Grace is Still the Way to Heaven

 Danger of a Different Gospel

 Book of Galatians Chapter 1

 The people native to Galatia were emotional, impulsive, and changeable people.

 They were fickle, impetuous, arguing, loud, boastful, and immoral people.

 They had a love for the strange, the curiosities, and the unknown.

 They were attached to a false religion that was a worship of nature, and these types of people are all over the world today, nature lovers.

 Galatia was an area that had a heavy population of Jews who were staunch in the religion of Judaism.

 There were also many Greeks who had a strong Hellenistic influence.

 Hellenists were normal people who spoke the Greek language.

 Some Jews were also called Hellenists because they had settled in foreign countries and had adopted the prevalent form of Greek civilization.

 Act 6:1  And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 

Another verse says.

 Act 9:29  And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

 These were Jews who had become Greeks in their beliefs.

 We can also find them at the first Church in Antioch.

 Act 11:20  And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.

 Some of these were also true Greeks who had become proselytes of Judaism.

 We can see that Paul knew beforehand that planting a Church in Galatia would be no easy task.

 It is only the Gospel that has such power of conversion because it is the truth!

 The message of the Book of Galatians will pierce the heart of any generation.

 The message of the Book of Galatians will also stir Christians to action if we understand its message.

 *****Gal 1:1  Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 

 Notice Paul immediately establishes that he is an Apostle of Jesus Christ and God the Father who had raised the Lord Jesus from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 Paul introduces Galatia to the triune God.

 What was Paul's commission?

 John 20:21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

 What is the Great Commission?

 Mar 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 

Mar 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 

 The phrase "and is baptized” simply means "making a public profession of faith".

 We can add this commission as Paul saw it.

 2Ti 4:1  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 

2Ti 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 

2Ti 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 

2Ti 4:4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 

2Ti 4:5  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 

And Paul continued.

2Ti 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 

 This message of Paul extends to every man called by God to preach.

 Next Paul tells us who gave him his commission:

 (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 

 Paul states that no man gave him this commission but the Lord Jesus Christ Himself after God the Father had raised Him from the dead.

There would have been no need to preach a Gospel if God the Father had not raised Jesus from the dead!

 We serve a living Savior!

Our God is alive because He is the Almighty Living God.

 What did God tell Moses?

 Exo 34:5  And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 

Exo 34:6  And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 

Exo 34:7  Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

 This is the God who we serve!

But notice if ignore this God that Moses saw, then we more than likely send our children, our grandchildren, and our great-grandchildren to Hell also.

 If that man standing behind the pulpit of any church does not have the same calling as the Apostle Paul, then he does not deserve to be called pastor, preacher, evangelist, or any name associated with the calling of Jesus Christ!

 These Galatians needed to understand this as well as those who were once Jews.

 Some are called by the Holy Spirit to be Preachers, Pastors, Evangelists, and Missionaries for sure, but every child of God also has a commission given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 

 Mar 5:19  Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 

 Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 

Col 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 

Col 1:29  Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. 

 There should not be any doubt that we are all called to be witnesses for the Lord our Savior, Jesus Christ, God's Messiah.

 It was a painful moment when Paul first became aware that some counterfeit preachers, who were Judaizers, questioned the validity of his calling, but Paul was strong in the Lord and full of the Holy Spirit.

 How can a counterfeit preacher judge anybody’s calling, but they do because they belong to the true counterfeit Satan?

 It was they who had no calling at all except for Satan's calling.

 *****Gal 1:2  And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: 

 The Preacher of God must be recognized as the Lord's man by all Christian believers!

 Paul was not alone; he had some Christian believers with him who agreed with everything Paul preached.

 Timothy and Titus were probably part of those with Paul and there were others.

 Paul knew that there was safety in numbers.

 Paul never forgot that He was a member of the Church.

 Paul spoke out to the Churches of Galatia with not a word of praise or privilege.

 All the other Churches, even the Corinthians received a kinder salutation because they had not "erred concerning the faith" as had these Galatians.

 The word Church was used for:

 1) A body of believers, "the entire congregation of Christian people dispersed throughout the world".

 Paul was not the only one who was spreading the Gospel at this time, Paul was the one who was writing the Bible as the Holy Spirit led Him.

 Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon "this rock" I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

 2) The word Church could also mean a particular congregation under the same ministry of God's Word.

