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.