The Gospel of the Kingdom of God ── In the Old Testament?

by Leonard V Johnson

Greetings, dear Brethren, Co-Workers, and Friends around the world ── like Iztacalco, Mexico, Bogotá, Colombia, Baghdad, Iraq, Al Minya, Egypt, and Phnom Perih, Cambodia. Welcome to the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries.

Is the glorious gospel of the soon-coming Kingdom of God mentioned and taught in the Old Testament? And just how did our Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles Peter and Paul preach the glorious gospel?

Our Lord and Savior would not have been able to read the New Testament, yet He certainly preached the gospel of the Kingdom of God (cf. Mark 1:15). And He quoted from Scripture!

John the Baptist preached the glorious gospel of the kingdom. The Apostle Peter certainly preached on the very day when the fullness of the Feast of Pentecost had come (AD 31), a message of salvation that would bring on that day about three thousand who repented and were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Now, Peter quoted Scripture, but he didn’t quote from the New Testament. After his conversion, the Apostle Paul preached the glorious gospel of the Kingdom of God “and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence” – Acts 28:31. Yet, through the majority of his ministry he did not have access to any of the Books recognized now as the “New Testament” ── in fact, he himself would come to write fourteen Books of it!

So, truly, the only Books that our Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles had access to and were familiar with and preached from were what we now regard as the Old Testament.

Ye Old Testament

According to Publishers Weekly ── In 2025, Bible sales reached historic highs in both the United States and the United Kingdom, with U.S. sales hitting a 21‑year high of 19 million units — up 12% from 2024 and more than double 2019 levels. 1 It has been translated into nearly every language and dialect, including into the Khoisan group of languages with their clicks. Yet, this most translated and constant best seller is the least read, studied, and least understood Book! And even those who do read it and study it consistently often avoid large swaths of it – the depths of the Old Testament ── as in genealogies.

Apparently, the very word “old” as opposed to “new” has made most people feel as if they no longer need to read the Old Testament ── like it had nothing to do with the New Testament, or it was only for the Jewish people.

The Holy Bible ── which is God’s living word in print ── has 66 “Books” in the Authorized Version, the 1611 King James Version. So, are those first 39 “Books” of God’s living word now unnecessary ── or did the Creator, our God, have a reason for inspiring them and for us to read, study, and understand them, even here in the 21st century?

Our Lord Jesus Came Preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God

Certainly, some questions can be asked and pondered upon ── to Whose authority did He represent? Where did He get His understanding of love and grace, mercy, forgiveness, and salvation ── and the understanding of the Kingdom of God? When our beloved Apostle Peter preached concerning grace and salvation, Whose authority did he base his understanding? When the Apostle Paul began to expound and proclaim unto the Gentiles concerning the glorious gospel of the Kingdom of God, and those things pertaining to our Lord Jesus Christ, from what “Books” did he preach from?

The GOLDEN RULE

Well … a large majority of my generation (Generation X) was taught the Golden Rule ── the principle of treating others as one would want to be treated. Our Lord and Savior certainly taught the GOLDEN RULE – “’ Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.’” – Matthew 7:12.

Let’s speak of this Golden Rule for a moment. While typing this article up, I went and read a few publications on this “Golden Rule” ── because people the world over demand respect, love, and appreciation, often whether they deserve it or not. Surely, you want respect? Because to receive respect, we should respect others. Do you want kind words? Because to receive kind words, we should use kind words to others. “’ It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” The LORD God’s Golden Rule is also a part of the second greatest commandment ── “’ You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

What I came to discover, reading and studying just a little of some of the ancient texts and versions of this “Golden Rule,” is that no other saying or philosophical system is equal to our Creator’s ── the living Jesus Christ’s! Some examples ──

• Confucius, or rather Confusion, “What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others.”
• In Taoism, “The sage has no interest of his own, but takes the interests of the people as his own.”
• In Mohism, “If people regarded other people's states in the same way that they regard their own, who then would incite their own state to attack that of another?”
• The ancient epic of India, Vyasa says, “Do not to others what you do not wish done to yourself; and wish for others too what you desire and long for yourself.”
• Tamil tradition, “Do not do to others what you know has hurt yourself.”
• In ancient Greece, “Avoid doing what you would blame others for doing.”
• In Zoroastrianism, “That nature alone is good which refrains from doing to another whatsoever is not good for itself.”

In fact, our Lord Jesus Christ’s Golden Rule ── in fact, the very One who created this very rule (cf. John 1:3) is not the “ethic of maxim reciprocity” so commonly espoused throughout the world. Most people claim that this Golden Rule is but a shared ethic among all religions. THIS IS NOT TRUE! Our Creator’s command has a very IMPORTANT difference. Notice that those sayings above are similar to our LORD God’s Golden Rule, yet are stated rather negatively and rely on passivity. Our Lord Jesus Christ’s command is a positive command to show love PROACTIVELY. Notice that the ones above are not proactive. We are to look for ways to act positively.

Now, in nearly every publication I reviewed, it said that our Lord Jesus Christ simply “borrowed” the idea of the Golden Rule from many Eastern religions. However, the texts of Confusion and Mohism above were written 400-500 BC conservatively. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ quotes His Golden Rule from the Book of Leviticus 19:18. “’ You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.’” Moses wrote Leviticus after the Israelites left Mount Sinai, between 1440 and 1400 BC. So, who “borrowed” from whom?

Also, how many noticed the last part of our Lord Jesus’ Golden Rule? He tells us where He got this Golden Rule, “ … ‘for this [the Golden Rule] is the Law and the Prophets.’”

So, our Lord Jesus Christ was expounding upon the Old Testament ── not doing away with it. In fact, His very life and gospel message were an explanation of the Old Testament. A MAGNIFICATION. When the self-righteous Pharisees and Sadducees would ask Him a question, He would often answer, “’ Have you not read …?’”

