(Acts 16:25
KJV) And at
midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was
a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and
immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the
prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself,
supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul
cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and
fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them
out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said,
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy
house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that
were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and
washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34
And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and
rejoiced, believing in God with all his
house.
Just recently a man at the age
of 89 was baptized in a local Baptist Church, and next when I talked to
him it was very apparent to me that he was not a Christian and he still
did not understand what Christianity really was. He had not yet even
fully repenting of his past, present sinful ways. When I next prayed to God to
confirm if this was true? and even as to why the church hd now Baptized him,
God told me that to be on the supposed safe side this Church tends to rush to
baptize everyone who comes to their church, saved or not, and this is a very
bad practise, for it leads some to believe that they are
Christians when they are not still. I also do know this
firsthand as I was Baptized in the same church one year before I next
became a Christian, before I next actually accepted Jesus as my Lord and
savior.. We must first insure that each persons has clearly,
evidently accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior before we rush to Baptize
them with water nd the Holy Spirit..
The act of water Baptism itself
saves no one, absolutely no one, nor is it mandatory to get to heaven... and
Jesus himself baptized no one..
By faith in God's words in the
Bible, repenting and accepting Jesus personally as Lord and our personal
Savior is what now, next saves us personally only.
(Rom 10:17 KJV) So
then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
(Hosea
14:9 KJV) Who is wise, and he shall understand these things?
prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the
just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall
therein.
One still needs to be saved
first, to first accept Jesus as Lord before one can be baptized in water and
with the Holy Spirit.
and what even all of the the
Baptists should do first is preach, teach, and practise more praising God, for
it is this that now leads to other persons personal salvation firstly too...
not water baptism..
(Acts
2:47 KJV) Praising God, and having favour with all the people.
And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be
saved.
We should all be
teaching and preaching the personal need of real personal commitment to the
lordship of Jesus Christ for each persons, and next encouraging also
both the water baptism and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as well and
teaching people what both mean clearly as
well.
(Acts 2:38 KJV) Then Peter said unto them, Repent,
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost.
(Acts 22:16 KJV)
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins,
calling on the name of the Lord.
Now why is it that too many of
preachers still do tend to only preach half, part of the
Gospel and leave out what it means to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost as
well?
Jesus replied, “Jesus answered and said
to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.”(Matthew
22:29)
Sadly too many preachers
themselves have really not yet been baptized with the Holy Ghost still,
and this is still why they don't understand it, they thus cannot really share
this truth with others.
"But I was
baptized in water. Wasn't that good enough?" NO!! Not at all.. who told
you it was? Not Jesus! Nor the Apostles!
(Luke
4:14 KJV) And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into
Galilee: (Luke 4:32
KJV) And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with
power. (Luke 4:36 KJV) And they were all amazed, and spake among
themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he
commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. (Luke 9:1 KJV) Then
he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority
over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2 And he sent them to preach the
kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. (Luke 10:19 KJV) Behold, I give
unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of
the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. ( Luke 12:5 KJV) But
I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed
hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. (Luke 24:49
KJV) And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye
in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.(Acts 1:7
KJV) And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the
seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come
upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the
earth.
Too many preachers
wrongfully make major, wrong doctrines of isolated portions of
scriptures, to their own false liking and neglect all of the other
valid parts of the Bible still today as well even on the subject of future
prophecies, , Baptism of the Holy Spirit, healing, Baptism too..
especially those who would wrongfully distort, teach that water baptism is
essential to one being saved next too... and still they wrongfully also do not
put any personal emphasis on personal, real Holy Spirit living,
and living is His power too.
The repentant thief on the cross
was still saved without water baptism? (Luke 23:43 KJV) And
Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in
paradise, he was SAVED because of his evident works of
repentance, and not because of his baptism. Some preachers would lie to
you and say that water baptism is one of those personal works that
ensures salvation and they even would wrongfully quote
(James 2:24 KJV) Ye see then how
that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Well then, what were
these works that a person is justified still? Water Baptism? or
rather not neglecting the poor persons good
welfare for a start.. just read the actual Bible context and see this
truth..
(James 2:14 KJV) What
doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not
works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and
destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in
peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things
which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if
it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
The overly simplified false
Gospel of easy Salvation too often neglects one's personal duties of real
personal repentance first as well..
(Mat 3:7 KJV) But when he
saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto
them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to
come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for
repentance:
These fruits. good works,
evidences of real repentances are plural, they are not the singular
fruit of the Holy Spirit alone. And then also note the more rightful emphasis
of "living water" that Jesus has promised too to his
followers.
(John 4:1 KJV) When therefore the Lord
knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples
than John, 2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. 4 And he must
needs go through Samaria. 5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which
is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son
Joseph. 6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied
with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her,
Give me to drink. 8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to
buy meat.) 9 Then saith the woman of
Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which
am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God,
and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked
of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11 The woman saith
unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from
whence then hast thou that living water? 12 Art thou greater than
our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his
children, and his cattle? 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever
drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of
the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall
give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not,
neither come hither to draw. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy
husband, and come hither. 17 The woman answered and said, I have no
husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: 18
For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband:
in that saidst thou truly. 19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive
that thou art a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and
ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall
neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22
Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the
Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers
shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such
to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must
worship him in spirit and in truth. 25 The woman saith unto him, I know
that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us
all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with
the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?
28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and
saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever
I did: is not this the Christ? 30 Then they went out of the city, and
came unto him. 31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying,
Master, eat. 32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know
not of. 33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man
brought him ought to eat? 34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the
will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 35 Say not ye, There
are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up
your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life
eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men
laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. 39 And many of the
Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which
testified, He told me all that ever I did. 40 So when the Samaritans
were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he
abode there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his own word;
42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying:
for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the
Saviour of the world.
