We must be careful to not wrestle (or “twist”) the scriptures, but rather receive the word of God and obey it. We receive the word of God through hearing preaching and reading the Bible. God gives us His word to prepare us for heaven.

"Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." - 2 Peter 3:13-14

How are we found of Him in peace?

Jesus died for our sins so we could find peace with Him. Jesus paid the price of death to reconcile us back to Himself from our sinful life. He that knew no sin was made sin for us so that we could then become righteous through Him. (2Cor.5:21)

We make peace with Him when we repent of our sins and accept the sacrifice of His blood by being water baptized by immersion in His name Jesus. (Acts 2:38)

How can we be found of Him without spot and blameless?

When we are baptized in Jesus name we are washed clean of all our sins. When we receive the gift of His Spirit, the Holy Ghost, we receive the righteousness of God in us. Jesus gives us, by His Spirit in us, His power that we need to overcome sin in our life. His Spirit prepares us for His coming.

With Jesus working in our life, we are able to be ready to meet Him, without spot and blameless.

Peter recognized that there were those that were twisting Paul’s letters he had written to the church, even as they also twisted the other scriptures. Peter gave warning that such actions would bring them destruction.

"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; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." - 2 Peter 3:15-16

Peter warned the beloved of the Lord, the church, that they should beware of such wicked people that would lead them astray causing them to fall from their faith.

"Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." - 2 Peter 3:17-18

We know that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. What about follow peace with all men?

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:" - Hebrews 12:14

God made peace with us.

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." - Colossians 1:20

"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

God forgave us. Now it is our turn to have peace with others and forgive. (Follow peace: “to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavour to acquire” - Thayer’s)

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." - Matthew 5:9

"Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." - Luke 6:36

"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." - Hebrews 8:12

What if we do not follow peace with all men?

A servant owed the king ten thousand talents, but was unable to pay the debt. The king commanded that his family and possessions be sold to pay the debt. The servant begged for mercy.

"Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

“But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest." - Matthew 18:27-28

The fellowservant begged for patience, promising he would pay. Yet the servant had no mercy, casting him into prison.

"Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

[Note: Because the servant was not merciful, the debt that he had been forgiven of was put back on him.]

“So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." - Matthew 18:33-35

We are the servant that had a debt we could not pay. Our Lord and King Jesus forgave us of our debt of sin. It is now our turn to be merciful and forgiving, and to make peace with all.

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;" - Hebrews 12:14-15

Following peace with all is essential to our salvation, not allowing unforgiveness in our life to turn into a root of bitterness, causing us to be defiled and to fail of the grace of God.

Now what?

Jesus has called us, we have turned our back on sin, and have covenanted with Jesus by baptism in His name. He has gloriously filled us with His Spirit. Now what?

We are to be fruitful and multiply. We are partners with God, bringing souls into His kingdom.

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." - John 3:5

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." - Mark 16:15

"Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." - John 15:8

"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." - John 15:16

"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." - Romans 7:4

"For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." - 1 Corinthians 4:15

The church baptizes souls in Jesus name so they are born of water; Jesus baptizes souls with His Spirit so they are born of the Spirit; by the mother and the Father, souls are born into the kingdom.

"For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." - 1 Corinthians 3:9

"We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain." - 2 Corinthians 6:1

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." - 1 Corinthians 15:10

"And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith." - Acts 6:7

"But the word of God grew and multiplied." - Acts 12:24

"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...

“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...

“And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." - Acts 2:38, 41-42, 47

Church!!
"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:" - Ephesians 4:11-12 KJV

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." - Acts 1:8 KJV

"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 KJV

"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." - Acts 2:38-42 KJV

Jesus said,

"And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." - Matthew 16:18-19

The word “bind” in this verse means, “to forbid, prohibit, declare to be illicit,” while the word “loose” in this verse means, “to declare lawful.” In other words, it appears that Jesus in this verse is giving authority to Peter to establish doctrine.

After Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection and before He ascended to heaven, Jesus spoke to His disciples.

After giving Peter the authority to establish doctrine in Matthew 16:18-19, Jesus opened the apostles' understanding and revealed specifically the doctrine Peter was to preach.

"Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." - Luke 24:45-47 KJV

"And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, 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 KJV

On the Day of Pentecost, filled with the Holy Ghost, Peter, standing up with the other eleven apostles, lifted up his voice and declared to the multitude that had gathered the gospel: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. (Acts 2:4, Acts 2:14, Acts 2:23-24)

Peter, with the keys of the kingdom of heaven and authority, both of which were given to him by Jesus, declared as doctrine how we must obey the gospel:

"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

Peter, in accord with the other eleven apostles, established on this day the doctrine (law) of salvation for the new testament church, Acts 2:38.

Do you know your prayers can reach around the world? Do you know they can go beyond locked prison doors, into hospital rooms, permeating dens of prostitution and human slavery, into boardrooms of corporate headquarters, throne rooms of kings, presidents, and dictators?

What prayers are we to send up?

Prayers that human traffickers repent and set their captives free…

Prayers for healing; prayers for deliverance; prayers for salvation for all mankind.

Prayers that men and women turn to God and that He would grant them repentance unto life…

Prayers that humanity receive the salvation that Jesus has freely given by believing and obeying the gospel, that lives may turn from confusion and pain, to blessings and goodness for themselves and those in their influence… (repenting of their sins, being baptized in Jesus name for the remission of sins, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost)

Prayers of forgiveness of those that have done us wrong, asking God to erase their wrongdoing against us from their account so they will not be judged by God for what they did to us.

Praying the Lord of the harvest send labourers into His harvest…

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem…

Praying in the Holy Ghost…

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…

"For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." - Psalm 100:5 KJV

Why is the name JESUS above every other name of God?

It is by His name JESUS that God redeemed all of humanity back to Himself. It is by His name JESUS that all our sins are washed away. It is God's saving Name!

"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 (son=human temple of the Spirit of God)

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." - Titus 2:13-14 KJV

"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 KJV

"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 KJV

"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 KJV

"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

"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

Church!

Be a part of the growing body of Christ -

"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:" - Ephesians 4:11-15

The Lord promised He would be back for His church, but has delayed because it is not His will that any be lost, but that they all repent. We can see the signs of the times. We need to be ready to meet Him -

"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…" - 2 Peter 3:9, 14-15

Acts 2:38-39

60 QUESTIONS ON THE GODHEAD WITH BIBLE ANSWERS [The following is from  http://www.globaltracts.com/ ]

1. Is the word trinity in the Bible? No.

2. Does the Bible say that there are three persons in the Godhead? No.

3. Does the Bible speak of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? Yes.

4. Do these titles as used in Matthew 28:19 mean that there are three separate and distinct persons in the Godhead? No, they refer to three offices, roles, or relationship to humanity.

5. Does the Bible use the word three in reference to God? Only one verse in the entire Bible does so-I John 5:7. It speaks of the Father, the Word (instead of Son), and the Holy Ghost, and it concludes by saying, "These three are one."

6. Does the Bible use the word one in reference to God? Yes, many times. For example, see Zechariah 14:9; Malachi 2:10; Matthew 23:9; Mark 12:29, 32; John 8:41; 10:30; Romans 3:30; I Corinthians 8:4; Galatians 3:20; I Timothy 2:5; James 2:19.

7. Can the mystery of the Godhead be understood? Yes. Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9; I Timothy 3:16.

8. Has the Christian only one Heavenly Father? Yes. Matthew 23:9.

9. Then why did Jesus say to Philip, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:9)? Because Jesus is the express image of God's person. Hebrews 1:3. The Greek word for person in this verse literally means "substance."

10. Does the Bible say that there are two persons in the Godhead? No.

11. Does the Bible say that all the Godhead is revealed in one person? Yes, in Jesus Christ. II Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:19; 2:9; Hebrews 1:3.

12. Is the mystery of the Deity hidden from some people? Yes. Luke 10:21-22.

13. Who is the Father? The Father is the one God, particularly as revealed in parental relationship to humanity. Deuteronomy 32:6; Malachi 2:10.

14. Where was God the Father while Jesus was on earth? The Father was in Christ. John 14:10; II Corinthians 5:19. He was also in heaven, for God is omnipresent.

