Pentecost Part 8

Pentecost Part 8

When Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus by night, Jesus told him he must be born again to  see the kingdom of God.

Jesus then told him, 

"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

Jesus then revealed there would be a sound when a person is born of the Spirit!

"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 

Jesus compared the Spirit with the wind. We cannot see the wind because it is invisible. But, we can hear the sound of the wind as it blows through the trees. We cannot see the Spirit of God. But, we can hear the sound of His Spirit as it fills a person. 

We see this on the Day of Pentecost.

"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 

It appears there were 120 disciples gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem, praying and waiting for the promise of the Spirit. (Acts 1:15).

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place." - Acts 2:1 

"And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting." - Acts 2:2 

The Bible does not say there was a wind that filled the house. It says there was a SOUND FROM HEAVEN AS of a rushing might wind.

There was not the sound of one or two people being filled with the Spirit. There were 120 people! That's why the sound was as of a rushing MIGHTY wind!

"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 

Just as Jesus said,

"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof...so is every one that is born of the Spirit." - John 3:8

Pentecost Part 7

Pentecost Part 7

Jesus foretold of the outpouring of His Spirit on numerous occasions. 

When Jesus was speaking to His disciples He told them His Spirit would be in them.

"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." - John 14:16-17 

Jesus was telling His disciples He is the Comforter, and the Spirit of Truth (and the Holy Ghost - John 14:26) -  "but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (John 14:17).

"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 

"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:" - John 15:26 

(See also: John 16:7-16)

After His death, burial, and resurrection, shortly  before He ascended into heaven, Jesus said 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. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." - Luke 24:46-49 

We see the promise of the Father is the Holy Ghost. 

God said,

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:" - Joel 2:28 

The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of the Father which is the Spirit of Jesus. (See above).

Jesus is the image of the invisible God. (Colossians 1:13-15). "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself..." - 2 Corinthians 5:19. The Son of God is the Father manifest in flesh - the Father's body. (John 14:7-10).  "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." - Colossians 2:9

Pentecost Part 6

Part 6

Bringing Forth Fruit and Multiplying

"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." - Romans 7:4 

[Strong’s Definitions - “fruit: to be fertile (literally or figuratively):—be (bear, bring forth) fruit(-ful).”].

The children of God’s New Covenant Marriage are born again believers.

Jesus describes the New Covenant Marriage birth of children as a spiritual birth, not a natural birth.

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." - John 3:6 

The children of the New Covenant Marriage are sons of God. They are born of water and of the Spirit. (John 3:5).

"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 

The Mother is the church. The church is the water part of birth, baptizing new souls in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38).

The Father is Jesus. Jesus is the Spirit part of birth, baptizing new souls with His Spirit. (Acts 2:38-39).

The mother and the father are both necessary for the birth of a child. Only the mother is able to water baptize, and only the Father is able to baptize with His Spirit.

"If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?" - Hebrews 12:7-9 

"Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles." - Romans 1:13 

The church as the Mother also travails (in prayer) to give birth to souls.

"My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you," - Galatians 4:19

Pentecost Part 5

Pentecost Part 5

Apostle Paul compares God’s New Marriage Covenant with the church to the marriage between a man and a woman. (Ephesians 5:22-32).

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing." - Ephesians 5:22-24 KJV

We submit ourselves to the Lord. He is head of the church. He is our Savior. 

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;" - Ephesians 5:25 KJV

God loved the church and gave His life for her.

(Ephesians 5:2, Luke 22:19-20, Galatians 1:4, Revelation 1:5, Galatians 2:20).

"That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word," - Ephesians 5:26 KJV

To make her holy and clean (to consecrate and sanctify her), to make her free from the guilt of sin, to purify, by “the washing of water” (baptism) “by the word” (the promise of the pardon of sins- others take ῤήματι “word” here as equivalent to 'the gospel,' c). [From: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon].

"That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." - Ephesians 5:27 KJV

"So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

 (Hebrews 13:5).

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones." - Ephesians 5:28-30 KJV

(1Corinthians 12:12-13, 27)

"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 

“This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." - Ephesians 5:31-32 KJV

To be continued…

Pentecost Part 4

 Pentecost Part 4

One of the reasons John the Baptist was sent by God, was to be a witness that Jesus is Christ, God manifest in flesh.

"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." - John 1:6 

"John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me." - John 1:15 (John 1:10).

John was born before Jesus. As God, Jesus was before John.

