Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

Jesus is Jehovah come in the flesh to save mankind from our sins.  John 14:6-7  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  7)  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Jesus answered Thomas' question by revealing to him who Christ truly is. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life."  By using the divine name "I am" Jesus showed His disciples that He is Jehovah in the flesh. Now, Jehovah is the most used personal name of God in the Old Testament. Jesus Christ is “the way” to the Father because “no man cometh unto the Father but by Me”.  He is “the truth” of all we know about the Father when we come to Him, “For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9).  Jesus is the source of all life, physical and spiritual. Thus, He is “the life” and “this is the true God and eternal life” (1 John ...

John 14 begins with Jesus stating five promises to His disciples, and by extension, believers today. Five promises Jesus gave to His disciples. John 14:1-4  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  2)  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  3)  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  4)  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.  The first promise is that there are many mansions in the Father's house which will belong to all who turn to Jesus Christ in repentant faith. The second promise is that Jesus Himself, is helping to prepare this heavenly dwelling place for us. The third promise is that Jesus will return again at the resurrection of life, and the rapture of His church. The fourth promise is that Jesus will receive us unto Himself.  The l...

Each believer in Christ is safe and secure in the hand of God.  Ecclesiastes 9:1-3  For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.  2)  All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.  3)  This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. Solomon began this chapter by thinking about the one event in life that occurs to all people, rich and poor, powerful and oppressed. He is speaking of deat...

Remember the chapter divisions in our Bible, were inserted by God-fearing men, who sought to help us navigate the scriptures better. John 13 clearly flows into John 14, so it helps to retain the context we studied from John 13.  In chapter 13, the disciples made preparation for the Passover, but they neglected to appoint someone to wash their feet. Jesus took the position of a slave and washed all of their feet, as an example of humility and servanthood, for His disciples to follow.  Then, Jesus reminded them that He is both Lord and Master, and that the servants are not greater than their masters. Therefore, they should be prepared to serve others as He served them. The next aspect of the Passover was Jesus  announcing that someone was going to betray Him. Peter signaled to John to ask the Lord which one of them it was.  Jesus replied that it was the person to whom He gave a sop, and then He gave it to Judas. The wheels of betrayal were set into motion, but the...

Jesus foretells Peter's martyrdom. John 13:36   Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.  The scriptures are inspired, as we know. However, the chapter divisions are helps inserted by translators, so that we might more easily find our place.  In this instance, the end of John 13 runs right into the beginning of chapter 14. I will try to keep these things connected so that we understand why John 14 begins as it does.  Peter asked Jesus about where He was going. His question is connected with John 13:33, where Jesus said He would be with them for a short while longer, but where He was going they could not come.  The truths Jesus told them about His sufferings and death, were starting to sink in a bit. Thus, Peter wanted to know where Jesus was going. Peter is near death, and wants us to take hold of God's truth .  2 Peter 1:13-15  Yea, I ...

The wise man who wrote Ecclesiastes is King Solomon.  He is writing to underscore the futility of living your life without knowing God. He is going to reflect upon death viewed from the same perspective. Death happens to the righteous and the wicked. Ecclesiastes 9:2-3  All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.  3)  This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. Solomon observed that those who fear God and live by faith often suffer undue hardship, while wicked sinners seem to prosper.  This observation led him to conclude that, even though ...