John 1:3

John 1:3 says, All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  John tells us that through the Word, Christ Himself, everything was made.  He was not just with God but was the Creator of everything.  I am not sure there are any words to accurately describe the Trinity, but again, there is but One God, manifested as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We in the church today are guided by the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit is not a replacement for the God of the Old Testament or for Jesus.  God is all Three, and all Three are God.  John was declaring Jesus the Creator of all things.  He spoke into being all things, except man who was created from the dust in the image of God, and woman who was created from the rib of man.  If anyone states that we are no different than any other animal, they are wrong.  Some religions believe that Jesus was not the only begotten Son of God, but that He had a heavenly father and mother, who had a heavenly father and mother.  We can never allow that belief to become acceptable in Christianity.  God did not say "I became," but "I Am."  God always was, before anything else. He is without beginning or end.  He is the One Who created and sustains the universe.  Verse four adds, In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  Verse five continues, And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.  Christ came to bring life, everlasting, meaningful life, to mankind and to be a Light unto the world.  Until a person accepts Christ as a personal Savior, life is without meaning. We stumble around in darkness looking for hope and purpose.  Through Christ, we find light and meaning in life.  Verse six concludes, There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  Then John told about John the Baptist, who was beginning to have people follow him, some even thinking he might be the Messiah.  When people are hungry for hope, they will look to anyone for that hope.  John the Baptist was a good man to listen to, even to follow, but he was not the Messiah.  Today, people follow religious leaders as if they were the answer to life's problems themselves.  If they do not point you to following Christ and away from following them, then something is wrong.

John 1:1

 

John 1:1, says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."  At the beginning of the world, the Word, Christ, already existed.  In the beginning does not mean that God suddenly appeared at some point.  God has always and will always be.  Verse two adds, The same was in the beginning with God.  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, the Three in One, have always been and will always be. The Christ we serve as our Savior did not come into existence a little over two thousand years ago.  He always has been.  Neither is He a second God, but He is God. Though He would become a man during His ministry on earth, He did not cease to be God.  Though I cannot explain the Three in One nature of God effectively, I can accept in faith that it exists.  Though we speak of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as being different Beings. They are not.  There is but one God, shown to us in three different manifestations.  We must never try to make the three into different Gods.  I have heard people say they believe in Jesus as their Savior but want nothing to do with the God of the Old Testament.  We must realize and acknowledge that they are the same.  Since the beginning, Christ has been God.  There is no Old Testament God Who is not the New Testament God.  So, as His followers, even if we cannot totally understand the nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as the One true God, we must accept the fact by faith.  Jesus, our Redeemer, always was and always will be God.

Acts Review Continued

In the Book of Acts, we have the record of Paul's many missionary journeys and the gospel going to the Gentiles by his work.  We also find Paul eventually in Rome as a prisoner.  If we are going to be effective witnesses for Jesus Christ, we must be willing to face imprisonment if necessary.  The Book of Acts tells us about the disciples spreading of the gospel to the world around them, but it also tells us of disagreements in the early church, so we shouldn’t be surprised if there are disagreements in the church today.  They resolved their disagreements and the work of the church continued effectively, and if we have disagreements, we must do the same.   

Acts Review comtinued

The Book of Acts tells us of many miracles that the disciples did through the power of the Holy Spirit.  We are told of the escape of apostles after they had been put in a common prison under guard by a miracle from God.  If we are doing God’s work, we will never be confined forever, even if we are in this lifetime.  We learn of the appointing of the first deacons to do the administrative tasks in the church so that the apostles would be free to prepare and preach.  This is still the purpose of deacons today.  We are told about the martyrdom of Stephen, one of the seven deacons, and of a young man named Saul, who would later become known as Paul, consenting to his death.  Until we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are all guilty crucifying Jesus and persecuting His followers, whether we are doing it actively or not.  We learn of Paul’s later conversion on the Damascus road as he was on the way to persecute Christians and the great Change the at came over him.  Once we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we should be forever changed and become zealous about reaching others with the gospel. 

Acts Review

The Book of Acts tells us of the beginning of the spreading of the gospel and the growth of the early church.  It was written by Luke.  It starts with the disciples being told to wait for the coning of the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter Who was to be with all Christians after Jesus was no longer with them physically. Once we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord today, we don’t have to wait for the Holy Spirit to come, because He immediately indwells us.  No one gets any more or any less of the Holy Spirit.  They were warned against just standing gazing into heaven where Jesus had ascended, and we today should not just be standing and gazing into heaven looking for his return.  We are told of the need to replace Judas and their doing so with Matthias, who followed them from the beginning.  When one church leader dies, we certainly need to replace them.  We have a record of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost and the disciples being able to speak to people in their language which the disciples had not known.  We’re told that this was a fulfillment of a prophesy in Joel about sons and daughters, servants and handmaidens prophesying in the last days.  There truly is no male or female spiritually in God’s view, but all are called to do God’s work.  We learn about Peter boldly proclaiming Jesus Christ, who had been crucified by the religious leaders, being the coming Messiah and the only way to salvation, even though it mad them angry.  We can only tell the truth about Jesus Christ, no matter how it makes people feel.  Acts tells us that the believers had everything in common, meeting the needs of all.  We usually don’t want to accept this as a literal statement about how we as believers should live today. We are also told of Ananias and Sapphira selling some property and claiming to give it all to the disciples and lying about it by keeping part of the money for themselves, and their death because of it.  It wasn’t the amount given that caused their death, but their lying to the disciples and God about it. 

