Sunday, November 17, 2019

(11/17/2019) The "Perfection" Of Baptism

John 3:10, KJV: 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?



Today, reply is on the “perfection” of water baptism. Full redemption and salvation require believing in Jesus Christ, rather than believing in water baptism alone. Arguments are being made that the doctrine and rituals for water baptism introduced by John the Baptist were imperfect, should be discontinued, and are to be replaced by the practicing and teaching only fire baptism introduced by Jesus Christ. The divine tool of miracles was not a substitute for the sacred gifts later bestowed by the Holy Spirit. The ministry of Jesus was a work of eternal transformation; and it should not be disturbing that his doctrine and practice on the earth changed as he matured in his priesthood. Baptism that was used to identify the Son of the Highest to an agent of GOD from the Temple at Jerusalem is now used to identify the members of his body to one another. It is written: Acts: 18: 24-28, King James Version (KJV): 24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. 27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: 28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. The fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” public forum on Religion and Spirituality using the ID “Norine” (Level 1 with 11 points) posted the following:



Re: Acts 18:25-26 Why would Jesus allegedly command disciples to "Go baptize" with an IMPERFECT water baptism in Matt 28:19?



THE GOLDEN ARROW: And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto Johns baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve. (Acts 19: 1-7, KJV)



THE DOUBLE DAGGER: A Complete Divine Revelation (11/15/2019); Why Do They Sing? (11/14/2019); Aspects of Full Righteousness (11/01/2019); By Death and Resurrection (10/29/2019); The “History” Of Christ (10/08/2019); Divinity Embodied In Flesh (12/30/2018); The Increase of Christ? (12/07/2018)



Norine”, water baptism is like one of the most precious jewels appearing on the crown of a monarch. The full majesty, meaning, and value for the royal diadem goes beyond the brilliance, or the physical dimensions of size and weight from a single gemstone. Similarly, the works of John the Baptist stood out as departures from the covenant of Moses, practice among the priests of the Temple community, and the traditional doctrines of absolution, atonement, forgiveness, and repentance. Water baptism was “perfect” in itself given that baptism is a sacred tool that is not intended to provide the full work of redemption, revelation, and salvation without the living sacrifice, and the shed blood of divinity appearing on earth in human flesh (i.e., the Incarnation; the crucifixion of Jesus Christ). In fact, John explained that baptism was a device being used by the Holy Spirit to make visible the anointing and virtue of the Prophet that would come who had been proclaimed by Moses. Once Christ was publicly ordained in the witness of John, everything could be clearly seen as in transition: a new covenant law, a new kingdom, and a new process imparting life through resurrection from the dead, rather than by birth from the womb. Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible, and a selection from the music ministry of Sandi Patti:

(1.) John 1: 32-34, King James Version (KJV): 32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 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. 34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

(2.) John 3: 1-7, 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.

(3.) Mark 16: 14-16, KJV: 14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

(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.

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (5.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcC2x0go5R8.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.


Image downloaded 7:40 AM, November 17, 2019 @ https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-849uH3xJLGU/T6BVrfO8tPI/AAAAAAAADLE/
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THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

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