Jesus came to bring the New Marriage Covenant of Grace to replace the Old Marriage Covenant of the Law.

"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." - John 1:17

 "And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water...he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God." - John 1:31, 33-34 

The “Son of God” is God manifest in flesh (the body of God).

"Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus." - John 1:35-37 

"After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized." - John 3:22 

"And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him." - John 3:26 

"Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him." - John 3:28 

"He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled." - John 3:29 

Jesus was bringing His New Covenant, baptizing. When we are baptized in the name of Jesus, we forsake the world and covenant our faithfulness to Jesus. Our baptism is our blood covenant of marriage. We become the bride of Christ. (1John 2:15-17).

Church!

 

Church!

"And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." - Jeremiah 3:15 KJV

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" - Ephesians 4:11-12 KJV

"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

Pentecost Part 3

 to be no coincidence that the first miracle of Jesus was at a wedding. God had a mission to fulfill: to give His life for His wife. His death would release His people from the marriage covenant that brought death, sey could enter the marriage covenant tha

The miracle of the wedding at Cana points to Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. 

The account begins with, "And the third day…” - John 2:1 KJV

I count 

Part 3

It seems to be no coincidence that the first miracle of Jesus was at a wedding. God had a mission to fulfill: to give His life for His wife. His death would release His people from the marriage covenant that brought death, so they could enter the marriage covenant that brought life.

The miracle of the wedding at Cana points to Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

The account begins with, "And the third day…” 

I count fourteen times in the New Testament ” refers to Christ’s resurrectio

I coeleven times that “hour” is mentioned concerning Christ’s death. 

"And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman,

Part 3

It seems to be no coincidence that the first miracle of Jesus was at a wedding. God had a mission to fulfill: to give His life for His wife. His death would release His people from the marriage covenant that brought death, so they could enter the marriage covenant that brought life.

The miracle of the wedding at Cana points to Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. 

The account begins with, "And the third day…” - John 2:1 KJV

I count fourteen times in the New Testament that “the third day” refers to Christ’s resurrection. 

I count eleven times that “hour” is mentioned concerning Christ’s death. 

"And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come." - John 2:3-4 KJV

There is only one other time that Jesus called His mother “woman,” and that was at the cross. (John 19:26).

It appears that Jesus turning the water into wine represents His New Covenant. The wine that Jesus brought forth in His miracle at the wedding was the good wine, surpassing the wine that was brought out at the beginning of the feast.

"When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was…the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now." - John 2:9-10 KJV

"This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him." - John 2:11 KJV

Apostle Paul speaks of the glory of the New Covenant of the Spirit compared to the glory of the Old Covenant Law. In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way.

"But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?" - 2 Corinthians 3:7-8 KJV [See 9-11}.

To be continued… what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come." - John 2:3-4 KJV

There is only one other time that Jesus called His mother “woman,” and that was at the cross. (John 19:26).

It appears that Jesus turning the water into wine represents His New Covenant. The wine that Jesus brought forth in His miracle at the wedding was the good wine, surpassing the wine that was brought out at the beginning of the feast.

"When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was…the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now." - John 2:9-10 KJV

"This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him." - John 2:11

Apostle Paul speaks of the glory of the New Covenant of the Spirit compared to the glory of the Old Covenant Law. In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way.

"But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: Howstration of the spirit be rather glorious?" - 2 Corinthians 3:7-8 KJV [See 9-11}.

To be continued… times in the New Testament that “the third day” refers to Christ’s resurrection. 

I count eleven times that “hour” is mentioned concerning Christ’s death. 

"And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come." - John 2:3-4 KJV

There is only one other time that Jesus called His mother “woman,” and that was at the cross. (John 19:26).

It appears that Jesus turning the water into wine represents His New Covenant. The wine that Jesus brought forth in His miracle at the wedding was the good wine, surpassing the wine that was brought out at the beginning of the feast.

"When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was…the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now." - John 2:9-10 KJV

"This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him." - John 2:11 KJV

Apostle Paul speaks of the glory of the New Covenant of the Spirit compared to the glory of the Old Covenant Law. In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way.

"But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?" - 2 Corinthians 3:7-8 KJV [See 9-11}.

To be continued…

Christ Our Passover

 

I am sharing this post today because tonight is Passover.

The Passover is a holy day recalling how the Lord passed over all the Hebrew homes which had the blood of a lamb on their door posts. Death came to all the firstborn males in Egypt that did not have the blood covering upon their house.

