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The Good News About Jesus program is
1. A way of getting to know Jesus well
This is the Good News about Jesus." Mark 1.1.
2. A way of spreading the Good News about Jesus
Jesus says the Good News about him will be
spread throughout the world . . . Matthew 24.14 Scroll down
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The Good News About Jesus
(50 pages - also in booklet form with above picture cover)
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THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS
From the New Testament
LENARD GALSTER
Copyright ã 1975-2008 by LENARD GALSTER
To my wife Ruth, and son David
1st English printing 1979, 2nd printing 1983, 3rd printing 1992, 4th printing 1994, 5th printing 1999, 6th printing 2002, 7th printing 2007, 8th printing 2008
500,000 copies of The GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS - From the
New Testament are in print in booklet form in over 30 languages including English, Chinese, Spanish, Hindi, Ukrainian, Russian, Arabic, German, Vietnamese, Korean,
Thai, Karen, Samoan, French, Tamil, Telegu, Swahili, Urdu, Latvian, Lithuanian, Luhyan, Pocomchi, Estonian, Amharic, Oromo, Krahn, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali, Punjabi, Braille, and Large Print.
Other languages are in preparation.
Cover Design by Lenard Galster, Artwork: Mark Watkins
Scripture references from the GOOD NEWS BIBLE Copyright: American Bible Society.
Used by permission
THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS
˜ From the New Testament
1. An introduction to Jesus
2. A review of the Good News about Jesus
3. A tool to help spread the Good News about Jesus around the world
(Scripture references in red are Words of Jesus)
CONTENTS
1. God Has Come Into the World in Jesus
2. Something About the Person of Jesus
3. Jesus Calls People to be His Disciples
4. Jesus Teaches and Blesses His People
5. Jesus Supplies His Followers' Needs
6. Jesus Answers Prayer
7. Jesus Forgives Sin and Heals People
8. Jesus Leads People to God and Full Life
9. Jesus Provides Salvation for the World
10. Jesus Brings New Life to His People
11. Jesus Builds His Church
12. Jesus Takes His People to Heaven
Part 1
GOD COMES INTO THE WORLD IN JESUS
1. God comes to people through Jesus
"This is the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God." Mark 1.1
"For it was by God's own decision that the Son has in himself the full nature of God." Colossians 1.19.
"When the right time finally came, God sent his own Son. He came as the son of a human mother." Galatians 4.4.
2. The name "JESUS" means Savior from sin.
"Name him Jesus - because he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1.21.
3. The coming of Jesus as Savior and Lord brings joy!
"The angel said to them, 'Don't be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. This very day in David's town your Savior was born - Christ the Lord!'" Luke 2.10-11
4. Jesus was born, lived and worked in areas which still exist today.
"Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the time when Herod was king." Matthew 2.1.
"When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he went away to Galilee. He did not stay in Nazareth, but went to live in Capernaum, a town by Lake Galilee." Matthew 4.12-13.
"When Jesus began his work, he was about thirty years old." Luke 3.23.
Part 2
SOMETHING ABOUT THE PERSON OF JESUS
5. Jesus is intelligent and impressive.
"All who heard him were amazed at his intelligent answers." Luke 2.47.
"The people who heard him were amazed at the way he taught, for he wasn't like the teachers of the Law: instead, he taught with authority." Mark 1.22.
"They were all well impressed with him and marveled at the eloquent words that he spoke." Luke 4:22.
6. Jesus is popular.
"Large crowds followed him from Galilee and the Ten Towns, from Jerusalem, Judea, and the land on the other side of the Jordan." Matthew 4.25.
"When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was thrown into an uproar." Matthew 21.10.
7. Jesus is gentle and humble.
"Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest." Matthew 11.29.
8. Jesus is loving.
"I love you just as the Father loves me; remain in my love." John 15.9.
9. Jesus is joyful.
"At that time Jesus was filled with joy." Luke 10.21.
"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."
John 15.11.
10. Jesus is friendly.
"I do not call you servants any longer, because a servant does not know what his master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because I have told you everything I heard from my Father." John 15.15.
11. Jesus feels sorrow for people.
"He came closer to the city, and when he saw it, he wept over it." Luke 19.41.
"The sorrow in my heart is so great that it almost crushes me." Matthew 26.38.
"Jesus wept." John 11.35.
12. Jesus feels anguish.
"Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them,
'Sit here while I go over there and pray.' He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee. Grief and anguish came over him." Matthew 26.36-37.
