Tekijä: --

The Bible teaches that a complete conversion is needed, which is a rebirth through the Holy Spirit. It is a concrete event of a new creation, the beginning of a new life. We have been ”created in Christ Jesus…” Eph. 2:10. We have moved into the state of Life brought by the Holy Spirit. ”He poured out this Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,” Titus 3:6. ”If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” Rom. 8:9. But the Holy Spirit of God IS in us, who have received Jesus as the propitiation for our sins and as Lord of our life. Eph. 1:13.

Before we came to faith, we were in the same state as all who have not come to faith; we were ”dead in trespasses and sins…” Eph. 2:1-10. But we became new people when we accepted the resurrected Jesus, who bore the punishment we deserved through his blood on the cross: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; the new has come.” 2 Cor. 5:17. The old was buried in the baptismal tomb. Rom. 6:4. That was the turning point. We put off the old man with his deeds and practices. Eph. 4:17–32. We were separated from the sinful life of the world and were joined to the heavenly community of people, the congregation (ekklesia). Acts 2:40–42. Eph. 2:20–19–22. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Far be it from us! How shall we, who died to sin, live any longer therein? Or do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” Rom. 6:1-4. Jesus died for us. Rom. 6:22.

Separate yourself from wrong association:

“What fellowship do righteousness and unrighteousness have? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what agreement does a believer have with an unbeliever? And what agreement do idols have with the temple of God? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said, ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.’” Therefore, “Come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing. And I will take you unto myself, and will be a Father to you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Cor. 6:14-18.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers…” Psalm 1. / “Wine is a mocker…” Proverbs 20:1.

“Do not be deceived, for evil company corrupts good character. Be sober, and do not sin.” 1 Cor. 15:33,34. “And do not get drunk with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.” Eph. 5:18.

We must also separate ourselves from the company of religious people if they do not want to come to a living faith and separate themselves from their deceptive religions. “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! ( church religion) She has become the dwelling place of demons and the haunt of every unclean spirit, a cage for every unclean bird and every unclean and hateful beast. All nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication ( national church), and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich from the abundance of her luxury.” Then I heard another voice from heaven say, “Come out of her, my people, that you may not share in her sins, and that you may not receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” Revelation 18:2-5.

We cannot have fellowship with demons. “I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.” 1 Cor. 10:20.

“Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gate.” Amos 5:15. New life includes eternal life, holy and righteous thoughts, words, and deeds. Eph. 4:17–32.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.

Thank you Jesus for saving us from evil.

Weijo Lindroos
Turku
Finland

Cleansing begins from within.

Jesus spoke harsh words to the religious leaders of his day:

”You cleanse the outside of the cup and the platter, but inside they are full of extortion and wickedness. You blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and the platter, that the outside may be clean also! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs. On the outside they appear beautiful, but on the inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. In the same way, on the outside you appear righteous to men, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” Matt. 23:25-28.

Jesus teaches with this the comprehensive renewal of a person. It is not enough to just wash the outer shell, and with beautiful clothes, etc. the outer shine covers the inner impurities. A person is not pure if the inner being is full of dirty thoughts, a readiness for evil and intrigue. The inner mind and attitudes must be renewed. But in the teaching of the Bible it does not mean merely a change, but the whole person becoming new, or being born again from the Holy Spirit. Then the stream of the water of life from heaven begins to flow from the innermost being. John 4:14 and 7:37. Of this joy the Bible says: ”The joy of the Lord is your strength!” Neh. 8:10. This person cannot achieve anything on his own. ”By grace you have been saved…” Eph. 2:8. And everyone can receive grace: ”As fellow workers with God, we urge you to accept the grace of God, so that you do not come short of it” 2 Cor. 6:1.

The source of grace is also the source of joy.

The secret sins of a corrupt mind must be revealed. Then we realize that it is not possible to cleanse all those compartments at all. They must be recreated. And the new inner chambers must be filled with the blessing that comes from the sources of God, the Holy Spirit, and the power of the world to come. The new Spirit brings a new mind. We begin to love Bible teaching, prayer, fellowship, Holy Spirit-born literature, music, praise, etc. “All my springs are in you.” Psalm 87:8. Hallelujah! This is holy righteousness from heaven. The world under the power of sin no longer gives us anything that interests us.

This cleansing of the areas of the mind does not need the help of psychology. Some have fallen into this practice. They try to fish out various things from the depths of our minds and memories. The Bible teaches otherwise: “…forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead.” Philippians 3:13. “For I will forgive their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:12. Through faith, all our sins are cast into the sea of ​​grace forever. Micah 7:18,19.