Jesus Christ and his shed blood,
is the life we have through him now, next and it is still Jesus who is
our Salvation, our Savior and not our "water baptism" for a
start.
Still (Mat 7:22 KJV) Many will say
to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy
name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that
work iniquity.
(Jer 2:8 KJV) The priests said not, Where is the
LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed
against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that
do not profit.
(Deu 10:12 KJV) And now, Israel, what doth the
LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his
ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and
with all thy soul,
When I want to see the
evidence of how spiritual someone is, even Pastors, writers I still do
rightfully look first to see how they personally themselves do now
really treat the poor persons, other Christians, to see what they
do firstly themselves do to help practically the poor persons, especially the
poor believers.. and I do not merely look at what they claim they do or
promise to do as well. The love of money in contrast is still the root
of all evil and an evidence of the existance of their evil
too.
(John 13:35 KJV) By
this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to
another. (Jer 22:16 KJV) He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then
it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the
LORD.
>"WE BELIEVE THAT BELIEVERS
ARE SAVED BY FAITH AND BAPTISM:"
(1 Cor 1:17 KJV) For Christ sent
me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest
the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Preaching only Water Baptism as a salvation
requirement is still a clear over simplification,
distortion of the whole New Testament Gospel truth as well now too.
(Mat 3:11 KJV) I
indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but 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:
THUS RATHER WHERE STILL
IS THE RIGHTFUL EMPHASIS ON THE HOLY GHOST
BAPTISM?
(Mark 1:4 KJV) John did baptize in the
wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of
sins.
(Acts 13:24 KJV) When John had first
preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of
Israel.
(Acts 18:25 KJV) This man was instructed
in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught
diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of
John.
(Acts 19:3 KJV) And he said unto them,
Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's
baptism.
(John 1:26 KJV) John answered them,
saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know
not;
(John 1:33 KJV) And I knew him not: but
he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou
shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which
baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
(Mat 20:22 KJV) Are ye able to drink of
the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am
baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
(Acts 10:38 KJV) How God
anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and
with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were
oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
(Mat 20:23 KJV) And he
saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the
baptism that I am baptized with:
(Mark 1:4 KJV) John did baptize in the
wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of
sins.
(Acts 19:4 KJV) Then said Paul, John
verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him,
that is, on Christ Jesus.
(Mark 1:8 KJV) I indeed
have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy
Ghost.
SO NOW WHERE IS THE full
RIGHTFUL EMPHASIS ON THIS HOLY GHOST BAPTISM and the evidence of it now as
well? When people where baptized with the Holy Ghost in the book of Acts they
showed clearly to others evidence of it too, evidence of casting our demons,
healings, tongues, etc.,
MANY PERSONS, HAVE SOLD JESUS TODAY FOR THIRTY
PIECES OF SILVER, FOR THE COMFORTABLE PEW, TRY TO PLEASE THE DEVIL AND THE
CROWD TOO, AND THUS THEY DO NOT PRACTISE, PREACH THE WHOLE NEW
TESTAMENT GOSPEL THESE DAYS AND WRONGFULLY STILL.
(Acts 16:18 KJV) And this did she many
days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee
in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same
hour.
(Heb 13:8 KJV) Jesus
Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
(Mark 3:5 KJV) And when he
had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of
their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he
stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the
other.
(Mark 16:17 KJV) And these
signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils;
they shall speak with new tongues;
(Mark 16:18 KJV) They
shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt
them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall
recover.
(Mark 16:19 KJV) So then
after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat
on the right hand of God.
(Mark 16:20 KJV) And they
went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and
confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
(Mat 10:1 KJV) And when he
had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean
spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner
of disease.
(Luke 7:21 KJV) And in that same hour he cured many
of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were
blind he gave sight.
(Mat 9:21 KJV) For she
said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be
whole.
(Mat 9:22 KJV) But Jesus
turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort;
thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that
hour.
(Mat 12:13 KJV) Then saith
he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was
restored whole, like as the other.
(Mat 14:36 KJV) And
besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as
touched were made perfectly whole.
(Mark 6:56 KJV) And
whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the
sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the
border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole..
Mat 15:31 KJV) Insomuch
that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be
whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of
Israel.
(John 5:6 KJV) When Jesus saw him lie, and knew
that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be
made whole?
(John 5:9 KJV) And immediately the man was made
whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the
sabbath.
(John 5:11 KJV) He answered them, He that made
me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
(John 5:14 KJV) Afterward Jesus findeth him in
the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest
a worse thing come unto thee.
(Luke 7:10 KJV) And they that were sent,
returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been
sick.
(John 4:53 KJV) So the father knew that
it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and
himself believed, and his whole house.
(Luke 8:39 KJV) Return to thine own
house, and show how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way,
and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto
him.
HEAVENLY SALVATION IS NOT THE ONLY THING JESUS
DOES FOR US TODAY TOO.
(Acts 4:9
KJV) If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent
man, by what means he is made whole; 10 KJV) Be it known unto you all,
and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man
stand here before you whole.
JESUS AND THE APOSTLES, HEALED
AS WELL AS SAVED PEOPLE.. THIS IS ALSO THE GOSPEL OF
CHRIST.
(Acts 9:34 KJV) And Peter
said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy
bed. And he arose immediately.
(Eph 6:11 KJV) Put on the whole
armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil.
again.. and do forget what other have said
based on their own traditions too..
(Rev 12:11 KJV) And
they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the
word of their
testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Jesus
also said.. (Luke 12:50 KJV) But I have a baptism to be baptized with;
and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! This did
not refer to water Baptism alone now
too.