Jesus The Same Yesterday, Today And Forever

Yesterday — The Promise and Preparation 

 Abraham: God’s covenant of promise (Genesis 12, 15), Ephesians (2:2). “In thy seed shall all nations be blessed.” Moses and the Law: God’s covenant of instruction. The Law as a schoolmaster pointing to Christ (Gal. 3:24). Hebrews’ connection: The shadow of good things to come (Heb. 10:1). 

Today — The Fulfillment and Mediation Jesus’ Earthly Ministry: “A minister of the circumcision… to confirm the promises made unto the fathers” (John 1:11) (Romans 15:8).

 The Cross and Resurrection: The perfect sacrifice once for all. 

 Now: Our living High Priest and Mediator (Heb. 4:14–16; 8:6).

 The age of grace — Jew and Gentile one body in Christ (Eph. 2:14–16). 

  Forever — The Consummation and Glory In the ages to come: “He might show the exceeding riches of his grace…” (Ephesians 2:7). 

 Eternal Reign: Jesus crowned with glory and honor (Heb. 2:9). Unchanging Nature: “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Heb. 13:8) 

Response — The Same Call Echoes Today “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” — Acts 26:28 A closing reminder that the message of Revelation 22:17— and the whole Bible — still calls for a response: Will we be “almost persuaded,” or fully persuaded like Abraham (Rom. 4:21)? 

 take hold of His Grace gift of ever lasting life. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Ephesians 2:8

Where Else Can We Go?

Where Else Can We Go?

John 6:68 – “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

There are times in life — and in the study of Scripture — when clarity feels just out of reach. Questions pile up. Apparent contradictions confuse us. Even the wisest minds can struggle to reconcile genealogies, prophecies, or the mysteries of God’s plan.

Yet in moments of uncertainty, one truth stands firm: Jesus holds the answers. The disciples themselves didn’t understand everything He taught. Many walked away, overwhelmed by the depth and difficulty of His words. But Peter’s response resonates through the centuries: “Lord, to whom shall we go?”

Our search for understanding is not a failure; it’s a journey of faith. Questions are not enemies of belief — they are companions. As we study, reflect, and seek God, He meets us in the effort. The process itself draws us closer to Him.

Even when answers are unclear, the promise remains: Jesus has the words of eternal life. That is enough. That is hope. That is the anchor in every storm of confusion or doubt.

So keep searching, keep asking, keep studying. Let your questions bring you closer to Him, not push you away. And when you feel lost in the details, remember Peter’s simple, faithful words: there is nowhere else to go — only Jesus.

— Posted by Randy Felts | ScriptureHelps.blogspot.com

 It Is Finished — But Not Yet Complete

Redemption vs. Restoration

Key Texts:
John 19:30 · John 17:4 · Hebrews 9:13–16 · Acts 3:21 · Ezekiel 40–48

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🔹 1. The Finished Work: Redemption

When Jesus cried out, “It is finished,” He declared that the entire work of redemption — every demand of divine justice — was satisfied.

• The blood that once covered sins now removes them completely (Hebrews 9:12).

• The veil was torn; the way into God’s presence was opened (Matthew 27:51).

• No more sacrifices were needed for atonement — the perfect Lamb had died once for all (Hebrews 10:10–14).

The Greek word tetelestai was used on paid receipts — “debt paid in full.”
At that moment, the redemptive debt of humanity was settled forever.

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🔹 2. The Unfinished Work: Restoration

Yet, while redemption was finished, history’s story wasn’t.
Prophets like Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Zechariah still speak of events yet to come:

• Israel restored to her land and faith (Ezekiel 36–37).

• Messiah reigning from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2–4).

• All nations coming up to worship the King (Zechariah 14:16).

That’s why Peter preached in Acts 3:21 that heaven must receive Christ

“until the times of restitution of all things,
which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”

So “It is finished” didn’t mean the plan was over —
it meant the foundation was laid for everything else God had promised.

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🔹 3. The Millennial Sacrifices — A Memorial, Not Atonement

Ezekiel’s vision (chapters 40–48) describes renewed sacrifices and temple worship during Messiah’s 1,000-year reign.
Some ask, “If the cross finished it, why more sacrifices?”

