You might have only visited this website or you just liked a post in the networking site or you shared its link to a friend. Thank you, whoever you are! God is fair. He won't forget what you've done or the love you've shown for him. You helped his holy people, and you continue to help them (Hebrews 6:10). The important thing here is that you are becoming a channel in reaching out the lost world, in teaching all nations, in proclaiming the gospel to the whole creation. All glory and honor and praise to Jesus!
This map shows how this simple website with the Acts 2:38 salvation message has reached many parts of the world within the last 5 months. Not too many, not too big an impact, but the point has been driven to spread the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ into the world (Mark 16:15-16). Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into union with Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore, through baptism we were buried with him into his death so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father's glory, we too may live an entirely new life (Romans 6:3-4). Yes! This is the same gospel message that we declare in this website. Some of you have received this message and you continue to base your life on it. This gospel is God’s way to save you. But you must continue believing it. If you don't, you believed for nothing. I don’t need to put any neon lights into the gospel message. Its simplicity has made the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. Its foolishness of preaching after God’s good pleasure has saved them that believe. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. You might have only visited this website or you just liked a post in the networking site or you shared its link to a friend. Thank you, whoever you are! God is fair. He won't forget what you've done or the love you've shown for him. You helped his holy people, and you continue to help them (Hebrews 6:10). The important thing here is that you are becoming a channel in reaching out the lost world, in teaching all nations, in proclaiming the gospel to the whole creation. All glory and honor and praise to Jesus! Mar 16:15-16, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Acts 2:38, “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.”
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There Is Only One God Read the verses below very closely.
They prove there is only one God the Father and He is the same one God the Father who was on earth and who is coming back again and His name is Jesus.
Read the rest of this book for full explanation. Be honest and open-hearted for truth. False doctrine won’t be in rapture: Matthew 15:9. Jesus is coming very, very soon! Every church has some truth, and every church tries to prove its doctrine by the Bible, but the only way you can tell for sure whether that church has the truth or not is to compare their doctrine with what the apostles taught. There is only one church because Jesus started only one. So, you either belong to that true church or in one of the false ones. The TRUE CHURCH teaches that God is an invisible Spirit but became visible by putting on a robe of flesh; that water baptism is by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and that the baptism of the Holy Ghost is with evidence of speaking in other tongues. I doesn't matter if you already have a church to attend to or you already have a Home Bible Study, as some people say. It is vital to be in the TRUE CHURCH because Jesus wants to present Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish, a chaste virgin and bride adorned for her Husband. Jesus is inviting you. He is standing at the door, knocking, and waiting for you to hear Him and to open the door. Your investment is faith and obedience, and the payoff is eternal life. It''s free and within your reach! "Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:46-49). "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12) "As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:9). "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone" (Ephesians 2:20). "As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine" (I Timothy 1:3). "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (II Timothy 3:16). ForewordThis is being printed and distributed with a sincere prayer that it may strengthen and establish the believer and that it may enlighten the thousands of perplexed and bewildered souls who are earnestly seeking, amid the maze of men's traditions to find the true doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ. With sincerity we pray that God will grant the reader grace to accept the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. We certainly do not want to miss heaven. Let us therefore heed the prophet's words: "Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls" (Jeremiah 6:16). The Apostles’ Doctrine Concerning… ...The BibleThe Bible is the inspired Word of God, giving a true history of the creation of heaven, earth, and humanity and containing a correct prophecy of the ages to come regarding heaven, earth, and the destiny of humanity. Moreover, there is no salvation outside of what is taught in its pages. ...GodThere is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4). He is the creator of heaven and earth, and of all living beings. He has revealed Himself