In the presence of two or three witnesses therein is an evidence justified. This is particularly important after Jesus had risen from the dead for there would be some who would not believe. Even with the varying written accounts by different people readily available for our consideration, these would still not accept the resurrection as truth. Nevertheless, the accounts are written for our benefit so that we could believe who do believe can remain confident in our salvation.
One account stands out in John 21.
After these things Jesus shewed Himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias, and on this wise shewed He Himself, there were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, "I go a fishing." They say unto him, "We also go with thee." They went forth and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
Then Jesus saith unto them, "Children, have ye any meat?' They answered Him, "No." And He said unto them, "Cast the net on the right side of the ship and ye shall find." They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore, that disciple whom Jesus loves said unto Peter, "It is the Lord."
Note that it was not Peter who understood Jesus to be the Lord, but instead, that disciple whom Jesus loved. Peter had to be told that the One on the shore was Jesus. But when he was told, what did Peter do? First, he girds himself in a fisher's coat (for he was naked) before casting himself into the sea. In other words, Peter could not get to Jesus fast enough.
At the same time, the other disciples came to the shore in a little ship dragging the net with the fishes. "As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, "Bring of the fish which ye have now caught." Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land full of great fishes, and hundred and fifty three, for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus said unto them, "Com and dine." (John 21:7-12)
By this time, not one of the disciples had to ask Jesus who He was, or "who art Thou?" because these knew that it was the Lord. (John 21:12)
This experience on the shore with Jesus was so ingrained in Peter's mind that he later spoke of this encounter to Cornelius in Acts 10. Therein, Cornelius a centurion and a just man, one that feareth God and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for Peter into his house and to hear the words that he had to say. Certain brethren from Joppa had accompanied Peter to the place where Cornelius and his kinsmen and near friends waited.
And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter took him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself also am a man." After they had talked for awhile, Peter said, "The Word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all): that Word, [I say] ye know which was published throughout all Judaea and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached -- how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they slew and hanged on a tree; Him God raised up the third day and shewed Him openly -- not to all the people but unto witnesses chosen before of God, [even] to us, who did eat and drink with Him after He rose from the dead.
And He commanded us to preach unto the people and to testify that it is He which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To Him give all the prophets witness -- that THROUGH HIS NAME WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL RECEIVE REMISSION OF SINS." (Acts 10:21-48)
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word. And they of the circumcision were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost, for they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.
Then asked Peter, "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" And he commanded them to baptized in the Name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days." (Acts 10:44-48)
This account is equally critical to understand Peter's faith journey that is referenced in John 21. On the beach that day, Jesus had come and took bread and gave to His disciples and the fish that He cooked likewise. And for the record, this is now the third time that Jesus showed Himself to His disciples, after that He was risen from the dead. (John 21:14; John 20:19, 26)
So when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonas, love thou Me more than these?" Peter replies, "Yea, Lord, Thou know that I love Thee." To which Jesus said, "Feed My lambs." (John 21:15)
Jesus said to Peter a second time, "Simon, son of Jonas, love thou Me?" Simon answered, "Yea, Lord, Thou know that I love Thee." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep."
A third time, Jesus asks Peter, "Simon, son of Jonas, love thou Me?" By this time Peter was grieved because Jesus had to ask him a third time, "Love thou Me?" And Peter said unto Him, "Lord, thou know all things; Thou know that I love Thee." Jesus said unto him, "Feed My sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, "When thou wast young, thou girded thyself and walked whither thou would; but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry [thee] whither thou would not." (John 21:17-18)
This spake He, signifying what death he should glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He saith unto Peter, "Follow Me." (John 21:19)
I recognize that many take these three instructions to Peter herein and link them to Peter's denial of Jesus as Lord in the garden, when Jesus had been taken to be crucified. I do not intend to equate these two examples here. My point is this. Peter did not change Jesus' instructions here between his time on the beach eating fish and bread to something different on the day of Pentecost.
Then, Peter (standing with the eleven) declared the only message to be true. That is, Jesus is BOTH Lord and Christ, and if thou should believe, ye need to repent and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, every one of you for the remission of sin, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:36-47)
Neither did Peter change his message while speaking to Cornelius in Acts 2, when Cornelius after hearing the Word in his heart willingly went into the water and was baptized in the Name of the Lord. (Acts 10:44-48)
Indeed, Peter did what Jesus instructed him to do. "Feed My sheep" with the strength from another who shall gird thee and carry thee whither he would not have gone on his own. The Holy Ghost. The Spirit of Jesus within. And we need to do the same. We need to acknowledge this same Jesus to whom all the prophets of old gave witness ... "that through His Name whosoever believes in Him shall receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:43)
Stand in the offering plate.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness
Friday, June 24, 2016
Thursday, June 23, 2016
I Am Jesus Whom Thou Persecute But Rise, And Stand Upon Thy Feet For I Have Appeared Unto Thee For This Purpose - Part 1433
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit ..." (I Peter 3:15-18)
In the scriptures, there are numerous accounts of a time when the disciples of Jesus had to give an account (or testimony) for their belief in the good news gospel of Jesus Christ. Two accounts quickly come to mind. The first is Stephen, a table servant chosen as one of the seven in Acts 6. The second is apostle Paul (who as Saul was an overseer to Stephen's stoning) in Acts 22. It is the latter account that I would like to focus on this day.
Paul, a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia has beseeched his accusers and asked for them to suffer him to speak unto the people. He did so, speaking unto them in the Hebrew tongue, even though he had dual citizenship as a Roman. Remember that Saul/Paul was very well educated and noted later in the scriptures as the Pharisee of Pharisees. The reason for Saul becoming Paul, and an apostle of Jesus (rather than a notorious accuser and slayer of the brethren) comes as a consequence of Jesus stopping him in his tracks on the road to Damascus. Paul recounts some of his testimony in the account that follows.
Paul begins speaking in the Hebrew tongue. "Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defense [which I make] now unto you. I am verily a man [which am] a Jew, born in Tarsus, [a city] in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, [and taught] according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, as also the high priest bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished." (Acts 22:1-5)
I often joke that Saul, even in his days as Paul after his conversion would never pass the security check in most churches today, and yet his testimony has made life changing experiences within the souls of many to this day. But I digress.
Paul continues to tell how it came to pass (as he was making his journey to Damascus to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem -- to be punished) when suddenly around noon, shone from heaven a great light round about him. "And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying unto me, "Saul, Saul, why persecute thou Me?" And I answered, "Who art Thou, Lord?" And He said unto me, "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom Thou persecutes." (Acts 22:6-8)
Those who were with him could testify of the light because they were afraid but they heard not the voice of Him that spake because Jesus spoke directly to Paul's heart. And we see that in Paul, when he asked Jesus, "What shall I do, Lord?" And the Lord said unto him, "Arise, and go into Damascus, and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do." (Acts 22:9-10)
Paul remained blinded from that light until one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, and having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there came unto him and said, "Brother Saul, receive thy sight." And that same hour, Paul states, I looked up upon him. Ananias said to Paul, "The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou should know His will and see that Just One and should hear the voice of His mouth ... for thou shalt be His witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard."
In Paul's heart, the conversion had already taken place. He knew already who the Lord was that stopped him promptly on the road to Damascus. He also did not object to doing what the Lord told him to do. But that was not sufficient. Paul had to be water baptized.
Thus, Ananias asks Paul, "And now why tarriest thou? arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the Name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16)
Again, did Paul question what he was to do next? No. Ananias said he had to be baptized to wash away his sins, calling on the Name of the Lord and this is what Paul did. For purposes of clarity, who was the Name of the Lord? "I am Jesus of Nazareth. (Acts 22:8) Therefore, when Paul was water baptized, he called on the Name of Jesus.
The question then is this. Why does the modern day religious culture teach that it is okay to be water baptized in the titles -- Father, Son, Holy Spirit? Because these have not received the revelation that Paul did enroute to Damascus. These did not understand (as Peter standing with the eleven) on the day of Pentecost, when Peter, in response to the question "What shall we do?" said, "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 2:38)
Therein, also, the first 3,000 souls recognized that this same Jesus whom had been crucified was both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)
That Jesus was God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 42:13)
That Jesus was the Word that was with God and was God was made flesh. (John 1:1-18)
That after the kindness and love of God our Saviour are we able to find redemption. (Titus 3:4-7)
This is why every single example of water baptism in the scriptures is performed in the Name of Jesus. This is why true repentance should be followed by water baptism. "Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? 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 should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4)
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit, by which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison, which sometime were disobedient when once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
The like figure where unto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him. For as much then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for He that had suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of [his] time in the flesh to the lusts of men but to the will of God ..." (I Peter 3:18-I Peter 4:2)
And it came to pass, that when Paul was come again unto Jerusalem, even while he prayed in the temple, Jesus said to him, "Make haste and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning Me." (Acts 22:18)
Paul said, "Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on Thee, and when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him." And Jesus said unto Paul, "Depart, for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles." (Acts 22:18-21)
Note the reaction of those listening. "And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices saying, "Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live." In fact, the crowd was so mad that they cast off their clothes and threw dust into the air as they cried out for Paul's death.
Was it Paul that angered them, or this same Jesus whom they had crucified that made them so angry? I am sure Paul sharing about the Lord Jesus speaking to Him after Jesus was crucified did not help either. You see, the point I am trying to make here is that each and every one of us is given a choice. We can either choose life, or choose death. There is no middle ground.
"I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: that thou may love the LORD thy God, [and] that thou may obey His voice, and that thou may cleave unto Him: for He [is] thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou may dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)
Jesus said, "The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly." (John 10:10)
Therefore, we can either accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, and be water baptized in His precious Name, being clothed in His righteousness, or we can reject Jesus and be one of the crowd, crying out that anyone who testifies or believes in Jesus by faith is not fit to live -- as was the case here.
The good news is that even to the very end, Jesus is still inviting us to Come. He wants our heart to respond to His call for our life.
Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. To him that overcomes, will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Revelation 3:20-22)
Like Saul, heed His call for your life today. Respond to His love and kindness wherein God became our Saviour, repenting and being water baptized in His Name -- the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then you too shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, whereby Jesus grants those who overcome an invitation to sit with Him in His throne -- and to be set down with the Father in His throne." (Revelation 3:22)
As for Paul, his testimony continues into Acts 23, and beyond. Most certainly, a worthy read for anyone who wants to understand how Paul elaborated about Jesus everywhere he went. What did Jesus say?
