Category: water baptism

The Children of God #2

Friday, June 8, 2012

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26-28 KJV).

Today’s Scripture briefly describes “the children of God.”

According to the Bible, everyone is not God’s child. Only those who have “faith in Christ Jesus” are God’s children. Unless a person has “believed on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 16:31)—relying on His sacrifice at Calvary’s cross as the fully satisfying payment for his or her sins—he or she is not a child of God.

Those of us who have trusted Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, we “have been baptized into Christ.” This is not water baptism, for the Bible reads that we “have been baptized into Christ,” not “baptized into water.” When we trusted Christ alone as Saviour, the Holy Spirit baptized us into the Church the Body of Christ. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body…” (1 Corinthians 12:13). The Holy Ghost, not a preacher or priest, administers the only valid baptism for this Dispensation of Grace (Ephesians 4:5).

When the Holy Spirit baptized us into the Body of Christ, He identified us with Christ’s death: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ [not water!] were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death…” (Romans 6:3,4a). Just as Christ died, we died to sin. Now, sin does not have dominion over us. When Christ was raised, we were raised to “walk in newness of life” (verse 4b).

Literally, we have “put on Christ” (today’s Scripture). We have been made “the righteousness of God in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:21). God the Father sees us in Christ: He sees Christ’s righteousness, not our unrighteousness. Saints, God will always accept us in Christ (Ephesians 1:6). We will always be “the Body of Christ,” “the children of God.”

When Truth is Error #2

Sunday, May 27, 2012

“But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness” (2 Timothy 2:16 KJV).

Being scriptural is not enough. To follow God’s will you must also be dispensational. All of the Bible is for us, but not all of the Bible is to us or about us.

For example, Mosaic Law-keeping is biblical (Exodus 20:1-17). But, to whom are these Scriptures written and spoken? The nation Israel—not us. Additionally, millions of precious souls are basing their salvation on what Jesus said in Matthew 19:17 (cf. James 2:24): “…but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” This is scriptural, but not dispensational: it was true for Israel, but it is error for us.

Friend, if you are basing your salvation on your works, you are going to hell. Following salvation verses that God spoke to someone else is error: God never gave them to you. If you want salvation from your sins and hell, you MUST go to Paul for God’s current plan of salvation. Our doctrine is found only in Paul’s epistles (Romans through Philemon) (Romans 11:13).

We are not under Israel’s works-religion (legalistic) economy. God has replaced Israel’s works-religion acceptance system (our performance) with something better: the grace-based acceptance system, what Jesus Christ did for us at Calvary’s cross. “Ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14b). In our dispensation, salvation is “to him that worketh not” (Romans 4:5).

The Gospel that saves you today is not Acts 2:38 or 1 John 1:9, but 1 Corinthians 15:1-4: “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He was raised again the third day.”

James 5:14,15 is error for us to practice, but it is truth in Israel’s program. This includes Revelation 3:20, Hebrews 6:4-6, 1 John 2:27, Matthew 24:13, John 20:22,23, Acts 2:4, Matthew 6:9-13, and Mark 16:15-20—verses that Christendom steals from Israel’s program and (wrongly) practices today.

Dispensational Bible study is critical to your soul salvation, as well as to your Christian health. You MUST use God’s Word, God’s way (“rightly dividing the word of truth;” 2 Timothy 2:15), or you will make truth error (today’s Scripture)….

I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel of Christ

Thursday, May 10, 2012

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16 KJV).

What is the Gospel of Christ, and why is the Apostle Paul not ashamed of it?

When we study the Bible dispensationally, we understand that the Apostle Paul has a unique ministry, one that is completely separate and distinct from the ministries of men whom God had previously commissioned (including the twelve apostles). One of the special aspects of Paul’s ministry is that the ascended Lord Jesus Christ committed to him a “mystery,” a secret program (our Dispensation of Grace) that God had kept hidden in Himself until He first revealed it to Paul (Ephesians 3:1-11; cf. Romans 16:25,26).

At the heart of this “mystery” ministry God committed to Paul, we find “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). Paul wrote, “the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was to committed to my trust” (1 Timothy 1:11). Paul also called it “my gospel” (Romans 2:16; Romans 16:25; 2 Timothy 2:8), and in today’s Scripture, Paul referred to it as “the gospel of Christ” because this “good news” belongs to and originates from the ascended Lord Jesus Christ Himself! What is Paul’s gospel? “How that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

Our Apostle Paul is not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ in the sense of not being shy or embarrassed. He is not ashamed of it “for [because] it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” Paul knows that the Gospel of Christ is so powerful, for it is God Almighty’s power, that it can literally reach into the depths of sin and death and eternally save anyone and everyone who simply believes (trusts, has faith in) it! See, no works are needed for salvation: “to everyone that believeth” (no water baptism, tongues, tithing, et cetera).

