Eight Through Twelve
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Over the past twenty plus years, I’ve been exposed to many people who have denied that the Bible is divine; challenged the inerrancy of the Bible; speculated about the unrecorded years of Jesus’ life; interpreted the Bible to suit their own prejudices and experiences; and redefined certain Gospel doctrines to accommodate modern culture and human relativism. As a result of so much contradictory and convoluted false teaching about the God of the Bible, many people have declined to delve into such an exclusive, controversial, and contentious religion. They’ve chosen to avoid becoming embroiled in differences of opinion and confrontational debates which polarize Christians regarding Biblical topics and doctrines. I’ve also met people who think that the Bible is too difficult to grasp and too hard to understand based on the way it’s written. Then there’s people who don’t accept that they’re sinful as defined or described in the Bible. As a result, they don’t fear and revere God or his Son who will someday judge them. There’s also a multitude who believe that the Gospel of Jesus is primarily about love, compassion and forgiveness. When they consider all the good things they’ve done which God most assuredly has credited to their account, they don’t worry about being judged. And there’s Christians who rely on the misunderstood adage “once saved always saved” and claim that they don’t need to spend time in the Bible. I could keep listing other excuses and justifications why people decline to read and study the Bible, but you probably get the point. I can only pray that the Holy Spirit convicts the readers of this commentary to recognize how applicable and important the Gospel is to their own life.
For those who think they’re saved but aren’t sure; for those who said the sinner’s prayer when they were spiritually bankrupt; for those who were confirmed as a youth; for those whose prayers weren’t answered the way they asked; for those who aren’t sure that their sins are forgiven; for those who don’t study the Bible; and for those who lack spiritual wisdom, I also pray that as you study the Bible while reading this guideline, you’ll understand Jesus’ revelations during his ministry and draw closer to him. Perhaps then you’ll be more assured of the hope you have in the promises of Jesus. And perhaps then you’ll ask to receive the gift that God has for you.
Please have your Bible available as you begin your study of the greatest words ever written. May your eyes behold the wondrous truths and lessons of God’s word as you ask the Spirit of God to be with you.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
I became a believer in Jesus Christ after I turned forty. As a result of my new converted perspective, I started seeing my former self in people who thought they were saved but weren’t. I also met people who doubted their salvation, people who couldn’t explain why they were saved, and others who admitted their faith was unfulfilling. I subsequently determined that their weak spiritual condition was the result of not having a personal relationship with Christ Jesus. That’s because they never became acquainted with him by studying his life and ministry as recorded in the Gospels.
I wrote Eight Through Twelve to show believers that anyone who has a humble heart and a desire to know Jesus more intimately can indeed draw closer to him by studying his ministry as recorded in the Gospels. In these five chapters in the Gospel of Matthew, the reader will learn that Jesus described himself using three distinct titles – Shepherd, Teacher, and Master. It is my hope that a sincere study of Jesus’ life using this book will lead readers into a more clear relationship with him as his sheep, student, and servant. We can’t truly understand Jesus until we know him. And without knowing him, we can’t truly love him. But if we love Jesus as our Savior and Master, we can love others the way he loves us. That is my prayer for anyone who seeks to know Jesus using Eight Through Twelve.
About the Author
Clifford Best was born in 1946 and married in 1966 in west Michigan. His son and daughter have given him four loving granddaughters. For over forty years Cliff presumed that he was a true believer in Christ. But a series of dramatic personal events caused him to realize that he was unsaved. Cliff subsequently committed himself to Christ Jesus and was transformed as a born again believer.