to humanity as the Father (Creator), in the son (Savior), and as the Holy Ghost (indwelling Spirit). ...FatherGod is a Spirit (John 4:24). He is the Eternal One, the Creator of all things, and the Father of all humanity by creation. He is the First and the Last, and beside Him there is no God (Isaiah 44:6). There was no God formed before Him; neither shall be there any after Him (Isaiah 43:10). ...SonJesus is the Son of God according to the flesh (Romans 1:3) and the very God Himself according to the Spirit (Matthew 1:23). Jesus is the Christ (Matthew 16:16); the creator of all things (Colossians 1:16-17); God with us (Matthew 1:23); God made flesh (John 1:1-14); God manifested in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16); He which was, which is, and which is to come, the Almighty (Revelation 1:8); the mighty God, everlasting Father, and Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus Himself testified of His identity as God when He said, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:7-11) and "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30). It took shedding of blood for the remission of the sins of the world (Hebrews 9:22), but God the Father was a Spirit and had no blood to shed. Thus He prepared a body of flesh and blood (Hebrews 10:5) and came to earth as a man in order to save us, for in Isaiah 43:11 He said, "Beside me there is no Saviour." When He came in flesh the angels sang, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). ...Holy GhostThe Holy Ghost is not a third person in the Godhead, but rather the Spirit of God (the Creator), the Spirit of the resurrected Christ. The Holy Ghost comes to dwell in the hearts and lives of everyone who believes and obeys the gospel, as the comforter, Sustainer, and keeper (John 14:16-26; Romans 8:9-11). ...SinSin is the transgression of the law, or commandments of God (I John 3:4). The guilt of sin has fallen upon all humanity from Adam until now (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:14) to all those who refuse to accept salvation as set forth in the Word of God. ...SalvationSalvation consists of deliverance from all sin and unrighteousness through the blood of Jesus Christ. The New Testament experience of salvation consists of repentance from sin, water baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, after which the Christian is to live a godly life (Acts 2:36-41). ...Water BaptismWater baptism is an essential part of New Testament salvation and not merely a symbolic ritual. It is part of entering into the kingdom of God (God's church, the bride of Christ), and therefore, it is not merely a part of local church membership. (See John 3:5; Galatians 3:27). ...Mode of BaptismWater baptism is to be administered only by immersion. Paul said, "We are buried with him [Jesus Christ] by baptism (Romans 6:4; see Colossians 2:12), Jesus came up "out of the water" (Mark 1:10), and Philip and the eunuch went down "into the water" and came up "out of the water" (Acts 8:38-39). Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection are applied to our lives when we experience New Testament salvation: "Repent [death to sin], and be baptized [burial] 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 [resurrection]." (See Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-7; 8:2). ...Formula for BaptismThe name in which baptism is administered is vitally important, and this name is Jesus. Jesus' last command to His disciples was, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19). We should notice that He said name (singular) not names. As previously explained, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not names of separate persons, but titles of positions held by God. An angelic announcement revealed God's saving name in the New Testament: "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). The apostles understood that Jesus was the name to use at baptism, and from the day that the church of God was established (the Day of Pentecost) until the end of their ministry, they baptized all nations (Jews--Acts 8:16; Gentiles--Acts 19:5) in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus is the only name given for our salvation. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). ...Baptism of the Holy GhostThe baptism of the Holy Ghost is the birth of the Spirit (John 3:5). This spiritual baptism is necessary to put someone into the kingdom of God (God's church, the bride of Christ) and is evidenced by speaking in other tongues (other languages) as the Spirit of God give utterance. It was prophesied by Joel (Joel 2:28-29) and Isaiah (Isaiah 28:11), foretold by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:11), purchased by the blood of Jesus, and promised by Him to His disciples (John 14:26; 15:16). The Holy Ghost was first poured out on the Day of Pentecost upon the Jews (Acts 2:1-4), then upon the Samaritans (Acts 8:17), and later upon the Gentiles (Acts 10:44-46; 19:6). "The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:39). ...TonguesSpeaking in tongues means speaking miraculously in a language unknown to the speaker, as the Spirit gives utterance. Tongues can be classified in two ways, according to function: (1)speaking in other tongues as the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost and (2)the gift of tongues as mentioned in I Corinthians.
