NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION

                                  By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D

    “Behold, Now is the accepted time; behold, Now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6: 2). The word salvation, according to Webster's Dictionary means: “Deliverance from Sin and its Penalty.”

    The Bible states: “The wages of Sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23); “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23)

    SIN was introduced to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden by Lucifer, the fallen archangel. Prior to that disastrous moment, SIN was unknown, as was the penalty for sin which was separation from God our Heavenly Father. Shortly thereafter, came fear, torment, sickness, disease and physical death!

    There was no hate, jealousy, fear, sickness, disease or death in the Garden of Eden before the introduction of Sin by Satan, the Enemy of God and man. Now, SIN is universal with tragic consequences breeding EVIL like unbelief, pride, sorrow, perversion, murder, insanity, betrayal and war!

  Salvation is Deliverance from Sin and it's Penalty. It is forgiveness for all our sins and freedom from them. St. Paul writes: “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;

     “Who hath delivered us from the power of Darkness and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son: in Whom we have Redemption through His Blood, even the forgiveness of sins! (Col. 1: 12-14)

    Through Christ's shed Blood we receive PEACE: “For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell; and having made Peace through the death of His Cross, by Him to reconcile all things to Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth or things in Heaven.

    “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled; in the Body of His flesh through Death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in His sight, if ye continue in the faith...” (Col. 1:19-23)

    Two great Truths leap out at us in regards to the subjects of Sin and Salvation, namely, 'Separation from God and Reconciliation with God'. I shudder at the very thought of people being separated from our Merciful Creator, who loves us in spite of our sinful Nature and stubborn Will. 

   To be separated from His goodness and grace which brought His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to Golgotha to bear our sins, guilt, fear, sickness and diseases is terribly sad, indeed!

   Reconciliation with God is an act of God, derived through an honest and sincere repentance and belief in the sacrificial death of His Paschal Lamb who gladly laid down His life for the Redemption of the human race!               
   Through the shed BLOOD of Jesus of Nazareth, unclean and guilty sinners are made pure and clean and elevated to the status of children of God. Only by the grace of Almighty God is this possible!

     The Bible says: “For God has allowed us to know the secret of His plan, and it is this: He purposed long ago in His Sovereign will that all human history should be consummated in Christ, that everything that exists in Heaven or earth should find its perfection in Him.” (Eph. 1: 10 - Philips)

    “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. All things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

   “To wit (that is) that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. For He hath made Him to be sin (sin offering); that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Cor. 5: 17-19, 21)

DELIVERANCE FROM SATAN'S POWER!

  The Name JESUS in the Hebrew is YESHUA which means 'Saviour; the Salvation of God'. The Salvation of God is deliverance from sin and the penalty of sin. Jesus, therefore is the God who saves, heals and delivers!

   The Prophet stated: “Surely, He hath borne our sicknesses (heb. makob) and carried our pains (heb. nasa); yet we did esteem Him smitten of God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed.”(Isaiah 53: 4, 5)

   St. Mathew records: “When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His Word and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses.” (Matt. 8: 16, 17)

    St. Peter also confirmed what St. Mathew stated: “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 are healed.” (1 Peter 2: 24)

    The Bible says: “Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet (qualified) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son; in Whom we have Redemption through His Blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” (Col.1:12, 13)

         JESUS: AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION!

    “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the Heavens, JESUS the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.

     “Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the time of need.” (Heb.4: 14-16); 
    “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; And being made perfect, He became the Author of Eternal Salvation unto all them that obey Him; called of God an High Priest after the Order of Melchisedec.” (Heb. 5: 8-10)

    Jesus Christ, True God from Eternity and True man by His virgin birth, became the Author of Eternal Salvation, through His sacrificial death on the CROSS and His triumphant Resurrection from the dead three days later!

   He has purchased Eternal Life for every lost and Hell bound sinner who cries out to God the Father for MERCY in Jesus' Name! No-one else has that power and ability. All others are lesser and inferior to Christ.