"I am Jesus whom thou persecute. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen; and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee, delivering thee from the people, and the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee -- to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me." (Acts 26:14-18)
You who believe are sent as well. Stand in the offering plate.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Do All in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth for He Never Fails - Part 1432
But the Lord said unto him, "Go thy way for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to beat My Name before the Gentiles, and kings and the children of Israel, for I will show Him how grate things he must suffer for My Name's sake ..." (Luke 9:15-16)
For You will not suffer Your Holy One to see corruption.
The wages of sin is death. In the eyes of God, there is no distinction between a small sin and sin that is criminal. Indeed, sin is sin. In the beginning, Adam disobeyed God’s Word and as a consequence we all inherit the wage or penalty resulting from Adam‘s disobedience. Prior to Adam’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, Adam was perfect. However, following Adam's willingness to go his own way, the dark cloud of sin fell over Adam. It did so, even contaminating Adam’s seed. Since we are of Adam’s seed, we also bear the fruit of Adam’s transgression.
Therefore, it may seem like we are in a boxed-in situation, incapable of escape. Because of this, we resort to dressing up sin so that it no longer appears as sin. In today's world, we call it fashionable sin.
In the Garden, God said to Adam, "What have you done?" It was here that humankind inherited a world full of pollution, eternal death and separation from God. It was also within this context that we are able to recognize that we are lost and blind. As the cliche states, when the blind lead the blind, things do not get better.
The Lord said, "My people perish for lack of knowledge." (Hosea 4:6)
But God, whose earthy image we are by creation, has said that He is not willing that any of His creation should perish. Instead, God devised a plan. God's plan was for He Himself to clothe Himself in flesh and through/by the sacrifice of His own flesh body, purchase redemption on man’s behalf. God purchased our freedom and presented our freedom to us as a gift. Fully paid!
To top it all, God in the form of a Son bequeathed all of His rightful inheritance to us. In short, He became as one of us so that we could be clothed in His righteousness. How can this be? The scriptures state that He the unjust and unrighteous would become just, and I the unrighteous will now be classified as being righteous.
In this context, God as a Son won the battle for all the whosoever's seeking salvation. Indeed, God put Himself in the place of men and women.
JESUS, who is God Himself as a Son willingly laid down His prone to sin flesh body, paying the debt of sin. Because of one man’s sin death fell on all men. So by the death of one righteous man the penalty is dismissed (no double jeopardy within God's plan of salvation). And we are FREE.
Death was the penalty. Corruption was not demanded. The first Adam was made of the earth whereas the second Adam was the SEED of the holy Spirit of God. The embryo was of the Spirit of God. The bones and blood of the embryo having no sin remained unharmed and intact upon the Cross.
Whereas, the flesh which was prone to sin material was provided by Mary, (she being one of the first Adam’s descendants), now willingly served in the role as /of a surrogate mother.
According to the scriptures, JESUS, being put to death in the flesh, was alive in Spirit and similarly quickened by the power of His Spirit. He had said, "Destroy this body (temple) and in three days I will raise it up again." Yes indeed we killed His flesh body, but not the life of His Spirit within!
We at conception are seeded as a natural earthly body. The genealogy of Adam’s seed. When we are to be raised again as a result of salvation, we are not raised in natural bodies. We are raised in a spiritual body to be just like the Second Adam JESUS, for we are members of His body, of His bones and His flesh!
Thus, herein, close to being saved is not sufficient. One has to believe on Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world, and desire that He be both Lord and Christ in your life. Then be water baptized by immersion, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ as performed on the day of Pentecost so that the first 3,000 souls could find redemption. (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4)
And don't forget to study His Word daily -- your lifeline which gives eyes to your soul for the rest of the world which are still seeking the gospel truth. PEACE BE! Stand in the offering plate.
For You will not suffer Your Holy One to see corruption.
The wages of sin is death. In the eyes of God, there is no distinction between a small sin and sin that is criminal. Indeed, sin is sin. In the beginning, Adam disobeyed God’s Word and as a consequence we all inherit the wage or penalty resulting from Adam‘s disobedience. Prior to Adam’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, Adam was perfect. However, following Adam's willingness to go his own way, the dark cloud of sin fell over Adam. It did so, even contaminating Adam’s seed. Since we are of Adam’s seed, we also bear the fruit of Adam’s transgression.
Therefore, it may seem like we are in a boxed-in situation, incapable of escape. Because of this, we resort to dressing up sin so that it no longer appears as sin. In today's world, we call it fashionable sin.
In the Garden, God said to Adam, "What have you done?" It was here that humankind inherited a world full of pollution, eternal death and separation from God. It was also within this context that we are able to recognize that we are lost and blind. As the cliche states, when the blind lead the blind, things do not get better.
The Lord said, "My people perish for lack of knowledge." (Hosea 4:6)
But God, whose earthy image we are by creation, has said that He is not willing that any of His creation should perish. Instead, God devised a plan. God's plan was for He Himself to clothe Himself in flesh and through/by the sacrifice of His own flesh body, purchase redemption on man’s behalf. God purchased our freedom and presented our freedom to us as a gift. Fully paid!
To top it all, God in the form of a Son bequeathed all of His rightful inheritance to us. In short, He became as one of us so that we could be clothed in His righteousness. How can this be? The scriptures state that He the unjust and unrighteous would become just, and I the unrighteous will now be classified as being righteous.
In this context, God as a Son won the battle for all the whosoever's seeking salvation. Indeed, God put Himself in the place of men and women.
JESUS, who is God Himself as a Son willingly laid down His prone to sin flesh body, paying the debt of sin. Because of one man’s sin death fell on all men. So by the death of one righteous man the penalty is dismissed (no double jeopardy within God's plan of salvation). And we are FREE.
Death was the penalty. Corruption was not demanded. The first Adam was made of the earth whereas the second Adam was the SEED of the holy Spirit of God. The embryo was of the Spirit of God. The bones and blood of the embryo having no sin remained unharmed and intact upon the Cross.
Whereas, the flesh which was prone to sin material was provided by Mary, (she being one of the first Adam’s descendants), now willingly served in the role as /of a surrogate mother.
According to the scriptures, JESUS, being put to death in the flesh, was alive in Spirit and similarly quickened by the power of His Spirit. He had said, "Destroy this body (temple) and in three days I will raise it up again." Yes indeed we killed His flesh body, but not the life of His Spirit within!
We at conception are seeded as a natural earthly body. The genealogy of Adam’s seed. When we are to be raised again as a result of salvation, we are not raised in natural bodies. We are raised in a spiritual body to be just like the Second Adam JESUS, for we are members of His body, of His bones and His flesh!
Thus, herein, close to being saved is not sufficient. One has to believe on Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world, and desire that He be both Lord and Christ in your life. Then be water baptized by immersion, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ as performed on the day of Pentecost so that the first 3,000 souls could find redemption. (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4)
And don't forget to study His Word daily -- your lifeline which gives eyes to your soul for the rest of the world which are still seeking the gospel truth. PEACE BE! Stand in the offering plate.
Jesus States, "My Kingdom Is Not Of This World"- Part 1431
Jesus asked, "But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straightened till it be accomplished?" (Luke 12:50)
In today's world, water baptism has become a contentious subject. For some, baptism is only a "ritual" associated with religious culture and the traditions of men. For others, it remains preferable to stand on the shores as an observer -- as it were in the days of John the baptist. Of course, neither of these opinions align with the scriptures, which tell us that we need to both repent AND be water baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins so that we can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:36-47)
As Jesus so aptly told Nicodemus, ye need to be born of the water AND the Spirit. (John 3:5-8)
As believers who have repented of our sin, we need to be buried with Jesus Christ into His death in water baptism. Not sprinkled at birth but buried. "Therefore, we are buried with Him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:36-47))
So, what is Jesus saying here in Luke 12:50? For context, let's start at the beginning of the chapter. Note that herein, there was an "innumerable multitude" of people (almost to the point of trampling) trying to listen to Jesus. The scribes and Pharisees were in attendance too, trying to urge Jesus vehemently hoping to provoke Him to speak many things so that they could catch Him saying something (and indeed, anything) out of His mouth that they might accuse Him. (Luke 11:53-54)
Jesus begins by saying, "Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees WHICH IS HYPOCRISY. For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; neither hid that shall not be known. Therefore, whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light, and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. And I say unto you My friends, "Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear. Fear Him which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, "Fear Him." (Luke 12:1-5)
Jesus continues the dialogue, sharing how precious we are in His sight, in that even the very hairs of our head are numbered. That we are MORE precious than the five sparrows sold for two farthings which even so, are not forgotten before God. Thus, as Jesus asks, "how much MORE VALUE are we who confess the Son of man before men?
"Whosoever shall confess Me before men," Jesus said, "him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels. But he that denies Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him but unto him that blasphemes against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven." (Luke 12:6-12)
As we read further into Luke's account, we see that in the midst, a seemingly out of place encounter occurs. One of the company says unto Jesus, "Master, speak to my brother that he will divide the inheritance with me." (Luke 12:13) Huh? Here is Jesus teaching His followers about how precious we are in His sight, and how much more value are we who confess the Son of man before men, and about blaspheming against the Holy Ghost, and one of the company asks Jesus about how he can get his share of the inheritance from his brother. Here is one openly revealing the state of his heart before the Lord of glory. "What about me, Lord?" he is asking. "Look at all the good things I am doing for You Lord! Me Lord, I am doing all these things for You ... but still, I need more. What I have is not sufficient! I need my brother to divide the inheritance with me as well. I want what my brother possesses -- too!"
