Have you heard the good news about Jesus this Easter…short Easter message of good news…

Have you heard the good news about Jesus this Easter…short message of good news…

Have you heard the good news of Jesus Christ, becoming born of a virgin living under the law the good and evil taught to us by the Jewish people…the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?

Jesus Christ, being born into the tribe of Judah had only never break one of the 10 Commandments to remain sinless and Holy. Jesus, being the only Fathered human of our Creator was made perfect and never chose to do the wrong thing. He never broke one of the 10 Commandments and he offered his own life as a sacrifice to be punished as if he had broken commandments so he could forgive you and me for having done the wrong thing…having broken one of the commandments.

Jesus will teach us the truth and all we have to do is what is right by our creator. This sound like good news that a man died and was raised from the dead for you so that you could choose to never do a wrong thing again…yes or no?

So you never do again so you would never sin again, so that you would never offend God again… Jesus already paid the penalty for your sin, but you have to trust Him to reveal the truth to you so that you can do what is right by your Creator. Is this sound like good news?

Jesus said, unless you’re born on the water in the spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven. Jesus said he believes in his baptized will be saved... He who doesn’t believe he died so you never have to choose wrong again will be damned. Have you been baptized in Christ yes or no? Will you be baptized in the Christ yes or no?

This is Easter and Jesus died and was raised from the dead on the first day of the week as proof He can save you from your sins…He’ll teach you the truth show you right and all you have to do is right by God and creation Sound like good news…then please render obedience to the Author of salvation…

Joh 3:16-17 ASV  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.  17  For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him…though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation; Heb 5:8-9 ASV

Will you obey Jesus and be saved by surrendering all to Jesus in baptism…yes or no?

Father please remove anything hindering us from obeying the truth so we can be right with fellow man and You our Creator in Jesus of Nazareth’s name (Acts 22:8) Amen.

Try…A…Pause for Prayer and Devotional a Wellsaid Christian Devotional about the teachings of Jesus… https://www.anopenbiblestudy.com/blog-by-ben-the-friend

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Three Crosses of Calvary

Three Crosses of Calvary

Introduction:

1.       Luke 23:32-43 KJV, [32] And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. [33] And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. [34] Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. [35] And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. [36] And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, [37] And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. [38] And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. [39] And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. [40] But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? [41] And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. [42] And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. [43] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

2.       You are on one of these three crosses. You are the first thief and condemned when death crosses your door, knowing you will face hell fire and judgement for your crimes against God and mankind, regretting that he got caught not that he sinned. OR you are the second thief on the cross, You crimes have found you out and you wishing you listened to Jesus and done what He said, you knowing you facing death and judgement in the electric chair, but you decide to reconcile with God in your remaining seconds of life. OR you are on the cross with Jesus already, baptized into Christ, knowing that Jesus took care of your burdens needed to reconcile you to God, so that in the judgement when you die God sees you clothed in the likeness of His sinless son, Jesus of Nazareth.

3.       Which are you? If you were to die today, then would you rejoice in Heaven knowing you have done all to obey Jesus, or would you die never knowing the forgiveness of God, or would you die reconciling your ways to Christ for salvation?

I.                     Jesus View of the three Crosses

A.      Jesus realizes there is a chance for salvation with the second thief

1.       Jesus is the Author of salvation; He saved the thief (Heb 5:9)

a.       Jesus had power to forgive sins (Matt 9:6)

b.       Jesus preached message: repent for the kingdom of God is near. (Matt 4:17)

c.       Jesus taught obedience is better than sacrifice (Matt 12:29-34)

2.       Jesus is looking for those that are obeying God and reconciling their ways

a.       Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19:8-10)

b.       Jesus did not come to seek the righteous (Matt 9:12-13)

c.       Jesus looks for those seeking God in Spirit and Truth (John 4:23-24)

3.       Jesus message he preached before the cross

a.       Luke 7:22, when reminding John the Baptist, Jesus answering, “Go your way and tell John what things you have seen and heard, how that the blond see, the lame walk, the lepers cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.”

b.       Matthew 4:17, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say: Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand”.

c.       Matthew 13:15, “for this people’s heart have waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and should understand with their heart and should be converted and I should heal them”.

B.      Jesus suffocating because of sin gives opportunity to a sinner

1.       Jesus knowing, he must die and be raised, is bearing His cross

a.       Foretold: Matthew 20:18-19, Jesus said…, “behold, we go up to Jerusalem and the son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes and they shall condemn him to death and shall deliver him to the gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him and the third day he shall rise again”

b.       Jesus as a Jewish man sought God and asked if there was another way.

c.       Matthew 26:42, “he went away again the second time, and prayed, saying O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me except, I drink it, thy will be done.”

