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Author
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Topic: Water Baptism and the Future Day of the Lord
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Isaiah
Advanced Member
Member # 6699
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posted
Baptism is rather important -and has never ceased to be. It is so important that Christ -who truly did not need baptism -was baptized as an example for us...
(Mat 3:13-15 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him.)
...however, the act of being baptized is merely a symbol of what happens at the time one is baptized...THE REMISSION OF SINS! It is a symbol of cleansing and the death of the 'old man'. When one repents of sin, then is baptized, God takes note and FORGIVES THEIR SINS AT THAT TIME.
If one does not repent beforehand -one merely gets wet.
A distinction is made in the bible between the baptism of John and the baptism of the spirit. There are clear examples of people being baptized twice (Acts 19:3-4)- before Christ died -and after. The difference is not in the baptism -both times the persons sins were forgiven, but the second time the TRUE REASON we are to be baptized was possible.
The TRUE PURPOSE OF BAPTISM is to cleanse the vessel in which God's holy spirit is about to reside!!!!! It is not the water which cleanses one -but God forgiving them -which he does after they repent and are baptized.
If one has truly repented of sin and is truly prepared to make overcoming sin a lifelong endeavor -and God so decides he is willing...then at the laying on of hands following baptism, God puts HIS HOLY SPIRIT in the person!!!! As it says...
(1Ti 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.)
Before Christ died, God's spirit -the comforter -a spirit of power, love and a sound mind (2Ti 1:7)-was not widely available to man!
This is certainly not the only time sins are forgiven, but its specific purpose is to cleanse the vessel which will contain God's spirit.
Some verses seem to suggest we leave off baptising -but this is not the case. Such as...
Heb 6:1-2 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.
.....but this truly means to leave the foundation in place and MOVE ON -not that baptism should be neglected, but that they needed to build on the foundation -that is -to use the spirit they were given and move toward perfection. The very reason we NEED the spirit is that we cannot please or truly obey God without it.
God is able to forgive one -and so cleanse the vessel -without baptism -but this is not for us to decide -he has put his spirit in some from birth, but again -we ought to do things in all righteousness -we are told quite clearly to 1 -repent 2- be baptized for the remission of sins......if we do not take these seriously we should not expect the wonderful gift of the spirit of God.
What did Jesus do?
What did the man whom he called Peter tell us to do? (Simon is referred to as Peter in the gospels -but this was not his name before Christ gave it to him -as what he would say and do in Christ's name on pentecost after Christ died was the foundation of the spiritual church -which is why Christ named him 'rock'....Mat 16:17-19 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.)
And on that wonderful pentecost holy day he said.....Act 2:38-42 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. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine.......
As for the day of the Lord, and the necessity of baptism therein.....
Though, in a broad sense, the day of the Lord includes the tribulation, the tribulation is essentially man doing great harm to man...while the day of the Lord which follows is God and his angels plaguing unrepentant mankind (Joel 2).
Considering the times...especially noting the fact that the two witnesses will have the power to shut the sky, many will be in captivity or other such things -water might not be readily available to all who might sincerely repent -much less enough in which to immerse a man. It is written that all who call on his name in those days will be saved. Though some will die for refusing to sin and then be in the first resurrection. Perhaps God will provide water for those who should be baptized -perhaps not -those who have it available should certainly make use of it -but those who do not have water available are not doomed. The Lord will provide one way or another.
Posts: 288 | Registered: Aug 2007
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WildB
Moderator
Member # 2917
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posted
by Paul M. Sadler
The following was our response to a friend who inquired if baptism would be practiced again in the future Tribulation.
It does appear that water baptism will play a role in the terms of salvation during the coming day of the Lord. We know, for example, the gospel of the kingdom will again be preached, which included this water ceremony (Matt. 24:14 cf. Mark 16:15,16). When baptism was practiced by John and the twelve it was to manifest Christ to Israel (John 1:31). This will again be needful during the future Tribulation period following the Rapture. Since Israel was to be a kingdom of priests it was essential for John the Baptist to baptize believing Israelites into the priesthood (Ex. 19:5,6; 29:1-4; Isa. 61:6). It will be necessary for this to be continued during the time of Jacob’s Trouble as well. As we know, in time past, water baptism symbolized the washing away of Israel’s sins. While this aspect of the water rite will be replaced with the understanding that believing Israel will be redeemed by the precious blood of Christ (I Pet. 1:18,19), baptism will still be observed as an expression of faith in Christ’s death.
It is our firm conviction that water baptism will again be practiced when God resumes the prophetic program in the coming day of the Lord. God will pick up right where He left off at Pentecost. What we witness in Acts Chapters 2 and 3 will be reinstated at the beginning of the Tribulation.
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That is all.....
Posts: 8775 | From: USA, MICHIGAN | Registered: Mar 2004
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