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(Go To Meeting)
Albert Jones—March 11, 2023
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A blessed Sabbath to everyone! We are getting closer to Passover, so we can feel it in the air at this reflection that we do this time of year in preparing for the spring Holy Day season.
The spring Holy Days are important to us in several way, mainly in what they represent, but also from the fact that we have come through an incredibly long period of drought and darkness through these winter months with the holidays of this world, going back to October
But we come into the spring Holy Day season very excited to be renewed in our covenant with Christ, to be renewed in our relationship and strengthen our relationship with the Father; reflecting on all those beautiful things They have done in our lives.
Truly our existence and our salvation is in Christ. For the first Scripture today pertaining to the subject, I hope to help us to comprehend a little bit closer the relationship that we have with Jesus Christ and in this covenantal bond that we have there. It is a very important bond, without which we would be floundering in the way. We would not have the covering, we would not have the protection that we need.
The person that we are, that we have become is a direct result of that relationship that we have with Christ, the perfection that we are aspiring to is a direct relationship with our connection to Christ. Even access to God the Father is important to that connection to Christ, without which we could not have that connection.
Lyall Johnston gave the foundational aspect of this relationship last night—message Christ and him Crucified—Why?—that I'm going to build upon today. If you think of it that way, I think it was very inspirational that he gave the message that he gave last night. I was saying to myself that I'm sure there will be some Scriptures there for me, because the Bible is pretty extensive.
1-Corinthians 15:35: "Nevertheless, someone will say, 'How are the dead raised? And with what body do they come?'"
The resurrection is the goal for all of us, eternal life with God the Father and Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of God.
We're not going to be in the Kingdom as flesh and blood. We understand that flesh and blood cannot enter the Kingdom of God. So, in order to be raised with Christ, to be a resurrected member of God's Family, some very important things have to occur. They're described very clearly in our relationship with Christ and what His crucifixion means in our lives and our bonding to Him within it.
Verse 36: "Fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies."
That is true, green seed does not grow. It has to be a dead seed. As you plant or sow that seed, the body that comes up, or thing that sprouts is not the same body.
Verse 38: "And God gives it a body according to His will, and to each of the seeds its own body."
He goes on an gives an exhaustive explanation of how we die and are buried and we're raised in the Kingdom of God and the resurrection. A totally different body.
John 12:24: "Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone…"
We all understand that we all must die. God has designed it so:
"…but if it dies, it bears much fruit. The one who loves his life shall lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world shall keep it unto eternal life" (vs 24-25).
Yes, we were made physical, and the transformation from this physical to spirit requires our death and change.
In some instances it may be where you've fallen asleep and put in the granary for some years, and in other instances those who are alive at His coming, it will be at the twinkling of an eye.
Verse 25: "The one who loves his life shall lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world shall keep it unto eternal life. If anyone will serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall My servant be also. And if anyone serves Me, him shall the Father honor" (vs 25-26).
We, brethren, believe this with all our heart, soul and being. This is our hope, the promises of God and Jesus Christ have put before us as promises assured in the blood of Christ.
Paul also had a very good understanding of this relationship. I like Paul's writing from that perspective. He is explaining a truth to a people who had not traditionally had a relationship with God. He definitely needed to start with milk in almost every case until he could get to the meat and explain that this wonderful Gospel of the Kingdom of God, the Gospel of Christ and all of those things that make life worth living.
- to understand God's Plan
- to understand God's Truth
Let's look at a Truth that Paul revealed to us there. He reminds us, and he was reminding the brethren in his day. Remember, we don't dwell on our past, but we don't leave forget what manner of me we were. We understand that we are a product of salvation, and Jesus Christ's sacrifice is what makes that possible.
Ephesians 2:1: "Now, you were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you walked in times past according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now working within the children of disobedience; among whom also we all once had our conduct in the lusts of our flesh…" (vs 1-3).
Yes, this flesh as it is subject to the law of sin and death.By nature here where we were:
"…doing the things willed by the flesh and by the mind…" (v 3)—in whatever degree of sin it was!
