“Pass[ed] away” Passage #1:

“Terrors are turned against me; they pursue my honor as the wind, and my prosperity has passed away like a cloud. 16 “And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction have seized me. 17 “At night it pierces my bones within me, and my gnawing pains take no rest.

--Job 30:15-17 NASB1995 [emphasis mine]

Why do so many believers believe that healing, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, miracles, and other things have “passed away” in a former dispensation? The first time that the phrase “passed away” appears in the NASB1995, Job is mourning about how his prosperity “has passed away like a cloud.” Job felt rejected, abandoned, confused, depressed, sorrowful, and disappointed about all the calamity, loss, and trauma that he experienced. For Job lost all his assets, his children died, his health declined, his family and loved ones deserted him, and his reputation was destroyed.

As Job moaned in self-pity and desired to die just to finally be free from all the pain and suffering he was going through, his hope had been deferred to merely the afterlife. Similarly, when it comes to blameless and God-fearing men and women today who don’t want to get their hopes up for healing, miracles, freedom from addiction, and/or other calamities this side of heaven, the doctrine that such things “passed away” can provide a kind of anesthetic or “pain-killer” to our weary, burnt-out souls.

It has been said that self-pity physiologically works like a powerful “pain-killer.” According to novelist John Gardner, “Self pity is easily the most destructive of the non-pharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary pleasure and separates the victim from reality.” (1)

In no way am I seeking to make light of the real trauma, pain, calamities, and difficulties that people experience, but am seeking to gaze upon who God really is and the good things that He desires and has in store for us as His beloved children who trust and obey Him, even though we may walk through the valley of the shadow of death (see Psalm 23).

After tragedy strikes, we might not want to get our hopes up because we feel that we tried that in the past, only to be gravely disappointed when that healing or miracle didn’t come when we needed it to, even despite our fervent prayers, fasting, and crying out to God about the matter. Like a powerful drug, self-pity can help to numb that pain. However, as John Piper has explained, self-pity is a form of pride. (2)​

Self-pity demands others to give their focus, attention, and praise to the suffering victim in light of how much they are going through. Yet self-pity is so addictive that it keeps enabling that person to remain stuck; it fights for their right to remain in their state of self-focus and depression.

However, God represents their joy, freedom, and newness of life. Pride and self-pity are foreign to God's nature of humility, love, joy, compassion, peace, power, beauty, and glorious honor that He desires for His children to be clothed in as well. For this reason, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

As Job looked expectantly for death to deliver him from his trials, God rebuked Job for self-pity. In a climactic final chapter of God’s rebuke and rebuttal to Job’s complaints and arguments, God described the characteristics of “Leviathan” to Job, whom God identified as “king over all the sons of pride.” When Job finally humbled himself in Job 42 as he repented (changing the attitude of his mind), God could finally turn Job’s situation around, for God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

(1) Referenced from https://aleteia.org/2020/06/01/whats-wrong-with-a-little-self-pity/

(2) Referenced from https://www.stevederenge.com/post/detecting-the-dragon-of-self-pity​

“Pass away” Passage #2:

“Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created. 6 He has also established them forever and ever; He has made a decree which will not pass away. 7 Praise the Lord from the earth, sea monsters and all deeps; 8 fire and hail, snow and clouds; stormy wind, fulfilling His word; 9 mountains and all hills; fruit trees and all cedars; 10 beasts and all cattle; creeping things and winged fowl; 11 kings of the earth and all peoples; princes and all judges of the earth; 12 both young men and virgins; old men and children.”

--Psalm 148:5-12 NASB1995 [emphasis mine]

In this passage, “sea monsters” and other creatures are commanded to praise the Lord. "Leviathan​," "Rahab," and other entities are portrayed throughout the Scriptures as “sea monsters.” (3) Such entities or “principalities” represent invisible members of Satan’s kingdom who are characterized by pride, arrogance, hard-heartedness, greed, perversion, etc.

Is Leviathan commanded to praise God? According to this passage in Psalm 148:7, "sea monsters" have been commanded to praise their Creator. The highest heavens, heavenly beings, and/or God’s decree for His creation to praise Him shall not pass away. However, this sea monster called "Leviathan" has disobeyed God’s commandment.

God created both Satan and Leviathan, and everything God made was originally good. Later, however, Satan and a third of the angels rebelled against God’s leadership through their arrogant pride and have therefore been rejected and cut off from the eternal joy of being in God’s presence continually.

Now Satan and his hordes do not praise God, for they have acquired an irredeemably fallen nature of arrogance, pride, bitterness, fear, anxiety, depression, deceit, lying, perversion, impulsiveness, rudeness, impatience, and everything that is not of God. As Satan (“the accuser of the brethren,” “the father of lies,” “that ancient serpent who deceives the whole world”), Leviathan (“king over all the children of pride”), and other entities of Satan’s kingdom roam the earth coming only to steal, kill, and destroy, they tempt mankind to neither give thanks to God nor to praise Him (see Revelation 12:9-10; John 8:44; Job 41:34; John 10:10; Romans 1:20-25).

Long ago, although Satan had been considered to be the “worship leader” of heaven, when he became full of himself, he lost his privilege as God’s “covering cherub” as he sought to have others praise him rather than God (see Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:11-19). God’s nature (which is produced in His children the more they spend time with Him and obey Him) is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, humility, and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23)

Philippians 2:9-11 says that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. This Philippians passage is not saying that all demons and people who died in their proud rebellion against God will go to heaven and get to stay there forever. It simply declares that fallen creation will still have to bow the knee to the King of kings and confess that Jesus wins and that He gets what He deserves (and what He paid for with His blood).

