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.
Well done, brothers. I enjoyed this message. I have come to understand that our personal journey to reach the point of discernment when studying the scriptures, some events seem to happen "out of order."
ReplyDeleteI have known those who claim that the story of Cornelius in Acts 10 "proves" that baptism does not require water and that the Holy Spirit can indwell a person before baptism. They even claim that true disciples of the Son of God do not require baptism at all.
Sadly, those conversations never go very well.
In order to accept their statements as valid, I would have to determine that Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 3:21, and Titus 3:5 are mistaken. Not to mention Mark 16:16 (which is not in the older manuscripts).
But I have a certainty of my experience which may differ from those of others.
I was first baptized at the age of 12. I knew nothing of Holy Spirit or had done any scripture studies before then. My life was nothing like a disciple's shortly thereafter. It was many years later than I came back to the church and submitted to baptism again (believer's baptism).
After that, I had a hunger to learn scripture and seek out truth. Well, despite what I read in my studies, most everything for the first several years came out of the mouths of Sunday School Teachers and preachers, and I believed them.
Looking back, I cannot say that I was indwelt by the spirit of God. I CAN say that I feel like I was protected by my Father during that time (I was really dumb back then). Much later, the spirit of God came to me after I begged Him to come to me, and I surrendered my will to God and became a disciple of Christ. It became evident to me when my life changed.
I did not get baptized again, and I am certain that I did not receive the Holy Spirit until I surrendered my will (and became a citizen in the Kingdom of God).
I can only wish that I had been in a robe living in Israel in the desert wearing sandals and walking with Christ, so that my story would be completely different.
Generally speaking, I cannot say that I KNOW the the Holy Spirit comes before baptism, at baptism, or after baptism. I do know that I did not have Him in my life until I surrendered my life to God.
The Holy Spirit can be given before or after baptism . In the case of most baptisms after but in the case of Cornelius before. What seems certain is that God did not lead you into deception but out of it and the baptism at 12 was just as invalid as the second one. The Holy Spirit is required to even understand you have been deceived and that you must submit your will to God. Another requirement is that when you come to the knowledge of the truth after the Holy Spirit guides you to it then just like Cornelius water should not be forbidden. We all sin before conversion and also after conversion. Baptism washes away our past sins so that we have a clean conscience before God then after conversion grace covers our sins. It would seem that both before and after sin is still present in us so in this sense baptism should be done in either case, before or after conversion.
ReplyDeleteWe know baptism was commanded by Jesus and was always performed by the Apostles in the name of Jesus only. Being baptized after conversion is following through with the total commitment. Today almost everyone must first be converted because of the great deception . We must be called out and chosen by the Father, given his spirit so that we can believe the truth then we follow through with obeying Jesus and are baptized. You received the truth by the Holy Spirit and that took you out of whatever church you were in and put you in Gods church. When we were in the world we had no knowledge of spiritual things and therefore any baptism or supposed conversion was false. Do not fear, Gods spirit in you will guide you to understanding.
I have discovered that seeking baptism in the name of Jesus is as rare as hen's teeth. I'd first have to find an "elect" person who walks daily with Christ in order to avoid baptizing myself. But then, I see no reason that I cannot baptize myself. Do you?
DeleteIf you are near to a large body of water just walk out into it about chest deep and pray to the Father asking Him and His Son to reach down from heaven and baptize you. That your desire is obey their will and complete the commitment made when God gave you His Spirit. You are that elect person. That you do not forbid water. Then go completely under the water and come up out. This will as Jesus said fulfill all righteousness and agrees with Peter, 1 Peter 3:21 and Paul Romans 6:3-4 and Jesus John 3:5 This is not baptizing yourself it is your submission to the commandment of Christ. Myself and 4 others did this very thing in a swimming pool almost 30 years ago.
ReplyDeleteThat makes perfect sense.
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