Common Knowledge of the Bible

The Sacrifices in the Old Testament

The sacrifice ceremonies, which were conducted in the sanctuary in the Old Testament times, were so difficult and complicated that nobody really knew them in detail except the priests who took charge of them. Not only that, but since the types, ways and names of the sacrifices were similar or overlapped, it was not easy to tell the difference. Since it is hard to accurately classify or explain the sacrifice ceremonies of the Old Testament, let us take a look at some sacrifice ceremonies which appear several times in the Bible or can help our life of faith. 1. Sort by the purpose of sacrifice: sin offering, guilt offering, fellowship offering 1) Sin offering It was a sacrifice offered to…

Ransom

As he expected, Jesus Himself came down to the earth in the flesh to save the souls who sinned, and sacrificed His body as a sin offering for them. The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death.” So, in order to save the spirits who sinned, a righteous person without sin must die. According to ancient law, if a man sets a sinner free, he must die instead of the sinner (1 Ki 20:42). From Chapter 13 “The First Adam and the Last Adam,” VISITORS FROM THE ANGELIC WORLD 1. Literal Meaning Ransom, ‘λυτρον [Lutron]’ in Greek, is a word for money demanded in return for the release of a slave or a captive. 2. Meaning of ransom in…

A Written Charge Against Christ: “THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS”

We, God’s people who dwell in the truth, are all aware that Jesus was sacrificed on the cross as a ransom for the forgiveness of sins that we had committed in heaven. Then, what kind of sins did we commit in the kingdom of heaven? Let’s find out what our sins were, which caused us to be expelled from heaven, through Jesus’ ransom sacrifice. When Jesus was hung on the cross, a written charge was placed above his head, which read: "THE KING OF THE JEWS." "Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS." Mt 27:37 When Jesus was born, the region of Judea was under the control of King…

Structure and Characteristics of the Bible

1. Languages of the Bible The word “Bible” originates from the Greek word βιβλος [Biblos=Book]. (1) The Old Testament was written in Hebrew ※ Some books in the Old Testament (Ezr 4:8-6:18; 7:12-26; Jer 10:11; Da 2:4-7:28) were written in Aramaic [Chaldean], a language used in Babylon. It is said that the Jews spoke both Hebrew and Aramaic languages after the time of the Babylonian exile. (2) The New Testament was written in Greek, a language which was used throughout the world at that time. Greek became the official language of the Roman Empire in the 1st century. ※ The reason why the New Testament was written in Greek, not in Hebrew or Aramaic, was because the gospel should be…

The Son of God

How was the thought about Christ in the days of the early Church? Let us study the truth and the thought about Christ that early Christians had. If we put together all the prophecies of the Old and New Testaments in the Bible, Jesus Christ is God who came to the earth in the flesh. However, when the mighty God came to the earth, why did He call Himself the Son of God and call God Father? “You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High . . .” Lk 1:31–32 Jesus is God who…

Keep Yourselves From Idols

An idol is an image—visible and invisible—created by the devil to make us turn away from God and worship him. A false doctrine inducing us not to follow the truth is a kind of idol; and in a broad sense, everything that we love more than God is an idol. This time, let us find out what an idol is in detail. 1. Visible images “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the 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 . . .” Ex 20:4–5 The universe created by God is infinite; it cannot be even measured with human…

Who Is Jesus?

Since the fourth century up until today, there has been continuous dispute over the nature of Jesus. Some churches consider Jesus as a creature like one of us, denying the Trinity; some churches say that Jesus is one of the angels; some churches insist that God and Jesus are separate beings, although the two can be considered as one because they have the same will and purpose. Why are there great differences among the churches in interpreting the same Bible? It is because they see the Scriptures, written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, with their own physical eyes obscured by sin. Christ, who came in the flesh to save mankind, is in very nature God. Let us confirm…

The Apostles’ Thoughts About the Soul

“What will happen when a man dies?” “Does a man really have a soul?” “Where does a man go after he dies?” These have been the concerns and unsolved questions of numerous people for a very long time. Countless people have thought about the true meaning of their existence and studied it but nobody has been able to find the answer. They have created various kinds of theories, ideas and philosophies only with their eagerness to know, without realizing who created them. However, the knowledge about the soul, taught by Christ, allows mankind to know who they are, and it teaches the value of their existence and the purpose of their life exactly. 1. The appearance of the soul in…

God Dwells in the City of Zion, Being in the Flesh

One of the things that all Christians, who hope for salvation and eternal life, must not overlook is to meet God. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” Through those words, we can understand that we are able to meet God only when God is near to us. Then, let’s find out when is the time God is near, where we can meet God, and how God makes us His people and gives us salvation. The City of Zion – the true church where God dwells Look upon Zion, the city of our festivals; your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful abode . . . There the LORD…

The Work of the Holy Spirit & the Work of Evil Spirits

The Protestant churches regard healing illnesses or speaking in tongues as the proof of receiving the Holy Spirit. Not only the Protestant churches but also the Catholic Church say that the shedding of tears from the Virgin Mary statue or curing the sick is the work of the Holy Spirit and they evaluate the performance of miracles when they select a saint. Are all miracles and wonders the work of the Holy Spirit? How can we distinguish the work of the Holy Spirit from the work of evil spirits? Let’s find the Biblical answers about this. Jesus asked us not to be deluded by miracles Those who insist that miracles are the work of the Holy Spirit give their reasons…

