Week of 14 Pentecost - C
This is a Three-Year Lectionary based on the Lutheran Book of
Worship 3-year Lectionary (for public worship), "Prayers of the
Day..." (Propers), p. 13-41, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis,
1978. It is based, with only minor variations, on the Revised Common
Lectionary, used by many denominations, including the Episcopal,
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Matins and Vespers, p. 299 - 304, Philadelphia, 1918.
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Podcast Download: Week of 14 Pentecost - C
Sunday 14 Pentecost - C
First
posted
August 29, 2010;
Podcast: Sunday 14 Pentecost - C
Isaiah 66:18-23 – Zion's Hope;
Psalm 117 – Praise the Lord;
Hebrews 12:18-24 – Mt. Zion and Mt. Sinai Contrasted;
Luke 13:22-30 – The End of the Age;
Isaiah Paraphrase:
The Lord knows everyone's thoughts and deeds, and is coming to gather
all nations and peoples of all languages. They will come and see his
glory. He will reveal a sign (a miracle revealing his power and glory)
in their midst. He will send the survivors (those who survive God's
judgment) to Tarshish (perhaps Carthage, a Phoenician port on the coast
of Spain), Put (Libya), and Lud (western Egypt), “who draw the bow”
(warfaring nations; Isaiah 66:19b) to Tubal (east of the Black Sea, and
Javan (Greece) and distant coastlands that have not heard of God's fame
or seen his glory; and the survivors will make God's glory known to
them. They will bring our brethren (fellow believers) to the Lord from
all the most distant lands by various forms of transportation, like the
Israelites brought cereal offerings in clean vessels to the temple. The
Lord will take some of them to be his priests and Levites.
The new heaven and earth which the Lord will create will remain before
him (forever), and so will the name and descendants of Israel. Month by
month and sabbath by sabbath all people shall come to worship in the
Lord's presence.
Psalm Paraphrase:
Let all nations praise the Lord! Let all people extol him! The Lord's
love for us is great and steadfast, and his faithfulness will endure
forever. Lord, we praise you!
Hebrews Paraphrase:
We have come not to Mt Sinai, where people were not allowed to touch the
mountain, where there was blazing fire, darkness, gloom and storm, and
the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose message made the people beg
that no further messages be spoken directly to them. They could not bear
to hear the command that no one, or even their animals, could touch the
mountain, on penalty of being stoned to death. Even Moses trembled with
fear (Deuteronomy 9:19).
Instead we have come to Mt Zion and the City of the living God, the
heavenly Jerusalem, to innumerable angels gathered for a festival, “and
to the assembly of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a
judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood
that speaks more graciously than the blood of Abel” (Hebrews 12:23-24).
Luke Paraphrase:
Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem and teaching in the towns and villages
on the way. Someone asked if only a few would be saved, and Jesus
replied that we should try to enter by the narrow door, because many
will try to enter and will be unable. Once the householder has arisen
and shut the door, the many will stand outside and knock and beg to be
admitted, but the householder will deny knowing them. They will say that
they ate and drank in his presence and he taught in their streets. But
the householder will continue to deny knowing them and will call them
workers of evil. They will mourn and grind their teeth when they see the
patriarchs and prophets of Israel in the kingdom of God and themselves
rejected. People from the most distant parts of earth will come and sit
at table in the kingdom of God, but some who are last will be first, and
some first will be last.
Commentary:
There is a Day of Judgment coming when Christ will return to judge the
living (“quickened”) and dead in both physical and spiritual senses. He
is sending out his disciples, the “saved,” once they have been
“born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8), to the most
distant parts of the earth to preach the Gospel and make born-again
disciples of Jesus Christ.
One type of cereal offering was the offering of the firstfruits of the
grain harvest, so these Gentile (non-Jew) converts will be brought into
the House of the Lord as firstfruit of the spiritual harvest, and some
will become priests and Levites. We have seen this happening since the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the first-century Church (Acts
2:1-13).
In the new heaven and earth that the Lord will create at the end of this
age, we will all worship in God's presence in the House of the Lord on
the heavenly Mt Zion. All the saved will personally experience the
Lord's great and steadfast love and faithfulness, by the indwelling Holy
Spirit we have been given. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit he speaks
to us in a non-scary way.