 1Co 16:1  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 

 3) The word Church is also used for those who assemble in one Church to worship the Lord Jesus Christ.

 1Co 14:28  But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 

 It should also be very clear that all around the world some gather together to worship some god, but not the Lord Jesus Christ, they are not part of the Church, and neither should they be called a Church.

 The news sources have a field day when every building they see where people gather is called a church when this is not true.

 If we are not the brothers and sisters of the Lord Jesus Christ, then we are not part of the Church!

 If we are not in unity with the Word of God, we are not part of the Church!

 True brothers and sisters in Christ have a deep rich bond and relationship when that bond is with Jesus Christ.

 We should be clear when we attack the preacher who preaches the truth of Jesus Christ, and then we have given up our privileges in the Church.

 It is the Word of God, the entire Word of God, from a legitimate translation of the original Scriptures, that the Church is based upon and there are no additions, and it cannot be modernized because if God gave a new Word today it would be a replica of the Word, He has already given to us.

 There are no errors in the true Word of God!

 The Word of God is true in every generation and the Word of God will be here when most all the world is gone.

 The Word of God is alive.

 1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 

1Pe 2:10  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 

 A true Christian will defend every other Christian and come to the aid of brothers and sisters when they are attacked when they are declaring the truth of God.

 And then came Grace.

 *****Gal 1:3  Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 

 To be sure there would be no Church and no believers without there being first the Grace of God!

 Act_20:24  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

 2Co_13:14  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

 This verse perfectly describes the true Christian!

 It is Grace that is the gift of God!

 Eph_2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

 Tit_2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

 It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the person who came by Grace, He is the living picture of God's grace!

 It is because of the Grace of God that we can find peace in this world!

 Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 

 Act 15:11  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. 

 There should be no doubt that we are saved by the "Grace of God"!

 That grace comes to us in the form of the Lord Jesus Christ!

 *****Gal 1:4  Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

Gal 1:5  To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

 Here is another place where we can see the will of God! 

It is the Will of God that we be delivered from this present evil world.

 It is the will of God that we are delivered from sin, and this was done by the sacrifice of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus, God's Messiah.

 We cannot talk about being pardoned without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

We cannot talk about justification without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

We cannot talk about the acceptance of God without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

We cannot talk about eternal life without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

We cannot talk about salvation without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

We cannot talk about God's "Grace" without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ!

 Our salvation depends upon the voluntary act of Jesus, our blessed Lord, to "reconcile" His Heavenly Father to us and to be a sacrifice, not only for our guilt but also for all the actual sins of all mankind.

 Oh, What a Savior!

 The Father gave a Son. The Son gave Himself!

 The Lord Jesus did not merely denounce our sins, this would have been a mockery, Moses and all the Prophets had already done this.

 His death was for our sins!

 This was the Job of Paul and every preacher since Paul, to explain the difference!

 Many have failed to make this clear.

 The Lord Jesus had the power to die for our sins and He had the power to resurrect from that death.

 The Lord Jesus gave Himself for us because we needed to be washed in his blood!

 Rom 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 

Rom 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 

 To God be the Glory forever and ever. Amen

 When the world looks up to that glorious nighttime sky, most of them take no notice of it because they believe it happened by accident, but if you really look, you have to see the Glory of God.

 God the Father does little things all the time and He always has, but they go unnoticed, but when God the Father does something big, He wants all the world to take notice.

 God wanted all the world to see the truth of His Son Jesus!

 Our Heavenly Father did these things that He might deliver us from sin and this present evil world!

 The world was evil in the days of Jesus, and it has gotten very much worse today, but for those who believe in the truth of God, our sins have been paid for we are sin-free.

 Paul said all these things to cause these churches at Galatia to remember that they were saved by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that there is no other gospel, period.

 *****Gal 1:6  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Gal 1:7  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

 When we need to be praising God, we see America going against the Word of God because people have forgotten the truth of God which says we are to "love one another".

 What is wrong with America?

 2Ti 3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 

2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 

2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

 Before we get to verse six, we see that Paul has presented the truth of the Gospel in the previous verses.

 We just cannot afford to allow false teachers into the Church!

 There is no other Gospel than the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ!

 When any church departs from the faith, they are no longer a church, they are just a group of people gathering together for no means except to fall into Satan's trap!

