After Ye Heard the Word of truth, Ye Were Sealed With That Holy Spirit of Promise - Part 994

"In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise." (Ephesians 1:13)

The glorification of JESUS is the outpouring of the Holy Ghost upon us -- even though it is important to recognize that the Holy Ghost was as yet not given. Why is this? Because JESUS was as yet not glorified. Indeed, prior to His ascension, JESUS tells His followers to tarry at Jerusalem until they become endued with power. 

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8) 

Herein, the Holy Ghost refers to the breath of JESUS and the power that JESUS spoke of resulting in the outpouring of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost. It is here that the first 3,000 believers repented and were water baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is also where these same believers received the gift of the Holy Ghost. The first two chapters of Acts records the fulfillment and should be a must read for all Jesus believers.

But the greatest love story ever told actually began in Genesis. In the beginning, God breathed upon Adam, and as a result, man became a living soul. Fast forward to the new testament wherein we see God in Christ and how He Himself that knew no sin became sin for us. He provided obtainable redemption for all mankind at Calvary. It was there that God laid down His own life to negate the curse of sin. (Genesis 1:1)

Yes, God Himself allowed His sinless body to become cursed to secure redemption for you and I. Why did He do this? Because God is not willing that any one should perish. Indeed, God desires that all people are saved and that in the sacrifice of God’s body, men and women can now return to the very same conditional situation intended for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

This is why we - every one of us - are offered redemption. It is also at this juncture that you must decide whether to grasp hold of redemption or not. In other words, you are now one at the crossroads. The Armageddon of life. The choice is whether you wish to continue as you are in sin or return to the Lord who dearly loves you and desires to save you. The same God who loves you even more than His own life!

Most of all, do not judge yourself unworthy of redemption. Rather, receive God's plan of salvation for your life. His plan is that you advance your faith journey from where you are now to things that are eternal -- moving into a new birth experience. In this new place, you will learn that JESUS taught that we must be born again of water and of the Spirit in order to see the Kingdom of God. JESUS in the scriptures states that if we are not born again of water and of the Spirit, we cannot enter into the Kingdom of God!

This is why seeking Jesus with all our heart, soul, mind and strength is critical to sustained faith. But it is equally important that what we believe aligns with His teachings. "In the beginning, God." (Genesis 1:1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ... and the Word became flesh." (John 1:1-18)

In other words, JESUS is the Word of God manifest in flesh. It is His Word that brings all things to fruition. The Holy Ghost through the mouths of JESUS' chosen apostles declared the message of JESUS to the audience of 3,000 in Acts 2. And toward the conclusion of this message, the audience became troubled in spirit, crying out to the men and brethren. "What must we do to be saved?"

What did Peter standing with the apostles tell them? "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:37-38)

This is the promise of God. A promise not only to those in the early Church but an enduring promise to their children too, and all those that are afar off. The promise extending to all of us down through the ages who make a decision to gladly receive His holy Spirit message of redemptive salvation!

This is why JESUS is NOW glorified and we of His holy Spirit do all receive. It is why our soul is redeemed and why now God in Christ breathes upon His flock. The Holy Ghost -- our Comforter who leads us into all knowledge and wisdom -- enabling us to worship JESUS the Christ in God. Yes, worship JESUS the Christ in God and not in the deadness of a form. Rather, worship in newness of spirit!

And no, we are not talking about religion or a religious culture, or for that matter any other institutional that man creates. Rather, we are encouraging readers to come directly to God our Saviour and confess their sins and receive His many promises. Call upon JESUS today so that you will know too that Jesus the Christ, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last never fails. Stand in the offering plate!