Declare it to the World and to Ourselves, That We Love the Lord!

Utah-Christians-on-Campus-Testimony-Declare-it-to-the-world-and-to-ourselves-that-we-love-the-Lord

At this week’s Bible Meeting, the topic for the message was: Taking the way of righteousness through baptism and it’s part of the series: The gospel according to Matthew.

This week we read verses from the book of Matthew concerning the righteousness of our Lord and how we need to repent to receive this righteousness. John the baptist, in this message, was tasked with giving baptisms to people and telling them that, you know what, they were sinful people and that they require a baptism so that they can be forgiven and so that they can receive the Lord’s righteousness. And it’s like alot of people are very confused by this. They’re like, “Oh, I’m a good person, I’ve done nothing wrong.” Well, that may be true, you may follow the law but are you receiving the Lord’s righteousness? You Probably are not.

So that is why it is so important that we receive His righteousness through baptism and we declare it to the world and to ourselves that we love the Lord and that He is all that we need. Oh Lord Jesus, Amen! – Andre

Learn more about taking the way of righteousness, through baptism – HERE.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Christians On Campus @ UofU (@uu_coc)

Gospel of Matthew – Taking the Way of Righteousness – Baptism

15-The-way-of-righteousness

Matthew 5:20 For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall by no means enter into the kingdom of the heavens.

Philippians 3:7-10 But what things were gains to me, these I have counted as loss on account of Christ. 8 But moreover I also count all things to be loss on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on account of whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as refuse that I may gain Christ 9 And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which is out of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is out of God and based on faith, 10 To know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

To live a life that takes the way of righteousness is to live, work, and act according to God, but, what does this mean?

The first part of living in the way of righteousness is to obtain righteousness objectively. This happens through our repenting of our sins and believing in the gospel of Jesus Christ. He died for us and if we confess our sins and believe in Him, then we receive Him as our life and God counts us righteous. This righteousness is not based on any of our doings, but it is altogether based on Christ’s doings. We call this our objective righteousness.

The second part of living in the way of righteousness happens when Christ continues to live in us, through us, and out of us. Anything good that comes out of us without our living Christ is not righteousness. Only that which comes out of the Christ in us is true righteousness. This is what we call our subjective righteousness.

In the Old Testament, people followed an outward law, something they thought would govern their behavior. The scribes and Pharisees attempted to keep the old law through their natural life (without Christ). When we come to Matthew chapters 5 through 7 the uplifted law of the kingdom is revealed. However, the New Testament shows us a new way, a new way to live that is different from the Old Testament. The new and uplifted law of the kingdom requires a new life – the divine life. Having this new life and living by it is the way of righteousness. This way actually fulfills the entire law.

What about Baptism?
Baptism was introduced at the beginning of the New Testament indicating a great change from the old way to a new way. The way to live righteously before God is to terminate our old, natural life and receive a new life and live by it.

The righteousness we are speaking of here is not something that we must work out—it is altogether something that is from Christ and is even Christ Himself.

Through the baptism of death we are terminated in the flesh; through the germination of Jesus’ baptism we are regenerated to be joined to the God of resurrection. The highest righteousness in the whole universe is termination and germination. If we want to achieve this highest righteousness, we must be terminated and then germinated by God. (Crystallization Study of Matthew, Message 6, Andrew Yu).

We encourage you to go to the Lord, praying about these things, even as you read the verses and consider the points in the attached slides below.

Taking the Way of Righteousness – Baptism – PDF
Taking the Way of Righteousness – Baptism – PowerPoint Slides

Gospel of Matthew – The Divine Trinity in Chapter 28

12-Divine-Trinity-in-Matt-28

God became a man. This was Jesus Christ – the God-Man. He came as the King to establish His kingdom on earth. He then died on the cross to save us from sin and death. This wonderful one resurrected and became a life giving Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 15:45). Upon such a victorious and triumphant resurrection He came to His disciples and announced:

All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and disciple all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, – Matthew 28:18b-19

This charge to the disciples was central, monumental, and full of revelation. First, we have to point out that the Divine Trinity is revealed in a marvelous way. Second, we have to see how this charge, with such a revelation of the Divine Trinity, makes the sinners’ entrance into the kingdom real and practical.

In order for sinners to repent, believe into Jesus, and enter into His kingdom, the disciples (of whom we are an extension and continuation) were to go and disciple the nations and baptize them. 

What does all this mean? Jump into the attached full Bible Study! 

The Divine Trinity in Matthew Chapter 28 – PDF
The Divine Trinity in Matthew Chapter 28 – PowerPoint Slides

Gospel of Matthew – The Divine Trinity in Chapter 3

In this Bible study we want to see three things.

  1. The Divine Trinity at the King’s Anointing.
  2. The Spirit Upon Him (the Lord Jesus) for His Commission.
  3. We need to be the same as Jesus.

Make this your Bible study. Linger in the Word of God where He leads you. Fellowship with one another your experiences and the light that you see in God’s word.  More than anything, contact the living God. Pray. Call on His Name. The Divine Trinity is on the move again this week and is for our enjoyment.

Download the full Bible study here:

The Divine Trinity in Matthew Chapter 3 – PDF
The Divine Trinity in Matthew Chapter 3 – PowerPoint Slides