Therefore His arm brought salvation

Throughout the Old Testament the arm of the Lord represents God's power, especially God’s redeeming power. (Exodus 6:6).

Then, Isaiah prophesied of the arm of the Lord bringing a much greater redemption. God would redeem all mankind out of the bondage of sin and death. (Hebrews 2:14-15).

"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

"And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me." - Isaiah 63:5 KJV

God saw that there was no man that could redeem, for there was no man that was without sin. The Spirit of God Himself would robe Himself in flesh - the arm of the Lord revealed - to die for our sins, reconciling us back to Himself. (Acts 20:28, 2Corinthians 5:19).

"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

When we read Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 53, we see the arm of the Lord revealed is Christ.

"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." - Isaiah 53:1, 3, 5 KJV

In the New Testament, Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled.

"But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: that the saying of Esaias [Isaiah] the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?" - John 12:37-38 KJV

"But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias [Isaiah] saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?" - Romans 10:16 KJV

To be continued…

Redeeming Power

 

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, hand, finger, eyes, ears, nose, face, back, and feet.

The arm of the Lord represents His power, especially His redeeming power.

"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

"Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased." - Exodus 15:16 KJV

"Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm." - Deuteronomy 9:29 KJV

"Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah." - Psalm 77:15 KJV

"O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory." - Psalm 98:1 KJV

To be continued…

Love not the world - lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life

"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

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." - Galatians 5:19-21 KJV

"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." - Galatians 5:24 KJV

We crucify our flesh when we repent of our sins.

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

We bury our crucified sinful nature when we are baptized in the name of Jesus.

"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism..." - Romans 6:4 KJV (Colossians 2:12).

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

When we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we begin a new life in Christ, to walk in the Spirit.

"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

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." - Galatians 5:16 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

"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." - 1 John 2:17 KJV

Jehovah is not a Jewish word for God.

 According to Jewish Virtual Library website,

“Some Christian scholars render the four-letter Name as "Jehovah," but this pronunciation is particularly unlikely. The word "Jehovah" comes from the fact that ancient Jewish texts used to put the vowels of the Name "Adonai" (the usual substitute for YHVH) under the consonants of YHVH to remind people not to pronounce YHVH as written. A sixteenth century German Christian scribe, while transliterating the Bible into Latin for the Pope, wrote the Name out as it appeared in his texts, with the consonants of YHVH and the vowels of Adonai, and came up with the word JeHoVaH, and the name stuck.” – From: Jewish Virtual Library.

We know His revealed name of salvation, that is above every name and which every knee will one day bow, is JESUS. (Acts 4:12, Philippians 2:9-10).

In the Old Testament in the King James Version, the four letters are usually translated as “LORD,” or “GOD.”

If we would like to change the word “Jehovah” in songs that we sing, we can substitute “my Jesus” instead…

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much

 

The Bible says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”. (James 5:16)

How can we be righteous, for the Bible says, "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" - Romans 3:10

It is by the gospel - the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus - that we can become 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

When we repent by turning from sin to Jesus, have our sins washed away by baptism in Jesus name, and receive His Holy Spirit in us, through Jesus we are made righteous. We have crucified and buried our sinful nature and put on Christ. (Acts 2:38, Romans 6:3-6, Romans 14:17)

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

Through Christ, our fervent prayers are powerful.

For example,

"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness." - Acts 4:31 KJV (Acts 4:29-31).

"Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him." - Acts 12:5 KJV

Peter was miraculously delivered from prison (to the surprise of the praying church). (Acts 12:6-17).

"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them." - Acts 16:25 KJV

Paul and Silas were miraculously delivered from prison. (Acts 16:16-40).

A disciple named Tabitha (Dorcas) was sick and died. Peter prayed for her, and she rose from the dead. (Acts 9:36-42).

"But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up." - Acts 9:40 KJV

"And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him." - Acts 28:8 KJV (Acts 28:7-9).

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me

We need to be ready to meet the Lord every day and every moment of our day. 

The devil would like to trip us up so we fall by giving into the temptations of our sinful nature, but we are not ignorant of his devices. 

Pick yourself up, brush yourself off (the sin) and start all over again. 

Jesus is merciful and hears our prayers asking for forgiveness and for His strength to overcome.

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." - Galatians 5:16.

How do we walk in the Spirit?

The first step is repentance – we are sorry for our sins and purpose in our heart and mind to turn our back on a sinful lifestyle.