Here’s the key:

• Those sacrifices will be memorial, not propitiatory.

• Just as Christians observe the Lord’s Supper to remember the cross, redeemed Israel will offer sacrifices as a visible remembrance of the once-for-all offering of Christ.

• They will look backward to the Cross, just as the Old Testament saints looked forward to it.

Thus, no contradiction exists. The cross remains central; the rituals become commemorations of its power.

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🔹 4. The Right Division

• Redemption = Finished at Calvary.

• Restoration = Fulfilled at Christ’s return.

At the Cross, Jesus signed the covenant.
At His Coming, He will deliver the kingdom.

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🕊️ Reflection Thought

“When Jesus said, ‘It is finished,’ He completed redemption’s work — but He left room for prophecy’s fulfillment. The price was paid; the promise is still unfolding.”

NOTE to the reader I don't claim to be the final authority on the subject it's your responsibility to 2Timothy 2:15 for yourself. 

It Is Finished — But Not Yet Complete

Redemption completed at the cross; restoration awaits the return of the King.

Key Texts: John 19:30 · John 17:4 · Hebrews 9:13–16 · Acts 3:21 · Ezekiel 40–48

1. The Finished Work: Redemption

John 19:30 — “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and He bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

The Greek word tetelestai (from teleō) means to complete, accomplish, or bring to the intended goal. In its ancient usage it could mean “paid in full.” On the cross Jesus declared that the work required to redeem humanity was fully accomplished.

• The redemptive debt was satisfied; the price for sin was paid once for all (Hebrews 9–10).
• The way into God’s presence was opened (the veil torn, Matthew 27:51).
• The sacrificial system found its fulfillment in the Lamb’s offering.

2. The Unfinished Work: Restoration

Acts 3:21 — “Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets.”

Although redemption is complete, many prophetic promises remain to be fulfilled: Israel’s national restoration, Messiah’s earthly reign, and the full renewal of creation. Jesus’ death secured the foundation for those future fulfillments — but time and history still move toward their consummation.

3. Millennial Sacrifices — Memorials, Not Atonement

Passages such as Ezekiel 40–48 describe temple worship and sacrifices during the millennial reign. These are best understood as memorial or commemorative practices:

• Animal offerings never removed sin (Hebrews 10:4); they pointed forward to Christ.
• In the kingdom those offerings will act like visible reminders — testimonies to the once-for-all sacrifice of the Lamb.
• They do not nullify the finished work; they declare it in a renewed, earthly context under the Messiah’s rule.

4. Right Division: Redemption vs. Restoration

Redemption — finished at Calvary.
Restoration — completed at Christ’s return.

The Cross

Finished: Atonement paid.
(John 19:30)

The Church Age

Bridge: Gospel to all nations; prophecy awaits.
(Acts 1–3 / Paul’s mission)

Christ's Return

Complete: Kingdom consummated, prophecy fulfilled.
(Acts 3:21 / Revelation)

5. A Short Summary Thought

When Jesus cried “It is finished,” He completed the work necessary for salvation. That declaration secures everything God promised, yet history still follows God’s plan until its final fulfillment.

Parables, Poetry, and the Hidden Power of Truth

Parables, Poetry, and the Hidden Power of Truth

Matthew 13:13 – “Therefore I speak to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.”

Jesus often spoke in parables—stories about seeds, fields, vineyards, and weddings. To the casual listener, they sounded simple, even harmless. But underneath the surface, they carried deep, cutting truth about the hypocrisy of the religious leaders and the state of the human heart.

Those who were proud and self-righteous missed the message. They heard only a story. But those who were humble, hungry, and open—people who truly wanted to understand—heard the voice of God speaking through every word. The parable became a kind of spiritual code that revealed truth to those ready for it and hid it from those who would only reject it.

In a similar way, art, poetry, and even music have used this same language of hidden truth throughout the centuries. When the world tries to silence or censor honesty, the truth finds another way to speak. It becomes poetry. It becomes song.

