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The Baptism With The Holy Spirit

“Therefore (Jesus) being by the Right Hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the Promise of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:33)

“For the Promise (the Baptism with the Holy Spirit) is unto you (all those present at the time); and to your children (will continue), and to all who are far off (not limited to Jerusalem but for the whole world), even as many as the Lord will call (available to all even to our time).” (Acts 2:39)

The Apostle Peter spoke these words on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon those in Jerusalem in power. This day is considered the birthday of the church and the start of the church’s mission to reach the lost with the Gospel. The Holy Spirit could not come until the sin debt was paid. The Lord paid the price at Calvary which ushered in the long-awaited time when the Spirit would come in a new way, dwell in those who believed and empower the believers for service.

When a person is born again or born of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit comes and resides in that person. The Spirit will help us in our daily walk with the Lord. He is present to glorify Jesus, to lead us and guide us, and teach us all things. As we place our faith in Christ and Him crucified the Holy Spirit will guide us in all truth and work in us to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. He works no other way as the following verse states:

“For the Law (this is a law of God) of the Spirit (how the Holy Spirit works) of Life (from Christ by way of the Holy Spirit) in Christ Jesus (speaks of His accomplishment at the Cross), has made me free (victory) from the Law of sin and death (the only way to be free from sin).” (Romans 8:2)

So, our sanctification, our daily walk, is accomplished by our placing our faith in Christ and Him Crucified which allows the Holy Spirit to work in us and bring us the victory over sin that we so desire. There is no other way to victory. We cannot accomplish this by our efforts. The Lord paid a terrible price a Calvary so that we might be free. After coming to the Lord by faith, if we could walk out this life in victory by what we did, or by adhering to Christian disciplines, then Christ’s victory on the cross was not total. The Apostle Paul spoke about this in the following verse:

“I do not frustrate the grace of God (move our faith from Christ crucified to anything else): for if righteousness come by the Law (any law), then Christ died in vain.” ( Galatians 2:21)

So, we see that we frustrate or stop the action of grace if the object of our faith is anything other than in Christ and the cross. Many feel that we must do our part through Christian disciplines. We cannot overcome sin by what we do. If our faith is in these things, as necessary to our Christian walk as these things are, then we will fail. We must keep in mind that Paul wrote the above words to believers.

If the Holy Spirit guides us and gives us victory over sin, then what is the purpose of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit? The Baptism is for power for service. Jesus was adamant about His followers waiting for the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost before they did anything.

“(Jesus) Commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the Promise of the Father, which, said He, you have heard of Me.” (Acts 1:4)

” But you shall be baptized with Holy Spirit not many days hence (Day of Pentecost).” Acts 1:5)

“But you shall receive power (power for service), after that, the Holy Spirit is come upon you…” (Acts 1:8)

The Lord commanded them to wait for the “Promise of the Father” which was the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. The Lord was telling them not to go out in ministry until they had received the Holy Spirit in power. This happened on the day of Pentecost. We see the Apostles receiving power when the Holy Spirit came upon them in the baptism and they accomplished mighty works for the Lord. The Apostle Peter, who weeks before denied the Lord three times, stood up among them and preached a powerful sermon with a boldness that saw three thousand saved. And many miracles were wrought by the believers.

In summary, we receive the Holy Spirit initially when we repent of our sins and place our faith in Christ and Him crucified. He guides us in the truth and gives us victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil. The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is a subsequent work of the Holy Spirit that gives us power for service with the initial physical evidence of speaking with other tongues. Is the Baptism with the Holy Spirit essential for salvation? The answer is no, but why would we not seek the baptism the Lord has made available to all. The Lord thought it so important that He commanded His followers to wait to receive it before going out in ministry.

[Miracles, healings, deliverance from unclean spirits, boldness in proclaiming the Gospel, thousands coming to faith in the Lord, and the leading of the Holy Spirit in ministry- Read the Book of Acts to see the work of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles and believers in the early church.]

We need this same baptism today to accomplish all the Lord would have us do. The only requirement to receive it is that we be born again. It is received by faith just as the Apostles and the believers that were present at the time received it on the Day of Pentecost.

“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues (the initial evidence one has been filled).” (Acts 4:31)

If you have not received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit; won’t you come in faith today and receive the “Promise of the Father.” Jesus is the baptizer with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11), and it is for “even as many as the Lord will call.”

“And I (Jesus) will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter (helper – the Holy Spirit), that He may abide with you forever.” (John 14:16)

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The Gospel Of John Presents The Son Given As God – God in the Flesh

“In The Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1,14)

What an incredible way to begin the Gospel of John. Each time I read these verses I think maybe a trumpet should sound to announce them. It is all so regal. They announce to all that will hear that the Word was there with God in the beginning. He was with God (in relationship) and was God (Trinity). Jesus, of course, is the Word as He would certainly have to be in order to reveal God to us as He did. Jesus made this clear when He said: “He Who has seen Me has seen the Father”. (John 14:9)

I can’t imagine what it was like for Him to leave Heaven’s glory and become the God/Man in the flesh. Imagine what the angels thought seeing the God of Glory humble Himself and become man. The love of God towards us is displayed clearly in His first Advent.

