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Shining Light Apostolic Ministry
Friday, 15 August 2008
Cries From The Cross
Mood:
 sad
Topic: The Cross
CRIES FROM THE CROSS: Pastor. John Neal What led up to there ever having to be, cries from the cross? Jesus wasn’t crying from the pain and agonies, He wasn’t crying for his own self. The first cry uttered from the cross was, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do” (St. Luke 23:34). There were two legal system, which proved to be illegal, that condemned Jesus. The Jews, his own people, and the Romans. The very two system on which our own legal system is based upon. The arrest and proceeding’s under Anna Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, were under Jewish law. Those under Pilate and Herod were under Roman law. The Jewish trial was illegal in several ways: 1)- The judge was not impartial, and did not protect the accused. There is no evidence that the quorum of twenty-three judges were present. The judges took part in the arrest, and they were hostile (St. Matt. 26: 62-63). 2)- The arrest was unlawful because it was carried out under no formal accusation. 3)- In Criminal trails, all sessions had to be started and carried out only during the day. The verdict was not to be handed down until the next day. All night session were illegal. 4)- A verdict of guilty could not be rendered on the same day, as the conclusion of the trial. It had to be given the next day. 5)- The search for hostile testimony was illegal (St. Matt. 26: 59, Mark 14: 56; John 11:53). 6)- No accused could be convicted on his own evidence, yet, they sought replies and admissions from Jesus to condemn him (St. Matt. 26: 63-66; John 18:9). 7)- No valid legal evidence was presented against him. After Pilate declared Jesus Innocent (St. Matt. 27: 24), ever thing that was done after that was contrary to the letter and spirit of Roman law. A murdered man does not have a choice, but Jesus had a choice. He laid down his life willingly. No man took his life from him. Like a sheep led to the slaughter, Jesus let himself be led to Calvary. To give his blood and die for the sins of this uncaring world, but he opened not his mouth, but suffered for us, a death too horrible to even try to understand. Psa. 22: 14-18, David gives us a picture of the Crucifixion. The bones of the hands, arms, shoulders, and pelvis pulled out of joint (v 14), the profuse perspiration caused by intense suffering (v 14), the action of the heart affected (v14). Strength exhausted, and extreme thirst (v15). The hands and feet pierced (v 16). All are associated with this form of death. The second cry from the cross was when Jesus spoke to the thief. “Today thou shalt be with me in Paradise” (St. Luke 23:43). The third cry from the cross was when Jesus looked down and saw his mother, he said to her, “Woman, behold thy son,” this he spoke of John the beloved disciple, and to John he said, “Behold thy mother” (St. John 19:26-27). The forth cry from the cross, and the most saddest anyone could hear was, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (St. Matt. 27: 46; St. Mark 15:34-36). The fifth cry from the cross, Jesus simply said, “I thirst” (St. John 19: 28). The Sixth cry from the cross, “It is finished” ( St. John 19: 30). The Seventh, and last cry from the cross, “Father, into thy hands, I commend my Spirit” (St. Luke 23: 16). Put yourself in Jesus’ place, see what was happening at the foot of the cross. While Jesus hung there on the cross suffering and dying there in pain and agony, the soldiers sat at the foot of the cross and played their games, and parted his garments, casting lots, gambling on his garment to see which one was going to get them. The people stood beholding, in indifference, like it was a circus going on. (St. Matt. 27: 35- 42). It was show time at the cross that day. The rulers, mocked him. They wanted religion, but, without a divine Christ crucified for their sins. (St. Matt 27:41). They railed at him (St. Matt. 27: 39). Reviled him. Def: Railed, means , criticize, denounce, condemn. They were there from near and far for the feast of the Passover, and they came to behold this public execution. He claimed to be the Son of God, would he come down from the cross. All eyes were upon him, waiting to see what he would do. The Cross is for the judgment of the world. We have to go back to the cross, even though Jesus is not there anymore. That is where he was Crucified. That is where he died. That is where he shed his blood, so that we, who partake of it in Baptism, may be washed clean of our sins. Jesus told John the Baptist, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness” (St. Matthew 3: 15).
Posted by J.C.A.M.I. Staff
at 6:29 PM EDT
Monday, 4 August 2008
If We Miss Heaven, We Miss It All
Mood:
 not sure
Topic: Heaven
IF WE MISS HEAVEN, WE MISS IT ALL. By: Pastor. John B. Neal “...........whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows----such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man---whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows----how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (II Corinthians 12: 1-4).Paul here is talking about the abode of God, where God dwells, where his throne is, where the angels are. The streets of pure gold, the walls made of Jasper, the gates are all of pearls. What a beautiful picture Paul and John paint for us, what joy there will be when we make it to this paradise Paul spoke of.We read of these things, but is our mind really on these things, or are they on the pleasures of this earth? Have we ever asked ourselves, how hard are we trying to make it up there? The preachers keep telling us; Jesus paid it all for us. He paid our debt of sin, so we won’t have to. That is true. But do you think that Jesus went through all that pain and suffering, humiliation, of being mocked, and ridiculed, so that we could just sit back and enjoy the pleasures of this world, and do nothing. No, my friend, there is more to it than that. If that is what you think then you have blinders on. If you do not come to Jesus, and take on his name through the water baptism, and covered by his blood that he shed for you, and follows his law and his word, then you are bastards and none of his. I didn’t say that, that is in the word of God. How hard are we trying or are we trying at all? If we miss Heaven, we’ve missed it all.Don’t be like an Ostrich, with your head buried in the sand, and pretend you don’t understand what I’m talking about. We have one shot at this, and we’re not going to get another.There are many places I would love to have visited, like Jerusalem, to walk on those dust streets that Jesus trod. To walk with Jesus by the Sea of Galilee, where John, Andrew, James, and Peter were fishing, to view the place where Jesus was crucified for the sins of the world. To visit the tomb where Jesus was laid, to see the stone rolled away from the door. Where the angel told Mary Magdalene, “He is not here, he is risen.” She was asked, “Why seek ye the living, among the dead?” I don’t think I will ever get to any of these places, although my desire is that I shall be able to walk the streets of the New Jerusalem, which comes down from God.” I can walk with Jesus on those streets of gold, and talk with the Old Testament prophets, and the Apostles, but if we don’t keep our mind on Heaven, and we let the cares and pleasures of this world dominate our lives, if we miss heaven, we will miss it all.Heaven is something that we can all be a part of. Heaven is within the grasp of us all. But we have to reach out, and take hold of it. We have to take hold on Salvation, and that only comes through Jesus Christ, for it is He, one and only one, the Savior of the world.Acts 4: 12 “Neither is there Salvation in any other, for there is no other name under Heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved.”Col. 3: 17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God, and the Father by Him.”Col. 2: 9-10 “For in Him (that is Jesus) dwelleth all the fullness of the God Head bodily. And ye are complete in Him who is the head of all principalities and power.”If we miss out on knowing Jesus, we have missed our chance of