Baptism

John 1:5 “For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

The first understanding of baptism comes from 1 Peter 3:21 where it is a pledge for a clear conscience. Once we get baptized, our conscience does not get cleaned automatically, but it is a request made from us to God so that it should become clean.   Paul further adds that this appeal is through the resurrection of Jesus who has gone into heaven and sits at the right hand of God and has complete authority. Since Jesus is completely victorious, we appeal to God that we be cleansed through Him. Since Jesus has victoriously won, this appeal becomes valid and doable by God. There are two illustrations about Baptism in 1 Peter 3:20,21 and 1 Cor 10:1-4 about the flood and the red sea. Both the incidents did not clean the people away from dirt but brought them to a newer location where the enemy was not present and had no authority. We are in a new battle ground where the situation is very favorable than it was earlier.

Speaking about Baptism, Jesus adds the word “truly” showing His approval on the baptism and how needed it is. But in Ephesians 4:4-6, we read that there is one baptism just like there is only one God, Lord and Spirit. So, just like one God who is also our Lord Jesus and who is also the Spirit, we should know the one baptism being the same in water, Spirit and fire. (Mathew 3:11) These, together provide a cleansing of our body, soul and spirit which is considered one baptism where a person is fully immersed. Baptism by water cleans the body of its contamination but since the soul is still full of dirt, the baptism is not complete. The next stage is when the Holy Spirit comes inside us, He cleans the soul so that we are no longer slaves to sin. But sin is still present in us. Baptism by fire cleans us completely off the presence of sin.  We can read that in Luke 12:49,50. We should also call that the Baptism of suffering which we all would go through as per Mathew 20:22,23.

We have to understand that Jesus never baptized anybody by water (John 4:1-2). But nobody else can ever baptize us by Spirit and fire. The reason is in 1 Cor 12:13 where we are baptized into one body, the church to which Christ is the Head. Jesus is at the receiving end so that He can take control of us as soon as we submit to Him. Only when we get baptized, we give Jesus the authority to further immerse us into the Holy Spirit who cleans the soul away of its addictions and authority of sin. The other reason is that God wants us ourselves to make the decision. We understand this properly when Paul compares Baptism in 1 Cor 10:1-4 with the red sea event which brought people to Christ.

In 1 Cor 1:14, Paul shows his disinterest in baptizing people himself because if this role is done by him alone, the name Paul would become prominent in the event. But since Jesus is the one who has died we are submitted to Christ when we get baptized. So, the name Christ should be declared high and the only reason for baptism. We read in Acts 19:3-5 that if the name of Jesus was not present in repentance and baptism, it had to be done again but with no offense to John the Baptist.

In Galatians 3:27-28 we read that Baptism makes us clothe with Jesus Christ. This does give us the immunity to escape condemnation and a new identity that makes us Christians. This means, we no longer belong to our own traditions and practices. All our standards and lifestyles completely are lost and we belong to the new family now. We are expected to be seen differently when we have the new clothing. Just like Jesus Christ who claimed the Holy Spirit to be His, our bodies will eventually be transformed like Jesus when the Holy Spirit comes inside. But, we dress like Him as soon as we get baptized so that we learn to walk with His stature. Also, according to verse 29 we should understand that we do not earn our inheritance from God after becoming worthy but we receive that when we get baptized and then act and learn to be sons. This is how easy Christ has made our life, but we still complain on these small suffering in our lives.

According to Mark 16:16, baptism should follow faith so that salvation would happen. If we do not believe, we will be condemned. So, a person without baptism but believes may not be condemned. However, if we had opportunities to be baptized but we still did not, we do not believe Him. The following verses explain the authority we have when we believe. We have to learn this properly, once we believe in Him, we are clothed with Christ and have the authority to carry His Name to people in need and perform miracles. All we have to do is believe in the Almighty Name.