    This great truth has escaped the so-called wise men of this world, because of their PRIDE and ignorance of the Holy Scriptures, and their unwillingness to bow the knee and heart to Him Who through His love and grace allows them to live! St. Paul makes this abundantly clear:

    “For ye see your calling brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. For God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty:

    “And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things which are: that no flesh should glory in His presence.” (1 Cor.1: 27-30)

    St. Paul states: “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the foundation of the world unto our glory. Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory.” (1Cor. 2: 7,8)

               YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER!

  The Bible says: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Heb. 13: 8). No-one else has the power to lay down His life and take it up again. And no-one else is the same yesterday, today and forever! 
   All angels and men are created beings, but Jesus the Christ is Lord and God. He is the Creator of us all and the AUTHOR of Eternal Life. Praise His Holy Name!

     In all of human history, there has never been anyone who could claim that distinction. In most cases, no-one hardly lives longer than into their nineties or one hundred years. Jesus of Nazareth lived only 33 years before      He voluntarily gave Himself for us as God's paschal Lamb to atone for the nation of Israel and the sins of the world.

    As promised, however, on the third day our Saviour tore loose the bars of death, Hades and the grave and arose from the dead, never to die again. By this unprecedented miracle, He secured our ETERNAL Salvation in Heaven as the adopted children of God, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ!

     While sharing His amazing agenda with His disciples, our Lord said: “And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your JOY no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask Me nothing.

    “Verily, verily, I say unto you,Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My Name, He will GIVE it you. Hitherto ye have asked nothing in My Name, ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16: 22,23)

                          THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

    He promised to pour out the Gift of the Holy Spirit upon them, thereby giving them the tools to effectively reach the world for Him. He promised:  “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if depart I will send Him unto you.

    “And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin because they believe not in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more; of judgment because the Prince of this world is judged.” (John 16: 7-11)

    “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak for Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.

   “He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine and shall show it unto you. A little while and ye shall not see Me: and again, in a little while ye shall see Me, because I go unto My Father.” (John 16: 13-16)

     After His resurrection, our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to His disciples: “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.

   “Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures. And He said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24: 45-47)

YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER!

   Jesus stated: “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.” (Acts 1: 8)

   “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, He that believeth not shall be damned. And these SIGNS shall follow them that believe; 

    "In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.” (Mark 16: 15-18)

    “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into Heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following. Amen.” (Mark 16: 16: 19,20)

    St. Paul wrote: “And God hath set some in the Church, first apostles, secondarily teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” (1 Cor. 12: 28)

     Are we seeing the power of God in our lives, in our churches and in our ministries? The answer is that we are falling far below where we should be spiritually. And that is very unfortunate because God has given us the tools, through the shed blood of Christ, the Holy Word of God, the blessed Holy Spirit and the Name of Jesus Christ!

     St. Jude made this statement nearly 2,000 years ago: “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful of me to write unto you and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

     “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 3,4)

   Satan was infiltrating the Early Church by planting diabolical, insidious and treacherous teachings and lust-filled practices into the church. No sin is greater than promoting the blasphemous denial of the supremacy of Almighty God and of the Lordship of Jesus Christ as Redeemer!

    St. Paul declared: “We then as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted and in the Day of Salvation have I succoured thee; behold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:1, 2).

                             A DAY OF SALVATION!

    Theologian JOHN GILL uses Isaiah 49:8 to interpret St. Paul's intent here: “Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard Thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped Thee: and I will preserve Thee and give Thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages.”

    In this Scripture, God the Father is speaking to His Son Jesus, saying, that He was heard. The Hebrew text Nwur te, "a time of good will, or acceptance"; a season in which God expressed good will to lost humanity, by sending His own Son to purchase our salvation. The Father was letting His Son know that His prayers were heard and that the plan of God was being implemented!

    The "the accepted year of the Lord", refers to the Gospel Age when everyone can be liberated from sins, guilt, fear, sickness and diseases, which began on the Day of Pentecost and will conclude at Christ's Return. The Father heard Jesus prayer in John 17: 1-26. He heard His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the Cross!

