God is a Spirit (John 4:24). We are humans. God speaks to us in our human terms so that we can understand Him.

In the Old Testament, before God made Himself a body to live and die in (Hebrews 2:14), He was invisible (1 Timothy 1:17). Yet speaking in terms that we could understand, He spoke of His arm (Deuteronomy 26:8), His eyes (Proverbs 15:3), His ears (2 Samuel 22:7), and so on.

We as humans understand that an arm speaks of strength and power (God is omnipotent – all powerful), eyes speak of seeing (God is omnipresent – everywhere), and ears speak of hearing (God is omniscient –knowing all things). Each human feature used, communicates to us a feature of God’s Spirit.

In our humanity, we understand that while a man has numerous titles and features, a man is still one man. A man that has children is a father. A man is also a son. A man has the spirit of man. A man expresses himself by his word. A man has a name. With many titles and features, he is still only one man.

God through His creation is our Heavenly Father (Malachi 2:10). When God created a body of flesh to dwell in so He could be the necessary blood sacrifice for man's sin, He became the Son (Colossians 1:13-22). God is a Spirit (John 4:24) and He is holy (Psalm 99:9), so He is the Holy Spirit (1Thessalonians 4:8). God expresses Himself by His Word (Matthew 4:4). God's name is Jesus - His name above every name (Matthew 1:21, Ephesians 1:21-23, Philippians 2:10-11). With many titles and features, God is still only one God (Ephesians 4:6).

Church!

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:

And so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." - Hebrews 10:23-25 KJV

("Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." - Hebrews 10:23-25 NLT)

Satan, the god of this world, blinds the minds of the lost, preventing them from believing the gospel.

"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

If we want souls to believe and obey the gospel so that they can be saved, we must take up the weapons of warfare against the devil, the god of this world.

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" - 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

In order to participate in spiritual warfare we must be prepared by obeying the gospel ourselves – we must repent, be baptized in Jesus name for the remission of our sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)

We must take a stand for truth and righteousness, and walk by faith. The Word of God is our sword, so we need to be familiar with it so we can use it skillfully, as Jesus did when the devil came to him in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11)

Our weapons include prayer. We are to pray in the Spirit. We must pray for souls to be saved and pray for those that are ministering to souls. Travailing prayer births souls into the kingdom of God. (Ephesians 6 10-20, Galatians 4:19, Psalms 126:5-6)

"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

Who is righteous?

"And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." - Matthew 25:46 KJV

The Bible says it is the righteous that will have eternal life.

The Bible also says no one is righteous.

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" - Romans 3:10 KJV

So, who can have eternal life, if we must be righteous, and in God’s eyes none are righteous?

The Bible speaks of sin and death entering mankind by Adam.

"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." - Romans 5:19 KJV (Romans 5:17-18, 21)

By Christ, humanity has the hope of being made righteous!

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." - 2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV

How then can we be made righteous – the righteousness of God – so that we may have eternal life?

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV

When we are IN Christ, we are made righteous.

"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" - 1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV

How do we get IN Christ?

"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." - Galatians 3:27 KJV

We are BAPTIZED INTO Christ!

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" - Romans 6:3 KJV

When we are baptized INTO Jesus Christ, we are baptized INTO His death. We crucify our old man of sin with his lusts. 

We do this by thoroughly repenting of our sins, regretting that we committed them, letting Jesus know we are sorry.

"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." - Romans 6:6 KJV

We turn our back on sin, and purpose to live our life for Jesus. We make a covenant with Him when we are baptized in Jesus name for the remission of our sins. We are baptized into Jesus and baptized into death to sin when we are buried with Him by baptism.

"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." - Romans 13:14 KJV

"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." - 1 Peter 2:24 KJV

"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." - Romans 6:4 KJV

When we receive the gift of His Holy Ghost, we are filled with the glory of the Father to walk in newness of life. We have put on Christ.

When we have put on Christ, we are filled with the righteousness of His Spirit.

"That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man [your old sinful nature and your former way of life], which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind [let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes]; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness [which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness]." - Ephesians 4:22-24 KJV

"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." - Romans 8:9 KJV

"And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin [even though your body is subject to death because of sin]; but the Spirit is life [gives life] because of righteousness." - Romans 8:10 KJV

We have the promise of His Spirit (the Holy Ghost/the Spirit of Christ) when we repent of our sins, and are baptized in His name Jesus for the remission of our sins.

