"Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
The lesson in faith herein, comes from Jesus' acknowledgment that the all empowering faith required for saving the souls of mankind, could only be possible AFTER He had completed His sacrificial ordeal (His death, burial, resurrection and ascension). The strength Jesus provided to His disciples by His presence, disappeared after He was gone, but that strength would be replaced with the coming of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost.
Those who paid any attention in Sunday School knows that Peter, Just like Jesus said, denied even knowing Jesus three times the night before Jesus was crucified. In denying Jesus, Peter demonstrated the weakness of a faith that is not empowered by the Holy Spirit. Peter later receive that all empowering faith, but only after Jesus had completed His sacrificial ordeal.
This is verified when Jesus said, "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and WHEN THOU ART CONVERTED, strengthen thy brethren." Jesus' prayer assured the Peter would follow through with assembling his brethren for the coming of the holy Ghost.
Jesus said, in essence, Peter would have sufficient faith to "strengthen" his brethren, after he was "converted" (Eternally saved, and secured, by the empowerment of the Holy Ghost).
It is very important to note that there could be NO salvation by grace, through FAITH, until Jesus had fully completed His divine sacrificial ordeal. To the Jews, the Mosaic law remained in full affect until Jesus had ascended.
Today's lesson tells us that in order to receive the absolute faith required to redeem ones eternal soul, one must first believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God and believe that He is able to remit sins. THEN, have that faith strengthened and SEALED by the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ.~
Today's lesson tells us that in order to receive the absolute faith required to redeem ones eternal soul, one must first believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God and believe that He is able to remit sins. THEN, have that faith strengthened and SEALED by the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ.~
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