Tag Archives: baptism

Christian, Inspirational

In The Mix

Give me the Bible
Holy message shining,
Thy light shall guide me
In the narrow way.
Precept and promise,
Law and love combining,
‘Til night shall vanish
In eternal day.

So what does the Bible so beautifully reveal to us that the above song clearly commemorates? Jesus combined the law and love, teaching us by his example how to live out the law with love. Likewise, the promise of salvation carries with it certain precepts. Salvation is a mix of you and God. It’s not Jesus’s sacrifice alone. Philippians 2:12 KJV says, … work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. And James 1:22 KJV adds, But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Jesus died teaching us how to follow the Father. Although he is the ultimate sacrifice for our sin, salvation does require effort on our part. We have to accept Jesus as Messiah. We have to repent and be baptized by immersion in water by another in Jesus name or in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. We have to strive to not sin. We have to confess future sins after baptism and forsake them. We have to confess Jesus and teach others the Gospel. We have to remain faithful until death. And finally, as we are blessed, do it all with love.

That may sound like a long list of works. Jesus never said we could do nothing and go to Heaven, he did promise us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light.

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Being Born Again

In past posts I have attempted to boil being born again down to the moment of water baptism. I think being born again is more complex than just baptism, but as we see in Mark 16:16 it plays a crucial part.

Mark 16:16 tells us, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

What must we believe?

We must believe Jesus is the Messiah. We must believe he laid down his life for us. We must learn and follow his word.

Why must we be baptized?

See Acts 2:37-39 KJV – . . . Men and brethren, what shall we do? 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. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call

Jesus sets the core of being born again as repentance. In Luke 13:3 KJV he said, I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

In Luke 15:7 KJV he added, I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

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Christian, Inspirational

Sons and Daughters

In 2 Kings 19:3 KJV … Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.

I am convinced that many people do not know how to be born again. Jesus said in John 3:3 KJV … Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

What must I do?

Believe in Jesus, that he is the Son of God who died on the cross for our sins, that he is the promised Christ and our Messiah. John 3:16-18.

Acknowledge and repent of your sins. Matthew 3:2,6.

Be baptized by immersion in water by another in the name of Jesus or in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost for the forgivess of your sins. Mark 16:16, Acts 22:16.

Knowledge, belief, and strength are all required for salvation. A prayer of salvation is insufficient to save you if you don’t continue in faith to be born again. Persevere, believe, and be baptized.

Baptism is not only a public declaration of faith it is the birthing process. Arise from the water a new man or woman in Christ, Born Again!

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 KJV says, Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing ; and I will receive you, [18] And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

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Christian, Inspirational

Open Letter to Israel and the Diaspora

Accept Jesus as Messiah.

Repent and be baptized by another, by immersion in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost or in the name of Jesus Christ.

Do not call anyone Rabbi or Master. We have one Rabbi and one Master, Jesus Christ.

Do not believe you can be saved by approaching Jehovah directly. We all need Jesus for remission of sins in the act of baptism and for forgiveness by confession.

Don’t believe that being a descendant of Abraham will save you or that you are entitled to approach God the Father directly because of your ancestry.

Pray to the Father in Jesus name. Jesus is the only intermediary between us and God. Men, do not cover your head when you pray and bring shame upon yourself.

Don’t believe Jesus’ body was stolen away by his disciples. He is our resurrected Lord.

Isaiah 12:2 KJV
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

John 3:16 KJV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

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Open Letter to the Catholic Church

You should not prohibit priests from marriage.

Don’t call your priests Father.

Do not pray to Mary or to Angels.

Don’t require any acts of penance for confessions.

Baptism is done by immersion in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost or simply in the name of Jesus Christ.

Baptism should be done at an age of understanding, when the child knows who Christ is and can repent of their sins, knowing the difference between right and wrong.

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Sure

Perhaps you’ve heard Jesus died on the cross for every sin you would ever commit.

Taken by itself this is an incomplete picture of salvation. The Bible tells us love covers a multitude of sins. It also tells us we are all sinners. Wouldn’t you like to be sure you are forgiven?

