"Though it tarry, wait for it ... for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea," (Habbakuk 2:3,14)
"The Lord hath sworn by His right hand, and by the arm of His strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies, and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured. But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the Lord; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of My holiness. Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people." (Isaiah 62:8-10)
"The Lord hath sworn by His right hand, and by the arm of His strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies, and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured. But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the Lord; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of My holiness. Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people." (Isaiah 62:8-10)
Jesus states," I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My Word, and hast not denied My Name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee." (Revelation 3:8-9)
"If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be NOT moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven ..." (Colossians 1:23)
"If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be NOT moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven ..." (Colossians 1:23)
If ye continue in the faith! If ye continue steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine as Jesus THROUGH the Holy Ghost gave commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen. (Acts 2:36-47; Acts 1:2) If you believe (as the first 3,000 did on the day of Pentecost) that this same Jesus who they/we have crucified is BOTH Lord and Christ. One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all. (Ephesians 4:5-6)
This same God who made the world was in the world bringing us salvation, after His kindness and love. He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. (John 1:1-18; Isaiah 9:6; 42:13; Revelation 1:8, 11; Titus 3:4-7)
And as a consequence of repentance, your heart's desire is to become grounded and settled in His Word, and not be moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye have heard from His Word.
This same God who made the world was in the world bringing us salvation, after His kindness and love. He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. (John 1:1-18; Isaiah 9:6; 42:13; Revelation 1:8, 11; Titus 3:4-7)
And as a consequence of repentance, your heart's desire is to become grounded and settled in His Word, and not be moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye have heard from His Word.
Sadly, however, there appears to be a moving away from the good news gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ within the entrenched religious culture -- most noticeable when the discussion turns to water baptism. But instead of linking all the new testament scriptures on water baptism as a coherent thread to be understood so that believers can learn and be edified, the dialogue is reduced to John the baptist's baptism of repentance, or baptism in the titles. But as those who have searched the scriptures can attest, we are falling short of the purpose that the Lord Jesus intended for this generation.
And then, there are those churches which have completely removed water baptism from their dogma and statement(s) of faith, because these do not want to move away from the false doctrinal teachings of a trinity and/or baptism in the titles. The reason for this is two-fold. Some refer to water baptism as a ritual that has no merit. Obviously, these have not read Mark 16:16 which states, "he that believes AND is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned."
Those who baptize in the "titles" rather than the Name of Jesus -- of which neither is there any other name whereby we must be saved in this current dispensation of grace -- argue that these words were spoken specifically by Jesus and therefore, supersede all other new testament writings. These blatantly ignore Acts 1:2 whereby "until the day in which He [Jesus] was taken up, after that He [JESUS] THROUGH the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen."
These also forget to note that Jesus (by His own account in Matthew 28:18) was given ALL power and authority in heaven and the earth. Or, that Jesus said unto His disciples, "I and My Father are ONE." (John 10:30) Or, that if you have seen Me, said Jesus, you have seen the Father. (John 14:6-12) I suspect these thrive knowing that the believing community has and is being duped big time. But thankfully not for long. The scales are being removed. The truth within His Word is being revealed. And questions about a God in three persons in light of the overwhelming scriptural evidence that God is ONE are being asked.
How do I know a new day is coming? A spiritual awakening that has never on earth been seen before?
Because Jesus never fails in His promises to His people. There is a coming outpouring out of His Spirit upon all the earth that will see those that teach false doctrines falling into the abyss like a shabby house built on the sand. For those of us who believe the Word of God to be true -- as it is written -- the Lord's refreshing anointing cannot come soon enough. In the interim, those who have heard Him and are being taught by Him know that the truth can only be found in Jesus, and as such, that which we have learned -- the fullness of Christ -- the doctrine of Christ -- means also that we no longer need to be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait, but instead, speaking the truth in love, and growing up into Him in all things -- which is the Head of the Church -- Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 4:12-16; II Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 6:1-2)
Being "renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:23-24)
And then, there are those churches which have completely removed water baptism from their dogma and statement(s) of faith, because these do not want to move away from the false doctrinal teachings of a trinity and/or baptism in the titles. The reason for this is two-fold. Some refer to water baptism as a ritual that has no merit. Obviously, these have not read Mark 16:16 which states, "he that believes AND is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned."
Those who baptize in the "titles" rather than the Name of Jesus -- of which neither is there any other name whereby we must be saved in this current dispensation of grace -- argue that these words were spoken specifically by Jesus and therefore, supersede all other new testament writings. These blatantly ignore Acts 1:2 whereby "until the day in which He [Jesus] was taken up, after that He [JESUS] THROUGH the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen."
These also forget to note that Jesus (by His own account in Matthew 28:18) was given ALL power and authority in heaven and the earth. Or, that Jesus said unto His disciples, "I and My Father are ONE." (John 10:30) Or, that if you have seen Me, said Jesus, you have seen the Father. (John 14:6-12) I suspect these thrive knowing that the believing community has and is being duped big time. But thankfully not for long. The scales are being removed. The truth within His Word is being revealed. And questions about a God in three persons in light of the overwhelming scriptural evidence that God is ONE are being asked.
