THE GOSPEL BITE

What actually is the sign of Jonah was mentioned by our Lord Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry? A call for repentance or Symbolic of his resurrection?

A CALL FOR REPENTANCE?

“Some believe that the “sign of Jonah” was simply Jesus’ call for those in His audience to repent, much as Jonah had also preached a call to repentance.

“Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me” (Jonah 1:1–2)

Later on, in the account, we find what Jonah taught:

“And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. So, the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them” (Jonah 3:4–5).

The inhabitants of Nineveh responded to Jonah’s impassioned call to repentance. From the least to the greatest, all turned from their sinful lifestyle.

“And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not” (Jonah 3:10)

 Both Jonah and Jesus preached about repentance. But was this the sign of which Jesus spoke? Or was there something else?

A SYMBOLIC RESURRECTION?

“Some say the sign of Jonah was his symbolic resurrection from the dead, which foreshadowed Christ’s resurrection. After all, when Jonah fled on a ship, was thrown overboard and was swallowed whole by a sea creature, he was as good as dead!

We even have a record of his prayer—from inside the stomach of his captor! “Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly. And he said: ‘I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, and He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and You heard my voice'” (Jonah 2:1–2).

The Hebrew Sheol can also be translated as “the grave.” Jonah knew that without God’s dramatic intervention, his life would be over!

Yet God freed Jonah from his horrible underwater prison! In a sense, God brought Jonah back to life! Jonah described it:

“For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the floods surrounded me; all Your billows and Your waves passed over me… The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; the deep closed around me; weeds were wrapped around my head. I went down to the moorings of the mountains; the earth with its bars closed behind me forever; yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God” (Jonah 2:3, 5–6).

Jonah was figuratively resurrected from the dead, much as Jesus Christ was literally resurrected from the grave. Is this the sign of which Jesus spoke? Or is it something else?

At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here.  At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here. (Luke 11:29-32)

GOD’S CLEMENCY AND JONAH’S DISPLEASURE

(Jonah 4). God’s clemency greatly displeased Jonah, and he was very angry; what would become of his reputation?

In his prayer he repeated what he had at first said to himself about the grace of God. He asked God to take away his life: how could he be a prophet to such a God? Alas, he was filled with his own importance. As he watched to see what would become of the city, God prepared a gourd to give him shade from the heat of the sun, and he rejoiced over the gourd; but the next day it withered, and under the power of the sun and the east wind he fainted, and again asked to die. He said to God that he did well to be angry about the gourd, but God condescended to reason with him, saying that as Jonah had had pity on the gourd which cost him nothing; so God had had pity on Nineveh, a city with more than 120,000 inhabitants who knew not their right hand from their left, besides very much cattle.

Salvation is of the Lord. (Jonah 2:9) The theme of the Bible God’s redemptive plan in order to draw all men unto himself. ( Psalm 3:8)

Shalom!

ETERNAL JUDGEMENT.

The six principles being laid down by the apostle, emphasis the carrying on to a more perfect degree and measure of knowledge in the mysteries of the gospel; in order for becoming skillful in the word of righteousness;

(Hebrews 6:1) “Leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; which we will do, if God permit.”

And of eternal judgment.( Hebrews 6:2) The sixth element or principle of Christian religion. It is, that there will be a judgment whose consequences will be eternal. It does not mean, of course, that the process of the judgment will be eternal, or that the judgment-day will continue forever; but that the results or consequents of the decision of that day will continue forever. There will be no appeal from the sentence, nor will there be any reversal of the judgment then pronounced. What is decided then will be determined forever.

This doctrine was one of the earliest that was taught by the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles, and is inculcated in the New Testament perhaps with more frequency than any other. (Mt 25, Acts 17:31.)

That the consequences or results of the judgment will be eternal, is abundantly affirmed. (Mt 25:46, Jn 5:29, 2Thes 1:9, Mk 9:45,48.)

Modern societies are living in a delusion as to whether there is a God of judgement

 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil (Ecclesiates12:14).

The gospel of Jesus Christ is a period of grace which had appeared unto all men. (Titus 2:11) but that grace will ultimately bring judgement to all men. Repentance of heart is a is the only way of escape. 

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: (Acts 17:30)

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad. (2 Cor 5:10)

John the Revelator saw the judgement.