In fact, the whole gospel message of our Heavenly Father brought to us by His Son is a gospel message of love ── but what kind of love? AH ── you didn’t know there are different kinds of love? Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ explains ── when a pharisaical “expert in the law” asked Him a question, testing Him, saying, ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’ The Lord Jesus answered him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. … And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ This is the GREAT COMMANDMENT of love that our Savior and Lord gave ── the “new” commandment ──

“Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had FROM THE BEGINNING. The old commandment is the word which you heard FROM THE BEGINNING. 8) Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is ALREADY SHINING.” – 1 John 2:7-8.

“’ On these TWO COMMANDMENTS hang all the Law and the Prophets.’” – Matthew 22:34-40.

Our Lord Jesus quoted His answer from His living words in Deuteronomy and Leviticus!

The time when our Lord Jesus was confronted by Satan the Devil, He pointed out and encompassed the entire precept, “’ It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but BY EVERY WORD that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” – Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4. And, this very direct response to Satan the Devil was taken directly from His living word that He had inspired His Prophet Moses to pen in Deuteronomy 8:3!

The Apostle Peter and the Gospel of the Kingdom

Simon Peter, Servant and Apostle of Jesus Christ (ai-generated)

Notice ──

“Of this salvation [of this gospel of the Kingdom and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ] the prophets [of the Old Testament] have inquired and searched carefully, who PROPHESIED OF THE GRACE THAT WOULD COME to you, 11) searching what [way], or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ [which] WAS IN THEM was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12) TO THEM [the prophets of the Old Testament] it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you THROUGH THOSE who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven ── things which angels desire to look into.” – 1 Peter 1:10-12.

So, even more and greater knowledge of God’s coming Kingdom and the teachings which concern our Messiah, has been revealed to us than was the prophets of old, they prophesied of the grace that is now. Spiritual truths that even the angels desire to know. And in his second epistle, he warned us that there would come unstable people who would twist, to their own destruction, some of the harder things to understand by the Apostle Paul, “as they do also the rest of the Scriptures” – 2 Peter 3:14-16.

The Apostle Paul and the Gospel of the Kingdom

Apostle Paul - "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." - 1st Cor. 1:3. (Ai-generated)

The very source of the gospel that our beloved Apostle Paul preached is recorded for us in the Book of Acts ──

“So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from BOTH THE LAW OF MOSES and THE PROPHETS, from morning till evening.” – Acts 28:23. This inspired statement regarding the testifying and teaching of the Apostle Paul was at the very end of his ministry ── long after he had turned from Judaism and had embraced and accepted JESUS CHRIST and had begun preaching and testifying of the glorious gospel message ── the message of the soon-coming Kingdom of God and of the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.

The Apostle Paul was commissioned by our LORD God to carry the gospel message to the Gentiles. A few months ago, while speaking with a professing Christian relative, I was asked if I had ever heard of Pauline Christianity. He asked, “Are you aware that Saul preached a different gospel other than the four gospels?” I told him that I had heard of this Pauline Christianity and that I denounce it quite strongly. The Apostle Paul was commissioned, and the evangelists and elders under him, to carry the same gospel message to the Gentiles around the world at that moment in time. His personal instruction to the Evangelist Timothy, and to all those under him ──

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2) PREACH THE WORD! …” 2 Timothy 4:1, 2.

Verse 11 – “ … for the ministry of the Word.” – NET.

In other words, the gospel of the Kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul had just written ──

“ALL SCRIPTURE [speaking here of the Old Testament, the New Testament had not been fully written] is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” – 2 Timothy 3:16.

And flowing in thought from that, we come to Chapter 4:1-2. The conjunction of οὖν, “therefore,” because ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God and is profitable, PROCLAIM IT! Truly, the scope of “the Word” ──

• The gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ.
• The “whole counsel of God” – Acts 20:27.
• Moral instruction for righteous living – cf. Titus 2:11-14.

ABSOLUTELY NOT! PERISH THE THOUGHT ── the Apostle Paul did not come up with his own “Pauline theology”! He never disagreed with Moses, or any other prophet of the Old Testament, or with our Savior, Jesus Christ ── his instructions was, again, to the Evangelist Timothy, and to all those that were under him, “from childhood you have known the HOLY SCRIPTURES [the Old Testament], which are able to make you wise FOR SALVATION THROUGH FAITH WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS.” – 2 Timothy 3:15.

So the Apostle Paul, under the glorious inspiration of the Spirit of God, and using his full authority of apostleship, in this epistle, is stating that the OLD TESTAMENT is PROFITABLE for doctrine ── not some self-proclaimed “Pauline theology” ── the very same truths that were preached by Enoch, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Elijah, Elisha, by John the Baptist, and by our Savior and great High Priest in the heavenly realms, Jesus Christ ── and their source for the doctrines of God? The Old Testament.

The Apostle Paul had no doctrines that were contrary to any single “Book,” or “Chapter,” or “Verse” from Genesis to Malachi. In fact, he was highly pleased because those citizens of Berea who had heard the gospel, checked the Scriptures (the Old Testament) daily on the things he was proclaiming to them ── the gospel of the Kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 17:11).

Notice ── in his epistle to the Church in Corinth, the Apostle Paul told the brethren that the things that occurred within the Old Testament were examples, written for our admonition ── “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” – 1 Corinthians 10:11.

Evangelist Philip and the Gospel of the Kingdom

Evangelist Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch - Acts 8:26-40 (Ai-generated) 

Evangelist Philip preached and testified about our Lord Jesus Christ, His crucifixion, and of the soon-coming Kingdom of God, and of salvation ── from the Old Testament! Notice the verse that the Ethiopian eunuch was reading ──

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.” – Isaiah 53:7.

The eunuch asked Philip, ‘Of whom does the prophet say this, was it himself or someone else?’ Then Philip, beginning at this very passage, taught JESUS to him! Evangelist Philip began explaining that this is referring to the Son of God, sent by the Almighty Father in Heaven to become a human being, to live a perfect life, and then to be like “a lamb to the slaughter” ── to be sacrificed for the sins of all mankind. But, of course, Isaiah 53 is not the only chapter in the Old Testament that applies to our Savior, Jesus Christ; many more were needed for Philip to explain completely the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ completely out of the Old Testament. (Be sure to read and study our free no-obligation online PDF booklet “Many Convincing Proofs That Jesus Is Christ”).