In the midst of a dialogue wherein the multitudes are literally pressing into Jesus, and the hypocrite accusers waiting for Jesus to say anything amiss that could be held against Him, here is one of the company wanting a share of the inheritance -- for himself. Like the prodigal son? Perhaps, but the prodigal son at least recognized the error of his ways. As we see here, this man wasn't interested in the Kingdom, or the love and kindness of God our Saviour, or doctrine, or that godliness with contentment in and of itself is great gain. Rather, his heart was still focused on the things in this world "which drown men in destruction and perdition." (I Timothy 6:6-12)
Thus, Jesus responds to him by saying, "Man, who made Me a judge or a divider over you?" Take heed and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses." (Luke 12:13-15) In other words, Jesus was telling this man, as those also who wanted Him rid from this earth, "My Kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now is My Kingdom not from hence." (John 18:36)
Herein, Jesus goes on to tell a parable of a certain rich man. This is not my point today so I will leave this parable for you to read on your own. However, for the sake of edification and learning, it is worth noting that Jesus did say to His disciples: "Therefore, I say unto you -- take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them; how much more are ye better than the fowls?" (Luke 12:22-40) And second, Jesus goes onto cite several examples in the parable, encouraging the disciples at the end of His teaching to always be ready for the Son of man comes at an hour when ye think not. Like the five virgins with oil in their lamps. But I digress.
So Peter then asks Jesus, "Lord, speak Thou this parable unto us, or even to all?" (Luke 12:41) Often, we see Jesus speaking in parables to the crowd at large, and then taking His disciples aside and explaining the parable in detail specifically to them so that they would understand. Peter is asking Jesus if this is the situation here. Will Jesus explain the meaning of the parable concerning faithful and evil servants to them directly? How does Jesus respond? To some observers, it would appear that Jesus told yet another parable.
"And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward whom [his] l/Lord shall make ruler over his household, to give [them their] portion of meat in due season?" Blessed is that servant whom his l/Lord when h/He comes shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that h/He will make him ruler over all that he hath. But, and if that servant say in his heart, "My l/Lord delays h/His coming; and shall begin to beat the men servants and maidens to eat and drink, and to be drunken ... the l/Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looks not for [h/Him] and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
And that servant, which knew his l/Lord's will, and prepared not [himself], neither did according to h/His will, shall be beaten with many [stripes]. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes shall be beaten with few [stripes]. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required; and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
I am come to send fire on the earth, and what will I, if it already be kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straightened till it be accomplished?" (Luke 12:41-50) The baptism Jesus was referring to here was His death on the cross, which He knew was yet to come. "But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straightened till it be accomplished?" (Luke 12:50)
Similarly, in the gospel of Mark, Jesus asks His disciples, " ... Can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? ... Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized." (Mark 10:38-39)
"Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? ... Ye shall drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with ..." (Matthew 20:22-23)
"The cup which My Father hath given to Me, shall I not drink it?" (John 18:11; Matthew 26:39) The hour had come that the Son of man should be glorified. (John 12:27; John 13:31-35)
The work of bringing salvation to one and all was nigh. This is why Jesus fell on His face in the garden of Gethsemane, saying, "O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will but as Thou wilt." (Matthew 26:39) His humanity -- His soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto death. And, then, there was the cross, wherein we see Jesus after receiving the vinegar say, "It is finished!" (John 19:30)
But the message that Jesus taught in Luke 12 is not a message that ends with giving up the g/Ghost on the cross. As we see from the witnesses at the tomb, death could not hold Jesus. The sting of death was of no consequence because Jesus paid the ultimate price for us with His own precious blood. And thus, when, Jesus spoke to His disciples (before He was taken up according to Acts 1:2-3), He expounded on His teachings from afore. He explained to His disciples all that they did not yet understand, while simultaneously caring for their physical needs (i.e. cooking them breakfast on the shore). Indeed, for a period of fifty days.
Yes, Jesus had a baptism to be baptized with and without that baptism, "how am I straightened till it be accomplished?" (Luke 12:50)
And, although for most of us, being crucified on a cross will not mark the end of our life journey on this earth, we should still be viewing baptism from the same perspective -- "how am I straightened till it be accomplished?" ... because Jesus set the example when John baptized He that would come after.
Is this not the same message Peter (standing with the eleven) was sharing on the day of Pentecost when he said, "Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:36) When those that were pricked in their hearts asked, "What shall we do?" what did Peter say? In one accord -- in full agreement with the eleven, 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 ..." (Acts 2:38)
First the water (confessing your sins) and then the fire -- the Holy Ghost. Both repentance and water baptism being equal requirements as evidenced in both the old and the new as an answer of a good conscience toward God. (I Peter 1:21-23) With the same desiring heart as Jesus -- "how am I straightened till it be accomplished?"
As Jesus also said, "I am come to send fire on the earth ..." (Luke 12:49) Jesus came to preach the gospel of the Kingdom, to pour out His Spirit upon all those believers willing to be refined in persecution. But He also came to purge away the earth's dross and burn the chaff -- those who obeyed the leaven -- the hypocrisy of the Pharisees over the Word of God, including those who stood on the shores watching John baptize in the river Jordan but never themselves desiring to get wet.
But Jesus said even more. He referred to His coming sufferings with an action that mitigates them and thus cannot be ignored -- baptism. He had a baptism to be baptized with that can be likened both to fire and water. The same water and Spirit that Jesus spoke of with Nicodemus. (John 3:1-21; Matthew 20:22) Jesus Himself becoming such an high priest, holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens, so that we no longer need daily as those high priests who offered up sacrifice -- first for his own sins, and then of the people's in the old covenant -- but rather, our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ who fulfilled the saving of our sins once and for all, when He offered up Himself.
"By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament." (Hebrews 7:22-28)
And yet He submitted to water baptism so that prophecy which was told afore by the prophets could be fulfilled. The bringing forth of a better covenant.
"And for this cause He is the Mediator of the new testament, that by the means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator." (Hebrews 9:15-19)
Thus, likewise, as apostle Paul points out -- even before the Christ had come, "how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink, for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them,; and that Rock was Christ." (I Corinthians 10:1-4)
Authentic salvation requires both the water and the Spirit. And in His own words, Jesus said, "How am I straightened till it be accomplished?"
"Then said I, "Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will, O God." (Hebrews 10:7; Psalms 40:7)
"The Lord hath made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of God." (Isaiah 52:10)
"Surely, He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted, but he was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:1-12)
Jesus said, "I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?"(Luke 12:49)
The fire kindled only after Jesus was taken up, when Jesus through the Holy Ghost gave commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen. (Acts 1:2) This is why the apostles preached repentance and water baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus on the day of Pentecost, and beyond, so that we too who believe in Him and are willing to take on His name should receive the Holy Ghost.
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? 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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin .. for he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if I be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death hath no more dominion over him." (Romans 6:1-9)
This is why John the baptist pointed to the One who came after him -- "Behold, the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, "After me cometh a man which is preferred before me, for He was before me, and I knew Him not, but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore, am I come baptizing with water." (John 1:29-31)
Still, with all the teachings and scriptural examples, there are those who profess to believe in Jesus who will do anything but be water baptized/buried in the Name of the Lord Jesus. "Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees WHICH IS HYPOCRISY." As Jesus pointed out, these supposing in their heart that the Lord came to bring peace on earth and will, as a prerequisite of peace as they understand it from an earthly perspective, welcome them into heaven with open arms. But Jesus said, "I tell you -- nay, but rather division."
It is to these that Jesus said, "But to that servant who knew His Lord's will and yet prepared not, neither did according to His will shall be beaten with many stripes but he that knew not and did commit things worthy of stripes shall be beaten with few stripes." (Luke 12:47)
As believers in Jesus by faith, we know the Author and Finisher of our faith. The Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. (Revelation 1:8, 11) We know in whom we believe and trust. We know that when we wait on the Lord, He is truly faithful in all things.
Thus, "blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He comes shall find watching!" (Luke 12:37) Blessed are those who continuously proclaim in their hearts, "Blessed be the King that comes in the Name of the Lord ... Peace in heaven and glory in the highest." (Luke 19:38; Psalms 118:26)
"For He is our peace who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace, and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby ... for through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." (Ephesians 2:14-22)
Therefore, don't be counted with the unbelievers. Don't be taken in by the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy, saying one thing from their mouth, while believing another in their heart. Rather seek ye the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (and so much more) will be added unto you.
Stand in the offering plate.
In today's world, water baptism has become a contentious subject. For some, baptism is only a "ritual" associated with religious culture and the traditions of men. For others, it remains preferable to stand on the shores as an observer -- as it were in the days of John the baptist. Of course, neither of these opinions align with the scriptures, which tell us that we need to both repent AND be water baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins so that we can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:36-47)
As Jesus so aptly told Nicodemus, ye need to be born of the water AND the Spirit. (John 3:5-8)
As believers who have repented of our sin, we need to be buried with Jesus Christ into His death in water baptism. Not sprinkled at birth but buried. "Therefore, we are buried with Him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:36-47))
So, what is Jesus saying here in Luke 12:50? For context, let's start at the beginning of the chapter. Note that herein, there was an "innumerable multitude" of people (almost to the point of trampling) trying to listen to Jesus. The scribes and Pharisees were in attendance too, trying to urge Jesus vehemently hoping to provoke Him to speak many things so that they could catch Him saying something (and indeed, anything) out of His mouth that they might accuse Him. (Luke 11:53-54)
Jesus begins by saying, "Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees WHICH IS HYPOCRISY. For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; neither hid that shall not be known. Therefore, whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light, and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. And I say unto you My friends, "Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear. Fear Him which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, "Fear Him." (Luke 12:1-5)
Jesus continues the dialogue, sharing how precious we are in His sight, in that even the very hairs of our head are numbered. That we are MORE precious than the five sparrows sold for two farthings which even so, are not forgotten before God. Thus, as Jesus asks, "how much MORE VALUE are we who confess the Son of man before men?
"Whosoever shall confess Me before men," Jesus said, "him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels. But he that denies Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him but unto him that blasphemes against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven." (Luke 12:6-12)
As we read further into Luke's account, we see that in the midst, a seemingly out of place encounter occurs. One of the company says unto Jesus, "Master, speak to my brother that he will divide the inheritance with me." (Luke 12:13) Huh? Here is Jesus teaching His followers about how precious we are in His sight, and how much more value are we who confess the Son of man before men, and about blaspheming against the Holy Ghost, and one of the company asks Jesus about how he can get his share of the inheritance from his brother. Here is one openly revealing the state of his heart before the Lord of glory. "What about me, Lord?" he is asking. "Look at all the good things I am doing for You Lord! Me Lord, I am doing all these things for You ... but still, I need more. What I have is not sufficient! I need my brother to divide the inheritance with me as well. I want what my brother possesses -- too!"