Exodus 12:12 - For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.

Exodus 12:13 - And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

Just as a lamb was killed to save the firstborn males in the Hebrew homes, Jesus the Lamb of God was killed to save all those that apply His blood to their “house” (their body). We apply His blood by baptism in His name Jesus. Jesus is the Lamb of God. 

John 1:29 - The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Jesus is our Passover Lamb. He was crucified at the same hour the Passover lamb was killed.

1 Corinthians 5:7 - Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened [i. e. devoid of the leaven of iniquity, free from faults (Thayer's Greek Lexicon)] For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

1Corinthians 5:8 - Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth.

How do we do that?

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

Act 2:39 - 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.

By His Spirit, living a holy and overcoming life, walking daily in His Spirit. (Romans 8:1, Galatians 5:16).

Pentecost Part 2

Part 2

From Mount Sinai on, the Jewish people were bound to keep the Law by their blood covenant marriage to God. (Exodus 24:6-8, Jeremiah 31:31-32).

Because God's righteous Law revealed sin, it brought death. (Romans 3:20).

God wanted to release His people from a covenant that brought death and bring them a new covenant where “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

How could God release His people from their marriage covenant?

Apostle Paul explains:

"Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 

“For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 

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

“Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

“For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit [the gospel], and not in the oldness of the letter [law]." - Romans 7:1-6 KJV

Paul is explaining the law of marriage. As long as a woman’s husband is alive, she is bound by the law to her husband. If she marries another man, she is called an adulteress. BUT if her husband is dead, she is not an adulteress even though she marries another man.

How did God as husband to His people release them from their marriage covenant of the Law? He manifested Himself in flesh as Jesus and died.

By His death, the Jewish people were released from their marriage covenant of the Law to marry another, even to Him that is raised from the dead, Jesus.

To be continued…

Pentecost Part 1

Part 1

At Mount Sinai, about 3,400 years ago, God became a husband to the Jewish people by their covenant of the Law. 

"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure [my own special treasure] unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:" - Exodus 19:5 KJV

"And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 

“And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, 

“All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. 

“And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words." - Exodus 24:6-8 KJV

When Moses read the Law to the people, just as a bride says to her husband, “I do,” the people responded, “We do,” and the marriage vows were complete. Moses sprinkled blood on the people, making their marriage covenant a blood covenant.

About 850 years later, Jeremiah prophesied of the new marriage covenant God would make with His people. Jesus brought the new marriage covenant with the gospel.

"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 

“Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 

“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; 

“After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 

“And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: 

“For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." - Jeremiah 31:31-34 KJV

To be continued…

When did people get baptized in the Bible?

How soon did people in the Bible get baptized after they heard the Gospel?

On the day of Pentecost when the church first began, Peter preached the gospel – the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When he got to the end of his message, the Bible says they were pricked in their heart and asked, What shall we do?

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

When were they baptized?

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

When God opened the prison doors by an earthquake for Paul and Silas, the keeper of the prison was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried, Do not harm yourself - we are all here! Trembling, the prison keeper said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

Acts 16:31-32 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

When they heard the word of the Lord, they wanted to be baptized. - the same hour of the night!

Acts 16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes [wounds]; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

When God sent Ananias to pray for Saul to receive his sight, Ananias prayed for him and then told Paul,

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

Acts 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

When Peter saw that the Gentiles received the Holy Ghost, he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord! (Acts 10:47-48a).

When Paul came to Ephesus, he asked John the Baptist’s disciples how they were baptized. As soon as Paul preached to them Jesus, they had him baptize them in the name ofJesus! (Acts 19:5).

The Bible reveals that there was never any delay when it came to water baptizing people in the name ofJesus.

"Thy Will Be Done"

When we repent, we turn from self-will, to God’s will – “Thy will be done.” This is the first and biggest step in our living for God.

Jesus was our supreme example. As God, He knew what was ahead when He was praying in the garden. It was probably the greatest temptation a human would face.

 Our Heavenly Father robed (manifested) Himself in flesh to suffer and die in our place for our sins. There was no man that was without sin to pay the price. Only our Holy Heavenly Father could pay our debt of sin. (1 Timothy 3:16, John 8:24).

When we are full of the Holy Ghost, in times of temptation, we have the battle with our flesh to do God’s will. Christ – fully man and fully God - had the same battle. The victory is through prayer, and laying down our will – the will of our flesh - and choosing God’s will – "Thy will be done.” Just as Christ surrendered the will of his flesh, we must surrender the will of our flesh. 

"Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour." - John 12:27 

"And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." - Luke 22:41-42 

"And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." - Luke 22:44 

"And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." - Luke 22:45-46 

"Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" - Matthew 26:53-54 

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." - Matthew 7:21 

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

The Resurrection

Paul had a powerful encounter with the risen Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. From this experience, Paul had full confidence in the resurrection. Paul knew that by his obedience to the gospel, he too will rise again when Jesus returns for His church. (Acts 9:1-22,27; 1Corinthians 15:8; Acts 22:3-16; Acts 26:8-18, 1Thessalonians 4:13-17).

Because of His faith in the resurrection, and because he had been baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost, Apostle Paul was willing to face death on a daily basis. (“I die daily”- 1Corinthians 15:30-32).

"And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: but their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket." - Acts 9:23-25 KJV

"And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus." - Acts 9:29-30 KJV

"For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me." - Acts 26:21 KJV

"And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city..." - Acts 14:19-20 KJV

"In labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches." - 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 KJV

Into His Light

 

Our Heavenly Father put on a human body in His saving name “JESUS” to bring humanity His loving mercy. Satan’s desire is that all remain in the darkness of condemnation. Jesus came to bring the world the light of His new covenant of mercy through 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.

“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 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.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." - 2 Corinthians 4:3-7

The gospel brings the light of God’s mercy. The apostles preached the gospel of Jesus beginning on the day of Pentecost.

"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

Those that believed and obeyed came into salvation.

"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

Then the Gentiles [non Jews] were added in, beginning with Cornelius and his household.

"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision [Jews] 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.

“Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days." - Acts 10:44-48

Both Jews and Gentiles came out of the darkness of condemnation to walk in the light of the mercy of the gospel.

"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

The Presence of God

God said to Moses,

"My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." - Exodus 33:14 

Moses would not settle for less than God’s very presence.

"And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth." - Exodus 33:15-16 

“Presence” is another word for the “Shechina” - the Holy Ghost.

When God was made flesh and dwelt among His creation, Jesus spoke again of His rest. In His new covenant, His presence would not just be with us, but in us. (John 1:14, John 14:17, 1 Corinthians 3:16, Romans 8:9, Colossians 1:27).

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

We find this rest unto our souls to be the Holy Ghost.

"For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing..." - Isaiah 28:11-12 (Acts 2:4, Isaiah 11:10, Acts 3:19). 

Jesus promises to fill us with His presence, the Holy Ghost, when we yoke ourselves together with Him. His yoke is His covenant of baptism 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. 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

 By His presence, we become separated unto God. (1Peter 2:9). 

"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." - 2Corinthians 6:17-18 (Exodus 33:16).

Taken Up to Heaven

 

After Jesus commanded His disciples to not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Holy Ghost, Jesus was taken up into heaven.

"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." - Acts 1:9-11 

When we have repented of our sins, been baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost, we can look forward to being resurrected from the grave as Jesus was, and going to heaven with Him when He returns for His church. (Acts 2:38, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17).

"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken [give life to] your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." - Romans 8:11 

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep [who have died], that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus [believers who have died] will God bring with him. 

“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep [those saved that phave died]. 

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump [trumpet call] of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first [believers who have died : 

“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

“Wherefore comfort one another with these words. [So encourage each other with these words.]" - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 

Witnesses

After the great commission, Luke records that for forty days Jesus showed Himself alive to many witnesses and spoke to them about the kingdom of God.

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

Jesus did His part: Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and on the third day rose again. Then for forty days He witnessed of His resurrection and talked about the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 15:3-7, Acts 1:3).

Now we do our part: We repent of our sins, are baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and we receive the gift of His Spirit. (Acts 2:38). This is our testimony. We witness of our new life in Jesus and we talk about the kingdom of God. (John 3:5).

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5:19 

"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." - 2 Corinthians 5:20

"Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." - John 20:21 

"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 

We are witnesses to the world of what Jesus did for us, and in us. Finally, at the end, this is how we defeat the devil.

We overcome the accuser of our brethren (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb – the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus - and by the word of our testimony – our repentance, baptism in the name of Jesus, and our infilling of the Holy Ghost. 

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." - Revelation 12:11 

The Great Commission

According to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the same day that Jesus was resurrected He gave His disciples His “great commission.” (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-17, Luke 24:46-49, John 20:21-23). 

