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DIVINE 

The writers of the gospel accounts, provided for us in the Bible, do not give us the date of the day when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Though they do place everything in their historical context. More importantly, they tell us who Jesus is. 

Luke (2:8-12 ESV) gives us this detail: 

[8] And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. [10] And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. [12] And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 

Saviour! The Christ! The Lord! 

In fact, it wasn’t that day or night that was divine. It was the baby that was placed in that manger who is divine, literally. The Lord! God in flesh! The Father sending his unique eternal Son into the world. 

Before they were married, when Joseph had been pondering what to do when he was told that Mary was pregnant, before they had intercourse with each other, an angel of the Lord told him that the child in her womb was conceived miraculously through the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:18-25. 

Mary had already been told by the angel Gabriel before she conceived: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35).” Luke 1:26-56. 

Centuries before, the Word of the Lord was declared through the prophet Isaiah that a virgin would become pregnant and give birth to a son who would be called Emmanuel, which means God with us. Matthew 1:22-23. Isaiah 7:14. 

John (1:1-4, 14 ESV) gives us this detail: 

[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. [4] In him was life, and the life was the light of men … [14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

To Philip, in the hearing of his colleagues, Jesus said: 

“Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father … (John 14:9 ESV).” 

Normally, there had been nothing in his visual appearance that had indicated this (Philippians 2:5-11; Isaiah 53:1-3; John 17:1-5 & 24-26). Peter, James and John were given a brief glimpse of his majesty (Mark 9:2-9; 2 Peter 2:16-19), but even this took time to sink in. 

It had taken a while for them to fully understand. But they got there. 

Later, in one of his letters, John wrote, still full of wonder (1 John 1:1-3 NIV): 

[1] That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched — this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. [2] The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. [3] We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 

The one who God, the Father, sent into the world to save us from our sins, is the eternal Son of God. God miraculously provided him with a human body in Mary‘s womb through his Holy Spirit, the eternal Spirit of God. The Lord Jesus Christ is both God and human. Galatians 4:4-7. 

The importance of believing this cannot be overestimated. 

Consider the following words of Jesus: 

John 8:58 ESV 

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 

See Exodus 3:14. 

John 8:24 NIV

“ … if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” 

John 10:30 CSB

“I and the Father are one." 

Believing who Jesus is, is as important as believing what he accomplished by dying on the cross and rising again. 

God bless you with faith. 

FOR FURTHER READING 

John 20:24-31 

1 John 4:1-4 

2 John 1:7 

Isaiah 9:6 

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 

Hebrews 10:5-18 

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Continued from previous blog post: CTG 0073 

Present and future manifestation of God’s Kingdom

Jesus did not come into the world to set up a political party. 

And he said: “My kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36).” 

Nor is it based on the Old Mosaic Covenant. Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant. 

His kingdom is manifested by his presence, demonstrated through his preaching and teaching, through the miracles, healings and ministry of deliverance that he performed, and through his outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon those who believe and follow him. 

The gospel is referred to as being the gospel of the kingdom. Its continual transforming power is observable in the lives of those who believe the good news. 

Everyone who has been born again by the Holy Spirit through the gospel enter into everything that the atoning work of Christ secured for us. And its complete fullness will be revealed when Jesus returns. 

Even our present frail bodies will be swallowed up by life. 

No more tears, no more pain, no more suffering, no more death, no more trials and temptations, no more sin. 

Utter Joy. 

Forever with our Lord.

For all believers from every nation and ethnic group, who have put their trust in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

Please see these three earlier blog posts: CTG 0022, CTG 0024 & CTG 0052

FOR FURTHER READING 

Isaiah 61:1-2 

Daniel 7:13-14 

Matthew 4:13-25; 5:1 to 7:29; 11:1-6; 12:28; 25:1-46 

Luke 1:26-38; 4:16-21; 17:20-21 

John 3:1-21 

Acts 8:4-8; 8:12; 19:8-20; 20:17-32; 28:23-31 

Romans 7:12-14; 8:1-4; 15:15-21 

1 Corinthians 15:50-58 

2 Corinthians 3:1 to 6:2 

Colossians 1:13-14 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 

1 Timothy 2:1-6 

Hebrews 8:6-13; 9:15; 12:18-24 

1 John 3:1-3 

2 Peter 1:11 

Revelation 21:1 to 22:21 

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Continued from the previous blogpost (CTG 0072) 

GOD'S OBJECTIVE 

Those of us who have repented of our sin, and have put our trust in Jesus Christ our Saviour, experience God's abundant mercy. 

