Let Us Be Glad And Rejoice In The King of kings And Lord of lords - Part 2761

"I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh and as a consequence your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. Similarly, your old men shall dream dreams and upon My servants and upon My handmaidens, I will pour out of My Spirit."

So the question is this. Have you received the Holy Ghost since you exercised your faith towards the name of the Lord JESUS? If you have not received the promised holy Spirit according to the scriptures, then why not?

Certainly, there is only One Lord! There is only one faith! There is only one baptism. This is the short form confession of the faith that the scriptures render. In this context then, we ought to examine ourselves to see whether we are earnestly contending for this confession of faith. This confession of our faith that was once, and only once delivered from JESUS to us by His holy Spirit. (Acts 2:36-41; Hebrews 9:8, 14-18)

The ministry of His Spirit declares that if any man has not the Spirit of JESUS the Christ then that person has not as yet accepted redemption. Nor has he or she obeyed the opening tongue spoken ministry of the Holy Ghost as recorded on the day of Pentecost. 

Because of this, Paul in Galatians declared, "Who has bewitched you that you not obey the truth?" Continuing, he summarized by adding -- evidently you started out in looking and believing in JESUS. only. Indeed, when you first experienced His love, you were doing so well hungering for more of His mercy and grace with singleness of heart. So, what happened?

Well, in some cases you may have met a religious person who had church-ianity but had never experienced the free redemption that the real Jesus offers, and invites us into. What they did not tell you is that the Old Covenant is not the New Testament. Neither is the New Testament an addendum to the Old Covenant. The Old Testament is a covenant of works (the law- physical) while the New Testament is intended to be a testament of love and grace (circumcision of the heart) -- neither of which are dependant on you.

God in the New Testament redeems to Himself a people who previously were not a people at all. The New Testament was necessary because God walked away from the former covenant when those He had covenanted with had walked out from the Old Covenant demands. But this New Covenant is a Covenant between God who is Spirit and God Himself as a Son. This New Covenant was a ‘God In Christ Covenant.'  Most of all, it involved the death of the testator - JESUS.

"To wit, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself!" (II Corinthians 5:17-19) 

We as believers then are the benefactors of all contained in that everlasting covenant of God in Christ. We as believers do not have a covenant. Rather, we are the recipients of all that JESUS was heir of and to. All of Jesus the Christ inheritance has been bequeathed to us as His last will and testament. One does not work for an inheritance. No, an inheritance is considered a gift!

Is it any wonder that the Apostle Paul said to the Galatians, "My labour that I have bestowed upon you - was it all in vain?" You started out well, but now you are endeavouring to work for salvation. Let me remind you says Paul that Christ died for all of our sins. Christ died for yesterday's sin, today's sin and even tomorrow’s sin. And He paid the ultimate price -- once and for all.

This is why Jesus was raised from the grave -- for our justification! When Jesus ascended to Heaven, Jesus sat down. So why are you still working for your salvation? Admittedly, you may work because you have salvation, but we do NOT work to OBTAIN salvation. Salvation is the free gift Of God!

Therefore, start afresh. Read Acts 2 and do as the holy Spirit of the Lord commands. As for me and my house, we will - by God’s grace sand mercy serve none other than the God who loved us so much that He would willingly give Himself for us. (Acts 20:28) 

Peace be on the ISRAEL of God. Stand in the offering plate.

Quench Not The Spirit; For Faithful Is He That Calls You, Who Also Will Do; To Them Called According To His Purpose - Part 2760

"In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy -- ah the Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory." (Ephesians 1:13-14)

"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30)

"Quench not the Spirit!" (I Thessalonians 5:19; I Corinthians 14:30)

The question herein is this --what does it mean to be sealed with that holy Spirit of promise?  

Breaking it down, the word 'sealed' is considered a form of preserving that can only be broken or corrupted through tampering. Therefore, sealed means that nothing can penetrate (from the outside in) . Sealed is a form of authentication that cannot be denied. The Mirriam-Webster dictionary further elaborates by adding that sealed is "an impression, device, or mark given the effect of a common-law seal by statute law or by American local custom recognized by judicial decision." 

