This is our starting point for salvation -- repenting of our sins, and believing that Jesus is the only Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that He is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36; John 14:6-12) We should also recognize that we are saved by grace -- after the love and kindness of God our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7; I Timothy 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9) And then, in answer of a good conscience toward God, we willingly are water baptized in the precious Name of the Lord Jesus Christ so that we too can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost -- the Comforter -- the Spirit of Jesus the Christ dwelling within our hearts. (Acts 2:38; I Peter 3:21-22; Romans 6:3-4; Acts 10:44-48)
But our journey of faith should not stop here. We should delve into the new testament scriptures so that we can truly understand the breadth and depth of love God had for His beloved, that He would clothe Himself in sin-prone flesh (but without sin), so that we might be saved from condemnation. That we would understand how He decided even before the foundation of the world to be the mediator of the new testament, shedding His holy blood on the cross for you and I. And as we begin to understand the torture and suffering that He bore on the cross for us, our hearts should be moved with tears -- because there is no greater love, as Jesus declared, than laying down one's life for His enemies.
And enemies we were. "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) Nevertheless, the Lord Jesus knows our hearts, and even so, continues to call us unto Him so that He can fill us with His rest -- "to learn of Me." (Matthew 11:29) Even today, as the world rages in turmoil, and the devil runs to and fro to destroy who he can, the call of the Lord Jesus speaks volumes in our hearts, as He continually invites us to come to the greatest wedding feast ever known to mankind.
"Come!" And let him that heareth say, "Come!" And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely!" (Revelation 22:17)
But too often, we witness opposition to Jesus as King of kings from the "systems" of this day. These do not want another King to rule in their hearts, and therefore oppose any potential displacement that would upset their man-made thrones.
We see this in the scriptures -- from the scribes and the Pharisees, and the political institutions of that day. In one example, the Pharisees saw Jesus' disciples plucking and eating the ears of corn, because they were hungry, and said unto Jesus, "Behold, Thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day." (Matthew 12:1-2)
What did Jesus say? "Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungry, and they that were with him; how he entered into the house of God and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? Or have ye not read the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profaned the sabbath, and are blameless?
But I [Jesus] say unto you -- that in this place is ONE greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this means, "I will have mercy and not sacrifice" ye would not have condemned the guiltless -- for the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. " (Matthew 12:1-8; Luke 6:1-5; Deuteronomy 23:25; I Samuel 21:6; Leviticus 24:5; Exodus 29:32; Numbers 28:9; Hosea 6:6)
Did you hear what Jesus was saying herein? In this place is ONE greater and yet, the Pharisees (considered to be highly studied in the scriptures, and knowing of all things) did not know Him. Moreover, these should have known from Isaiah the prophet's writings the scripture -- "Thus saith the Lord, "The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool: where is the house that ye build unto Me? and where is the place of My rest? For all those [things] hath Mine hand made, and all those [things] have been," saith the Lord: "but to this [man] will I look, [even to him that is] poor and of a contrite spirit and trembles at My Word." (Isaiah 66:1-2; Hosea 6:6)
You see, "as the earth brings forth her bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations." (Isaiah 61:11)
To this end, the Gentiles (you and I who are not Jews) have been given an opportunity to see "Thy righteousness; and all the kings Thy glory: and that Thou shalt be called by a NEW NAME" -- which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of Thy God.... and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over Thee!" (Isaiah 62:2-3, 5)
What is His Name in this current dispensation? JESUS -- Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. No other name. (Acts 4:12) The Name above every other name. (Philippians 2:9)
But sadly, the Pharisees did not know Jesus as God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) These did not understand that the One who stood before them was the promised Christ. Or that "all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily" in Christ Jesus. (Colossians 2:9) The Great I AM of the Old Testament standing before them -- their prophesied Messiah.
And thus, instead of seeking Him that maketh the seven stars, and turns the shadow of death into the morning, and makes the day dark with night, He that calls for the waters of the sea; and pours them out upon the face of the earth -- the Lord is His Name, these chose to criticize Jesus' disciples, that they might accuse Jesus. As we read on, the Pharisees continued their accusations, and held a council against Him, how they might destroy Him.
Nevertheless, Jesus charged the great multitudes who followed Him, healing them all, that they should not make Him known so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias [Isaiah] the prophet, saying, "Behold My servant, whom I have chosen: My beloved, in whom My soul is well pleased; I will put My Spirit upon Him and He shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, till He send forth judgment unto victory. And IN HIS NAME SHALL THE GENTILES TRUST!" (Matthew 12:14-21; Luke 11:14-15; Matthew 9:27, 34; Isaiah 42:1-4; Isaiah 49:3)
As the angel proclaimed, this same Lord shall be called JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23; Luke 1:35)
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. (Ephesians 4:5-6)
Therefore, in studying the scriptures, as doth a workman unto God so that we are able to rightly divide the Word of truth, remember that there remain those learned from institutions that will oppose the JESUS in us, and the understandings that He gives to those who love Him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. Don't be dismayed!
Instead, like the great multitudes who He healed, and the disciples who understood that He -- Jesus had the words of life, take up your cross and follow Jesus -- and "learn of Me!"
Stand in the offering plate.
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