BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:47
ENCOURAGING WORD: Back before the foundation of the world, God knew in advance who would be believe in Jesus Christ His Son, and who would reject the only provision made for our sins. Historically, there have been two major interpretations of the concept of God’s choosing us. Behind Door #1, Calvinism teaches that God’s choosing means the believer has nothing to do with his own salvation: even the faith of the believer is itself a gift. Behind Door #2, Arminianism: To the Arminian, God is sovereign, but has limited his control in correspondence with man's freedom and response. God's decrees are associated with his foreknowledge of man's response. If we simply take Paul’s words at face value, it would seem that neither of these theological conclusions are adequate. Paul asserts that God chose us before the foundation of the world; The Sovereignty of God is the belief that God is in complete control over everything that happens in the universe. His rule is supreme, and his will is the final cause of all things.
Ephesians 1:4; “For he (God) chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love.” and Paul doesn’t even discuss God’s foreknowledge in Ephesians 1.
Paul does reference God’s foreknowledge in; Romans 8:29; “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” as preceding predestination, but he does not discuss choosing (or election) in the Romans 8 context.
It would seem that God’s choice is “according to the kind intention of His will” Ephesians 1:5b,’ “He (God) predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will,“ Romans 9:10-12; Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. “Yet, before the twins were born (Esau and Jacob) or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s purpose in election might stand” not by works but by him who calls, she (Rebekah) was told, “The older will serve the younger.”
His purpose is according to His choice and not based on what we might or might not do. At the same time, we have been saved by grace through faith; Ephesians 2:8; “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—" and the faith is necessary.Jesus’ explanation of salvation makes it conditional only upon belief in Him;
John 3:15–16; “that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 6:47; “Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life” He puts the responsibility on the one who is to believe. So there is a third door. Door #1 suggests God is Sovereign, and man is not involved; Door #2 suggests that God is not expressing His sovereignty, and the choice is entirely up to the person. Door #3 suggests that God has expressed His sovereignty. He chose us before the foundation of the world;
Ephesians 1:4; “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love.” He places the responsibility of faith upon the individual.
Ephesians 2:8; “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
Both the Sovereignty of God and the responsibility of humanity are evident in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and in his explanation of how we came to be so greatly blessed.
This can be very confusing until you read; John 3:15–16; “That everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” And John 6:47; “Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.”
The question that we need to ask ourselves is “Are you a whoever?” Of course you are, so it is up to each and every one of us whether we choose to believe in Jesus and become born-again into the Holy Spirit or if we choose to reject Jesus and what He did for us on the cross two thousand years ago. God just knew in advance who would reject Jesus and who would believe in Jesus, because of His foreknowledge. God predestined those of us that He knew would choose to believe in Jesus and become born again.
Let me give you an example. Let’s say that you come up to someone and Explain the Gospel to him or her, at that point they have a choice to make, they can accept the truth, or they can reject the truth. Here is where Gods foreknowledge comes in. He knew in advanced what you would choose.
Let me explain how God sees everything from the beginning to the end. Lets say you are watching a parade. If you are standing on the corner or somewhere along the road, you can only see one float at a time. If you are in a helicopter, you can see the beginning, the end of the parade and everything in between all in one view. This is how God sees the beginning of time to the end. He can tell what is in the front float and He can tell you what is in the end all in one view.
Everyone of you are here in this building because you choose to believe and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. You made the choice; God didn’t make it for you. Think about this, Would God create a human being to go to end up in the “Lake of Burning Fire” for all eternity, Not likely.
We all have a choice to make.
2 Peter 3:9; “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Based on the verse that I just read, God doesn’t want anybody to perish, so why would he create someone to go to hell if He doesn’t want anybody to end up there.
Now let’s go back to the title of this message. We read in; Acts 2:1-4; “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
We also read in; Acts 2:41-47; “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to
prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
For those of you that don’t know it, this was the beginning of the “Church Age” or also known as “The Age of Grace.” Notice, who built the Church? The Lord built the Church and The Holy Spirit has been among us for the last two thousand years gathering a Bride for Jesus Christ. The Church, the born-again believers are those that will be with Jesus for all eternity. Side note: The Church age will end at the Rapture of the Church, which I believe we will all see before we die. Of course some may day of natural causes before the Rapture, but many will be taken to meet the Lord in the Air as it says in the following Bible verses. These verses are speaking of the Rapture of the Church.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up (Raptured) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
We also read about the Rapture in the following Bible verses. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; “Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
Notice what the last verse say, Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” If we were going to go through the tribulation period, would Paul tell us to encourage one another with these words? Notice it also says; For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The seven year period Which the Bible refers to as the “Great Tribulation” is going to start after the Rapture of the Church and it will be a time when God pours out His wrath on an unbelieving world. This will also be a very unpleasant time for the Jews, because God is going to allow the Antichrist to persecute His chosen people. The Jews will find themselves with their backs against the wall with no way out, and it is then that the eyes of the Jewish people will open, and they will realize that Jesus has been their Messiah all these years.
