Bro
Ron, you previously mentioned that water baptism is an ordinance for the Nation
of Israel "and will be until the earthly kingdom.” Can you clarify that? Does it mean that it was for the Jews and will
be again for them and Gentiles after rapture? Or is it from then until the earthly kingdom? Is water baptism an ordnance for us today. ? I thought it was on pause until after the rapture. The
way I'm understanding it, is we don't need to be water baptized Are your members baptized in your congregation?
To the first part
of your 2nd question: as I previously
expounded on in my first answer [Water
Baptism In The Old Testament] to your 1st question, the original intent of water baptism was to
cleanse the Nation of Israel to be a kingdom of priest of God in order to
minister to the Gentile nations in the kingdom.
That was what the
Old Testament testified to, as do the so-called
New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John (as well as early Acts). (I
use the words “so-called” because although the books of the bible that come
after Old Testament book of Malachi are commonly called the “New Testament,” scripturally,
we know that the economy/program that the Lord Jesus Christ and the people of
Israel operated under during the “four gospels” was still that Old Testament Law economy: Luke 1:5-6; Matthew
19:16-17; Galatians 4:4).
As far as water
baptism being an ordinance for the nation of Israel exclusively “until the
earthly kingdom” is concerned, the scriptures make it is clear that that is the
case! Scripture says in the book of Matthew that the water baptism associated
with the gospel of the kingdom will go out unto the Gentiles after the Lord returns…
Matthew 28:19-20
Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even
unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 10:23
But when
they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto
you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man
be come.
Acts 1:8
But ye
shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall
be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and
unto the uttermost part of the earth.
You also asked: Does it mean that it was for the Jews and
will be again for them & Gentiles after the rapture? Or is it from then
until the early by kingdom? Yes, after the Rapture, however not immediately after the rapture, but after
the Rapture once the kingdom is set up (in my studies/opinion/speculation
around 17 years after the Rapture). So not right after the Rapture, but early on
in the kingdom.
All this will
happen after the Lord actually
returns.
Matthew 10:23
But when
they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto
you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man
be come.
Isaiah 2:2-3
And it
shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house
shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above
the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the
mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of
his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the
law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Once the earthly
kingdom begins, our Lord Jesus Christ will be calling out people from among the
Gentile nations for the glory of His name…
Psalm 2:8
Ask of
me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost
parts of the earth for thy possession.
Isaiah 19:24-25
In that
day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in
the midst of the land: Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be
Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance
Acts 15:14-17
Simeon
hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them
a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is
written, After this I will return, and
will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will
build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the
Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who
doeth all these things.
James’ quote is
from Amos 9:11-12 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of
David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up
his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and
of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the Lord that doeth
this.
So, one day, during
his earthly kingdom, our Lord will call out a people from among the Gentile
nations through the gospel of the kingdom for His name sake! This will happen
during the first 1,000 years (commonly called the Millennium) of His Eternal
kingdom.
In order to cleanse
these Gentiles, water baptism will be instituted during the earthly kingdom (Matthew
28).
But like during the
Lord’s earthly ministry, just because someone is initially water baptized does
not mean that they will continue to
believe our Lord.
Many of our Lord’s
Jewish disciples who were baptized, refused to endure suffering for Him, and
fell away.
John 6:66
From that
time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
(Notice it is John
666…the number of the Beast/Anti-Christ in Rev. 13:7-8).
Acts 8:13
Then
Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip,
and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. (Simon then was rebuked by Peter,
and his baptism and initial belief was made null and void…v. 18-24).
Hebrews 6:4-6
For it is
impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly
gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word
of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to
renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of
God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Hebrews 10:26-29
For if we
sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there
remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of
judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that
despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how
much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden
under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant,
wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the
Spirit of grace?
Regarding your
question: Is water baptism an ordnance
for us today? My answer is no.
Like I said in my previous answer, water baptism in not an ordinance/requirement for today in the dispensation of grace
for the Body of Christ.
I ended that email
showing that our Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 4:5, that there is only one baptism for today! And he already
wrote earlier his epistle of 1 Corinthians that that baptism was a spiritual one, not one done by man like
water baptism!
1 Corinthians 12:13
For by
one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or
Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one
Spirit.
So, no, water
baptism is not an ordinance for us
today. And yes, it is ‘on pause’
until after the Rapture.
Lastly, you wrote: The way I'm understanding is we don't need
to be water baptized. Are your members
baptized in your congregation? Yes, your understanding is correct.
Today, we members of the Body of Christ do not
need to be water baptized because of the verses that I just cited, above.
And you also asked:
Are the members of my congregation here
at Norcalgrace baptized? Yes, all those here who have put their faith
and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour and are saved, have been
baptized…baptized by One Spirit into One Body. Even those who were never water baptized have been baptized. Every
saved person has been baptized even if they never
have gone through water baptism.
Colossians 2:12
Buried
with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of
the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Hopefully this helps!
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