How do I know a new day is coming? A spiritual awakening that has never on earth been seen before?
Because Jesus never fails in His promises to His people. There is a coming outpouring out of His Spirit upon all the earth that will see those that teach false doctrines falling into the abyss like a shabby house built on the sand. For those of us who believe the Word of God to be true -- as it is written -- the Lord's refreshing anointing cannot come soon enough. In the interim, those who have heard Him and are being taught by Him know that the truth can only be found in Jesus, and as such, that which we have learned -- the fullness of Christ -- the doctrine of Christ -- means also that we no longer need to be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait, but instead, speaking the truth in love, and growing up into Him in all things -- which is the Head of the Church -- Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 4:12-16; II Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 6:1-2)
Being "renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:23-24)
This is why we are instructed to study to show ourselves approved unto God, as doth a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15) So that we as believers in Jesus by faith, and baptized in His precious Name are not only sanctified by the Word, but that we are justified too for adhering to the complete message of salvation.
To this end, I believe it is critical that we understand the doctrine of baptisms -- plural -- water baptism being one of them. In this context, we need to be "buried with Him [Jesus] in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead" so that the salvation message (as preached in the early church) does no become lost. (Colossians 2:12)
To this end, I believe it is critical that we understand the doctrine of baptisms -- plural -- water baptism being one of them. In this context, we need to be "buried with Him [Jesus] in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead" so that the salvation message (as preached in the early church) does no become lost. (Colossians 2:12)
Herein, other scriptures for your learning and edification.
Romans 6:3-4: "Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death. Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in neweness of life."
Being buried does not mean sprinkled with a drop (or drops) of water by some clergy member. Buried is just that -- being buried in one's totality of their body into a watery type grave that expresses a union with Christ in both death and the resurrection. Raised to walk in newness of life with a new King reigning in our heart, mind, soul and strength.
That is, Jesus -- King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 1:8, 11)
A coming together whereby believers gladly and willingly become fully clothed in His righteousness, putting on His garment, and announcing to the worldly powers through water baptism that Jesus is both our Lord and Christ. [As a sidebar, note that almost all scholars agree that the early church baptized by immersion only. The water being plentiful in John 3:23 and Philip's comment to the enuch, "Lo, here is water!" in Acts 8:37]
That is, Jesus -- King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 1:8, 11)
A coming together whereby believers gladly and willingly become fully clothed in His righteousness, putting on His garment, and announcing to the worldly powers through water baptism that Jesus is both our Lord and Christ. [As a sidebar, note that almost all scholars agree that the early church baptized by immersion only. The water being plentiful in John 3:23 and Philip's comment to the enuch, "Lo, here is water!" in Acts 8:37]
Water baptism is an expression of faith wherein we express our desired union with Jesus in both death and resurrection. "The like figure where unto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (I Peter 3:21)
In other words, baptism necessary as in the days of Noah, wherein few, that is eight souls were saved by water.
"That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:26-27)
"But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7)
The apostles knew this when Peter (standing with the eleven) responded to the question, "What shall we do?" when the people were pricked in their hearts. At the time, those in attendance had recognized that this very same Jesus that they had crucified was and is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) How did Peter respond?
Then Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38)
In His precious Name! The Name of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ. The only Name in this current dispensation of grace wherein we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)
"And thou shalt call His Name Jesus for He shall save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21-23)
What happens next? Every single example of water baptism in the scriptures (after the cross) was performed in the Name of Jesus. Everyone who heard and received Jesus as their Lord and Saviour were gladly baptized into Christ, and resurrected with Him into newness of life. (Acts 2:36-47)
Then Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38)
Then Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38)
"And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."(Acts 22:16)
"And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days." (Acts 10:48)
"And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, "See, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him." (Acts 8:36-39)
"Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" (Acts 10:44-48)
"Then they that gladly received His Word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls." (Acts 2:41)
"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:27)
"Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4)
"Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [Him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead." (Colossians 2:12)
"And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (I Corinthians 6:11)
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life .... knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin." (Romans 6:2-18)
Even Jesus was water baptized as an example to you and I, and to fulfill the prophecy of old. (Matthew 3:16)
And Jesus clarified this when He spoke with Nicodemus, saying, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:1-21)
It is in this context that Paul said, “but we preach Christ crucified a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.” (1 Corinthians 1:23)
At the time, many of the Jews could not accept that Jesus was the Messiah promised from afore in the scriptures. Unfortunately, and far too often, this same mindset is prevalent today. Even though numerous prophecies were fulfilled through Jesus, we are still putting up boundaries, standing on the banks of the shore (as in John the baptist day) instead of getting into the water -- as instructed by our Saviour.
