Tag: baptism

Articles

Water Turned Into Wine

Pete

“Water Turned Into Wine”

We cover the first “miracle” of Christ in this study. The word translated as miracle in our Bibles is from the Greek word “dunamis” or Strong’s G1411. Dunamis is primarily the word for POWER as it is most often translated.  All the miracles depict the power of the Lord at work in the lives of His people.  This outward miracle of water being turned into wine is also the first inward miracle the Lord works within us that brings us into faith [believing upon Him] and thus begins our being transformed by grace into the kingdom of God.

Joh 1:17  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 

The entire scriptures are written in parable using spiritual language and dark sayings to hide the meaning of the Scriptures and keep all but the chosen few in darkness.  Here is just one of the many witnesses to this truth.

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 

Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 

Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 

Ears to hear and eyes to see are indeed a blessing only the Lord can give that comes to very few in the appointed times (Mat 13:16, Mat 22:14).  Another layer of the Lord’s cloaking is that it’s not just the words but the events themselves that are done in parables.

Mar 4:11  And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 

Let’s keep these truths in mind as we search for the application and spiritual significance to us of the Lord’s actions.  Here is this event, both a parable and a miracle as foretold in the Gospel of John.

Joh 2:1  And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 

Joh 2:2  And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 

Joh 2:3  And when they [the disciples] wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 

Joh 2:4  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 

Joh 2:5  His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. 

Joh 2:6  And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 

Joh 2:7  Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 

Joh 2:8  And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 

Joh 2:9  When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 

Joh 2:10  And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. 

Joh 2:11  This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. 

Let’s begin by noting that this miracle takes place on the third day after John the Baptist tells [us] of the coming of the Lord, the one who comes after him.  We are gathered to Christ on the first day (John 1:35-40) and then on the second day, all the disciples begin to walk with Christ and were told of the many miracles and great things to soon come (John 1:43-51).   These three days symbolize our entire walk, the entire process with Christ that culminates at the wedding feast on the third day.  It is at this wedding where we begin to eat and drink with Him in the kingdom of God. This is our day of perfection when we partake of the true bread of life and the new wine and are being raised up to new life with Christ.

Luk 13:32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

Hos 6:2  After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 

Christ shows us in parable that eating his body and drinking His blood was the wine [faith and grace] of the new testament, the essence of eternal life.  New life comes only by death and that is what the living waters do when our time and hour for judgment is come when grace and truth meet us.

Joh 4:14  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. 

We are raised to life through death as we drink with our Lord in His kingdom within us (Luk 17:21).  The gathering of the disciples and the mother of Jesus at this wedding feast represents “the day of the Lord” when we begin to eat of His flesh and drink of His blood [the wine, the cup of His indignation against our flesh. i.e. the scourging grace]  the very things necessary to die to death [the second death] in order to live with Christ.

Joh 6:53  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 

This gathering at the wedding in Cana [meaning “the branches”] is the gathering together of the church who are also the disciples of the Lord and collectively known as His mother and the brethren.

Mat 12:49  And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 

Mat 12:50  For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. 

This first parable foretells of things that are not yet (Rom 4:17) as Christ reveals His secrets to His prophets (Amo 3:7) beforehand.

Joh 2:3  And when they [the disciples] wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 

Joh 2:4  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 

This feast is a shadow of us being gathered with Christ.  As His disciples, the Lord puts into us zeal and desire to know Him and seek His ways.  That is how we are drugged to Him.  That is what the wine will bring about and why we are given a desire to drink it at first not knowing the judgment it entails.  The wine the Lord serves is the faith of Christ which is far more than just knowledge of the Scriptures.  Drawn disciples want to know Him not know about Him.  This gift only comes and grows by eating His body and drinking of His wine [His cup].

Water is a symbol for the Word of God but is differentiated from wine.  Wine denotes the cup of the New Testament, also known as the cup of wrath of God against all our flesh and sins that we must drink to enter into the Kingdom.  There is no escaping our drinking this cup of wine (Jer 25:28) it is the one baptism of fire by which we are saved in the times appointed.

Mat 20:23  And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with…

The law and the prophets bring us to a point but they do not convert us.  To be transformed, faith is needed that brings with it the grace and truth that will save us.  When the living Christ is come, then the water is turned into wine and we grow in understanding which is transforming and healing us.

Mat 13:15  For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 

Turning water [knowledge of the scriptures] into wine [knowing the Lord in spirit and in truth] symbolically is what happens in the day of the Lord in the hearts and minds of every man.  It is by going through “this hour” that the spiritually dead are risen and come to know the Lord receiving the great reward of His mind and His holiness.

Joh 5:25  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 

Joh 4:23  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. 

Christ’s time or “hour” had not yet come as He answered His mother as the 3.5 years of walking and preparing His disciples was not finished.  Later when His time to suffer drew nigh, the Lord tells us what to expect when He comes again in Spirit and in Truth and meets us again in the kingdom of God within.

Luk 22:14  And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 

Mat 26:27  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 

Mat 26:28  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 

Mat 26:29  But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. [the kingdom within you]

It is during this hour of judgment that we will be healed of all our spiritual infirmities and come to know the truth casting out all lies and defiling spirits of Spiritual Babylon (Luk 7:21, Rev 18:10).  This hour is the hour of our dying the Second Death as our Lord led the way.

Joh 12:23  And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. [and how is that accomplished]

Joh 12:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 

It is this judgment, this scourging grace that comes with our faith that is the word in action that becomes wine.  This wine makes the new man merry as we rejoice more and more as Christ is revealed in us.

Psa 104:15  And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart. 

Zec 10:7  And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD. 

It is the Lord’s angels (aka His Messengers, the very Elect) who preach the everlasting gospel (Rev 14:6) and bring the wine to the gathered disciples.  The purpose of this wine is proclaimed by these same angels.

Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation [the wine of the gospel]; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 

Rev 14:11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 

The instructions of Christ to the servants to bring forth new wine is instructive when we can see with spiritual eyes.

Joh 2:6  (NKJV) Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 

Joh 2:7  (NKJV) Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 

Joh 2:8  (NKJV) And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. 

