Looking one step deeper at the baptism of Jesus, we see represented the full Trinity of God-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Perhaps one of the hardest concepts to fully understand; yet, of ultimate importance, if we are to understand the temptation of Christ.  Once in writing about the Trinity in Ultimate Inspiration-God’s Plan of Love, I simplified this to help in our understanding of the Trinity being one God by taking a step back to creation.  Genesis 1:26 reads “And God said, ’Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”. If then, we look at Genesis 2:7 “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”  Thus, God created man: body, soul, and spirit: three distinct parts of one being.

This is certainly an oversimplification; yet, it helps a simple mind such as mine to understand. Beyond that, by creating men and women in His image; he further gave each of us the capacity to reason, to love, to experience joy, to envision glory, to desire Being, and much more.  To more deeply understand, the trinity I turn to Jonathan Edwards and urge you to read “An Unpublished Essay on the Trinity.”   God has always had a full understanding and view of His own image, the perfect echo of Himself-the only Begotten Son, whom He loves with a perfect love.  The Word of God, which became flesh (John 1:14).  This is the same word that spoke the creation into being.  The Holy Spirit is the outflowing of the perfect love, comfort and joy between the Father and the Son.

The Trinity and Love

Continue reading How to Understand the Trinity and the Temptation of Christ →

John the Baptist, in fulfillment of Old Testament Scripture (Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1); came as the messenger to prepare the way of the Messiah.  The Messiah, who would wash away the sins of the world, had arrived just as God promised. Therefore, God was fulfilling every promise made through His Old Testament Prophets.  God promised John that he would know Him by witnessing the Holy Spirit descending upon Him. (John 1:33). So, Jesus came to John the Baptist to be baptized.  John objected and forbade him to be baptized. (Matthew 3:14).  He knew that Jesus was perfect righteousness and did not need to repent and be baptized. Yet, Jesus told him, “Suffer it to be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15).

Water Baptism cannot save; but, stands as a symbol to the world of what God has performed in the heart of the believer.  It is an outward expression of gratitude and dedication to God for what He has done.

Jesus during His ministry on earth also exemplified to all mankind the life that they should live; because of the salvation of Grace He came to purchase on their behalf.  He taught his followers how to pray, how to live among the hostilities of their day, and how to be a witness to others.  Jesus’ Baptism marked the beginning of His ministry to prepare His followers to be able to preach the Gospel message. He was teaching by example; because, He knew they would face great trials and hardship.  Soon enough, He would take upon His shoulders the sin of the world and pay the price for their sins.  For the moment, He was to teach His disciples how to live. Baptism symbolized the death, burial and resurrection He came to complete.

THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

Continue reading What was the Significance of Jesus Baptism? →

Just as promised in Isaiah and Malachi, God sent a messenger to announce the arrival of the Lord.  400 years had passed since the last prophet Malachi.  Now God called forth John the Baptist to prepare the people to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord.  He began his prophetic ministry in the desert, where he humbly lived much like Elijah the prophet in the Old Testament. (Mark 1:6, 2 Kings 1:8).  He preached that all men should repent, confess their sins and be baptized as a symbol of their openly agreeing with God’s verdict that they were guilty before a Righteous, Holy God.  Repentance means more than merely acknowledging one’s sins, it is turning from one’s sins to seek the righteousness of God.

Prior to this time, the ritual of baptism was practiced among the Jewish nation only for those Gentiles who wanted to join the Jewish faith.  Now, John the Baptist was calling the Jews to confess their failure to follow God.  He wanted to prepare their hearts for the arrival of the Messiah who would provide a means of salvation for sinful man.  As John MacArthur points out: “That Jews would participate in such a rite was a startling admission that they, although members of God’s covenant people, needed to come to God through repentance and faith just as Gentiles did.”[1]  The law had already proven that no man was able to keep it.  All of the rituals failed to transform their hearts.  Even in the Old Testament, it required a heart of true repentance and faith in God to be save.

The Message of John the Baptist

Continue reading The Ministry of John the Baptist →

I can remember in high school, every morning over the intercom, we began the day with the pledge of allegiance followed by a morning prayer.  It was not mandatory that anyone stop to place their hand over their heart or bow their head in prayer.  No one was punished for not participating. However, those who chose to bow their head, could.  Then, came the supreme court case of Engel vs Vitale in 1962.  However, despite the secular humanists and many on the left proclaiming victory; carrying this to the opposite extreme. Now we are told no one is permitted to pray out loud at school. This results from not really knowing the case.

