" A Figure of the True "

 

1st.Peter 3:19-22  "By which also HE went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of GOD waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward GOD.) by the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST: WHO is gone into Heaven, and is on the right hand of GOD; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto HIM."

     The believer who has been washed in the blood and is enjoying a right relationship with GOD experiences a "good conscience" (v.21). This inner witness bears testimony to our union with CHRIST. The concluding verses of chapter three remind us of GOD's faithfulness in providing a perfect salvation from GOD's certain judgment which will fall upon all who have rejected their CREATOR (vv.19-20). The enemies of the early church would eventually face judgment just as the unrighteous in Noah's day were judged by GOD. Only those who were in the ark were saved when the flood came, and only those who are in CHRIST are saved from GOD's future judgment. 

     Does water baptism bring about salvation ? Absolutely not ! Noah and his family were not saved by the water but from the water of judgment. Their salvation came by being inside the ark. The ark served as a "figure" or a type of the believer's salvation from judgment by being in CHRIST. In today's text, water baptism is used to illustrate the operation of GOD that occurs inwardly upon the one who believes. The "figure" (baptism) speaks of our personal identification with JESUS CHRIST. HE is our "ark," and our salvation by HIS saving grace is received by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9 above). Does a ritual save ? No ! Salvation does not come by "the putting away of the filth of the flesh" (through ceremonial washings, a reference to Old Testament customs) but by "the answer of a good conscience toward GOD," which is gained by faith in the blood of the LAMB and in HIS resurrection, thus rendering the conscience clean or "good" before GOD (Hebrews 9:14 above). Believers baptism by immersion follows saving faith (Acts 10:43-48; 15:6-11). DWC

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used with permission.   www.feasite.org

" That I May Know HIM . . . "

 

"For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believes in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life." ~ John 3:16

Life's greatest knowledge is to know CHRIST.

To Know HIM is to Know 

We are loved.

     The LORD JESUS said, "For GOD so loved the world . . ."

     You are a part of this world, and GOD loves you. HE gave HIS SON for you, and HE wants you ". . .to know the love of CHRIST. . ." (Ephesians 3:19).

To Know HIM is to Know

We are of worth.

     We are so dear to GOD, ". . .that HE gave HIS only begotten SON. . ."

     The Bible teaches us that we are all sinners. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD" (Romans 3:23).

     And sin must be paid for. "For the wages of sin is death. . ." (Romans 6:23).

     But the Bible also teaches us that ". . .CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures" (1st.Corinthians 15:3).

     GOD demonstrated HIS love for us and our worth to HIM when HE sent HIS SON to die in our place.

     The Good News (the Gospel) is that the LORD JESUS paid our sin debt in full when HE died on the cross. "For HE hath made HIM to be sin for us. . ." (2nd.Corinthians 5:21).

     CHRIST loved us and gave HIMSELF for us as payment for our sin.

     You may ask, "How can GOD forgive my sin ?" HE can because of what JESUS did. ". . .While we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for us" (Romans 5:8).

To Know HIM is to Know 

We can have hope.

     HE said ". . .that whosoever believes in HIM should not perish. . ."

     Life is fragile, and people are perishing. But CHRIST came ". . .that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

     In a world where so many have lost hope, GOD wants us to know that the ". . .LORD JESUS CHRIST. . .is our hope" (1st.Timothy 1:1)

     HE rose from the dead, and HE said, ". . .Because I live, ye shall live also" (John 14:19).

To Know HIM is to Know

We can have purpose.

     HE desires that we ". . .should not perish, but have everlasting life."

     "And this is the promise that HE hath promised us, even eternal life" (1st.John 2:25).

     You may ask, "How can I know HIM and receive GOD's promise of eternal life ?"

Acknowledge that you are a sinner, "for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD" (Romans 3:23)

Believe that the LORD JESUS died for you, for "CHRIST died for our sins. . .was buried, and that HE rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1st.Corinthians 15:3-4).

Call upon the LORD to save you, "for whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved" (Romans 10:13).

     If you would be willing to turn to CHRIST in repentance and faith, pray this simple prayer with all your heart or one like it:

LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe YOU died and rose again for me. I am trusting YOU to forgive me, come into my heart and save me. Help me to live for YOU always. In JESUS' name I pray, AMEN.

     The LORD JESUS said, ". . .I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish. . ." (John 10:28).  Everlasting life is ours when we receive CHRIST as our personal SAVIOR.