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.( Rev 20:4)

After Satan is chained up Christ will set up thrones on earth (not in Heaven).

The “thrones” speak of positions of authority.

Jesus said, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne (Rev.3:21).

Those who shall sit on the “thrones” and be given judgement will be the raptured saints, the Bride-Wife of Jesus Christ of every age. They will rule with Christ and share the honor with Him as indicated by the words of Jesus Christ himself which are recorded in the parables of… (Mathew 25:14-30, Luke 19:12-27) “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”  

Then comes the Foolish virgins also but their garments were blood stained because they were foolish and had their white robes stained with carnalities, false doctrines and teachings. and they do not even know it.

Prophet Daniel saw a vision parallel to this vision seen by the Apostle John. He wrote: “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousand ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened” (Dan.7:9-10).

The First Resurrection

 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (Rev 4:5)

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Rev 4:6)

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. ( 2 Peter 3:7)

The Second Death

What is death? Death is the cessation of Life. Man consists of spirit, soul and body. To put it simply, the spirit is in the soul which is in the body. The First Death occurs when a person stops breathing (the air of life in the body is gone). The soul, together with the spirit, will leave the body. The Second Death occurs when the soul is cast into the Lake of Fire. The spirit (of life which originates from God) will leave the soul and return to the Life-Giver as the sinful soul is burnt and destroyed in the Lake of Fire… “the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezek.18:4).

There is no such thing as an eternal hell where souls are burned but do not die. Life cannot exist in Death. The essence of all wicked and sinful souls will be completely annihilated in the all-consuming Lake of Fire, never to exist anymore.

Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,  To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard [speeches] which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.  ( Jude 1: 14-15)

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:10-15).

There is coming a judgement. Let us all set our houses in order.

Shalom and God bless for reading!

 

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“A Christian don’t try to be what he used to be; he’s not looking where he’s been; he’s looking where he’s going”.

Yes, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;

✍🏻 The Word

The Word of God is a seed sowed that must be read 📖, studied, heard or listened and understood so that the believer can be fruitful or perfect 👌.

The Word which God sent unto the children of Israel 🇮🇱, is the same Word expressed to the gentiles.

🤷‍♂️ The Word is near you, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; “(Rom10:8)”, and as it’s been preached, He who is of God hears the words of God. And he that is not of God, hears it not.

✍🏻The Word is our source of power, sanctification, pillar and measure of truth upon which every thought must be subject to and every fact founded – (John 17:17)

✍🏻 The Fivefold ministry in (Eph 4:11), is a ministry of the Word (not stories, fables, creeds, dogma, bunch of quotes, etc.) for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

✍🏻The Unity of Faith

As the ministration of the Word comes, the Holy Spirit establishes the Unity of faith. Unity of faith is not looking eye 👁‍🗨 to eye 👁‍🗨 and lining up with a renowned man of God. The Unity comes about when we look eye to eye with and line up with the Lord and His doctrine (the Word).

👍 When the unity of faith comes by the holy spirit, brethren dwell in togetherness and that agape love is demonstrated.

👉🏿 Any unity at the expense of the Word of God, is death.

👉🏿 Unity can only be centered on God’s Word.

🤷‍♂️ Dear fellow Bible believers, let’s unit only on God’s word. Any unity without God’s word is earth 🌎 bound and not from God.

 *👨‍🦯William Branham said*

🕴️”Angelic beings associate together. Oh, I hope you get that, that just dropped right down, free. Look. And if you’ve got the Holy Spirit in you, then you’re a candidate for association with the unseen world and the Supernatural”(Revelation Book of Symbols 56-0617)

🕴️A genuine faith of God will believe in God, and God is the Word; it’ll never add nothing to It”(Seed of Discrepancy 65-0118)

🕴️A good born-again faith in God, a real genuine Holy Ghost faith, nothing’s going to turn it down. It can’t do it. It’s persistent. It’s going to the goal that God has promised to it. There’s nothing going to turn it down; it’s going anyhow”(Perseverant 64-0305)

🙇‍♂️May the Lord give you hope of His blessed appearance

Shalom!

By; Bro Olga

For enquiries, call +233241185819.

