Bible Study - Ends Times - Oil - Mathew 12:32, Mathew 24:1-52, Mahew 25;1-13 - September 20, 2026

 

Bible Study – End Times - Oil – Mathew 12:32, Mathew 24:1-52, Mathew 25:1-13 - September 20, 2026

Matthew 12:32 - Christian Standard Bible

³² Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the one to come.

Why?

THE HOLY SPIRIT is the main communicator between GOD and mankind.

THE HOLY SPIRIT is the oil in the lamps of the parable of the ten virgins.

All virgins but not all had sufficient oil in their lamps to sustain them while waiting for the bridegroom to come.

Let’s explore!!!

Mathew 24:1-52:

24 As Jesus left and was going out of the temple, his disciples came up and called his attention to its buildings. ² He replied to them, “Do you see all these things? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down.”

Often, our human minds build permanency in physical structures.

We have just been reminded of the tragic events of 9/11.

The collapse of the Twin Towers is a stark reminder of how quickly things can change and bring down buildings thought to be built to withstand the forces of man and nature.

JESUS knew what the religious leaders in HIS day thought would last forever, would be changed by HIS life, death, resurrection, ascension and GOD’S Gift of THE HOLY SPIRIT in the hearts of all who place their faith in JESUS and HIS Passion, which includes HIS resurrection and ascension into Heaven to take HIS seat at the right hand of GOD, HIS FATHER.

Signs of the End of the Age

³ While he (JESUS) was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

⁴ Jesus replied to them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many. ⁶ You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet. ⁷ For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines^[a] and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these events are the beginning of labor pains.

Persecutions Predicted

⁹ “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. ¹⁰ Then many will fall away, betray one another, and hate one another. ¹¹ Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. ¹² Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³ But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world^[b] as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The Great Tribulation

¹⁵ “So, when you see the abomination of desolation,^[c] spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place” (let the reader understand), ¹⁶ “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. ¹⁷ A man on the housetop^[d] must not come down to get things out of his house, ¹⁸ and a man in the field must not go back to get his coat. ¹⁹ Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! ²⁰ Pray that your escape may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. ²¹ For at that time there will be great distress,^[e] the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again. ²² Unless those days were cut short, no one would^[f] be saved. But those days will be cut short because of the elect.

²³ “If anyone tells you then, ‘See, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Over here!’ do not believe it. ²⁴ For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. ²⁵ Take note: I have told you in advance. ²⁶ So if they tell you, ‘See, he’s in the wilderness!’ don’t go out; or, ‘See, he’s in the storerooms!’ do not believe it. ²⁷ For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. ²⁸ Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures^[g] will gather.

Keep in mind that JESUS speaking ------

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁹ “Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth^[h] will mourn;^[i] and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹ He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

The Parable of the Fig Tree

³² “Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize^[j] that he^[k] is near—at the door. ³⁴ Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. ³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

No One Knows the Day or Hour

³⁶ “Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels of heaven nor the Son^[l] —except the Father alone. ³⁷ As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. ³⁸ For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark. ³⁹ They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be. ⁴⁰ Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding grain with a hand mill; one will be taken and one left. ⁴² Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day^[m] your Lord is coming. ⁴³ But know this: If the homeowner had known what time^[n] the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Faithful Service to Christ

⁴⁵ “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time? ⁴⁶ Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes. ⁴⁷ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁸ But if that wicked servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delayed,’ ⁴⁹ and starts to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with drunkards, ⁵⁰ that servant’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. ⁵¹ He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Let’s continue reading in Mathew 25:1-13: Christian Standard Bible

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25 “At that time, the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins^[a] who took their lamps^[b] and went out to meet the groom. ² Five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³ When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them; ⁴ but the wise ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. ⁵ When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

The oil is The Holy Spirit and is vital in the outcome of a person’s sustainability as we get closer to the Second coming of JESUS, the rapture of the true church, or facing death.

⁶ “In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’

⁷ “Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’

Faith is personal and once saved, those who have placed their faith in JESUS, their lamps, have sufficient oil to sustain them!!!

⁹ “The wise ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

We cannot ride on someone else’s faith. Salvation is personal and individual.

¹⁰ “When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. ¹¹ Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’

¹² “He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you!’