One example is the 1971 Traffic song, The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys. Beneath its smooth rhythm and mysterious lyrics lies a quiet protest against greed and exploitation in the music industry. “The man in the suit has just bought a new car from the profit he’s made on your dreams.” Those words speak volumes—but only to those listening closely. Like Jesus’ parables, they hide their meaning from those who would suppress it and reveal it to those seeking truth.

Whether through Scripture or song, God’s pattern remains the same: truth never stays buried. It finds its hearer. It reaches hearts that are listening. The proud may miss it, but the humble will always recognize the voice of truth when they hear it.

“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matthew 11:15)

— Posted by Randy Felts | ScriptureHelps.blogspot.com

Rightly Dividing the Word: How Understanding “When” and “To Whom” Makes the Bible Come Alive

Summary: Many people struggle with what seem like contradictions in Scripture—especially between Peter’s call to repentance and Paul’s message of grace. But when we read each passage in its proper context, audience, and time, those apparent conflicts disappear. God is unchanging, but His dealings with humanity unfold in stages.

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The Wisdom of an Early Bible Translator

Centuries before study aids and commentaries, Miles Coverdale (1488–1569)—the first man to print the complete English Bible—offered this timeless guidance:

“It shall greatly help ye to understand the Scriptures if thou mark not only what is spoken or written, but of whom and to whom, with what words, at what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstances, considering what goeth before and what followeth after.”

In today’s English, Coverdale was saying:

You’ll understand the Bible much better if you pay attention not only to what is written, but also to who is speaking, to whom it’s spoken, when and why it was said, and what comes before and after it.

This principle is the heart of 2 Timothy 2:15, where Paul calls us to “rightly divide the word of truth.”

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Peter & Paul — Two Distinct Stages, One Unified Message

One classic difficulty is comparing Acts 2:38 (Peter) with Ephesians 2:8–9 (Paul):

• Peter: “Repent and be baptized… for the forgiveness of sins.”
• Paul: “By grace you are saved through faith… not by works.”

If read without distinction, they look contradictory. But when you apply Coverdale’s method:

• Peter was addressing Israel, calling them to repent for rejecting their Messiah (Acts 2:36).
• Paul later revealed the Gospel of Grace — salvation offered to everyone by faith, apart from external works.

It’s not a contradiction — it’s progressive revelation, God unfolding His plan over time.

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God Is Unchanging — But His Methods Vary Across History

As it’s often said: “God is the same in ages past, today, and tomorrow, but works by different methods at different times.”

Here’s how Scripture shows that:

• Under Moses, He gave the Law.
• In Christ’s earthly ministry, the Kingdom was offered to Israel.
• Through Paul, the mystery of grace was revealed.
• In the ages to come, God will fulfill His promises to Israel.

Ephesians 2 clearly frames it: “Time Past,” “But Now,” and “Ages to Come.” Understanding those distinctions transforms the Bible from a confusing puzzle into a unified story.

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The Power of Right Division

“Rightly dividing the Word” doesn’t mean dividing people — it means discerning how God’s revelation is structured. When we apply that, we stop forcing every Scripture into our present moment and instead see how each passage fits into God’s plan through history. We begin to study like the Bereans in Acts 17:11 — testing everything against Scripture, letting the Bible interpret itself.

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Closing Thought

When we follow the wisdom of Coverdale and the apostolic command to rightly divide, Scripture becomes clear and consistent. No longer does it feel contradictory. Instead, the Bible unfolds as one perfect revelation — pointing to Jesus Christ, the center of it all.

Ephesians 2:8 — “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”

History hums like an old gramophone

  History hums like an old gramophone,

scratched and stubborn, playing the same tune again.
Every revolution starts in a bright major key —
the sound of freedom, fresh and fierce.
But before long, the harmony bends,
and the rhythm of hope slows to the march of power.

New leaders rise,
old habits return,
and the people who dreamed the loudest
find themselves listening to the same song —
just with different voices.

Yet somewhere, beneath the noise and brass,
a faint melody still lingers.
It’s the sound of what could be —
the note that refuses to die,
the whisper that says
the music isn’t over yet.