For The Kingdom Of God Is Not In Word, But In Power; He Restores Our Souls, Wherein He Leads Us Into Paths Of Righteousness For His Name’s Sake.-- Part 1961

Jesus asked the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection, "Do ye not therefore err, because ye have known not the scriptures, neither the power of God?" (Mark 12:24-30)

"And such were some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (I Corinthians 6:11)

When we begin our life journey on this earth, we are all born into sin. As the scriptures state, we have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But the good news is this. When we ask Jesus to be both our Lord and Saviour, our hearts begin to change, desiring His goodness and grace over the things of this world. 

"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;!" (Romans 3:24-25)

Indeed, He is precious! Because of His love and kindness for us, God our Saviour toward man appeared. And, as a consequence of His willingness to shed His precious blood on a cross for you and I, we can be set free from all the entanglements of this world. Therefore, as believers in Jesus by faith, no longer are we servants of corruption because He has cleansed us from all unrighteousness. Not because of what we can do, or have done, but because the Lord of glory, the dayspring from on high loved us so much as His beloved, that He would visit His people.

It is for this reason we gladly stand fast in the liberty wherewith is Christ. And consequently, the God of hope fills us with all joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Romans 15:13)

Thus, all the promises of God in Christ then being yea and amen, unto the glory of God by us.

As apostle Paul said, "Now He which stablishes us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, [is] God; who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. Moreover, I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand." (II Corinthians 1:20-24)

But there is even more joy in serving the Lord Jesus whose promises are true.  This is why those who believe in Jesus by faith can confidently move forward knowing that when we are in  Christ, we are a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

"And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation." (Ii Corinthians 1:20-24)

The same Word which was with God and was God that was made flesh and dwelt among us so that we could behold His glory. (John 1:1-18) Emmanuel, being interpreted -- God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23) The dayspring from on high hath visited His people. (Luke 1:78) Certainly, Simeon recognized Jesus as the Lord's Christ. (Luke 2:26) Mary the mother of Jesus recognized Him to be God her Saviour. (Luke 1:46-47) Peter (standing with the eleven on the day of Pentecost) told the people that this same Jesus whom ye have crucified is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) And the apostles on the day of Pentecost told those who gladly received the Word in their hearts that this same Jesus whom they [we] had/have crucified is both Lord and Christ. (II Peter 3:14-18)

Jesus Himself said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me!" (John 14:6-12)

Why do we need a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus? Because the same God who made the world in the very beginning was in the world and although the world did not recognize Jesus for who He was [as the scripture states -- the world knew Him not] our hearts need to desire more of Him.

Our hearts need to respond to this same He [God Himself] who came unto His own and His own received Him not. (John 1:1-18) He is the Great I Am. God Almighty manifest in the flesh as Christ Jesus. (I Timothy 3:16) The fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in Him. (Colossians 2:9) To wit, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. (II Corinthians 5:19) The son of man being the Lord from heaven. (Matthew 12:8; Psalm 24:10; Matthew 25:31-46) The same Lord who was prophesied to come forth by Isaiah came to earth as a mighty man. (Isaiah 42:13; II John 1:9; Acts 20:28; II Corinthians 5:19; Revelation 1:8; John 1:1-18)

"For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6) 

This is why we "take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28)

Because without His blood on the doorposts of our heart, and having cleared our conscience toward God through water baptism in His Name -- the precious Name of the Lord Jesus, we miss our higher calling wherein He willingly restores our souls. As the scriptures state, "therefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But instead grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. For it is to Him that the glory be, both now and for ever. Amen.

Stand in the offering plate.