When we accepted the risen Jesus as our Savior, the all-encompassing merit of His saving work became available to us. What He is and what He has done for us is now available to us. Jesus, through His suffering, substitutionary sacrifice, blood, and death, earned for us freedom from our sinful state AND our sinful deeds. He bore our sins in His body on the cross. In this way, He earned for us a new mind and eternal life. 1 Cor. 2:16. Every blow and scourge that befell Jesus broke the bonds of our sinful mind. Therefore, everyone can receive this grace, because “the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him…” Isa. 53:5. Thank you Jesus!

When we came to faith, we became God’s new creation. Eph. 2:10.

But what about the old… What happened to the man who lived in sin? It was buried in baptism into Jesus’ name: “Therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. If we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection. Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Rom. 3:4–6. “Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, your fruit leads to sanctification, and the end is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 6:22,23.

The “mind of the flesh,” which is enmity against God, no longer rules. Rom. 8:6–9. We have been given the gift of the “mind of the Spirit,” which is life and peace. Gal. 5:22–24.
“For we too were once foolish and disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done in righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:3-5.

Jesus made us new people, children of God. And NOTE! Only those born of God are children of God. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away; the new has come!” 2 Cor. 5:17. Eph. 2:10. “Therefore, put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another. Put off the old self with its practices, and put on the new self.” Col. 3:8-10. In the new birth, God’s Holy Spirit came to dwell in our hearts. Now “we HAVE the mind of Christ.” 1 Cor. 2:16. This is what we want to cherish and strengthen by remaining His disciples according to the teachings of the Bible.

A PERMANENTLY NEW MIND

As believers, we must maintain our position as God’s servants so that we can help others on the path of life: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Rom. 12:2. Eph. 4:17-24. “Then those who gladly received Peter’s word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” Acts 2:41,42.
By doing this, our inner man is strengthened day by day. 2 Cor. 4:16-18.

We need the renewing of our minds again and again, even after we have come to faith, so that the filth of the sinful world does not obscure our heavenly vision, which we received in the new birth, in which the whole man is made new. Our eyes were opened. Acts 26:17,18. This is also the meaning of the Bible word repentance, conversion and repentance, which in the original text is Acts. 2:38. Repent (metanoia) or change your mind, be sanctified completely. This means separation from sin and a great cleansing of life, in which all areas of our lives are cleansed and healed ”through faith in the blood of Jesus”. Rom. 3:23-25. Our inner and outer man are corrected. Our mind, thoughts, words, actions and behavior have become clean. In this way Jesus sanctifies us, so that God’s love and goodness towards our neighbors begins to be seen and heard in our lives. Cursing and evil speech, etc. are no longer appropriate. Psalm 1.

”He who would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.” 1 Peter 3:10.

A healthy life of faith does not include cursing and other evil words. We do not take the devil’s name on our lips. Psalm 16:4. We pray like David: ”Lord, set a guard over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Psalm 141:3.

”Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but only such as is good for building up, that it may be gracious to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed until the day of redemption.” Eph. 4:29,30.

”Be worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Phil. 1:27. ”…for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45.

”Be thou an example to the believers, in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity… Pay close attention to thyself and to thy teaching; be steadfast in it. For by doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” 1 Tim. 4:12,16.

Weijo Lindroos

The early ekklesia (congregation) provides an encouraging example of the success of evangelism: ”…and believers in the Lord were added to them in great multitudes, both men and women.” Acts 5:14. Jesus also wants to save a great number of people, who will then be helped to learn the teachings of the Bible. This is what we have been called to do. That is our great twofold mission:

God ”wills that all men (1.) should be saved and (2.) come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Tim. 2:4. The things mentioned there are the main mission of the congregation. ”And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47. ”Then those who received Peter’s word were baptized…” Acts 2:41.

The SECOND mission of the congregation is to help new converts to the faith, doctrine, and way of life of the apostolic age. ”Follow their faith.” Heb. 13:7. 1 John 2:24,25. ”They continued in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship.” Acts 2:42. In this way, those who have come to the faith remain in God’s truth. ”Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” Matt. 28:20. Col. 3:16.

That means repentance and biblical water baptism and the baptism of the Spirit. Acts 2:38. Acts 19:5,6. These are ”the elementary doctrines of Christ.”

If we are to embrace the same faith as the early Christians, we cannot remain in any denomination. The apostolic faith teaches no such thing. ”Rejoice, for your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20.