In the midst of a dialogue wherein the multitudes are literally pressing into Jesus, and the hypocrite accusers waiting for Jesus to say anything amiss that could be held against Him, here is one of the company wanting a share of the inheritance -- for himself. Like the prodigal son? Perhaps, but the prodigal son at least recognized the error of his ways. As we see here, this man wasn't interested in the Kingdom, or the love and kindness of God our Saviour, or doctrine, or that godliness with contentment in and of itself is great gain. Rather, his heart was still focused on the things in this world "which drown men in destruction and perdition." (I Timothy 6:6-12)
Thus, Jesus responds to him by saying, "Man, who made Me a judge or a divider over you?" Take heed and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses." (Luke 12:13-15) In other words, Jesus was telling this man, as those also who wanted Him rid from this earth, "My Kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now is My Kingdom not from hence." (John 18:36)
Herein, Jesus goes on to tell a parable of a certain rich man. This is not my point today so I will leave this parable for you to read on your own. However, for the sake of edification and learning, it is worth noting that Jesus did say to His disciples: "Therefore, I say unto you -- take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them; how much more are ye better than the fowls?" (Luke 12:22-40) And second, Jesus goes onto cite several examples in the parable, encouraging the disciples at the end of His teaching to always be ready for the Son of man comes at an hour when ye think not. Like the five virgins with oil in their lamps. But I digress.
So Peter then asks Jesus, "Lord, speak Thou this parable unto us, or even to all?" (Luke 12:41) Often, we see Jesus speaking in parables to the crowd at large, and then taking His disciples aside and explaining the parable in detail specifically to them so that they would understand. Peter is asking Jesus if this is the situation here. Will Jesus explain the meaning of the parable concerning faithful and evil servants to them directly? How does Jesus respond? To some observers, it would appear that Jesus told yet another parable.
"And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward whom [his] l/Lord shall make ruler over his household, to give [them their] portion of meat in due season?" Blessed is that servant whom his l/Lord when h/He comes shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that h/He will make him ruler over all that he hath. But, and if that servant say in his heart, "My l/Lord delays h/His coming; and shall begin to beat the men servants and maidens to eat and drink, and to be drunken ... the l/Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looks not for [h/Him] and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
And that servant, which knew his l/Lord's will, and prepared not [himself], neither did according to h/His will, shall be beaten with many [stripes]. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes shall be beaten with few [stripes]. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required; and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
I am come to send fire on the earth, and what will I, if it already be kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straightened till it be accomplished?" (Luke 12:41-50) The baptism Jesus was referring to here was His death on the cross, which He knew was yet to come. "But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straightened till it be accomplished?" (Luke 12:50)
Similarly, in the gospel of Mark, Jesus asks His disciples, " ... Can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? ... Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized." (Mark 10:38-39)
"Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? ... Ye shall drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with ..." (Matthew 20:22-23)
"The cup which My Father hath given to Me, shall I not drink it?" (John 18:11; Matthew 26:39) The hour had come that the Son of man should be glorified. (John 12:27; John 13:31-35)
The work of bringing salvation to one and all was nigh. This is why Jesus fell on His face in the garden of Gethsemane, saying, "O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will but as Thou wilt." (Matthew 26:39) His humanity -- His soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto death. And, then, there was the cross, wherein we see Jesus after receiving the vinegar say, "It is finished!" (John 19:30)
But the message that Jesus taught in Luke 12 is not a message that ends with giving up the g/Ghost on the cross. As we see from the witnesses at the tomb, death could not hold Jesus. The sting of death was of no consequence because Jesus paid the ultimate price for us with His own precious blood. And thus, when, Jesus spoke to His disciples (before He was taken up according to Acts 1:2-3), He expounded on His teachings from afore. He explained to His disciples all that they did not yet understand, while simultaneously caring for their physical needs (i.e. cooking them breakfast on the shore). Indeed, for a period of fifty days.
Yes, Jesus had a baptism to be baptized with and without that baptism, "how am I straightened till it be accomplished?" (Luke 12:50)
And, although for most of us, being crucified on a cross will not mark the end of our life journey on this earth, we should still be viewing baptism from the same perspective -- "how am I straightened till it be accomplished?" ... because Jesus set the example when John baptized He that would come after.
Is this not the same message Peter (standing with the eleven) was sharing on the day of Pentecost when he said, "Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:36) When those that were pricked in their hearts asked, "What shall we do?" what did Peter say? In one accord -- in full agreement with the eleven, 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 ..." (Acts 2:38)
First the water (confessing your sins) and then the fire -- the Holy Ghost. Both repentance and water baptism being equal requirements as evidenced in both the old and the new as an answer of a good conscience toward God. (I Peter 1:21-23) With the same desiring heart as Jesus -- "how am I straightened till it be accomplished?"
As Jesus also said, "I am come to send fire on the earth ..." (Luke 12:49) Jesus came to preach the gospel of the Kingdom, to pour out His Spirit upon all those believers willing to be refined in persecution. But He also came to purge away the earth's dross and burn the chaff -- those who obeyed the leaven -- the hypocrisy of the Pharisees over the Word of God, including those who stood on the shores watching John baptize in the river Jordan but never themselves desiring to get wet.
But Jesus said even more. He referred to His coming sufferings with an action that mitigates them and thus cannot be ignored -- baptism. He had a baptism to be baptized with that can be likened both to fire and water. The same water and Spirit that Jesus spoke of with Nicodemus. (John 3:1-21; Matthew 20:22) Jesus Himself becoming such an high priest, holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens, so that we no longer need daily as those high priests who offered up sacrifice -- first for his own sins, and then of the people's in the old covenant -- but rather, our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ who fulfilled the saving of our sins once and for all, when He offered up Himself.
"By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament." (Hebrews 7:22-28)
And yet He submitted to water baptism so that prophecy which was told afore by the prophets could be fulfilled. The bringing forth of a better covenant.
"And for this cause He is the Mediator of the new testament, that by the means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator." (Hebrews 9:15-19)
Thus, likewise, as apostle Paul points out -- even before the Christ had come, "how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink, for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them,; and that Rock was Christ." (I Corinthians 10:1-4)
Authentic salvation requires both the water and the Spirit. And in His own words, Jesus said, "How am I straightened till it be accomplished?"
"Then said I, "Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will, O God." (Hebrews 10:7; Psalms 40:7)
"The Lord hath made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of God." (Isaiah 52:10)
"Surely, He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted, but he was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:1-12)
Jesus said, "I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?"(Luke 12:49)
The fire kindled only after Jesus was taken up, when Jesus through the Holy Ghost gave commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen. (Acts 1:2) This is why the apostles preached repentance and water baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus on the day of Pentecost, and beyond, so that we too who believe in Him and are willing to take on His name should receive the Holy Ghost.
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? 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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin .. for he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if I be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death hath no more dominion over him." (Romans 6:1-9)
This is why John the baptist pointed to the One who came after him -- "Behold, the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, "After me cometh a man which is preferred before me, for He was before me, and I knew Him not, but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore, am I come baptizing with water." (John 1:29-31)
Still, with all the teachings and scriptural examples, there are those who profess to believe in Jesus who will do anything but be water baptized/buried in the Name of the Lord Jesus. "Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees WHICH IS HYPOCRISY." As Jesus pointed out, these supposing in their heart that the Lord came to bring peace on earth and will, as a prerequisite of peace as they understand it from an earthly perspective, welcome them into heaven with open arms. But Jesus said, "I tell you -- nay, but rather division."
It is to these that Jesus said, "But to that servant who knew His Lord's will and yet prepared not, neither did according to His will shall be beaten with many stripes but he that knew not and did commit things worthy of stripes shall be beaten with few stripes." (Luke 12:47)
As believers in Jesus by faith, we know the Author and Finisher of our faith. The Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. (Revelation 1:8, 11) We know in whom we believe and trust. We know that when we wait on the Lord, He is truly faithful in all things.
Thus, "blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He comes shall find watching!" (Luke 12:37) Blessed are those who continuously proclaim in their hearts, "Blessed be the King that comes in the Name of the Lord ... Peace in heaven and glory in the highest." (Luke 19:38; Psalms 118:26)
"For He is our peace who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace, and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby ... for through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." (Ephesians 2:14-22)
Therefore, don't be counted with the unbelievers. Don't be taken in by the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy, saying one thing from their mouth, while believing another in their heart. Rather seek ye the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (and so much more) will be added unto you.
Stand in the offering plate.
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
The Eyes of Your Understanding Being Enlightened, That Ye Might Know What Is the Hope of His Calling- Part 1430
"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places. Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all." (Ephesians 1:17-23)
What is the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him? The Holy Ghost. The Spirit of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ no longer being "with us" but inside of those who believe in Him by faith, leading and guiding and encouraging us into all truth. This point is repeatedly throughout the new testament, and yet, people believe in a false trinity doctrine that has no scriptural basis. And the outcome is sad, because instead of believers searching His Word for truth, we listen to those we presume to be educated and spiritual, and it has led to the scattering of the power of His holy people. But let's look at what the scriptures say.
"For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it] do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God -- strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulness, 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 ..." (Colossians 1:9-20)
"For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power, in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [Him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead." (Colossians 2:9-12)
This is why we are to beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit after the traditions of men and after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ. (Colossians 2:8) Instead we are to be and built up and rooted in Christ Jesus the Lord, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught. (Colossians 2:6-7)
The apostolic doctrine as it was established when the day of Pentecost was fully come and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, each man hearing them speak in his own language. (Acts 2:36-47; Acts 2:1-11) This marked the beginning of the early body of Christ church. Note that in order for the Holy Ghost to come, Jesus had to leave.
"Until the day in which He [Jesus] was taken up, after that He THROUGH the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom also He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God ..." (Acts 1:1-5)
Only then shall ye receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you. Only after Jesus had spoken everything that had to be said on this earth would the Holy Ghost come. (Acts 1:7-8)
The Holy Ghost. Not another person in the Godhead, as those misled might claim but the one and only God who loved us enough to deliver His love into the world. After the love and kindness of God our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7)
This is why Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me. If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also and from henceforth ye know Him and have seen Him." (John 14:6-17)
Jesus said, " ... the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it sees Him not, neither knows Him, but ye know Him, for He dwells WITH you and SHALL BE IN YOU. I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you." (John 14:16-18)
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all, and that same Father was in the world calling us back unto Himself. No greater love. He who was in the world and the world made by Him but the world knew Him not -- He paid the ultimate sacrifice on the cross, when He shed His precious blood on that cross for you and I. (John 1:10-11; John 1:1-18; I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 42:13; Revelation 1:8, 11; Ephesians 4:5-6)
But don't believe me. Study His Word for yourself and let His Spirit -- the Spirit of Jesus who willingly redeemed a people who were not His people -- the Comforter, the Holy Ghost fill you with the wisdom and knowledge of Him. The doctrine of Christ.
