Author: Texas Gospel

Dr. J. Vernon McGee – Matthew 2-4

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

Dr. McGee’s message in these excerpts from his study of Matthew emphasizes that the Gospel of Matthew was specifically written to the nation of Israel and aims to demonstrate how the life and ministry of Jesus Christ fulfilled numerous Old Testament prophecies. He highlights the visit of the wise men, correcting the common misconception of there being only three and pointing out that their journey, prompted by a star (which he believes was a supernatural event, not merely astronomical), was in response to prophecies like Balaam’s prophecy of a star coming out of Jacob. The gifts they brought had symbolic significance, with gold representing his kingship, frankincense his life, and myrrh his death.

Dr. McGee explains the subsequent flight into Egypt and the return to Nazareth as literal fulfillments of Hosea 11:1 and Isaiah 11:1 (as it relates to being called a Nazarene) respectively, showing how God orchestrated events to align with prophecy. He underscores that these seemingly disparate prophecies were fulfilled literally and naturally.

The introduction of John the Baptist is presented as the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy of a messenger preparing the way for the Lord. John’s message was one of repentancebecause the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand, which Dr. McGee clarifies as the rule of heaven over the earth, present in the person of the King.

The baptism of Jesus by John was not for Jesus’ own repentance, as he was sinless, but rather for him to identify with sinful mankind and to fulfill all righteousness. Dr. McGee also notes that it set him aside for his office as priest, with the Holy Spirit descending upon him.

The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness was a genuine test, but Dr. McGee insists that Jesus could not have fallen. This test was to prove and demonstrate his perfect character, contrasting it with the temptation of Eve. Jesus consistently used scripture to overcome Satan’s temptations, highlighting the importance of knowing and using the Word of God. Dr. McGee also raises the point that the devil seemed to have the authority to offer Jesus the kingdoms of the world.

Dr. McGee then discusses Jesus moving his headquarters from Nazareth to Capernaum, explaining this as another fulfillment of prophecy from Isaiah, bringing light to the region of Galilee of the Gentiles. Jesus continued the message of repentance and the nearness of the Kingdom of Heaven, echoing John the Baptist. He called his first disciples, promising to make them “fishers of men”. Jesus’ ministry in Galilee involved teaching, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and performing numerous healings, demonstrating his power and authority. Dr. McGee concludes by mentioning the Sermon on the Mount as the manifesto of the King.

The audio on this video is the property of Thru the Bible. It is offered free of charge. If you wish to make a donation, do not send it to us. Visit http://www.ttb.org for information. The audio is attributed to Dr. J. Vernon McGee and Thru the Bible. Intellectual property rights are those of Thru the Bible.
Please contact us if you feel our understanding of the terms of use are in error.
Copyright information obtained from https://ttb.org/about/copyright-policy

A New Creation Through Christ

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

JEFF TURNER

The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old has gone, and the new has come.” What does this tell us about the transformation that occurs through faith in Jesus?

Some may mistakenly believe that God’s aim is to make us better versions of ourselves—better partners, employees, or neighbours. However, the purpose of the Gospel is far greater than self-improvement. Jesus did not sacrifice His life merely to fix what was broken. Instead, He died to give us an entirely new life.

The promise of redemption isn’t about becoming slightly better than before. It’s about becoming something completely new—something we could never achieve on our own. Though we may appear unchanged outwardly, the grace of Christ works deeply within, bringing a radical transformation.

As this new life grows, others should not merely see a better version of us; they should see Christ Himself reflected in how we live. This is the true power of the Gospel—a total renewal of our being through Him.

Read the context:

The Temporal and Eternal – 2 Corinthians 5 NASB:

For we know that if our earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made by hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed, in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, 3 since in fact after putting it on, we will not be found naked. 4 For indeed, we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a pledge.

6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight— 8 but we are of good courage and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade people, but we are well known to God; and I hope that we are also well known in your consciences. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we have lost our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf.

16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one by the flesh; even though we have known Christ by the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (NASB)

Dr. J. Vernon McGee – Matthew 1

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment
The audio on this video is the property of Thru the Bible. It is offered free of charge. If you wish to make a donation, do not send it to us. Visit http://www.ttb.org for information. The audio is attributed to Dr. J. Vernon McGee and Thru the Bible. Intellectual property rights are those of Thru the Bible.
Please contact us if you feel our understanding of the terms of use are in error.
Copyright information obtained from https://ttb.org/about/copyright-policy

Dr. McGee’s message in this excerpt from his discourse on the Gospel of Matthew begins by underscoring the vital importance of understanding the approximately 400-year intertestamental period between the Old and New Testaments. During this time of divine silence, significant global shifts occurred, witnessing the decline of the Medo-Persian and Egyptian empires and the rise of Greece under Alexander the Great, who even visited Jerusalem. Subsequently, the Roman Empire emerged as the dominant world power by the time the New Testament opens. Internally, Judea underwent a radical transformation, with new cultural norms, institutions, and organizations developing, giving rise to the Jewish parties mentioned in the New Testament, such as the Pharisees (defenders of Jewish tradition and nationalists), the Sadducees (wealthy, liberal in theology, and opposed to tradition), the scribes (legal experts focused on the letter of the law), and the Herodians (political opportunists). Dr. McGee emphasizes that understanding this historical context is crucial for appreciating the New Testament.