2.       Jesus had never chosen evil and lived under the law of the knowledge of good and evil

a.       Hebrews 5:8-9, “though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered and being made perfect, He became the Author of Salvation to all them that obey Him”.

b.       Matthew 5:17-18, “think not that I come to destroy the Law and the prophets, I am not come to destroy but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle shall in no way pass from the law until all be fulfilled”

c.       1 Timothy 2:5-6, “for there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ, who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time”

3.       Jesus greatest deliverance prayer ever was forgive them they know not

a.       Jesus being crushed by satan and suffocated for our sins, prayed forgive them

b.       Jesus taught us to bless our enemies

c.       Jesus said do good to those that do you wrong. Do you obey Him?

C.      Jesus suffers the railing and snatches a thief out of hell fire

1.       Jesus hears the railing against Him

a.       Jesus responded last time the same action from satan, with a it is written, you shall not put your God to the test, but remains silent before this railed sinner.

b.       When you pray, do you give God instructions or report for duty? This thief wanted God to exercise a powerful miracle for his own desires. The thief expected God to obey him rather than trusting in Jesus to do what is best.

c.       Jesus knows this thief needs forgiveness, but he asks for extended life without reconciling with God, no remorse for his crimes.

2.       Jesus sees the second thief’s actions

a.       Jesus, I imagine, is hearing the second thief’s heart as it says, I wish I had listened to you before I got judged and nailed to the cross.

b.       Jesus sees the second thief speak up and defend Him when He is literally without help.

c.       Jesus recognizes that the repenting thief obeyed His message.

3.       Jesus pronounced judgment on the obedient repenting thief

a.       Luke 23:40-43, [40] But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? [41] And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. [42] And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. [43] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

b.       Jesus savior looking at the wise actions of the thief, says that’s what I am looking for and blesses him.

c.       None to comfort Jesus, forsaken, yet He manages to work salvation hung to a tree.

II.                   The first thief

A.      He is convicted and tried according to man law and has death sentence

1.       When your deeds have brought you to death sentence (hopeless)

a.       “for godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of but the sorrow of the world works death.” 2 Cor 7:10.

b.       Worldly sorrow is sorry I got caught and will have to face punishment

c.       Godly sorrow causes self-reflection saying sorry God I will not do it again because you say it is wrong.

2.       The world is saying: “the world is better with you not in it”.

a.       1 Cor 15:32, “if after the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? if the dead be not raised, let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die”

b.       Have you ever faced the electric chair?

3.       He is filled with indignation that he got caught and must own up to his deeds.

a.       Ephesians 4:18, “…having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the Life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart”

B.      He realizes judgement, but instead schemes a way to live his previous life

1.       Facing death, a grave, hell and judgement, he schemes a way of living

a.       He is facing his electric chair and there is no escape

b.       He is worrying about how to avoid death and judgement

2.       He realizes Jesus has done great things and dares him to prove his Godship

a.       He committed crimes in or around Jerusalem, and wanted free to live again

b.       Being from around here, he heard about Jesus and instead of obeying Him…

c.       He rails or testing God

3.       He does not believe and trust in Christ words, but rails against him

a.       Jesus being tempted by the devil, when faced with same temptation, said, it is written, you shall not put the Lord your God to the test (Matt 4:7).

b.       He is not looking for a chance to never sin again, instead he is looking for a longer life of days.

c.       Do you want to be free from sin? Yes or No?

C.      He tests God as if daring Him to prove His existence

1.       His heart is so wrong he thinks God will obey his wish to save him

a.       Who tells God what to do?

b.       Either Jesus knows He is God and is willingly in this circumstance or Jesus is insane.

2.       He asked for freedom to live longer, to believe

a.       He did not ask for forgiveness but for another day free of condemnation.

b.       Another day, to do as he pleased

3.       He failed to realize we must come to Jesus of Nazareth on His terms not our own

a.       Jesus of Nazareth is the author of salvation to all those that obey Him Heb 5:9

b.       The thief failed to see Jesus Greatness or see His purpose

c.       Jesus was fulfilling the righteous demands of the law having never sinned and offering His life in place of our own, purchased a new agreement between God and mankind called the New Testament of Jesus Christ.

III.                 The second thief

A.      He too Convicted and tried and found worthy of death sentence

1.       He is facing a hopeless situation too, facing death and judgement

a.       His crimes had landed him in the electric chair, and he was about to die and face God in judgement.

b.       He knew his crimes deserving of death was being administered.

c.       He feared God and repented.