13. Jesus gets angry.
"Jesus was angry as he looked around at them, but at the same time he felt sorry for them, because they were so stubborn and wrong." Mark 3.5.
14. Jesus is calm.
"He was like a sheep that is taken to be slaughtered, like a lamb that makes no sound when its wool is cut off." Acts 8.32.
15. Jesus is sinless.
"He committed no sin, and no one ever heard a lie come from his lips." 1 Peter 2.22.
16. Jesus is forgiving.
"Jesus said, 'Forgive them Father! They don't know what they are doing.'" Luke 23.34.
17. Jesus is powerful.
"Jesus drew near and said to them,'I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.'" Matthew 28.18.
"He reflects the brightness of God's glory and is the exact likeness of God's own being, sustaining in the universe with his powerful word." Hebrews 1.3.
18. Jesus is glorious.
"As they looked on, a change came over Jesus: his face was shining like the sun, and his clothes were dazzling white." Matthew 17.2.
"His face gleamed like such precious stones as jasper and carnelian, and all around the throne there was a rainbow the color of an emerald." Revelation 4.3.
PART 3
JESUS CALLS PEOPLE TO BE HIS DISCIPLES
19. Jesus asks people to come to him and with him.
"Come to me, all of you." Matthew 11.28.
"Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, 'Come with me!'"
John 1.43.
"Jesus left that place and as he walked along, he saw a tax collector, named Matthew, sitting in his office. He said to him, 'Follow me.' Matthew got up and followed him." Matthew 9.9.
"When day came he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he
named apostles: Simon (whom he also called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon (who is also called the Patriot), Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot." Luke 6.13-16.
"I am the Light of the world,' he said. 'Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.'" John 8.12.
"Then Jesus said to his disciples. If anyone wants to come with me, he must forget himself, carry his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his own life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.'" Matthew 16.24-25.
"Jesus said to them, 'Come with me, and I will teach you to catch men.'" Mark 1.17.
"Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples." Matthew 28.19.
"But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1.8.
Part 4
JESUS TEACHES AND BLESSES HIS PEOPLE
20. Jesus teaches his disciples.
"Jesus saw the crowds and went up a hill, where he sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them." Matthew 5.1-2.
"One night he went to Jesus and said to him,'Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher sent by God. No one could perform the miracles you are doing unless God were with him.'" John 3.2.
21. Jesus brings blessings to his followers
"Then he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on each of them, and blessed them." Mark 10.16.
"Then he led them out of the city as far as Bethany, where he raised his hands and blessed them." Luke 24.50.
"Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest. For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put
on you is light." Matthew 11.28-30.
"I have come in order that you might have life, - life in all its fullness." John 10.10.
Part 5
JESUS SUPPLIES HIS FOLLOWERS' NEEDS
22. Jesus supplies his followers' physical, spiritual, and material needs.
"Then Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and gave thanks to God. He broke the loaves and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He
also divided the two fish among them all." Mark 6.41.
"Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the Good News about the Kingdom, and healing people who had all kinds of disease and sickness." Matthew 4.23.
"I am the bread of life,' Jesus told them. 'He who comes to me will never be hungry; he
who believes in me will never be thirsty.'" John 6.35.
"He reflects the brightness of God's glory and is the exact likeness of God's own being, sustaining the universe with his powerful word." Hebrews 1.3.
"And with all his abundant wealth through Christ Jesus, my God will supply all your needs." Philippians 4.19.
Part 6
JESUS ANSWERS PRAYER
23. Jesus hears and helps people who come to him.
"Then a man suffering from a dreaded skin disease came to him, knelt down before him,
and said, 'Sir, if you want to, you can make me clean.' Jesus reached out and touched him,
I do want to,' he answered. 'Be clean!' At once the man was healed of his disease."
Matthew 8.2-3.
"When Jesus entered Capernaum, a Roman officer met him and begged for help: 'Sir, my servant is sick in bed at home, unable to move and suffering terribly.' I will go and make
him well,' Jesus said." Matthew 8. 5-7.
" 'Sir,' they answered, 'we want you to give us our sight!' Jesus had pity on them and touched their eyes; at once they were able to see, and they followed him." Matthew 20.33-34.
"But when he noticed the strong wind, he was afraid and started to sink down in the water. 'Save me, Lord!' he cried. At once Jesus reached out and grabbed hold of him and said, 'What little faith you have! Why did you doubt?'" Matthew 14.30-31.
“Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7.7.
"So Jesus answered her, 'You are a woman of great faith! What you want will be done for you.'" Matthew 15.28.
Part 7
JESUS FORGIVES SIN AND HEALS PEOPLE
24. Jesus forgives sin.
"When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the man,'Your sins are forgiven, my friend.' The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees began to say to themselves, 'Who is this man who speaks such blasphemy! God is the only one who can forgive sins!' Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, 'Why do you think such things? It is easier to say, 'Your
sins are forgiven you,' or to say,'Get up and walk'? I will prove to you, then, that the Son
of Man has authorityon earth to forgive sins.' So he said to the paralyzed man, 'I tell you,
get up, pick up your bed, and go home!' At once the man got up in front of them all, took
the bed he was lying on, and went home, praising God." Luke 5.20-25.
"Jesus said, 'I do not condemn you either. Go, but do not sin again.'" John 8.11.
"Jesus said, 'Forgive them. Father! They don't know what they are doing.'" Luke 23.34.
"This is good and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved." 1 Timothy 2.3-4.
"For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its Savior." John 3.17.
25. Jesus heals people.
"Jesus went to Peter's home, and there he saw Peter's mother-in-law sick in bed with a fever. He touched her hand; the fever left her and she got up and began' to wait on him. When evening came, people brought to Jesus many who had demons in them. Jesus
drove out the evil spirits with a word and healed all who were sick." Matthew 8.14-16.
"People brought to him all those who were sick, suffering from all kinds of diseases and disorders: people with demons, and epileptics, and paralytics Jesus healed them all." Matthew 4.24.
Part 8
JESUS LEADS PEOPLE TO GOD AND FULL LIFE
26. As the "Good Shepherd," Jesus leads people to God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (The Triune God, - One God in three persons, or "Trinity.")
"I am the good shepherd, who is willing to die for the sheep." John 10.11.
"Jesus answered him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father
except by me. Now that you have known me,' he said to them, 'You will know my father also, and from now you do know him and have seen him.' Philip said to him, 'Lord, show us the Father, that is all we need.' Jesus answered, 'For a long time I have been with you all;
yet you do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.'" John 14.6-9.
"The Father and I are one." John 10.30.
"I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever. He is the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God." John 14.16-17.
"The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you
everything, and make you remember all that I have told you." John 14.26.
"Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the
name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28.19-20.
"The Lord our God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." Mark 12.29-31.
27. Through his Word, Jesus leads his people to full life.
"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." John 10.27.
"You have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living." 2 Timothy 3.15-16.
"Jesus said to his disciples. If anyone wants to come with me, he must forget himself, carry his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his own life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.'" Matthew 16.24-25.
"I have come in order that you might have life life in all its fullness." John 10,10.
"I give them eternal life, and they shall never die. No one can snatch them away from me." John 10.28.
"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." John 15.11
Part 9
JESUS PROVIDES SALVATION FOR THE WORLD
28. Jesus gave his life for all.
"I passed on to you what I also received, which is of the greatest importance: that Christ died for our sins, as written in the Scriptures." 1 Corinthians 15.3.
"No one takes my life away from me. I give it up of my own free will." John 10.18.
"So they took charge of Jesus. He went out, carrying his cross, and came to 'The Place of the Skull,' as it is called. (In Hebrew it is called 'Golgotha.') There they crucified him; and they crucified two other men, one on each side, with Jesus between them." John 19.16-18.
"Jesus knew that by now everything had been completed; and in order to make the scripture come true, he said, I am thirsty.' A bowl was there, full of cheap wine; so a sponge was soaked in the wine, put on a stalk of hyssop, and lifted up to his lips. Jesus drank the wine and said: 'It is finished!' Then he bowed his head and died." John 19.28-30.
"He died for all." 2 Corinthians 5.15.
"But God has shown us how much he loves us’ it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!" Romans 5.8.
"For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw." 1 Peter 1,18-19.
"There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1.29.
29. Jesus is the object of our faith in God.
"For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die, but have eternal life." John 3.16.
"Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end." Hebrews 12.2
30. Jesus rescues us from darkness and condemnation.
"He rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of his Son, by whom we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven." Colossians 1.13-14.
"There is no condemnation now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus." Romans 8.1.
"Whoever hears my words, and believes in him who sent me, has eternal life. He will not be judged, but has passed from death to life." John 5.24.