"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

What is “the world” and what does the Bible say about it?

One of the meanings of the “world” is “the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages, pleasures, etc, which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ.” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

The Bible says,

"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." - 1 John 2:15-16 KJV

Another translation,

“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.” - 1 John 2:15-16 NLT

Jesus was in the world, and overcame the world.

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

He made a way by His death, burial, and resurrection for us also to overcome the world. We take up our cross and follow Jesus by crucifying our sinful nature by repentance, burying our old nature by water baptism in Jesus name, and rising with the infilling of His Spirit with power to overcome the temptations of this 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 have a new life in Jesus, no longer ruled by the devil and the things of this world.

Another definition of world, pertaining to the next two verses is, "the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ" (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

"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

By Jesus’ name, His blood, and His Spirit, we have God’s power to overcome this world.

"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

When God said, “Let us make man in our image” who was God speaking to?

God was speaking to the angels.

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." - Genesis 1:26

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." - Genesis 1:27

Where does it say in the Bible that God and the angels make appearances in the form of man?

The Bible tells us that the LORD appeared to Abraham along with two angels. They appeared to Abraham as three men.

"And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground," - Genesis 18:1-2

You can read why they appeared to Abraham and the conversation they had in the rest of chapter 18. After a certain point, the two angels left to go to Sodom.

"And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way." - Genesis 18:16

The third man remained to finish talking with Abraham. Who was this third man?

"And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD." - Genesis 18:22

The Bible is telling us in this verse, that Abraham stood yet before the LORD. The LORD appeared in the form of man to Abraham.

Where in the Bible does it say that the other two men that left Abraham and went to Sodom were angels?

It tells us this in the first verse of the next chapter:

"And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;" - Genesis 19:1

Because angels appear to us in the image of man, we can understand this verse:

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." - Hebrews 13:2

Abraham showed hospitality to angels without being aware of it. Lot also entertained angels unaware. Man was made in the image of God and of angels. Abraham and Lot entertained angels unawares because the angels appeared to them as men. After Abraham entertained the two angels, Lot entertained them when they came to Sodom.

"And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat." - Genesis 19:2-3

We too may have entertained angels unawares.

What is the Son of God?

Our Father made Himself a body without sin for the purpose of redeeming humanity from eternal death. This holy flesh of God is called the Son of God. This body of God is called the only begotten Son because this is the only body that was BORN FROM THE WOMB the Son of God.

"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [revealed] him." - John 1:18 KJV

While Jesus was born the Son of God, we must be born again to become a son of God.

"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." - John 1:12-13 KJV

We BECOME sons of God when we are born of WATER and of the SPIRIT.

"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 KJV

The SON is the holy BODY of the Father.

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

[“The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.” - Luke 1:35 NLT]

The Father's name is upon this body. His name above every name is JESUS.

"I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive." - John 5:43 KJV

The Father's Spirit is within this body.

"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 KJV

WE become sons of God when the Father's name “JESUS” is placed upon us in water baptism in "JESUS" name (born of water); and when the Father's Spirit is placed within us when we receive His Holy Ghost (born of the 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." - Acts 2:38 KJV

When we are born again of water and of the Spirit by obeying Acts 2:38, we become sons of God.

"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 KJV

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." - 1 John 3:1-2 KJV

"And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." - 1 John 3:3 KJV

Please note: The Son is NOT deity (God). The Son is flesh and blood. The Father that is WITHIN the Son (WITHIN the body/flesh of God) IS DEITY. (John 14:7-11) All the fullness of God was WITHIN Christ, the Son of God. (Colossians 2:8-9) [Constantine deified the Son of God, making Him a second god in his triune creation at the councils of Nicaea, along with his changing baptism in Jesus name to the trinity formula Father Son and Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19 the NAME), infant baptism, etc. etc. etc.] Just as when we receive His Spirit, the Holy Ghost, WE are not God, but God is WITHIN our flesh/body. When we pray, it is our flesh praying to the Spirit of God that is within us and at the same time in heaven, filling the universe. Just as when Christ prayed, it was His flesh praying to the Spirit of God that is WITHIN Him, and at the same time in heaven, filling the universe. NOT one god praying to another god! There is only one God - His name is Jesus.

CHURCH!

Sunday was the first day of the creative week.

"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day." - Genesis 1:3-5 KJV

It was also on Sunday, the first day of the week, that Jesus was resurrected.