(2 Thessalonians 2:7) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

Iniquity, is something that you know you ought not to do, and you do it anyhow. INIQUITY consists of the violation of the law of right (or duty) between man and man; wrongful or harmful actions towards another; grossly immoral acts with others. To practice iniquity is to be unjust and unequal in our dealings with someone. This is what we often read about in the Sacred Scripture. The workers of iniquity are, for example:

• Those who eat up God’s people like bread –

“Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call on the LORD?” (Psa.14:4);

• And those who lay snares for the saints –

“Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, And from the traps of the workers of iniquity.” (Psa.141:9).

According to the prophet messenger (William Braham), Sin is unbelief. Sin covers all wrong doing of any sort. (1 John 5:17):  All unrighteousness is sin: …

(1 John 3:4):  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

When a believer is taught God’s Truth and the simple fact of faith, he commits sin if he doubts, and fails to respond to, what is right.

(Hebrews 11:6) (NKJV):  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Many who are religious unrepentantly cloth themselves under redemption work at the cross doing the wrong things will have to desist from all forms of iniquity. (Luke 13:27):  But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

Now, lawlessness is not merely something we do but rather what we think. If you tell a lie, you transgress the law. It is sin, it is lawlessness. If you refuse to do what is right in the eyes of God, even if you are not breaking the “law”, (1John 1:10) it is still lawlessness. If you do what is not the will of God, you commit presumptuous sin, it is lawlessness. There is a need for us to control our tempers, our gluttony to satisfy the flesh, even the consumption of food and drinks, and the words we utter.  We need to bring every thought under control.

Bro Stephen Awittor, Cape coast, Ghana.

Deuteronomy 12:5-7, 

But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: 6 And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks: And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee

✍🏻 In the Old testament, the children of Israel 🇮🇱, were commanded to worship the Lord at the place He placed His name. Sacrifices were done only at the place the Lord chose for them to worship 🛐.

✍🏻 In the New testament,

Luke 4:8 (NHEB) Jesus answered and said to him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.'”

“You shall worship the Lord your God and shall serve Him only”

🤷‍♂️Where shall we Worship the Lord?

Exactly, at where God placed His name.

🤷‍♂️Where does God place His name?

👉🏿At the closing hour of Jesus’ physical presence on earth, He lifted up His eyes 👀 to heaven and prayed to declare the name of God to His disciples. That Name is Jesus.

God placed His name on His Son, Jesus Christ, yes that’s the chosen place of worship 🛐.

Now, Jesus Christ was the Word of God expressed to human on this earth.

✍🏻John 1:1-4 (KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

✍🏻 Apostle Peter testified that Jesus Christ has the Words of Eternal life.

John 6:68 (KJV) Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the Words of eternal life.

✍🏻 Bible believers really need to hold on to the word of life so that on the day of Christ I will have a reason to boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain. Phil 2:16

🙏🏻When we worship 🛐 God in His chosen place of the Word, through our sacrifices of praises and thanks, offerings, etc., we will have the spirit of Life and eternal life will be our portion or dominion.

👉🏿Worshipping God in the Word means we must believe God and take Him at His Word.

👨‍🦯William Branham, a prophet of God, once said,

We must believe God. We must take Him at His word. We must not try to figure things out, but just whatever God says, the real true spirit of God will punctuate every Word of God with an “Amen”.

God bless you for reading 📖. 

By Bro Olga.

For enquiries, +233241185819 

And of resurrection of the dead.( Hebrews 6:2)

This is mentioned as the fifth element or principle of the Christian religion as taught by Apostle Paul in the book of Hebrews.

The whole of the Christian faith is based upon this assertion. Job prophesised of it many years even before the Lord Jesus arrived on the scene.

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. (Job 19:25-27)

The Patriarch Abraham to whom the promised was given also believed in the resurrection of dead. He believed Lord God was able to raise Isaac from the dead even if he offered him as a sacrifice to the Lord.

Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure (Hebrew 11: 19)

Elisha an old testament prophet also believed in the resurrection of the body. By bringing back to life the son of the Shunamite woman, proved that one day there is going to be a resurrection of the body.

Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. (2Kings 4:35)

Apostle Paul again reiterated in Corinthians that there is going to be a resurrection of the dead.

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (Corinthians 15:52)

The Pharisee believed in the resurrection of the body. Apostle Paul who was later called by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was a pharisee.

Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; (Philippines 3:5)

However, the doctrine of the resurrection was denied by the Sadducees;

Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying, (Mark 12:18),

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. (Acts 23:8)

and was ridiculed by philosophers,

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, we will hear thee again of this matter (Acts 17:32).

Some even during the days of Apostle Paul overthrew the belief of many teaching that the resurrection of the dead is passed.

And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. (2 Timothy 2:17-18)

It was, however, clearly taught by the Saviour, and became one of the cardinal doctrines of his religion

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (John 11:25)

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 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. (John 5:28-29)

The question about the resurrection included the whole inquiry about the future state, or whether man would live at all in the future world.

Compare (Mathew 22:23; Acts 23:6.) This is one of the most important subjects that can come before the human mind, and one on which man has felt more perplexity than any other. The belief of the resurrection of the dead is an elementary article in the system of Christianity. It lies at the foundation of all our hopes. Christianity is designed to prepare us for a future state; and one of the first things, therefore, in the preparation, is to assure us that there/s a future state, and to tell us what it is. It is, moreover, a peculiar doctrine of Christianity.

The belief of the resurrection is found in no other system of religion, nor is there a ray of light shed upon the future condition of man by any other scheme of philosophy or religion.

God bless you for reading.

Shalom!

(Hebrews 6:1-2) As previously indicated in my earlier posts, to move on to perfection, it is necessary that we are able to be weaned from the rudiments upon which the Christian doctrine is built.

And of laying on of hands. This is the fourth element or principle of the Christian religion.

The Jews practiced the laying on of hands on a great variety of occasions. It was done when a blessing was imparted to any one; when prayer was made for one; and when they offered sacrifice they laid their hands on the head of the victim, confessing their sins,

(Lev 16:21), And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:

(Lev 24:14), Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him

(Numbers 8:12).And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites.

It was done on occasions of solemn consecration to office, and when friend supplicated the Divine favor on friend. n like manner, it was often done by the Savior and the apostles.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry laid his hands on children to bless them, and on the sick when he healed them,( Mathew 19:13),Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

( Mark 5:23, Matthew 9:18).

In like manner, the apostles laid hands on others in the following circumstances:

(1.) In healing the sick, (Acts 28:8) And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

(2.) In ordination to office,( 1Timothy 5:22), Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure. (Acts 6:6). Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

(3.) In imparting the miraculous influences of the Holy Spirit,( Acts 8:17-19) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. ( Acts19:6). And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

The true doctrine respecting the design of laying on the hands, is said here to be one of the elements of the Christian religion. The custom of laying on the hands, as symbolic of imparting spiritual gifts, prevailed in the Church in the time of the apostles, no one can doubt. And here is why;

• The apostles were endowed with the power of imparting the influences of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous or extraordinary manner. It was with reference to such an imparting of the Holy Spirit that the expression is used in each of the cases where it occurs in the New Testament.

• It would be observed that the Lord Jesus did not appoint the imposition of the hands of a “bishop” to be one of the rites or ceremonies to be observed perpetually in the Church.

• No one now is entrusted with the power of imparting the Holy Spirit in that manner. There is no class of officers in the Church that can make good their claim to any such power. So the doctrine that the Holy Spirit is imparted at the rite of “confirmation is a form of traditional Christianity which is a fallacy.
• It is liable to be abused, or to lead persons to substitute the form for the thing; or to think that because they have been “confirmed,” that therefore they are sure of the mercy and favor of God. Still, if it be regarded as a simple form of admission to a church, without claiming that it is enjoined by God, or that it is connected with any authority to impart the Holy Spirit, no objection can be made to it, any more than there need be to any other form of recognizing church-membership. It should be noted that it is by one Spirit are we all baptized into the mystical body of Christ and not by joining.
• However every pastor has a right, if he chooses, to lay his hands on the members of his flocks and to implore a blessing on them; and such an act, on making a profession of religion, would have much in it that would be appropriate and solemn.

God bless and Shalom!

In the Christian faith, perfection is needful. The bible says in ( Mathew 5:48 ) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. We must pattern our lives to that of Christ.

However if the principles of the doctrines of Christ is not properly laid as a foundation, to go on to perfection is futile. Apostle Paul was saddened when the early converts to the faith, the Jews spent so much time on the rudiments of the christian faith as some are doing today.