15. Did the prophet Isaiah say that Jesus would be the Father? Yes. Isaiah 9:6; 63:16.

16. When God said, "Let us make man in our image" (Genesis 1:26), was He speaking to another person in the Godhead? No. Isaiah 44:24; Malachi 2:10.

17. How many of God's qualities were in Christ? All. Colossians 2:9.

18. How may we see the God who sent Jesus into the world? By seeing Jesus. John 12:44-45; 14:9.

19. Does the Bible say that Jesus is the Almighty? Yes. Revelation 1:8

20. Whom do some designate as the first person in the trinity? God the Father.

21. Whom do some designate as the last person in the trinity? The Holy Ghost. But Jesus said that He was the first and last. Revelation 1:17-18

22. How many persons did John see sitting on the throne in heaven? One. Revelation 4:2.

23. If Jesus is the first and the last, why did God say in Isaiah 44:6 that He was the first and the last? Because Jesus is the God of the Old Testament incarnate.

24. Did Jesus tell Satan that God alone should be worshipped? Yes. Matthew 4:10

25. Does the devil believe in more than one God? No. James 2:19.

26. Does the Bible say that God, who is the Word, was made flesh? Yes John 1:1, 14.

27. For what purpose was God manifested in the flesh? To save sinners. Hebrews 2:9, 14.

28. Was Jesus God manifested in the flesh? Yes. I Timothy 3:16.

29. Could Jesus have been on earth and in heaven at the same time? Yes. John 3:13.

30. Does the Bible say that there is but one Lord? Yes. Isaiah 45:18; Ephesians 4:5.

31. Does the Bible say that Christ is the Lord? Yes. Luke 2:11.

32. Does the Bible say that the Lord is God? Yes. I kings 18:39; Zechariah 14:5; Acts 2:39; Revelation 19:1.

33. How could the church belong to Jesus (Matthew 16:18) and yet be the church of God (I Corinthians 10:32)? Because Jesus is God in the flesh.

34. Will God give His glory to another? No. Isaiah 42:8.

35. Was there a God formed before the Lord, or will there be one formed after? No. Isaiah 43:10.

36. What is one thing that God does not know? Another God. Isaiah 44:8.

37. What is one thing that God Cannot do? Lie. Titus 1:2.

38. How many Gods should we know? Only one. Hosea 13:4.

39. How many names has the Lord? One. Zechariah 14:9.

40. Is it good to think upon the name of the Lord? Yes. Malachi 3:16.

41. Does the Bible say that God alone treads upon the waves of the sea? Yes. Job 9:8

42. Why, then, was Jesus able to walk upon the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 14:25)? Because He is God the Creator. Colossians 1:16.

43. Is God the only one who can forgive sin? Yes. Isiah 43:25; Mark 2:7.

44. Why, then, could Jesus forgive sin in Mark 2:5-11? Because He is God the Savior.

45. Is Jesus the true God? Yes. I John 5:20.

46. If God and the Holy Ghost are two separate persons, which was the Father of Christ? Matthew 1:20 says that the Holy Ghost was the Father, while Romans 15:6, II Corinthians 11:31, and Ephesians 1:3 say that God was the Father. There is no contradiction when we realize that God the Father and the Holy Ghost are one and the same Spirit. Matthew 10:20; Ephesians 4:4; I Corinthians 3:16.

47. When Paul asked the Lord who He was, what was the answer? "I am Jesus." Acts 9:5.

48. When Stephen was dying, did he call God Jesus? Yes. Acts 7:59.

49. Did Thomas ever call Jesus God? Yes. John 20:28.

50. How could Jesus be the Savior, when God the Father said in Isaiah 43:11, "Beside me there is no Savior?" Because "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself." II Corinthians 5:19.

51. Does the Bible say that Jesus was God with us? Yes. Matthew 1:23.

52. Did Jesus ever say, "I and my Father are one?" Yes. John 10:30.

53. Can it be proved scripturally that Jesus and the Father are one in the same sense that husband and wife are one? No. The Godhead was never compared to the relationship of a husband and wife. Jesus identified Himself with the Father in a way that husband and wife cannot be identified with each other. John 14:9-11.

