Spiritual Significance of Washings and Sacrifices

 

We are told in Scripture that the “law,” which often in the New Testament refers to not just a law code but to the Old Covenant system, “was our tutor to bring us unto Christ” (Galatians 3:24, NKJV). In the King James Version is “schoolmaster” in place of tutor. The Greek word is “paidagōgós,” and the role includes not only instuction, but “guardianship,” both training of and constant attendance to the conduct and safety of a child.

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Covenant Promise and Prophecy

God made promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob concerning their descendants. These promises included physical blessings to specific peoples, or nations, and to the entire world. And the fulfillment of many of the prophecies concerning these nations was to occur at the “end time,” that is, near the time in which we are living now. Understanding how these promises have been, are being, and will continue to be fulfilled is an important key to understanding Bible prophecy. The fulfillment of these prophecies not only is a powerful testimony to the existence of God, and his power, and the authenticity of the Bible as the inspired word of God, but ought to prompt in our hearts and minds a spirit of thanksgiving for the blessings we have received from God’s hand.

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Repentance

Repentance according to Scripture is necessary for salvation. Genuine repentance from a Scriptural standpoint is not just remorse, although it includes that, but a change in the way you think, and behave, and are – to a different way – to become a different person. Repentance from sin is a “change of mind [that] involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary).

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Fundamentals of Prayer — Part 2

Daily and effective prayer is essential to one’s relationship with God. We are instructed in Scripture “…in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). We are given guidelines in various scriptures regarding prayer, including how to pray, in what spirit and attitude we should pray, and specific things we should pray for. How often do you remind yourself of these precepts, and are you applying them in your prayers daily?

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Fundamentals of Prayer — Part 1

Prayer is an essential element in spiritual vitality. It’s in prayer that we develop the close personal relationship with God that makes his spirit a power in our lives. We repent in prayer. It’s in prayer that we labor for the salvation not only of ourselves but of others. It’s in prayer that we give praise and thanksgiving to God and seek of him those things of which we have need. It’s vital to pray–and to understand how to pray, when, for what.

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