- Aug 10, 2006
- 17,030
- 4,381
- 75
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Female
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Married
I am reading in Acts 5, beginning with verse 12, some of which I will summarize, and some of which I will quote in the NASB1995.
At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people. Multitudes of men and women were constantly added to the number of the believers in Jesus Christ, and many people were bringing their sick and afflicted to be healed. But the high priest and his associates were jealous of the apostles, and so they put them in a public jail.
Have you ever been there? Perhaps not in a physical prison, but in a place where you were being hindered in your walk of faith in Jesus Christ from giving testimony to the Lord Jesus due to opposition and persecution? I’ve been there. And Jesus did come to my rescue, and he did take me by the hand, and he did lead me to go right back to where I was being persecuted before and to keep speaking the truth of his word, fully knowing that what awaited me could be even more persecution, opposition, and rejection.
But it was more than just that. Pay close attention with me to the wording here. The angel of God said, “Go, stand and speak to the people IN THE TEMPLE the WHOLE MESSAGE OF THIS LIFE.” So, two things here stand out to me. The people they were to speak to were “in the temple” and they were to speak “the whole message of this life.” So this would be like Jesus saying to us today to speak to the people who call themselves Christians (for we are the temple of God), but speak the whole counsel of God, not the lies.
For Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).
For by God-gifted faith in Jesus Christ, which is not of our own doing, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but as slaves to righteousness in walks of obedience to God’s commands. We are no longer to permit sin to reign in our mortal bodies to make us obey its desires. For if sin is what we obey, it results in death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it results in sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God (see Romans 6:1-23).
That is the truth that we are to be teaching, not the lies that so many are spreading today which tell people that all they have to do is to make a verbal confession of Christ as Savior and Lord and now all their sins are forgiven, and heaven is guaranteed them, but regardless of how they live. Many are even teaching that, by God’s grace, we don’t have to obey our Lord and his commandments, and we do not have to turn away from sin. But that is contrary to the teachings of Christ and his New Testament apostles.
And back to the story… Someone reported on the apostles that they were standing in the temple teaching the people. So they were brought before the Council, once again.
YES! We must obey God rather than men. And God’s grace, which is bringing us salvation, is training (instructing) us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s return (Titus 2:11-14). God, who provides us with the faith to believe in Jesus has granted us REPENTANCE, i.e. he has made the way, via his death on a cross, for us to DIE WITH HIM TO SIN, and then to receive forgiveness of sins. And he has given his Holy Spirit to those who OBEY HIM.
Gospel:[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]
As the Deer
By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1
As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after You
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You
You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You
Caution: This link may contain ads
To Those Who Obey Him
An Original Work / September 9, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people. Multitudes of men and women were constantly added to the number of the believers in Jesus Christ, and many people were bringing their sick and afflicted to be healed. But the high priest and his associates were jealous of the apostles, and so they put them in a public jail.
“But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, ‘Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.’ Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach.” (Acts 5:19-21)
Have you ever been there? Perhaps not in a physical prison, but in a place where you were being hindered in your walk of faith in Jesus Christ from giving testimony to the Lord Jesus due to opposition and persecution? I’ve been there. And Jesus did come to my rescue, and he did take me by the hand, and he did lead me to go right back to where I was being persecuted before and to keep speaking the truth of his word, fully knowing that what awaited me could be even more persecution, opposition, and rejection.
But it was more than just that. Pay close attention with me to the wording here. The angel of God said, “Go, stand and speak to the people IN THE TEMPLE the WHOLE MESSAGE OF THIS LIFE.” So, two things here stand out to me. The people they were to speak to were “in the temple” and they were to speak “the whole message of this life.” So this would be like Jesus saying to us today to speak to the people who call themselves Christians (for we are the temple of God), but speak the whole counsel of God, not the lies.
For Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).
For by God-gifted faith in Jesus Christ, which is not of our own doing, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but as slaves to righteousness in walks of obedience to God’s commands. We are no longer to permit sin to reign in our mortal bodies to make us obey its desires. For if sin is what we obey, it results in death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it results in sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God (see Romans 6:1-23).
That is the truth that we are to be teaching, not the lies that so many are spreading today which tell people that all they have to do is to make a verbal confession of Christ as Savior and Lord and now all their sins are forgiven, and heaven is guaranteed them, but regardless of how they live. Many are even teaching that, by God’s grace, we don’t have to obey our Lord and his commandments, and we do not have to turn away from sin. But that is contrary to the teachings of Christ and his New Testament apostles.
And back to the story… Someone reported on the apostles that they were standing in the temple teaching the people. So they were brought before the Council, once again.
“…The high priest questioned them, saying, ‘We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.’ But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘WE MUST OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.’” (Acts 5:27-32)
YES! We must obey God rather than men. And God’s grace, which is bringing us salvation, is training (instructing) us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s return (Titus 2:11-14). God, who provides us with the faith to believe in Jesus has granted us REPENTANCE, i.e. he has made the way, via his death on a cross, for us to DIE WITH HIM TO SIN, and then to receive forgiveness of sins. And he has given his Holy Spirit to those who OBEY HIM.
Gospel:[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]
As the Deer
By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1
As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after You
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You
You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You
Caution: This link may contain ads
To Those Who Obey Him
An Original Work / September 9, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