In Engel vs Vitale, the court ruled against state officials composing an official state prayer that was to be recited daily by the students.  The ruling never mandated that prayer be disallowed; rather, it prohibited a formal state prayer written by legislature.  I agree.  Prayer cannot be the reciting of some legislatures determination of what to say in prayer.  Yet, why have we, the Christians accepted this as a mandate to not allow any prayer in our schools.  Why is the Bible barred from our schools, when it stands as one of the greatest literary and historical books?  However, the Koran and Islam are allowed?  God can defend Himself, if both are presented; yet, if we remove the Bible only, we are promoting one religion and excluding the other in our school system.

Regarding the recent events occurring in our school systems, I wrote this poem.  Yet, it goes farther than our school; it is the question we must ask of our own individual heart, as well.

American School

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

A deafening silence fills the halls

As light then fades and darkness falls

A sudden scream, a wailing sound

Where are you God? You can’t be found

 

The desperate cries, unending tears

From hearts so filled with pain and fears

Angry cries scream forth to blame

And never see the truth, the shame

 

Dear God, why don’t you answer please

To bring your love, our hearts to ease

God Replies

And then I heard a soft, strong voice

My dearest one, I gave you choice

 

You cast Me out and shut the door

My Word to read there nevermore

You locked me out of every school

To never teach the Golden rule

No prayer can e’er be spoke aloud

By rich or poor, the meek and proud

As evil grows within each heart

Because you bid my love depart

You cast me far as you could see

Because my love had set you free

To choose my truth or cast away

Accepting lies that others say

 

Without my righteous Holy light

There’s only darkness of the night

I will not force my way within

Yet, stand without and bid you When?

 

When will you open up your door?

To let me in forevermore

That I might fill your hearts with peace

And cause the pains and fears to cease

 

I love you more than you can know

If only you would let me show

To you the love and joy that’s mine

Into your darkness let me shine

 

I am the love and hope you need

That is why I still do plead

That you may turn to seek my face

So, I might pour on you my Grace

 

I’ll write my truth upon your heart

That you might ne’er again depart

And in my joy and love abide

As I walk there at your side

 

When will you open up your door?

To let me in forevermore

That I might fill your hearts with peace

And cause the pains and fears to cease

 

Concluding Thoughts

So often in life; we cast God aside; only to cry out when tragedy occurs.  However, we do so with an accusatory voice, rather than a contrite, broken, repentant heart.  If we fail to recognize our own sin; then, how can we expect God’s forgiveness?  While spitting in His face, we ask His grace to intervene.  Yet, a loving, righteous God knows that unless our hearts are changed; we can never experience His love, peace or joy.  Therefore, because of love; He cannot intervene, until we turn to seek His face.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.

OR ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?

If you have a prayer request email me by clicking here or comment here

JUST RELEASED

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Recently released Books Available

ABIDING, STEADFAST JOY

A labor of love, this book provides you with 3 foundations of truth from the scripture which once known will provide you with abiding, steadfast joy. Undaunted by the storms of life; your joy will overflow.

 

 

 

WHEN INJUSTICE AND VIOLENCE REIGN:
Through a study of Nahum, Habukkuk, and Zephaniah; I brought their message into our modern times. Answering the questions of “Why, God?”

Providing a foundation of faith and hope; even, as we see so much evil in the world and in our nation. With so much sorrow and despair, this book I wrote to guide you into discovering God’s Perfect Plan of love; amid this chaotic world filled with life’s storms.

You may click on the picture for more information on either of these books.

OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE

If you want to know more about other books I have written: You can read more about each one at: Book Resources.

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Footnotes and Credits

Photo by chuttersnap on Unsplash

“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1).  Jesus Christ is the beginning of hope and life.  Without Him, we have no purpose and no true being or meaning in life.  Man’s nothingness before a perfectly righteous, Holy God is transformed into a new beginning of hope and life; because of God’s willing servant spoken of in Isaiah. He came to earth to pay the price for all our sins.  Thus, His Beloved Son, willingly came as a servant to reconcile all who would accept His gift of salvation to Himself. A new beginning can be yours in Him, a beginning of hope, eternal life, and joy.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18).

Jesus Christ is the way to your new beginning. In Him your heart transforms from existing to being, from nothingness to life eternal. Furthermore, His Ministry also heralded in the beginning of the church age, in which the gospel message reached out to all who would believe.  Mark, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, recorded the life of Christ for the gentile nations. He wrote primarily addressing it to those in Rome, as pointed out in the previous post. This was a new beginning for the church.  God was not forsaking His covenant to the Jewish nation; rather, He was fulfilling it and expanding it.

THE BEGINNING OF THE FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY

Continue reading How to Find Hope, Beginning Life in Jesus Christ →