Our task is to gather a congregation to teach the biblical faith. This form of activity has not yet attracted large crowds. The time of small beginnings at this stage is comparable to the time of Nehemiah. “The work is great and extensive, and we are scattered on the wall, far from one another. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, gather yourselves there to us. Our God is fighting for us.” Neh. 4:13,14.

The trumpet is sounding! It is time to gather around the work of the cross to encounter holy grace and truth in the name of Jesus Christ. Rom. 12:2.

“Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.” Matt. 15:13.

Prayer Greetings

Weijo Lindroos
Kristillinen Toimintakeskus
Maariankatu 2
20100 Turku
Finland

The Bible describes coming to faith as a narrow gate.

”…for strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matt. 7:14. The life of God flows into us when we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior. The holy LIFE of God in our hearts connects us to the heavenly kingdom, the world of God’s blessings. Jesus accomplishes this: ”I am the door: if any man enter in by me, he shall be saved.” John 10:9.

Some feel that the gate is completely shut. Despite their efforts, they have not been able to enter. Why is this so? The reason is not in God. He desires to save every man. ”…who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Tim. 2:4. There are no exceptions. We do not believe in predestination or fatalism. “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that he turn from his way and live.” Ezekiel 33:11.

Can we blame the seeker?—The Bible promises that “everyone who seeks will find.” Luke 11:10. “You will seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.” Jer. 29:13. “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Rom. 10:13. But the gate opens to him who seeks ”with all his heart.”

Most often, the blind guide covers the narrow gate.

“If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” Matt. 15:14. The true door of salvation cannot be found unless the guide himself has found it. An unbeliever should not pretend to be a servant of Jesus. Ps. 50:16.

Healthy conversion to faith comes through the firm proclamation of God’s Word. “Our gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit, with much assurance.” 1 Thess. 1:5. “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified… And my speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power (why?), that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” 1 Cor. 2:2–5.

ONE REASON

Genuine conversion to faith is often hindered by the trivialization of sin. Jesus’ command is not taken literally:

“Repentance must be preached in his name for the forgiveness of sins.” Luke 24:47. Unless the purpose of the proclamation is to turn away from sin, healthy conversion cannot be expected. God wants to make every person guilty (contrary to modern teaching). “That the whole world may become guilty before him.” Rom. 3:19. That situation requires genuine repentance. 2 Cor. 12:21. “They were pierced through in the heart…” Acts 2:37. Think, my dear reader, what have you done against God? And what have you done against your neighbor? Have you ever repented of the evil you have done? Have you wept over your misery and wretchedness? Have you asked for forgiveness? Without a serious conversion (metanoia) to Jesus you will not get to heaven.

“When he (the Holy Spirit) comes, he will convict the world of sin.” John 16:8. So everyone must acknowledge for themselves the fact that they are sinners. They have not only sinned, but they live in a state of sin, separated from God. Sinful acts are the result of a state of sin. Rom. 5:18,19. Those who are conscious of their sinful condition can be pointed to Jesus and the wonderful work of redemption on the cross. Only the merit of Jesus’ blood is acceptable to the sinner.

Thus the narrow gate of salvation begins to open to the seeker as he turns his eyes of faith to Calvary. – Jesus, who shed His blood on the cross for the sinner, saves the soul of the seeker. The condition of sin is removed. Man is freed from the devil and passes into the lordship of Jesus. Acts 26:17,18.

Humility and repentance are part of sound faith. So is the confession and forsaking of sins. ”God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 and Prov. 28:13-14. Those who humbly receive Jesus experience the rebirth of the Holy Spirit. John 3:3.

RIGHT CONVERSION

(2 Cor. 12:21, Matt. 3:8, Acts 2:38. 3:19)

The Bible teaches that repentance (metanoia = change of mind) by trusting in the merit of Jesus’ blood produces healthy faith. ”Believe (trust) in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Acts 16:31. ”If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9. ”As many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12. The forgiven sinner’s relationship with Jesus is restored and Eternal Life begins. Rom. 6:22,23. The Holy Spirit begins to lead you toward your heavenly home.

When you now accept these facts about yourself, you can dry the tears of repentance and just enter through the narrow gate. You can make the decision to give your life unconditionally to the Risen Lord Jesus Christ. DO IT NOW. Only you can make the decision. 2 Cor. 6:1,2. Jesus has already done everything he could. He became a substitute sacrifice for you. He has already chosen you. What will you do? Do you accept His choice? No one else can decide the matter.

