To coincide with Water Baptism
Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 9:18-19
9:18. And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"
9:19. So they answered and said, "John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again."
Confession and recognition of Jesus determine our success, starting from in this world until entering the kingdom of Heaven forever.
There are two kinds of confession and recognition of Jesus as follows:
Special confession and recognition to Jesus are started from water baptism.
Why do we have to enter water baptism?
There are three things that we have to pay attention to in the water baptism and they are as follows:
God blesses us.
Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 9:18-19
9:18. And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"
9:19. So they answered and said, "John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again."
Confession and recognition of Jesus determine our success, starting from in this world until entering the kingdom of Heaven forever.
There are two kinds of confession and recognition of Jesus as follows:
- Generalconfession and recognition.
Jesus is known as John the Baptist because of His greatness and as Elijah because of His miracle.
So, general confession and recognition are the ones in physical activity.
Consequently, he will be deceived by antichrist and false prophet who are able to do the great physical signs. - Specialconfession and recognition.
Luke 9:20
9:20. He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God."
Peter confessed and recognized Jesus as Messiah, the Son of the living God.
Matthew 16:16
16:16. Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Messiah means One who is Anointed.
There are three anointed offices as follows: the king, the high priest and the priests (servant), and the prophet (human). Peter also knows Jesus as the Son of God.
If the King, servant, human, and Son of God are connected, they will form the cross.
So, special confession and recognition to Jesus mean the ones of His cross, namely the ones of death and resurrection.
Special confession and recognition to Jesus are started from water baptism.
Why do we have to enter water baptism?
- To experience death and resurrection with Jesus, so we also experience the glory with Him when He comes a second time.
Romans 6:4
6:4. Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
If we do not experience the glory with Jesus, we will perish. - Water baptism is the renewal from carnal men to spiritual ones or heavenly ones like Jesus.
1 Corinthians 15:50
15:50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
When we were born in this world, we have flesh and blood for living in this world, but it is not suitable for living in the Heaven.
That is why we have to enter water baptism, so we experience new birthfrom God and have spiritual life or heavenly one.
The resultis we can inherit life in the Heaven.
Without water baptism, we cannot inherit the Heaven, but perish.
There are three things that we have to pay attention to in the water baptism and they are as follows:
- The preparation of water baptism.
1 Peter 2:1-2
2:1. Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,
2:2. as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,
The preparation of true water baptism is laying aside sin. It is the same as being dead to sin or repenting, namely one stops doing sin and returns to God.
Repentance is started from five main sins (the tree of sin) as follows:- The root of sin, namely malice. Malice means the love of money that makes men stingy (one cannot give) and greedy (one robs others', especially God's).
The root of wickedness works together with the one of uncleanness. - The bud of sin, namely deceit, hypocrisy, and envy.
Deceit means lying.
Hypocrisy means pretending or there is a difference between the things inside and outside.
Envy means hatred. - The fruit of sin, namely evil speaking.
The fruit of sin brings man to death.
3:10. "And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Stiff-necked people who keep five sins will be cut down and thrown into the hell. It is the same as the stone is drowned to the lake of fire and brimstone. - The root of sin, namely malice. Malice means the love of money that makes men stingy (one cannot give) and greedy (one robs others', especially God's).
- Implementation of water baptism.
Romans 6:4
6:4. Therefore we were buriedwith Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raisedfrom the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Colossians 2:11-12
2:11. In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
2:12. buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
The implementation of baptism is we must be buried. It means our body, from hair to foot, enters the water.
Water baptism is also linked with circumcision. Abraham got the name of God after he was circumcised.
The name of Abram was inserted "ah" from the name of God, namely Jehovah, so it became Abraham.
Water baptism is spiritual circumcision, so we receive the seal of the name of God, because we are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, namely Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:19
28:19. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Revelation 9:2-5
9:2. And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit.
9:3. Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
9:4. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of Godon their foreheads.
9:5. And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man.
The torment of a scorpion for five months is the same as the waters on the earth for one hundred and fifty days.
Revelation 22:3-4
22:3. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.
22:4. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
If we have the name of Jesus, we will be protected from the punishment of doomsday until the hell. - The result of water baptism.
1 Peter 2:2-3
2:2. as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,
2:3. if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
The result of true water baptism is we receive spiritual life. It means we become like newborn babes desiring the pure milk of the word, namely shepherding word in the anointing of Holy Spirit.
The results are as follows:- We are always quiet and full. We always give thanks to God and do not look for other satisfaction.
- We grow to salvation and live in righteousness whatever risk may come.
- We grow to become the priests and kings.
1 Peter 2:5
2:5. you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
The priest and king mean a holy man, one who has ministry and ministers God in the building of the body of Christ. It is the same as becoming living stone. It means that we live from God's mercy wherever we are and any time.
The living stone is the same as the beautiful stone. It means God makes our life successful and beautiful.
21:12. 'nor shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD.
A priest must enter the sheepfold or have perseverance in three kinds of main service as follows:- Golden candlestick refers to perseverance in committing general service; fellowship with Holy Spirit God in His gifts.
- Table of showbread refers to perseverance in committing bible study service and Holy Communion; fellowship with Son of God in true teaching word and Christ's sacrifice.
- Golden altar of incense refers to perseverance in committing prayer service; fellowship with God the Father in His love.
- "I shall not want". It means God takes care of our life.
- We will be purified and changed continuously until becoming precious stone in New Jerusalem.
Revelation 21:11
21:11. having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
The renewing is started from being clear as crystal. It means becoming honest.
If we are honest, the miracle happens and our prayer is answered by God.
God blesses us.