Righteousness He Has So Fulfilled - Part 789

"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and [those believers in Jesus] which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." (Revelation 20:4) 

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.

And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, "I know him" and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His Word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.

He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the Word which ye have heard from the beginning.

Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in Him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in Him.

But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him [that is] from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him [that is] from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. [Therefore,] love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would [no doubt] have continued with us: but [they went out], that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [(but) he that acknowledges the Son hath the Father also]. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that He hath promised us, [even] eternal life.

These [things] have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.

And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him. (I John 2:1-29)

Jesus is His Name - Part 788

Throughout the scriptures, we are continually directed to His name. This is a critical point in understanding the scriptures. It is also necessary to know who God is so that we can be faithful to Him in our own personal faith journey. 

Today, however, many churches are moving away from "His name" -- a move that should concern ALL believers in Jesus Christ and the good news gospel message of His Kingdom. These churches are replacing the Godhead -- as specified in the Bible -- with a false doctrine promoting the trinity or a tri-une God. These same religious organizations know that God is One but refuse to accept that this same God became our Saviour.

In addressing the churches in the end times, John writes in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, "I know thy works; behold, I have set thee an open door and no man can shut it, for thou hast a little strength, and has kept my Word, and hast not denied My name." (Revelation 3:7) This is the same "He [that] hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19:16) The same He who is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. The same Word that was with God and was God that later became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1-18)

Jesus -- the ONLY name under heaven whereby we must be saved. Jesus -- the ONLY mediator between God and man. 

The Bible states: "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Colossians 3:15-16)

The scriptures continue, stating: "Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to the Father by Him." (Colossians 3:17) 

Not just using Jesus' name for healing, or in worship services, but in water baptism too according to Acts 2:38-42. What does Peter say here, when asked by the first 3,000 to be saved -- what must we do?

Peter (standing with the eleven) said, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." 

The apostles knew the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit when they acted upon Jesus' instructions in Matthew 28:19. This is why EVERY person baptized in the book of Acts was baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. We need to do the same.

Read the written Word for yourself and remember, "If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (II Chronicles 7:14)

Stand in the offering plate.

Because He Hath Known My Name - Part 787

"Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore, will I deliver him. I will set him on high, because He hath known My name." (Psalms 91:14)

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust." 

Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust. His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day, nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him. I will set him on high, because he hath known My name. He shall call upon Me and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation. (Psalms 91:1-16)

Hear the Word of the Lord Today - Part 786

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." (Hosea 4:6) What knowledge? The knowledge and revelation of Jesus Christ. How do we know this? Because in the book Revelation (that focuses specifically on the end times), we read of churches that had in the past laboured for "My name's sake" but in the end fainted, not keeping His Word, and moreover, denying "My name." (Revelation 3:8) 

What name? The name of Jesus -- the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last! The same Jesus that the apostles stated, "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) The same Jesus who invites us to believe in Him. 

"Behold I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come into him and will sup with him and he with Me. To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." Then He said, "he that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Revelation 3:20-22)

Nowadays, it is not unusual to hear people talking about the latter days. The prophecies in the Bible that refer to the end times tells us of the earthly things that will transpire -- famines and pestilences, and earthquakes in diverse places. (Matthew 24:4-51) But therein, Jesus also said that many false prophets would rise and deceive many who believe ... "and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." (Matthew 24:12)

In this same chapter, we are forewarned that "when ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet stand in the holy place" the great tribulation will begin -- "such as was not [seen] since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." (Matthew 24:21) These end times are so serious that Jesus said, "Except those days should be shortened, there should be no flesh saved." 

But this end time does not emerge without due notice. Hosea warned of this day when he wrote: "The Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land." (Hosea 4:1) This is why Hosea concluded: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. [And] because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me, seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God." (Hosea 4:6)

As a consequence of rejecting the Lord and Saviour, Hosea wrote that the people "shall eat and not have enough; they shall commit whoredom and shall not increase because they have left off to take heed to the Lord. Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart. My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God. They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery ... the wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices." (Hosea 4:10-19)

Why does this happen? Because when the Lord desired mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings, men transgressed the covenant. "There have they dealt treacherously against Me." (Hosea 6:6-7)

Note that this message does not only apply to the old covenant. In the new testament, Jesus said that the knowledge of His Word would be replaced by false teachings and false prophets.  Jesus warned us that "If any man shall say unto you, "Lo, here is the Christ or there"; believe it not, for there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs, and wonders, insomuch that "if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." (Matthew 24:23-24)

But the good news is that our Lord God and Saviour never fails those who believe in His name. Therefore, "come and let us return to the Lord for ... He will heal us ... He will bind us up ... He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord, His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." (Hosea 6:1-3)

Therefore, return to the knowledge and wisdom that comes from knowing Jesus personally. Believe on our Lord who knew no sin -- but willingly became sin so that we could experience His abundant love and grace. Read the scriptures daily. Meditate on His Word. Know that whatever we do in word or deed, do all in the name of Jesus, including water baptism.

Most of all, trust in the Christ who "was once offered to bear the sins of man" who will in that day bring unto Him "them that look for Him [when] He appear[s] the second time without sin unto salvation." (Hebrews 9:28) The one who will shorten the last days "for the elect's sake."

"Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever." (Revelation 1:5-6)

Stand in the offering plate.

Who Shall Lay Anything to the Charge of God's Elect? - Part 785

How often have we heard someone state: "All things work together for good to them that love God." If you are like me, you have probably heard this statement more often than not. The question is this. Have these same people told you the remainder of this particular scripture, or for that matter, put the statement into context?

Romans 8:28-30 actually states: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He did predestinate, them He also called; and whom He called, them He also justified, and whom He justified, them He also glorified."

So what shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect, particularly when it is God that justifieth? (Romans 8:33) Indeed, who is he that condemneth? (Romans 8:34)

It is Jesus the Christ who died and is risen again who makes intercession for us. It is Jesus who is the only mediator between God and man. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man cometh unto the Father but by Me."

And then Jesus said, "If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also, and from henceforth, ye know Him and have seen Him." (John 14:6-7)

Therefore, believing with all our heart that God Almighty willingly clothed Himself in human flesh so that we might be saved -- He who knew no sin becoming sin for you and I - who then (on this earth) shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation? Or, distress? Or, persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? (Romans 8:35) Not likely.

Why? Because to those who believe by faith, God's promise does not stop there. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they ARE the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby cry, Abba Father!" (Romans 8:14-15)

We are the children of the promise and counted for the seed. (Romans 9:8) Set free from the great heaviness and continual sorrow in our hearts because of the greatest love story ever told. (Romans 9:2) How do we know this?

"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:16-18)

Again, if God be for us, who can be against us?

"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:31-39)

Stand in the offering plate.

All Things Are For Our Sake- Part 784

Note that Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice on the day of Pentecost and said, "Ye men of Israel, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know -- Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain -- whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be holden of it." (Acts 2:22-24)

As a consequence of the apostles' message on that day, 3,000 souls gladly received the Word and were baptized into the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and received "the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38-42) However, the promise of salvation does not end with repentance and baptism. There is a victory in Jesus that allows us to reign as sons and daughters of the Most High King on this earth -- for we are bought with a price. There is an expectation that we will become stronger in the faith, glorifying God in our body and in our spirit, which are God's. (I Corinthians 6:20)

Indeed, we need to take hold of the promise that states: "God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by His own power." (I Corinthians 6:14)

Why? Because when we believe in Jesus and seek His righteousness, we "are not in the flesh but in the Spirit -- if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in [us]. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. [But] if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin but the Spirit is life because of righteousness ... if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you." (Romans 8:9-11)

"Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not in tables of stone but in fleshly tables of the heart -- such trust have we through Christ to God-ward" (II Corinthians 3:3-6)  

Therefore, "renounce the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." (II Corinthians 4:2) 

Preach the good news gospel of His Kingdom. That is, "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 5:19) Finally, if you haven't yet asked Jesus for forgiveness, please do so now. Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so that you too can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38-42) Stand in the offering plate.

Reigning in Life Through Jesus the Christ - Part 783

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one, how much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life by one -- Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17)

In other words, if the offence of one judgement led to the condemnation of all men -- as in all men (and women) have fallen short of the glory of God because of Adam and Eve's transgression in the Garden -- then conversely, we should be dancing with joy that by the abundant righteousness of one -- Jesus Christ -- the free gift came upon all those who believe in Him by faith unto justification of life. 

