Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel sent unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, which things the angels desire to look into. Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (I Peter 1:9-13)
This is why Peter wrote: "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; where unto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a dark place until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts -- knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation -- for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost." (II Peter 1:19-21)
BUT -- and this "but" is a warning to believers -- "there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." (II Peter 2:1)
Sadly, this is what we are seeing within modern day religious circles today. Half of a verse presented here and a couple of words taken from another verse there -- keeping the people within congregations so busy looking up verses one after the other that these same earnest believers end up missing the original intended message of these very proclaimed scriptures. And as a consequence of these damnable heresies, we see a denial of the same Lord that bought them.
Remember, however, that our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ would not have us ignorant. Therefore, when we repent and are baptized into the name of Jesus Christ, we can be assured through His Word that we shall receive the Holy Ghost -- the Comforter which will lead and guide us into all truth. (Acts 2:37-42; John 14:26; John 15:26) Into sound doctrine. Into understanding the principles of the doctrine of Christ -- that it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, going forward.
The gospel of repentance and remission of sins preached in His name. What name? The precious name of Jesus.
"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins .. behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is -- "God with us."
"Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
Why is all of this important to understand? Because John's baptism of repentance -- where one was purified by water according to the traditions and customs of the old covenant, and that the religious community is so desperate to revive -- no longer applies in this current dispensation of grace. The last will and testament delivered to us by the Lord God Himself through the shedding of His own blood is the only gospel message that matters. He who knew no sin became sin for us. A propitiation for our sin.
"For He hath made Him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (I Corinthians 5:21)
"Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto [His] brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2:17)
This is why John the Baptist said that he must decrease so that He -- Jesus -- the promised and prophesied Christ could increase. This explains why Jesus told His disciples (after Judas had left to betray Jesus) that He must go away so that the Comforter could come. "Until the day in which He was taken up, after that He -- THROUGH the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen." (Acts 1:2)
Jesus said, "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father -- the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father -- He shall testify of Me ... and ye also shall bear witness because ye have been with Me from the beginning." (John 15:26-27)
Luke elaborates on this point. And as they thus spake, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, "Peace [be] unto you." But they were terrified and affrighted and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And He said unto them, "Why are ye troubled? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; handle Me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have." (Luke 24:36-39)
And when He had thus spoken, He shewed them [His] hands and [His] feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, He said unto them, "Have ye here any meat?" And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And He took it and did eat before them. And He -- Jesus -- said unto them disciples:
"These [are] the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and [in] the prophets, and [in] the psalms concerning Me." (Luke 24:44)
Then opened He their understanding that they might understand the scriptures. And said unto them, "Thus, it is written, and thus, it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem ... and ye are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you, but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." (Luke 24:45-53)
That power is the Holy Ghost.
Jesus said to the disciples -- to whom also He shewed Himself alive after His passion with many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God, and being assembled together with [them], commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which [saith Jesus] "Ye have heard of Me ... for John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." (Acts 1:1-5)
In fact, Jesus said, "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 parts of the earth."
In John's gospel, Jesus made the same point, "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 shew you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are Mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall shew it unto you." (John 16:13-15)
So what happens?
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)
As we read on, we learn that the first 3,000 believers into the body of Christ had repented and been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, as instructed by Peter, standing with the eleven. No discord. No changing the meaning of Peter's message. No denial of the name. Just 3,000 new believers gladly receiving His Word, and then continuing steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:37-42)
"And they continued daily with one accord in the 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 2:43-47)
Those who believed in Jesus -- seeing one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith and uncircumcision through faith.
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth -- a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God, to declare, at this time, His righteousness -- that He might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (Romans 3:23-31)
That He might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Therefore, speak thou the things which become sound doctrine. (Titus 2:1) Don't be led astray by those who mishandle the scriptures but rather, you search the scriptures, as doth a workman. And look "for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ -- who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:12-14)
But most of all remember that "the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared" -- and that we are saved according to His mercy -- "by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour." (Titus 3:4-7)
Let him/her who has ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.
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