Tag Archives: baptized

Christian

A Gift

Salvation is a gift of God.

Romans 6:23 KJV
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Like any other gift it matters how you receive it and if you decide to keep it.

When a gift is offered you have to receive it. This is known as acceptance. Do you accept Jesus as the Son of God? Do you accept his sacrifice on the cross as an offering for your salvation? John 3:16, John 3:18, Hebrews 7:26-27, Hebrews 9:14

Have you been baptized in water for the remission of sins in the name of Jesus Christ?

Acts 22:16 KJV
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. See also Acts 2:38.

Have you decided to keep your salvation?

1 John 1:7-9 KJV
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. [8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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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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Christian, Inspirational

As a Practical Matter

There are some deep matters in the Holy Bible and this article is not intended to detract from any of them. It is intended to simplify, explain, and promote the sacrifice of Jesus.

Jesus died showing us how to walk before our LORD, the Heavenly Father. He walked in the truth and did not sin.

He was killed by those who would ask, what is truth and not care for the answer.

He was killed by those who could not or would not give up their sin.

He was killed by people who were afraid of judgment.

Jesus wanted us to walk in the light: Accept the truth, confess your sins one to another, be baptized by immersion in water in the name of Jesus or in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and strive every day not to sin.

Simply put, Christianity and how you live it out depends on how much you value Jesus’ sacrifice.

Does it matter that Jesus was God? Does it matter he was the anointed one? Is there really something special about his blood? Should it matter he was resurrected? These are a few of the deeper matters this article will not cover.

He died showing us how to live!

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Christian

Twice Isn’t Nice

I was watching the Jim Bakker show and the guest Perry Stone was talking about how God instructed him to be baptized a second time in order to clear away things that were weighing upon him.

Bah humbug. B.S. Nonsense. People who are baptized multiple times don’t understand baptism. You can only be cleansed of your sins and baptized into the family of God once. Confess that Jesus is Christ, ask forgiveness of your sins, and be baptized by immersion in water by another in the name of Jesus or in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38, Acts 19:5, Matthew 28:19.

The only mechanism to be cleansed of your sin after baptism is 1 John 1:9! It doesn’t matter if your afraid to confess. Your sins can’t be washed away in a second or third baptism.

If you’re seeking a verse that says you can only be baptized once I can’t provide one. I can say there is no example of a second water baptism of anyone in the Holy Bible. If you truly believed the first time, subsequent baptisms are futile.

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Christian

Rome

I don’t know about you, but I’m a fan of The Chosen. Have you seen Season 2, Episode 6? Mary has returned from a brief falling away concerned she has thrown away her redemption. The character Jesus responds, “Well that’s not much of a redemption if it can be lost in a day, is it?”

Honestly I think the writers got it wrong. I believe much can be lost in a day. Rome might not have been built in a day, but I do believe one can lose their salvation in a day. I believe there can be one unconfessed sin too many. I believe turning down the path of sin has a start and the end wages thereof is death.

Various verses come to mind. I think of Lot’s wife who turned back when she was told not to and died immediately. Genesis 19:26 KJV. I think she was made a striking example – warning us not to turn back to our old sins. Then there are the times Jesus healed someone or forgave them and said sin no more. John 5:14, John 8:11.

The verses that truly scare me straight are Hebrews 10:26-27 KJV For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, [27] But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Although my message may seem harsh my final request of you is let God judge. Don’t sit in God’s place. Don’t give up even if you feel all is lost. There still remains 1 John 1:9. If there is one sin too many, let God determine it. If you’ve started down a sinful path or returned to your old sinful ways, repent and walk in the light again and again.

Though damnation may occur in a day so can salvation. Accept the Lord Jesus as Messiah and Saviour. Repent and confess your sins. Be baptized by immersion in water in the name of Jesus or in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

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Christian

Placing Membership

Most churches I’ve attended expect you to place membership with them.

There is absolutely no biblical requirement for this.

