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Baptism & Salvation! By Pastor Bill Taylor A publication of My Father's House, inc. Volume 3//Issue 1 “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mk16:16) In the contemporary church it’s commonly believed that Salvation being of faith alone the sacrament of water baptism is chiefly symbolic and therefore of little importance to the actual Spiritual work that takes place when a soul is being saved by Christ! Yet if we carefully examine the scriptures we find neither Jesus nor his apostles believe in a salvation in which baptism is of minor importance! Jesus specifically links salvation to water baptism and He commands it. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them.” (Mt28:19) Christ’s apostles in teaching the way of salvation commonly reiterate His command and in action they always obey it! And they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Act2:37-38) Then those who gladly received his word were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. (v41) Notice, the souls were added when they were baptized. Numerous examples can be quoted from the book of Acts to show that in the apostolic church water baptism was considered to be both integral and necessary to the initial work of salvation. In Samaria When they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Act8:12) When they believed they were baptized, just as Jesus prescribed in Mark 16 and “Baptism in the Spirit” followed! (v16,17) When Ananias is sent to the apostle Paul after Paul’s first encounter with Christ, Ananias ends his visit with this instruction, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins calling on the name of the Lord.” (Act22:16) And he (Paul) arose and was baptized. (Act9:18) Again after the Holy Spirit falls upon Cornelius’ household, Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord, (Act10:48) saying, “Can anyone forbid water that these should not be baptized who’ve received the Holy Spirit just as we?” (v47) Note this is a water baptism “can anyone forbid water?” in this case following the “baptism of the Spirit!” Also in Philippi, when Paul and Silas meet Lydia The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And she and her household were baptized… (Act16:14,15) Later when the Philippian jailer asks, “What must I do to be saved?” (Act16:30) “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” (v31) is the apostle’s answer. Then, after sharing the Word of the Lord (v32) with all his house, Immediately, he and all his family were baptized! (v33) In every place the prescription followed by the apostles is the same as that given by Christ, “those who believe and are baptized will be saved.” And in every case this means water baptism in the name of Jesus, which is usually followed by “baptism in the Spirit!” Now the scriptures plainly show us there’s both a water baptism in the name of Christ and a baptism in the Spirit. These are different baptisms and yet they’re both required, each for its own purpose. Water baptism in the name of Jesus is required to complete the new believer’s initial consecration unto God! It’s commanded by Jesus! It must be done in faith! And, when properly administered and received it results in a supernatural work of God, by His Spirit, separating the new believer from the power of sin and the old worldly life by the death of Christ and raising the believer to a new life in Christ through faith in and by the powerful working of the Spirit of God! (Col 2:12) This is what it means to be “born again!” This is what Jesus speaks of when he says, “unless one is born of water and the Spirit,” he can’t enter the Kingdom of God! This is the baptism that “SAVES!” This is the “one baptism” spoken of in Ephesians 4:5! Scripture, however does tell us of other baptisms. “The doctrine of baptisms…” (Heb6:2) So all true Christians are born again, raised with Christ, or “saved” by a supernatural work of the Spirit which the scriptures tell us ordinarily takes place in water baptism into Christ “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Eph4:5) But Christians are also supernaturally empowered to witness to others for Christ through a baptism in the Holy Spirit! “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to Me…” (Act1:8) So there are more baptisms than water baptism in Christianity, but water baptism is the “one baptism” Jesus commands us to administer and receive “for salvation!” Shouldn’t we examine the doctrine of water baptism very closely since it’s of such fundamental importance to salvation and union with Christ? Thus it behooves us to be certain we’re entering Christ’s church through the door and not by some other way! “Most assuredly,” I say to you, “he who doesn’t enter the sheepfold (church) by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber!” (Jn10:1) Now the door is Christ (v9) But Jesus teaches the way to enter into Christ is through faith and water baptism. So we may also say the door to Christ is a water baptism which unites us to Christ. And using any other way to try to enter Christ’s church than that which Jesus has commanded would make one a “thief and a robber!” And can it be that many “Spirit filled” churches, in their zeal to manifest the power of God in the “baptism of the Spirit” are overlooking the doctrines of Christ regarding THE POWER of water baptism? Where such is the case “Christians” may be pursuing God’s Spiritual power when they haven’t yet properly found Christ Himself! Christ the Power of God… (1Cor1:24) And If the foundations are out of course, what can the righteous do? (Ps11:3) Since a sound baptism in the Holy Spirit and power of God must be connected to a sound water baptism into Christ, let’s carefully examine our foundations in water baptism and be sure they’re not “out of course!” Is Water Baptism Necessary To Salvation? Is obedience to God necessary to Salvation? Could Noah have been saved if he didn’t obey God and build the Ark? Could the Israelites have been saved if they didn’t obey God and follow Moses through the Red Sea? “But that’s Old Testament!” Yet both are referred to in the NEW TESTAMENT as prefiguring WATER BAPTISM! “Moreover, brethren, I don’t want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” (1Cor10:1,2) In the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is eight souls were saved through water. There’s also an antitype (a fulfillment of a previous symbol), which now saves us, namely BAPTISM. (1Pt3:20,21) These references reveal that water baptism is not some new innovation God tossed into the New Covenant for mere temporary or cultural reasons. Rather WATER BAPTISM was foreseen, foreshadowed, prefigured and intended by God as an ordinance and means of entering into Christ from the very beginning! Water Baptism isn’t an invention of men, incorporated by God into salvation’s plan for expedience sake, but rather Water Baptism is a commandment of God, invented and ordained by God as an almost always necessary step into initial salvation! “Was the baptism of John, of God, or of men?” (Mk11:30) Jesus asks the Pharisees thereby confounding them! John answers “He who sent me to baptize with water said to me…” (Jn1:33) John says God is the One who sent him to baptize! Jesus confirms the validity of John’s baptism by submitting Himself to it. “For thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness!” Even though John tries to prevent Him saying, “I have need to be baptized by You!” (Mt3:14,15) And Luke, speaking of the baptism of John says, “Even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.” (Lk7:29,30) Tax collectors received God’s Word through the prophet John. They obeyed and were baptized! But the Pharisees rejected God’s Word, refusing