Sunday, December 28, 2014

He Came Unto His Own and His Own Received Him Not - Part 1023

And Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments [is] -- "Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord." (Mark 12:29) This same proclamation was made in the new testament. Therein Jesus, in speaking the commandments said"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." (Luke 10:27; Matthew 22:37-40; Mark 12:30-34)

Too often, however, the constructs of the world (and similarly, man-made religion) wants to add to the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There must be more that is needed for salvation rather than accepting His precious gift -- the gospel truth -- that the same God who created us in the beginning, and knew us in our mother's womb was willing to shed His precious blood on the cross for our sins. They don't want you to know that in accepting Jesus by faith, and believing in His name, that we have been set free from all that would bind us.

But there is so much more to the gospel of Jesus. Even though at this time of celebration of the birth of Christ into this world (Emmanuel which being interpreted is God with us -- Matthew 1:23), the established religions want us to believe that God is in fact three persons, and that Jesus was only one part of this trinity (or tri-une God). This religious dogma widely proclaimed -- even though most manger scenes portray the shepherds and wise men of the day worshiping Jesus the Christ.

How misguided these are (and us too) when we take another man's interpretation of the scriptures rather than reading His Word for ourselves. Studying to show ourselves approved, as a workman does. (II Timothy 2:15) Continuing steadfast in the apostles doctrine. (Acts 2:42) Learning that there is only "One Lord, one faith, one baptism." (Ephesians 4:5)

"Is Christ divided?" (I Corinthians 1:13) No, and yet the religious community has been successful in removing His Word from our hearts, by dividing the promised Messiah -- the mystery hid in the bosom of the Father from the very beginning -- the greatest love story ever shared -- and replacing His love with another gospel that was not proclaimed by God Himself.

But Jesus said that when the Comforter would come, He would lead us into all knowledge and truth. And in order for the Comforter to come, Jesus had to ascend. (John 20:1-31; John 21:1-25; Acts 1:1-8) When we study the Acts of the apostles, we see the mystery of the Godhead unfold. The infallible proofs. "Until the day in which He was taken up, after that He through the Holy Ghost, had given commandments unto the apostles." (Acts 1:2)

He -- through the Holy Ghost. Not He and the Holy Ghost. "Oh foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you?" (Galatians 3:1) He gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present evil world. (Galatians 1:3-4) Not another but Almighty God Himself.

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending," saith the Lord, "which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8) "But to us there is but one God the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him." (I Corinthians 8:6)

The apostles knew the gospel, and so did the first 3,000 believers baptized into the body of Christ. We are His bride and as such we need to align our teachings with the entirety of the proclaimed gospel of Jesus Christ.

"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Then Peter said unto 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. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common, and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all [men] as every man had need. And they continually daily with one accord int eh temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:38-47)

The scriptures state: "All things were made by Him and without Him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3)

"He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of Him, and cried, saying, "This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for He was before me. And of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him" (John 1:10-18)

It's time to come out from among those who preach another gospel that is not contained in His Word.
"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus -- and [if ye] be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:26-29) 

Stand in His offering plate.

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