The Father is Spirit. Throughout the Old Testament, God used metaphors to describe His power, redemption, salvation, omnipresence, acceptance, mercy, judgement, and authority.

These metaphors include the arm, eyes, ears, nose, face, back, and hand. God used these metaphors so we could better understand and relate to God, as we are physical beings.

God’s arm is a metaphor of His power, redemption, and salvation. The Bible says God redeemed the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage with His arm.

"Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:" - Exodus 6:6 KJV (Deuteronomy 9:29, Psalm 44:3)

All of humanity needed a redeemer. More than redemption from Egyptian bondage, mankind needed redemption from the bondage of sin and death. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

The Bible says that God saw there was no man that could redeem mankind from sin. Why? Because all are born in sin. Only God Himself – our Heavenly Father – could step in and redeem mankind from sin and death. Only our Heavenly Father could be our Savior. The Bible describes God’s salvation as His arm.

"And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him." - Isaiah 59:16 KJV

Isaiah prophesied of the revealing of God’s arm. Isaiah begins his prophecy with the statement, "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?” The rest of the chapter describes in detail in advance of the now familiar life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ – foretold through prophecy by Isaiah hundreds of years before Christ’s birth. (John 12:37-41, Romans 10:13-16)

"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? ... He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief... But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed...when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days…by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities…because he hath poured out his soul unto death…and he bare the sin of many..." - Isaiah 53:1, 3, 5, 10-12 KJV

It is clear the arm of the LORD is Christ – the Father in a human body. He is our Savior and Redeemer.

"The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God." - Isaiah 52:10 KJV

Why is it so important to believe Jesus is the Father?

Only the Father could die for our sins. Why? Only the Father is holy and without sin. Because of this, any other sacrifice than the Father Himself could not be acceptable to take away our sins. And only the Father can raise the dead.

How could the Father die for our sins when the Father is Spirit? (Hebrews 2:14-15, 2Corinthians 5:19)

The only way the Father could die for our sins, was for Him to robe Himself in flesh.

His flesh had to be in the form of man. Sin entered into the world by first man Adam. It was necessary that a second man pay the price of blood for this sin.

"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." - Hebrews 10:4 KJV

"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." - Hebrews 9:22 KJV

"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: ... For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." - Romans 5:12, 19 KJV

Jesus said,

"For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." - Matthew 26:28 KJV

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." - Acts 20:28 KJV

God’s body is called the Son of God. The “Son” of God is the flesh of God. Jesus Christ was born the Son of God. (Matthew 1:21, Acts 20:28, Hebrews 2:14-15)

The body of Jesus was born without sin (1Peter 2:22, 2Corinthians 5:21). It appears that it was necessary for man to be bypassed so that sin would not be passed on to God’s Son (God’s body). Sin had been passed down since Adam (Romans 5:12). This would be why Joseph was not to be responsible for the conception of Jesus’ body with Mary.

Luke 1:35 KJV - 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.

While the Son of God, God’s body, was born without sin, we were born in sin (Psalms 51:5, Romans 5:12). We need to be born again in order to become sons of God.

John 1:12-13 KJV - 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: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

We are born of God by water and of the Spirit. (John 3:6, 3:5)

We are born of water and of the Spirit by water baptism in Jesus name (water) and by receiving the Holy Ghost (Spirit). This is how WE BECOME the sons of God.

Acts 2:38 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.

Philippians 2:15 KJV - 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;

When Jesus was speaking to His disciples, He was speaking to men that believe in God. They knew God is a Spirit. They knew God as their Heavenly Father. They knew there is only one God. (John 4:24, Isaiah 64:8, Malachi 2:10, Deuteronomy 6:4)

Jesus had been with these men for quite some time. They had seen His miracles. They had seen Him raise the dead, open blind eyes, heal the sick, cleanse the leper, multiply fish and loaves, even command the wind and seas and they obeyed Him. They even saw Him walk on water.

