There is a THIRD Baptism also: "WATER Baptism", which symbolizes our being dead, buried, and resurrected with Christ into newness of Life. It is not necessary to be saved, but rather is something we do as an act of obedience to proclaim to the world that we are now "in the faith". The baptism in Romans 6 does NOT refer to "water" baptism, but ... See Morerather to our Baptism INTO CHRIST. Here are some good scriptures which tell of water baptism, and how it is separate from the other two Baptisms: Matt. 28:19; Acts 8:36-38; 10:44-48; 19:2-6. Go through those Baptisms in Acts 10 and 19 there, and see if you can distinguish those three Baptisms. Fascinating!
2) PRIDE causes a man to trust in HIS performance of works (LAW), stimulating the sin nature, & placing him under a CURSE; HUMILITY causes a man to trust in Christ's Blood Sacrifice (GRACE), allowing him to walk in the Divine Nature of the Spirit, and BLESSINGS. (See Habakkuk 2:4; Rom. 3:23-25; 5:9; Gal. 3:10-14; Eph. 2:8-10; Col. 2:6; 1:20-23; 1 Cor. 15:56b).
In the FIRST scenario, it is like "the cart trying to pull the horse"; In the second, it is "the horse pulling the cart" ! Now which do you think will actually WORK? Duh. One absolutely CANNOT live for God that first way and get ANYWHERE. And does that not explain the utter failure of the majority of those professing to be Christians?
3) I am soooo glad I can place my faith totally in Jesus and His Sacrifice on the Cross for all Righteousness (HIS), and then HE makes me to be what I aught to be- by the POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST, without striving on my part. What a Life!!!!
"And be found IN HIM, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the Righteousness which is of God by faith." -(Phil. 3:9)
"For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the Life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me (THE CROSS)" -(Gal. 2:19-20)
"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the SIMPLICITY THAT IS IN CHRIST." -(2 Cor. 11:3)
Living for God and serving Him should be SIMPLE, folks. A "resting", a "trusting" in Him and What HE has done, not in what WE are doing. You know,let's face it: life is filled with responsibilities and ... "work". And my walk with God "USED" to be the biggest one. "Have I prayed enough?" "Have I read the Word enough?" "I forgot my tithe! Oh my!" And on and on. And yet, I found myself not one lick closer to God, having no peace,having no... "abundant Life", ... See Morelike Jesus said we would have in John 10:10. I also noticed I was not getting any PERSECUTION, like Jesus said we would receive if we followed Him. This really left me scratching my head. "SOMETHING IS WRONG!" And indeed something WAS wrong; I was living in "law", plan and simple, trusting in "self" and MY sacrifices; I read Romans chapter 7, and THAT WAS ME! No victory, although I was trying with every ounce within me to please God. (or WAS I?). Really, God and Christianity had just become another category of "work and responsibility" to fulfill. I had become "religious", with my walk with God becoming a list of "do's and dont's". And yet... BECAUSE I was doing all of these religious things, I was puffy and proud at all of my "spirituality", looking down my nose at others and thinking... "Why aren't YOU doing what YOU aught to be doing?! Hmppffff" . I was no better than the Scribes and Pharisees of Jesus' day! And of course, at the time, one cannot see that, because religion BLINDS one to his true state. AND YET, I REMEMBERED what it had been like when I had first been saved and filled with the Spirit: the "lightness", the joy, the peace, the freedom of walking in the Spirit, my hand in the Hand of the Master, in HUMBLE TRUST-IN-HIM!!!!! Seemingly no worries or cares in this world; JESUS had control over it ALL! I longed for those days once again, and, not knowing at the time what WAS the matter, I literally cried out to God for the answer, of how I could get back close to Him once again. And it wasn't but a week after that... that He gave me "THE REVELATION OF THE CROSS FOR... SANCTIFICATION". This was the Answer, and it is STILL the Answer. It is the Answer for YOU, my friend, whoever is reading this. It will make you, and KEEP you nice and TIGHT WITH JESUS, with NO striving on your part. You see.... Jesus already did all of the Work FOR you, on the Cross of Calvary, where He handily defeated Satan and every demon spirit, so you would not HAVE to work, and strive, and fight... to be what you aught to be. Now all you got to do is "REST IN CHRIST AND HIS SACRIFICE", and God's refreshing "Living Waters", come streaming down. HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4) The Strength of God's people lies not in THEIR sacrifices (IE: faith in their works -> "LAW") = "the flesh", & no help; But in GOD'S Sacrifice (faith in Christ & 'the Cross' -> "GRACE") = "the (Holy) Spirit", & HIS Help! (see, in order... Rom. 8:1-2; Zech. 3:3-5; Rev. 7:9-14; 12:10-11; 19:7-8; 3:4-5; Zech. 4:6-7)
Satan can be defeated in our lives in no other way than by faith IN THAT BLOOD SACRIFICE, not only for SALVATION, but also for... LIVING FOR GOD/ SANCTIFICATION. (see Ex. 12:5,7,13, 22-23).
5) "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. -(Matt. 24:12-13)
What does Jesus mean here by "ENDURE UNTO THE END"? It means... the following:
(21) "And you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath reconciled (22) In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight: (23)
IF YE CONTINUE 'IN THE FAITH' GROUNDED AND SETTLED, AND BE NOT MOVED AWAY FROM THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL..." -(Col. 1:21-23)... See More
We "endure unto the end" by "continuing in 'THE FAITH' of 'JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED (1 Cor. 2:2)". And by continuing in THE FAITH, this means that we do not resort to faith in some other means of justification for our sins- like the "spiritual disciplines", traditions, programs, psychology, self-improvement and motivation, etc. All of these are self-"works and LAW", which WE do.... OUR sacrifices, which God will not accept!
6) "What sall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" -(Rom. 6:1-2)
"(26) For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." -(Heb. 10:26-27)
"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye SIN NOT. And IF ANY MAN SIN, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous." -(1 Jhn. 2:1)
Bottom line: We are to NOT WANT TO SIN. But, it's bound to happen because... I AM NOT GOD, AND (ahem) NEITHER ARE YOU. If we place our faith exclusively in Christ and His Blood Sacrifice for righteousness, the sin nature shall not have dominion over us (see Rom. 6:14-15; 8:1-2; 1 Cor. 1:18; Rev. 12:10-11).
7) God would rather have you stop serving Him altogether (COLD towards Him), rather than you be lukewarm in your love and devotion for Him.***
"And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.". -(Deut. 6:5; Matt. 22:37).
"Ye shall not go after other gods; of the gods of the people which are round about you; For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you.
"(15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot. (16) So then, because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue (vomit) thee out of My mouth. (17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." -(Rev. 3:15-17).
"(37) He that loveth Father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of Me. (38) And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me is not worthy of Me. (39) He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it." -(Matt. 10:37-39
"If any man come to Me, and hate not (in comparison of his love towards Me) his father, and mother, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." -(Lk. 14:26)
"(15) Love not the world (this present evil anti-Christ world system governed by Satan), neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love if the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." -(1 Jhn. 2:15-16)
"(36) For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (37) Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (38) Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My Words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." -(Mark 8:39-38)
"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." -(James 4:4)
These scriptures make it glaringly clear that God demands WHOLE-hearted love and devotion for Him. But this does NOT mean (as most think), a "striving to please Him". No, friend, Jesus His Son has ALREADY pleased Him, and now God is looking for your simple FAITH in what HE has done on your behalf. When our faith "for Righteousness" is properly ... See Moreplaced in Christ's BLOOD SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS, the Holy Spirit will then make us to be what we aught to be, to do the things we aught to do, and to shun the things we aught to shun BY HIS STRENGTH, and NOT OUR'S (see Zech.4:6-7). And yes, the "fear of the Lord" and "repentance of sins" ARE NECESSARY heart traits that the Lord requires! Romans 6:1-2 declares that we do not have an open license to sin. What kind of love and devotion would it BE to God to just unashamedly do the very things that He HATES?
8) "...He (Jesus) said unto them (the Pharisees), They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that means, 'I will have mercy, and not sacrifice': for I am not come to call the (self) righteous, but sinners to repentance." -(Mt. 9:12-13).
In the preceding verses to this passage, the Pharisees were asking Jesus' disciples why He was eating with the despised Publicans (tax-collectors) and sinners. Jesus heard that, and answered them Himself. His point was this: He did not come to save those who thought they were "A-Okay" through their sacrifices (Self-works of "law"). He came to save ... See Morethose who recognized reality: that they were INDEED sinners (ALL of us), that they were NOT "whole", and that they needed, in humble dependence, to allow "the great Physician"- Jesus - to show them grace and mercy and to heal them.
The Pharisees were those who were SELF-righteous; They thought they had "arrived", being "the spiritual elite" of Israel. Jesus.... thought OTHERWISE, giving them a scathing rebuke in the whole 23rd chapter of Matthew! He viewed them as being FULL OF EVIL!! Calling them here and elsewhere a "generation of VIPERS"!
Folks, we NEVER "arrive". We each need to trust in the grace and mercy of God every day, preachers and other church leaders INCLUDED! It is only then that Jesus the great Physician can CONTINUE to heal us, sanctify us, and conform us into His Image through His Holy Spirit, as we are "in Him"" through faith EXCLUSIVELY in Him and HIS BLOOD SACRIFICE ON .... THE CROSS. You see... God demands "moral perfection", and none of us can ever arrive at this here in these bodies of flesh, hence the daily need for the precious Blood of Christ to be applied to our... HEARTS.
"But the proud He knoweth afar off." -(Psa. 138:6)
9) The Bible plainly tells us that Pastors are not to be LORDS over their people, but rather... their SERVANTS & EXAMPLES (see Matt. 23:11; Mk. 9:35; 1 Pet. 5:2-3); Not DRIVING them, but LEADING them.
10) "Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard." -(Ecclesiastics. 9:16)
Here is the spiritual meaning behind this scripture: Jesus said "Blessed are the POOR IN SPIRIT (those who recognize thier moral poverty): for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven." -(Matt. 5:3). God CHOOSES this type of people to pour out His mercy and grace upon, as they live by faith on His Son's Sacrifice. Also, and BECAUSE of this, He also fills this type of people with His HOLY SPIRIT, Who teaches them the .... "hidden wisdom of God ", the Word/ the Holy Bible (see 1 Cor. 2:6-16). Hence, "the poor man and his "Wisdom", which can "deliver the city". However, the true Gospel of "Jesus Christ and Him crucified", the ENTRANCE into this Wisdom, is considered as "foolishness" to the proud and worldly folks (who are in the majority, even among those who profess to be Christians!); So the Wisdom of "the wise poor man" is by and large despised and rejected by the majority, to their destruction and peril. One day, when Jesus is the literal physical King over all the earth (in His 1,000 year reign), the "tables will be turned", so-to-speak, and the "poor and wise men" will rule WITH Him in cities across the earth, over natural people, with "a rod of iron" (they will be forced to obey).
11) MAN'S way of holiness is to "improve himSELF" through his own sacrifices (even GOOD sacrifices, such as spiritual disciplines!) = "LAW"; GOD'S Way of holiness is JESUS & for us to "deny ourself", trusting in HIS Sacrifice = "GRACE". (See. Rom. 10:3-4; Gal. 2:21; Lk. 9:23-24; Eph. 2:8-9; Col. 2:6)
Those under "LAW" (as a means of righteousness) are under a CURSE, while those under "GRACE" are in BLESSINGS :
"(10 )For as many as are of the works of the law are under the CURSE: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. (11) But that no man is justified by the ... See Morelaw in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. (13) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree (THE CROSS): (14) That THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." -(Gal. 3:10-14)
You may say, "Well, but I am not UNDER the 'law' any more. We are in the NEW Testament now, and under GRACE." Yeah, but when we place ourselves in the position of being spiritual through our own "do's and don'ts", this is placing ourself right back UNDER 'law', which "frustrates" that Grace in our life, and quenches the moving and operation of the HOLY SPIRIT, Who gives us all that we need for victory over 'the world, the flesh, and the devil"!
Satan has much of the Church "hoodwinked" (deceived)! They think they are doing good, and pleasing God through their sacrifices, when all the while... they are digging their own grave by being under the law, stimulating the sin nature, and being CURSED!.... and I'm sure there he is, sitting in the background, and laughing his head off! (He is only afraid of our faith in CHRIST'S BLOOD, not our faith in ourselves and our good deeds and spiritual sacrifices!).
****** Here is a way to KNOW if you are under "law" or not: When you find yourself struggling with a besetting sin, or feeling under condemnation, or feeling "distant with God", is your reaction WHAT YOU DO? If your reaction is to "DO" something (whether it be pray, read the Word, fast, go to church more, tithe, do some good deed, etc.), then YOU ARE UNDER LAW, and "IN THE FLESH". *************
So what can solve our problem then? SIMPLE FAITH IN CHRIST'S FINISHED WORK ON THE CROSS, HIS "BLOOD SACRIFICE". "Lord, I thank you that you have freely given me YOUR Righteousness, through Your Son Jesus' Sacrifice on the Cross."
Friend, if you just simply stay "IN THE FAITH", the HOLY SPIRIT will remove that problem in your life! Let HIM do all the work, and you.... just back off! The natural tendency of man is to DO something. The SUPERNATURAL Way THAT WORKS is for us to..... "REST IN CHRIST". O hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
12) "Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken. Give glory to the LORD your God, before He cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, He turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness. "But if ye will not hear it, My soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD"S flock is carried away captive." (Jer. 13:15-17)
Hear now the Word of the Lord through His servant:.....
If you are walking in the flesh, trusting in your OWN righteousness before the LORD, you are NOT giving the LORD glory. Y-O-U are getting the glory, and "the Light of the Lord": (The Holy Ghost's Enlightenment)) will be withholden from you, and you will be..... B-L-I-N-D, walking in spiritual DARKNESS.
"I AM the Lord: that is MY Name: and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images."
Take heed, and be not as one of the "foolish virgins", who carried NO OIL with them in their lamps. So that when the Bridegroom came, they WERE NOT READY.
HEAR ALSO the Message of this last minute of the last hour before the coming of the LORD: "THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS FOR SANCTIFICATION". They that stubbornly hold on to their pride will NOT embrace this Message that I HAVE ORDAINED to prepare for Myself a "glorious Church, without spot or wrinkle". I am giving every member an opportunity to embrace this deliverance, and yet, if it is refused, my flock shall REMAIN in captivity, although in their delusion they think they are.... rich,, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing. NOT KNOWING... that IN REALITY they are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind and naked. NAKED because they have not MY Covering of Righteousness, but their OWN, which is as filthy rags in My sight", saith the LORD GOD through his servant.
I COUNSEL the to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment (through the Blood of My Son), tha thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve (for thou ART blind!), that thou mayest see.
Behold I stand at the door (of your heart) and knock: If any man hear My Voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with Me.
He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him THAT IS AT EASE. (Job. 12:5)"
Be ye zealous therefore, and REPENT. Behold I come quickly, as a thief in the NIGHT." ~
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