"In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. ... And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." - Matthew 28:1-2, 5-6 KJV

What an appropriate day to have church! It is a day to celebrate the Light of the world! To remember the judgment of our sins on His cross, and the mercy of His resurrection!

It is a day to celebrate our Savior bringing us from darkness and judgment into His marvelous light of His love and mercy!

It is a day to celebrate our personal resurrection from the dead!

To celebrate the washing away of our sins by the death, burial, and the blood of Jesus Christ! To celebrate receiving the Holy Ghost, the infilling of Jesus’ Spirit!

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:" - Romans 6:3-5 KJV

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." - John 8:12 KJV

"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." - 2 Corinthians 4:6 KJV

"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 4:4 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." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

"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 KJV

CHURCH!

Satan does not want a person to be saved. If a person has made it into the kingdom of God by being born again of water and of Spirit (Acts 2:38), Satan does not want that person to grow up in Christ and to become fruitful and used by the Lord in ministry.

One way to keep a believer from growing in the Lord, is to keep them from the knowledge of sin in their life.

Sin is revealed by the Holy Ghost working in a person’s life and directing them in paths of righteousness and holiness. Sin is also revealed by the preaching of the word.

John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

1 Corinthians 1:21 “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

Both of these ways make it clear to a person what things in their life are sin, allowing them to repent, turn away from these things, and to remove sin from their life.

If a person refuses to recognize something in their life as sin that the Lord has revealed to them as sin, that person cannot repent of that sin. It remains in their life. That person’s growth in the Lord is stifled. Their use in the kingdom is limited. They risk shutting the door for entrance into ministry.

According to the Bible, it is Satan that takes away the word sown in a person’s heart.

Mark 4:15 “And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.”

Luke 8:12 “Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.”

Here are a few methods to accomplish this: the spirit of rebellion, disobedience, lack of submission, pride, arrogance, a haughty spirit…

Ezekiel, a minister and prophet of God, was called to be a watchman to Israel.

Ezekiel 3:17 “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.”

God refers to his pastors (“elders”) as shepherds.

1 Peter 5:1-5 “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

God calls the ministry His gifts to men. These gifts are for the perfecting of the saints (believers). They are for the purpose to help believers to grow up spiritually. They are to equip believers so they will be able to stand against the wiles of the devil and not be deceived by false doctrines. They are to teach believers to operate in love as one body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:8 “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”

Ephesians 4:11-16 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

Part 3

First comes the natural, then the spiritual. We see the Law and customs pointing to Christ.

On Yom Kippur, before the afternoon prayer service, another custom of the Jews is for all men to receive "lashes." "These symbolic lashes humble the recipient and remind him to repent."

The lashes that Christ received before He was offered as a sacrifice of atonement for our sins on the cross were more than symbolic. Jesus received the cruel and inhuman scourging from the Romans (the “half-way death”) in our place for OUR sins and for our healing. (Philippians 2:5-11)

"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 53:5 KJV

"He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken." - Isaiah 53:8 KJV

The goat that was offered as the sacrifice for the yearly atonement was to be carried outside of the camp.

"And the bullock for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall one carry forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung." - Leviticus 16:27 KJV

"And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst." - John 19:17-18 KJV

"For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach." - Hebrews 13:11-13 KJV

The Bible says that the Law (Mosaic) was a shadow of things to come.

"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect." - Hebrews 10:1 KJV

"But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." - Hebrews 10:3-4 KJV

"But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." - Hebrews 9:11-12 KJV

"By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." - Hebrews 10:10 KJV

By our repentance and baptism in Jesus name, we claim His blood that He shed in His death for our sins.

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" - Romans 6:3 KJV

"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." - Romans 6:4 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." - Acts 2:38 KJV

Part 2

In the Bible, first comes the natural, then the spiritual. (1Corinthians 15:46)

Jesus fulfilled many things from the Old Testament.

"And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures," - Luke 24:44-45 KJV

One of the things Christ fulfilled was the sacrifices.

Today has been the celebration of the Day of Atonement. It began last night several minutes before sunset on Tuesday, Sept 18, until after nightfall on Wednesday, September 19. It is called in Hebrew, “Yom Kippur.”

It is interesting that the Hebrew word for “atonement” (Strong’s H3722) is the same Hebrew word that is translated as “pitch” which was used on Noah’s ark, which was a type and shadow of baptism. (1Peter 3:20-21). The word “atonement” means “to cover, to cover over,” “to cover sins, i.e. to pardon.” (Gesenius’ Lexicon). "Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch[H3722] it within and without with pitch." - Genesis 6:14 KJV

On the Day of Atonement, a blood sacrifice of a goat was offered by the High Priest to push ahead the sins of the Jewish people for another year.