The “great commission” in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all contain the essential elements that were found on the Day of Pentecost when the church first began. (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18, Luke 24:46-49, John 20:21-23).

In His great commission, Jesus told His disciples to Go, baptize, and He would fill with His Spirit.

Go: Matthew and Luke - going to “all nations,” Mark - “to all the world and to every creature,” John - “send I you.” Baptize: Matthew, Mark, and Luke - His “name,” Luke - “remission of sins,” John - “sins ye remit,” Mark - “saved.” His Spirit: Matthew - “I am with you always,” Mark - “new tongues,” Luke - “the promise of my Father” and “power from on high,” John - “the Holy Ghost.” 

On the Day of Pentecost, the great commission was explicitly revealed by Peter, while the rest of the apostles stood with him. It was Peter that Jesus gave the keys to the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 16:19, Acts 2:14).

When Jesus poured out His Spirit on all His followers on the Day of Pentecost, they spoke in tongues. (Acts 2:4). When all the people from every nation that were gathered for Pentecost heard their own languages being spoken by the believers from the upper room, they asked, What meaneth this?

Peter told the people that this was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel (Acts 2:16-18). He then preached the gospel to them. (Acts 2:22-36).

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

Peter obeyed Jesus and His “great commission.” 

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

"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2:41-42 

This was only the beginning. Believers are obedient to Jesus and preaching the gospel today.

"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 

I'm glad! 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

I AM

"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

“Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? [Abraham lived approximately 2000 years earlier.]

“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

“Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by." - John 8:56-59 KJV

Why did the Jews take up stones to cast at Jesus?

Because they understood that Jesus was letting them know He is God - “I AM.”

"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." - Exodus 3:14 KJV

It is actually very important to recognize that Jesus is God manifest in flesh, the image of the invisible God. 

"I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." - John 8:24 KJV

In this verse the word “he” is italicized, meaning that the translator added this word because they felt it made a better translation. (There is no Strong’s for this word in this sentence.) “Most authorities associate this with Ex 3:14, I AM WHO I AM” (NASB95), I AM. 

"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." - Exodus 3:14 KJV

Godly Sorrow

Godly Sorrow

It is not enough to be sorry for sin. We must turn away from sin, and not continue in it. Godly sorrow brings about a change in our life.

Godly sorrow brings repentance, which leads to salvation. For a person who is turning to Jesus, after repentance we need to be born of the water and of the Spirit by being baptized in the name of Jesus for the washing away/burial of our sins and receiving the gift of His Holy Ghost.

For a person that has already been baptized in the name of Jesus, the blood of Jesus cleanses us if we sin and repent of that sin. The Holy Ghost convicts us of sin so we can become more and more like Christ. The Holy Ghost also convicts us of sin that we have allowed into our life, enabling us to repent and stay clean before God. 

The sorrow of the world results in spiritual death, because there is no repentance, no changed life. Because Jesus loves us and wants us to be saved, He wants our sorrow over our sin to lead us to change our actions. 

"Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 

“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." - 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." - 2 Peter 3:9 

"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." - James 4:8

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." - 2 Corinthians 3:18

"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

Baptism is Faith in Action

"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

"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

Priorities

Priorities: Water Baptism in the Name of Jesus and the Baptism of the Holy Ghost 

"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. 

“And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? 

“And they said, Unto John's baptism. 

“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. 

“When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 

“And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve [in all]." - Acts 19:1-7

First question Paul asked, had they received the Holy Ghost? 

When Paul found out no, his NEXT question was, Unto what then were ye baptized?

When he found out they had not been baptized in the name of Jesus, baptizing them in the name of JESUS was the priority!

AFTER they were baptized in the name of Jesus, THEN he laid his hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost.

How did Paul know that they had received the Holy Ghost? 

It WASN’T because he laid his hands on them!

Paul knew the men experienced the infilling of the Holy Ghost, submitting FULLY to the power of the Spirit, because they had allowed God to even take control of their tongue, which resulted in their SPEAKING IN TONGUES as happened to the disciples on the Day of Pentecost!

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

Peter first preached the gospel on the Day of Pentecost to all those that gathered when they saw the disciples receiving the promised 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.

Baptized into Christ

Baptized into Christ

"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

How do we become a new creature (a new creation) in Christ?

