“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto Salvation (deliverance, rescue, freedom, healing and restoration), to every one that believeth . . . . For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to greater faith: as it is written . . . The Just shall live by faith !” Romans 1:16-17
“The gospel (Glad Tidings) must be received (believed, and appropriated by faith as our own) in order to regenerate the heart . . .” – Our High Calling, p.104
“As the Holy Spirit saith . . . Today, if ye will hear His Voice, and harden not your hearts, in unbelief . . . For unto us were the Glad Tidings proclaimed, as well as unto them, but the Word preached (proclaimed) did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it !” Hebrews 3:7-8 & 4:2
For thus saith the LORD God, “So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth, It shall not return unto Me void” . . . . “the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the hearts of thy children, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live !” Isaiah 55:6-11 & Deuteronomy 30:6
“And they shall be My people, and I will be their God (Elohim – Mighty One) . . . And I will give them One Heart, and One Way (John 14:6, 17:21), so that they may fear Me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them. And I will make an Everlasting Covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me !” Jeremiah 32:38-40
“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean . . . wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou has broken may rejoice (Ezekiel 37:11-14). Hide Thy Face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities (Isaiah 43:25 & 44:21-23) . . . Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit (mind – Philippians 2:5) within me. Cast me not away from Thy Presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me . . .
Restore unto me the joy of Thy Salvation (deliverance, freedom, healing); and uphold me with Thy free (grandee, noble, nobility, prince) Spirit . . . let that mind be in me, which was in Christ Jesus . . . For then will I teach transgressors Thy Ways, and sinners shall be converted unto Thee . . . !” Psalm 51:7-11
“But now (Today) . . . thus saith the LORD (Jehovah, Yehuwah) that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, and thou art Mine !” Isaiah 43:1-26
“And He said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel . . . for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed !” Genesis 32:24-28
“And I will give them One heart, and I will put a new Spirit within you . . . and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and I will give them an heart of flesh . . . the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us . . . So that they may walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them. And they shall be My people, and I will be their God !” Ezekiel 11:19-20 & John 1:14
“For then will I sprinkle clean Water upon you (Ephesians 5:26), and ye shall be clean . . . from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put (I Corinthians 2:16) within you . . . and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an Heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them . . . and ye shall be My people, and I will be your (God) Mighty One !” Ezekiel 36:25-28
The gospel (Glad Tidings) must be received (believed, and appropriated by faith as our own) in order to regenerate the heart . . .
“For I am not ashamed of the Glad Tidings of Christ (The Anointed One, the Anointing): for it is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth . . . . As it is written, The just shall live by faith !” Romans 1:16-17 & 1:1-4 & Titus 3:4-6
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us (delivered, rescued, healed, set free, and made us whole), by the washing* of regeneration (rebirth), and renewing of the Holy Spirit; which He poured forth upon us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour !” Titus 3:5-7
Quote: “After Jesus had been baptized of John in Jordan, He went straightway up out of the water to the bank of the river, and bowed in the attitude of prayer . . . . He here identifies Himself with sinners as their representative, in taking upon Him their sins, and numbering Himself with transgressors. In His prayer, Christ, with His human arm, encircles fallen humanity, while with His divine arm He is reaching for the throne of the Infinite . . .
His hands were raised upward, and His eyes were fixed as if penetrating Heaven; and He poured out His soul in supplication to His Father for strength to meet the unbelief and sinfulness of men, to break the power of Satan over man, and to be able to overcome Satan in behalf of man. He presented humanity before His Father, asking that He would grant to fallen man the Light and strength and power from His Own throne to successfully overcome the prince of the power of darkness . . . His sinless humanity supplicates support and strength from His Father as He was about to commence His labors. He asks for the witness that God accepts fallen man, in His Son. He reaches for the throne of God to hang man upon His Father’s mercy.
Never had angels listened to such a prayer. They were solicitous (ready, willing, eager) to bear to the praying Redeemer messages of assurance and love. But no; the Father Himself will minister to His Son. Direct from the throne proceeded the Light of the glory of God. The heavens were opened, and beams of Light and glory proceeded there from and assumed the form of a dove, in appearance like burnished gold. The dove-like form was emblematical of the meekness and gentleness of Christ.
The people stood spell-bound with fear and amazement. Their eyes were fastened upon Christ, whose bowed form was bathed in the beautiful Light and glory that ever surround the throne of God. His upturned face was glorified as they had never before seen the face of man. The thunders rolled and the lightnings flashed from the opening heavens, and a Voice came there from in terrible majesty, saying . . . “This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I Am well pleased !” – The Youth Instructor, March 1, 1874
“God desired to teach them that from His own love for fallen man, comes the gift which reconciles them to Himself . . . . And the Word that was spoken to Jesus at the Jordan, “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I Am well pleased,” embraces all humanity. God spoke to Jesus as our Representative. With all our sins and weaknesses, we are not cast aside as worthless. For “He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:6.
The glory that rested upon Christ is a pledge of the love of God for us. It tells us of the power of prayer,–how the human voice may reach the ear of God, and our petitions find acceptance in the courts of heaven. By sin, earth was cut off from heaven, and alienated from its communion; but Jesus has connected it again with the sphere of glory. His love has encircled man, and reached the highest heaven. The Light which fell from the open portals upon the head of our Saviour will fall upon us as we pray for help to resist temptation. The Voice which spoke to Jesus says to every believing soul, This is My beloved child, in whom I Am well pleased !” – Desire of Ages, p.112