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Story of Christ The
Sinful State of Mankind Another promise of a coming Savior was prophesied by Isaiah. He wrote in 53:5-6 "But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him." From the time of the Garden there has been no one to live a sinless life (except for Christ Heb 4:15) thus we find ourselves under the condemnation of Romans 3:23, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." What are we to do? I have three "R"'s to help us remember what it is we need to do, recognition, repentance and restoration. RECOGNITION
The third thing we need to recognize is that Jesus, the Son of God, is the Savior of mankind to everyone who believes, Acts 10:43. Mary and Joseph were told to " call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Matt 1:21 When Jesus was on the cross He said something right before He died that is noteworthy at this point. He said, "It is finished." (John 19:30) He was referring to the work that He came to earth to do. The Hebrew writer tells us in 9:11-12 " when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle... through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption." REPENTANCE
Another thought to repentance is the idea that it should lead us toward Christ and not away from Him. Too many attempt to seek Christ on their own terms, "For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God." Rom 10:3 Paul was talking about the Israelites who at the time thought they were in the good graces of God because of their idea of righteousness. Jesus also knew of some like this and you can read about them in Matt 7:15-23. We need to repent and seek God on His terms. This is why it is important for all of us to recognize that we are in need of a Savior. Jesus said that the poor in spirit would receive the kingdom, Matt 5:3. Jesus Arose Again for Us. When Mary came to the tomb finding it empty one has to ask the question, "Who took his body?" There was a Roman guard placed by the tomb preventing His disciples from getting to Him so they couldn't. Certainly His enemies would not take the body to support a teaching they didn't want. They only answer is that He was resurrected according to scripture, "Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" But He was speaking of the temple of His body. John 2:19-21 The power that Jesus has over Satan is fully revealed in the resurrection. Jesus was restored to the right hand of God, Acts 2:25. Jesus
Calls Us. Belief leads to repentance and repentance leads to forgiveness of sins. It was the day of Pentecost in the 33 AD (or, depending upon the calendar used 29 AD) that this command was first put into effect when Peter said, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38 Peter continued to teach the people then with many other words as God directed (2 Pet 1:20f) saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!" Acts 2:40 "So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls." Acts 2:41 It is by this method that Jesus adds ('calls' Acts 2:21, 22:16) people to the kingdom, "And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved." Acts 2:47 It is by this same method that Jesus continues to add souls to His Church. Let me know if you would like to know more in greater detail, just "E" me your questions! Graph
of Conversions as Recorded in Acts
Graph Notes:
That the Holy Spirit is given with Christ's baptism and not John's we must ask the question, "Can one live in a saved relationship with Christ without the gift of the Holy Spirit?" This baptism of Jesus is so important that the people of Ephesus, who had been baptized with John's baptism, were 're-baptized' with the baptism of Jesus. See Acts 18:24-19:5. God gives the Holy Spirit to live within each believer, "...your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God..." 1 Cor 6:19. God calls the Holy Spirit
a 'seal' (endorsement) that a believer is given "as a pledge
of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession".
Eph 1:13-14 This means that God knows those who belong to Him
based upon the seal (Holy Spirit) given. Let
me know if you would like to have a more in depth study of the Holy
Spirit, His life and work. Still interested in learning more? Click here for another study!(All Scripture references are from the NASU unless otherwise noted) |
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