Tuesday, June 30, 2009

THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES! - By Pastor J.C. O'Hair



THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES
Pastor J.C. O'Hair


The Church That Preaches What The Bible Teaches

Read Luke 21:24 - 33 - Daniel 2:44 & 45 - Romans 11:25-26 - Ephesians 3:1-6

In Luke 21:24 we read that certain things will happen to the Jews and the land of the Jews "until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.''

In Romans 11:25 we read that certain things have happened to the Jews "until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in."

In Romans 11:11 we read that certain things happened to the Jews, that salvation might be sent to the Gentiles.

In Romans 11:30 the Gentiles received mercy from God, because of the unbelief of the Jews.

In Ephesians 3:1-4 we read that Christ committed unto Paul a dispensation revealing God's secret to Paul, "the dispensation of the grace of God for Gentiles.'' The blessed hope of those in this dispensation is Titus 2:13.

In Ephesians 3:8 we learn that God's grace was bestowed upon Paul that Paul might preach to Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.

In Colossians 1: 27 we read of the mystery among the Gentiles, "Christ in you the hope of glory." In Colossians 3:3 and 4 we learn than when Christ appears the Church will appear with Him in glory.

Then we read in Romans 11:21 and 2 Thessalonians 2:5 to 12, that if God Spared not the Jews, God will not spare the Gentiles; but as' a result of believing not the truth, great wrath will fall on the Gentiles at the end of this age and economy of grace.

Thus we learn that the fulness of the Gentiles will come in " by the coming of the Lord Jesus for His Church. This will be when God has finished the perfect man of Ephesians 4: 13.

Politically, "the times of the Gentiles will be fulfilled" by the coming of Christ, as the Son of man, in the clouds with power and great glory to redeem Israel. (Luke 21:27-33). Israel shall be saved by the coming of Israel s Deliverer out of Sion. (Romans 11: 26).

We ere surely living in "the times of the Gentiles , politically end spiritually. In fulfillment of Deuteronomy 28:13-44 and 64 to 68. Israel today is the tail end not the head.

This will change when Daniel 2:44 end 45 is fulfilled. Christ will come, as the Son of man, for Israel's deliverance out of the great tribulation. (Jeremiah 30:7 -Matthew 24:29 to 41).

Then Christ will become a mountain and fill the whole earth.

Peace on earth will not be realized until Luke 21:25 to 33 has been fulfilled. In these verses we learn that in the midst of plenty of trouble on this earth the Son of man will come in the clouds with power and great glory and then Israel's redemption and the kingdom of God will be at hand.

In the second chapter of Daniel we learn of the beginning of the times of the Gentiles, politically, about 600 BC, also the course and the culmination of the times of the Gentiles", politically. In that chapter we learn that Christ is the stone which will crush a Christ-less civilization and become a mountain and fill the whole earth. In Matthew 21: 44 Christ called Himself a Stone, and said, "Whosoever shall fall on this Stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever the Stone shall fall it will grind him to powder.'' Israel fell on the Stone some years after the Stone was smitten on the cross. Israel stumbled and fell and was broken. (Romans 9:32, 11:11, 11:19). When Israel stumbled and fell, "the times of the Gentiles, "spiritually, began. The consummation of "the times of the Gentiles," spiritually, is Titus 2:13 and Ephesians 4:13. "The times of the Gentiles," politically, will end with the Stone grinding a Christ-less civilization to powder, after the Church has been raptured.



 How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
ead Acts 16L31 Romans 1:16, and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4


(A 10 Minute Video)


 Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
cspivey1953@gmail.com


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After the tragic event of September 11th we often heard the question “Where was God?” or “Why did God allow this to happen?” The believer knows that God is still on His eternal throne, that He is sovereign, and nothing happens apart from His direct or permissive will, but for a season He has withdrawn from this earthly scene. He does indeed work on behalf of His own, and otherwise as well, but He acts covertly and His action seen only with the eye of faith. Bloody wars take place among the nations, thousands perish from famine, flood, earthquake and storm, but no voice or action is heard from above. In one of Sir Robert Anderson’s books the opening words are: “A silent heaven is the greatest mystery of our existence.”