He then turns his attention to the Gospel of Matthew, stating that it was written primarily for the nation of Israel, a religious people, and possibly was first penned in Hebrew. He considers Matthew a key book that bridges the Old Testament and the New, gathering numerous Old Testament prophecies and showing their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. A central theme in Matthew is the Kingdom of Heaven, an expression unique to this Gospel, which Dr. McGee defines as the reign of the heavens over the Earth, clearly distinguishing it from the church. The genealogy that opens Matthew’s Gospel is deemed a profoundly important document, establishing Jesus’ lineage from Abraham, which places him within the chosen nation, and from David, which gives him the legal claim to the throne. This genealogy was a matter of public record and its accuracy was not challenged in early times.

Dr. McGee draws a significant parallel between the “book of the generation of Adam” in Genesis and “the book of the generation of Jesus Christ” in Matthew, highlighting that while entrance into Adam’s family is by natural birth, entry into Christ’s family occurs through the New Birth by faith in Christ. He also points out the remarkable inclusion of four women—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba—and Gentiles in Jesus’ genealogy, which was unconventional for the time, suggesting themes of sin, faith, grace, and God’s redemptive purposes. He explains the seemingly broken pattern in verse 16, where it states “Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus,” clarifying that while Joseph provides the legal title to David’s throne (being in the line of David through Solomon), he was not Jesus’ biological father due to the curse on Jeconiah’s line; Mary, also of the lineage of David (through Nathan), was the one who bore Jesus.

A cornerstone of Dr. McGee’s message is the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that Matthew explicitly teaches that Joseph was not Jesus’ father and sees this as the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel“. He strongly criticizes liberal interpretations that attempt to translate the Hebrew word alma and the Greek word parthenos as “young woman” instead of “virgin,” arguing that the Septuagint translation by Hebrew scholars clearly understood it to mean virgin. Dr. McGee underscores the profound significance of the name Emmanuel, meaning “God with us,” asserting that Jesus can only be the Savior (Jesus) because he is Emmanuel through the Virgin Birth. He firmly believes that while one might initially come to Christ without fully understanding the Virgin Birth, a true child of God will not ultimately deny this foundational doctrine.

The audio on this video is the property of Thru the Bible. It is offered free of charge. If you wish to make a donation, do not send it to us. Visit http://www.ttb.org for information. The audio is attributed to Dr. J. Vernon McGee and Thru the Bible. Intellectual property rights are those of Thru the Bible.
Please contact us if you feel our understanding of the terms of use are in error.
Copyright information obtained from https://ttb.org/about/copyright-policy

Man with bat smashes windows and doors at four US churches

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Four churches in South Carolina have been vandalized this week, resulting in thousands of dollars in damage. An 18-year-old suspect has been arrested for allegedly using a baseball bat to smash windows and doors at the churches.

The incident affected four congregations located several kilometres apart. One church representative reported that 20 windows and entrance doors were damaged, with the front doors alone estimated to cost around $40,000 to repair.

The suspect is currently in custody with a bond set at over $100,000.

While the churches plan to enhance their security measures, they intend to continue holding regular services. Some church leaders are curious about the motivation behind the vandalism.

The affected churches are working to assess and repair the damage. One church representative mentioned that the cost of repairing the front doors alone would be significant, not including the numerous broken windows.

Despite the destruction, the church community has shown resilience and a spirit of forgiveness. They remain committed to their mission and hope to understand the reasons behind this act of vandalism.

Sharing the Gospel: A Call to Action

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Some believe that sharing the gospel is best done by waiting for opportunities that God provides. Others emphasize a more proactive approach, inspired by Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” This call to action suggests no boundaries—every method and place can be used to spread the good news.

Evangelism can take many forms: speaking with neighbours, engaging in street or classroom discussions, building friendships, or even sharing faith in competitive or challenging environments. The key is to consistently proclaim the message of Christ wherever we are.

However, the method of sharing is less important than the message itself. It’s vital to ensure that the gospel is communicated truthfully and accurately. Becoming a follower of Christ involves more than a simple prayer; it requires recognizing one’s sin, turning to Jesus in repentance, and fully committing to Him as Lord and Master. This transformation brings deep joy and purpose to the believer’s life, as seen in Romans 6:22: “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”

Evangelism is an urgent mission for every believer. It’s a call to both action and truth, ensuring that the life-changing message of Christ reaches all.