Those who hated, rejected, and did not follow Jesus still have to undergo their eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire; they are just forced to acknowledge, face the fact, and confess that Jesus is perfectly just to render them to their deserved fate (see Revelation 20:11-15; 21:5-8).

A violent criminal who gets caught, arrested, and brought before the judge is forced to acknowledge that the judge is in the place of authority over his life to determine his fate. Even though he may still hate and resent the judge for it, he still has to accept the judge’s decision. The criminal still has to acknowledge that the authority and power of the government and law enforcement surpasses his own strength, power, and authority as he finally gets sent to prison.

Everyone must give an account before the Judge of all the earth for everything we have done in the body, whether good or evil (see John 12:47-48; Acts 10:42; 17:31; Romans 2:12-16; 2 Corinthians 5:10; James 4:11-12; 5:9; Revelation 10:12-13). If we are members of God's household through our intimate connection to Jesus Christ as our King because of what His blood has done for us, then we continue unbroken connection to Jesus for all eternity.

Soberingly, however, if we couldn't care less about who God really is and/or what God requires of us,​ if we never became reconciled to God through trust in Jesus, and we therefore lived and died in a state where we despised God's authority and leadership, then He shall say on that Day, "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness" (see Matthew 7​:13-23).

(3) https://www.stevederenge.com/post/rahab-the-water-serpent​​

“Pass away” Passage #3:

“Argue your case with your neighbor, and do not reveal the secret of another, 10 or he who hears it will reproach you, and the evil report about you will not pass away. 11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances.”

--Proverbs 25:9-11 NASB1995 [emphasis mine]

This passage in Proverbs speaks of an evil report about a person that will not “pass away.” There is a stern and sober warning about the relational byproduct of gossiping. Spreading rumors, mere conjecture, or second-hand information about another can result in great shame. Gossip is something done by a person who is proud--by someone seeking attention, affirmation, identity, and the approval of others through their being “in the know.”

According to Proverbs 11:2​, pride leads to shame (or disgrace). When the vindicating truth about the slandered party finally comes to light, others may “reproach” (ridicule, resent, and/or reject) the person(s) who started, spread, and/or participated in the idle gossip--those who didn’t do the hard work of going to that person or primary source him/herself.

In the end, people may get bitter and mad at the people who lied to them or misinformed them, for we waste valuable time and relational health when we get caught up and distracted by and/or pulled into something that turns out to be a lie (in part or in whole).

What effect does “reproach'' have on a person? According to Psalm 69:20, a psalmist laments that reproach has broken his heart. Proverbs 17:22 attests that a broken heart (or crushed spirit) dries up the bones. The human immune system is contained with the person’s bone marrow, and a person with a broken spirit may often acquire a sickness or disease due to their compromised immune system if their grief perpetuates chronically.

Job himself confessed that his spirit was broken as the grave awaited him (see Job 17:1, 11, 15). Hope deferred made Job’s heart sick, and Job’s immune system became weak as his broken spirit could not effectively sustain him in sickness (see Proverbs 13:12; 15:13; 17:22; 18:14). Therefore, Satan could put a disease on him now that his immune system would not effectively fight the mosquito-borne illness of elephantiasis, referred to biblically as the “botch of Egypt” or inflammatory “boils.” (see Job 2:7, Deuteronomy 28:27, 35).

Sometimes, a person’s broken spirit, hopelessness, and depression is a byproduct of their participation in a lie: whether that be false doctrine (accepting wrong information about who God is), gossip, slander, accusation, malice, envy, bitterness, and other “works of the flesh.” Romans 8:6 declares that the mind set on the flesh is [and/or produces] death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace (my paraphrase).

Disease is frequently a manifestation of [generational] grief, sorrow, pain, fear, shame, guilt, stress, and other things that are not found in the character of God or that cannot remain in the manifest presence of God. Many believe that God’s healing is not for today because of the disease and death that they’ve encountered in their own lives and/or the lives of their loved ones.

Although one may be tempted to claim that such a doctrine is based on the Word of God, all-too-frequently, might it be based on one’s painful experiences of the past which have become a filter through which we have interpreted the Word of God?

Here are some questions for us to prayerfully consider as to why disease, stress, anxiety, or grief might be manifesting in one’s life:

• Father, what is going on in my heart right now?
• Search me and know me, revealing if there is any unclean way in me.
• Are there some ways in which my spirit or heart is broken?
• Have I participated in gossip or lies about others?
• Am I bitter or mad at others for lying to me because I didn’t know any better and took their report as true?

The following is a suggested prayer in response to such questions:

Father,

I forgive the people in my life for gossiping, lying, or falsely accusing others. I repent for my participation in lies by entertaining or believing the slanderous reports. I repent for letting my ears get tickled by accusations against other ministers, pastors, believers, authority figures, family members, coworkers, famous figures, or anybody else.

Thank you for sending Jesus to bind up the broken-hearted and to heal their wounds. As Jesus never gossiped, never maliciously accused others, and patiently awaited for Your verdict as other peoples’ reproaches and accusations fell on Him, I trust the blood of Jesus to cleanse me from all sin (unrighteousness, pride, lawlessness, arrogance).

You vindicated Jesus’ innocence and reputation three days later when You raised Him from the dead and honored Him with all authority in heaven and on earth. One day everyone will have to acknowledge that Jesus is the King of the universe, and I bow my knees and surrender my life to Him in the here and now. Thank You for healing my heart and leading me deeper into Your truth.

