Baptism, John the Baptist,
Noah’s flood, and the Holy Spirit are topics, today, along with more on
whether GOD grants license for sin. The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using
the ID “Mario” (Level 4 with 3,339 points, a member since September 26, 2006)
posted the following:
Where did John the Baptist get the idea to
dunk people in water and call it baptism?
THE BATTLE AXE: GOD Grants
License? (06/20/2013)—The Kingdom of GOD is not the Land of Do As You Please.
To love us, GOD must suffer. However, to be eternal, GOD must end divine
suffering. As an aspect of righteousness, GOD always responds to the image of
himself residing in others with attention to detail, balance, benevolence,
expectation, mercy, and vision. Taken together, the sacred operations of GOD
(e.g., blessing, communion, correction, curses, death, imprisonment, prosperity,
punishment), do not permit created beings and living creatures to “get away with
murder,” or to continue eternally in transgression of divine law. The very
existence of divinity establishes multiple dimensions for being, change,
opportunity and possibility that remain unseen until actualized and revealed in
accordance with divine will. GOD is not blind, ignorant, lenient, or tolerant
of sin, however, the processes for life and continued being for those within
frameworks of time and space require measured change, the development of
discretion, growth, flexibility, and resilience that appear only through ordered
sequence. A broad range of behavioral, emotional, mental, psychological and
spiritual abilities and traits must be acquired that provide defining and
permanent aspects of person along with an uninterrupted consciousness of GOD.
Included are accountability, dependence, dutifulness, faithfulness,
interdependence, ownership, respect, and self-government. (See Job 40: 1-14,
Isaiah 57: 15-21, Jude 1: 5-7, KJV.)
THE GOLDEN ARROW: The next
day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which
taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a
man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but
that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with
water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven
like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to
baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit
descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy
Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. (John 1:
29-34, King James Version)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Destroyed
in Noah’s Flood (04/28/2013); Both Born Holy? (04/29/2013); Scripture at
Funerals (04/30/2013); The Dove (12/28/2012); Purchased With Blood?
(12/29/2012); Caesarea Philippi (10/22/2012); Fire Baptism (08/24/2012); Why No
Answer? (08/25/2012)
Mario, here are some points to consider that may
enrich your understanding of the sacrament of baptism:
(1) As a sacred operation accomplished through
action of the same Spirit that worked in Creation, baptism is not merely a human
event, a religious ceremony, or a formal ritual to dramatize a person choosing
to become a member of a church community. In the holy writings, the earliest
mention of “washing” speaks to removing surface uncleanness as an act of
hospitality (i.e., refreshing and welcoming strangers by applying water to their
feet), and the washing of ones clothes.
(2) With the establishment of covenant, cleaning
ones clothing and physical body become associated with anointing and holy oil to
sanctify (cleanse, prepare to enter divine presence, and set apart for holy
service) and to consecrate (install in holy office as priest or prophet). An
important feature of the Tabernacle was the laver of brass, wherein the priests
were to wash before and after their service offering blood at the holy altar.
Atonement, sprinkling and remission of sins through blood come into view rather
than washing by water.
(3) The earliest and most important appearance of
absolution, cleansing and washing away sin appears in the flood of Noah. Hidden
there are the full range of sacred operations we understand in baptism, today.
Included are death, judgment, preservation of divine law through the keeping of
created beings and living creatures, rebirth, resurrection, and
sanctification.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied,
and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4) Most believers in Jesus as
Redeemer and Savior agree that John was separated and anointed by the Spirit of
GOD to be a herald, a prophet and a witness to the divine consecration of
Christ, instead of a mere priest or rabbi. John was raised as a son and heir to
the priesthood; and we even may say that John the Baptist grew up on holy
ground, and was fed from the altar of GOD. The discipline and training he
received was probably conservative, traditional and very strict. Nevertheless,
in obedience to the Holy Ghost, John left the Temple at Jerusalem to carry out
and perform the word of GOD.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.
Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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