Monday, October 14, 2013

L # 8. REVELATION' S "RIVER of LIFE" [Baptism necessary?]


     Arguably, one of the most spectacular views in space is the Orion Nebula. At a distance calculated at 1300 light years from earth, the Orion Constellation can easily be seen, by the naked eye. The Nebula is huge about 24 light years across, and is one of the most photographed and studied features in the night sky! With intense colors of blue, violet, red, and green, are found within.
    An other fascinating feature is the water. Orion's giant stellar cloud science estimates hold enough water vapor, to fill all of earth oceans, sixty times per day. As per an article in Astrophysical Journal Letters, these observations about water could provide vital clues to the origin of water in our solar system.
    What makes all that incredible light, and where does all that water come from? You may be surprised to find that Orion is actually mentioned three times in the Holy Bible. Many a theologian believes that Heaven God's headquarter, may be located somewhere in the region of the Orion Nebula. The Bible does speak to blue, red, violet, and green, being part of the foundation of God's Holy City. It also mentions a river of life, flowing from God's Throne.
     Water is critical to all  life on earth. In this lesson, we're going to study what the Bible says about water and life, and just how important water is when it comes to eternal life: Shall we begin"

1. What sign did God give us to show we accept Jesus?
    Acts 22:16. "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."
     Acts 2:37-38. "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 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."
Note: This is a Public display of one faith/Trust in and the accepting of the gift of Salvation from Christ, who died for your sins, so you don't have to die the eternal death, the second death! {Put that in your memory bank]

2. Is Baptism connected with the joining of a church?
     Acts 2:41. "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."
     Acts 2:47. "Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."
NOTE: It is very plain to see, that YOUR Savior, wants YOU to be a part of HIS CHURCH. When the disciples baptized someone,k that person was added to the church.. The Church members are part of The many member-ed body of Christ, WHO IS the Church!  A person who stays within "A Family" are much stronger and much safer from Satan that those who are on the outside.

3. How important is Baptism?
    Mark 16:16. . "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
   1 Corinthians 10:1. "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;"
Note: Jesus said those  who believe and are baptized,  will be saved!  On the way to the Promised Land, God's people were all baptized, ,as symbolized by their "passing through the water [via the parting of the Reed Sea, remember?]

4. Doesn't baptism of the Holy Spirit replace water baptism?
    John 3:5. "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
    1 Corinthians 12:13-14. "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.   For the body is not one member, but many."
   Acts 2:38. "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. "
    Isaiah 54:5. "For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called."
NOTE: Look at the Isa.,m verse, and know (1) "..Thy Maker".. is also "...Thy Redeemer" being Jesus Christ! Thus HE as the Symbolic Groom, and we each being the symbolic Brides, are to become as Genesis 2:24. "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."   Therefore we are to be as ONE with Jesus!

NOTE 2: The word "Baptize", comes to us from the Greek word "Baptizo" meaning to plunge, submerge, dunk, immerse. "Thus saying: "I will 'Baptize' my cookie in milk," is perfectly correct.

John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.

8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

25  O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.


26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
   Who is it, that can not hear, the plea of Christ, to each one of us, to draw nearer to Him thus always draw closer to Our Father which art in Heaven?

NOTE: Being  BURIED beneath the water, in Baptism,symbolizes Christ's death, burial and resurrection, in our place. Many Christians say that they Keep Sunday, instead of The Sabbath, in honor of the resurrection. But what did Christ give us to honor the resurrection? the answer is Baptism!

6. How was Jesus baptized?
     Mark 1:9-10. " it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:"
NOTE: Jesus was baptized in the water, even thought He was sinless. He did this, not because of His sins, but as an example for us all!

7. What command did Jesus give just before His ascension to the Father?
     Matthew 28:19-20 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world. Amen."

Note: Jesus' command was simple: Teach and baptize. One of the greatest joys for both preacher, or a minister and the one receiving the baptism, is to be baptized, one should not ever think of this as being a bother.

8.                        WHAT BIBLICAL QUALIFICATIONS SHOULD PRECEDE BAPTISM?
                         Simple Pre-Baptism check list.
   A. Understand Jesus' teachings   [Matthew 28:: 19-20]
   B. Accept and believe all of His teachings. [Mark 16:16]
   C. Repent of past sins. [ Acts 2:38]
   D. Accept and Believe with all your heart.  [Acts 8:37]
   E. Agree to turn away from sins. [Luke 3:7-8; Romans 6:5-6]
   F. Accept Christ as your personal Savior-experience the new birth [2 Corinthians 5:17; John 3:3,5.]

