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,
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Sunday, so that the daily devotions can prepare us for worship.
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America, General Rubrics VIII. Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers,
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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 for ever. 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. He 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 Paul 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 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 doing 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 the Samaritans 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)?