The Resurrection of Life & the Resurrection of Condemnation

Let’s study about the resurrection of life and the resurrection of condemnation, through the truth Jesus taught to His disciples, and find out the way to participate in the resurrection of life in this age. “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.” Jn 5:28–29 Through the words of Jesus, we can understand that there are the resurrection of life and the resurrection of condemnation. The Apostle Paul too testified that there would be two types of resurrection. . . . and I have…

Foods That We Can Eat & Foods That We Must Not Eat

There are many differences between Judaism that follows the Law of Moses and Christianity that follows the Law of Christ. One of them is the regulation about food. Let us study the regulations about food in chronological order, starting from the time of the Garden of Eden, via the age of the Law of Moses, to the age of the early Church, and then find the teaching that we ought to observe in the age of the New Testament. Food given in each age 1. Food given in the Garden of Eden In the Garden of Eden, God gave mankind every seed-bearing plant and every kind of fruit for food. Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on…

Clouds and the Flesh

In the Old Testament, there were many prophecies concerning the coming of Christ. Two thousand years ago, however, it was very difficult for the religious leaders to accept Jesus as Christ because He was to come in secret. That is why the Apostle John wrote as follows: “Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist” (1 Jn 4:2-3). This shows that at that time it was difficult to believe that Christ came in the flesh. Therefore, one of the most important ideas which the saints of the early Church had was that Christ came…

Household Gods

Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them inside her camel's saddle and was sitting on them. … So he searched but could not find the household gods. Jacob was angry and took Laban to task. … Now that you have searched through all my goods, what have you found that belongs to your household? Put it here in front of your relatives and mine, and let them judge between the two of us.Ge 31:34–37 Household gods were idols worshiped in every home in Mesopotamia where Jacob’s uncle Laban lived. The Bible records that when Jacob and his family were returning home, his wife Rachel stole her father’s household gods, and that the worship of various idols including…

The Feast of Dedication

The Feast of Dedication was a Jewish festival observed on the 25th day of the month of Kislev (the ninth month according to the sacred calendar, which corresponds to December according to the solar calendar); it was not part of the Law of Moses. Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. Jn 10:22–23 The Greek Empire (Greece), which had conquered the Medo-Persian Empire, was divided into four separate kingdoms by four generals after the death of Alexander the Great: Kingdom of Cassander (Macedonia), Kingdom of Seleucus (Syria), Kingdom of Lisimachus (Asia Minor), and Kingdom of Ptolemy (Egypt). Each of the kings of these new kingdoms…

The Tabernacle

1. The Ten Commandments and the tabernacle When Moses received the tablets of stone inscribed with the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, God showed him the tabernacle in heaven. As Moses came down from the mountain, he delivered the words of God to the people of Israel. There was a need to build a tabernacle where the tablets of the Ten Commandments would be kept. So Moses called on the people to gather materials to make the tabernacle, such as gold, silver, linen and cotton. The people brought freewill offerings every day, and the materials gathered to build the tabernacle were more than enough for all the work which had to be done, so Moses told them not to bring…

Baal & Ashera

1. Baal is a word which indicates ‘master,’ ‘LORD’ Many peoples around the land of Canaan were polytheists. Among many gods, they believed Baal who was called the god of thunder, rain and wealth. Ethbaal king of Tyre was the priest of Baal. His daughter Jezebel was married to the king of Israel not only for the political purpose, but also for the religious one. Jezebel was a missionary of Baal religion. When she was married to King Ahab of Israel, she planted Baal religion in Israel and her purpose was attained for a while. In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, … Ahab … married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal…

Footstool

1. The earth is described as God's footstool in Isaiah chapter 66 This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be?”Isa 66:1 2. The ark of the covenant in the Most Holy Place is described as God's footstool “King David rose to his feet and said: ‘Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it.’ ”1 Ch 28:2 “Let us go to…

The History of Israel

The Reason We Learn the History of Israel The reason we learn the history of Israel is because the natural Israelites’ history contains the things that will happen to us, the spiritual Israelites. Through the prophetic points in the history of the natural Israelites, we must know in advance what will happen to us and have the right faith as God’s sons and daughters, solidifying our status and position as children of God. The history of Israel can be classified as follows: From Adam to Noah From Noah to Abraham From Abraham to Moses From the Exodus to the Time of the Conquest of Canaan and the Period of the Judges The Period of the Kings The Period of the…

Hebraic Jews and Grecian Jews

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. Ac 6:1 According to Acts 6, there are Grecian Jews and Hebraic Jews. Let us find out who the Hebraic Jews and the Grecian Jews are respectively. The Hebraic Jews are the Jews who speak Hebrew (Aramaic in the days of the early Church) and the Grecian Jews are those who speak Greek. Aramaic and Jews Around 600 B.C. the Jews were taken captive to Babylon, where they lived as slaves for 70 years. After they were defeated by the Babylonians, they began to speak Aramaic, the official…