31. Jesus forgives our sins and purifies us.
"When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the man, 'Your sins are forgiven you, my friend.'" Luke 5.20.
"Jesus also died outside the city, in order to purify the people with his own blood." Hebrews 13.12.
"The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from every sin." 1 John 1.7.
32. Jesus declares us "Not Guilty!"
"After so many sins, comes the undeserved gift of 'Not Guilty!'" Romans 5.16.
33. With Jesus, we are spiritually alive.
"But God's mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great, that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience he brought us to life in Christ." Ephesians 2. 4-5.
"For through the living and eternal word of God you have been born again as the children
of a parent who is immortal, not mortal." 1 Peter 1.23.
"But when the kindness and love of God our Savior was revealed, he saved us. It was not because of any good deeds that we ourselves had done, but because of his own mercy that he saved us, through the Holy Spirit, who gives us new birth and new life." Titus 3.4-5.
34. Through faith in Jesus, we are put right with God.
"No one is put right in God's sight by doing what the Law requires; what the Law does
is to make man know that he has sinned. But now God's way of putting people right with himself has been revealed. It has nothing to do with the law, even though the Law of
Moses and the prophets gave their witness to it. God puts people right through their faith
in Christ, because there is no difference at all: everyone has sinned and is far away from God's saving presence. But by the free gift of God's grace all are put right with him
through Christ Jesus, who sets them free." Romans 3.20-24.
"The person who depends on his faith, not on his deeds, and who believes in the God who declares the guilty to be innocent, it is his faith that God takes into account in order to
put him right with himself." Romans 4.5.
"Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5.21.
35. Jesus saves us from God's anger and makes peace with us.
"By his death we are now put right with God; how much more, then, will we be saved by him from God's anger." Romans 5.9.
"Now that we have been put right with God through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5.1
36. Jesus overcomes the Devil and the power of death.
"Since the children, as he calls them, are people of flesh and blood, Jesus himself became like them and shared their human nature. He did this so that through his death he might destroy the Devil, who has the power over death, and in this way set free those who were slaves all their lives because of their fear of death." Hebrews 2. 14-15.
37. Jesus makes friends with us.
"We were God's enemies, but he made us his friends through the death of his Son." Romans 5.10.
"But now, by means of the physical death of his Son, God has made you his friends, in
order to bring you, holy, pure, and faultless, into his presence." Colossians 1.22.
38. Jesus chooses us to be his own.
"You did not choose me, I chose you." John 15.16.
"You are the chosen race, the King's priests, the holy nation, God's own people, chosen
to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who has called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light." 1 Peter 2.9.
"God bought you for a price, so do not become slaves of men." 1 Corinthians 7.23.
39. Jesus loves us.
"The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them." John 15.13.
"I love you." John 15.9.
40. Jesus heals us.
"It is by his wounds that you have been healed." 1 Peter 2.24.
41. Jesus gives us joy.
"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." John 15.11.
"Happy are those whose wrongs are forgiven, whose sins are pardoned." Romans 4.7.
“The people rejoiced over all the wonderful things that he did." Luke 13.17.
"Be glad because your names are written in heaven." Luke 10.20.
42. Jesus prepares a place for us in heaven.
"There are many rooms in my Father's house, and I am going to prepare a place
for you." John 14.2.
43. Jesus provides eternal life for his people.
"For sin pays its wage death; but God's free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus
our Lord." Romans 6.23.
"I give them eternal life, and they shall never die. No one can snatch them away from me." John 10.28.
"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?'" John 11.25-26.
"Jesus said to him, 'I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me.'" Luke 23.43.
44. Jesus provides salvation for the world.
"For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who
believes in him may not die but have eternal life." John 3.16.
"Salvation is to be found through him alone; in all the world there is no one else whom God has given who can save us." Acts 4.12.
"Jesus said to him, 'Salvation has come to this house today.'" Luke 19.9.
Part 10
JESUS BRINGS NEW LIFE TO HIS PEOPLE
45. Jesus is risen from the dead and appears to his followers.
" 'Woman, why are you crying?' Jesus asked her. 'Who is it that you are looking for?' She thought it was the gardener, so she said to him. If you took him away, sir, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.' Jesus said to her, 'Mary!' She turned toward him and said in Hebrew, 'Rabboni!' (This means 'Teacher.')" John 20.15-16.
"'He is not here; he has been raised, just as he said. Come here and see the place where he was lying. Go quickly now, and tell his disciples, He has been raised from death, and now he is going to Galilee ahead of you; there you will see him! Remember what I have told you.' So they left the tomb in a hurry, afraid and yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, 'Peace be with you.' They came up to him, took hold of his feet and worshiped him." Matthew 28.6-9.
"For forty days after his death he appeared to them many times in ways that proved beyond doubt that he was alive. They saw him, and he talked with them about the Kingdom of God." Acts 1.3.
"I passed on to you what I received, which is of the greatest importance: that Christ died for our sins, as written in the Scriptures; that he was buried and that he was raised to life three days later, as written in the Scriptures; that he appeared to Peter and then to all
twelve apostles. Then he appeared to more than five hundred of his followers at once." 1 Corinthians 15.3-6.
"Last of all he appeared also to me." 1 Corinthians 15:8.
46. The resurrection of Jesus brings new life to his people.
"Because I live, you also will live." John 14.19.
“God showed his love for us by sending his only Son into the world, so that we might have life through him. This is what love is: it is not that we have loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the means by which our sins are forgiven. Dear friends, if this is how God loved us, then we should love one another." 1 John 4.9-11.
"So that it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me." Galatians 2.20.
"For sin pays its wage, death; but God's free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6.23.
"There is nothing in all creation that will ever separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8.39.
"No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us!" Romans 8.37.
"In view of all this, what can we say? If God is for us, who can be against us? Certainly not God, who did not even keep back his own Son, but offered him for us all! He gave his Son, will he not also freely give us all things?" Romans 8.31-32.
"There is no condemnation now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus." Romans 8.1.
"He died for all, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but only for him who died and was raised to life for their sake." 2 Corinthians 5:15.
"There are many rooms in my Father's house, and I am going to prepare a place for you.
I would not tell you this if it were not so. And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am." John 14.2-3.
"Jesus said to him, I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me.'" Luke 23.43.
"Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Because of his great mercy he gave us new life by raising Jesus Christ from death. This fills us with a living hope, and so we look forward to possessing the rich blessings that God keeps for his people. He keeps them for you in heaven, where they cannot decay or spoil or fade away." 1 Peter 1.3-4.
"You love him, although you do not now see him. So you rejoice with a great and glorious joy which words cannot express, because you are receiving the salvation of your souls, which is the purpose of your faith in him." 1 Peter 1.8-9.
Part 11
JESUS BUILDS HIS CHURCH
47. Jesus builds his church.
"I will build my church." Matthew 16.18.
48. Jesus uses the Scriptures to reveal himself.
"Jesus explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scripture." Luke 24.27.
49. Through his Word, God brings people to faith in him.
"These have been written in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through your faith in him you may have life." John 20.31.
"What gives life is God's Spirit; man's power is of no use at all. The words I have spoken to you bring God's life-giving Spirit." John 6.63.
"I have complete confidence in the gospel; it is God's power to save all who believe." Romans 1.16.
50. Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to empower His people.
"The Helper will come the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God and who comes from
the Father. I will send him to you from the Father, and he will speak about me. And you,
too, will speak about me." John 15.26-27
"When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1.8.
51. The witnesses of Jesus help spread the Good News about him to people everywhere.
"He told him the Good News about Jesus." Acts 8.35.
"And every day in the Temple and in people's homes they continued to teach and preach
the Good News about Jesus the Messiah." Acts 5.42.
"And so the news about Jesus spread quickly everywhere in the province of Galilee."
Mark 1.28.
"Go, then, to peoples everywhere, and make them my disciples.” Matthew 28.19.
52. The church of Jesus grows.
"And so the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew larger and larger." Acts 6.7.
"And every day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved." Acts 2.47.
"He appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers. He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ." Ephesians 4.11-12
53. The believers are called Christians.
"It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians." Acts 11.26.
54. Christians get to know Jesus better and better.
"Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3.18.
Part 12
JESUS TAKES HIS PEOPLE TO HEAVEN
55. Jesus ascends to heavenly glory and power.
"After saying this, he was taken up to heaven as they watched him, and a cloud hid him
from their sight." Acts 1.9.
"His face gleamed like such precious stones as jasper and carnelian, and all around the throne there was a rainbow the color of an emerald." Revelation 4.3.
"I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth." Matthew 28.18.
56. Jesus will appear again.
"This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way that you saw him go to heaven." Acts 1.11.
"Look, he is coming on the clouds! Everyone will see him." Revelation 1.7.
