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(Continued from) © COPYRIGHT NOW UNBANNED PUBLICATIONS
ON THIS PAGE: · Can it be possible that baptism is the ‘saving’ sacrament for a denominational ‘chosen elite’? · The doctrine of Predestination · “Standing in” for their children’s salvation at the baby ‘baptism?’ · Are babies ‘born again’ and ‘spirit filled’ in this sprinkling or pouring ‘baptism?’ · Jesus was circumcised as a Baby; so why did He insist on being baptized by submersion as an Adult? · The verses, which completely refute a sprinkling or pouring as the Scriptural water baptism · Did the apostles baptize the unbelieving Lydia, the Prison Guard, and all the “babies” in their households? · Baby baptism? Adult baptism? Re-baptism? ‘Circumcision for covenant children?’
RENEWAL OF OUR MINDS MUST FOLLOW THE PERSONAL REBIRTH AND SCRIPTURAL WATER BAPTISMOur human spirits were instantly born again through personal faith in and acceptance of Christ, and are holy and “complete in Him,” (Jn. 1:12-13; 3:3-5.) That’s when Jesus removed us spiritually from the kingdom of darkness and brought us into His Kingdom of Light through the total cleansing of His blood, (Eph. 7, 12-14; Col. 1:13-14; 1 Jn. 1:8-10.) So, contrary to what churches teach and I myself swallowed for a long time, according to the contextual truth of Scripture, “spiritual growth” is impossible. Conversely, emotional growth is what God requires of us on an ongoing basis. Once spiritually saved from our state of sin or spiritual position without God, the “renewal” of our minds (or souls, where our will, intellect, and emotions are seated,) must follow, (Rom. 12:1-3; 1 Ths. 5:23.) 1 Peter 1:13-15 commands, “Gird up the loins of your mind, [by renewing your thoughts and beliefs through Scriptural truth,] be sober… as obedient children not conforming to the former lusts… (v. 23,) having been [spiritually] born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God which lives and abides forever.” Real “transformation of our minds,” (not ‘conformation,’ which means to simply join a church without real Scriptural knowledge of God,) happens only through Holy-Spirit taught knowledge of the truth of God’s Word, to be able to “know or understand His will” and become “doers of His Word,” (Rom. 12:1-3; Jam. 1:21-25.) So, the renewal of our souls or minds leads Jesus’ sincere believers through a constant process of increasingly understanding God’s Scriptural will, and accordingly, repenting from personal sin, false doctrine, and bad behavior, (Jam. 2:19-22; 2 Cor. 10:3-5.) This is the lifelong process of soulical or emotional ‘transformation,’ or ‘making our minds [thoughts and beliefs] new’ through obedience to God’s true Word, and this is the only Scriptural process of ‘sanctification’ that exists. This type of Scriptural ‘sanctification’ or holiness in thoughts and beliefs, is not the same as church ‘sanctification,’ which is supposedly instantly obtainable through church membership, church doctrines, and “saving” church ‘sacraments’ such as Baptismal Regeneration or “baptismal salvation,” teenage confirmation, etcetera.
CAN IT BE POSSIBLE THAT WATER BAPTISM IS THE ‘SAVING SACRAMENT’ FOR A DENOMINATIONAL ‘ELITE’? The opinions and teachings of man do not impress God in the least. We will all be saved by the truth of God’s Word, or we will all perish according to the truth of God’s Word, (2 Ths. 2:9-10.) God gave us the entire contextual truth of both the Old and the New Testaments to guide us into “all truth,” (Ps. 119:160.) That is why He does not allow anyone to make his own gospel from The Word, and still go to heaven, (Jn. 12:48.) The Word ‘sacrament’ means a gradual, ritual initiation into Christianity. Each successive sacrament has the purpose of leading the church member deeper into the ‘mysteries’ of Christianity, supposedly towards ‘completeness in Christ.’ However, I must underscore the following again: the entire New Testament declares, “...You [instantly born again disciples] are [already spiritually fully] complete in Him, Who is the Head of all principality and power,” (Col. 2:9-10.) Sacraments are manmade rituals, which intend to bring about salvation, the baptism with the Holy Spirit, redemption, emotional growth, and blessing. Sacraments originated from the Roman Catholic Vatican, who took all their ‘sacraments’ and other doctrines from the occult; Christianizing them as Roman Catholic Church teaching, and so-called church ‘salvation, redemption, and blessing.’ In the 16th century, Protestant Reformers such as John Calvin and Martin Luther allegedly ‘broke away’ from Roman Catholicism. They altered some Roman Catholic doctrines to suit their own religions, but most still remain the foundation of the entire church system to this day. Hence, a so-called ‘saving, blessing’ sacrament can never carry God’s real salvation, redemption, and blessing in Christ. From all their sacraments and supporting doctrines, there is not a single contextual truth of Scripture, although they blended their doctrines with Bible verses! Jesus left no room for error concerning His Way to eternal salvation and His Will for His sincerely believing disciples here on earth. In the truth of His New Testament Covenant, Jesus Himself demonstrated, taught, and commanded all the most important foundations of our redemption, salvation, and blessing, and clearly equated obedience to our love for Him, (Rom. 12:1-3.) He commanded, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength… If you love Me, Keep My commandments,” (Jn. 14:15.) He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me… and I will manifest [or make real] Myself to him,” (Jn. 14:21.) Jesus never demanded obedience to the Ceremonial law, (the Old Testament Temple Law, or to the so-called ‘saving’ sacraments and doctrines of Christian churches,) but to His New Testament commandments, which are all encapsulated by His inward Moral Law, (Jn. 8:34; Gal. 2:21.)
