Tuesday, May 28, 2019

(05/28/2019) Baptism Is Not DIY




Today, reply is on baptism as a sacred practice (sacrament) within the church; having authority to approve, assess (judge), and witness to the sacred essence of ones own faith; and ministering the things from GOD to oneself. Redemption and the removal of sin from the life are only through blood and the atonement made by Jesus Christ as High Priest. Neither washing with water nor fire may substitute. Sinners can not accomplish the establishment of their own new life through human self-will and finite willpower. As developing Christians they receive a new life wherein they are dead to sin and have ongoing fellowship with divinity and those who are godly. Even so, there are those in the church who operate displaying ambition, covetousness, exaggerated pride, self-sufficiency, and self-will along with desire for unmerited authority and power. Properly understood, Christian belief focuses on acts of divine prerogative and sovereign will completed by divinity on behalf of created beings and living creatures. Thus, there are multiple sacred works that appear within the many communities of faith that are to be carried out and witnessed by those who are anointed, consecrated, ordained, and sanctified. Included are exorcism, healing, laying on of hands, preaching, prophecy, sacred events (miracles), sacrifice, speaking in tongues, teaching, and witness. It is written: Matthew 20: 20-28, King James Version (KJV): 20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. 22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. 24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. 25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. A fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” public forum on Spirituality and Religion who uses the ID “Dennis Sagt” (Level 7 with 41,282 points, a member since April 06, 2010) posted the following:



Why can't I baptize myself?



THE GOLDEN ARROW: Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (Ezekiel 36: 25-27, King James Version, KJV)



THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Offering Yourself To Christ? (12/27/2018); Baptism, Rebirth, and Resurrection (09/18/2018); Believers Must Become “Ripe” (09/02/2018); The Church Of Jesus (06/18/2018); Starting A New Life? (11/21/2017); Caution! Work In Progress (10/19/2017); Becoming Joined To GOD (10/13/2017); Baptism Pools For Rebirth? (07/19/2017)



Dennis Sagt”, baptism is not a matter of changing ones own lifestyle by breaking bad habits, by pursuing self-improvement, or getting attention through self-promotion. Among Christian believers, water and fire baptism must be acknowledged and received as gifts provided from divinity because multiple aspects of eternal purpose that may be completed by GOD only are to be actualized and fulfilled. Sinners who turn to GOD in repentance must undergo the death and burial of their own inborn spirit, so to speak, and are to display a fresh endowment of life essence (breath; spirit, word) imparted from the makeup of GOD. Inseparable aspects of divinity should appear that will operate as divine DNA, the seed of GOD. Those containing divine seed are “born again,” must “grow up again,” and must become mature/ripe for harvest by the Lord at his appearing. Meanwhile, developing Christian believers are edified and nourished through continuous works of rebirth, discovery, gradual growth, unselfish service, sacred study, and suffering. While still living on the earth, believers exist as sons and daughters of GOD, the offspring of divinity, joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, and the new creation.

As a fruit and product from the workings of active presence, Christians are to provide a visible image of GOD (we say, Christ-likeness) upon the earth. All are to manifest sacred substance such as faith, forbearance, gratitude, holiness, humility, joy, longsuffering, lovingkindness, oneness without sameness, personhood, praise, righteousness, wisdom, and wrath against sin. Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:

1. Romans 6: 3-6, King James Version (KJV): 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 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. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 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.
2. John 5: 28-29, KJV: 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

3. John 3: 1-12, KJV: 1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mothers womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, 4. Romans 8: 5-9, KJV: 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.


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THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

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