The six stone vessels represent us in our carnal unconverted state.  The six vessels like the number six symbolize man and specifically man’s flesh (666).  We are likened unto stones, hard-hearted and it is by this miracle of destruction by the Word [i.e. judgment, every stone is thrown down – Mat 24:2], that we are being made new and become the lively or precious stones (Rev 21:19) that make up the wall of the great city spiritual Jerusalem.

1Pe 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 

Our unconverted vessel is first filled with the water representing the Word of God. That water is then converted into wine that brings about the destruction of death within us and the remaking of a new vessel or temple.

Rom 9:22  What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 

Rom 9:23  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 

Two or three firkins (KJV) or “twenty or thirty gallons” as the NKJV translates, speaks to the differences in measures of faith between the unique vessels that comprise the Body of Christ.  Everyone gets the same water of the Word yet the measures of faith and what we can bear in manifold temptations and trials are different as determined by God.

Rom 12:3  (NKJV) For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 

Rom 12:4  For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 

When we [each stone vessel] are filled to the brim with the Word of God, there is no room left for any lies (demons) to return and take root.  This is how a vessel of stone is sanctified and prepared for every good work.

Joh 2:9  (NKJV) When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 

Joh 2:10  And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” 

The master of this feast is you and me in our immaturity and lack of understanding of the ways of the Lord.  Until we ourselves draw of these living waters and drink this wine, we will not understand the ways of God until we ourselves begin to serve it to others.  The flesh and our carnal mind prefer the old wine of the law that has us responsible for our salvation and being justified by our own works. What flesh wants to be a slave and dependent upon the Lord for all things?

Luk 5:37  And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. 

Luk 5:38  But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. 

Luk 5:39  And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’ ” 

A new vessel is needed for the new wine and the wine itself will bring that new vessel forth!  The new wine of the gospel is the best wine because it is what is saving us as we drink it and put to death our carnal mind and learn to walk by faith.  Learning to drink this wine is part of the patience of the saints and how we are brought to the place to seek it knowing the death it works against our old man is bringing forth the blessing of God our new man.

Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 

Rev 14:13  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die [the second death] in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. 

 Our being filled with this new wine is the beginning of our walking by faith embracing the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith, belief has now come!

Joh 2:11  This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. 

The first outward miracle Christ performed is also the first inward miracle Christ performs in the kingdom of God within us.  Being filled with the knowledge of the Word that washes us, is then followed by that same water being turned into wine when our hour of judgment is come [the coming with fire].

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 

It is through the water and the fire that we are given our reward and become rich in heavenly things.

Psa 66:10  For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried [in the fire]

Psa 66:12  Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place. 

The coming of Christ to us twice is revealed in hidden parable by first filling the stone vessels with water and then secondly transforming that water into wine.  The Lord begins preparing us from this very first miracle for service in His kingdom preaching the gospel unto all the world within and without.

Mar 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 

Mar 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

This miracle within us (Mar 4:11 – all things are done in parable) is what brings us into true faith when we actually believe in the Lord.  With this belief, thus, begins our day of salvation with is likened unto a thousand years [2Pe 3:8] and which will culminate in the greatest blessing of all time as we are being made partakers of His Holiness by drinking the wine (Heb 12:10-11).

Joh 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 

Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Joe 3:18  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim. 

Drinking the wine of the gospel is what gets us beyond knowledge and brings us into true understanding and intimacy with our Lord where we love Him.

Eph 3:19  And to know the love [obedience] of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 

The end of the miracle is that the disciples begin to follow Christ as He did not stay still but began moving through all the cities and towns within Israel in the kingdom of God within you and me.

Joh 2:12  After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days. 

Having been served this wine of the gospel, we are becoming spiritual wine stewards ourselves in service to Him.  Bringing the gospel to the rest of the dead within and without (i.e the Gentiles). The spiritually dead have never tasted of this new wine that is the very best the Lord makes. Yet a day, the last days for each, will come.  Faith will be followed with grace (wine) and all the dead (Gentiles) in the earth will be sanctified.

Rom 15:16  That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

We as the army of the Lord, speak the words of fire to those prepared to hear which is the same as serving our hearers a cup of wine that is working righteousness in them.

Rev 19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress [wine] of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 

There are much more details and instructions on how we are to properly eat and drink in the kingdom of God and consume this wine.

1Co 10:21  Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. 

There are indeed different tables and cups of wine and we best not mix the two up.  Lord willing those can be topics for future studies.

Sincere comments and questions are always welcome.  You can also email me directly at peterjwilson56@gmail.com

Studies

Baptisms Part Two

Ronel

Click Here for Part 1 of this study

Notes by the elders

  RECAP, WATER BAPTISMS, FIRST BAPTISMS:

There are two types of baptisms, the first baptism (water) is always the SHADOW of the TRUE spiritual baptism into Christ, into His DEATH. We are to move beyond this first baptism to move unto maturity being baptized by Christ Himself. Shadows of the first baptism in the OT include; the flood of Noah; the crossing of the Red Sea; the crossing of the river Jordan. Crossing the Jordan, is the same as crossing the flood of Noah or crossing the Red Sea. The typical baptism of the OT (shadows) is done with water and do nothing to change our hearts within. Being baptized into Moses is being likened to “the festival of Passover” where we accept Christ, as the Son of God, as our Passover Lamb, and accept that He died for us. We still do NOT know that we have to die WITH HIM, bearing our cross daily.

Just on a side note, the Holy days or Festivals of the Jews are also spiritual shadows which points to “good things to come” and although all of these festivals are being fulfilled in Christ, it is wonderful “looking back” to see how they are being fulfilled in different stages of our walk and are still being fulfilled in our lives today as we mature towards the mind of Christ.

This first baptisms are a necessary baptism because we live by every Word of God (Matt 4:4) and all righteousness IS and must be fulfilled in us.

