And Gave Himself For It, That He Might Sanctify And Cleanse It With The Washing of Water By The Word - Part 2076

"Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation!" (Isaiah 12:3)

As the scripture saith, "He hath made the earth by His power, He hath established the world by His wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by His understanding!" (Jeremiah 10:12; Jeremiah 51:15) In another place, "He was in the world and the world made by Him but the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11) And as Isaiah wrote, "it shall be said in that day, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation." (Isaiah 25:9)

Moreover, in that day we will know "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 our God." (Isaiah 52:10) That appointed time when the Lord Himself shall come forth as a mighty man to redeem His people from their sins. (Isaiah 42:13)

His Name called JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins ... Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us!" (Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; I Timothy 3:16) Jesus -- the only Name whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) Jesus -- the Name above all names. (Philippians 2:9) 

It is for this reason that "after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared ..." (Titus 3:4-7)

For those who may not know, Isaiah was one of the prophets from the old covenant side, who diligently looked forward to the appointed time when God would robe Himself in sin-prone flesh (yet perfect and without sin) to become our Saviour -- speaking in advance of the promised Christ -- the prophesied Messiah. That day when the Lord God would say, "This day have I begotten Thee!" (Psalm 2:7; Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5) 

" ... the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing." (Hebrews 9:8) 

Thus, the timing of the Lord coming forth as a mighty man was not by chance. This is confirmed in the testimony of Simeon -- when he saw Jesus in the temple -- the Lord's Christ, and said,  "For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people. A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel." (Luke 2:25-35)  

Likewise Zacharias, full of the Holy Ghost said, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for He hath visited and redeemed His people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets which have been since the world began: that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all that hate us ... the dayspring from on high hath visited His people." (Luke 1:67-78) 

The greatest love story ever told -- truly intentional. That He knew from the very beginning that He Himself would have to prepare for Himself a body (when there was no one in the world who was worthy) so that we might have abundant life in Him. Everlasting life because He paid the ultimate price for you and I on the cross -- when He shed His precious holy blood.

" ... who being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands -- that is to say, not of this building, neither by the blood of goats and calves but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." (Hebrews 9:11-12)

Thus, "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)

"In Him dwelleth the fullness of the Godhead bodily." (Colossians 2:9) 

Within the scriptures, there are so many markers pointing us toward the I AM -- the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (John 14:6) The One who said, "Before Abraham was, I AM." (John 8:58) This same Jesus who told His disciples that if ye have seen Me, ye have seen the Father. (John 14:6-12) And that "I and My Father are One!" (John 10:30) 

The first man, earthy, and the second, the Lord from Heaven. (I Corinthians 15:47)  

"Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture." (Psalm 100:3)

"The Lord [is] my Rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." (Psalm 18:2)

"For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods." (Psalm 95:3)

" ... by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." (Hebrews 9:11-12)

This is the mystery of godliness, that God was manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) That after Jesus was taken up, Jesus THROUGH the Holy Ghost would give commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen. (Acts 1:2-3) Holy is His Name, and His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation.

But not everyone will take hold of His goodness and grace, recognizing that He fills the hungry with good things, and hath holpen His servant Israel in remembrance of His mercy. This may explain why Apostle Paul said to the saints in Corinth, "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory." (I Corinthians 2:7) 

And likewise Paul again to the churches in Ephesus, "... according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love!" (Ephesians 1:4) 

" ... who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." (II Timothy 1:9) 

The "hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began!" (Titus 1:2) 

It is for this reason, and manifold much more, that we who believe in Him by faith can be glad for His free gift of salvation in Jesus -- who now risen (resurrected) can be worshipped as the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. (Revelation 1:8) And, as well, that we can rejoice in every moment of ever day, waiting upon the Lord for our day-to-day sustenance  and direction, wherein our souls are now right (again!) with our Creator.

Certainly, Peter knew in whom he believed, when He told the first 3,000 souls saved on the New Testament side -- that this same Jesus whom ye have crucified is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) And so should we too, for we have not only the benefit of His Word but the Holy Ghost dwelling within -- His Spirit -- leading and guiding us into all truth. 

It is for this reason that we bless the Lord before all the congregation, and beyond ... because He gave Himself so that He might sanctify and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

Thus, like the psalmist David, let's join our hearts together and sing, "Blessed be Thou, O Lord God of Israel, our Father forever and ever. Thine O Lord is the greatness and the power, and the glory and the victory, and the Majesty for all that is in the heaven and the earth is Thine -- Thine is the Kingdom O Lord, and Thou art exalted as Head above all!" (I Chronicles 29:10-11)

Yes, O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusts in Thee. 

Indeed, "happy [is] that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy [is that] people, whose God is the Lord." (Psalm 144:15)

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. One God and Father of all! (Ephesians 4:5-6) 

Stand in the offering plate.