We look back on this incredible happening and take it for granted in many ways, but who would have ever imagined that the Lord’s love for us would shine forth in such an incredible way.

This love for us that was manifested in the Virgin Birth was due to the Lord seeing our fallen condition and knowing that without His intervention we would be doomed. He burst onto the scene to reveal God to us and to die for our sins that we might have forgiveness and know Him.

Jesus, the God/Man is present in His fullness in this Gospel. It reveals His Person, not his actions. The love of God towards us can be seen in every chapter. Praise be to His Name.

As we enter this special and blessed time of year we acknowledge the incredible gift the Lord has bestowed on us – the gift of His Son. May we seek to serve Him each day for the love He has shone forth for us. His mercy and grace are an anchor for our soul. May we seek to know the One – the One that loved us, came to live among us and died for us. He is present among us even now, and as we place our faith in Him, He will carry us through this life and we will spend our eternity with Him. We praise His Name for great is mercy towards us. Surely the Lord’s great love shines through brightly in the gift of His Son this Christmas season.

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

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The Answer Is in the Bible and May Surprise Many!

A man was asked if he thought that he would go to Heaven. He answered, “If there is a Heaven; I believe I will go there.” When pressed on why he believed he would go, he said that he would go to heaven because he was good. That is the belief and hope of many when the subject of Heaven comes up. Many believe that the way they live their lives and the good things they accomplish during their life determine their final destination. While living a good life and doing good things are admirable goals and something we should all strive after; these things, in themselves, will not result in our going to Heaven.

We must understand that we have a fallen nature. If we were to be honest with ourselves, we know that we have failed to live a perfect life. And perfection is what the Lord requires to gain Heaven. So, even if we seek to live a morally good life, we will fall short of God’s standard for fellowship with Him and access to Heaven when we die.

So, what are we to do? If we cannot live a life pleasing to the Lord; How can we gain Heaven? The answer is that we must realize the helpless condition that we are in and seek the Lord for His mercy and grace. We cannot, in ourselves, please the Lord and gain Heaven.

The Lord saw our lost condition and provided a way for us to have fellowship with Him and gain Heaven. Jesus spoke of this way in John chapter 3 when He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again (spiritual birth), he cannot see the kingdom of Heaven.” What the Lord was saying was that just as a person is physically born and at that moment has life; we must be born again to have spiritual life and see, or understand, the Kingdom of God.

So, we are unable to save ourselves. The Bible says, before being born again, that we are dead in our sins. Once we understand our desperate condition, we can seek the Lord and His solution. His mercy and grace is the answer to our need. We are born again or quickened by faith in the Lord and the way He has provided.

“And you has He quickened (made alive spiritually), who were dead in trespasses and sins (totally lost).” (Ephesians 2:1)

The way the Lord provided for us was to send His Son, the Lord Jesus, to pay the price for our sin and to offer us “newness of life” by faith in Him and His great sacrifice at Calvary. We are “born again” into a new life (spiritually) when we come His way by faith. The Lord offers us this through His mercy and grace. Jesus said the following regarding this way:

“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

In this one verse, Jesus tells us that He is the only way to the Father. There is no other. We are born spiritually when we place our faith in Him and His great sacrifice at the cross. This is the way to Heaven and the way to have fellowship with the Lord. It is the only way. Our sins are forgiven and the Lord sees us “in Christ”. His righteousness becomes ours. We become children of God by our faith in Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross that paid for our sins.

“But as many, as received Him (Jesus), to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those that believe in His Name ( Christ and Him crucified).” (John 1:12)

In summary, we are unable to please God and live a life that will result in us going to Heaven when we die. We must be born spiritually. We do this by placing our faith in Christ and Him crucified. It is at Calvary that the Lord paid the price for our sin. He offers us forgiveness and newness of life when we place our faith in Him. And we can know that we are going to Heaven, not by our goodness, but by the Lord’s mercy and grace. He saw our need and our helpless condition and provided a way for us to be saved; We are forgiven and will spend eternity with Him in glory. The Lord’s Word says it best:

“For by grace (unmerited favor) you have been saved through faith (in Christ crucified); and that not of ourselves (not earned): it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)

We are saved by faith and we are kept by our faith in the Lord and the Lord’s sacrifice at Calvary. And through faith, we can know that we have eternal life and will be with our Lord in Heaven.

