I have no statement of faith because whoever reads this site can reject it out of hand, or, study the scriptures as the noble Bereans. With the cheap easy believe gospel thriving in the world today. (the 30 second sinners prayer). Many things to do with Christ and his church today, fly in the face of sound doctrine. Satan is using the same old methods today as he used to; twisting  the scriptures.

The father of lies says "Yea, hath God said? ...........Ye shall not surely die: "

If you don't spend time prayerfully studying the word, and I don't mean with a study bible or commentary, I can guarantee you will be deceived.

For my people have committed two evils; they have :

1/ forsaken me the fountain of living waters,

2/ hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns,

that can hold no water.

The above scripture pertains to those people who will go to every other source, and pursue every avenue rather than the scriptures and God himself to find knowledge.  Jam 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

They go to commentaries study bibles Hebrew and Greek scholars? To interpret the word. And God says "they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters." Who do you put your trust in, THE WORD, or someone who says they hold the key to the interpretation.

Acts 20:29-31  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. Here are some scriptures you need to know: Beware of false: Prophets, Christs, Teachers, Apostles, Brethren Mat 7:15; 24:11,24; Mk 13:22; 2 Cor 2:17; 11:13-15; 2Pet 2:1; 1Jn 4:1 Pro 10:14  Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. Pro 14:15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. Pro 15:14  The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools (stupid, silly) feedeth on foolishness.  The mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness! The Foolish Woman in this Proverb is a Church Pro 9:13-18  A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. 14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15 To call passengers who go right on their ways: 16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, narrow is the road to life and few be that find it.

The whole bible can be summed up by saying:  let God be true and every man a liar. And from the beginning persons have sought to twist His word. "Yea Hath God said". From Adam to Christ the one theme throughout the O.T is one of God trying to communicate truth to His  people and the majority refusing or unable to hear.

Jer 5:30-31  A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; ³¹ The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it  so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

Psa 53:2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.

 

(BAPTISM) I trust in the simplicity of the Gospel message.

Luke 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.

John the Baptist was then a greater prophet than Ezekiel, Daniel and even Moses and Elijah. Ezekiel and Daniel had amazing visions and dreams, Moses and Elijah did many miracles between them. But John didn't do any miracles and had no visions or dreams, yet he was the greater Prophet. What did John do, or, what did he say to make him a greater Prophet?

Jn 10:41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.

What made him a greater prophet than any others must have been His message.

 Mk 1:4

• What did he Do?  

• John did baptize in the wilderness,

•  What did he preach?

• preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

Mat 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

Before Jesus began his ministry He was baptized of John, and then led into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil.  Can you see the similarity in Jesus' life as in the nation of Israel?

The Warning Given! (I believe this to be prophetic)

Luke 7:29-30 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

1 Cor 10 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; ² And were all baptized unto Moses (prophetic of Baptism) in the cloud and in the sea; ⁵ But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Israel was overthrown in the wilderness, none that came out of Egypt entered the promised land except Joshua, a type of Jesus.  Unlike these Jesus was tempted but he overcame the wicked one. Never the less both Jesus and Natural Israel  needed to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness.

Also this exodus from Egypt was prophetic of Moses or the law not being able to take you into the promised land. to enter into the promised land they had to cross the Jordan, at which time the waters also parted and they went across on dry ground.

Now if Jesus was  baptized and said this was necessary to fulfill all righteousness how can we neglect this command?

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

I know of people who have spent hours studying Ezekiel and Daniel trying glean some insight into the great books, but neglect the most important message and simplest to understand from the greatest of the Prophets John the Baptist.
 

Mat 11:13-15  For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. ¹⁵ He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Another Prophet who had the same spirit as John was Elisha, who received a double portion of the Elijah's spirit after Elijah was taken up into heaven. After they had both crossed the Jordan. Crossing the Jordan (figuratively) is entering into the promises of God, you just need to possess them.

1 Tim 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

 

Naaman the Syrian

I have heard and read just about every argument against baptism. From the absurd to other cunning explanations by some who without fear, twist and wrest the scriptures. Not concerned that they do this to their own destruction. I have heard people justify their stance against baptism with hypotheticals and surmisings about the word, using obscure and irrelevant texts to oppose that which is clearly taught in the word . My only conclusion is that:

2 Cor 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.


1 Cor 10:1-2  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; ² And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

 

I put my trust  firstly in Jesus, and the men who walked with Him, to answer the cry of my heart.