¹³ “Therefore, be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.^[c]

Truth discovered but too late!!!

Today is the day of salvation!!!

JESUS said it best in Revelation 3:20

See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

JESUS stands at every person’s heart’s door and knocks. Only that person can open his or her heart’s door to invite JESUS to come into his/her heart.

When any person invites JESUS to come into his/her heart, it is the Holy Spirit WHO unites with the human spirit and a miracle takes places quicker than the twinkle of the eye. That person is “born again” Spiritually ----- never to be unborn ---- but eternally GOD’S Son or Daughter.

Plus ---- Philippians 3:20

Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Place your faith in JESUS by asking JESUS to forgive you for all of your sins and for JESUS to come into your heart and become a child of GOD through faith in JESUS ----

Dear JESUS, I know YOU gave YOUR life upon the cross as the perfect acceptable sacrifice to YOUR FATHER, GOD, for all the sins the person of faith has committed. Once the sin barrier is removed, YOUR HOLY SPIRIT unites with our human spirit, and we experience the miracle of being “born again” Spiritually.

If you prayed this prayer or something similar then thank GOD, JESUS, and THE HOLY SPIRIT for coming into your life and for the miracle of being “born again” Spiritually.

Blessings!!!

 

            

 

 

 

Bible Study - The Apostle Paul on Malta is Still celebrated Today - Acts 27:27-28:5 - September 7, 2026

 

Bible Study – The Apostle Paul on Malta Is Still Celebrated Today – Acts 27:27-28:5 - September 6, 2026

I thought it interesting that this event in The Apostle Paul’s life is still celebrated in Malta today.

How a 2,000-Year-Old Shipwreck Helped Shape Malta

The Feast of St Paul Shipwreck, celebrated on 10 February, is one of Malta’s national public holidays and it is uniquely tied to the islands own story: it was here, according to Acts (Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament), that the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked on his journey to Rome, traditionally dated to around AD 60.

Let’s read the Biblical account as written in Acts 27:27-28:5:

Acts 27:27-28:5

Christian Standard Bible

²⁷ When the fourteenth night came, we were drifting in the Adriatic Sea, and about midnight the sailors thought they were approaching land. ²⁸ They took soundings and found it to be a hundred twenty feet^[a] deep; when they had sailed a little farther and sounded again, they found it to be ninety feet^[b] deep. ²⁹ Then, fearing we might run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight to come. ³⁰ Some sailors tried to escape from the ship; they had let down the skiff into the sea, pretending that they were going to put out anchors from the bow. ³¹ Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” ³² Then the soldiers cut the ropes holding the skiff and let it drop away.

³³ When it was about daylight, Paul urged them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been waiting and going without food, having eaten nothing. ³⁴ So I urge you to take some food. For this is for your survival, since none of you will lose a hair from your head.” ³⁵ After he said these things and had taken some bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all of them, and after he broke it, he began to eat. ³⁶ They all were encouraged and took food themselves. ³⁷ In all there were 276 of us on the ship. ³⁸ When they had eaten enough, they began to lighten the ship by throwing the grain overboard into the sea.

Shipwreck

³⁹ When daylight came, they did not recognize the land but sighted a bay with a beach. They planned to run the ship ashore if they could. ⁴⁰ After cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and headed for the beach. ⁴¹ But they struck a sandbar and ran the ship aground. The bow jammed fast and remained immovable, while the stern began to break up by the pounding of the waves. ⁴² The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners so that no one could swim away and escape. ⁴³ But the centurion kept them from carrying out their plan because he wanted to save Paul, and so he ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. ⁴⁴ The rest were to follow, some on planks and some on debris from the ship. In this way, everyone safely reached the shore.

Malta’s Hospitality

28 Once safely ashore, we then learned that the island was called Malta. ² The local people showed us extraordinary kindness. They lit a fire and took us all in, since it was raining and cold. ³ As Paul gathered a bundle of brushwood and put it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. ⁴ When the local people saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man, no doubt, is a murderer. Even though he has escaped the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” ⁵ But he shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no harm.

I pondered the following question -----

Does Malta still recall the Apostle Paul’s visit to the island?

The answer is YES!