Surely, Philip could have turned to Genesis 3:15, the prophecy regarding our Lord Jesus and the woman ── ‘between Satan the Devil’s seed and her Seed’ ── how her Seed was to redeem mankind from sin. This would have shown him that a Savior was going to be needed from the very beginning ── that even if Adam had chosen the tree of life, he would have still lived out his physical life and then died. Now, during Adam’s long lifetime, he had many physical children. Every single one of Adam’s children would have had to choose for themselves the ‘tree of life’ or the ‘tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A Savior was still going to be needed. I speak of this in “Conversation With AI Regarding ‘An Epiphany Concerning the Original Sin’”).

Philip could have easily turned in the Torah, to Genesis 12, 15, 22 about the glorious promise that the LORD God of the heavens and of earth had made to Patriarch Abraham, how “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, …” How He had promised, “’ The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet … from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear.” – Deuteronomy 18:15.

Could we dare say that Philip knew of ── or might have had an early copy of ── the original Book of Enoch that prophesied of the Son of Man? ──

“He will be a staff for the righteous, that they may lean on Him and not fall; And He will be the light of the nations, And He will be a hope for those who grieve in their hearts. All who dwell on the earth will fall down and worship before Him, And they will glorify and bless and sing hymns to the name of the Lord of spirits. For this reason He was chosen and hidden in his presence before the world was created and forever. …

For in His name they are saved, and He is the Vindicator of their lives.” – 1 Enoch 48:4-7. 2

Surely Philip would have mentioned the 70 weeks’ prophecy in Daniel 9 ──

“’ Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.

25) Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem UNTIL MESSIAH THE PRINCE, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times.

26) And AFTER the sixty-two weeks MESSIAH SHALL BE CUT OFF, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.

27) Then [H]e shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. …’” – Daniel 9:24-26, 27.

This was a prophecy concerning the time of Jesus’ birth. Now, certainly, the Prophet Daniel had read the Book of Jeremiah and realized that there was a certain 70-weeks that would transpire before the nation of Judah would return to Jerusalem – understanding that they would not be in captivity forever, they were going back to Jerusalem, they were going to rebuild the wall, they were going to rebuild the temple – and the Messiah was going to come at that time! At the end of this sixty-nine-week prophecy – that is exactly what happened! Because, if you look back into history (cf. Herodotus’ Histories 3. 150-160) when Darius I, king of ancient Persia (who reigned from 522-486 BC), subjugated the Babylonians – and Flavius Josephus wrote, “when Babylon was taken by Darius, and when he, with his kinsman Cyrus, had put an end to the dominion of the Babylonians, he was sixty-two years old” (Antiquities 10.11 §4). And you look at that date, the 70-weeks depicted a time – that at exactly at the end of that 69-week prophesied period, Jesus the Messiah was born in 4 BC. It’s an amazing prophecy! I pray tell, was Evangelist Philip aware of this awesome prophecy?

And speaking of the dominion of the Babylonians, reading from the Prophets, Philip could have easily read him, “ …’ This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.” – Zechariah 4:6.

A prophecy that was recorded for us around 520 BC during Darius I, king of ancient Persia’s reign. It’s set in Jerusalem, where returning exiles would build the Temple again after a 16-year hiatus. And it’s all about the LORD God’s power, not human strength. Basically, the LORD of hosts says, ‘Listen, Zerubbabel, you think you need muscles for My temple project? No! It’s My Spirit that’ll get the job done!’

Also, among “The Twelve,” Philip could have easily read ──

“’ REJOICE GREATLY, O DAUGHTER OF ZION! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, Your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’” – Zechariah 9:9.

He would have explained that this prophecy had been fulfilled during our Lord Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, as recorded for us now in Matthew 21 and John 12:15.

In the Jewish Tanakh, Micah ──

“’ But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.’” – Micah 5:2.

He could have pointed out to the eunuch that, just as King Herod the Great had been told ── it was indeed prophesied that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, and that He would eventually be Ruler in Israel!

Philip could have continued in Zechariah, explaining to the Ethiopian eunuch that it was prophesied long ago that the One who would come to fulfill this prophecy of the Messiah would be sold out for a mere 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13).

Philip could have taken out the Tehillim, the “praises,” and read ──

“The stone which the builders rejected Has become the Chief cornerstone. 23) This was the LORD’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.” – Psalm 118:22-23.

Explaining that it had been prophesied long ago that our Savior and Lord Jesus would not be accepted by the multitudes but rather rejected, and that it was not just spontaneous or planned that the Son of God had been rejected by His own.

Also, that in Zechariah, how long ago it had been prophesied that the Messiah ── Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God ── would bring grace to all mankind, forgiveness for their sins ── undeserving as it is, and would sacrifice Himself for their sins!

“’ And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.’” – Zechariah 12:10.

And right there in Isaiah, he could have shown him ── some thirty years before the Apostle Paul would write the epistle to the Ephesians ── how the Messiah, the Captain of our salvation, was to have righteousness as a breastplate, salvation as a helmet, and zeal as a cloak! ──

“He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him. 17) For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak.” – Isaiah 59:16-17.

" ...' Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be.' ..." - John 19:23-24. (Ai-generated)

And still yet, returning again to the “praises,” reading Psalm 22:1 ── the very last words of our Messiah on the cross as He suffered for the sins of all mankind! ──

’“ي، إلي، لما سبشثن؟’”  – Matthew 27:46.

Reading down a few verses, he could have shown how our Messiah was surrounded by dogs, and the congregation of the wicked had surrounded Him, piercing His hands and feet – Psalm 22:16.

He could have explained how the Roman soldiers had used little tablets or counters (thrown into water-filled urns to seek divine guidance) to cast lots to see who the new owner of His fine cloak would be ── Psalm 22:18.

