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Acts 19:1-10
And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 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.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord.
Jesus has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death.
Jesus did this so that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness.
This is because Jesus is risen from the dead. He lives and reigns to all eternity.
This is most certainly true.
– Based on the explanation to the Second Article of the Apostle’s Creed in Luther’s Small Catechism
The rule and reign of God is established by a hard fought and won battle. The forces of evil aligned against Jesus, God’s Son. The Jewish religious leaders conspired with Roman government officials to put Jesus to death. Satan himself tempted Jesus in an effort to thwart his mission to seek and save the lost, establish his true kingdom in a broken world. Even the world participated, darkness shrouding the earth during the crucifixion of Jesus.
And for a time the world, Satan, and Jesus’ enemies thought they had won. Life could go on apart from Jesus’ interference and God’s meddling.
But when Jesus rose from the dead, he proved that he had won. Life had overcome death. Justice had prevailed over corruption, brutality, hatred, and sin. This is the means of our salvation. This is the foundation of Jesus’ kingdom, his rule and reign.
We live under Christ in his rule and reign of grace and truth. His is the way of life and salvation, glory and joy. Jesus is Lord because he is Redeemer. When I was lost, he found me. When I was ensnared by sin, he forgave me. When I was dead he made me alive. When I was blind, he gave me sight. He did all this so that I may live under him in his rule and reign.
We live in the rule and reign of Christ now. By grace. Through faith. It is not now by sight. But one day we will live there by sight. Faith will be vindicated. Hope will be fulfilled. Love will hold us together with him. An eternal glorious day!
David Bahn - Reflections 
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