Yes!!! — Malta still celebrates the Apostle Paul’s visit to the islands, marking it annually on February 10 as the Feast of St Paul’s Shipwreck. This is a major national religious holiday that commemorates the biblical account in the Acts of the Apostles of Paul’s shipwreck on Malta in AD 60 while travelling to Rome publicholidays.info+1.

The feast is observed with a mix of religious devotion and traditional festivities across the archipelago. In Valletta, the main celebrations centre/center on the Collegiate Parish Church of St Paul’s Shipwreck, featuring a grand procession with a statue of St Paul, high Mass, band marches, and street decorations publicholidays.info+1. Rabat, traditionally linked to Paul’s stay, hosts processions and parish events, while Mdina commemorates the feast with liturgical ceremonies in St Paul’s Cathedral Malta Daily. Qormi and Marsalforn also mark the occasion with local processions, fireworks, and community activities Malta Daily.

The celebrations reflect Malta’s deep historical and spiritual connection to Paul’s time on the island, where he is believed to have preached the Gospel and performed miracles, laying the foundations for Maltese Christianity Aleteia. Today, the feast is a symbol of pride in Malta’s status as one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, and it draws both locals and tourists to retrace the steps of Paul’s journey through sites like St Paul’s Grotto in Rabat and the Collegiate Parish Church in Valletta Aleteia+1.

In short, Malta continues to honor Paul’s visit with annual public and religious observances that blend faith, history, and cultural tradition.

It is always exciting when History confirms the Bible and it does.

Truth is truth!!!

The Apostle Paul fought the good fight and was a warrior for JESUS and GOD’S Kingdom.

How does a person become a member of GOD’S eternal Kingdom?

Any person, regardless of race, birthright, mental capacity can experience the miracle of Spiritual Birth into GOD’S eternal family through faith in JESUS ----

Dear JESUS, thank YOU for giving YOUR sinless life upon the cross to pay the price for sin, in full. My part is to accept that fact by asking YOU, JESUS, to come into my life/heart and redeem me from the consequence of sin, which is eternal death and make me YOUR Child (SON/DAUGHTER) through the miracle of being “born again” Spiritually as JESUS told Nicodemus in John 3:1-21: Christian Standard Bible

Jesus and Nicodemus

3 There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ² This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, (JESUS) we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.”

³ Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again,^[a] he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

The physical birth of all humans is our first birth and that physical birth makes all humans eligible of being “Born Again.”

This includes all human life from physical conception to physical death. GOD has a plan from conception to death -----

⁴ “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?”

Great question -----

⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. ⁸ The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So, it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (The Spiritual birth of a person is a mystery but real to the person “born again” and guaranteed by the confirmation of the indwelling Holy Spirit, WHO resides within every “born again” person.

⁹ “How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus.

¹⁰ “Are you a teacher^[b] of Israel and don’t know these things?” Jesus replied. ¹¹ “Truly I tell you, we speak what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but you do not accept our testimony. ¹² If I have told you about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven —the Son of Man.^[c]

¹⁴ “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵ so that everyone who believes in him may^[d] have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God loved the world in this way:^[e] He gave^[f] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. ¹⁹ This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it,^[g] so that his (or her) deeds may not be exposed. ²¹ But anyone who lives by^[h] the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

Blessings!!!

 

 

 

Bible Study - Life After Physical Death - 2 Corinthians 12:1-5 Plus - August 30, 2026

 

Bible Study – Life After Physical Death – 2 Corinthians 12:1-5 Plus – August 30, 2026

2 Corinthians 12:1-21:

Greetings to all with prayers for blessings and thanksgiving.

In a previous study, I mentioned that Brother Paul went to Heaven. Copied below is his brief account of that event in his life. Let’s go on that journey with him.

Paul’s journey to the third Heaven as recorded in:

2 Corinthians 12:1-5: Christian Standard Bible

Sufficient Grace – Paul’s Journey to Heaven

Sharing what we have encountered may seem to others that the person who had the experience is boasting. NO!!! The person is sharing an encounter that may help others to add to their knowledge of the mysteries of the unknown and desire to be “Born Again” in his/her spirit through faith in JESUS.

Sufficient Grace

12 Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions and revelations of the Lord. ² I know a man in Christ who was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know; God knows. ³ I know that this man—whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know; God knows— ⁴ was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a human being is not allowed to speak. ⁵ I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses.