“These things have I written unto you who believe on the Name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13)

The Lord loves us and has reached down in His mercy and provided for us in our fallen state. Psalm 118:23 says it best: “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”

See the A,B,C’s of Salvation page on this website. Link below.

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Just How Do We Walk Out This Christian Life?

” I marvel that you are so soon removed from Him who called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another. (Galatians 1:6,7)

The day we came to the Lord (born again) was the greatest day ever and we were so excited and grateful to the Lord for forgiving our sins and saving us. We wanted to serve Him faithfully all of our days. Not too far down the road though, we failed Him in some way. We were devastated and vowed that this could never happen again. At this point, we had a decision to make. How would we address this failure and assure victory in the future? Having begun our new life by faith in Christ, would we continue in faith, or would we try to prevent any future failures by adding our own efforts to our initial faith in Christ. Choosing the latter, which most of us have done at some point in the past, causes us to leave the way of faith, undoubtedly, not even realizing it. This is the path of the flesh and is not how we are to live our Christian life.

Anything we add to faith in Christ and Him Crucified is another gospel. We have left God’s redemption plan and turned to “another Jesus”. This is what the Galatians were tempted to do. The Galatians were saved and had placed their faith in Jesus and His great work. However, the Judaizers (believed the Law must be added to faith in Christ) came from Jerusalem and told them that along with Faith in Christ they had to keep the Law of Moses and be circumcised. Paul dealt with this problem directly in his Epistle to the Galatians. He said, “But though we, or an Angel from Heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you (Christ Crucified), let him be accursed (strong words)”. He also said, ” I do not frustrate the Grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law (any law), then Christ died in vain”. If we could live this Christian life by obeying laws or any other effort on our part, then the Lord’s death on the Cross was not enough. This, of course, is ludicrous. The price was paid in full.

“But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the Law.” (Galatians 5:18)

We may have received some bad council along the way if we sought help when we were failing the Lord. This bad council can take many forms. We may have been told to “try harder”, or that we were saved by faith in Christ, but now we had to do “our part”, whatever they thought that might be. Often, those seeking victory are told to read the Bible more, pray more, fast and get more serious about all the Christian disciplines. Now these things are all good in their own right, and something we should do, and will do if our faith is right, but if we place our faith in Christian disciplines then they become works and we have left the way of faith. If we add anything to our faith to get victory in our lives then, as Paul told the Galatians, “Christ shall profit you nothing”. Jesus paid a great price to redeem us, and we are to place our faith in his great work and leave it there. This will allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives and bring the victory we seek. The Holy Spirit will lead us in the works the Lord would have us accomplish. Ephesians 2:10 says “For we are His workmanship (the Lord saved us), created in Christ Jesus unto good works (the result of properly placed faith), which God has before ordained that we should walk in them”. Again, the Christian disciplines and works come as a result of proper faith.

Those that believe that we have to do our part, or that something else must be added to what Christ has accomplished, when hearing this message of grace, are quick to say that we are advocating faith alone as the way we should walk out this life. They are most assuredly correct in that observation. Some say that this is to easy and will encourage people to sin. If our faith is in the right object, Christ and Him Crucified, we will be kept by the Holy Spirit from sin ruling in our lives. We come to realize, that walking by faith may be one of the hardest things to accomplish. The flesh wants to be in charge and does not relinquish control easily, nor without repeatedly trying to exert itself. The flesh wants to do it’s part, to be in charge and to get the credit (pride). Paul said this in Roman’s Chapter 7, “For I know in me (in my flesh) dwells no good thing …”. Jesus said in John 6:63, ” It is the Spirit that quickens (victory through Newness of Life); the flesh profits nothing.” Yielding to the Holy Spirit is the only way to conquer the flesh. Again, our faith in Christ allows the Holy Spirit to work on our behalf. Galatians 5:24,25 says “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk (the way we live our lives) in the Spirit (the way of victory and the only way to crucify the flesh)”.

Paul, in encouraging the Galatians said, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage (adding anything to our faith in Christ brings bondage).” We have liberty as Christians. We are not to adhere to laws (any law, including any we make up), or try to accomplish victory by the things we do. The Holy Spirit works in us to bring about the changes that we so desire in our lives. We can look back on things we may have done in the past and wonder how we could have done these things. We would not do these same things today. These changes in us for the better are undoubtedly the result of The Holy Spirit working in us. We may fail the Lord at times, but we have an advocate (Holy Spirit) and His work will not end until we pass on to glory. He is our Helper, and always has our best in mind. We are loved, cared for and watched over. Jesus said, “I will pray the Father and He shall give you another Comforter (Helper), that He may abide with you forever”. John 14:16.

According to His divine power has given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness (He has provided all we need to walk out this life in victory), through the knowledge of Him(Christ crucified) Who has called us to glory and virtue.” (2 Peter 1:3)

See The Victorious Christian Living page on this website. Link below.

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Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2021

“Examine Yourselves, Whether You Be In The Faith.”

“Nevertheless, I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first love.” Revelation 2:4

In the above verse, we have the words of Jesus to the Church of Ephesus as recorded by the Apostle John in chapter 2 of the Book of Revelation. The Lord commended them by saying: “I know your works, and your labor, and your patience, and how you cannot bear them which are evil (those that had departed from the truth) and have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them liars: and have borne (kept on going), and have patience (persevering even when things are not going well), and for My Name’s sake have labored, and have not fainted (earnest and unrelenting in their efforts).”

It would appear to anyone looking at this church that it was a very sound church. The Lord commended them for their works, labor, patience and the fact that they had identified and rejected the evil of false doctrine trying to slip into the church. False apostles had come to them and they had tried their doctrine and found it false. Everything about this church looked good from all appearances.

However, the Lord had this to say to them: “Nevertheless, I have something against you, because you have left (left not lost) your first love.” So, what did the Lord mean when He said that they had left their first love? He meant that they had departed from the Cross as the object of their faith. When they were first saved, they had a great love for the Lord and what He had done for them on the Cross and had placed their faith totally in Him for all their needs. Their faith in the Lord and what He accomplished on the Cross allowed the Holy Spirit to work in their lives and bring “life” and victory to them. By leaving their first love, they had transferred their faith from Jesus and Him Crucified to other things. They had, in effect, separated Jesus from the Cross which always leads to disaster. That is another Jesus.

The Apostle Paul spoke of this other Jesus in the Epistle to the Galatians when he said: “I marvel that you are so soon removed from Him Who called you into the Grace of Christ (by the Cross) unto another gospel (anything other than the Cross). Paul goes onto say: “But though we, or an angel from Heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached to you (Christ Crucified), let him be accursed (eternally condemned).” Paul said this twice in Galatians (1:8 & 1:9) showing just how serious it is to depart from faith in Jesus and what He accomplished at the Cross. Jesus cannot be separated from what He did at the Cross. As we have said: to do so is to look to another Jesus. It is by faith in Who He is (God come in the Flesh), and what He accomplished on the Cross, that saves us and keeps us.

The Lord goes on to tell the Church of Ephesus: “Remember therefore from where you have fallen (they had fallen from Grace), and repent, and do the first works (come back to the Cross).” He then goes on to tell them what the result will be if they do not repent: “Or else I will come unto you quickly, and I will remove your candlestick (light rejected results in light removed).” After being commended for so much by the Lord; His rebuke identified such a serious problem, that without repentance it would destroy the church.

The Lord is patient and longsuffering towards us, but we must ever guard against shifting our faith away from the Cross to anything else, no matter how good it might seem. Our love for the Lord and our total faith in Him for all our needs is our “first love”. As Paul reminded the Corinthians: ” Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith (Christ Crucified); prove your own selves (make certain).” These words from the Lord through Paul were spoken to those in the church, not the unsaved; we would be wise to remember them today as well. The first and greatest commandment is to: “Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind”. This must come first in this dispensation of Grace as well. It is our love for Him (“We love Him because He first loved us”), and our faith in what He has accomplished at the Cross for us, that allows all the blessings of God to come to us. We are “in Christ”. In Him, we stand. When our faith is placed in the Cross we have:

Freedom In Christ

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free (free by faith in Christ and Him Crucified to live a holy life), and not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage (law of any kind).”(Galatians 5:1)

And Are Led By The Holy Spirit – With The Fruit of The Spirit Developing

“But the fruit (fruit singular- they grow equally): of the Spirit (not of man) is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22,23)

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Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com

A Blessing Forsaken And A Life Of Regret

“I will make of you (Abraham) a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:2,3)

The Lord called Abraham to leave his country, his kindred, and his father’s house and go to a land that God would show him. The Lord promised to bless him for obeying His voice. Abraham obeyed and left his country along with his wife, those that were under him (could have been as many as 1000 people including 318 fighting men), and his brother’s son Lot. They journeyed to Canaan.

The Bible says that Abraham was very wealthy in “cattle, in silver, and gold”. Lot also had “flocks and herds and tents.” And there came a time when due to their increased wealth and substance that there was “strife” between the herdsmen of Abraham and those of Lot. Abraham told Lot that there should not be any trouble between them as they were family. The decision was made that they would separate. Abraham let Lot choose the direction he would go and Lot saw that the plain of Jordan was “well watered everywhere”, so they separated and Lot journeyed east toward the plain of Jordan with Abraham remaining in the land of Canaan.

What Lot didn’t seem to realize was that he was being blessed because of Abraham, just as Israel didn’t understand that they were being blessed because of David when Absalom rebelled. Separating himself from Abraham for what looked like a “well-watered plain” was a mistake that he would come to regret as we will see.

[ The introductory verse above outlines the Abrahamic Covenant by which the Lord blessed Abraham and the nation of Israel which came from the loins of Abraham and the womb of Sarah. Israel blessed the world by being the caretakers of the Word of God and also brought the Messiah into the world. Everyone in the world that acknowledges Christ is blessed through Abraham. This covenant pointed to the One that would bless the whole world by paying the sin debt at Calvary.]

The plain that Lot saw as so desirable was where Sodom (and Gomorrah) were located. The Bible says Lot “pitched his tent toward Sodom.” The men of Sodom “were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.” Not a good report! Certainly not what anyone would want the Lord to say about them. During this time, Sodom and the surrounding cities served a more powerful king for 12 years. In the thirteenth year, they rebelled and came out against the powerful king and four other kings that joined in to put down their rebellion. These kings attacked Sodom and took captive Lot and his family. Abraham heard about this and came to Lot’s aid. Lot and his family were rescued along with all the people of Sodom. We see in this account that the Lord watches over His own even though at times we may not be in right relationship with Him. Did this make Lot change his ways and leave Sodom? Unfortunately, it did not. Lot and his family returned to Sodom.

After a period of time, the Lord came to Abraham and told him that He was going to destroy Sodom for its wickedness. Abraham sought the Lord’s mercy if 50 were found righteous in Sodom. There were not 50 righteous. Abraham continued to intercede with the Lord for Sodom asking if the Lord would spare Sodom if 45, then 30, and finally 10 righteous were found in Sodom. The sad fact was that there were not even 10 righteous in Sodom.

The Lord sent two angels to rescue Lot and his family. They found Lot in the gate of the city which probably meant he had some position of authority in Sodom. Lot convinced them to spend the night in his home. The men of Sodom found out about the “men” that had come to the city and were Lot’s guests. They surrounded the house and demanded that Lot send them out that they might “know them.” The angels blinded the men and told Lot that the Lord had sent them to destroy Sodom for its wickedness. Lot tried to get his prospective sons-in-law to come out of the city with his family before the Lord destroyed it but they refused. In the end, Lot, his wife, and two daughters escaped from the city with the two angels. The angels said that destruction could not come to Sodom until Lot and his family were out of the city. Even knowing that judgment was coming Lot was somewhat reluctant to leave and the angels had to forcibly remove them. This shows us that the Lord was watching over Lot and that the Lord’s judgments are not for the righteous.

Lot’s wife looked back and became a pillar of salt. The Bible intimates that she continued to look back at Sodom, that is, her heart was in Sodom. His two daughters concocted a scheme to conceive and bring forth children through their father. They said, “let us make our father drink wine and we will lie with him, that we may preserve the seed of our father.” They did just that and both had sons through their father. The Bible said that Lot, being full of wine, did not realize what was happening. Sadly, this is the last we hear of Lot.

Lot left Abraham where he was being blessed to live near Sodom a wicked city. The result of his choices in life wreaked havoc on Lot and his family. The Lord warns us as children of God to avoid evil. Our soul wars against this world and it’s ways. Lot lost the blessing of being near Abraham, his wife was taken from him, and his daughters conspired against him to bring forth children. We can learn a lesson from this. Sin has its attraction for a time, but if we give into it, it doesn’t end well for us.

And what does the New Testament say about Sodom and more specifically Lot? In Peter 2:6 we learn: “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow (judgment), making them an example unto those who after should live ungodly; and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation (lifestyle) of the wicked.” Sodom was destroyed by the Lord for the wicked behavior of the Sodomites. The specific behavior mention was homosexuality. This was to be an example of God’s judgment on sin to all those that would come after this time. By the way, the angels forcibly removing Lot and his family before the judgment of God could come on Sodom and Gomorrah is a type of all believers being taken out or “raptured” before God’s judgment on this world; the Bible says “for God has not appointed us to wrath.”

Lot is spoken of in the above verse as “just” meaning he had his faith in the coming savior and was therefore saved. His choices were not admirable as we have seen, and he suffered for those choices greatly. We are told in God’s Word to “come out from among them, and “be ye separate” and “Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” Lot did not do this and it cost him dearly. We are saved and set apart for the Lord. We are to follow Him and walk in His ways. A lot of trouble will come to us if we depart from His ways. We have a choice in this life just as Lot had choices. The pull of the world can be strong, but Jesus has overcome the world and we can too if we keep our faith in Him as we walk out this life.

“You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.” (Deut. 5:33)

See The Victorious Christian Living page on this website. Link Below.

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The Dying Thief

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, verily I say unto you, Today shall you be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:42,43)

The above verses are an account of a conversation between Jesus and one of the two thieves that were crucified alongside Him. The Bible tells us little about him except that after reviling Jesus along with the other thief, his opinion of the Lord completely changed. We see this with his response to the other thief’s harsh words to the Lord in the following verse:

“And one of the malefactors (one of the two) which were hanged (crucified) railed on Him (Jesus) saying, If you be the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

The repentant thief responded with this strong rebuke of the other thief:

“But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Do not you fear God, seeing that you are in the same condemnation. And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds.”

The thief is here admitting to his guilt and agreeing that he is being justly punished for his crime. He, in the spirit of true repentance, is admitting his sin and acknowledging that his punishment is just. He goes on to say this regarding Jesus:

“But this Man (Jesus) has done nothing amiss.”

This is one of the few kind words that Jesus received that day. He is realizing just who Jesus is and goes on to declare His Lordship and ask for forgiveness. He says:

“Lord, remember me when you come into Your kingdom.”

Dying on a cross for his wrongs, he now places his total faith in Jesus. A most incredible conversion. Jesus responds to his faith with the following:

“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto you, Today shall you be with me in Paradise.”

Repentance and faith in Christ and Him crucified are the only requirements for salvation. The thief certainly could not do any works to qualify himself for the reward of Heaven. The Lord did not say that he needed to go to Purgatory or do some penance to make himself worthy of Heaven. Jesus didn’t point him to His mother Mary who was in the crowd. He simply told the thief that he would be with Him in Paradise that very day. Jesus paid the full price for our sins on the cross. Just before He died He said, “It is finished.” There is nothing we could add to His “finished” work. Just like this thief, we are saved and made ready for Heaven by faith in Jesus and His atoning work on the cross.

By the way, the thief’s stay in Paradise was a very short one. Three days after the Lord’s death on the cross, He rose from the dead and all those in Paradise, which included all the Old Testament saints, accompanied Jesus to Heaven. The price had to be paid for the sin of man before anyone could have their sins forgiven and go to Heaven. Now, after Calvary, when someone dies, the Bible says that we go directly to Heaven to be with the Lord. The Apostle Paul said this: “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body (death), and to be present with the Lord (Heaven).” He paid it all. Only believe.

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

See the A,B,C’s of Salvation page on this website. Link below.

https://wordpress.com/page/tqministries.com/5448

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But Just How Do We Accomplish That?

“He who overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his (or her) God, and He shall be My son (or daughter).” Revelation 21:7

The Lord is clearly saying here that if we overcome (become an overcomer) we will inherit all things, be adopted into the family of God, and we shall become His son or daughter. What a promise! But just what is an overcomer and what do we need to do to overcome in this life? Most importantly, how do we know we have become overcomers?

First of all, the Lord promised blessings to those that overcome so it must be possible for us to attain to it. As far as what we are to overcome, we are told throughout the New Testament that we are to overcome the world, the flesh, and the Devil.

The World – 1 John 5:4 says, “For whatsoever (or whosoever) is born of God overcomes the world.” The world system is at enmity with God. We as Christians battle against a system that believes it doesn’t need God or His will for us in life and that everything can be accomplished without Him. Pride and self-will define the system and philosophies of the world.

The Flesh – Galatians 5:17 says, “For the flesh (in this case evil desires) lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary to one another: so that you cannot do the things that you would.” Paul talks about this in Romans Chapter 7. After becoming a Christian he experienced a war within himself. His desire was to live for God, but he found that he could not do that with willpower or in his own strength. There were things in his flesh that were opposed to God. We have weaknesses within and enemies without that war against us.

The Devil – The Bible makes it clear that this enemy is real, powerful and cannot be defeated in our own power. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.” Clearly, we have an adversary who is out to destroy us by any means. James 4:7 says, ” Submit yourself to God, resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.” We are told to be sober, vigilant, submit ourselves to God and resist the Devil; but how do we do this?

It becomes increasingly obvious as we read God’s Word that we, in ourselves, cannot overcome the world, the flesh or the Devil. So the Lord has shown us that it is possible to become an overcomer, but we are unable to accomplish this in our own strength. Paul, when realizing this cried out in Romans 7:24, “O wretched man that I am (he realized there was no victory in himself).” Once he realized his weakness and inability to live a life pleasing to the Lord in His own strength, he was on the right track! He then continues “who will deliver me from the body of this death?” His path to victory is opening up to him when he cries “who”. Finally, Paul says in verse 25, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Victory is now assured.

We become overcomers and know it only as we place our faith in Jesus and what He accomplished at the Cross and leave our faith there. Romans Chapter 6 says that, at conversion, we were “…baptized into His death (spiritually, we died with Him)“, “buried with Him (buried with Him with our past sins)”, and “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.” So we are to realize that spiritually, we have died with Christ, have been buried with Him and been raised in newness of life.

The source of all blessings from God comes through Jesus. The object of our faith must be Jesus and His finished work on the Cross. This allows the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, which is the only way to victory. We overcome by placing our faith in the Lord and His great work. Roman’s 8:2 makes this very clear for it says, “For the Law (Law of God) of the Spirit (Holy Spirit) of Life in Christ Jesus (Newness of Life from Christ due to what He accomplished on the Cross) has made me free (the only way to victory) from the Law of Sin and Death.” The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus is the most powerful spiritual law of God, and the only way to overcome the Law of Sin and Death.

Jesus said in His message to the Church of Laodicea in Revelation Chapter 3 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock (door of our heart), if any man (whosoever will) hear my voice, and open the door (Christ is the door to all God has for us), I will sup with him, and he with Me (the only way to victory).” It should be noted here that this message from Jesus was given to those already in the church. No wonder the Apostle Paul when admonishing the church at Corinth said “Examine yourself, whether you be in the Faith (faith in Christ and Him Crucified), prove your own selves (make sure). Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you (possible only with proper faith), except you be reprobates (rejected)” (2 Corinth 13:5). We see by this verse and the message to the Church of Laodicea how important properly placed faith is to us.

“They overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb (victory in Christ crucified exclusively) and by the word of their testimony (our testimony that our faith is in Christ and Him crucified)… (Revelation 12:11)

We overcome the world, the flesh and the Devil in the same way. In Revelation 12:11 we see that the saints of the Tribulation overcame by the “Blood of the Lamb” and “by the word of their testimony.” It is the same for us. Just before He dies, Jesus cried out “It is finished.” He has provided us everything for “life and godliness” by His great work on the cross. The sin debt was paid and we can live in newness of life by what He accomplished. If our faith is in Christ and Him crucified and not in anything else, then we can know that we are overcomers. What a Savior! We can exclaim along with Peter that this is “Joy unspeakable and full of glory.”

Rock Of Ages

Composed by Augustus Toplady in 1763

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee; let the water and the blood, from Thy wounded side which flow, be of sin the double cure*; save from wrath and make pure. Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the Cross I cling.

*Christ Crucified is the double cure. Save from wrath (salvation) and make pure (sanctification).

See The Victorious Christian Living page on this website. Link below.

https://wordpress.com/page/tqministries.com/211

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Tom Quinn Ministries –tqministries.com 2020

We Are Not Promised Tomorrow

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men”. Titus 2:11

Jonah 2:9 says, “Salvation is of the Lord.” So, just what is this salvation and how is it obtained? Theologically, according to the KJV Bible Dictionary, salvation is, “The redemption of man from the bondage of sin and the liability to eternal death, and the conferring on him eternal happiness.” In other words, we are forgiven our sins and released from its bondage, saved from Hell (eternal separation from the Lord) and offered eternal life (to be with the Lord forever). This amazing salvation is offered to us by a loving God. If we are to know just how to receive this wonderful salvation, we need to understand the following:

MAN IS A SINNER – Man is a sinner and cannot save himself. Romans 3:23 says, ” For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Due to original sin all of mankind is born with a sin nature. We cannot save ourselves. Romans 3:10-12 says speaking of all mankind, ” There is none righteous, no, not one. There is none who understands, there is none who seek after God. They are all gone out of the way (way of God), they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one.” What an indictment! Without the Lord, we are spiritually dead and without hope in the world.

GOD LOVES US – The Lord loves us and desires to have us come to Him and to the salvation He has provided. Ephesians 2:4,5 says, “But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins.” He is a merciful God and does not want to punish us, but He is also just and cannot overlook sin. Due to His nature sin must be judged. The Lord saw our hopeless state and had mercy on us. His love for us found a way to rescue us from ourselves and provide a great salvation for us. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have Everlasting Life.” (John 3:16)

CHRIST PAID THE PRICE FOR OUR SINS –At His first advent, Jesus as God in the flesh came to save mankind from sin. John 1:1,14 says of Him, ” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” He came to pay the price for our sins by dying on the Cross. Isaiah 53:6 makes this clear, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way (none righteous), and the Lord has laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity (sin) of us all.”

IT’S BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH– It’s by grace from first to last. Romans 6:23 says, ” For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” We receive this gift of God by faith. Ephesians 2:8,9 says. “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” The Lord is offering this gift of eternal life to all those that will believe. The Philippian jailer cried out to Paul, ” What must I do to be saved.” Paul’s response was immediate and sure ” Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved….” Acts 16:30,31. We can receive this wonderful salvation by repenting of our sins and coming by faith and believing that Jesus paid the full price for our sins with His great sacrifice on the Cross. Romans 10:10 makes it very clear, it says, ” That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” The following is a prayer acknowledging our guilt and confessing our need of the Lord:

SINNER’S PRAYER – Dear God in Heaven, I come to you in the Name of Jesus. I’m sorry for my sins, the way I’ve lived, the things I have done. Please forgive me. Cleanse me with the precious Blood of Jesus from all unrighteousness. With my mouth, I confess Jesus Christ. In my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, and He is alive. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as the Savior of my soul, and I make Him the Lord of my life. And according to your word which cannot lie, I am washed: I am cleansed, I am forgiven. I am saved. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer and believed it, you have passed from death to life and have become a child of God (born again) and will spend eternity with the Lord. This is the great Salvation He has provided for all those that love Him. John 1:12 says, “But as many as received Him (Christ), to them gave He power to become the sons (and daughters) of God.” We become the children of God by coming in faith and accepting the free gift the Lord has provided for us. This salvation offered by the Lord came at a great price to the Lord. I’m convinced that we will never fully or totally understand just how much it cost the Lord to provide this wonderful salvation for us. “We love Him because He first loved us.” We have a great God.

Jesus’ great sacrifice has delivered us from this present evil world as Galatians 1:4 tells us, “Who gave Himself for our sins (the Cross), that He might deliver us from this present evil world.” Salvation comes from the Lord and the Lord alone and comes to us by faith in Jesus Christ and His great work on the Cross. Jesus said, ” I am the way, the truth, and the life: No man comes unto the Father but by Me”. We should thank the Lord every day for providing the way of salvation. Yes, “Salvation is of the Lord”, and what a great salvation it is. Praise Him.

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Tom Quinn Ministries –tqministries.com 2020

The Lord Seeks Out Those With A Heart Towards Him

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. ” (Luke 19:10)

Cornelius was a Gentile and “a centurion of the band called the Italian band.” He was in charge of about one hundred men. We will see that he was a good man and a person well respected in his city of Caesarea. The Bible has the following to say about him:

“A devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.” (Acts 10:1)

So, here we have a devout man who feared God, provided for those in need, and prayed to God faithfully. We will see that although all these qualities were admirable, and something we should all strive after, they did not save Cornelius. Cornelius was unsaved. However, this man’s good life was noticed by the Lord. We will see that the Lord, through the Apostle Peter, will show Cornelius the way of salvation. The Lord always responds to those with an earnest heart.

“He (Cornelius) saw in a vision…..an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius…. And he (the angel) said unto him, your prayers and your alms are come up for a memorial before the Lord.” (Acts 10)

Cornelius was instructed by the angel to send for Peter in Joppa so that he might hear the Gospel and be saved. By the way, this would be the first Gentile to be saved as recorded in the Book of Acts. The Lord was opening the door for “whosoever will” to come to the saving knowledge of the Lord. On this occasion, Peter received a vision from the Lord as well.

“And (Peter) saw Heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to earth. (Acts 10)

In the sheet coming which came down from Heaven were “all manner of four feated beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.” These would be seen by Peter as unclean animals.

“And there a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” (Acts 10)

Peter responds to this by telling the Lord, no, that he had “never eaten anything common or unclean.” These were seen by the Jews as defiled and forbidden by the Law of Moses. The unclean animals were representative of the Gentiles in the vision. Through this vision, the Lord would show Peter that what was done on the cross was for the Gentile (all other nations) as well as the Jew. As Peter pondered these things, men sent by Cornelius arrived.

“While Peter thought of the vision, the Spirit said unto him, behold, three men seek you. Arise therefore and get down, and go with them, doubting nothing for I have sent them.” (Acts 10)

Peter, of course, agreed to go with them, and when he arrived in Caesarea he found Cornelius waiting for him with his whole family. Peter shared with them what the Lord had shown him, that he, “should not call any man common or unclean.” And Cornelius explained to Peter that he had been fasting and an angel had appeared to him and instructed him to send for Peter. And now that Peter had arrived, he and his family were anxious to hear all the Lord had commanded Peter to share with them.

“Peter opened his mouth, and said, of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation, he who fears Him, and works righteousness, is accepted Him (Christ). (Acts 10)

Peter goes on to share the Gospel with Cornelius, starting with John the Baptist who introduced Christ. How Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, went throughout Israel doing good and healing all. He shared with them that the Apostles and others were witnesses to all He did and that God was with Him. How He was crucified and rose from the dead, and that all that believe in Him will receive remission of sins. Cornelius and his family believed all that Peter shared with them. The Bible goes on to say that, now saved, the Holy Spirit fell on them all.

“While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the Word.” (Acts 10)

Cornelius and his family believed and were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit showing that salvation was for all and not limited to the nation of Israel. This record of the salvation of Cornelius shows us that the grace of God is for all those who believe and that salvation is by grace (unmerited favor) alone. Just as the Lord looked favorably upon Cornelius; He seeks out and will come to all those that look to Him with a sincere heart.

God Loves Us

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

See The A,B,C’s of salvation page on this website. Link below.

https://wordpress.com/page/tqministries.com/5448

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Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2020