THE DOCTRINE OF PREDESTINATION Despite the plain Truth of God’s Word, John Calvin adopted the Roman Catholic dogma of ‘predestination’ as one of the most important doctrines of his Reformed churches. The Predestination doctrine is also the core of Islamic doctrine. Christian ‘predestination’ forms the basis of the Baptism of Regeneration in all its many forms, which, in Scriptural context, is another unbiblical doctrine. (All the babies of ‘predestined’ members must be ‘baptised’ to initiate them into the church, otherwise they are allegedly “lost” and will “burn in hell for all eternity” when they die.) During the Reformation, this baptism and dogmas were inherited from their mother church, Roman Catholicism, which took it straight from paganism. In essence, Calvinist and other predestinationists teach, “God does not deal with humans on equal terms… because Christ died only for the chosen elect or ‘elite’ [of Calvinism, etcetera.] Thus, God [supposedly] created most of humanity to be damned to hell…” Substituting Scriptural salvation by personal faith in and acceptance of Jesus, it is said that this water-sprinkling sacrament ‘fully saves their church members for all eternity.’ · They abuse verses like Ephesians 1:11 to teach, “[Only they were] predestined according to His purpose…” but they must simply read that verse in the context of the following verses. Ephesians 1:12-14 state, “Those who first [personally] trusted in Christ, after they [personally] heard the Gospel of salvation, in Whom also, having [personally] believed, were sealed with the Holy Spirit [at acceptance of Jesus,]” (Jn. 1:12-14; 3:3-5.) Despite all Scriptural truth, they still insist, “Many are called but [only the chosen elect of Calvinism and other –isms] were chosen,” (Mt. 22:14.) However, the context of this verse is The Wedding Feast and the Five Wise and Five Foolish Virgins, (Mt. 22:1-14; 25:1-13.) Jesus Himself proclaimed in Matthew 24:13 that only those who “endure” or personally believe in, and follow Him to the end, will be saved. · The truth about ‘predestination’ is that John 3:16, which summarizes the Gospel, proves the exact opposite of this dogma. It states, “God so loved the whole world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever [personally] believe in Him shall not perish, but inherit eternal life,” (Jn. 3:16.) So, everyone is “called” to Jesus’ New Testament Covenant by the preaching of His Real Gospel, but only those who sincerely choose to personally accept and follow Him are “the chosen,” (Jn. 1:12-14; 1 Pt. 2:9-10!) Our merciful “God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance [through knowledge of Scriptural truth…]” (2 Pt. 3:9.) “God wishes all men to be saved and increasingly to recognise, discern and know precisely and correctly the Divine Truth,” (1 Tim. 2:4.) In contrast to what Calvin also teaches, humanity does have a free will. And so, they must personally choose to accept and follow Jesus’ Truth to be saved, (Jn. 1:12-14: 8:12!)
