WORD & POWER for TODAY
… enlightening your human spirit.
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THOSE WHO BELIEVE THE GOSPEL, ARE RIGHTEOUS
“For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” Romans 4:3 KJV
Just like Abraham believed the promise that God made to him, and for that God called him a righteous man. Whoever believes the Goodnews is also called a righteous person! It took me some time to understand why the Holy Spirit immediately baptized the entire household of Cornelius while Apostle Peter was still preaching to them. The Holy Spirit did not wait for Peter to do what we call “Altar call” before He fell gracefully upon everyone in the room! “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.” Acts 10:44 KJV
The Holy Spirit knows that the only condition for being spiritually clean is to believe that the blood of Jesus Christ has washed our sins away-nothing more! The Holy Spirit saw the hearts of the people, even though Apostle Peter was gazing at their faces and checking to see if they were listening to him! The moment they believed the gospel in their hearts, the Holy Spirit knew; so He joyfully strengthened them with His presence by falling on them!
Human philosophies, dogmas, cultural rules and regulations, “holier-than-thou” mentality, hypocrisy, and critical attitudes, are reasons why Christians question the salvation of other Christians. The Holy Spirit probably knew that Peter might mention circumcision as conditions for the salvation of these people, so He did not wait for Peter before baptizing the people with Himself. And to show that my guess is right, the Jewish Christians (the Christians in Israel), knowing that other nations were getting born again too and joining them, insisted that the people were not thoroughly saved (or born-again) until they have been circumcized (like the Jews)! Read Acts 15:1-20. Whereas, God never gave such conditions for salvation in Jesus Christ! His condition was very simple: “… 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 3:16 KJV{Emphasis are mine}. Simply believe that Jesus died for your sins, and you will be imparted with life eternal! After that, retain your Teacher, as Cornelius’ people did! They pleaded with Peter to stay with them; teaching them more about Jesus and about the Kingdom of God! “And he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay there for a few days.” Acts 10:48 AMP
PRAY:
Heavenly Father, I believe in my heart, that Jesus died for the sake of my sins on the cross! I confess with my mouth, that He is the Lord over my life and all that pertains to me; in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!