 After learning the truth of the gospel by the grace of God, Judaizers had come and given them a false gospel which was not the Gospel.

 God loves us so much that He has provided a way for us to become righteous and acceptable to Him and this is the only way.

 There will never be another way to get to Heaven than going through the Lord Jesus Christ and there are still thousands of people who think there is another way.

 This is the only way God has shown His love to us where it is meaningful.

 We cannot be justified in any other way than by the grace of God than comes by the Lord Jesus Christ

 God will still love us when He sends us to Hell, but He has to judge sin!

 Martin Luther said, "From Christ who called you in grace".

 Grace is the Lord's free and unmerited favor and goodness, as opposed to all notions of salvation by moral or ceremonial righteousness.

 The person who turns away from the Gospel is not turning away from a set of beliefs or principles, nor a church.

 That person has turned away from God who sent His love to that person.

 John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

John 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

John 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 We cannot throw away this scripture and then say we are saved!

 *****Gal 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 

Gal 1:9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 

 Sometimes that false teacher only has to add a little addition or leave out a little truth and it becomes a false Gospel.

 It is the same as some teacher intentionally subtracting a truth of the Gospel.

 Col 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 

 I think this is the teaching that is going on in many so-called churches today.

 It is evident what God feels about these teachers, they will be accursed.

 Accursed means separated from the will of God who they are separated from, and suffering even more than the Lost on "Judgment Day"!

 You have to ask yourself why anyone would do such a thing, and the only answer is the Devil.

 2Co_11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

 Anyone preaching a false Gospel is one of Satan's demons or Satan himself.

 We must understand that the "Gospel" is more important than the Apostle Paul even though the Apostle Paul was probably the greatest Christian who has ever lived.

 The "Gospel" is greater than all the angels in Heaven. Even if an angel came from Heaven and preached another Gospel, we would have to reject him.

 The "Gospel" is greater than any man who has walked upon this earth and any man who does so in the future.

The truth of the "Gospel" is settled and cannot be changed here or in Heaven!

 The preachers of any false gospel are doubly cursed. This means they will be sent to the hottest part of Hell!

 *****Gal 1:10  For do I now persuade men or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 

The Judaizers came into the churches of Galatia suggesting that Paul preached only one side of the Gospel and there was room for their false preaching, which was the Laws of Moses.

This is the same thing going on today where the false church is told that there is more than one way to get to Heaven.

Paul taught that there is no Gospel other than what they had heard from him, which is the truth.

There can only be one truth!

These are the same questions we ask ourselves today!

We should ask ourselves; "What has been the effect of the Gospel on my life"?

"Have I been redeemed" out of this world, a world that will pass away, into a place that is supposed to be the grandest of all places?

Do I live according to the will of my Heavenly Father?

Paul asked himself if he was to satisfy men or to satisfy God.

Paul came to the conclusion that if he indeed pleased men who had not heard the Gospel then he would not be a servant of Jesus Christ.

We can learn so much from the actions of the Apostle Paul!

John and Peter came to the same conclusion.

Act 4:19  But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 

Act 4:20  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 

1Th 2:4  But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 

It is the same with our own Pastor Preacher Sam.

It is His job to preach the truth of the Gospel even if we do not like the message!

We must understand that the Gospel has some hard truths.

The Lord Jesus asks us to put our faith in a man we have never seen who claims to be God when the world at that time killed because they said He was a fake.

Jesus asks us to believe in a place that we cannot even imagine the glory of.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians;

1Co 13:9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

1Co 13:10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 

1Co 13:11  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

1Co 13:13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.   

Which is a love greater than just being affectionate, it is closer God’s love

I do not believe Paul was a self-made man of God,

I do not believe that Paul used the Gospel as a way for an income.

I do believe Paul sought to please God and not man.

I do believe Paul proclaimed the true Gospel.

I do believe that Paul had a radical change of life.

Our goal must be to be more like Jesus, and this begins just as soon as we accept Him as our Savior.

Php_3:21  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

What is the Gospel truth?

1Pe 1:18  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 

1Pe 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 

1Pe 1:20  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 

1Pe 1:21  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 

So, it boils down to faith!

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 

Paul admitted that once he was a man-pleaser, a time when he sought the approval of man for his actions.