THE UNCERTAIN CHURCH ‘ELITE’ THAT ARE “SAVED” BY CHURCH MEMBERSHIP AND SACRAMENTS SUCH AS INFANT ‘BAPTISM’ Concerning salvation, Calvinism and most other churches state, “[Even with the so-called ‘saving’ infant baptism,] no one knows who will go to heaven and who will go to hell…” but Scripture firmly refutes this lie. John explained, “These things I have written to you who [personally] believe in the Name of [Jesus,] that you may know that you have eternal life…” (1 Jn. 5:13.) [Some translations omit the latter part of this verse.] “These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you may have life in His Name,” (Jn. 20:31.) Absolutely contrary to the Truth of Scripture, John Calvin, (just like other churches that were born from the Roman Catholic Church,) also teaches that the ‘saving’ sacrament of infant ‘baptism’ is the “ordinary way that a person is brought to faith in Jesus Christ.” But isn’t it impossible for a baby to believe anything? All through Scripture God confirmed what He said in Ephesians 2:8, “By [Christ’s] grace you have been saved through [personal] faith…” (Rom. 3:28.) [Therefore,] we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from [ceremonial, outward, or ritual] deeds…” Actually, this so-called ‘baptism of salvation,’ which supposedly “brings those people to faith,” made the preaching of the true Gospel “unnecessary” because ‘all’ the citizens of a Christian country were made Christian through church membership and this so-called ‘saving’ baptism. However, Jesus Himself commissioned all His believing disciples to go into the whole world to preach His Gospel of salvation through His full atonement in the place of all humanity, and thus to make more willing disciples who follow Him! (Mt. 28:19-20.)
‘STANDING IN’ FOR THEIR CHILDREN’S SALVATION AT THE BABY ‘BAPTISM?’ Turning Christianity into a national and family affair contrary to the truth of Scripture, Catholicism and Protestantism such as Calvinism allege that the infant’s so-called ‘godparents’ or parents “stand in for the child” and vow to bring the child up in the church, but God’s Scriptural commandments of the inward Moral Law (you shall love the Lord Your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself…) are not even mentioned. So, in Calvinism especially, during this ceremonial christening, the infant becomes a “child of the covenant of circumcision.” (‘Christening’ means, making someone into a Christian through the church’s baptism and other sacraments.) Hence, the infant also ‘becomes part of the Christian Church for all eternity,’ no matter personal choice or lifestyle. Yet, Scripturally, there is no such thing that ‘parents can stand in for their children,’ ‘vow for their children,’ ‘make a baptism covenant with God concerning their children,’ etcetera. God Himself implemented the following most important principle in both the Old and the New Testament, based on every individual’s choice and personal accountability before God, “The soul [that never repents from sin] shall die. The son shall not be punished for the iniquity of the father, [specially once the child reaches the age of accountability and can choose to accept and follow Christ,] neither shall the father be punished for the iniquity of the [willfully unrepentant] son, (Deut. 24:16.) The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself only, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon the wicked only…” (Ezk. 18:19-28, Amplified Bible, 1930.)
ARE BABIES ‘BORN AGAIN’ AND ‘HOLY-SPIRIT FILLED’ IN THIS SPRINKLING ‘BAPTISM?’ Calvinists and other baby-‘baptizers’ allege that the baby is “regenerated” or “born again” in the ritual of Baptismal Regeneration…” Yet, the entire New Testament Covenant in Christ rests on personal choice, as God Himself assured us in John 1:11-13, “[Jesus] came to His own [nation, the Old Hebrew people – read the context!] However, His own [people] did not receive Him. [Thus, He sent His Gospel of salvation to the whole world of Gentile nations as well, Mt. 28:19-20] However, as many as [personally chose to] receive Him [through sincere faith,] to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His Name; who were born [again spiritually,] not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man [or through church doctrine and Christianized pagan sacraments,] but of God!” Calvinism, like her mother the Roman Catholic Church and all other adherents of this ‘baptism’ teach, through this sacrament, infant and new adult church members supposedly receive “the holy spirit…” But Scripture teaches, “… Because you are children as seen in John 1:12-13, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts [or born again human spirits,] crying out, ‘Abba, Father…’” (Gal. 4:5-7.) So, those Christianized infants might have received a spirit during their sprinkling-baptism, but sadly, it is not God’s Holy Spirit of the Bible. Calvinism and other Baptism-Regeneration churches also teach that through this sacrament “infants (and adults) receive eternal life…” But Jesus Himself undeniably declared, “I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me… This is eternal life, that [My believing disciples] may know You, [Father,] the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom You have sent...” (Jn. 14:6; 17:3.)
