Have you really been Baptized? Are you certain?
Why would the one who gave his life on behalf of this entire World, make this following statemant? {John 1:29}
5 "Jesus sent out these twelve men with the following order: "Don't go to the non-Jewish people or to any town where the Samaritans live. 6 But go to the people of Israel, who are like lost sheep."{Matthew 10:5,6 NCV}
Under the circumstances that statement doesn't seem to make any sense, or at least it might appear that way to some. I know, I myself have puzzled over it, many times, because it never made any sense to me. Until I got to thinking about the reason why he might have made that statement.
The Apostle Paul directs us to establish every matter at the mouth of two, or three witnesses. {2 Corinthians 13:1}
With that thought in mind, let me point to three witnesses, who all tell us that only the Israelite Nation was under the old Law Covenant. They also tell us, that none of the Nations outside the Israelite Nation were under the old Law. {Amos 3:1,2} {Psalm 147:19,20} {Romans 3:1,2} A reading of those three scriptures will show, according to scripture, I've established what I've said as the truth, as far as that matter goes. Anyone today trying to follow any of the Ten Commandments is under obligation to perform the whole entire Mosaic Law. Doing that, is a flat-out rejection of the Christ, and they become parted from the Christ. {Galatians 5:1-6}
Now those Twelve Men Jesus sent out were not to baptize any from among the Nations in John's Baptism of water. That Batism, as it is seen, was only for the Jewish Nation; that when accomplished, would show they recognized and accepted the true Messiah for what he was, and to show their repentance for the sins they committed while under that old law. This would bring them in under the New Covenant that would be established on the Blood of the Christ, and bring them out from under the old Covenant, so they would no longer be slaves to the old law, with its 600 or over separate Laws made up of some 10,000 words. Now the Laws of the New Covenat would be put within them and written on their hearts. The Christ was the 'End of the old Law.' {Romans 10:4} {Jeremiah 31:31-34}
In the following John explains what his Baptism was all about:
31 "Even I did not know who he was, although I came baptizing with water so that the people of Israel would know who he is."{John 1:31 NCV} Knowing that, they could now display their repentance by accepting Johns Batism of Water:
11 "I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire."{Matthew 3:11 ASV}
The Nations, not being under the old law could have never sinned while under it, so had no need of John' Baptism, and Jesus had told his Twelve Apostle to exclude the Nations for that reason. They had no need to express repentance for breaking a Law they were never under. Not being under it, they could not break laws that didn't apply to them. So John's Baptism of water was not for any of the Nations, not then, not now either. It is, in actualty, an exercise in futility to submit to a Water Baptism today, of the like of John's. Because it carries no force what-so--ever. Means Nothing!
The Nations were not considered until after the ascension of the Christ when he was in a position to baptize in Holy Spirit and in Fire. Which he did at Pentecost, for the first time. We notice in that account when Jesus did his Baptizing there was no water used and no mention of any water, It was as John the Baptist had said, done in Holy Spirit and Fire. Without the use of any water. Everything now under the New Covenant had changed drastically, of course for the better, as we might imagine, it was. Now everthing was in the hands of the Christ.The only one authorized to do the Baptizing of the Nations. Due to the fact only he, now, was the only one in possession of the Holy Spirit; doing all of the Bapizing from the invisible Heavenly Spirit Realm. {Acts 2:33}The only one with the Authority to do it, as he had told them. {Acts 2}
18"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." {Matthew 28:18-20 NIV}
Of course as far as his Apostles doing this Baptizing, they had the gift of the Spirit for the laying on of the hands to do the baptizing Jesus commanded them to do, and they were not to lay their hands hastily on any Man, and through their teaching of each potential candidate for baptism, they would come to know the heart sincerity of each one, so that when they laid their hands on them for baptism no mistake would be made, by perhaps laying their hands on some unworthy ones. {Acts 8:14-17,19;19:6} {1 Timothy 5:22}
We know the gifts of the Holy Spirit were done away with when the last Apostle faded from the scene, and because Jesus had said that he'd be with you always to the very end of the age; he alone is the only one who can do any worth-while Baptizing today, and lets face it, if you haven't been Baptized by him, in Holy Spirit, you have not been Baptized at all. {1 Corinthians 13:8-10} If you're having a problem understanding the Bible, that's the reason why. You are lacking the Holy Spirit, that would teach you all things, was you to have been Baptized in it. {John 14:26} {1 John 2:27}
We know the Apostle Paul was Apostle to the Nations, but Paul was not sent to Baptize the Nations, just as any human genuine follower of the Christ would not be today. It is all done by the Christ from the invisible Spirit realm. {Romans 11:13} {1 Corinthians 1:17} As I said: If you have not been Baptised by the Christ, well, the sad truth is, you have not been Baptized. Wannabe
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