The teaching of the Lord

Acts 13:12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

The incident here describes that the proconsul was astonished at the Lord’s teaching and not the miracle or the power of the Lord. We do not read Paul preaching or teaching in this incident but only his confrontation of Bar-Jesus. We also see that the proconsul was astonished or amazed at this because he saw the Lord’s teaching in this. God does not always teach through sermons or visions only. It is very easy for any person to see God through our wisdom and seeing how we handle things. We read this in Psalms 94:12 where God does not only speak to us directly but also through chastening. Let us understand that some important lessons like bicycle riding or walking cannot be taught using documented words or visions, we need a teacher who is present with us and teaches us. This is very amazing.

 We may think that it was Paul’s anger that made him speak the harsh words, but verse 9 says that Paul was full of the Holy Spirit and looked intently at Bar-Jesus and spoke these. The confrontation was very harsh but the punishment was not that severe. The words used were that he was the son of the devil because this person thought he was son of salvation because of his name. The Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth and if He uses such identification, it is true. A person we think who is a holy advisor and prophet is actually the devil’s son. The problem here is that this person himself did not know that. We can see that Paul gave the same experience as himself (temporary blindness) to him which is a path for salvation. We can very much be in that state thinking that we are perfectly loving, kind and faithful but can we an enemy to all righteousness. Our defense and actions hinder God’s righteousness completely. Paul further calls them villains.

Paul mentions that the Hand of the Lord is upon him, which is a term used at most times as a blessing (Acts 11:21). But here, God comes to discipline. We can see extremes of his hand in Isaiah 51:17. In Job 1:11, Satan wants God to touch Job’s properties, but God instead mentions that I do not want to be a part of this evil, you do it. In Psalms 32:4,5 we read how the Lord’s had was heavy upon David to produce true repentance.

Paul continues to say that he would not see the sun because he is a false prophet and a magician. We read the sun becoming a God in Deuteronomy 4:19. There are stages in falling into worshipping the sun, which is to lift our eyes at, worship and then serve. If we lift our eyes at these objects which are given to us to rule but still we are not to look upon them. We make the same mistakes at pastors and leaders who would have authority upon us. It is important that every person in the Church should look at Christ alone.

Another lesson here is that the sun had been an object of reconciliation at that time. We read in Lev 22:7, Ephesians 4:26 that the sunset marks the end of a day and we have to reconcile before that. But when it becomes a custom to sin and reconcile, this becomes a habit of doing anything and come to the Lord in the evening. That’s why Paul says that you will not see the sun. It is darkness already and so reconcile with the Lord completely now.

Deuteronomy 4:5 says that the Lord teaches so that we would do so in the land we are entering. God wants us to completely become perfect because we are going to heaven to possess it and rule. If we are not disciplined here through his words and his hand, it is impossible for reconciliation. As per Psalm 25:9, if we are humble we receive not just teaching but justice also.

Amen.

The straight paths of the Lord

Acts 13:10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?

When Paul confronts the magician who hinders the gospel being preached, Paul uses these hard words on him. However, for a meditation we have a lesson that if we make the ways of the Lord crooked, we may receive that identity Paul gives. The important factor for us to understand is that the ways of the Lord are straight and there is no short cut. We may think that being forgiven by grace is a short cut and an easy path to the Lord. But, this path is not crooked or stolen, but a heavy price was paid and given to us. All we have to do is honor the path and the one who laid it.

In all the four gospels we read a prophesy about John the Baptist that he proclaims that we should straighten the ways of the Lord (Mathew 3:3, Mark 1:3, Luke 3:4, John 1:23). This is written so strongly because of the highest importance the message has. If we read Mark 1:2,3 together we will have a better picture. It says that John will prepare the way for the Lord by instructing others to prepare His ways and make them straight. It is clearly our responsibility to define what the ways of the Lord are for this world. We know that Jesus is the corner stone and the apostles and prophets too are the foundation. But the building can still be built as a person wishes. It is important for us to understand that the corner stone was laid with a strong purpose but we are building the temple deviating and bringing disgrace to the Lord.