Paul said, "Forbid not to speak with tongues" (I Corinthians 14:39) and "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all" (I Corinthians 14:8). Who dares to teach or preach to the contrary? ...HolinessAfter we are saved from sin, we are commanded, "Go, and sin no more" (John 8:11). We are commanded to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world (Titus 2:12) and warned that without holiness no one shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). We must present ourselves as holy unto God (Romans 12:1), cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit (II Corinthians 7:1), and separate ourselves from all worldliness (James 4:4). If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (I Peter 4:18). No one can live a holy life by his own power, but only through the Holy Spirit. "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you" (Acts 1:8). ...Divine HealingGod has made Himself known through the ages by miraculous healings and has made special provisions in the age of grace to heal all who will come to Him in faith and obedience. Divine healing was purchased for us by the blood of Jesus Christ, especially by His stripes (Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:16-17; I Peter 2:24). Jesus went everywhere healing those who were sick (Matthew 4:23-24), and He commanded His disciples to do the same (Matthew 10:8). He said concerning those who believe the gospel, "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mark 16:18). Mighty healings and miracles followed the disciples wherever the gospel was preached. There is no sickness or disease too hard for God. Any of us, our children, or our friends can be healed by the power of God. "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him , anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord shall raise him up: and if he have committed sins they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed" (James 5:14-16). ...Second Coming of ChristJesus Christ is coming back to earth in bodily form, just as He went away (Acts 1:11). He will catch away a holy people (His bride, His church) who have accepted redemption through His blood, by birth of water and of the Spirit, and who are found faithful when He comes. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (I Thessalonians 4:16-17). "One shall be taken and the other left" (Luke 17:36). Will we be ready? The signs of His coming are everywhere. The days of peril are here indeed, with forms of godliness void of the power of God; society and politics corrupted; and people's hearts filled with pride, blasphemies, unholiness, love of evil, and love of pleasures (II Timothy 3:1-13). These things, together with multitudes running to and fro, the increase of knowledge (Daniel 12:4), the persecution of the Jews and their return to Palestine (Luke 21:24), and scores of other things are starting signs that Jesus' coming is drawing near. Wars, rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, storms, floods, distress of nations, perplexity, and people's hearts failing them for fear are sounding the solemn alarm that Jesus' coming is at hand (Matthew 24:6; Luke 21:25-28). "Prepare to meet thy God" (Amos 4:12). ...ResurrectionThere will be a resurrection of all the dead, both just and unjust. "Marvel not this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation" (John 5:28-29). "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God . . . and the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them" (Revelation 20:12-13)> (See also Daniel 12:2; I Corinthians 15:13-23.) ...Judgment"It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). For this reason there will be a resurrection for everyone. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (II Corinthians 5:10). The eternal destiny of every soul shall be determined by a just God who knows the secrets of everyone's heart. "And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. . . .Then shall he also say unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. . . . And these shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal" (Matthew 25:32-34, 41, 46). * * * The law-the Word of God The judge-the righteous God To be judged-our souls What will the sentence be? * * * Life's opportunities past! Reaping day at last! Two verdicts pend: Life or death! References about Speaking in TonguesThe following references show plainly that speaking in tongues as the evidence of the Holy Ghost has been given by God to earnest, God-fearing people down through the years. Scaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. 3, page 2369, "Tongues, Gift of": "A phenomenon of the Apostolic age, technically known as the 'glossolalia.' In later time analogies have been found for it in the 'speaking in tongues' of the Camisards, Prophets of the Cevennes, Early Quakers and Methodists, 'Lasare' in Sweden (1841-1843), converts in the Irish revival of 1859, and particularly in the Catholic Apostolic (Irvingite) Church." Scaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. 2, page 1119, "Irving, Edward": "In 1830 the news was spread abroad of the strange speaking with tongues which occurred in widely separated parts of Scotland. In 1831 prophecy and tongues appeared in Irving's church and Irving fell in with the movement, heartily convinced of its spiritual basis and divine authority." Scaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. 1, page 422, "Catholic Apostolic Church": "Pious Presbyterian men and women believed that their organs of speech were used by the Holy Spirit for the utterance of His thoughts and attentions." Encyclopaedia Britannica, New Werner Edition, vol. 4, page 749, "Camisards": "Speaking in tongues, accompanied by all kinds of miracles, was common among the Camisards and Cevennes of Southern France in the 18th century. Children, under the influence of supernatural power, spoke and prophesied in languages unknown to them." Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics, edited by James Hastings, vol. 7, page 424: "In 1831 the gift of tongues and prophecy appeared, it was believed in answer to fervent prayer, among the members of Irving's congregation." Butler, Christian Denominations of the World, "Edward Irving (1792-1834)": "He proclaimed his conviction that the gifts of the Holy Ghost, such as tongues, healing, etc., were withheld only because of the want of faith, and ere long there were several persons in his church who claimed the gift of tongues." Abingdon Bible Commentary, page 1190: "Scottish peasants spoke in tongues." Webster's New International Dictionary, 2nd edition, page 1056, "Gift of Tongues": "A phenomenon experienced by some of the Christian of New Testament times, the nature of which seems to have been a kind of ecstatic utterance usually unintelligible to the hearers and even to the speakers, therefore requiring interpretation; glossolalia. Similar phenomena have in modern times been experienced by some of the early Friends, Jansenists, Methodists, etc." http://www.upci.org/resources/instructional-devotional-leadership/78-the-apostles-doctrine
Taken from the Word Aflame Press Tract "The Apostles' Doctrine" #6103 What is truth? Dear Mrs. Cherish A., I’m writing to inform you that I do understand that you can’t commit yourself for a Home Bible Study because you and your household are already having one. I feel your sincerity on finding the truth, according to what you told me. But what is the truth? There are so many religions in the world. There are so many churches. There are so many opinions. There are so many teachings, one contradicting from the other. The one speaking eloquently about the Bible seems convincing. But what is really the truth? Which one is correct? Which one teaches the truth? I invite you to read this article to verify if you measure up to the Word of God.