As Michael Heiss has said in previous messages, all sin much be repented of!
"…and were by nature the children of wrath, even as the rest of the world" (v 3).
We have this theme that is part of this time of year. A little leaven leavens the whole lump! Then Paul give hope:
Verse 4: "But God, Who is rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, has made us alive together with Christ. (For you have been saved by grace.)" (vs 4-5).
Verse 6: "And He has raised us up together and has caused us to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus… [this is hinting at a deeper aspect of our relationship, and that is access] …so that in the ages that are coming He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (vs 6-7).
Yes, the entire world will see the product of God's work in our lives! They will see that. These are the riches that we receive from God. Paul describes here the dead unclean body that we existed in, because God sees us a little bit different now.
Colossians 2:9: "For in Him [Christ] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete in Him, Who is the Head of all principality and power in Whom you have also been circumcised with the circumcision not made by hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, by which you have also been raised with Himthrough the inner working of God, Who raised Him from the dead" (vs 9-12).
Here is an operation that is very important to our covenantal relationship with God.
Verse 13: "For you, who were once dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has now made alive with Him, having forgiven all your trespasses. He has blotted out the note of debt against us with the decrees of our sins…" (vs 13-14).
Yes, there is a debt associated with sin; the soul that sins shall die. We're not just talking about the physical death. The soul that sins unrepentant shall die!
"…which was contrary to us…" (v 14).
We didn't have a whole lot to do with it in terms of the power of it, but we must accept it, of course, must choose in faith to accept it and be a part of it.
"…and He has taken it away, having nailed it to the cross" (v 14).
What is being referred to here; this verse does not in any way mean that the commandments of God were nailed to the cross. No! We're not going to sit back and let Christ do all the work and we just ride on in as 'lazy bums' spiritually. The phrase "…the note of debt against us with the decrees of our sins…" means that the note of debt or the listing of our sins against God, that is what it is. You're listed, engraved with the pin of a diamond. What is it going to take to get that out?
He expounds on this in a way. Our sins, and the debt of our sins were nailed to the cross when Christ was crucified and died! It is at this point that our sin were resolved with the solution.
So, upon true repentance of sins to God the Father, Jesus Christ blots out that note of debt through the remission of our sins, the forgiveness of our sins, the cleansing of us from those sins. Jesus Christ—Who knew no sin—was made sin for us, and He paid the penalty in our stead. He was nailed to the cross as a sin offering for the sins of not just us, but for the entirety of His creation, the entire world! The note of debt with our sins is represented in our faith. The note of debt was symbolically nailed to the cross, notthe commandments of God; they stand forever!
We have a blessed calling, a blessed opportunity by grace; the Father has given us this chance.
Ephesians 4:17—Paul writes: "So then, I declare and testify this in the Lord that you are no longer to walk even as the rest of the Gentiles are walking, in the vanity of their minds, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them …" (vs 17-18).
Not having the understanding, not having the grace to comprehend these Truths and to see this way, which is from God! At large, the Gentile nations were cutoff:
"…because of the hardness of their hearts" (v 18).
God gave them over to these things. It is important to remember that their state is a product of their choosing.
Verse 19: "They have cast off all feelings, and have given themselves up to licentiousness, to work every uncleanness with insatiable desire. But you have not so learned Christ; if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, according to the Truth in Jesus" (vs 19-21).
We have this grace imparted to us, we have this relationship inscribed in our heart and mind. This Truth inscribed in our heart and mind. We understand that we have to change
"
Verse 22: "That concerning your former conduct, you put off the old man… [the old man has to go] …which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts; and that you… [all of us] …be renewed in the spirit of your mind" (vs 22-23).
The spring Holy Days tell us and remind us that it's an ongoing process. Getting rid of sin is continuous; it's daily! The symbols: the foot-washing, the bread and the wine are continuously, daily available to us. We take in Christ every single day.
