Tag Archives: of

Read more..

The Church and Baptism

Part One About Baptism

Our bases for structure: Acts 1:4-5 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. In Acts 1:5-8, Jesus uses the term Holy Ghost in regard to baptism.

When you look at the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit there is a difference. When Jesus is referring to the Spirit as sent from the Father (Acts 2:33, John 14:26) he uses the term Holy Spirit. When Jesus refers to Himself, as in Acts 1:4-5 He uses the Holy Ghost.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

This statement when isolated can be twisted to mean that someone can be saved by simply repeating these words. This is not true. This statement has to be looked at in context.

Baptism is needful for the remission of sins. But baptism is a symbolic burial with Christ. One must be conscious of why they are getting baptized. In Catholicism, infant baptism is done, however being an infant, the individual would not be aware of why they are being baptized. A person must first be convicted, repent, and be baptized in order to be saved. Before they are convicted, they had to have heard about Jesus and been taught about Him.

Read more..

Being Aware of Who You Are Part 1

1 John 3:1-14

In verse 2, it says we shall be like Him. What does this mean? Who is being addressed? This particular letter was not addressed to any one group, but the specific use of the phrase little children denotes that at least it was addressed to believers of the faith in Christ Jesus. Also the fact of the author addressing the reader and himself as “sons of God” further validates this. Although we do not know specifics about what we will be like, when we see Him at the appointed time, we will know.

Verses 4-6 are very significant because they define what sin is. Sin is going against the law of God. What is the law of God? The 10 Commandments given at Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:1-17) Everything else a part from the 10 is commentary on the ten. The 10 are our basis and structure for what is right and wrong in the eyes of God.

Verses 7-9 say that we should not be deceived. A person who does righteously is righteous. If sin is the transgression of the law, then living out, practicing, and doing the law is what is defined as righteousness. If we sin (break the law) we are of Satan. This is why Christ was introduced to destroy the works of Satan (sin).

This message will continue next week…until then!

Read more..

Abiding in God’s Will & Word for Your Life

John 15:1-7, Psalms 121, Psalms 127

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 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. 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. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
John 15:1-7

Abiding in Jesus means who you use to be becomes what He is now. You must do his will the way He wants you to do it. You cannot do your own things in His name, and expect Him to approve of it. Abiding in him means doing things His way.

We are creatures of impatient nature. We are always wondering when Jesus is coming. Well, He’s coming whenever he gets ready! We must have patience in waiting for his move; dealing with situations that are out of our control; in getting whats for us. He will do what He will do, when He feels you are ready.

Many times we do things out of desperation, because of our impatience. Then we go back and blame God. You have to have patience. Patience works faith. In all thy getting, get an understanding. We need as Children of God to have patience. As you abide in Him, you will learn patience. When you ask God, when you study His word, when you pray before Him, He will see your diligence and make a way for you.

He is the vine. We get our knowledge and wisdom from Him, not our own understanding. So we should wait for him. Its easy to say you can wait…until an hour goes, a day goes, a week goes. Then you start stressing, sinning. Patience will give you wisdom.

Psalm 121

When we realize our help comes form the Lord, and we abide in Him, He will give us the strength we need to go through. If we stop stressing we can hear from God, if we stop worrying we can hear from God, if we give Him our problems and stop taking them back, He can resolve all things.

Psalm 127

If you think you can build the house of God, or build your ministry, then you are not allowing God in. Only He can build His own house, only He can lead you on how to build your ministry. A ministry can’t go anywhere unless he does it, your life can’t go anywhere unless He directs it. You have to abide in Him. If you aren’t abiding in the vine, you aren’t producing fruit, therefore you must be purged.

Abide in Jesus, be obedient to His will, and trust Him in faith.

How do you know that you love God? Send your response.

Read more..

The Conflict of Your Christian Life

James 2:1-26, James 3:1-18

We constantly have some sort of conflict that takes place in our lives; jobs, neighbors, families, etc. As believers in Christ we are constantly conflicting. The Easter holiday is upon us, and as Christians we are conflicting with each other concerning whether or not Easter is a valid and biblical holiday to celebrate. On one end of the spectrum we believe Easter has direct ties to Jesus death, burial, and resurrection. On another end of the spectrum, we believe that Easter is steeped in extra biblical traditions that have infiltrated the biblical Feast days of Passover and Unleavened Bread. As believers, we have to get back to what is Biblical.

Who is a Christian, who isn’t a Christian? James 2:1-15 says we should not have respect of persons, yet we do. We should give the needy what they need, yet we don’t. If we have the necessities for ailing people, we should provide them. Yet, we’d rather pray that they get food, or clothes, when we have food and clothes ready to give to them. Then on the other hand, we turn around and ask God for something. Do you think He’ll give us what we’ve asked for if we can’t help the needy for necessities that we have readily? Further, do you think the person you are praying for will even turn their mind to think on Jesus? This becomes a conflict of your salvation and puts your compassion in question.

Faith without works is dead.

These two can not exist a part from on another. If you are a believer, then why are you doing things opposite of what a Child of God does? Here are a list of things that Christians may go through in their walk that cause them to have conflicts:

1) Christian behavior Romans 13
2) Sin Romans 6:1
3) To live holy or not, that is the question, James 2:1-26, 3:1-18, James 4:1-17
4) Flesh and spirit, Romans 8:1,2,4-14
5) The voice of Jesus, People have conflict with this because they can’t determine if its Jesus or not talking to them. Matthew 16:17, John 10:27, Act 9:1-18, Job 1-7
6) Lust, James 1:14-15, Ephesians 2:3, 2 Timothy 2:22, Titus 3:1-4, James 4: 1-10
7) To pray or not to pray, Matthew 6:7, Mark 11:24, Luke 18:1, Luke 22:40-46, 1 Thessalonians 5:17

The word conflict means war or clash. The greek word for conflict is athlesis, which means a combat, struggle or fight.