Philip would have mentioned all these prophesies could only have been fulfilled in the Person of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God ──

“Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.” – Psalm 41:9.

Philip recounting to the Ethiopian eunuch how that when our Savior was hanging on the cross, He was offered gall to drink to “quench” His thirst ── and he patiently explained that even this had been prophesied ──

“They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” – Psalm 69:21.

Certainly, just as the Apostle Peter had done on the Day of Pentecost in 31 AD ── here, about 4 years later, Philip would have explained to the Ethiopian eunuch concerning the prophecy in the “praises” regarding the glorious resurrection of the Messiah from the dead ──

“For You will not leave my soul in Sheol [the grave or tomb], Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” – Psalm 16:10.

In covering these prophecies ── and certainly many others ── the Evangelist Philip would have pointed out to the Ethiopian eunuch that this was far from the end, that it was THE CONTINUATION of a great Plan of salvation that the LORD God had envisioned for all mankind!

Continuing in “The Twelve” ── in Zechariah ── that our Messiah came the first time as a lowly Messiah riding upon a colt of an ass, but that upon His second return as King of kings and Lord of lords, He will rule the entire Earth ── 

“I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim And the horse from Jerusalem; The battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea [describing our Messiah’s dominion from the Mediterranean to the eastern seas, symbolizing a worldwide rule], And from the River [the Euphrates River] to the end of the earth.’” – Zechariah 9:10.

Surely, Philip would have shown him Zechariah 14 and explained that when our Savior returns, He will put His feet on the very Mount of Olives – Zechariah 14:4.

It’s the Greatest of News in This 21st Century!

Ever since our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ascended back to the upper heavenly realms, we have been in ‘the beginning of sorrows’! Mankind has been suffering under our own rule, our own governments of Democracy, Republic, Absolute monarchy, Totalitarianism, Communism, and social democracy. Theocracy, Islamic republic, People’s republic, Fascism, Socialism, Feudalism, and all the many others! And particularly since the early 20th century, mankind now faces the fact that it can now annihilate every man, woman, and child from the face of the planet!

But, it’s the greatest of good news that this same Messiah, the Captain of our salvation, the Son of God, the One who had the compassion, love, and mercy to sacrifice Himself for you and me, and for all the sins of mankind ── some 1,995 years ago ── will again return soon to establish His kingdom of peace, His kingdom of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control! Be sure to read and study all of Chapter 11 of Isaiah.

Well … the LORD God knew that there would be scoffers in the last days, people who would agree with some of the living word of God, but not all of it! God Most High knew that the greater majority of mankind ── until the glorious and powerful coming of His Son as ‘King of kings and Lord of lords’ would not accept the Law, Ordinances, Statutes, and Judgments that His Son, our Lord and Savior, taught ──

“’ It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” – Matthew 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3.

The LORD Eternal One knew that He would allow the evil one, Satan the Devil, to deceive the whole world (Revelation 12:9). And that time is nearly over ── the prophecies that the Evangelist Philip preached to the Ethiopian eunuch in approximately AD 35 of the glorious and powerful second coming of our Savior are just about to be fulfilled!

And He has asked, “ … ‘Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?’” – Luke 18:8. □

1 Grossman, Cathy, L., Bible Sales Break Records in U.S., U.K., Publishers Weekly, 09 Jan. 2026.

2 Nickelsburg, W.E. G., & VanderKam, C. J., 1 Enoch: A New Translation, Fortress Press, Minneapolis, 2004, pg. 62.

Powerful Earthquake Strikes the Southern Philippine Island of Mindanao

A very deadly earthquake struck off the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines ──

June 7, 2026

Powerful Philippine quake leaves at least 32 feared dead, survivors recount fear

GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines, June 8 (Reuters) – The death toll in a powerful 7.8‑magnitude earthquake off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday has risen to at least 32, with dozens of people injured, disaster officials said, as Manila stepped up search and rescue operations. The quake, which triggered tsunami warnings across several countries, hit early in the morning about 20 km (12.4 miles) off the coast of Sarangani province, with tremors felt strongly across Mindanao and 420 km away in the city of Manado on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.

(https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/earthquake-magnitude-73-strikes-mindanao-philippines-gfz-says-2026-06-07/).

Also, there was a historic 6.1-magnitude earthquake off Cuba coast felt in southern Florida ──

June 8, 2026

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck just west of Cuba in the southern Gulf on Monday, causing shakes across southwestern Florida.

The quake hit 64.9 miles west-northwest of Mantua, Cuba, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. There is no danger of a tsunami, the National Tsunami Center said in a post on X.

The effects of the earthquake were felt across parts of Florida, which the USGS said is uncommon. …

(https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/6-1-magnitude-earthquake-off-cuba-coast-felt-in-southern-florida/ar-AA257TDv).

I, myself, do not recall feeling any shaking of the ground at that time ── which occurred around 2 pm EST.  Those dearly affected by the quake in the Philippines are in our prayers.

Sadly, the deaths from this massively powerful 7.8‑magnitude earthquake are a reminder that “life is but a vapor” – James 4:14. We should indeed take our loving and merciful Lord Jesus’ living words to heart ──

“ …’ Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3) I tell you, no; but UNLESS YOU REPENT you will all likewise perish. 4) Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5) I tell you, no; but UNLESS YOU REPENT you will all likewise perish.’” – Luke 13:2, 3-4.

Roman Catholicism is the largest religion in the Philippines, alongside Islam, Protestantism, and the Dharmic faith. Dharma is a central concept of Hinduism and Buddhism.

A person’s situation can change on a dime, and their life can be changed in an instant. Our Lord Jesus Christ says to us, ‘Unless you repent, you too can perish like they.’