Yet, they were still having trouble grasp that this man Jesus, that grew tired, hungry, and thirsty, was their Heavenly Father in a human body. (John 1:1, 14)

It appears that in His attempt to bridge the span of their understanding, Jesus used language to transition His disciples thinking to understand He is the Almighty God operating within a human body. The invisible God was now revealed. (John 1:18)

"Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me." - John 12:44-45 KJV

"For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak." - John 12:49-50 KJV

Jesus communicated that He is a man, but at the same time the Spirit of God is within Him. He was letting His disciples know, His body/flesh is the image of their Heavenly Father. (Colossians 1:15, 2Corinthians 4:4-6)

Jesus said to Thomas,

"If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." - John 14:7 KJV

"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?" - John 14:8-9 KJV

Jesus let them know that the words He spoke was God speaking to them, for God is in Him. (2Corinthians 5:19)

He reminded them of all the works that He had done that only God can do.

"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. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake." - John 14:10-11 KJV

Then later Jesus told His disciples,

"He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father." - John 15:23-24 KJV

Jesus let them know,

"I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. ... They understood not that he spake to them of the Father." - John 8:24, 27 KJV (Exodus 3:14)

The House of God is more than just a place where the Gospel is preached and obeyed. (1Corinthians 15:1-4, Romans 6:1-7, Acts 2:38) It is more than a place of preaching and instructing. (Ephesians 4:11-12, Romans 10:14-16) It is a place of praising the name of Jesus in spiritual songs with thankful hearts, rejoicing in the Lord and the power of His might. (Hebrews 13:15, Colossians 3:16, Philippians 4:4, Psalm 32:11, Zephaniah 3:14)

When King David brought the ark of the Lord into the city of David, he danced before the Lord. He and all the house of Israel brought the ark up with shouting and the sound of the trumpet.

"And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet." - 2 Samuel 6:13-15 KJV

"Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing." - Psalm 107:21-22 KJV

Time for Church!

Leaving Egypt

For the children of God, Egypt was a place of burdens and bondage. They looked to the Lord to save and deliver them, and He answered their cry.

"Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:" - Exodus 6:6 KJV

Sin is like Egypt – it is a burden that is a heavy weight and bondage that only Jesus can save and deliver us from.

Just as Pharaoh ruled Egypt, the devil is the ruler, the god of this world (2Corinthians 4:4).

Just as the Lord’s stretched out arm - God’s power to redeem, brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, the arm of the Lord – God in a human body – is able to bring us out of sin. (Exodus 15:16, Psalm 77:15, Isaiah 53:1-12)

"Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:" - Exodus 6:6 KJV

"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? ... But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." - Isaiah 53:1, 5 KJV

Just as God judged Egypt, God judged His own flesh on the cross. It was through water – the Red Sea – that the children of Israel were saved, and Pharaoh and his armies destroyed (Exodus15:19).

When we leave Egypt – a life of sin – by repentance, we are on the path to God’s promised inheritance of eternal life with Jesus in heaven (Romans 6:23, Acts 26:18).

Jesus saves us by water – baptism in Jesus name for the remission of our sins – destroying sin and the devil in our life (Mark 16:16, 1Peter 3:21, Hebrews 2:14-15, Romans 6:3-6, Acts 2:38).

Jesus promises us the gift of His Holy Ghost to give us power to live holy (Acts 2:38, Acts 1:8). The Holy Ghost is God’s Spirit in us, to lead and guide us in righteous living (John 14:26). It is the earnest of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14).

To leave Egypt, we need to leave all the things of the world that would drag us back to our old life of sin. The god of this world, the devil, would like to keep us blind to the ways of God (2Corinthians 4:4, Acts 26:18).

To keep from failing and to become stronger in Jesus daily, we must guard what we watch, what we listen to, what we read, and where we go (1John 2:15-17, Luke 9:23-26, Hebrews 12:1).

Jesus has equipped us with His name, His blood, and His Spirit. Through Jesus we have the victory!

The Old Testament is a pattern and shadow of the New Testament.

"Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount." - Hebrews 8:5

"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things…" - Hebrews 10:1 [Another translation: “…a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves.”]

The Old Testament points to God coming in the form of man in God’s name of salvation – Jesus. It points to heavenly things. It points to baptism in Jesus name for remission of sins, and to the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Jesus. It points to the rapture…

Ironically, it is not the physical that is the reality; it is the spiritual that is the reality. The spiritual is what is real and eternal.

"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

*This chart is from the Bible Study, “Exploring God’s Word.” The teacher’s manual is available at: http://cgcmadison.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Exploring_Gods_Word_TE.pdf  (Go to "Resources" then “Bible Studies” then "Exploring God's Word." Color charts are available at: http://www.riveroflifeupc.org/our-beliefs.php  

What does it mean to be redeemed?

The definition of redeemed:

To release on receipt of ransom. Deliverance, especially from the penalty of sin. To buy.

In the Old Testament, the Lord redeemed the children of Israel out of bondage from Egypt and from Pharaoh king of Egypt. (Exodus 13:12-16)

Deuteronomy 7:8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Instead of the cruel bondage of Egypt, the Lord delivered them, and they served the Lord their God. (Leviticus 25:55, Numbers 3:41, 8:17, 33:4)

While the children of Israel were under physical bondage in Egypt to Pharaoh, we were under spiritual, emotional, and physical bondage to our enemies of sin and the devil.

Because the Lord loved us, as promised, He redeemed us from our enemies, so that we could live holy and righteous, walking in His Spirit. (Psalms 107:2, Genesis 3:15, Daniel 9:24, 1Corinthians 1:30)

Luke 1:68, 70, 74-75 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people… As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began…That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

Hebrews 2:14-15 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.

Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar [His own] people, zealous of good works. [iniquity: ‘anomia’: "lawlessness," the bondage of self-will which rejects the will of God - Vine’s]

Colossians 1:14-15 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: (Acts 2:38, Ephesians 1:7, Romans 3:24)

1Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Revelation 5:9-10 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

What does it mean to be justified?

We can try and justify ourselves, making excuses for our sins and our shortcomings. We might make ourselves feel better by doing that, and we might feel that we have convinced others that we are a righteous person, but it is only the blood of Jesus that will justify us in the sight of God.

Justified means, "to declare to be righteous, to pronounce righteous," (Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words)

Romans 3:24 KJV - Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Jesus, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this when He freed us from the penalty for our sins when He died in our place on the cross.

Romans 4:5 KJV - But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

It is not by our own works of “righteousness” that we are saved. We are saved by the supreme act of sacrifice by a truly righteous God that robed himself in flesh to die in our place for our sins. (Eph. 2:8-9)

We are justified – made righteous in the eyes of God – when we believe and have faith in His sacrifice.

We show our faith when we repent of our sins and we are baptized in Jesus name to apply the blood He shed for us for the remission of our sins, to walk in the righteousness of God with the gift of the Holy Ghost – God’s Spirit within us. (Acts 2:38, 2Corinthians 5:21,Titus 3:5, Ephesians 4:24, Philippians 3:9)

Romans 5:1 KJV - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Colossians 1:20-23)

Romans 5:9 KJV - Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

It does not matter what the sin was we once were involved in, when we repent and Jesus’ blood has washed our sins away by baptism in Jesus name, and we are filled with His Spirit, we are made righteous in God’s eyes. We are forgiven.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 KJV - Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators (sexual sin), nor idolaters (worship idols), nor adulterers, nor effeminate (male prostitutes), nor abusers of themselves with mankind (practice homosexuality), nor thieves, nor covetous (greedy people), nor drunkards, nor revilers (abusive), nor extortioners (cheat people), shall inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:11 KJV - And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified (made holy), but ye are justified (made right with God) in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Here are the verses:

Jesus Died

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;" - 1 Corinthians 15:1-3

Jesus Was Buried

"And that he was buried…" - 1 Corinthians 15:4

Jesus Rose Again

"And that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" - 1 Corinthians 15:4

We Must “Die”

"God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" - Romans 6:2

We Must Be “Buried”

"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..." - Romans 6:3-4

We Must “Rise Again”

"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 the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." - Romans 8:2

ACTS 2:38

"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

When we pray to Jesus, we are praying to God. Jesus is God’s name. He is our Father. (John 5:43, John 17:11)

John 14:7 KJV - If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Jesus explained to Philip, When you have seen me, you have seen the Father.

John 14:9 KJV - 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?

When we turn to Jesus in repentance, have our sins washed away by baptism in Jesus name, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we become the temple of God (Acts 2:38, 1Corinthians 3:16). The Spirit of God is within us, and at the same time fills the universe.

When we pray to God, we are not one god praying to another god. We are praying as a human body praying to the Spirit of God that is within our human body and is at the same time everywhere else.

The same is true when God overshadowed Mary and dwelt within a human body. Jesus’ body is the temple of God (John 2:19-21). He was not one god praying to another god. He was praying as a human body praying to the Spirit of God that is within His human body and at the same time fills the universe (1Kings 8:27).

Colossians 2:9 KJV - For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. [For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.]

On the original Pentecost (Shavuot/Festival of Weeks) there was a covenant made between God and the Jewish people. It was a marriage covenant. God became their husband. (Exodus 19:5-8, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Jeremiah 3:14, Isaiah 54:5)

The Apostle Paul made reference to this covenant in Romans 7:1-6 He explained how, according to the Law, God made a way of escape for His people the Jews out of their binding contract of the Law.

"Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband." - Romans 7:1-2 KJV

The way that God would release His people from the binding covenant of the Law was to die. But how could God die?? God robed Himself in flesh, born of a woman, and died on the cross. God released His people from their marriage contract with Him by the covenant of the Law by manifesting Himself in flesh, and His death, burial, and resurrection. (1Timothy 3:16)

“So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man." - Romans 7:1-3 KJV

Jesus, God manifest in flesh, came to die for His wife. (Acts 20:28, Ephesians 5:25-27, 31-32)

The church is God’s wife through His new covenant.

John the Baptist spoke of Christ as the bridegroom when Jesus was baptizing people into the new covenant. (John 3:29-30) Apostle Paul spoke of the Christ as our husband and the church as the bride of Christ through the new covenant. (2Corinthians 11:2)

The Jews enter into marriage with Christ – God manifest in flesh – by Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, and by their repentance, baptism in Jesus name, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost (God’s Spirit).

Apostle Paul explains how God made possible for His people the Jews to be released from the Covenant of the Law and enter into His New Covenant.

"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 KJV

The Jewish people are now free to enter the New Covenant of grace by marriage to their very own husband that has brought them grace, Jesus Christ - God manifest in the flesh - that rose from the dead. (John 1:17)

"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 7:5-6 KJV

On the Day of Pentecost when Peter preached to the Jews telling them that they had crucified their Lord and Christ, Peter’s words pierced their hearts.

"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

“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." - Acts 2:37-38, 41-42 KJV

Why did God choose the day of Pentecost as the day to first pour out His Spirit and begin His New Covenant Church?

The day of Pentecost was one of God's chosen holy days that His people were to present themselves in Jerusalem to offer a sacrifice. Pentecost was also called the “feast of weeks,” or “Shavuot.”

"Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:" - Deuteronomy 16:16 KJV

Because it was Pentecost, there were Jews from all over the world celebrating the holy day.

"And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven." - Acts 2:5 KJV

These Jews that were from other countries spoke the language of the country they were from.

As religious Jews, they would have also spoke Hebrew. Considering that the Roman Empire was in place in that day, the common language throughout the empire was Greek.

Jesus spoke of the promise of the Father – the Holy Ghost - to His disciples. (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4) It had been foretold by the prophet Joel.

"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 [languages], as the Spirit gave them utterance [the ability]." - Acts 2:1-4 KJV

God has chosen speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance [ability] as the sign of a person receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

"And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue [language], wherein we were born? ... we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God." - Acts 2:7-8, 11 KJV

It is only because God chose this holy day in which Jews from all over the world were present, that they realized this was the miraculous power of God. Otherwise, this great event of the outpouring of His Spirit would have been dismissed as nothing but a group of drunken Galilaeans.

"And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?  Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine." - Acts 2:12-13 KJV

"But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: for these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

“But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:" - Acts 2:14-18 KJV

Peter then preached to them the gospel. By the way, when Peter preached, he was most likely speaking and preaching to his fellow Jews in the Hebrew language, as Hebrew was the language used in their religious lives.

"Now when they heard this [the gospel], they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

“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 [the promise of the Father – the Holy Ghost] 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…

“And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." - Acts 2:37-42, 47 KJV

To be continued…

On the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Ghost was first poured out, all those that were filled with God’s Spirit were Jews. Some people think that when the church began, that the Jews were cut off from being God's people. We can see that this is not true.

Beginning in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost, all those that were added to the early church were Jewish. (Acts 2:5, Acts 2:41, Acts 5:14, Acts 6:7, Acts 8:1)

It wasn’t until Acts chapter 10 that any Gentiles came into the church, and God used an angel and a heavenly vision to Peter to make him realize that the gospel was not only for the Jews! (Acts 10:45, Acts 11:15,17-18, Acts 14:27, Acts 15:3)

And yet, on the Day of Pentecost when Peter preached the gospel for the first time, the Holy Ghost spoke through him saying that the promise was not only to the Jews and their children, but also to all those afar off – that being the gentiles! (Acts 2:39, Ephesians 2:13-22)

When God spoke to Jeremiah saying that He was going to make a new covenant, God spoke of this covenant being with the Jews. He also said that He would not cast off the seed of Israel for all that they have done.

"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: ... Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD." - Jeremiah 31:31, 37 KJV (see also Jeremiah 31:35-36)

God foretold in Jeremiah that He would bring a new covenant to His people that would be different from the covenant of the Law which they had broken, even though He was a husband to them. (Jeremiah 31:32)

Peter spoke to the apostles and elders of the yoke of commandments saying that neither they nor their fathers were able to bear it. (Acts 15:10, also Galatians 5:1)

Jesus described the yoke of the new covenant, giving the call to come to Him and to take on HIS yoke.

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30 KJV

The yoke of Jesus, which is the new covenant of the gospel, brings a spiritual rest for our soul. This rest is the Holy Ghost that God puts in our inward parts and writes His law in our hearts with.

Isaiah prophesied of the Holy Ghost, our spiritual rest of Jesus.

"For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear." - Isaiah 28:11-12 KJV

Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost how to enter into this rest of Jesus, by taking on His yoke of the new covenant.

"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

To be continued…

The day of Pentecost was the beginning of the New Covenant, God's Covenant of Grace.

In the Old Testament, the day of Pentecost (“Shavuot”) was the beginning of the old Covenant, when the Jewish people accepted God’s law at Mount Sinai.

The Prophet Jeremiah prophesied of God's New Covenant.

"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel;

“After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." - Jeremiah 31:31-34 KJV

In God’s Old Covenant, His law was written on tables of stone. In God’s New Covenant, God's law would be written in the heart of His people. And, in His New Covenant, God would remit the sins of His people.

The new covenant that Jeremiah prophesied of began on the Day of Pentecost with the outpouring of God’s Spirit, God writing His law on the hearts of His followers in the upper room, and Apostle Peter preaching the gospel of the new covenant for the very first time.