54. Does the Bible say that there is only one wise God? Yes. Jude 25.

55. Does the Bible call the Holy Ghost a second or third person in the Godhead? No. The Holy Ghost is the one Spirit of God, the one God Himself at work in our lives. John 4:24; I Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19; 12:13.

56. Can Trinitarians show that three divine persons were present when Jesus was baptized by John? Absolutely not. The one, omnipresent God used three simultaneous manifestations. Only one divine person was present--Jesus Christ the Lord.

57. Then what were the other two of whom Trinitarians speak? One was a voice from heaven; the other was the Spirit of God descending like a dove. Matthew 3:16-17.

58. What did the voice say at Jesus' baptism? "Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Mark 1:11. As the Son of God, Jesus was the one God incarnate.

59. Does the Bible say that God shed His blood and that God laid down His life for us? Yes. Acts 20:28; I John 3:16. God was able to do this because He had taken upon Himself a human body.

60. The Bible says that God is coming back with all his saints (Zechariah 14:5) and also that Jesus is coming back with all his saints (I Thessalonians 3:13). Are two coming back? No. Only one is coming back--our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13.

http://www.globaltracts.com/

What does the Bible say about the "world"?

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." - 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

The devil is the god of this world. He is the prince of the power of the air.

"Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:" - Ephesians 2:2

When we regret our sins and turn to Jesus, the world is crucified to us and us to the world.

"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." - Galatians 6:14

We leave behind the things of the world and cleave to the Lord.

"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." - James 4:4

"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." - 1 John 2:15-17

By the gospel, we leave the world by repentance, we cleave to the Lord by baptism in Jesus name, and we overcome the world through His Spirit within us, the Holy Ghost.

"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

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." - 1 John 4:4

"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;" - Philippians 2:15

With the power of His name Jesus upon us, and the power of His Spirit within us, we are victorious.

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." - 1 John 5:4

You may be in the midst of trials and problems, or you may be in the midst of blessings. For those in trials, keep the faith.

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." - 1 Peter 4:12-13 KJV

"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 KJV

For those that are in the midst of blessings, be careful to maintain your work for the Lord. We do not know what hour Jesus will come for His church. It is not time to ‘kick back’ but rather to be about our Father’s business. There are those around us that have not yet obeyed the gospel. (Acts 2:38)

"For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" - 1 Peter 4:17-18 KJV

"Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." - Matthew 25:13 KJV

"And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

“And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

“But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" - Luke 12:16-20 KJV

When we water baptize, we are to OBEY the command of Jesus NOT baptize by repeating His command.

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" - Matthew 28:18-19 KJV

Jesus said, to baptize in the NAME.

What is the NAME of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost?

JESUS.

His disciples understood Jesus and OBEYED Him: they baptized in the NAME of JESUS.

"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 KJV

(The word “NAME” emphasized):

"And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his NAME among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." - Luke 24:47 KJV (See Acts 2:38)

"Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the NAME of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. ... Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other NAME under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:10, 12 KJV

"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

"But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the NAME of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." - Acts 8:12 KJV

"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his NAME whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." - Acts 10:43 KJV (See Acts 2:38)

"Do not they blaspheme that worthy NAME by the which ye are called?" - James 2:7 KJV

The Binding of Isaac

Genesis 22:1-14 ¶"And it came to pass after these things, that God [tested] Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am."

"And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of."

{Moriah is a hill of Jerusalem where King Solomon built the first Temple 2 Chronicles 3:1 “Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.”}

¶"And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his [donkey], and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him."

"Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the [donkey]; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you."

{Our sacrifice is worship.}

{On the third day, Abraham prophesied that Isaac would return with him, alive.}

"And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together."

{Just as Jesus said, “Let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me,” the wood was laid on Isaac’s back like a cross, which he carried to the place of sacrifice. Just as Jesus said, “Whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it,” the knife represented death and circumcision, while the fire represented the sacrifice consumed by fire and the Holy Ghost.}

{The wood like a cross represents repentance. Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”}

{The knife represents circumcision of our hearts which is water baptism in Jesus name for the remission (cutting off) of sins. Colossians 2:11-12 “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”}

{The fire represents the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 3:11b “He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”}

"And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"

"And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together."