~ be sure to read our latest Questions That the Religions of the World Ask ── IV) Why do the religions of the world contradict each other, if they all come from the LORD God? ~

Of course, we are aware that ever since our Lord Jesus Christ prophesied that we would experience ‘earthquakes in various places’, we have had earthquakes around the world, such as ──

• One of the most devastating earthquakes in recorded history was the 1556 Shaanxi earthquake, which occurred on 23 January 1556 in Shaanxi, China. More than 100,000 people died. Magnitude 7.0–7.5.
• The 1960 Chilean earthquake is the largest earthquake that has been measured on a seismograph, reaching 9.5 magnitude on 22 May 1960. Casualties: 1,000–6,000. 1
• 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The earthquake was the most powerful ever recorded in Japan and the fourth most powerful recorded worldwide since modern seismography began in 1900. Casualties: 19,759 deaths.

They are part of what our Lord Jesus called, ‘the beginning of sorrows,’ or ‘birth pains.’

“ …’ And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8) All these are the beginning of sorrows.’” – Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8.

The phrase “birth pains” is significant — just as contractions grow stronger and closer before birth, Jesus taught that these disasters would increase in frequency and severity as the end of the age approached.

The LORD God inspired our beloved Apostle Peter to record for us ──

“Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of REMINDER), 2) that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the HOLY PROPHETS, and of the commandment of us, THE APOSTLES OF THE LORD AND SAVIOR, 3) knowing this FIRST: that scoffers will come IN THE LAST DAYS, walking according to their own lusts, 4) and saying, ‘WHERE IS THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’

5) For this they WILLFULLY FORGET [are ignorant of]: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water, 6) by which the world that then existed [speaking of the antediluvian world] perished, being flooded with water. 7) But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved BY THE SAME WORD, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8) But, beloved, DO NOT FORGET THIS ONE THING, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years [to us], and a thousand years as one day [to Him]. 9) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

10) But THE DAY OF THE LORD will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

11) Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12) looking for and hastening the coming of THE DAY OF THE LORD, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

13) Nevertheless, we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth [clearly a reference to Revelation 21:1] in which righteousness dwells.

14) Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15) and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation ── as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the Wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16) as also in all his epistles, speaking in them OF THESE THINGS, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also THE REST OF THE SCRIPTURES.

17) You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, BEWARE lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18) but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” – 2 Peter 3:1-18.

My beloved, the status quo will not remain the same (cf. Ecclesiastes 1:9-10). YELLOWSTONE, located in the state of Wyoming, USA, could erupt at any given moment! The Yellowstone hotspot is the largest volcanic system in North America, and worldwide it is only rivaled by the Lake Toba Caldera on Sumatra. 2

Notice this video by Above the Norm News ── Idaho Swarm Shifting Toward Yellowstone. Over 100 earthquakes in two weeks. A magnitude 4.3 hit near Clayton. Now the swarm is moving east.

The Eternal One ── the LORD our God ── the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the very God whom we worship in Spirit and in truth ── has prophesied that there will be in the end time A MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE the likes of which the world has never experienced ──

“I [the Apostle John in vision] looked when He [truly, truly the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David] opened the SIXTH SEAL, and behold, there was A GREAT EARTHQUAKE; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.” – Revelation 6:12.

Logically, the moon appears “like blood” or reddish when it appears in an atmosphere full of dust, smoke, or smog! The atmosphere will be thick with volcanic ash towers from a great number of volcanoes erupting around the globe, possibly caused by the massive “great earthquake.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ also prophesied of this sixth seal ──

“’ Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; …’” – Matthew 24: 29a.

And then, a voice says, “It is done!” Revelation 16:18 – “And there were noises and thundering’s and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19) Now the great city was divided into three parts, …”

My friend, let us all heed the living word of our Savior Jesus Christ ──

“’ The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. REPENT, and believe in the gospel.’” – Mark 1:15. □

Sources:

1 Wikipedia contributors. "Earthquake." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 29 May. 2026. Web. 9 Jun. 2026.

2 Wikipedia contributors. "Yellowstone National Park." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 9 Jun. 2026. Web. 9 Jun. 2026.

Questions That the Religions of the World Ask ── IV) Why do the religions of the world contradict each other, if they all come from the LORD God?

We pray and hope that this article will help you better understand this question that many have.

IV) Why do the religions of the world contradict each other, if they all come from the LORD God?

Well, the simple answer is ── they do not all come from the LORD God.

The religions of this world are demonic in nature and are from Satan the Devil ──

“They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods; With abominations they provoked Him to anger. 17) They sacrificed to demons, not to God, To gods they did not know, To new gods, new arrivals That your fathers did not fear.” – Deuteronomy 32:16-17.

This world’s religions, which DO NOT live by the entirety of the living word of God, are demonic in nature.

“And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15) Therefore it is no great thing if HIS MINISTERS also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” – 2 Corinthians 11:14-15.

Millions in this world are considered perennialists. Perennialists are followers of the Perennial Philosophy (also called Perennialism), a worldview and educational philosophy that holds that all authentic religious and philosophical traditions share a single, timeless truth or “Primordial Tradition” revealed from the divine. 1 Thus, no one religion is better than the other and that all should be “respected” as basically equal before God. Also, a great many who are considered “New Agers” have been pushing this interfaith and ecumenical movement—including the Vatican, many of the Eastern Orthodox, the Hindus, and many Moslems. You might have seen a Coexist bumper sticker on a car lately. This is absolutely wrong ── and against God’s living word.

We must consider ──

“’ God is Spirit, and those who worship Him MUST worship in spirit [through the Spirit of God, aided by the mind of our Lord Jesus] and truth [that being the truth of God].’” – John 4:24.

There is only one true God family ── the Elohim, God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

“’ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one [Hebrew, ‘ehad]!’” – Deuteronomy 6:4.

“’ I am the LORD, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. …’” – Isaiah 45:5.

“’ I and My Father are one.’” – John 10:30.

“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” – 1 Timothy 2:5.

Let us also notice ──

“ …the LORD Himself is God; there is none other besides Him.” – Deuteronomy 4:35.

“But the LORD is THE TRUE GOD; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation. 11) THUS you shall say to them: ‘The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.’” – Jeremiah 10:10-11.