I pray these things in accordance with Your will and Your Word.

Let it be so in Jesus’ name.

“Pass away” Passage #4

And the Assyrian will fall by a sword not of man, and a sword not of man will devour him. So he will not escape the sword, and his young men will become forced laborers. 9 “His rock will pass away because of panic, and his princes will be terrified at the standard,” declares the Lord, whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

--Isaiah 31:8-9 NASB1995 [emphasis mine]

The Assyrians were a proud nation, as described throughout the Old Testament. Haughtiness and arrogance were characteristics of the Assyrian king and his kingdom. Yet when God’s reckoning comes upon proud people or people groups, they are seized with panic and terror. Rocks sometimes represent foundations, as in Jesus’ parable of the man who built his house upon a rock (see Matthew 7:24-29). In verse 9 of this passage, the Assyrian’s foundation of pride crumbles and passes away because of panic.

Pride eventually leads to stress, panic, fear, stress, and anxiety. How so? We participate with pride (which works closely with "idolatry") when we place our identity, security, and hope in any created thing, whether that be our finances, ethnicity, education, physical appearance, ambitions, etc. Although such created things are typically good gifts from God, trouble comes when we choose the creation over our Creator. This will cause us to be stressed out as our faulty foundation eventually and inevitably starts to crumble.

The only secure foundation for a person’s life is God, whose nature is love. Love is not proud (see 1 Corinthians 13:4). There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has torment, and whoever still has fear, worry, stress, and/or anxiety rather than perfect peace in the midst of one’s circumstances has not yet been made perfect or fully sanctified in the intimate knowledge of God’s love (see 1 John 4:18; Isaiah 26:3; 1 Peter 5:6-7; Philippians 4:6-8; Ephesians 3:16-18).

“Pass away” Passage #5

“Were they ashamed because of the abomination they had done? They certainly were not ashamed, and they did not know how to blush; therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time of their punishment they shall be brought down,” says the Lord. 13 “I will surely snatch them away,” declares the Lord; “There will be no grapes on the vine and no figs on the fig tree, and the leaf will wither; and what I have given them will pass away.”’”

14 Why are we sitting still? Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the fortified cities and let us perish there, because the Lord our God has doomed us and given us poisoned water to drink, for we have sinned against the Lord.

--Jeremiah 8:12-14 NASB1995 [emphasis mine]

In this passage, when did the good things that were enjoyed by God’s people “pass away” from them? Why had they been put to shame and become bitter? According to verses 12 and 14, they “had committed abomination” and “have sinned against the Lord.” Pride (an “abomination”) comes before destruction and produces shame and bitterness. In verse 14, the NKJV uses the term “gall” for “poisoned water.” “Gall,” “wormwood,” “poison,” and “venom” are all biblical metaphors for bitterness and/or unforgiveness throughout the Bible, often appearing within the same passages.

What do grapes, figs, and “the leaf” represent throughout the Bible? Grapes often are associated with joy, figs are often associated with sweetness, and tree leaves are often descriptive of a person’s health. See Judges 9:7-13; Psalm 1:3; Jeremiah 17:8; Ezekiel 47:12; Revelation 22:2. Sin steals our joy, makes us bitter, and takes away our health, causing healing to “pass away” unless that sin is dealt with and removed from our lives, relationships, mindsets, and actions. “Sin” isn’t limited to those things that we may consider heinously offensive, such as sexual immorality, stealing, murder, adultery, etc.

Do we treat chronic guilt, anxiety, hope deferred, pride, shame, fear, gossip, unforgiveness, offendedness, or selfishness with such seriousness? Or do we try to justify, excuse, and protect such things in our lives? Those very “small sins” are often the very things that can cause medically incurable diseases as such stressors result in excess cortisol drip, compromise the immune system, and circumvent healing from taking place.

A mind that constantly rehearses fear and anxiety releases excess cortisol (the “stress hormone”) into the body, which at high levels can shut down or devalue interleukin-2 so that viruses and cancer cells are no longer recognized as “the enemy.” (4) Thoughts of shame (self-hatred) can also cause white blood cells to deviate so that they attack the body rather than attacking harmful agents. Thus, the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. See Romans 8:6, 13.

(4) Wright, Henry W. Insights into...Cancer. eBook PDF. p. 12.

Pass Away Passage #6

“I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. 14 “And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.

--Daniel 7:13-14 NASB1995 [emphasis mine]

Here is a passage in Scripture about the kingdom of God. Personally, I find no explicit passages in Scripture which state with any clear authority that the gifts of the Holy Spirit have passed away (although many may speculate a case from 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 and other passages). However, what Daniel 7:14 does state with authority that the Son of Man’s “dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.”

Does Jesus’ dominion and kingdom exercise authority and power over sickness? Does the kingdom of God (which consists in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit) exercise dominion over the sin (fear, guilt, anxiety, worry, shame, sexual immorality, envy, rage, bitterness, resentment, gossip, etc.) which often causes a broken heart and/or the compromised immune that frequently causes many diseases?

According to Isaiah 61 and Luke 4, the Messiah (King Jesus) came to bind up the broken-hearted and to heal their wounds. If a broken heart or broken spirit dries up the bones (compromising the immune system) according to Proverbs 17:22, then healing (the restoration of the immune system) is frequently the byproduct of receiving Jesus’ ministry as God heals broken hearts through His good news. That is the power of the gospel for everyone who believes it and lives it out from the deepest level of their being.