Now that you Know HIM:

* Share your new-found faith with your family and friends (Acts 16:31-33).

* Identify with CHRIST through believer's baptism and become part of a local, Bible-believing church (Acts 2:41,47).

Everlasting life begins when we receive CHRIST as our personal SAVIOR. The LORD JESUS said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears MY WORD, and believes on HIM that sent ME, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

GULF COAST

BAPTIST CHURCH

312 SE 24th. Avenue

Cape Coral, FL 33990

(239) 574-1000

(c) Five Star Christian Ministries

Pastor Tom Sexton

" His ONE Mistake ! "

 

He ate the most nutritious foods.

He took his vitamins every day.

He exercised four times a week.

He saw his Dr. once a year.

He never smoked or drank alcohol.

HE WAS READY TO LIVE TO BE 100.

His funeral will be held Wednesday.

HIS  ONE  MISTAKE ?

HE  FORGOT  GOD . . . .

. . . and lived as if this world was all. He is now with those who say: The harvest is past, and the summer is ended, and we are not saved." Jeremiah 8:20

Dear Friend, Are you making this same mistake ? The Bible says: "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and yet lose his own soul ? " Mark 8:36

The Bible shows how you can avoid this mistake . . . . . . .

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

" What Is Right ? "

 

We hear many things of what is right in our day. Everyone seems to have their own opinions. So how do we find the answer of WHAT IS RIGHT ? 

When one speaks of the heart of the problem, they mean the reason or the basis. The heart of the problem with knowing what is right, is that man doesn't have the answer. For one may "feel" this way, and another "feels" that way. Finally, man says: "Whatever you think is right for you, that's what is right." Yet, man makes laws for protection against the "feeling" of what one thinks is right, if it will harm or do injustice to others. 

Law officers are established to keep the order for the good of society. Then, when one breaks the law and is found guilty, the punishment to fit the crime is handed out. This is done for the freedom of those who follow the laws of man. So, when one pays their debt to society, they are again set free to do right.

This same rule applies to the soul of man. No man knows what is right, and no one knows what is right when it comes to man's soul. Yet, all do know mankind dies. Why death ? Man says death is the failing of cells, or the cause of traumatic injury when natural life stops. GOD has the answer ! Why death ? . . . . It is the payment for sin. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD." (Romans 3:23)  "For the wages of sin is death;. . ." (Romans 6:23a)

Sin is the breaking of GOD's Law and WORD found in Scriptures. The punishment for this breaking of HIS WORD is death. Now, the heart of the problem is not death, but how to be free from the payment of sin. GOD says, "ALL have sinned," therefore all must die. How can we be set free from this punishment . . . . WHAT IS RIGHT ?

The sinner that dies in their sin, GOD says they will be tormented in a Devil's Hell. There they will stay awaiting the sentencing of the JUDGE of all mankind, only to be cast into the Lake of Fire, which is the 2nd. death, for all eternity. How can I be set free, and know WHAT IS RIGHT ?

GOD says that JESUS CHRIST died in our place for our sin, was buried, and rose again, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, . . .For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that HE was buried, and that HE rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:" (1st.Corinthians 15:1-2a,3-4)

When GOD saw the blood of JESUS, the ONE born without sin by the virgin, HE was pleased with that sacrifice once for all. GOD says that those who trust HIM will be saved, if they turn to GOD from their sinful ways and by faith receive JESUS into their hearts, "But what saith it ? The WORD is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the WORD of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD JESUS, and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD has raised HIM from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with he heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. . .For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved." (Romans 10:8-10,13)

This is, "WHAT IS RIGHT."

Psalm 33:18-19b, "Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear HIM, upon them that hope in HIS mercy, to deliver their souls from death." This is not what man thinks, but what GOD says is right.

2nd.Corinthians 5:21, "For HE (GOD) hath made HIM (JESUS) to be sin for us, WHO knew no sin; that we (the newly saved sinner) might be made the righteousness of GOD in HIM." 

Victory Baptist Church in Linden, PA

Pastor Donald Wakefield

The Bible says that "the goodness of GOD leads thee to repentance" (Romans 2:4). If you would be willing to turn to GOD in repentance and faith, and receive CHRIST as your personal SAVIOR, pray this simple prayer or one like with all your heart:

LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe YOU died and rose again for me. I am trusting YOU to forgive me, come into my heart and save me. Help me to live for YOU always. In JESUS' name I pray, AMEN.

JESUS said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that hears MY WORD, and believes on HIM that sent ME, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24)

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie