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 KJV

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 KJV

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 KJV

Church! The Lord is not slack concerning His promise

                                                             

Church!

The Lord promised he would be back for His church. We can see the signs of the times.

"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…" - 2 Peter 3:9, 14-15 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: 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:" - Ephesians 4:11-13 KJV

Another translation:

"The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. ... And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight. And remember, our Lord's patience gives people time to be saved…" - 2 Peter 3:9, 14-15

"Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ." - Ephesians 4:11-13

 

How can we avoid falling into temptation?

                                              

"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 [craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions]. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." - 1 John 2:15-17

We must guard what we look at, listen to, and where we go. The moment we recognize something as a temptation, we need to immediately turn from it to prevent being consumed by it.

"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." - James 1:14-15

We must also guard our thoughts, quenching unforgiving, judgmental, hateful, jealous, proud, angry, or lustful thoughts.

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." - James 4:7

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13

When we turn to Jesus by repentance, become called by His name by water baptism, and receive the gift of His Holy Ghost, we are born of God. We receive the authority of Jesus name, and the power of His blood and Spirit to overcome temptation.

"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

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." - 1 John 5:4

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." - Philippians 4:13

"Put on the whole armour of God... Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…" - Ephesians 6:11, 18 

 

New Self, Old Self

                                                                    

 As we are starting off this new year, we remember there are some things we put on and some things we   put off.

When we first came to God, we put off our “old man” of sin, (our old sinful nature). We did this when we repented of our sins. (Repent – to be sorrowful for the sin in our life and making a commitment to God to turn our life completely to Him and away from sin.)

We buried our old sinful nature in a watery grave of baptism “in the name of Jesus.” By our baptism in the name of Jesus, our sins were washed away by the blood of Jesus. (Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, Acts 10:43).

We then put on the “new man,” our new nature. By our baptism, we put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27). With our water baptism in the name of Jesus, we took on the name of Jesus and applied His blood to our life. (James 2:7, Exodus 12:13, 1 Corinthians 5:7). By our baptism of the Holy Ghost, we were filled with the Spirit of Jesus. (John 14:17-18). With our continual renewing of His Spirit, we are learning to become more like Jesus, day by day. (Colossians 3:10, Romans 12:12, Romans 13:14).

These are some sins we put off when we put off our old nature:

"But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:" - Colossians 3:8-10 KJV

By our transformation by His Spirit, we become more and more the image of our Creator. [“As you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.” (Colossians 3:10)]

What do we continue to put on?

"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity [love], which is the bond of perfectness [which binds us all together in perfect harmony]." - Colossians 3:12-14

Happy New Year! 😊

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself

                                                 

Who is Jesus?

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

"Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 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 14:9-10

Why would our Heavenly Father come to dwell among man in a human body?

There was no man born without sin that could pay the price of our sins.

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

The arm of the Lord is God's power to deliver and save.

Isaiah prophesied of Christ – the arm of the LORD revealed. Isaiah 53.

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." - Matthew 1:23

"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

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself…" - Colossians 1:20

"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

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them..." - 2Corinthians 5:19

By His death, burial, and resurrection we can repent of our sins, be baptized in His name Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins, and be filled with His Spirit to walk in new life. (Acts 2:38).

There is peace WITH God, and there is the peace OF God

“There is the peace WITH God, and there is the peace OF God.”

The peace WITH God was accomplished when He shed His blood for our sins, making peace between us after sin separated us. God made peace with us by the gospel.

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

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

We have peace with God by the blood of His cross, IF we obey the gospel by repenting of our sins, being baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of our sins, and by receiving the gift of His Spirit.

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

The peace OF God is found when we receive the gift of God’s Spirit, 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 2:39

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

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

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance..." - Galatians 5:22-23

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7