Kategoria: In-english

”To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12.

This is the beginning of the way to eternal life.

Receiving Jesus Christ means rejecting sin and being set free from its power. Sin is transferred to the cross, where Jesus bore the penalty for our sins: ”But 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.” Romans 6:22,23.

Now is the time to turn to Jesus and receive him:

”Repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ…” Acts 2:38.

”Those who accepted Peter’s words were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls were added to the number of believers. THEY devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayers.” Acts 2:41,42.
All opportunities to live in God’s blessing are open to those who have accepted Jesus. The doors are open.

But situations often change for the better gradually, as our lives are filled with things that are according to God’s will and living and remaining in them.

Those who accepted Jesus and were baptized in his name continued

• in the apostles’ teaching
• in fellowship,
• in the breaking of bread, the communion
• and in prayers. Acts 2:42.

That is the direction of faith given by God, the door through which everyone can enter. The door is open. From it opens the content of our sanctification life, the growth of faith.

This certainly works.

Blessings to you!

Weijo Lindroos
Turku
Finland

The thief on the cross was saved without baptism, which is sometimes used as a reason to say that baptism is not necessary. But when we look at the matter more closely, we see that the criminal on the cross should not have been baptized at that time because he was saved before the commandment to baptize was given. Jesus gave the general commandment to baptize 40 days after the events of the cross. Mark 16:9-20. Acts 1:3. Thus, the thief on the cross was the last person to be saved from the old covenant. The new covenant began with Jesus’ death: “This is the new covenant in my blood!” Luke 22:20. Jesus was still alive when He forgave the sins of the criminal on the cross next to Him. The thief prayed in agony, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:42,43. He was thus saved as a borderline case, when the old covenant was exchanged for a new one.

Jesus is the only Savior! His blood cleanses the sinner who repents of his sins and calls on Jesus for help. Rom. 10:13. And Jesus gives everyone ”a future and a hope”. Jer. 29:11-13. He saves even the worst sinner. He does not leave the person he saves as he was before, but of those who have come to faith, whose sins have been forgiven and who have repented and then been baptized, it is said: ”Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, the new has come!” 2 Cor. 5:17. / Acts 18:8.

The unbaptized is in Adam. The baptized is in Christ. ”For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Gal. 3:27. 2 Cor. 5:17. ”Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye were raised with him through faith.” Col. 2:12. Rom. 6:4.

Only those who have come to faith can be baptized. Just as a newborn child is washed after birth, so the regenerate must be baptized immediately, ”by the washing of water.” Thus we can understand the ”washing of regeneration” in its proper connection with the forgiveness of sins and the baptism of immersion received after regeneration. ”He saved us, not by works of righteousness which I have done, but according to his mercy, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” Titus 3:5. John 3:5.

Baptism is performed by the brethren of the congregation, ”for in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” 2 Cor. 13:1. When the thief on the cross was saved, the commandment to baptize had not yet been given. Therefore, he should not have been baptized. But ever since the commandment to baptize was given, baptism has been an absolute requirement for all believers. The Bible clearly teaches that in the early congregation ALL believers were baptized by immersion in water in the name of Jesus! No one was left unbaptized. ”Let every one of you be baptized…” Acts 2:38,41. ”Then those who received his word were baptized…” ”And they continued… in the apostles’ teaching…” Acts 2:41-42. The Bible does not teach that the unbaptized are part of the new covenant congregation.

Baptism is an essential part of the salvation process of the human soul because it involves the burial of the old man through baptism into death. Rom. 6:3,4. ”Repent and be baptized, every one of you…” says Acts 2:38. So there are two things: 1. ) repentance and 2. ) baptism. So if repentance is necessary, then baptism is necessary. – Can we say that repentance is not necessary? In that case, we can say the same about baptism. But we say that both are necessary because God has given them to us as equally valuable. After the baptism command was given, the Bible does not know the concept of an ”unbaptized Christian.” The Bible only knows a converted Christian who has been baptized in water in the name of Jesus after coming to faith. A baptized Christian is a biblical Christian!
Acts 10:48.

The necessity of baptism should not be underestimated. The Bible warns about it, among other things, in Gal. 1:6-9. 2 Pet. 3:16. Rev. 22:18,19. And the unbaptized thief on the cross is not set as an example for us.

”If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”Acts 22:16. Titus 3:5. After baptism, you too will have the same faith as the first Christians.

Weijo Lindroos
Turku

When we examine this matter from the Bible alone, we come to views that differ in many respects from current practices. An example of this is the question of who should be given? There is a lot of money being asked for. Some of it is justified because people are in real need.

But some try to make easy money for themselves by falsifying fund-raising events, the proceeds of which end up in their own pockets. There are also such people among believers. 2 Pet. 2:3. This too must be taken into account.

So the object of our help is our dear brothers and sisters, the saints, who were purchased with the blood of Jesus. Their plight touches our hearts. And we are happy to help them in their need.

The Bible’s example of relief work shows the way. They helped Jesus’ poor disciples in Jerusalem. Acts 6. So the congregation did not help people of the world, but mainly believers who were in need of food. Acts 11:27-30.
John 17:9.
But individual believers can of course donate wherever they want, as long as it does not undermine the work of helping believers.

So the target of our help is our dear brothers and sisters.

