Bible Discussion Thread

 
  • Ronnette on Acts 1 - 2 years ago
    "For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." Acts 1:5 KJV

    Another controversial topic. Do we need to be baptized by water today, I mean the Church age? There may be some discussions about this somewhere. I hope the truth will come to ALL. Agape.
  • Ronnette - In Reply - 2 years ago
    Hello Gigi:

    Thank you so much for finding that verses. Correct they were baptized with water. 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. This verse reveals to me and exactly the way what happened in my own experience. I know some people would say you have to be baptized by water to receive the Holy Spirit. But clearly they did not received the Holy Spirit until after Paul shared Jesus Christ where they must believe to receive the Holy Spirit. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Today, in my opinion, to make a water baptism a requirement is not necessary. After Jesus died on the cross, He promise to send his Holy Spirit to those who believe, trust in the righteousness of faith in the blood Jesus Shed for the forgiveness of our sins. The most God graceful free gift one could ever received in a person's life time on earth. I get emotional every time I think of Jesus sacrificing Himself for everyone of us. A love that I would have never understood until I started to love everyone so deeply although they never could love me in return. Agape.
  • GiGi again - In Reply - 2 years ago
    Dear Ronnette,

    I agree, Acts does present differing accounts of what happens when God brings someone to salvation. Some hear the gospel, believe, are baptized in water and receive the Holy Spirit; others hear the gospel, believe, receive the Holy Spirit and then are water baptized; others hear, believe and receive the Holy Spirit in a powerful way as to be called baptism.

    But in every case, it is the Holy Spirit who acts first to regenerate those whom God knows from before creation are His. the Holy Spirit provides the regeneration of our deadness to God, the person or means by which pronouncement of the gospel comes to us, the faith to believe it, the repentance to cause us to turn from our sinful life to God, and the power of His grace to sustain our eternal walk with Him. God is truly unchangeable in these matters, but even so, He treats each person individually as to how He brings one into union with Himself through salvation.
  • Ronnette - In Reply - 2 years ago
    Very well said Gigi. Thank you. God bless you.
  • David - In Reply on Acts 1 - 2 years ago
    Ronnette The scripture you gave answers the question, the one came to fulfill all the law to Israel under John the Baptist,

    in the gospel of john 16:13 Jesus christ was instructing them on the future about the gift of holy spirit which would guide them

    to the all truth that was given to the Apostle paul of the church of the body of christ jew and gentile baptized by one spirit.

    Scripturally water baptism isnt necessary for salvation in the grace administration of pentecost, that being said water won't

    hurt anybody.
  • S Spencer - In Reply on Acts 1 - 2 years ago
    Amen,

    Well spoken David.
  • Ronnette - In Reply on Acts 1 - 2 years ago
    I agree again David. Nice to find someone who know facts from the Bible only and not from any historical men or religious denominations. I do believe in the mystery of Christ in you. When God open my heart and eyes to the truth He immediately told me to grow in Charity and grace. Unbelievably started memorizing many verses until I fall asleep. These are a few. I love them all. I will just keep memorizing.

    "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;" Colossians 2:2 KJV "In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Colossians 2:3 KJV. Rejoice evermore my friend.
  • Bro dan - In Reply on Acts 1 - 2 years ago
    Ronnette,

    The truth is out! Do you believe the words of Jesus?

    This comes direct from the mouth of Jesus. Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."

    Do you believe the words of Apostle Peter? Peter speaks directly about when we are baptized we receive God's Holy Spirit! Acts 2:38 "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

    So, Jesus tells us we must believe and be baptized to be saved. The Apostle Peter whom Jesus Christ built His Church on told us that when we repent, and get baptized, we receive "the gift of the Holy Ghost". Jesus gets baptized to show us how it is done - with water! Matthew 3:16 "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:" What is the spirt of God? It is the Holy Spirit!

    As a Christian (A Christ Follower) doesn't it just make sense to follow Jesus words and his actions?

    The difference between the water baptism of John and the Water Baptism of Jesus Christ, is that we now receive the promise of the Holy Spirit - per Jesus Christ, and per Peter! From the very beginning of The Church water baptism was the requirement, and is still the requirement today. Jesus and all of the original Apostles (including Paul) didn't change the water baptism requirement.

