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Thursday, October
18, 2007
Watered Down
Ephesians 4:4-5 There is one body, and one Spirit, even
as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (5) One Lord, one faith, one
baptism, (KJV)
We have spoken
over the last few weeks about denominations and how many different paths
man has invented to Father’s house. We see here that Paul, a man of God,
had chosen to write a large portion of the New Testament was able to narrow
God’s plan of salvation down to the number one. And as an old song said,
one can be a lonely number. The more you walk on the narrow path of life,
the less traveled you will find it to be for those that truly hold God to
be true and man the liar.
1Corinthians
1:14-17 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; (15)
Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. (16) And I
baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I
baptized any other. (17) 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. (KJV)
Paul himself, who
was well versed in the Old Testament, and had strictly adhered to the old
ways, was able to come to the conclusion, that if there is one baptism, it
should be the one that immerses the people in living spiritual waters
cleansing the heart. The word ‘baptize’ means to immerse as well as cover
with a fluid. So the fact that the seed within us is Christ, which again is
spiritual, would it not take an immersion in living spiritual waters as
well to make that grow to maturity?
Acts 15:8-11 And
God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy
Ghost, even as he did unto us; (9) And put no difference between us and
them, purifying their hearts by faith. (10) Now therefore why tempt ye God,
to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor
we were able to bear? (11) But we believe that through the grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. (KJV)
Keep in mind that
there was a struggle within the early church in discerning between the old
law and the new law of faith, so in Acts chapter 15, they got together to
settle these differences, coming to the conclusion as Paul later writes, we
are saved by grace through faith, and not of works.
Acts 1:5 For John
truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not
many days hence. (KJV)
The word Christian
means to be Christ like, imitators of Christ.
So why are so many
still trying to imitate John the Baptist? Didn’t he do a good enough job?
John 1:31-33 And I
knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I
come baptizing with water. (32) And John bare record, saying, I saw the
Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. (33) And
I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said
unto me, Upon whom thou salt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on
him, the same is he which baptized with the Holy Ghost. (KJV)
When Jesus Christ
walked this earth for a short time, God’s plan of salvation was introduced
to mankind and manifest through Him. Now that He died, rose, and is seated
at the right hand of the Father, which realm are we going to find Him in
now? John did what Father asked of him, and accomplished his ministry.
John 3:30-31 He
must increase, but I must decrease. (31) He that cometh from above is above
all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that
cometh from heaven is above all. (KJV)
John realized it
was time to step aside; there was a new sheriff in town, one that was going
to bring some law and order to the inward, eliminating the need for the
outward rituals. Isn’t it our duty as well now, to bring God’s plan of
salvation to the lost, making manifest to the church who Jesus Christ is,
and the power of that name which is above all names? What kind of doctrine
are we presenting, old has-been doctrines of man or a new and living way,
letting the living waters flow through us.
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