You are forgiven of sins past in water baptism. Baptism is immersion in water by another, a baptizer, who says I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost or I baptize you in the name of Jesus Christ after you have accepted Jesus as Messiah and expressed repentance.

After water baptism the only sure way to be forgiven is 1 John 1:9.

Proverbs 28:13 KJV says He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

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Baptism: A Public Declaration of Faith

Is baptism about a public declaration of faith?

No.

There are only 2 people required for a baptism, the baptizer and the baptizee. There is no biblical requirement that baptism be a public declaration of faith. Witnesses are not a requirement.

The baptizee should have accepted Jesus as Messiah and acknowledge their sin with the understanding that baptism brings them into the family of God and washes away their previous sin which they have repented of.

The baptizer should submerge the baptizee in water saying either, I baptize you in the name of Jesus Christ or I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. There is no requirement that the baptizer be clergy, but this is often the case. In fact there is no requirement that the baptizer be a believer, but if you want them to say the correct words and submerge you completely in water it is recommended.

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Christian, Inspirational

A Race To Be Won

Have you heard Jesus did it all, it is finished, you don’t need to do anything for your salvation?

Jesus completed his race. He lived an Holy life teaching us to follow him and the Heavenly Father. He was scourged and died on the cross as the final sacrifice for our sins.

What about our race? Do we have to do anything to be cleansed in Jesus’ blood? Do we have to do anything to make it to Heaven?

If you accept Jesus as Messiah, you need to repent and be baptized (submerged in water) in the name of Jesus for the remission or forgiveness of sins in your life till that point. Acts 2:38 After baptism forgiveness of sin can be covered in love and by confession. James 5:20, 1 Peter 4:8, 1 John 1:9.

This is at the heart of the race assigned to us all: Preach the truth to others – Mark 16:15-16, Keep the Commandments – Romans 2:13, John 14:15, Ecclesiastes 12:13, Love one another – John 13:34.

As Paul hoped to finish his race well, 2 Timothy 4:7-8, so do we. Jesus completed his life and work proclaiming, “It is finished”, while on the cross, but our race as we follow him is yet to be won!

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Earwax and Cataracts

Matthew 13:12-15 KJV For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. [13] Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. [14] And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: [15] For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

I have often wondered what makes some people deaf to all or even part of the word of God. I have conjectured that it requires increased faith to increase knowledge. Being baptized, one is introduced to the family of God. Are some deaf to the truth because they have not yet been baptized? Perhaps being part of the family of God clears ears and open eyes. Honestly though, one must have a certain amount of faith and understanding just to be baptized. The baptizee must repent of their sins and know Jesus is the Christ.

From my own experience it seems that there are levels of truth that people can accept. For example, the Church of Christ can accept nine of the Ten Commandments, but they can’t accept the Sabbath law. They can accept miracles then, but not now, despite the promises in James.

Jesus said in John 8:47 KJV, He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

What then if they hear some of God’s word, but not all of it. It is a dangerous and precarious position. Indeed, even what you have may be taken away. I believe this is the cause of much of the strange doctrine out there. Rather than growing in faith and understanding these once true believers are drawn aside to half truths and whims of fancy rather than the God given knowledge they once possessed.

Romans 10:17 KJV says, So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

If you hear the word of God, take it to heart. Pray for faith. Pray also for wisdom and understanding. Be careful both to hear and do the Word, lest what you have is taken away.

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Never Give Up

How many chances does God give?

I don’t know the answer to that.

What I do know is that only 3 individuals have their final judgment written in the Holy Bible. The beast, the False Prophet, and the devil will be thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 19:20, Revelation 20:10.

Therefore if you are man, angel, or beast don’t give up. Strive against sin and muster your strength and heart to follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

I’ve been told baptism isn’t available to angels and that the gospel was only given to men. I don’t think that’s true. The Bible tells us to preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

I believe in God’s mercy. I believe that angels have the opportunity to ask the Lord about baptism and for forgiveness. I believe he will answer the plea of all that call upon him, Acts 2:21.

1 Peter 4:8 KJV says, And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

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