Through the narrow gate, you are directed to the strait path of the cross along the path indicated in the Bible. “Peter said to them (those seeking the way of salvation): Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38. “Then those who received his word were baptized.” Acts 2:41. So all who received salvation, or came to faith, were baptized. “and they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship…” Acts 2:42. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God with boldness. This is God’s will still.

We cannot and must not proclaim grace and forgiveness to a person before his own conscious choice to abandon his sinful life. But to a person who accepts Jesus, repents and humbles himself to repentance, we can proclaim forgiveness of sins in the Name and blood of Jesus. This means that we can convince him of the fact of Jesus, who has atoned for HIS sins on the cross. We can declare that now this work of redemption has been activated in him personally. The person has come to faith by making a reconciliation with Jesus. Next, we can baptize him by immersion in water in the Name of Jesus Christ. In this way, the old life is buried and a new one takes its place. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away; behold, the new has come!” 2 Cor. 5:17. Gal. 3:26-29.

Receiving Jesus also means accepting all the teachings of the Bible.

In this way we enter the narrow gate onto the narrow path of life. And the next step is baptism. The old man, who lived in sin, is buried in the grave of baptism. From here begins the eternal road that ends in heaven. And the journey is joyfully traveled even in the midst of difficulties. He Himself is with us as our Leader. He wants to baptize each of His own with the Holy Spirit and power. Then we will experience the powers of the coming age, God’s love and goodness again and again. LIFE flows in us. We receive gifts of grace. 1 Cor. 12-14. We will be given a new language to praise God for Jesus’ victory on Calvary. The Holy Spirit is at work! Heaven awaits at the end of this road. Tired from the journey, we will finally see our Glorified Lord Jesus face to face.

Wouldn’t you like to kneel now to receive Jesus as your Lord and experience God’s love over your life? Wouldn’t you like to be a wholehearted, true child of God to the end?

Blessings to you,

Weijo Lindroos

PS. Contact us.

”The book of the birth of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” Matt. 1:1.
The angel said to Joseph, the husband of Mary, ”Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matt. 1:20. Thus, Jesus’ Davidic kingship was known even in the angelic realm. Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:1), which was also the birthplace of King David. And he was born into the line of David spiritually and legally, Joseph being his adoptive father.

Jesus’ position was recognized among the first disciples in the time of the apostles. ”Hosanna to the Son of David!” the children sang. Matt. 21:15. Rom. 1:3. He is the eternal King of Israel.
“Remember Jesus Christ, the descendant of David, raised from the dead according to my gospel.” 2 Tim. 2:7,8.

Pilate wrote an inscription on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” John 19:19.

“Two blind men were sitting by the roadside. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet. But they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” Then Jesus stopped and called them to him and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” Jesus was moved with compassion for them, and touched their eyes. And immediately they received their sight, and followed him.” Matt. 20:30–34. Thus this sign of the Messiah’s identity was fulfilled. “The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk.” Matt. 11:5.

The kingship and dominion given to David continues (2 Sam. 7:16,29), although it sometimes collapsed. The kingship now continues in Jesus, who is the successor and King of David’s eternally established throne. Thus David is still the King of all Israel and of the kingdom of God, and he has one kingdom, WE, who received Jesus as the propitiatory sacrifice for our sins. 2 Cor. 6:1,2. Col. 1:13,14. “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.” Matt. 28:18.
JESUS ​​IS OUR KING FOREVER. Amen.

The angel Gabriel announced to Mary the birth of Jesus: ”Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Look, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you are to call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Luke 1:30-33.

The prophets taught this hundreds of years before Jesus was born: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will take the house of Israel from among the peoples among whom they have gone, and I will gather them from all the nations (now in the end times) and bring them into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king will be king over them all. … … They will live in the land that I gave to My servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They will live there forever, they and their children and their children’s children. And My servant David will be their prince forever. I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them.” Ezek. 37:21-22 and 25, 26.

“Now that he raised Jesus from the dead, he will no longer return to corruption. As he has said, ‘I will give you the sure and holy promises made to David.’” Acts 13:34.

DAVID’S FOUNTAIN WILL BE REPAIRED
This prophecy is reaching its final goal now in the end times. The repair work began at the cross, where sin was atoned for and the new covenant was established. Jer. 31:31. John 2:19:22.