Although guilty of sin, God counts us as righteous in his sight because we believe in his Son. 

And he forgives us. Not because of anything we have done to earn it. But because Jesus bore our guilt and suffered for it, dying in our place. 

God throws our sins as it were into the depths of the sea. And forgets them. Washing us clean with the blood of Jesus that he sacrificed on the cross. 

We were spiritually dead in our transgressions against God. But he has given us life. Eternal life. In Christ, who rose from the dead, never to die again.

God loves us so much. He always has and always will. This is his amazing grace. 

He has dealt with our past. And he is transforming us at the present time. 

Nothing will separate us from the love of Christ. 

God is eternally and totally committed to transform us, so that we become more and more like his Son Jesus, day by day. 

Even in the middle of our present struggles the Holy Spirit is interceding for us so that his objective keeps on progressing. God is working towards this end, for our good, because he loves us and we love him. 

This is the reason why God sent his Son into the world. To save us. Eternally save us. 

This gracious and powerful purpose that God is totally committed to will be completed when Jesus returns. 

When Jesus returns we will be lifted up to meet him in the sky. And when we see him, we will be like him. The transformation will be completed and glorious. 

There is no hope for those who are not in Christ. That is why it is so important to spread the good news, the gospel, so that those who don’t yet believe have the opportunity to repent and respond in faith to this message of salvation. 

If you are reading this and you realise that you have never turned to God by believing Jesus is his Son and that he gave his life to bear the punishment for all our guilt … I would like to encourage you to turn to God and ask him to help you to repent and to believe the good news with all your heart. God bless you. 

FOR FURTHER READING 

Micah 7:18-20 

Jeremiah 31:31-34 

Isaiah 1:18; 43:25 

Matthew 1:18-25; 24:14; 28:18-20 

Mark 1:14-15 

Luke 24:45-47 

John 1:29-34; 3:1-21 

Romans 3:9 to 5:11 

Romans 8:1-39; 12:1-2 

1 Corinthians 15:1-58 

2 Corinthians 3:1-18 

Galatians 2:15-21; 5:16-26 

Ephesians 2:1 to 3:21 

Ephesians 4:17 to 5:21 

Philippians 3:20 to 4:1 

1 Thessalonians 4:1 to 5:11 

Hebrews 8:6-13 

1 Peter 1:13 to 2:12 

1 John 1:1 to 3:3 

Revelation 3:5; 7:9-17; 20:15; 21:27 

Revelation 20:11 to 22:21 

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The Second Coming of Jesus Christ 

God sent his Son, our Saviour, into the world. 

When Jesus rose from the dead he gave his disciples convincing proof of his resurrection, over a period of forty days. 

Then he returned to his Father in heaven. He was lifted up as they watched him go, until they couldn't see him anymore. 

Two angels, in human form, stood beside them and told them: "This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven (Acts 1:11)." 

Jesus is coming back! 

He will descend from heaven. 

This same Jesus! 

Not a substitute. 

Jesus said: "... if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe him ... (Matthew 24: 23)." 

We don't know when he will return. 

But when he does, it will be such a sudden, clear and phenomenal event that no one will be in doubt. 

After Jesus suffered and died for our sins in our place on the cross, on the very evening of the day when he rose from the dead, he said to his disciples: "Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, I also send you (John 20:21)." 

After his ascension he sent the Holy Spirit from his Father, to empower them for the task of spreading the gospel. 

He had already told them: " … this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24: 14)." 

The power of the Holy Spirit is still available to all followers of Christ today, enabling us to continue the task until Jesus returns. 

The apostle Peter wrote: " … do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day. The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come … (2 Peter 3:8-10)." 

Bible quotes are from the NET translation. 

FOR FURTHER READING 

1 John 4 

Matthew 24 

Mark 13 

Luke 21:5-36 

John 13-17 

Acts 1-2 

1 Thessalonians 

2 Thessalonians 

2 Peter 3 

Revelation 1:7 

Revelation 22:12-17 

Isaiah 9:6-7 

Daniel 7:13-14 

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KEEP ON GOING 

The Bible describes the church and its Christ-given mission, locally and across the globe, in various ways. Providing statements and pictures that instruct believers so that we can understand how God works in us and through us. 

Empowering us by his Holy Spirit to (a) encourage and build up the Christian community collectively and (b) reach out with love and compassion to those who have not yet experienced the powerful work of salvation provided in Christ alone. 

All those who belong to him are involved. We don’t all have the same God-given abilities. But together we all have a unifying and expanding part to play in the overall strategy. 

