Most people think Jesus came to start a new religion. He didn't. He came to his own people as their long-promised Messiah in fulfilment of all that Moses and the prophets had written in the Scriptures. Christianity is essentially Jewish, and the whole Gentile world has hugely benefited from its precious truths. But it is God’s — will that we should return the favour by graciously, and lovingly, commending our Saviour to the scattered tribes of Israel.

Even the Christmas story being sung and recited at this time of year becomes the victim of the increasingly popular kingdom/dominion/reconstruction teachings we have discussed in recent months. Take for example the story of the wise men (the Bible doesn't say there were ‘three’). Having seen a new star, which they understood signalled the birth of a promised king of Israel, they journeyed to Jerusalem - not because the star led them there (as Christmas songs and stories erroneously say), but because that was where they logically expected a Jewish king to be born. We don't know how they were alerted to watch for the star, but it could have been because of an oral account of Balaam's prophecy (Num. 24:17) handed down among Eastern magi.

The Exaltation Of Christ

(Philippians 2:9; Ephesians 1:20)

by Denis Porter.

BIBLE PROPHECY PUZZLE

Does Bible prophecy seem to be a bit of a puzzle?

Tod Hampson

Everyone recognises that world conditions are disintegrating at an unprecedented rate, but many don't see these conditions as signs of the end-times. And I understand why.