Jesus, the Son of Man, later declared that “heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Man-made doctrines and opinions about healing and about the identity and works of the Holy Spirit will pass away eventually from the church as “the bride of Christ” continues to be washed in the water of God’s Word (see Ephesians 5:25-30). God’s Word will never pass away nor lose its authority and power to transform those who humbly submit to His Word.

Pass Away Passage #7

From you has gone forth one who plotted evil against the Lord, a wicked counselor. 12 Thus says the Lord, “Though they are at full strength and likewise many, even so, they will be cut off and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no longer. 13 “So now, I will break his yoke bar from upon you, and I will tear off your shackles.”

--Nahum 1:11-13 NASB1995 [emphasis mine]

This passage talks about wicked people being cut off and passing away. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Since the creation of the world, the lifespans of mankind have decreased in longevity, not merely as an act of God's judgment, but as an act of God’s mercy. How could a shortened life span across generations of mankind actually be a good or merciful thing?

Imagine if human lifespans still averaged out in the hundreds of years as they did in the earlier years of mankind (see Genesis 5, 11). Apart from being overthrown or assassinated, many wicked rulers of the world (the "Hitlers," "Stalins," "Pol Pots," etc.) could remain in power for hundreds of years, devise more evil, perpetuate more human suffering, and oppress their people for much longer. ​

However, because so much arrogance, pride, and sin go unaddressed and unresolved in people's lives and result in so much damage to relationships and to life on earth, human lifespans have been shortened. A new generation is often more likely to break the bad patterns set forth in previous generations, as younger people are often less “set in their ways” than older generations and/or they may avail themselves of more opportunities to change through their daily choices.

Remembering that life is a vapor compared to the timeline of eternity can help to give us a heart of wisdom as we rely upon God in humble submission, thanking Him that every day is a gift as we seek to enjoy Him in the day-to-day (see Psalm 90​; James 4:13-16). Statistically, children and young people (as a whole) ​tend to be more likely to submit their lives to God’s loving leadership (Jesus) than many older people. As Jesus taught, we must humble ourselves, renounce pride, and become like little children who trust their Father in order to enter the kingdom of God (see Matthew 11:25-30; 18:3; 19:14; Luke 10:20-21).

As people age, they tend to become more entrenched in their stubborn ways, many of which are grounded in pride rather than in love. In light of these facts, God has shortened human lifespans across the generations in proportion to the pride, lawlessness, and depravity of mankind. Depending on the country, human lifespans have therefore shrunk down to perhaps an average of 70-80 years (120 years being near the maximum threshold). See Psalm 90:9-10; Genesis 6:3.

A person’s lifespan can be elongated and shortened depending on many environmental, genetic, physiological, and spiritual factors. Likewise, the daily choices we make also play a vital role in our overall health. Stress and bad habits will shorten a person’s lifespan. However, the fear of the Lord, holiness, love, healthy social relationships, joy, peace, and other factors can extend one’s life through a healthier mind and body. (5)

​

(5) https://www.stevederenge.com/post/the-fear-of-the-lord-can-extend-your-life​​

“Pass away” Passage #8

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

--Matthew 5:17-19 NASB1995

Has heaven and earth passed away yet? If heaven and earth have not passed away yet, then what can we conclude according to Matthew 5:18? “[N]ot the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” According to verse 19, how does this apply to us until heaven and earth passes away? “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (NASB1995)

What are “the least of these commandments?” What is Jesus talking about? In verse 18, Jesus mentions “the Law.” What are the commandments in the Law? According to verse 19, what might we want to avoid doing? It would be profitable for us to not annul one of the least of these commandments and teach others to do the same, for then we shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. Rather, until heaven and earth passes away and is replaced with the new heaven and new earth, it is in our best interests to keep and to teach even “the least of these commandments,” so that we shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

This all begs the question, what are the commandments of the Law? Jesus often asked this same question, frequently answering it with “the ten commandments” of Exodus 20. How do we obey the commandments and teach others to do the same? If we love Jesus, we will keep His commandments (see John 14:15, 21; 15:10). If we are rooted and grounded in God’s love, then we will be empowered by God’s Spirit to keep His commandments. God will write His Law on our hearts; He will give us His very nature of love as we believe in the One whom the Father sent.

When we behold God, we will become like Him (see 2 Corinthians 3:18). We become like the people with whom we spend the most time in deep connection, trust, and communication. When our spiritual eyes are opened to see Jesus dying for His enemies on the cross saying, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do,” then we can receive freedom from unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, rage, hatred, and murder. As a result, we will keep the commandment of the Law that says, “You shall not murder.”

As the eyes of our heart are opened to see Jesus removing all the shame, defilement, impurity, and immorality of our past as he is hung naked on the cross so that we can be pure, holy, blameless, innocent, honored, spotless, flawless, and beautiful in His sight, then our hearts are transformed and set free from shame. As a result, we shall be empowered by God’s Holy Spirit to obey His commandment that says, “You shall not commit adultery.” Acting in lust will become foreign and undesirable to our mindset the more we embrace the purity of heart that Jesus’ blood has paid for us to possess.

“Pass away” Passage #9

"And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

32 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; 33 so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

--Matthew 24:30-35 NASB1995 [emphasis mine]

See also Mark 13:30-31; Luke 21:32-33.