What is the answer to this mystery? For two thousand years the heavens have been silent and this is strange when we compare it with Old Testament times. God was then dealing with the Hebrew nation and they saw marvelous displays of His person and power. He brought them out of slavery, making a path through the sea, and for forty years He fed them and led them and brought them into the land of promise with mighty victories over all their foes. Isaiah saw the Lord; Daniel fell at His feet; angels walked to and fro in the land; God fought for His people; heaven was not silent.

When Israel is enjoying the favor of God the heavens are open, but when Israel is in disfavor with God the heavens are silent. Between the two testaments, when Israel was being judged for their sins, there was a period of time which is often referred to as “the four hundred silent years.” God spoke His last word through Malachi and then 400 years of silence. This silence was finally broken by the appearance of the angel Gabriel to Zacharias announcing the birth of John the Baptist. Then Gabriel spoke to Mary, telling her of that Holy One which should be born of her, even the Son of God. Later the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds, announcing the birth of the Christ-child, and from the opened heavens they heard the heavenly host praising God.

Heaven was not silent during the earthly ministry of Christ, when He was presenting Himself to Israel as their Messiah, nor was heaven silent after His resurrection and on into the Acts period, when Israel was given opportunity to repent. There were miracles, wonders, signs, angelic visitations, jail deliverances, sudden judgments, etc. The heavens were not silent. However, Acts 28:28 marks a great change. Israel no longer stands as a nation before God. They are set aside for a reason and a season. The reason was their rejection of Christ both in His incarnation and in His resurrection. The season is this present dispensation of the mystery.

After the close of the Acts period we find a great man of God sitting in the Roman prison, but no angel comes to liberate him. An age of silence has begun. A silent God. A silent heaven. This silence has already lasted two millenniums. The nations rage and we see war, sin, suffering and sorrow on every hand. The people of God oft suffer at the hands of their enemies, and we see the ever-increasing and God-defying masses sinning and sinning and sinning. And yet in the midst of it all, God remains silent.

When God turned away from Israel, that nation through which His earthly purposes are to be realized, He then and there withdrew from this earthly scene. C.H.M. wrote “So long as there was any ground of hope in connection with Israel, the heavenly mystery was held back; but when earth had been abandoned and Israel set aside, the apostle of the Gentiles, from his prison at Rome, writes to the Church, and opens out all the glorious privileges connected with its place in the heavens.” God has for a season abandoned earth but we are here as His ambassadors in enemy land and we are asked to walk by faith and not by sight. God is allowing man’s day to run its course and is permitting the full development of the mystery of lawlessness. The mystery of iniquity is working. Soon the whole will be leavened. Man’s day will be replaced by the Lord's Day. Then ...

THE SILENCE TO BE BROKEN!

This is promised everywhere in Scripture. The psalmist declared: “Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence!” Just as the silence of the 400 years was broken by His first coming, so the present silence will be broken by His second coming. But before He manifests Himself to the world, He will manifest Himself to His own. This is the bright and blessed hope of the Church, the rapture, and it will be the opening rift in the silent heavens. After the Body of Christ has been removed from the scene God will begin to deal again with Israel and the nations. The silence will be broken and God will speak again, not then in grace, but in wrath. The heavens will be opened, not to pour out blessing, but disaster. The judgments of the Apocalypse will be visited upon the world, when the seals will be broken, the judgment trumpets sounded, and the vials of God’s wrath poured out.

Finally, the heavens will be fully opened and the blessed Lord Jesus Christ will return. The Apostle John saw Him as the rider on a white horse, followed by the heavenly armies, and He wrote: “He hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” The silence will be broken. The King will return and have His rightful place upon the throne, with all beneath His feet. Every eye shall see Him and the earth will be filled with His glory. And never again will there be silence, for the lines of communication will always be open between heaven and earth, both as to the millennial earth and on into the new earth.



 How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
ead Acts 16L31 Romans 1:16, and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4


(A 10 Minute Video)


 Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
cspivey1953@gmail.com


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Friday, June 26, 2009

THE EUNUCH of Acts 8 - By Bob Thompson



THE EUNUCH of Acts 8
Bob Thompson


Great Example of Jewish Conversion —Without Water!