In that light, I believe (as do others) that water baptism has become the modern day stumbling block. And this is evident by the lack of teaching on water baptism. Many teach that salvation is achieved through saying a prayer of forgiveness and acceptance of Jesus only. But these stop short of becoming approved in the courtroom of God. It is He who justified and sanctified us on that cross, and as a consequence, we are only to get into the water in His precious Name. That act of obedience as an answer of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (I Peter 3:21)
In water baptism, the righteousness of Jesus is credited to the forgiven sinner. (Isaiah 61:10)
The one point we should have picked up from Noah is that the Lord baptized the world and removed sin to start over again with righteous Noah. As Jesus said, "Ye must be born of the water and the Spirit." (John 3:5)
Thus, water baptism in the titles -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit -- does not cut it because it fails to name Jesus as the Father, Son and Holy Ghost is in this current dispensation of grace. The All in all. The Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending.
"Lo, behold, the volume of the book is written of Me."
The "Me" being Jesus -- the mystery that was held in the bosom of the Father since the beginning of the world, revealed unto us in this latter time. Water baptism in the Name of Jesus then should be the very next step in responding to God’s grace through faith. Salvation being God’s gift of grace and faith to us. Not of works lest any man should boast. And baptism the occasion of forgiveness wherein we can greatly rejoice in the Lord.
"And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles and their offspring among the people; all that see them shall acknowledge them that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God, for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation. He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks [himself] with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth [herself] with her jewels. For as the earth brings froth her bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth: so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations." (Isaiah 61:10-11)
The time has come. Today is the day. Do not harden your hearts. Instead, respond as did Saul to Ananias when he told Saul, “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the Name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16)
And know, beyond a shadow of a doubt that "the Lord hath sworn by His right hand, and by the arm of His strength "Surely, I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies, and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured. But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the Lord; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of My holiness. Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people." (Isaiah 62:8-10)
And as Jesus so aptly proclaimed of those who stand true to His Word, " ... these will know how much I have loved thee." (Revelation 3:8-9)
"That your hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the "mystery" of God, and of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:2)
Stand in the offering plate.
"And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days." (Acts 10:48)
"And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, "See, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him." (Acts 8:36-39)
"Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" (Acts 10:44-48)
"Then they that gladly received His Word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls." (Acts 2:41)
"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:27)
"Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4)
"Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [Him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead." (Colossians 2:12)
"And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (I Corinthians 6:11)
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life .... knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin." (Romans 6:2-18)
Even Jesus was water baptized as an example to you and I, and to fulfill the prophecy of old. (Matthew 3:16)
And Jesus clarified this when He spoke with Nicodemus, saying, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:1-21)
It is in this context that Paul said, “but we preach Christ crucified a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.” (1 Corinthians 1:23)
At the time, many of the Jews could not accept that Jesus was the Messiah promised from afore in the scriptures. Unfortunately, and far too often, this same mindset is prevalent today. Even though numerous prophecies were fulfilled through Jesus, we are still putting up boundaries, standing on the banks of the shore (as in John the baptist day) instead of getting into the water -- as instructed by our Saviour.
In that light, I believe (as do others) that water baptism has become the modern day stumbling block. And this is evident by the lack of teaching on water baptism. Many teach that salvation is achieved through saying a prayer of forgiveness and acceptance of Jesus only. But these stop short of becoming approved in the courtroom of God. It is He who justified and sanctified us on that cross, and as a consequence, we are only to get into the water in His precious Name. That act of obedience as an answer of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (I Peter 3:21)
In water baptism, the righteousness of Jesus is credited to the forgiven sinner. (Isaiah 61:10)
The one point we should have picked up from Noah is that the Lord baptized the world and removed sin to start over again with righteous Noah. As Jesus said, "Ye must be born of the water and the Spirit." (John 3:5)
Thus, water baptism in the titles -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit -- does not cut it because it fails to name Jesus as the Father, Son and Holy Ghost is in this current dispensation of grace. The All in all. The Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending.
"Lo, behold, the volume of the book is written of Me."
The "Me" being Jesus -- the mystery that was held in the bosom of the Father since the beginning of the world, revealed unto us in this latter time. Water baptism in the Name of Jesus then should be the very next step in responding to God’s grace through faith. Salvation being God’s gift of grace and faith to us. Not of works lest any man should boast. And baptism the occasion of forgiveness wherein we can greatly rejoice in the Lord.
"And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles and their offspring among the people; all that see them shall acknowledge them that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God, for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation. He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks [himself] with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth [herself] with her jewels. For as the earth brings froth her bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth: so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations." (Isaiah 61:10-11)
The time has come. Today is the day. Do not harden your hearts. Instead, respond as did Saul to Ananias when he told Saul, “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the Name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16)
And know, beyond a shadow of a doubt that "the Lord hath sworn by His right hand, and by the arm of His strength "Surely, I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies, and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured. But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the Lord; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of My holiness. Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people." (Isaiah 62:8-10)
And as Jesus so aptly proclaimed of those who stand true to His Word, " ... these will know how much I have loved thee." (Revelation 3:8-9)
"That your hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the "mystery" of God, and of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:2)
Stand in the offering plate.
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