to be baptized for repentance! If receiving the baptism of John justified God in that time, how much more does receiving water baptism in the name of Jesus justify God and Christ today? If refusing John’s water baptism was a rejection of God’s Word then, how much more is refusing Christ’s water baptism a rejection of God’s Word now? And He said unto them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who’d come after him, that is on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this they were baptized in the name of the Lord. (Act19:3-5) They believed and were baptized in water! After their water baptism, Paul then laid hands on them and the Holy Spirit came upon them. (v6) The apostles have been taught sound doctrine by Christ Himself! They didn’t learn theology in pharisaical seminaries. Their instruction wasn’t the result of doctrinal arguments and opinions of men! The Son of God taught them personally for three years before His crucifixion. Then for forty days after His resurrection He continued to instruct them! (Act1:3) Thus on an issue as important as Christian baptism it’s certain Jesus wouldn’t have left them untutored! Most certainly the apostle’s doctrine is sound and anyone who’d argue against it makes himself a heretic and enemy of the true church, which is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. (Eph2:20) In the book of Acts, Christ’s apostles demonstrate again and again by both word and deed, that they believe in the necessity of both water baptism and a separate baptism in the Holy Spirit! And in every place and at every opportunity they practiced water baptism in the name of Jesus as the necessary first step after repentance to salvation, just as Jesus instructed: “Those who believe and are baptized will be saved!” But What About The Thief On The Cross? God isn’t a machine operating by rules which are rationless and invariable! Such is the nature of superstition: precepts which would reward or destroy the just with the unjust. Touch not, taste not, handle not! (Col 2:21) But such precepts have no regard to the purity of heart, holiness of intention, love, the willingness and the opportunity to serve God and help others! Unreasonable and purposeless rules are of the nature of satan. They’re never the nature of a merciful, righteous and rational God! God’s rules and prescriptions have purpose! Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill it? (Mk3:4) Jesus tries to show the Pharisees that God intended the Sabbath to be a blessing to men, not a curse! God is always reasonable, rational, and righteous, merciful, kind and good! If He’s given us water baptism as an accessory to salvation, His object is to SAVE! Water baptism is not meant to be an obstacle in the way of those to whom it’s unavailable that they should be lost. It’s given by God as a help to SAVE the worthy not to damn them! One reason God has given water baptism is so those desiring to become one with Christ may actually know when they’ve received! Moses says, “I’ve set before you life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life.” (Dt30:19) Similarly under the new covenant every true preacher of the Gospel sets before his listeners a choice between “life and death!” Water baptism is God’s line drawn in the sand that we may cross over to choose life. Christ has given us the baptism that we may step across the line, believe we’ve received and know we’ve chosen life! It’s in water baptism that we actually act upon our faith, leave the old life behind, and enter into a new Godly life with Christ. Abraham said to God, “How shall I know that I’ll inherit it!” (Gen15:8) Abraham was already a “believer!” (v6) Yet God responded to Abraham by “cutting a covenant” so his faith could be even more certain. (v9-21) And by entering into this covenant Abraham’s faith was made more perfect? It was made complete. (Jms2:22) Likewise the believer today may ask, “How shall I know I’ve really received eternal life?” Christ provides water baptism as our covenant that the baptized believer may know of a certainty he belongs to Jesus! Again Moses says, “Who’s on the Lord’s side, let him come to me.” (Ex32:26) And Jesus says, “Who’s on Christ’s side, let him be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Mt28:19) Baptism is the “work of obedience” connected with our faith (believes and is baptized) which James teaches us perfects our faith! “And by works faith was made perfect.” (Jms2:22) By the act of obedience in water baptism the believer’s faith is made complete and shown to be a living faith and not a dead faith! (v20) In water baptism the line in the sand is crossed and the believer stands on the side of Christ! Yet if there’s first a willing mind, it’s accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he doesn’t have! (2Cor8:12) Here Paul teaches another wonderful principle of God’s character! As long as we’re willing, God only expects of us what we can do and not what we can’t! The thief said to Jesus “Lord, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say unto you, today you’ll be with Me in Paradise.” (Lk23:42,43) God knows there’s no opportunity for this man to be baptized, so here He accepts the man’s faith as sufficient. Such is the graciousness of God! And the thief also knows he’s been accepted “Assuredly I say to you, today you will be with Me…” Jesus Himself has given this dying believer a specific word of absolute assurance. His “line in the sand” is a personal Word from Jesus. It’s not a general Word of scripture given to many, but the Word of Christ to him alone! Certainly such is God’s mercy exhibited under these very special circumstances that Christ can save where there’s water or where there isn’t! But just as certainly, had there been opportunity and had the thief been properly instructed in the faith he surely would have been baptized. To know the commandment of Christ and yet refuse to obey under circumstances where baptism is available, what kind of faith would that be? But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? (Jms2:20-22) Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (Rom4:3) How is it we know Abraham believed God? Because he OBEYED! It was Abraham’s OBEDIENCE that proved his FAITH was real. Those who don’t obey don’t believe! Why do you call Me “Lord, Lord,” and not do the things that I say? (Lk6:46) “You don’t really believe that I’m Lord,” Jesus teaches, “unless you OBEY Me as Lord!” And Noah OBEYED God and prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. (Heb11:7) Which Peter tells us is a foreshadowing for that which now saves us, namely baptism. (1Pt3:21) Noah’s salvation comes by his OBEDIENCE to God in building an ark! And it also comes by God’s flood of water, which washes away an old sinful world that a new “Godly” life can begin. Noah is saved by “his” obedience and by “God’s” water! Likewise a faith that OBEYS, and is baptized produces a salvation by “water” in which an old sinful life is washed away and a new life unto God begins! Now, of course, it’s not the water itself that saves us but the “flood” of God’s grace that comes through our faith when we enter the water! (Eph2:9) Yet that faith must be obedient, it must be a “working faith,” or it won’t receive the grace. For a dead faith can’t receive God’s living grace! Water Baptism Must Be In Faith! Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here’s water, what hinders me from being baptized?” then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may!” (Act8:36,37) Water baptism isn’t a merely symbolic act. It’s a “work” which completes or perfects the initial saving faith of the believer! Now, God in every place expects faith from His people. And the just shall live by faith! (Rom1:17) But there are many kinds of faith. So what kind of faith does God require? Without faith it’s impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe He is, and that He’s a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb11:6) God says it’s not enough just to “have faith” that God exists, likewise it’s not enough to “have faith” that God is powerful, good, merciful, wise, righteous, etc. But what pleases God is the kind of faith that believes God will actually do something; a faith that God will use His power, wisdom, and mercy on behalf of those who truly seek Him. James tells us that God won’t answer selfish prayers. You ask and don’t receive, because you ask amiss that you may spend it on your own pleasures. (Jms4:3) But God often tells us He desires to use His power to help us if we diligently ask for good things! For You have not because you ask not! (Jms4:2) and If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us… we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him! (1Jn5:14,15) One of the things God wills and very much desires to do for us, and for which we should seek Him diligently is that He’d conform us to the image of Christ. God has predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son… (Rom8:29) So when it comes to the perfection of the saints and our spiritual growth in Christ, God is looking for a faith that seeks Him diligently and expects Him to actually work powerfully in our lives to bring about the things for which we’re seeking Him! Any other faith isn’t pleasing to God! For God desires to work! He wants to accomplish many things in us and through us. And it’s only through those who have faith for Him to operate and do such things that God’s will, will be done on earth as it is in heaven! (Mt6:10) Concerning baptism Paul says we’re “buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God.” (Col 2:12) Note this teaching confirms the necessity of water baptism as the initial entrance into the “born again” life. For you’re all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ! (Gal 3:26-27) Here Paul links “faith in Christ” to being “baptized into Christ.” “You,” he says, “who’ve been (truly) baptized into Christ have exercised faith in Christ.” And “you,” he says, “who’ve been baptized in faith, have put on Christ!” Also those who’ve been baptized in faith are the sons of God! Again, Paul says, “Do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life.” (Rom6:3,4) So those who’ve been baptized (in faith) are raised to a new life in Christ by the GLORY of the Father! We’ve already shown those who are baptized are raised by “faith in the working of God.” (Col 2:12) The Greek word translated “working” (“operation” in the OKJ) is “energeia” and could also be rendered “the powerful working” of God. So we see from these scriptures that God’s GLORY in Rom6:4 is the same as His (POWERFUL) WORKING in Col 2:12! And the specific kind of faith we’re to exercise in our water baptism is a faith that God will WORK POWERFULLY to unite us to Christ’s death (unto sin and this world) and to RAISE US into a new life that’s lived UNTO CHRIST! These scriptures prove the Christian who’s been baptized in FAITH IN THE POWERFUL WORKING OF GOD has entered a new life where he no longer does his own will, but now does the will of God! And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves but for Him who died for them and rose again. (2Cor5:15) So water baptism is the place where we exercise faith in the (powerful) working of God (Col 2:12) and faith that God will reward those who diligently seek Him! (Heb11:6) And the reward is that God will POWERFULLY and SUPERNATURALLY RAISE us into a NEW LIFE of OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST! It’s in water baptism, through faith in God to work in us that we die with Christ, and are “BORN AGAIN” from above for unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he can’t see the Kingdom of God. (Jn3:3) We’ve previously shown water baptism can be likened to a line which we step across to choose “life” and it’s a work that perfects our faith. But here we see water baptism is also what may be called a “point of contact” for the release of a specific form of faith! “Therefore” I say to you, “what things so ever you desire, when you pray, believe you receive them and you’ll have them!” (Mk11:24) For faith to be real and not mere credulity, we must have solid evidence God has promised we can have those things for which we ask. (1Jn5:14,15) And here we have Christ’s word “those who believe and are baptized will be saved!” (Mk16:16) So when we’re baptized we may “believe that we’ve received” the resurrection life Paul speaks of in Romans 6, and the born from above Spirit Jesus says we need in John 3. It’s in the act of water baptism we cross the line from asking God in prayer to believing we’ve received (Mk11:23) what He’s promised; namely the forgiveness of sins, and the new life in Christ! The woman with the issue of blood thought, “if only I may touch the hem of His garments, I’ll be made well!” (Mk5:28) She had faith in Christ and believed He’d heal her, but how was she to know when she’d received? She thought, “When I touch Him!” That’s when she could “believe she received!” And so it was. When she touched only the hem of His garment, power went out of Him and she was immediately healed! And this is how the new believer should look towards water baptism. At baptism we’re to expect POWER to come out of God to raise us into a new life, a supernatural life in Christ! God has given us water baptism as the “point of contact” for our faith. Water baptism is where we “touch the hem of Christ’s garment” that we may “believe we’ve received!” But of course, we must not doubt! We must come to our baptism with steadfast faith! But let him ask in faith with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he’ll receive anything from the Lord! (Jms1:6,7) Real Water Baptism Is A Work Of God’s Power! In most contemporary charismatic and Pentecostal churches “Baptism in the Holy Spirit” is regarded as God’s work of POWER, yet scripturally we can see BOTH BAPTISMS are works of God’s Power. Water baptism is where God gives us the POWER to live a truly Christian life, with a heart like Jesus’ to do the will of God. “Baptism in the Spirit” is where Christ gives us the POWER to share that Christian life with others and a faith like Jesus’ for God’s POWER to work through us; You shall receive POWER... and You shall witness to Me! (Act1:8) To be a “witness” is to share your faith with others! Therefore it can be a great mistake to overlook the POWER in “water baptism” in favor of the POWER in the “baptism in the Holy Spirit” since both have their place and purpose. Water Baptism is faith for God’s Power to work in you and baptism in the Holy Spirit is faith for God’s POWER to work through you! The true Christian should experience both! Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your Name, cast out demons in Your name.” And then I’ll declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of iniquity!” (Mt7:22,23) Jesus powerfully warns it’s not being baptized into the “Power of the Holy Spirit,” prophesying or casting out demons, etc., by which we become His. It’s in water baptism we’re “raised with Christ through faith” and “seated together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” (Eph2:6) to live a holy life. It’s through water baptism we become one with Christ in heart and where He truly comes to know us! It’s no wonder contemporary Christianity so often fails in its high calling from God! Those who’ve not had a form of godliness but denying the power thereof (2Tim3:5) have often tried to demonstrate the POWER of God’s Holy Spirit without having the heart of Christ or true union with and submission to God in Christ! Whereas water baptism unites us to Christ in death as well as life! If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it! (Lk9:23-24) I affirm by the boasting in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I DIE DAILY! (1Cor15:31) I’ve been crucified with Christ; it’s no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by FAITH in the Son of God... (Gal 2:20) By water baptism we enter into a supernatural life in Christ, but this new life continues as a daily reiteration of that same faith in the (powerful) working of God which we first exercise in baptism. For through baptism we are joined to the death, burial and resurrection of Christ buried with Him in baptism, and raised with Him through faith in the working of God! (Col 2:12) So after his baptism, the believer must continue to exercise faith to die daily (1Cor15:31) and to deny himself and pick up his cross daily. (Lk9:23) Every day the believer must walk in a faith that “follows Jesus,” (Lk9:23) for the true Christian lives unto Him! The life I live I live by faith in the Son of God... (Gal 2:20) Thus the initial faith that saves us in water baptism is the same kind of faith God expects us to live by every day of our life! The just shall live by faith! (Rom1:17) In water baptism then, God lays a foundation, requiring us to begin a life of faith and obedience which He fully expects us to continue in every day of our Christian lives! Thus water baptism represents no small thing of merely symbolic importance, but rather it initiates us into true Christian faith, faith in the powerful working of God to raise us each day into the spiritual life of Christ! A true Christian must possess a daily faith that unites him in thought and deed to the death and life, the self-denial and obedience of Christ. And this is the faith God expects us to live by, the just shall live by faith! We should walk in Christ’s Spirit every day. Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor? (Rom11:33,34) In water baptism God shows us in the beginning, the kind of faith Christians are to walk in unto the end! Have you been baptized into Christ according to His commandment? Have you truly been “born again” in the “washing of regeneration” (Tit3:5) whereby God raises you to a new life in Christ by your faith in the (powerful) working of God? (Col 2:12) If not, then why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord (Act22:16) The Sins Of Jeroboam! And he did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam. (1Kng15:26,34; 16:26,31; 22:52 & 2Kng3:3; 10:29; 13:2,10,11; 14:24; 15:9,18,24,28) One of the saddest litanies in the Bible is the list of the Kings of Israel who didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam: Nadab, Baasha, Omri, Ahab, Ahaziah, Joram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II, Zechariah, Meneham, Pekahiah, & Pekah. Murders, conspiracies, wars, droughts, famines and diseases characterize this terrible period in Hebraic history. It finally ends in the destruction and captivity of the northern kingdom! God enumerates the many grievances He held against these apostates finally ending with: For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they didn’t depart from them, until the Lord removed Israel out of His sight, as He’d said by all His servants the prophets. (2Kng17:7-23) During the many years of apostasy God didn’t completely depart from Israel, but continued to send them prophets, to warn them, and even at times deliver them from their enemies and to bless them and heal them. Yet He was never “pleased” with them. Now the “sins of Jeroboam” were that after Solomon’s death, when his kingdom was divided, Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, retained Judah, Jerusalem and the Levites. But Jeroboam took the other ten tribes and fearing that if they continued to worship God in Jerusalem they’d return to Rehoboam, Jeroboam devised a more convenient form of worship. He made two golden calves. He set them up in Bethel and Dan, much closer to the homes of the northern tribes, so that his people wouldn’t have to make the longer trip to Jerusalem to worship God. He also appointed “priests from among the common people. These priests were not called by God to be priests as were the Levites. They were apostate “priests!” (1Kng11:26-12:33,13:33) Jeroboam’s unscriptural form of worship was well accepted by the people. For in spite of God’s continual warnings that they were in “SIN” because they weren’t worshipping according to His commandments, still the people persisted in this “innovation” of Jeroboam. And during all the years and under all the kings who continued in this “convenient” form of worship initiated by Jeroboam, the people never returned to the true worship of God in Jerusalem, even until they were destroyed. The apostasy grew much worse under Ahab, whose wife, Jezebel, introduced baal worship. But even when “revival” came through Elijah and later through Jehu, by whom the worshippers of baal were destroyed, still the people and Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam... who’d made Israel to sin by the golden calves that were at Bethel and Dan... For Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart; for he didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam... (2Kng10:29,31) In the end, the Lord allowed the northern kingdom to be completely destroyed. And what does this mean to us? Does today’s church have any golden calves? Do contemporary “christians” practice any “convenient” forms of “Christianity,” innovations of men, which twist or pervert the Word of God? Sadly, the answer is yes. There are numerous errors in the contemporary “churches” which oppose and pervert God’s scriptural ways of worship! For as the golden calves would distract and lead astray those who might otherwise have gone to Jerusalem to correctly serve the Lord, and seduced the “believers” to worship God in a false way, thereby preventing and deceiving them from finding God’s true way of salvation; so may deceiving and erroneous doctrines and innovations of men also stand in the way of God’s true salvation today, that salvation which begins with water baptism in faith! Infant Baptism! For baptism to be scriptural it must be done in faith. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. (Rom10:17) A true “hearing” has to mean understanding, for Jesus says, “When anyone hears the word of God and doesn’t understand it, the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart...” (Mt13:19) The Bible also teaches we must be saved by our own faith in Christ, and our own repentance from sin. No one can be saved by the faith of another against his own consent and without personal repentance! For we shall all stand (personally) before the judgment seat of Christ. And each of us shall give account of himself to God. (Rom14:10,12) Since an infant can’t understand God’s Word, let alone repent or have faith, an infant can’t be baptized according to scriptural standards in faith. Thus infant baptism is a useless invention of men and not of God. Neither is an infant required to repent and be baptized to be saved, for infants and children whose reasoning is not yet developed are saved by the blood of Jesus in their God given state of innocence. For sin is not imputed when there is no law! (Rom5:13) And until a child can rightly comprehend the law, God won’t hold him accountable for it! Thus Jesus says of the children “Their angels do always behold the face of My Father who’s in heaven.” (Mt18:10) Now it’s indisputably established in the scriptures that water baptism must be done in faith. (Col 2:12) Infants and young children can’t have such faith. And nowhere in the scriptures is there ever recorded the baptism of an infant or young child. Thus infant baptism is a departure from the Word of God. It’s an ungodly “innovation” introduced by man! Further, it’s not an innocent departure, but one, which like a golden calf, stands in the way to obscure the practice of true Christianity. For the many practitioners of infant baptism espouse this superstition as a means of salvation which, because it’s without faith, it can’t be. And by gullibly believing it to be “salvation,” those who are so baptized refuse to hear the truth of salvation by repentance and baptism in faith! Thus due to this erroneous and heretical doctrine of infant baptism, souls are dying in their sins and ending up in hell, even while believing they’re saved! Infant baptism is an antichrist baptism! It is false and superstitious, and a “worthless” form of baptism that opposes Christ’s true way of salvation! Infant baptism was never found in the apostolic Christian churches of the first centuries. It seems principally to have arisen after the conversion of the Emperor Constantine in Rome, when Christianity was legalized and made a state religion. At this time, in similarity to Jeroboam’s sin, Constantine permitted many idolatrous priests to change their robes and become “Christian” ministers. These “unsaved” priests, who changed their religion without ever experiencing a true change of heart, quickly introduced numerous paganism and superstitions to corrupt the Roman church, including infant baptism. Of course true Christians remained faithful to the Word of God, but by the middle ages, the Roman church was in political control of most of the western world, and true Christians were a small and terribly persecuted minority. During these times real Christians were known by many names, among them the name of “Anabaptists” which referred to their practice of “rebaptizing” (in faith) believers who’d been falsely baptized as infants by the Catholics. For this “crime” thousands of Anabaptists were imprisoned, persecuted and martyred by the wicked and blood thirsty Roman Catholic cult. Even after the “Protestant reformation” the true Christian “Anabaptists” continued to be persecuted, not just by the wicked Romanists, but also by the protestants; Lutherans, Calvinists, Anglicans and others! For many of these “reformers” who departed from the “baal worship” of Rome, still clung to the golden calf of infant baptism! Like Jehu, who didn’t take heed to walk in the law of the Lord with all his heart; for he didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam. (2Kng10:31) Neither did Luther or Calvin depart from the abominable “infant baptism” of Rome! They even continued to persecute those who obeyed the Word of the Lord; those “Anabaptists” who were “rebaptizing” adult believers who’d come to a true Christian faith and repentance! Many Anabaptists were imprisoned and persecuted by the “Protestant reformers!” For the Protestants, while rejecting some of the corruptions of the Roman baal worship, still valued these traditions of men above the pure doctrines of God’s Word! God’s Word Is Forever Established! Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven. (Ps119:89) “For assuredly” I say unto you, “till heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or tittle will pass from the law until all is fulfilled!” (Mt5:18) Heaven and earth will pass, but My Word will by no means pass away. (Mt24:35) He who rejects Me and doesn’t receive My Words, has that which will judge Him – The Word that I’ve spoken will judge him in the last day! (Jn12:48) To reject Jesus’ Words is to reject Him. For the Word was made flesh. (Jn1:14) Jesus is the WORD OF GOD! You can’t reject God’s Word without rejecting God! It’s commendable when contemporary “believers” leave behind erroneous denominational doctrines and traditions of men in order to gather together unto Christ. But true Christians can never leave behind the Words of Christ in a preference for unity! Jesus charged us to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe ALL THINGS that I’ve commanded you!” (Mt28:19,20) Since Jesus requires believers to do all the things He commands, and even warns us we’ll be judged by His Word in the last day, (Jn12:48) and since He commands us to teach others to “observe” or to do all His commandments, making this a fundamental doctrine of true Christianity, then we can by no means gather together unto Christ, unless we also gather together unto His Word! For we can only be united to each other in Christian brotherhood, by first being united in obedience to Christ. And as we can only be united to Christ by His Spirit, so also do the Spirit and the Word agree! (1Jn5:7) Therefore any unity that disregards the Word of Christ, or disobeys His commandments, isn’t Christian unity at all, but it’s the unity of the tower of Babel! It’s man trying to find a way to God by building on opinions of men, instead of the Truths of God’s Word! And such can’t be considered the church of Christ, for Christ isn’t its head! Whereas Jesus is the Head of His church! (Eph5:23) And if a “church” doesn’t hold to the Truths of God’s Word, then whose “church” is it? For the church of the Living God must be the pillar and ground of the Truth! (1Tim3:15) In the early years of Christianity the martyrs gave their lives for the NAME of Christ. But in the middle ages, the true Christian martyrs died for the WORDS of Christ. They rightly recognized that to deny Jesus’ Word is to deny Him, since Jesus is the Word of God. “And whoever denies Me before men,” Jesus says, “him I’ll also deny before My Father who’s in heaven!” (Mt10:33) So the “Anabaptists” and others who kept the Words of Christ, were persecuted and killed, not by infidels, but by those who called themselves “christians.” But what kind of “christians” are these who persecuted the faithful and preferred their own traditions and doctrines of men, to the scriptural ways of God! These are those who are “wise in their own conceits!” These are those of whom Jesus says, “Why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and do not do the things which I say?” (Lk6:46) Baptism must be by faith. And faith, if it’s not to be found superstition or mere credulity, must be based on the solid foundation of God’s Word. Christians don’t have a right to their own opinions! Rather, they’ve a responsibility to learn and do and teach the “opinions” of Christ! Thus infant baptism is an innovation of men, and can’t save. As neither can the baptism of an adult be of any value if it’s not done by faith in the (powerful) working of God (Col 2:12) Even an adult who’s been water baptized in the name of Jesus while in a doubtful mind, or who’s baptized in obedience to his church’s requirements but without a proper faith in the (powerful) working of God has received nothing! For let not that man suppose that he’ll receive anything from the Lord... (Jms1:7) So any baptism without faith, isn’t effectual. It’s not baptism at all. A faithless baptism will profit you nothing! Recently our congregation was preparing to baptize several new believers. Previous to the baptism we spent several services teaching the proper faith and purposes of water baptism. During these teachings, which were primarily directed to the baptismal candidates, several of our regular members realized although they’d been baptized as adults in other churches they’d never exercised the kind of faith Paul spoke of in Col 2:12 nor concerning their previous “baptism” had they understood or expected God to raise them to a new life in Christ through the (powerful) working of God! Understandably they requested to be baptized again, so they might exercise a proper faith! Among these was a lady who’d worshipped