The purpose of this book is to show the historical, doctrinal and prophetic relationship between the Old and New Testament. The conclusion is that in its essence, from Genesis to Malachi, the Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the New Testament.
Under the Law of Moses, every firstborn son was predestined to receive the full inheritance and blessing from his father. The purpose of this book is to examine the Scriptures that explain why the firstborn son rarely received the father's inheritance and blessing. Our human birth is our first birth and when we are born again, it is our spiritual birth or second birth. We are born in the flesh, and then we are born again spiritually. Our first birth is cursed because we are all "shapen in iniquity; and (born) in sin" (Psalm 51:5) and because of this, we cannot receive the blessing of Father God. It is when our second birth occurs, that we are made in the image and likeness of God and have God's nature; this qualifies us for the full inheritance and blessing of God. Curse of the Firstborn will walk you from the Garden of Eden to Calvary, revealing how God's blessing was never given to the firstborn son because he represents the flesh. God's blessing was always given to the youngest son because he represents the Spirit.
The NIV is the world's best-selling modern translation, with over 150 million copies in print since its first full publication in 1978. This highly accurate and smooth-reading version of the Bible in modern English has the largest library of printed and electronic support material of any modern translation.
Who is Jesus Christ? You've never met him in person, and you don't know anyone who has. But there is a way to know who he is. How? Jesus Christ-the divine Person revealed in the Bible-has a unique excellence and a spiritual beauty that speaks directly to our souls and says, "Yes, this is truth." It's like seeing the sun and knowing that it is light, or tasting honey and knowing that it is sweet. The depth and complexity of Jesus shatter our simple mental frameworks. He baffled proud scribes with his wisdom but was understood and loved by children. He calmed a raging storm with a word but would not get himself down from the cross. Look at the Jesus of the Bible. Keep your eyes open, and fill them with the portrait of Jesus in God's Word. Jesus said, "If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority." Ask God for the grace to do his will, and you will see the truth of his Son. John Piper has written this book in the hope that all will see Jesus for who he really is and will come to enjoy him above all else.
The Knowing the Bible series is a resource designed to help Bible readers better understand and apply God’s Word. These 12-week study lead participants through books of the Bible and are made up of four basic components: (1) Reflection questions help readers engage the text at a deeper level; (2) “Gospel Glimpses” highlight the gospel of grace throughout the book; (3) “Whole-Bible Connections” show how any given passage connects to the Bible’s overarching story of redemption, culminating in Christ; and (4) “Theological Soundings” identify how historic orthodox doctrines are taught or reinforced throughout Scripture. With contributions from an array of influential pastors and church leaders, these gospel-centered studies will help Christians see and cherish the message of God’s grace on each and every page of the Bible. The books of Colossians and Philemon complement each other as two New Testament texts that gloriously display the gospel and its implications for how God’s people should live today. Written around the same time, both letters resonate with the apostle Paul’s overriding passion to magnify Jesus Christ as the supreme manifestation of God’s redemptive purposes.
The author of Desiring God reveals the biblical evidence to help us see and savor what the pleasures of God show us about Him. Includes a study guide for individual and small-group use. Isn’t it true—we really don’t know someone until we understand what makes that person happy? And so it is with God! What does bring delight to the happiest Being in the universe? John Piper writes, that it’s only when we know what makes God glad that we’ll know the greatness of His glory. Therefore, we must comprehend “the pleasures of God.” Unlike so much of what is written today, this is not a book about us. It is about the One we were made for—God Himself. In this theological masterpiece—chosen by World Magazine as one of the 20th Century’s top 100 books, John Piper reveals the biblical evidence to help us see and savor what the pleasures of God show us about Him. Then we will be able to drink deeply—and satisfyingly—from the only well that offers living water. What followers of Jesus need now, more than anything else, is to know and love—behold and embrace—the great, glorious, sovereign, happy God of the Bible. “This is a unique and precious book that everybody should read more than once.” —J.I. PACKER, Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia
This book brings an incredibly fresh perspective unlike any other before it to this topic of the firstborn. It challenges fathers, sons, mothers, and similar authority figures to embrace a long existed yet abandoned concept of the firstborn son that will serve us all effectively. The firstborn son has a covenant relationship with God the father for stability of the family and society (see Numbers 8:16-17, Romans 8:28-30, Colossians 1:15-16). The proper embrace of the institution of the firstborn son is crucial to thoroughly restoring the ill-beating heart of our society to its perfect rhythm. God's perspective is paramount. As opposed to an all-theoretical approach, challenging real life experiences of the author provide measurable results that can be methodically tracked to observe the expected progress when practiced. Key subject matter experts have also provided their approval of this material as you will notice on the book's reviews. Ezechiel "Zeke" Bambolo, Jr. was born in Liberia, West Africa, and came to the United States in 1991. Regardless of social and emotional trials, he became a very successful collegiate athlete and student. Ezechiel is a firstborn son who accepted the challenge of his father and embraced God's core values for this strategic role. He restored his family from utter chaos, destruction, and loss of a civil war after being forced to leave them in the danger of the war. Now married for over twelve years, he is a father of two beautiful children. He has spent over fourteen years in corporate America as an awardwinning consultant. Ezechiel serves as a deacon in his church and has been fully engaged in men's discipleships and accountability groups for over ten years.
Origen’s On First Principles is a foundational work in the development of Christian thought and doctrine: it is the first attempt in history at a systematic Christian theology. For over a decade it has been out of print with only expensive used copies available; now it is available at an affordable price and in a more accessible format. On First Principles is the most important surviving text written by third-century Church father, Origen. Origen wrote in a time when fundamental doctrines had not yet been fully articulated by the Church, and contributed to the very formation of Christianity. Readers see Origen grappling with the mysteries of salvation and brainstorming how they can be understood. This edition presents G. W. Butterworth’s trusted translation in a new, more readable format, retains the introduction by Henri de Lubac, and includes a new foreword by John C. Cavadini. As St. Gregory of Nazianzus, Doctor of the Church, wrote: “Origen is the stone on which all of us were sharpened.”