“I will return and rebuild the fallen tabernacle of David.” Acts 15:16. “In that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David (!) and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem because of sin and impurity.” Zechariah 13:1. “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and supplications; and they will look on me (=Jesus) whom they have pierced (on the cross). They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son, and will be in bitterness for him as one grieves for a firstborn.” Zechariah 12:10.

We who have been converted from paganism will also participate in the restoration of the fallen tabernacle of David. It will soon burst forth in its full glory. This is what we expect and pray for. Ezek. 37:12.

”Afterward the children of Israel shall return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king: and they shall come trembling unto the LORD, and unto his goodness, IN THE END OF THE TIMES.” Hosea 3:5. This is happening now, about 3,000 years after the birth of David, and about 2,000 years after the birth of Jesus.

The Eternal Kingdom
Thank God for every dear brother and sister who has been cleansed by the atoning blood of Jesus, and who has since been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and thus become members of the ONE congregation of God. WE are His flock, ”the sheep of His pasture.” John 10:9. Acts 2:41. Our King is Jesus, “who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his own blood and has made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father. To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Rev. 1:5,6.

We have come under the influence of the eternal throne of David; both Jew and Gentile. Eph. 2:11-22. Jesus is our common King. “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.” Gal. 3:27-29. We acknowledge that we are working for ONE congregation founded on the cross against division. 1 Cor. 1:2,10. And WE want the best for Israel and its capital, Jerusalem, which is “the city of the great King.”

David—a type of Jesus
The shepherd boy David grew up among the sheep of Israel some 3,000 years ago. There he learned his shepherding duties and was trained to be a great shepherd and king of the people of Israel. God said of him: “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do all my will.” Acts 13:22.

Even as a young man, David took good care of his sheep. He defeated a bear and a lion that attacked the flock. Then God led him to the camp of Israel, which is God’s flock. There he faced the duelist Goliath, who was taunting the armies of Israel with his taunts. David said to Goliath, ”You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. The Lord will deliver you into my hand today, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army this day to the birds of the air and to the wild animals. Then all the world will know that Israel has a God. All this assembly will know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear, for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.” When the Philistine set out and approached David, he quickly ran to meet him. David put his hand in his bag, took a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and the Philistine fell on his face to the ground. Thus David defeated the Philistine with a sling and a stone. David struck the Philistine down, although he had no sword in his hand. David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword, drew it from its sheath, killed him with it, and cut off his head.” 1 Sam. 17:45–51.

Thank God! This is still happening to the enemies of Israel. It is also happening to the enemies of the congregation. Those cruel wolves who are tearing God’s congregation to pieces will meet the same sad end. Acts 20:29,30.

Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, OUR GOOD SHEPHERD, continuing the mission of King David. He cares for God’s sheep, the flock that He purchased with His blood, and leads us to our heavenly home. John 10. Jesus is the Lamb of God who took away our sins.

“Therefore we are buried with Him through baptism into death (after our faith), in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. If indeed we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be in a resurrection like His.” Rom. 6:4,5.

“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become servants to God, your fruit leads to sanctification, and the end is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 6:22,23.

Finally, the completed Israel and the congregation will be united so that “there will be one fold and one shepherd.” John 10:16, under one King. The King is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Hallelujah! Jesus, “The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered.” Rev. 5:5.

Blessings from the God of Israel upon us.

Weijo Lindroos
Turku,
Suomi Finland

The old covenant ended at the cross, where the new covenant began through the blood of Jesus. “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” Luke 22:20. The new covenant was made with the descendants of Jacob. But later, into THAT covenant, we who have turned from paganism also became included. This is the covenant mentioned in Jeremiah 31:31-33.

The Bible does not teach that those who come into the new covenant should still observe the commandments and ordinances of the old covenant. From the cross began the NEW covenant, which changed the whole world. The time of the law covenant, which was intended to be temporary, ceased. Galatians. 3:16-18. The sacrifices ordained by the law of Moses, the temple rituals, the priesthood, the food regulations, etc., ended. Heb. 9:10. It is good for those who teach the law covenant to know that they are leading people into the chains of bondage.

The law of Moses is one whole, and its partial observance is the breaking of the law. If you keep only the Ten Commandments but reject the hundreds of other parts of the law, you are a transgressor of the law. Not one jot or one tittle shall pass from the entirety of the law before it is fulfilled. Matt. 5:17-19. / John 19:30.

A more detailed explanation of this is given in the text.