The first Heaven is where the birds, clouds, etc... are.

The second Heaven is where the sun, moon, stars reside.

The third Heaven is where GOD is.

Those who have read the studies our LORD has led me to write, know that a number of fellow Christians have shared with me their journey to Heaven and back. Our LORD has allowed me to have an experience as well. (My experience is recorded in actsclass.blogspot.com – in the upper left corner of the blog is a blank space. If you type in the name Mrs. Green, it will take you to the experience that came to me, I was not seeking, it was GOD’S Gift.

I quickly add, I am in no way trying to compete with Brother Paul or Brother Ron. I will repeat Brother Ron’s visit to Heaven. Such experiences make us more accountable to GOD.)

Heaven is real and it is the final destination of all who place their faith in JESUS and are “born again.”

Christian Standard Bible

12 Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions and revelations of the Lord. ² I know a man in Christ who was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know; God knows. ³ I know that this man—whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know; God knows— ⁴ was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a human being is not allowed to speak. ⁵ I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses.

Where is the third Heaven?

The first Heaven is what we, and the birds enjoy and is vital to our existence – mainly oxygen/the air we breathe.

The second Heaven is where the sun, planets, moon exist.

The third Heaven is where GOD is.

A friend/acquaintance of mine, brother Ron, was in an automobile accident, while he was in Seminary at Clear Creek. Brother Ron was in the hospital in Knoxville; TN. Brother Ron died and was pronounced dead. His body was taken to the basement of the hospital for the funeral home to pick up his body.

A nurse happened to walk past his body, in the basement, and saw his eyelid move and she began resuscitation.

In the meantime, if Brother Ron had not been in the hospital, he would have been in a class at Clear Creek Seminary. The class stopped and began praying for Brother Ron at the seminary.

At the end of their class, the class went to a Chapel program. The class told those who assembled in the Chapel that they could not have their planned program; they had to pray for Brother Ron. Those who attended the Chapel assembly began praying for Brother Ron.

And They did!

Putting the timeline together, when Brother Ron was pronounced dead coincides with his classmate announcing to the class that they had to pray for Brother Ron. When Borther Ron was resuscitated it corresponded to the time the Chapel time ended.

Brothern Ron told me what I have written, himself.

He told me that he went to heaven and was led around Heaven by a horrible looking creature. He said, “There are no human words for him to describe what he saw. He said, he has prayed and asked The LORD to give him the words but as of that time there were no human words to describe what he saw.”

When we have these extraordinary experiences, how do we handle it or them? We know these experiences are out of the ordinary and those who experience it or them are not to get puffed up but to share as GOD gives opportunity.

Back to Paul’s testimony about his experience ------

⁶ For if I want to boast, I wouldn’t be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me, ⁷ especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. ⁸ Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. ⁹ But he (THE LORD) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.”

Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. ¹⁰ So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

To sum up Paul’s experience seeing Heaven:

1 Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived— God has prepared these things for those who love him.

Paul knew, JESUS and that JESUS was in him and was his Savior and LORD. Paul knew his eternal destination was Heaven and eternal life through faith in JESUS.

Do you know where you will go when you die?

If not, eternal life is just a breath way:

Dear JESUS, I am a sinner and I ask YOU to forgive me for all my sins and for YOU to come into my heart/life and make me whole through the miracle of Spiritual Birth when YOUR HOLY SPIRIT unites with my human spirit and I am born again into the eternal family of GOD, never to be unborn.

I rejoice that my citizenship is eternally in Heaven as the result of me being “Born Again” in my human Spirit.

Blessings!!!

 

 

Bible Study - Acts 22:1-30 - Saul's/Paul's Testimony - Acts 22:1-30 - August 23. 2026

 

Bible Study - Acts 22:1-30 - (Saul’s/Paul’s Testimony) – August 23, 2026

Acts 22:1-30: Christian Standard Bible

22:1 “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.” ² When they heard that he was addressing them in Aramaic,^[a] they became even quieter. ³ He continued, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strictness of our ancestral law. I was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. ⁴ I persecuted this Way to the death, arresting and putting both men and women in jail,

[Paul (Saul) told his audience that he was zealous to terminate this Christ professing group called, “the Way.” As presented in last week’s study, “the Way” began sometime during the ministry of JESUS while HE was alive and ministering upon earth.

