As Poor, Yet Making Many People Rich; As Having Nothing And Yet Possessing All Things; Our Heart Is Enlarged - Part 1988

"For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us ..." (I Corinthians 5:7)

It is in this context that we are to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. That we put on the whole armour of God so that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high place ..." (Ephesians 6:10-12)

Moreover, the apostles instruct those who believe -- as workers together with Him -- not to receive the grace of God in vain. (II Corinthians 6:1) Why? 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 thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 3:9-11)

The apostolic doctrine was established on the day of Pentecost. Therein, Peter standing with the eleven told the people that this same Jesus whom ye have crucified is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) How could this be true? Because in Luke 24, the risen Jesus (but not yet taken up) opened to the disciples the understanding of the scriptures.

Jesus said, "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning Me." (Luke 24:44) He did not stop there. Jesus said unto them, "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 the 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 endued with power from on high." (Luke 24:46-49)

And it came to pass that while He blessed them, He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And from that point forward, the disciples worshipped Him -- JESUS -- and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Were they blessing another God? Most certainly not, because these knew that this same Jesus whom they worshipped was God their Saviour.

And this is the message that went forward when Peter standing with the apostles said, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38)

As we also know, this is the same message that was repeated throughout the New Testament, for every single example of water baptism in the scriptures is performed in the precious Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And when we (like the disciples in Luke 24) have our understanding of the scriptures opened to us -- in our hearts -- we will also desire to work together beseeching one another that we received not the grace of God in vain.

"Giving no offence in any thing that the ministry be not blamed, but in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings, by pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the Word of truth, by the power of God and by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left -- our hearts enlarged unto one another, caring and supporting and loving one another into the Kingdom of God.

In other words, we who have entered into the body of Christ church, wherein Jesus is both Lord and Christ, shall be known by our love for one another. Stand firm in the offering plate.