If you know of someone who can't speak the above scripture without twisting the meaning, then you probably had a run in with Satan himself.       "Yea, hath God said?"  Why would someone try to hinder you from being baptized? Now that scares me.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         The Gospel in the Tabernacle

Acts 2:41-43 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.   And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.   And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

Mk 16:20  And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Now why would the Lord today work signs and wonders confirming a corrupt gospel. From the epistles we can ascertain that those that corrupt the word of God would eventually outnumber those that preach the truth. This is confirmed over and over in the O.T which i given for our learning

2 Cor 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

 I hear so many preachers feign a hunger for the presence of God. For the power and witness of the early church. Most churches are not much more than a social gathering, there is little or no true fellowship. The apostles doctrine has given way to  a flood of fables, traditions  and end time teachings interpreted from the previous weeks news. The ignorant theologians not having the Spirit say that the miracles were only for the establishing of the early church, and as the apostles died those signs and wonders eventually ceased.

In this simple diagram you can see the early church Act 2:41-43  fulfilling the pattern the priestly ministry used to enter into the presence of the Lord.

 

 

 

If you have heard that baptism isn't  necessary, because it is a work, then you must know someone who  has a greater revelation than the apostles and men like Philip. Everyone in the book of Acts was baptized the day they believed. There was an urgency in their message. Here they are:

 

2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.   8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.   Act 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.   Act 9:18 And immediately there fell from his (Paul's) eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.   Act 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.   Act 16:15 And when she (Lydia) was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord,  (what did she do to be judged faithful) come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.   Act 16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.   Act 18:8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.   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. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.   And the Lord saved the best till last. O the wisdom of God, this ones for you Act 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

 

 

The father of lies says "Yea, hath God said? "

 

Baptism Is Necessary to Conversion
 

Acts 3:19 reads, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." Such is a parallel text to Acts 2:38. Accordingly, note this chart:

Acts 2:38:
Repent      Be baptized      Remission of sins

Acts 3:19:
Repent      Be converted    Sins blotted out

And, conversion is necessary to (1) entering the kingdom (Matt. 18:1-4), and (2) being forgiven (Mark 4:15).

 

Acts 2:38 conjoined with Acts 2:40,41. Observing that Peter exhorted, "Save yourselves" (Acts 2:40), with such an exhortation being immediately followed by, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized" (Acts 2:41), we learn baptism is necessary to salvation. Add to this, that since Peter was to tell Cornelius words whereby he was to be saved (Acts 10:6; 11:14), and he told (commanded) him to be baptized (Acts 10:47, 48), we know that baptism is necessary to salvation.

 

The father of lies says "Yea, hath God said? "

Baptism is necessary to washing away sin.

Other corollary passages are Heb 10:22, Eph 5:26 and Tit 3:5. "But, I thought the blood washes away sin," someone observes. The blood does wash away sin (Rev. 1:5,4; 7:14). But, it is in the act of being baptized that one contacts the blood (Rom. 6:3; John 19:34) and sins are washed away. Notice the following:

Blood	Washes (Rev. 1:5,6) Remits (Matt. 26:28)
Baptism	Washes (Acts 22:16) Remits (Acts 2:38)
Conclusion	Sins washed away by the blood in baptism Sins remitted by the blood in baptism

 

The father of lies says "Yea, hath God said?"

 

The blood applied at baptism and the Spirit received

 

1 Jn 5:6-8   This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. ⁷ For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. ⁸ And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
 

Well my bible tells me, Jesus was baptized, the disciples were baptized.  Paul was baptized, Paul preached it, so did Peter. Philip was passionate

 about it! God confirming the message Philip preached with signs and wonders. If baptism isn't necessary then I'm deceived, along with Jesus Paul Philip Peter and all those three thousand plus souls that were saved at Pentecost.

 

Draw a line in the sand and I know which side I'll be standing on. I'll cast in my lot with Jesus and the rest of

those who were obedient

                 

 

The father of lies says "Yea, hath God said" You Need To Be Baptized?

If you don't believe the above you need to seek wisdom from God, and if you preached contrary to sound doctrine, concerning salvation you need to repent. For I used to believe that baptism was something that people could do when it was convenient. I know, I used to believe it, but I did it in ignorance. GET BAPTIZED and start walking in newness of life.  If you don't have faith to believe the gospel from the mouth of Peter then you don't have faith to be saved.

His sheep here His voice and a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

Mk 16:15-16 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶ He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
"He did NOT say, “He that believeth and is saved shall be baptized.”

The fools reply. "But that verse is not in the original manuscripts." My reply: "Says who?"  The fools says "Anyway Jesus says those who don't believe are damned, not those who aren't baptized." I conclude by saying  "I left that sort of reasoning in the playground when I was eight."

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?