ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. NKJV. 10: 36-43. APRIL 20, 2025

The word which God sent to the children of Israel preaching peace through Jesus Christ – He is Lord of all – (37) that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached (38) how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth and with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. (39) And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. (40) Him God raised up on he third day, and showed him openly, (41) not to to all the people but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from his he dead. (42) And He commanded us to preach to the people, and and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be judge of the living and he dead. (43)To Him all the prophets witness that through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins

THe Acts of the Apostles was written by the Apostle Luke; historian, gospel writer and beloved companion to the apostle Paul. How can we be saved? To know we are right with God? Many think that if a person is sincere it doesn’t matter what he/she what rhey believe, but it does matter greatly what we believe; to be saved we must be good Chistian people and we will get into heaven. But the Bible teaches clearly that we are saved by grace – God’s undeserved favor – through faith in Jesus Christ and apart from our own goodness or good works. IT IS BY JESUS AND NOT JESUS AND.

Peter and the other apostles knew that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ not by good works. Practically speaking until Christ they also believed a pagan Gentile has to become a Jew in the sense of obeying Jewish law regarding circumcision and ceremonial issues. Thought by Jews getting saved without coming through the door of Judaism was foreign thought. But God has been breaking down Jewish prejudices on this his matter.. Now all are swept away and in an instant there was a radical turning point in God’s economy of salvation. Salvation was pretty much bottled up with the Jews but now the door of salvation swings wide open to the Gentiles and the Jews. Everyone who believes in Christ receives God’s salvation is no longer based on natural identity not on good works. God works differently with different people and they do not get rescued until they hear and believe in Jesus Christ by God’s grace. Salvation centers on the person and work of Christ Jesus. Only God could initiative the way of preaching peace through Jesus Christ.

Salvation does not come to anyone through his or her efforts but only living the Christian life. Even good religious people need the forgiveness that Jesus offers. He will be your judge or your Savior. Jesus Christ offers salvation to everyone who believes in Him.

ROMANS 8: 8-11. NKJV. SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2025

So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (9) But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. (10) And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (11) But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwellls in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

THe letter to the Romans was written by the apostle Paul. One of the reasons for writing chapter 8 was to give assurance to those of us who believe in Jesus Christ for time and eternity. Chapter 8, verse 1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. “. If Christ be in you the body is dead because of of sin but the spirit lives because of righteousness.

Chapter eight Roman culminates in truth containing the sanctification of the saint offering eternal security of the believer which depends on the Son’s life and the Spirit’s power which rests on the Father’s love and the indwelling Spirit. The great mark of the Christian is that the Spirit of God. dwells in him/her and enters the persons life at the moment of conversion. Paul clearly indicates that a person without the Spirit does NOT belong to Christ. The same Spirit is indwelling meaning God is indwelling. The Holy Spirit who raised Jesus will also raise believers.