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Jesus Christ is the Creator God |
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SCRIPTURAL WATER BAPTISM AND REPENTANCE |
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Renette Vermeulen
[Acknowledgement to the people who published these images]
© COPYRIGHT NOW UNBANNED PUBLICATIONS. NONE OF THESE BOOKS OR ARTICLES ARE FOR SALE. YET THEY MUST NOT BE ALTERED, SOLD, CLAIMED OR PREACHED AS PERSONAL PROPERTY AND REVELATION, DISTRIBUTED FOR PERSONAL GAIN, OR MISUSED IN ANY WAY.
ADDITIONAL STUDIES ON WATER BAPTISM: · THE ‘SAVING’ CHURCH SACRAMENT OF ‘WATER BAPTISM’ AND ITS UNGODLY DOGMAS · CHURCH SACRAMENTAL ‘SAVING WATER BAPTISM’ IS INITIATION INTO THE MYSTERIOUS CHURCH KINGDOM · So you desire to be baptized like Jesus illustrated and commanded? Here’s how! Contents · The Repentance Jesus commanded in Mark 1:15 is the same Repentance, which John the Baptist AND JESUS called for · Can Baptismal Regeneration be Biblical and real through so-called ‘saving’ church sacraments? · Renewal of our minds must follow the rebirth and Scriptural water baptism · Can it be possible that baptism can be the ‘saving’ sacrament for a denominational ‘chosen elite?’ · “Standing in” for their children’s salvation at the baby ‘baptism?’ · Are babies ‘born again’ and ‘Holy Spirit’ filled in this sprinkling ‘baptism?’ · The main reasons why babies cannot be ‘baptized’ · The verses, which completely refute a sprinkling or pouring as the Scriptural water baptism · What is the truly Scriptural method and meaning of water baptism Jesus’ way? · ADULT BAPTISM? BABY BAPTISM? RE-BAPTISM? - ‘CIRCUMCISION FOR COVENANT CHILDREN?’ · ► ► ►Did the apostles baptize Lydia, the prison guard together with all the ‘babies’ in their households? · SCRIPTURAL WATER BAPTISM IS A COMMANDMENT (NOT A COVENANT) OF JESUS · ► SCRIPTURAL WATER BAPTISM IS THE WILL OR ‘COUNSEL’ OF GOD · SHOULD WE BE BAPTIZED IN THE “NAME OF JESUS” OR IN THE “NAME OF THE FATHER, SON & HOLY SPIRIT?” · Should we be dunked three times in baptism or only once? · ►THE LITTLE CHILDREN AND WATER BAPTISM – WHAT IS SCRIPTURAL? · Why don’t we see any of the Holy Spirit’s Scriptural Gifts and Miracles in baby-baptizing churches? · Those who obey Jesus’ water baptism must contend with the hatred of Satan and his disciples
JESUS’ OWN EXAMPLE OF THE SCRIPTURAL WATER BAPTISM, (Mt. 3:11-17; 28:18-20.) There is definitely nothing to argue about when it comes to God’s real, contextual, Scriptural Word — HIS N.T. COVENANT COMMANDMENTS ESPECIALLY, WHICH WILL NEVER ‘CHANGE,” as so many church denominations falsely allege! As usual, clergies turned this serious commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ into huge fallacies to enforce their false control over believers; centering their priorities on their church sacraments and dogmas NOT on God’s Real Word; compromising the eternal destinies of everyone they deceive with their lies. But if we read the Scriptures in context, it is impossible to misinterpret anything God Himself demonstrated and commanded. ►The perfect Lamb of God, The Lord Jesus Christ, (John 1:29,) did not come to be baptized by John because He needed to repent of anything — or wanted to join a religion. ►Naturally, John deemed himself unworthy to baptize the Christ. But The Lord said, “Allow it now for it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. [With this example Jesus illustrated that believers must obey “the will of God,” Luke 7:29-30 KJV!] ►When Jesus was [SUBMERGED] HE CAME UP IMMEDIATELY FROM THE WATER... [In Scripture we find NO WATER sprinkling, pouring, or other means of water baptism – which all stem from paganism and false dogma.] ► It is important to note that God’s Personal demonstration of His ONLY Scriptural water baptism occurred during the O.T. Covenant before the cross and Pentecost; FIRST KNOWN AS ‘THE BAPTISM OF JOHN.’ ►BUT BECAUSE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF SO CLEARLY DESCRIBED THE DETAILS OF HIS ONLY N.T. COVENANT WATER BAPTISM IN HIS COMMISSION AT HIS ASCENSION, IT IS VITAL FOR ALL HIS BELIEVER-DISCIPLES TO OBEY IT IN ITS ORIGINAL, UNADULTERATED FORM, (Mt. 28:19-20!) ►There is NO doubt that from that day on it would always be THE ONE AND ONLY “WATER BAPTISM OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!” What incredible sin clergies committed with nearly everything God so plainly commanded in the Truth of His Word! ►►It is necessary to note that EVEN BEFORE THE CROSS John did NOT baptize babies, unbelievers, temple members, or new converts, (people who merely changed membership from one temple to another.) Similarly, AFTER THE CROSS the Lord Jesus unmistakably commanded THAT ALL TRUE, N.T. COVENANT BELIEVERS MUST KEEP AND TEACH HIS AUTHENTIC, SCRIPTURAL WATER BAPTISM UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD, (see Mt. 28:20!)