My earlier posts, I touched on repentance from dead works, faith towards God. Lets us look into the doctrine of baptisms.

(Hebrews 6:2) Of the doctrine of baptisms.

This is mentioned as the third element or principle of the Christian religion. The Jews made much of various kinds of washings, which were called baptisms.

(Mark 7:4) And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

To understand the true doctrine respecting baptism was one of the first principles to be learned then, as it is now, as baptism is the rite by which we are initiated or born into the Church of the living God. This was supposed to be so simple, that young converts could understand it as one of the elements of the true religion; The truth is, it was probably regarded as among the most simple and plain matters of religion; and every convert was supposed to understand that the application of water to the body in this ordinance, in any mode, was designed to be merely symbolic of the influences of the Holy Ghost.

So it was important that the true doctrine on the subject should be stated as one of the elements of the Christian religion, that they might be recalled from superstition, and that they might enjoy the benefits of what was designed to be an important aid to piety. It will be observed that the plural form is used here as baptisms.

It is supposed, also, that they were in the practice of baptizing proselytes to their religion. (Mathew 3:6) And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

The baptisms whose necessity is taught by the Christian religion

1. baptism by water

In the New Testament the whole matter is perfectly plain. The uniform meaning of “dip” for baptizo and the use of the river Jordan as the place for baptizing by John the Baptist makes inevitable the notion of immersion. Sprinkling infants in baptism crept into the church during the dark ages when traditions and dogma ruled the church.

( Peter 3: 20-21) In the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

The baptism of Noah’s day foreshadowed the salvation made possible by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Eight people entered the ark and were buried in a watery grave. Then Noah and his family came out of that wooden tomb to start a new life on a cleansed planet.

The children of Israel “were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea” (1 Corinthians 10:2).

The Red Sea was the water of separation that divided God’s people from their enemies and those who were saved from those who were damned.

(Mathew 3:6) “And they were baptized of him in the river Jordan. In (Mark 1:9-10 ) “was baptized of John in the Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw.”

So in (Acts 8:38) we read: “They both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit…… caught away Philip.”

If one could still be in doubt about the matter, Paul sets it at rest by the symbolism used in (Romans 6:4), “We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.”

In (Colossians 2:12) Paul again says: “having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

The submergence and emergence of immersion thus, according to Paul, symbolize the death and burial to sin on the one hand and the resurrection to the new life in Christ on the other.

There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purifying. What this questioning was we are not told. The word “therefore” doubtless refers to the baptisms just mentioned, so that the dispute probably related to the necessity or purifying effects of that ordinance. But whatever the dispute was about, it brought to notice the fact that Jesus was baptizing more than John, a fact which some of the disciples of John quickly resented.

2. baptism by the Holy Ghost: The first of which is symbolic of the second. These are stated to be among the elements of Christianity, or the things which Christian converts would first learn. The necessity of both is taught. “He that believeth, and is baptized shall be saved,” (Mk 16:16.) “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God,”(John 3:5).

On the baptism of the Holy Ghost, It is the Lord himself who baptizes with the Holy ghost. (Mathew 3:11; Acts 1:5; Acts 19:1-6).

(John 16:13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

In the Old Testament, God sealed his covenant with Abraham with the sign of circumcision.

(Romans 4:11) And he [Abraham] received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised:
Now God seals the covenant he makes with “whosoever believeth in him” with of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

(Ephesians 1:13) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the gifts he manifests through us make possible a new level of communion with God.

3. The Baptism of Fire (Matthew 3:11-12)
He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Fire refines and purges all the dross away. Therefore all who come to the Lord Jesus Christ would be tested and every one’s deeds would pass through the fire to see what sort is made of. The prosperity gospel of feel good without testing of ones faith is not the gospel our early fathers stood for.

(1 Peter 1:7) That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

(Zechariah 13:9) And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.”

(Proverbs 17:3) The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.”

Shalom!

Apostle Paul said that the creation around us is evidence that God exists.
(Rom 1:20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
But those who hold to the scientific method for determining facts demand a different standard of proof.
Is a scientific approach the best way to establish whether there is God?

Some say that the Bible is religion and Science is truth, and that means the two are incompatible. But if the Bible is only a religious book, then we might as well not study gravity, hydrological cycle, and the importance of blood in living things, because Scripture describes all these scientific facts:
• The earth floats in space – (Job 26:7) He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.”
• Wash under running water, dealing with diseases – (Leviticus 15:13) And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.
• Information in the blood – (Leviticus 17:11) for the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
• The circle of the Earth – ( Isaiah 40-22) It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
• The Bible and oceanography – (Psalm 8:8) the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
• Light waves and radio waves – (Job 38: 35) Canst thou send lightening’s, that they may go, and say unto thee, here we are?
• The first Law of thermodynamics – (Genesis 2:1) thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
• The Bible and Quarantine – (Leviticus 13:46) all the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.
• The Bible and dinosaurs – (Job 40:15-17) behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.
Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.
He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.
His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.
He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.
Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.
He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.
The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.
Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.
He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares

God bless!

(Hebrew 6:1) Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, “Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. “And this will we do, if God permit.”

Therefore, the doctrine teaches that once we accept Jesus as our Savior, we need to have faith that rests on God. The only way I know to acquire this type of faith is to read the Word of God and also hear it taught by anointed and chosen vessels of God.

Faith is a foundation, or fundamental principle, without which it is impossible to please God; and without which we cannot be saved.

By repentance, we feel the need of God’s mercy; by faith we find that mercy.

In the Levitical law; the painful observances and awful denunciations of divine wrath against every breath of the Law, was well calculated to produce repentance and make it grievous and bitter thing to sin against God.

As to faith in God that was essentially necessary; in order to see the end of the commandment; for without faith in him who was to come all that repentance was unavailable; and all the ritual observance without profit.

Thus, having faith towards God

What is faith?

Faith means to believe and have assurance of something. To believe means to have trust. The words “faith, believe, and trust” all mean the same thing when we use them in relation to God. The Bible defines faith as: Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). For this reason, the Bible declares that we must walk or live by faith (Heb. 10:38; Rom. 1:17;). Once we are Christians, we receive all things from God by using our faith.

Faith is a Revelation, because it is something that is revealed to you… Faith is the Revelation of God… The Church, the entire Body is built upon a Revelation.

It is the Revelation of God that will give you authority over the devil… There is nothing of such prevailing power as the revelation of the Word. It takes the Holy Ghost to give us Revelation or we fail to get it

“Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?” (Romans 3:2-3)

Apostle Paul, is emphasizing the great privilege and responsibility that was committed to the Jews when God gave His “oracles” to them, a word implying “divinely inspired utterances.”

Hebrew Christians who had still not learned the very “first principles of the oracles of God,” despite having been professing Christians for a long time ( Hebrews 5:12).

So it is with us gentiles who were wild Olive branch grated into the true Vine partaking of the same nourishment from the vine. We also need to go unto perfection. But if we do not grasp the first principles how do we perfect ourselves?

Finally, the apostle Peter urged “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God”( Peter 4:11). That is, anyone who presumes to speak for the Lord must “preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2). It is not our words, but His words that are “quick, and powerful” (Hebrews 4:12). In fact, Stephen called them “the lively |or ‘living’| oracles” (Acts 7:38).

In all these references, it is clear that these “oracles of God”…. that is, the Holy Scriptures…..constitute the very utterances of the living God. They were given to and through believing Jews and are preserved for us now in our Bibles. They obviously should be believed, studied, obeyed, and proclaimed by all who consider themselves to be Christians.

The fact that many people reject the Bible, even claiming it is wrong in what it teaches, is irrelevant. Such claims merely display human arrogance. God’s Word has been “for ever . . . settled in heaven” and “is true from the beginning” (Psalm 119:89, 160). It will endure even after this present world has passed away (Mathew 24:35) and will finally be the criterion by which its detractors will be judged in the last day (Rev 20:12, 22:18-19).

Faith is a condition of the heart producing belief in God: For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.(Romans 10:10) It is not enough to accept the Gospel with the mind. This is not true Scriptural faith and does not produce change in your life. True Scriptural faith, believing with the heart, always produces change in your life. The result is something experienced in the present, not something hoped for in the future.

In conclusion, James states:

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraided not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.

For he that wavereth, is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.( James 1: 5 – 7 )

Shalom and God bless!