If you believe and are baptized by immersion in water in the name of Jesus or in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost you have become a member of the family. You are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ.

What you do with that membership is now up to you. Will you learn, follow, and grow in Christ or will you let your membership lapse?

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Christian, Inspirational

Doer

I just heard on Three Cosmic Messages Earth’s Final Conflict, “We do not follow God’s Commandments in order to be saved, but because we are saved.” I have heard a similar message before: “We are not saved by our best efforts”, “Jesus finished the work on the cross.”

To be frank, these statements are misleading. In fact they aren’t far from the false doctrine “once saved, always saved”. They imply there is nothing we have to do on our part.

I’m not convinced Jesus is finished working. If he were finished, why do we yet pray?

Jesus dying on the cross is an offer of salvation. What must we do? Accept by believing in accordance with John 3:16, be baptized by immersion in water in the name of Jesus or in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Mark 16:16.

What else must we do to be saved? What does the Bible say?

Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Romans 2:13 KJV (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

And let’s not forget 1 John 1:9 and Proverbs 28:13. If we err and sin these verses instruct us on how to be free.

Finally, with belief, we are saved by our best efforts in Christ who gives us both strength and guidance that we may walk in the Light. And when we need help with our efforts, we call upon the Lord. Roman’s 10:13.

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Christian, Inspirational

Prosperity

Have you ever wondered why the mega religion channels like TBN and LoveWorld prosper and take in millions of dollars each year? Why are they not persecuted instead of expanding?

It is because from Pastor Chris to Pat Robertson of CBN, to Daystar, none of them preach the True Gospel. They do not understand what it means to be baptized by the Holy Ghost.

What it isn’t. It isn’t something that happens 50 days after you say the Sinners Prayer. It isn’t something evidenced by speaking gibberish.

It is being baptized by complete immersion in water by another who says while you are under the water: I baptize you in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38) or I baptize you in the name of The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19). When you arise from the surface of the water you are born again. Either baptism is acceptable because God the Father, the Holy Ghost, and Jesus Christ are one. There is not even a requirement that the baptizer be a believer, but if you want them to say the correct words it might be helpful. It might also help to have a loved one present to witness that the correct words were said. I am hesitant to call them magic words, but they are essential to the act of baptism. I suppose the other person could say the words just before submerging you as well.

Do you want evidence of the Holy Ghost? Accept the truth spoken by Jesus and his servants in the Holy Bible KJV. Further evidence is found in keeping that truth. Jesus will help if you remember to call upon his name.

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Christian, Inspirational

Power in The Blood

There is an old hymn entitled There is Power in the Blood.

There is indeed power in the blood of Jesus, but do you know how to utilize it?

When you are baptized or born again you are immediately under the blood of Jesus, you arise from the surface of the water sin free, cleansed of sins past. Acts 22:16, Roman’s 3:25

Yet, what do you do about future sin? First strive against it, but we are human, and God provides a way to stay under the blood in 1 John 1:9!

Would you be free from the burden of sin? There’s power in the blood, power in the blood – but you do need to know how to use it!

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Christian, Inspirational

Let Me Be Your Midwife

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.

I have heard that some have found difficulty in finding someone to baptize them. This has been done by errant preachers placing restrictions on baptism, such as requiring membership at their specific congregation or making you wait a certain period of time. I am a strong believer that being a member of the Church of Christ begins in the heart. You don’t have to join a local congregation. That being said, I am an advocate of attending a church for learning, fellowship, and communion, but membership in the Church of Christ is not given by men, but by God.

If you can make it to the Dover, TN area I am willing to baptize you, if you’re willing to meet the three steps listed after “what must I do”. I live near Kentucky lake and there are also some nearby swimming pools.

Feel free to contact me, Dean at (931)305-8834. I don’t generally answer the phone if it isn’t someone I know, so please send me a text first. Introduce yourself, let me know what you would like to discuss and I will return your text or call you back.

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