We have a very similar responsibility like John the Baptist, to prepare the way of the Lord in our families, church, work place etc. John did this job very perfectly by initiating repentance among the people. The baptism that he gave (similar to baptism our family heads and pastors give) is a sign of repentance. When there is repentance, the Lord Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire towards salvation. We have this job with us where we are responsible. We are not here to comfort others at all times. John was very much critical towards the Pharisees and Sadducees by calling them brood of vipers. He did that because of the wrath that is going to come. We at most times know where our children are heading to, but still keep comforting them.

Hebrews 12:12,13 explains the goodness of walking in straight paths. Our joints would not be weakened but they will be healed because our paths are straight. Paul in those verses continues to emphasize peace with everybody and ensure that others should receive grace as much as we do. The straight path of righteousness has a burden towards others to receive glory. This burden is on others so that they will not fail like Esau losing their salvation for simple needs.

The magician in this incident opposed Paul and Barnabas because his false prophecies will become ineffective. The problem with him is that he gave priority to his personal needs than the gospel and so, Paul had to confront him. This can happen to any person who follows Christ that to justify ourselves we will create new doctrines that allows us to sin. The path to glory is very straight that we believe Jesus and through his death and resurrection, we are cleansed after repentance. After this salvation, we are expected to follow Jesus in his sufferings and sacrifice so that we would be able to deny ourselves and through our love we will be able to serve others and come to God, the Father. This is the grace that was given to us. Any other path than this one is a crooked one. This includes paths that just provide honor or experiences alone.  The criticality here is that we are not deviating from the path but making a crooked path for others to follow and fall in.

Psalms 5:8 is a prayer to the Lord to lead David in the Lord’s righteousness, because of the enemies. David requests the Lord to make His paths straight. It is straight forward that the Lord’s righteousness is the only straight path for us to follow. We have to let the Lord lead us. We know in Psalms 23:3,4 we know that the Lord leads in paths of righteousness and this path includes the shadow of the valley of death. Expecting comfort at all times is not a straight path. David prays that this path is needed because the enemies are full of lies and destruction. To escape destruction through the lies the enemies present to us, we should choose the path that leads to our Lord. The bible teaches us in Proverbs 3:6 that we should acknowledge Him in our ways. Acknowledge means to accept His presence during in our pursuit.

Amen.

Earnest Prayers

Acts 12:5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

When Herod wanted to please the Jews even more after killing James, he proceeded to arrest Peter and kept him safely for killing after Passover. At this time, the Church had prayed earnestly for him and God had delivered him out miraculously. This is an example to us when we are in trouble. We can understand that it was more than a day when the whole Church had remained in a place and kept praying for Peter. The first thing to see that the victim Peter was sleeping while the Church was praying. This is a very good example of the importance of praying for others and not being self centered.

Selfish prayers are like Jacob’s wrestle (Genesis 32:22-32) with the Lord in which he had won God’s blessings but fell down at Esau’s feet. If we pray with the understanding that we were created to rule as per Gen 1:26, we would pray like people with responsibilities. There are selfish requests in the Lord’s prayer when we ask for food, forgiveness and salvation. But all the requests are made for “us” as a group which means that we should ask God to provide for everybody or at-least the members of our church or our neighbors. This is the reason we read in James 5:14, the Church had set a method for praying for sick people. If a person in the church had become sick, it does not mean that this person did not pray, but the church and its elders had not prayed sufficiently.

We read in James 5:16 that earnest prayers have power. Earnest prayers should be made only by righteous people. We read that in 2 Chronicles 7:14. If we have sin or vengeance against somebody, the Bible says that God will not hear our prayers. We read this in Psalms 34:15 also. This is why some people first ask for forgiveness before they pray every time. If we seek Him without a complete resolution, it is like praying to nobody. In exodus 32:9-14 we read the tone which Moses spoke to God. We read in the end that God had changed His mind because of Moses’s prayers. This prayer did not have humility or begging but God listening and changing His plans on a person because Moses was righteous. Let us remember that because Moses spoke like this, God was not upset at all as he regarded him with value.

In Colossians 4:2, we read how we have to be watchful in prayer. This means that we can sleep or provoke God’s anger while praying. Paul gives these instructions after mentioning that there in a Master in heaven. Moses did not pray like he was ordering God but God was still a master to him. Moses prayed like a responsible leader. If we are not watchful, we will end up tasting the Lord’s wrath.

