The Lord God Is My Strength; Our Comforter; Our Hope And Joy And Peace - Part 2432

"And the Lord appeared unto [Abraham] in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; and he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by Him: and when he saw [them], he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, and said, "My Lord, if now I have found favour in Thy sight, pass not away, I pray Thee, from Thy servant: let a little water, I pray You, be fetched, and wash Your feet, and rest Y/yourselves under the tree: and I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are Ye come to Your servant." And they said, "So do, as thou hast said." (Genesis 18:1-5)

"The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; the people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:15-17)

Note the latter scripture is a prophecy speaking forward to the new testament side. Also note that Jesus preached the one and same message of John the baptizer. That is, "Repent; for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand." (Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:14-15) Those who were watching for the Messiah, the Christ, the Dayspring from on high that would visit His people -- saw in Jesus that He was the Light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel." (Luke 2:26-32) The Lord's Christ (Isaiah 52:10; Isaiah 9:6; Luke 2:26)

Indeed, Jesus told the Jews that their father Abraham rejoiced to see My day; and he saw it and was glad. (John 8:56; Matthew 13:17) As stated in Hebrews, these giants of faith having died in the faith having not received the promises still -- were persuaded of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." (Hebrews 11:13) In other words, they did not seek a worldly country but a better country, that is, a heavenly wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God -- for He hath prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:13-16)

Also important to note is that when Jesus ascended, He sat down, according to the scriptures. Why did Jesus sit down? The reason is simple.  He sat down indicating that the work of man’s redemption was now complete. As Jesus said on the cross, after taking unto Himself the sins of the world, He said, “It is finished.” This one statement, with so much meaning, underscored that the issued commission to His chosen apostles was complete. 

From that point forward, the apostles were to be His witnesses unto the uttermost parts of the earth. (Acts 1:2-3) So it remains, even today.  The Bible retains the Word of God as stated, continuing to bring the message of salvation to all ages. Most importantly, the written WORD remains to be the sole authority on any misunderstandings of the scriptures that might emerge.

This same principle applies today. The apostles exhorted the people to repent and be baptized into the name of Jesus for the remission of their sin, and as a consequence, 3,000 persons responded to the gospel message. The very same number of people were baptized the same day, proving that the Lord added to His body of Christ church daily. (Acts 2:36-41) 

But while this all happened in Jerusalem in 300- 400 AD, the so called church fathers decided to rearrange the Word written and confirmed by God. Instead of baptism in the precious, holy Name of Jesus -- the Name proclaimed by the angel of the Lord, the only name whereby we must be saved, the name above every other name -- the so-called church fathers rearranged and replaced the water baptism message of the early church with a rewritten Matthew 28;19. (Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9; Matthew 1:21-23; Luke 1:35)

Indeed, the interpretation, or should we say, misinterpretation emanated from Rome according to the cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (who was the self-declared pope). Thankfully, the Word of God to His people does not emanate from man-made religious systems, or a culture that refuses to be righteous and upright in Him. (Habakkuk 2:4) 

"It shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills. All nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. That He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the WORD OF THE LORD FROM JERUSALEM." (Isaiah 2:2-3)

Similarly, Micah chapter 4:1-2 states that in the last days it shall come to pass that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains. It also shall be exalted above the hills and shall flow unto it. Many nations shall come, and say to the people, come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord. To the house of the God of Jacob and He will teach us of His ways. We will walk in His paths for the law shall go forth of Zion. AND THE WORD OF THE LORD FROM JERUSALEM.

In the upper room, the followers of Jesus tarried until the power from on high had come -- as the risen Jesus said, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you ..." (Acts 1:7-8; Mark 16:15) 

Thus, what hinders you from being water baptized into the authorized name of Jesus - in the same way that was preached initially at Jerusalem? Let God be true, saith the scriptures. He is the sole commander in chief of our salvation. The same Lord who pitched the tent. Whatever He tells you to do, we are to do. In so doing, the baptismal watery grave into Jesus' death will become within you a well of living water. It is your call. Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 

May the blessings of our Great God and our only Saviour the Lord Jesus rest upon you always. 

Stand in the offering plate.