The baptism of John, the Baptist in the NT, is preparing the way to Christ. It is the baptism of repentance and is also a shadow pointing us to Christ whilst still under the schoolmaster. It is accompanied by signs and wonders (outward gifts) and have the appearance of a “spiritual baptism” but we still have many idols of the heart and our “tongue and doings” are against the Lord. It is likened as the “festival of unleavened bread “as we start putting sin, whether physical sins (our doings) or in our minds (our tongues) out of our lives but we still have many things we are not being able to hear and Christ IS NOT come yet.

Mat 3:11 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:

Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner (barn); but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

The doctrine of water baptisms whether it be the OT shadows as mentioned above or the baptism of John is: …… after we accepted Christ’s sacrifice for our sins, we begin to put sin out of our lives, our tongues and our doings. So we see that the festivals of Passover and the Days of unleavened Bread are being fulfilled during this season of our walk. These baptisms point to and prepare the way for Christ to come.

Later in the study, we will see how we MATURE/MOVE ON to “die with Christ”, our Passover Lamb and keep the “festival of unleavened” bread with sincerity and Truth from the HEART.

1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

THE SECOND BAPTISM/THE FESTIVAL OF PENTECOST:

This baptism/washing cleanses the threshing floor of the HEART from all its secret, hidden faults and great transgressions within. It enters our hearts and judges us and change us from within.

Psa 51:2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Psa 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Isa 1:16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

“The festival of Pentecost”, namely the feast of firstfruits, is the day we are being born again (ongoing) and is the beginning of the Church “is, was and will be” WITHIN and without. Pentecost typify us, who are the spiritual first fruit seed (Jas 1:18).

When the Holy Spirit is being given to us within, the work of Truth and grace begins. We are now progressing to the point where we are being capable to receive the chastening and tribulations which are being endured by every mature son of God (Heb 12:6-8).

It is the beginning of THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT in the lives of all who is being part of this “firstfruits of His harvest”.

Judgement begins at us and we are being matured through FIRE. This is the shadow of the “festival of trumpets”. We are being judged first out of our own mouths according to our idols (Ezekiel 14) since our “Day” begins and ongoing until the end.

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

We are the “seven priests blowing the seven trumpets” in the battle against Jericho (Jos 6, Rev 8:11). Trumpets is calling us to make war, it is a spiritual battle against the man of sin within and without at the appointed time. It is the judgement of sin in our daily lives, we are the first to go to war., a struggle between life and death. The beginning of judgement is what this festival signifies.

2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Jer 6:17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

Upon hearing the trumpets, we afflict our souls which is typically the next festival, the “day of atonement”, presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice dying daily being impaled with Christ. It is a fast and our souls are afflicted because as He is so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). Our afflictions are for the Church (Col 1:24), His Body, and also for all of humanity.

2Co 1:6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

The death of the cross is being borne by both Christ and “His Christ” as an atonement for the people. Dying daily with Christ is the Good News and the message of the Gospel. It is the man child (Truth of Christ’s doctrine) within us that “is seated with Christ in the heavens”. This is symbolic of the first resurrection in down payment form.

1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

As we mature and Christ increases in us, all of these festivals are being fulfilled in CHRIST. We start obeying immediately from the HEART as we gain dominion over our sins but at first, we also have the “festival of tabernacles” within us which is a spiritual shadow for the millennium where we are not obedient, knowing the Truth, our obedience is lip service. Satan is bound at this time, but yet we have hardened hearts and stiff necks, trying the Lord. It is the occasion the Lord seeks to judge us, the mixed multitudes of nations within and without at the appointed times. This festival symbolizes the millennium.

Jer 17:23 But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.

2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

2Ti 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

As Satan is getting released to deceive us for a short period of time, we are typically trying to wrest the judgement of Christ away, this is typically the “last great day” following the feast of tabernacles and Christ COMES “is, was and will be” and destroys the man of sin with the brightness of His coming and destroys “death (state of disobedience)” within “is, was and will be”, a process until the end for us now and a future event for the world out there.

2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

When the Father is “all in all”, we are in the Lord’s REST and we enjoy the fruit of the Spirit which is:

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

As the Lord increases and we decrease, we OBEY from the Heart as being mature children in Christ. All shadows are being fulfilled in Christ as we move unto maturity.

We will Lord willing, look at these festivals in detail in weeks to come. We know we keep the spiritual Sabbath which is Christ (Heb 4) when we are DOERS of His Word.

WHO WILL BE DOING THIS BAPTISM OF FIRE?

Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

As He IS, so are WE (1 John 4:17). We are doing this baptism of fire.

WHAT TYPE OF SINS IS BEING WASHED/CLEANSED FROM THE HEART?

Mar 7:20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

Mar 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

Mar 7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

Mar 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us … [what sins?]

1Jn 2:16 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.

ALL men will be cleansed and be baptised by the Lord in due time and in order (1Jn 2:2). Very few people are the chosen elect of God undergoing this baptism in the Spirit “this day”. If we are not being washed by the Lord at this time, He has no part with us, and we will not be heirs and partakers of His FRUIT or His RIGHTEOUSNESS until the appointed time of judgement to come.

Joh 13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

WHAT IS THE CLEANSING?

Soaps and hyssop are some of the Old Testament Words used to tell us of what washes and cleanses us (Lev 14:3-4, Jer 2:22). These are all pointing to the Holy Spirit of God, Fire, and Living Water, that is, the WORD of God.

Mat 3:11 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:

Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner (barn); but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

This prophetic Word from the mouth of John the Baptist is nothing but exaltation and edification [Luk 3:18] of the Spirit to those it is given to understand.

WHAT IS THE UNQUENCHABLE FIRE?

Luk 12:49 I am come to send fire on the earth; [fiery baptism!] and what will I, if it be already kindled (happening now)?

Jer 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

Jer 5:14 Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

WHAT FORM ARE “MY WORDS”?

Christ Words are SPIRIT.

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth (gives live); the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

“My Words” are also WATER by which all is being made clean and white as snow.

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water [… by physical water? No… but…] by the word,

Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

 THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY WE ARE BEING CLEANSED:

Joh 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

This Word is symbolic of His BLOOD, His Spirit, by which WE are being cleansed from our self-righteous filthiness of the flesh and spirit.

