TO BE CONT'D...
Luke wrote maybe the most important letter recorded in the New
Testament, to his good friend Theophilus. Luke was sharing his
experience about his (and the other remaining disciples) final moments
with the Master--and His instructions to them leading to the New Birth
and an explosive world-changing ministry. Luke shared the intimate
details--he knew it was important for Theophilus (and us, too) to know exactly
the words that Jesus used in His final earthly instructions. He told
them what to do, where to go and what to say. He even told them how long
they should wait and what the sign would be that they were now prepared
to carry out the mission.
Every detail that Jesus gave the disciples was important. You see, Jesus knew them--as He knows all of us. Until God prepares us, we are doubt-filled, unfaithful, unskilled, timid and unremarkable just like they were. In fact, if you read Matthew's account in chapter 28, you will see that verse 17 says that "some (not just Thomas!) doubted". The funny thing about it is that Jesus remained completely undeterred. He continued and commissioned them, as if He didn't know that those He appointed had those doubts. He thoroughly and intimately knew each man--faults and all. He knew Peter was prone to curse, had just denied him not once, but three times (to save his own hide, and out of fear). He knew Peter had such a foul temper he had just sliced off the ear of the high priest's servant in Gethsemane--and Jesus' had to clean up his mess--at the worst possible time! Jesus knew Thomas would never believe unless he had tangible proof. He knew some of them were opportunists and wanted to have dibs on first place in the Kingdom. He knew these fella's, inside out--and it didn't matter. Why? Because, God knows that when He injects Himself into our situation, our crisis, our point of need--and our lives, He, cancels out the negative and makes us new, in Him. That's what reconciliation is all about!
Luke knew the importance of this message that he was sharing with his friend--he knew how it had changed his life; and he wanted it to impact the world--especially those he loved. So, he takes his time--24 chapters in Luke and 28 chapters in the Book of Acts to set the record straight for us, about Jesus Christ, the Cross, the purpose, repentance, how to access repentance--and walk in the newness of life.
He tells Theophilus what Jesus told them--that "repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name, beginning at Jerusalem". They did exactly what He (Jesus) had instructed them to do (following His directions, to the letter)--in Acts 2:14, the disciples stand with Peter as he delivers the Pentecost sermon that convicts thousands. Peter told them to "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." They had asked after he preached that mighty message what they could do make amends for such great sin as theirs (and ours, too), and Peter responded--and the eleven other disciples stood with with him--no one challenged Peter's answer. They stood in agreement that this was the only way for them to be redeemed.
They agreed (because there was no conflict there) that it must be in Jesus' Name, because that is what Jesus told them (Luke 24:47); and they followed His directions explicitly--in Acts 8:16, 10:48, 19:5 and 22:16. It was done this way by everyone until the Council of Nicaea, in the 2nd Century--and Jesus didn't change the method.
He made them witnesses--they had indeed, witnessed His life; of living according to the will of the Father. A perfect Example, of how we are to live our lives--we are not our own, but are bought with a price! We must govern our lives according to the grace of God--that Jesus paid so dearly to provide us. It is tantamount to cursing Him, to live any other way--especially, by rules and rehearsal of laws! Grace teaches us that love is the "commandment" that enables us to live out holiness. Laws only show us what is wrong, but have no power to make us live right--love does. When we love God with all of our being, and love our neighbors as we love ourselves, sin won't come easily. Love makes it hard to sin--no man that truly loves God, is in the mood to sin; he is too busy searching for ways to please Him.
Most importantly, God makes us--or counts us righteous--by cloaking us in His righteousness, because of the blood of Jesus--there is nothing that any of us can do to earn our way into His good graces. It cannot be done. Self-righteousness stinks to God; He wants the righteousness that only He can give to us to be in us, worn on us, not as a "whitewashed tomb", but with a pure heart, before Him, admitting our total reliance on Him.
He told them to go to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Ghost--He had already promised to send the Comforter (and what the Comforter would do for them [John 14]). They got another glimpse of the God-Man when He was taken up as He blessed them, and it stirred up worship in them. They continued to worship and praise Him while they waited to be "endued with power from on high". As they sat in the upper room at Jerusalem, on Pentecost, the Holy Ghost came and fell on them so that they all spoke in other tongues--and they were all changed when the Holy Ghost came not only upon them--but to reside in them, permanently; and Peter made sure everyone understood this Holy Ghost wasn't exclusive to any one group, but was for all flesh. The power that they experienced changed them--miraculously! The once fearful and timid were now emboldened to stand and proclaim the Christ who just several weeks before they had denied or run away and hid themselves from. They were now willing to die to impart His Gospel! They were imprisoned, stoned, beaten, beheaded, burned, crucified, boiled in oil, hung upside down and more for the cause of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
These weren't the same men--that's what happens when God comes into our lives. It is a miraculous thing to receive Christ. You will never be the same--the Gospel is all. Repentance and forgiveness of sins--in His Name must be preached (that's where the power resides!); for "there is no other Name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved."
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm so glad Luke didn't end his letter with the Gospel which bore his name--but he went on to share with the world the actualization. He painted the picture to show Theophilus the Holy Ghost in action through these mere men, who simply followed the directions of the Master. They heard the Message, and they were "foolish" (1 Corinthians 1:18-21) enough to believe it! That's what it takes--putting aside earthly intelligence for something that doesn't make sense to the natural mind, in order to inherit the riches of God's Kingdom. The "things" of the Kingdom of God are not going to be confined by the finite order of the world, its systems or our own minds. To receive Him, takes "heart" not sense. In the Spirit, it's all reasonable and in order, with obvious sensibilities. So, it isn't God that doesn't make sense, but until we get beyond our finite notions (of Him) and are willing to choose to believe--to take that chance on Him, we will never know. Why not just test His Word--what have you got to lose?
