Today, I share another reply on why a believer needs baptism. The divine process for salvation, in fact, is one of transforming the created to more completely and correctly display the image of the Creator. Important demands from natural and divine law must be answered that include completing mankind’s mortality, replacing the inborn spirit of man, amplifying the expression of sacred will that must reside within the living, and the sprouting of mankind from divine seed. Through water baptism, sinners are further established and immersed in the life-giving birth, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension and divine High Priesthood of Jesus Christ that GOD the Father now acknowledges as their own personal recovery from sin. One of the fighters at “Yahoo! Answers” who uses the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information shared) posted the following:
If Jesus died your sins then why do you need to baptism?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ. (1st Corinthians 2: 7-16, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Water, The Fire (10/10/2017); Rebirth, Growth and Transformation (09/29/2017); Sons of GOD Suffer? (09/19/2017); From Dust Thou Art (09/07/2017); To Define “Godly Love” (08/20/2017); Called To Serve Unselfishly (07/06/2017); His Children Are Sanctified (10/12/2016); The Purpose of Resurrection (07/05/2016)
“Anonymous”, many don’t stop to think, yet, increasingly, many mature Christian believers agree that the divine process of salvation is one of becoming joined to GOD through imparted spirit substance from the makeup of divinity. The character, nature, and substance of the Creator was deposited initially in the created as life essence (we also say, breath, spirit, the spark of life, word). Through the ministry of Jesus Christ, sinners are provided with a fresh endowment of sacred content that includes aspects of sovereign will that can not be dominated by sin. Believers are a new creation, the sons and daughters of GOD, and vessels containing the Holy Spirit (we also say, the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Prophecy, the Spirit of Truth).
The joining we speak of is not so much carnal, material, secular, and social as it is forward-looking, promissory, and spiritual. The active presence that should be acknowledged and recognized as GOD is accessible and approachable for mankind through inseparable aspects of full divine substance. Included are faith, forgiveness, glory, grace, holiness, hope, longsuffering, lovingkindness, wisdom, and wrath against sin. Believers receive anointing to serve as heirs, priests and kings along with Jesus, who has lived on the earth as an Incarnation (embodiment in flesh and blood) of the three persons in GODhead (the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit). Multiple operations are being completed by the GODhead for the transformation of mankind to exist as an immortal, incorruptible companion of divinity (e.g., baptism, death, judgment, rebirth, resurrection, sanctification).
By observing sacred practices (we say, sacraments) such as baptism, confirmation, holy matrimony, and the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion) Christian believers are built up and edified with the church, for they participate in assemblies that serve as godly convocations, and respond to the same standards for oneness without sameness that exist among the persons of the GODhead. During the baptism of Jesus, he was acknowledged as the Son of Adam and the Son of the Highest; and his office as priest and prophet was confirmed. Believers are to acquire the same consciousness that was bestowed upon Christ. Consider again the following that uses language from the holy writings:
(1.) Philippians 2: 5-11, King James Version (KJV): 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(2.) John 17: 17-24, KJV: 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
(3.) Romans 8: 13-18, KJV: 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) Galatians 2: 20, KJV: 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.) 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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