enter into heaven. For Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life, (St. John 11: 25).Jesus told Martha, “He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die, believeth thou this.”If we do not believe, or fail to believe, we have no eternal life abiding in us, and instead of Heaven, it will be Hell. Those that believe in Jesus, and keep his laws, will not die the second death. (Spiritual death.)We need to ask ourselves, just how important to us are the pleasures of this world? They are only good for a very short time, compared to all eternity spent in hell. The rich man enjoyed the good things, the pleasures of this world, but when he died he lifted up his eyes in hell, and begged Abraham just to let Lazarus dip his finger in some water, and put just a drop on his hot, parched tongue. But there is a gulf that separates, heaven from hell, and there is no crossing over. We all have our chance, while here on this earth, to make our decision of where we want to spend eternity. Once our eyes are closed in that eternal sleep, it’s too late to said, “Oh, I wish I had put my trust in Jesus.”The pleasures of this life are but for a fleeting moment, compared with eternity. Where will we spend eternity, there are only two choices, in heaven with Jesus, or in hell with the fallen angels. In heaven, we will never want to leave, but in hell, we will never be allowed to leave, but be in torment for all eternity. It is not a very pretty picture, but neither is it supposed to be.Jesus would we all be saved, but all will not be saved, for the prince of this world has most people blinded. Satan has most of people right where he wants them; he holds them in the palm of his hand. They are like a puppet on a string, Satan pulls the string and they jump to his command, and either they can’t see it, or know it, or even care about it, as long as they have a good time, I mean to partake of the sin of this world. People today call right wrong and wrong right. They are getting to the point where they don’t see it as sin. They have been blinded by the dazzle and sparkle of this world.What are people searching for, what are they seeking? If they have found what their flesh craves, why are they still out all night seeking for it? Don’t they know there is joy in the Lord? There is comfort in the Lord. Jesus can and does put a song in your heart. He makes you feel safe and secure. You can never find that in a bottle of booze, nor drugs, heroin, nor cocaine, sex or money, their soul is never satisfied. It seems that the world is playing follow the leader, and Satan is their leader. He leads us into trouble, but once we are in, he never bothers to help us out. Missing out on heaven for the things this world has to offer is not a very wise choice for any of us. It is time we put away childish things and stop being a pleasure seeker, and become a Jesus seeker. There is life in Jesus, but sin brings forth death, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6: 23).“Good understanding giveth favor but the ways of transgressors is hard” (Prov. 13: 15).Think about it, if we miss out on heaven, we have missed it all, for who wants to spend their days through all eternity in torment? I can’t answer for you, but I know I don’t. A true Christian should never become complacent. Def: means satisfied, self-satisfied, smug; content, or at ease. Pleased with ones self. Have you ever seen a person who calls themselves a Christians, that seems to be smug, and very well pleased with themselves? I am sure you have. They seems to be too saved to talk to an ordinary human being. If we become too complacent we may meet that same person coming up as we are going down. Remember the two men that were crucified with Jesus on that fateful day. Jesus told one of them, “Today thou shall be with me in paradise” (St. Luke 23: 43). No one need despair, but remember, only one, so that none may presume, or take for granted. I have heard people say that, if Jesus were to come right now, “I would be ready to go with him. “ Well, I don’t know, and it not for me to say, if they are or if they are not, but what I am saying, be absolutely sure, before that Red Devil behind those white pearly gates speaks out of order. A person shouldn’t become too cocky, become saved, for God knows those that are his. The apostle Paul said, we haven’t obtained yet. Don’t miss heaven, my friend. If you do, you have missed it all, and where you spend eternity, is up to you. The choice is yours. For your sake, make the right choice. Jesus is waiting. ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by J.C.A.M.I. Staff
at 10:09 PM EDT
Updated: Saturday, 9 August 2008 4:10 PM EDT
Thursday, 31 July 2008
Two Different Worlds
Mood:
 a-ok
Topic: Not Of This World
WE LIVE IN TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS I John 4:5-6 “They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” Also I John 5:19 “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” These two different worlds are as different as Light is from the Darkness or as Day is from the Night. One is like the opposite side of a coin, the Natural world and the Spiritual world. We are like Abraham, this world is not my home, I’m just passing through, while I’m looking for that city not made by hands. I wonder sometimes when talking to people, if we are speaking in a foreign language. Then I remember how God dealt with me, when he saved my soul. Then I remember they are of the world, therefore, speak they of the world. The things that they know, the things that they are used to, the things of the world. John went on to say, And the world heareth them, why, because they are speaking the same language, they understand each other, they cannot understand the thing that are of God. John goes on to say, “We are of God.” Don’t that knowledge and understanding put joy down in your soul? We speak of a spiritual world, a glorious kingdom, or we should be; of the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords. Our mind should be on heaven, we should always keep a vision of heaven before our eyes. He that knoweth God, heareth us,” why, because we speak the same language. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” I Cor. 2:14. The word “Discern” means: To perceive, Detect, and observe. John said, “by this, know we the spirit of truth and of error.” The Apostle Paul tells us also of Perilous times, dangerous times, that we are living in today. When you try to warn the people, why can’t they hear us? Because they are of the world, they cannot hear the words of God. “He that is of God, heareth God’s words, ye, therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” St. John 8:47. Jesus himself said, “For this people heart is become gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should hear them.” St. Matthew 13:15. Gross means: Disgusting, obscene, offensive, shameful. Two different worlds, the natural, and the Spiritual. Our first birth made us a natural man or woman. Our second birth made us into a spiritual man. We as a spiritual man should be able to tell the difference between the two, if we can’t, then something is wrong. Do we walk in the natural, or the spiritual? Or do we walk Spiritual, in the Natural world? Do we walk as carnal minded in the world? Do we walk in the flesh or in the Spirit? There are two people, in the same body, the question is, which one are we following? One, has to have dominion over the other. Is the Carnal mind leading us or are we letting the Spiritual mind of Christ lead us? Paul divided men into three classes, The Natural man, The Spiritual man, and the Carnal man. I Cor 2:14. 1).....The Natural man- The Adamic man, unrenewed through the new birth. St. John 3. 2).....The Spiritual man- The renewed man, a spirit filled man walking in the spirit in full communion with God. 3)..... The Carnal man- Fleshly, walking after the flesh, Lustful, sensual, worldly, opposed to the spiritual, (I Cor. 3: 1-4) The Natural man, may be learned, gentle, eloquent, fascinating, but the Spiritual content of scripture is absolutely hidden from him. The Carnal man or fleshly, is able to comprehend only its simplest truths. The preachers are feeding you with the milk of the word and not the meat. Paul is talking to the church, not to the world, telling them to come “out of your Carnal state.” “Are ye not Carnal” and walk as men of the world? ( Natural, Adamic man) Envying, strife, divisions. “This I say then, walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Gal. 5: 16 Natural, is the apostles word for, the unrenewed man. Spiritual, the renewed man who lives in the Spirit, walks in the Spirit. We are living physically in a world of sin, for the world lies in sin. If we lie with it, we shall also die with it. But we are told to come out of her my people, touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you. Two different worlds, which one does your heart belong to? Is it time to make a change? The song says, “don’t let it be said too late.” Do you want to continue living in houses, where thieves break in and steal, or in a mansion, where the streets are paved with gold? God gave us that choose. Just as the cloud guided the children of Israel through the wilderness, So will he guide us through this world of sin. By: Pastor. John B. Neal