Did you get that? We are called to a higher calling than just getting up in the morning and going to work. Indeed, Romans 5:17 uses the word "much" more for a reason. So the next question then is how much more will "they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness" reign in life because of Jesus? Think about this. Reign not only in eternal life but in this life too. Taking our rightful places because the sin that had previously reigned unto death in this world is now replaced by grace that "reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:21)

In the worldly realm, the word "reign" in the dictionary means to hold royal office, ruling as a king or queen, exercising sovereign power, and in some, being a widespread and dominant influence over the earth. The Biblical scriptures confirm our inheritance -- reign -- here on earth. 

"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." (John 1:12) "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus ... for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:26-27) 

Jesus said, "Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth, I call you not servants, for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth, but I have called you friends -- for all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you." (John 15:14-15)

Therefore, all is not lost. "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order -- Christ the firstfruits; afterward, they that are Christ's at His coming." (I Corinthians 15:21-23)

Romans 6:23 further states: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." And Romans 5:19 -- "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."

Herein, because of Jesus, we are given hope. You see, "death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of Him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many may be dead, much more the grace of God and the gift by grace, which is by one, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as if it was by one that sinned, so is the gift; for the judgement was by one to condemnation but the free gift is of many offences unto justification." (Romans 5:14-16)

To this end, our Lord God and Saviour has given us the Kingdom. Too often, in our day to day we forget that God loved us enough to shed His precious blood on the cross. That is, "when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die ... but God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us ... much more then being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." (Romans 5:6-9)

Therefore, stagger not at the promises of God through unbelief but rather be strong in your faith, giving glory to God and being fully persuaded that, what He had promised from the beginning, He was [and still is] able to perform -- because it was imputed to Him for righteousness. 

"Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience, experience, and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5:1-5)

Ask Jesus into your heart today. Read His Word for your edification and learning. Know that we are "justified by faith" having "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1) Know too that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death and therefore we are buried with Him by baptism unto death -- "that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4) 

"For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection." (Romans 6:5) Reign forever in Jesus. Stand in the offering plate. 

Delivered from the Law - Part 782

Because of Jesus and His sacrifice, we who believe in Him by faith, and seek His righteousness have been forever -- once and for all --delivered from the Law. And yet, too often, we are judged according to the Law by the religious culture that surrounds us. This is nothing new. The book of Romans in the New Testament focuses on this religious mindset. In particular, Romans 7:6 which states, 

"But now we are delivered from the Law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." 

Remember, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) This happened because of Adam and Eve's original transgression in the Garden. Then God gave us the Law and Ten commandments to follow, which we similarly failed. Unfortunately, there are those within today's religious culture who would like to see us remain under the old covenant -- the Law -- without ever learning the truth of His grace. The ultimate plan of salvation that sets us free. 

Indeed, from the beginning, God has a better plan for you and I. He wants us to love Him with all our hearts, soul, mind and strength. His desire for us is that as believers in Him, we would become His bride -- members of the body of Christ working together in unison to bring fruit. Jesus being the Head of the Church -- "the only mediator between God and man." (I Timothy 2:5-6) He desired our love so much that He willingly shed His blood on the cross for us. He who knew no sin becoming sin for you and I. The veil of the old covenant torn from top to bottom.

Why? So that instead of "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" we can thank our heavenly Father for His wonderful plan of salvation, wherein His humanity died so that we might have life more abundantly. So that we could serve Him in newness of spirit, and NOT in the oldness of the letter of the Law.

"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the Law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the Law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now ... we are delivered from the Law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." (Romans 7:4-6)

In other words, we serve Jesus in newness of spirit. We are bought with a price. (I Corinthians 6:20) As a consequence, those of us who believe in Jesus by faith are now under His covenant of love. We are no longer servants of the law which had been given to us in times past as a schoolmaster. We are sons and daughters of the Most High King.

"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith ... but after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." (Galatians 3:24-25)

Therefore, now, under this new covenant of grace, "we are delivered from the Law -- that being dead wherein we were held -- that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." (Romans 7:6) 

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands ... that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

But now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ ... for He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the Chief cornerstone ... in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord. In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:8-22)

That in the ages to come -- today/now -- in this new covenant dispensation of grace, "He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:6) Ask Jesus into your life today. Read His Word for your understanding. Stand in the offering plate.