WAS THE BAPTISM OF JOHN THE SAME BAPTISM JESUS COMMANDED AT HIS ASCENSION? (Mt. 28:18-20!) BACKGROUND TO THE WATER BAPTISM: The inspiration of the Holy Spirit in documenting everything pertaining to our salvation is evidenced in Luke 1:1-4. It reveals, “[Thirty-six to forty writers from different eras and backgrounds writing the 66 Books in our Bible,] took [the responsibility] to set in order, [not randomly but contextually,] one narrative [from beginning to end,] of the things which have been fulfilled among us. [From the beginning of the O.T.,] they were eyewitnesses and ministers of The Word delivered to [N.T. believers.] They had amazing understanding of [God’s will and ways; characterized by Spiritual consensus among them.] This is how WE may know the certainty of those things in which WE are instructed [by the full contextual Truth of Scripture.]” ► Paul streamlined this statement by writing, “EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED TO [the Old Hebrews] BECAME OUR [realities,] EXAMPLES, AND WARNINGS IN THE N.T.,” (Jn. 19:28-30!) Through the ages, the unified O.T. allegories and prophesies revealed God’s Plan of Salvation through the death and resurrection of Christ,” (Isa. 9:6; 1 Cor. 10:5-11!) ► E.g., Noah abstained (or repented) from sin and was saved in the ark through the flood to start a new life, (Gen. 6:7-8.) Peter simplified, “Christ suffered ONCE for sins, [so those who REPENT from sin] can be saved [through faith in Him and His atonement. This is the ark symbolized as GOD’S WATER BAPTISM OF DISCIPLES;] to live as His spiritual temple-tabernacle; the Holy of Holies or the ARK N.T. COVENANT — God’s Presence now and in heaven, (1 Cor. 3:17; Rev. 21:3-5!) ► JOHN’S BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE — PROPHESYING THE ONLY TRULY SCRIPTURAL WAY TO HEAVEN. John operated under the O.T. Covenant before the cross. Yet he did not baptize the Hebrews with a strange, religious, sacramental or ‘saving’ ritual anyone could just join or step into. ►He fulfilled God’s calling on His life by NOT “channeling the spirit of the dead Elijah” as church clergies allege. He duplicated Elijah’s ministry of calling the disobedient, temple-adhering Hebrews TO REPENT from Judaism, (Matthew 3:2,) TO ACCEPT the spiritual, blood-cleansing, N.T. Covenant of “THE LAMB OF GOD, WHO WILL, [on the cross where Jesus inaugurated God’s eternal N.T. Covenant,] TAKE AWAY THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD,” and thus save all believer-disciples through His forgiveness, (Jn. 1:17,29! Eph. 1:7!) ► JESUS’ BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE — TYPIFYING THE ONLY WAY, TRUTH, AND LIFE TO COME TO THE FATHER IN HEAVEN, (Jn. 14:5-11.) The Lord’s instruction on the motive and manner of the one and only Scriptural water baptism tells it all. ►He asked His sworn enemies, the Pharisees, who questioned John and Jesus’ Godly authority to command the water baptism of repentance to receive forgiveness through CHRIST NOT THE BAPTISM, saying, “THE BAPTISM OF JOHN, WAS IT FROM HEAVEN OR FROM MEN? And they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘If we say from heaven, He will ask, Why then do you not believe [John?] But if we say, From men, the multitude [will riot,] for they count John as a prophet…” (Mt. 21:25-27.) ►Jesus Himself commended John as a GREAT prophet, saying, “Even the tax collectors [understood that John’s baptism showed toward The Christ and His (then pending) full atonement and salvation for real believers,] AND THEY JUSTIFIED GOD; being baptized with the baptism of John. BUT THE PHARISEES AND LAWYERS REJECTED THE WILL OF GOD... NOT BENG BAPTIZED BY JOHN, (Lu. 7:29-30.) ► CONCLUSION: John’s baptism IS STILL GOD’S WILL BECAUSE IT IS exactly the same method and meaning as the baptism Jesus Himself stood for, illustrated, and commanded in the Truth of His Word, (Mt. 28:18-20!) ►Neither Jesus nor John’s water baptism is about "babies or adults" as the churches made it out to be. YET, JESUS’ REAL WATER BAPTISM IS NOT AN OPTION but “the will of God” and OBEDIENCE to Him.