In Acts 8:36, we read the Ethiopian’s delight when he saw water being available for his baptism. This water is a very important factor here which should be compared to Grace. We can read that in Isaiah 44:3. God poured out his love towards us so that righteousness can sprout and mature in us. But we have to be saved when this water is available.

Amen.

Jesus is Alive

Acts 1:3 “He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.”

The Lord Jesus Christ has paid with his life for one very important reason which is the Church to mature according to His divine will. The first churches had grown really well in terms of life, fruits and that produced great leaders who considered their lives nothing so that they could gain Christ as a real bride should do. To learn to mature in this path, we are going to study the book of Acts of the Apostles and ask God to give us many hints and methods to follow so that we would also be like the early churches.

The first message that we receive here is that Jesus presented Himself alive before leaving us. This is the foundation of the Church which serves a living Husband. Jesus had to take efforts so that we could understand that He is not just a spirit but was with flesh and had a hundred percent risen from death. There was no portion of Him that was in the grave. A living husband has expectations every day and requires the bride to communicate and commune with him. Unless a wife learns to listen and speak with the husband, the marriage will not work. The encouragement here is that a new bride will keep a distance but as they live together, their relationship matures so that they would raise children together and share responsibilities. The first foundation of the Church is that it serves the living Christ.

In Revelation 1:5 we read that Jesus was the first born from the dead. This places Him not only at the receiving end but the origin of life. If He is the first born, it is important that it should be followed by other outcomes. He was seeded so that many other fruits could grow up. We can also compare this with a body coming out of the womb where the head comes out first followed by the body. This process should happen otherwise, the death of Christ becomes vain. Psalms 16:10 says that He does not allow his Holy One to decay which means, even death can affect Him and us, but we will not end up in death but rise up. Death was victoriously overcome by Jesus Christ. Romans 4:25 says that He was raised up so that we should be justified.

The verses in Luke, Revelation and many more say that Christ rose “from the dead”. We can also read that Paul was blind for three days before being redeemed. There are many other similar instances like Jonah in the Bible. God wants us to completely realize how grave we are in sin and then rise up. We cannot be forgiven while we are in sin and have no intentions of coming out. Being dead to sin is the mandatory requirement for being justified.

Jesus was constantly proclaiming the Kingdom of God before and after his resurrection. That’s why Luke insists that here in the first verses. The reason is that we do not die here and rise up in that kingdom. But we have to die here and rise up here so that we could be transferred to that kingdom with a new body. If we read the following verses (Acts 1:6,7,8), we can see that the promise of Holy Spirit to be witnesses was given to them as an answer to restoration of the earthly kingdom. Jesus clearly says “You should not know when God would give you the kingdom”. But know that your current responsibility is to know that I have risen from the dead and be witnesses that the first born has victoriously come out of death and we have to follow Him into resurrection.

In Revelation 1:18 we read that Jesus is living is holding the key to death and hades. This means that the victory over death has given Him complete authority over death. In the previous verses, John fell at His feet as being dead to submit himself for death. But Jesus encourages and says that I hold the key to death and hades or I decide if you should really die. But I am living forever more and you need not worry. But in Mathew 16:17, Jesus gives us the key to heaven which shows how honored we are as if we just keep following Jesus being His disciples we already possess the authority to enter the Kingdom of God. But Jesus takes the responsibility of deciding our death and condemnation. The death we see is not death at all. We die when we sin and submerge into it. As soon as we saved, we rise up from the dead and then when we physically die, we are just transferred to another body in heaven. 1 Cor 15:17-19.

In Luke 24:47, we read that “repentance and the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations. You are witnesses of these things”. Jesus needs us as witnesses for the nations that we, the Church are forgiven and living a justified life.

Amen.

Final Blessings in the Genesis

Genesis 49:1,2 “And Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days: “Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob, And listen to Israel your father.”