When we pray for ourselves, the bible teaches us in Phil 4:6 that prayer and supplication should be made with thanksgiving. The verse teaches us that prayer and supplications are different things. Prayer will be more aligned to our Lord’s prayer where we commune with His will by submitting ourselves and ask God to do His will in everything. If we are anxious, it means that we do not have faith. The verse wants us to pray with thanksgiving which means that we should remember how God has provided when we pray. Praying like a thankful person makes God happier and God will fill us with peace. The next verse does not teach us about stress reduction but about peace from God.

In Luke 17:19, Jesus ensures the one leper who had come back with thanks is being saved. The others received healing and this person received salvation. We should see that Jesus was terribly disappointed with the others who were Jews. One reason why the Jews did not come back is because they thought that it is God’s responsibility to heal and He is just doing His job.

The word earnest means to show complete conviction. Some translations use the word fervent which means passionate intensity. The perfect example to follow is our Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26) who intercedes for us with deep groaning. We do not know how to pray and God understands our weaknesses. So, the Holy Spirit comes forward and explains God how bad the situation is. This prayer has deep groaning because He carries all our burdens to Him. This is the example of fellowship if a brother is suffering, others should pray like the Holy Spirit who is inside and understands the situation completely.

Amen.

Sound Doctrine – Devil, World and Flesh

Ephesians 2:1-3 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

The three enemies which has the one aim of removing us from God’s presence has to be understood properly. It is important for Christians to understand the limitations and the authority these have in our lives and how we can overcome them victoriously. These three enemies are not directly mentioned in the bible together but we see many incidents to understand this. Examples are in Mathew 4 or the temptation of Jesus where Jesus had to overcome his desires for the flesh, the world and the devil himself. In the above verse, we read that our death was because the course was set by the world, the devil led us there and the flesh had passions and desires to go there. The result of these three is death.

We should understand that Jesus replied with the scripture for all the three temptations. This is because the Scripture is the truth and the devil cannot deny its authority. If it is written, it is final judgement and there is no argument about it.

Flesh:

Romans 8:8 explains that if we are in the flesh, we cannot please God. Romans 13:14 says that we have to put on Jesus and not allow the flesh in any way to work.  Romans 8:12 onwards explains that we are not indebted to the flesh because Jesus had raised us up in the Spirit. This means before Jesus had raised us up, we are debted to the flesh and are forced to live a life which works for everything the flesh demands. 2 Cor 5:16, 17 explains that we do not regard any christian according to his flesh and the demands the flesh makes. Paul says that they once saw Jesus when there was no understanding that he was of the flesh.

The Bible wants us to crucify our flesh in Romans 6:6, Galatians 6:24, Mathew 16:24 etc. Paul wants us to crucify or give a public humiliation to the flesh so that it has absolutely no provision. Self denial in forms of similicity, fasting etc would help us progress towards the cross. Jesus had indeed crucified His body by feeding the Spirit more than the flesh during His temptation.

World:

As per 1 John 2:16,17, the three problems, lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life are products of the world. The verse also says that all that the world owns are only these. There is nothing more the world can offer us. Initially the earth was good, but as per Isaiah 24:5,6 men defiled the earth to an extent that all it produces are these only. This means that we cannot receive anything good from the earth. The reason why we do not accept the world and its desires is in John 1:10 that the world did not know Jesus. We should understand that the world is loved by God and was created through Him. The bible says that God loved the world but the world did not know Him and since Jesus had taken us out of the world, it hates us (John 15:18-19).

That’s why verse 15 (1 John 2:15) says that we should not love the world. God loved the world and still wants to save everybody out of the world. The bible nowhere asks us to love the world, but we are expected to love one another, love our neighbours etc. Loving the world removes our relationship with the Father completely.

During His second temptation, Jesus said that His relationship with the Father is more important. Falling to the world is like testing the Father which we often do. We should honor my Father’s name with love whenever the world tempts us.

Devil:

 The first enemy is the devil.  The characteristics are :

·         John 8:44 - Murderer and a liar are placed together so that we should not be scared about him.

·         2 Cor 11:3 – Craftiness.

·         2 Cor 11:14 – Disguiser.

·         Revelation 12:10 – Accuser. He could do that to anybody including Jesus during the temptations.

·         1 Thes 3:5 – Tempter.

·         John 12:31 – Ruler of the world but has no claim on Jesus (14:30).