The eunuch of acts 8, whether Jew "by nature," or proselyte, was most certainly Jewish in re-/1 ligion, for he had come "to Jerusalem for to worship" (vs. 27). Returning to his native ___ country of Ethiopia, he was found searching the book of Isaiah when Philip joined himself to the chariot. "Understandest thou what thou readest?" asked Philip.

The eunuch was puzzled as he read the account of One being "led as a sheep to the slaughter," and how "in His humiliation His judgment was taken away . . . for His life was taken from the earth."

"Of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or some other man?" he asked. "Then Philip opened his mouth and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus."

"And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said. See here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, if thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest."

(Now hear the eunuch's confession of faith in Christ!)

"And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And . . . Philip . . . baptized him."

The following references will unmistakably prove that the eunuch's baptism in water followed, not pro­ceeded, his conversion!

1 John 4:15—"Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth IN Him, and He IN GOD." The eunuch made a confession to Philip that was acceptable to God only because he was in Christ at the time he made it.

1 John 5:1—"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ IS horn of God . . ." The eunuch believeth it and was therefore "born of God" before water bap­tism. Millions have gone to hell professing to believe the same thing only because they did not believe "with the heart" (Romans 10:10.) God, who can not be mocked, knows the difference!

1 John 5:5—"Who is he that overcometh the -world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" The eunuch believed, and was therefore an "overcomer" before water baptism. Multitudes have professedly be­lieved this too but have remained lost because the gospel was mere religious dogma intellectually accepted, not a fact believed "with the heart."

Matt. 10:32—"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, [the eunuch confessed before men] him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. The eunuch was therefore confessed before the "Father which is in heaven" before water baptism!

John 5:24—"He that heareth my word [the eunuch heard] and believeth on him that sent me [the eunuch believed] hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, hut is passed from death unto life." Thus, the eunuch had everlasting life before he was baptized in water.

Think on this great passage of scripture! Ponder over it and believe the gospel! Cease working for the salvation that the finished and sufficient work of Christ has already purchased for you, and accept it. Prayerfully read 1 Cor. 15:1-5 with John 6:29; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Romans 4:5; 11:6; 2 Tim. 1:9.

"For by one man's odedience [Christ's perfect physi­cal and spiritual obedience to the Father] many were made righteous."—Rom. 5:19. (Note: "By ONE man's obedience," not two or two million") A penitent work of the heart of accepting the substitutionary work of Christ for Us is the only obedience God will accept from us, until we have been saved. To accept His work is to "obey from the heart that form of doctrine" found in 1 Cor. 15:1-5 (Romans 6:17)! This is why the Apostle Peter in Acts 3:19 gave but one condition to salvation, "Repent and be converted!" 5000 souls believed what Peter said, repented, and were saved. (Acts 4:4)

Why Was the Eunuch Baptized in Water?

People sometimes demand to know why the eunuch was baptized in water, if it was not for salvation. The eunuch was baptized in water for the sufficient reason that Philip preached unto him "Jesus," and he believed it!

It is inconceivable to an honest student of the scrip­tures that Philip could have preached Christ to this Ethiopian Jew (or Jewish proselyte) without presenting Christ as Israel's Redeemer-King, prophesied and pre­figured by Isaiah and all the prophets. (See Luke 24:25-27, 44-47; 1 Peter 1:10-11). It is equally inconceivable that Philip could have failed to mention the Messiah's forerunner, John the Baptist, whose burning message was "The Kingdom of heaven is at hand" and who promptly baptized all who came to him, "confessing their sins."

Christ Himself, who came to "fulfill the law and the prophets," (Matt. 5:17) fulfilled the prophet John by being baptized of him, though He had no sins to confess. We further read that John's baptism was "the counsel of God" against Israel. (See Luke 7:29-30)

In view of these undeniable facts, what else would a believing Jew or proselyte, like the eunuch, do but humbly submit himself to John's baptism? And the eunuch did!

The completely reckless and irresponsible position taken by some that John's baptism was revealed as hav­ing been nailed to the cross before the apostle Paul wrote his prison epistles (Ephesians and Colossians— penned some 30 years later), and that therefore John's baptism was superseded by another water baptism, is utterly fictitious and without scriptural foundation what­soever!