The NASB1995 footnote for the word “generation” is “race.” According to the Strong’s concordance, the Greek word used for “generation” is G1074: “γενεά geneá, ghen-eh-ah'; from (a presumed derivative of) G1085; a generation; by implication, an age (the period or the persons):—age, generation, nation, time.” (6)

[Disclaimer: As I do not claim to be an expert or any great authority when it comes to the End Times, I encourage the reader to do their own Bible study concerning the next four paragraphs as we examine the text.]

What does Jesus mean by “this [generation or age or race] will not pass away until all these things take place?” What is the biblical, historical, and/or prophetic time frame to which Jesus is referring? As Jesus speaks of appearing in the sky, is He not talking about the end of the Great Tribulation period when He returns to the earth to set up His kingdom where He rules the earth for 1,000 years from His headquarters in Jerusalem (see Zechariah 14, Revelation 19-20)? What does that have to do with “this race” or “generation” passing away?

According to biblical prophecy, what will happen to the human race as the Great Tribulation ends and Jesus ushers in His thousand year reign? This may require a bit more Bible study and familiarity with books including Isaiah, Revelation, Zechariah, and scores of others. To highlight a few considerations, the end of the book of Isaiah says that in the Messiah’s Millennial (thousand year) reign, at least in the New Jerusalem, mankind will be able to live lifespans in the hundreds of years again (see Isaiah 65:17-25).

A young person who dies at the age of one hundred will be considered cursed (see Isaiah 65:20). Such a change implies a drastic change in genetics as submission to King Jesus results in great medical breakthroughs globally. For example, the kings of the nations of the earth will travel to the new Jerusalem in order to bring back leaves from the tree of life which has healing properties for the sicknesses of all those nations (see Ezekiel 47:12; Revelation 22:2). (7) The terms “generations” and “genetics” and/or “genes” come from the same root word.

As a new dispensation of mankind begins at Jesus’ Millennial reign, the present generation passes away. Believers in Jesus shall be raised up to receive their new resurrection bodies, which will have the same characteristics as that of Jesus’ own resurrection body (see 1 Corinthians 15:42-58). When God raised Jesus from the dead, His resurrection body could do what our human bodies could not do before. Jesus could still eat food, yet he could also walk through walls, ascend into heaven (traveling between realms), etc. (see Luke 24:36-43, 51; John 20:17, 19, 26-27; 21:12-14; Acts 1:9-11).

​

(6) https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1074/kjv/tr/0-1/

(7) I gleaned this insight from Pastor Jeff Mootz.

“Pass away” Passage #11

“The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail. 18 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.

--Luke 16:16-18 NASB1995 [emphasis mine]

In this passage, Jesus is rebuking the money-loving Pharisees as they were scoffing at Him. Jesus gives the parable of unrighteous steward, teaches about faithfulness with money, and says that you cannot serve God and wealth. Then comes this passage about the gospel of the kingdom being preached, yet with the caveat or reminder that “it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of the letter of the Law to fail.”

What is Jesus saying given the context of his teaching in this passage? Why does Jesus talk about divorce and adultery in verse 18 of this passage? Although we are no longer “under law but under grace,” our actions expose and betray whether we truly do understand and/or have received the grace of God.

Claiming “I’m under grace and not under law, so I can do whatever sin I want (since God forgives me)” demonstrates that a person has not truly let grace do its saving, purifying, sanctifying work in a person’s mindset and life. A person who is truly under grace and transformed by grace wants nothing to do with sin because that would hinder one's intimacy and fellowship (communication) with God.

The Pharisees justified themselves according to their human traditions and the letter of the law. A heart transformed by the grace of God will not think that one can break a covenant and get away with it without a scratch. One who has fallen away from grace will justify leaving their first love, but if one is made perfect in God’s love and surrendered to His leadership, then they shall be empowered to keep God’s commandments. A person who loves God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength, and who loves his wife (and/or neighbor) as he loves himself shall be empowered by God's Holy Spirit to have nothing in common with adultery (both spiritually and physically).

According to Titus 2:11-12, the grace of God appeared and teaches us to say “no” to unrighteousness. God’s grace doesn’t teach us to say, “Yeah, I can practice unrighteousness and God won’t hold me accountable or allow anything unpleasant to come my way. God and I are cool.” What is Jesus saying when he says that it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of the law to fail?

Could it be that Jesus is teaching that the laws of sowing and reaping are still in effect? The wages of sin is still death, the mind set on the flesh is still death, whoever sows to please the flesh will still reap corruption, and not diligently listening to and obeying God’s voice won’t stop negative consequences from overtaking a person. See Romans 6:23; 8:6; Galatians 6:7-8; Deuteronomy 28:15ff.

One can claim to be free from the curse of the law according to Galatians 3:13, yet that same person might wonder why life is so hard and why bad things keep happening to them when they live in anxiety and cease to be a "doer of the Word." One can claim to be free in Christ, but Christ said that anyone who sins is a slave to sin. We are made free from "the curse of the law" when we truly remain connected to God's love and happen to keep the Law's commandments as a byproduct of enjoying and partaking in the nature of God (see 2 Peter 1:2-4).

God never breaks His Laws, because it is against His nature to violate His own loving character. Therefore God is never cursed or oppressed with depression, sickness, anxiety, gossip, sin, confusion, etc. (aside from when Jesus took those curses upon Himself on the cross; but now He has been raised from the dead and is no longer under God's curse as a broken man on a cross). As our nature becomes one with God's character as He writes His law on our hearts and minds, then we shall keep His laws and therefore not suffer from the negative consequences that overtake those who do not obey His voice or keep His commandments. We are free indeed when the Son has made us free.

