Water baptism, church attendance, commitment and relationships are topics, today. Believers do not enter baptism because they “know it all” already, rather, because they are willing to learn and become perfected through the operations of GOD. The writer at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “grace” (Level 1 with 95 points, a member since May 5, 2015) posted the following:
Do you have to go to church every Sunday before you can be baptised?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. (Romans 6: 1-10, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Forced To Attend Church? (02/22/2015); GOD Lives Inside Us? (07/11/2014); Can the Word of GOD Be Altered? (07/12/2014); Before Getting Baptized? (11/28/2013); The Rich in Divine Relationship? (11/29/2013); Church is Good? (06/15/2013); Feeling Loved By GOD? (06/16/2013)
“grace”, most Christian believers would agree that church attendance is an irreplaceable aspect of preparing for baptism. Consider the following:
(1.) The candidate for baptism is making a permanent commitment to acknowledge divinity through their awareness and self-will by conforming to sacred law and standards made visible through such behavior as giving, learning, offering, praise, prayer, serving, sharing and worshiping within a community of dedicated believers.
(2.) The person choosing to be baptized is developing a personal relationship with Deity by inviting GOD to alter their inner makeup and the nature of their spirit content. In addition to acquiring godly knowledge and carrying out sacred practices (we say, duties, sacraments) that explain and introduce aspects of the new life, a believer is encouraged to receive Jesus Christ engaging the Savior by such elements as confession, gratitude, hope, humility, repentance, respect, speaking the truth, and trust.
(3.) Correctly understood, the church itself is an appearance of divinity and Spirit. Thus, a person’s understanding must be transformed to use the holy writings along with aspects of their own spirit makeup as their only standard to discern, recognize, and respond to spirit matter in events, messages, other persons, etc. The church, then, is not merely a building, an institution, a political organization, or a social center. It is a place set apart (we say, sanctified) for the abiding presence of divinity, where believers may experience communion and direct encounters with GOD.
(4.) Before baptism, believers should become aware of the ongoing operation of sin within their own lives as well as through the world. Sin has not been created by GOD, and contains no divine spirit, yet, sin may dominate awareness and self-will in created beings and living creatures. Sin opposes the continued existence of divine law, of Deity, and of all divine order. Correct knowledge of the “exceeding sinfulness of sin” further allows comprehending the fullness of Grace and divine love.
There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (5.) Given that baptism is more than simply a cleansing or washing by water of ones outside performed by other human beings, and represents the death, burial, and rebirth to new life, baptism must be understood as elimination of sin and inward purification performed by the same exalted Spirit that established heaven and earth, and was breathed into Adam at Creation.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith and spiritual maturity.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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