Paul now said because the Gospel had changed him, he no longer sought the approval of man but the approval of God.

Paul said honor, position, and wealth were no longer important to him.

Paul now wanted one thing and one thing only: the favor and the approval of God!

2Co_5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Amen

Christ Gave Us A Commission

The Certainty Of Christ's Commission

Luke 24:36-53


To be commissioned is to be appointed as a representative. It is like an order given from a superior and carries His authority.

We can go all the way back to the Book of Genesis and we will see that from that time of creation, God has not created anything new.

Gen 1:31  And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Of course this can be disputed but that does not change the facts but there is one thing that has been made new. Every time a sinner is "Born Again" they have become a new creature or a new creation!

2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

A wise man once said that there is nothing we have that God needs and that is true, but the one thing we can give to God is that we are sinners in need of being saved which He will gladly do if we come to Him with a true heart. We can give God a sinner in need of salvation!

God then takes His new creations and commissions us all for a special work.

2Co 5:20  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

An ambassador in the Old Testament meant someone who was sent on an errand:

Pro 13:17  A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.

An ambassador was also an interpreter:

2Ch 32:31  Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.

An ambassador was also a messenger:

Isa 33:7  Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.

The Apostle Paul says an ambassador for Christ must be all these things:

Sent by Christ on His errand.

Interpreters of the Scriptures or making sense of the Word as Nehemiah put it.

Bringing God's Message of peace through His "saving grace".

Eph 6:20  For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

What this world seems to forget is that to do harm to one of God's ambassadors is an insult to our King, King Jesus.

2Sa 10:5  When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

So what is the commission given to each of us by our Lord and our tasks as ambassadors for Christ?

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This is the work of the Church and more important the work of each of us as individuals!

The truth is, our work is not inside the Church building, that's the place to hone our skills, the work of the Church is outside the doors of the Church!

Let's Begin:

In these Scriptures we will see the great statements of the Christian Faith.

1) Jesus has risen, we worship the Living God, the only One.

2) All prophecies of the Scriptures and the Promises of the Lord must be fulfilled.

3) Repentance and the forgiveness of sin is imperative.

4) We must be filled with the Holy Spirit.

*****Luk 24:36  And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
Luk 24:37  But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
Luk 24:38  And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
Luk 24:39  Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Luk 24:40  And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

Of the disciples we may not know who all were present but we know that Thomas was not with these others at this time.

The truth is, this was an evening service and you can miss some important things when you miss the evening service!

Many will say that this was a spirit of Jesus and He was not actually risen in a body but the first thing we see is that He can speak and He still had the same message of "Peace".

Jesus knew their thoughts and Jesus knew they were all frightened, in fact terrified, because Jesus just appeared in the room as if He had just walked through the closed door which He had indeed.

No doubt they recognized His familiar voice!

But this was not enough for them to believe and Jesus knew this.

So besides hearing, Jesus said look upon Me!

See where the nails were driven in His feet and in His hands and Jesus showed them these places.

Along with "seeing" and "hearing" Jesus said use all your natural senses and "touch Me".

What we know of spirits is that they do not have bodies of flesh and bones that can be touched!

Anyone that believes differently is calling Jesus a liar!

But are their then ghosts or spirits? The truth is, we know for sure the God is Spirit.

We know the truth of the Holy Ghost and we also know that Satan, the Devil is capable of doing many things.

Besides these we know of no others!

BUT, Some of these disciples still could not step over the threshold of the truth and believe even at this time.

So Jesus went one step farther.

*****Luk 24:41  And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
Luk 24:42  And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
Luk 24:43  And he took it, and did eat before them.
Luk 24:44  And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Jesus did not scold any of them for their doubts, Jesus patiently entered into the fullness of fellowship with them.

The Lord wants a very personal relationship with each of us and He will never ridicule us if we have questions, He will always provide the necessary proof of the truth!

There is no question to small for God, but when He exposes the truth then He ask that we believe it!

Jesus then ate of the same food that they had made available for themselves, a clear token of fellowship with them.

And then Jesus said, let's look at the real truth and the real proof "The Scriptures".

Peter said:

2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

It is the Scriptures that are our sure proof of the truth of God!

Jesus taught from the 5 Books of Moses, all the Books of the Prophets, and also in the Psalms which contain the prophecies of the Messiah.