              HOW OLD MUST ONE BE TO BE BAPTIZED?
      While it IS good to dedicate an infant to the LORD, an infant is too young to be taught to understand and believe in Jesus' teachings. When the age of when one has an understanding of and to believe in Jesus , as well as to be repentant of their sins, and accept Christ as their personal Savior, then he/she is old enough. As an old time Preacher said "When a child is old enough to understand that Jesus died in their place, they are old enough to be baptized" James White.
Please be careful holding children back, or waiting too long. Jesus once said: Matthew 19:14 "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

8. How did the disciples baptize people?
   Acts 8:36-38"And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him."
Note: Simple, Philip took him to the water, after asking a few questions, and "BURIED" him beneath the water. This is how it should be done, then as now!

10. How many different kinds of baptism are acceptable?
     Ephesians 4:5 "One Lord, one faith, one baptism,"
     Mark 7:7-9 "Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition."

NOTE: Today few use the full-immersion baptism, I suppose it's to much trouble, right? Thank GOD Jesus did not look at the Cross with this same though! No, today many Sprinkle a few drops of water on the fore-head, or pour some over the dead. Some even use salt, rice or rose petals, cause they are so beautiful! So where did all these Counterfeit forms come from? They are simply more "TRADITIONS OF MEN"!

11 CAN RE-BAPTISM EVER BE NECESSARY?
     Acts 19:2-5 " He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 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. When they heard this, [ a new truth] they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ."
Note: The t hadn't learned certain truths as yet. Yes they were Baptized once but they had learned an important new , to them truth, and as such they were Re-Baptized, for just that reason.
       Three good reason for a second Baptism:
(1). When a significant new truth is learned.
(2). When one has fallen away, into a life of sin, then wants to return to Christ.
(3). When one comes to the realization, that they have not been properly baptized by immersion.
     This is NOT denying their past experiences but rather acknowledging that Jesus has re-establish His place as Master of their lives!

12. IF I refuse baptism, whose counsel am I refusing?
       Luke 7:30 "But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him."
       Mark 1:9-10 "And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:"
Note: The Holy Spirit led Luke, to write, that this is the rejection of GOD's counsel.[ Luke 3:7-8; Romans 6:5-8 Matthew 28:19-20: Mark 1:16; Acts 2:38. 2 Corinthians 1:5-7]

13. Will Baptism get rid of all my trials and struggles in life?
     1 Corinthians 10:13 " There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
     Luke 18:7 "And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?"
NOTE: Your committing your life to Jesus, will not make Satan stop tempting you. But every time God's own are tempted, He promises a way out for them. The devil is angry with people who commit their lives to Christ, because he then has lost them!
      He will often double his efforts, even by the use of YOUR LOVED ones, to dissuade you from Jesus. But take heed and hope that God is far stronger than Stan and all his, and He promised to help all those who cry out to Him for His help and strength!    Acts 8:27-31 " And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,  Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias,[Isaiah], Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him."

14.What beautiful institution does baptism compare to?
    Galatians 3:27-29 "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

Note: Do you see, that the act of Baptism, is like getting married/ It's a ceremony that publicly says, "I know that I belong to Christ". The Bible says that everyone who has been baptized has "Put On Christ". When two people get married, they stand before a Judge of Minister  and publicly make a commitment to each other.  Baptism is the institution GOD has ordained to show that we are "Married" to Jesus!  WHY?

    Isaiah 54:5 "For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called."    WHAT'S THIS MEAN TO US?
     Romans 8:16-17 "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
Note: Meaning all with Christ's Spirit within them become joint heirs with Christ!

15. What wonderful reward awaits those who are "Married to Christ"?
     Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 

20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BEGIN PREPARING FOR THE SACRED RITE OF BAPTISM?

Visit you local Seventh day Adventist Church any Saturday/Sabbath @ 9:15.AM. and begin your studies and tell the Pastor about your desire. Become "Born Again From Above"!

Next: Revelation' s BEAST AND 666. "WHO IS THE ANTICHRIST"?

Questions?......................Comments?
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Thank YOU for your time.
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