The Meaning of Born Again - Part 781

Nicodemus asked Jesus, "How can I being old enter a second time into my mother's womb and be born?" Jesus responds by stating, "Except a man be born of water and Spirit, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." (John 3:1-21)

This point is critical. In order to enter God’s kingdom, we must first be born again. The difficulty is that the growth of one's human soul is limited to that which was attained before the fall of man in the Garden. As a consequence, we have all fallen short of the glory of God, incapable of escaping out of the box that consists of sin. This is why God created a plan of salvation that would reconcile us to our Creator.

In order for you and I to enter the kingdom of God (which Jesus spoke of in the book of John), we must first be redeemed from the curse of sin. Inasmuch as all men and women were born under the same curse, redemption necessitated that another -- who knew no sin -- should be the means whereby man's redemption could be secured.

Because man had become fallen sons of God in the beginning, it meant that God who loved His creation beyond measure would have to manifest Himself in flesh (as a begotten Son) in order to secure man's redemption. Therefore, as a gift of His abundant love, Almighty God provided to all men an equal opportunity to see and enter into the Kingdom.

This is why Jesus said that we must be born again of water and of Spirit. Imagine Nicodemus asking Jesus the question -- "Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with Him ... How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born?" (John 3:1-4)

Of course, like Nicodemus, man by himself has no understanding as to how to achieve this new birth. However, after JESUS' death, burial and resurrection, JESUS opened the understanding of His disciples saying that the redemption of mankind had been purchased by the shedding of His Holy Spirit blood availing to man the Kingdom of God.

This is why we are instructed to go and preach among all nations repentance and remission of sin. If men and women repent and are baptized into His death, burial, and resurrection, then as the scriptures state, "I will pour out of my Spirit upon them" and they will become My offspring -- My people -- My nation -- the Israel of God. (Joel 2:28-32, Acts 2:15-21)

If God has touched you, then arise and be baptized into JESUS' death, burial and resurrection as the Apostles taught in Acts. Become His redeemed son or daughter, born again of the water and the Spirit. If JESUS on our behalf willingly gave His blood, water and Spirit life as a Son, bequeathing all to us, then the least we could do is seek His righteousness in return.

Jesus continued, telling Nicodemus, "Verily, verily I say unto thee - except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, "Ye must be born again." The wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth, so is every one that is born of the Spirit." (John 3:1-21)

Why? Because God so loved the world! Seek Jesus and all His righteousness today. Stand in the offering plate.

What is Truth? - Part 780

So often, we get caught up in religion (or religion rule) whereby we forget in whom we first believed. We relegate to a lesser position our Lord and Saviour in order to impress our religious peers. In this latter role, we try to justify ourselves by adhering to either the law and commandments, or the works of the law. We attempt to remain in good standing with our worldly endeavours instead of trusting fully in Jesus, the Rock of our salvation for all aspects of our life.

But to be clear, the scriptures -- His Word -- repeatedly tells us to "stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled with the yoke of bondage." (Galatians 5:1) 

Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. He that cometh to Me shall never hunger and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst." (John 6:35) 

At no point, does Jesus point us toward institutionalized or form religion. Instead, He invites us into a personal relationship with Him -- He that is the King of kings and Lord of lords wants us to become His sons and daughters. The same Almighty God in the flesh who willingly gave His life for you and I. 

In fact, Jesus stated that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is the "bread which came down from heaven." (John 6:41, 48) The bread that cometh down from heaven -- "that a man may eat thereof and not die. I [Jesus] am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, He shall live forever and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:48-51)

Again, note that Jesus didn't give us religion. He did not give us form and long-standing traditions. Rather, He asked us to believe in Him by faith and seek His righteousness so that we could become "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that [we] should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called [us] out of darkness into His marvellous light." (I Peter 2:9)

Not man-made religion or theological institutions but rather He gave Himself so that we could know firsthand that our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ loved us enough to shed His precious blood on the cross. It is Jesus that gives you and I the inner source of joy that we long for. He that knew no sin became sin so that we could be at peace even when we live in a world dominated by strife. 

Therefore, in the days ahead, "let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God ... but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given Him a name which is above every name --- that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11)

And then let "the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:26)

Stand in the offering plate.