by Linda Jackson

Created on: March 01, 2009   Last Updated: March 28, 2009

The Bible is made up of 66 books that harmonize with each other to give an account of God's salvation plan and judgment on His created universe. The Bible reveals the ultimate power of God as He has empowered many writers over a period of thousands of years to write every word and number with a heavenly meaning in the Hebrew and Greek transcripts of the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16 (New King James Version Bible) says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

The first book of the Bible, Genesis, is the beginning of created time and judgment in relation to God's plan of salvation. The last book of the Bible, Revelation, is the completion of God's salvation plan relating to time and judgment in the end of the universe.

"The Parable of the Lost Sheep" in Luke 15:1-7 (NKJV) says, "Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." So He spoke this parable to them, saying: "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance." When Jesus replies to the Pharisees and scribes, "What man of you having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?" Jesus is describing the Pharisees and scribes as impotent shepherds who would leave their 99 helpless and defenseless sheep in the wilderness - a wild place where predators and hunger will destroy them. From the spiritual perspective Jesus is referring to them as shepherds in the wilderness themselves unable to provide for themselves let alone those who follow their teaching. The Pharisees and scribes rejected Jesus' Gospel of salvation. Jesus is God the Messiah, the true Shepherd. Colossians 1:13-14 (NKJV) says, "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through

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