Here are some “eye for eye, tooth for tooth” ordinances and commandments, all of which must be kept if one says that one holds the Law of Moses and the commandments of God:

– All male children must be circumcised. Gen. 17:10-14. Ex. 12:48.
– The feast times prescribed by the law must be kept as they are, in the appointed manner and at the appointed time, without altering any part of them. Ex. 12. 34:18-26. The Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of the First Sheaf, the Harvest Feast, the Great Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles, and the fast. Lev. 23:26-32. Num. 29:1.
– The Passover vigil night must be kept: “It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.” Ex. 12:42. / Matt. 26:38-41.
– The appointed fast days must be kept. “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth…” Zech. 8:19.
– The sabbatical rests of the cultivated lands must be observed. Ex. 23:10-17. Likewise concerning the fruit trees. Lev. 19:23.
– “A jubile shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it.” Lev. 25:11.
– The purification ordinances after childbirth must be observed, as also, for example, the ordinances concerning sexual uncleanness. Lev. chapters 12–15. !
– The Day of Atonement must be kept as Lev. 23:24- teaches.
– The Day of Trumpet blowing with a burnt offering must be kept. Lev. 23:23-25.
– Tithes must be paid of all income. Deut. 14:23.
– A garment woven of two different kinds of thread must not be worn. Lev. 19:19.
– The beard must not be trimmed. Lev. 19:27.
– “Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest thyself.” Deut. 22:12.
– Bible verse case must be worn on the forehead. “And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.” Deut. 6:8.
– The ordinances of the water of purification must be kept. Num. 19.
– Only a virgin may be taken as a wife. Deut. 22:13-21.
– The dietary laws commanded by the law must be strictly kept: “Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.” Deut. 14:3.
– The firstborn must be given unto the LORD. Ex. 13. Etc., and more besides…
– The examination of a wife suspected of adultery. Num. 5:12…
Etc.

The law includes as an inseparable part also the measures of punishment, Leviticus 24:20: “Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.” And so on. But in the covenant of grace Jesus, as the substitutionary sacrifice, took upon Himself to suffer the punishment that belongs to us, and merited for us a new mind, so that we desire to live together with Him. The will of God is written into our inner being as part of our new nature. In the new covenant we may be in that state of blessing of which it is written, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13.

The main content of the new covenant was already depicted through the prophets of the old covenant: “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Jeremiah 31:31–33.

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” Hebrews 8:12–13.

The old covenant written on tablets of stone DOES NOT belong to the believers of the new covenant. Moses is proclaimed in the synagogue, not in the congregation. Acts 15:21.

The first Christians of the new covenant, Jews, did not teach the old covenant. But from those of the sect of the Pharisees who had come to faith, there arose some who began to oppose the teaching of the apostles, saying: “That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” Acts 15:5.
It was decided that the matter would be examined in Jerusalem under the leadership of the apostles, and the result was that “it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us” that the law of Moses does not belong to the new covenant. Read Acts chapter 15.
Peter said that those who supported the covenant of the law were tempting God. “Now therefore why tempt ye God..” Acts 15:10, 28–29.
This, then, was the decision of the highest leadership of the congregation, which the Holy Spirit gave to the congregation founded at the cross, and which was given as instruction to all who had newly come to faith, both Jews and Gentiles. Acts 16:4. Ephesians 2:11–22. = “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances.”

The new covenant has filled our hearts with joy: “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8 (KJV).

Partly or entirely?
But if someone therefore teaches that the covenant of the Law should be observed only partly, then who in that case would be qualified to say what must be observed and which parts of the Law may be rejected? In the Old Testament there are about 600 legal commandments. Which of them would belong to us, and which could be dismissed? James 2:10–11 teaches thus: “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.”

THE LAW IS FULFILLED
“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Romans 13:8–10.

And everyone who has come into the new covenant knows that this does not mean freedom to practice sin, because God’s will is in our new nature, in our hearts. “We have the mind of Christ.” 1 Cor. 2:16.

The whole of the Law of Moses therefore includes also the Law of the Ten Commandments, which is now fulfilled from the first commandment to the last. The first commandment forbids making an image of God. This is fulfilled, because the true “express image of His being” was revealed in Jesus. “Who is the image of the invisible God.” Col. 1:15. “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person.” Heb. 1:3. The “glorious gospel of Christ” (2 Cor. 4:3–4) removed the shadow-pictures brought by the law. Heb. 10:1. 2 Cor. 3:6–18.

Breaking one part breaks the whole law: “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them… Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” Galatians 3:10,13 (KJV).

