THE TRUTH ON WATER BAPTISM

Transcription

1 THE TRUTH ON WATER BAPTISM

2 INTRODUCTION WATER BAPTISM is a basic requirement to a Christian s salvation. Mark 16:16 states, He that believeth and is baptised shall be SAVED; but he that believeth NOT shall be damned. 1 Peter 3:21 also reads, The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now SAVE us (Not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. A series of questions usually arise in Water Baptism; What is the Biblical way of doing it? Is baptism performed by sprinkling? Or is it by immersion in water? Is it using the TITLES of father, son, and Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19), or using the NAME of the Lord Jesus Christ? (Acts 2:38). The Bible cannot contradict itself, for it is the Word of God. What we need today, is a revelation from Almighty God in order for us to understand and dovetail every word in It correctly. Let us therefore take a closer look at this all-time controversial issue. The word baptise originated from the Greek word baptiso which means to IMMERSE in water. For the first thirteen hundred years from the death of Christ, baptism was always performed by IMMERSION of the person in water. Acts 8:38-39 states this And he commanded the chariots to stand still: and they went down both INTO THE WATER, both Philip and the Eunuch; and he baptised him. And when they were COME UP OUT OF THE WATER, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Phillip, that the Eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. Prampram Local Chris an Assembly 2

3 John 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon BECAUSE THERE WAS MUCH WATER THERE: and they came, and were baptised. So notice, now that we know baptise means immerse we can say John went to Aenon to immerse believers because there was much water there. If sprinkling was accepted as Christian baptism, John wouldn t go to a particular place for baptism because there was much water there. A quarter cup of water would have done it for John. It is therefore evident from these very scriptures that water baptism was originally performed by immersion of the individual underwater and not by sprinkling which has no Biblical foundation. TITLES OR NAME? In Matthew 28:19, we read Jesus great commission unto His disciples saying, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Now, Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith, never told us to baptise in the NAMES, of the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. Neither did He tell us to baptise in the NAME of the Father, in the NAME of the Son, and in the NAME of the Holy Ghost as has been practised by Christiandom for nearly two thousand years, waiting for the light to return in the evening time. Open your Bible again to Matthew 28:19, and probably for the first time in your life, you will realise the LORD was talking about a NAME (singular) to the titles Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and not NAMES. Prampram Local Chris an Assembly 3

4 For there is one God, not three. Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord ( Deuteronomy 6:4). The clue here is to find what Name the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost possess. Take note that the word Father is not a NAME. Son is not a NAME either; neither is the Holy Ghost a NAME. These are but TITLES of the one true God. If we trace God s Name back in the Old Testament, we will find that, God in the Fatherhood was always called the LORD, capital L-O-R-D or JEHOVAH. In the New Testament, we find out that JESUS was the name given to God in the SONSHIP (the Son of God). Remember, it was the WORD LOGOS that became flesh and dwelt among men, Emmanuel, meaning God with us. It was no more God above us (as in the Old Testament) but God with us, God descending among mankind and hiding behind a Body called Jesus. This is the mystery of what Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 2:9 that the FULLNESS of the Godhead dwells in Christ. Therefore, Jesus cannot be the 3 rd person of the Trinity if the fullness of God dwells in HIM. He has to be God in FULLNESS, the Almighty (Rev. 1:8). In this our age, the Holy Ghost dispensation (tracing from the day of Pentecost to date), God has given meaning to the word CHRIST since He has been operating in the form of the Holy Ghost. Note: Christ means the anointing of God, which is the Holy Ghost. TITLES Father Son Holy Ghost NAME LORD JESUS CHRIST Prampram Local Chris an Assembly 4

5 We can read throughout the Bible that all of Jesus disciples used HIS NAME in water baptism (References: Acts 2:38; Acts 19:1-5, Acts 10:46-48, Acts 8:14-16, Romans 6:3,4 etc.). Never can we find in the entire pages of the Bible where anybody was ever baptised using the TITLES of Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Look it up for yourself, and you will never find one. There is a million dollar reward today for anyone who can find one verse that states just that. The apostles understood that, baptism according to Matthew 28:19, was not a LITERAL command, just as when Jesus told them, Except you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you. Nowhere in the Bible can we find that they literally ate the flesh of Jesus or drank His blood. Literally eating Jesus flesh and literally drinking His blood, would make them cannibals and vampires if such command was followed literally. But the thing is that it was revealed unto them that eating His Body meant partaking of His Word and drinking His Blood meant receiving His atoning sacrifice into their lives. In water baptism, it was revealed also unto them WHO really was the Father, Son and Holy Ghost and what the NAME of God really was LORD JESUS CHRIST, the complete Name of God. If you were a HUSBAND to your wife, a FATHER to your children and a SON to your parent, that will surely not make you three persons. That is why there is no scripture for God in three persons, blessed trinity. Though you are playing these three roles (or three titles), you are not three persons. You are ONE PERSONALITY with A NAME. And if you were to send your friend to purchase a property in your name, he will surely not tell the seller I purchase this property in the name of the Prampram Local Chris an Assembly 5