with us for several years but had always been a “weak” Christian. She struggled continually to “walk the walk” but never seemed to succeed. The congregation loved her, and prayed for her often, yet never saw much improvement! But several days after her “rebaptism” she shared the following testimony: “Since I was rebaptized” she said, “It’s as if the Spirit of God will not let me not pray. I’m compelled to read my Bible every day with an insatiable hunger. It’s like I’m a new person! This new life and closeness to Christ is wonderful. I hope it never stops!” Now what’s happened to her? She’s received exactly what the scripture says we should receive when we’re baptized in faith. She’s been “born again!” She’s been buried with Christ in baptism and raised with Him through faith in the (powerful) working of God! (Col 2:12) She’s become a new creation; old things are passed away and, behold, all things are become new! (2Cor5:17) She’s become a real Christian by faith in the power of God. Now previous to this effectual “baptism in faith” she was a goat trying to act like a sheep, but failing miserably! But by the power of God and obedience to Christ in water baptism, she’s received a new heart. She’s become a true saint! Now she lives the Christian life in the strength of the Holy Spirit by “faith in the power of God” and not by the works of the flesh. After years of struggling to be a Christian, it was by beginning again with the correct first step of water baptism in real Christian faith that she found her victory! How many professing “christians” are suffering under the same delusion that held her in bondage for so many years! How many churches are filled with “believers” who’ve never properly taken the first step of water baptism in faith and been raised by the POWER OF GOD? Is it any wonder the visible church in our age seems so little like Jesus if they’ve never really been BORN AGAIN? We can’t expect goats to behave like sheep. Nor can we expect the old Adamic nature to behave like CHRIST! And if we’re to receive the Spirit of Christ, we must receive it by obedience to the mode by which Christ has offered it; water baptism in the name of Christ and in faith for God to bury the old man and raise the new man by the power of His Spirit! Yet there are other areas in contemporary “christianity” that like Jeroboam’s golden calf, deceive the church and stand in the way of God! The Altar Call! In the apostolic church as in the book of Acts, baptism was the point at which salvations were counted! Then those who gladly received His word were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. (Act2:41) But in much of contemporary Christianity “altar calls” have replaced baptism as the “point” of salvation and the place where “salvations” are counted. Now for faith to be genuine and not mere delusion, it must be based on Truth. Principally, the Truth of God’s Word. But nowhere in the New Testament do we find any evidence that “altar calls” or anything like them were ever proposed by God or administered by the apostles as a means of salvation. Rather, in every place, instruction in the faith leading to conviction and repentance is followed by the admonition to be baptized! It’s true there are several scriptures saying “he that believes” or “he that calls upon the Lord” shall be saved, but “the scriptures can’t be broken” (Jn10:35) and if Jesus says, and the apostles agree, that “he that believes and is baptized shall be saved!” then in every place where belief or faith is connected with salvation we must realize that such “saving faith” is a faith that leads to baptism! Language is cumbersome, for we know in part. (1Cor13:9) It’s seldom possible to say everything that applies to a subject in one place and at one time. Thus we must look to the “whole” counsel of God and rightly divide the Word of Truth! (2Tim2:15) So wherever the scriptures say “whoever believes will be saved” we must remember the words of Christ and understand it to mean “whoever believes (in such a way as to be baptized in obedience to Christ) will be saved!” For the words of Paul must compliment and not contradict the words of Christ, else Paul’s words wouldn’t be scripture! So also when it’s written, “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved!” we can understand it to mean, whoever (calls in such a faith as to be baptized into Christ) shall be saved! Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins calling upon the name of the Lord! (Act22:16) Recently I overheard a comment from an evangelist who said concerning a recent crusade, “Thousands were saved, and hundreds were baptized!” Of course, he meant, thousands came forward for an altar call or raised their hands for salvation or prayed the “sinners prayer.” This is the real issue! The contemporary church counts souls as “being saved” in a different place than the scripture does! In reality, we’ve no scriptural evidence God ever intended people to be “born again” by raising their hand for prayer, or coming forward for an altar call, or praying the “sinner’s prayer!” Jesus tells us we’re “saved” when we believe and are properly baptized, so scripturally speaking, it would have been more correct for this evangelist to say, “thousands came forward, and hundreds were saved,” because only hundreds were baptized! And even this assumption rests upon the condition that “these hundreds” were properly baptized in a true apostolic faith in the working of God! (Col 2:12) But from experience we believe many “christians” have been “saved” through altar calls and sinner’s prayers etc. This may be true! If so, it’s an evidence of the ineffable mercies and graces of God, who’s said, “The gates (strategies) of hell, shall not prevail against My church!” (Mt16:18) If Satan has obscured God’s holy doctrine of baptism, so much of the church no longer understands where God intended “regeneration” to occur, will that stop the Lord from saving souls? Is Christ going to cease building His holy church, just because some devils tore a few pages out of God’s instruction book? Certainly not! God can continue to save, even at the feet of the golden calves. That’s how much He loves us and how wise, longsuffering and merciful He often shows Himself to be! In the Puritan revivals, each candidate for salvation expected to fight a battle for his soul! When a “Puritan” was being saved, he’d wrestle with his flesh until Christ won control and was seated upon the throne of his will. That’s what they expected and that’s the way they experienced it! In Jonathan Edward’s revivals, candidates for salvation cried out under conviction often in the very terrors of hell. Some struggled in prayer for hours, while many saints prayed with them, until each new believer received a supernatural assurance from God that Christ had received him! The candidates sought for and waited for God’s evidence they were actually regenerated in Christ! Under Charles Finney many inquirers for salvation would be seated in an “anxious seat” where the rest of the church could pray for them. Here they were ushered into the Kingdom of Christ through what often took many hours of prayer until they sensed a supernatural “witness of the Spirit” that Christ had come into their hearts! Now, in all these moves of God, salvation was never assumed to have occurred unless there was a supernatural assurance given to the supplicant by the grace of the Holy Spirit! Though most of the denominations involved in these outpourings of God’s Spirit still held to the error of “infant baptism” the “infant baptisms” were forgotten in the quest to receive the actual “witness of the Spirit!” And though these revivalists didn’t see the light of returning to a “baptism by faith,” God was merciful, and He powerfully worked through them to save souls by His grace in answer to the believer’s “diligence in seeking Him!’ (Heb11:6) Today, few believers “seek diligently!” Today few churches surround the lost supplicant with praying saints who’ll willingly intercede for hours if necessary to “pray the new believer in!” Today few struggle and wrestle in salvation to receive the “witness of the Spirit!” Today churches usually pray a very short prayer and then tell the “new believers” they’re “saved” whether they feel like it or not! Beloved, such are lying to them! For the most part they are not being saved.” In the revivals of Charles Finney, it’s reported 70% of his converts were still actively serving the Lord five years after their conversions. In today’s “revivals” that number is seldom found to be higher than ten percent! Less than ten percent of those who come forward for the altar call, or who raise their hands, or who pray the “sinner’s prayer” and less than ten percent of those who’ve been told “You’re saved whether or not you feel like it!” are actually regenerated! The remaining 90% have been lied to by a “church” that’s supposed to be the “pillar and ground of the truth!” (1Tim3:15) For we have no scriptural basis to tell anyone they’ve been “saved” unless they’ve been baptized in a true apostolic faith or unless they’ve received a “witness of the Spirit!” But if God does “save” people by prayer and altar calls this is what’s called theologically an “uncovenanted mercy” of God. That is, God has never promised to “save” in this way. If God chooses to be merciful and save souls by a means He hasn’t promised, then we can never know of a certainty that He’ll save souls that way at all times and under all conditions! This is why in the revivals of the Puritans, Edwards and Finney, the Holy Spirit led the participants to “wait upon the Lord” until they received an evidence or a “witness of the Spirit” that regeneration had actually taken place. Believers have no right to “believe they receive” something when God hasn’t promised it unless God gives them a sign! That’s why it’s wrong, to tell people they’re saved by a mere “sinner’s prayer” when they haven’t been baptized in true faith since God has never promised He’d “save” in that way. And if someone prays a “sinner’s prayer” and doesn’t receive some supernatural assurance from God he’s actually been “born again” or regenerated then the correct assumption is he hasn’t! And to convince such “believers” they actually have what they don’t have, is to convince them of a LIE! “Churches” that do so are “brainwashing” the “believers” with doctrines of devils! For the most part such believers have a terrible struggle with their “christianity,” for they’re goats trying to behave like sheep! They may try to be saints but having never been regenerated they don’t have the heart for it. Most of them finally give up and drop out of the church, feeling the struggle is hopeless. Many are lured away by worldly interest concerning which they’ve not been buried with Christ in baptism! (Rom6:3,4) Others become “Pharisees” trying to serve Christ in the power of their uncrucified flesh! The sad state of contemporary “Christianity” may be due in great part to this defect! Too many “christians” haven’t been regenerated, but have been told they are! When we ask something from God for which we’ve no sure scriptural promise, we must depend upon a “witness of the Spirit” to believe we’ve received! (Mk11:24) But when God has given us a sure and certain promise, then if we know we’ve fulfilled His conditions we can take Him at His Word. That’s when we can believe we’ve received! We can believe we’ve received exactly what He’s promised, even though we may not “feel anything!” And this is the great grace of water baptism. That Christ has promised, “those who believe and are baptized will be saved!” So when we’re baptized in a true apostolic faith, we can know of a certainty Christ has received us! “The one who comes to Me (in a true repentant and obedient faith) I’ll by no means cast out!” (Jn6:37) Jeroboam set up golden calves and offered God’s people a “more convenient” way to worship than the way God had prescribed. Thereby Jeroboam seduced and deceived the people away from God. And the sin of Jeroboam brought a curse upon the Israelites, which caused them much suffering and finally led to their destruction! Beloved, have we for “convenience” sake, departed from Christ’s holy prescription of salvation by faith and water baptism to try to enter salvation by an easier way which God hasn’t prescribed? Yes, it’s “easier” to have an altar call than it is to baptize, but Jesus didn’t tell us salvation would be easy or convenient! Just the opposite, “Enter by the narrow gate... because difficult is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it!” (Mt7:13,14) We do God and men no favors, when we make the way “easier” than God has made it! Salvation is connected to baptism by the Word of God! Woe unto him who knowingly rejects God’s Word to seek another way! Then Jesus spoke to them saying, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things that I’ve commanded you; and lo, I’m with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen (Mt28:18-20) “Make disciples,” indicates we aren’t just to “save” people, but we’re to teach them! We’re to teach them God requires them to learn of and to obey Jesus! We’re to teach them they’re to follow Jesus, being led by His Spirit and “living for Him” for the rest of their lives! We’re to teach them what we ourselves have learned, that Him (Jesus) you shall hear (and obey) in all things, whatever He says to you, and it shall come to pass that every soul who won’t hear (and obey) that Prophet (Christ) shall be utterly destroyed from among the people! (Act3:22,23) And He died for all that those who live should live no longer for themselves but for Him who died for them and rose again. (2Cor5:15) When the new “believer” really understands every soul who won’t hear Jesus will be destroyed he’ll see and be convicted of his perilous condition. If he desires to live and not die, he’ll repent of not having “heard” and not having lived in obedience to Christ! (Act3:23) And he’ll decide from now on to follow, hear and obey Christ! This makes the new believer a fit candidate to become a disciple! A disciple is one who’s taught by and obeys his Master. But to actually become a disciple of Jesus, the candidate will need to be supernaturally BORN AGAIN of God. For up to this time he’s had a different master, and been in bondage to satan, sin, the world, and the flesh. Now God must supernaturally break those bonds and establish in the heart of the new believer a true affinity for God. This occurs in water baptism where the new believer is washed from his sins, calling upon the name of the Lord! (Act22:16) and saved, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit! (Tit3:5) It’s in water baptism the new believer is buried with Christ in baptism, in which you also are raised with Him through faith in the (powerful) working of God who raised Him from the dead! (Col 2:12) It’s in water baptism the forces of Pharaoh (satan and the world) are destroyed, being washed away through our faith in the “red sea” of Jesus’ blood. And here we start a new life of learning to observe all things that Jesus has commanded us. (Mt28:20) This new life begins and continues by faith in the resurrection power of God, who raised Christ from the dead and raises us with Him to a new Spirit led life as obedient disciples of Jesus! (Eph2:6) Notice the promise Lo, I’m with you always is not unconditional. This promise is made by Jesus to those servants who’ll Go and who’ll Make disciples and who’ll baptize the new disciples and