Great Ancestors

7 March 2014

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In the family tree of Jesus, we find a very diverse collection of people. There were some faithful and obedient folks and a few that had a rather shady past. I will not take the time to explore the life of each person in the two genealogies. However, I would like to say a few things about some of the blessed ancestors of Jesus, and then, perhaps in my next blog, mention a few surprises.

Of course, everyone knows that Jesus came through the families of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These three names are quite famous. But there are some others that warrant a closer look as well.

In Genesis Chapter 49, we find the record of Jacob giving blessings to his sons. One that truly stand out to me is Judah (Judas in Matthew's list).

Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: his eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk. - Genesis 49:8-12

Judah is told that his family will be great leaders in Israel and that many kings will come from him. In particular, this is the promised line of the Messiah. There is a remarkable phrase in the middle of this blessing that gives us assurance that the Messiah has indeed already come. "A scepter shall not depart" means that there will be a king on the throne from this family until Shiloh, who is Jesus, comes. Well, there is no king in Israel now. That means Shiloh has come!

Good King Asa (for whom my son is named) is mentioned in 1st Kings 15 as being a great reformer in Israel He went against friends and family to work to stop idolatry and false worship outside of Jerusalem.

Hezekiah (Ezekias in Matthew) had fifteen years added to His because the Lord was so pleased with him.

Zerubbabel returned from captivity with Ezra and rebuilt the temple.

These are just a few of the great men in Israel's history that are in Jesus' family tree. But one of the most fascinating things, which was given to me by a friend while I was studying this subject, is a list of the generations from Adam to Noah with the meanings of their names.

adam-noah

Adam - Man
Seth - Appointed
Enosh – Mortal
Kenan – Sorrow
Mahalalel – The blessed God
Jared – Shall come down
Enoch – Teaching
Methuselah – His death shall bring
Lamech – Despairing
Noah – Comfort and rest

When these are listed in sentence form, here is what you get!

Man (is) appointed mortal sorrow, (but)the blessed God shall come down teaching. His death shall bring (the) despairing comfort and rest.

Tags: abraham, adam, eve, genesis, harmony_of_the_gospels, jesus, john, luke, messiah, promise

Welcome

Brentwood Hills Primitive Baptist Church is a community of believers working together to transform our lives to the image of Jesus Christ. We believe it is our duty and privilege to live the gospel of the doctrines of grace in such a way as to edify the families within our church and other children of God in our community. Through regular worship based on strong Biblical principles, fellowship, admonishment, and outreach, we glory in the grace of the sovereign God working in our lives thereby showing the Spirit of God in the world.

Brentwood Hills was organized in 1906 in Fort Worth, Texas as Laodicea Primitive Baptist Church. You can find much of the history of the church, as well as other churches here: Primitive Baptist History Database

We identify ourselves as an old-line Primitive Baptist church. If you read our Articles of Faith, you’ll see that we hold to such doctrines as the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. We recognize the King James Version (KJV) as the only English translation worthy of being called the Bible. We believe in salvation solely by the grace of a sovereign God. We believe that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, came to the earth to do the will of His Father, which was to deliver from the sentence of death all those the Father gave Him before the world began. We believe that Jesus fully satisfied the Father by atoning for all the sins of all His people. In time, we believe the Holy Spirit comes to each person that belongs to Jesus and regenerates them. Then (and only then) can anyone have faith, which is a fruit of the Spirit, by which you are able to believe the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether or not you ever hear the gospel, or believe it if you did hear it, or obey it if you did believe it, rest assured that Jesus will remain forever faithful to you because, if He died for you, He will never deny that you belong to Him.

We believe that everyone for whom Christ died will without fail be raised again from the dead to a glorified life. Even if we are alive when He returns to raise the dead, we shall be changed to a glorified life. All the Redeemed will meet the Lord in the air. Then He will take us to Heaven and there we shall forever be with the Lord. The wicked will be raised at the same time as the righteous, but the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment along with Satan and his angels. Until that glorious day when Christ returns to raise the dead, He has provided a place for His people to find rest for their souls. This place is the Church. Jesus Christ set-up His church on this earth before His death on the Cross. The church is there for those of His people who have come to believe that God saved them by His Son, Jesus Christ. To believe that Christ “paid it all” gives believers the strongest motivation to serve Him. Once enlightened to this glorious truth, then the child of God should feel an obligation to become and remain an active member of the His church. To serve the Lord in His church makes for one of the great blessings to experience this side of Heaven. It fulfills you to serve in His church and it gives your life purpose and meaning.

Living in Liberty

Elder Bryce Lowrance

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