Church!

 Church!

A time and place to be perfected - to mature in Christ.  To become equipped to do God’s work through the ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers as they build up the body of Christ.

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

Jesus - Image of the Invisible God

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

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

"Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

"Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

"Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." - John 14:8-10 

Jesus spoke to the Jews as He taught in the temple, 

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

["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. Also, "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." - John 8:58 KJV]

Only our Heavenly Father, who is without sin, could be the holy sacrifice necessary to pay.the price of our sins. 

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

"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 

"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 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 

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

Jesus

 Jesus Christ is all man and all God.

As man He grew tired, hungry, thirsty, felt pain, prayed, and died.

As God He fed the multitudes, cast out devils, healed the sick, raised the dead, answered prayers, and lives forever!

"Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

“Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

“Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

“Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake." - John 14:8-11

Pressing toward the Mark

 Pressing toward the Mark

Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

We have been called by God to take up our cross and follow Him.

Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 

We have crucified our fleshly lusts (the “old man” with its sinful nature) by repentance, and are now following Jesus. 

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

We not only have followed Christ's death, but have also followed His burial when we were baptized "in the name of Jesus.”

Romans 6:3-4a 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…

As Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, we also are risen to new life by the infilling of His Spirit, the Holy Ghost.

Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Romans 6:4b …That like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory (Spirit) of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  

We now walk in a new life as a "new man," a “new creature” in Christ. 

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

Since we have obeyed the gospel by repenting of our sins, being baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and having received the gift of His Holy Ghost, we must be faithful to assemble together at church to worship God and hear the preaching of the word. This is how after we have been “born again” that we "grow up" unto perfection.

Hebrews 10:25 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 [of His return] approaching.

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

By the preaching and study of God’s word we may become “perfect” [complete], prepared and equipped for God to do His work through us.

2Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect [complete], throughly furnished [equipped] unto all good works. 

The word “sin” is defined as, “A failing to hit the mark.” (Thayer's Greek Lexicon)

We must not fail to hit the mark. We must watch and be sober so that satan cannot cause us to stumble and fall in our walk with God.

1Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  

We have been called and chosen. Jesus called us to follow Him. We repented of our sins and we were baptized in His name for the forgiveness of our sins. He chose us when He filled us with His Holy Ghost. 

Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.  

We are God’s chosen people. We are special to Him. We belong to Him.

1Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar [purchased possession] people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

We have been called and chosen, now it is up to us to be faithful. Let us press on toward the mark, the end of our race, for the reward of God’s high calling, to be with the Lord in His glory forever.

Revelation 17:14 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.

These were more noble...

"And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews." - Acts 17:10 KJV

"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." - Acts 17:11 KJV

"Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few." - Acts 17:12 KJV

Pride

 Pride

What does the Bible say about pride?

Pride can cause a saint to stumble and fall. Pride can cause relationships to end. Pride can lead to ruin.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Psalms 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

Psalms 36:11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.

Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. (NLT: All who fear the LORD will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech.)

Proverbs 11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly (humble) is wisdom. 

Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom. (NLT: Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.)

Proverbs 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

Proverbs 29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. (NLT: Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.)

Isaiah 2:12 For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:

Nebuchadnezzar learned a lesson about pride.

Daniel 4:37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

Daniel 5:20-21 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: and he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.

Jesus named pride as one of the evil things that defiles a man.

Mark 7:20-23 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Paul described pride as a potential pitfall of a new convert becoming a bishop.

1Timothy 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the (same) condemnation of the devil.

Lucifer was condemned for his pride when he lifted himself up to be as God.

Isaiah 14:12-14 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Finally, we can see the three categories that caused the downfall of mankind in the garden, described as the downfall we face today. Pride of life is one of these categories.

Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

1John 2:15-17 ¶Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Cornelius, the Gentiles, and Salvation

 

Cornelius was "A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway." - Acts 10:2 

You would think by this description of Cornelius that he was saved. But he was not. Cornelius needed to hear and obey the gospel so that he could be saved. 

God gave Cornelius a heavenly vision. An angel of God came to him.

"And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter…he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do." (See Acts 10:3-38).

When Peter arrived at Cornelius’ house, Cornelius had gathered his kinsmen and friends “to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.”

Peter then preached the gospel of Jesus to them - His death, burial, and resurrection. (Acts 10:39-40).

Peter then preached that those that believe in Jesus shall receive remission of sins through His name. (Acts 10:43, Acts 2:38).

"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word." - Acts 10:44 

"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." - Acts 10:45 

How did Peter and the believing brethren that came with him know that God had filled the Gentiles with His Holy Ghost?

"For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God." - Acts 10:46 

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

Peter realized the Gentiles had received the GIFT for entering into covenant with God, but they hadn’t entered into the COVENANT – they had not been WATER BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS!

"And he COMMANDED them to be baptized in the name of the Lord." - Acts 10:48 

The Gentiles HEARD THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL by Peter, sent by God. The Gentiles OBEYED THE GOSPEL, by repentance, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and being baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of their sins.

When the apostles heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God, they "glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." - Acts 11:18

Church! We must be saved!