The early Christians knew the Bible teaching: “He who oppresses the poor insults his Maker, but he who is kind to the poor honors his Maker.” Proverbs 14:31. This applies to a person. Whether he is a believer or not is secondary. The same applies to the good Samaritan. Luke 10:30-37.

There are many people in the world today who need help. Priority should be given to believers. And first to the Christians in your own community. “Seek the welfare of the city to which I am sending you, and pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will be yours.” Jer. 29:7.

This is the limit of blessing set by God in other congregation matters as well. We take responsibility for the believers in our own city and pray for them. We cannot help the whole world. But we pray for God’s guidance in each case separately. We pray and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and then act accordingly.

Requests for help come from different parts of the world that we cannot answer.

I am writing this so that the congregation in each locality will take responsibility for the needs of the believers in their own area. And if there are sufficient funds, also for helping those who are not yet believers.

“For it is written: ‘He has distributed, he has given to the poor, his righteousness remains forever.’”: 2 Cor. 9:9.

May Jesus lead.

Weijo Lindroos

Turku Finland

Could this be the last time you will be called to heaven? No one knows the hour of their death. Tomorrow everything could be forever too late.

”We are therefore ambassadors for Christ, begging you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God.” 2 Cor. 5:20. ”Working together with God, we urge you to accept the grace of God. For he says, ”In a time of acceptable acceptance I have heard you, in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:1,2.

What does Jesus want to save you from? First, about sin and the eternal lake of fire:

”I saw a great white throne and the one who sat on it. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Rev. 20:11-15.

He calls you to eternal life.

One day, at the final judgment, you will have to answer for how you responded to this call of grace. There God confirms your own choice.

The Bible says this:

”And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will put the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ’Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…’ Then he will say to those on his left, ’Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels…’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matt. 25:32-46.

So you can be saved today because of what Jesus did for you on the cross. He gave his life, dying a scourged and bloody death as the Savior for the sins of the whole world. ”The punishment that brought us peace was upon him…” Isaiah 53:5. The Bible says, ”For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 3:23. And ”The wages of sin is death (eternal separation from God and his heaven), but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

A person must be saved during this life. After time has ended, there is never an opportunity to have their sins forgiven. ”The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” Mark 2:10.

Pray this prayer in a clear voice:

Holy God. Forgive me of my great sins and the fact that I have lived in a state of sin, separated from you. I repent of my sinful life, and I repent of it now. I want Jesus’ substitutionary sacrifice to be counted for my benefit. I decide right now to start living according to your will. Then I will tell all my relatives, acquaintances, etc. about my decision. I am publicly in faith. I pray in the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Pray the previous prayer with all your heart and soul. After this, God’s promise is for you: ”Everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through him.” Acts 10:43.

You are now a child of God who has been forgiven. 1 John 1:7-9.

The next step is baptism, where you are baptized in water by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 2:38,41.

Blessings,

Weijo Lindroos

Kristillinen Toimintakeskus
Maariankatu 2.
20100 Turku
Suomi Finland

Even if you have read the following scripture several times, read it again now. Let’s consider it carefully together. This is a very serious matter.

God loves every person and “…desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4.

”Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4:1-8.

John wrote the answer to the question, ”How do we know whether the spirits are of God?”

The first key to discernment here is to recognize Jesus, to accept Him as He is. ”for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” John 8:24. The Word who came from heaven and became flesh is Jesus, the Son of God. ”The Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” John 1:14.

Of course, we cannot recognize any gift or other activity as being influenced by the Spirit of God unless the person acknowledges Jesus as Lord. This acknowledgment is therefore the first of the elements.

But the matter continues. To say Amen to the previous at this point would be too early. To do so would remain solely on an ecumenical level: – – –

The second key to discernment is crucial. John states that ”we are of God.” Verse 6. He meant himself and all the early believers (ekklesia, congregtion) who remained in the apostolic truth; and thus also us who remain in the apostolic faith today. “We are of God!” We remain in the original Christianity (who remain in it). We do not join new religions, such as Evangelical Lutherans, etc. – – –

“He who hears us,.. is of God!” That is what it said. And besides all this, the Word of God says the decisive criterion:

“THIS IS HOW WE KNOW THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH AND THE SPIRIT OF DECEIT!” So ​​from what? – – – Does anyone want to hear the original apostolic Christianity. If someone rejects the word of the Bible, even though things are clearly shown to him, then we know that the Holy Spirit does not lead him.

We also know that the evil spirit prevents the Spirit of Truth from working in him. “By this we know… the spirit of deception…” But the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, who guides into all truth!

Do you want to confess Jesus of Nazareth as your Lord revealed in the Bible and accept Him as the atoning sacrifice for your sins?

Do you want to forsake your sins? And do you want to obey His clear Word and be baptized in water in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? (if you have not yet been baptized since your conversion) And do you want to forsake all religiosity that is not the influence of the Holy Spirit?

Do you want to forsake all your own opinions and focus only on the opinions expressed in God’s Bible?

If you say amen to all this, then all is well.

If you do not want to hear ”we”, then we cannot believe that the spirit in you is from God!

Check today that you are in harmony with God? Jesus wants to fix everything!
He is our GOOD Shepherd.

Blessings,

Weijo Lindroos

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