The greatest love story ever displayed for one and all to see, if these would only open their heart to the Him -- Jesus -- the King of kings and Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending.
Stand in the offering plate
What is the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him? The Holy Ghost. The Spirit of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ no longer being "with us" but inside of those who believe in Him by faith, leading and guiding and encouraging us into all truth. This point is repeatedly throughout the new testament, and yet, people believe in a false trinity doctrine that has no scriptural basis. And the outcome is sad, because instead of believers searching His Word for truth, we listen to those we presume to be educated and spiritual, and it has led to the scattering of the power of His holy people. But let's look at what the scriptures say.
"For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it] do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God -- strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulness, 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 ..." (Colossians 1:9-20)
"For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power, in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [Him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead." (Colossians 2:9-12)
This is why we are to beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit after the traditions of men and after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ. (Colossians 2:8) Instead we are to be and built up and rooted in Christ Jesus the Lord, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught. (Colossians 2:6-7)
The apostolic doctrine as it was established when the day of Pentecost was fully come and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, each man hearing them speak in his own language. (Acts 2:36-47; Acts 2:1-11) This marked the beginning of the early body of Christ church. Note that in order for the Holy Ghost to come, Jesus had to leave.
"Until the day in which He [Jesus] was taken up, after that He THROUGH the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom also He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God ..." (Acts 1:1-5)
Only then shall ye receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you. Only after Jesus had spoken everything that had to be said on this earth would the Holy Ghost come. (Acts 1:7-8)
The Holy Ghost. Not another person in the Godhead, as those misled might claim but the one and only God who loved us enough to deliver His love into the world. After the love and kindness of God our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7)
This is why Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me. If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also and from henceforth ye know Him and have seen Him." (John 14:6-17)
Jesus said, " ... the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it sees Him not, neither knows Him, but ye know Him, for He dwells WITH you and SHALL BE IN YOU. I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you." (John 14:16-18)
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all, and that same Father was in the world calling us back unto Himself. No greater love. He who was in the world and the world made by Him but the world knew Him not -- He paid the ultimate sacrifice on the cross, when He shed His precious blood on that cross for you and I. (John 1:10-11; John 1:1-18; I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 42:13; Revelation 1:8, 11; Ephesians 4:5-6)
But don't believe me. Study His Word for yourself and let His Spirit -- the Spirit of Jesus who willingly redeemed a people who were not His people -- the Comforter, the Holy Ghost fill you with the wisdom and knowledge of Him. The doctrine of Christ.
The greatest love story ever displayed for one and all to see, if these would only open their heart to the Him -- Jesus -- the King of kings and Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending.
Stand in the offering plate
Monday, June 20, 2016
We Have Received the Spirit Which Is Of God, That We Might Know the Things That Are Freely Given Us of God - Part 1429
"I charge [thee] therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom -- Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables .... BUT watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." (II Timothy 4:1-5)
How many times have you heard that the doctrines written in the scriptures are inconsequential? That doctrines are no longer necessary in the modern day religious culture. I certainly have. Nevertheless, as noted in the scripture above, we are charged to preach the Word, to be instant both in season and out, able to reprove and rebuke, and also, to exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
Note the last instruction -- to exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. The word "exhort" means to "strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something." So, with that definition in mind, we should strongly encourage or urge someone with all long suffering to understand the teachings and doctrines of Christ.
Thus, as believers in Jesus by faith, each and every one of us has not only been given a mandate to preach the Word, but one that includes understanding the doctrines contained in the scriptures. And these doctrines? According to Hebrews 6:1-2, these include:
The doctrine of Christ.
The foundation of repentance from dead works.
Faith toward God.
The doctrine of baptisms.
Laying on of hands.
Resurrection of the dead.
Eternal judgment.
If we back up a bit, we understand these are considered the first principles of the oracles of God. (Hebrews 5:12) It is for this reason that we study His Word to show ourselves approved under God -- so that we can know how to stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and not to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1)
How can we do this? As the scripture states, we can learn and understand Jesus' teachings because we have received not the spirit of this world, but rather, the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given us of God, which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches -- comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
In other words, the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him. Neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual, and pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, does judge all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. (I Corinthians 2:12-15; Philippians 3:14)
"For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:16) And, as it was on the day of Pentecost (with 3,000 souls repenting and being water baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sin), there should be one accord, because God is not the Author of confusion.
If there is confusion, it is because we have not fully understood His Word, or as Paul said, we are still babes in Christ. Too often, we have let the weak and beggarly elements take us back into bondage. (Galatians 4:9) And, as a consequence, we desire to be under the law. But what does apostle Paul write that clarifies the difference between the old covenant and the new testament?
"For it is written -- that Abraham had TWO sons, the one by a bond maid, the other by a free woman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh, but he of the free woman was by the promise -- which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants, the one from the mount Sinai, which genders to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
But Jerusalem, which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, "Rejoice, thou barren that bears not, break forth and cry, that thou travails not; for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband." Now we brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Nevertheless, what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman." So then brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free." (Galatians 5:21-31; Genesis 16:15; Genesis 21:2, 10-12; Romans 9:7-8; Hebrews 11:11; Deuteronomy 33:2; Isaiah 2:2; Isaiah 54:1; Galatians 3:28-29, 22; Acts 3:25; Genesis 21:9; Galatians 5:11; John 8:35)
Written so clearly and yet there remains envying and strife and division? Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God rightly answers this question, when he writes unto the church of God in Corinth -- to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus. .
"And I brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal [even] as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat; for hitherto, ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions. Are ye not carnal and walk as men? For while one saith, "I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that plants anything, neither he that waters, but God that gives the increase. Now he that plants and waters are one; and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God; ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building, according to the grace of God which is given unto me. As a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation and another builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he builds thereon -- for other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 3:1-12)
This is our instruction going forward, to stop being babes in the Word, and to recognize that we are labourers together with God. Ye are God's husbandry ... according to the grace of God! So, take on the armour, and begin preaching the foundation of the gospel that is Jesus Christ. Learn the doctrine of Christ, and about repentance, and faith, and baptisms, and laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgement. In so doing, let your faith stand in the demonstration of the Spirit and power so "that your faith [does] not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." (I Corinthians 2:4-5)
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God/" (I Corinthians 1:18)
Stand in the offering plate.
How many times have you heard that the doctrines written in the scriptures are inconsequential? That doctrines are no longer necessary in the modern day religious culture. I certainly have. Nevertheless, as noted in the scripture above, we are charged to preach the Word, to be instant both in season and out, able to reprove and rebuke, and also, to exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
Note the last instruction -- to exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. The word "exhort" means to "strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something." So, with that definition in mind, we should strongly encourage or urge someone with all long suffering to understand the teachings and doctrines of Christ.
Thus, as believers in Jesus by faith, each and every one of us has not only been given a mandate to preach the Word, but one that includes understanding the doctrines contained in the scriptures. And these doctrines? According to Hebrews 6:1-2, these include:
The doctrine of Christ.
The foundation of repentance from dead works.
Faith toward God.
The doctrine of baptisms.
Laying on of hands.
Resurrection of the dead.
Eternal judgment.
If we back up a bit, we understand these are considered the first principles of the oracles of God. (Hebrews 5:12) It is for this reason that we study His Word to show ourselves approved under God -- so that we can know how to stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and not to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1)
How can we do this? As the scripture states, we can learn and understand Jesus' teachings because we have received not the spirit of this world, but rather, the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given us of God, which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches -- comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
In other words, the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him. Neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual, and pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, does judge all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. (I Corinthians 2:12-15; Philippians 3:14)
"For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:16) And, as it was on the day of Pentecost (with 3,000 souls repenting and being water baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sin), there should be one accord, because God is not the Author of confusion.
If there is confusion, it is because we have not fully understood His Word, or as Paul said, we are still babes in Christ. Too often, we have let the weak and beggarly elements take us back into bondage. (Galatians 4:9) And, as a consequence, we desire to be under the law. But what does apostle Paul write that clarifies the difference between the old covenant and the new testament?
"For it is written -- that Abraham had TWO sons, the one by a bond maid, the other by a free woman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh, but he of the free woman was by the promise -- which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants, the one from the mount Sinai, which genders to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
But Jerusalem, which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, "Rejoice, thou barren that bears not, break forth and cry, that thou travails not; for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband." Now we brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Nevertheless, what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman." So then brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free." (Galatians 5:21-31; Genesis 16:15; Genesis 21:2, 10-12; Romans 9:7-8; Hebrews 11:11; Deuteronomy 33:2; Isaiah 2:2; Isaiah 54:1; Galatians 3:28-29, 22; Acts 3:25; Genesis 21:9; Galatians 5:11; John 8:35)
Written so clearly and yet there remains envying and strife and division? Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God rightly answers this question, when he writes unto the church of God in Corinth -- to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus. .
"And I brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal [even] as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat; for hitherto, ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions. Are ye not carnal and walk as men? For while one saith, "I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that plants anything, neither he that waters, but God that gives the increase. Now he that plants and waters are one; and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God; ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building, according to the grace of God which is given unto me. As a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation and another builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he builds thereon -- for other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 3:1-12)
This is our instruction going forward, to stop being babes in the Word, and to recognize that we are labourers together with God. Ye are God's husbandry ... according to the grace of God! So, take on the armour, and begin preaching the foundation of the gospel that is Jesus Christ. Learn the doctrine of Christ, and about repentance, and faith, and baptisms, and laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgement. In so doing, let your faith stand in the demonstration of the Spirit and power so "that your faith [does] not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." (I Corinthians 2:4-5)
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God/" (I Corinthians 1:18)
Stand in the offering plate.