It's a bit long but worthy to be read, especially when it concerns eternal life.
(This article was authored by Jim Poitras, http://reachingthroughteaching.com/resources.html) At the conclusion of this life on earth, are you confident that the voice from heaven refers to us (revelation 14:12)? “Here is the patience of the saints. Here are the ones who keep the (1) commandments of God and the (2) faith of Jesus.” Otherwise, “He will come with burning fire to punish those (1) who don't know God--those (2) who refuse to accept the Gospel about our Lord Jesus Christ. They will be punished with a destruction that never ends. They will not be allowed to be with the Lord but will be kept away from his great power” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). The choice is in your hands!
Reference: Luke 8:4-15 (NKJV) The Parable 4 And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” The Purpose of Parables 9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?” 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’ The Parable of the Sower Explained 11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. Animation VideoThe Objects Used in the Illustration Sowing. This is a striking illustration of preaching the gospel from placing the seed in the ground, to springing up hereafter and bearing fruit. The object is known to all people, and therefore it can readily be understood. Seed. The seed is the word of God (Mark 4:14; Luke 8:11) or work of the kingdom (Matthew 13:19). It is the incorruptible seed (1 Peter 1:23) that we receive the new birth. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached to us. It is the word of the truth of the gospel that bears fruit since the day we heard and fully knew the grace of God in truth (Colossians 1:5-6). Sower. The sower that sows the seed is our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 13:37), either by himself, or by His ministers or fellow-workers with God (1 Corinthians 3:9). Ground. The ground where this seed is sown is the hearts of man. Man's heart is like soil that can be cultivated, can be improved, and can bear good fruit. The Bible describes the follow ground (Jeremiah 4:3; Hosea 10:12-13) or the field of a lazy man (Proverbs 24:30-31). Four Types of Ground 1. The Way-Side. This is a hard beaten path where the plow has not broken up. It is hardened in sin. It has no opportunity for the seed to sink into the soil. The word of God is sown in a heart, as it is communicated by the scriptures, by preaching, by the acts of Providence, or by the direct influences of the Holy Spirit. But the heart doesn’t understand it. There is no relation of intelligence, of feeling, or of conscience between the heart and God because the enemy takes the word of God away. It doesn’t remain in the heart. Its hardness makes the seed easily taken away in an open road and never suffered to take root. They may come before God as believers come, and sit as they sit. But it is merely a show of self to see and be seen. They are not impressed by the word of truth, as it comes in one ear and goes out at the other. They do not receive the word. They do not stand on it. They do not hold fast the word which is preached to them because the way-side is not intended to be sown. Satan (Mark 4:15) or the devil (Luke 8:12) is represented by the fowls that came and picked up the seed by the way-side. “The devil is our enemy, and he goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to attack and eat” (1 Peter 5:8). “The people hear the teaching about God's kingdom but do not understand it because the Evil One comes in an utmost haste to take away what was planted in their hearts” (Matthew 13:19; Mark 4:14; Luke 8:12). Note that the devil opposes every thing, like burning arrows (Ephesians 6:16), that tends to the salvation of the soul. He steals the preaching; he robs us of the word of truth; and he twists the word. They take no heed to it, take no hold of it; they do not come with any design to get good, as the highway is never intended to be sown. 2. The Stony Ground. This place has little soil. Underneath is hard and rocky, so the roots cannot spread down the soil for sufficient moisture to supply the plant. When the sun became hot they of course withered away (Matthew 13:5-6; Mark 4:5-6; Luke 8:6). There are people who immediately receive the word of God with joy and continue believing and obeying it. A conscience, which is touched by the word, makes man serious about obeying it. But there are also others who tend to prove that their hearts will not retain it. Their conscience has not been reached, thereby no roots to grow. They hear the gospel and find it new or pleasing. So they profess to be greatly delighted with it. Yet their hearts are not changed. They receive a good impression of the word, but they are not lasting. “They did run well, but something hindered them (Galatians 5:7). When trials and persecution comes they are immediately offended and fall (Matthew 13:20-21; Mark 4:16-17; Luke 8:13), like the seed without grain that withers away before heat of the noonday sun, because nothing is rooted and grounded in love (Ephesians 3:17). The roots are not deep in Christ Jesus, nothing to build our lives on him, and nothing to make our faith stronger (Colossians 2:7). 