The eunuch, having submitted to "the counsel of God" against Israel by receiving John's baptism, "went on his way rejoicing." And no wonder!



 How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
ead Acts 16L31 Romans 1:16, and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4


(A 10 Minute Video)


 Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
cspivey1953@gmail.com


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Sunday, June 14, 2009

Salvation FREE and Eternal!-- By Cecil Spivey



But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: John 1:12

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:15-18

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. John 10:27-29

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:38-39

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Acts 16:31

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Romans 4:5

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:33-39

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. Romans 11:6

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 1 Cor. 15:1-5

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph. 2:8-9

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Titus 3:5

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:13

Some say that the expression eternal security is unbiblical and should not be used. If that is true, so also are the expressions, The Trinity or the Triune God, the Vicarious (or Substitutionary) Death, Omniscience, Omnipresence, and others that are freely used. These identical words are not in the Bible, but the meaning is there. The Bible teaches that the believer is included in the "eternal purpose" of God (Eph. 3:10, 11); he has "eternal life" (1 John 5:13); his salvation is called "eternal salvation" (Heb.5:9); he has been redeemed by an "eternal redemption" (Heb. 9:12); and he is assured an "eternal inheritance" (Heb. 9:15); and he is called "to eternal glory" (1 Pet. 5:10). In view of these expressions, it is surely correct to speak of the "eternal security" of the believer for each and every one of these conditions does make him eternally secure.

The saved person has been redeemed from under the law (Gal. 4:5), and the curse of the law (Gal. 3:13), by an eternal redemption (Heb. 9:12). He is dead to the law (Rom. 7:4), and shall not come into condemnation (John 5:24, Rom. 8:1). He is reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:18), and is at peace with him (Col. 1:20). He is justified (Rom. 5:1), and all sins have been forgiven (Col. 2:13). He has been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the kingdom of the Son of God (Col. 1:13). He has been born again of imperishable seed (1 Peter 1:23); is a son of God (John 1:12); and has eternal life (John 5:24). He is a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17). He is perfected forever (Heb. 10:14); is complete in Christ (Col. 2:10); and has been accepted by God (Eph. 1:6). He has been born of the Spirit (John 3:6); baptized by the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13); is lived in by the Spirit forever (John 14:16, 17); and has been sealed (or security marked) with the Spirit for the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30). He has become the object of God's love (Eph. 2:4), of his grace (Rom. 6:14), of his power (Eph. 1:19), and of his faithfulness (1 Cor. 1:9). He is a citizen of heaven (Eph. 2:19 and Phil. 3:20); is seated with Christ in the heavenly places (Eph. 2:6); and is already glorified (Rom. 8:30).


ONLY ONE CROSS FOR ALL DISPENSATIONS

Now it is quite true that God has different ages and dispensations and different programs with people but none of the dispensational or racial differences in any way affect the "gospel of Christ" that was foreordained for the salvation of any member of Adam's family that would "call upon the name of the Lord". Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; Rom. 10:13; Acts 10:43; 15:10-11; 13:38-39. (Please honestly read these.) Though all penitent believers in Christ have His death baptism and His burial and resurrection put to their credit.


P. S.

If all the above Scriptures does not teach that the True Believer has Eternal life now and can not lose it. God’s word has no meaning. If you could loose Salvation, you could not be saved again no more than you can be born into the human family two times. You are born into the human family only once and you are born into God’s family only once.



 How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
ead Acts 16L31 Romans 1:16, and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4


(A 10 Minute Video)


 Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
cspivey1953@gmail.com


E-mail this BIBLE STUDY to all your friends 





















A Dispensational Approach To The Bible!


“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth” (11 Tim. 2:15).

