The Bible's 4:23 Verses point to God's Holy Spirit being among us -- Mark 4:23 "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."

In another post I explain how the Bible's chapter and verse numbers are divinely appointed as much as the text is (http://amazingword.blogspot.com/2010/01/like-referenced-verses-have-thread-of.html). As we are approaching the 23rd of April 2014, I thought I would look up what common thread of theme I would find in the Bible's 4:23 verses...

There are a total of 24 Bible verses with chapter and verse equal to "4:23". The ten I show below are pretty good evidence these verses often speak of God's Holy Spirit (or Jesus himself) coming to us or having been with us. In breaking down the chapter and verse number; number 23 is about God being with us (where two or three are gathered, he is in our midst (http://amazingword.blogspot.com/2010/01/like-referenced-verses-have-thread-of.html); and number four points to men, places or things of earth.

How do you use this information?

Be watchful of every Bible number and be aware that by examining verses with like chapter and verse numbers, you can often observe clues as to interpretation of scripture you are studying.

A selection of 10 of all 24 verses with chapter and verse 4:23

• Philp 4:23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
• Eph 4:23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
• Mrk 4:23 "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
• Prov 4:23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
• Dan 4:23 'In that the king saw an angelic watcher, a holy one, descending from heaven..
• Matt 4:23 Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching..proclaiming the gospel..healing every kind of disease…
• John 4:23 "an hour is coming.. when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth..
• Josh 4:23 "For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed…
• Deu 4:23 "So watch yourselves, that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you...
• Gal 4:23 ..and the son by the free woman (was born) through the promise (spirit).

 

The very special nature of #8 in scripture -- the Godly, resurrection...receiving the Holy Spirit

Every one of God's numbers has very special symbolism and there is a progression of God's plan represented in the digits 1-0 (10). Number eight relates to what I believe is the 8th step in God's ten part pattern in being delivered and with him in heaven. I was writing about the special nature of the number eight for a friend and thought it would be a good thing to share its symbolic association to others...

#8 --- Eight is the number of becoming Godly. It is about those who are faithful to God. Eight is the step where we are dedicated or made Godly and is related to the receiving of the Holy Spirit...

• Eight days are related to the time of circumcision and baptism 

• Eight is related to resurrection of which there are eight written about. 

• In Genesis chapter 8 the remnant of the 8 faithful finally come to rest after the flood. 

• In the 8th book of Ruth, Naomi and Ruth give up staying in Moab and return to back to God's land where he was caring for his people--the godly. 

• Romans 8:1 says "there is no condemnation...". 

• In Leviticus 8:8 the breastplate with the Urim & Thummin is placed on Moses. 

• In John 20 it was after eight days the disciples were together, that Jesus instantly appeared to them; 

• In Acts chapter 8 the first receiving Holy Spirit is documented; 

• Hebrews chapter 8:8 tells of the coming New Covenant...

As you observe any number eight in the scriptures observe how it is very often related to holiness, righteousness, the Holy Spirit, the saved remnant and other aspects of the Godly and saving of God's people.

Proof of the Trinity in the Bible

Where's the Trinity mentioned in the bible?

Scholars can't find a direct reference to the trinity in the bible...I think I've found one...

Some give verses such as the following ones as evidence for the trinity in the bible but these are not generally accepted as proof of the trinity because they refer to three different things and not necessarily as a single God with three aspects to him.

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit [Matthew 28:19].

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all [2 Corinthians 13:14].

To God’s elect. . .who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood [1 Peter 1:1-2].

Proof of the Trinity in the Book of John?

Following are the ten "I am" declarations Jesus made about himself in the book of John. These well known passages are very direct statements about who he is. Jesus is telling us he is all of these things:

• #1 John 6:35 "I am the bread of life..."
  
• #2 John 6:41 "I am the bread that came down out of heaven."
  
• #3 John 6:51 "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven"
  
• #4 John 8:12 "I am the Light of the world...
  
• #5 John 8:18 "I am He who testifies about Myself"
  
• #6 John 10:7 "I am the door of the sheep."
  
• #7 John 10:14 "I am the good shepherd..."
  
• #8 John 11:25 "I am the resurrection and the life...
  
• #9 John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, the life...
• #10 John 15:1 "I am the true vine..."
  

This list of ten things follows a common pattern God has placed in scripture that repeatedly tells us his plan of salvation. I'll discuss this more on other posts on this blog. These are not casual statements by Jesus but he's telling us exactly who he is. For this blog post let's concentrate on the first three items.

The first three statements Jesus makes of himself all indicate that he is bread and specifically the Bread of Life. But he also said he is the Bread that came down out of heaven and that he's also the Living Bread that came down out of heaven. Why did he make these three seemingly repetitive statements about himself? I believe he's telling us about the Trinity. He's directly stating he is all three parts of the trinity.

BREAD OF LIFE - GOD

It all starts with God who is telling us he's the source of all life. Bread is the common statement made about each part of the trinity and that Bread can be thought of as God the Father.

THE BREAD THAT CAME DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN - Jesus

Jesus came to earth to teach us who he is and to give himself as sacrifice for our sins. Thus he is the part of God (Bread) that came down out of heaven to visit us.

THE LIVING BREAD THAT CAME DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN - Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the aspect of God that comes down and lives inside us once we receive Christ as our savior and redeemer. Thus he is the "Living Bread" who comes down to us and lives inside us each day.

CONCLUSION

These statements indicate that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one. For those that believe the bible is the word of God, this statement should be enough evidence for them about the trinity. If this statement is not enough evidence then you need to go back and work on an even bigger question you have...is the bible the actual word of God and do I believe it?

Until next time...

Norm