    The Greek word kairos used here speaks of an opportune time. St. Paul is speaking of a desired time, a window of opportunity that may never come back. We are workers together with God. We must use our time wisely. We must redeem the time because the days are evil. No-one knows how much time we have to proclaim Christ's Gospel to our fellowman.

                             SAVED OR LOST?

    “Wherefore, He saith, Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, Redeeming the time because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5: 16).

    Jesus said: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.” (John 6: 47); “Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11: 28);    
    “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with Me.” (Rev. 3: 20)

     “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly (hopeless). For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

     “Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His Life.” (Rom. 5:6-10);

    “Wherefore He is able also to to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Heb. 7:25).

                           CRY OF THE SYNAGOGUE!

    Jewish Christian theologian Alfred Edersheim writes: “And still the Cry of the Synagogue comes to us through these many centuries of past unbelief and ignorance: “Let one innocent come and make atonement for the guilty!” to which no other response can ever be made than that of the Apostle: 
   “For such an High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” (Heb. 7:26) - From 'The Temple, its Ministry and Services'

    For a very long time, 'The Cry of the Synagogue' was made, proving that there was a need for the removal of sin and its guilt from the human heart. Year after year, the Cry of the Synagogue was shouted out, but no one answered the call. The Reason: “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23)

    Then one day, John the Baptist cried out: “...Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29). The Innocent ONE had come but was rejected by Jewish leaders and crucified by the Romans, even though Pontius Pilate declared Jesus of Nazareth innocent, saying, “I find no fault in Him.” (Luke 19: 24; Luke 23: 20-25)

    The Bible says: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4: 12);

    “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave Himself a Ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Tim. 2: 3-6).

JESUS IS OUR SAVIOUR!

    “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. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

    “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” ( John 3: 16, 17, 36)

    “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a LIAR; because he believed not the record that God gave of His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

    “These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God: that ye may know that ye have ETERNAL LIFE, and that ye may believe on the Name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5: 10-13)

JESUS IS OUR LORD!

    “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

    “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom. 10: 9.10)

     “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the Name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2: 9-11)

     “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father by Him.” (Col. 3: 17). “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord: and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.” (2 Cor. 4:5)

   “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords an King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” (Rev. 17: 14)

JESUS IS OUR FRIEND!

    “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth, I call you not servants: for that the servant knoweth not what his Master doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things which I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you.” (John 15: 13-15).

                          JESUS IS OUR REDEEMER!

    “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall, lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? 
     "It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us.” (Rom. 8: 32-34)

    “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son: in Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1: 13, 14.

JESUS IS OUR GREAT PHYSICIAN!

    “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy Name Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all is benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases.” (Ps. 103:1-3);

    “Surely, He hath borne our sicknesses (heb. makob), and carried or pains (heb. nasa); yet, we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed. (Is. 53: 4,5)

    “When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His Word, and healed all that were sick; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” (Matt. 8: 16,17);

    “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 we are HEALED.” (1 Peter 2: 24)

   “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the Church; and let them pray over him, anointing him in the Name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith shall save (Gr. sozo) the sick and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” (James 5: 14,15)

    The word Salvation in the Greek is SOZO which means to protect, deliver, heal, preserve, save, and make well!

JESUS IS OUR PEACE!

    “For unto us a child is born, unto us a SON is given; and the government is upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Is. 9:6)

    “And having made Peace through the death of His CROSS, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth or things in Heaven.” (Col. 1: 20): “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14: 27; Rom. 5:1-5)

JESUS IS OUR JOY!

    “As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you, continue ye in My Love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your JOY might be full.” (John 15: 9-11)

JESUS IS OUR INTERCESSOR!

   “But this man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is able also to save them to the utter most that come to God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.

   “For such an high priest became us Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” (Heb 7: 24-27); “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, Who is even at the right and of God, Who also maketh intercession for us.” (Rom. 8: 34).

JESUS IS OUR PROPITIATION!

    “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 declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3: 25, 26)

    “Wherefore in all things, it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” (Heb. 2: 17);

    “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye SIN not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous: And He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world.

