And complete means there is no penance. There was no confessional box incorporated into God's plan. Indeed, there is nothing that you or I can add to the plan of salvation which was accomplished, on our behalf by God Almighty Himself. God was manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) A plan of salvation so comprehensive, so detailed, and so actioned that in spite of our sin and a multiplicity of transgressions, God (because He is a long suffering God) loved us to HIS death.
But note that God's love is not just in words alone, but in deed also. If any man or woman sins, we now have an advocate (one that pleads the cause of another) with the Father in Jesus Christ. The only righteous one. As the scriptures state, there is only One mediator between God and man. (I Timothy 2:5) That is, the man Jesus the Christ!
Jesus is the door!
Jesus is the door!
Then said Jesus unto them again, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." (John 10:7-9)
Jesus is the way!
Jesus saith unto him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." (John 14:6)
Jesus is the bread of life!
Jesus told us, "I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:48-51)
So where does that leave us? Well, certainly, there is no pope. No priest acting as mediator between us and God. No virgin Mary attempting to share the glory and rightful status of Almighty God. How do we know? First and foremost, God repeatedly said, "I am the Lord thy God, and there is none beside Me." (Isaiah 45:5-6, 21)
So if the religious traditions of men have hijacked the simplicity of the gospel message delivered to us personally by God Almighty Himself, how are we to know what is right? My suggestion is this. Ask yourself this question -- "What saith the scripture?" (Romans 4:3)
And then read, in particular, the new testament that was purchased with His precious holy blood.
The scriptures tell us that if we confess our sins to the God who loves us, Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. (I John 1:9) "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)
Jesus said, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29)
After repentance and asking the Lord Jesus into our heart, we need to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:38) Buried with Christ. "Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4)
Not sprinkled with water because water alone cannot remove sin. Indeed,if water were to remove sin, then taking a shower would suffice. And for the record, being baptized into titles will not save you either for titles are not a name. (As an aside, note that being given the last rites by man is only a religious tradition imposed upon people who have never taken time to read the written Word of God, resulting in an unnecessary adherence to man’s religious fanciful imaginations -- but I digress).
Note that there was never a man who spoke like this man spoke. Jesus said, "Destroy this body, and in three days I will raise it up."(John 2:19) And it happened just as Jesus said beforehand. The consequence is that the world is now faced with the historical fact that this man -- God manifest in the flesh -- turned the world on its axis -- changing so much of the world, including our own calendar timelines. Everything we know revolves around AD, around the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. His time on earth. His plan of salvation, first predicted in the Old Testament and then fulfilled -- satisfied -- in the New Testament.
"If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law) what further need [was there] that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law -- for He of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For [it is] evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For He testifieth, "Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." For there is verily a disannuling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope [did]; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
And inasmuch as not without an oath [He was made priest] (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by Him that said unto Him, "The Lord sware and will not repent -- Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec)." By so much was JESUS made a surety of a better testament.
And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: but this [man], because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once, when he offered up Himself.
For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the Word of the oath, which was since the law, [maketh] the Son who is consecrated for evermore." (Hebrews 7:11-28)
But right from the beginning, (and dare I say to this day as well) the religious world of business could not handle that someone who looked like an ordinary individual could do these miracles -- signs and wonders that surpassed all human understanding. For when you see Him (as evidenced when the soldiers needed Judas to identify Jesus in the garden) there is no beauty that you should or would desire Him. This, in and of itself might explain to some extent why they despised and rejected Him. And similarly today, when religion wants to worship any name but Jesus. Be baptized in water using any other wording than being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, choosing either to stand on the banks as they did in John the Baptist's time (where they wouldn't even get in the water) or as today, being baptized in water but relying on a scripture that the Roman Catholic church openly admits changing. Using meaningless titles rather than the only name given under heaven whereby we must be saved.
Nevertheless, as we see happening today, we robe the Ecclesiastes in fashion. They have a form of worship but God has rightly observed that "in vain they do worship Me, teaching as commandments the doctrines of men." What formalized religion is still to understand is that truly God desires honest worship, emanating from the innermost being of man. Our hearts.
Jesus saith unto him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." (John 14:6)
Jesus is the bread of life!
