FAITHFULWORD.ORG | TEACHINGS

II Peter 1:1-4; Romans 10:8-13; Titus 3:3-9; Matthew 16:21; 17:22, 23; I Corinthians 15:3-8; Acts 1:1-3; 2:29; 2:3-47; Romans 1:1-4; Acts 17:1-3, 7; Revelation 1:17, 18; Romans 6:4; Ephesians 5:1, 2; John 14:12-19

An astronomer once asked an attending minister, “Couldn’t you say Christianity basically boils down to the Golden Rule — love your neighbor as yourself?” The minister answered, “I suppose it could, providing you can say astronomy boils down to ‘twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.’” It took a miracle of God, which we cannot explain with our finite brains to allow Christianity to happen. God gave His only begotten Son to die for us all, raising him from the dead so we all may live. Resurrection life is the miracle of God.

Someone who has received Christ as his Savior and the gift of holy spirit can have an intimate relationship with God. Through the Word of God, we learn what God did through Christ, what He has done for us and in us through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We read of this resurrection life in Romans and what is required on the part of an individual to receive God’s great and precious promises. We must call upon the name of the Lord and change our Lordship from ourselves to Christ.

Titus teaches us of God’s mercy and illustrates how salvation is not by man’s works. There was nothing good in ourselves before we are born again but we were rescued and now can look forward to when we receive the fullness of our salvation. Why not talk about the resurrection and the new life we have in Christ? Jesus Christ was not quiet about his death nor that his Father would raise him from the dead.

Christ’s death and resurrection made it available for the holy spirit to come. The holy spirit is the proof of the new birth. It was evidenced on the day of Pentecost by speaking with tongues. When those present saw the power of God manifested and heard Peter speak, they asked, “What shall we do?” Peter told them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. At that time they would receive the new birth, the total spiritual immersion into Christ’s redemptive work. With that, they would get remission of sins and receive the gift of the holy spirit.

Jesus Christ was a man among the flock, who was resurrected for our sakes. Resurrection is the hub of Christianity. It is miraculous and we serve a God of miracles. We are no longer dead in trespasses and sins but are alive in Christ and can walk in newness of life. Jesus sent the Comforter, the gift of holy spirit so we can live that new life in Christ. Because Jesus Christ lives, we can live in that resurrection life, the miracle of God.