THESE CHURCH MEMBERS CAN ALLEGEDLY ‘NEVER GO TO HELL’ Through the baby “baptism sacrament,” church members can allegedly never go to hell, no matter the life they lead or the choices they make… This is the opposite of their predestination dogma that teaches none really know if they are going to heaven or hell! However, in God’s eternal Word, Jesus Himself warned, “...Not everyone who says to Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does [or obeys and follows] the will of My Father in heaven, [not the false will of man,] (Mt. 7:21-24.) It is during this baptism of infants that the members of Calvinist churches supposedly become ‘children of the covenant of circumcision.’ Yet, according to the contextual truth of God’s Word, a baptism can never be or become a “covenant,” (read Mt. 28:19-20.) The Scriptural water baptism of believing disciples a commandment of Jesus and not a covenant unto ‘salvation’ of any sort! God’s only legitimate Covenant of Grace in Christ is the New Testament Covenant, written in the blood of Jesus, and solely obtainable through personal faith in Jesus the Savior. “This is My covenant with them when I take away their sins, [through the blood of Jesus,]” (Rom. 11:27.) “The days are coming [at Golgotha and Jesus’ resurrection,] when I will make a New Covenant… In that He says, ‘A New Covenant,’ He has made the first [Old Testament covenant] obsolete [and he did completely away with it to establish His New Testament Covenant…]” (Heb. 8:7-13.) “This is the covenant I will make with the people... after that time, [or during the New Testament era,]” declares the Lord. “I will put my [Moral] law in their minds and write it on their hearts [or human spirits.] I will be their God, and they will be my people,” (Jer. 31:33; Heb. 10:16.)
JESUS WAS PHYSICALLY CIRCUMCISED AS A BABY — SO WHY DID HE INSIST TO BE BAPTIZED BY SUBMERSION AS AN ADULT? As seen, water baptism is not a ‘covenant’ or a ‘sign’ with unbelieving babies or their parent, as church members! God does not state anywhere that the circumcision of Hebrew babies ‘changed’ into a sprinkling of Christian babies, or that the circumcision of Hebrew boys has ceased. In Acts 21:20-25, Paul was accused of refuting the Old Covenant circumcision that pertains to the physical land of Israel, (Gen. 17.) They said, “[We] have been informed that you teach all the [believing] Hebrews... to forsake [the outward ceremonial law of] Moses, saying that they ought neither to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the [Hebrew] customs…” [But Paul answered,] “That all may know, [that you, being Hebrews,] keep the [ceremonial] law [of circumcision, which pertains to the geographical land of Israel, go, and conform to physical circumcision.] (Verse 25,) But concerning the Gentiles [all non-Jews] who believe, we have written and decided that they must not observe such a thing, except that they must keep themselves from [spiritual idolatry] and sexual immorality, [adhering to Jesus’ Moral Law in Jn. 13:34.]” Jesus was circumcised as a Baby because He was a Hebrew - which has nothing to do with believing non-Hebrews from Gentile nations, the church’s christening of babies, any other type of water baptism, and especially not the so-called ‘covenant of circumcision.’ Jesus redeemed with His blood everyone who personally believes in Him from “every tongue, tribe, and nation” - the Israeli nation as well, (Rev. 5:9-10.) To this day, Hebrews circumcise their boys, which is God’s national and geographical covenant with the Hebrew nation in Gen. 17. So, Jesus was physically circumcised not baptized as a Baby because the Old Testament circumcision of male Hebrew babies is a covenant between God and Abraham that relate to the physical land of Israel, (Gen. 17.) In Genesis 15, God made another covenant with Abraham, promising him generations of believers from all nations, (Gal. 3:10-18.) This promise was fulfilled when the Hebrews rejected Jesus and He inaugurated the New Covenant, (Heb. 8:13.) His eternal New Testament Covenant centres wholly on personal faith in Christ through His complete atonement in our place, (Rom. 3:28-30; 4:13-14: Jn. 1:12-14; Gal. 3:14.)