Posted by J.C.A.M.I. Staff
at 3:25 PM EDT
Updated: Saturday, 9 August 2008 4:11 PM EDT
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Bible Questions
Topic: Q & A
“The God Head Questions And Answers From The Bible” Is the word trinity in the Bible? No. Does the Bible say that there are three persons in the Godhead? No. Does the Bible speak of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? Yes. Do these titles as used in Matthew 28:19 mean that there are three separate and distinct persons in the Godhead? No, they refer to three offices, roles, or relationship to humanity. Does the Bible use the word three in reference to God? Only one verse in the entire Bible does so-I John 5:7. It speaks of the Father, the Word (instead of Son), and the Holy Ghost, and it concludes by saying, "These three are one." Does the Bible use the word one in reference to God? Yes, many times. For example, see Zechariah 14:9; Malachi 2:10; Matthew 23:9; Mark 12:29, 32; John 8:41; 10:30; Romans 3:30; I Corinthians 8:4; Galatians 3:20; I Timothy 2:5; James 2:19.Can the mystery of the Godhead be understood? Yes. Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9; I Timothy 3:16. Has the Christian only one Heavenly Father? Yes. Matthew 23:9. Then why did Jesus say to Philip, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:39)? Because Jesus is the express image of God's person. Hebrews 1:3. The Greek word for personin this verse literally means "substance." Does the Bible say that there are two persons in the Godhead? No. Does the Bible say that all the Godhead is revealed in one person? Yes, in Jesus Christ. II Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:19; 2:9; Hebrews 1:3. Is the mystery of the Deity hidden from some people? Yes. Luke 10:21-22. Who is the Father? The Father is the one God, particularly as revealed in parental relationship to humanity. Deuteronomy 32:6; Malachi 2:10. Where was God the Father while Jesus was on earth? The Father was in Christ. John 14:10; II Corinthians 5:19. He was also in heaven, for God is omnipresent. Did the prophet Isaiah say that Jesus would be the Father? Yes. Isaiah 9:6; 63:16. When God said, "Let us make man in our image" (Genesis 1:26), was He speaking to another person in the Godhead? No. Isaiah 44:24; Malachi 2:10. How many of God's qualities were in Christ? All. Colossians 2:9. How may we see the God who sent Jesus into the world? By seeing Jesus. John 12:44-45; 14:9. Does the Bible say that Jesus is the Almighty? Yes. Revelation 1:8 Whom do some designate as the first person in the trinity? God the Father. Whom do some designate as the last person in the trinity? The Holy Ghost. But Jesus said that He was the first and last. Revelation 1:17-18 How many persons did John see sitting on the throne in heaven? One. Revelation 4:2. If Jesus is the first and the last, why did God say in Isaiah 44:6 that He was the first and the last? Because Jesus is the God of the Old Testament incarnate. Did Jesus tell Satan that God alone should be worshipped? Yes. Matthew 4:10 Does the devil believe in more than one God? No. James 2:19. Does the Bible say that God, who is the Word, was made flesh? Yes John 1:1, 14. For what purpose was God manifested in the flesh? To save sinners. Hebrews 2:9, 14. Was Jesus God manifested in the flesh? Yes. I Timothy 3:16. Could Jesus have been on earth and in heaven at the same time? Yes. John 3:13. Does the Bible say that there is but one Lord? Yes. Isaiah 45:18; Ephesians 4:5. Does the Bible say that Christ is the Lord? Yes. Luke 2:11. Does the Bible say that the Lord is God? Yes. I kings 18:39; Zechariah 14:5; Acts 2:39; Revelation 19:1. How could the church belong to Jesus (Matthew 16:18) and yet be the church of God (I Corthians 10:32)? Because Jesus is God in the flesh. Will God give His glory to another? No. Isaiah 42:8. Was there a God formed before Jehovah, or will there be one formed after? No. Isaiah 43:10. What is one thing that God does not know? Another God. Isaiah 44:8. What is one thing that God Cannot do? Lie. Titus 1:2. How many Gods should we know? Only one. Hosea 13:4. How many names has the Lord? One. Zechariah 14:9. Is it good to think upon the name of the Lord? Yes. Malachi 3:16. Does the Bible say that God alone treads upon the waves of the sea? Yes. Job 9:8 Why, then, was Jesus able to walk upon the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 14:25)? Because He is God the Creator. Colossians 1:16. Is God the only one who can forgive sin? Yes. Isiah 43:25; Mark 2:7. Why, then, could Jesus forgive sin in Mark 2:5-11? Because He is God the Savior. Is Jesus the true God? Yes. I John 5:20. If God and the Holy Ghost are two separate persons, which was the Father of Christ? Matthew 1:20 says that the Holy Ghost was the Father, while Romans 15:6, II Corinthians 11:31, and Ephesians 1:3 say that God was the Father. There is no contradiction when we realize that God the Father and the Holy Ghost are one and the same Spirit. Matthew 10:20; Epheasians 4:4; I Corthians 3:16. When Paul asked the Lord who He was, what was the answer? "I am Jesus." Acts 9:5. When Stephen was dying, did he call God Jesus? Yes. Acts 7:59. Did Thomas ever call Jesus God? Yes. John 20:28. How could Jesus be the Savior, when God the Father said in Isaiah 43:11, "Beside me there is no Savior?" Because "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself." II Corinthians 5:19. Does the Bible say that Jesus was God with us? Yes. Matthew 1:23. Did Jesus ever say, "I and my Father are one?" Yes. John 10:30. Can it be proved scripturally that Jesus and the Father are one in the same sense that husband and wife are one? No. The Godhead was never compared to the relationship of a husband and wife. Jesus identified Himself with the Father in a way that husband and wife cannot be identified with each other. John 14:9-11. Does the Bible say that there is only one wise God? Yes. Jude 25. Does the Bible call the Holy Ghost a second or third person in the Godhead? No. The Holy Ghost is the one Spirit of God, the one God Himself at work in our lives. John 4:24; I Corthians 3:16-17; 6:19; 12:13. Can Trinitarians show that three divine persons were present when Jesus was baptized by John? Absolutely not. The one, omnipresent God used three simultaneous manifestations. Only one divine person was present--Jesus Christ the Lord. Then what were the other two of whom Trinitarians speak? One was a voice from heaven; the other was the Spirit of God in the form of a dove. Matthew 3:16-17. What did the voice say at Jesus' baptism? "Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Mark 1:11. As the Son of God, Jesus was the one God incarnate. Does the Bible say that God shed His blood and that God laid down His life for us? Yes. Acts 20:28; I John 3:16. God was able to do this because He had taken upon Himself a human body. The Bible says that God is coming back with all his saints (Zechariah 14:5) and also that Jesus is coming back with all his saints (I Thessalonians 3:13). Are two coming back? No. Only one is coming back--our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13.