Doctrines of Devils

Thursday, April 12, 2012

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats…” (1 Timothy 4:1,2 KJV).

Today’s Scripture describes modern-day lukewarm Christendom, especially its leadership. Many church leaders are “speaking lies in hypocrisy.” They appear as sincere and godly men, but they covet your trust… as to acquire your wallet!

Exactly what are “doctrines of devils?” Dabbling in the occult? Frequenting clubs and bars? Illegal activities? A doctrine of devils is any teaching that is contrary to the King James Bible rightly divided. Denominational teaching, church tradition, and human viewpoint are doctrines of devils.

God commanded Israel to observe the Sabbath, get water baptized, tithe, tongue talk, work miracles, eat kosher foods, and keep the Mosaic Law. If anyone tells you that you have to do those things—and much of Christendom does—they are teaching you doctrines of devils. God is not administering Israel’s program today; these activities do not belong in our dispensation.

These are Israel’s commandments and ordinances, not ours! God does not demand these activities from you. If someone wants to put you under the Mosaic Law, that is a doctrine of devils (Romans 6:14,15). If they tell you to work for your salvation instead of relying on Jesus Christ’s finished cross work, that too is a doctrine of devils (Galatians 1:6-9).

Satan is sneaky. A doctrine of devils may even use the name “Jesus,” “Gospel,” or “Spirit,” but Paul warns us of “another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel” (2 Corinthians 11:3,4; Galatians 1:6-9).

One of the last things Paul wrote was, “This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me” (2 Timothy 1:15). If a departure from God’s Word through Paul’s ministry existed 2,000 years ago, how much worse has that apostasy gotten! Since Paul’s time, 38,000-plus (!) “Christian” denominations have sprung up. There has been such an explosion of false teaching that it is unbelievable.

Beware of the doctrines of devils… in church circles.

Preach the Gospel of the Grace of God!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14 KJV).

Saints, God has entrusted us with the greatest message of all time, “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24), so that we can preach the greatest Person of all time, Jesus Christ. “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord…” (2 Corinthians 4:5a). As today’s Scripture indicates, if the lost world is to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, they need us to first preach this wonderful message to them!

According to James 2:17-26, God had always demanded faith and works for salvation (Abraham was the one exception; Romans 4:1-5). But, when we come to Paul’s ministry in Scripture, God declares that Sabbath day keeping, water baptism, physical circumcision, tithing, and animal sacrifices are no longer required for salvation.

Today, in the Dispensation of Grace, God is not operating Israel’s works-religion. The good news of God’s grace is that we can be saved solely by God’s grace without us doing anything but trusting in Christ alone! “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9). Until Paul, God had never revealed a message like our Gospel of Grace: the Gospel of the Grace of God declares what God did for you because you are unable to do anything for God. We can be saved without works today!

The Gospel of Grace is 1 Corinthians 15:3,4: “…how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” Jesus Christ shed His sinless blood to pay for your sins, He was buried to put away your sins, and He was raised again for your justification (Romans 4:25). Place your faith in Christ  alone, and He will save you forever. Then, preach the Gospel of Grace for others to hear!

The Little Flock #4

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32 KJV).

When Jesus Christ came to the nation Israel, He came to fulfill hundreds of Old Testament prophetic statements. He was the Messiah-King of whom God’s holy prophets had spoken for centuries. Israel’s long-prophesied kingdom was finally going to be established!

But, most Jews rejected Jesus as King-Messiah (John 1:11), eventually demanding the Romans crucify Him. In John 19:15 they cried, “We have no king but Caesar!” The few Jews who trusted in Jesus as their Messiah received John the Baptist’s water baptism (Matthew 3:1-6; Mark 1:1-5). They became Israel’s believing remnant (this was “the church” that followed the twelve apostles’ doctrine in early Acts [2:41-47]; cf. John 21:15-17).

John also warned that Jews who refused his message and water baptism would be “baptized with fire” (Matthew 3:7-12; Luke 3:7-9, 16-17). We know this as the period of God’s wrath, the seven-year Tribulation. The twelve apostles in Acts chapters 1-8 were unsuccessful in converting every Jew (a prerequisite for the kingdom). Now, God was about to pour out His wrath on rebellious Israel. But, God temporarily paused Israel’s prophetic program, and postponed that wrath and earthly kingdom.

Today, we live the Dispensation of Grace, separate from Israel’s kingdom program. But, when our dispensation ends (at the rapture), God will return to Israel and begin the seven-year Tribulation. God will continue the “little flock” by saving one-third of Israel, bringing them through that wrath (Zechariah 13:8,9; Matthew 24:15-21; Revelation 13:6,14-17). But, unbelieving Jews, as John predicted, will burn up in God’s wrath (cf. Matthew 24:36-44).

After Christ’s Second Coming to conclude the seven years, the “little flock” of the Tribulation will join the resurrected members of the “little flock” of Christ’s earthly ministry and early Acts, and the resurrected Old Testament believers. This entire group will inherit that earthly kingdom (today’s Scripture; Matthew 25:34).

The “little flock” should not be confused with us, the Church the Body of Christ. We believers in this dispensation will inherit God’s kingdom in the heavens (2 Corinthians 5:1; Ephesians 1:3; Ephesians 2:6,7; 2 Timothy 4:18).

The Little Flock #3

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32 KJV).

According to the Abrahamic Covenant, God’s purpose in forming the nation Israel was to make her a kingdom of priests through which He would send salvation and blessings to the world (Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5,6; et al.). Sadly, during the 2,000-year period between Abraham and Christ, sinful Israel drifted from JEHOVAH. Furthermore, Satan kept Israel from becoming what God wanted her to be. The devil sent false prophets to deceive and encourage Israel to embrace pagan idol worship (Deuteronomy 13:1-18; Jeremiah 6:13; 2 Peter 1:21–2:3; et al.).

Just before her Messiah-King Jesus comes, the Jews are “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 9:36; Matthew 10:6; Matthew 15:24). So, God sends John the Baptist to “make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17). John preaches, “Repent ye, the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2).

The Jews who believe and obey John’s message of “the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” form the “little flock,” the believing remnant in Israel (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3; Acts 13:24). Contrariwise, the remaining Jews refuse John’s baptism and message, and thus willingly continue in apostasy and spiritual blindness (Luke 7:29,30).

When Jesus’ ministry begins, shortly after John began his ministry, He preaches to Israel the message John proclaimed: “the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15; cf. Matthew 4:17). John’s converts now begin to follow Jesus (their Messiah); this includes the twelve apostles (John 1:40ff).

Jesus then sends the twelve apostles to convert the rest of Israel and continue forming the “little flock” (Matthew 10:5-7). Once Jesus dies, is buried, is raised again, and is ascended, He again sends the twelve apostles to convert the remaining Jews (the first eight chapters of Acts).

Unfortunately, most of Israel remained in unbelief, so God temporarily paused their program and opened our dispensation. But, Israel’s program will resume one day. Then, as today’s Scripture says, God will give the “little flock” their earthly kingdom!

The Little Flock #2

Monday, December 5, 2011

“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32 KJV).

When God promised the Abrahamic Covenant, He intended to form a nation (Israel) in the earth through Abraham’s son Isaac, and Isaac’s son Jacob (Genesis 12:2). Then, God would establish His earthly kingdom, and through the Jews, God would send salvation and blessings to the Gentiles (Genesis 12:3; Genesis 22:18; Exodus 19:5,6; Isaiah 60:1-3; Zechariah 8:20-23; et al.). Throughout the Old Testament, God continued to form His nation Israel.

However, some 2,000 years after Abraham, during Christ’s earthly ministry, Israel is “the lost sheep” (Matthew 9:36; Matthew 10:6; Matthew 15:24; et al.). Satan has so confused sinful Israel that she has strayed from the commandments and doctrines JEHOVAH gave her through Moses. Israel, as a whole, is in unbelief. As long as Israel is lost (unsaved), she cannot be God’s vessel to bring salvation to the Gentiles.

So, God sends John the Baptist to warn Israel that her kingdom is near and to declare Jesus as her Messiah-King (Matthew 3:2; John 1:6,7; John 1:29-34; Acts 13:23,24; cf. Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1). The few Jews who listen to John the Baptist’s preaching receive his water baptism and become “a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:13-17; cf. Mark 1:1-9; et al.): they form Israel’s believing remnant.