"For the Son of Man will come like the lightning which flashes across the whole sky from the east to the west." Matthew 24.27.
"His appearing will be brought about at the right time by God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords." 1 Timothy 6.15.
"’Listen!' says Jesus, 'I am coming soon!'" Revelation 22 .7
57. At his appearing, Jesus will raise the dead.
"I am telling you the truth: the time is coming when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear it will come to life." John 5.25.
58. Jesus will change his people to glory.
"Listen to this secret truth: we shall not all die, but when the last trumpet sounds, we shall all be changed in an instant, as quickly as the blinking of an eye. For when the trumpet sounds, the dead will be raised, never to die again, and we shall all be changed. For what is mortal must be changed into what is immortal; what will die must be changed into what cannot die." 1 Corinthians 15.51-53.
"We, however, are citizens of heaven, and we eagerly wait for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven. He will change our weak mortal bodies and make them like his own glorious body." Philippians 3.20-21.
"My dear friends, we are now God's children, but it is not yet clear what we shall become. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is." 1 John 3.2.
59. When Jesus appears, the present universe will be destroyed, and God will make everything new.
"The Day of the Lord will come as a thief. On that Day the heavens will disappear with a shrill noise, the heavenly bodies will burn up and be destroyed, and the earth with everything in it will vanish." 2 Peter 3.10.
"We wait for what God has promised: new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will be at home." 2 Peter 3.13.
"Then the one who sits on the throne said, 'And now I make all things new!"' Revelation 21.5.
60. Jesus prepares a place in heaven for his people.
"There are many rooms in my Father's house, and I am going to prepare a place for you." John 14.2.
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth disappeared, and the sea vanished. And I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared and ready, like a bride dressed to meet her husband. I heard a loud voice speaking from the throne: 'Now God's home is with mankind! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them, and he will be their God. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain. The old things have disappeared."' Revelation 21.1-4.
"He showed me Jerusalem, the Holy City, coming down out of heaven from God and shining with the glory of God. The city shone like a precious stone, like a jasper, clear as crystal." Revelation 21.10-11.
"The street of the city was of pure gold, transparent as glass." Revelation 21.21.
"I did not see a temple in the city, because its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb. The city has no need of the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God shines on it, and the Lamb is its lamp." Revelation 21.22-23.
"The angel also showed me the river of the water of life, sparkling like crystal, and coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb and flowing down the middle of the city's street. On each side of the river was the tree of life." Revelation 22.1-3.
61. Jesus will personally take his people to heaven.
"I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am." John 14.3.
"When the Son of Man comes as King and all the angels with him, he will sit on his royal throne, and the people of all the nations will be gathered before him. Then he will divide them into two groups, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the righteous people at his right and the others at his left. Then the King will say to the people on the right, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father! Come and possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you ever since the creation of the world."' Matthew 25.31-34.
"Then he will say to those on the left, 'Away from me, you that are under God's curse!
Away to the eternal fire which has been prepared for the Devil and his angels!'" Matthew 25.41.
"These, then, will be sent off to eternal punishment, but the righteous will go to eternal life." Matthew 25.46.
"Jesus said to him, 'I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me.'" Luke 23.43.
"There was an enormous crowd, no one could count all the people! They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood in front of the throne and of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They called out in a loud voice: 'Salvation comes from God, who sits on the throne, and from the Lamb. All the angels stood around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures. Then they threw themselves face downward in front of the throne and worshiped God, saying, 'Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God forever and ever! Amen."' Revelation 7.9-12.
62. Conclusion.
"For what is life? To me, it is Christ. Death, then, will bring more. But if by continuing to live I can do more worthwhile work, then I am not sure which I should choose. I am pulled in two directions. I want very much to leave this life and be with Christ, which is afar better thing; but for your sake it is much more important that I remain alive." Philippians 1.21-24.
"You will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."Acts 1.8.
"Keep busy always in your work for the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15.58.
"Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end." Hebrews 12.2.
"To him who is able to keep you from falling and to bring you faultless and joyful before his glorious presence to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, might, and authority, from all the ages past, and now, and forever and ever! Amen.” Jude 1.24-25.
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For further study you may read the New Testament and the entire Bible, with the goal of getting to know Jesus as fully as possible and having all of God's rich blessings.
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If you would like to help give the Good News about Jesus to more
people in more languages please let me know.
Lenard Galster (Missionary Pastor EM.LCMS)
2008
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