2.       He, however, is fearing God judgement and wanting a chance at salvation

a.       He facing judgement has a moment of clarity and remembers the message that Jesus preached, what was his message? Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

b.       This thief is thinking how I can repent because I am facing judgement and death.

c.       He is looking for a way to reconcile with God…

3.       He decided to trust in God to provide a way if possible (1 Cor 10:13)

a.       About to die he thinks: if I could, get right with God I would.

b.       About to die, he thinks: If I could obey what Jesus preached, I would…

c.       About to die, thinking if I would die repenting, then I would…

B.      He is remembering the messages he heard from Jesus (godly sorrow)

1.       He is nailed to a cross dying next to Jesus and remembers what Jesus preached

a.       Repent for the kingdom of heaven is very near…

b.       He about to die saying yes very near for me…

c.       Wonders how to repent nailed to a cross…

2.       He is looking to reconcile and has godly sorrow in his heart

a.       An opportunity presents itself and the repenting thief capitalizes. He defends Jesus and His righteous cause and then says remember me when you come into your kingdom, remembering what Jesus had preached earlier...

b.       His faith rewarded, repentance and reconciliation were His last dying act that resulted in heavenly treasure.

c.       Jesus the Author of salvation and remission of sins made a way through the repenting thief’s obedience to the word of God, for salvation.

3.       He has a hope of redemption and mercy, trusting God

a.       The thief nailed to the cross, does not doubt the Lord’s words, but was like be it so…

b.       Today you shall be with me in paradise,

c.       Jesus rewarded the thief’s actions of faith and obedience to his preached word.

C.      He is given an opportunity to repent and in one deed of repentance obeys God

1.       He is hoping withing himself, hoping a chance to obey Jesus

a.       Are you filled with godly sorrow for your sinful conditions?

b.       Are you wanting to be spared like the first thief?

c.       Are you wanting to be reconciled to God and taken to heaven today?

2.       Seeing the door of opportunity as a sinful man rails against God

a.       If God asked you today, then would you go?

b.       When the railed charged “prove yourself as God, save yourself and us”…

c.       Are you going to repent and obey or rebel?

3.       He repents like a champ in full obedience to Jesus

a.       The second thief repents like a champ. He is granted an opportunity for salvation and defends Jesus and His cause.

b.       He is also rewarded and accepted his reward by faith… today you will be with me in paradise…

c.       It is never to late to repent and reconcile with God.

Conclusion:

1.       Jesus is the Author of salvation to all those that obey Him (Heb 5:9)

a.       Have you heard the good news that Jesus became a man and was born of a virgin and lived under the law of good and evil and never once choose to do evil? He then laid down his life as a perfect sinless sacrifice in our place and purchased a new agreement between God and mankind called the New Testament of Christ.

b.       Matt 11:28-30

c.       Mark 16:16

2.       There were two thieves only one obeyed Jesus while the other railed Him

a.       Which cross are you on? Jesus cross? 1st thief cross? Or the second thief cross?

b.       Either you already crucified with Jesus and are sanctified through the redeeming work of Jesus cross, or you are on one of the other crosses.

c.       Which thief are you? The one that is bitter and rails against God? Or the one that trusts even in certain death there is a way of salvation if man could only obey?

3.       If Jesus came back right now where would you spend eternity?

a.       DO you believe yes or no?

b.       Are you right with God? Yes or No?

c.       If God came back right now. Then would you Go? Or run away?

Father please meet our souls’ deepest needs…heal us and make us whole…so we may prosper and be in health as our soul prospers…in Jesus of Nazareth’s name amen.

Try…A…Pause for Prayer and Devotional a Wellsaid Christian Devotional about the teachings of Jesus… https://www.anopenbiblestudy.com/blog-by-ben-the-friend

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Our authority to meet on Sundays…a brief history of

Our authority to meet on Sundays…a brief history of collection for the affected saints by famine to meet upon the first day of the week…

Jerusalem Congregation origination…had all things in common…even on the first day of the week…

Act 2:42-47 ASV  And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.  43  And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.  44  And all that believed were together, and had all things common;  45  and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need.  46  And day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,  47  praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved… Act 4:32-35 ASV  And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one of them said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.  33  And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.  34  For neither was there among them any that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,  35  and laid them at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto each, according as anyone had need…

Circumstances change and Christian became in need…

Act 11:27-30 ASV  Now in these days there came down prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.  28  And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great famine over all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius.  29  And the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judaea:  30  which also they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul…