THE VERSES, WHICH COMPLETELY REFUTE A SPRINKLING AS JESUS’ WATER BAPTISM ‘AS’ THE SPRINKLING OF CHRISTIAN BABIES As seen, Scripturally, water is always the symbol of the truth of God’s Word, which ‘cleanses and renews the minds or thoughts of Jesus’ disciples,’ (Rom. 12:1-3.) Ephesians 5:26, “Jesus... cleanses [or renews the mind of His bride] with the washing of water by the Word,” (see Rom. 12:1-3.) John 4:14, “...The water I will give him will become in him a fountain of… everlasting life.” 1 Peter 1:23, “We are born again… [through the water or living] Word of God…” (1 Pt. 1:23.) Likewise, a “sprinkling” is always of blood and not of water! Hebrews 12:24, “To Jesus, the Mediator of the New Testament Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel, [meaning, “Abel” as a type of the Old Testament Covenant.]” 1 Peter 1:2 actually teaches, “[Disciples...] in sanctification of the Spirit for obedience, [or the disciples’ minds being “renewed” or made new through the truth Scripture to understand God’s will, Rom. 12:1-3,] and the sprinkling of the blood [not of water] of Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:26, “That Christ might sanctify and cleanse her, [the minds or thoughts and beliefs of His bride of true believers, Rom. 12:1-3,] with the washing of water by the [True] Word! [Not by a ritual sprinkling or even by Scriptural water baptism!]” Hebrews 10:22, “Let [Jesus’ disciples not unbelieving babies] draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts [spiritually] sprinkled [with His blood] from an evil conscience and our bodies, [minds or souls and thoughts] washed with pure water, [or the truth of God’s Word.]”
DID THE APOSTLES BAPTIZE THE UNBELIEVING LYDIA, THE PRISON GUARD, AND ALL THE ‘BABIES’ IN THEIR HOUSEHOLDS? The only Scriptures, which clergies from all the different churches could relate to their baby-sprinkling of ‘spiritual regeneration,’ are those they use entirely out of context. Acts 16:13-15, where the believing Lydia and her believing household were baptized, and Acts 16:30-34, where the believing prison guard and his believing household were baptized, are all those clergies could find to “justify” their sprinkling ‘baptism’ of babies , which is yoked to their dogma that parents can ‘stand in’ for their households. How did they get away with such blatant lies, which completely reject and annul personal faith in Jesus and His example of the water baptism disciples? They simply neglected to tell their church members that both those instances were submersions in water after the apostles preached Jesus’ true Gospel to entire households, (Rom. 6:3-4.) The truth about everything is always in the context. So, let us read the account of the prison guard in Acts 16:30-34 while we remember that our guide to interpret the Scriptures in the Book of Acts, stem from Jesus’ personal demonstration of the water baptism, His commission to preach His Gospel to make disciples, to baptize and then to teach His believing disciples everything He had said, and to know that He is always with them since Pentecost until the end of the world, through the constant indwelling of the Holy Spirit, (Mt. 3:16; 28:18-20.) The prison guard asked the apostles, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household,” (Acts 16:30-31; Jn. 1:12-13.) To believe that “his household” consisted of a bunch of babies and little children, is a brilliant example of how clergies mess with Scripture and the minds of church members to, (in this instance,) force the apostles to preach the baby ‘baptism’ and the dogma that “god-parents” and parents can “stand in for children.” The apostles would never have committed such blasphemy with Jesus’ example of the water baptism and His commission, which pertain to personal salvation and the baptism of disciples. So, if we interpret this sentence in the context of the whole Bible and this passage, the apostles actually said, “If you and your household believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be saved.” How can I say that they shuffled the meaning of that sentence? Well, in order to “speak the Word of the Lord to him AND TO ALL WHO WERE IN HIS HOUSE,” (Acts 16:32,) they must have seen that the people there were teenagers or adults not babies, because it would have been silly to preach the Gospel to his so-called ‘many babies.’ Verse 33, “...And immediately [after they accepted Jesus,] he and all his family were baptized, [how can this apply to hapless children?] Verse 34, “And he rejoiced, having believed in God [together] with all his household!” Similarly, the story of Lydia and her household began in Acts 16:13-14, where the writer declared, “…We went out of the city to the riverside… [where they prayed and certainly baptized believing disciples by submersion, just like Jesus was baptized as an example to us,] and we sat down and spoke [Jesus’ Gospel] to the women we met there… Lydia heard us… and the Lord opened hear heart [and understanding] to heed the things we spoke… And when she and her [believing] household were baptized [at the river,] she [invited us] to her home to stay there.” While attempting to ‘prove’ their sprinkling baptism of entire unbelieving households of babies on the ‘faith’ or church attendance of parents and grandparents, John Calvin and other clergies actually nullify their false gospel! Clearly, those accounts in Acts 16 are not a mandate for the Christianizing of babies, or of entire households, families, and nations through their so-called “saving” sacrament of infant ‘baptism.’