3. Among Thorns. This is the field where the thorns and shrubs are not cleared away and not destroyed. They grew with the grain, crowded it, shaded it, exhausted the soil, and thus choked it (Matthew 13:7; Mark 4:7; Luke 8:7). These thorns represent the cares of this world, and the riches and pleasures of life that deceive man. The deceitfulness of riches promise peace and pleasure, but can never give them. They are proud, trusting uncertain riches. “People who want to be rich bring temptations to themselves. They are caught in a trap. They begin to want many foolish things that will hurt them. These things ruin and destroy people. The love of money causes all kinds of evil. Some people have turned away from what we believe because they want to get more and more money. But they have caused themselves a lot of pain and sorrow” (1 Timothy 6:9-10). Prosperity destroys the word of God in one’s heart, as much as persecution does; and more dangerously, because more silently: the stones spoiled the root, the thorns spoil the fruit. But the living God offers us richly all things to enjoy in doing good, in being rich in good works, ready to be shared generously, in order to save up a heavenly treasure for themselves, which will be a strong foundation for eternal life (1 Timothy 6:17-19). 4. Good Ground. It is the ground where the soil is deep; the field is well cultivated; and the thorns and shrubs are all removed. At first, the seeds that are sown into the ground start rooting deep down into the soil to receive the moisture. Then, a spade of leaf shows up. It grows into a plant, inch by inch and finally bears fruit. The understanding of the word of God is only affirmed by the bearing of fruit. The heart is prepared by grace to receive God’s word honestly and gives it full opportunity to grow and to bear fruit by continuing to base life on it. Jesus said, “If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you. In this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you shall be My disciples” (John 15:7-8). We must repent of our sins and turn to God and do the things that would show we have repented (Acts 26:20). “What fruit did we have then in those things of which we are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now, being made free from sin, and having become slaves to God, we have our fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life” (Romans 6:21-22). It must also be considered that the good ground may still have some stones in it or some thorns around the corner; but there were none should prevail to hinder its fruitfulness. Believers, in this world, are not completely free from the remains of sin. But we are so glad to know we are freed from the reign of it. “He saved us because of His mercy, not because of any good things we did. He saved us through the washing that made us new people. He saved us by making us new through the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). “Being justified by His grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:7). Although many hearts of men fall under the category of way-side, stony ground, and thorny ground, although it may be painful to realize that friends and families alienate themselves from the word of truth, about the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, God has remnant who are the called, chosen and faithful (Revelations 17:14), for God’s Word shall not return to Him void and it shall accomplish what God pleases (Isaiah 55:10-11). Search My Heart, O Lord! The condition of our hearts to respond to the call of God is our own choice. If we break not up the fallow ground, by preparing our hearts for the word, and humbling them to it, and engaging our own attention; and if we cover not the seed afterwards, by meditation and prayer; if we give not a more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, we are as the highway ground. Many are called - All who hear the Gospel; but few chosen - Only those who obey it (Matthew 20:16). God invites us to break up our fallow ground, and not to sow among thorns (Jeremiah 4:3). We must not to sow seeds of repentance in unfit soil, but just as the farmer prepares the ground, by clearing it of rocks and thorns and shrubs, and exposing it to the sun and air, before sowing seed, so we must regard repentance as a serious matter, preparing a broken and a contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). This is how we break up our follow ground: a contrite and humble spirit. God will not despise it; He will dwell with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Let us not suppose ourselves to be firm in the love of God, and in the knowledge of his truth; that regards us as secure, and that will be therefore disposed to rely on our own strength. Otherwise, we fall (1 Corinthians 10:12). Let the Lord search our hearts as David prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts, and see if any wicked way is in me; and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalms 139:23-24). I express my deepest appreciation for paying us visit last night. It was a very fruitful conversation and I look into meeting you again. I hope that this open letter comes to you in the nick of time. You handed me a form with a quote from the Bible. Here I quote additional verses to amplify its message. "Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday." (Psalms 37:1-6, KJV) When we look around us, we see people flourish and enjoy the ease in life. Don't be surprised; this is not new; old days have described it. Don't be troubled; there's a promise; the kingdom of God is at hand! We may be tempted to think that their carnal ways are the true path to happiness and we're also tempted to follow their footsteps. "Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world--wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from Him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity" (1 John 2:15-17). Our whole duty is to fear God and to keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Fame and earthly riches are not permanent; they'll soon disappear like grass without rain. Therefore, we have no reason to envy the wicked because their weeping and grinding of teeth with pain will be eternal (Matthew 25:30). Since the foundation of the world, God has seen you and me under the power of sin. He loves us and gives us the way out through knowing Him and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:8). The gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) is
