Are you really one of God's People?
We know that John the Baptist was the forerunner to Christ, but what was the purpose of John's water baptism?
29"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." {John 1:29-31 NIV}
In the light of John's words of Jesus taking away the sin of the world, these next words of Jesus might appear to be very puzzling, because it looks like only the Nation of Israel was being considered. Then too, Jesus was very adamant about only going to the Jews of that time. The Twelve he sent out were not to go to the Gentiles or Samaritans, but only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Why might that be?
5"These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel."Matthew
24"He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.""{Matthew 15:24 NIV}
So, as the the Twelve carried on with John's Baptism of water, they would only baptise repentant Jews. Not the Nations! Not the Samaritan's! It was for only the Jewish Nation! None other than them; then, and now, as well.
Why would Jesus command them, not to go among the Gentiles, or Samaritans? Why did he say he was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel? The main reason for that was only the Israelite Nation, was under the Mosaic Law, as we see from a reading of the following three scriptures: {Amos 3:1,2} Psalm 147:19,20} {Romans 3:1,2} The only way they could break free from that Law, was to repent of the Sins they committed while under it. Being too, as Christ was the mediator of the New Covenant established on his precious Blood, they had to accept him as the true Messiah, and show that acceptance by submitting to John's Batism of Water.{Acts 3:17-26} {1 Timothy 2:5} There was only one way now for them to gain any approach to Jehovah, if they refused that, they really were lost. {John 14:6;6:44}
So John's Water Baptism, was done to reveal the Christ only to the Nation of Israel, to no one else. It wasn't for the Gentile Nations, nor was it for the Samaritans. The Christ had to be revealed to Israel alone because they were the only ones under the old Law Covenant, and the only ones who had to come out from under it, because the Christ was the end of that old Law. They had to show repentance for sinning while under that Law; if they refused and clung to the old law, they would be clinging to nothing because the Christ had brought it to an end, by his sacrificial death. {Romans 10:4}
All this being true, one would wonder, why most today submit to a water Baptism similar to John's, when just as it wasn't meant for any of the Nations that Under - went John's Water Baptism while Jesus walked the earth; so today too; it isn't meant for any of the Nations today either. Where do they get the idea that it is a valid practice now? The Holy Writings certainly don't support that idea. Now, I know that for certain! As in the first Century, none of the Nations now are under, or have ever been under, the Old Law Covenant, nor could they possibly be; in-as-much as it was terminated in the first Century, so how could a water bapism as of John's, Benefit them a single thing? {Romans 3:19;5:13}
I know, some will point to the account in Acts 8:27,38,39 where Philip baptised the Etheopian Eunuch in water, but what they fail to realise is the Eheopian had been at the Temple in Jerusalem to worship; so he was a Jewish convert, as such under the old Law, so had to be baptised in John's Baptism of Water, just as any Jew under that Law would. So the Baptism of the Etheopian doesn't support their practice of water baptism.
One other they will use, are the words of the Apostle Peter, where he had stated: "Can anyone forbid water so that these might not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?" {Acts 10:47} When Peter made that comment, there was something he was forgetting which he later corrected. What he was forgetting was the following:
44"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles." {Acts 10:44,45 NIV}
Notice? They had already been bapiized by the Christ, by means of Holy Spirit, so there was no need of any baptism in water, which was something Peter had forgotten, obviously. Notice how Peter clears that blunder up:
16"Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."{Acts 11:16 NIV} So! No Water was needed! No Water was used!
Another point to consider about Peter is, he was not sent to the uncircumcized, but rather the circumcized. Peter was only sent to baptize the Jews, while Paul, Apostle to the Nations was not sent to baptize, according to his own words: {Galatians 2:7,8} {1 Corinthians 1:17} {Romans 11:13} So Peter was way out of line and he knew he was.