Yes, we were dead in our sins, and this was the state that we were in, the state of the dead. But this is not the death! The death will be needed here, a sacrifice enough to be accepted by the Father as payment in full.
Yes, repentance is required! We need to recognize the unrighteousness of sin, repent and come to the Father and confess our sins through Christ, accepting that blood as payment. But the other aspect of it, important to eternal life is not within our power.
In the righteousness that we bring represents a heart committed to God, showing God that we desire to be acceptable before Him. But we recognize that we are in this fleshly frame, but we're stand there with our heart committed to Him, committed to this Way that we have seized Truth. We are reaching out to God, stretching our hands forward to find Him, to discover where He is and we need to be.
But all of our efforts will not be sufficient to justify us before God unto eternal life. That has to be given as we will see. We can't drag the old man along with us. Everything in the flesh must be destroyed in the watery grave, left in the watery grave. Our sins demand justice for our souls. The soul that sins shall die!
Ezekiel 18:4: "'Behold, all souls are Mine. As the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son, they are Mine. The soul that sins, it shall die…. [there's the Law; sin demands justice] …But a man who is righteous and does that which is lawful and right, and has not eaten on the mountains, nor has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, nor has defiled his neighbor's wife, nor has come near a menstruating woman, and has not oppressed any man, but has given the debtor's pledge back to him, has robbed none by violence, has given his bread to the hungry and has covered the naked with a garment; he does not lend out at usury, nor has taken any increase, he has withdrawn his hand from iniquity, has executed true justice between man and man, has walked in My statutes, and has kept My ordinances to deal truly, he is righteous, he shall surely live,' says the Lord GOD" (vs 4-9).
But there is a process; v 10: 'And if he beget a son who is a robber, who sheds blood, and who does the like of any one of these things…"
In other words, in the opposite end there's a different result. There is a solution! We understand that every man, woman and child ever born and lives, has an obligation to obey God. Obedience in the flesh is required! It doesn't earn salvation! We understand that!
An obedient and righteous life is what all of us embrace and live in. God's Spirit makes sure of it. If we're yielding to it, it tells us if we're going to far to the right or the left, if we are associating too deeply into darkness, the Spirit of God pricks our heart and mind and we know that we're getting to close to those boundaries away from the Light:
- getting away from the Righteousness of God
- getting into the knowledge of the good and evil
which is from ourselves! Turning our back, turning away or not having enough time into God's Word to recognize that He is the standard from which we draw what is right and wrong. We need to stay close to God in that!
This is the relationship that we have! We have this condition in this body of sin. We have this condition of sin in which we are under the death sentence, and the death sentence is over us and we are convicted of sin, sold as a slave under sin. What's the solution?
Romans 7:12: "Therefore, the Law is indeed Holy, and the commandment Holy and righteous and good. Now then, did that which is good become death to me? MAY IT NEVER BE! But sin, in order that it might truly be exposed as sin in me by that which is good, was working out death; so that by means of the commandment, sin might become exceedingly sinful" (vs 12-13).
The purpose of God's commandments is simple!
- they are an indicator of sin
- they define what sin is
- they have no power other than to detect or to define what sin is
If a man should walk in them, the results are positive, because the Law is good, right and produces good and right things. Salvation is a different matter!
Verse 14: "For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am carnal, having been sold as a slave under sin; because what I am working out myself, I do not know. For what I do not desire to do, this I do; moreover, what I hate, this is what I do. But if I am doing what I do not desire to do, I agree with the Law that it is good" (vs 14-16).
Yes, I see that this sinful, and it must be repented of and overcome! I have a relationship with the Savior Who makes it possible!
He is going to see that the victory is ours! He's going to work with us, guide, keep us, teach us and we're going to strive, fight and do! Yes, we are going through our homes right now in anticipation of the days of Unleavened Bread, looking for sin, getting it out. That's what we're supposed to do every day of our life within our own lives, within our own house. Get it out!
Verse 17: "So then, I am no longer working it out myself; rather, it is sin that is dwelling within me; because I fully understand that there is not dwelling within me—that is, within my fleshly being—any good. For the desire to do good is present within me…" (vs 17-18).