Jesus told us, "I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:48-51)
So where does that leave us? Well, certainly, there is no pope. No priest acting as mediator between us and God. No virgin Mary attempting to share the glory and rightful status of Almighty God. How do we know? First and foremost, God repeatedly said, "I am the Lord thy God, and there is none beside Me." (Isaiah 45:5-6, 21)
So if the religious traditions of men have hijacked the simplicity of the gospel message delivered to us personally by God Almighty Himself, how are we to know what is right? My suggestion is this. Ask yourself this question -- "What saith the scripture?" (Romans 4:3)
And then read, in particular, the new testament that was purchased with His precious holy blood.
The scriptures tell us that if we confess our sins to the God who loves us, Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. (I John 1:9) "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)
Jesus said, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29)
After repentance and asking the Lord Jesus into our heart, we need to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:38) Buried with Christ. "Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4)
Not sprinkled with water because water alone cannot remove sin. Indeed,if water were to remove sin, then taking a shower would suffice. And for the record, being baptized into titles will not save you either for titles are not a name. (As an aside, note that being given the last rites by man is only a religious tradition imposed upon people who have never taken time to read the written Word of God, resulting in an unnecessary adherence to man’s religious fanciful imaginations -- but I digress).
Note that there was never a man who spoke like this man spoke. Jesus said, "Destroy this body, and in three days I will raise it up."(John 2:19) And it happened just as Jesus said beforehand. The consequence is that the world is now faced with the historical fact that this man -- God manifest in the flesh -- turned the world on its axis -- changing so much of the world, including our own calendar timelines. Everything we know revolves around AD, around the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. His time on earth. His plan of salvation, first predicted in the Old Testament and then fulfilled -- satisfied -- in the New Testament.
"If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law) what further need [was there] that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law -- for He of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For [it is] evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For He testifieth, "Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." For there is verily a disannuling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope [did]; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
And inasmuch as not without an oath [He was made priest] (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by Him that said unto Him, "The Lord sware and will not repent -- Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec)." By so much was JESUS made a surety of a better testament.
And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: but this [man], because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once, when he offered up Himself.
For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the Word of the oath, which was since the law, [maketh] the Son who is consecrated for evermore." (Hebrews 7:11-28)
But right from the beginning, (and dare I say to this day as well) the religious world of business could not handle that someone who looked like an ordinary individual could do these miracles -- signs and wonders that surpassed all human understanding. For when you see Him (as evidenced when the soldiers needed Judas to identify Jesus in the garden) there is no beauty that you should or would desire Him. This, in and of itself might explain to some extent why they despised and rejected Him. And similarly today, when religion wants to worship any name but Jesus. Be baptized in water using any other wording than being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, choosing either to stand on the banks as they did in John the Baptist's time (where they wouldn't even get in the water) or as today, being baptized in water but relying on a scripture that the Roman Catholic church openly admits changing. Using meaningless titles rather than the only name given under heaven whereby we must be saved.
Nevertheless, as we see happening today, we robe the Ecclesiastes in fashion. They have a form of worship but God has rightly observed that "in vain they do worship Me, teaching as commandments the doctrines of men." What formalized religion is still to understand is that truly God desires honest worship, emanating from the innermost being of man. Our hearts.
Let me rephrase that. God doesn't want our money. He wants our hearts. Our souls, our minds, our strength focused on Him -- our heavenly Father who willingly became our Saviour. Jesus the Christ.
Worshiping Him -- the lamb of God who purchased us with His blood in spirit and in truth! My Word -- Jesus said -- is Spirit and is Truth! We are sanctified through Jesus -- His Word, His blood shed on the cross for you and I, and His body broken for us. God Himself as a Son -- took on a sin-prone flesh so that we might have life in abundance. Life eternal And, all He asks is that we in return put on His garment of righteousness.
Worshiping Him -- the lamb of God who purchased us with His blood in spirit and in truth! My Word -- Jesus said -- is Spirit and is Truth! We are sanctified through Jesus -- His Word, His blood shed on the cross for you and I, and His body broken for us. God Himself as a Son -- took on a sin-prone flesh so that we might have life in abundance. Life eternal And, all He asks is that we in return put on His garment of righteousness.
That is why Peter, standing with the eleven said -- when asked what the people must do to be saved ...
"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) God's holy Spirit living in you so that you are renewed in the likeness of His Christ.
"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) God's holy Spirit living in you so that you are renewed in the likeness of His Christ.
Don't delay. Read His Word and confirm for yourself the standing in which Christ Jesus invites you to come into. Stand in the offering plate.
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