One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism - Part 600

Blessed be the God and Father -- our Lord Jesus Christ -- who willingly -- in His abundance provides each of us who believe in Him with blessings that surpass human understanding. Indeed, unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all loving us until we come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of our Lord God and Saviour unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4)

Jesus' promise to those that believe in Him is that we no longer are like children -- tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine created and imposed by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness -- whose only motive is to lie in wait to deceive. The religious institutions of the day that desire that our understanding be darkened because of their own alienation from the abundance of life that God intended for each and every one of us from the very beginning. Those who seek to keep us in bondage. Those who seek to destroy us in our endeavour to live life in faith. Ephesians 4:18-19 aptly states "because of the blindness of their heart, who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness."

This is why the scriptures encourage us to let no man deceive us with vain words. Instead, search the scriptures for ourselves for in the Word we will find eternal life. (John 5:39) We will find the peace that passes all understanding. The joy that only Jesus can provide.

The good news of salvation then -- decided even before the world was formed -- does not come from learning about our Lord God and Saviour from men. Rather it is from reading the Word. Getting to know Jesus personally as our Lord and Saviour.

Indeed, as believers in Jesus, our hearts and minds become renewed. We put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. This is why we speak every man truth with his neighbour for we are members one of another. In the body of Christ. There is one body and one Spirit even as you are called in one hope of your calling.

As Paul stated, "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called. With all lowliness and meekness with long suffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Speaking the truth that Jesus has revealed to us in love so that we may grow in Jesus in all things -- increasing in His knowledge and wisdom.

As followers of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus. As dear children, walking in love as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice.

The next step is to be baptized in the name of Jesus, as instructed by Peter, standing with the eleven on the Day of Pentecost. Read Acts 2:38-42 for your learning and edification. Stand in the offering plate.