In Whom We Have Redemption Through His Blood, the Forgiveness of Sins According to the Riches of His Grace - Part 1026

"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, which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of His glory ..." (Ephesians 1:13-14)

Herein, the gospel message is clear. That is, we receive His gift of salvation when we respond in humbleness to the Word of truth, believing with all our heart, soul, mind and strength in the good news gospel of Jesus Christ. (If you have not yet asked Jesus to be Lord in your life by faith, this would be a good time to do so. When the people were pricked in their hearts, and asked what they must do to be saved, Peter (standing with the eleven) said, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:37-42). 

Only then can we all be sealed with that holy Spirit of promise -- the Comforter, the Holy Ghost in whom Jesus (after being taken up) had given His commandments unto the apostles. Note that the scripture reads -- Jesus speaking -- THROUGH the Holy Ghost. (Acts 1:2)  Not another person (or persons) of the Godhead, as some in the religious culture would have us believe. Not a trinity or tri-une God but one Lord. "For I [am] the Lord thy God, the holy One of Israel, thy Saviour ..." (Isaiah 43:3) The same Word that was with God and was God dwelt among us -- and paid the price for our salvation on the cross so that we might receive eternal life. (John 1:1-18)  

Indeed, the same Holy Ghost that impregnated Mary with His seed. "God with us." (Matthew 1:23)  "And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call His name JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21) One God who willingly became our Saviour. 

God, our Saviour prophesied decades before His birth as the Messiah, the Christ and Saviour of the world. "And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD." (Isaiah 11:2) 

"And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David and the virgin's name [was] Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, "Hail, [thou that art] highly favoured, the Lord [is] with thee: blessed [art] thou among women." 

And when she saw [him] she was troubled at his saying and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angels said unto her, "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shall conceive in the womb and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David; and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of His kingdom there shall be no end." 

Then said Mary unto the angel, "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" And the angel answered and said unto her, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore, also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." 

The same Holy Ghost that Jesus spoke of when He said, "But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:26) 

The same Holy Ghost that Jesus referred to when He said, "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me ..." (John 15:26)

And if we still don't understand, Jesus further clarified by stating, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart, I will send Him unto you and when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness,  and of judgement, of sin, because they believe not on Me, of righteousness because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more; of judgement because the prince of this world is judged. 

I have yet many things to say unto you but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when He -- the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth for He shall not speak of Himself but whatsoever He shall hear, [that] shall He speak and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify Me, for He shall receive of mine, and shall show [it] unto you." (John 16:7-14)

As the scriptures clearly explain, Jesus needed to first ascend before the Holy Ghost -- the Comforter which was and now is could come and guide us into all truth. He -- Jesus THROUGH the Holy Ghost -- will show us things to come. "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." (I Corinthians 2:13)

Other scriptures to consider:

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (I Timothy 3:16)

"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son, in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins -- who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the Head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence -- For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell -- and, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." (Colossians 1:12-20)

"Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed us -- God who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." (II Corinthians 1:20-24)

"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 Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

"Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John who, when they were come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost -- for as yet He was fallen upon none of them, only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost." (Acts 8:14-17)

There are more scriptures to study but let this suffice for now. Jesus -- the Author and Finisher of our faith. The Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and end. In the beginning, God. (Genesis 1:1) In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God" that became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1-18)

"This scripture must needs have been fulfilled which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus." (Acts 1:16) God is not the author of confusion. Scripture does not contradict.

In fact, "if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister, who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the church ...

Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the Word of God; even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints --- to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles -- which is Christ in you, the hope of glory, whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." (Colossians 1:23-28)

Don't miss out on this opportunity to receive Jesus' gift of salvation. Stand in the offering plate.