March 12, 2013

  •  (JOHN 17, Jesus prayed to His Father)
    This was Jesus prayer to Father God before Jesus was crucified.  That all humanity will be one in believing that Jesus Christ is our only way to salvation where we will be with Him in heaven when we leave this world. As Jesus has said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day."(John 6:44)
    Through Jesus disciples who saw Him after God raised Jesus back from the dead, they went out to towns and cities and shared the Gospel Truth to everyone.
    What Is Truth?"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to The Father, but by Me." (John 14:6 RSV) (see The Way)

     

    • "But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from The Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from The Father, He will bear witness to Me." (John 15:26 RSV) (see The Father and The Holy Spirit In Your Life)

       

    "Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth." (John 17:17 RSV)

     "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:17 RSV)

     "In Him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit." (Ephesians 1:13 RSV) (see The Gospel)

     "The Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is He." (Deuteronomy 32:4 RSV) (see Rock Of Ages and The Logos)

     "For He will render to every man according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, He will give Eternal Life; but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury." (Romans 2:6-8 RSV)

    What Isn't Truth?

    • "This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me; in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men. You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men." (Mark 7:6-8 RSV) (see Sweet Nuthins')

       "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience." (Ephesians 5:6 RSV)

             "See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ." (Colossians 2:8 RSV)

            "For they are a rebellious people, lying sons, sons who will not hear the instruction of The Lord; who say to the seers, "See not"; and to the prophets, "Prophesy not to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more of the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 30:9-11 RSV)

    (from: http://www.keyway.ca/htm2000/20000606.htm)

    The Works of the Holy Spirit in a Jesus believer today:

    What was His work in the 1st century? Jesus promised to send the Spirit to the apostles (Jn. 16:7). The Holy Spirit’s work is seen in: Teaching(Jn. 14:26; 16:13), Reminding (Jn. 14:26), Comforting (Helping) (Jn. 14:16;26), Convicting the World of Sin (Jn. 16:8), Confirming the Word of God (Mk. 16:15-18), Edifying (I Co. 12:4, 8-10; I Co. 14:12), and Intercession (Ro. 8:26). The Spirit dealt directly with the apostles and other Christians in the 1st Century.

    What is the Holy Spirit’s work now? The Holy Spirit doesn’t work the way He did in the first century. His work revealing God’s word is accomplished. The word was delivered (Jd. 3), confirmed (Jn. 20:30, 21; He. 2:3), and is unchangeable (Ga. 1:8-9). God’s word is “the sword of the Spirit”, the tool that the Spirit uses to cut to the hearts of men and women and fight the spiritual fight. (Ep. 6:17)

    Now, the Holy Spirit works by the Word. This is seen in: Teaching (II Peter 1:3; II Ti. 3:16, 17), Reminding, Comforting (He doesn’t put the words in our mouth as He did with the apostles, but this is not necessary. God’s word is recorded for us as the New Testament), Convicting (As He did in Ac. 2:37, 7:54, and 24:24-25 by preaching and teaching), Confirming (It’s accomplished, Jn. 20:30, 31), Edifying (Ac. 20:32), Interceding (Yes, because we still have “weaknesses.”) The Holy Spirit only teaches us through the Word (The Holy Bible). In order to  “walk by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:24) we must walk by the Word of God. (from http://gettingthetruthout.com/)