Heb 9:14 (NKJV) how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

HOW IS THIS BAPTISM OF THE LORD ACHIEVED?

It is the forsaking of all things of the flesh. This is the cleansing process, a death of the flesh process: the vessel that contains all sins, the BODY OF SIN is done away with, and we are attaining freedom from sin as He increases and we decrease.

Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

As babes IN Christ, we become partakers of the Lord’s own baptisms. We saw earlier that in order that all righteousness be fulfilled, the Lord was first baptised by John the Baptist. The Lord however does not regard this as baptism in the Spirit, and HE later shows us His TRUE baptism, which we are being baptised with in “our day of the Lord”.

Mat 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptised with the baptism that I am baptised with? They say unto him, We are able.

Mat 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptised with the baptism that I am baptised with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

The drinking of the CUP of baptism is seen in the deep distress and agony prior to the eventual death of the flesh of Christ:

Mat 26:37 (NKJV) And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.

Mat 26:38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

Mat 26:39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup [of baptism with Fire] pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Luk 22:42 (NKJV) saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup [of baptism with Fire] away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.”

Luk 22:43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.

Luk 22:44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Being “baptised with the baptism that I am baptised with” is what is scripturally known as “being baptised into His death. BAPTISM LEADS TO THE DEATH OF THE FLESH.

Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptised into Jesus Christ were baptised into his death?

Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

As we learned in our second study “Faith towards God”, this death process is not an instantaneous event in our lives that happens in a few seconds but is a “dying daily” process of baptism. Through this process, a new nature is being birthed and raised in us, a newness of life and we are being caused to come out of the dominion of inward, secret sins and many false doctrines so that the inside (our hearts and minds), and the outside (our works) are being cleansed day by day.

1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

2Co 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

END PURPOSE OF BAPTISM

As Peter came to see after the issue with Simon, the Sorcerer, being physically water baptized does not convert the heart of any man. Simon was still as carnal as any Gentile of the land after John’s baptism. Peter came to see that true baptism that converts the heart is when “fiery trials” come upon us, the unquenchable consuming FIRE of God, the pure WATER, the Holy Spirit of God, all one and the same WORD OF GOD.

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; [his baptism by fire] that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

This is the only baptism which saves us from our sins and produces a good conscience toward God.

1Pe 3:18 (MKJV) For Christ also once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, indeed being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit;

1Pe 3:19 in which also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,

1Pe 3:20 to disobeying ones, when once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared (in which a few, that is, eight souls were saved through water);

1Pe 3:21 which figure now also saves us, baptism; not a putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ;

Heb 9:14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

CONCLUSION

It is by means of death that the life of Christ is being manifested in us. This baptism from heaven is fulfilled in us by dying daily. It is the Spirit that profits. All earthly baptisms “without a man” (Mar 7:15-23) are of no value in the conversion of the heart and producing the fruit of the Spirit in us. The Father has no pleasure in those carnal ordinances imposed until Christ comes to us in the Spirit. The first earthy/ shadow in the wisdom and tradition of men is taken away so that the spiritual baptism by the Spirit of God can be established (1Co 15:46). The first has and produces no glory because there is a spiritual baptism which is more excellent in the sight of God. For this reason, in keeping the singleness and unity of the Spirit, there is only ONE BAPTISM:

Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Eph 5:26 That he [Jesus Christ] might sanctify and cleanse it [the church, his Body/ wife… you!] with the washing of water by the word,

The end purpose of that one baptism is …………

Eph 5:27 That he might present it [the church, his Body/ wife… you!] to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Unless we are mature we are not able to bear the “meat” of the Word.

Joh 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

SUMMARY:

Physical water is “without a man”, and does nothing to a man’s heart, either good or bad. This is what Christ tells us concerning things that “are without a man”:

Mar 7:15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

Mat 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Likewise, “there is nothing from without a man” that can cleanse a man, but “the things that come out of a man, the fiery Word of God “from the heart” (Mat 18:35)], those are they that [cleanse] the man”. Here is how God’s fiery Words cleanse us from within:

1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

The fire are the trials that God puts us through to cause us to obey His Word, which is also symbolized by fire.

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

Jer 23:29 “Is not My word like a fire?” says the LORD, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

The Spirit of God is given to us that we may understand the Truth of God through our daily TRIALS and His WORD.

Joh 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

It is only through God’s Spirit opening our eyes to the Truth that we come to see the Truth. It is God’s Spirit that makes us a “spiritual man” and gives us the mind of Christ more and more as we mature in the Spirit.

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man

1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

BEARING MUCH FRUIT IN THE DAY OF THE LORD:

Maturity is not being achieved when we hear the Word of God only. Our old man has to continue to decrease, and Christ in us has to continue to increase. This is by the will of the Father (Eze 36:30).

Joh 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

1Co 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

Our understanding has to bear fruit, but we are not able to do this unless we abide in Him. We abide in Him by meditating on His Words day and night (Jos 1:8).

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

We also abide in Him through fellowship with His Body (1 John 1:3).

Joh 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Knowing the members of the Body of Christ and serving them is the same as knowing and serving the Lord Himself (Joh 13:20).

Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

No matter how much we know, or how much fruit the Lord has produced through us, as long as we are in this flesh and blood which cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Co 15:50) and we should never think that we are already perfected, we are being perfected.

Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

We are only given the down payment of the Spirit unlike Christ, who has been given the Holy Spirit without measure (Joh 3:34). We still live in this corruptible body (1Co 15:53) that we need to die to daily, enduring to the end, “being saved”.

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Growing up into Him includes the growth of our love for His Body (Joh 13:34).

1Th 3:12 (GNB) May the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow more and more and become as great as our love for you.

1Th 3:13 In this way he will strengthen you, and you will be perfect and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all who belong to him.

Hos 6:1 “Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. Hos 6:2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.