So, the devil is ruling the world with only these characteristics. Let us remember that once we are saved we are taken out of the world and he has no authority over us. Acts 26:18 says that if God helps us understand like “know the truth and the truth shall set you free”, we can come out of the dominion of the devil. This is simpler and effective. Luke 10:19 says that we have power not only over the enemy but over all the powers of the enemy. If we know the truth that Jesus had overcome and we have the strength to overcome through Jesus, nothing can defeat us.

James 4:7 says that if we submit ourselves to the Lord and resist the devil, he will flee. Jesus did the same thing by ordering him to go away with scripture reference that does not allow us to serve him, he fled.

So, we shall crucify the flesh, hate the world and resist the devil to live a life of an successful and free christian.

Amen.

Steadfastness

Acts 11:23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose.

The church in Antioch has a great importance in the history of Apostles. The believers were called Christians because Antioch was not part of Israel or Samaria. We can also read that after Paul had gone back to Tarsis, which is not very far from Antioch, he was relatively idle or did some undocumented ministry. But this revival in the Church in Antioch made Barnabas come there and bless them and Paul was brought there after the revival. We should note that Peter or Paul were not called Christians or those in Jerusalem. Since this event is placed in the same 11^th Chapter which speaks about acceptance of Gentile conversion which happened in Caesarea by those in Jerusalem, we should understand the importance of the word Christians here. Since these men were uncategorized because they were is Syria where they could not be called either as Roman, Greek or Jew, they identified themselves as Christians. This name stands till today to all of us.

When Barnabas came to Antioch, he was very happy and urged them to be faithful to the Lord with a steadfast purpose. The excitement is good for any church when it grows but it is important for every church to understand how this excitement can fail and to make precaution measures. For this reason, we read Barnabas had brought Paul back to ministry and they worked together for a year. Reasons for us to lose our stronghold are mentioned in the Bible and it is required of us to meditate on them cautiosly.

In Joshua 23:7, we read how there are gods that remain among us. During our initial stages of salvation, we live among gods which elevate themselves in front of us and threaten. These Gods come in forms of needs, social standards etc. Sometimes, preachers become gods and mislead us. Deut 31:18 says that because of evil people do, they would turn to other gods. Prosperity preaching is a god which justifies greed and corruption. If we could pray everyday asking our Father God to be the only God in our lives and have complete authority, He would help us always prioritize Him. In Job 11:14,15 we read how if we can purify our hearts from iniquity, we can lift our face without any moral defect and be steadfast. Let us ask Him to help us identify our iniquities. Sometimes, spiritual gifts can become gods and we long for them instead of longing for Christ himself.

1 Cor 15:58 wants us to be immovable after we understand that our toils are not wasted. Satan’s one deception is to give us an idea that our works are wasted. We may not see fruits immediately aroe even in our lifetime, but God wants us to understand that these works will produce in due time. We read in 1 Peter 5:9 to hold firm in our faith and comparing other examples of men who suffered much for the Lord. The problem is we compare with other ministers or churches who either have earned a growth after many many years of toiling or by corruption.

Galatians 5:1 says that slavery can remove our steadfastedness. This means that the devil can easily put us into slavery. If we value our freedom properly, we will be firm. To honor our freedom, it is important to understand that this freedom was bought for us with a price by Christ our Lord. This freedom makes us not to fall into on any of the world’s lavishness or illusions. The verse explains that it is a status that we are put in this state of freedom and if we move away, we are going away from the safety Christ has given us. It should also be understood that any position away from this standing firm is slavery.

In 2 Peter 3:17, we read how unprincipled men can carry us away from our steadfastness. We do not have to follow them, but hear them to fall. People translate the scriptures wrongly to confuse us. We read these men as unprincipled because they do not have a vision or a purpose. People only try to prove themselves strong and wise without any concern on the state of the Christian. Let us see if we are holding tightly to the teachings as per 2 Thes 2:15.

Paul calls believers as his joy and crown in Phil 4:1. They are expected to stand firm in the Lord because there is a larger hope for them from Christ. Paul mentions in the previous chapter that this is a worthless body we are in but Jesus will renew us soon. So, let nothing of this world affect us from the hope of calling.