 Church! Above all else, we must be saved!

"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

We need a true man of God to preach the gospel.

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?" - Romans 10:13-16

How do we obey the gospel?

On the day of Pentecost when the church first began, Peter preached the gospel - the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

"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?" - Acts 2:37 KJV

Peter explained what to do to obey the gospel.

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

When we have gone to church, heard the preaching of the gospel, repented of our sins, are baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and have received the gift of the Holy Ghost, we have obeyed the gospel.

The next reason we need a preacher is so that we can grow from a born again baby to a spiritual adult in Christ.

God gives us pastors, teachers, evangelists, prophets, and apostles to not only preach to us the gospel of Jesus Christ, but also to teach us how to grow in the Word and the Spirit. (Ephesians 4:11-12).

To be saved we need to go to church, not only to hear the gospel, not only to obey the gospel, but to grow up in Jesus!

What the Bible says about Baptism in the name of Jesus

 https://youtu.be/bcg1r9i77G4?si=s5C3kC-VjDlKAlw8

The Blood of Christ

 

Part 2 The Temple of God

 

Part 2 The Temple of God

The Temple of God is similar to the Son of God. The Temple of God and the Son of God both refer to the body of God.  

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. ... But he spake of the temple of his body." - John 2:19, 21 

"To wit, that God was in Christ," - 2 Corinthians 5:19 

When we repent of our sins, are baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we become the temple of God as well as a son of God. (Acts 2:38).

In the following verses, the Bible speaks of us being a temple of God as well as sons of God. 

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

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 6:16-18 (See also: 1Corinthians 3:16-17, 1Corinthians 6:19).

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

"Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;" - Philippians 2:14-15 (See also: Romans 8:19, Galatians 4:6, Hebrews 12:7).

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." - Romans 8:14 

Part 1 Son of God

 Part 1 Son of God

The Bible speaks of Jesus as being the only begotten son of God.

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." - John 1:14 

When Jesus was born as a baby, He was holy, and without sin. 

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

Jesus was full of the Father’s Spirit.

"For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;" - Colossians 1:19 

He was given His Father's name - Jesus.

"I am come in my Father's name…” - John 5:43 

Jesus was the only one that was BORN the Son of God. 

We BECOME sons of God when we are BORN AGAIN.

"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 1:11-13 

We are born of God and become a son of God when we are water baptized in the name of Jesus and are Spirit baptized with His Holy Ghost. (James 1:18, John 3:5, Acts 2:38).

When we are born again of the water, baptized in the NAME of JESUS for the remission of sins, we become without sin, as Jesus is. (Acts 2:38).

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

We are given the Father’s name – JESUS – when we are water baptized in the name of Jesus. (James 2:7, Acts 15:17).

When we are born again of the Spirit, filled with His Holy Ghost, we become holy, as Jesus is holy.

"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." - Galatians 4:6 

To be continued…

The New Covenant (New Testament)

The New Covenant (New Testament)

It is by the act of baptism in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins that a person enters into a blood covenant with God. 

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

Prophesied by Jeremiah:

"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 31:33-34 

We know the Lord when we are filled with His Spirit. His law is written in our hearts. Our sins are forgiven and remembered no more when we are baptized in the name of Jesus.

In the Old Testament [Old Covenant] the blood covenant was circumcision.

In the New Testament [New Covenant] our blood Covenant is water baptism in the name of Jesus. 

"In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh [our old sinful nature] by the circumcision of Christ: buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." - Colossians 2:11-12 

In the Old Testament, if a man was not circumcised, he was cut off from the people of God. 

"And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant." - Genesis 17:14

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

When we are baptized in the name of Jesus (called by His name) we enter into a blood covenant with Him and become part of the family of God. 

At circumcision, the eight day old baby receives his name. At baptism we receive our spiritual name, Jesus.

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

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, - Ephesians 3:14-15 

Just as the flesh is cut off in circumcision, our sinful nature is cut off by repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus. Our sins are cut off/washed away/remitted/forgiven

Continuing Steadfast Unmoveable

Continuing Steadfast Unmoveable

Continuing in prayer:

"These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren." - Acts 1:14 

Continuing in the apostle’s doctrine:

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

Continuing to knock:

"But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished." - Acts 12:16 

"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." - Luke 11:9 

Continuing to teach and preach the word of the Lord:

"Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also." – Acts 15:35 

"And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them." - Acts 18:11 

"And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks." - Acts 19:10 

What doctrine should we continue in?

"And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:" - Mark 12:29 

"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 "Jesus said…Before Abraham was, I am." - John 8:58 

"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 

"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 

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel…how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" - 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Church! Full of the Spirit

Church! 

Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, explaining to him that a person must be born again of the water and of the Spirit in order to enter the Kingdom of God. 

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

Jesus compared the wind to everyone that 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 KJV

On the Day of Pentecost, when the Spirit was first poured out, the sound was like the wind!

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. ... And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:1-2, 4 KJV

The word for wind also has the meaning of “breath”. The word for wind comes from the root word which means, “to breathe, to blow”. (Vine’s) 

When a baby is born and takes his first breath, it is the beginning of regular, repeated breaths. What would happen if he stopped with his first breath?