For example, the apostle Paul made the following statement when writing to the church in Corinth: 

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 

[6] I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. [7] So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 

This reflects what Jesus said to his disciples: 

John 4:37-38 

[37] For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ [38] I sent you to reap that for which you did not labour. Others have laboured, and you have entered into their labour. 

The purpose of this particular blogpost is to encourage those who, after all that they have done, feel that it is so small and insignificant in their own eyes. 

For example, you have sowed the gospel but feel that there has been so little fruit compared with what you had hoped for. 

Trust God. Others may reap what you have sowed. And God has been at work through it all. 

Keep on doing what God has given you to do. 

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The purpose of Pentecost 

To spread the gospel of Christ everywhere, empowered by the Holy Spirit 

Then 

Now 

Until Jesus returns 

Encouraging conversations: 

https://www.youtube.com/live/fFqDN8LfJeI?si=3xSrzsSIq3fNzS1a

FOR FURTHER READING 

Matthew 24:14 

Matthew 28:18-20 

Acts 1:8 

Acts 2:1-47 

Acts 4:1-31 

Acts 5:27-32 

Romans 15:18-21 

Hebrews 2:1-4 

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Continued from previous blogpost 

IT SHOULDN'T SURPRISE US 

It shouldn't surprise believers in Christ that the devil and his forces of evil are opposed to us. 

Not only do they seek to discourage us from sharing the good news of salvation with others. They are also totally committed to tempt us to sin. 

Being tempted is not sin. Giving way to it is. 

Jesus was tempted. He never surrendered to it. 

When the fact dawns on us, we might be shocked by the extent of the temptations he faced. He was “in every respect … tempted as we are, yet without sin.” He knows by experience the temptations and trials we are confronted by and is able "to sympathise with our weaknesses.” 

It shouldn’t surprise us that our Saviour is totally committed to everyone who puts their trust in him. 

He is enthroned on high and mediates on behalf of everyone who belongs to him. And he intercedes for us. We are encouraged to draw near to that "throne of grace" with confidence, "that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” 

At this moment in time, if we claim that we never make a fault, we delude ourselves. And if we are indifferent to and negligent of the transforming grace that is now available to us so that we increasingly become more like Jesus, then there is something seriously wrong. This transformation will be completed when Jesus returns. But it is already in progress, aided by the Holy Spirit as we behold Christ in his Word. 

If we think that we can attract others to Christ by compromised living or speech, then we undermine the objective and dishonour our Saviour. 

And yet there is mercy if we turn to him, repentant and with faith. 

FOR FURTHER READING 

Romans 8:34 

1 Timothy 2:5-6 

Hebrews 4:14-16 

Hebrews 5:7-10 

Hebrews 9:15 

Hebrews 9:24 

James 1:12 

James 4:7 

1Peter 5:6-11 

1 John 1:5-2:6 

Romans 8:1-39 

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 

2 Corinthians 3:12-18 

2 Corinthians 13:5 

Ephesians 2:1-10 

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SALVATION ACCOMPLISHED 

SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS 

When God sent his eternal Son into the world he provided a body for him in a virgin's womb through the powerful and miraculous activity of his eternal Holy Spirit. 

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem Satan tried to eliminate him. Via King Herod, who gave the orders for all the male children in the vicinity, two years of age and under, to be killed. Herod felt threatened and was trying to get rid of the Christ. Directed by one of God’s angels, Joseph, Mary and Jesus escaped. 

Many years later, when he was about 30 years of age, God his Father anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit, empowering him for the task he sent him into the world to accomplish. 

Full of the Holy Spirit he was led by him into the wilderness, where he fasted for forty days and was tempted by the devil, who sought to turn him away from his Father and gain control of him. 

At various times Jesus faced many different kinds of temptations. In fact, he was tempted in all the ways we are, yet without sinning. The battle was real and intense, but he resisted the onslaught, refusing to follow Satan’s and Adam’s fall into sin. 

Jesus kept on course. Praying, helping those in need, preaching, teaching, performing miracles and preparing his disciples for the years ahead. 

He was totally committed to his Father’s will. Father, Son and Holy Spirit were united in their objective. And after three years of public and personal ministry the time drew near for Jesus to be crucified. The primary objective for which his Father sent him into the world. He was truly God’s perfect sacrifice for sin, holy, spotless, guiltless. The Lamb of God, who was about to carry, suffer for and die for the sins the world, once for all. Yours and mine. 