Now, God will not give that earthly kingdom to just any Jew—only Jews who are members of the “little flock” (see today’s Scripture). Matthew 21:43 says God will only give that earthly kingdom to Jews who “bring forth the fruits thereof [the kingdom of God]”—the Jews of faith!

Thus, when the Bible says, “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel” (Romans 9:6), it means that not every descendant of Jacob (a biological Jew) is God’s Jew (a born-again, saved Jew; see Romans 2:28,29). Not every descendant of Jacob (Isaac’s son) is saved. Only saved Jews (the believing remnant in Israel, the “little flock”) can inherit that earthly kingdom (cf. John 3:3,5).

One day, as today’s Scripture indicates, the “little flock” will receive their earthly kingdom!

The Little Flock #1

Sunday, December 4, 2011

“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32 KJV)

Christendom enjoys claiming the previous verse, “But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things [the material goods of verses 24-30] shall be added unto you” (verse 31). Yet they do not enjoy the verse after today’s Scripture (verse 33): “Sell that ye have, and give alms….” Today’s Scripture identifies the audience of verses 31 and 33—“the little flock,” not us!

Throughout the Bible, God refers to Israel as sheep (Matthew 9:36; Matthew 10:6; et al.). In one parable (Matthew 18:12-14; Luke 15:3-7,10), Jesus likens Himself to a shepherd, who has 100 sheep (the nation Israel). One sheep is lost and cries for help, so He seeks that one sheep. This one sheep symbolizes Jews who acknowledge their lost (unsaved) condition. The other 99 sheep (most Jews) willingly continue in spiritual ignorance.

Notice the adjective “little” in the term “little flock.” Even after Israel saw her Messiah Jesus perform miracles, signs, and wonders, most of them ignored Him. Very few Jews trusted in Jesus as Messiah—the Bible says only 120 believers were in Jerusalem at the end of Christ’s earthly ministry (Acts 1:15). The “little flock” was little indeed!

Although 8,000 Jews were saved during early Acts (Acts 2:41; Acts 4:4), that was just a fraction of Israel. Millions of Jews did not believe. Those who did believe during John the Baptist’s ministry followed his water baptism: the little flock is “a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17). Any Jew who was saved in early Acts obeyed Peter’s instructions of Acts 2:38, and joined that little flock of Jewish believers from Christ’s earthly ministry.

The “little flock” encompasses all Jewish believers from Christ’s earthly ministry, early Acts (pre-Acts chapter 9), and the Tribulation (it does not include any Jewish believers today). In Galatians 2:9, the little flock is called the “circumcision” and in John 21:15-17 they are called “sheep” and “lambs.” Unlike us, they are not members of the Church the Body of Christ. As today’s Scripture indicates, the little flock is the recipients of Christ’s earthly kingdom.

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The One Baptism

Sunday, July 17, 2011

“There is… one Lord, one faith, one baptism,” (Ephesians 4:5 KJV).

Do you need water baptism for salvation? What about for a testimony? In today’s Scripture, our Apostle Paul tells us that we only need ONE baptism today. Rather than speculating as to what that one baptism could be, why not search Paul’s epistles for the answer?

Evidently, our one baptism is not water baptism, for Paul said, “Christ sent me not to baptize” (1 Corinthians 1:17). In fact, Paul did not water baptize every believer in Corinth, only some of them (1 Corinthians 1:14-16)! At this point, by our forbidding water baptism today, 99.999 percent of Christendom would disagree—oh well! “Let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4).

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:13: “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” The ONLY baptism we need today is the baptism whereby the Holy Spirit—not a priest or preacher—places us in the Church the Body of Christ. This is a waterless, supernatural baptism. Paul also refers to this baptism in Romans 6:3-5, Colossians 2:12, and Galatians 3:27. Remember, “baptism” in Scripture does not necessarily mean water baptism.

Today’s Scripture, in its context, lists three of the seven doctrines that we share as members of the Church the Body of Christ. The one baptism that you need today is already yours in Christ! When you trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, you received your one baptism by the Holy Spirit placing you into a living, unbroken union with Jesus Christ. That is the one baptism necessary for salvation today in the Dispensation of Grace.

Never let some minister try to force you to be water baptized, either for salvation or for a testimony. Water baptism was for the salvation of the nation Israel in her kingdom program (Matthew 3:6; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21).