who’ll continue, after baptizing the new disciples, to teach them to observe all things that I’ve commanded you! There’s much more involved in this “great commission” than just praying a “sinner’s prayer” with people! God’s salvation is given to those who are learning and will continue to learn to observe (and do) ALL THINGS THAT JESUS COMMANDS US! (Mt28:20) Him you shall hear (and obey) in ALL THINGS WHATEVER HE SAYS TO YOU. For it will come to pass that every soul who’ll not hear (and learn to observe and to do ALL THE COMMANDS OF) that Prophet (Jesus) shall be UTTERLY DESTROYED (this means the utter destruction of Hell) from among the people! (Act3:22,23) If you want to be SAVED! If you want Jesus to be with you always! Then you must learn to OBEY HIM IN ALL THINGS! WATER BAPTISM is a commandment of Christ! The following are excerpts from “Martyrs Mirror” by Thieleman J. Van Braght. This book is a history of scriptural Christianity from the apostles until AD 1660. (published by Herald’s Press, Scottsdale, PA). Unlike Fox’s Book, Martyrs Mirror doesn’t just expose the atrocities perpetrated against the martyrs, but it also discloses the doctrines which they defended by their testimony and their blood. Many defenses presented at the trials of the martyrs are documented in the book. These “Holy Spirit” inspired testimonies of scriptural Christianity, presented by people who lived by Christ’s Words, suffered for, and often died for Christ’s Words, comprise some of the finest expositions of true Christian doctrine available to the church today. Modern “believers” would do well to read this book! You’ll be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony... For I’ll give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries won’t be able to contradict or resist! (Lk21:12,13,15) In the testimonies of the true Christian martyrs we find the irrefutable and irresistible wisdom Christ promised in Luke 21, Wisdom, which all your adversaries won’t be able to contradict or resist! It’s regrettable and a sad commentary on present day “Christianity” that so few “believers” today have been exposed to this irresistible wisdom of Christ! From the ARTICLES OF FAITH OF THE ANABAPTISTS AD 1600: No one can be recognized as a brother or sister in the church of Christ, with who any Christian ordinance may be practiced, unless they’ve previously, according to the Word of God, received upon faith the Christian baptism... which is the first ordinance and reception into the Christian communion, by which we submit and obligate ourselves to actually observe all the commandments and ordinances of God... Baptism is an ordinance of Christ, similar in part to the Supper, which no one is commanded to cause to be administered to another, but which Christian ordinance each must desire and receive by His own faith, for which reason it does in no wise apply to new born infants... since it’s known that it’s impossible for anyone to unite another to the Lord, without his will and knowledge. (Page 397) From the writings of Giselbert who opposed the Pope and the Roman church A.D. 910: It’s true God can save; yet man can’t be saved without baptism; (that is, that baptism which is accompanied with regeneration, as the following words declare) for thus says the Author of the sacrament Himself: “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can’t see the Kingdom of God.” It’s, however, not in the power of man, to reject this way, and to choose to salvation another. However, it’s in God’s power, if man can’t obtain this means (baptism), to accept graciously his good will in place of baptism, (page 249). From the writings of Theophilact, a virtuous Christian from Greece, A.D. 952: Since Christ came to take away the sins of the world, we can obtain remission of sins in no other way than by means of baptism (however properly speaking the blood of Christ is the effective cause of the remission and taking away of sins). Yet it’s impossible that he who hasn’t believed, be baptized (aright); hence, the unbeliever must afterwards die in his sins, for he’s not put off the old man, because he’s not been baptized (aright). It’s not enough for the preservation of purity, to be baptized; but one must also use great diligence that the image of the sonship of God, which is represented in baptism, is kept unspotted. There are many who’ve received, in baptism, the grace of adoption as children of God, but who, through negligence haven’t remained children of God to the end… that is, who lead the old carnal life. But all who are by the Spirit regenerated, begin a new spiritual life. (Pgs 252,3) From the defense of Thomas van Imbroeck, imprisoned for the faith in Cologne, A.D. 1558: I believe and confess there’s a Christian baptism which must take place externally and internally; internally with the Holy Ghost, and externally with water, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost… For the outward sign alone is of no value in the sight of God, but faith, the new birth, a true Christian life – by these man is united with God, incorporated into Christ Jesus, and becomes a partaker of the Holy Ghost. Hence, external baptism does not conduce to salvation, if the internal baptism is wanting, namely, the transformation and renewing of the mind… The Scriptures can’t be broken, neither are we to take away from, or add to the Word of God; nay, not even the smallest tittle or letter of the Gospel may be changed. Hence the ordinance of the Lord, respecting baptism must remain unaltered; for it’s the Word of God, which abideth forever. (Pgs 367,7) A letter to his Christian brethren, from Pieter Van Olman martyred for the faith at Ghent, A.D. 1552: My most beloved (brethren), know that I fought a great conflict against the rulers of darkness and false prophets; for they said one may hear and be taught by them, even though they don’t live according to the commandments of the Lord. I asked: “Isn’t he a stranger to Christ who doesn’t walk in His commandments?” They replied, “Yes!” then I said Christ says, “My sheep hear My voice and they follow Me; but they hear not the voice of strangers.” I wouldn’t be of Christ’s sheep (if I hear you); for His sheep hear not strangers. They replied, “If we preach the Truth; the Word isn’t diminished.” I replied, John says: “He that saith he knoweth God and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the Truth isn’t in him.” Now, if there’s no Truth in him, how can he speak the Truth? Else John must lie. Christ says: “A corrupt tree can’t bring forth good fruit. ” Again: “How can ye, being evil, speak good things?” Solve this question and I’ll believe you. I tell you, though one of you should take a New Testament, and read it from beginning to end in your church, as the apostles have written it, yet I’ll prove to you he’d lie. But let a righteous man who walks in the ways of the Lord read the same words, and he’ll be speaking the Truth… If one of your people should preach these words in your church filled with (your worldly, sinful “christians”) drunkards, adulterers, covetous men, defamers, murderers, etc., and say: “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the marvelous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy;” if he should speak these words with regard to this worldly people (who attend your religious gathering), would he not lie? But when a God fearing man speaks these same words to the true God-fearing church, he speaks the Truth! (Pg 537) From the writings of Ambrose, bishop of Milan, A.D. 363: We are in duty bound to examine the churches, and if there is one which rejects the faith, and doesn’t hold to the foundation of the apostolical doctrine, we must leave it! (pg 160)
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