To Redeem Those That Were Under the Law And That We Too Might Receive the Adoption of Sons - Part 1428
And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that He [Jesus] had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?" And Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is ONE Lord. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:28-31)
"Even so when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world, BUT when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son made of a woman, made under the Law TO REDEEM THEM THAT WERE UNDER THE LAW that we might receive the adoption of sons." (Galatians 4:1-6)
"Therefore, it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; NOT TO THAT ONLY WHICH IS OF THE LAW BUT TO THAT ALSO WHICH IS OF THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM who is the father of us all ... (Romans 4:16)
"For sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are NOT under the Law but under grace ..." (Romans 6:12)
In the fullness of time -- NOW -- the promise of God in Christ came as told before by the prophets, and He came to receive a people --“Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (I Peter 2:10)
"Even so when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world, BUT when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son made of a woman, made under the Law TO REDEEM THEM THAT WERE UNDER THE LAW that we might receive the adoption of sons." (Galatians 4:1-6)
"And this I say, that the covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law which was four hundred and thirty years after cannot disannul that it should make the promise of none effect ... for if the inheritance be of the Law, it is no more of promise but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serveth the Law? It was added because of transgressions -- till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made, and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not [a mediator of] one, but God is One." (Galatians 3:17-20)
Is the Law then against the promises of God? Of course not. What this apostle was writing was that we also need to recognize (and understand) is that if there had been a Law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have (and would have) been by the Law.
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Rightly, as the scriptures also declare, before faith came we were kept under the law -- shut up unto the faith which should afterward be revealed.
"Wherefore the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But [again] after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster 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 ... and if ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 4:16-29)
The prophesied promise that is God in Christ. The mystery that was held in the bosom of the Father from the beginning of the world, come forth so that we -- because of His kindness and love could be reconciled once again unto Him. In other words, God Himself became our Saviour, reconciling the world unto Himself.
"But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life ... for the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:22-23)
Thus, we are no longer children in bondage under the elements of the world. Rather, we are redeemed by the precious blood He shed on the cross that we might receive the adoption of sons, and because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying, "Abba, Father." (Galatians 4:1-6)
Sadly, however, there are those who don't want you to believe that we are saved by grace through faith, and that not of ourselves -- it is a gift of God. Not of works lest any should boast. This may explain why Paul includes his interaction with Peter who would heartily eat with the Gentiles but then withdraw and separate himself when those of the circumcision -- the Jews -- would come along. Read the encounter below for yourself. Then stand in the offering plate with God our Saviour who loved His beloved creation so much that He Himself came into this world to bring His gift of salvation!
"But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
But when I SAW THAT THEY WALKED NOT UPRIGHTLY ACCORDING TO THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL, I said unto Peter before them all, "If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?"
We who are Jews by nature and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the Law, for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.
We who are Jews by nature and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the Law, for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.
But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor -- for I, through the Law, that might live unto God.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the Law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2:11-21)
Saturday, June 18, 2016
Jesus Said, "I Have Chosen and Ordained You ..." - Part 1427
God is a Spirit, and He fills the heavens and the earth. Even the scriptures state, "Why even the heavens cannot contain God?" How big is God? Well, in God, we live and we move and we have our being. Further, God created man in His own image. This might be where we begin to think of God as HE.
The first woman was taken from man. The bone was of his bone and the flesh of his flesh making man incomplete without the woman. Eve then, is the mother of all living. God delivered Eve from Adam in the garden of Eden. Thereafter, whither male or female, we all came from a female.
One day a person wanted to inquire as to where I came from. I replied, I came from a woman. Where did you come from? It is the same situation within creation. When that initial creation intersects with salvation in the second Adam or Christ the New Creation, it is here that our understanding of the gospel message is increased. Indeed, there is neither male nor female.
For further clarification, you might want to read 1st Corinthians, chapter 11, verses 1 through 16. Here, you will begin to read how no man has seen God at any time. It is the only begotten who is in the bosom of the Father who has declared Him. The only begotten. Jesus spoken of Him as the Only begotten. In comparison, we are spoken of as begat. The difference is that Jesus is God’s holy child being conceived of the Holy Ghost, spoken of in the scriptures as one who is without father or mother. He has no beginning of days, nor end of life. Why? Because His beginning is after the order (the lead) of Melchisedec.
We cannot be talking of the flesh in which the Spirit of the Christ was embodied. for the flesh covering began in the womb of Mary when she served as a surrogate mother. The fetus being seeded of the Holy Ghost. What do the scriptures state? That which is conceived in you Mary is of the Holy Ghost ... and finished at Calvary. He was sown a natural body and yet raised a spiritual body. Jesus is introduced as being God with us -- as a Son.
"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins." Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, "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." (Matthew 1:21-23)
The Word was made or veiled and the flesh lived among us.
"He was in the world and the world was made by Him but the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11)
This does not mean that the Word of God became a human being. Rather, the Word was clothed in the flesh of fallen humanity. Having been clothed upon with flesh in Mary’s womb, the pure humanity is attributed to the holy Spirit which was in the man Jesus the Christ. God in Christ. God did not come to earth to acquire humanity. God is, and always will be the source of pure humanity. Before the fall, Adam was perfect in all his ways, an earthly expression of God.
God was endeavouring thereby, to reveal His own spiritual humanity in visible earthly created form. A form created from the dust of the earth into which God breathed the breath of Life. Fresh air. The same air which keeps us up and running yet is incapable of providing us with spiritual humanity. In the Old Testament, we learn that Adam was a created son of God. One could say that if you had seen Adam, you had perhaps seen God, in a created form.
But in the New Testament, we read that the Word was "veiled" in flesh. The Word -- God Himself. The SAME Word (or counsel of God ) that had brought forth Adam. God Had promised that He would become our Saviour, and in keeping with His promised Word, He conceived Himself into Mary’s womb. (Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 42:13) Even though He had created all things, God still humbled Himself for you and I. God took upon Himself the form of a servant in a son form. He was referred to as the second Adam. Still, He was the Lord Himself! Both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)
God who at different times and in various manners spoke to us through the mouths of prophets has now spoken to us as/in His Son. God’s Spirit created all things and by Himself (as a Son) and for Himself, all things were made. Apart from Himself, there is nothing made that was made. God said, "My glory, I will not give to another." It is said, "Let all the angels of God worship Him. Jesus, the Christ, is the same God, yesterday, today and forever." This is why Thomas (aka doubting Thomas as he has been coined) declared to Jesus,“My Lord and MY God!" So should we.
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7)
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. (Ephesians 4:5-6)
Stand in the offering plate.
The first woman was taken from man. The bone was of his bone and the flesh of his flesh making man incomplete without the woman. Eve then, is the mother of all living. God delivered Eve from Adam in the garden of Eden. Thereafter, whither male or female, we all came from a female.
One day a person wanted to inquire as to where I came from. I replied, I came from a woman. Where did you come from? It is the same situation within creation. When that initial creation intersects with salvation in the second Adam or Christ the New Creation, it is here that our understanding of the gospel message is increased. Indeed, there is neither male nor female.
For further clarification, you might want to read 1st Corinthians, chapter 11, verses 1 through 16. Here, you will begin to read how no man has seen God at any time. It is the only begotten who is in the bosom of the Father who has declared Him. The only begotten. Jesus spoken of Him as the Only begotten. In comparison, we are spoken of as begat. The difference is that Jesus is God’s holy child being conceived of the Holy Ghost, spoken of in the scriptures as one who is without father or mother. He has no beginning of days, nor end of life. Why? Because His beginning is after the order (the lead) of Melchisedec.
We cannot be talking of the flesh in which the Spirit of the Christ was embodied. for the flesh covering began in the womb of Mary when she served as a surrogate mother. The fetus being seeded of the Holy Ghost. What do the scriptures state? That which is conceived in you Mary is of the Holy Ghost ... and finished at Calvary. He was sown a natural body and yet raised a spiritual body. Jesus is introduced as being God with us -- as a Son.
"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins." Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, "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." (Matthew 1:21-23)
The Word was made or veiled and the flesh lived among us.
"He was in the world and the world was made by Him but the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11)
This does not mean that the Word of God became a human being. Rather, the Word was clothed in the flesh of fallen humanity. Having been clothed upon with flesh in Mary’s womb, the pure humanity is attributed to the holy Spirit which was in the man Jesus the Christ. God in Christ. God did not come to earth to acquire humanity. God is, and always will be the source of pure humanity. Before the fall, Adam was perfect in all his ways, an earthly expression of God.
God was endeavouring thereby, to reveal His own spiritual humanity in visible earthly created form. A form created from the dust of the earth into which God breathed the breath of Life. Fresh air. The same air which keeps us up and running yet is incapable of providing us with spiritual humanity. In the Old Testament, we learn that Adam was a created son of God. One could say that if you had seen Adam, you had perhaps seen God, in a created form.
But in the New Testament, we read that the Word was "veiled" in flesh. The Word -- God Himself. The SAME Word (or counsel of God ) that had brought forth Adam. God Had promised that He would become our Saviour, and in keeping with His promised Word, He conceived Himself into Mary’s womb. (Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 42:13) Even though He had created all things, God still humbled Himself for you and I. God took upon Himself the form of a servant in a son form. He was referred to as the second Adam. Still, He was the Lord Himself! Both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)
God who at different times and in various manners spoke to us through the mouths of prophets has now spoken to us as/in His Son. God’s Spirit created all things and by Himself (as a Son) and for Himself, all things were made. Apart from Himself, there is nothing made that was made. God said, "My glory, I will not give to another." It is said, "Let all the angels of God worship Him. Jesus, the Christ, is the same God, yesterday, today and forever." This is why Thomas (aka doubting Thomas as he has been coined) declared to Jesus,“My Lord and MY God!" So should we.
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7)
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. (Ephesians 4:5-6)
Stand in the offering plate.