You cannot use the account about the Eunuch's water Baptism, nor Peter's words to support water Baptism, because it just doesn't accord with the truth of the Bible. Those who insist on pushing that teaching must now look for another way to support it, which I already know, they will never find.
Just Prior to his ascension Jesus gave his Apostles instructions to stay in the City until they received power from on high; as follows:
49 "I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."ยจ {Luke 24:49 NIV} {Acts 1:3-5 NIV}
Immediately upon his ascension the Christ left his Apostles with these following orders:
18"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." {Matthew 28:18-290 NIV} Notice! Jesus made no mention of water for the Baptism they were to involve themselves in. It was in the name of the Father and the Son and by the authority of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit now taking the place of Water.
They could not carry out this command until they had received the power from on high that is why Jesus had told them to stay in the City until they received that power.
At Pentecost in the upper room, Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit of tongues of fire as foretold, and the Apostles received the gifts of the Holy Spirit with the laying on of hands. Now they were equipped to do the Baptizing and teaching Jesus commanded them to do prior to his ascension. {Acts 2:1-47} {Matthew 3:11-Mark 1:8-Luke 3:16 - At the outpouring of Holy Spirit at Pentecost no Water was used and no mention of any water, what-so-ever. The Literal Water had changed over to Holy Spirit. Water was no longer needed. As John shows:
38"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. if anyone is thirsty, let him come to me. / And let him drink, 38 who believes in me.39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified."
So, all the while the water Baptism of John's was going on, none of those baptized were baptized as yet in Holy spirit. That could only come after the ascension of Jesus. After he was glorified. {John 7:38,389 NIV} John's Baptism in water, was not associated with the Holy Spirit. Not then! Not now either. That is why water Bapism as it was known then, would be useless to any submittting themselves to it today. Besides which John's Baptism in water was meant only for the Jewish Nation under the old Law. It was a Baptism of repentence for sins committed while under that old Law. The Nations then or now, not being under that Law had nothing to repent for. No one is held accountable for sins committed under that old Law, if they were never under it to begin with. Only those under it had to show repentence, by submitting themselves to John's Water Baptism. {Romans 5:13}
The Baptism of the Nations never occurred, until after the ascension of the Christ; and at that time, water wasn't used for their Baptism. It was by Holy Spirit and Fire, or simply Holy Spirit. The Nations now had come in under the New Covenant, and their Baptism was done in the name of the Father and in the name of the Son, and by the authority of the Holy Spirit. With no mention of any Water ever being used. {Matthew 28:18-20} {Matthew 3:11} {Mark 1:8} {Luke 3:16} In every instance when the Baptism that Jesus was foretold to do there is never any mention of Water being used. Only Holy Spirit.
When the New Covenant came into force there were radical changes made, from the Old to the New. It was no longer earthly Mount Zion. It was now Heavenly Mount Zion. It was no longer eartly Jerusalem, it was Heavenly New Jerusalem. The Priesthood now didn't just consist of members of the Jewish Nation, but from among the Gentile Nations, some were chosen for the priestly office. Along with those changes, there was a change in the method of Baptism as well. Now the Holy Spirit became the water for baptism, coupled with the word of truth. {John 7:38,39} {Ephesians 5:26} {Revelation 14:1} {Hebrews 12:18-24} {Revelation 3:12;21:10} {Hebrews 7:12} {Ephesians 3:5,6}
Now! Think about this! Only the one in control of the Holy Spirit, who is able to pour it out, would be the ONLY ONE to do any baptizing today! Is that any of the Mainline Religious Leaders of Christendom's great system of Religion? Or maybe, possibly the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses? Now, I feel it safe to say,that the Governing Body will tell us it is them, would you swallow that claim? Or the claim of any of Christendom's Religious System? Who does the Bible tell us is in control of the Holy Spirit? And Where is this one located now?
33"Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear." {Acts 2:33 NIV}
Think about this! Do any of Christendom's Mainline Reigious leaders hold a position as high as the Christ does now? Governing Body included? Are ANY of them exalted to the right hand of God? Seated at his right hand? In possession of the Holy Spirit?