Yes it is, we all have it there; the Spirit of God growls within us, pushes us to righteousness away from sin in every respect.
"…but how to work out that which is good I do not find" (v 18).
I don't know how to do it, not alone. I'm not depending upon Albert's savvy, Albert's wisdom, Albert's strength; hence the Passover and what it represents in our life!
Verse 19: "For the good that I desire to do, I am not doing; but the evil that I do not desire to do, this I am doing. But if I do what I do not desire to do… [this is the human state] …I am no longer working it out myself, but sin that is dwelling within me. Consequently, I find this law in my members, that when I desire to do good, evil is present with me" (vs 19-21). Brethren, we are in the flesh!
Verse 22: "For I delight in the Law of God according to the inward man; but I see another law within my own members, warring against the law of my mind, and leading me captive to the law of sin that is within my own members. O what a wretched man I am!…. [this is our state] …Who shall save me from the body of this death?…. [Paul answers I]: I thank God for His salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of this, on the one hand, I myself serve the Law of God with my mind; but on the other hand, with the flesh, I serve the law of sin" (vs 22-25).
God has a greater and a more powerful remedy! Paul is describing the state of man, and the need for Christ. Once we have Him we have the solution! The problem is sin and the solution is Jesus the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior of the world!
Brethren, not only does Light come, but power! God is coming to us to bring us to Him, us first as the firstfruits. Each and every one of us was called by the Father!
John 1:41 Jesus is calling His disciples: "Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard this from John and followed Him. First, he found his own brother Simon and said to him, 'We have found the Messiah' (which is, being interpreted, "the Christ")" (vs 41-42).
This is a treasure, 'a pearl of great price' in this discovery and this grace that God has shed upon him, this selection. So, Christ said that He came to save and not to judge.
Here is the pronouncement of Him to the shepherds who were tending the sheep on the night of His birth.
Luke 2:8: "Now there were shepherds in the same country, who were dwelling in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night and suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shined round about them; and they were seized with great fear" (vs 8-9).
Verse 10: "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I am announcing to you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people… [the birth of the Savior, an incredible event announced and heralded by angels, a Savior has come into the world] ….for today, in the city of David, a Savior was born to you, Who is Christ the Lord'" (vs 10-11).
This is the incredible Truth that we sometimes overlook. Don't let the holidays of this world trip us up. His birth was glorious! His birth was announced with great heralding, gifts, shouts and anticipation. Jesus Christ is our one hope!
1-Timothy 2:1: "I exhort, therefore, first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men."
We preach the Gospel to the world as a witness to all nations! We pray for the leadership in the world so they don't annihilate the planet! We pray that right and wise choices are made so that the Gospel can be preached. That within our own nations, and within our own communities things are being done that won't hinder the Gospel of Christ, nor our lives so that we can lead peaceful lives. Yes, this is our prayer!
Verse 3: "For this is good and acceptable before God our Savior, Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the Truth… [God's Plan cover all humankind] …for there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men—the Man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony of which is to be preached in its appointed times" (v 3-6).
Brethren, this is one of those appointed times! This is the season that we are renewing and rediscovering this relationship that we have with Him. This is one of those times, the season of Passover.
Think about it! We have the witness, not just from the angels pronouncing the glory of His first coming, the apostles, as well as eye-witnesses. Not just angels, apostles and the prophets but we have the Father Himself giving witness of His Son!
1-John 5:1: "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been begotten by God, and everyone who loves Him Who begat also loves him who has been begotten by Him. By this standard we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God: that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome" (vs 1-3).
That's our obligation; this is our way of life; this is who we are, because this is the way we were meant to be from creation: To be in compliant with the Laws, the statutes and the judgments of God—
- not our own thinking
- not the ways of the this world
- not the influences of Satan
Verse 5: "Who is the one who overcomes the world? Even the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. This is He Who came by water and blood—Jesus the Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that bears witness because the Spirit is the Truth" (vs 5-7).