{God DID provide HIMSELF a lamb! John 1:29 “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”}

¶"And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood."

{We choose the binding of our flesh by repentance. We offer our lives willingly as a sacrifice to Jesus.}

{Because our sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus, we are an “acceptable” sacrifice.}

{By our baptism of the Holy Ghost, we are a “holy” sacrifice.}

{It is by the “mercies of God” that we are forgiven by Jesus and not required to die for our sins. It is by his gift of the Holy Ghost that we may be a “living sacrifice”. (Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”) We are a LIVING sacrifice. Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”}

{“Reasonable service” is translated “spiritual worship”.}

"And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son."

"And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I."

"And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me."

"And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son."

{Isaac was set free by the sacrifice of the ram!}

{It was a “ram caught in a tree” (Judaica Press Tanach). A ram is a male sheep.}

{The Hebrew word for “rams horns” is the same Hebrew word for “jubilee” – “Yovel” (Strong’s H3104)}

{Leviticus 25:10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile (H3104) unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.}

{In the Jubilee year all slaves are freed and all properties are returned to their original owners}

{Joshua 6:5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's (H3104) horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.}

{The cry of the ram’s horn is a call to repentance. The Hebrew word for repentance is “teshuvah”. It means to “return” to God. The ram’s horn also represents the trumpet blast of a people’s coronation of their king. The ram’s horn (“shofar”) is sounded 100 times on Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the Ten Days of Repentance.}

{Leviticus 25:9 Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the Day of Atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.}

{Additionally, the root word for Calvary, where Jesus was crucified (Luke 23:33), means “horn” (of an animal).}

{The ram’s horn was sounded on the day of atonement, the day that the sacrifice was made in the Temple that would push the sins of the nation of Israel ahead another year. Jesus, the Lamb of God, is the atonement sacrifice that REMOVES sin in our life, by our repentance and baptism in Jesus name for the remission of our sins.}

"And Abraham called the name of that place “The Lord will see”: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen."

{In the mount Moriah there is a prophetic vision of Jesus, the ultimate substitute sacrifice, caught in the tree. At the same time there is the prophetic vision of the church as a living sacrifice set free by the ram. The call of the ram’s horn, the shofar trumpet, will always be a reminder of God’s call of love to return to him to receive his jubilee, setting us free from sin. It is the ram’s horn trumpet that we will hear at the rapture of the church, headed for heaven’s jubilee!}

{1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 – “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”}

The devil appears AS a roaring lion, PRETENDING to be our judge, and trying to put FEAR in believers. (It appears the lion represents God as our judge and His attribute of justice).

But those that have obeyed the Gospel, have Jesus as their Defense Attorney (the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost – ‘Defense Attorney’ is a meaning of ‘Comforter’) that pleads His blood for us. While satan is the Prosecutor, Jesus as our Defense Attorney pleads His blood that is upon us that we have from our water baptism in Jesus name.

"And from 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," - Revelation 1:5 KJV

The devil lost his power when Jesus died on the tree for our sins.

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." - Hebrews 2:14-15 KJV

The devil is the accuser, but OUR JUDGE is the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ!! (It appears the Lamb represents God’s attribute of mercy). (James 2:13, Revelation 5:5-12).

"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." - Revelation 12:10 KJV

"And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth." - Revelation 5:6 KJV

Because we have applied the blood of Jesus when we were baptized in Jesus name, we are judged by God’s MERCY.

We must continue to be sober and vigilant- not slipping back into sin, because our adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour. We resist the devil by being stedfast in the faith.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." - 1 Peter 5:8-9 KJV

Church! Receiving the Promise

Jesus has a promise for you - it is the Holy Ghost!

"Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them,

“Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.

“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." - Luke 24:45-49 KJV

Before Jesus ascended up to heaven, Jesus opened the understanding of His disciples and proclaimed the gospel to them - that He would suffer, and rise from the dead the third day. This is what Peter preached in Jerusalem ten days later.

Jesus also proclaimed that the gospel should be preached beginning in Jerusalem. This would be repentance and remission of sins in the name of Jesus by water baptism. He gave the promise of the Father – power from on high – with is the baptism of the Holy Ghost. This is ALSO what Peter preached in Jerusalem ten days later!