In Eph 2 the Apostle Paul sets forth the basic three-fold division in God’s dealing with mankind: Time Past (vs 11,12), But Now v. 13), the Ages to Come (v. 7). When the Bible is “laid out” according to this divinely inspired design we easily get an overview of not only that we are reading but when and to whom it was written. Thus the Word of God itself provides us with the key to its own proper understanding and right division:

Time Past: Eph. 2:11-12 sets forth the basic issue in Time Past as the division between the Circumcision and the Uncircumcision, between the nation Israel and the Gentiles. When you find this issue governing the way God was working with man, you know you are in Time Past. This covers the “Old Testament” (see Gen. 17:9-14. Deut. 4:5-8, Num. 23:9) as well as Matthew thru John (see Rom. 15:8, Matt. 105-6; 15:24; John 4:22 and the early Acts period (see Luke 24:47, Acts 1:6-8; 2:14,22,36:5:32:11:19).

But Now: Eph. 2:13 indicates that in the But Now portion Gentiles are no longer “far off” but rather the “middle wall of partition” between Israel and the Gentiles has been eliminated and now “those who were far off are made nigh.” Romans thru Philemon provide the doctrine for the dispensation of grace (Rom. 11:13; 15:16; 16:25, 1 Cor. 14:37, Eph. 3:1-9).

The Ages to Come: God will bring His purposes to fruition and thus Eph. 2:7 points to the Ages to Come. The books of Hebrews thru Revelation focus on this.

The chart below will demonstrate the importance of the secret, hidden nature of the present dispensation of grace (Eph. 3:1-9). Click on the dispensation chart below hide the “mystery” section and you will see the perfect continuity of that “which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21). The chart will reveal the mystery program and you will visualize how the prophetic program has been temporarily interrupted by “the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest” (Rom. 16:25-26).

The present dispensation of grace is “the mystery” hid in God until first revealed to the Apostle Paul (Eph. 3:1-9, Col. 1”24-26, Rom. 16:25-26, 1 Tim. 2:4-7, Tit. 1:2-3, etc.) Thus in Paul’s writings alone we find the doctrine, position, walk and destiny of the body of Christ. Remember: While all Scripture is for us, all Scripture is not written to or about us, all Scripture is not written to or about us. This is the key to understanding the Bible.



 How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
ead Acts 16L31 Romans 1:16, and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4


(A 10 Minute Video)


 Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
cspivey1953@gmail.com


E-mail this BIBLE STUDY to all your friends 





















Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Saved by "Dry" Baptism- - Maurice M. Johnson



Saved by "Dry" Baptism
Maurice M. Johnson


(1893-1979)

DID NOAH GET WET?


Let us look for a moment at the beautiful and very simple picture of salvation that is given us in 1 Pet. 3:18-21. In the 18th verse we are told of Christ's having endured the judgment of God in our place. In the 20th verse we are told how the ark endured the water judgment of God in Noah's stead. And how clear it is that the way those "eight souls in the ark were saved by water" is the "like figure" (or the picture) of the way "baptism doth now save us ... by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." Noah and his family did not receive a drop of the judgment water from heaven. The ark took their judgment. Likewise, we saved sinners did not get a bit of the judgment "baptism" that Christ, our Ark, "suffered for our sins, the Just for the unjust." And remember that Christ called His death a "baptism". Luke 12:50. Noah's good conscience answered God's invitation to "come thou into the ark," by physically stepping inside that physical ark to be saved from the physical water judgment. And my good conscience answered Christ's tender invitation, "come unto me ... and I will give you rest". by taking the step of faith into Christ, my spiritual Ark and His baptismal death satisfied the Judge of High Heaven, so far as my offenses were concerned. But Christ's death, alone, could not save any of us. We must be raised from the dead in order to give us new life. And this entire need He perfectly met for "He was delivered for our offenses and raised for our justification." Rom. 4:25. Nor is this glorious message of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ a New Testament fact, only, for all who have ever been saved from their sins were saved "by faith without works". This is exactly what Peter meant when he said to Cornelius: "To Christ give all the prophets (the Old Testament prophets) witness that through His name, whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." Acts 10:43. Note, also, that as soon as Peter said "these words" God saved all of those gentiles "who heard the word." And they were saved before Peter had said a word about their being baptized with water, too. (See also Gal. 3:6-8.)

BURIED "WITH" OR "LIKE"?