Not one of these men who had abandoned Jesus deserved His loving patience and certainly not His "Grace" for what He was doing but not one breath of anger was in the person of Jesus Christ on this night.

We can just imagine the excitement that was in the air, the hearts beating out of those chest and those minds grasping to understand what was happening before their eyes and before their person.

God's anger only comes when we deny Him!

AND, We just cannot interpret the Word of God in a spiritual sense, we must understand the Word of God in a literal sense!

Jesus did not have to perform one miracle to prove who He was, because He is the miracle of life!

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The one other thing that was evident of the glorified body of Christ, was that it was not bound by this physical world and it's natural substance, which they had first seen as He had appeared.

The glorified body of Christ, could be seen, could be touched, could do things that the average person could do, but could also pass through walls and doors without being hindered,

What is one of the promises given to every believer?

Php 3:20  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Php 3:21  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

In all probability this change in our bodies will take place at the "Rapture" of the church but it is also true that whenever we see Jesus we will be like Him.

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Those that have their doubts about a glorified body, do ignore the truth of the Scriptures!

1Co 15:42  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
1Co 15:43  It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
1Co 15:44  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

Most of us do not realize the importance and the truth of these Scriptures!

The Greek word "soma" is used to describe the natural body and the spiritual body.

The difference in the natural and the spiritual is, that the spiritual body will be be perfected!

No longer subject to pain or illness, or aging, or death, or tears, or sorrow, or crying  and many other things we experience now in our natural body.

Our natural body is sown in corruption but it will be raised in "incorruptible"
Our natural body is sown in dishonor but it will be raised in "glory"
Our natural body is sown in weakness but it will be raised in "power"
Our natural body is "sown" but our spiritual body is "raised", what a difference that makes!

And just so we know, that same body we had on earth will be a similar body to that we will have in Heaven but perfected.

A body that is not "flesh and blood" because flesh and blood are corruptible, they age, they deteriorate, they die and then decay.

That spiritual body cannot do any of these things!

1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

That glorious day lies ahead for all those that confess the truth of Jesus Christ!

Our old bodies will be radically changed!

No "body" that has been glorified will need reproduction to continue the redeemed human race.

Gen 1:28  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

This law of creation will no longer be necessary!

And Jesus began to explain all these things to His disciples.

*****Luk 24:45  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
Luk 24:46  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Luk 24:47  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Luk 24:48  And ye are witnesses of these things.
Luk 24:49  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Understanding, is said to be when our minds grasp the real truth of the things presented to it.
Understanding, is when we can comprehend the idea which are expressed by another when we communicate.
Understanding, is the faculty by which we obtain our knowledge.

It was Jesus Christ who did this for His disciples:

Luk 24:45  Then opened he "their understanding", that they might "understand" the scriptures,

It is the Holy Spirit that does that for all those that believe today:

Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Jesus opened the understanding of the Scripture to these disciples, because the things that happened to Him should not have been a surprise to these men.

These things were written down in the Scriptures!

Our problem is, that we simply do not have enough faith to believe what the Scriptures teach us!

The truth is, it is the Word of God that predicts most all the things that happen in this world. Notice "predicting" is not the same as "causing"!

God does not cause the evil things that happen in this world. God does not cause the catastrophes that happen in this world.

The only thing we know for sure is that God may send famine to some places for His own reasons but these people may just need to move on to some new location.

If the water is rising on our place of living maybe you need to move inland.

If the wind is blowing your home away, maybe you need to build in a place more sheltered.

The truth of us all is, that we either accept and believe, or ignore what God says to our own harm.

It is a mistake to spiritualize the prophecies of God!

It was utterly necessary for Jesus Christ to die for our sins!

It was utterly necessary for Jesus Christ to rise from that death to show the power God!

If we cannot see a victory in our Lord, how can we ever know we will have victory over death?

The Church is built on these truths, those that disagree are only trying to destroy the Church that Christ has built!

We are fools to believe that only the New Testament is relevant today, because Jesus has already said that the entire Old Testament told of His coming and most important of His salvation!

We need Jesus Christ to open our own eyes to the understanding of the entire Word of God!

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

What is our job after salvation?

We must put forth the effort to show that Jesus Christ had to suffer and die for our salvation!

We must teach that repentance and forgiveness go together, forgiveness cannot happen without repentance!