Posted by J.C.A.M.I. Staff
at 11:11 PM EDT
Jesus
Mood:
 happy
Topic: What a Name
INTRODUCTION:
Every individual that comes to Jesus, being drawn by the Spirit, will want to be baptized. And in fact, to obtain full salvation, will need to be baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38 . Jesus commanded baptism (Matthew 28:19) and said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15).
However, before baptism the baptismal candidate should be thoroughly repentant and believe with all his heart that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Acts 2:38, *:37). The act of being immersed in water in the name of Jesus will not in itself bring about the remission of sins. Repentance AND baptism in Jesus' name are required. A sinner who has no intention of turning from his life of sin will not be profited by the act of baptism. Not until a sinner fully repents and believes that God has forgiven him, should he submit himself for baptism in the name of Jesus, by a duly authorized minister. However, failure to do so when he fulfills these requirements will put him in disobedience to the gospel of Christ and will inhibit spiritual development. PURPOSE OF BAPTISM:
Baptism is an act of obedience to God by a person who believes in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The obedience is in order to receive remission of repented sins (Acts 2:38) . In answer to a good conscience before God, baptism does also now save us through the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ (I Peter 3:21). Baptism is a type of putting on or being clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:27).
By baptism, a believer expresses his divorcement from his old sinful life and identifies himself as desiring to live a new life for Jesus. His previous life of sin is actually buried with Christ in baptism (Romans 6:4). PROPER MODE OF BAPTISM:
Sprinkling, pouring, ad immersion are modes of baptism practiced today. Ephesians 4:5 states "One Lord, one faith ONE baptism." Therefore we believe there exists but one correct mode of baptism. {Or need for just one} That would be the one employed by Jesus and His disciples. Two scripture references let us know what that mode is. "And Jesus, when He was baptized went up straightway out of the water. . ." (Matthew 3:16). Acts 8:38, 39, in reference to Philip baptizing the eunuch, says ". . .And when they were come up out of the water . . ." went UP STRAIGHTWAY OUT OF and come UP OUT OF strongly implies that baptism is properly administered by immersion in water. Paul's reference to baptism as a burial with Christ (Romans 6:4) supports this position. Study of the Greek word BAPTIZO, from which BAPTISM comes, gives conclusive evidence that immersion in water is the proper mode. Baptize means to dip, plunge, or immerse.
SCRIPTURAL FORMULA FOR BAPTISM:
Jesus commanded his remaining eleven Apostles , In Matthew 28:19, to baptize. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them..." He spoke to men whose understanding had been opened to the scriptures (Luke 24:45). His words obviously captivated them. They were witnesses to His death, burial and resurrection. They were soon to witness His ascension. They knew He possessed the words of eternal life and they would not forget these.
He charged them previously, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Doubting Thomas, upon seeing the nail prints in His hand and the wound in His side, had already made the confession, "My Lord and my God" (John 20:2 . The disciples knew He was God manifested in flesh, they did love Him, and they would not fail to keep this commandment. On the momentous day of Pentecost, recorded in Acts the second chapter, we read for the first time they obeyed this command to baptize. They had all just been filled with the Holy Spirit of God and spake in other tongues as this Spirit gave the utterance (Acts 2:4). Peter had stood with the eleven and preached a message of Jesus the Christ and Him crucified. Jews and proselytes, gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost, changed from mockers to inquirers. Pricked in their hearts from Peter's message, they asked what they should do to be saved. Peter, the logical spokesman due to the fact Jesus gave him the keys to the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:19), issued this reply, "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 (the Spirit of God the Apostles received)." Peter exercised his God-given authority. The other eleven Apostles stood in silent agreement with him. The people were receptive, "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). At first glance, this might seem to be a contradiction of what Jesus commanded them in Matthew 28:19, as to the formula for baptism (words said over a baptismal candidate as they are immersed). Knowing that all scripture is inspired of God (II Timothy 3:16) and therefore there can be no contradiction in scripture, we must analyze these two verses a little closer. In doing so, we will find that Acts 2:38 is not in contradiction to, but is the application of Matthew 28:19. First, let us observe what the Lord Jesus commanded, ". . .baptizing them in THE NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." The command is to baptize in THE NAME (singular) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. In Peter's reply as to what should be done he said, ". . .be baptized in THE NAME of Jesus Christ. . ." In order for these to agree, and since they are both contained in the Word of God, they must, THE NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost must be THE NAME of JESUS CHRIST! Scripture confirms this. "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). Matthew 1:25 adds, ". . .and he called his name JESUS." The Son, spoken of in Matthew 28:19 conceived by the Virgin Mary of the Holy Ghost, received the name JESUS. This same Jesus states, "I am come in my Father's name. . ." (John 5:43). Jesus inherited His Father's name just like you and I inherit our father's name (Hebrews 1:4). The Holy Ghost comes in the same name, as Jesus speaking in John 14:26 denotes, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name. . ." THE NAME of the Father is JESUS. THE NAME of the Son is JESUS, and THE NAME of the Holy Ghost is JESUS. The Word of God again holds true; there is no contradiction. Father, Son and Holy Ghost are TITLES of one God whose NAME IS JESUS. Peter and the rest of the Apostles knew that. Therefore, Peter gave the formula he did, and the rest of the Apostles stood in agreement with him. Thus, on the day of Pentecost, three thousand souls took on the name of JESUS in baptism. The name that Peter declared in Acts 4:12 was the only name given under heaven among men, whereby we must be saved. Philip invoked the same name in baptizing the Samaritans in Acts 8, ". . . only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." Peter continued the pattern in Acts 10:48. He commanded a gentile household that had already received the Holy Ghost to be baptized in the name of the Lord. The word COMMAND takes on special significance here considering it was delivered to an Italian army officer. To him, disobedience to a command demanded severe consequences. In Acts 19:1-7 we read of twelve men in Ephesus who lacked the gift of the Holy Ghost. Learning they had not received the Holy Spirit, Paul, the Apostle born out of due season (I Corinthians 15: , immediately inquired of them unto what they were baptized. Since they were baptized only unto John the Baptist's baptism, a baptism unto repentance, Paul explained that they were to believe on the One who came after John, Christ Jesus. When they heard this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Paul laid hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost. This Bible narrative depicts to us two important points about baptism 1.) If a person has not received the Holy Ghost, it may be because he has not yet been baptized in Jesus' name; (2.) If a person had been previously baptized, but not in Jesus' name, Paul re baptized him in the name of Jesus. Paul was a strong believer in the name of the Lord. He learned the name of the Lord in an unforgettable experience that transpired in his life on the road to Damascus. "And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus; and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am JESUS whom thou persecutest. . ." (Acts 9:3-5). Paul, formerly a persecutor of the Christians, became a Christian. He speaks of calling on the name of the Lord at his own personal baptism, in Acts 22:16. Some other references signifying the formula for baptism to be in the name of the Lord Jesus are; ". . .baptized into Jesus Christ. . ." (Romans 6:3); ". . .but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus" (I Corinthians 6:11); "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him" (Colossians 3:17). Reference books further support the fact that the early church used the form IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST as their formula for baptism. "The original form of words were Into the name of Jesus Christ or Lord Jesus." Baptism into the trinity was a later development," DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE by Scribners, page 241, vol. 1. "The early church always baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus until the development of the trinity," CANNEY ENCYCLOPEDIA, page 53. The doctrine of the trinity was officially adopted by the Catholic Church in 325 A.D. approximately three hundred years after the beginning of the church. CONCLUSION:
Jesus commanded baptism. The disciples and the early church obeyed His command and commanded it to others. The Holy Bible, delivered unto us by the hand of the Lord, commands it. Therefore, it is the responsibility of every individual seeking full salvation to be baptized, using the proper Biblical mode and formula.