Yet, sadly, this world’s religions worship ── either knowingly or unknowingly ── Satan the Devil and his demons.

God’s living word refers to Satan as “the god of this age” who has blinded the minds of men, “who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” – 2 Corinthians 4:4.

God’s living and relevant word WARNS us ──

“’ When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, 30) TAKE HEED to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that YOU DO NOT INQUIRE AFTER THEIR GODS, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’

31) You SHALL NOT worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.

32) Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.’” – Deuteronomy 12:29-32.

God’s living word also teaches us ──

“For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and AWESOME, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.” – Deuteronomy 10:17.

“Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever.” – Psalm 136:2-3.

Yet, sadly, a growing number of people within their “modern morality” equate the LORD our God with what they call “the Jewish God ── who is nothing more than one god among a pantheon of gods.” But that is absolutely WRONG!

There is soon coming a time when all of mankind who have worshiped false gods ── and who do not repent of the works of their hands, the worship of demons, idols of gold and silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk ── will come to realize what they had been doing all their life ──

“’ Behold, I [the LORD God] will send for many FISHERMEN [the resurrected saints of God],’ says the LORD, ‘and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks [see: Revelation 6:15; Isaiah 2:19-21]. 17) For My eyes are on all their ways; they are NOT HIDDEN FROM MY FACE, nor is their iniquity hidden from My eyes. 18) And FIRST I will repay double for their iniquity and their sin, because they have defiled My land; they have filled My inheritance with the carcasses of their detestable and ABOMINABLE idols.’” – Jeremiah 16:16-18.

Again, God’s living word is crystal clear that there is only ONE God family ── the Elohim, which at this time consists of God the Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ ── The God of the Old Testament was the One we now know of as Jesus Christ ──

“’ To you [O’ House of Israel] it was shown, that you might know that the LORD Himself is God; there is none other besides Him.’” – Deuteronomy 4:35.

“’ Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, 10) Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure.’” – Isaiah 46:9-10.

Indeed, Isaiah 46 here declares to us God’s absolute uniqueness, but when you dig into the Hebrew grammar throughout Scripture, like the word “Elohim” being plural in nature, it reveals to us this beautifulness that supports the Father-Son relationship. This wonderful chapter comes from the “Book of Comfort” that was written around 700 BC ── about 150 years before Babylon’s conquest. It contrasts Babylon’s false gods of Bel and Nebo with YHWH, showing that these idols would be carried away as spoils when Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon in 539 BC.

It greatly saddens me to know that there are people who consider our great and mighty LORD God ── YHWH ── simply a regional deity in a pantheon. Yet, John 1:1 makes it crystal clear that all things were made through our Lord Jesus, and Colossians 1:16 says by Him all things were created. The Word ── the same God that speaks here in Isaiah 46, “’ For I am God, and there is no other,’” who spoke to Moses is the Word who became flesh!

Also, and it’s important to point this out. The Hebrew word ‘ehad for “one” as in Deuteronomy 6:4, “occurs 960 times as a noun, adjective, or adverb, … It is closely identified with yāhad “to be united” … It stresses unity while recognizing diversity within that oneness.” 2

Also, our LORD God within the New Testament warns us from incorporating pagan practices into the worship of our great and mighty God ──

“What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20) RATHER, that the things which THE GENTILES sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21) You CANNOT drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you CANNOT partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.” – 1 Corinthians 10:19-21.

God’s living word in the New Testament warns us, as true Christians, not to be connected in any shape or form or belief with the religions of the world ──

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15) And what accord has Christ with Belial? [literally, Satan the Devil] Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16) And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? FOR YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD. …

17) Therefore ‘Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you. 18) I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.’” – 2 Corinthians 6:14-15, 16, 17.

So, again, the religions of this world are demonic in nature and are from Satan the Devil. □

Sources:

1 Wikipedia contributors. "Perennial philosophy." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 21 Apr. 2026. Web. 7 Jun. 2026.

2 Harris L. R., Archer, L. Gleason, Jr., and Waltke K. Bruce. Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, 1980, #61, pg. 30.

Additional Questions ──

Why does a loving, merciful, all-powerful God allow suffering?

Why Doesn’t God Intervene When People Desperately Seek Him?

Why would an all-powerful Creator God need worship?

What Do You Mean… SALVATION? (Part II)

by Leonard V Johnson

Do you know just what salvation is? Do you know how to get salvation? When do you receive salvation?

Greetings Everyone! Our dear Brethren, Co-Workers, and Friends in Jackson, Mississippi, Philadelphia, PA., in Burgas, Bulgaria, Hanoi, Vietnam, and Nairobi, Kenya. Thank you so much! In this second part of What Do You Mean… SALVATION? I’d like to begin where we left off ──

Yes, indeed, the wages of sin is ETERNAL DEATH! But we have the glorious hope, the glorious GIFT of the Eternal our God ── ETERNAL LIFE!

And eternal life can only be had from the LORD God (the Elohim, the family of God – which at this present time consists of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ). So, as stated previously, we must seek GOD. But we find a tremendous and impenetrable barrier ── our sins. And I don’t know about you, but I find sin exactly the way the Apostle Paul describes it ──

“But if I am doing what I do not desire to do, I agree with the Law that it is good. 17) So then, I am no longer working it out myself; rather, it is sin that is dwelling within me; 18) Because I fully understand that there is not dwelling within me──that is, within my fleshly being──any good. For the desire to do good is present within me; but how to work out that which is good, I do not find. 19) For the good that I desire to do, I am not doing; but the evil that I do not desire to do, this I am doing.” – Romans 7:16-19, NET.

There are certain sins we tend to commit over and over again, and each time we IMMEDIATELY go to the LORD God in heartfelt repentance ── “the desire to do good is present within me; but how to work out that which is good, I do not find.”

Isaiah 55:6-8, which we covered in the first part, says that IF we would seek the Eternal God, we as sinners must forsake OUR WAY, and turn to the LORD God’s Way. The LAW OF GOD IS GOD’S WAY! And sin, the transgression of God’s Law ── which is rebellion and disobedience ── is our way.