    So, now when we follow the above scripture it all ties together and we comply with the instruction from Jesus speaking to us here; John 3:5 "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

    If someone thinks that water baptism is no longer required today, they are ignoring the above scripture and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

    GBU
  • Ronnette - In Reply on Acts 1 - 2 years ago
    Hello Bro Dan:

    John 3:3-7 Context together to understand the passage.

    Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

    This is talking about being born in the flesh. When you are born your mother broke their water. It is not baptism. It explains in v6. Otherwise why would Nicodemus mentioned the mother's womb? GBU.
  • I7sharp - In Reply on Acts 1 - 2 years ago
    "Do you believe the words of Apostle Peter? Peter speaks directly about when we are baptized we receive God's Holy Spirit!"

    The word, "receive," and "Holy Spirit" are never found in the same verse in the KJV.

    On the other hand, "receive/received" and "Holy Ghost" are found here:

    John 7:39

    John 20:22

    Acts 1:8

    Acts 2:33

    Acts 2:38

    Acts 3:21

    Acts 8:15

    Acts 8:17

    Acts 8:19

    Acts 9:17

    Acts 10:47

    Acts 19:2 ("Holy Ghost" is mentioned twice here.)

    1 Thessalonians 1:6

    Anything we can learn from this?
  • Starbux - In Reply on Acts 1 - 2 years ago
    Not everyone receives the Holy Ghost after water baptism. Many certainly do, yes. But not all. For me it took nearly 3 years. I didn't fully understand it & I was fearful.

    Since then I have obeyed the gospel=death, burial & resurrection of Jesus Christ w love & in obedience & following in all his ways.

    Jesus said we must be born of water & of the Spirit to enter into the kingdom of God. We must be born again to see the kingdom.
  • Ronnette - In Reply on Acts 1 - 2 years ago
    Dear 17sharp:

    Stay with prayers and supplication and reading the Bible. A person who truly seek the truth will be guided by the Holy Spirit. Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

    Acts 20:28-32

    Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

    Revelation 18:4

    And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Agape.
  • Ronnette - In Reply on Acts 1 - 2 years ago
    Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 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. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. I believe in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ first and foremost. After Jesus died on the cross He said: For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. I believe in the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 the word "HOW" is very important. I do take seriously every word written in the KJV Bible. I would listen to men, and ultimately God directed me to read and tell the truth according to His will. We are all so bless in so many ways after Jesus died. He gave us a very gracious free gift. All we need to do is to die with Him with our flesh and live and walk in the Holy Spirit He freely give to those wanted to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. ONE account sited in the Bible that they received the Holy Spirit by Peter and John laying hands. It does not hurt to get wet. But necessary to understand the blood Jesus Christ shed for our sins according to scriptures. Then, you will know the Kingdom of God here on earth. Agape.
  • Ronnette - In Reply on Acts 1 - 2 years ago
    Hello Bro dan:

    I was baptized as Catholic when I was Born. I was submerged in the water for Mormon in my grade school, Finally baptized again in the Seventh Day Adventist. Long story short, it was a family feud beliefs and I have no control of it. Now I am older and wiser, in retrospect, I never received the Holy Spirit in any of those baptism; only until I understood in my heart the Bible messages of Jesus Christ. So, in my experience I do not believe in the water baptism. Although now I understand, I would not mind going to Jordan river and getting baptized next year, which I am excited about.

    Now what does the Bible said about water baptism? We go back to when John the Baptist when he was preparing the Jews for the coming Messiah. There is a passage I forgot what verse, where someone asked somebody if they were baptized by the Holy Spirit then they said they were baptized by John the baptist. Then the person said you need to be baptized by The Holy Spirit. So when it was explained to them the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ they received the Holy Spirit. I will find that passage. That said, water baptism is not necessary to received the Holy Spirit. Agape.
  • GiGi - In Reply on Acts 1 - 2 years ago
    Ronnette

    I think you are referring to the account with Paul and the people at Ephesus ( Acts 19:1-6) If you read the account, it says that they were baptized in the name of Jesus (this is water baptism) and Paul laid hands upon them to receive the Holy Spirit. It is not speaking only of Holy spirit baptism. it does not say that specifically. It is clear to me that there were two things Paul did to these believers: water baptize them, and lay hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit.
  • Giannis - In Reply on Acts 1 - 2 years ago
    Well said GiGi.



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