Points are shared on water and fire baptism, today. Also, there is more on the tactics of the enemy in spiritual warfare. A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “A B” (Level 5 with 9,024 points, a member who joined 2 years ago) posted the following:
Christians, what baptismal formula does the bible prescribe?
I know Matthew 28:19 says baptize in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit, but acts 2:38, 8:16 and 10:48 says the disciples baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
THE BATTLE AXE: Herod the Great? (06/29/2014)—(5.) Honest efforts, mistakes that come by trial-and-error, and our necessary missteps made in innocence when one seeks to learn and grow in spiritual truth are usually marked by humility and surrender to GOD, never self-justification and self-promotion. The process of those who advance spiritual warfare against Christ as a disguised challenge to the righteousness of GOD as judge over mankind usually is to select a “villain” from Bible history such as King Herod who reigned at the time Jesus was born, Pharaoh of Egypt who reigned at the time Moses was born, or Pontius Pilate who ruled at the time of the Savior‘s death. Those pursuing the error also will choose figures from modern history such as Hitler, Stalin, and Bin Laden. The indictment then is made that, by having foreknowledge (we say, omniscience), and using people as instruments to carry out the divine will, GOD is directly responsible for mass murder, and guilty of the many faults and crimes of mankind. A variation of the “great villain” scenario is the accusation against GOD on the basis of incidents that demonstrate divine judgment and wrath against sin such as the ten plagues of Egypt, destruction of the city of Jericho, and a gang of children mauled by a bear when they attacked an elderly prophet of GOD. Believers are to be manipulated into agreeing that divinity is to be condemned and despised as cruel, hateful, and hostile to all life upon the earth.
(6.) Believing that GOD has provided no mechanism within divine law whereby created beings and living creatures may call forth clarifications and review of divine actions, many feel mankind must insist upon standards from human law that will allow such charges as bias, favoritism, indifference, injustice, and malfeasance, to be brought against Almighty GOD. Human law does not have jurisdiction over GOD, except as divinity appears in flesh (we say, incarnate). Thus, the public exposure, arrest, trial, scourging, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and all the details for atonement, redemption, and salvation are to be seen as a complete divine provision for lawful dispute, and resolution for all opposition to divinity: GOD has provided a lamb.
(7.) Just as created beings and living creatures fail to recognize and resist sin when unaware of divine law, sinners fail to realize the advantage, benefit, and protection and from GOD when consciousness of divine law is lost. Posing questions can be important to communication, dialog, and cooperative exchange. Merely asking a question to gain new knowledge or increase ones understanding is not automatically an offense against GOD. However, those influenced by sin repeatedly employ devices that do not emerge from an appetite for the things of GOD. As sinners, inquirers operate from a base of intellect and imagination, rather than from the imparted Spirit of GOD. Believers should be alert and vigilant when conversations that begin by quoting the Scriptures conclude with citations from extra-biblical sources. For example, conditional and hypothetical questions with no spiritual material may appear that require acceptance of assumptions and conditions contrary to the declarations of GOD (we say, that do not exist, are not genuine, are not true). Thereby false information is introduced. Attackers will use analysis to foster error that breaks or conceals necessary links for the full integrity, soundness and wholeness of scripture truth. Imposters are unable to completely disguise their aggression, bitterness, ignorance, and lack of correct understanding. Those whose focus is primarily prohibitions, punishments, and threats of hell center their awareness in one dimension (measurable aspect) of divine law. Forgiveness is held to be granted as an arbitrary exercise, and so is regarded as changeable, erratic and unpredictable. Counsel to such persons absolutely must be, get to know Christ for yourself. Focus upon being in a relationship with GOD, not being just another object in Creation. See again Psalms 10: 1-18, Psalms 36: 1-3, Psalms 109: 1-4, Job 15: 31, Jeremiah 9: 4-6, Mark 12: 24 and Romans 16: 17-18, KJV.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: (Mark 10: 32-39, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Sprinkled, Immersed, Named? (02/01/2014); Forgiveness Through GOD? (02/02/2014); Before Getting Baptized? (11/28/2013); The Rich in Divine Relationship? (11/29/2013); Origin of Baptism? (06/22/2013); Money-changers in the Temple? (06/23/2013)
“A B”, here are a few points that are useful for a full Christian understanding of baptism:
(1.) There is no verbal formula (we say, charm, enchantment, slogan, spell) used to complete water and fire baptism. Because water baptism is an operation carried out by the Spirit of GOD in respect to the Father (as we see with John the Baptist), or as the agent of Jesus Christ (as seen in the instance of Saul of Tarsus answered through the disciple, Ananias), baptism is both a sacred event (we say, miracle), and a sacrament (sacred practice). Fire baptism may occur before water baptism as shown in the instance where those in the Gentile household of Cornelius were all endowed with the gifts from the Father before Peter could finish his sermon.
(2.) The Apostle Paul, following the example of Jesus himself, did not conduct many baptisms in order to establish the rite as a sacred act establishing divinity within flesh (we say, incarnation), and linking flesh (mankind) to Spirit, rather than a process joining followers to their teachers, and linking believers to those from whom they received instruction and personal ministry.
There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended. For example, (3.) In water baptism ones inborn spirit dies, is buried, and is replaced by a new spirit having the same content and makeup as the Holy Spirit that operated in Creation, and that resided within Jesus of Nazareth. Through the ministry of Jesus upon the earth, and from the heaven, believers are granted fresh endowments of that same Spirit that was breathed into Adam, and that provides awareness and self-will as the children of GOD. The church has used language both to acknowledge that Christ is come in flesh fulfilling the Scriptures as well as to proclaim fulfillment for the promise of the Father regarding gifts of the Spirit.) 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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