So, we forsake our own way ── we forsake the breaking of the TEN COMMANDMENTS, summed up in TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS ── “’ You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ … And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Matthew 22:36-40. At least we try with the help of our Helper! – the Holy Spirit.

The Keeping of God’s Law Alone Won’t Justify!

Well… of course, we cannot keep a spiritual Law perfect with a carnal mind ── 

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6) For to be carnally minded is death [speaking here again of eternal death], but to be spiritually minded is life [eternal life] and peace. 7) BECAUSE the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the Law of God, nor indeed can be.” – Romans 8:5-7.

Now, even if we could keep God’s Law perfect ── never breaking His holy and righteous Law ── our obedience is only what is required of us. It does not make up for our past sins. The death penalty still hangs over our heads. NO FLESH SHALL BE JUSTIFIED OF OUR PAST SINS! A person who was sentenced and then found guilty of committing a heinous crime last month is not magically exonerated from his future execution because he suddenly began obeying all the laws of the land. All the good works in the world ── all the Law-keeping ── cannot justify you of your past sins.

Alright ── where does this leave us? We are now trying our best to obey the LORD God ── to keep the Ten Commandments, the LAW OF GOD. Is this necessary? ABSOLUTELY! ──

“What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? CERTAINLY NOT! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the Law. …”  – Romans 6:1-2. 

“’ If you love Me, keep My commandments.’” – John 14:15.

But does it justify us?

No!

We, at this stage, are still CUT OFF FROM GOD! Our works ── the keeping of God’s Law, while certainly REQUIRED, still have not justified our past sins ── and will not reconcile us to GOD. And we MUST SEEK GOD and have ACCESS TO GOD to obtain His glorious GIFT of eternal life!

So, even after we forsake our sin ── and we TURN TO GOD’S WAY, as the LORD God commands of us ── the KEEPING OF HIS ETERNAL AND RELEVANT LAW ── that eternal death penalty still hangs over our heads! This is what God’s living word teaches! It’s ETERNAL DEATH ── not ETERNAL PUNISHMENT! GOD’S LIVING WORD TEACHES ETERNAL DEATH! But God’s GIFT is ETERNAL LIFE!

God’s living word teaches that our ultimate punishment will be the second death ── death for all eternity. Now, there is a first physical death ── that is a law (the laws of thermodynamics are fundamental principles that describe how energy, heat, work, and entropy behave in a physical system) ──

“And IT IS APPOINTED for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” – Hebrews 9:27.

There was physical death before Adam & Eve were ever created.

And how are all people ── past, present, and future ── judged? “For as in Adam all die, even so IN CHRIST all shall be made alive.” – 1 Corinthians 15:22 ── all people who have died or will die – our first death, “But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.” – vs. 23. How? By the RESURRECTIONS! (Be sure to read and study our online booklet “The Two Resurrections”).

“’ Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29) and come forth ── those who have done good, to the resurrection of life [the first resurrection], and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of [judgment] [the second resurrection, often called the ‘great white throne judgment’].’” – John 5:28-29.

So, there is going to be a resurrection of the just and the unjust ── they that have done good (who are being judged now, cf. 1 Peter 4:17), and they that have done evil (to a resurrection of judgment)! And if they that have done evil, once resurrected and once called by Father God and begin learning His truth, DO NOT REPENT OF THEIR EVIL, THEIR SINS “’ shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is THE SECOND DEATH.’” – Revelation 21:8, see also Revelation 20:11-15.

How To Gain Contact with the LORD God

There is the Way ── and I want to emphasize the word “the” because many people, like Oprah Winfrey, who peddle and promote that there are ‘many ways.’ As I’ve mentioned several times now ── Oprah Winfrey has unapologetically declared her belief in pantheism: “Well, I am a Christian who believes that there are certainly many more paths to God other than Christianity. … I don't believe that it’s the only way, with six billion people here on the planet.” So, there is the Way that you may gain contact with the LORD God who has ETERNAL LIFE to impart.

“’ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes [on] Him should not perish but have EVERLASTING LIFE.’” – John 3:16.

God the Father GIFTS eternal life ONLY THROUGH HIS SON ── JESUS the CHRIST!

“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8) But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were STILL SINNERS, Christ died for us. 9) Much more then, HAVING NOW BEEN JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, we shall be saved from wrath THROUGH HIM. 10) For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God THROUGH THE DEATH OF HIS SON, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” – Romans 5:6-10.

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, never incurred the eternal death penalty. He NEVER SINNED AGAINST THE LAW OF GOD. He has said, “ … ‘I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.’” – John 15:10. And He set us an example that we should do as He did.

When our Lord Jesus voluntarily PAID for our eternal death penalty that was hanging over our heads ── He didn’t pay for it for any sins of His own, for there was none ── He sacrificed His life for ours, YOURS AND MINE! He paid the death penalty for us!

The life that He gave was that of THE CREATOR (John 1:3) of us all! Father God created all things through HIM! All things ── including all mankind! Therefore, the life He sacrificed on the cross was greater than the sum-total of all human lives! HIS SACRIFICE PAID THE DEATH PENALTY FOR US!

So, again, let’s notice Romans 5:8-10, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US. 9) Much more then, HAVING NOW BEEN JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, …”

‘NOW BEEN JUSTIFIED …’ How? Is it by our works ── the obedience of God’s Law which is required? No. It’s ‘BY HIS BLOOD’! If God the Father has called you, and you have properly repented, been properly baptized, having hands laid upon you, having received the gift of the Holy Spirit, and have indeed accepted our Lord Jesus Christ as not only the ONLY SAVIOR OF ALL MANKIND, but as YOUR personal Savior ── YOU ARE ALREADY NOW JUSTIFIED!