6 HUSBAND, the FATHER and the SON, even though that is what you may be. THE APOSTLES HAD A CORRECT REVELATION According to the Lord Jesus, in John 16:13, the Spirit Of Truth (the Holy Spirit), when He comes will lead us into all truth. No wonder why the Holy Spirit, the first time He came on the day of Pentecost, after the ascension of the Lord, led Peter into the truth of Mathew 28:19 to reveal what the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is. Apostle Peter, having been given the keys to the kingdom, commanded the Jews, saying, Repent every one of you and be BAPTISED in the NAME of JESUS CHRIST for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38). The same FORMULA was used by Saint Paul. Paul himself REBAPTISED the disciples of John the Baptist (Acts 19:1-5 ) in this same manner saying, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them unto what then were ye baptised? And they said, unto John s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptised with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptised in the NAME of the Lord Jesus. Peter and John did the same to the GENTILES as well in Acts 10:48, And he commanded them to be baptised in the Name of the Lord. Prampram Local Chris an Assembly 6

7 All true believers in the Bible: the Jews, Gentiles and Samaritans, were ALL baptised in the NAME of JESUS CHRIST, for that is the genuine and Biblical way of doing it. What about you? 325 years after the last Apostle died, a council was formed in Nicaea, France (the Nicene Council), where pagan Rome put on the clothe of religion and became Papal Rome and instituted many doctrines that were contrary to the Faith Paul and the early disciples believed and preached. Many Bible Truths, including the true Christian way of water baptism, were lost to the church. Strangely, her daughters, the protestants, have fallen for these man-made doctrines even though they claim they protested the mother church. For that is how they got their name - PROTESTANTS. They PROTESTED her doctrines and yet they are drinking from her cup without knowing they are doing so, partaking of her Doctrines. But thank God light has returned in the evening time, for the prophet Zechariah prophesied that there shall be light in the evening time (Zechariah 14:7). The evening time is the closing chapter of world and church history the time we are living in. HISTORICAL FACTS AND RECORDS BRITANNICA ENCYCLOPEDIA Everywhere in the oldest sources, it states that baptism took place in the name of Jesus Christ (11 th Edition/Vol.3/p.82) BRITANNICA ENCYCLOPEDIA - The baptismal formula was changed from the name of Jesus Christ to the words Father, Son & Holy Ghost by Catholic Church in the second century - (11th Edition Vol. 3 page ) Prampram Local Chris an Assembly 7

8 CANNY ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGION The Early Church always baptised in the Name of the Lord Jesus until the development of the Trinity Doctrine in the 2nd Century. (Pp. 53) CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA Here the Catholics acknowledged that baptism was changed by the Catholic church. Vol. 2, page 263. NEW INTERNATIONAL ENCYCLOPEDIA - The term TRINITY was originated by Tertullian a Roman Catholic Church father. (Vol.22, page 477). HASTINGS ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGIONS Christian baptism was administered using the words in the name of JESUS. The use of a Trinity formula of any sort was not suggested in the early church history. Baptism was always in the name of the LORD JESUS until the time of Justine Martyr when triune formula was used. (Vol 2/ page 389 para ). WERE SAINTS PETER AND PAUL WRONG? Certainly not. If they were wrong, the Bible would have said so. These Apostles knew what many religious leaders of today fail to recognise: First: That the NAME of the Lord Jesus Christ is the FAMILY NAME of all Christians both in heaven and on earth (Ephesians 3:15). Second: That there is NO OTHER NAME under heaven whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12). Third: That the FULLNESS of the GODHEAD BODILY dwells in the LORD JESUS CHRIST. (Col. 2:9). Prampram Local Chris an Assembly 8

9 Forth: That the NAME of the FATHER, SON and HOLY GHOST is the LORD JESUS CHRIST. (Mathew 28:19 / Act 2:38) The Bible tells us that whatever we do in WORD (like preaching etc.) or in DEED (like water baptism etc.), we should do all in the NAME of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Col. 3:17). The Bible teaches that there is no salvation in any other name, title or place, ONLY in the NAME of JESUS CHRIST. He is the Rose of Sharon, Lily of the Valley, the Morning Star, Alpha and Omega, the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings, Son, Father and the Holy Ghost. Isaiah 9:6 reads For unto us a child is born, unto us a SON is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting FATHER, The Prince of Peace. Oh my!! Is that not wonderful? JESUS is the SON and the everlasting FATHER THE SAME PERSON. Notice, He is not the everlasting SON but the everlasting FATHER. The SONSHIP is NOT everlasting. The SONSHIP is for a period of time (from the son of man to the son of David) but the FATHERHOOD is everlasting. He comes from a FATHERHOOD position and goes back to a FATHERHOOD position. I come from GOD and I go back to GOD. He came from heaven as the FATHER, overshadowed Mary as the Holy Spirit and was born as the SON and went back to the FATHER (back to the FATHERHOOD). That is why the FATHERHOOD is everlasting. No wonder the FULLNESS of the GODHEAD dwells in HIM. He CAME OUT FROM GOD, (John 16:27). Prampram Local Chris an Assembly 9