The first-born are those who have died and gone to heaven before the
Second Coming of Jesus at the Day of Judgment. We are the just (found
righteous in God's judgment) people made perfect (complete; by the blood
of Jesus).
Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant (Testament) which he initiated
on the night of his betrayal and arrest (Matthew 26:26-28). Under the
Old Covenant, blood was sprinkled on things and people to cleanse them
and make them fit to serve the Lord. The blood Jesus shed on the cross
“sprinkles” us to cleanse us and make us righteous in God's judgment so
that we can serve and worship him. Abel was the righteous son of Adam
murdered by his brother. Abel's blood calls to God for vengeance, but
Jesus' blood calls to God for our forgiveness.
Jesus warns us that we should make every effort to enter the narrow door
that leads to eternal life, now while we have the opportunity. Jesus is
going to return unexpectedly, and the door will be closed. People, even
church members, who haven't been spiritually reborn before Jesus comes,
will be eternally shut out of his kingdom. They will call to him to
gain admittance, claiming to have prophesied, cast out demons, and done
many great works in his name, but Jesus will declare that he never knew
them, and tell them to depart, because they are workers of evil (Matthew
7:21-23).
Jesus is the narrow door (John 10:9). He is the only way (John 14:6).
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple
(John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you
received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts
19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to
obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with
certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians
1:13-14)?
Monday 14 Pentecost - C
First
posted August 30, 2010;
Podcast: Monday 14 Pentecost - C
Psalm 112 – Rewards of the Righteous;
Paraphrase:
Let the Lord be praised. The person who fears the Lord and delights in the Lord's commandments will be blessed.
Mighty in the land will be the descendants of the righteous; blessed
will be the generation of the upright. They will possess wealth and
riches, and their righteousness will endure forever.
The upright will have light in darkness; righteous, gracious and
merciful is the Lord. A person who is generous and lends, and is just in
the conduct of his affairs will do well.
The righteous will never be shaken, and will be remembered forever.
They will not fear evil tidings; trusting in the Lord, their hearts will
not be troubled. They will not be afraid; their hearts will be steady
and they will see their desire upon their enemies.
They give freely to the poor; their righteousness will endure forever;
their status is exalted. The wicked are angry to see the success of the
righteous; the wicked grind their teeth and disappear; their desires
accomplish nothing.
Commentary:
The righteous are those who fear (have appropriate awe and respect for
the power and authority of) the Lord, and do what is right, good and
true, according to God's Word in the Bible, and in Jesus Christ, the
“living Word,” fulfilled, embodied and exemplified (John 1:1-5, 14).
The Lord is faithful and able to prosper the righteous, not necessarily
with material wealth and possessions. He is able to provide the
necessities abundantly to his people and to make them go farther, while
what the wicked have gained slips from their grasp.
The wicked may seem to prosper for a while, but will ultimately fail and
come to nothing. The wicked hate the deeds and success of the
righteous.
In America lately we have seen the wicked prosper for a time. We've seen
tax breaks for the rich, denial of welfare for the poor and denial of
healthcare for needy children. We've seen a few of the wicked manipulate
government and loot our assets.
Ultimately the righteous will spend eternity in paradise with the Lord,
but the wicked will spend eternity in torment in Hell. The righteous
will have no fear of loss or even death, because they will know with
certainty that the Lord is able to protect and preserve them. The wicked
will worry constantly about losing their possessions and lives.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple
(John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you
received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts
19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to
obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with
certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians
1:13-14)?
Tuesday 14 Pentecost - C
First
posted August 31, 2010;
Podcast: Tuesday 14 Pentecost - C
Proverbs 25:6-7 – Pride or Humility?
“Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the
place of the great; for it is better to be told, 'Come up here,' than to
be put lower in the presence of the prince” (Proverbs 25:6-7).
Commentary:
God is king above all kings. How many people understand that it isn't
smart (even in worldly wisdom) to exalt themselves before worldly kings,
but they exalt themselves before God?