AH! Right here, we certainly need to understand what the LORD God means by “justification.” What does JUSTIFIED refer to? It’s the Greek word dikaioō, which means “vindicate, declare righteous, to put someone in a proper relationship with another, freed.” (Strong’s #1344). It does not mean “saved.” It does not mean the gift of life. It means the gift of vindication, of acquittal of our past sins – our guilt. IT MEANS THE PENALTY OF OUR PAST SINS HAS BEEN PAID IN FULL BY OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, FOR US!

The penalty stands paid! We are no longer UNDER the Law (Be sure to read and study our article, “’ Under Law’ or ‘Under Grace’?”). The Law no longer has a claim over our lives! We are now under GRACE ── undeserved PARDON. We have been PARDONED from having to pay the death penalty.

IN OTHER WORDS ── “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51) ── the BARRIER between you and God the Father has now been removed! You are now, BY OUR LORD JESUS’ SACRIFICE, granted contact with God the Father ── reconciled to Him!

What Must We Do to Receive Eternal Life?

Sadly, and I have witnessed this ── many religious people, even many ministers, will flat-out tell you, “It is impossible to keep the Ten Commandments!” Are they telling you the truth? What does God’s living word say?

Notice! “Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’” – Luke 18:18. Our Lord Jesus’ answer, “’ If you want to enter into life, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS.’” – Matthew 19:17.

Why, if it is impossible, does the Lord Jesus command us, ‘If you love Me, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS’? Those who claim that they “know the Lord” will often use sentimental religious phraseology like, “O’ how good it is to know the Lord!” ── yet they teach against the keeping of the Commandments.

“He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” – 1 John 2:4.

And yet it is true, we of and by ourselves, cannot keep God’s holy and righteous spiritual Law perfect! And the Lord GOD does not contradict Himself. We can keep the letter of the Law, but we cannot keep the spiritual Law perfect. Let me explain.

So, returning again ── we have now been blessed and granted contact with Father God ── in other words, ‘the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.’ Yet, we are mortal, and we possess only a temporary physical existence (cf. Hebrews 9:27). The LORD God alone has eternal life. And LIFE can only come from LIFE. Our Lord Jesus Christ’s death paid the penalty of our past guilt ── our past sins. It reconciled us to Father God ── granting us direct access to Father God without the need of a priest. But it did not grant us eternal life ── it did not yet save us!

What now?

Our Savior, High Priest, and Advocate, Jesus Christ, has told us that it was necessary that He return to the Father’s throne in the upper heavenly realms (John 16:7) in order for the Helper (which is God’s Spirit) to be sent to earth. So, after our Lord Jesus’ glorious resurrection, His ascension back to the throne of God the Father who rules the entire universe, then, some TEN DAYS LATER, when the annual Feast of Pentecost had fully come, the Spirit of God descended from heaven and entered the very minds of all who had properly repented, properly been baptized and had hands laid upon them ── of their past sins against the LORD God and their Way. They were reconciled to Father God ── and had been blessed and gained access ── by faith in Christ Jesus’ shed blood for the remission of past sins (Acts 2:1-4).

His first disciples received the glorious Spirit of God through the work of the resurrected, glorified, LIVING JESUS CHRIST! Now, in truth, the Spirit of our Father is also the Spirit of our Savior (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:17). Thus, it was truly the living Jesus Christ, Himself, entering into them ── our Lord Jesus Christ in Spirit!

~ be sure to watch and study our sermon “The Nature of the Holy Spirit: Being or Force?” ~

Now, if God’s Holy Spirit actually dwells within you, then as God the Father raised His Son from the dead, He shall also “give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit [that] dwells in you” – Romans 8:11. “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if INDEED the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if ANYONE does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” – verse 9. If His Spirit does not dwell within you, then you are NOT A CHRISTIAN ── no matter how many religious-sounding phrases you might use, or how many worldly churches you may attend!

The LORD God’s Spirit is LIFE! It imparts HIS LIFE to you!

In Conclusion

So, first and foremost, there are TWO THINGS YOU must do.

On that very day of the Feast of Pentecost (31 AD), after our heavenly Elder Brother, Messiah, Advocate, and great High Priest ascended to the upper heavenly realms, there were many who had joined the mob previously that were shouting out “CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!” during His mock trial before the fifth governor of the Roman province of Judaea, Pontius Pilate. Now, they were stricken with fright and astonishment when they heard with their own ears the Apostle Peter, who knew not their language ── speaking their language in his inspired sermon.

“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, WHAT SHALL WE DO?” – Acts 2:37.

“ … ‘REPENT, and let every one of you BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST [this time, instead of John the Baptist’s baptismal ministry] for the remission of sins; and you SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.’” – Acts 2:38.

So, TWO THINGS FIRST ──

1. REPENT ── to go unto the LORD God in full submission and heartfelt repentance of disobedience of our past sins, our rebellion against the LORD God. Turning completely unto GOD’S WAY ── which includes the LAW of GOD! The repenting of your sins, the transgression of the LAW of GOD.
2. BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST ── a great example is the Ethiopian eunuch. Evangelist Philip ran to him and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ ‘How can I,’ came the answer, ‘unless someone guides me?’

‘He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation, His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.’

The eunuch asked Philip, ‘Of whom does the prophet say this, was it himself or someone else?’ Then Philip, beginning at this very passage, taught JESUS to him!

The eunuch, convicted in heart, asked Philip, ‘See here is water. What keeps me from being baptized?’

Philip answered, ‘IF YOU BELIEVE WITH ALL YOUR HEART, YOU MAY.’

‘I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD.’

Repentance is toward the LORD God, for the Law comes from the LORD God, but FAITH is toward our Lord JESUS CHRIST (Acts 20:21). Our faith in Christ’s ATONEMENT for our sins is commanded to be expressed by BEING BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. (Be sure to watch and study our sermon, “Proper Baptism”).

         3. AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

This is a gift from God Almighty. It is a “down payment,” conditionally, of eternal life.

So, if YOU are faithful and continue to obey and follow GOD’S WAY ── the Way that the Holy Spirit leads and guides ── then YOU are already a begotten CHILD OF GOD! “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” – Romans 8:14. □