We are made free to the degree that we remain true to everything that Jesus said in a continual, connected, submitted posture of love, humility, and obedience (see John 8:31-32; Romans 12:1-2). How then can we circumvent the law of sin and death? How do we stop sinning so that we don’t have to experience the undesirable consequences that often overtake us when we sin?

“Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

--Romans 7:24-8:2 NASB1995

When we learn to receive God’s grace and understand what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross and through His resurrection, we are empowered to walk in newness of life. As the law (the nature and character) of God gets written on our hearts, and as our thoughts, beliefs, and desires become one with God’s thoughts, beliefs, and desires, then we will increasingly not agree with the deceitful offers of sin. See Romans 6.

As we are transformed by the renewing of our minds as we submit to God and resist the devil, then God can work with us. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. When we humble ourselves and do things God’s way according to what He says, then His love and power can begin to manifest in our lives in greater measure. See Romans 12:1-2; James 4:6-12.

“Pass away” Passage #12

“Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

--2 Corinthians 5:16-17 NASB1995 [emphasis mine]

According to verse 17, what has “passed away” for anyone who is in Christ? Old things. What are the “old things” that “passed away” for anyone who is in Christ? Could it be the old self, the old nature that has nothing in common with God’s nature? The next two times that the word “old” appears in the NASB1995 after 2 Corinthians 5:17 are Ephesians 4:22 and Colossians 3:9, which tell believers “in Christ” to put off their “old self” and to put on the “new self.”

But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

--Ephesians 4:20-24 NASB1995

Now if old things have “passed away” and “new things have come” for anyone who is a “new creature” “in Christ,” then this begs the question: why might we still struggle with old things like sin, bad habits, unbelief, bitterness, envy, pride, sickness, guilt, shame, anxiety, fear, etc.?

There is still a struggle or battle to be fought (see Ephesians 6:10-20). However, rather than fighting “for victory,” we fight “from [the] victory” that Jesus has already accomplished through His death and resurrection. Jesus ascended into heaven to a permanent position of honor at God the Father’s right hand. Then Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit to live inside those who obey His leadership and commandments (see Acts 2:33, 38; 5:32).

The Holy Spirit will remind us of everything that Jesus commanded as we “put on the new self” by being “renewed in the spirit of your mind” (see John 14:26; Ephesians 4:23). By abiding (remaining and/or meditating on) Jesus’ words then we are truly His disciples; then we shall know the truth, and the truth shall make us free (see John 8:31-32; 17:17). As we are transformed by the renewing of our minds on the truth that makes us free, then we are empowered to obey what God is telling us, so that He may manifest powerfully in our lives (see Romans 12:1-2).

Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—

--Colossians 3:9-10 NASB1995

For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin.

--Romans 6:5-7 NASB1995

Interestingly, the final two times the word “old” appears in the NASB1995, it is referring to Satan, that ancient dragon or “serpent of old.” What is Satan’s nature? Satan embodies the nature of sin; he is full of pride, arrogance, lawlessness, envy, jealousy, fear, terror, anxiety, hatred, depression, narcissism, unbelief, self-pity, rudeness, rage, and everything that hinders love. See a partial contrast between God’s nature (the fruit of the Holy Spirit) and Satan’s nature (the works of the flesh) in Galatians 5:19-22 and 1 Corinthians 13.

“Pass away” Passage #13

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. 11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,”

--2 Peter 3:9-11 NASB1995 [emphasis mine]

In light of the full context of Scripture, particularly the final two chapters of Revelation, the earth will not be destroyed and lifeless in the future, but heaven shall descend down to the earth. Although there will be judgments poured out on the kingdom of darkness and rebellious mankind on the earth in the book of Revelation, God always does a work of restoration.

As still another passage containing the "pass away" phrase says, "One generation passes away, and another generation comes; but the earth abides forever." (Ecclesiastes 1:4 NKJV). ​Rebellious mankind will face judgment and accountability for their narcissism, depravity, violence, evil, lawlessness, and destruction, but God will have the final say and make all things new and beautiful on the earth again as God comes to dwell among His people who have submitted to His leadership.

Believers in Jesus are promised new resurrection bodies. We will not merely be disembodied spirits in heaven for all eternity, but someday we shall receive resurrection bodies just like the one that Jesus received when God raised Him from the dead. All who have submitted their allegiance to Jesus will one day receive their resurrection body on that Day Jesus returns to the earth to set up His kingdom (see John 5:25-29; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, 35-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:4-6).

“Pass away” Passage #14

“Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. 8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. 9 The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.”

--1 John 2:7-10 NASB1995 [emphasis mine]

According to this passage, “the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining.” Do we think like that? Do we focus on how bad things are getting and how life is so hard? Do we believe that we just need to hang on a little longer until death comes to our rescue and we can finally get to heaven? By doing so, as Job also did, is it possible that are we “fellowshiping with spirits” (or adopting mindsets) of death, depression (heaviness), anxiety, rejection, and self-pity?

To the contrary, do we believe that this verse is telling the truth when it says that “the darkness is passing away?” God has called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light (see 1 Peter 2:9). Jesus said that whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life (see John 8:12). The living God is called the “Spirit of life,” who has come to make us free from the law of sin and death (see Romans 8:2).

How do we know whether we are following Jesus and “walking in the light?” According to 1 John 2:9-11, we are still in darkness if we hate any fellow believer for whom Christ died. But when we love one another as Christ has loved us, then “there is no cause for stumbling” as we see life clearly through God’s bright eyes.

“Pass away” Passage #15

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. 18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.”

--1 John 2:16-18 NASB1995 [emphasis mine]

God’s healing and restoring power is not passing away. According to verse 17 of this passage, “the world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” In other passages, we can examine how participation with pride (including self-pity), arrogance, and lust can cause us to pass away prematurely as our health crumbles under the weight of anxiety, despair, and a crushed spirit.

The promise to cling to from verse 17 is that the one who does the will of God lives forever. Despite our struggles, we overcome the devil’s accusations by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony and we love Jesus more than life itself (see Revelation 12:9-11). Our trust in Jesus overcomes the world (see 1 John 5:4-5). As we fellowship with the Father of lights, then we overcome darkness (see James 1:17; 1 John 1:3-7).

Conclusion: Revelation 21

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

--Revelation 21:1-4 NASB1995 [emphasis mine]

This is the final passage of the Bible containing the phrase “pass away.” As we place our hope in Jesus, who shall return to the earth to have His way fully, then there is no more room for death, mourning, crying, or pain. Jesus, who rose from the dead, has won the victory over death and Hades (see Revelation 1:18). When we belong to Him, and He belongs to us, then nothing can steal our joy. By seeing ourselves the way that God sees us, owning our identity as Zion, the Bride of Christ, the New Jerusalem, His Beloved, and/or the holy city, then we shall live this life with everlasting joy. (7)

To learn more about knowing God personally (a relationship defined by commitment, trust, loyalty, intimacy, communication, love, joy, and peace, etc.) see Appendix B: Four Spiritual Laws for Experiencing Joy.

The following is a concluding prayer for the follower of Jesus:

Father,

Thank You for showing me who You are through Your Word. Thank You for sending Your Son, whose kingdom shall not pass away. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but Jesus’ words will never pass away. I praise You for Your power and love. As Jesus has said, now this is eternal life, to know You, the Only True God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent [see John 17:3]. You sent Jesus to bind up the broken-hearted, to open blind eyes, to preach good news that refreshes the bones, and to set the captives free by destroying the works of the devil [see Luke 4:18; 1 John 3:8].

Jesus came so that I may have life and have it to the full, being delivered from the domain of darkness that comes only to steal, kill, and destroy [see John 10:10; Colossians 1:13]. I thank You that You made Him who knew no sin to become sin for me on the cross, so that I would become Your righteousness in Jesus Christ [see 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24]. I am reconciled to You, have right standing with You, and am accepted as an honored member of Your family through my covenant relationship with Jesus Christ.

I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord (He “calls the shots” in every area of my life) and believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead [see Romans 10:9]. I humble myself before You, asking You to have it Your way in every area of my life. I thank You that sin shall not have dominion over me, but as a co-heir with Christ who is seated with Him in the heavenly realms, I walk in the authority that Jesus has given me [see Romans 6:14; Ephesians 2:6]. I submit to Jesus and thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to empower me to obey Him [see Acts 1:8; 5:32].

Father, thank You for sealing me with Your Holy Spirit when I believed the word of truth, the good news about Jesus that has saved me from lawlessness and spiritual separation from You [see Ephesians 1:13; Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:8]. I thank You that I am Yours and You are mine, and that nothing can separate me from Your love. Jesus, thank You for delighting in me and pursuing me like a Husband rejoices over his bride with no trace of guilt, shame, or anxiety in the way He thinks about her [see Song of Solomon; Ephesians 5:25-33].

As I continue to delight myself in You, behold You, and to become like You, I praise You for forming and fashioning me into who You have called me to be [see 2 Corinthians 3:18; Psalm 139].

In Jesus’ name, let all these things be so according to the promises of Your Word.

(7) Author's note: December 3, 2022: I have been reading through the book I Am Zion by John Eckhardt and find it to be most insightful when it comes to discovering who we are in Christ: https://www.amazon.com/Am-Zion-Unleash-Power-Glory-ebook/dp/B07NHK7MSJ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=i+am+zion&qid=1670099451&sr=8-1

Appendix A: Healing Grief Poem

A block to healing is worldly grief

Rooted and grounded in unbelief.

Trauma and loss can lead one to say

That God’s gift of healing is not for today.

Might we unwittingly think God has lied?

Could it be that we have listened to pride?

A broken, contrite heart God won’t despise

But a bitter heart feeds on a diet of lies.

Haughty eyes do not clearly see

But the truth shall make us free.

Let us not in self-pity grumble;

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Self-pity loves to continually mope;

It claims that Christ’s stripes will give you false hope.

The accuser of the brethren (a case he has built)

That if you preach healing, on the sick you heap guilt.

But we have an Advocate whose blood states His case.

He has made available His glorious grace.

The accuser’s voice tempts our hearts to live in fear

So that we lose sight that our Healer is near.

Chronic grief makes our bones waste away,

But what if we started to heal more today?

Losing hope will make our heart sick,

Healing the broken heart gets hope to stick.

A desire fulfilled is a tree of life;

A hard, proud heart will kindle strife.

So fix your eyes on your living hope.

If He is your anchor, your trust is the rope.

Perfect love casts out fear.

There is no fear in love; Salvation is here.

For more information on the subject of healing, I recommend the post, "Questioning Assumptions on Healing and Heaping Guilt" here.

To learn more about entering into a personal relationship with God, see "What's the Good News?" here.

Appendix B: Four Spiritual Laws for Experiencing Joy

1. God loves you and created you to know Him at a deep, personal level. He created you to experience and to share in the joy and the gladness that forever defines His character and identity (who He is).

“Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”

--Psalm 32:11 NKJV

“Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause; and let them say continually, “Let the Lord be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” 28 And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long.”

--Psalm 35:27-28 NKJV

“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

--Isaiah 35:10 NKJV

“But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy.”

--Isaiah 65:18 NKJV

“Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!...The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

--Zephaniah 3:14, 17 NKJV

2. All people have crossed into the wrong spiritual territory, and the result includes disappointment, sorrow, sadness, anxiety, grief, depression, disease, and death.

“Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. 26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.”

--Proverbs 12:25-26 NKJV

When we think, act, and make choices contrary to God’s best intentions for us, then we “trespass” the healthy boundaries that He established for our maximum happiness, health, and welfare. Like a loving, involved Father who admonishes His beloved children not to play in the street with matches and explosives, it is in our best interests to follow His instructions (or commandments) and to trust His judgment and heart.

​​

​“Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.”

--1 John 3:4 NASB1995

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

--Romans 6:23 NKJV

Since sin (crossing into dangerous spiritual territory by breaking God’s laws) leads to disappointment, distress, death, and sorrow, then how can we overcome it?

3. God sent His Son, Jesus, to rescue us from sin’s influence in our lives. Through a relationship with Jesus, God’s joy can become ours and our sadness can be removed.

“But of the Son He says, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions.’”

--Hebrews 1:8-9 NASB1995

Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.

--John 16:20-22 NASB1995

Jesus is talking about his impending death and resurrection to His friends the night that he would willingly sacrifice His life for the sins of the world. No one murdered Jesus against His will, plan, and permission, but he faced his excruciating death with joy because of the reward He had on the other side of the pain.

“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

--John 10:17-18 NKJV

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

--Hebrews 12:1-3 NASB1995

​He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

--Isaiah 53:3-6 NKJV

The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

--Psalm 118:22-24 NKJV

4. We must enter into an agreement (covenant relationship) with Jesus, where He becomes our Lord and we are united to him in loving submission and obedience for all eternity. Only then can our sorrow be removed and we be filled with fullness of joy.

“You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

--Proverbs 16:11 NKJV

When we experience His love for us, we are set free from guilt, grief, shame, fear, and condemnation. Communicating with Jesus in friendship brings us eternal pleasure.

​“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, 3 to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified....

10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

--Isaiah 61:1-3, 10 NKJV

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 25 For David says concerning Him:

‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. 27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’

29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, 35 till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

--Acts 2:22-39 NKJV

What does it mean to "repent"? To repent is to change our direction. It means to change the way we think, which in turn will change the way we live.

What does it mean to "be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission [forgiveness and removal] of sins"?

When a person (or thing) is baptized, it is fully submerged in water, which here represents total submission to Jesus' leadership and immersion into all that Jesus is, does, and says. Baptism is a picture of death and burial, for just as a dead body is completely lowered into and covered by the earth in burial, when we submit our allegiance to Jesus, we declare how we are dead to our old, dead ways (performance-driven self-righteousness, sin, bitterness, anxiety, slander, arrogant pride, foolishness, rebellion, rage, selfishness, lying, stealing, shame, or anything that is not of God or His love nature).

What does it mean to "receive the gift of the Holy Spirit"?

In baptism, when a person comes up out of the water, this is a picture of Jesus' resurrection from the dead and a declaration that we too have been born again to live a new life in God for all eternity. The promised gift of the Holy Spirit is God Himself coming to live inside of us from the very moment that we submit our allegiance to Jesus.

From the moment we receive Jesus by entrusting our lives to Him, we belong to God, who comes to live in us by the Person of His Holy Spirit so that we can hear His voice, grow more deeply connected and nourished by His love and His instructions, and become more like Jesus every day. As a result, we will even more actively demonstrate God's love to other people in our daily lives and choices.

Would you like to submit your allegiance to Jesus, for Him to be your Leader and Savior?

“But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.’”

--Acts 5:29‭-‬32 NKJV

The following is a suggested prayer for receiving (or trusting in) Jesus, submitting yourself to His authority. You may pray it aloud if it expresses the desire of your heart, for "…if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

--Romans 10:9‭-‬10 NKJV

Father God,

I want to know You for who You are. I confess that I have not been filled with joy because I have not known or trusted You. I have done things my own way and not seen things rightly the way that You see the whole picture with perfect accuracy. I have done foolish things and not lived honorably and rightly according to Your best plans and desire for me.

That's why You sent Jesus to rescue me and to bring me back into a right relationship with You. I was like a wandering sheep who went the wrong direction, but You sent Jesus to lay down His life for me, so that I could be restored to back You safely and live with You forever. I submit my life to Jesus as my Lord and Master, and I thank You for forgiving me for all my sins and wrongs against You.

Thank You, Father, for giving me eternal life and for giving me Your Holy Spirit as You promised. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, proving that you have rescued me from the kingdom of darkness (sin) and transferred me into the Kingdom of Your beloved Son, in whom all my sins are forgiven. As I commit my entire life to You, thank You for making me more and more like You every day as You teach me to love, to enjoy, to find my rest in, to trust, and to obey You more each day.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

​Conclusion:

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

--1 Peter 4:12-14 NKJV

Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

--1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

--Philippians 4:4-8 NKJV

As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

--John 8:30-32 NKJV

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. 9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

--John 15:7-11 NKJV

(1) Four-point format based on Would You Like to Know God Personally? A version of the Four Spiritual Laws, written by Bill Bright.