"And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation." - Leviticus 16:33 KJV

On the Day of Atonement a lot was cast on two goats.

"And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness." - Leviticus 16:7-10 KJV

It is interesting that Pilate put Jesus and Barabbas before the people to choose which would be crucified and which would be set free. The name “Barabbas” is a Hebrew name which means “son of the father.” So the choice to the crowd was Jesus the Son of the Father, or Barabbas the son of the father. The crowd chose Barabbas to be set free, and Jesus to die. This was a similar scenario as the two goats on the Day of Atonement; one was set free, and the other was to die.

Interestingly, the story of the prophet Jonah is customarily read on Yom Kippur.

Jesus made mention of Jonah when He spoke of His death.

"For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." - Matthew 12:40 KJV

To be continued…

We find natural events taking place in the Bible that are a metaphor (symbolic) of spiritual events that later take place.

"Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual." - 1 Corinthians 15:46 KJV

The event of Noah and the flood is a metaphor of the church and water baptism.

God told Noah to build the ark with one door.

"A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it." - Genesis 6:16 KJV

While the door in the ark was a natural door to save those that entered from God's judgment by water, Jesus is the spiritual door to enter the church to save us from God's judgment by fire.

"I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved..." - John 10:9 KJV

"Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." - 2 Peter 3:6-7 KJV (see also: 2Thessalonians 1:7-10)

We enter the church through Jesus by water baptism in Jesus name. By covenanting with Jesus by repentance and water baptism in Jesus name, we are saved. When we are baptized in Jesus name, He promises the gift of His Spirit. We find life, and have it more abundantly. (Acts 2:38, Acts 2:47, John 10:10)

Peter compares the natural, the water in the days of Noah, and the spiritual, the water in baptism in Jesus name.

"Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

“The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" - 1 Peter 3:20-21 KJV

Just as water washed away a wicked world in the days of Noah, water washes away our sins in baptism in Jesus name. And just as eight souls – Noah, his wife, their three sons and their wives – were saved by water because they went into the ark, lifted above the death that the rest of the world faced from their sin, we are saved by water because we come into the church by baptism in Jesus name, lifted above the death that the rest of the world faces from their sin.

"And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;" - 2 Peter 2:5 KJV

We are saved by water baptism in Jesus name. Our sins are remitted by water baptism in Jesus name.

"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

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." - Mark 16:16 KJV

"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

"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." - Matthew 6:10

What is the kingdom of God?

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." - Romans 14:17

The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom.

"Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." - Luke 17:21

It is a kingdom of power which comes from the Holy Ghost – the Spirit of God within us. It is a life changing power.

"For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." - 1 Corinthians 4:20

"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

How do we enter the kingdom of God?

"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

"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." - John 3:8

When did this sound as of a wind and of the Spirit happen?

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

Peter preached the gospel of Jesus on this day of Pentecost. When the people asked, What shall we do? Peter told them how to be born of water and of the 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." - Acts 2:38

We are born of water when we are water baptized in Jesus name. We are born of the Spirit when we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (the Spirit). This is how we enter the kingdom of God. This is how the kingdom of God is within us. This is how we obey the gospel.

"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."

The Lord is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." - 2 Peter 3:9b

It is God’s will that all repent and come into His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.

"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." - Matthew 24:14

Don’t wait – obey the gospel of the kingdom - Acts 2:38

Satan has evil schemes to destroy us, but we can learn and not be tricked by him.

"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices." - 2 Corinthians 2:11 KJV [“so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.” - 2 Corinthians 2:11 NLT]

We learn from Matthew 16:21-23 that satan opposes the gospel.

"From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day." - Matthew 16:21

Satan did not want Jesus to give his life and save all of humanity.

"Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee." - Matthew 16:22

Jesus recognized that satan was speaking to Him through Peter. Jesus called Peter, one of His closest disciples, “Satan”!

"But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." - Matthew 16:23

We learn two things from this:

1. Satan opposes the gospel – Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection. We can conclude that satan does not want anyone to obey the gospel either. We can expect opposition from satan anytime a person is going to repent of their sins, be baptized IN THE NAME OF JESUS, and is seeking to be filled with the Holy Ghost.