…People decided to send relief to the elders in Jerusalem before the famine affected Christians…

1Co 16:1-2 ASV  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye.  2  Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come…

…Paul speaking to the Christians in Rome…Rom 15:25-26 ASV  but now, I say, I go unto Jerusalem, ministering unto the saints.  26  For it hath been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints that are at Jerusalem…

…Paul speaking to the Christians in Corinth…And when I arrive, whomsoever ye shall approve, them will I send with letters to carry your bounty unto Jerusalem:  4  and if it be meet for me to go also, they shall go with me. 1Co 16:3-4 ASV…

…Paul with inspiration of the Holy Spirit instructed these Christians and the churches or congregations to remember the brethren in need taking up a collection…it was during a time of prophesied famine and they were preparing to ward of the hunger yet to come…perhaps already affecting Christians…

The Congregations meet on Sunday and had what we would call church…

Act 20:7 ASV  And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight…Paul preached…the took bread the Lord’s Supper…they were assembled upon the first day of the week on Sunday having church as we commonly call it or a worship assembly.

Paul in his travels and in his instructions assembled on the first day of the week taking bread…being Sunday…which is also the day the Lord Jesus Christ was raised from the dead…we celebrate the Lord’s death burial and resurrection each Sunday…while partaking of the Lord’s Supper…

1Co 11:23-29 ASV  For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;  24  and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of Me.  25  In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood: this do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.  26  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord's death till he come.  27  Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.  28  But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup.  29  For he that eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment unto himself, if he discern not the body…

We eat the unleavened bread in remembrance Jesus never let sin or this world into His life…He remained sinless and unleavened…purity…holy…perfect…having never broken one of the Ten Commandments…Having never lived His life for anything other than reconciliation with the lesser sinners in His life for all time…never not accomplished His mission and became the Author of Salvation…The Mediator of a new agreement between God and creation working reconciliation and forgiveness…destroying the works of satan…destroying the power of his lie…of his murderous intentions to murder God’s Truth…Jesus gave His entire life to remain pure and undefiled by this world and sin…May The Bread of Life feed us till we want no more…

We drink the fruit of the vine…in remembrance that God became born of a virgin…God became a man and died for me so that He could reconcile me to Himself…showing there is nothing God will not do to reconcile with You even die for you…after being scourged…as long as you surrender your ways to His ways in truth and righteousness…remembering the agony of the pain and real blood shed for my evil deeds…so I could choose to never do a wrong thing again and be forgiven through His substitute and sacrifice for my pardon…He will teach me the truth and all I have to do is what is right by God first then fellow creation…He says…Mat 5:6 ASV  Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Summary of why we meet on Sunday each week…

So since there are instructions to multiple congregations to meet on the first day of the week…and since Sunday is the first day of the week…then we today must follow the same pattern and instructions given by the Holy Spirit to multiple congregations…to meet upon the First Day of the Week…and since there is a Sunday each week we therefore must abide by the Same Instruction and assemble on Sunday each week…as they were instructed…

Eternal rewards for earthly deeds any man can do…

Jesus said… Mat 25:31-40 ASV  But when the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then shall He sit on the throne of His glory:  32  and before Him shall be gathered all the nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;  33  and He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.  34  Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  35  for I was hungry, and ye gave Me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took Me in;  36  naked, and ye clothed Me; I was sick, and ye visited Me; I was in prison, and ye came unto Me.  37  Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee hungry, and fed Thee? or athirst, and gave Thee drink?  38  And when saw we Thee a stranger, and took Thee in? or naked, and clothed Thee?  39  And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee?  40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto Me.

Example of complete trust and dependence in God’s provision…beyond the ability of most…

Luk 21:1-4 ASV  And He looked up, and saw the rich men that were casting their gifts into the treasury.  2  And He saw a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.  3  And He said, Of a truth I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than they all:  4  for all these did of their superfluity cast in unto the gifts; but she of her want did cast in all the living that she had.

Father forgive us…show us mercy…and in love correct us to do better than we have in the past…so we will not sin against You and offend You…in Jesus of Nazareth’s name amen.

Try…A…Pause for Prayer and Devotional a Wellsaid Christian Devotional about the teachings of Jesus… https://www.anopenbiblestudy.com/blog-by-ben-the-friend

  #benjaminbrianstewart #Love #Christianity #Faith #Bible #Jesus #Prayer #Art #ChristianLife #Gospel #ChristianInspiration #Salvation #ChristianCommunity #love #instagood #photoftheday #beautiful #happy #new #sports #entertainment #technology #business #fashion #health #travel #food #music #art #photography