Sinners are saved today exactly like Abraham was saved. Gal. 3:6-9; Rom. 4:1-13. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Rom. 10:9-10. The moment a convicted sinner calls upon the name of the Lord he becomes saved "for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Of course, God is the One to determine whether or not the sinner is truly penitent and sincere in his call. When a sinner thus "believes on the Lord Jesus Christ" he is "crucified with Christ, ... buried with Christ, ... raised with Christ" and his new life is " hid with Christ in God." Gal. 2:20; Col. 2:10-12; 3:1-4; Rom. 6:1-5. Note very carefully that the Word of God says the Christian has been crucified WITH Christ, not LIKE Him. Exactly in the same miracle way in which the believing sinner has been "crucified with Christ" he has also been "buried with Christ." No where are we told to be buried LIKE Christ was in the waters of the Jordan but all Christians have been buried WITH Christ in His baptismal death. It is, of course, a miracle. And, by the way, why do not some of our religious imitators, who are so eagerly seeking to imitate Christ in His water baptism, try to imitate Him in His crucifixion?

All are only too ready to admit that "with" means just exactly "with" and not "like" when Paul says: "I am crucified with Christ," but when he says: "buried with Christ", then many are eager to get their sectarian followers to seek to imitate Christ's water baptism. This they do in spite of the plain fact that the apostle is speaking of Christ's burial in death and not His burial in the waters of Jordan. My friends, be well assured of this: Christianity is not our miserable imitation of the earthly life of Jesus of Nazareth as He lived His perfect life of law-keeping under Judaism, Christianity is the life we live after we have been created anew in Christ Jesus: the life of the indwelling Christ who move into all "broken and contrite hearts" the moment His glorious gospel of grace is humbly heard and honestly believed. "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." Rom. 5:19. In other words, Adam's disobedience made all of his children like their father, sinners. Now Christ's perfect, law-keeping obedience with His fulfillment of all the physical ordinances is passed on to all who receive Him. With His perfect heart and sinless flesh He obeyed all fleshly tests of character and then "became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Now, that is good news! It is THE good news! It is simply the "gospel of Jesus Christ." I have "obeyed the gospel." That is I have heard with submission, of Christ's perfect, substitutionary life, death, burial and resurrection. He not only died for me. He also lived for me. Therefore his law-keeping and ordinance-keeping obedience is put to my credit as well as His death-obedience. Thank God, as a new creature in Christ I am "complete in Him." Col. 2:10-12.

BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST

And how did I get into this glorious place of salvation and completeness "in Christ?" "With (or by) one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, bond or free, and have been made to drink into one Spirit,: 1 Cor. 12:12-13. This is the same two-fold operation of the Holy Spirit as that referred to in Acts 2:38. The moment a sinner hears the gospel of Jesus Christ believing in the depths of his repentant heart, that moment he is "baptized in (or into) the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" and he personally receives "the gift of the Holy Spirit." Christ is the One who baptizes him with the Spirit and the Father gives him the indwelling Spirit. John 14:16-17; Acts 10:38-46; John 1:33. What must we think any more of those who would say that there is no such thing any more as the "baptism of the Holy Spirit."? Will not the honest reading of these passages surely answer them? John 1:28-33; 3:27-30; Acts 1:5; 11:15-18; 1 Cor. 12:12-13 and Eph. 4:4-6; Phil. 3:3; 2 Cor. 5:16-17.

HOW CAN WE "OBEY THE GOSPEL"?

The Lord Jesus Christ referred to his death as a 'baptism'. Christ was baptized with water, anointed with the Holy Spirit (Lu. 3:16-22) and then, two or more years later, said "I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straightened till it be accomplished." Lu. 12:50. How does it happen that today when a preacher announces he is going to speak on "The Baptism of Christ" it is supposed by nearly all religionists that water baptism is meant?"

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the 'good news' or glad tidings concerning what Christ did for the sinner and is not a system of fleshly commandments as to what the sinner must do for Christ. Paul said: "I delivered unto you the gospel ... how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day ... I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; unto the Jew first, and also unto the Greek (Gentile)." 1 Cor. 15:1-5; Rom. 1:16. Therefore, to 'obey the gospel' merely means to trust the perfect, finished work of Christ as you humbly and gratefully believe God's record that "Christ hath once suffered for our sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened (made alive) by the Spirit." 1 Pet. 3:18. Paul wrote the Ephesian saints reminding them of the fact that they were saved when they "trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation ... For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Eph. 1:12-13; 2:8-10.

CHRIST'S BAPTISM ON THE CROSS

Surely every honest reader is convinced that the "baptism that saves us ..." does not have a drop of water in it. It is the miraculous baptism that Christ endured for us and that is put to our credit when Christ baptizes us with the Holy Spirit, thereby uniting us to Himself and everything in the way of law-keeping and ordinance-keeping righteousness, that He fulfilled for us. If you have not already, will you just here and now throw up your hands of rebellion and gratefully receive, by faith, the glorious work the Lord of Glory came to do for us sinners? Just think of the glorious privilege of being instantly accepted in the Beloved, of being miraculously clothed with the righteousness of Christ which is "unto all and upon all them that believe." "He that believeth not shall be damned." Mark 16:16. "Why will ye die?"
WHEN WAS CHRIST SLAIN?

As plainly as God can say it we are told that sinners are saved today exactly like Abraham was. "The scripture, foreseeing that God would justify (save) the gentiles through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham." Gal. 3:6-9; Rom. 4:1-12. The Campbellites and other cults that deny "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ" ignorantly seek to make the Bible teach two plans of salvation of the sinner. Their preachers demand the right to act as "priests" who must baptize the sinner in water and then and there place him in "The Church of Christ" or - sect. Since these modern "daughters of Rome" are willing to grant salvation to Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, David and others who lived and died before the cross they are forced to manufacture at least two plans of saving members of Adam's fallen family. By jerking verses away from their context they are enabled to "deceive the hearts of the simple" with their "good words and fair speeches". Rom. 16:17-18. But those who humbly read the two epistles that are written to give us the great underlying doctrines of "justification by faith" learn to their heart's delight that God gave the covenant of salvation through faith to Abraham 'four hundred and thirty years before the "works covenant" (law and physical ordinances) was given to Moses; and that God confirmed that "covenant of promise" to Abraham IN CHRIST nineteen hundred years before Christ actually came to this world to literally die. In these two "salvation epistles", Romans and Galatians, water baptism is not once mentioned. (See above paragraph entitled Buried "With" or "Like"? This disgraceful "water-salvation" doctrine is but the teaching of "new gods newly come up." Deut. 32:17. Though sin did not enter until Adam's disobedience had made the whole future family "sinners" (Rom. 5:17-19 our Gracious God Who "knew the end from the beginning" "foreordained from before the foundation of the world" that Christ as "the Lamb of God" should appear in the fullness of time to "take away the sins of the world". Thus it is said that Spirit taught Christians do not butcher God's plan of salvation by a carnal study of man's calendar as to the exact date when the body of our Blessed Lord was actually nailed to the cross for we are taught to "behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of world", "slain from the foundation of the world", "foreordained from before the foundation of the world." John 1:29; 1 Pet. 1:18-20; Rev. 13:8.

ONLY ONE CROSS FOR ALL DISPENSATIONS


Now it is quite true that God has different ages and dispensations and different programs with people but none of the dispensational or racial differences in any way affect the "gospel of Christ" that was foreordained for the salvation of any member of Adam's family that would "call upon the name of the Lord". Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; Rom. 10:13; Acts 10:43; 15:10-11; 13:38-39. (Please honestly read these.) Though all penitent believers in Christ have His death baptism and His burial and resurrection put to their credit, I believe the Scriptures teach that only since Pentecost (Acts 2) have believers been baptized by the Lord "with one Spirit into one body." 1 Cor. 12:13. The difference between salvation from the penalty of sin and the rewards held out for faithful Christians, is another difference that none of the "water-salvation" cults observe. I will give but one text here. 1 Cor 3:11-15.