10 WHAT ABOUT MATHEW 28:19? Since Scriptures don t contradict themselves, the other scriptures concerning water baptism, aforementioned, were not given to refute Mathew 28:19.. They rather show that when the TEACHER (THE HOLY SPIRIT) came at the day of Pentecost, He revealed what the NAME of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost is The LORD JESUS CHRIST. THE TRUTH ABOUT INFANT BAPTISM Many Christian Churches today baptise babies by sprinkling water on them and call it infant baptism. But nowhere in the Bible can we find where the Apostles of Jesus ever baptised babies. Infant baptism is not a Biblical teaching; it is the dogma of the false church. Don t begin to get offended now for Jesus said blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in ME (Mathew 11:6 / Luke 7:23). He is the WORD. And when you are offended in the WORD, you are offended in HIM. There are only two churches in the world: the true and the false. The true stays with the WORD. (John 8:31). They continue in HIS WORD. The false (though may be full of kind, compassionate and highly religious people) fall away from the WORD before the revelation of the BEAST. (2 nd Thess. 2:3). So before the BEAST is known to the world, a portion of the church falls away from the ORIGINAL WORD. It is absolutely necessary therefore to stick to what the BIBLE teaches because IT is the ONLY manual and blue print for every true believer. The church cannot add to IT or take away from IT. The only way the Apostles dedicated the babies unto God was by bringing them to the Lord Jesus. Prampram Local Chris an Assembly 10

11 But Jesus said, suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven (Mathew 19:14). So the only true formula of dedicating babies in the BIBLE is the laying of hands on them and blessing them. Water baptism is a confession that an inward work of Grace has been done. Yet little infants have no KNOWLEDGE of sin. Of course, the baby is born in sin, shaped in iniquity, comes to the world speaking lies, and they are sinners by nature. But when Jesus died on the cross, that Adamic sin (nature) was atoned for. The baby must therefore come of age and make a personal decision of REPENTANCE for the sin he/she has committed in his/her body and be ready for water baptism. AN INVITATION If you were baptised any other way besides being baptised in the NAME of the LORD JESUS CHRIST by IMMERSION in water, your baptism was wrong. It has no Biblical foundation. You must be worried to practise what is not in the Bible. You have to be rebaptised in the NAME of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, in order for you to receive the Spirit of God. (Acts 19:1-5). God is calling on you today, SINCERE CHRISTIAN, to be restored back to the original faith that was once delivered to the saints. (Jude verse 3). If you are God s predestinated seed, ordained to eternal life, you will recognise this message to be the truth and take steps in obeying it. (Acts 13:48). Prampram Local Chris an Assembly 11

12 Let every man s word (the word of the Pastor, Deacon, Bishop, seminary etc.) be a lie and let the WORD of God be the TRUTH. IT IS A BIG DEAL We hear many Christians today, say it is not a big deal what I believe in. After all, we are all God s children. What matters is that I have a sincere heart and I love my neighbour. This sounds pretty good but it is not exactly right. You can love your neighbour and be in enmity with God when you refuse His Word. The first, is to love the Lord by obeying His Word. The second, is to love your neighbour. That is the proper order. If it does not matter what one believes in to be in heaven, I will not like to be in heaven since it would be a place of confusion and of varying faiths. But thank God, God s people are people of ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, (Ephesians 4:5). For God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). Christian friend, it matters MOST what you believe in. Your faith will determine your destination. Don t forget, we are SAVED by grace through FAITH. The scary truth is that, if you take away from the WORD (rejecting TRUTH), your name shall be taken from the Lamb Book of Life and from heaven. If you add unto the WORD (believing doctrines that are not Biblical), you shall be brought to judgement. In other words, you will miss the rapture (the first resurrection) and appear before the white throne judgement in the second resurrection to be judged. (Revelation 22:18,19). So, IT IS A BIG DEAL. The Bride of Christ that will make it for the Rapture are those that are WORD -FED and SPIRIT-FILLED. They have to be filled by nothing but the WORD. Prampram Local Chris an Assembly 12

13 They are part of the WORD (the second Adam Jesus Christ), just as Eve was part of the first Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45-48; Isaiah 54:5). If you are convinced of this truth and you want to be baptised the Christian way, as ALL Christians in the BIBLE did, (Romans 6:3,4), and yet you find no one to have you baptised, we will be happy to baptise you. It doesn t matter your social and church standing, God is no respecter of persons. Take a bold step in obedience to the WORD. If you are a preacher, you are under OBLIGATION to preach what Paul and the early disciples preached. A curse is placed on anyone who brings ANOTHER Gospel. ( Galatians 1:6-8) We will be very happy to partake with you, in our church services, God s hidden manner revealed in this day that s able to present the bride of Christ as a chaste virgin to her Lord. It is important to know the truth for it is that which makes free. GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU. Compiled by: Pastor Gideon George Idun. Local Christian Assembly, Prampram. (400 metres from the road opposite Ghana Water Company, Prampram) Website: prampramlca@gmail.com, idungideon@yahoo.com. Prampram Local Chris an Assembly 13

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