We must teach that these things must take place before Christ will send Holy Ghost power to live with us throughout eternity!

Joh 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:17  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

These things must take place before we are ever equipped to be witnesses for the Lord!

To receive the power of the Holy Spirit is to be clothed in that power!

Rom 13:14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

The source of the Holy Spirit and that power, is God!

Jesus Christ brought this promise to us!

BUT, The promise came from God the Father!

We are to tarry until we receive this promise.

Because that promise comes from on high!

It is the Holy Trinity of God Himself that is the source of the power of evangelism!

Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

That uttermost part of the earth is our mission field!

Salvation has it's benefits but being that witness for the Lord, is when we become capable of receiving the blessings of God.

*****Luk 24:51  And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
Luk 24:52  And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
Luk 24:53  And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

The last thing that completed the earthly work of the Lord Jesus was to bless those who would begin the Church, the Apostles and the disciples who were with Him that day but in fact every disciple of Christ has receive this blessing.

Then the Lord allowed them to witness His ascension back to Heaven,

This is another thing that a glorified body can do that could not be done other wise.

It is only a "glorified body" that can come face to face with God!

Exo 33:20  And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

This was also important, because it gives all the disciples of Christ a vision of our own ascension into Heaven.

Heaven is not on this earth as some may say!

Heaven is where my Lord is and that is where I will be one day soon.

There was not one moment while God was on this earth, even when He was on that cross that He was not in full control of His created world, but we must recognize that Heaven is the true place of His throne.

There were 120 eyewitnesses that day that know for sure that our "God is alive"!

**We worship the Living God!

Heb 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

**The ascension of Jesus Christ is further proof of the Tri-Une God, the Holy Trinity, The Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost.

2Co 4:14  Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

**It proves that Heaven, is a real place.

Php 3:20  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Php 3:21  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

**It proves that the "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ, is true!

1Pe 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1Pe 2:25  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

**It proves that it is now the time of the Church to carry on the work of the Lord until He returns!

Mar 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

**It proves that it is God, and God only who has the power to save and that power is through His Son!

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

**It also proves that we do indeed have a Mediator in Heaven.

Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

1Ti 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1Ti 2:6  Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Just as these who loved the Lord did next, we are now to worship our God!

A worshiper by Greek definition is a Temple Keeper.

When you ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your heart the Holy Spirit will move in and you become a Living Temple of the Lord and also a Temple Keeper.

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

**The Temple in Jerusalem was the dwelling place of the Holy Trinity.

The Holy of Holies was where the mercy seat was located, the throne of God.
The outer courts were the place of the sacrifices, a type of Christ.
The burning incense, the sweet aroma of the Holy Spirit

**The Temple was also the treasury of the sacred truth. "A type of Christian life".

Aaron's rod that bloomed, represents the freshness of the Gospel throughout the ages.
The manna, represents the Word of God the bread from Heaven.
The laws of Moses, are a type of the perfect law, the law of love, the commandments of Jesus.

**The Temple was also a partial reflection of Divine Glory.

Sin explains the early worship.
Sin explains the later worship.
Only when all sin is destroyed, will the Christian heart be a perfect Temple of God, the complete reflection of Divine Glory!

Jesus Christ is the center of the Heavenly Temple.
Jesus Christ must be the center of our lives to be a living Temple of God!

Are you a true Temple of God? We need to answer this question every day!

And how did the Apostles respond to the Lord's ascension?

**They were inspired to worship.

As Christians we need to worship the Lord, "in His way"!

Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

**They were filled with joy.

They were filled with joy, because they would soon be filled with the Holy Spirit.

As Christians we should have this same joy.

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

**They found that the Temple was the center of their life and the focus of God's presence and worship!

As Christians, we need to find a place of worship where the truth of God is preached and taught and Jesus Christ is still the center of all worship.

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

There are a great many things that we are to learn about and from the Lord Jesus Christ!

We can learn from every step that Jesus took on this earth!

Joh 21:25  And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

There are a great many things that we are to learn about and from the 12 men who turned this world upside down, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Act 2:42  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Act 2:43  And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

We can do none of these things without the salvation that Jesus has provided us when He came to this earth to die on Calvary's cross that we can be saved.

It is "Faith" in these things that is the true beginning of life!

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Questions?

Let's Pray!