Scripturally, to be sealed by His holy Spirit is a confirmation that we now belong to the Lord God; that He has pledged that we are His, and thus, saved to the last day. In essence then, the Holy Ghost becomes our seal. Therefore, when we repent (acknowledging that this same Jesus whom we have crucified is both Lord and Christ) and are water baptized in His precious, holy name -- the hame of Jesus (the answer of a good conscience toward God -- I Peter 3:21; Acts 2:36-41), He clothes us in His garment of righteousness. Thus, in a different way, sealing could be summarized as the Lord finishing the transaction. (Jeremiah 32:9-10; John 17:4; Acts 2:36-41; Acts 19:1-5)

Now members of the body of Christ church, the Lord Jesus as Head of the Church and the One and Only Blessed Potentate has in sealing us established His ownership of our souls. (Jeremiah 32:11-12; II Tim. 2:19) Further, we are now secure in Him. (Esther 8:8; Daniel 6:17; Ephesians. 4:30; I Timothy 6:16) We are His precious jewels, the apple of His eye.

Moreover, to be sealed by the Holy Ghost is to now be fully possessed by the Lord Jesus Christ, having surrendered our everything to Him, allowing hIm to lead and guide us into all truth, in holiness and righteousness. Everything including all of our hearts; all of our souls; all of our minds; and all of our strength. And He that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:27)

"According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (II Peter 1:3-4) 

In this context, not only has our sinful nature been displaced (though our sins be as scarlet, they will be as white as snow), but in affixing His seal upon us the Lord has given us a sound mind; a born anew perspective; a charitable heart; and an understanding, through the knowledge of Him that has called us, that we have escaped the corruption that is in the world. 

But Jesus went further when He asked us to “take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

You see, we have been called according to His purpose, and He who has called us He is also faithful. It is in this context that the early church waited for the promise of the Father, which Jesus said, "Ye have heard of Me. For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." (Acts 1:4-5) 

When Jesus walked on this earth, He continually instructed us to "labour not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed." (John 6:27)

And now, through the blood of Jesus on the cross, and His ushering in of the new testament, wherein He gave us His last will and testament, we can know too that we are sealed in Him. That nothing can penetrate His garment of righteousness that He has clothed us in. 

"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." (II Corinthians 1:21-23) Christ - the power of God and the wisdom of God.  (I Corinthians 1:23-24)

It is for this reason that we diligently follow the Lord God who willingly became our Saviour, doing everything in both word and deed in His name -- the precious Name of Jesus. And "neglect not the gift that is in thee; which was given thee by prophecy with the laying on of hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine; continue in them, for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." (I Timothy 4:14-17; Romans 11:14; Titus 2:7) )

Stand in the offering plate. 

What Must I Do To Be Saved? - Part 2759

"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days." (Acts 10:44-48; Acts 2:36-41)

On the day of Pentecost, we see Peter (standing with the eleven apostles in one accord) responding to a question -- "What must I do to be saved?" The answer? REPENT, BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS, RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST. Simple and straightforward -- yes? Particularly since 3,000 people understood the message and were immediately baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ! (Acts 2:36-47)

 
But then come along those who rewrite scriptures under the premise that the Word of God is now easier to read. (If these were honest, they would tell you it is because they can earn lots of royalties without copyright infringement because they changed the meaning(s), or deleted verses, or added words to the text, etc. ... but I digress).

Still, as a consequence of changed text, clarity in the Word of God has now been replaced with [apparent] confusion. I say "apparent" because God is not the Author of confusion, and those who take the time to study His Word do find the one and only absolute in doctrine. But for those who don't know where to look, here are some additional examples of water baptism from the New Testament. I am using the Authorized King James version.

 
1. "And it came to pass that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus, and finding certain disciples, he said unto them, "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" And they said unto him, "We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost." And he said unto them, "Unto what then were ye baptized?" And they said, "Unto John's baptism." Then said Paul, "John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after Him, that is, on Christ Jesus." When they heard this, THEY WERE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS. And when Paul had laid His hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them, and they spake with tongues and prophesied." (Acts 19:1-6)

2. "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, who -- when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost." [Why was this important?] "FOR AS YET, HE [THE HOLY GHOST] WAS FALLEN UPON NONE OF THEM; ONLY THEY WERE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS. Then laid they hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost." (Acts 8:14-17)

3. While Peter yet spake these words -- [that through His name whosoever believes in Him shall receive remission of sins] the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, "Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" AND HE COMMANDED THEM TO BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days." (Acts 10:43-48)

Three scriptural examples include a call to repentance and then water baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus, and receipt of the gift of the Holy Ghost -- all part and parcel to salvation. Not a different message depending on the circumstance (as some surmise) but one and the same good news gospel message to one and all.

Knowing too that water baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward God. (I Peter 3:21)

  
Stand in the offering plate.