Note the position of the Christ now and since the first Century.
1 "The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." 2 The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies."{Psalm 110:1,2 NIV}
Se! Even though we cannot see the Christ we know at least he's at his Father's right hand, don't we?
The Psalmist said he'd rule in the midst of his enemies. You can take that to mean, he holds 'all authority in heaven and on earth.'
Didn't he tell us that himself? So holding all authority just who would do the baptizing today? Since he was the one foretold to follow John?
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and 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}
Think about this! Jesus is at the right hand of his Father sitting in the highest position anyone could ever attain. He holds all Authority on Earth as regards doing the Baptizing now. Remember this too. When Jesus commanded his followers to go make desciples, they had the gifts of the laying on of the hands for doing the Baptizing Jesus had commanded them to do. All of the Apostles that had been given those gifts are long since dead, so there is no one today with the Gift of the laying on of the hands for Baptizing. That puts it all in the hands of the Christ alone now. As would be expected! If you have not been Baptized by him, you have not been Baptized! That means that 2.1 Billion Christian's who claim such, are not! 1.1 Billion Catholics are not! 7 Million Jehovah's Witnesses are not! None of them Baptized by the Christ! Not a One! They are, if you'll pardon the expression, all Toast! {Ephesians1:15-23} {Philippians 2:5-11} They all subject themselves to a Water Baptism in similar fashion as John the Baptists; but that Baptism is now null, and void, and not meant for any of them! Not understanding the Book they claim to be custodians over, they stumble around in the dark; not knowing what the Bible really teaches about this matter of Baptism. Sad Srory! But True Story!
When anyone today is really Baptised by the Christ, the Holy Spirit begins his work on each individual that is Baptized, and all of the following will occur, as revealed by John in the following passages of scripture: {John 14:15-17,26;15:26;16:13} {1 John 2:27"} {Ephesians 5:26} As you read all of these you will learn that the Holy Spirit will guide and direct you into a comprehensive knowledge of the truth, you will be anointed with the Holy Spirit always at work in you, and as Paul stated, you will be "cleansed by the bath of Water, by means of the word of truth." {Ephesians 5:26}
Without being Baptized by the Christ, that, of course could never happen for you! Just where do you think that, that, would leave you? It would leave you with a Water Baptism, that gained you absolutely nothing! You need the Well-Spring of Water bubbling up from within you to impart everlasting life. That Well-Spring of Water is, of course the Holy Spirit. Bubbling up to impart everlasting life, as you learn the real truth of the Bible. There's no other way to gain that Life! There's only one source to gain that Holy Spirit from, and the one in possession of that is seated at his Father's right hand.
"Whoever drinks from the Water I will give him will never get thirsty at all but the water I will give him will become in him a fountain of Water bubbling up to impart everlasting life." {John 4:14} That Water is the Holy Spirit! Want some? {John 7:38,39}
"Unless I was you, you have no part with me!" This washing is done by means of the Holy Spirit working together, with the word of truth. No Holy Spirit! No word of Truth! No Wash, by the Christ. No part with the Christ. {John 13:8}
It was not without purpose the Apostle John penned these following words, as a warning:
4"Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes."{Revelation 18:4,5 NIV}
If you really are, one of God's People, you know what you must do now! "Come Out!" Do you really wish to share in her sins? Do you really wish to receive part of her plagues? No! You do Not! So, Come out, God's People! Head for the exit signs! Quickly! Any of God's People that are really among them, will be on the run headed for those exit signs. Any that refuse and remain seated in those pews, will have a building fall on them when Babylon the Great does finally fall, and take this to the Bank; she's going to fall! If you don't believe me! Believe the Apostle John who foretold her great devastating fall. {Revelation 18: 1-24} Wannabe
10:5,6 NIV}