That Old-Time Religion!
“Give me that old-time time religion. Old-time religion. Old-time religion. And it’s good enough for me!” That was an old-chorus echoing people and churches all over the world. Everybody wants to go back to their old-time Christianity where miracles are rampant, where God’s love is overwhelming, and where the NAME OF JESUS is placed in its proper position, in the midst of God’s people!
Jesus did not want His people to establish their own religious denominations. All He want for them is to stay in that same old-time Christian religion, the religion of the name of Jesus, that old-time faith.
Christians all over the world have been longing for the return of the glory days of Christianity just like in the Book of Acts, where the early church were empowered by God’s Holy Spirit, and the Living Word of God is preached like never before. This longing has been long overdue, because The Jesus People that are scattered inside every denominational circles within Christendom and in different religious groups around the world, are now in the process of coming out, as the Lord commanded in His Word. Before God ever receive them as His people and to be their God, they have to first disassociate and separate themselves from idols of this world and become His dwelling place, His spiritual temple, His people who will separate from worldly things and become sons and daughters of Almighty God in this last generation:
“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:16–18).
The Jesus People, God’s remnants in these last days are about to be gathered together into one common faith and salvation, into one household of faith where the name of Jesus is exalted and all other things are put under His feet. This is that old-time religion in the last days. Time has finally come to prepare God’s people from all over the world unto the soon return of their great Savior!
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:11–14).
The culmination of God’s selection of His people shall be after the days of troubles, “until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24). “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:30–31).
The ultimate destination of The Jesus People is definitely outlined in God’s prophetical book, the Book of Revelation:
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Revelation 21:1–7).
In contrast, those who did not become part of God’s people during the days of its final ingathering shall never be part of His city but instead will be cast into eternal fire (Revelation 21:8). Only those who have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and were counted as His people, whose names were written in the Lamb’s book of Life, will be considered as His Bride shall be able to live in the heavenly city of God, the New Jerusalem. Do you want to be part of Christ’s Bride? There is no other way but to be part of the final ingathering of God’s people called out from over the world in these last generations. That final ingathering of God’s faithful church is happening nowadays. They are collectively known as The Jesus People.
These Christians are coming together, accepting the Lord’s name in their lives, coming out as The Jesus People. This is what the Bible has been prophesying for many years ago, where He shall be taking “a people for His name” (Acts 15:14), “that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom My name is called, saith the Lord” (Acts 15:17). It was also prophesied in the Scriptures as the fulfillment of “the fullness of the Gentiles” (Romans 11:25).
Have you chosen to be identified with the NAME of the Lord and be counted as part of God’s elect in these last days called The Jesus People? If not yet, then ask yourself these questions:
1. Have I believed and accepted the Name of Jesus in my life? The Bible says you have to: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on HIS NAME” (John 1:12). “For whosoever shall call upon THE NAME of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through HIS NAME” (John 20:31). “These things have I written unto you that believe on THE NAME of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on THE NAME of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13).
2. Have I repented of my sins in the Name of Jesus? The Bible says you have to: “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in HIS NAME among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). “To him give all the prophets witness, that through HIS NAME whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43).
3. Have I been baptized in the Name of Jesus? The Bible says you have to: “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on THE NAME of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).
4. Have I received the Holy Ghost in the Name of Jesus? “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in MY NAME, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26). “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. . . For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14).
5. Have I chose to leave and forsake everything in the Name of Jesus, in pursuit of doing God’s will? “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for MY NAME’S sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life” (Matthew 19:29). “And ye shall be hated of all men for MY NAME’S sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Mark 13:13). “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for HIS NAME” (Acts 5:41).
Remember, to be called and be counted as part of God’s people, whom His name is called upon, is an opportunity and a privilege that He offered to “whosoever will”. However, only those who are willing to give up their personal wills and principles, and submit to the name and lordship of Jesus Christ are elected as His people. The Jesus People, that old-time Christian religion, is also the ingathering of the residue of those who seek the Lord in these last generations, the remnants of the Gentiles upon whom the name of the Lord is called.