So, we have the Truth given to us for understanding, made possible by the Spirit of God.
Verse 8: "For there are three that bear witness on the earth: the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three witness unto the one Truth. If we accept the witness of men, the witness of God is superior. For this is the witness of God, which He has witnessed concerning His Son…. [this is what the Father said, this is what was heard by the apostles]: …The one who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar because he has not believed in the witness that God has witnessed concerning His Son. And this is the witness: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The one who has the Son has eternal life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have eternal life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God in order that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God" (vs 8-13).
Our calling from God is an incredible blessing, and God has extended it to us and we have accepted it.
- we're walking in it
- we're in covenant with it
- we have pledged our life
That this way is true and no other! This is of God, not of man! So, we have the Father and we have the Son.
Galatians 3:26 Paul says: "Because you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither bond nor free; there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (v 26-29).
That we are the sons of God is an incredible reality and realization. The very sons and daughters of God begotten of Him. Let's look at some types of this:
1-Corinthians 10:1: "Now, I do not wish you to be ignorant of this, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea. And all were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea. And they all ate the same spiritual meat. And they all drank of the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them. And that Rock was Christ" (vs 1-4).
1-Peter 3:18: "Because Christ indeed once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God; on the one hand, He was put to death in the flesh; but on the other hand, He was made alive by the Spirit by which He also went and preached to the spirits in prison, which disobeyed in a past time when once the longsuffering of God was waiting in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few—that is, eight souls—were saved through water; of which a like fulfillment is baptism, and is now saving us—not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (vs 18-21).
Yes we believe that He is the Messiah, that His life, death and resurrection gives us to eternal life.
Verse 22: "Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been put in subjection to Him."
All authority and all power belongs to Him! What is our relationship with God? We receive the Spirit within us of transformation, the spirit of transformation that is within us that was given to us. The Father is changing us through His Son! Let's take a look at that:
2-Corinthians 5:14: "For the love of Christ compels us, because we have thus concluded that if one died for all, then all died. And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to Him Who died for them and was raised again" (vs 14-15).
Here is his life that we live because we are conjoined into His death, and we are alive now, symbolically resurrected from the submersion under the water at baptism, the coming up out of the water into newness of life. A new purpose, a new focus, a new reality for us is now in Christ with Christ, alongside Him and the Father.
Verse 15: "And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to Him Who died for them and was raised again. So then, from this time forward we know no man according to the flesh; but even if we have known Christ in the flesh… [as fleshly beings, we're not yet born of spirit] …yet, now we no longer know Him accordingly" (vs 15-16).
Jesus Christ came in the flesh. We know Him as it was that He came in the flesh, We believe that He came in the flesh. But we know that He is no longer in the flesh; He's resurrected! He's as the right hand of the Father.
Verse 17: "Therefore, if anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation… [the transformation has begun] …the old things have passed away…"—they're dead!
They were left in the watery grave. Don't look back to see if you can see anything there that you can use. It is dead, destroyed in the watery grave.
…behold, all things have become new. And all things are from God, Who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ…" (vs 17-18).
The relationship that we have today is not with the world.
- our allegiance is not with the world
- our allegiance is not with the systems of this world
We're not given over to Satan and his pulls and fancies to keep us in chains and darkness, death and misery! Our life is anew in Christ, He's reconciling us!
"…and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; which is, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them; and He has entrusted to us this message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ; and God, as it were, is exhorting you through us…. [the work of the ministry] …We beseech you on behalf of Christ…" 18-20).
As I preach a sermon as I am today; it's preached in the name of God. He left it in the Word of God so it could be preached in season.
"…'Be reconciled to God'" (v 20).
Remain in that reconciled state with God. If God is calling you, respond to that calling and see what God is offering and extending to you. Look deeply into His word and know the Truth. Ask God to give you that insight and understanding.
Verse 21: "For He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
So, the righteousness that God sees when He sees us, it's the exact righteousness that He sees in Christ!