CHRIST'S LIFE WAS "THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW"

How plain this is to every unspoiled mind that the only good works that a human being can possibly do always follow his being "created anew in Christ Jesus." Water baptism is either a righteous act or it is an unrighteous act. In Matt. 3:15 Christ calls water baptism an act of righteousness. (See Titus 3:5) Now, all Bible students who have any intelligent conception of "rightly dividing the Word of truth" know that Christ's earthly life was "Made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them that were under the law." Gal. 4:4-5; Rom. 15:8. Likewise, Bible students who have any clear conception of God's different dispensations know that Christ lived for thirty years as a private, law keeping Jew for He said: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law and the prophets; I am not come to destroy but to fulfill." Matt. 5:17. Oh how few people seem to recognize that no one but Christ ever did keep the law with its God-given system of physical ordinances, its "meats and drinks and divers washings (different baptisms), and carnal ordinances, imposed on them (Jews) until the time of reformation." Heb. 9:8-10. And it was because Christ was born of a Jewish virgin under the law and the Jewish ordinances and came to "fulfill' them that His Heavenly Father never publicly endorsed Him until He had fulfilled ALL of the DEMANDS of that system of "meats and drinks and baptisms." You remember that it was immediately after Christ was baptized in the River Jordan that the voice came from heaven saying: "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." Matt. 3:13-17.
In other words, when He had gotten John to baptize Him with water, Christ had "fulfilled" the very last righteous act demanded by the law and its physical ordinances. John the Baptist was the foreordained one to thus baptize Christ so that Israel would know their Messiah and King. And don't forget, that is exactly why Christ was baptized in water, namely, "to fulfill all righteousness" and in order to "be made manifest to Israel." Matt. 3:14-17; John 1:31. When we thus clearly see that Christ's life for thirty years (Lu. 3:23) was lived in, perfect obedience to the law and its physical ordinances we can then begin to see what we have when we, by faith, receive Christ. We have nothing less than the perfect "righteousness of the law" for "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every that believeth." Rom. 10:1-3. Thus, it is that, without our having taken one single step in our vain efforts to keep the law or fulfill its physical ordinances with our weak and sinful flesh, we have put our credit every righteous act that Christ performed during those thirty years of his righteous life lived in perfect, sinless flesh. "For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Rom. 8:2-4. There it is. The repentant sinner, by believing the gospel of Christ, has a miracle performed in his heart. All of the "righteousness of the law" that Christ lived in His perfect flesh and blood life is instantly put to the credit of the trusting sinner without his making any effort whatsoever to "walk after the flesh," or try to keep any fleshly tests of character.

ALL JEWISH RELIGION EXTENDED BEYOND THE CROSS

The God-given commands for testing the corrupt flesh of Adam's race were allowed to continue long after Christ had fulfilled them all, [see The Transition in Acts] however, for though Christ had nailed fleshly tests to the cross as He died for us law-breakers (Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:6-17), still it pleased God to allow the Jewish temple to be left standing in Jerusalem and to allow even the Christian Jews to continue practicing all of the Jewish religion including circumcision, head-shaving and blood sacrifices along with the "divers baptisms." Acts 16:3; 18:18; 21:18-26; 1 Cor. 9:19-22. Apparently, God allowed this system of Jewish ordinances to be practiced about thirty years after Christ fulfilled it because, in His patience, God only gradually showed the Jews how it was that His program was changing. But, as careful spiritual students have noticed, about the time Paul wrote his second letter to the Corinthians, God was "closing the books," as it were, on all fleshly tests (physical ordinances. How clear this is from 2 Cor. 5:16-17: "Henceforth (from now on) know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh (we knew Christ as Jesus of Nazareth, the properly circumcised Jewish law-keeper, etc.), yet now henceforth, know we him no more. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." Thus it was that after God had slowly led the Christians out of Jewish religion He and Paul finally write these glorious, liberating truths. "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." Col. 2:10-17.

et us who are saved remember well that water baptism is an act of righteousness that Christ fulfilled. Matt. 3:15. And that the righteousness is put to our credit when we receive Christ as our personal Savior and Lord. Rom. 10:4. "For not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy hath he saved us by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit ... But, let us who ARE saved be careful to maintain good works ..." Titus 3:5-8. This we should do out of love and gratitude to Him Who has so wondrously saved us and made us righteous in Christ.

(Please remember that this study does not pretend to take up the entire question of water baptism.)


How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4


(A 10 Minute Video)

Posted By Cecil  and Connie Spivey 
cspivey1953@gmail.com



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