In the end of the book of Genesis, the Lord gives some blessings, prophesy, discipline and punishments to the sons of Jacob through his mouth. We have lessons from that portion of scripture to learn. Jacob makes the sons to gather together before the message is passed and this criticism or appreciation is not given personally in secret which shows how the Church should handle disciplining. We are expected to gather together and learn everything that is given to others too. We may think that this communication should be done in private as per Mathew 18:15 but the following verses recommend taking the issue publicly. One important step in “denying ourselves” is to be ready to receive criticisms publicly. This helps us to be serious in fixing the errors and also edifies other fellow brothers. But it is important for others not to dishonor the brother who is being corrected. We do not see any other brother speaking with pride in this incident.

About Rueben, we read that he has dignity, power and might. But there are some areas which are forbidden because that glory only belongs to God. Because of this desire, the power and might would become unstable and useless. Stability is taught a lot by our Lord Jesus like building on a rock, seeds sown on good ground etc. The first thing that makes us lose all this position and make us waver is greed. The verse says that you are unstable and will not excel meaning all your might will not be useful for you to grow.

For Simeon and Levi, there is no encouragement because they are cruel. This thirst for blood clearly makes God go away from our fellowship. There is no relationship with God if there is no love. Cruelty will scatter us away from the Church and family. Selfish ambitions which desires success through others’ failures or losses has to be condemned instantly and corrected. God looks at cruelty as dishonor to Himself (Proverbs 14:31).

About Judah, we read that he is compared to a lion which grows up from being a cub which has control over all his enemies to a maturity level which bows down. This maturity which bows down cannot be roused by others. This maturity is the time when Judah gets the scepter and authority. Donkey in the case points at movement, growth or ambitions. The Vine is Christ as we know. The quality of a person of successful authority is that all his ambitions are bound to Christ. This binding cleanses and keeps him clean. And red eyes and white teeth denote both the qualities which do not stand disobedience because of the presence of wine and the fruitfulness of perfection which is milk. This blessing to Judah should be every Christian’s standard.

Zebulun plays the role of a host. This is the position of a communicator and standing in the gap. We should be eager to receive people towards Christ and ensure every outcome is sent to the Almighty. Issachar sees that rest is good and became slaves. This is again another reason for slavery. When he is a donkey which has to progress by binding itself to Christ, he saw that the land was good and so became a band of slaves. This is because Issachar saw that the land was good and wanted to rest peacefully instead of performing a donkey’s job of progress.

Speaking about Dan, he would judge but have a viper’s quality of hurting a person who progresses. For this Jacob adds that “I have waited for your salvation o Lord.” Cunningness cannot be overcome or survived unless the Lord himself intervenes and saves us out. We have to fear this habit like serious venom and have to ask God to help us out.

Like Gad, we will be raided by the world and its illusion. But we will triumph for sure in the end as we are saved by God. Asher’s bread will be rich and pleasant to royal dainties meaning, our produces are not expected to satisfy ourselves but God and according to His divine standards. Naphtali uses beautiful words and is like a deer let loose. When God has given us freedom in our family, work etc., we are expected to produce beautiful words in terms of songs, sermons, letters which encourage people towards God. It is God’s divine wisdom that gives each person opportunities and life in accordance to his divine will.

Joseph is fruitful bough, which grows really well and branches run over the wall. This means that a wall was built around Joseph so that others do not consume, but Joseph has run over the wall so that everybody would come and be satisfied. But when arches come and grieved him bitterly, God, the God of Jacob, the Almighty God blesses Joseph with blessings from heaven, from earth and for off-springs all together so that Joseph’s bow alone will stand still. God did not protect Joseph or give him everything of the world so that he would excel. Instead God, with all His might and strength has strengthened only Joseph’s bow.

About Benjamin who is a wolf which devours in the day but shares in the night points at one important person from the tribe of Benjamin who had shared the spoil, which is Jesus Christ throughout the world. This is Paul the apostle. We can see the reference of Christ being the spoil also in Isaiah 9:3.

Amen.