Morning Reads: (Acts 19:1-8) - (John 1:29-34) -“Repentance & “Spiritual Way of Living” …

Good morning… Great is His faithfulness…

Reading's from the Online Chapel - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - Notes and Scripture Work from my Orthodox Study Bible …

Psalm 63.11,1

The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord.

Verse: Oh God, hear my cry.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 19:1-8

In those days, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism." And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve of them in all. And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, arguing and pleading about the kingdom of God.

(vv. 2-4) talk about REPENTANCE: This literally means a complete change of mind, attitude, a complete about face of one’s behaviors … Our God is the author of repentance, which is part of the process of BAPTISM and CONFESSION, through an ongoing spiritual way of life and living … Repentance is also not a simple sorrow of one’s sins but a firm position to turn away from the old and live in the new creation in righteousness in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…

(vv. 5-6): BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST: Matthew 3:11: 11 “I baptize you with[a] water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit and fire.

The Gospel According to John 1:29-34

At that time, John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.' I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." And John bore witness, "I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."

1:29: JOHN'S DECLARING JESUS AS THE LAMB OF GOD: is recalling Isaiah's "Servant of God" who dies for the transgressions of His people (Isaiah 53:4-12): Christ, the true Paschal (Passover) Lamb, offers Himself for our deliverance from darkness and death- (1 Peter 1:18-19): St. John Chrysostom teaches that Jesus came to John this second time in order for John to make this declaration and therefore stop anyone from thinking that Jesus needed baptism to wash away sins!!!

1:32: THAT THE SPIRIT REMAINED UPON HIM: was a sign that Christ possesses the Spirit in His fulness from all eternity: Christ did not receive the Holy Spirit at His Baptism, rather, this vision that John SAW revealed the truth that the Holy Spirit has always rested on Christ!!!

in Christ love ❤️ Jared W Campbell