Truth Over Traditions James Hollandsworth

The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. What was the purpose of this? Pastor Hollandsworth shares six truths conveyed by Christ’s temptation, explains the nature of each temptation, and emphasizes the believer’s escape from temptation by following Christ’s example.

Why did Jesus submit to John’s baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, seeing that He never sinned? Pastor Hollandsworth answers this challenging question, explains why the Spirit descended upon Jesus at His baptism, and defines the three levels of Holy Spirit power.

John the Baptist preached a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Pastor Hollandsworth dissects this message and explains why it is not to be equated with the gospel of grace by faith alone for salvation (i.e., regeneration). He also explains the terms “kingdom of heaven” and the “baptism in fire” (which is not hell) that will befall those who reject this message.

The apostle Paul, undoubtedly one of the greatest Christians of the church age, nevertheless, saw a personal need to “press toward the goal for the prize" (reward), desiring to “attain to the out-resurrection.” Pastor Hollandsworth uncovers the meaning of this often-ignored term and reveals the apostle’s driving passion to “gain Christ and be found in Him,” counting everything else as loss.  This same passion should consume every child of God.

In this second of a two-part episode, Pastor Hollandsworth continues to explain the spectacular rewards for overcomers in Rev. 2-3, some of which are quite mysterious. He gives a possible meaning for the reward that overcomers will NOT be blotted out of the Book of Life and tackles the puzzling question of how non-overcomers WILL be blotted out of the Book of Life.

One of the promises for overcomers is that they will not be hurt of the second death. What does that mean? Pastor Hollandsworth – in the first of a two-part episode – describes the rewards for overcomers in Rev. 2-3, pointing out from the Scriptures that NOT all saints are overcomers. He offers a possible explanation as to how unfaithful believers could be hurt of the second death at the Bema.