Recently a U.S. Federal Congressman found himself in trouble for calling
President Obama a liar during his speech on healthcare. I like Obama,
but he is so much less significant than God. Yet how many are calling
God a liar by rejecting his Word?
Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation
19:16). Jesus is God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). How
many of us exalt ourselves over Jesus by denying his lordship and
kingly authority?
Do we understand what it means to be our Lord? Our Lord is our boss; when he says “jump,” we should be asking, “how high?”
People exalt themselves before God the Father and Jesus Christ because
of unbelief. And they get away with it because of the Lord's grace
(unmerited favor) and forbearance, which is intended to allow them time
to come to faith (obedient trust). Because we aren't immediately struck
by lightning, we shouldn't assume that there is no God.
There is a Day of Judgment coming at the end of the Age of grace
(unmerited favor; a free gift). That Day is coming unexpectedly, and
then it will be too late to change our eternal destinies. This is the
only time we have to seek and find God and be “born-again” (John 3:3,
5-8) by the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus
gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus
(John 14:15-17).
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a personal, daily, ongoing,
discernible event (Acts 19:2). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee
that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22;
Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple
(John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you
received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts
19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to
obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with
certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians
1:13-14)?
Wednesday 14 Pentecost - C
First
posted September 1, 2010;
Podcast: Wednesday 14 Pentecost - C
Hebrews 13:1-8 – Christian
Living;
Paraphrase:
We are urged to continue in brotherly love. We are to show
hospitality to traveling Christians (because inns of the
time were occupied by bandits and prostitutes), and some
have thus entertained angels* (Abraham: see Genesis
18:1-8; and Lot: 19:1-3).
We are to remember prisoners as though in prison with
them; we are to remember the ill-treated, since we are in
physical bodies that can also suffer ill-treatment.
Let marriage be respected and undefiled by all people.
God's judgment is coming upon the immoral and adulterous
We are to avoid the love of money, and be content with
what we have, because the Lord has promised never to fail
or forsake us.
The author of the Letter to the Hebrews quotes
Psalm 118:6 to the effect that since the Lord is our
helper we need not be afraid; for what can mankind do to
us (that the Lord can't handle)?
Let us remember our leaders and those who told us the Word
of God; consider how their lives turned out, and let our
faith match theirs. “Jesus is the same yesterday and today
and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Commentary:
All the Law in the Old Testament can be reduced to two
commandments: To love God with every aspect of our being,
and to love our neighbor just as we love ourselves
(Matthew 22:37-39). Jesus specifically commanded his
disciples to love one another so that all people would
know that they were Jesus' disciples (John 13:34-35).
Christians are by definition, “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8)
disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c). We should find it
easy and pleasing to love with brotherly affection our
Christian brethren.
When the Spirit of the risen Jesus knocks on the “door” to
our hearts we must open it and welcome him in and he will
have the kind of fellowship with us as if “dining" with us
daily (Revelation 3:20). When we invite him into our
hearts to be our Savior and Lord (“boss”), we will be
spiritually “reborn” by the baptism of the indwelling Holy
Spirit. We will be entertaining “angels”* on a daily
basis.
Only Jesus baptizes with the indwelling Holy Spirit (John
1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus
(John 14:15-17, 21, 23). The Holy Spirit is the seal and
guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2
Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11,
15-16).
Jesus warns that we cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew
6:24; “mammon” is Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke,
meaning “Wealth”). We've seen some examples in the last
year where the love of money ruined a lot of people's
lives.
Let us remember and pray for those in prison, and those
who are ill-treated, particularly those around the world
who are suffering for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ, and also for those who are falsely imprisoned,
abused, denied adequate food, clothing, shelter and
adequate medical care. There are numerous opportunities to
volunteer in some area of “Social Ministry” (ministry to
the social needs of the poor and those in need), through
our local congregations.
Let there be no immorality or adultery, especially in the
Church. In the first-century church at Corinth, Paul
chastised the congregation for tolerating immorality and
for their factionalism. He also chastised them for seeking
secular lawsuits against fellow-members (1 Corinthians
5:1-13; 6:1-11), and for the false belief of some that
they were saved without the requirement of obedience (1
Corinthians 6:12-20; see false teachings, sidebar right,
home: “Cheap Grace”). These sorts of things are still
going in the nominal Church today. God's judgment is
coming on those who do such things.
When we seek to know and do God's will for us on an
individual basis, he will reveal it to us, and he will
provide the resources and ability we need to accomplish
it. When we step out in faith (trust and obedience), we
will learn from personal experience that the Lord is able
and faithful to provide for us, and that he will never
fail or forsake us. We need not fear any circumstance; the
Lord is able to bring us through it.
Who was instrumental in sharing the Gospel and the example
of faith with you? Who led you in dicipleship? Paul (Saul
of Tarsus) is deliberately intended by God to be the
prototype and example of a modern, post-resurrection,
born-again disciple (student) and apostle (messenger; of
the Gospel) of Jesus Christ.
Paul was convicted by the Spirit of the risen Jesus on the
road to Damascus. He accepted Jesus' rebuke (Acts 9:4),
acknowledged Jesus as his Lord (9:5), repented (Acts 9:9),
became obedient to Jesus' command (Acts 9:6, 8), was
discipled by a born-again disciple, Ananias, until Paul
was “reborn” (Acts 9:17-18), and then immediately began
proclaiming the Gospel, making born-again disciples (2
Timothy 1:6) and teaching them to repeat the process (2
Timothy 2:2). Paul was fulfilling the Great Commission
(Matthew 28:19-20) which Jesus had given to his disciples,
but only after he had been born-again (Luke 24:49; Acts
I:4-5, 8).
Jesus is unchanging; the same things apply to us today
that applied to Paul in his day.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you
Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying
Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy
Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you
making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey
all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know
with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John
5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
* “Angel” can be understood as “spirit;” consider Acts 12:15 and Revelation 1:1; 22:6, 16).
Thursday 14 Pentecost - C
First posted September 2, 2010;
Podcast: Thursday 14 Pentecost - C
Luke 14:1, 7-14 – On Humility;
Paraphrase:
One sabbath Jesus dined at the home of a Pharisee (a member of a strict legalistic sect of Judaism) who was a religious leader. When he saw how they chose the places of honor, Jesus told a parable about people who are invited to a marriage feast:
Instead of choosing the seat of honor, one should choose the humblest seat. Then instead of embarrassing both host and guest by having to defer to a more honored guest, the guest will be honored in the presence of others by being invited to take a more honored seat. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Jesus told his host not to invite his friends, his relatives or rich neighbors when he gives a banquet, lest they invite him in return and he be repaid. Instead the host should invite the poor and handicapped, and he will be blessed, because they cannot repay him. Instead he will be repaid at the resurrection of the just (the righteous in God's judgment).
Commentary:
Jesus did not fit the worldly concept of a king. He came not to be served but to serve and he taught his disciples to do likewise (Luke 22:25-27). When he entered Jerusalem the week before his crucifixion, he entered not like a worldly king in a chariot, but humbly, riding on a young donkey (Matthew 21:1-11).
Jesus' word is the Word of God, with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; Compare Genesis 1: 9). Jesus could have commanded and we would have to acknowledge him as king. Jesus deliberately referred to himself as the Son of man, which is true, because he had a human mother, but which also allows us to decide for ourselves whether he is the Son of God, with a hint from Daniel 7:13 (compare Revelation 1:13; 14:14).
There is a Day coming when Christ will return in great glory and power, unlike his earlier entry into Jerusalem. In that Day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that he is Lord (and King; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14).
In the days of Jesus' physical ministry, the Jewish leaders had forgotten that they were servants of the Lord on behalf of God's people. They were using their office to exalt themselves (Matthew 23:5-7).
Unfortunately, in too many instances, the same situation exists in the nominal Church today. Ministry is seen as a career choice, and an opportunity to have influence over other people. Church leadership is seen as an opportunity to be exalted.