The promise of the Holy Ghost comes when we repentant of our sins and when we are baptized for the remission of our sins in the name of Jesus.

They tarried in the city of Jerusalem as Jesus told them too, and they were endued with power from on high!

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:1-4 KJV

The promise of the Father was poured out!

"Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language...we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God." - Acts 2:6, 11 KJV

Peter preached the gospel of Jesus and explained to them,

"Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." - Acts 2:33 KJV

"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." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

Turn to Jesus! Come to church and receive the Promise!

Let’s have church!

When we have turned our back on sin, and have been born again of water and Spirit, we are born of God.

We have repented, we have been baptized in Jesus name for the remission of sins, and we have received the gift of God’s Spirit, the Holy Ghost.

We have become His child, and He has become our Father. (John 1:12-13, John 3:5, Acts 2:38)

"And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." - 2 Corinthians 6:16

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." - 2 Corinthians 6:17-18

These are promises. As His beloved, we desire to cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. We desire to work toward complete holiness because of our deep respect and awe of Jesus.

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." - 2 Corinthians 7:1

We cleanse ourselves with the washing of water by the word.

When we hear the preaching of the word, and when we read our Bibles, the Holy Ghost within us reveals areas to us in our life that need correcting.

The Lord leads us to repentance in these areas, and by the blood of Jesus that we applied to our life in baptism, these areas of spots and blemishes are cleansed.

By this process, we progress towards holiness.

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." - Ephesians 5:25-27

We cleanse ourselves when we draw near to God.

We turn to God and away from the lifestyles of the world to a lifestyle of holiness to God.

We make sure that Jesus has all of our heart, and we are not sharing our heart with a love for the things of the world.

"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." - James 4:8 (“…for your loyalty is divided between God and the world”. NLT)

How do we draw near to God and away from the world?

We draw near to God by repentance.

"Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness." - James 4:9 KJV

(“Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.” - James 4:9 NLT)

When we truly humble ourselves before God, with the realization that our righteousness really is as filthy rags in comparison to His righteousness, in repentance and awe of His holiness, we enter into another dimension with Him.

His mercy and love surrounds us, letting us know there is nothing and no one more intimate and more caring of us than Jesus. By His love, He brings us into His glory.

"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." - James 4:10 KJV (“…and he will lift you up in honor.” NLT)

"And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." - Romans 16:20 KJV

God is the “God of peace” because He made peace between humanity and Himself by putting on a body of flesh and blood so He could pay the price of our sins against Him, making peace between us, where before there was division from sin.

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself [God reconciled everything to himself]; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works [This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions], yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight [As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault]:

IF

“If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled [but you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it], and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature [all over the world] which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;" - Colossians 1:20-23 KJV [brackets contain NLT translation]

We find peace and “the hope of the gospel” by Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, which we apply personally by repentance, baptism in Jesus name, and receiving the gift of God’s Spirit to live a new, holy life in Christ. This is what Paul preached. (Romans 6:1-13)

When Jesus made peace between us and Him on the cross, Jesus also conquered the devil.

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." - Hebrews 2:14-15 KJV

By the gospel - Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection - Jesus abolished death and brought us life.

"But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:" - 2 Timothy 1:10 KJV

When we obey the gospel, we step into life and immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 54-55) We become conquerors.

We obey His gospel by being born again, born of water and of the Spirit. (John 3:5, Acts 2:38) We are born of water by water baptism in Jesus name. We are born of the Spirit when we are filled with His Spirit. (Acts 2:4, Acts 2:38)

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." - 1 John 5:4 KJV

This is how satan is bruised under our feet.

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon translates “bruise satan under your feet” as, “to put Satan under foot and (as a conqueror) trample on him.”

"And they overcame [conquered] him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." - Revelation 12:11 KJV (the blood of the Lamb - HIS death, burial, and resurrection; the word of our testimony - OUR repentance, baptism in Jesus name, and gift of the Holy Ghost; and WE loved not our lives unto the death)

It is by the gospel that we stand.