 

 

Studies

Baptisms Part One

Ronel

Study notes by the elders compiled into one study

There is one true Lord and one true baptism as Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:5. Yet that Scriptures speak of several baptisms that are all experiences we will have as we live out every word God spoke (Mat 4:4).  We begin with Paul’s words to the Hebrews speaking on these truths.

Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: [partakes and continues only on milk] for he is a babe.

Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Heb 6:1 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,

Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Heb 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit. [ God willing!]

In our study – “repentance from dead works” – we learned that it is crucial to first acknowledge that we are sinful human beings and all our best efforts in the flesh are all dead works in the sight of God. We also learned that our confession of this Truth will eventually grant us repentance from those dead works and that it is after this repentance that Faith toward God is given to us. Finally, we learned that this gift of the Spirit is to bring us to God, our Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, a fiery process until the end.

In this study, we will see the spiritual significance of baptisms and how we live and will be living by the Word of God. Understanding the doctrine of baptisms will equip us to go unto perfection in Christ Jesus.

Let us first recognize that the plural of the word – baptismS – is used above. The reason behind this is revealed to us in the sum of God’s Word. The first question we need to answer is:

WHAT IS BAPTISM?

As with all things in Scripture, there is a physical example given to us before we are given the spiritual meaning and fulfillment. We are caused first to live the earthy, carnal, natural type before it is given to us to fulfil the spiritual. The word translated ‘BAPTISMS’ in Heb 6:2 is the Greek word ‘Baptismos’– Strongs concordance # G909.

It appears four times in the New Testament and is usually translated as “washing” or “washings” as in the examples below:

  1. Mar 7:4 And when they come from the market, except they wash(G907 baptizo) they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing(G909 baptismos) of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables.
  2. G907 – baptizo – Translated as baptize {76x} and wash {2x}
    b. G909- baptismos – Translated as washing {3x} and baptism {1x}
  3. Mar 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing(G909 baptismos) of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
  4. Heb 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, (G909 baptismos) and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
  5. Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, (G909 baptismos) and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of “eternal judgment”/age lasting condemnation.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BAPTISM OF JOHN

There are two kinds of baptisms, the first being the type and shadow, the example, and the second being the spiritual reality, in SPIRIT. In the first kind of baptism, several shadows are given to us throughout Scripture, including the baptism of the flood of Noah, the crossing of the Red Sea, the crossing of the river Jordan and, in the New Testament, the baptism by John the Baptist.

Just as Moses told the fathers to hearken to the One that should come after him:

Deu 15:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

Act 3:22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

Likewise, the first baptizer introduced to us in the New Testament was quick to announce to all people the significance of his ministry and the purpose of his baptism. The ministry of John the Baptist, were and are for the sole purpose of directing us to the One that is coming AFTER, namely Christ Jesus and “His Christ”. This baptism is preparing the way for the true baptism of fire through Christ and “His Christ”.

Mat 3:11  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: 

Joh 1:26 (MKJV) John answered them, saying, I baptize with water, but One stands among you whom you do not know.

Joh 1:27 He it is who, coming after me, who has been before me; of whom I am not worthy to loosen the thong of His sandal.

Act 19:4 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.

Thus, the ministry of John and his baptism was and is to prepare the way of Truth, to prepare the way of the fiery baptism to follow, the baptism into Christ into His death, because as He is so are we (1 John 4:17).

To prepare the path to the righteousness and LOVE of God, and the eventual revelation of Jesus Christ, the baptism of John and his ministry, and all physical water baptisms, was not in itself the way of Truth and righteousness of God.

Though John the Baptist is declared as the greatest prophet born of women by Jesus Christ.

Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Luk 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

Nevertheless, John confessed out of his own mouth that he did not know who Jesus Christ, the Truth, is! We are doing well to take heed to this most significant of confessions:

Joh 1:30 (MKJV) This is He of whom I said, After me comes a Man who has been before me, for He preceded me.

Joh 1:31 And I did not know Him {confession #1}, but that He be revealed to Israel, therefore I have come baptizing with water.

Joh 1:32 And John bore record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove, and He abode on Him.

Joh 1:33 And I did not know Him {confession #2}, but He who sent me to baptize with water, that One said to me, Upon Whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining upon Him, He is the One who Baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

HOW DO WE LIVE OUT OUR FIRST BAPTISM?

As we briefly mentioned in our study, “faith toward God”, our faith is initially placed in the wisdom of religious men of this world, and was and is not the faith of God’s sons.

1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom

1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

The above verse is not written because we have always had the faith of Jesus Christ, but rather because we all first stand in a faith guided by man’s and our own wisdom. We first regard Jesus Christ/” another Jesus” after natural perception, from a human point of view, the flesh, established in Church denominations and the sects of men. Under this “Law”, we are “baptized” by ministers in the churches according to their doctrines, using the Bible. It is at this point whilst under the schoolmasters and guardians of the Law that the baptism of Moses (our baptism in Orthodoxy) are fulfilled in our lives, even as Christ and “His Christ” in the days of His and “our flesh” (yet carnal) was and is being baptized by “John”:

Mat 3:13 (MKJV) Then Jesus came from Galilee to Jordan, to John, to be baptised by him.

Mat 3:14 But John restrained Him, saying, I have need to be baptised by You, and do You come to me?

Mat 3:15 And answering Jesus said to him, Allow it now, for it is becoming to us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he allowed Him.

John asked the Lord why this has to be so and again we ask why does this need to be so?

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

To the end purpose that all righteousness be fulfilled within us and because we live by every word of God, this is a necessary first baptism for us in accord with this godly principle:

1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, [baptism] but that which is natural; [baptism] and afterward that which is spiritual.

Remember what John the Baptist himself and Paul told us earlier:

Mar 1:7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

Joh 1:26 (MKJV) John answered them, saying, I baptize with water, but One stands among you whom you do not know.

Joh 1:27 He it is who, coming after me, who has been before me [the spiritual]; of whom I am not worthy to loosen the thong of His sandal.

This baptism of John is the baptism that must be before the baptism of fire, it is the baptism of repentance from dead works, which leads to the Faith of Christ:

Act 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptised 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.

