Salvation

Consider "The Goldilocks Theory of the Universe" where the Universe as we know it shows a multitude of features that makes it ideal for life. The structure of atoms and molecules; the force of gravity, which is neither too great nor too small; the quantities of vital elements like oxygen and carbon, which are found in exactly the right amounts; the ready combination of oxygen and hydrogen to make water with its unique properties, and several others.
Additionally, hundreds of prophecies foretold Jesus and surrounding events which are now so familiar to us. Some were written up to 1000 years before his birth. The find in 1947 of the dead sea scrolls included copies of the Old Testament. Isaiah's book was recovered whole.
This passage in the Old testament bible for example talks of the reason behind Jesus' death on the cross. This prophecy was written 700 years earlier:
'It was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us were like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the guilt and sin of us all.' Isaiah chapter 53 verses 4-6
Here's another passage written about Jesus, 1000 years before Jesus went through crucifixion on the cross. Amazingly, Roman crucifixion wasn't known about at the time of writing:
'My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me. My strength has dried up like sun-baked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead. My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet. I can count every bone in my body. My enemies stare at me and gloat. They divide me clothes among themselves, and throw dice for my garments.' Psalm chapter 22 verses 14-18
Other verses, detailed in the table below, accurately predict that Jesus :
Had pre-existance, Was born of the seed of a woman, He was a descendant of Abraham, a descendant of Isaac, a descendant of Jacob, from the tribe of Judah' a descendent of Jesse, a descendant of David, He will shepherd His people, He is the heir to the throne of David, anointed and eternal, Had a time to be born, He was to be born in Bethlehem, that He was to be born of a virgin, He was worshipped by shepherds, He was honored by great kings (we three kings of orient are), fled to Egypt, the way was prepared (John the Baptist), was preceded by a forerunner, preceded by Elijah, declared the Son of God, that He had a Galilean ministry, speaks in parables, (temple becomes a house of merchandise instead of prayer zeal of Jews for the temple instead of God), a prophet, healed blind, deaf, and lame, will be meek and mild, will minister to Gentiles, came to intercede for the people, gives rest to our souls, was rejected by His own people (the Jews), was a priest after the order of Melchizedek, had a triumphal entry, he entered the temple with authority, was adored by infants, not believed, was betrayed by a close friend
betrayed for thirty pieces of silver and betrayal money used to buy Potter's field, was accused by false witnesses, was silent to accusations, was spat on and struck, scourged, hated without reason, was a vicarious sacrifice, was crucified with malefactors, and pierced through hands and feet, was sneered and mocked, was reproached and that people shook their heads, was given vinegar for His thirst, prayed for His enemies and that the soldiers gambled for His clothing, was forsaken by God, committed His Spirit to God, friends stood afar off, his bones were not broken, side pierced and there was darkness over the Land, was buried with the rich, was to be resurrected, was sent the Holy Spirit, establishes a new covenant, ascended to God's right hand and the Gentiles will seek the Messiah.
It's been said that the probability that Jesus could have fulfilled even eight such prophecies would be only 1 in 1017. That's 1 in 100, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000. At odds of 1 in 13,983,816, it's much easier in fact to win the lottery... quite a few times over.
Jesus is a reality. He came to save us and is still very much alive now.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised Him from the dead thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved
Matthew 11:28 Jesus said "If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest."
John 3:16 Jesus speaks with Nicodemus "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
A prayer :
"Dear God, I come to You, I confess that I have sinned. I have gone my own way. I do not deserve eternal life. But I believe you sent Jesus to save me. I believe He is the Son of God. I believe that on the cross He paid the penalty for my sins. I believe that He rose from the grave on the third day. Right now, Lord Jesus, I invite you into my heart. I receive you as my Saviour and Lord. Please forgive my sins and take control of my life. I receive your free gift of eternal life. I give my life to you. I trust you alone for my salvation. Thank you for saving me. Amen."