How can we obey this gospel and be saved? "We become part of Christ Jesus when we are baptized? In our baptism, we share in His death. Our old sinful life has ended. It's dead. So when we were baptized, we were buried with Christ and took part in His death. And just as Christ was raised from death by the wonderful power of the Father, so we can now live a new life" (Romans 6:2-4). Obedience to the gospel is through
This is the same as Jesus Christ's message in Luke 24:46-49 to his disciples. Jesus said to them, "It is written that the Messiah would be killed and rise from death on the third day" (Luke 24:46). He described the obedience to this gospel in verse 47, "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Take note that the disciples would see these things happen; they would be witnesses (verse 48). His final promise was that He would send them the one the Father promised; they should stay in the city until they were given that power from heaven (verse 49, Acts 1:4-8). Let's summarize the statement of Jesus to His disciples before He was carried up to heaven:
Nine days after at the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, the 120 disciples (Acts 1:15) were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1-4). This is the promise of the Father, the power from heaven, that Jesus mentioned in Luke 24:49. Peter explained with the eleven apostles what had just happened by quoting the prophecy of Joel (3:1-5) that "God will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh" (Acts 2:15-17). He further explained that God has made Jesus to be Lord and Messiah. He is the man they nailed to the cross! (Acts 2:22-36). When the people heard this, they felt very, very sorry. They asked Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" (Acts 2:37). Then Peter said unto them in Acts 2:38:
It is clear that the promise of the Father is the outpouring of His Spirit upon all flesh. Jesus also referred it in Acts 1:4 as the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Now, we understand fully the answer of Jesus to Nicodemus, "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" (John 3:3-5). Being born of water means baptism in water in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Being born of the Spirit, which the promise of the Father or the gift of the Holy Ghost, is the pouring out of God's Spirit upon believers with the initial evidence of speaking with other tongues (Acts 2:4; Acts 10:44-47, Acts 19:6). "All who obey God's commands live in God. And God lives in them. How do we know that God lives in us? We know because of the Spirit he gave us" (1 John 3:24; 1 John 4:13). "But you are not ruled by your sinful selves. You are ruled by the Spirit, if that Spirit of God really lives in you. But whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Christ. Your body will always be dead because of sin. But if Christ is in you, then the Spirit gives you life, because Christ made you right with God. God raised Jesus from death. And if God's Spirit lives in you, he will also give life to your bodies that die. Yes, God is the one who raised Christ from death, and he will raise you to life through his Spirit living in you" (Romans 8:9-11). This is synonymous to Paul's statement on the newness of life (Romans 6:4), that is, regeneration through the holiness principles of God (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10) and giving life to our bodies that die (Romans 8:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This is the gospel that the early disciples of Jesus in the first century church preached. It is also the gospel that I received and wherein I stand, by which also I am saved. "But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that person be condemned! What we have told you in the past I am now telling you again: If anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that person be condemned!" (Galatians 1:8-9). If the desire of our heart is to be with God in His kingdom, we must delight ourselves in the Lord by doing what the Lord wants or keeping God's commandments. If our desire is to receive the salvation of our soul, we must have faith in God and obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. A friend of mine composed this piano piece in year 2000 when he was inspired by the following Biblical message, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him and he with Me" (Revelation 3:19-20). Although we have erred against God in many ways ("for all have sinned," Romans 3:23), the door to repentance and hope for the Kingdom of God is not closed against us. We thought it was this way; we thought it was that way. We fell into the pit, knowing that what we believe and what we do are God's way. There's time to change our paradigm as we search the Scripture. Now Is the Day of Salvation God wouldn't change His plan of salvation during this dispensation of grace. His grace really abounds, giving us time and chance to respond to His calling, even from the days of old when it was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah and recorded by Apostle Paul, "But working together, we also call on you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says, "In an acceptable time I heard you, and in a day of salvation, I helped you;" Behold, now is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:1-2). For as long, then, as that promise of resting in Him pulls us on to God’s goal for us, we need to be careful that we’re not disqualified. We received the same promises as those people in the wilderness, but the promises didn’t do them a bit of good because they didn’t receive the promises with faith. If we believe, though, we’ll experience that state of resting. But not if we don’t have faith. Remember that God said, Exasperated, I vowed, “They’ll never get where they’re going, never be able to sit down and rest” (Hebrews 4:1-3, MSG). God made that vow, even though he’d finished his part before the foundation of the world. Somewhere it’s written, “God rested the seventh day, having completed his work,” but in this other text He says, “They’ll never be able to sit down and rest.” So this promise has not yet been fulfilled. Those earlier ones never did get to the place of rest because they were disobedient. God keeps renewing the promise and setting the date as today, just as he did in David’s psalm, centuries later than the original invitation: Today, please listen, don’t turn a deaf ear . . . (Hebrews 4:3-7, MSG). And so this is still a live promise. It wasn’t canceled at the time of Joshua; otherwise, God wouldn’t keep renewing the appointment for “today.” The promise of “arrival” and “rest” is still there for God’s people. God himself is at rest. And at the end of the journey we’ll surely rest with God. So let’s keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest, not drop out through some sort of disobedience (Hebrews 4:8-11, MSG). God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God’s Word. We can’t get away from it—no matter what (Hebrews 4:12-13, MSG). Another GospelThe gospel that we preach is the same gospel that the Apostle preached. If we are preaching the same as the core message of the first century church, then why do these modern churches classify it as heresy, false teaching, or fanaticism? Why do they consider the original New Testament way of salvation, namely: repentance, baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost (as in Acts 2:38), an obsolete? "If our gospel is hidden, it is hidden to those being lost, in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving ones, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ (who is the image of God) should not dawn on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake" (2 Corinthians 4:3-5). It seems that if someone shows up preaching quite another Jesus than we preached—different spirit, different message—you put up with him quite nicely" (2 Corinthians 11:4, MSG). Well, I tell you that we're preaching the same Jesus who died, was buried, and in three days, He rose again so that where He is right now we will also be. This is the same Holy Spirit that was poured out to 120 disciples on the day of Pentecost, first century, in Jerusalem. This is the same gospel that was preached, believed and in which the early disciples of Jesus stood in faith. Who are we to go another way of salvation other than the one that God has prepared even before the foundation of the world? But many of you have perverted this simple message of salvation, making any one believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ is not necessary, jumping from one stone to another, omitting that which is essential, believing his own philosophy, which is not according to the Word of Gd. "But even if we or an angel from Heaven preach a gospel to you beside what we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we said before, and now I say again, If anyone preaches a gospel to you beside what you have received, let him be accursed. And, brothers, I make known to you the gospel which was preached by me, that it is not according to man (Galatians 1:8-9, 11). The True Gospel The gospel of Christ is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, to the Jews first (from the day of Pentecost, first century, in Jerusalem, as in Luke 24:47) and I'm not ashamed of it (Romans 1:16). When we preach to you this gospel, it's not just blah blah. It's the power of the Holy Spirit working on your conviction (1 Thessalonians 1:5). This is the gospel that was preached: (1) that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, (2) and that He was buried, (3) and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). This is the gospel that was explained: (1) How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? (2) Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, (3) so that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father; even so we also should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:2-4). This is how the gospel was obeyed: (1) Repent and (2) be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ to remission of sins, (3) and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Promise: "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all those afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:39), "that the nations should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partaker of His promise in Christ through the gospel" (Ephesians 3:6). Sign of the Times: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world as a witness to all nations. And then the end shall come" (Matthew 24:14). The Time Is Now"Not everyone who says to Me, Lord! Lord! shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord! Lord! Did we not prophesy in Your name, and through Your name throw out demons, and through Your name do many wonderful works? And then I will say to them I never knew you! Depart from Me, those working lawlessness!" (Matthew 7:21-23). "Even the demons believe and tremble" (James 2:19) but God would not spare them from the lake of fire. Stick not on the paradigm of what we've learned from our childhood or from someone else who doesn't rightly divide the Word of truth. God is to gracious, giving us chance to know Him and obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. God's way is very simple that even a child can comprehend but it is also complicated when our eyes don't see and ears don't hear.