"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 KJV (Note: “the god of this world” is satan.)

2. Satan will use even those closest to us to attack us and try to keep us from doing God’s will. Knowing this is a tactic of satan makes us realize who our enemy is. It is not people! It is satan!

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." - Ephesians 6:12 KJV

[“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." - Ephesians 6:12 NLT]

"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 church began on the Day of Pentecost. In obedience to Jesus, one hundred and twenty of His followers were gathered in the upper room awaiting the promise of the Holy Ghost. When the Day of Pentecost was fully come, Jesus poured out His Spirit and they all began to speak in other tongues as His Spirit gave them the utterance. (Acts 2:4)

Filled with the Holy Ghost and with the keys of the kingdom of heaven given to him by Jesus, Peter preached the first gospel message. (Matthew 16:19, Acts 2:22-24) At the conclusion, he declared what we must do to be saved – “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)

From that point on, the church 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 2:42, 47)

*This chart is from the Bible Study, "Exploring God's Word."

Part 10 Divers kinds of tongues

“Divers kinds of tongues” is one of the nine spiritual gifts given to believers to minister to the church body.

What does the Bible say about “spiritual gifts”?

"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. ... Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ... For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:" - 1 Corinthians 12:1, 4, 8-10 KJV

There are nine “spiritual gifts” in this list. These gifts are given to MINISTER to the church and to help the church body grow spiritually. In order for a person to be used to minister in any of these spiritual gifts, a person must have received the Holy Ghost first, speaking in tongues as the Spirit gave them the utterance.

The spiritual gift of “divers kinds of tongues” mentioned in this list is what some people call the gift of tongues. This gift, like the rest of the spiritual gifts, is used to MINISTER to the church by giving the WHOLE CHURCH BODY a message – like a trumpet. It must be ministered along with the “gift of interpretation of tongues” so the church body can understand the message in their own language, receiving comfort, exhortation, and encouragement.

A person does not need to be used in any of these spiritual gifts to be saved. A person DOES need to receive the Holy Ghost to be saved, and they WILL speak in tongues when they receive 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 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

Part 9 Peter’s Testimony of How the Gentiles Received the Holy Ghost

The apostles and Jewish believers in Jerusalem were criticizing Peter for breaking the Jewish law by going into the home of a Gentile. Peter gave them his testimony of how God poured out the gift of His Holy Ghost on the Gentiles, just as God poured out His Spirit on them.

He told them of his heavenly vision with a voice speaking to him, three men from Cornelius a Gentile arriving from Caesarea, the Spirit directing Peter to go with them, and his taking six Jewish brethren with him to the house of Cornelius.

"And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved." - Acts 11:13-14

It was Peter’s testimony of the sign of speaking in tongues that made it clear to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem that God had accepted the Gentiles for salvation.

Peter told them,

"And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning." - Acts 11:15

How did the Holy Ghost fall on Peter and the rest of the apostles and brethren 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)

Peter told the Jewish believers in Jerusalem,

"Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?" - Acts 11:17

Based on Peter’s testimony, the Jewish believers in Jerusalem accepted the Gentile believers.

"When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." - Acts 11:18

It was that Cornelius and his household spoke in tongues that finalized Peter’s testimony to the Jewish believers at Jerusalem. The Gentiles received the Holy Ghost just like they did, speaking with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

[To read the full account of when the Gentiles first received the Holy Ghost and were baptized in Jesus name, see Acts chapter 10.]

How do I receive the gift of 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. 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

“Repent” here means, “To change one's mind, i.e. to repent”, and “to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

A person can receive the Holy Ghost before or after water baptism. Repentance, however, must come first.

We come to Jesus by faith.

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." - Hebrews 11:6

By repentance, we turn our heart, our mind, and our life to Jesus and away from sin.

Jesus gave His life for us, because He loves us. He loves us so much, that a suffered and died for us, so our sins could be forgiven. On the third day Jesus rose from the dead.

Now we can receive God’s Spirit in us. (God's Spirit is the Spirit that is in Christ. God's Spirit is also called the Spirit of Christ, the Sprit of Jesus, the Spirit if God, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, the Spirit. God is a Spirit. His NAME is Jesus.)

A good place for a person to receive the Holy Ghost is at church, when there is an “altar call”. This is a call to those that love Jesus, that want to give their life to Him, and want to receive the gift of His Spirit. (As well as a place of prayer and thanksgiving for every other need.)