Further reading at : www.rejesus.co.uk - www.christianity.org.uk - alpha.org
| Fulfilled Prophecy | Old Testament Scripture (When they said it would happen) | New Testament (When it happened) |
| His pre-existence | Micah 5:2 | John 1:1, 14 |
| Born of the seed of a woman | Genesis 3:15 | Matthew 1:18 |
| Of the seed of Abraham | Genesis 12:3 | Matthew 1:1-16 |
| All nations blessed by Abraham's seed | Genesis 12:3 | Matthew 8:5, 10 |
| God would provide Himself a Lamb as an offering | Genesis 22:8 | John 1:29 |
| From the tribe of Judah | Genesis 49:10 | Matthew 1:1-3 |
| Heir to the throne of David | Isaiah 9:6-7 | Matthew 1:1 |
| Called "The mighty God, The everlasting Father" | Isaiah 9:6 | Matthew 1:23 |
| Born in Bethlehem | Micah 5:2 | Matthew 2:1 |
| Born of a virgin | Isaiah 7:14 | Matthew 1:18 |
| His name called Immanuel, "God with us" | Isaiah 7:14 | Matthew 1:23 |
| Declared to be the Son of God | Psalm 2:7 | Matthew 3:17 |
| His messenger before Him in spirit of Elijah | Malachi 4:5-6 | Luke 1:17 |
| Preceded by a messenger to prepare His way | Malachi 3:1 | Matthew 11:7-11 |
| Messenger crying "Prepare ye the way of the Lord" | Isaiah 40:3 | Matthew 3:3 |
| Would be a Prophet of the children of Israel | Deuteronomy 18:15 | Matthew 2:15 |
| Called out of Egypt | Hosea 11:1 | Matthew 2:15 |
| Slaughter of the children | Jeremiah 31:15 | Matthew2:18 |
| Would be a Nazarene | Judges 13:5; Amos 2:11; Lam. 4:7 | Matthew 2:23 |
| Brought light to Zabulon & Nephthalm, Galilee of the Gentiles | Isaiah 9:1-2 | Matthew 4:15 |
| Presented with gifts | Psalm 72:10 | Matthew 2:1, 11 |
| Rejected by His own | Isaiah 53:3 | Matthew 21:42; Mark 8:31, 12:10; Luke 9:22, 17:25 |
| He is the stone which the builders rejected which became the headstone | Psalm 118:22-23; Isaiah 28:16 | Matthew 21:42; I Peter 2:7 |
| A stone of stumbling to Israel | Isaiah 8:14-15 | I Peter 2:8 |
| He entered Jerusalem as a king riding on an ass | Zechariah 9:9 | Matthew 21:5 |
| Betrayed by a friend | Psalms 41:9 | John 13:21 |
| Sold for 30 pieces of silver | Zechariah 11:12 | Matthew 26:15; Luke 22:5 |
| The 30 pieces of silver given for the potter's field | Zechariah 11:12 | Matthew 27:9-10 |
| The 30 pieces of silver thrown in the temple | Zechariah 11:13 | Matthew 27:5 |
| Forsaken by His disciples | Zechariah 13:7 | Matthew 26:56 |
| Accused by false witnesses | Psalm 35:11 | Matthew 26:60 |
| Silent to accusations | Isaiah 53:7 | Matthew 27:14 |
| Heal blind/deaf/lame/dumb | Isaiah 35:5-6; Isaiah 29:18 | Matthew 11:5 |
| Preached to the poor/brokenhearted/captives | Isaiah 61:1 | Matthew 11:5 |
| Came to bring a sword, not peace | Micah 7:6 | Matthew 10:34-35 |
| He bore our sickness | Isaiah 53:4 | Matthew 8:16-17 |
| Spat upon, smitten and scourged | Isaiah 50:6, 53:5 | Matthew 27:26, 30 |
| Smitten on the cheek | Micah 5:1 | Matthew 27:30 |
| Hated without a cause | Psalm 35:19 | Matthew 27:23 |
| The sacrificial lamb | Isaiah 53:5 | John 1:29 |
| Given for a covenant | Isaiah 42:6; Jeremiah 31:31-34 | Romans 11:27/Galatians 3:17, 4:24/Hebrews 8:6, 8, 10; 10:16, 29; 12:24; 13:20 |
| Would not strive or cry | Isaiah 42:2-3 | Mark 7:36 |
| People would hear not and see not | Isaiah 6:9-10 | Matthew 13:14-15 |
| People trust in traditions of men | Isaiah 29:13 | Matthew 15:9 |
| People give God lip service | Isaiah 29:13 | Matthew 15:8 |
| God delights in Him | Isaiah 42:1 | Matthew 3:17, 17:5 |
| Wounded for our sins | Isaiah 53:5 | John 6:51 |
| He bore the sins of many | Isaiah 53:10-12 | Mark 10:45 |
| Messiah not killed for Himself | Daniel 9:26 | Matthew 20:28 |
| Gentiles flock to Him | Isaiah 55:5, 60:3, 65:1; Malachi 1:11; II Samuel 22:44-45; Psalm 2:7-8 | Matthew 8:10 |
| Crucified with criminals | Isaiah 53:12 | Matthew 27:35 |
| His body was pierced | Zechariah 12:10; Ps. 22:16 | John 20:25, 27 |
| They pierced his hands and feet | Ps. 22:16 | John 20:25, 27 |
| Thirsty during execution | Psalm 22:16 | John 19:28 |
| Given vinegar and gall for thirst | Psalm 69:21 | Matthew 27:34 |
| Soldiers gambled for his garment | Psalm 22:18 | Matthew 27:35 |
| People mocked, "He trusted in God, let Him deliver him!" | Psalm 22:7-8 | Matthew 27:43 |
| People sat there looking at Him | Psalm 22:17 | Matthew 27:36 |
| Cried, "My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?" | Psalm 22:1 | Matthew 27:46 |
| Darkness over the land | Amos 8:9 | Matthew 27:45 |
| No bones broken | Psalm 34:20, Numbers 9:12 | John 19:33-36 |
| Side pierced | Zechariah 12:10 | John 19:34 |
| Buried with the rich | Isaiah 53:9 | Matthew 27:57, 60 |
| Resurrected from the dead | Psalm 16:10-11; 49:15 | Mark 16:6 |
| Priest after the order of Melchizedek | Psalm 110:4 | Hebrews 5:5-6; 6:20; 7:15-17 |
| Ascended to right hand of God | Psalm 68:18 | Luke 24:51 |
| LORD said unto Him, "Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool | Psalm 110:1 | Matt 22:44; Mark 12:36;, 16:19; Luke 20:42-43; Acts 2:34-35; Hebrews 1:13 |
| His coming glory | Malachi 3:2-3 | Luke 3:17 |
