Sunday, May 13, 2018

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1TPn98v7O8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBqUwpCvCL8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDqTENtNvKQ

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Lamb skin tunics for Adam and Eve


Eating the forbidden fruit did not turn out so well for Adam and Eve.  Ashamed of their nakedness, they hid from God.  And God made some clothing from the skins of animals to cover their shame.  Probably two sheep paid with their life blood to provide the clothing for Adam and Eve.  



abraham sacrifices isaac with ram - Google Search


Isaac saved by the blood of the lamb


Abraham prepared to kill Isaac and offer him as a sacrifice to God, but an Angel stopped his hand, and called attention to the Ram caught in the thorn bush.  The blood of the Ram took the place of Isaac's blood as a sacrifice to God.  

Why blood?  The wages of sin is death, and blood represents life.. 
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Protected by the blood of the lamb


The blood of a lamb sprinkled on the door posts and lintel protected the first born from death, so long as they were inside the blood sprinkled house when the Death Angel passed through Egypt.

Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples before He went to the cross to shed His life blood as our Passover Lamb.


The wine of the Passover represents the blood of Jesus


Heb 9:

Redemption Through the Blood of Christ

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come,[e] then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify[f] for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our[g] conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established.  17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.


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Blood and Water

Jesus' Side Is Pierced

31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”
Before one can be washed in the blood of the Lamb, one must believe in the power of the blood.  We must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.  We must believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  And that faith must be revealed in repentance, a change of mind about how we want to live. We must give up self and look to Jesus.  If we persist in willful sin, living by our own desires, we will die.  But if we are washed in the blood of the Lamb, we have eternal life. 
Paul said this: 

Romans 6 English Standard Version (ESV)

Dead to Sin, Alive to God

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Jesus shed His blood in His death on the cross.  In baptism, a penitent believer connects with the death of Jesus, and is given life.  The baptized believer is covered by the blood of the lamb.  

Gal 3:26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.


Washed in the blood of the Lamb


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDqTENtNvKQ


--
Randolph Oran Gonce
CEO, Dead Sea Vision LLC
276 Co Rd 56
Stevenson, AL 35772 USA
Phone: 256 437 2687
rogonce@gmail.com
www.deadseapower.com






Friday, May 11, 2018

All Authority in Heaven and on Earth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRi3l_pIKOA

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The Great Commission

Mat 28:16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

"All authority in heaven and on earth."  That pretty much covers it, Jesus is Lord of heaven and earth.  But the naysayers are quick to respond, "If Jesus is in charge, why are things like they are? Why is there so much evil in the world?"

The answer is found in the great commission, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." 

Disciples follow Jesus.  How do they come to follow Jesus?

Apostle Paul said it this way, 

1 Corinthians 15 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Resurrection of Christ

15 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 

Jesus does not force people to follow Him.  He died on a cross to pay the price for the sins of all who will come to Him in faith and be born again of the water and the Spirit. 

Peter preached the gospel on the day of Pentecost following the resurrection of Jesus.  Listen closely to what he says. 
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Acts 2:22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,
“‘I saw the Lord always before me,
    for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
    my flesh also will dwell in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
    or let your Holy One see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
    you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
35     until I make your enemies your footstool.”’
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Yes, the Kingdom came in power on the Day of Pentecost, with about 3000 added to the number of God's people. Why is so much evil in the world today?  Because we have not done our work of making disciples sufficiently.  Jesus will reign until our work is completed, and then He will come for us.  

1Cor 15:20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

He must reign until all enemies are put under His feet.  Yes, Jesus began His reign following His resurrection, and He will reign until all enemies are trampled under His feet.  Why is there evil on earth?  Because we have not made disciples of all. 
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