JOHN AND JESUS’ BAPTISM ITSELF CANNOT SAVE; ONLY ITS ACCOMPANYING SERMON. Just as both John and Jesus commanded, we must begin our lives in Christ with REPENTANCE from double-minded, temple/church and other religiosity to wholeheartedly turn to God, (Jn. 3:2!) We cannot serve the True God AND another ‘god,’ (Mt. 6:24.) Paul agreed, “I taught you publically and in the [ecclesias] from house to house that both Jews and Gentiles must REPENT [from their religions] TO TURN TO FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.” All authentic believers have to FORSAKE whatever can keep them from fully submitting to God to be saved by personal faith, decided acceptance, and discipleship in Jesus Christ above all else. ► After that, obedience to be water baptized must follow, (Acts 20:20-21! Jn. 1:12-14; 3:3-5; 8:31-32!) In this context, God’s commandment to repentance and forgiveness will always be SIGNIFIED by the water baptism of true believers in Christ. Thus, even the N.T. water baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ is useless if it is cut away from making genuine followers of Christ through preaching His Gospel, (Mt. 28:19-20.) This is so because NO ONE comes to the Father EXCEPT through Christ, (Jn. 14:6.) Thus, there is NO 'power' or merits in any type of church baptism or other so-called ‘saving’ sacraments. GOD DOES NOT DWELL IN TEMPLES/CHURCHES MADE BY HUMAN HANDS, (Acts 7:44-50.)
JOHN AND JESUS’ BAPTISM IN N.T. CONTEXT, POINTS DIRECTLY TO THE LORD’S DEATH AND RESURRECTION Romans 5:12-16, “Through one man, [Adam made from dust,] sin entered the world and [spiritual and physical] death through sin, and thus spread to all men because all sinned… But the Free Gift, [The Lord Jesus Christ, the Second Adam from heaven, 1 Cor. 15:47-49,] carried all offenses resulting in justification [for all His sincere believers globally, Jn. 3:16-21.]” ► Paul grammatically structured this as follows, “Those who were [water] baptized in Christ, [as He illustrated and commanded,] were [symbolically] baptized into His death [when submerged in water.] ►Therefore we were [figuratively] BURIED with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead… even so we also [metaphorically rise from the water grave] TO live in newness of life. So we have been united with Him in the likeness of His death, and shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection. [The baptism Jesus illustrated and commanded is an allegorical FUNERAL.] Now we know this: our old man, [the sin nature inherited from Adam that dies when we truly accept Christ,] is DONE AWAY WITH [as we are submerged in the symbolical grave] as we shall no longer be slaves to sin. For he who died and was resurrected with Christ is freed from sin.” ►“In Him you were [simultaneously spiritually] circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ…” (Col. 2:11. Rom. 8:5-11!) The Christian ‘excuse to live in sin because of their sinful flesh,’ cannot apply to genuine disciples of Christ.
JESUS’ VITAL COMMISSION TO ALL DISCIPLES AT HIS ASCENSION, (Mt. 3:16-17; 28:18-20.) John’s message proclaimed, ‘Look ahead to the cross on Golgotha, I prepare the way for Jesus’ eternal ministry by calling you to repent from religiosity to accept The Genuine Christ!’ (Jn. 1:29.) ► At His ascension, Jesus looked back at the cross and His resurrection and commanded, ‘Go into the whole world and spread My Gospel of salvation to all who will choose to believe in Me, follow Me, and obey Me, and then baptize them in water as I demonstrated to you,’ (Jn. 1:12-13.) (1:) He actually said, “All authority in heaven and earth was given to Me, [and this authority I give to all My genuine believers.] Go therefore [in My authority] and [preach My Scriptural Gospel to] make [personally believing disciple-followers] from all the nations, (Rev. 5:9.) ► [This has nothing to do with ‘church’ and does not “set an age limit for water baptism” as some teach! ►Yet, ‘believing disciples’ cannot be babies and children before the age of accountability, who are still too young to understand, accept, and continue in the True God and His Scriptural Word!] (2:) The Lord continued, “[Water] baptize [the believing disciples] in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” — the One and Only True God. (3:) “[Then] teach [My disciples] to OBSERVE ALL THINGS that I, [not church clergies,] have commanded you.” (4:) “And see, I AM with you always, [since Pentecost through the indwelling Holy Spirit,] even to the end of this world,” (Acts 2; 1 Jn. 2:20, 27!) The Lord Jesus’ promise to be in and with His seriously believing, water baptized disciples to the end of the world, PROVES THAT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAS ‘CHANGED’ ABOUT HIS THE MEANING AND METHOD OF THE WATER BAPTISM, WHICH HE HIMSELF DEMONSTRATED AS OUR N.T. COVENANT EXAMPLE, (1 Cor. 10:6-11!)
