Christ and The Everlasting Gospel

This week in Christ and the Everlasting Gospel we studied circumcision, which I suppose can be a weird topic for some people, but I think it's really interesting.  I pulled a few statements from the Bible Dictionary which say: " The token of the Abrahamic covenant during Old Testament dispensations. Those who received it thenceforth enjoyed the privileges and undertook the responsibilities of the covenant. It symbolized some aspects of separation or dedication (1) to God, to whom Israel belonged; (2) from the world, the uncircumcised with whom Israel might not mix; (3) from sin" " The significance of circumcision was that it was the manifest token of the covenant that the Lord had made with Abraham and his seed." Although people don't circumcize their children for the same reasons today, the idea of circumcision being a symbol of a covenant back then is what touches me the most.  Today we enter into covenants with the Lord in the temple and wear garmen...

This week in Christ and the Everlasting Gospel we studied the final acts of the Atonement where Christ gives up  His life by choice on the Cross as well as the Resurrection.  It was interesting to go into detail about how Christ was nailed to the cross the brutal methods they used.  Also all the symbolism of the sponge that was used to give Christ a "drink" was fascinating. One scripture I read this week in John 20 tells of Thomas' experience with the Risen Lord.  It reads: "...then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing." (John 20:26-27) It has always touched me to think of Christ with scars in His hands and feet as permanent reminders on His perfected body of what He did for us.  It is not just a reminder that He had nails driven through His hands ...