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

When we were in the world, we fulfilled the lusts of our flesh and had for our destiny the wrath of God.

"Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air [the devil], the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation [conduct] in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." - Ephesians 2:2-3.

When we repent, we make a covenant with Jesus by water baptism in the name of Jesus. It is by His name JESUS in baptism that our sins are remitted.

"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins [He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name]." - Acts 10:43.

After repentance, we can also receive the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Jesus in us that gives us the power we need to overcome the lusts of our flesh. It is His Holy Ghost that gives us eternal life.

As Jesus had told His disciples, repentance and remission of sins was preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem (Luke 24:47):

"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.

When we receive God’s gift of His Holy Ghost, we can walk in His Spirit. (Acts 2:4).

The Acknowledgment of Sin

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 the Spirit (Acts 2:38), Satan does not want that person to grow up in Christ 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 acknowledgment 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. (Acts 2:4).

"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." - John 14:26 KJV

Sin is also revealed by the preaching of the word.

"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." - 1 Corinthians 1:21 KJV

 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 preached word sown in a person’s heart.

"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." - Mark 4:15 KJV

 How? By rebellion, disobedience, lack of submission, pride, arrogance, a haughty spirit, contentious, offended at the word…

 God calls the ministry His gifts to men. (Ephesians 4:8). They 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 4:11-16).

I am baptized in the name of Jesus so that I am born again of water.

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." - John 3:3 KJV

Jesus said to be born again, I must be born of water. Jesus was not talking about the water that comes out in a natural birth; He was talking about the water in a spiritual birth. Jesus said, we must be born AGAIN.

"Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" - John 3:4 KJV

Jesus answered Nicodemus,

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." - John 3:6-7 KJV

I must be born of water in order to enter into 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 KJV

How am I born of water?

I am born of water when I am water baptized by emersion in the name of Jesus.

Water baptism in the name of Jesus is what Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost when the church first began.

Peter preached how to be born of the water and of the Spirit and the door was opened to the kingdom.

"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

That day, those that heard the word were born again of the water and of the Spirit.

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

"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 2:42, 47 KJV

I believe in one God - His name is Jesus - the First and the Last

In the Old Testament, God declared He is the first and the last. He made it clear that beside Him there is no God; there is only one God. (Deuteronomy 6:4).

"Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." - Isaiah 44:6 KJV ["This is what the LORD says--Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD of Heaven's Armies: "I am the First and the Last; there is no other God." - Isaiah 44:6]

"Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last." - Isaiah 48:12 KJV

In the New Testament, God robed Himself in flesh to bring His new covenant of mercy through the gospel. Jesus died for our sins, was buried, but on the third day, He rose again, alive for evermore. Again, He declared He is the first and the last. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Acts 2:38-39).

"And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." - Revelation 1:17-18 KJV

"And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;" - Revelation 2:8 KJV

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last...I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." - Revelation 22:13, 16 KJV

There is only one God. His name is Jesus. He is the first and the last. The image of the invisible God. (Colossians 1:15).

 

Church!

 

Water baptism in the name of Jesus

What is water baptism in the name of Jesus?

It is the decision to turn our life to Jesus and our back on sin by repenting and being immersed in water in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins.

Water baptism in the name of Jesus, along with receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, is a covenant with Jesus. It is the new covenant. (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

The old covenant was made on Mount Sinai. It was made when God brought Israel out of Egypt.

The new covenant was made on Mount Calvary. It was made when God brought us out of sin.

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

On the Day of Pentecost, when the Jewish people were gathered to celebrate the giving of God’s Law written on tables of stone on Mount Sinai, the disciples of Jesus were gathered in an upper room awaiting the giving of God’s Spirit, the Law of God written in their hearts. (Jeremiah 31:33).

"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 KJV

On that day, Peter preached the first Gospel message, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

"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." - Acts 2:37-39 KJV

That day about three thousand Jews were baptized in the name of Jesus and filled with His Spirit, entering into the new covenant. (Romans 7:1-6).

"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 2:42, 47 KJV

Halloween

 

The what, who, how, and why of Acts 2:38

Why I am baptized in the name of Jesus.

I am baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of my sins.

The meaning of “remission” is: “forgiveness, pardon, of sins (properly, the letting them go, as if they had not been committed), remission of their penalty:” Thayer’s Greek Lexicon

Remission of sins is through the name of Jesus.