The Bible contains no record of anyone being baptized any other way than by immersion in water (mode), in the name of the Lord Jesus (formula). We therefore conclude that baptizing in the titles, using the words "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" is a tradition instituted by men. Jesus' command in Matthew 28:19 is not being obeyed by using the titles; it is only being repeated. Peter and the rest of the Apostles were in obedience to God on the day of Pentecost in stating that baptism should be administered in the name of Jesus. Salvation comes only by the grace of God. It is only by His grace that we can repent and be baptized in Jesus' name for the remission of our sins. It is our privilege and our honor to be buried with Christ in baptism in answer to a good conscience toward God. By our act of obedience in baptism, in the name of Jesus Christ, we receive the promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost. All who have repented should be baptized in the name of Jesus even if they have already received the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44-48 . God commanded it. Every true believer will do his best to obey the commands of God. He would let nothing hinder him.
Posted by J.C.A.M.I. Staff
at 11:08 PM EDT
One God
Mood:
a-ok
Topic: Just One
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:" (Deut. 6:4 and Mark 12:29). "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3) "...Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any." (Isaiah 44: ". ..hath not one God created us?" (Malachi 2:10).”Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one." (Galatians 3:20) "Thou believeth that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." (James 2:19) To the question as to whether there is One God, the Bible affirmatively answers YES! Paul affirmed that a mediator was not a mediator of one, but God is one. That is while a mediator stands in the middle between two or more contending parties, yet God was One, not two or more. Paul again said, "For there is One God and One Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5). All who believe the Bible must believe in One God, for God is One. (Gal. 3:20). GOD and gods IS GOD ONE OR THREE? This is perhaps the most basic question in or out of the universe. Ditheists say there are two Gods and Tritheists say there are three Gods. Trinitarians say there is One God in three separate and distinct persons. Monotheists, other than Christian Mono- theists say there is One God. Christian Monotheists say there is One God Who has revealed Himself in three basic ways, but is not divided into Persons after the analogy of the human specie. WHAT IS, THE TRITHEISTIC VIEW? Tritheism is a belief in Three Gods with separate and distinct existences. WHAT IS THE TRINITARIAN CONCEPT? The doctrine of the Trinity is that God is One God subsisting in three separate and distinct persons. They confess that this is a mystery above reason but not contrary to reason. They do not all say that these three persons have a body, but they have all the attributes that define a person to be a person, which they say does not always mean that a body is involved. WHAT IS DITHEISM? Ditheism is a belief in two Gods. Some of this belief partakes of the nature of God in an uncreated sense, creating the Son of God in the beginning, who in turn by delegated authority created all things that are made. This is believed to be the origin of the Son of God in the Son ship relationship. This means to the so-called Ditheist that this is the origin of the Created Son, but not His origin as God, in the uncreated sense. The impression one gets is of a Senior and Junior God. WHAT IS MONOTHEISM? Monotheism is the ancient doctrine that God is One, not many. It is succinctly summarized by the verse: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is ONE LORD." (Deut. 6:4) This is the extreme opposite of a Plurality of Beings whether called Tritheism or even Tritheism in its modified form termed Trinity. It is this fundamental belief that is the root and branch of Jewish rejection of the Trinitarianism and Tritheism of the so-called Christian world, for they feel that their Messiah will be the One God of the Old Testament coming in the form of man. WHAT IS CHRISTIAN MONOTHEISM? It is the same as Jewish Monotheism with the exception that the Son of God is the Messiah, and that this One God has sent His Spirit in and upon the people as the Holy Ghost. There is One God Who lives in and out of the Universe as the Source of all things, yet Who also assumed the human nature of man through Mary, within which His Divine Nature was fused and called the Son of God in relation to Divine Origin and Present dwelling in the flesh; and also-called the Son of Man in relation to His Human Origin and dwelling in the flesh; with the added manifestation of Himself under the appellation of the Holy Ghost or Spirit dwelling and being imparted in and to the lives of believers in Jesus Christ. IS IT ACCURATE TO SAY THAT CHRISTIAN MONOTHEISTS ARE JESUS ONL Y? NO! Christian Monotheists believe that Jesus Christ is God made visible through incarnation, but that God is basically an Omnipresent Spirit Substance, Whose Absolute Being transcends even the Universe as an Unlimited Existence. Although Jesus Christ is the One God of the Old Testament, He is not all there is to God as to quantity, speaking from the standpoint of the size of the body. The idea may be conveyed in a rough analogy by the use of water and ice: Ice is of water, and may be in water, but is water in a solid form. Jesus is God in human form, but God is an omnipresent Spirit, too. As Jesus said concerning His connection with God in this Spirit sense, "I am in the Father and the Father is in me” Ice is in the water and the water is in the ice. “I and my Father are ONE." The Holy Ghost is sometimes called the Spirit of my Father and the Spirit of God's Son. This analogy is imperfect, since God assumed the flesh and life of man in order to live and move among men; and is not spirit converted to flesh. IS IT ACCURATE TO SAY THAT CHRISTIAN MONOTHEISTS, DENY THE FATHER? This has been told and retold but is highly inaccurate and misleading. The Christian Monotheist simply denies that God should be characterized under the appellation of Three Separate and Distinct Persons, whether under the extreme Tritheistic concept or the modified Tritheistic concept commonly called Trinity. Christian Monotheists believe that when God is referred to as Father, He is being addressed as the source from whence all things originated. When the One God of the Bible assumed a mode of Being in the flesh, this distinct manifestation of Him- self originated from God in sense of Spirit. The Spirit Substance, which is eternal and Omnipresent, is the source or Father of the fusion of God and' man in one body and called the Son of God. This Fatherhood of the Spirit has carried over and been applied to Jesus when His Deity or Divine'" Nature or Substance is being identified, and/ or emphasized more in particular, in contradistinction to His humanity. Thus, when His Substance, which is the same as the Spirit, is preeminently in mind. Jesus Christ is also described as the Father or Source. In His Deity Jesus, in the body, is One or the same as the Deity outside of the body. When viewed as being the product of a fusion of the divine and the human, the appellation of Son of God and Son of Man are used. Unlike Tritheism or Trinitarianism, Christian Monotheism includes the whole Deity in an Undivided Substance, rather than to project a Troika (three) of separated individuals or council of persons like to the unity that perhaps three people may form -a unity though plural. Christian Monotheism includes both the God of Infinity in His Unlimited Omnipresence as a Spirit Substance, and also this Substance expressed in human form; thus fusing, as it were, the Divine Nature and the human nature. God is, therefore, to be understood from two senses: God apart from the flesh and God manifested in the flesh. Again the analogy of water and ice: The water is in the ice and the ice is in the water (ice in the lake and the lake in the ice). Monotheism (belief in One God) is a Oneity not a Trinitarian Unity. The Trinitarian Unity is United Council of Three Persons in sociological agreement. The Monotheistic Oneity is One Being made known in various ways, degrees and quantities etc.
