Spirit, he indicated that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem in Judea. This powerful ruler was not going to have a natural origin. He would preexist His actual appearance date which suggests that He would be eternal. This is exactly what Matthew and Luke were pointing out when they identified Jesus to be the Messiah because His birthplace was Bethlehem. Even King Herod’s chief priests and teachers of the law knew Bethlehem was to be the birthplace of the Messiah. [Matthew 2:1-6; Luke 2:1-11]
Here are 10 Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by Jesus Christ for you to investigate.
|
Prophecy |
Old Testament Scripture |
New Testament Scripture |
|
Virgin conception |
Isaiah 7:14 |
Matthew 1:22,23 |
|
Born in Bethlehem |
Micah 5:2 |
Luke 2: 4-11 |
|
Descendant of Abraham |
Genesis 12:1-3 |
Matthew 1:1 |
|
Davidic lineage |
Psalm 132:11 |
Matthew 1:1 |
|
Betrayal for 30 pieces of silver |
Zechariah 11:12,13 |
Matthew 27:9,10 |
|
Crucified with thieves |
Isaiah 53:12 |
Luke 23:33 |
|
Scourged and spit upon |
Psalm 35:15; Isaiah 50:6 |
Mark 14:65 |
|
Heralded by a messenger of the Lord |
Malachi 3:1 |
Matthew 3:1,2 |
|
Buried in a rich man’s tomb |
Isaiah 53:9 |
Matthew 27:57-60 |
|
Resurrection |
Psalm 16:8-10; 30:3 |
Luke 24:6, 31-34 |
Dr. Frank Harber writes “The truth of Christianity stands upon the fact that Jesus is the Christ. In Jesus Christ, 456 identifiable prophecies were uniquely fulfilled. The chances of any man fulfilling just 48 of such prophecies is a probability of 10 to the 157 power. This figure, calculated by Peter Stoner, Professor Emeritus of Science at Westmont College, has been confirmed by the committee of the American Scientific Association. To reject Jesus as the Messiah requires an unbelief which runs counter to the laws of probability.” [ Reasons for Believing, P 92,93 - For a more complete list of prophecies, read Harber’s book]
WHY THE BIBLE IS TRUE AND JESUS IS GOD can be substantiated in many different ways. Do not ignore asking questions about Biblical authenticity and Jesus Christ’s divinity. You cannot remain neutral. Jesus declared, “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” [John 8:24 NIV] Jesus Christ also declared, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” [ John 3:17,18]
SOMETHING TO DO
Take time to read all the Old Testament and New Testament Scriptures mentioned above. They will build your faith in believing God’s Word and trusting Jesus Christ with your life.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Lord God, thank you for showing me that the Bible is divinely inspired and written. Thank you that your Son, Jesus Christ, is proven to be God in flesh through fulfilled prophecy in the Bible. You are the one, true living God. I trust You with my life. I will follow You. AMEN!