21/07/2021 - THEY RECEIVED THE WORD

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Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. Acts 2.41

It is not enough to receive the Word, but to receive it willingly, demonstrating to be pleased with the Lord for having given you such an opportunity. Our attitude towards the things of God shows how He will act towards us. Whoever has the privilege of hearing the Word and understanding it, but does not do what he has learned to be the Father’s will for his life, takes the saddest attitude of all, for he has despised Him.

The Scriptures warn of the consequences for those who disdain the Lord and claim that He does not exist or is not who He says He is: Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed (1 Samuel 2.30).

God is not hunting for a life because He has some need for it or any other reason. Adam’s mistake caused him to be cast out of the divine presence. Being the Holiness of holies and consuming fire (Hebrews 12.29), the Almighty could not live with man, because He would destroy him. In providing the means to redeem mankind, the Lord did it out of His mercy. Now, anyone who refuses to pay attention to Him will be made vile.

We do not do God the slightest favor by believing in Him, because we are the only ones who benefit. But a true offense against God’s love is committed by anyone who thinks he is good enough and does not recognize his lost state. Well, when his life is over here on earth, he will not cease to exist. Then, if he has not been born again – the work in which God regenerates the spirit of man – he will be sent to eternal punishment.

The people in Jerusalem began to joke upon seeing the apostles speaking in tongues and prophesying. But when Peter preached the first sermon of the early Church, they were all touched by the Holy Spirit and, with compunction of heart, asked what they should do to be saved. God guided them through the Word, the exclusive means of contact between human beings and Him.

The apostle presented the three steps to salvation. Then they gladly received the Word of God and repented, and three thousand of them were baptized that day. Today, the same thing happens to anyone who receives the Gospel from the heart. But he who resists the Lord continues in sin, and his future will be tragic, for he will be condemned to endless punishment.

This is the only way to be saved from perdition. Man doesn’t have to do anything to go to Hell; after all, he is already on his way there. Now, if you want to be saved, you have to be born again, receiving Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Have you done this? If not, gladly receive God’s Word.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares