By Ray & Lee
The title of this article is a long one. It covers 4 things that are interconnected. Ray and I will define each of these 4 things.
First is rightly dividing the word of truth. What does this mean? There is a scripture in Isaiah 28:13 that explains how that GOD has scattered the truth through the pages of the Bible and it is not all in one place. This is done so that people who GOD does not want to know the truth will be falling backwards, snared and taken. It is as Jesus said in Matthew 13:11 The mysteries of the kingdom of GOD are hidden from everyone but the true church. The Holy Spirit of the FATHER is required to understand the mysteries and helps the saints to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Now, every word of GOD. When reading any scripture we must focus on every word because just one word can add to or alter the meaning of a verse. The verse in Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized", notice that belief comes first. How are you going to believe if you are in a cult unless GOD gives you a portion of HIS spirit to realize this? No one can understand spiritual things unless they have the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:14 If you were in a cult, the spirit of GOD is what brought you out and because you believed the spirit then what do you do, "He who believes and is baptized."
This is rightly dividing the word of truth and living by every word of GOD and then believing and being baptized. Once baptized the spirit will grow in you teaching you the more deep things of GOD. 1 Peter 2:2 Hebrews 5:12-14 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 1 Corinthians 2:10. We must be baptized to grow in the spirit that we received when we were first shown the truth that leads out of deception. The baptism we had in the cult we were in cannot do this. That baptism was into the cult not the true church of GOD.
Ray and I have personally lived this and now share what we experienced with you. After we received the portion of the spirit that taught us that we were in a cult we came out of the cult but our growth was very difficult and we were yet confused by many things, but GOD led us to see that we needed to obey Jesus and the Apostles and be baptized in the name of Jesus. So, that is what we did and literally from that day forward our spiritual growth increased. When Cornelius was first baptized he was a babe as Ray and I were. Peter and the other Apostles knew this and knew that once he was baptized his growth would accelerate. Baptism is a pledge of a clear conscience towards GOD, 1 Peter 3:21, as the past sins are washed away and the symbolism of the death and resurrection of Jesus is your promised future.
Remember since the Apostle John died all human ministry was removed from the church and this was done because GOD knew men would become the tools of Satan to deceive. This was prophesied in Ezekiel 34:10-11 GOD and Jesus control everything in the church. This is why it is necessary to first give the spirit before baptism. The gospel is not being preached today, not even by the true church. If GOD wanted the elect to be preaching the gospel to the world then HE better make us all billionaires. Jesus gave the sign that the gospel would be preached in all nations, then the end would come. Matthew 24:14 How could this preaching of the gospel be a sign of the end if it was being done all along? This sign Jesus gave will be fulfilled in Revelation 14:6. Again, any church claiming to be fulfilling the great commission is a lying church and their gospel is a lie as well. Under these circumstances you can see why GOD must first give HIS spirit before Baptism but you have seen that baptism is still required. Do not forbid water.
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