Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Jesus Christ is the Same Yesterday and Today and Forever.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." -Hebrews 13:8

If you believe this is true, then would you say this command below from Matthew still applies today?

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” -Matthew 28:19-20

And if you believe the above two Scriptures are true, do you think this still applies today?

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”- Acts 1:8

At what point do we start taking promises and commands from Jesus in our own hands, choosing to believe in them or not? Is there evidence from the Scriptures that tell us these above statements don't apply to us anymore? When did the gift of the Spirit merely become your conscience, or guide? If the gifts of the Spirit are to further spread the gospel and the love of Christ, why would they be taken away from us? Some may argue that the signs and wonders that were performed by the disciples were just for that time, and that Jesus was talking to them specifically for that passage. If that is what you believe, then what do you say to the Matthew 28 passage about spreading the gospel? Jesus was talking to them specifically then too.

We may just be afraid of what the Holy Spirit might do, therefore pushing away the idea that He is more than just a guide. So then, if the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and God are a Holy Trinity being one, what are we afraid of? Are we afraid of how our Creator may use us to further His kingdom? If we believe that the resurrection of Jesus gives us eternal life in Heaven, then what fear should we have on this Earth? The same Giver of eternal life wants to use us to build His kingdom, and sent the Holy Spirit so that we may be able to effectively accomplish this task. How did so many people begin to believe in Jesus during His ministry? And how are others to know that we follow the same Lord as that of the early Christians? By our kind deeds to others, and lifestyles?

"Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles." - Acts 2:43

"This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will." -Hebrews 2: 3b-4

Or according to Paul:
"I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ." -Romans 15:18-19

 
I believe that if Jesus (being one with God and the Holy Spirit) is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that He promised us the Holy Spirit enable us to do things even greater than He.

"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son." - John 14:12-13

So what are we afraid of? May we submit to the Holy Spirit each day, and allow Him to lead us to live lives worthy of the cross. Who knows, maybe we will see God use us to bring 3,000 to believe in Him in one day!

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