Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21
“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them,
‘Peace unto you.’
And when He had so said, He shewed unto them hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again,
‘Peace unto you: as Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.’
And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them,
‘Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.’ ” John 20:19-23 (KJB)
“But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: and have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” Acts 24:14-15 (KJB)
The apostle Paul is being tried for his faith in Jesus Christ, the crucified, buried, and risen One who forever lives and reigns as King of all kings, and Lord of all lords.
His beliefs are based on the Old Testament; the Law and the Prophets. That does not exclude the history or the wisdom books either. There are many Christians today who want to say and teach that the Old Testament is not needed. It is the only Bible, the only Scripture that they had. It is the only Scripture which Jesus knew and read. It is the only Scripture which Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John relied on. It is the Scripture which John the Baptist preached.
Preach and teach the New Testament Yes; but do not neglect the Old.
I have been spending this year staying with the New Testament. I felt I needed to get more familiar with the words of Jesus, the apostles, and including the apostle Paul. I will not shun, neither neglect the Old Testament though. Without the Old there would be no New.
Someone has said, “The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed; and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.” A great thought.
There is a resurrection of the dead; both of the just and the unjust. Which resurrection will you be part of? We are only made just by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
“This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.” Acts 2:32 (KJB)
There have been and still are many ways the name “Jesus” is said, used, and abused. There are, in fact, many Jesus’s in this world, and there always has been. When you speak of Jesus which one do you make reference of?
The One in our text is the One who came as a Suffering Servant/King. He came into this world just as we all do, by birth from His mother’s womb. His conception was far different from ours. His Father was Jehovah/YHWH the All-Powerful, All-Knowing, and All-Present One; the Immutable One – He never changes.
The One of whom I write this morning is the One who was despised of mankind, hated, mocked, spit upon, falsely accused of blasphemy, and doing good.
“This Jesus” took upon Himself willingly all the sins of the world. All of my sins; all of your sins and was judged by the Judge of the universe as a sinner; yet He Himself was without sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). He was buried in a borrowed tomb. He arose and came out of that grave. No one has ever found His body. There is none to find. He is alive
This Jesus is the Jesus of whom Peter is speaking in Acts 2. When Peter says, “…Whereof we all are witnesses” he is speaking of the apostles, and those who saw the resurrected Jesus.
Those of us who believe in “This Jesus” today are also witnesses of the crucified, buried, and resurrected Jesus. Though we have not seen Him, yet, we have seen the fruits of His Spirit, and the power of the spiritual gifts He gives all who have come to Him.
Let us choose to be vibrant, diligent, faithful, holy, witnesses for This Jesus.
The Fire and Hammer 