Sunday April 29, 2018

Epistle: Acts 4:36-5:11

Gospel: John 9:1-38

Psalm: Psalm 69/70

Friends,

Christ has risen. In today’s Epistle the Apostle Peter is speaking to someone who sold a piece of property and brought the money to the church to be used to help others who may have a need. The man lied and stated that he was giving all that he had. When Peter confronts him the man drops dead. Later his wife comes in and Peter then questions the man’s wife who backed up her husband’s amount therein again another lie was told, when Peter confronts the woman she falls down dead as well. Why? The issue here is not that the couple kept back some of the money or proceeds from the sale of the property, the issue is also not because the couple lied to Peter, when Peter confronted the man he said; you did not lie to us but to God, when the man heard these words he fell dead.

This is the lesson; we cannot hide anything from God, we cannot lie to God. There is no where we can go that He will not see, there is nothing that we can do that He will not also see, and there is nothing that we can say that He will not hear. We must be honest and upfront in all that we do. Lying to God or attempting to trick Him is always a bad idea. We must confess and repent of these things now or we will pay a price.

In our Gospel we see that Jesus is healing a blind man by putting clay on the blind man’s eyes and then telling him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam. Jesus can obviously heal the blind man Himself without anything else needed so why did Jesus use clay on the blind man’s eyes and then tell the man to go and wash in the pool?

A few things here; one is obedience, do we obey God when He directs us to do something or do we whine and question? The blind man did not question but obeyed and came away seeing. Two; Jesus spit on the ground and made clay. When man was created God Himself used clay to form man from the earth, by spitting and using the clay Jesus is symbolically showing the old man made of clay which is placed on the eyes of the blind man and then by obedience the blind man goes and washes in the pool of Siloam which is symbolic of obedience and being baptized in water for the washing and regeneration and forgiveness of sins, thus washing away the old man (the clay) and walking away seeing symbolizes the new man created in Jesus who is now no longer blind to faith but can now see.

In spite of those who refuse baptism claiming it is simply a sign, and in spite of those who feel as if because they said a special prayer calling on Jesus so that now they are saved that they can continue living their life as they please making no changes. This is incorrect. Once our eyes are opened it is our job and duty to change for the good. We are saved unto good works. We are saved to glorify God.

We have received a new life. Be thankful for that and tell others, live a life in Jesus, do good. When we fall, confess from our heart and repent. Get back up and keep on going. Praising God.

So from the Psalm let us pray; O God come to my assistance, O Lord make haste to help me. Let those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is Great!” But I am poor and need; hasten to help me O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!

The light has entered the world and the times; they are a-changing.

If one does not have love for the soul of mankind and the desire that all come to the truth than one does not have Christ in them fully.

Little children, love one another; because this is our Lord’s command and if you fulfill this, nothing else is needed. Through love and because of love we will follow all of the commandments that we have been given. They are written on our hearts by the hand of Almighty God. We simply need to see them within us and follow.

Remember; if we confess our sins and repent, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity.

In Christ.