- He doesn't see you as the sinner man or woman
- He doesn't see you as imperfect soul struggling in the flesh
He sees you in the righteousness of Christ because:
- your faith is in that blood
- your faith is in what He did for you
Jesus Christ is our hope and our salvation, and this is a very important part of the message that I wanted to deliver in this time that I have.
Acts 2:14: "Then Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice… [this is on Pentecost] …and spoke out to them: 'Men, Jews, and all those of you who inhabit Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and pay attention to my words.'"
- Can you imagine that sermon?
- Can you imagine that day?
This is the beginning of the pouring out of the Spirit of God so that men and women would be able to see and understand coming out of darkness, chains and bondage—that is spiritually!
Verse 15: "For these are not drunken as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel" (vs 15-16).
Verse 17—words of Jesus: "'And it shall come to pass in the last days,' says God, 'that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; and even upon My servants and upon My handmaids will I pour out My Spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy'" (vs 17-18).
This pouring out of the Spirit is a product of what Christ did for us. The fact that He is now at the right hand of the Father sending forth this power to those whom God the Father has given Him.
Verse 19: "And I [Christ] will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and vapors of smoke…. [He's not done, yet] …The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the Lord" (vs 20-21).
This work began on that day and will culminate at His return. The resurrected saints will be changed and the Kingdom of God will be established upon the earth.
Verse 21: "And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
- Who else is there?
- What other name is there of men by which we may be saved?
There is no other! There is God the Father and Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Peter continues:
Verse 22: "Men, Israelites, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarean, a Man sent forth to you by God, as demonstrated by works of power and wonders and signs, which God performed by Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know; Him, having been delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you have seized by lawless hands and have crucified and killed. But God has raised Him up, having loosed the throes of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it" (vs 22-24).
God has caused Him to be the Hope and the Light, that we hope in! His resurrection is a part of that confirmation and the affirmation of that is that our faith in Him is not in vain.
Verse 25: "For David speaks concerning Him, 'I foresaw the Lord before Me continually; for He is at My right hand, so that I may not be moved. Therefore, My heart rejoiced and My tongue was glad; moreover, My flesh also shall rest in hope… [David's flesh is resting in hope in the grave]: …for You will not leave My soul in the grave…'" (vs 25-27).
Changing to Christ, but also to David, prophetic of both Christ in the flesh and David's hope.
"…nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption" (v 27).
This is our hope, that yes, we will die, we will see corruption, we will decay and become nothing but bones and dust. But God will give us a new body at the resurrection!
Verse 28: "You did make Me to know the ways of life…"—whereas we will see corruption, Christ did not; He did die, but was raised on the third day!
Verse 29—Peter continues: "Men and brethren, let me speak to you freely concerning the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn to him in an oath that from the fruit of his loins, as concerning the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit upon his Throne; He foresaw this and spoke concerning the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in the grave, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus has God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses" (vs 29-32).
Verse 33: "Therefore, having been exalted by the right hand of God… [where He is today] …and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father… [He is sending forth that power to God's people] …He has poured out this that you are now seeing and hearing. For David has not ascended into the heavens, but he himself said, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand until I have made Your enemies a footstool for Your feet"'" (vs 33-35).
Verse 36: "Therefore, let all the house of Israel know with full assurance that God has made this same Jesus, Whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ"—and Savior of the world!
This same announcement that was given on the day of His birth. He has been made Savior of the world! We rejoice in that! Here's where we are, we've all been there:
Verse 37: "Now, after hearing this, they were cut to the heart; and they said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' Then Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized each one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you yourselves shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all those who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God may call'" (vs 37-39).
Verse 40: "And with many other words he earnestly testified and exhorted, saying, 'Be saved from this perverse generation.'"
It was perverse when Peter made that statement in that day! Brethren, it is perverse more than it had ever been before! The prophecies of the end-time are coming to fruition. These times that we are living in are as it was in the days of Noah, as it was in Sodom and Gomorrah. The sins are free-ranged today! It seems there is no constraint! But here is where they did:
Verse 41: "Then those who joyfully received his message were baptized; and about three thousand souls were added that day"—3,000 He called and was working with.