Too often we're only interested in doing favors for those who are in a position to do favors for us, or have something to offer that we want.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Friday 14 Pentecost - C
First posted September 3, 2010;
Podcast: Friday 14 Pentecost - C
Galatians 5:16-24 – Walk by the Spirit;
Paraphrase:
Paul was “discipling” the Galatian Christians. He told them to live according to the Holy Spirit, and not to gratify their carnal desires. Carnal desires are opposed to the ways of the Spirit, and indeed the Spirit is given to overcome carnal desires, to prevent us from whatever we please. But those who are obedient to the Spirit are not under the law (with its condemnation).
Immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, dissension, factionalism, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and so on, are all works of the flesh (carnal desire). Those who do such things will not inherit eternal life in God's heavenly kingdom. But the fruit of obedience to the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; no law is necessary to restrict such behavior. “And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24).
Commentary:
Christians must “die” daily to the desires of the flesh in order to live in the Spirit. The flesh wants what it wants, but we must resist, in order to live according to the Spirit.
If we live in the flesh, we will die eternally in the flesh. Imagine being eternally trapped in a physical body that gets sick and decays, separated forever from health and life and every good thing that God provides: that is Hell.
If we live according to the Spirit we will never die eternally. When we die physically, we'll go on living forever in paradise restored in God's heavenly kingdom.
We're all born into this world physically alive but spiritually unborn. This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life, and this is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, the only one who “baptizes” with the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily event (Acts 19:2). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
It is only by the presence of the Holy Spirit within us that we can overcome our carnal nature; our fleshly desires. It is only by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we can know and experience true love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It is only by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we can know and experience daily personal fellowship with God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Saturday 14 Pentecost - C
First posted September 4, 2010;
Podcast: Saturday 14 Pentecost - C
Luke 17:11-19 – Ten Lepers Cleansed;
Paraphrase:
Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem and was passing between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village he encountered a group of ten lepers who called to him from a distance to have mercy on them. When Jesus saw them he told them to go and show themselves to the priests, and they were cleansed as they went to do so. One, a Samaritan, when he saw that he had been cleansed, turned back praising God and fell down at Jesus' feet, giving thanks to him. Jesus said, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the other nine" (Luke 17:17)? Then Jesus told the man to rise and go his way; the man's faith had made him well.
Commentary:
At the time of Jesus' earthly ministry, Israel was divided into three Roman provinces: Galilee was a Roman province in the northern portion of Israel, and Samaria was a Roman province in central Israel. Judah was the southern Roman province.
The Samaritans were of mixed race and religion, resulting from the conquest of the Northern Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians in 721 B.C.. Most of the Israelites of the Northern Kingdom had been deported and aliens from other conquered lands had been brought in to pacify the land. Although they retained the Jewish traditions, they worshiped at a temple on Mt. Gerizim in Samaria, rather than at Jerusalem. The Jews of the Southern Kingdom of Judah did not regard them as true Jews.
Leprosy is contagious, so lepers were required to stay away from healthy people. In order to be restored to the community fellowship, including public worship, they were required to be certified as disease-free by priests. It required faith (obedient trust) in Jesus for people who were obviously leprous to present themselves to priests; and they were healed on the way, as they trusted and obeyed Jesus' command. The irony is that the nine who apparently considered themselves “real” Jews, didn't return to praise God and give thanks to Jesus for their healing, but the one they considered “impure” did.
Old Testament prophecies said that the revealing of the Messiah (Christ; God's “anointed”) would be accompanied by miracles of physical healing (Isaiah 29:18-19; 35:5-6; Matthew 11:2-5. Jesus' miracles of physical healing, feeding, and resurrection were intended to reveal who he is, and that he can also heal, feed and resurrect spiritually. The nine leprous Jews were healed physically, but they didn't recognize and acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, so they didn't receive the spiritual healing that only Jesus can provide, while the leprous Samaritan did.
We're all born spiritually leprous. We're all sinners who fall short of God's standard of righteousness (doing what is right, good and true according to God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23), separated eternally from God and God's people. Jesus is the only one who can heal us and restore us to fellowship with God and God's people which was broken by sin (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, right, home).
We're all born physically into this world, but we're unborn, spiritually. This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to true, eternal life. This is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ, who is the only one who “baptizes” with the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit is a personally discernible ongoing daily experience (Acts 19:2). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