"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. [He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.]" - Acts 10:43

Jesus spoke to His disciples,

"Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." - Luke 24:46-47 KJV

Beginning in Jerusalem, Peter preached repentance and remission of sins in the name of Jesus.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 KJV

We claim the death of Jesus for ourselves when we repent and are baptized in the name of Jesus.

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." - Romans 6:3-4 KJV

Because of His death and burial applied to our life by repentance and water baptism in the name of Jesus, we receive the promise of the gift of His Spirit, the Holy Ghost, to live a new life in Christ.

Global Tracts UPCI link - 60 questions on the godhead

 https://globaltracts.com/2019/01/60-questions-on-the-godhead-2/

Repentance

What is the definition of repent?

“To change one's mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins” – Thayer’s Greek Lexicon

"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." [For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.] - 2 Corinthians 7:10 KJV 

We are not to continue in sin, every day repenting and continuing to sin. Repentance is turning from sin and turning to God.

"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 

Apostle Paul said,

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? [Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace?] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" [Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?] - Romans 6:1-2 

When Jesus healed the man that had been sick for thirty eight years He told him, now you are well; so stop sinning.

"Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more..." - John 5:14 

Jesus told the woman taken in adultery, go and sin no more.

"And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." - John 8:11 

The Birth of the Church

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 1:15, 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. 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.” (Matthew 16:19, 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 photo is from the Bible Study, "Exploring God's Word."

The took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus

Jesus spoke to His disciples letting them know He would not leave them. They could receive His Spirit, the Holy Ghost, and Jesus would be in them. He told them He would abide with them forever. (Acts 4:13).

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

We find that when we turn from our sins, giving our life to Jesus, covenanting with Him by baptism in His name, He promises He will fill us with His Spirit, the Holy Ghost. His Holy Ghost is a promise of the covenant we make with Him. (Acts 2:38-39).

Jesus told His disciples that His Spirit, the Holy Ghost, would give them power to be His witnesses.

"And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." - Acts 1:4-5 KJV

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

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." - Acts 1:8 KJV (Power to live godly and be witnesses: 2 Timothy 3:5, 2 Peter 1:3 Power to do miracles and be witnesses: Acts 4:31, Acts 4:33, Romans 15:19).

"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

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." - John 14:15 KJV

Joseph understood this. When Potiphar’s wife said to Joseph, “Lie with me” he refused. (Genesis 39:7-8).

Joseph saw this as a sin “against God.”

"How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" - Genesis 39:9 KJV

When David had Uriah the Hittite killed with the sword of the Ammonites, and took Uriah’s wife to be his wife, God told David, “thou hast despised me.” (2 Samuel 12:9-10).

"And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD…" - 2 Samuel 12:13 KJV

"He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him." - Proverbs 14:2 KJV

Stedfast -

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

Part 2 - Rosh Hashanah and the New Covenant

 

The commandments for the celebration of Rosh Hashanah include the offering of sacrifices. Because the Temple was destroyed in 70AD, many of the Old Testament laws, including the Rosh Hashanah commandments, cannot be kept today. Here are the Rosh Hashanah commandments:

"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD." - Leviticus 23:23-25 KJV

"Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God." - Numbers 10:10 KJV

The New Covenant brings the final sacrifice of Christ, God manifest in flesh, that is able to take away our sins, while the Old Covenant sacrifices could not. (1Corinthians 15:1-4, Acts 2:37-39).

"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. ... For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." - Hebrews 10:1, 4 KJV

"By the which will [For God’s will] we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all [once for all time]." - Hebrews 10:10 KJV

"He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

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 1:10-13 KJV (John 3:5).

We that have received Him look forward to the day when the trump of God will sound.

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 KJV

The Feast of Trumpets - the Jewish New Year

 Rosh Hashanah – the Jewish New Year

Tonight, begins the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah. It is the Jewish New Year, actually meaning “Head of the Year.”  The Bible calls it, Yom Teruah (Leviticus 23:24), or the Feast of Trumpets.

The holiday begins at sundown on September 6 and continues through nightfall on September 8. It is the start of the “High Holidays.” Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement – is a week later, with 10 Days of Repentance (or the Ten Days of Return) in between the two holidays. Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) is followed by Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles) and Simchat Torah. (Leviticus 23:26-44).

The central observance of Rosh Hashanah is the sounding of the shofar, the ram’s horn, on both days of the holiday. (Thus, the Feast of Trumpets). The shofar is blown 100 times each of the two days.

Much of the day is spent in synagogue, saying prayers from a prayer book and hearing readings from the Bible. (Genesis 21:1-34, Numbers 29:1-6, 1Samuel 1:1-2:10. Genesis 22:1-24, Numbers 29:1-6, Jeremiah 31:1-19).