Living a steadfast life is actually much easier as the focus is one. Psalms 16:8 explains that we will not be shaken if we set the Lord before us and keep Him at our right hand. Let us note that we have set Him and not that He set us in this position. We prioritize Christ and He takes care of everything else.

Sound Doctrine – Man

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

The bible clearly establishes that Man is superior to all animals and the only being superior to man is God Himself. When God created animals, it was good, but when the creation was complete with man resembling God and has authority over all animals, God saw that it was very good. This shows how this creation is a crown among all others including the planets and the whole earth. This study is to understand the importance and purpose of our existence in this world.

The first quality Man has is that he has the image of God in him. We know that God is a Spirit and has no form. But He sometimes uses a physical form as we know God was walking, and met Abraham etc. This physical form came down again as a baby as Jesus emptied Himself. The reason God gave His image to us because one reason in Gen 1:26, where God wants us to have dominion over all the living beings. God wanted us to perform tasks that He did with the same resources He has. With all the right resources, we are expected to be rulers in His kingdom.

The sole purpose of our creation is in Is 43:7, where we are created for His glory. We read that glory in 1 Cor 10:31 where we are asked to do everything only to glorify God. The Bible shows how Jesus glorified God and so, we follow Him. John 1:14 says that the glory of God was seen completely in Jesus as He was full of grace and truth. The relationship with being gracious and truthful is seen in Psalms 115:1 , 34:6, 57:10 etc. More than all the other characteristics of Christ grace and truth glorified God.  We have to compare this with the reason God created us in Gen 1:26. It would be easier to understand that we are expected to be rulers of His kingdom with grace and truth.

Being gracious is important as we know that God considers forgiveness with very high regard. We know the parables and the prayer Christ has taught us. This training of being a gracious leader is required for our lives in heaven. Christ also had a tough stand on people judging others. A leader should be strict and strong but also be ready to forgive others when they repent. In situations, our moves should be based on how Jesus would have handled them. In John 14:11, Jesus said that a good shepherd would lay down his life from his sheep and Jesus did that. This characteristic is grace and we should love our neighbors like our own selves so that we would be ready to lay down our lives for others. Philippians 2:3-8 speaks about humility of Christ. It may be hard for us to understand being a ruler and humility working together, but Christ achieved perfectly. Mark 10:43-45.

The next important aspect of glory is truth. If we really love and have grace, we will not let our neighbors be in darkness. This is not only about preaching the gospel but also about ensuring that what others believe is the truth. Psalms 57:3 explains that God sends forth His lovingkindness and truth to save us. When we receive grace, God is patient and kind towards our shortcomings, but the truth takes us more and more towards God Himself. This is why Grace and Truth is revealed through Jesus Christ. The truth is that Jesus is the only way to heaven and all other ways cannot take us there to glorify God.

It is important for us to understand that some people who are not redeemed and are disobedient die to glorify God. We read that in Isaiah 66:17-19 also in Lev 10:3. The doomed ones are not sinners but those who reject the truth and have disregard to the Lord’s word. To glorify God, we need to be more truly thanksgiving by receiving more and more of His grace as per 2 Cor 4:15.

The first commandment God ever gave us is in Gen 2:24 (applicable outside the garden of Eden) is that he should leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife. This commandment is given that early is because this is a very important place where we glorify God the father. This is explained in 1 Cor 11:7. Covering heads involves the glory of God and so, should have strictly followed while praying. A man covering his head while praying symbolizes that he does not need Jesus. Similarly, a woman who does not cover her head symbolizes that she needs her husband and not Jesus. Both are not acceptable before God.

Now, glorifying God in the family is very important as this model is a practice of being a good ruler. If we do this job with grace and truth, we are setting up an example of heavenly kingdom in the earth for others to experience. In Ephesians 5:27 we read how a husband should present to himself which can be compared to our original call in Ephesians 1:5. The bible commands every man to leave his father, mother and hold fast to his wife because God wants Him to be a ruler in His kingdom. A person who is not capable for making own decisions and incapable of buildup his own wife cannot be a proper king. We should display our responsibilities as good leaders in our family, church and work place so that God will be glorified in full.

1 Corinthans 6:20 is more direct that after creation, we are now bought again to become saved Christians. Now, it is our duty to glorify God. Everything that we do, earn or pursue should glorify Him. We read that again in 2 Thes 1:11-12 where the purpose of grace is to glorify God. In Mathew 5:16, Jesus wants us to show-off our good works so that the Father will be glorified.