At church, our minds are focused on God. We are in an atmosphere where other people also have their minds on God.

In this setting of prayer, worship, and the message of the word of God, it is easier to feel the presence of Jesus.

When we go to the altar, we often find others who will pray with us, worshiping with us, and encouraging us as we draw closer into God’s presence.

We receive God’s Spirit when we focus our whole attention on Jesus and His love for us. By our worship and thanksgiving, we draw closer to Him and He draws closer to us. (James 4:8)

It seems when we raise our hands in praise and worship, we are reaching out to Him, praising Him, and receiving Him.

When we worship and talk to Him, we communicate our heart and love.

With our mind, our heart, our hands, and our voice focused on Jesus and how much we love Him, the presence of the Lord comes upon us. We feel His love and peace.

Sometimes there is a feeling of humility in the awesome presence of His holiness. Sometimes we have tears of thanksgiving. When we humble our self before the Lord, He lifts us up.

To allow Jesus to fill us with His Spirit, we must allow Him to change our words, our tongue.

This requires trust in the Lord. This requires wanting His Spirit more than our pride of speaking in a tongue we do not know. It requires letting go to God and not trying to take control our self.

When we surrender to God, He fills us with His Spirit.

Jesus can fill us with His Spirit wherever we are that we allow Him to fill us with His Spirit.

We can receive His Spirit in a house, in a car, on a mountain top, in a valley.

Receiving the Holy Ghost takes us to a dimension of peace, joy, and love that we will not want to leave.

It is a place we can return to.

When Jesus fills us with His Spirit, His Holy Ghost, He not only gives us peace, joy, and love, but He also gives us the power to live our lives pleasing to Him. By His Spirit, we can live our life with victory over sin.

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." - Hebrews 10:23-25 KJV

("Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." - Hebrews 10:23-25 NLT)

Part 7 There is a difference between the gift of the Holy Ghost and the gift of tongues. The gift of the Holy Ghost is a promise to us when we repent of our sins and are baptized in Jesus name for the remission of our sins.

"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

The gift of the Holy Ghost (the Spirit) is necessary for salvation.

"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." - Romans 8:9

When people receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, they speak with other tongues.

They spoke in other tongues when they received the gift of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost.

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

They spoke in other tongues at the house of Cornelius when they received the gift of Holy Ghost.

"And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God." - Acts 10:45-46a

John the Baptist’s disciples spoke with other tongues when they received the gift of the Holy Ghost.

"And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." - Acts 19:6

The gift of tongues is different from the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is one of the gifts of the Spirit given to believers for the edifying of the church.

“Edifying” means, “(the act of) building, building up, a metaphorically, edifying, edification, i.e. the act of one who promotes another's growth in Christian wisdom, piety, holiness, happiness” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

“It expresses the strengthening effect of teaching… (the idea conveyed is progress resulting from patient effort)”. (Vine’s Expository Dictionary)

It is not necessary to have the gift of tongues for salvation, or any of the other gifts of the Spirit, which are all used for edifying the church, the body of Christ.

In the following verse, Paul is speaking to the Corinthian church about two of the gifts of the Spirit. He is talking to them about the gift of tongues, and the gift of prophecy.

"I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying." - 1 Corinthians 14:5

“Prophesieth” means, “to break forth under sudden impulse in lofty discourse or praise of the divine counsels, or (for the above verse), under like prompting, to teach, refute, reprove, admonish, comfort others (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

"To be a prophet, to prophesy," is used (a) with the primary meaning of telling forth the Divine counsels (Vine’s Expository Dictionary)

It is necessary for the gift of tongues to be used with the gift of the interpretation of tongues, in order for the church to be edified. If there is no interpretation of the message in tongues, then no one understands what has been said, and the church is not edified, which is the purpose of the various gifts of the Spirit.

"If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret." - 1 Corinthians 14:27

Part 6 The Holy Ghost in Samaria

"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

"... And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles." - Acts 8:1

"As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word." - Acts 8:3-4 KJV

What Jesus said of Samaria was about to be fulfilled!

"Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them." - Acts 8:5

"And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city." - Acts 8:6-8

"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

They were baptized in Jesus name – yet they had not received the gift of the Holy Ghost.

"Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (for as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)" - Acts 8:14-16

Receiving the Holy Ghost is so important, that the apostles sent Peter and John on a special trip from Jerusalem to Samaria to pray for the people to receive the Holy Ghost!

"Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost." - Acts 8:17

"And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans." - Acts 8:25

Part 5 Where else in the Bible did people speak in other tongues when they received the Holy Ghost?

In the book of Acts chapter 19, Apostle Paul came upon disciples of John the Baptist. These disciples had been baptized unto repentance, for this is what John the Baptist preached. They had not been baptized in Jesus name. Neither had they received the gift of the Holy Ghost. Paul discovered this in his conversation with them.

"And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, he said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost." - Acts 19:1-2

Paul then checked out their baptism.

"And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism." - Acts 19:3

Paul found out two things from their reply. First, these disciples knew about the Holy Ghost. They just weren’t aware that the Holy Ghost had begun to be poured out.

How did these disciples of John know about the Holy Ghost? Because John the Baptist preached about it:

"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:" - Matthew 3:11

The second thing Paul found out from their reply is that their baptism was simply one of repentance, for John the Baptist baptized with water “unto repentance.”

What was Paul’s answer to them?

"Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." - Acts 19:4

What was there response?

"When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." - Acts 19:5

Here is an example of people being re-baptized. Even though they had already been baptized once, because they had not been baptized in Jesus name, they got re-baptized.

These men had now been born of water, partially obeying the Gospel. They now needed to be born of the Spirit to fully obey the Gospel.

"And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." - Acts 19:6

Here is yet another example of people speaking in other tongues when they received the gift of the Holy Ghost.

They were now in obedience to the gospel. These men had now entered into the New Covenant.

Part 4 Tongues and Cornelius the Gentile

There was a devout man, pious and godly, that was a gentile. He was a God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generous donations to the needs of the Jewish people. He faithfully prayed to God. (Acts 10:2) Anyone that knew Cornelius must have thought he had a special place in heaven.

Yet, Cornelius was not saved.

Because Jesus loves us all so much, Jesus went to great lengths to bring a man of God, a preacher of the gospel, with the message of salvation to Cornelius. One day, while Cornelius was fasting and praying to God, he had a heavenly vision. God told him to send to Joppa for a man named Peter. (Acts 10:3-23)

Cornelius gathered all his family and close friends together at his house, in anticipation of Peter’s arrival. When Peter arrived, Cornelius told him, “Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.”

As Peter preached the gospel, the Holy Ghost fell on all those which heard the word. (Acts 10:44)

How did Peter know that these gentiles had received the Holy Ghost?

Because Peter and those brethren that had come with him heard Cornelius and all his household speaking in tongues!

Peter later testified to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem, telling them Cornelius and his household received the Holy Ghost just as they had received the Holy Ghost on the Day of Pentecost.

"And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning." - Acts 11:15

When Cornelius and his household received the Holy Ghost, Peter COMMANDED them that they be baptized in Jesus name. They had received the promised gift (the Holy Ghost), but they had not entered into the covenant! They needed to enter the covenant by being water baptized in Jesus name!

"Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" - Acts 10:47

"And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days." - Acts 10:48

Part 3: Where in the Bible did people speak in other tongues when they received the Holy Ghost?

The first place that people spoke in other tongues as a sign that they had been filled with the Holy Ghost was in the upper room in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost.

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ... 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

There are some people that teach that the reason why the disciples in the upper room spoke in tongues, they say was so the hundred and twenty disciples could preach to all the different languages that were present. This is not true.

On the Day of Pentecost, Jews were gathered from nations from all over the world to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple for this special holy day. (Deuteronomy 16:16) These Jews most likely spoke Hebrew, their religious language, as well as probably speaking either Latin or Greek, the languages of the Roman Empire. In addition, these Jews also spoke the language of the country they were from. (Acts 2:5-6)

"And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. ... And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?" - Acts 2:5-6, 12

Apostle Peter, standing up with the other eleven apostles, was the preacher on the Day of Pentecost. He began his Gospel message to the multitudes that had gathered by explaining that what they had just witnessed had been prophesied by the prophet Joel. (Joel 2:28)

Speaking in tongues on the day of Pentecost was not for the purpose of preaching. The speaking in tongues was a sign that the Spirit had been poured out on believers.

"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;" - Acts 2:14-16

"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:" - Acts 2:17

Peter concluded his message by letting all the Jews know that they could receive the Holy Ghost, just as the hundred and twenty disciples did that were in the upper room.

"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

Henceforth, tongues would be the sign of the infilling of the Holy Ghost.

"And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning." - Acts 11:15 (Acts 10:44-46)

To be continued…