LEARNING DAILY

 

Titus 3:3-7, Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled by others and became slaves to many wicked desires and evil pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy. We hated others, and they hated us. But then God our Savior showed us His kindness and love. He saved us (cleansed and purified), not because of the good things we did, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life (hope as heirs to His kingdom) through the Holy Spirit (regeneration). He generously poured out the Spirit upon us because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did. (New Living Translation -- the highlighted words and words in parenthesis re my emphasis)  

 

Yesterday was Palm Sunday. It does not seem to be recognized in church services anymore; not like it used to be. This morning I would like for us to take time to consider its meaning. Palm Sunday marks the day Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem to begin His last week on earth. As He entered, riding on a donkey, the people shouted Hosannah and laid their cloaks and palm branches down before Him. This fulfilled the prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9. It is ironic that these same people would days later be shouting to crucify Him because they did not understand His purpose for coming into the world. They were seeking a military leader but He entered on a donkey to show that His kingdom was not like the kingdoms on the earth and that He did not come to rule by force.

 

I hope I did not make the verses above confusing by trying to explain Paul’s images that demonstrate what God provided for us through Jesus Christ. He washed away our sins so we would be purified and clean. He saved us by taking our place on a cross. He called us righteous – something we could not do for ourselves. He gave us hope that we would live eternally in God’s kingdom; this is a certain hope because of our inheritance through Jesus Christ. This is by the abundant grace given to us as the result of our salvation through Christ and the Holy Spirit living in us. Our salvation depends on God’s mercy not what we have done ourselves. The washing away of our sins (or regeneration) is a metaphor for spiritual cleansing through the Holy Spirit; this is a symbol of baptism.

 

Dr. Ed Newton, Senior Pastor at Community Bible Church, has spent the last three weeks discussing the baptism of Jesus. He presented insight I have not noticed before (I need to do a more careful reading). The baptism of Jesus is found in Matthew 3 and is worth your time to read. Here is a quick summary of his teaching. Verse 16 states, “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.” Dr. Newton stated that the heavens opened up to show that Jesus Christ was the only way to heaven. Acts 4:12 is spoken by Peter under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit confirms this, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

 

This week take the time to consider what the Lord Jesus Christ did for you and all who would believe in Him.  Thank Him for the salvation He offered You and that you said yes. Once each of us was foolish and full of sin; but saying yes to the offer of salvation through Jesus Christ, you are cleansed, purified, and on the narrow way that leads to eternal life in the kingdom of God!