We are the “Jews” that is believing on Him but not abiding in Him in this season of our walk (John 8) and only know the baptism of John (repentance from dead works) only.

Act 18:24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.

Act 18:25 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.

We know the baptism of JOHN and this is being fulfilled in us, His elect sons, when we are being taught diligently the way of the Lord but we are yet carnal; we are yet carnal. We still have many idols of the heart that needs to be purged out. “Apollos” in us is teaching well and diligently. The baptism of John (repentance i.e. change of mind) prepares the way for our baptism of fire, this is the true washing of water by the Word and purging by fire through the …… Words that I speak to you …… John 6:63 through the Living Word and in the mouths of God’s elect which devours the enemy!

As an example, or type of us being baptized into MOSES, the LAW, the Old Covenant, and what Scripture calls “the wisdom and traditions of men”, is our water baptism in Orthodoxy.

1Co 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;

1Co 10:2 And were all baptised unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

This physical baptism by physical water is a type, example for us today:

1Co 10:6 Now [TODAY!] these things being baptised unto Moses] were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: [G5179- tupos- types, typical of us] and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

THE FIRST BAPTISM … OF MEN OR FROM HEAVEN?

So, the baptisms of John and the Old Testament types and shadows are for the purpose that we should depart from and not lust after evil things. This first baptisms (though it is hidden from many), prepares many for the ultimate conversion of the heart and does not itself convert the heart to God. It is a shadow of things to come. It nevertheless does have a great appearance of wisdom and conversion, but has no profit and no value against the indulgence of the flesh (Col 2:23) or said otherwise “idols of the heart”.

Mat 21:25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

Mat 21:26 But if we shall say, of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

The latter baptism we deal with is from heaven, from the Father by Christ Jesus:

Joh 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread [baptism] from heaven.

Joh 6:38   For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

Joh 6:48 I am that bread of life. Joh 6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. Joh 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

Joh 6:58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live forever.

WHY MUST WE SUFFER JOHN’S BAPTISM TO BE SO NOW?

We all have our beginning being under the Law, into Moses. There are multitudes that only know of the baptism of Moses until this day. The Truth is hidden from their sight, and they do not know any truths while proclaiming they know Christ and God. Even baptized into John’s baptism, a type of hearing the Truth, we still are not DOERS of the Word. Christ IS not come yet.

Act 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

Act 19:2 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.

Act 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptised? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.

While under John’s baptism, we have no conversion of the heart either. The root of sin is still intact. It is a grave error to think that this baptism converts our hearts. Though many physical sins of the flesh may be forsaken and although we know the way of the Lord, this does not separate our hearts from being “Jews that believe in Him but not abide in Him” those that are only outwardly clean and have an appearance of righteousness.

Our hearts are no different from anyone else’s in the world. It is the same as the gentile’s hearts (not God’s people). The heart is what truly matters, and our hearts is not yet being converted. During these seasons of our walk we think we are spiritual, and we truly believe that John’s baptism is a spiritual baptism, with “many signs and wonders” keeping us in DELUSION.

Mar 7:14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:

Mar 7:15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

Mar 7:16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

We may look outwardly clean and righteous to the men of this world and to our brothers in fellowship, but we are hypocrites, and our hearts are not right in the sight of God. Therefore, as babes in Christ, all our efforts and whom we should be seeking to please henceforth are God the Father, through the Living Word and “His Christ” (Joh 14:6).

Mat 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

Mat 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

We do not have converted hearts and we behold many signs and wonders just like the unconverted Simon, the Sorcerer (see Act 8:9-25). The signs and miracles of hearing the Truth deceives us, we have the righteousness of the Pharisees at this point who sit in the “seat of Moses” and Christ says …. do as they say and do not do what they do, because they say and do not (Matt 23:2).

Act 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptised, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. [… but…]

Act 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

Act 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

Act 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Act 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Act 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

Our hearts are not being converted and our sins are the hidden, presumptuous sins within, full of idols of the heart, with innumerable, creeping secret evils and wicked thoughts towards our fellow men and many harsh things spoken against the Lord (not being able to obey the Truth from the heart). We do not know that we are still guilty of the great transgression of false doctrines of demons having dominion over us even as we are ignorant of these sins before our baptism of fire, of the Spirit. The man of sin, is sitting on his throne in God’s Temple, which TEMPLE we are.

Lev 5:17 If a person sins, and commits any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD, though he does not know it, yet he is guilty and shall bear his iniquity.

Psa 19:12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Psa 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous (prideful) sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

As in a court of law, the Judge, Jesus Christ, is not taking ignorance as a defense! For this reason, God calls this first typical baptisms a “carnal ordinance” not having the power to convert the hearts of men nor to cleanse our evil consciences, and calls it a “shadow of the good things”, the second baptism, that is to come. God therefore has NO PLEASURE in it. It does not make us perfect!

Heb 9:9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

Heb 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, [baptisms] and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

Heb 10:1 For the law [and all its divers washings/ baptisms] having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

Heb 10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

For this cause, Jesus Christ himself did not baptize anyone with physical water or convert anyone whilst He was in the clay:

Joh 4:1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptised more disciples than John,

Joh 4:2 (Though Jesus himself baptised not, but his disciples,

The disciples were still under the law (John’s baptism, baptism of repentance), until the Spirit (second baptism) was and is given to them and us at Pentecost (Act 2), the GIFT of Faith.

Mar 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Mar 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing [baptism from men, not heaven] of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

It was revealed to Paul and the apostles as they grew in understanding, to preach the GOSPEL not in wisdom of words but with POWER from the Holy Spirit and fire.

1Co 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: [true baptism] not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

John the Baptist had already confessed that he did not know Jesus Christ and that he must decrease. He then directs us all to the true baptizer and converter of the heart, Jesus Christ, even as Paul did. WE HAVE TO MOVE ON UNTO MATURITY!

Joh 1:26 (MKJV) John answered them, saying, I baptize with water, but One stands among you whom you do not know.

Joh 1:27 He it is who, coming after me, who has been before me; of whom I am not worthy to loosen the thong of His sandal.

Act 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptised 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.

CONCLUSION PART ONE:

The law of Moses with its ritual baptisms are for those still under the law of Moses in Orthodoxy cleaning the outside of the cup and the baptism of John make us feel so righteous but the Truth is it is not cleaning us from the inside and is our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. We believe on Christ but faith has not come yet. These are shadows of the true baptism that is only in Christ and into His death.

Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

In Part Two we will cover the following additional points which together comprise the sum of the Word that is the truth regarding Baptisms.

  • The second baptism, baptized into Christ, into His death
  • Who is baptizing us?
  • What is being washed away?
  • Spirit and Fire
  • How is this baptism achieved?
  • More Lord willing

Click here to go on to Part 2 of this 2 part study

 

 

 

Articles

Drinking of the Cup of God’s Wrath

Pete

Mat 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
Mat 20:21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
Mat 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. 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.
Mat 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

The mother of the sons of Zebedee had no clue what she was asking as all of us will have no clue when we first seek to enter the kingdom of God. We don’t enter the kingdom by saying a 10 second sinners prayer or joining a church. We enter into the kingdom thru the temple that is Jesus Christ. We enter the kingdom only thru much tribulation and great suffering. We follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

All men will ultimately follow Christ and be baptized with the baptism of Jesus Christ. This is not speaking about being dunked in water in a Babylonian church. It is speaking about enduring the wrath of God against our old man and carnal nature. The marred vessel of clay, conceived in sin that we all are, will be destroyed before the new man can come forth from the darkness. This is the purpose of Baptism, to cleanse us of all that defiles and make us into the image of God. This happens for us thru the righteous judgment of God. While we think of baptism with water as it washes us, it also purifies and that comes by fire.

Mat 3:11 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:

The series of baptism’s that God works in our lives are all really all ONE BAPTISM. That is the baptism into Christ’s death and the destruction of our old man. Virtually the entire orthodox church believes at some level that salvation is avoiding having God’s wrath poured out upon us. Whether it be by rapture or by being protected by God, the doctrines of Babylon keep the multitudes in spiritual darkness not knowing the wonderful works of God to the children of men.

Psa 107:15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

As this Psalm shows us that can see and hear, along with all the prophets, the way of salvation is thru judgment. We are not saved, which really means delivered from sin, until we come thru the judgment of God and endure God’s wrath against our old man. This amazingly is the story repeated in every Book of the Bible yet nobody except for a few God has opened their eyes can see it. But it is very good news when you do see it!!! The way of salvation and entering into the temple that is Christ is by living thru the wrath of God against our old man and carnal nature.

We always want to put off the judgment of God on someone else, the guy down the street, that bad guy over there. But it needs to come to us and all men in order for us to be delivered and for God to fulfill the promise of Jesus Christ. Here are some reasons why that is the case.

All men sin

Ecc 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

There are none who do good

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

The soul that sins shall die

Eze 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die

We all will think we saved ourselves by making a choice for Christ. Yet the fact is we have sinned and continue to do so while we are in the vessels of clay. The purposes of marred vessels of clay, created in dishonor was for them to be destroyed and for us to be remade in God’s appointed times.

Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

God is the potter who is working all things in our lives, even evil things. It is to His glory He does it this way as Romans 9 makes very clear to those who have ears to hear.

Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

So getting back to baptism and bringing in the title of this post, drinking of the cup of God’s wrath, we need to know that there is no sin that will not bear a just recompense from God. This does not change the fact, God is working it, He is causing all things to happen because He is. But this is the mystery and God’s way that the carnal mind cannot comprehend. We learn thru judgment. The old man dies by bearing the wrath of God. It only awaits God’s timing. He has a time appointed for all. God’s Elect rightfully teach of Universal Salvation, the very milk of the gospel and are often accused by carnal babes of promoting sin. Absolutely not. God forbid. This verse is as true as the verses that speak about the salvation of all men.

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

ALL UNGODLINESS will bear the wrath of God. Even the ungodliness of God’s Elect, even atheists and Muslims, even carnal babes that are walking in strong delusion. There is no exception. I have continued to beat home the theme of judgment in my discussion comments in the past few months. If God will only open ears to hear these truths that reveal His character and His purposes in creating us marred in sinful bodies ON PURPOSE.

Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 

Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Which is saying the same things told many places including:

Gen 2:25  And they were both naked (sinful), the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. 

Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

When are given to understand God’s ways and purposes by the revelation of Christ in us, then the true nature of God can be grasped and we will be able to come out of Babylon. So let’s look at judgment and how that is associated with enduring the wrath of God against our old man.

It is such a wonderful blessing to be chosen to be judged now. It’s right there if you can see it or hear the spiritual words.

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

We are blessed when all that “bad stuff” from the book of Revelation happens in our lives. This is the only way Christ will be formed in His Elect. Escaping the wrath of God is a false teaching of Babylon.

Rev 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Many have been brought to some understanding of the spiritual, yet a few of these Babylonian lies such as this one being discussed and especially eternal punishment and the delusion that they have any free will, keep the light of the truth totally shut off and they grope around in spiritual darkness still bound in the bonds of Babylon. We shall all drink of the cup of God’s wrath against our old man. It only matters when that day has been appointed by the Father. All has been written and will happen in the order and sequence God has declared it to happen.

Here the words of the Prophet Jeremiah. You and me and all men shall certainly drink of this cup.

Jer 25:28 And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.

And how does the Lord bring this about? How do we drink of the cup that Christ drank? We drink it because the Lord has called a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth.

Jer 25:29 For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.

God’s Elect are the earth, and it is in the earth that heaven resides. And all of these things pertain to the kingdom of God that is within us.

Luk 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

We need to learn to apply the Scriptures inwardly first. We will live them all whether we know it now or not.

Jer 22:29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

When our day of judgment arrives, then and only then will we learn righteousness and come to know the true Christ. This judgment first begins at the house of God, His very Elect and it comes upon “their” earth.

Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

All that which defiles and all the nations that are within will be destroyed by the brightness of His coming. When are ears now hear the truth, our judgment begins in earnest and all our fleshly works and carnal doctrines will be destroyed by the fire, the hail, the destroying winds that are all references to the word of God.

Isa 28:17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

Jer 5:14 Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

The passages of Jeremiah 25, written as all the Scriptures in parables/proverbs to hide the meaning from carnal men tell of this wonderful work to the chosen children of men. This is the good news and the mystery of how Christ is formed in His Elect.

Jer 25:30 Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.

Jer 25:31 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.

Jer 25:32 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

The slaying of the beast and the false prophet within, will be accomplished. The words of Christ once heard with spiritual ears will not return void.

Jer 25:33 And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.

Neither will the old man, the old Pete be lamented, it will be as dung and mean nothing to us anymore. Oh it will hurt and it is a process by which God strips us and lays bare all the idols of our heart and removes them from us. But to those that hear the words of Christ, this is good news and we will learn to count it all as joy.

Jer 25:34 Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.

Jer 25:35 And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.

Jer 25:36 A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture.

There will be no rest but only great torment when this judgment first begins and we like JOB do not understand what is going on. These are the spiritual earthquakes sent by God to bring salvation to His chosen ones. God will turn loose the lion that is the devil to come wreak havoc on our old man and carnal way of life.

Jer 25:37 And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the LORD.

Jer 25:38 He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.

Lest we still don’t believe that Satan is a servant of the Lord and does only what God tells him to do let’s look at this dialog.

Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

Job 1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

Job 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

Job 1:11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

Job 1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

Yet a time will come when we will understand what God is doing. I have been blessed to come to that place of understanding and oh what joy. There is not a man alive that will not in due time drink of the cup of God’s wrath against their old man. This will begin suddenly and at a time when we think we are in need of no repentance and are not in need of a physician. But we know not at this time, how blind, naked and wretched we truly our. The beast that is sitting exalted on God’s throne will be thrown down and cast out by the fiery words of truth. This is how we will overcome and gain victory over our inward beast, the man of sin, the son of perdition that is within us all.

Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

Revelation 14 describes God’s Elect who have been dragged out of Babylon and the world.

Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

The three angels (God’s messenger’s, His Elect) will bring the true gospel to us and we will hear it and this will be the process by which salvation comes.

Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

All of us have received the mark of the beast in our forehead and in our hands. We have all worshiped the beast and the image of the beast thinking it was God. These are all words we shall live and experience and woe unto us if we take them out of God’s book and claim they do not apply to us personally.

Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

The wine of God’s wrath are the false doctrines we all first believe from our Babylonian captivity. But when our day of judgment begins, the spiritual earthquakes and the shaking intensify. Whereas the doctrines of Babylon will cite Rev 14:11 as one of their eternal torment proofs, those with ears to hear know that this verse and whole chapter speaks about the good news, the judgment of God, that which is sweeter than honey against our old carnal man. The purposes of God’s fire and the brimstone, which is a purifying agent, is all for good. It is to circumcise our hearts and that is how we are actually converted on God’s timeline, not ours. The carnal translators wrote forever and ever whereas this should simply read eons of the eons, another words, the amount of time ordained by the Lord.

Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

Living through all of this judgment and bearing the wrath of God against our old man is the patience of God’s Elect. This verse makes no sense to the carnal mind and can only be understood if we know what God is doing in pouring out His wrath upon us.

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

We saw earlier from Jeremiah how the Lord promised to bring a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth. A sword is nothing more but the WORD OF GOD, burning in our hearts and that is how the old man will be first lead into captivity in Babylon and then killed (the old man) by that same sword. It is two edged and again we see that living these things is the patience of the saints who are God’s very Elect.

Rev 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

The Sum of HIS Word is truth

Many will jump to this verse from Paul’s letter and create a doctrine around it that says we will not endure God’s wrath. That is not what this verse says.

1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

This chapter Paul is speaking about mankind, ALL MEN, and all this verse tells us is that all men will be saved, the very opposite of how it is used by the wolves that teach the lies of Babylon. We are appointed to salvation and the rest of God’s word makes clear that the way of salvation, being delivered from the dominion of sin in our lives, comes by living thru the wrath of God against our old man and carnal nature. Paul made that clear right here to the Ephesians, writing to the Elect saying they all were children of wrath, even as (all men) the others.

Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

The sum of thy word is truth just as Psalm 119:160 declares. The whole counsel of God is truth and we must never forget this verse.

2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of its own (private) interpretation.

Knowing the way of salvation is thru much tribulation and affliction is very comforting. It is how we can give thanks to God for all things, even the painful trials and suffering that we must endure. We can do this because we know why it is being done and where it is going to take. It is going to take us to salvation if we endure all the way to the end. It is going to lead to the prize, which is to be in the first resurrection and to rule and reign with Christ during the 1,000 symbolic years on this earth.

Knowing these things we can say come quickly Lord Jesus. Our flesh will want this judgment to be over quickly and it will seem much too long but is indeed just for a little while, relatively speaking.

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

The new heavens and new earth is come to God’s Elect who have been thru their day of judgment and have been the first to die, all by the hand of God. The second death that will come to the multitudes shall not harm us as we will have already been killed and had our day of judgment, enduring God’s wrath already against our old man.

Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Paul said the same things here. If we are judged NOW, we won’t be judged (condemned) with the world later in the lake of fire.

1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

I am not ashamed of this gospel that very few have ears to hear or the faith to believe. I am rejoicing in the suffering knowing its purposes and why His judgment has come to me and to all of God’s Elect now.

1Pe 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

The judgment of God comes by eating His word, the little book that God’s Elect, His angels, give to us when we are given ears to hear. As Peter said, it begins at the house of God which is the same things the “angel” said to John.

Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

When the rock that is Christ falls upon us, our old man and worldly ways will be ground to powder. The only offering acceptable to the Lord is one that is finely ground, so it can be burned in the fire of His word.

Mat 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

I pray this will edify the few that the Lord may lead here to be fed. You can email me at peterjwilson56@gmail.com

Your brother in Christ who is standing in the furnace and praying he will be found faithful to his calling,

Pete