February 23
The promises of God are ‘yea and amen,’ and they are for all time. We needn’t wonder if we are the recipients of the amazing hope that is held out to the early believers. Some would negate its validity for us today, but the reality is that today—no matter when ‘today’ is—is the acceptable day of hope.
Compelling arguments are made that much of the word of promise was given exclusively to the early church, that the gifts of the Spirit such as speaking in tongues and prophecy and healing are not operative today. Many believers feel that these extraordinary gifts were necessary prior to the completion of the New Testament but are no longer required because we now have the entirety of the Bible in our hands.
There is a passage in Acts 2:38, 39 that expresses the reason for our anticipation of the efficaciousness of the entirety of the list of His promises being for us for all time. Here we are told what Peter replied when asked what steps were required to be taken to appropriate them and here is what he said:
“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off—for as many as the Lord our God shall call.” That includes us—today—for all time.
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