Satan entered Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ disciples who had arranged for Jesus to be taken captive and handed over to the Jewish authorities, the majority of whom wanted to get rid of him. They in turn handed him over to Pontius Pilate, the ruling governor of the Roman province of Judea under the Roman Emperor Tiberius. They manipulated the governor to have Jesus crucified, even though Pilate knew Jesus was innocent and that they were motivated by jealousy. The crowd, influenced by their leaders, cried: “Crucify him.” 

There at Jerusalem, outside the city walls, on Golgotha, a prominent location, Jesus gave his life for us, between two criminals who were crucified at the same time, his blood poured out to save sinners: “... the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God ...(Hebrews 9:14). He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).” 

Before Jesus died one of the criminals experienced a fundamental change of heart, turning to Christ in faith. To whom Jesus said: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43).”  

Before he bowed his head and gave up his spirit, Jesus said: “It is Finished (John 19:30).” Accomplished! Paid for! "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7)." 

Calling out with a loud voice, he then said: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Luke 23:46)” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 

His body was laid in a tomb. 

And on the third day he rose from the dead. 

By sharing in our humanity and through his death, Jesus broke the power of the devil who had the power over death. And rising from the dead he is now alive for evermore, holding the keys of death and Hades. His resurrection confirms the victory of the cross on behalf of everyone who belongs to him by faith. 

Salvation is provided for everyone who truly repents of their sins and believes the good news. 

Satan’s ultimate destiny is forever sealed, the lake of fire. Also for all the angels who fell with him. The same is true for everyone who doesn't receive eternal life through faith in the gospel. 

The mission of the church, wherever it is based, is to spread the gospel to others, especially among those who have not yet heard it. Giving the opportunity for people in every nation, among all people groups, to respond to God’s directive to repent and believe. 

Satan is totally opposed to the message of salvation. He and his forces of darkness are committed to hinder the spreading of the gospel. They hate God. They hate humankind. And they do not want people to hear the good news about salvation. So they devise all kinds of strategies to sidetrack and hinder us from speaking to others about Jesus and the reason why he died on the cross and why he rose from the dead. 

Christians are involved in a battle. But it is not against people. It is against the spiritual forces of evil aligned with the devil. And we fight it, not with the military might of humankind, but with the Lord’s strength, with the armour that God provides us with (Ephesians 6:10-24): 

  - His truth 

  - His righteousness 

  - His gospel of peace 

  - Faith that he provides us with 

  - His salvation 

  - His Holy Spirit-inspired Word 

Clothed with the armour that God provides us with, we are able to resist the devil and do what God wants us to do, standing firm. 

We are also encouraged to pray for each other, with the ability that the Holy Spirit provides us with. Praying also for boldness to speak clearly with others about the gospel of Christ. 

When Jesus rose from the dead ... "On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.' When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you' (John 20:19-21)." 

Biblical quotes are from the ESV

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THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SCRIPTURES

After his death and resurrection, and before he ascended back to his Father, Jesus spent time with his followers, helping them to understand what the Old Testament Scriptures say about him and preparing them for the local and worldwide mission that would follow on from his having accomplished eternal redemption for all who believe.

Step by step, as the message of salvation was being spread and gatherings of believers established in many different places, the New Testament Scriptures came into existence. These were separate documents (that were later collected together), written for groups of people and individuals, and many copies were made of the individual manuscripts.

For example, the apostle John was a close eyewitness of the ministry, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ and the Holy Spirit inspired him to provide a written account of conversations, events and miracles. And he states the objective: “... these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:31 ESV).” It is clear that John was not only supplying an important historical record. He was also reaching out to those who did not yet believe in Christ, supplying them with a basis for faith. (See also 1 John 1:1-4.)

Luke was not an eyewitness, but he thoroughly researched the testimony of those who were, and he wrote an account for an individual named Theophilus, stating his purpose: “... so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught (Luke 1:4 NIV).”

Luke followed this up with a second researched account (Acts 1:1-2), covering what happened during the three decades after Jesus’ ascension. Before Jesus was lifted up, watched by his disciples, he told them that the Holy Spirit would enable them to spread the good news about him “... in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth (Acts 1:8 NET).” Luke covers the early years of that expansion in Acts. And he became a part of the history too, as a later companion of the apostle Paul, indicated by the change of vocabulary from “they” to “we”, commencing in Acts 16:10.

The gospel accounts and Acts provide the context for the rest of the New Testament correspondence. 

And the mission continues across the generations until Jesus returns.

It is clear that Jesus wants the proclamation of the gospel to be Holy Spirit-enabled and Bible-based (Luke 24:44-49). 

Notice how Philip the evangelist was able to share the gospel with an Ethiopian who was reading a passage from the Old Testament: “... beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus (Acts 8:35 NLT).” 

Look at the apostle Paul’s practice too (Acts 17:1-17; Romans 1:1-6 & 16:25-27) and his instruction to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:10-4:5). The apostle Peter puts Paul’s correspondence on equal standing with the Old Testament Scriptures (2 Peter 3:13-18).

In fact, the whole Bible is uniquely God-breathed and essential for our instruction. From Genesis to Revelation, both the Old Testament and the New Testament Scriptures. And they point us to Christ and our need of him.

If our understanding of the Bible is not centred on Jesus and his gospel we will drift and become engrossed with side issues or even weird theories.

Among those communities of christian believers that were established as a result of spreading the gospel, God gifted some with the Holy Spirit-enabled ability to faithfully expound the Scriptures, God’s Word. So that christians were (a) strengthened in their faith and (b) encouraged to build each other up for their life together as a church, as well as (c) being equipped for their daily interaction with others too. This is not the only ability given to believers by the Holy Spirit, then and now, but it is foundational. (See Ephesians 4:11-16, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Acts 20:17-32, 1 Timothy 4:12-16 & Acts 18:24-28.)

The New Testament includes four compatible accounts of the gospel, written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. As already stated, these were initially separate documents. They are also available today in separate printed form (as well as in editions of the full Bible). Handy to give one to someone who is not yet a christian, so that they can read the gospel for themselves. 

For everyone wanting to read the whole Bible, John's account is a good place to start. Followed by the Luke-Acts combination. Providing a foundation for then starting to read the whole Bible, step by step. For example, systematically reading (or listening to) a passage in both the Old Testament and the New Testament each day. 

God bless you. 

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To encourage the spread of the good news about Jesus Christ 

These two videos were recorded in February 2021 during the Covid pandemic. 

FOR FURTHER READING 

It would be good to look the following statements up in the Bible and to read the broad context. 

John 3:16 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” 

John 14:6 

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  

Acts 1:8 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 

Acts 4:12 

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 

Acts 4:29-31 

[29] “And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, [30] while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” [31] And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 

The above Bible references are from the ESV translation. 

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This short video was recorded close to our home in February 2021, during the COVID-pandemic, and uploaded onto YouTube. 

The message is in two parts with a pause in the middle. Simply keep on listening. 

May this recording be an encouragement for all followers of Jesus Christ. Wherever you live, whatever difficulties and trials you may be facing. Keep telling others the gospel, so that they too have the opportunity to believe in Jesus, God's Son. 

The video might be followed by a brief clip randomly chosen by YouTube's set-up and not by me. 

Psalm 23:1-6 NLT 

[1] The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

[2] He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.

[3] He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honour to his name.

[4] Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

[5] You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honour me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.

[6] Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever. 

John 14:1-6 ESV 

[1] “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

[2] In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 

[3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.  

[4] And you know the way to where I am going.” 

[5] Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 

[6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

John 1:29 NIV

... “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" 

Acts 1:7-8 NIV 

He said to them: “... you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

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The Success of the Cross 

This audio message was recorded on 29th March 2013 at CCS Wales and is here presented in 3 video parts. 

The purpose of this audio presentation is:  

1. to encourage those who are already followers of Jesus Christ to be revived in our appreciation of what he has done for us, inspring the spreading of the gospel. 

2. to help those who are not yet Christians, but are nevertheless considering the message of the gospel, to cross the line from doubt to faith in God’s Son. 

Those who truly put their trust in Jesus Christ belong to God forever. 

More notes are here below. 

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

The Bible statements (ESV) referred to in the 3 video parts are the following: 

Isaiah 53: 5 

He was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. 

2 Corinthians 5: 21 

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 

Revelation 5: 9 

… you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation … 

Revelation 7: 9-10 

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 

John 20: 21 

Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." 

FOR FURTHER READING: 

John 1: 10-14 

Romans 8: 12-39 

Galatians 3: 8-29 

Titus 3: 3-7 

1 Peter 2: 9-10 

Revelation 21: 3-8 

Matthew 26: 26-27 

Mark 14: 22-24 

Luke 22: 19-20 

Acts 2: 37-42 

1 Corinthians 11: 23-26 

Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12 

John 1: 29 

Luke 24: 1-53 

Acts 1: 1-11 

Romans 1: 8-17 

1 Corinthians 1: 18 - 2: 5 

1 Corinthians 6: 9-11 

1 Thessalonians 1: 1-10 

Titus 2: 11-14 

1 John 1: 1-10