When you read this article or hear the gospel preached, consider it us not. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the one standing at the door of your heart and knocking. He said, "If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him and he with Me" (Revelation 3:19-20). Your time is now. Now is the day of your salvation. Don't lose this precious chance that will design your destiny, which is according to the the promised of Jesus Christ, "I will come again and receive you to Myself, so that where I am, you may be also" (John 14:3). By JRE They classify it as heresy, false teaching, or fanaticism.
Some people mistakenly believe…
The Apostolic Teaching Have you ever stopped to compare the religion of today with that of the apostles? Any one of these things is called fanaticism by many modern churches. Who is wrong—the Bible or modern churches? Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). There is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism (Ephesians 4:5).
There has been a measure of truth in most churches, and therefore they have brought a measure of blessings, but God has planned an abundant salvation for the whole person—spirit, soul and body. Most of the deeper truths concerning salvation are either called heresy today or else we are told that they were only for the apostles. But God is no respecter of persons. He will do for us just what He did for the apostles if we meet the same conditions. Repentance, Baptism, and the Holy Ghost
Should you need further discussion, please let us know through any of the following means:By JRE The Initial Evidence of Receiving the Holy Ghost Newspaper stories, magazine articles, special meetings in church basements, prayer groups in private homes—often today they are concerned with the subject of speaking with tongues. What does it all mean? When God was ready to fulfill His promise and prophecy concerning the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the infusing of Himself into the lives of Christian believers, He chose speaking with tongues as the initial evidence of this baptism. Acts 2:1, 4 records, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place . . . . And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” The 120 disciples allowed themselves to be completely overcome and controlled by the Spirit of God. As they did, their tongues were loosed, and they spoke new languages that they had never learned. Isaiah had prophetically described this experience: “For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear” (Isaiah 28:11-12). According to Peter, this experience fulfilled the prophecy of Joel: “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit” (Joel 2:28-29). Why did God choose the strangeness of speaking with tongues as the initial evidence of the Holy Spirit?
Apparently God chose speaking with tongues for several reasons, one being that the tongue is usually the last member of the body to yield or surrender to God. It is the most unruly member of the body. James 3 says that we put bits in horses’ mouths, and by this small device we control the horse. Moreover, great ships are turned about with a small helm. Similarly, the tongue is a small member, but if it is properly controlled, it signifies the control or subjection of the en tire body. But until a person’s tongue is brought under subjection, mastery over him is not possible. Until a person surrenders to God fully, so that God can completely control his faculties, he will not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. The uniform, external evidence of speaking with tongues is God’s way of veri fying His dominion over someone’s life. Speaking with tongues as the initial evi dence of receiving the Holy Ghost (Acts 2, 10, 19) and speaking with tongues as a gift to be exercised in church meetings (I Corinthians 14) are distinguishable in function. There need be no interpretation of the tongues that peo ple speak when they are filled with the Spirit. This experience is a personal thing between them and God and is not designed to convey a message to the church. On the other hand, someone may use the gift of tongues to speak a specific message of comfort and edification, and the church is blessed when the speaker or someone else interprets the message (I Corinthians 14:13). On the Day of Pentecost, all those who were filled with the Holy Ghost spoke with tongues as the Spirit gave utterance. They did not preach the gospel in several languages for the benefit of the hearers, for there was one gospel message preached that day—by Peter, who spoke in a language everyone could understand. In Samaria, many people were filled with the Holy Ghost when Peter and John laid hands on them in prayer. Apparently, they spoke with tongues, because Simon the sorcerer saw evidence that made him know they had received the Holy Ghost. The evidence was so remarkable that he offered the apostles money to buy the gift of bestowing the Holy Ghost on others through the laying on of his hands (Acts 8:14-19). Acts 10 tells of Peter’s preaching the gospel in the home of Cornelius, an Italian soldier. “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God” (Acts 10:44-46). Finally, Acts 19:1-7 tells us that twelve disciples of John the Baptist were filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke with tongues. All across the land and around the world, people today are experiencing the Holy Ghost baptism with its accompanying evidence. Many millions have received this gift in the present century, and God alone knows how many received it from the first century until now. Will you be among those who dare to believe God, who dare to yield completely to Him? “The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:39). |
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April 2014
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