Considering the times...

 Considering the times…

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." - 1 Corinthians 15:58 

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. [So be careful how you live... Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.]" - Ephesians 5:15-17

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ..." - 2 Peter 3:18

"Walk in wisdom toward them that are without [unbelievers], redeeming the time [making the most of every opportunity]. Let your speech be alway with grace [gracious], seasoned with salt [attractive], that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." - Colossians 4:5-6 

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer [always be ready to explain it] to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" - 1 Peter 3:15 

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." - Galatians 6:9

There is Only One God

 

There is only one God. He alone created the universe.

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." - Genesis 1:1

"For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else." - Isaiah 45:18

In the book of Colossians, it speaks of the Son creating all things. How can this be if there is only one Creator, and that is the Lord God?

Colossians explains that the Son is the image of the invisible God. The invisible Spirit of God put on the flesh of humanity and became visible. This human is called the Son of God. All the fullness of the godhead is within this man.

"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." - Colossians 2:9 

It is the One True God that dwells in the body of the Son that created all things. Thus, in the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. The same God that dwells in the Son is the One True God that created all things.

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;" - Colossians 1:16-19

The Father – who is Spirit – dwelt in the Son – which is flesh. God revealed His name of salvation is Jesus.

The reason the Father, Creator of the universe, put on flesh was so that He could pay the price of sin for mankind. This took the shedding of sinless blood, which only God could provide.

"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:" - Colossians 1:13-15

The Father in Christ

 

Our Heavenly Father put on a human body and dwelt among His creation as a man. He came to bring salvation.

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." - Matthew 1:21 KJV

He was born without sin, because He bypassed man, the Holy Ghost causing conception in Mary. This is how God Himself could pay the price of man’s sin, shedding sinless blood on the cross.

"And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." - Luke 1:35 

The Son of God is the human body of God.

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself..." - 2 Corinthians 5:19 

The Father is Spirit. The Son is flesh. The Father is in us when we are filled with His Spirit. 

"For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." - Matthew 10:20

"Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 

“Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 

“Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." - John 14:8-10 

It was the Father in Christ that did the miracles.

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." - John 14:16-18 

Jesus was speaking to His disciples. They knew Him. He dwelt with them. When He said He would be in them, Jesus was talking about His Spirit being in them.

The Holy Ghost that was poured out on the Day of Pentecost is the Spirit of Jesus.

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:4

The Gospel

 

What is the Gospel?

The Bible tells us the gospel is that Jesus died for our sins, He was buried, and on the third day He rose again.

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ... For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" - 1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-4 

The Bible says we are saved by the gospel. 

"By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain." - 1 Corinthians 15:2 

The Bible says that we not only need to hear and believe the gospel, but we must obey the gospel to be saved.

"In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:" - 2 Thessalonians 1:8 

How do we obey the gospel? 

We obey the gospel by repentance, water baptism in the name of Jesus, and Holy Ghost infilling.

Repentance is death to sin. Water baptism in the name of Jesus is burial of old nature. Holy Ghost infilling is resurrection to new life.

"God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into 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 6:2-4 

This is what Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost was first poured out.

"Then Peter said unto them, 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." - Acts 2:38 

On that day, about 3000 were baptized with water and with the Spirit. (John 3:5).

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." - Acts 2:41 

"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2:42

Church!

Church!

Acts 2:47 …And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Be a part of the growing body of Christ!

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Go to church to hear the preaching of God’s word!

Ephesians 4:11-16 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

The Lord promised he would be back for his church. We can see the signs of the times. We need to be ready to meet him!

2Peter 3:9, 14-15 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance… ¶Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

When we have been immersed in the water of baptism in Jesus name, our sins are forgiven. We are like a brand new baby with a clean slate. When Jesus fills us with his Holy Spirit, we are ready to start a new life in Jesus!

Acts 2:38-42 Then Peter said unto them, 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. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

¶And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

One God

 

Our heavenly Father put on a human body and dwelt among His creation. This human body that the Father dwelt in is called the Son of God. The Father came and dwelt among us in His name Jesus, 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;" - Philippians 2:10

Philip did not realize that Jesus is the Father revealed in flesh.

"Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?" - John 14:9

"The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." - John 14:10 

"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." - John 14:17-18 KJV

Jesus – our Heavenly Father robed in flesh – came in Spirit to His disciples on the Day of Pentecost. 

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:4

When we are filled with the Holy Ghost, our Heavenly Father is in us.

"For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." - Matthew 10:20

When we are filled with His Spirit, and baptized in His name Jesus, we become the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:27). The Bible then calls us the sons of God. (John 1:12-13, Romans 8:14, Philippians 2:15, 1 John 3:1-2).

"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." - Ephesians 4:4-6

There is One God Jesus is His Name

 

There is one God. His name is Jesus. 

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." - Matthew 1:21 

"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 

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God…" - Colossians 1:14-15 KJV

"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." - Colossians 2:9

"For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;" - Colossians 1:19 

"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." - 2 Corinthians 5:19

The word of reconciliation is that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and on the third day rose again.

"Then Peter said unto them, 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." - Acts 2:38

"For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:39 KJV