John 14:6

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

Thus, those who believed that JESUS was “the Way” to GOD and eternal life in Heaven became believers and followers of JESUS.

The road to redemption had to be revealed. The Law had been the master of those seeking to be in right relationship with GOD. Various sacrifices had to be made to maintain a person’s relationship with GOD. Worship was outward, which was necessary during these early times until GOD could reveal “Grace” through faith in JESUS, HIS ONLY SON, JESUS.

How was that? JESUS fulfilled “THE LAW” and established “Grace.”

There was a paradigm shift going to take place in the religious practice of the Jews and, in fact, the world. This shift would be going from observing “THE LAW” as the path to Heaven to “Grace” through faith in JESUS, GOD’S SON through a person being “Born Again” through faith in JESUS and HIS Passion.

Observing “THE LAW” was mechanical.

GOD’S redemptive plan through faith in JESUS was just that, “redemptive,” “dynamic,” “personal,” “eternal,” and confirmed by the indwelling Holy Spirit, as a person of faith’s eternal guarantee.

God wanted to make known among both the Jews and the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Sin came into the world, as we read in Genesis 3:20-24:

²⁰ The man named his wife Eve^[g] because she was the mother of all the living. ²¹ The Lord God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them.

The first animal sacrifice was made to provide clothing for Adam and Eve after they sinned.

²² The Lord God said, “Since the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil, he must not reach out, take from the tree of life, eat, and live forever.” ²³ So the Lord God sent him away from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.

²⁴ He drove the man out and stationed the cherubim and the flaming, whirling sword east of the garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life.

Sin came into the world and had to be dealt with for GOD’S complete redemptive plan for the people of earth. The sacrifice of an animal, by the shedding of its blood, was a place holder until the shed blood of JESUS could pay, in full, for all sin, for those who place their faith in JESUS as GOD’S only SON.

We take a giant leap to Saul’s conversion experience on the road to Damascus.

Saul/Paul was testifying about his conversion experience after JESUS had been crucified, buried, resurrected, revealed Himself to over 500 people after JESUS was resurrected.

GOD had raised JESUS from the dead on the third day. THE resurrected JESUS revealed Himself to HIS disciples and many others who were alive upon earth at that time. In fact, JESUS revealed Himself to over 500 people following HIS resurrection before HIS resurrected body ascended into Heaven to take HIS seat at the right hand of GOD, HIS FATHER. Why? HIS work upon earth was finished but there was still work to be done.

Colossians 1:27

God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

CHRIST in you is personal and makes a person complete Spiritually.

 

1 Corinthians 15:20

Christ’s Resurrection Guarantees Ours

But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

2 Corinthians 1:22

He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.

Ephesians 1:13

In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed.

Ephesians 4:30

And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption.

JESUS intercedes on behalf of all “born again” people when we sin.

Yes, born again believers’ sin and when we do, Satan accuses us before GOD/JESUS. JESUS tells Satan to bug off because the people of faith in JESUS are covered by the shed blood of JESUS, eternally.

When a person places his/her faith in JESUS, a miracle takes place quicker than the twinkle of the eye. The person who places his/her faith in JESUS is “born again” in his/her human spirit.

The Divine Sperm, THE HOLY SPIRIT unites with the human spirit, considered as the spiritual egg, results in the miracle of “Spiritual birth.” Thus, the human person of faith in JESUS is born again, Spiritually.

A person’s second birth is Spiritual, eternal, and his/her citizenship is eternally in Heaven ----

Philippians 3:20 Christian Standard Bible

²⁰ Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

This raises many questions: What about aborted babies, unborn fetus, children, mentally challenged, etc.? GOD has a plan for all such issues.

The resurrection and ascension of JESUS into Heaven made ready for the Holy Spirit to indwell the human body. When any person asks JESUS to forgive him or her for his/her sins and asks JESUS to come into his/her heart, it is THE HOLY SPIRIT that unites with that person’s human spirit for that person to be “born again” Spiritually and eternally.

