Peace and grace in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 3:1-20 is about John the Baptist.
Luke 3:21-38 is about Jesus Christ.
Luke 3:21-22
3:21. When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.
3:22. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."
The title is "Jesus the Son of God was baptized".
Jesus is innocent man and does not need to be baptized. But, why must Jesus be baptized in water?
Hebrews 1: 1-2
1:1. God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets
1:2. has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
In the Old Testament, God speaks by the prophets.
In the New Testament, God speaks by His Son, Jesus.
Prophetic Word isas follows.
Since Jesus as Head has been baptized, we, as His body, must be baptized like Jesus.
If we experience water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism like Jesus, we will experience the opened heavens. We experience new life, that is heavenly life to become the children of God.
The practices of becoming the children of God areas follows.
Jesus as Son of God is trusted to speak the prophetic Word. As children of God, we will be trusted to receive the prophetic Word. It means we hear and obey to the prophetic Word.
Why do some people refuse the prophetic Word? Because they are not the children of God. In addition, they keep sins and do not live in righteousness.
The results of hearing and obeyingthe prophetic Wordare as follows.
The resultsare as follows.
God blesses us.
Luke 3:1-20 is about John the Baptist.
Luke 3:21-38 is about Jesus Christ.
Luke 3:21-22
3:21. When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.
3:22. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."
The title is "Jesus the Son of God was baptized".
Jesus is innocent man and does not need to be baptized. But, why must Jesus be baptized in water?
- For doing God's will.
Matthew 3: 15
3:15. But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. - For giving us example about right water baptism.
Matthew 3: 16
3:16. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
Right water baptismis being buried with Jesus in the water, raised from water with Jesus and the Heavens are opened, which means there is connection with Heaven.
The opened heavens gives 2 thingsas follows.- The Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him, refers to Holy Spirit baptism.
- And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
It means, after having the water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism, Jesus was recognized as the Son of God by Father in Heaven.
- The Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him, refers to Holy Spirit baptism.
Hebrews 1: 1-2
1:1. God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets
1:2. has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
In the Old Testament, God speaks by the prophets.
In the New Testament, God speaks by His Son, Jesus.
Prophetic Word isas follows.
- Word revealed by God by a verse explains another verse.
- Word that reveals hidden sins in the congregation to be purified and perfected.
That is why, this is called as the Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword. - Word that reveals everything that will happen for sure in the last days. Especially, it is about God's punishment to the world and about Jesus' coming on second time in the glory as King of kings and the Groom.
Since Jesus as Head has been baptized, we, as His body, must be baptized like Jesus.
If we experience water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism like Jesus, we will experience the opened heavens. We experience new life, that is heavenly life to become the children of God.
The practices of becoming the children of God areas follows.
- Living in the righteousness.
1 John 3: 10
3:10. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousnessis not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. - Loving each other.
We love others like ourselves, even love our enemies. At least, we pray for people who hate us. - Being faithful in the God's house.
Hebrews 3: 6
3:6. but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.
For now, we are faithful in ministry to God.
Jesus as Son of God is trusted to speak the prophetic Word. As children of God, we will be trusted to receive the prophetic Word. It means we hear and obey to the prophetic Word.
Why do some people refuse the prophetic Word? Because they are not the children of God. In addition, they keep sins and do not live in righteousness.
The results of hearing and obeyingthe prophetic Wordare as follows.
- The prophetic Word comfortsusin the suffering with Jesus in all conditions, so that we can be patient.
1 Corinthians14: 3
14:3. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfortto men
Small prophecy is just for strengthening us to receive the Word.
The prophecy is the Word itself.
To be patient in the suffering meansas follows.- Not to grumble or be hopeless, but to be happy.
- To be patient to wait for God's time. Only hope to God, do not make your own way out that is not according to the Word.
- Not to grumble or be hopeless, but to be happy.
- The prophetic Word exhorts.
Psalms 73: 24
73:24. You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.
The advice is same as the hand of God's guidance, so that we can live in righteousness and holiness.
The hand of God's guidance is the way out from all problems, and it leads us to the bright future. - Prophetic Word edifies.
It means: the prophetic Word makes us active in the ministry of the building of the body of Christ, according to our ministry we have got from God.
The ministry of the building of the body of Christ starts from marriage, shepherding and inter-shepherding, until Israel and Gentiles become one body.
If we are active in the ministry of the building of the body of Christ, we place Jesus as the Head. The proofs are as follows.- We become faithful and active in the ministry (head and body are never separated).
- We are holy and faithful.
Jesus is holy, and so are we.
Jesus is faithful, and so are we. - Worshipping God often (the connection between the head and the body is on the neck).
- We become faithful and active in the ministry (head and body are never separated).
The resultsare as follows.
- For this time: God never forgetsus.
Isaiah 49: 14-15
49:14. But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten me.
49:15. "Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.
It is same as God always remembers and watches us, like powerless baby in His merciful Hand, which means as follows.- God's merciful hand is able to take care our powerless lifein the middle of tough world until the impossible one when antichrist reigns over the world.
- God's merciful hand helps usfrom all impossible problems right on His time.
- God's merciful hand is able to take care our powerless lifein the middle of tough world until the impossible one when antichrist reigns over the world.
- For future: Jesus will always remember us when He comes on second time.
Luke 23: 42-43
23:42. Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.
23:43. And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.
We will be lifted up with Him in the glorious clouds and be with Him forever.
We enter paradise and eternal kingdom of Heaven.
If Jesus remembers the criminal, moreover He remembers us, His children and servants. Provided that we want to receive the Word, we will always be remembered by God.
This criminal refers to wicked and unclean life, who totally fails. God still remembers and watches us.
God blesses us.