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Approved Of God
January 11, 2015
All of the Law of Moses and the prophets pointed to the coming of Jesus Christ as savior of the world. When He did come, He was approved of God. He was conceived of God's Holy Spirit and a virgin mother, angels heralded His arrival, and God spoke His approval at His baptism. Jesus performed miracles, His disciples performed miracles, and the greatest miracle of all was the resurrection fo Jesus Christ from the dead. Herein lies our hope of salvation. - Bernie Parsons
Approved Of God
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to Globe church of Christ on 01-11-2015
Presented to Load church of Christ on 02-15-2015
We recently considered how that God has interacted with humankind over
the millennia, and how that Jesus was among man even in ancient times.
When He was born into flesh to present Himself as the ultimate
sacrifice, He established His credentials as one with the approval of
God.
After thousands of years of prophecy regarding Jesus, His arrival was
miraculous.
Matthew 1:20 “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of
the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of
David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is
conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:
for he shall save his people from their sins."
He was approved of God at His baptism.
Matthew 3:16 "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of
the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the
Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I
am well pleased."
He turned water to wine.
John 2:7 “Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they
filled them up to the brim.
8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the
feast. And they bare it.
9 When the ruler of the feast had
tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but
the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast
called the bridegroom,
10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good
wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou
hast kept the good wine until now.
11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and
manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him."
He performed many miracles.
John 2:23 "Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast
day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he
did."
John 3:1 "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of
the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that
thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that
thou doest, except God be with him."
John 7:31 "And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ
cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?"
John 11:47 "Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council,
and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans
shall come and take away both our place and nation."
John 12:36 "These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself
from them.
37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed
not on him:"
He healed the sick.
John 6:1 "After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is
the sea of Tiberias.
2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which
he did on them that were diseased."
Matthew 15:29 "And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea
of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.
30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were
lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus'
feet; and he healed them:
31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak,
the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they
glorified the God of Israel."
Luke 7:21 "And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and
plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave
sight.
22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what
things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk,
the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor
the gospel is preached.
23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me."
He raised Lazarus from the dead.
John 11:43 "And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice,
Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with
graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith
unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things
which Jesus did, believed on him."
He was Himself raised from the dead.
Matthew 28:5 "And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not
ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where
the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead;
and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him:
lo, I have told you."
The apostles preached of His miracles.
Acts 2:22 "Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man
approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God
did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:"
The early disciples of Christ performed miracles.
Acts 6:8 "And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and
miracles among the people."
Acts 8:5 "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached
Christ unto them.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip
spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were
possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame,
were healed."
Acts 8:13 "Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he
continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs
which were done."
Acts 15:12 "Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to
Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought
among the Gentiles by them."
Acts 19:11 "And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or
aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went
out of them."
And so is our salvation secured by the one approved of God.
Luke 9:34 "While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed
them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved
Son: hear him."
Hebrews 2:3 "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which
at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us
by them that heard him;
4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with
divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own
will?"
1 Timothy 3:16 "And without controversy great is the mystery of
godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen
of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world,
received up into glory."