When we are born of the Spirit, the Holy Ghost, it is like our first breath of life from Jesus. Like breathing, we need our Holy Ghost baptism to be the beginning of regular, repeated fillings of God’s Spirit. When we are full of His Spirit, the Holy Ghost, we have the power of God in our life. 

"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

It is in times of worship and prayer that we can get full of the Holy Ghost. Being full of the Holy Ghost fills us with God’s love, joy, and peace.

 

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23 KJV

When we are filled with God’s Spirit, we are filled with boldness and confidence to be His witnesses.

"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

When we are full of His Spirit we walk in His Spirit and can live a victorious life. 

"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. 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

The Rest of the Story

 

God worked a mighty miracle delivering Paul and Silas from the prison they were in by sending an earthquake that shook the foundations, opening the doors and loosing the bands of all the prisoners.

The keeper of the prison seeing the prison doors open and supposing that the prisoners had been fled, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas and said, 

"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" - Acts 16:30 

"And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." - Acts 16:31 

Is this the end of the story? NO!

"And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house." - Acts 16:32

What was the response of the keeper of the prison and all those that were in his house to the preaching of God’s word?

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

Just like on the Day of Pentecost, the prison keeper and his house heard the word of the Lord, received it, and were baptized. (Acts 2:38-41).

"And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house." - Acts 16:34

Considering the times...

 Considering the times…

"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 

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. [So be careful how you live... Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.]" - Ephesians 5:15-17

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ..." - 2 Peter 3:18

"Walk in wisdom toward them that are without [unbelievers], redeeming the time [making the most of every opportunity]. Let your speech be alway with grace [gracious], seasoned with salt [attractive], that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." - Colossians 4:5-6 

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer [always be ready to explain it] to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" - 1 Peter 3:15 

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." - Galatians 6:9

There is Only One God

 

There is only one God. He alone created the universe.

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." - Genesis 1:1

"For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else." - Isaiah 45:18

In the book of Colossians, it speaks of the Son creating all things. How can this be if there is only one Creator, and that is the Lord God?

Colossians explains that the Son is the image of the invisible God. The invisible Spirit of God put on the flesh of humanity and became visible. This human is called the Son of God. All the fullness of the godhead is within this man.

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

It is the One True God that dwells in the body of the Son that created all things. Thus, in the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. The same God that dwells in the Son is the One True God that created all things.

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;" - Colossians 1:16-19

The Father – who is Spirit – dwelt in the Son – which is flesh. God revealed His name of salvation is Jesus.

The reason the Father, Creator of the universe, put on flesh was so that He could pay the price of sin for mankind. This took the shedding of sinless blood, which only God could provide.

"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:" - Colossians 1:13-15

The Father in Christ

 

Our Heavenly Father put on a human body and dwelt among His creation as a man. He came to bring salvation.

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." - Matthew 1:21 KJV

He was born without sin, because He bypassed man, the Holy Ghost causing conception in Mary. This is how God Himself could pay the price of man’s sin, shedding sinless blood on the cross.

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

The Son of God is the human body of God.

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself..." - 2 Corinthians 5:19 

The Father is Spirit. The Son is flesh. The Father is in us when we are filled with His Spirit. 

"For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." - Matthew 10:20

"Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 

“Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 

“Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." - John 14:8-10 

It was the Father in Christ that did the miracles.

"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 

Jesus was speaking to His disciples. They knew Him. He dwelt with them. When He said He would be in them, Jesus was talking about His Spirit being in them.

The Holy Ghost that was poured out on the Day of Pentecost is the Spirit of Jesus.

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

The Gospel

 

What is the Gospel?

The Bible tells us the gospel is that Jesus died for our sins, He was buried, and on the third day He rose again.

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ... For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" - 1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-4 

The Bible says we are saved by the gospel. 

"By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain." - 1 Corinthians 15:2 

The Bible says that we not only need to hear and believe the gospel, but we must obey the gospel to be saved.

"In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:" - 2 Thessalonians 1:8 

How do we obey the gospel? 

We obey the gospel by repentance, water baptism in the name of Jesus, and Holy Ghost infilling.

Repentance is death to sin. Water baptism in the name of Jesus is burial of old nature. Holy Ghost infilling is resurrection to new life.

"God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?  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 6:2-4 

This is what Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost was first poured out.

"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 

On that day, about 3000 were baptized with water and with the Spirit. (John 3:5).

"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 

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

Church!

Church!

Acts 2:47 …And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Be a part of the growing body of Christ!

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Go to church to hear the preaching of God’s word!

Ephesians 4:11-16 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

The Lord promised he would be back for his church. We can see the signs of the times. We need to be ready to meet him!

2Peter 3:9, 14-15 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance… ¶Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

When we have been immersed in the water of baptism in Jesus name, our sins are forgiven. We are like a brand new baby with a clean slate. When Jesus fills us with his Holy Spirit, we are ready to start a new life in Jesus!

Acts 2:38-42 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.