"And He Is Before All Things, And By Him All Things Consist ... And They Worshipped Him!" --Part 1426
"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." ( Colossians 1:16)
"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." (John 1:10-11)
"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; [unto eternal life]; that in all things He might have the pre-eminence."" (Colossians 1:17-18)
His Name in this current dispensation of grace is JESUS -- for He shall save His people from their sins. God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23) God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. (Revelation 1:8, 11; Isaiah 9:6)
Indeed, in these last days, He has spoken unto us by [His] Son, "whom He hath appointed Heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds,who being the brightness of [His] glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high."" (Hebrews 1:2-3)
"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; [unto eternal life]; that in all things He might have the pre-eminence."" (Colossians 1:17-18)
His Name in this current dispensation of grace is JESUS -- for He shall save His people from their sins. God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23) God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. (Revelation 1:8, 11; Isaiah 9:6)
Jesus stood in the midst and said unto His disciples while eating broiled fish, and of an honeycomb on the shore-- "These are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you, and that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning Me ... 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 endues with power from on high." (Luke 24:36-53)
"That Christ should suffer, (and) that He should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, (the Jews), and to the Gentiles (all non-Jews)." (Acts 26:23)
But there are those who are intent on changing the gospel to suit their own purposes, and not deliver the Word -- as it is written. Teachers who ignore sound doctrine in favour of tickling believers' ears. Many who deny the power of God for their own fine sounding words. Those who want to deceive you by any means. Know that Jesus warned us of these times, and as Jesus said, there would be wolves among the sheep.
" ... those who prophesy out of their own hearts, and are foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! "Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. They have seen vanity and lying divination ... whereas ye say, "The Lord saith [it]; albeit [the Lord is saying] I have not spoken!" (Ezekiel 13:1-10)
" ... those who prophesy out of their own hearts, and are foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! "Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. They have seen vanity and lying divination ... whereas ye say, "The Lord saith [it]; albeit [the Lord is saying] I have not spoken!" (Ezekiel 13:1-10)
"O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophet have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" (Luke 24:25-26)
This is why Jesus beginning at Moses and all the prophets, expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself. His Word also provides good counsel to test the spirits, for there is only ONE Lord -- Jesus, who is both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36) -- ONE Faith -- the apostolic doctrine in which Jesus after He had been risen up THROUGH the Holy Ghost gave commandments unto His apostles (Acts 1:2) -- ONE Baptism -- whereby the first 3,000 souls entered into the new testament body of Christ. (Acts 2:36-47) and these went on to change the known world.
If an angel or man preach another gospel, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8)
Rather, do as the scriptures instruct. That is, repent and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, so that they/we too can receive the goodness and mercy of God our Saviour "after His kindness and love." (Titus 3:4-7)
Stand in the offering plate.
Friday, June 17, 2016
Believest thou not? Believest thou this? Jesus said, "I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Lif - Part 1425
"By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of ourselves -- it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any should boast ..." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Thomas saith unto Jesus, "Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way?" Jesus saith unto him, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man comes unto the Father, but by Me. If ye had known Me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him."
Philip saith unto Him, "Lord, shew us the Father, and it suffice us." Jesus saith unto him, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how say thou then, "Shew us the Father?"
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do ..." (John 14:5-14)
Believest thou that there is One God, and this one and same God loved us enough to become as one of us? (I Timothy 3:16; Mark 12:28-31; Isaiah 9:6; Revelation 1:8, 11; Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-18)
Believest thou that He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not? (John 1:10-11; Isaiah 42:13)
Believest thou that after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour -- that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life? (Titus 3:4-7)
Believest thou that when we believe in Jesus as both Lord and Christ in our heart, and are water baptized in His precious Name, that we enter into, and now stand fast in the Lord? And, that He -- the Lord Jesus Christ will make you and I to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all, so that He may stablish our hearts with blame in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints?
Believest thou this that the gospel came not unto you in Word only, but also in power and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance .. with joy of the Holy Ghost -- the Spirit of Christ dwelling within us? (I Peter 1:11)
Believest thou on the Name of Jesus? The One and ONLY name whereby we can be saved in this current dispensation of grace? (Acts 4:12)
It is herein that our lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fades not away (reserved in heaven for us who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation) begins. (I Peter 1:1-12)
It is in this context that faith is a reflection of our intimate walk with Jesus. It shows our willingness to press in and grow in the knowledge of the Word -- Jesus the Christ. An inward heart desire to be with Jesus even while we live in this world. Sadly, however, even in Bible times, not everyone accepted this. Even those from Jesus' own country, according to Matthew 13, were astonished at the crowds that followed Jesus. While He performed miracles and healings for those who needed to be restored and made whole, the people from His own country doubted Jesus' authority.
Indeed, when Jesus was come into His own country, the people of the area asked, "Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brethren James and Joses and Simon and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?"
These might be considered valid questions if the focus was only on Jesus' humanity. However, when we begin to accept that Jesus is God in the flesh -- the same God who created man and woman in the beginning loved us enough to prepare a plan of salvation even before we were formed in our mother's womb - then our faith begins to grow. At first as a tiny mustard seed, but soon after, able to move those mountains that stand as hurdles against us. We soon realize that the same God who holds the universe in His hands loved us so much that He willingly shed His precious blood on the cross for us.
Jesus said in John 6:29 that this is the work of God that you "believe on Him in whom He has sent."
Who did God send? JESUS -- God Himself manifest as a servant. The fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in Him. (Colossians 2:9)
Thus, we are to "believe ON HIM IN whom He hath sent" (John 6:29)
All that the Father giveth shall come to Me, and them that cometh to Me in no way will I cast out. (John 6:37)
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy household too."
Had these folks from Jesus country realized the truth -- the gospel is to you and your family and to those who are afar off -- they would have recognized that Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. Our blessed Saviour. They would have found hope knowing that because Jesus shed His precious blood for us, there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. No condemnation for those who seek after His Spirit. (Romans 8:1)
The covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ. (Galatians 3:17)
Further, these unbelieving people would have realized that the Father wept because of our inability to get it right.To understand how much He Himself loves His beloved creation from the very beginning.
Why? Because it is Jesus -- God Almighty in the flesh -- that was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities. Surely, He bore our sorrows, our hurts and our loneliness on the cross. All He asks is that we reach out in faith so that He can cleanse you and make you whole.
This is why the multitudes followed Jesus. It is why we also know today that Jesus satisfies our inward desires beyond our dreams. Like the multitudes who followed Jesus -- who pressed in against Him for more -- we can be assured that Jesus is all we need. He is more than enough. Lay your burdens at the feet of Jesus today.
Jesus said, "Come unto Me all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Rest in His abundance and goodness. Repent and be baptized in the precious Name of Jesus. (Acts 2:36-38) Study His Word for guidance and instruction. (I Timothy 2:15)
Stand in the offering plate.
Thomas saith unto Jesus, "Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way?" Jesus saith unto him, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man comes unto the Father, but by Me. If ye had known Me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him."
Philip saith unto Him, "Lord, shew us the Father, and it suffice us." Jesus saith unto him, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how say thou then, "Shew us the Father?"
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do ..." (John 14:5-14)
Believest thou that there is One God, and this one and same God loved us enough to become as one of us? (I Timothy 3:16; Mark 12:28-31; Isaiah 9:6; Revelation 1:8, 11; Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-18)
Believest thou that He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not? (John 1:10-11; Isaiah 42:13)
Believest thou that after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour -- that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life? (Titus 3:4-7)
Believest thou that when we believe in Jesus as both Lord and Christ in our heart, and are water baptized in His precious Name, that we enter into, and now stand fast in the Lord? And, that He -- the Lord Jesus Christ will make you and I to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all, so that He may stablish our hearts with blame in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints?
Believest thou this that the gospel came not unto you in Word only, but also in power and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance .. with joy of the Holy Ghost -- the Spirit of Christ dwelling within us? (I Peter 1:11)
Believest thou on the Name of Jesus? The One and ONLY name whereby we can be saved in this current dispensation of grace? (Acts 4:12)
It is herein that our lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fades not away (reserved in heaven for us who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation) begins. (I Peter 1:1-12)
It is in this context that faith is a reflection of our intimate walk with Jesus. It shows our willingness to press in and grow in the knowledge of the Word -- Jesus the Christ. An inward heart desire to be with Jesus even while we live in this world. Sadly, however, even in Bible times, not everyone accepted this. Even those from Jesus' own country, according to Matthew 13, were astonished at the crowds that followed Jesus. While He performed miracles and healings for those who needed to be restored and made whole, the people from His own country doubted Jesus' authority.
Indeed, when Jesus was come into His own country, the people of the area asked, "Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brethren James and Joses and Simon and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?"
These might be considered valid questions if the focus was only on Jesus' humanity. However, when we begin to accept that Jesus is God in the flesh -- the same God who created man and woman in the beginning loved us enough to prepare a plan of salvation even before we were formed in our mother's womb - then our faith begins to grow. At first as a tiny mustard seed, but soon after, able to move those mountains that stand as hurdles against us. We soon realize that the same God who holds the universe in His hands loved us so much that He willingly shed His precious blood on the cross for us.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled -- the Word of life had a plan to converse with us. For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with Jesus Christ.
Jesus said in John 6:29 that this is the work of God that you "believe on Him in whom He has sent."
Who did God send? JESUS -- God Himself manifest as a servant. The fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in Him. (Colossians 2:9)
Thus, we are to "believe ON HIM IN whom He hath sent" (John 6:29)
All that the Father giveth shall come to Me, and them that cometh to Me in no way will I cast out. (John 6:37)
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy household too."
Had these folks from Jesus country realized the truth -- the gospel is to you and your family and to those who are afar off -- they would have recognized that Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. Our blessed Saviour. They would have found hope knowing that because Jesus shed His precious blood for us, there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. No condemnation for those who seek after His Spirit. (Romans 8:1)
The covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ. (Galatians 3:17)
Further, these unbelieving people would have realized that the Father wept because of our inability to get it right.To understand how much He Himself loves His beloved creation from the very beginning.
Why? Because it is Jesus -- God Almighty in the flesh -- that was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities. Surely, He bore our sorrows, our hurts and our loneliness on the cross. All He asks is that we reach out in faith so that He can cleanse you and make you whole.
This is why the multitudes followed Jesus. It is why we also know today that Jesus satisfies our inward desires beyond our dreams. Like the multitudes who followed Jesus -- who pressed in against Him for more -- we can be assured that Jesus is all we need. He is more than enough. Lay your burdens at the feet of Jesus today.
Jesus said, "Come unto Me all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Rest in His abundance and goodness. Repent and be baptized in the precious Name of Jesus. (Acts 2:36-38) Study His Word for guidance and instruction. (I Timothy 2:15)
Stand in the offering plate.
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Being Justified Freely By His Grace Through the Redemption That Is In Christ Jesus - Part 1424
In addressing the churches in the book of Revelation, Jesus says to them, "I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My Name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee ..." (Revelation 3:8-9)
So, why then is there this push by the modern day religious culture to direct us back to Moses? To force believers who were saved by grace back into bondage under the Law? Do they not know "who" the Bread of Life is? In whom we are to believe?