Jesus said that no one has been able to keep the law: “Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law?” John 7:19 (KJV). The apostles said the same: Acts 15:10.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1 (KJV). This continues the message of Galatians 4, which speaks of deliverance from the enslaving covenant of the law: “Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” Galatians 4:30. Abraham’s wife Sarah represents freedom; the bondwoman represents the covenant of Moses’ law: “But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants.” Galatians 4:23–24.

Scripture says that the covenant of the law is useless: “For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.” Heb. 7:18 (KJV). Therefore Scripture gives a serious warning not to return ( Galatians 5:1) to the covenant of the law: “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” Galatians 5:4 (KJV).

The new covenant is based on the mercy that Jesus merited on the cross: “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old.” Heb. 8:12–13 (KJV).
From this began the life-union with Jesus for us who have received Him as our Savior. Now, “For the love of Christ constraineth us.” 2 Cor. 5:14. It is a holy desire in the Spirit of freedom, a willing of the heart toward all good and right. In our hearts is God’s gracious instruction, which works in us so that we live according to His will by the influence of the Holy Spirit. We have come to know Jesus in a heart-to-heart fellowship.

And the truth is, no one in our time keeps the law. Even the best attempts fall short: “none of you keepeth the law?” John 7:19 / Acts 15:10–11.
We live under the New Covenant, in the very fulfillment of the Law, in the Holy Spirit.

Scripture also does not set before us the man-made church-year cycle of the pagan churches with their daily themed observances and the daily words/devotions.

NEW COVENANT
The substitutionary sacrifice of the cross brought into our hearts the new covenant. “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” Luke 22:20 (KJV). The old ended when “the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.” Mark 15:38 (KJV). The way into “the holiest”, before the mercy seat, was opened by the blood of Jesus. Hebrews 10:19 (KJV): “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.”

The new covenant is not like the old covenant, but entirely NEW (Jer. 31:32), whose constitutional law is the commandment of love:
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:34,35 (KJV).
“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Galatians 5:14 (KJV).

Thanks be to God! The law of the Ten Commandments is therefore fulfilled. We live in the New Covenant, in the substance of the fulfillment of the Law. John 8:31–36.

None so-called church feast days (hypocritical holy days) belong to Christians according to the Scripture.
They are all unbiblical inventions of the churches, having no divine value whatsoever. Therefore those who are truly in the faith do not celebrate, for example, Easter with Palm Sunday and such, nor Pentecost, etc. Isa. 1:14.

“For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. …
By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.” Hebrews 7:18–22 (KJV).

Jesus is the founder of the new covenant. He has all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore He had authority to establish an entirely new covenant and to give to it a NEW constitutional law. John 13:34,35. Luke 22:20. Jer. 31:31.

Thus the Scripture teaches that the new covenant is LIFE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, a life-union with Jesus.
“But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” Galatians 5:18 (KJV).
The Holy Spirit does not lead one to act against the will of God.

The liberating and blessing teaching of the Scripture to all who are saved under the new covenant is that:
“For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” Galatians 2:19,20 (KJV).
“But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held.” Romans 7:6 (KJV).

This message of freedom is directed especially to those who have turned from Judaism to God, the “graffed in again”. Romans 11:23. Acts 2:38,41. But the same message belongs to all who are redeemed by the blood of Jesus, to us who are born again, God’s holy ones.
“And put no difference between us and them.” Acts 15:9 (KJV). Eph. 2:11–22. – Read the entire chapter of Acts 15.
The congregation is one, to which everywhere belongs the same doctrine of the Scripture.

Welcome therefore into the blessing of the covenant of grace. Jesus is the ONLY Savior. He is full of grace and truth.
“And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” John 1:16,17 (KJV).

Jesus is eternally the same, the good Redeemer, who saves, heals, and fills with the Holy Spirit. He also delivers from binding legalism. Our hearts rejoice and already now taste the blessedness of heaven.

The fulfillment of the Sabbath is perhaps the greatest source of blessing in this matter. In it the chains of slavery have been finally removed. Each of our days has now become equal and thus sanctified to the Lord. We have a continuous state of rest, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year. So all days of the week are rest, even when working. The eternal Sabbath rest is in effect NOW. Hebrews 4 teaches this clearly in the original language. ”For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath rested from his own works, as God did from his.” Hebrews 4:10.

”Therefore NOW there is a Sabbath rest in effect (apoleipetai) for the people of God.” Apoleipetai = IS in effect. Hebrews 4:9 (Novum). And Hebrews 3:18,19!