PREACHING THE GOSPEL AS CHRIST COMMANDED THROUGH HIS ALL-SUFFICIENT ATONEMENT, (Isa. 53:3-6.) Preaching the Gospel of God means to tell people, every person was created with an unseen human spirit and a soul or mind, which live in a human body, (1 Ths. 5:23.) Everyone was born in spiritual “death,” lostness, and cut off from God, The Eternal Holy Spirit, since we all inherited the spiritual sin-state without God, which Adam and Eve fell into when they disobeyed Him in the garden, (Rom. 5:12.) Thus, there is no person ‘good’ enough to be saved, (Rom. 3:9-20.) Of course, babies and young children are incapable of being saved as they cannot understand Jesus’ Gospel, but before the age of accountability, children already belong to heaven, as Jesus Himself said, (Mt. 19:13-15!!) This too, totally refutes the ‘saving’ baby baptism in churches! ALL other people, except the Man Jesus Christ Himself, have sinned and fall short of being saved to enter the holy presence of God. Everything they attempt to do to save them through religion of any sort; Christianity too, only draws them deeper into occultic darkness, (see Jn. 3:16-21!) ► But “God sent His Only Begotten Son, [as a mere man, so He could completely atone for all humanity’s lostness,] that everyone who believes in Him...” (true belief is acceptance to follow and obey Him above all else,) can be forgiven or ‘cleansed’ of ALL sin, to live spiritually now here on earth and for all eternity with God in heaven, (Isa. 53:3-6; Col. 2;9-15; Eph. 1:7;12-14!) But contrary to most church dogma, it is impossible to join God’s Kingdom like they become church members. One has to be spiritually born OUT of spiritual darkness INTO God’s Spiritual Light to be saved, (1 Pt. 2:9-10.) ► Note that ‘church’ and its countless manmade dogmas are definitely NOWHERE to be found in the Lord Jesus’ Scriptural, face-to-face Gospel of salvation for everyone who CHOOSES to believe and follow Him, (Rom. 3:9-25! Jn. 1:12-16!) ►John 1:11-12,16 left no place for misunderstanding by stating, “[The Lord] came to His own [nation,] but they did not receive Him [as the prophesied Christ.] But as many as receive Him, [from all nations,] He gives the right [power] to become children of God. To those who believe in His Name, and were [thus] born, not of blood, [ancestor traditions,] nor the will of the flesh, [natural birth,] not the will of man, [church and other religious dogma,] BUT OF GOD.” One cannot join or ‘convert’ to God’s Kingdom, (change from one religion or church to another.] One must, through sincere faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and by acceptance of Him and all He had done for us, be “born FROM darkness INTO His Light!” (See Isa. 53:3-6; 1 Pt. 2:9-10!) ►►►There is no systematic, dogmatic, or church sacramental way to be saved — and no one can be Scripturally water baptised without being personally saved. ► ►In John. 3:3-6; 4:21-24, Jesus Himself explained to Nicodemus, “Most assuredly, I SAY TO YOU, unless one is [personally and spiritually] born again of water, [not water baptism but from fully believing and thus accepting Me and the Truth of My Word, 1 Peter 1:23,] he cannot see [or understand] the [Spiritual] Kingdom of God… And unless [His human spirit] is born again from water, [not through any kind of baptism but by accepting and obeying God’s “Water” or WORD,] and of the Spirit, [the conviction and convincing of the Holy Spirit,] he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of the flesh is flesh; what is born of the Spirit is spirit…” ►►And Jesus answered the woman at the well that after the cross, with the establishment of His N.T. Covenant through His death and resurrection, “True worshipers will NOT worship the Father on this mountain, [any temple or church,] nor in Jerusalem, [any ‘holy’ place or shrine...] They will worship the Father in [their born again human] spirits and in Truth. God is Spirit, and [this is how] He must be worshiped [during His Eternal N.T. Covenant.]” ► Preaching the Gospel is NOT unscriptural, occultic church initiation or a so-called ‘baptism’ by sprinkling or pouring water over babies or ‘converting’ adults, (changing from one church or religion to another — see Rom. 1:1-2 KJV!) Through the ‘saving’ or ‘magic water’ itself — administered by a so-called ‘ordained’ clergyman with satanic powers, church Christians are made, who are then allegedly “saved” for always, baptised with a ‘holy’ spirit. ►After that, church members are methodically taught church dogmas and catechisms to take them step-by-step deeper into the depths of their mysterious Christian religion, (see Rev. 17:5-15!) ► In total contrast, the preaching Jesus commanded is conveying why man does NOT need anything manmade to be saved and explaining why all men need to be saved by entering the N.T. Covenant with God as personally, sincerely born again DISCIPLES of Christ. ► To teach baptized disciples everything Jesus and not clergies have said is actually the great responsibility to constantly “commit [His True Word and Commandments; His pearls from heaven,] to His FAITHFUL disciples, [and to stand by them and support them, so they] will [also] be able to [understand and obey the genuine Truth of God’s Word,] to teach others also,” (Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Tim. 2:2.)