Acts 28:23

Acts 28:23 says, And when they had appointed him a day, there came many unto him into his lodging, to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets, from morning until evening.  Paul based his beliefs on the Scriptures, and so must we.  In order to do that, we must have a deep knowledge of what the Scriptures say.  Had Paul been speaking from a superficial understanding of the Scriptures, he would have soon run out of things to proclaim, or he wouldn't have been able to relate it all to Christ.  Our witness should always be consistent with the teaching of the Bible, and we should be able to declare that truth all day long if necessary.  Verse twenty-four adds, And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. As always, some of the people believed and some didn't.  The gospel divides people into those who believe God and those who refuse to believe, and always will.  No matter how in depth we get in our witnessing to people, some are never going to believe. Some people today are going to view Christianity as a cult or just another of many religions, and are going to treat Christians as though they are ignorant to believe such myths, and some will do all they can to stop the spread of the gospel.  We need more people like Paul today, who know what the Scriptures teach, live under the authority and power of the gospel, and will never back away, no matter the cost. Verse twenty-five continues, And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,  Paul is still under arrest and still witnessing. First, the Jewish leaders decided to leave, some believing and some not. Paul had one last thing to share with them before they left.  He said well spoke the Holy Ghost by Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet to our fathers.  He wasn't telling them some new thing.  As a Jew, they shared a common ancestry.  As Christians today, we share an ancestry not by physical birth, but by rebirth into the family of God.  In our spiritual family, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.  Verse twenty-six states, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:  Paul said the Holy Ghost through Isaiah said of their fathers, hearing they would not understand and seeing they would not perceive.  Verse twenty-seven adds, For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Paul said the Jewish peoples hearts were waxed gross, their ears grown dull of hearing and their eyes were shut, lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart and be converted, and God would heal them. Today, so many people refuse to listen to the gospel and see the reality of God because they have closed their heart and mind to anything related to God, so they remain unhealed in their relationship to God. Verse twenty-eight continues, Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. Since the Jews, God's chosen people, refused to listen to the gospel, it was going to be presented to the Gentiles, and they would hear it.  The Gentiles would be us, but like the Jews in Paul's day and most since, many have closed their heart to God.  Paul is still under arrest and still witnessing. First, the Jewish leaders decided to leave, some believing and some not. Paul had one last thing to share with them before they left.  He said well spoke the Holy Ghost by Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet to our fathers.  He wasn't telling them some new thing.  As a Jew, they shared a common ancestry.  As Christians today, we share an ancestry not by physical birth, but by rebirth into the family of God.  In our spiritual family, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. Verse twenty-nine says, And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.  The Jews left Paul with great reasoning among themselves.  This does not mean they had accepted Christ through reasoning, but they were still arguing about what Paul had said.  We cannot reason our way to salvation but must simply act in faith.  Verse thirty adds, And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him. Paul remained there for two whole years, in his own hired house, though still not free.  Verse thirty-one concludes, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. Paul received all who came to him and continued to preach the gospel with all confidence, and no one forbade him from preaching and teaching.  Wherever we are, our task is to preach and teach about Jesus.  May we be as faithful as Paul was. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acts 28:16

Acts 28:16 states, And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.  The Centurian delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to live by himself with his guard.  Though still not free, he was in a better position to accomplish his mission, which was to be a witness in Rome.  As we do God's will, we should be thankful for any improvement in our condition.  Even if things are still far from ideal, we need to continue with our mission.  Verse seventeen adds, And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.  Paul was in a position where he could call the chief of the Jews together, and this is what he did after three days.  We might wonder at the three day wait, but Matthew Henry says Paul waited for someone to lay a charge against him, and no one had. Since he was there because of the charges brought by the Jews, he called them to him.  We must wait on God's timing as we witness for Him, but we must be active in carrying out our mission.  Paul was where God wanted him, the leaders of those who were accusing him were there, and after all the time waiting, it was time to move forward. Even if we must wait for an extended period of time before completing our mission for God, we cannot wait forever.  Even in less-than-ideal conditions, God will let us know when it is time to move forward.  Paul began to present his case to the Roman Jewish leaders. Paul's testimony never wavered.  He had done nothing against the Jewish beliefs, but he was still being persecuted by the Jews.  As we live our life, even in times of trials, we need to never waver in our testimony. When we fail to live up to our calling as His followers, we can never try to weaken His word to try and justify anything we do against His will. On the other hand, we must never weaken our testimony to escape the trials of the world.  Verse eighteen continues, Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. We often complain that the law of the land will not allow us to exercise our faith openly when we don't do it anyway. The Jews may have attempted to prevent Paul from exercising his faith, but all they could do was to have him arrested.  We often give up without a fight and gripe about how the government keeps us from doing certain things. Paul said he had committed nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers. He did not suddenly cease to be a Jew when he encountered Christ.  He simply became what all Jews were supposed to be.  Verse nineteen says, But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.  He simply reached out to the Gentiles, the rest of the world, with the gospel.  When we as Christians reach out to people that some may see as our enemies and undeserving of salvation, we may have some fellow Christians oppose us.  We do not cease to be a Christian, but we simply become what a Christian should be.  Paul was rewarded by being arrested, and were we to be also, we can only hope we will be as faithful as Paul was. Again, if we want to write like Paul, remember most of his writing was done when he was under arrest.  Paul told them he had to appeal to Caesar, though he could have been freed and had done nothing against his country. Verse twenty adds, For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.  He knew, as should we, that real freedom comes through Christ. Verse twenty-one continues, And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.  The Jewish leaders in Rome said they knew nothing about what Paul had been charged with. They had received no letters from Judea about him, nor had any of the brethren who came there said anything about Paul.   Verse twenty-two concludes, But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. They wanted to hear what he had to say about Christianity, because everywhere this sect was spoken against.  All we can ever ask is that people will want to hear what we have to say about Christ, no matter the circumstances.  They thought Christianity but a sect but wanted to know more about it.