"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 sorrowful for our past sins, and turn our back on sinful living. We are water baptized in the name of “JESUS” to wash away/bury our sins. We receive the gift of God’s Spirit, speaking in other tongues (words in another language we haven’t learned) as the Spirit speaks through us. (Acts 2:4, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:6) We are baptized into Christ by water and by the Spirit.

"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 

“Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting [wild parties] and drunkenness, not in chambering [sexual promiscuity] and wantonness [immoral living, lust], not in strife and envying [jealousy]. 

“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof [to indulge in evil desires]." - Romans 13:11-14 

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

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

Repentance, Baptism, and Holy Ghost

What is Repent?

Repent means, “to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins” (Thayer's Greek Lexicon). It is from the Hebrew word "shuv" which means "to turn."

We can change our mind, deciding to live right, in a moment. When we have repented, we not only have a changed mind about sin; the change can be seen in our actions.

We regret our sinful life, and tell Jesus through prayer that we are sorry for our sins.

As we praise and thank Jesus for His mercy and His love, He can fill us with His Spirit. When we totally surrender to Him, He can change our words of praise and adoration into another language, speaking through us.

This is the sign that we have given Jesus full control, putting aside our pride and trusting Him totally. Tongues is another word for languages.

"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

When we have repented, we can get baptized in the name of Jesus so that His blood can wash away our sins. By the name of Jesus in water baptism, we have remission [forgiveness] of sins. We can be water baptized before or after we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. [Acts 10:44-48].

"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 have been baptized in the name of Jesus and filled with His Spirit, we have a new life and a clean slate!

Come see - Go and aà tell,!

Come, see - Go and tell!

They had stood at the cross, watching the Lord suffer the painful death of crucifixion, after the merciless half-death of Roman scourging, the cruel mocking and torment. 

Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man and a disciple of Jesus, pleaded Pilate for the body of Jesus, laying it in his own new tomb which he had hewn out in a rock. 

Nicodemus, the ruler of the Jews that had come to Jesus at night, hearing from the Lord how he might enter the kingdom of God by being born of water and of the Spirit, brought myrrh and aloes for His burial. 

Pilate consented to the chief priests and Pharisees for the tomb to be made sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. 

On Sunday, the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went early in the morning to see the tomb. There was a great earthquake, for the angel of the Lord had come, rolled back the stone, 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. 

“And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 

“And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word." - Matthew 28:5-8 

He is risen!!!

This is the message that we are to tell the world - Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and on the third day rose again! This is the gospel message. 

Peter preached the gospel.

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

“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 

Jesus spoke to His disciples,

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

Go and tell!

Then came Nicodemus

And there came also Nicodemus.

They had stood at the cross, watching the Lord suffer the painful death of crucifixion. This was after Jesus suffered the merciless half-way death of Roman scourging, the cruel mocking and torment.

Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man and a disciple of Jesus, pleaded Pilate for the body of Jesus so that he could lay it in his own new tomb which he had hewn out of a rock. 

"And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus." - John 19:38 

Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, brought myrrh and aloes for His burial. This is whom Jesus told we must be born again to enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:5). Jesus also told Nicodemus of His death.

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:." - John 3:14

When Jesus said that the Son of man would be “lifted up,” Jesus was speaking of His death on the cross. 

When Jesus was yet a young child, wise men came to worship “He that is born King of the Jews.” One of the gifts that the wise men presented to Jesus was myrrh. (Matthew 2:1-2, 11). 

Myrrh was one of the ingredients of the holy anointing oil, used to anoint the tabernacle and all that was in it. This same holy anointing oil containing Myrrh was used to anoint and consecrate Aaron and his sons as priests. (Exodus 30:23-31). 

Myrrh was also used for embalming the dead.

"And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury." - John 19:39-40 

An observation was made about the hundred pound weight of myrrh and aloes that Nicodemus brought to embalm Jesus’ body: "The quantity of the balm is extraordinary and exceeds all normal proportions. This is a royal burial."

Good Friday

Friday March 29, 2024 is what is commonly called “Good Friday.” It was on "Good Friday" that Jesus suffered and died, crucified on a cross. Jesus, the "Lamb of God,"  shed His blood so that we could have eternal life and a more abundant life. 

In Egypt, when the Israelites were slaves and God was sending plagues to deliver them from Pharaoh, God had Moses tell the people to sacrifice a lamb and apply its blood to their house. The blood of the Lamb applied to their door posts would save them from the final plague of death. 

"For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD." - Exodus 12:12 

"And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt." - Exodus 12:13 

It was not enough to simply BELIEVE the blood of the lamb would save them from death; the Israelites had to APPLY the blood to their house.

The Bible calls Jesus our Passover Lamb. (1 Corinthians 5:7) It is said that the Passover lamb was being killed in Jerusalem at the temple the same hour that Christ our Passover died on the cross. 

We too are saved when we APPLY the blood of Jesus to “our house” WHEN WE ARE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS. 

It is not enough to simply BELIEVE the blood of Jesus will save us; we must APPLY His blood by baptism in the name of JESUS.

"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission [forgiveness] of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 

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

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

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True Complete Forgiveness

What is true and complete forgiveness?

There are people that say, "I forgave him. But he is going to have to answer to God!"

It seems they are looking forward to judgment by God of what they forgave the person of. 

Jesus gave us the supreme example of true and complete forgiveness.

He went through Roman scourging "the halfway death,"  beaten with whips that had sharp, rugged pieces of metal, wire, glass, and jagged fragments of bone that tore the flesh off of his body. While Jewish lashes could not exceed forty. Roman scourging had no limit. Blood loss during a scourging was severe. Sometimes the victim lost consciousness from extreme blood loss. This explains why it was overwhelming for Jesus to carry His cross.y

Slapped, spit on, beard plucked, a crown of thorns, and yet from the cross where He hung, with nails in His hands and feet, Jesus uttered the words, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

Jesus cleared their accounts with complete forgiveness of what they had done to Him. 

Stephen, full of faith and power, doing wonders and miracles among the people, had some rise up against him, stirring up false accusers. They brought him to the council.When false witnesses testified against him, the high priest asked him, Are these things so? Stephen then testified of the Jewish people from the time of Abraham,  concluding by saying they were now the betrayers and murderers of the Just One:...

When they heard Stephen's testimony, they were cut to the heart. Finally, they cast him out of the city and stoned him. The Bible says, "And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge."

Stephen was requesting from God complete forgiveness of those that were murdering him, to clear their account of  their sin against him.

And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (He died).

Complete forgiveness. 

(Acts 6-7).

Forgiveness

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

God made peace with us. 

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

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them [no longer counting people’s sins against them]..." - 2 Corinthians 5:19 

God forgave us. Now it is our turn to forgive. (Matthew 5:9, Luke 6:36).

What if we do not forgive?

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

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

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

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

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

Because the servant had no mercy, the debt that he had been forgiven was put back on him.

Jesus said,

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

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

Burning Bridges

What does the expression, “Burn your bridges” mean?

One definition is, “When you burn a bridge you can't cross it again. To burn a bridge means to be completely done with something.” 

A preacher once said, “You need to burn your bridges.” He was speaking about destroying everything that could bring us back to sin and death.

When we first come to God, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:37-38).

It has been said, “What is repentance? It is a change of mind, that leads to a change of heart, that leads to a change in actions. This change involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God.”

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon includes this in definition of “repent”: “…heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins…”

It is feeling deeply sorry for our sins, truly hating sin and wanting to please God with our whole heart.

It is getting rid of everything that has to do with that sin, so it won’t be easy to begin it again. 

It all needs to be “burned up” so that we are truly done forever with it.

The Bible says, 

"A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." - Galatians 5:9 KJV

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon includes in its definition of leaven:

"It is applied to that which, though small in quantity, yet by its influence thoroughly pervades a thing:" 

Leaven is another word for yeast that multiplies in dough until it has taken over the dough.

We need to get rid of the smallest things in our life that have to do with sin that can multiply and take over again.

All must be eliminated. 

To please God, we need to leave sin behind, “burning our bridges,” with no regrets and no ways of returning to it.

Death to Sin, Life to Righteousness

We hear the good news of the gospel.

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

We put sin to death in our life.

We bury our sins and sinful nature by water baptism by immersion in the name of JESUS for the forgiveness of our sins.

We are filled with the Holy Ghost, speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives us the ability, so that we can live a holy and overcoming life.

"But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine [Acts 2:38] which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness [righteous living]." - Romans 6:17-18 KJV

"But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." - Romans 6:22 KJV

"For if ye live after the flesh [sinful nature], ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify [put to death] the deeds of the body [sinful nature], ye shall live." - Romans 8:13 KJV

"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts [put to death the passions and desires of their sinful nature]." - Galatians 5:24 KJV