Marv Wiseman

Christ – His Ultimate Reign 

      Christ: His Ultimate Reign - Pr. Marv Wiseman

George Frederick Handel, understandably struck by the claims of the Word of God as he read the 11th chapter of Revelation, was compelled to set it to music.  Out of his fascination and compulsion, the famous oratorio bearing his name and the name of his subject was born.  Known worldwide and performed frequently with great exuberance, Handel’s Messiah, or Jesus, the Messiah, as seen and set to music by George Frederick Handel…what an elaborate, absolute masterpiece.  Continue reading “Christ – His Ultimate Reign “ →

Marv Wiseman

Christ – His Ultimate Judgment 

      Christ: His Ultimate Judgment - Pr. Marv Wiseman

Given the various governments established today that are entrenched in power throughout the world, it is, indeed, difficult to image them all swept aside as they are forced to fold.  Kings and presidents, dictators, warlords, prime ministers, all existing heads of all existing states, in excess of two hundred governmental entities will come to an abrupt end.  None shall be able to stand against the long-absent but returned King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Continue reading “Christ – His Ultimate Judgment “ →

Marv Wiseman

Christ – His Second Coming (Part 2 )

      Christ: His Second Coming - Part 2 - Pr. Marv Wiseman

Those familiar with the subject of biblical prophecy will recall the many times the coming of Christ is mentioned, but, what many do not realize is that both the first and the second comings are referenced multiple times, scores of times, and the Second Coming is prophesied in much more detail many more times than the prophecies concerning His first coming to Bethlehem as the Babe in the manger.  Continue reading “Christ – His Second Coming (Part 2 )” →

Marv Wiseman

Christ – His Second Coming (Part 1)

      Christ: His Second Coming - Part 1 - Pr. Marv Wiseman

There is, perhaps, no issue that so captures the imagination of the world at large more than the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  Such has been the case since His departure from the Mount of Olives, when He bodily ascended out of sight in the presence of His apostles.  And, it may be said with certainty that no one then believed two thousand years would pass, and His promise of returning would still not be realized.  Continue reading “Christ – His Second Coming (Part 1)” →

Marv Wiseman

Christ – His Coming for His Church 

      Christ: His Coming for His Church - Pr. Marv Wiseman

The coming of Christ for His Church is a truth that is fraught with controversy among believers in the Lord Jesus.  Much of the controversy could be eliminated by a careful reading of 1st Thessalonians 4, 1st Corinthians 15, and Titus 2.  In this latter reference of Titus 2, believers are admonished to be looking for the “blessed hope in the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.” Continue reading “Christ – His Coming for His Church “ →

Marv Wiseman

Christ – His Church is His Spiritual Body 

      Christ: His Church is His Spiritual Body - Pr. Marv Wiseman

Christ’s Church is His spiritual body.  What does that mean?  Christ revealed this to Paul so he could record it for our learning.  It’s so stated in Ephesians 1.  When speaking of Christ, Paul said, “He was raised from the dead, and sat at God’s right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but in the world to come: and has put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all.” Continue reading “Christ – His Church is His Spiritual Body “ →

Marv Wiseman

Christ – His Post-Ascension Ministry 

      Christ: His Post Ascension Ministry - Pr. Marv Wiseman

We’re not given great details about what it is that Christ is engaged in doing following His ascension to Heaven.  We do know He sat down by the Majesty on high, in Hebrews 1, that He is making intercession for the saints in Hebrews 7, yet there is another very strategic engagement Christ fulfilled that is frequently overlooked, and the consequences of this endeavor are truly staggering.  We speak of what the ascended Christ provided by way of new information to Paul, the apostle, formerly Saul of Tarsus.  Continue reading “Christ – His Post-Ascension Ministry “ →

Marv Wiseman

Christ – His Bodily Ascension to Heaven 

      Christ: His Bodily Ascension to Heaven - Pr. Marv Wiseman

Apart from the two accounts we have from the inspired pen of Dr. Luke, the beloved physician, we really have no information about the ascension of Christ.  The good doctor mentions it in both of the books he wrote, both in Luke and in the Acts…and in Luke, it’s the last chapter, and in Acts, it’s the first…and it had to have been really something. Continue reading “Christ – His Bodily Ascension to Heaven “ →

Marv Wiseman

 Christ – His Post-Resurrection Appearances 

      Christ: His Post-Resurrection Appearances - Pr. Marv Wiseman

For our Lord Jesus Christ to have risen from the dead was astoundingly remarkable in itself, and, had He only appeared to a few, it would have been additionally remarkable.  But His repeated appearances, not merely to His close disciples but to above 500 persons at once, most of whom were still alive as Paul, the apostle, rendered the account in 1st Corinthians 15.  All this is beyond astounding. Continue reading ” Christ – His Post-Resurrection Appearances “ →

Marv Wiseman

Christ – The Necessity of His Resurrection 

      Christ: The Necessity of His Resurrection - Pr. Marv Wiseman

The necessity of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead should be intuitively obvious to even the casual observer of Christian teaching.  Merely consider the alternative to His rising from the dead.  It’s to have not risen from the dead.  Other options are non-existent.  Scripture reminds us, in the great chapter dealing with the resurrection, 1st Corinthians 15, “If the dead rise not, then is Christ not risen; and, if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” “Vain” means “to no purpose, empty, invalid.” Continue reading “Christ – The Necessity of His Resurrection “ →

Marv Wiseman

Christ – The Efficacy of His Death 

      Christ: The Efficacy of His Death - Pr. Marv Wiseman

Admittedly, it is a fair question and a very important question.  How could it be that one single Person, even Jesus Christ…how could that one Person possibly be able to effect the redemption of an entire humanity, consisting not of millions of people but untold billions?  That’s with a “B”…untold billions of people.  After all, Christ was but one single human Being.  True it is; He was one single human Being, but He was also one single divine Being, and that’s what made the difference.  In His uniqueness, Jesus Christ was the God-man, the theanthropic One.  He was the enfleshment of deity, the incarnated One.  Continue reading “Christ – The Efficacy of His Death “ →

Marv Wiseman

Christ – The Exclusivity of His Salvation 

      Christ: The Exclusivity of His Salvation - Pr. Marv Wiseman

The biblical insistence upon man’s salvation being secured exclusively through the finished work of Christ remains a major objection that many have about Christianity.  In this present day of religious pluralism, the idea of the exclusivity of Christ is met with increased hostility.  It is a narrowness many simply cannot abide.  The principle reason for their objection is always the same.  Their conclusions are reached as a result of their personal logic and reasoning and, to them, it simply doesn’t seem right that there should be but one way to heaven.  Continue reading “Christ – The Exclusivity of His Salvation “ →

Marv Wiseman

Christ – The Necessity of His Death 

      Christ: The Necessity of His Death - Pr. Marv Wiseman

In Romans 3, the Apostle Paul speaks of the death of Christ as revealing the righteousness of God.  How is that?  How could Jesus dying on a Roman cross possibly have anything to do with God being righteous?  It did serve to prove that man was unrighteous by carrying out the cruel crucifixion of the One utterly undeserving of such an end.  But how did Jesus Christ on the Cross demonstrate the righteousness of God?  Herein lies one of the most critical yet least understood aspects of biblical Christianity.  Continue reading “Christ – The Necessity of His Death “ →

Marv Wiseman

Christ – His Baptism and Temptation 

      Christ: His Baptism and Temptation - Pr. Marv Wiseman

Why was Jesus Christ baptized by John, the Baptist?  John, the Baptist, preach to His audience of Jews that they were to repent of their sin and undergo ceremonial water baptism to have their sins remitted.  Little wonder, then, that John refused to baptize Jesus when He arrived on the scene.  Christ simply didn’t qualify for John’s baptism since He was holiness personified and devoid of sin.  Nevertheless, Christ insisted because, as an obedient Jew, He wished to identify with the godly remnant of Israel, saying, “Allow it now to be so, for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness.”  Continue reading “Christ – His Baptism and Temptation “ →

Marv Wiseman

Christ – To Israel for the World 

      Christ: To Israel for the World - Pr. Marv Wiseman

In the Old Testament Scriptures, so revered by Jews in the nation of Israel, repeated prophecies are given regarding the coming of their Messiah as promised by God.  The miraculous nature of His birth, the very place of His birth, the lineage and royal line of His birth are all foretold with unmistakable clarity.  The very reason for His coming, that of accomplishing human redemption and the means of death through which He would do it, accompanied by the prophecy of His resurrection from the dead…it’s all there.  Even though the Christ would come to address and affect the entirety of humanity, yet it was specifically through the tiny nation of Israel that He would accomplish this.  Continue reading “Christ – To Israel for the World “ →

Marv Wiseman

Christ – His Incarnation 

      Christ: His Incarnation - Pr. Marv Wiseman

Nothing known to man in all his past, present, or future will have had such an enormous impact in its accomplishment or in its ramifications as this singular event.  We speak of that monumental act when God became man.  Theologians called it the “incarnation”.  Incarnation is related to the word “carnivorous”, having to do with meat or flesh.  Flesh-eating animals are called “carnivorous”, as opposed to herbal or vegetarians like elephants.  Continue reading “Christ – His Incarnation “ →

Marv Wiseman

Christ – His Commission from His Father 

      Christ: His Commission from His Father - Pr. Marv Wiseman

How can Jesus Christ, the Son of God, be said to be equal to the Father?  Isn’t the Father superior to the Son?  At least as Progenitor and in existence?  In human terms, yes.  But, in terms of Deity, No.  While we think of rank and authority by merely listing the Father first, as in Father, Son and Holy Spirit, it is a mistake to regard them as Father-more important, Son – of next importance, and Holy Spirit – of lesser importance still.  We’re not dealing in human terms here.  Continue reading “Christ – His Commission from His Father “ →

Marv Wiseman

Christ in His Pre-existence 

      Christ in His Pre-existance - Pr. Marv Wiseman

For many people worldwide who are not aware of what the Bible says, Jesus Christ came into existence when He was born of Mary in Bethlehem.  Well, it’s certainly true that His humanity began there, just as the familiar Christmas story reveals it.  But His beginning in Bethlehem must be limited to His humanity.  While that was His historical, human point of entry, it was most-assuredly not His beginning as a Person for in His personhood, He had no beginning.  Continue reading “Christ in His Pre-existence “ →

Marv Wiseman

Christ in the Trinity 

      Christ in the Trinity - Pr. Marv Wiseman

We have briefly identified numerous areas in which the person of Jesus Christ stands in an utterly unique category to any and all others who have ever existed or ever will.  This One, this Jesus of Nazareth, proclaimed to be the Son of God with power, evidenced by His resurrection from the dead, has no peers.  With whom would you compare Him?  Continue reading “Christ in the Trinity “ →

Marv Wiseman

Christ – His Utter Uniqueness

      Christ´s Utter Uniqueness - Pr. Marv Wiseman

It is only fitting that the following series devoted to the personhood of Jesus Christ be commenced with an understanding of His uniqueness.  Virtually everything about Christ, who He was and is, what He did and will do, is thoroughly unique.  The word “unique” conveys the one-of-a-kind meaning that must surely apply to Christ.  So many things that are true of Him are not true of any other being.  He stands utterly alone.  Continue reading “Christ – His Utter Uniqueness” →