"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD." - Leviticus 23:23-25 KJV

"Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God." - Numbers 10:10 KJV

Church!

On the Day of Pentecost, when the church first began, Peter preached the Gospel. He preached how Christ was crucified and died, was buried, and was resurrected.

"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.

“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 2:37-42 KJV

 

"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

Church!

And let them make me a sanctuary

 The Lord desires to dwell among His people.

The Lord spoke to Moses:

"And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." - Exodus 25:8 KJV

The Lord dwelt among His people in this sanctuary, from the time they were in the wilderness, until when King Solomon built and dedicated the temple in Jerusalem.

"Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house." - 2 Chronicles 7:1 KJV

Isaiah prophesied that God would one day inhabit human flesh and dwell among us. He came in His name Jesus. (Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 1:21-23, Isaiah 7:14, John 1:1, 14, Matthew 1:21, Acts 4:12, Philippians 2:9-11).

Jesus spoke to the Jews.

"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." - John 2:19-21 KJV

Jesus paid for our sins by His death so that He could not just dwell among us, but dwell within us.

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

By the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, we become His temple when we repent, are baptized in His name Jesus for the remission of our sins, and receive the gift of His Spirit within us. (Acts 2:38).

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" - 1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV

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

"…For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." - 2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV

"Conversation" - 'walk' i.e. manner of life, behavior, conduct.

There are a number of verses in the New Testament with the word “conversation” in them. Dictionary.com defines “conversation” as: “informal interchange of thoughts, information, etc., by spoken words; oral communication between persons; talk:”

This is our understanding of this word.

Dictionary.com has one more definition of conversation: “Obsolete. behavior or manner of living.” (“Obsolete” means: “no longer in general use; fallen into disuse:”)

This latter definition – “behavior or manner of living” is the meaning of “conversation” in the Bible. (Exception is Philippians 3:20 - the word “conversation” means “citizenship.”)

Thus, in the following verses, “conversation” means, according to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon: “‘walk,’ i.e. manner of life, behavior, conduct.” (Strong’s G391).

"For ye have heard of my conversation[G391] in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:" - Galatians 1:13 KJV

"That ye put off concerning the former conversation[G391] the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;" - Ephesians 4:22 KJV

"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation,[G391] in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." - 1 Timothy 4:12 KJV

"Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.[G391]" - Hebrews 13:7 KJV

"Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation[G391] his works with meekness of wisdom." - James 3:13 KJV

"But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;[G391]" - 1 Peter 1:15 KJV

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation[G391] received by tradition from your fathers;" - 1 Peter 1:18 KJV

"Having your conversation[G391] honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." - 1 Peter 2:12 KJV

"Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation[G391] of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation[G391] coupled with fear." - 1 Peter 3:1-2 KJV

"Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation[G391] in Christ." - 1 Peter 3:16 KJV

"And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation[G391] of the wicked:" - 2 Peter 2:7 KJV

"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation[G391] and godliness," - 2 Peter 3:11 KJV

The following verses also have the meaning of “conduct, manner of life, to conduct oneself, behave oneself:”

"For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward." - 2 Corinthians 1:12 KJV

"Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." - Ephesians 2:3 KJV

"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;" - Philippians 1:27 KJV

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." - Hebrews 13:5 KJV

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself

 

"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank…" - Daniel 1:8 KJV

We are in the world, but we are not of the world. (John 15:19, John 17:14-16).

"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 2:16 KJV (Galatians 5:19-21).

We have turned our back on sin, have had our sins washed away by baptism in the name of Jesus, and are filled with His Spirit, the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38, Acts 10:43).

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

We must daily purpose in our heart that we will not defile ourselves with the things of this world.

"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." - 1 John 2:17 KJV

The Bride of Christ: Called, Chosen, and Faithful.

 Called -

"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

"Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." - 2 Thessalonians 2:14 KJV

"That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory." - 1 Thessalonians 2:12 KJV

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

Chosen -

"But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:" - 2 Thessalonians 2:13 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:" - 1 Peter 2:9 KJV

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

"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." - John 15:19 KJV

"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." - 2 Timothy 2:4 KJV

Faithful -

"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:" - Ephesians 1:1 KJV

"Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." - Revelation 2:10 KJV

"His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." - Matthew 25:23 KJV

 

"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful." - Revelation 17:14 KJV