18 - Hello, My desire is to make it as clear as Jesus did.

*** LUKE: THE DEVIL'S WORST ENEMY, by albert friend.*** **A book designed for young Christians and Bible students**

The book of Luke has in it our benchmark.

Luke 24:45-48: Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ---Look at it. That is a beginning point as clear as it gets. Level your building with it. Preach it. It is why He died. It is a Benchmark forever settled in Heaven.

**Title Chapter 10: Our Benchmark.** A Benchmark is a surveyor's mark on a permanent object of predetermined position and elevation used as a reference point. It can be a nail in a telephone pole. It is the point that keeps the building level as you build.

A surveyor uses a telescope, called a transit, to establish his points. But first he must have a benchmark as a beginning point. Without a benchmark there is confusion. This is the problem with Christianity. There are too many traditions which have become man made benchmarks. Each group says ours is the mark you should use. If you listen to them and blindly agree then you will both fall in the ditch.

A benchmark is also a standard to establish the validity of your perceived meaning of a scripture. It is a basis for comparison against which other things can be evaluated. A Benchmark in its simplest form is Truth. These words of Jesus become the benchmark Luke set as the reference point, the measure, the standard for all your subsequent reading and study of the entire Bible. Jesus opened their understanding of the Bible. He wanted them to understand. He wanted them to understand that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Him.

Luke let us see what Jesus said after His resurrection and His scriptural reason as to why He had to die. Jesus had to die because it was written and it was necessary. Luke also revealed what Jesus said we must do as works of faith now that He has done His part. (there is a work of faith, 1 Thessalonians 1:3)

Luke told how Jesus set the exact point with which we can level our spiritual telescope. It is a nail, driven into a tree that sticks out about the thickness of the hand of a man. Jesus put the focus on this nail when he opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. Jesus set forth His works of faith that the Apostles must do after they were filled with the Holy Ghost.

The word of God has an appeal to help draw us near it. The appeal of His word is created by our need for it. The appeal of the word can only be satisfied by the word that created it. We need Jesus. When we feel a need it is Jesus creating a need that only He can satisfy.

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We are witnesses of these things. We need to witness it in a way that will make people want to be obedient to the words of Jesus. Repentance, baptism in Jesus Name for the remission of sins and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost is the sum of the whole matter. This is why He died.

Sincerely,

Albert Friend

Friend Family Ministries