This week we will get to our
third lesson from the Principles of the Doctrine of Jesus Christ as taught by
the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America.
I have been concerned this week
because my father in law’s heart stopped!
He died for a while, but the Lord saw fit that he was at the hospital
when it happened, and they revived him.
The next day the doctor told us that he had very little chance of survival.
However, it appears God still has
a use for him; he has improved greatly and is talking now! Thank the Lord for your continued prayers for
him and all that need your prayers here in the USA.
May God Bless your week! John R.
Sanctification
and The Holy Ghost
A
converted person,
...through sanctification of the
Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ... (I Peter
1:2)
...
has access by faith into God's grace. Also,
the love of God is shed abroad in
his heart by the Holy Ghost (Romans 5:5).
The
Holy Ghost is his teacher and guide into all truth:
For the grace of God that bringeth
salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and
worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present
world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great
God and our Savior Jesus Christ,- Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem
us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good
works (Titus 2:11-14).
Through
the Word, the Holy Spirit teaches the converted person in the same manner as
Jesus did, to
…arise, and take up thy bed, and go
thy way into thine house (Mark 2:11).
For as many as are led by the Spirit
of God, they are the sons of God (Romans 8:14).
The
Spirit of God leads one into truthful actions, such as making restitution or
reconciliation where one is conscious of having wronged someone in the past.
And as Jesus says:
But he that doeth truth cometh to
the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God
(John 3:21).
The
Holy Spirit reveals to the child of God that Jesus is the way, as He states:
...I am the way, the truth, and the
life... (John 14:6).
The
Holy Spirit also gives the faith to continue on this way from victory to
victory.
For whatsoever is born of God
overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even
our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that
Jesus is the Son of God? (I John 5:4,5).
On
this narrow way, there is room for but one Leader.
He goes before His sheep as the Good
Shepherd and the sheep follow His voice (John 10:4).
The
Apostle Paul writes:
There is therefore now no
condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1).
Jesus
also speaks of a way that leads to destruction:
...broad is the way, that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat (Matthew 7:13)
On
that way, there are many voices for one to follow, if one chooses to walk after
the flesh rather than after the Spirit. The scriptures indicate some of these
as:
...one's own carnal mind (Romans
8:7)
...the philosophy and vain deceit,
after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world... (Colossians
2:8)
...teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men (Matthew 15:9)
...the enticing words of man's
wisdom (I Corinthians 2:4)
...false prophets, which come to you
in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves (Matthew 7:15)
...the thief and robber, who have
climbed up into the sheepfold some other way (John 10:1)
and
Satan, the very father of all lies, who is
...transformed into an angel of
light (II Corinthians 11:14).
But
the child of God shall be led safely through all perils, by faith in the word
of the Lord, as He has promised:
...for He hath said, I will never
leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5).
God's
children are also joined together in unity by the same Spirit:
But if we walk in the light, as He
is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus
Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin (I John 1:7).
They
have also become members of the body of Christ, which is His Church. Christ
Himself is the chief cornerstone of that building which is not made with hands.
Ye also, as lively stones, are built
up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices,
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the
scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious: and he
that believes on Him shall not be confounded (7 Peter 2: 5,6).
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