"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

Peter proceeded to preach the gospel to all the Jews gathered in Jerusalem for the holy day of Pentecost (Shavuot). He preached the gospel of Jesus – that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. Peter then preached how to obey the gospel.

"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

“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." - Acts 2:37-40 KJV

To be continued…

Pentecost Sunday is this coming Sunday, May 20, 2018. What is Pentecost Sunday? It is one of the three holy days in the Old Testament that God commanded His people to appear before Him. They would appear before the Lord at the Temple in Jerusalem.

"Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:" - Deuteronomy 16:16 KJV

We know the feast of unleavened bread as Passover, and the feast of weeks as Pentecost. The Hebrew names for these three holy days are Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot.

Shavuot means “Seven Weeks.” Pentecost means “the fiftieth day.” Pentecost is fifty days after Passover.

Shavuot is the celebration of the wheat harvest and the ripening of the first fruits, (the "Day of the First Fruits" the "Harvest Festival," but it’s primary celebration is commemorating the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. (The Jewish people call the Law, which is the first five books of the Old Testament, the Torah.)

Jewish sages have compared Shavuot to a wedding between God and the Jewish people. It is said that, Shavuot also means “oaths,” for on this day God and the Jewish people made an oath to each other.

Exodus 19:5-6 KJV - "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure [my own special treasure] unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel."

Exodus 19:7 KJV - "And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him."

Exodus 19:8 KJV - "And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD."

We can see why God chose the Day of Pentecost as the day to first pour out His Spirit and begin His New Covenant church.

To be continued…

God is a Spirit. His Spirit fills the universe. Yet, because of His love for His people, He desired to dwell among them.

At first, He dwelt among them in a tent in the wilderness. Then, King Solomon built Him a magnificent Temple in the city of Jerusalem. Even though God dwelt in a temple on earth, His Spirit was not contained just within that temple, for at the same time, God’s Spirit filled the whole universe.

Solomon spoke before all the people in his prayer of dedication of the Temple he built.

1 Kings 8:27 KJV - But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

God told Moses,

Exodus 29:45 KJV - And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.

Although God dwelt among His people in a tent and in the Temple, He desired a closer relationship with His people. The problem is, our sins separate us from God (Isaiah 59:2).

Only God could solve this problem. He did this by making Himself a temple of flesh and dwelling among His people as a man.

While the tent in the wilderness and the holy Temple in Jerusalem were both places of sacrifice (2Chronicles 7:12), God’s temple of flesh BECAME the sacrifice that would take away the sin of the world. (John 1:29, Colossians 2:14, 2Corinthians 5:19)

Because of God’s sacrifice of His temple of flesh and blood, WE can become a temple of God’s Spirit. (2Corinthians 5:19-20) When we love Jesus with all of our heart, soul, and might, turning away from sin, we can wash away the sin that separates us from God by being baptized in Jesus name. With a clean temple, we can receive His Spirit to live a holy life. (Acts 2:38) We become the temple of God.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 KJV - What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

When Jesus forgives us, a load is lifted off our shoulders.

Jesus forgives us and lifts our load of sin when we repent of our sins and are water baptized by immersion with His name “JESUS” called upon us.

"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 “remission” means “forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon).

"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." - Acts 22:16 KJV

"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." - Psalm 32:1

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." - Ephesians 4:31-32

When WE forgive OTHERS that have sinned against US, we KEEP that load of sin lifted off our shoulders.

"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." - Matthew 6:12 KJV ["and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us." - Matthew 6:12 NLT]

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." - Matthew 6:14-15 KJV ["If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins." - Matthew 6:14-15 NLT]

"She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." - Proverbs 31:26 KJV

"Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her." - Proverbs 31:28 KJV

"Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised." - Proverbs 31:30 KJV

A key to why God chose tongues to be the sign of a person receiving His Spirit, His Holy Ghost, is found in James 3:2-8.

