"Until the day in which [Jesus] was taken up, after that He [Jesus] 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 1:1-3)
Before this, Jesus having been assembled together with the disciples, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, "which" saith He, "ye have heard of Me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." (Acts 1:5)
At this time, as Jesus said, the disciples of Him would receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto "Me" -- Jesus -- both in Jerusalem and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:6-8)
[Note that in order for the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost to come, Jesus had to go away ... Jesus said to His disciples, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you." (John 16:7)]
When Jesus had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. A cloud. The same cloud that the Israelites followed through the Red Sea which was Christ.
" .... 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)
The same cloud that Peter and James and John experienced when Jesus was transfigured before them, in which these were instructed to hear Jesus only. In that example, there appeared Elias with Moses talking with Jesus, and Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses and one for Elias." What happens? There was a cloud that overshadowed them, but when they looked round about, they saw no man any more save Jesus only with themselves.
And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son: hear Him" (Mark 9:7)
"While He thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son: hear Him." (Luke 9:34-35)
In other words, we are to hear the voice of Jesus -- who was and is both Lord and Christ. We are to gaze upon Jesus who is the One and Only God who became our Saviour (I Timothy 3:16; Titus 3:4-7) The same Lord God who came forth as a mighty man. (Isaiah 42:13; Isaiah 9:6) The same God whose fullness of the Godhead indwelt the bodily Jesus. (Colossians 2:9) God in Christ personally delivering His plan of salvation to you and I -- robed in sin-prone flesh but yet without sin.
"He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own but His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11) The Word that was with God and WAS God made flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1-18; Matthew 1:21-23; Revelation 1:8, 11)
The only Name whereby we must be saved in this current dispensation of grace -- this last day -- the Name of the Lord JESUS. (Acts 4:12)
But sadly, there are those who would corrupt the gospel causing division about the foundation of the body of Christ church, and the apostolic doctrine which we have been instructed to continue steadfastly in. That is, "another cloud" that includes false prophets and false teachers who bring in damnable heresies -- even denying the Lord that bought them.
Instead of "wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us ...," we willingly subscribe to the teachings that is "another gospel" within the religious communities, as if these man-made organizations which adhere to the traditions of men were in one accord, or without division. (Hebrews 12:1; I Corinthians 1:13-17) And we are warned of these, who in a cloud also do not hear the voice of Jesus in their hearts.
"But there [were/are] false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction, and many shall follow "their" pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of ... having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls; an heart they have exercised with covetous practices: cursed children: which have forsaken the right way and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, but was rebuked for his iniquity -- the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbade the madness of the prophet ..."
"These are wells without water; clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever." (II Peter 2:17)
While these false preachers and teachers promise believers liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning -- for it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it] to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. (II Peter 2:1-22)
But not so with Jesus. As we see on the day of Pentecost, the disciples of Jesus were in one accord, in one place, in the upper room. And when these were asked, "What must I do to be saved?" Peter (standing with the eleven) said, "Repent, and be baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:36-47)
The pivotal point of salvation for one and all. And it is this gospel that marked the beginning of the new testament church, wherein Jesus is the Head. (Acts 1:19) This same Jesus whom we/ye have crucified being both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)
Stand fast in the offering plate wherein is Christ.
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