The Greek word “Apoleipetai” in verse 9 sets Hebrews chapter 4 into an understandable and coherent whole. So we are in the same state of rest as God Himself. Thank God for the state of freedom and rest. The Sabbath is a state, not a day, for New Covenant Christians.

Jesus died away from the Sabbath and took the Sabbath with Him into the tomb. He rose from the dead on the first day of the week without the Sabbath. From that moment on, the New Covenant was in effect. Compare Rom. 6:4. All the requirements of the law have been fulfilled so that we could receive them. When we abide in the teachings of God’s Word, we are in the freedom, the state of rest, of the New Covenant. “Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free?’” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. And the slave does not remain in the house forever, but the Son remains forever. If the Son therefore sets you free, you will be truly free.” John 8:31–36.

But you can also choose the days, as long as they do not bring back the shackles of slavery into your life: “One person esteems one day above another, another esteems all days alike. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards the day as important, regards it as important to the Lord…” Rom. 14:5–6. So choosing the days is not important, just as not choosing them is not important. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29. = Inner rest.

It is finished!

Blessings,
Weijo Lindroos, from the Turku Congregation
Maariankatu 2
20100 Turku
Finland

The various stages of the Jewish nation throughout their chronological history: It began with Abraham. God called him to fulfill His plan. He blessed Abraham to be His servant and the patriarch of His chosen people. The covenant relationship began with Abraham and continued with his son Isaac, then with Isaac’s son Jacob and in the descendants of his twelve sons. They were the first Israelites chosen by God. The grandson of Abraham, Jacob, received from God the name Israel, in connection with the so-called “wrestling of Jacob”: “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” (Genesis 32:28, KJV). God blessed them and their descendants and gave them the great and wonderful land of Canaan. How vast it is: Genesis 15:18-21: From the region of present-day Turkey a straight border line to the river of Egypt, from there to the river Euphrates, and thence directly back to the middle region of present-day Turkey, near the city of Hattusa, which was the capital of the Hittite kingdom in the time of Abraham. These, then, are the boundaries of Israel as set by the Bible. The blessing given by God to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-4; 22:15-18) continued in Isaac (Genesis 26:4) and then in Jacob (Genesis 28:14). At the end of his life Jacob blessed his twelve sons to carry out God’s plan (Genesis 49). From that time, about four thousand years ago, Israel has been God’s peculiar people, “the apple of his eye.” (Zechariah 2:8, KJV).

In the time of Jacob, because of famine, the people of Israel came into bondage in Egypt for about four hundred years. But under the leadership of Moses the people departed from there back toward their own land. “He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.” (Deuteronomy 32:10, KJV). Then Joshua divided the land of Canaan to the twelve tribes “according to the number of the children of Israel.” (Deuteronomy 32:8, KJV). A symbolic victory was first gained when the walls of Jericho fell: “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.” (Joshua 1:3-4, KJV). But the original borders of Israel were already declared in Genesis 15:18-21.

For the last time, the descendants of Jacob were from about the year 70 A.D. until 1948 in the diaspora, scattered among all the nations of the world and at the same time apart from the goodness of God. The blessing hand of God had for that time been withdrawn from upon them. “The kingdom of God shall be taken from you…” (Matthew 21:43; 24:1-2; Revelation 2:9; 3:9, KJV). But that was not the final state. Neither were they forgotten by God, but were waiting under all His promises for a new time of blessing. God has never cast away His people (Jeremiah 31:35-37, KJV). About three thousand years ago, Israel’s great king David made Jerusalem the undivided capital of Israel. It remains so to this day.

NOW is the era in which God is gathering ALL the Jews of the world into Israel (Ezekiel 37:21-22, KJV) and into His blessing. The good hand of God is thus again upon them. The final fulfillment is in Romans 11:25-27. Then “all Israel shall be saved” and shall receive the forgiveness of sins in Jesus and in the grace of His atoning sacrifice. They will not receive any church-religion or the like, but the same faith and doctrine which Jesus and the apostolic congregation gave to us all (Ephesians 2:11-22, KJV). Follow the faith of the first Christians. (Hebrews 13:7; 1 John 2:24-25, KJV). The love of God encompasses the whole Jewish nation and, among them, also us who have turned from heathendom (Ephesians 2:11, 22, KJV). And when Israel has received her Messiah Jesus, the word shall be fulfilled: “there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (John 10:16, KJV; Galatians 3, KJV).  

Weijo Lindroos, from the Turku Congregation
Maariankatu 2
20100 Turku
Finland
Email: weijo.lindroos@pp.inet.fi