    “Herein is LOVE, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 2: 1, 2; 4: 10): 
    “Grace be unto you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 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: 3,4)

    The word propitiation is a Greek word meaning satisfaction, mercy seat, covering and expiation. It means that the Father was satisfied with Jesus Christ's vicarious (sacrificial) death on Golgotha for us all. He is the sacrifice, mercy seat and the High Priest who died as the Heavenly Father's Paschal Lamb and rose from the dead for our justification and eternal salvation!

JESUS IS OUR LIFE!

      “At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me and I in you. He that hath My commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me; he that loveth Me, shall be loved of My Father and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.

    “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me He will keep My words; and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (John 14: 20,21, 23);

    “That they may be one, as Thou Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory that Thou gavest Me I have given them that they mayest be one, even as We are one.

“I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.” (John 17: 21-23)

   “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved Me and gave Himself for me.” (Gal. 2: 20)

     “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places in Christ. According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.

    “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will; to the praise of His glory of His Grace wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.” (Eph. 1: 3-6)

    “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given to us an understanding, that we may KNOW Him that is true, and we are in Him that is True, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is True God and Eternal Life.” (1 John 5: 20); “For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3)

WE ARE THE ADOPTED SONS OF GOD!

    The Bible declares our freedom from the powers of darkness. By a Divine miracle of God we have been made sons of God, joint heirs with Christ in His Kingdom! We have been liberated from the slavery of servitude to this world's lusts, pride, hatred and fears.

     “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba Father. The Spirit witnesseth with our spirit that we are the children of God:

    “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ: if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Rom.8: 14-17)

    The 'Old Man' is dead and the 'New Man' has has been born again and made one with Christ! He is in us and we are in Him, forever saved, sanctified and sealed through the precious blood of Christ and the blessed Holy Spirit of God!

    “Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection.

    “Knowing this that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him. But now, being made FREE from Sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto Holiness, and the end Everlasting Life.” (Rom. 6:4-9,22)

NO CONDEMNATION IN CHRIST!

    “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me FREE from the law of sin and death.

    “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of Bondage again to fear, but ye have received the SPIRIT of ADOPTION, whereby we cry Abba, Father.

    “The Spirit Himself beareth Witness with our spirit that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” (Rom. 8: 1,2, 14-17)

    St. John wrote: “Behold what manner the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.

    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. And every man that hath this HOPE in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” (1 John 3: 1-4)

                               PREACH THE GOSPEL! 
    Jesus said: “...Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these SIGNS shall follow them that believe; 
    “In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay their hands on the sick and they shall recover.” (Mark 16: 15-18)
    Let us never forget the great impact that the Gospel of Christ has made in the world and is still making today. Our Lord stated: “All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost: 
  “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.”
     The GOSPEL is the Good News that Light has come into a world of Darkness; that Peace has come into a world of Turmoil; that Healing has come into a world of Sickness; that Love has come into a world of Hate; that Forgiveness has come into a world of Sin; that Life has come into a world of Death; that Freedom has come into a world of Bondage; that Slaves are made FREE through Christ the Liberator of the Human Race!

SPEAK MY LORD

1. Hear the Lord of harvest sweetly calling,
Who will go and work for Me today?
Who will bring to Me the lost and dying?
Who will point them to the narrow way?

Refrain
Speak, my Lord, speak, my Lord,
Speak, and I’ll be quick to answer Thee;
Speak, my Lord, speak, my Lord,
Speak, and I will answer, Lord, send me.

2. When the coal of fire touched the prophet,
Making him as pure, as pure can be,
When the voice of God said, Who’ll go for us?
Then he answered, Here I am, send me. [Refrain]

3. Millions now in sin and shame are dying,
Listen to their sad and bitter cry;
Hasten, brother, hasten to the rescue;
Quickly answer, Master, here am I. [Refrain]

Soon the time for reaping will be over;
Soon we’ll gather for the harvest home;
May the Lord of harvest smile upon us,
May we hear His blessed, Child, well done. [Refrain]

And now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the fellowship and communion of the Holy Spirit be and abide with each one in Jesus' Name! Amen.