Baptism of Believers

 Matt 28:19
Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

After Jesus was risen from the grave, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were told by the angels to go tell the other disciples that He was risen. As they ran to tell them, Jesus appeared to them. The excitement and wonder was overwhelming. First, they saw an angel, then they were the first to see Jesus face to face. Sorrow was turned to joy as they were told to go tell the disciples that He would meet them in Galilee. It was on a mountain in Galilee that Jesus gave His disciples the mission to tell the world that He died on the cross for sinners, and that He was the resurrection of life. That all power was His and the Holy Spirit would come to give them the power to turn the world upside down. 

The account given to us by Matthew is one of the many scriptures given to us that teach baptism and the doctrine of the Trinity. Being baptized does not bring salvation, salvation is only accomplished by confessing and believing in Jesus. But one cannot ignore the commandment given to us by Jesus that baptism is an important sacrament after one comes to believe. It proclaims to the world that we have made our choice. We are followers of Jesus, and He is the Lord of our lives. A systematic study of scripture will show that baptism is plainly taught in scripture. As believers, we should encourage those who come to Christ to proclaim their faith by being baptized. To argue that one cannot get to heaven without it is to be ignorant of the plan of salvation and the reason Jesus died on the cross. But as followers of Jesus, one should desire to proclaim Christ by being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, just as Jesus commanded.

This Good Thing

2 Tim 1:12, 14-  …am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day…That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

What good thing? The Gospel of Jesus Christ has given us the spirit of love and a sound mind, and power to overcome all fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of death. Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we are able to keep this good thing. This good thing was committed to us in the hopes that we would not be ashamed of the gospel, and speak His word without fear of man. It is the Holy Ghost, the third person of the blessed Trinity that lives within our heart. He was the promise given to us by Jesus. This good thing is kept in our hearts by the power of the Spirit. Let us not grieve His Spirit in our lives by being careless with this pearl of great price. Let us hold fast this good thing.

He Dwells Within Us

1 John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

How do we know that God can live within us? How do we know that we are part of the branch, living in the vine? Jesus promise that the Comforter would come and would dwell with us and in us after He would ascend and go to the Father, He would lead and guide us into all truth. We don’t fully understand how God, who is one can be three. Many analogies have be given to demonstrate this wonder, but they seem to come short of the mystical possibility that God manifest Himself in three personas, each part of the Godhead, and yet individual entities. The Spirit of God bears witness, or testifies with our spiritual nature that we are of God. All that confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that He came to die for our sins can have this witness in their heart. The Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, Elohim, have condescended to earth to dwell with in our hearts. Emmanuel, God is with us, can be a reality within each one of us if we but let Him in.

To Know The Father

John 8:19 “Then they said unto Him, “Where is thy father?” Jesus answered, “Ye neither know Me, nor My Father. If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also.”

To know the Father, one must know the Son. For the two are the same in One. He who came from heaven was sent from the Father. To know the Father is to know that Jesus came to earth born of a virgin, fully human, yet the conception of this new born was quicken by the Holy Spirit that brought life. Jesus, the God-Man, perfect and without sin. He came to reveal the Love of the Father that we may also know God as our Father. Sin separated us from the Father, but to those who believe in the salvation of Christ have become sons of God and now have access to the Father’s throne. To know the Father, is to know love, grace and mercy. He is a good Father, and every blessing we receive comes from Him. May we find rest in knowing the Father from above. 

He Alone is God

Psalm 86:10 “For Thou art great and doest wondrous things: Thou alone art God.”-

He alone is God. In all the earth there is none greater than the great three in one. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Holy, holy, holy is He and worthy of all our praise and worship. There is no God compared to Thee on God, no not one. The gods of this world appeal to our earthly flesh and passions to serve them, but God appeals to our soul and spirit. He works in ways that are beyond our imagination. He is God alone who is in control of world affairs and no matter who our world leaders are, He is greater and nothing that happens will change who He is and what He allows to happen. He alone is God and in Him alone will I put my trust.

The Kingdom of Christ

Isaiah 11:1-9

Stem of David- A Rod Come Forth
• Destruction of Judah
• Ray of hope
• A branch that will cover the whole world
Spirit of The Lord- Rest of Him
• The Holy Spirit part of the Trinity
• The wisdom and understanding of Christ
• The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge
Sight and Hearing of The Lord- Not As Man Sees
• Man looks on the outward to judge, God sees the heart
• He will right the wrongs- He is not fooled by sin
Smite the Earth- With His Words
• He will overthrow all evil
• The Anti Christ will be defeated
Source of Strength- From His Lions
• His Righteousness- evil will be overcome
• Faithfulness- He will do as he says-
Safe and Peaceful Kingdom- They Shall Lie Down
• Millennial Reign of Christ
• No fear of harm- Predator – Prey is broken
• Utopia- what a day that will be.
Sovereign Ruler- The Earth Shall Be Full
• He will rule the whole earth
• His presence will be known through out
• Every knee shall bow to his will
• He will rule with perfection
• Holiness will reign forever and ever