10/01 By Faith


Date: Sunday October 01, 2012
Today’s ChaptersMatthew 1-3
Message Title: By Faith
Hello My Friend,
The Book of Matthew is the first book of the New Testament, the fortieth book of the Bible and it contains twenty-eight chapters. The author of the book is Matthew and it was written to all believers, although it was the first directed to the Jews to whom Jesus was presented as the Messiah, the Son of David. The timeline for these events took place approximately between 4BC and 33AD. The purpose of the book was to present the ministry of Jesus, stressing His role as King of the Jews. What we are to learn from the book is the Gospel of Christ and that it is to be preached in all the world until Jesus returns. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” – Matthew 24:14.
Matthew, a Levite, was a publican, or tax collector under the Romans at Capernaum, before his conversion. The Gospel of Christ, which is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, addresses issues that were best suited to awaken the Jewish nation into the realization that they were not saved from judgment because they were descendants or Abraham. Matthew is an example of how God can convert any sinner and make him a disciple of Christ. The book of Matthew opens with the genealogy of Christ, both Mary and Joseph were descendants of David. However, if Joseph had been the biological father of Jesus, he would have passed on to Him the sin nature of Adam, therefore, it was important that Jesus came here through the method that He did in which, Mary, a virgin, conceived miraculously through the Holy Spirit. Of all the people involved in this I imagine Joseph had to have the most faith of all, he even considered leaving it all.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.” – Matthew 1:19-21,24,25.
Joseph is told that Mary, whom he was betrothed to marry, was going to have a baby, conceived by the Holy Spirit. It the eyes of the world, this would be unbelievable, I actually know some people who refuse to believe that Mary was a virgin when she Jesus was born. However, by faith, Joseph accepted God’s call to be the earthly step-dad of His Son. It is important that we as Christians do whatever God asks us to do, even if we do not understand because He has a purpose for it and has chosen you specifically to do it. “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” – John 15:6.
Egypt had been a house of bondage to Israel, and particularly cruel to the infants of Israel, but it would be the place of refuge to the holy Child Jesus until it was safe for Him to return to Israel. Through a dream, Joseph was instructed to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:” – Matthew 2:11-14.
After Malachi there was no prophet until John the Baptist came, he appeared first in the wilderness of Judea. The doctrine he preached was repentance, meaning turn from trusting in themselves as their salvation, but in God alone. John got his title, the Baptist, because he baptized sinners in water as a symbol that they were separating themselves from sin and determined to follow God wholeheartedly. When they were immersed in the water, then came out, it was a public acknowledgment of their faith. Jesus went to John to be baptized. Why? Not because of repentance, but to be the example that we are to follow. John stressed the importance of the Jews understanding that they will be in hell unless they looked to Christ.
And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” – Matthew 3:9-11,13-17.
When Jesus came out of the water He was filled with the Holy Spirit, this was a symbol of a sinner who received Christ and the second they do they are cleansed and filled with the Holy Spirit in them. Baptism is not necessary for salvation, we do not get saved simply by getting baptized nor by getting saved then baptized. We get saved by our belief and acceptance of Gospel of Christ and asking Him to save us from the fire. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” – Romans 5:8-10.
Today’s Prayer: God, You have called us to be a chosen generation, a people set apart to show forth the light of Christ who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. We too can show the world how wonderful it is to walk in the Light. Help us to witness faithfully through the Holy Spirit guiding us and let Jesus walk in and through us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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