We have prepared ourselves (the preparation) by obeying the gospel that brings us peace with God, applying His blood, His name Jesus, and His Holy Spirit to our life so that we may walk in victory with Him!

"And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;" - Ephesians 6:15 KJV

Our feet shod with the gospel on our feet to “to put Satan under foot and (as a conqueror) trample on him.”

This is AWESOME!! Listen and watch!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biqI9O3XIwM

The flesh is not God.

After His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus was with His disciples for forty days.

"To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:" - Acts 1:3

There is significance that it was 40 days between His resurrection and His ascending up to heaven.

The number 40 is significant throughout the Bible. It is said the number 40 represents transition or change; the concept of renewal; a new beginning; a lifting of a spiritual state. We can see this throughout the Old Testament as well as the New Testament.

We can see that after we receive the Holy Ghost, we begin a lifelong transition of perfecting from the old life we lived to our new life in Jesus. Our new birth, of water and of the Spirit, brings a “new beginning.” This time period after we have been born again and when we see Jesus is a “lifting of a spiritual state.”

We follow Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection by our repentance and turning our back on sin, by getting baptized by immersion in the name of Jesus, and by our receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives us utterance. (Acts 2:38, Acts 2:4)

Just as Jesus had a 40-day interim between His resurrection and ascending to heaven, we too have this 40 day interim symbolically between our receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost (our resurrection) and when we meet Jesus in heaven (our ascension to heaven) (1Thessalonians 4:15-16).

Just as Jesus was a witness of the power of His resurrection to those close to Him as well as great multitudes (1Corinthians 15:3-8), we too are witnesses to family and friends and many others of the power of the Holy Ghost in our life, that gives us resurrection from our old life to a new life in Jesus (1Corinthians 6:9-11).

Paul speaks of this 40-day period when Jesus was a witness that He had been resurrected:

"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:

“And that he was seen of Cephas [Peter], then of the twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once… after that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time." - 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 KJV

Jesus told His disciples before He poured out His Spirit on the Day of Pentecost that they would be witnesses of Jesus with the power of their new resurrected life. Just as He had been a witness after His resurrection.

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." - Acts 1:8 KJV

This promise of the Holy Ghost is for us and all that Jesus calls!

This is what Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost when Jesus first poured out His Spirit:

"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." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

Those that love God and are the called can know that God causes everything to work together for our good to accomplish His purpose in our life and for His kingdom.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

When we love Jesus, we keep His commandments. (John 14:15-18, 1 John 5:3, 1 Peter 1:8)

God calls us, drawing us to Him, giving us the desire to know Him, the desire to know His word. (John 6:44)

We find ourselves hearing a preacher preach the gospel, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1Corinthians 15:1-4)

We hear that to obey the gospel we must repent, be baptized in Jesus name, our sins will be washed away, and God will fill us with His Spirit. (Romans 6:1-8)

We have been called.

When we respond to God’s call into His grace and salvation, we turn our back on sin, we are baptized in Jesus name for the remission of our sins, and we receive the Holy Ghost, speaking in other tongues as we allow the Spirit of God to take control of our tongue. (Acts 2:38-39, Acts 2:4)

We become “the called.” (2 Thessalonians 2:14, Revelation 17:14)

When we are joined together with God, all the things we go through are for our good. Everything we go through has a purpose. Through it all, we are growing into a better person – we are becoming more like Jesus. (Hebrews 12:6-11, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, 1 Peter 1:7-8, 1 Corinthians 2:9)

The things we go through are to help us to bear spiritual fruit – love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith and faithfulness, humility, and self-control. (Galatians 5:16-26, Ephesian 5:8-10, Romans 5:3-5, James 1:3-4)

We gain power to overcome sin, faith for spiritual warfare, love and compassion for others and to help others in their struggles in life and their search for God, good works for the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:8, Ephesians 6:10-20, 1Peter 2:12, Hebrews 10:24, Matthew 5:16, Ephesians 2:10, Titus 2:14)

Knowing that God has things in control for our benefit can give us peace and confidence in the midst of trials and the storms of life. When we look back on situations, we can see how God worked it out for our good and for a purpose. (Genesis 50:20, James 1:12)