Posted by J.C.A.M.I. Staff
at 11:07 PM EDT
Friend Or Foe
Mood:
not sure
Topic: Friend
FRIEND OR FOE
James 4: 4 says, “Whosoever, therefore, will be a friend of the world, is the enemy of God.” How can this scripture be made any plainer than what James wrote? It’s harsh, but true. There is nothing hid here. It needs no translation, no interpretation, it says what it means, and means what it says. The choice is up to each individual. Do we want to be a friend of the world, or the world system, or a friend of God? One way leads to salvation, the other leads to damnation. The one leads to Heaven the other leads to Hell. There is no way to sugar-coat it. It speaks for itself. Isaiah 30: 9-10 says, “That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the law of the Lord, who say to the seers, see not, and to the prophets, prophesy not unto us right things; speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits.“ I cannot believe that anyone would want the Lord for an enemy. Preachers preach “God is love,” Yes, He is, but God also has a wrath, that we do not want to see. Jesus is coming back soon to gather up his people. The ones that have made themselves ready. He is not coming back for just any church, but for His true Church. A church made up of individuals that are ready to go back with him. Many may say, but I’m not ready, I have been putting off coming to the Lord. When I go to church, I come home feeling more confused than I was when I came to church. All I feel is depression and confusion. Isaiah 1: 18 tells us, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Let us reason together. God would no man be lost and go to hell. Salvation is not to be taken lightly. Where we spend eternity is weighed in the balance. God is waiting to see what you’re going to do. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” We were born in sin, and in iniquity were we shapened.” We can have forgiveness for all of our sins, through Jesus Christ our Lord. The scripture said, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Is not this a wonderful thing to know? Why should we want to spend all eternity in a place of torment, when heaven is within our grasp? Jesus died on the cross of Calvary for us. He took all our sins, and nailed all of them to the cross. He became sin for us. We may all ask ourselves the same question as in Heb. 2: 3 “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.” There is no escape if we neglect our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Everyone is going to be judged by the Lord, for every deed we have done in this body, judged for every idle word spoken, every thought that we have, for many have very evil imaginations. Let us reason together a little more. Are the pleasures of this world worth going to hell for? A few moment of pleasure, worth missing out on an eternity of joy and peace, eternal life; walking on streets of pure gold, and seeing Jesus in all His glory? Nobody likes to hear the word, “hell” but it is a reality. It was not thought up to call some child into obedience. Revelation 20: 15 “And whatsoever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the lake of fire.” I don’t know about you, but I had rather be found in the Book of Life. This is reality, it’s too later to sugar coat the word just to please someone. There is no feel good message, but thank God there is hope for all through the Blood of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul looked at himself one day and said; “Oh wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin. ( Rom. 7: 24-25) Are you a friend of Jesus or a foe? He leaves the choice up to you. But if you want to be a friend, then I will tell you what to do. James 4: 7-8 says, “Submit yourselves, therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you, cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.” The reason that we sometimes have trouble doing the right thing, is because we are going about it the wrong way. Many people keep trying to resist the devil by their own strength, and can’t, because they have not first submitted themselves to God. God is where our strength lies, not in ourselves. The flesh is weak, as Apostle Paul wrote. The catching up of God’s true church, I feel, is not far off, and instead of getting caught up, many are going to be caught off. This is no time for sugar-coating God’s word. Are we still reasoning together? I hope so. It is time for us to get serious with the Lord. St. Luke 13: 3-5 Jesus said, “I tell you, nay, but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” I hope to help you get a better understanding of God’s word, that some soul may be saved. That you may find hope, and find encouragement to read the Bible for yourself. If we can put aside denominational belief and look at God’s word honestly. Think about it. God did not make denominations, man did. Peter, on the day of Pentecost, with the authority that Jesus had given him, opened the door to the true church. One church, one belief or doctrine, that of the Lord. “For upon this rock, I am going to build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Tell me, where did the rest of the beliefs come from? There was and still is only one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. My faith, my belief is the Apostolic faith. It is the same belief that Peter, Paul and the other apostles were martyred to bring to us. What was the first message preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost, when the people asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do? (Acts 2: 37-39) Peter stood up and boldly answered, “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 this 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.” If you feel the Lord is calling you, if Jesus is dealing with your heart, please, take heed and find a church that is teaching the same gospel that Peter preached on the day of Pentecost. It is too late to be playing church. Why do I have to be baptized in Jesus’ name? You may ask, and I think that is a reasonable question. Ask yourself, who shed his blood, and died on the cross for us? Was it not Jesus? Col. 3: 17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, and the father by him.” Is not baptism word and deed? Also, Col 2:9 “For in him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily and ye are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and power.” Who makes up this Godhead? The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. And we are complete in Him.” (Jesus) Don’t look for another, for there is no other Savior, and he is coming back. The Holy Ghost that Peter spoke of on the day of Pentecost Acts 2: 1-4 “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit Gave them utterance.” If you can believe it, you can receive it. It has not changed, the Spirit of God still comes the same way, with power and with other tongues. Many say that the book of Acts is not for us today, that it was only for the apostles, but that is not true. They are not preaching what Peter preached, or any of the rest of the apostles, for they all had the selfsame Holy Ghost, it does not come any other way. A lot of people, too many of them, have become stubborn, hard headed, too grounded in what Grandma believed, or Grandpa believed, they will never come to the simple truth of the gospel. They feel, “What was good enough for them, is good enough for me.” Are you willing to bet your soul on it? “We have eyes, but we see not, ears, but hear not, a heart, but we feel not.” Please, let us reason together. Look around you, see the time in which we are now living. Hear the word of the Lord. What is the Spirit saying to His church today? Listen, not to my words, but to the words of Jesus, words of Peter and Paul, they all died for the gospel that was preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost. When we go to church we need more than just a feel-good feeling kind of service. We need one that is powered by the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Jesus Christ. I am not of the same belief that my parent were. Jesus dealt with my heart and saved me one day, and he led me to the church of his choice, not mine. I had no idea what apostolic meant. I knew nothing of the baptism, or of the Holy Ghost, but Jesus taught me. He made me a believer. He can also do the same for you, if you will let Jesus have his way in your life, he can and he will make a believer out of you. Apostolic is a way of life, a saved life, not a denomination. If you can believe it, you can receive it.” Then you will know for yourselves that the Holy Ghost comes with tongues. This is the only proof in the Bible that a person has been “Born of the Spirit.” Jesus told Nicodemus in St. John 3: 3-10, “Jesus answered, and said unto him, verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Verse 5 tells us, Except (or unless) a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” It goes on to say, “Marvel not that I said unto you, ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth (willeth) and thou hearest the sound of it, but you cannot tell from where it cometh, and where it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” This happened on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2:2-4 “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting, and there appeared unto them cloven tongues as of fire (it did not say that it was fire, but that it appeared as of fire) and sat up on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with others tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Jesus went on to say, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, we speak that which we do know, and testify to that which we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.” Many today can testify and be a witness, that these things are real. It is for all that will let themselves believe. Does not reasoning tell you, that Jesus knows those that are born again of his Spirit? There is no one who can fake Jesus out. You may deceive yourself, you may even deceive others around you, but there is no way you can deceive Jesus. He knows who He has placed his Holy Spirit in. May God bless each and every one of you, and may you let the truth of God’ word shine into your hearts.
Posted by J.C.A.M.I. Staff
at 11:06 PM EDT
Foundation Of Salvation
Mood:
a-ok
Topic: Foundation
THE FOUNDATION OF SALVATION
Eph. 2: 19-22, Verse 20 “And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone. In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an Holy Temple in the Lord. In whom ye also are built together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” The closer that we come to the catching up of God’ true church, the more we see or hear of people turning their backs on the Lord, for the pleasures of this world. Apostle Paul wrote in II Tim. 3:1-8, we are living in perilous times, dangerous times, having a form of godliness but denying the power of it; from such turn away.” We are living in the days that Paul was talking about. Many have a form of godliness, but they are denying the power of it. They are not possessing what they are professing. This is the age of apostasy, or the falling away from the truth, but if someone has never had the truth, what are they falling away from? It is the act of professing Christians, who deliberately reject the revealed truth as to the deity of Jesus Christ, of the redemption through his blood, his atoning and redeeming sacrifice on Calvary, to be born again of the water and of the Spirit.Apostates: depart from the faith, but not from the outward profession of Christianity. They dress like a Christian should dress, they can even talk as a Christian talks, but their heart is not right with God. They may fool man, but they cannot fool the Lord. II Tim. 4:4 says, “they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” Many run to the churches for help, for a shelter from the storms of life, and find little help. Many want to hear the truth, but what they find is a watered down sermon. Preachers preach on the book of Revelation, but they don’t offer the people a plan of Salvation. God does have a plan you know. The churches today have left the foundation, that God’ church was built on. Many have left the old ways, the old paths. Jeremiah 6:16 “Thus saith the Lord, stand in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk in it, and ye shall find rest for your soul, but they said, we will not walk in it.” The Apostle Paul tells us in Eph. 2:20-22, that we are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the Chief corner stone.” Many have left the foundation, and the Chief corner stone, and have tried to build the temple our own way, we cannot do it. Without the true foundation, how can there be any salvation? Psa. 11: 3 “If the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” What foundation of salvation did Jesus and the Apostles give us? St. Matthew 16:18-19 “And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, and I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth shall be loose in heaven.” We realize that the rock was not Peter, but it was upon Jesus Christ himself, that his church was to be built. It was Peter who opened the door of Christian opportunity to Israel on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2: 38-42). And to the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius, ( Acts 10: 34-44 ) Peter, when asked, men and brethren, what shall we do?” Verse 38 tells us that 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.” I have heard it said, that if the Holy Ghost is a gift, then there is nothing that I have to do to receive it. Even with a gift, you have to reach out your hand and accept it. It is there for those that will reach out with their mind, their soul, and seek Jesus Christ, the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost. It comes the same way every time. Just like it did in Acts 2:1-4, verse 4 says “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” It did not come any other way in the Bible, and it does not come any other way today. If you have the Holy Ghost, then you would be speaking in other tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance. If the preachers don’t have it, then they can’t preach it. It is easier for them to say that it is not for people today, that it was only for the apostles. Does that mean that salvation is not for people today? Jesus, on the cross of Calvary, cried out, “it is finished.” It was not a cry of defeat, but of victory. He had completed the plan of Salvation, the very one he had entrusted to Peter, and passed on down through generations and given to us. Do you really believe that Jesus suffered and died on the Cross of Calvary for his plan of Salvation, that man could do it his own way. God left no room in his plan of Salvation for mankind to insert his opinion. I don’t think so. This is God’ plan. Our salvation is built up on Jesus crucified and upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus himself being the chief corner stone. The foundation of our salvation is, repentance, baptism in Jesus name, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. Anyone can say I have the Spirit of God, well, if they have, then where is their evidence? It is a gift, but only if you will believe that it exist, and reach out to God in prayer, and accept it. Acts 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.” If you feel as if God is calling you, what do you think he is calling you to? He is calling you to repentance, to this one plan of salvation, that was passed on down to us. Not a plan for denomination. He died for one plan for all mankind, he didn’t start denomination, man did. Man can never be satisfied, I wonder why? Jeremiah 2:12-13 “Be appalled (astonished) O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be ye very desolate, saith the Lord. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cistern, broken cistern, that can hold no water.” Peter, on the day of Pentecost preached repentance. Jesus tells us in St. Luke 13:1-5 verse 3, “I tell you, nay, but, except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.” And again in verse 5 “I tell you, nay, but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.” John the Baptist came preaching repentance. St. Matt. 3:2 “And saying, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Jesus also preached repentance. St. Matt. 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Peter on the day of Pentecost, preached the baptism in Jesus name: for Jesus tells us in St. John 3:1-12 verse 3 “I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” He goes on to say in verse 5 and verse 7 “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. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.” This sounds to me like we must all be born again of the water and the Spirit. The New Birth is faith in Jesus crucified, washed in his blood. The blood of the Lamb of God. Being placed in the water by immersing, signifies the death of Jesus. Coming up out of the water, signifies the resurrection of the Lord. You don’t come up out of the water, by pouring water over some-ones head, or sprinkling water on their head. We are trying to cleanse our soul, by doing what Jesus told Peter and the other disciples, to be baptized in the name of Jesus, not in titles, but in the name. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is not a name, they are what Jesus is St. Matt. 28:19 and in Col. 2:9, 12. “For in him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Verse 10 “And ye are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” What is the Godhead? The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and we are complete in Him.” In what name do we believe that the Apostles Baptized in? I have heard it said by one preacher, that we do not need to be baptized. That baptism does not cleanse us, and he was referring to I Peter 3:21. “The like figure unto which even baptism doth now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” We are not trying to cleanse the filth of the flesh, but the sins of our soul, which the baptism in Jesus name does. Unless the name of Jesus is applied to the baptism, all that person has done is gone down into the water a dry sinner and came up a wet sinner, their sins still remain with them. It is not the water that cleanse the soul, but the name, that we are cleanse by. This is all part of the foundation of salvation. Peter, on the day of Pentecost also preached, the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Someone may say “I don’t need all of that, all I have to do is do the best I can, and God will understand. I Peter 1:16 says, “Be ye Holy, for I am Holy.” And I ask you, how can you be holy without God. All I can say is good luck, you’re going to need it. Jesus died for this plan of salvation, the Apostles, all but John, were martyred for it, and people today want to ignore it. Acts 2:38 tells us ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Which came to them in Acts 2:1-4 Verse 4 tells us they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. It is as real today as it was over three thousand years ago. I cannot read in Gods word, where nor when he changed his plan of salvation, but man never get tired of trying to do it their own way. If a preacher does not have it, he cannot preach it. They try to dismiss it, but it is not going away. It will either save our soul, or else condemn us. If only people would seek the Lord, often enough and hard enough, and open their minds and heart, and believe, they too could receive the same Holy Ghost that Peter is talking about. Romans 10: 9-13 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” The word “shall” according to the dictionary, means future tense. Verse 13- 14 says “ 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 who they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And verse 15, tells us, “And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” A Preacher, if he is indeed sent by God to preach his word, will explain to the man or woman what they must do so they not shall be, but are saved. They must go by God’ plan of salvation, that was preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost, when the church was born. How many plans do we believe that Jesus left us? Did he make a different plan of salvation, according to each denominational belief, that we can believe what ever we want to, and still be saved? Or did he leave one plan for all men to follow? Jesus was crucified on Calvary for this plan. The Apostles (all but John) were martyred for this plan. They were put in prison, beaten and stoned to death, for this plan, that we could have this solid foundation of salvation. May you build your spiritual house upon this same foundation, for Jesus is the Rock that this foundation is built upon, and may you find this same plan of salvation.
Posted by J.C.A.M.I. Staff
at 11:04 PM EDT
What Does Jesus Mean To You?
Mood:
not sure
Topic: Mean To You
WHAT DOES JESUS MEAN TO YOU? “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live, therefore, or die we are the Lord’s.” Romans 14:7-8. We need to search our hearts, and ask ourselves, what does Jesus mean to me, as an individual. That is, if we consider our self a Christian, but if we are a sinner, I don’t guess Jesus ever crosses our mind. Is Jesus just someone you read about in the Bible? Is he just someone who was crucified on the cross at Calvary? Is he just a figment of our imagination? Is he just a man that our Pastor talks about on Sunday morning? Do we leave the church house and forget about the man called Jesus, until next Sunday when we pick up our Bibles again? What does Jesus mean to you? It’s easy to thank God when he does what we want. But God doesn’t always do what we want. Job, getting no comfort from family or friends, goes straight to God and pleads his case. His head hurt. His body hurt. His heart hurt, and he can’t tolerate anymore half-baked answers. “Why is this happening to me?“ God owes no one anything, no reason, no explanation. Nothing. But Job stayed loyal to God. Job said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there, the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” What does Jesus mean to you? If we call him Father, do we honor him, give him praise for what he has done? Did you ever stop to think, he woke you up this morning, and blessed you with another day? Father’s day has just passed, how many showed love and honor to our natural father’s. Does not Jesus deserve as much or more? He gave his life that your soul might be saved. What more could he give? Don’t we know and don’t we understand, that all we have, and ever hope to have, all belongs to God. “All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” St. John 1:3. We have to become obedient to the Lord, and humble ourselves at the foot of the cross. For many this is hard to do, almost impossible. But remember, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. “All soul are mine, as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine. The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezek. 18: 4. God gives us life, he can take it from us. What ever we have in this life, God has allowed us to have, and it all belongs to him. We came into this life with nothing, and we will not take anything with us when we leave this life. What ever we possess, God allows us to enjoy for a while. Then it will be passed on to someone else. If God were to ask an angel to open up the chest, containing our prayers, our giving glory to the Lamb of God, what would he find in there? Would the chest be empty? When was the last time we told Jesus how much we love him for dying on the cross for us? Are we too embarrassed to say, “Jesus, I love you for what you did for me at the cross of Calvary. The Bible tells us, that unless we become as a little child, not be one, but as one trusting in the Lord. A little child will trust its parents, to love him or her, a little child is not afraid, for they know that their parents will take care of them. We as adults must trust and lean upon Jesus the same way, not as a child, but trusting in him as a child does his parents. We don’t give God glory, but he is in complete control, of the weather and all else, not some unknown Deity called “mother nature.” Ever deed that we do is under the ever seeing eye of God. You may think you are doing things or saying things that no one knows but you, but you are only fooling yourselves. God has a book, and on that judgment day when you stand before God almighty, every deed and ever idle word you have said, will be made known, whether it be good or bad. We must need ask ourselves, what does Jesus mean to me? Is he worth giving up our old ways of life, our old habits. Just how bad do we want eternal life? Jesus has to be the center piece in our life, there is no other way. He is our everything, the very air that we breath, he is our life
Posted by J.C.A.M.I. Staff
at 11:02 PM EDT
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