And they, as we do, as the Family of God come together at Sabbath services like we are today and we find this time together and fellowship in love. We do this very thing:
Verse 42: "And they steadfastly continued in the teachings of the apostles… [teaching from the Old Covenant; didn't have a New Testament in their time] …and in fellowship, and in the breaking of bread and in prayers."
This is what they continued in and this is where we are! We continue in this celebration of this calling that God has given us. Yes, He is the Lord our God. He has told us Who He is, and we are becoming like Him: perfect as He is perfect!
Matthew 5:48: "Therefore, you shall be perfect, even as your Father Who is in heaven is perfect."
How is this achieved? The old self must die so that the new can live! He also must die so that the new can live. We are not to continue in the old ways any longer.
Romans 6:1: "What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound? MAY IT NEVER BE! We who died to sin, how shall we live any longer therein?" (vs 1-2).
Our calling is out of that! We are called unto life with Christ!
Verse 3: "Or are you ignorant that we, as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus, were baptized into His death? Therefore, we were buried with Him through the baptism into the death; so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, in the same way, we also should walk in newness of life" (vs 3-4).
Today we shall walk in newness of life in the spirit in the Kingdom of God in that day. But today, because we're no longer held captive by the flesh. We put that aside, the old man has died, and we are raised in newness of life!
Verse 4: "So that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, in the same way, we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been conjoined together in the likeness of His death, so also shall we be in the likeness of His resurrection…. [that's our hope] …Knowing this, that our old man was co-crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be destroyed, so that we might no longer be enslaved to sin; because the one who has died to sin has been justified from sin" (vs 4-7).
The gift of Life is through the justification given to those who have faith in Christ. We believe that His life, death and resurrection gives us access and makes justification possible.
Verse 8: "Now, if we died together with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has any dominion over Him. For when He died, He died unto sin once for all; but in that He lives, He lives unto God. In the same way also, you should indeed reckon yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God through Christ Jesus our Lord" (vs 8-11).
This is the state that we have in our relationship with God today. This is:
- our walk with God
- our hope in God
- our trust in God
Jesus Christ tells us Who He is:
John 14:6: "…'I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life…'"
John 6:35: "…'I AM the Bread of Life…
John 8:12: "…'I am the Light of the world…"
His Light is now in us, now that He is with the Father in heaven!
John 9:5: "…I am the Light of the world."
John 10:7: "…I am the Door of the sheep.'"
The access to the Father is what He represents for us!
John 11:25: "…'I am the Resurrection and the Life….".'"
John 15:1: "I am the true vine…" that supplies us!
This indwelling that we have with Christ, requires obedience! This is why we rejoice in Him. The sin that we have is exposed by the Light that Christ brings into our life so that we can get rid of it.
None of us has seen Christ or the Father, but we know Them! We know Them by the power and the indwelling of God that is in us, that God has given to us, that is the Holy Spirit.
Our standing with God today is not the same as it was before we were called. Today we are conjoined with Christ in Light, because we were conjoined with Him in His death!
Scriptural References:
- 1 Corinthians 15:35-36, 38
- John 12:24-26
- Ephesians 2:1-7
- Colossians 2:9-14
- Ephesians 4:17-23
- Ezekiel 18:4-10
- Romans 7:12-25
- John 1:41-42
- Luke 2:8-11
- 1 Timothy 2:1, 3-6
- 1 John 5:1-3, 5-13
- Galatians 3:26-29
- 1 Corinthians 10:1-4
- 1 Peter 3:18-22
- 2 Corinthians 5:14-21
- Acts 2:14-42
- Matthew 5:48
- Romans 6:1-11
- John 14:6
- John 6:35
- John 8:12
- John 9:5
- John 10:7
- John 11:25
- John 15:1
Also referenced: Message:
Christ and him Crucified—Why? by Lyall Johnston
AJ:bo
Transcribed: 3/24/23
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