ADULT BAPTISM? BABY BAPTISM? RE-BAPTISM? CIRCUMCISION FOR ‘COVENANT CHILDREN’? Water baptism is not a way of salvation; it is obedience to The Only Way to God the Father: the Lord Jesus Christ, (Mt. 28:19-20; Jn. 14:6.) I repeat: even the genuine water baptism, according to the full context of Scripture and the example that Jesus Himself set for us in Matthew 3:13-17, is not salvation in itself, as Catholicism, Calvinism, Lutherism, and many other denominations teach through their very unscriptural ‘Baptism of Regeneration.’ Even Scriptural water baptism is merely the figure or symbol of deliverance, salvation, and blessing through personal faith in, acceptance of, and obedience to Jesus Christ Himself, (Jn. 1:12-13; 3:3-5; Gal. 4:6; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 2:20.) Outside the Truth of Jesus’ New Testament Covenant, written in His own blood, there exists no redemption, salvation, or blessing. 1. One cannot ‘join’ God’s New Testament Covenant or His true body of believers by joining a church. 2. One cannot ‘inherit’ God’s New Testament Covenant in Christ from your ancestors through any type of church sacrament or church affiliation. 3. One cannot ‘reach’ heaven by attending church services, accepting church “sacraments,” and by doing church duties. 4. One cannot ‘earn any merit’ such as blessing from God by obeying church doctrines. (The false doctrine of tithing is a good example of this.) 5. One cannot ‘hope’ on salvation by outweighing your bad deeds with good deeds, (Romans chapters 2-3.) 6. The Scriptural water baptism of Jesus’ sincerely believing disciples is not a denominational choice between a baby sprinkling, pouring, or even adult submersion. The only real water baptism is the baptism of disciples as demonstrated and commanded by Jesus Himself, (Mt. 3:13-17; 28:19-20.) The only authentic baptism was, is, and always will be preached and practiced by all Jesus’ true disciples to demonstrate personal salvation by choice; declaring complete submission to Jesus above all else, (Col. 2:8-15; Rom. Chapter 6.) This submission is openly declared through willing ‘immersion’ into Jesus Himself, (Rom. 1:16-19) — of which submersion in water baptism is the symbol of inward faith and commitment to Christ. One can be ‘baptized’ as many times, with as many ‘baptisms’ as possible, but without personal, saving faith, a personal commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and “receiving the love of the truth that one might be saved,” one will surely “perish,” (2 Ths. 2:10.)
In the full context of God’s Word, we must answer the following vital questions before anyone can consider Scriptural water baptism 1. Do you personally understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ? (Acts 8:34-39; Neh. 8:3,5-6,13 .) The following vital portion of Acts 8:37 was omitted from new translations, “If you believe with all your heart, you may” be baptized in water as Jesus illustrated and commanded, (Mt. 3:16; 28:18-20.) So he answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God… (verse 38,) ...Both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. When they came up out of the water...” 2. Do you sincerely believe that Jesus is God’s Son, God Himself, Who became flesh, [God Himself Who became a man] to atone in full for the sin of all humanity [in the flesh or as a man,] and for my lost and cursed state (or position) of sin without God? (Jn. 1:1-14; Gal. 3:10-14.) 3. Did you personally and sincerely invite and accept Jesus into your human spirit, (heart,) mind, (soul,) body, and into every aspect of your life, thus experiencing the spiritual rebirth and His instantaneous baptism with the Holy Spirit according to Jesus’ Scriptural commandments? (Jn. 1:12-13; 3:3-5.) (True believers are immediately baptized with the Holy Spirit when they accept Jesus, which is the personal rebirth, Rom. 8:9.) 4. Did you confess all your sin to God and asked His forgiveness, based exclusively on Jesus’ complete atonement in your place? And are you willing to confess your serious sins by name to the people whom you harmed, and also forgive those who sinned against you? (Jam. 5:13-18.) If you can say “I did and I do,” the Scriptural water baptism of believing disciples is definitely for you. · Yet, in deliberate defiance of God’s Holy Word, someone actually had the nerve to tell me that “baptism is not an issue” for her. Supposedly, she was “baptized as a baby” and cannot “baptize herself again!” This poor soul and all others who were brainwashed by false church systems to believe they were “baptized as babies,” fail to realize that according to the truth of Scripture, they were never baptized at all! |