THE PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION OF JESUS’ COMMISSION TO BAPTIZE HIS BELIEVING DISCIPLES (Acts 8:35-39.) In this passage, “[The Holy Spirit sent Philip to speak to the Ethiopian,] so he ran to [the eunuch;] heard him read the prophet Isaiah, and said, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ And he said, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ [Romans 10:14-17, ‘Faith comes by hearing the preaching of the True Word…’] And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him…” Verse 35, “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture [in the Book of Isaiah,] he explained Jesus to him. Verse 36, “Now as they went down the road, they came to water. And the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?’ [Seeing that I now understand the Gospel, accepted Jesus, and was instantly born again,]’ (Jn. 1:12-13; 3:3-5; Eph. 1:12-14.) Verse 37, “Then Philip said, [because it utterly refutes the baby ‘baptism,’ this verse was either fully or partially omitted from new versions of the Bible,] ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may [be water baptized.]’ And he answered, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ Verse 38, “So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.” Verse 39, “When they came up out of the water…” This was definitely the baptism Jesus illustrated and commanded for all true believers.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO RECEIVE THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT DURING OR AFTER WATER BAPTISM? Jesus’ demonstration of the water baptism of disciples (Mt. 3:11-16,) included the manifestation of the Holy-Spirit upon Him in the form of a dove “as He came up out of the water.” ► That SYMBOLIZED God’s anointing, (His presence and power,) through our obedience to believe, accept, and obey the Lord Jesus Christ, (Mt. 3:16-17; Jn. 3:16-18!) If our Father were so “well pleased” with His human Son’s illustration of His water baptism for His followers, it means He is also “well pleased” with all Jesus’ obedient disciples who follow His example! ►Just as no one can be forgiven or saved by water baptism itself, no one can receive the Holy Spirit through water baptism itself; either before or after Jesus’ New Testament Covenant was established at the cross, (Jn. 19:28-30; 7:39! KJV Mt. 3:11; Acts 8:12.) ►Just like the spiritual rebirth occurs through faith in, and acceptance of Jesus as our personal Redeemer, Savior, and Blessor, Jesus baptizes the believer WITH the indwelling Spirit at that moment; PLACING THE SPIRIT IN HIM, (Rom. 8:9.) Neither the spiritual rebirth, nor JESUS’ BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOR AUTHENTIC WATER BAPTISM OF DISCIPLES CAN BE REPEATED. God’s real salvation and our obedience to be water baptized as His disciples are the most drastic and life-changing moments in this world. Just as natural birth, that can never again occur in the life of a true believer. ►Most importantly, ONLY God the Lord Jesus Christ can baptize believers WITH the Holy Spirit; placing God the Holy Spirit inside them at the moment of their rebirth, (Mt. 3:11.) CLERGIES CAN NEVER BAPTIZE ANYONE WITH THE SPIRIT, AS NO MAN CAN PLACE GOD IN PEOPLE! ►► However, the outward manifestation of the Holy Spirit at Jesus’ water baptism was NOT Jesus’ spiritual baptism with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit like at Pentecost, as some teach, (Acts 2.) This SIGN of the Spirit was to point to the fulfilment of the prophecy in Isaiah 61:1-3, which states that the Man Jesus Christ was particularly anointed to start His human ministry of miracles among the Hebrew nation, which began
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