Amen.

Preaching the Gospel

Acts 10:43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name

This portion of Peter explaining the gospel to Cornelius and his household is a very good and useful example for us to understand and preach Jesus to the world. The family was already righteous and prayerful but their righteousness was not sufficient for salvation. Peter had to bring Jesus to them. For this we have to understand Romans 3:21-26. It is not by our righteousness that God would accept us but by His righteousness which we gain by believing in Jesus by trusting in His blood. This understanding gives us a clear definition on heaven where we go there by God’s righteousness.

When Peter begins the sermon (v 34, 35), he confirms the same statement that any person who is righteous is acceptable to God. Being acceptable is not enough. In romans 8:21, we submit our bodies as being acceptable to God. This is worship and not a complete life. Worship is something that we offer and this is never sufficient unless we complete doing what we had given as a commitment to God. Worship is something like promises we make to God. Worship makes us acceptable to God but for Him to actually receive us, it requires Grace.

The word of God was sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ. This peace is not peace we enjoy in this world with the world. This peace is even more different than the one in John 14:27 which is the assurance of eternity. That peace is something to console the mind and the heart. This peace Jesus preached to everybody is that God wants to make peace with man. So, before peace, it is evident that God was terribly angry at mankind as much as to destroy all of us together. But, He gave peace to us through Jesus Christ with Him.

When Jesus is introduced, Peter clearly mentions that He is the Lord of all. In John 13:13, 14, after washing his disciples’ feet, He confirms that He is Lord and teacher. Jesus took all the agony while being our Lord. Unless we learn to see Jesus as the Lord of all, it is impossible to see salvation. There are many verses that mention this like Mathew 11:27, John 17:2 etc. Jesus did not come to the world with a deputation of saving us and to become a scape goat, but He came with the authority of giving us eternal life. In Mathew 28:18, Jesus wants everybody to go and make disciples because all authority is given to Him. In Phil 2:10,11 we read that because Jesus humbled Himself, He is given a name to which every knee shall bow and every tongue shall accept. This acceptance is expected of us by God, the Father. We read this again in Acts 10:38 where God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power.

When speaking about anointing, Peter now uses “Jesus of Nazareth”. Jesus is both our Lord and was human. Jesus received the anointing of Holy Spirit and power in his humanity. In Phil 2:6, we read how he emptied himself and so needed this anointing. Let us remember that Jesus’ life was harder than ours as He received this anointing before His ministry and not earlier during His personal life. He lived just like us. Jesus did good and healing because God was with Him. This should be seen along with God’s peace with us. Since God’s anger is about to be quenched, Jesus symbolizes this peace with God through miracles. Jesus could have done all miracles by Himself, but it is seen that He performed these miracles because of God the Father who was with Him in this time. It was God’s excitement with mankind because of the covenant that is going to place.

Jesus was put to death but God raised Him on the third day and made Him to appear. The resurrection is the important message of the gospel. The strength of this resurrection is in the one who carries it. Peter mentions that he is a witness twice in the message, first for His works and then about His life after death.  Peter mentions that this being a witness the second time is because God made Him so. Peter and the other apostles had personally dined with Jesus. Just like this we are witnesses of the life Jesus gives to others. Unless we confirm that Jesus lives and transforms lives of people around us, it is hard for them to understand the gospel.

Again, before concluding with the message of forgiveness, it is established that Jesus is coming as a Judge. He does not judge Christians alone but everybody. John 5:22 says that all judgement has been given to the Son. We cannot please God the Father unless we please Jesus Christ. We cannot honor God until we honor Christ. We also have to inform that God will not judge like the world. Romans 2:16 says that God will judge the secrets of men. The Old Testament made us expect grace from God through all the prophets, but we are living in grace now. The next stage is judgement.

Speaking about forgiveness, Peter assures that this forgiveness is complete because all the prophets bear witness for this. The method for others to follow is to believe in Jesus as the Son of God and the only way to heaven. Forgiveness is given not if you plead God, but in the name of Jesus. But to receive forgiveness, we should believe and trust the whole of our lives to Jesus. We should pray that we believe Jesus fully and that we are submitting to Jesus’ discipline and teaching and so, God would forgive because of Jesus’ name.

Amen.