After JESUS ascended into Heaven, JESUS took HIS seat at the right hand of GOD to reveal to Satan and his demons that HE, JESUS, had accomplished and completed the redemptive cycle, such that all who place their faith in JESUS are “born again,” are an eternal Child of GOD, with eternal citizenship in Heaven, and eternal life. The person of faith in JESUS receives THE Holy Spirit as his/her eternal guarantee that he/she has been “Born again”.

1.    2 Corinthians 1:22

it is He who has also put His seal on us [that is, He has appropriated us and certified us as His] and has given us the [Holy] Spirit in our hearts as a pledge [like a security deposit to guarantee the fulfillment of His promise of eternal life].

2.    2 Corinthians 5:5 - Now He who has made us and prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the [Holy] Spirit as a pledge [a guarantee, a down payment on the fulfillment of His promise].

Paul was filled with THE HOLY SPIRIT from the day he encountered JESUS, and throughout his earthly life into eternity.

Did you know that later in Paul’s ministry he went to the third Heaven?

For now, back to Paul’s testimony ---- Saul’s life before his encounter with JESUS on the road to Damascus ----

Paul continues his testimony -----

 ⁵ as both the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. After I received letters from them to the brothers, I traveled to Damascus to arrest those who were there and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished.

Paul’s Testimony

⁶ “As I was traveling and approaching Damascus, about noon an intense light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. ⁷ I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’

⁸ “I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

“He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are persecuting.’ ⁹ Now those who were with me saw the light,^[b] but they did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.

¹⁰ “I said, ‘What should I do, Lord?’

YES, Saul heard JESUS and called HIM, “LORD.”

“The Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything that you have been assigned to do.’

That is VERY INTERESTING STATEMENT, “there you will be told everything that you have been assigned to do’.”

“you have been assigned to do”!!!

When GOD calls a person of faith, HE has a plan for their lives. -Back to Paul’s testimony -----

¹¹ “Since I couldn’t see because of the brightness of the light,^[c] I was led by the hand by those who were with me and went into Damascus. ¹² Someone named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, who had a good reputation with all the Jews living there, ¹³ came and stood by me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And in that very hour I looked up and saw him. ¹⁴ And he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the words from his mouth, ¹⁵ since you will be a witness for him to all people of what you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ And now, why are you delaying? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

¹⁷ “After I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance ¹⁸ and saw him telling me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’

¹⁹ “But I said, ‘Lord, they know that in synagogue after synagogue I had those who believed in you imprisoned and beaten. ²⁰ And when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I stood there giving approval^[d] and guarding the clothes of those who killed him.’

²¹ “He said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

Paul’s Roman Protection

²² They listened to him up to this point. Then they raised their voices, shouting, “Wipe this man off the face of the earth! He should not be allowed to live!”

²³ As they were yelling and flinging aside their garments and throwing dust into the air, ²⁴ the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, directing that he be interrogated with the scourge to discover the reason they were shouting against him like this. ²⁵ As they stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing by, “Is it legal for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen and is uncondemned?”

²⁶ When the centurion heard this, he went and reported to the commander, saying, “What are you going to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.”

²⁷ The commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”

“Yes,” he said.

²⁸ The commander replied, “I bought this citizenship for a large amount of money.”

“But I was born a citizen,” Paul said.

²⁹ So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately. The commander too was alarmed when he realized Paul was a Roman citizen and he had bound him.

Citizenship has its privileges and so does the “Spirit Born” person whose citizenship is eternally in Heaven, through faith in JESUS.

Paul before the Sanhedrin

³⁰ The next day, since he wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him^[e] and instructed the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to convene. He brought Paul down and placed him before them.

Brother Paul, what a powerful testimony and witness of “CHRIST IN YOU THE HOPE OF GLORY!!!”

The same JESUS that redeemed Paul is also the redeemer of all who place their faith in the risen from the dead JESUS.

Ask JESUS to forgive you for all your sins and for JESUS to come into your heart now, if you haven’t, and forgive you.

If you did, then welcome my Brother or Sister in CHRIST into the eternal Family of GOD through faith in JESUS and the miracle of being “Born Again” Spiritually into GOD’S eternal Family.

Blessings!!!