I have often quoted this scripture, but not from the perspective of the synagogue of satan and those that claim to be Jews and are not -- but do lie. It is this particular passage that is on my mind today. Note that these very same words are used in Revelation 2:9. Therein, Jesus is still speaking to the churches, stating -- "I know thy works and tribulation and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of satan."
When we read the latter part of these scriptures separately, as an instruction in and of itself, what do we understand? For me, the inherent message changes. The "them" referred to here are presenting a blasphemy against the Lord Jesus, when say they are Jews and are not, but are instead the synagogue of satan. Strong language? Perhaps, but it is telling of a modern day religious culture that is pushing the good news gospel of His grace and mercy aside to a return to old covenant law.
This scripture and many others that speak of the Lord's kindness -- "By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast" -- are being superseded by a Mosaic Law and commandments that was never given to the Gentiles. We were the uncircumcision as referred to in the scriptures.
"Seeing it is ONE GOD which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith, do we make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law" -- the law of faith. (Romans 3:30-31)
"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 [to be] 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, [I say] at this time HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, that He might be just and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus." (Romans 3:23-26)
Thus, where is boasting then?
"Thou art inexcusable O man, whosoever thou art that judges, for wherein thou judges another, thou condemns thyself, for thou that judges does the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to the truth against them which commit such things, and think thou this, "O man, that judges them which do such things, and do the same that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or, despises thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance, and long suffering; not knowing the goodness of God leads thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasures up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God." (Romans 2:1-5)
In this, we are not seeing ONE GOD which shall justify both the circumcision by faith and the uncircumcision through faith, but we are elevating our human selves --as a valid authority to be judge and jury. However, in so doing, we are forgetting who justified us freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. It is through Jesus that righteousness might be imputed unto those who are not circumcised -- "For the promise, that He should be the heir of the world was not to Abraham, or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith ... for if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect." (Romans 4:13-14)
It is here that we must recognize that our salvation is of faith, that it might be by grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all) ... who against hope believed in hope that he might become the father of many nations according to that which was spoken -- "So shall thy seed be." (Romans 4:16-18)
Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
"And hope makes not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us, for when we were yet without strength, Christ died for the ungodly." (Romans 5:8)
In other words, God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then being now justified by His blood we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
"But after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7)
This is why we joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on HIM whom He hath sent." (John 6:29)
Jesus also said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you. Moses gave you NOT that bread from heaven but My Father gives you the true Bread from heaven. For the Bread of God is He which comes down from heaven and gives life unto the world." (John 6:22-23)
This is why Jesus repeatedly said, "I am THAT Bread of Life" in John 6:35, 48, 51, 58.
The One and Only Bread of Life. Not another as some profess but the One and Only Same God who created us in the beginning loving us enough to willingly become our Saviour (I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 42:13; Matthew 1:21-23; Titus 3:4-7) One Lord, One Faith One Baptism (Ephesians 4:5-6)
"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 ..." (John 1:10-11)
So, instead of making the Word of God of none effect through tradition"which ye have delivered and many such like things ye do," we need to do as Jesus said herein. That is, "Hearken unto Me every one of you, and understand!" (Luke 7:13-14)
Hearken unto Jesus for He alone shall save you from your sin. (Matthew 1:21-23)
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come into Him and will sup with Him and he with Me. To him that overcomes, will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." (Revelation 3:20-21)
But as for those who preach a message that replaces Jesus as the One and Only Bread of Life with a law that was never ever given to the Gentiles -- except as a "schoolmaster to bring us to Christ" -- they which say they are Jews and are not, but lie --Jesus said, He will make them of the synagogue of satan. (Revelation 3:8-9; Revelation 2:9)
But to us, who understand that we are sinners saved by only by His grace and mercy and love, Jesus is inviting us to the wedding feast. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Stand in the offering plate.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Jesus Said Unto Them, "Come and See" And Taste of His Goodness and Grace And Love And Mercy Forevermore - Part 1423
"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 -- tho them that believe on His Name." (John 1:10-12)
This same good news message of Jesus the Christ remains today. That is, the same God who made the world was in the world with the intention of redeeming His people. Further, the same "He that was in the world" delivered to us the very Wisdom of God in Word, spoken audibly in a tongue of understanding.
As we recognize from the scriptures, sometimes the Word was spoken in parables. Many times, at least initially, we found it difficult to understanding the meaning of parables. We would read a passage of scripture and wonder what Jesus meant. However, as was the situation with Jesus' disciples, when He saw them stumbling in comprehension, He would then expound upon the hidden truths. The hidden treasures to those who believed on Him.
Why? For it was and is our Father's good pleasure to give us the Kingdom of Heaven and all therein.
But the most important point here is that the Lord God did not (as in ages past) send messengers to deliver the message of salvation. Rather, He came Himself preaching to everyone who listened, sowing the Word of Life. As a consequence, those who take the time to digest and reflect upon His life words are immediately transformed in thought to a different level. We are lifted out of the miry clay of worldly things, and our hearts set on the heavenly. The spiritual that we were intended for from the very beginning,
Indeed, Jesus said it this way. If we hunger and thirst after righteousness, surely we shall be filled.
"Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)
All these things. In other words, Jesus did not pass by on the other side of the road. That was not the purpose of His mission. His purpose was to seek and to save those which were lost - indeed, you and I - us! Often, Jesus would say, "My Sheep hear My voice, and they follow Me."
And, as a consequence, the sheep that are His will not follow the voice of a hired person or institutions whereby religious formality was (or is) rampant. Jesus' salvation message was clear. He said, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
He did not send us around the SINAI mountain, going in endless circles, again and again. And He gave us His Word as the foundation of all wisdom and knowledge.
"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not." (John 1:4)
This is why JESUS said, "Come to Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I WILL GIVE YOU REST." And the result? We heard the good news gospel message of our Lord Jesus Christ and by faith in Him we believed. And, as instructed in Acts 2, on the day of Pentecost, we repented and were water baptized in His Name -- the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and then impacted with power - an invisible tangible substance - and we tasted so to speak the power of the Word of God. We entered into a New World whilst we were and are still in this world.
The Kingdom of God now abiding within us. For surely the words and wisdom that He spoke was the language of the Kingdom of God. The Words spoken to us were not words of condemnation but rather words urging us to reach out in faith to Him. In so doing, we, by the Grace of God become reconciled to Him alone!
And thus, we become members of the body of the Christ named JESUS, who on our behalf sacrificed His Life forever as a Son so that we, from henceforth, can be called the sons and daughters of God. There is only One body and there is only One Spirit. Peace be upon the redeemed Israel of God who are adopted into the family of God and those who obediently respond positively to His call.
This is why the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us -- so that we could behold His glory, full of grace and truth.
"Search the scriptures ..." Jesus said. And then stand in the offering plate, believing His Word to be the only truth that sanctifies, cleansing us from all sin and guilt. Why? Because Jesus is the ONLY foundation for all that is righteous and just, giving life and joy beyond measure. Our cups bubbling over with His love because we in our hearts believed that Jesus is He! (John 8:21-29)
"If ye continue in My Word," said Jesus, "then are ye My disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31)
This same good news message of Jesus the Christ remains today. That is, the same God who made the world was in the world with the intention of redeeming His people. Further, the same "He that was in the world" delivered to us the very Wisdom of God in Word, spoken audibly in a tongue of understanding.
As we recognize from the scriptures, sometimes the Word was spoken in parables. Many times, at least initially, we found it difficult to understanding the meaning of parables. We would read a passage of scripture and wonder what Jesus meant. However, as was the situation with Jesus' disciples, when He saw them stumbling in comprehension, He would then expound upon the hidden truths. The hidden treasures to those who believed on Him.
Why? For it was and is our Father's good pleasure to give us the Kingdom of Heaven and all therein.
But the most important point here is that the Lord God did not (as in ages past) send messengers to deliver the message of salvation. Rather, He came Himself preaching to everyone who listened, sowing the Word of Life. As a consequence, those who take the time to digest and reflect upon His life words are immediately transformed in thought to a different level. We are lifted out of the miry clay of worldly things, and our hearts set on the heavenly. The spiritual that we were intended for from the very beginning,
Indeed, Jesus said it this way. If we hunger and thirst after righteousness, surely we shall be filled.
"Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)
All these things. In other words, Jesus did not pass by on the other side of the road. That was not the purpose of His mission. His purpose was to seek and to save those which were lost - indeed, you and I - us! Often, Jesus would say, "My Sheep hear My voice, and they follow Me."
And, as a consequence, the sheep that are His will not follow the voice of a hired person or institutions whereby religious formality was (or is) rampant. Jesus' salvation message was clear. He said, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
He did not send us around the SINAI mountain, going in endless circles, again and again. And He gave us His Word as the foundation of all wisdom and knowledge.
"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not." (John 1:4)
This is why JESUS said, "Come to Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I WILL GIVE YOU REST." And the result? We heard the good news gospel message of our Lord Jesus Christ and by faith in Him we believed. And, as instructed in Acts 2, on the day of Pentecost, we repented and were water baptized in His Name -- the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and then impacted with power - an invisible tangible substance - and we tasted so to speak the power of the Word of God. We entered into a New World whilst we were and are still in this world.
The Kingdom of God now abiding within us. For surely the words and wisdom that He spoke was the language of the Kingdom of God. The Words spoken to us were not words of condemnation but rather words urging us to reach out in faith to Him. In so doing, we, by the Grace of God become reconciled to Him alone!
And thus, we become members of the body of the Christ named JESUS, who on our behalf sacrificed His Life forever as a Son so that we, from henceforth, can be called the sons and daughters of God. There is only One body and there is only One Spirit. Peace be upon the redeemed Israel of God who are adopted into the family of God and those who obediently respond positively to His call.
This is why the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us -- so that we could behold His glory, full of grace and truth.
"Search the scriptures ..." Jesus said. And then stand in the offering plate, believing His Word to be the only truth that sanctifies, cleansing us from all sin and guilt. Why? Because Jesus is the ONLY foundation for all that is righteous and just, giving life and joy beyond measure. Our cups bubbling over with His love because we in our hearts believed that Jesus is He! (John 8:21-29)
"If ye continue in My Word," said Jesus, "then are ye My disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31)
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