Colcord, Ok May, 8 (The Oklahoma Post) –
All you have to do is Believe
I read today about being baptized into Jesus and then Jesus baptizing us with the Holy Spirit. What do you think about when you read this? For me, it was Jesus’ sacrifice for us. My failures, known to Him, doesn’t matter. The baptism into Jesus wipes away our sins and we are welcomed into The Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit baptism is a life-changing, world-overcoming experience. Or, it should be.
A friend of mine tells it this way. The Old covenant was a weary one to man and many a man failed to have a relationship with God. In the new covenant, Jesus was and is our sacrifice. The old way was to offer a sacrifice that the priest would present as their sacrifice and for one year would atone for sin. In the current dispensation, Jesus is our sacrifice. When we stand before The Lord, we will be covered with Jesus’ blood and no matter our failures, His love, His blood, is all that is seen! White as snow.
Don’t tell me that!
My grandma, the kindest saint, would tell me when I was young ”If you love Him you wont sin.” I didnt want to hear that. I wanted my sins to be okay. I didn’ want to hear I could do better. Honestly, I guess I wanted to enjoy sin and feel saved at the same time.
The Lord said to Paul ”My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul’s weakness would make him stronger. But only if he relied on God to direct, protect, and produce his strength for him. Today, I have started to enjoy when I have to rely on God for everything. I know His way will be better than mine.
Stand firm
Now, we can see with the first two items in God’s Armor, they are for our protection. Satan will still sling arrows at us. But, we now know Jesus and are baptised with the Holy Spirit. We can wear The Breastplate of Righteousness and our Belt of Truth will be fastened securely. It can’t fall away and if we love Him, we know, He will protect us.
The two go together and Gods full purpose for us is guarded by Jesus’ righteousness. Not ours. It can also change the way we approach life and furthermore, the difficulties of it. Let’s get back to grandma’s comment. I’ve reached a maturity to understand she wasn’t telling me I wasn’t good enough. She was encouraging me. Now, I encourage you to love Him like I was encouraged to.
Most of us have been asked “How do you know He is real?” 2 Timothy 1:12-13 says “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” https://biblehub.com/2_timothy/1-12.htm
Next week we put on our walking shoes!
Click the link to check out one of Countryside Bible Church’s worship services on Facebook.
(Writing by Jeremy Shelley; editing by Robbie Robertson)
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