Without getting into all the details that take place during this time, lets continue with the church. The Church or more commonly known as the “Bride of Christ” will not be here at that time, we will be in heaven with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I felt this was a good time to teach this message because your family of believers is at a new beginning. You have a brand new building to fellowship in. Praise the name of Jesus Christ for this wonderful gift. Keep this in mind, the building that you just built is not the church, the church is the people in the building. God certainly helped you build this building, but more importantly, He built the church or as we also refer to as “The Body of Christ.” We are all one body.
I want to share another verse that is taken way out of context by the Catholic church.
Matthew 16:18” “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Jesus is not calling Peter the Rock. Jesus is the Rock. In the context in which it is written, Peter is referred to as petros, in the greek, (small stone) When Jesus tells Peter, "and on this rock I will build my church," Jesus is referring to the statement that Peter made prior to this verse. Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:16-18; “Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
Jeus has been building His church on the statement “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus is telling Peter that he is right and on that statement, Jesus will build His church. Notice it says, And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Who does Jesus say will build the church. Crystal clear if you ask me. Jesus will build His church.
From the beginning of Pentecost to the current time, the Holy Spirit has been gathering a bride for Jesus. Peter has nothing to do with it. Also, just to make one thing perfectly clear, Peter is not the first Pope. Peter was Jewish, The Pope is Roman. Common sense can go a long way when used correctly.
Ephesians 1:22; “And He (God the Father) put all things in subjection under His (Jesus) feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,”
Once again, this verse that I just read is very clear that Jesus is the builder and head over all things to the church. Two more verse that I need to share to further support Christ is the builder of the church.
1 Corinthians 11:3; “But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.”
Colossians 1:18; “He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.”
Now, let’s explain what the true body of Christ is and what is its function .
1 Corinthians 6:19; “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”
Once we give our life to Jesus Christ, we are not our own. We so often hear somebody say; “It’s my body, I can do what I want with it.” I’m sorry I have to disagree with you based on the true Word of the Holy and Living God, but you are wrong. It’s true, you can do what you want, but know that every time you do something with your body that doesn’t glorify the Lord, you are sinning against God. This pretty much puts all of us in the category of sin. Most people do very little to glorify the Lord with their bodies, and that is because we all have a sinful nature because of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. But there are those that blatantly abuse their bodies.
We read in; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Most people read through this and don’t realize what each of these offences represent. The definition of Sodomy in the dictionary is as follows: “anal or oral copulation (to engage in sexual intercourse) with a member of the same or opposite sex, also “copulation with an animal” The definition of Fornication is: “sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other” The definition of Covetous is: “desire for wealth or possessions or for another's possessions” Reviler is defined as: “to use abusive language” Other words for Extortion are; “fleecing, gouging, highway robbery, overcharging.” The other ones that I didn’t define are pretty much self-explanatory. When we read this passage of the Bible and define the words in terms that we understand, it should bring us all down to ours knees in shame.
Our world, especially America, has gone well beyond the sanctity of these offences. In America we are the number one exporter of pornography to the world. The world has taken, what is perhaps the greatest physical feeling between a husband and a wife and made it into game of evil. We have taken one of God’s greatest blessings and turned it into one of the most widespread abominations in our lives. We have taken this gift from God and used it against Him and allowed Satan to use it as a way to destroy the human race.
We read in; James 4:4; “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
Remember, we, as the Body of Christ are not of this world, we are just passing through. This is not our home. Those that are of this world, the Bible refers to as Earth Dwellers. Revelation 3:10; is rightly know as a passage that supports the pre-trib rapture doctrine, but the second half of the verse introduces us to the first use of the term “earth dwellers.” “Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour, which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth.” Revelation 3:10 is the first use in Revelation that refers to what we call “earth dwellers” but usually translated “those who dwell upon the earth.”
We also read in; Galatians 6:7; “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”
If you engage in the pleasure of sin, know that it is only for a season, then there will be eternal consequence if it is not confessed and repented of.
1 Corinthians 6:20; gives us the second verse that follows the Bible meditation above; “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
When our bodies have all grown old and we are nearing the end of our lives, we need to re-evaluate our life and ask ourselves, “Have I lived for God, or have I lived for myself?” If you have not lived to serve God, then your eternal destination will be without God, and you will be sentenced to what the Bible refers to as eternity in the Lake of Burning fire or outer darkness because of your choices. If you have chosen to serve God while here on earth, and received His Son, (Jesus Christ) as your Lord and Savior, then you will be in the everlasting presence of Him throughout all eternity. God created us for fellowship, if you deny Him, He will deny you. It’s your choice what path you will chose.
Matthew 10:33; confirms this fact; “But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” These are the Words of Jesus Christ!
As it says in the scripture above, your body is the temple of God, however you treat yourself is how you treat God. Abuse your body and you abuse God. The thought of abusing the creator of the universe should make you shudder. We need to give our lives over to Jesus Christ and start using our bodies to be living sacrifices for Him so when we stand before Jesus Christ, we will hear these words that are spoken of in;
Matthew 25:21; “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”
Make the right choice, chose Jesus Christ today, not the World!
So, you see buy the written Word of God, Jesus builds the church and once you become His, you are His for all eternity. Remember, Life is a vapor, eternity is forever, and eternity could start for any one of us any day. We don’t know what a day will bring. We’ll end with this verse;
James 4:14; “ whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.
The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”
May God bless you in all you do, and take care!
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