"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by Him."
Grace,
Lisa
Every detail that Jesus gave the disciples was important. You see, Jesus knew them--as He knows all of us. Until God prepares us, we are doubt-filled, unfaithful, unskilled, timid and unremarkable just like they were. In fact, if you read Matthew's account in chapter 28, you will see that verse 17 says that "some (not just Thomas!) doubted". The funny thing about it is that Jesus remained completely undeterred. He continued and commissioned them, as if He didn't know that those He appointed had those doubts. He thoroughly and intimately knew each man--faults and all. He knew Peter was prone to curse, had just denied him not once, but three times (to save his own hide, and out of fear). He knew Peter had such a foul temper he had just sliced off the ear of the high priest's servant in Gethsemane--and Jesus' had to clean up his mess--at the worst possible time! Jesus knew Thomas would never believe unless he had tangible proof. He knew some of them were opportunists and wanted to have dibs on first place in the Kingdom. He knew these fella's, inside out--and it didn't matter. Why? Because, God knows that when He injects Himself into our situation, our crisis, our point of need--and our lives, He, cancels out the negative and makes us new, in Him. That's what reconciliation is all about!
Luke knew the importance of this message that he was sharing with his friend--he knew how it had changed his life; and he wanted it to impact the world--especially those he loved. So, he takes his time--24 chapters in Luke and 28 chapters in the Book of Acts to set the record straight for us, about Jesus Christ, the Cross, the purpose, repentance, how to access repentance--and walk in the newness of life.
He tells Theophilus what Jesus told them--that "repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name, beginning at Jerusalem". They did exactly what He (Jesus) had instructed them to do (following His directions, to the letter)--in Acts 2:14, the disciples stand with Peter as he delivers the Pentecost sermon that convicts thousands. Peter told them to "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." They had asked after he preached that mighty message what they could do make amends for such great sin as theirs (and ours, too), and Peter responded--and the eleven other disciples stood with with him--no one challenged Peter's answer. They stood in agreement that this was the only way for them to be redeemed.
They agreed (because there was no conflict there) that it must be in Jesus' Name, because that is what Jesus told them (Luke 24:47); and they followed His directions explicitly--in Acts 8:16, 10:48, 19:5 and 22:16. It was done this way by everyone until the Council of Nicaea, in the 2nd Century--and Jesus didn't change the method.
He made them witnesses--they had indeed, witnessed His life; of living according to the will of the Father. A perfect Example, of how we are to live our lives--we are not our own, but are bought with a price! We must govern our lives according to the grace of God--that Jesus paid so dearly to provide us. It is tantamount to cursing Him, to live any other way--especially, by rules and rehearsal of laws! Grace teaches us that love is the "commandment" that enables us to live out holiness. Laws only show us what is wrong, but have no power to make us live right--love does. When we love God with all of our being, and love our neighbors as we love ourselves, sin won't come easily. Love makes it hard to sin--no man that truly loves God, is in the mood to sin; he is too busy searching for ways to please Him.
Most importantly, God makes us--or counts us righteous--by cloaking us in His righteousness, because of the blood of Jesus--there is nothing that any of us can do to earn our way into His good graces. It cannot be done. Self-righteousness stinks to God; He wants the righteousness that only He can give to us to be in us, worn on us, not as a "whitewashed tomb", but with a pure heart, before Him, admitting our total reliance on Him.
He told them to go to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Ghost--He had already promised to send the Comforter (and what the Comforter would do for them [John 14]). They got another glimpse of the God-Man when He was taken up as He blessed them, and it stirred up worship in them. They continued to worship and praise Him while they waited to be "endued with power from on high". As they sat in the upper room at Jerusalem, on Pentecost, the Holy Ghost came and fell on them so that they all spoke in other tongues--and they were all changed when the Holy Ghost came not only upon them--but to reside in them, permanently; and Peter made sure everyone understood this Holy Ghost wasn't exclusive to any one group, but was for all flesh. The power that they experienced changed them--miraculously! The once fearful and timid were now emboldened to stand and proclaim the Christ who just several weeks before they had denied or run away and hid themselves from. They were now willing to die to impart His Gospel! They were imprisoned, stoned, beaten, beheaded, burned, crucified, boiled in oil, hung upside down and more for the cause of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
These weren't the same men--that's what happens when God comes into our lives. It is a miraculous thing to receive Christ. You will never be the same--the Gospel is all. Repentance and forgiveness of sins--in His Name must be preached (that's where the power resides!); for "there is no other Name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved."
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm so glad Luke didn't end his letter with the Gospel which bore his name--but he went on to share with the world the actualization. He painted the picture to show Theophilus the Holy Ghost in action through these mere men, who simply followed the directions of the Master. They heard the Message, and they were "foolish" (1 Corinthians 1:18-21) enough to believe it! That's what it takes--putting aside earthly intelligence for something that doesn't make sense to the natural mind, in order to inherit the riches of God's Kingdom. The "things" of the Kingdom of God are not going to be confined by the finite order of the world, its systems or our own minds. To receive Him, takes "heart" not sense. In the Spirit, it's all reasonable and in order, with obvious sensibilities. So, it isn't God that doesn't make sense, but until we get beyond our finite notions (of Him) and are willing to choose to believe--to take that chance on Him, we will never know. Why not just test His Word--what have you got to lose?
"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by Him."
Grace,
Lisa
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