"For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body." - James 3:2

"Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body." - James 3:3

"Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth." - James 3:4

"Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!" - James 3:5

"And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell." - James 3:6

"For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:" - James 3:7

"But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." - James 3:8

In these verses, the tongue is described as an “unruly evil” among the members of the body.

James declares, “the tongue can no man tame.”

No man can tame the tongue, but by a repentant heart and the desire to receive God’s Spirit, God can tame our tongue.

With words of praise, worship, and thanksgiving, Jesus will baptize a person with the Holy Ghost and they will speak in another tongue (language) as the Spirit of God speaks through them.

The tongue is the last thing to surrender to Jesus when we are allowing Him to fill us with His Spirit. When the Lord controls our tongue, it is a sign that we have given Him full control of our life!

Because the tongue is the last to surrender, it makes sense that tongues are the sign for being FILLED with the Holy Ghost.

"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

"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

Jesus is our Heavenly Father that put on flesh and blood to die for our sins. He revealed that through His name "Jesus" is healing, forgiveness, deliverance, miracles, and salvation.

"If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." - John 14:7

"Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us." - John 14:8

"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

"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 14:10

"Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake." - John 14:11

Mothers of faith.

The Bible instructs to teach a child the way he should go.

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6

Timothy was an apostolic preacher that assisted Apostle Paul in establishing many churches in the faith. He had been taught from a child the Word of God.

"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." - 2 Timothy 3:15

Apostle Paul recalled the genuine faith in Timothy, for he shared the faith that filled his grandmother and mother. This strong faith impacted Timothy’s life and ministry.

"When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also." - 2 Timothy 1:5

These mothers of faith impacted the life of not only Timothy - their son and grandson - but also the lives of many, as Timothy went forth to minister with Paul the Apostle.

"And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily." - Acts 16:5

Wonderful, Wonderful,

Jesus is to me,

Counsellor, Mighty God,

Prince of Peace is He.

Saving me, keeping me

from all sin and shame,

Wonderful is my Redeemer.

Praise His Name.

(Song By Haldor Lillenas)

(Isaiah 9:6, Job 19:25, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:38-39)

Jesus paid the price of suffering and death for our sins to make a way for us to be reconciled to Him. We have peace with Him by His blood if we obey the gospel.

"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. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;" - Colossians 1:20-23

What is the gospel?

"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 15:3-4

"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

We can walk with God once again, with His Spirit within us.

"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

The preacher pleads –

"And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation." - Acts 2:40

How can we respond?

"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 2:41-42

Repentance (turning from sin and turning to Jesus), water baptism by immersion in the name of Jesus for the washing away of sins, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost with the sign of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance, continuing steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine, not forsaking the assembling together… and so much the more, as you see the day approaching. (Acts 2:4, Hebrews 10:25)

In this weary world of trials, temptation, stress, and crises, Jesus offers us the promise of rest for our souls through His Spirit!

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30

We come to Jesus when we turn from the world of sin by repentance. We take His yoke upon us when we enter into covenant with Him by water baptism by immersion in JESUS name. We find rest for our souls when we receive the gift of His Spirit, the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Jesus in us. (John 14:17)

When the disciples received God’s Spirit on the day of Pentecost, they spoke with tongues.

"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 prophet Isaiah foretold of the pouring out of God’s Spirit He described it as the rest for the weary. We would speak in tongues as God speaks through us when we receive God's rest. God's Spirit, which is the Holy Ghost, is rest and refreshing for our souls.

"For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear." - Isaiah 28:11-12

The rest and refreshing of the Holy Ghost is for everyone, for Jesus is calling all to come to Him.

"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;" - Acts 3:19

"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

We have a promise to receive from Jesus! The rest and refreshing for our souls!

Church!

"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 (John 3:5, Acts 4:12)

Peter preached the gospel message of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus on the Day of Pentecost, and they too were baptized.

"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

Time for church!

“Spring up old well, within my soul, spring up old well and overflow, spring up old well, flow out through me, spring up old well, and set me free.”

"And from thence they went to Beer: that is the well whereof the LORD spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water. Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it:" - Numbers 21:16-17 KJV

The LORD said of the well to Moses, I will give them water. Jesus told the woman at the well, I will give them water.

"Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. ... Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." - John 4:10, 13-14 KJV

The Bible speaks of the rock in the wilderness. That Rock was Christ.

"Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; ... And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." - 1 Corinthians 10:1, 4 KJV

"Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. ... And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them." - Numbers 20:8, 11-12 KJV

This account of Moses striking the rock to make the water come out instead of believing and speaking to the rock, as God commanded, is what Jesus was referring to when He stood and cried on the last day of the feast. This was the last day of the feast of tabernacles, during the water drawing ceremony which commemorated the giving of water from the rock in the wilderness. Jesus, being the Rock, pours out His Spirit – “living water” – to those that believe and “honor Him as holy” – believing that Jesus is God revealed in flesh.

"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" - John 7:37-39 KJV

On the Day of Pentecost, after Jesus was glorified, He poured out His Spirit on the believers that were gathered in the upper room.

"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

The LORD had become our salvation. The believers recognized that Jesus was the Holy One of Israel in their midst. With joy they drew water from the wells of salvation – Jesus had begun to pour out His Spirit!

"Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; 'For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.' "["Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD, the LORD, is my strength and song; and he has become my yeshu`ah." - Isaiah 12:2 HNV (“Yeshu’ah” is the Hebrew word for “Jesus”. It means “LORD-Salvation”)]

"Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee." - Isaiah 12:3-6 KJV

When we have been born again, we have been born into royalty. Jesus has chosen us. We are of His royal priesthood. We belong to Him, His own special treasure.

We are born again when we are water baptized in Jesus name for the remission of sins and are filled with His Spirit, His Holy Ghost. (John 3:3, 5, Acts 2:38) This is how we are born of water and of the Spirit.

Before we were born again, we were in darkness. We were not His chosen people. We faced His judgment for our sins.

When Jesus called us, we turned to Him by repentance. When we were baptized for remission of our sins in His name, He brought us into His marvelous light of mercy, filling us with His Holy Spirit.

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." - 1 Peter 2:9-10

"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

Becoming the temple of God – Part Two

Just as Jesus’ body was born as the temple of God, our bodies become the temple of God when we repent, are baptized in Jesus name, and receive the Holy Ghost, which is God’s Spirit.

Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” This temple which Jesus spoke of is His body. (John 2:19-22)

Jesus’ body was destroyed when He died. He was buried, and on the third day He raised it up by His Spirit. (1Cor. 15:3-4)

To become the temple of God, our body must go through a similar process: we become dead to sin – we destroy our old sinful nature. We are buried with Jesus by baptism in His name, and we are raised to a new life by being filled with His Spirit. By this, we become the temple of God. (Rom. 6:2-6)

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 KJV - What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 KJV - Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV - 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.

The Body of Jesus the Temple of God – Part One

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

“Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

“But he spake of the temple of his body.

“When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said." - John 2:19-22 KJV

Jesus’ body is the temple of God’s Spirit. All the fullness of God is in His body.

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

When we worship Jesus, we are not worshipping a man – flesh – but rather the Spirit of God that dwells within the man.

We are not worshiping the temple, but rather the Spirit of God that dwells within the temple.

Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up”. This temple which Jesus spoke of is His body.

Jesus’ body was destroyed when He suffered the half-way death of the Roman whipping, and then hung on the cross to die.

They put His dead body in a tomb, and on the third day the Spirit of God raised His body from the dead.

Jesus, resurrected by His Spirit, showed Himself alive to many witnesses over the next forty days, and then ascended up to heaven.

Ten days later, on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit of Jesus returned to fill the hundred and twenty disciples that were praying in the upper room in Jerusalem.

On that day, their body became the temple of God. (To be continued, Part 2)

"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