Lesson 4292

(Lesson 4292)(10-31-23) Luke 1:1-4

    “ Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.”

    Today’s quote tells us that the book of Luke is a letter from Luke to “Theophilus” who was a Gentile. A man who had heard of Jesus and His works, but had not yet been convinced of His authenticity. (The name Theophilus means “beloved of God”.)

    Luke’s letter was intended to convince Theophilus, and us, that Jesus was indeed the Son of God come to offer eternal salvatio to the lost.~ 

Lesson 4291

 (Lesson 4291)(10-30-23) Mark 16:14-20

    “Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”

    Today’s lesson is a furtherance of yesterday’s as it concerns Jesus’ use of the word “baptized” in the quote.

    Further proof that the water baptism (immersions), that John the Baptist administered, were merely prepatory rituals repentance, can be found in Acts 19:3-5, wherein the author wrote, “And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the ptople, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. And when they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord.”

    This text, very clearly establishes that water baptism is merely a ritual intended to cleanse the flesh “unto”, toward, or in preparation for, repentance, ot some other form of worship. Water baptism CANNOT save one’s eternal soul.~

Lesson 4290

 (Lesson 4290)(10-29-23) Mark 16:14-20

    “Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”

    In today’s lesson, we will expand upon the determinations of yesterday’s in that we will provide foundation for the conclusions drawn in the commentary.

    In Matthew 3:11 John the baptist said, “I indeed baptize you with water UNTO REPENTANCE: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear” HE SHALL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY GHOST, and with fire:”

    Therein, John drew a very clear and dramatic distinction between the water baptisms he performed and the baptism of the Holy Ghost that Jesus would offer to those who would believe.

    The kind of WATER baptisms that John oversaw were ONLY physical preparatory rituals required by Hebrew law of ANY Jew who desired to enter into ANY form of Godly worship. Whereas, the bapism that Jesus performs, is an envelopment within the Holy Ghost. That envelopment “SEALS” the soul “UNTIL THE DAY OF REDEMPTION”.

    Remember, John DID NOT preach God’s plan of eternal salvation, he couldn’t have until Jesus had completed His divine sacrifice. John’s sole mission was to PREPARE the way of the Lord.~ 

NOTE: This lesson will be continued tomorrow.

Lesson 4289

 (Lesson 4289)(10-28-23) Mark 16:14-20

    “Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”

    In the first part of today’s lesson, Jesus berated His apostles for their lack of belief. He then gave them their final instructions. Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized (immersed) shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

    That commandment from Jesus is one of the most misinterpreted commandments that is to be found anywhere in the entire bible. That, being because the word “baptized” (Immersed), as it is applied in the statement, has NOTHING to do with water. 

    In fact, the Greek word “baptizo", from which the English word “baptize” was transliterated, simply means to immerse, enwrap or envelope, one item into another with the intention of leaving it there to permanently alter it’s original condition or state.

    (We should note that to transliterate is to simply replace a word from one language with an undefined, sound-alike, word in another language.) 

    In truth, the baptism, that Jesus referenced in today’s quote, is the same baptism that is referred to in Galatians 3:27, wherein Paul says, “For as many as have been baptized (immersed) INTO CHRIST, have PUT ON Christ.

    The baptism that Jesus spoke of in today’s lesson, is NOT a baptism into water, but rather, it is a baptism, (immersion) through faith, into the life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus.

    A personal note, if your faith is shared between water baptism and the blood of Jesus Christ, your redemption IS NOT secure. In fact, if you do not have faith, or believe, in the cleansing power of ONLY the blood of Christ, you are, according to Jesus, “damned”. Out of the mouth of Jesus, “he that believeth not (has faith in something other than the blood of Jesus) shall be damned.”~

Lesson 4288

 (Lesson 4288)(10-27-23) Mark 16:8-13

    “ And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid. Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.”

    Today’s quote relates how, shortly after His death, the apostles failed to beleive that Jesus had risen, even after being told by several people.~

Lesson 4287

(Lesson 4287)(10-26-23) Mark 16:1-7

    “And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.”

    Today’s quote contains one of the most important phrases ever been spoken. “HE IS RISEN”!

Praise God! What a wonderful Savior we serve.~ 

Lesson 4286

 (Lesson 4286)(10-25-23) Mark 15:42-47

    “And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.”

    Today’s quote relates that, after His death, Jesus’ body was placed in a borrowed tomb that provided by Joseph of Arimathaea. The tomb was sealed with a huge rock that was rolled over the door.~