Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: "Apostle Tom" <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sun, 09 Sep 2007 20:28:18 -0500
To: pressingon@hotmail.com
Subject: Morning Manna (Sept. 10); BP: Acts 2:14-41; RBTTY: II Cor. 3; Prov. 8-9
September 10 “The Gift That Keeps On Giving”
“Then Peter said unto them, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the
name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the
gift of the Holy Ghost’.”
Acts 2:38
It’s a Divine “deposit” that keeps giving daily “dividends”—if we let
Him.
When Peter stood and preached in the midst of those Pentecost pilgrims
in Jerusalem that day, it was unlike any message ever delivered or heard
before. Those who’d gathered that day had no idea what would happen that
morning before 9:00—but the “Holy Spirit’s coming in power upon them” (1:8;
2:1-4) was definitely an earth-shaking, life-changing experience.
Thus, when Peter. . .the former salty-tongued sailor. . .a complex
study in contrasts. . . began to preach. . .this heretofore unknown and so
often misunderstood “Holy Ghost” pricked his listeners to the depths of
their being, causing them to cry out, “Men and brethren, what shall we
do?!?” (2:36-37). And, the aged Apostle, quickly and boldly gave them
today’s Manna as their “formula for faith and followship.”
Now, we must understand that these repentants were Jewish. They were
born and raised in Jewish homes. They knew the Law of Moses. They’d
studied the Torah, the Pentateuch, the Psalms, Proverbs and prophets.
That’s why Peter’s recounting Jesus’ fulfillment of these Messianic
messages—and their responsibility in crucifying Him—produced such a strong
reaction within them.
Sadly, some have taken the words “Repent and be baptized for the
remission of sins” to mean “water regeneration”—i.e., “you have to be
baptized to be saved.” But, oh, dear Pilgrim, nothing could be farther from
the truth! Salvation is a “gift of God—not of works, lest anyone should
boast” (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 6:23b). And, the mere fact that Jesus, the sinless
Son of God, was baptized is sufficient reason in and of itself to refute
this erroneous and heretical doctrine.
Peter’s words were piercing and convicting because there is no
salvation without faith AND repentance. And, his telling them of their need
to be baptized was offensive to their flesh since they’d been taught the
only ones needing that were Gentiles in order to wash away their
“Gentileness” or sinfulness. But, it was this humbling of themselves and
surrendering to Christ’s Lordship that enabled them to receive “the gift of
the Holy Ghost.”
And, what exactly was this? It was simply the “depositing” of Jesus
into their hearts—His moving into their “heart’s house,” if you will. And,
it was His “indwelling” within them that would then position them for His
“empowering.”
Oh, dear Pilgrim, we know so little about “the indwelling Christ
controlling all.” We want the “benefits” of salvation (e.g., eternal life,
a Home in Heaven, etc.’) without letting Jesus be Lord of our lives. May
today be the day we, like those early saints, settle for nothing less than
what the Heavenly Father wants to give as we surrender all to Him.
_________________________________________________________________
Share your special parenting moments!
http://www.reallivemoms.com?ocid=TXT_TAGHM&loc=us
No comments:
Post a Comment