Logos #6

Repentance and Identity

We continue our review of the LOGOS series at The Pentecostals of Alexandria.  This week, we turned our attention towards the New Testament and looked at two major topics: (1)Repentance and its place in our lives and (2) Jesus and who He is and His relationship to the Father and the Spirit.  Check it out below.

The New Testament Outlined

To set this study up, Pastor and Brother Larry outlined the New Testament and how it should be read: the gospels are Christ's biography, the book of Acts is Christian history and how the apostles preached to the lost, the epistles are letters written to the saints and churches, and Revelation is prophecy that prepares us for the rapture of the church. Seeing the Bible laid out properly allows us to understand what each section of the New Testament is for and how it relates to us on our own timeline of coming to relationship with Jesus Christ

After this synopsis, the group dove into the two main topics of the night.

Repentance: More Than Just "I'm Sorry"

Brother Larry introduced the idea of repentance through John the Baptist who came to herald Christ and his coming.  John preached repentance and this message holds a distinction in the gospels.  There are only a few items that are repeated in all four gospels.  John's message of repentance is one of them.  This shows the importance of repentance to us today because all four writers who wrote at different times and from different perspectives - though with the same purpose - wanted to make sure that this message was represented.  Brother Larry went on to detail how repentance is more than just saying "I'm sorry."  It's inward change of your mind with an outward change in direction, too.  To look at repentance this way takes the sole focus off the sin and turns it also towards the sinner.  When we have to change our mind and our direction we are acknowledging our mistakes are more than just the devil or the world tempting us.  Every act we took against God was our choice, deceived or not, and we have to take ownership of those choices and make a true change if we are to separate from the sins of our past.

After this look at repentance, the group turned its attention towards Jesus, who He is and what His relation to the Father truly is.    The initial purpose of the lesson was to talk about the life of Christ, but both Pastor and Brother Larry were inspired and led by the Spirit to talk about Christ's true identity.  Through several methods, Pastor and Brother Larry made the case that Christ and the Father are not coequal beings but the same being expressed in different manifestations.  To detail all of what they said would take many paragraphs, so we will allow you to listen for yourself what they said in the link below.  However, one thing that was amazing to watch was when one of the participants of the Bible Study asked about how Jesus could be both the Father and the Son.  When Pastor explained dual nature, you could see the light bulb come on and she had a revelation.  To see someone "get it" is always a special thing, and POA was privileged to share that moment not just with the audience in attendance, but everyone who watched around the world and will watch the message in the future. This lesson was worth watching just for that one moment. 

Quotes and Notes:

The scholars and leaders of the day never recognized Jesus.  It took unlearned fishermen with an open mind to see Christ. - Pastor

Christ did so many signs and wonders, but the scholars of the day still asked him to prove he was Christ - Brother Larry

John preached repentance in all four gospels.  People who denied this message would also deny Christ.  Denying repentance prevents us from having a true revelation of Jesus Christ - Pastor

Our biggest problem is looking at us in the mirror - Brother Larry on the things that hold us back from repenting.

Repentance isn't a one-time thing - Brother Larry repeating what one of the ladies mentioned off the mic.

Though not a quote, the conversation Pastor had about the need of Mary to travel to Bethlehem while 9 months pregnant to fulfill one scripture showed what God is willing to do to fulfill His Word and Will.

This is the probability that Christ would fulfill the more than 300 prophecies by multiple people over many years in the Old Testament: 1/200000000000000000000000.  By the way, the number is one in 200 sextillion. 

John wrote the birth of Christ the way he did to set the record straight on where Jesus came from and what his true identity was. He is nothing less than God robed in flesh - Brother Larry

When Pastor and Brother Larry got to Jesus praying, the ladies got excited because they wanted to know why Christ would pray to the Father if He is the father.  This is when Pastor explained Dual nature, which is Jesus being fully man and fully God and the light went on for both of them. 

God manifested himself 3 different ways: as a creator and father, as a savior and the kinsman redeemer, and as a Spirit to dwell inside of us.  All of these manifestations are so He can relate to us fully.

God's not a coward.  He didn't sit up in heaven and let a separate being come down to die for the creation He made.  He robed himself in flesh and suffered with us.  That's what makes His sacrifice so great - Brother Larry

God set a high standard for our salvation - Brother Larry on the blood Christ shed so we could have direct access to God and salvation.


We hope you enjoyed this week's review of LOGOS.  If you missed watching the lesson, you can watch it here.  There's also a handout you can download on the same page. Email us your thoughts on the lesson.  We look forward to hearing from you and further sharing our thoughts on LOGOS.

LOGOS: A Bible Study Experience Lesson 6