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BAPTISM.
The ultimate and only purpose of baptism is for
the subjection of one's spirit to God, to undergo spirit cleansing
(sanctification) until one's spirit is ready to be finally clothed with immortal
life in the spirit heavens after leaving the physical body after death. And
thereafter, to be given another "body" as God pleases. It is not
as some teach to begin a physical life again on earth following a resurrection
(i.e. to die twice*). (1 Cor 15:1-57
NEB. Jude V.4,12,13*
NEB).
THE "UTTERLY LOST".
"It follows also that those who have died
within Christ's fellowship are utterly lost".
(1 Cor 15:18,19 NEB). Obviously, this
does not mean merely one's physical death. For those living within the spirit
rules of conduct of fellowship with Christ the First-born as the firstfruits of
God's gathered "harvest" from mankind are being progressively made alive with
everlasting life in view, according to The Christ's Spirit. But those leaving
The Christ's established rules of conduct after coming to know these
requirements for gaining incorruptible life, progressively die in spirit
(perish) in connection with all future hope of immortality
"MOST TO BE PITIED" ARE THOSE
WHO PASS ON DESTRUCTIVE BAPTISMS.
Paul said: "If it is for this
life only that Christ has given us hope, we of all men are most to be pitied."
(1 Cor 15:19 NEB). Baptisms received
through those whose teachings are false and divorced from Christ's Way of
Holiness, can therefore only be described as the spiritually dead receiving
baptism on behalf of the (already) dead. "If the dead are not raised to life at
all, what do they mean by being baptised on their behalf?"
(not Christ's behalf). (1 Cor 15:29 NEB).
What "they mean" is that by receiving baptism in the false
teachings of the spiritually dead, they are dedicating themselves to the same
end: Baptisms of the dead by the dead, subjecting
their will to corrupted teachings. They are dead respecting immortality.
Before the advent of Christ's ransom sacrifice, the faith of true servants of
God was counted to them as righteousness. (Rom 4:3,23.
Heb 11:5. See Page 870 for further explanation). In
order to maintain or increase the membership of those subordinate to their
influence and rank, apostates twist the meanings of those parts of The Word of
God that do not suit their erroneous spirit disposition, and have therefore
"died within Christ's fellowship" and are "utterly lost".
"It follows also that
those who have died within Christ's fellowship are utterly lost.
If it is for this life only that Christ has given us hope, we of all men are
most to be pitied. But the truth is, Christ was raised to life the
firstfruits of the harvest of the dead. For since it was a man who brought death
into the world, a man also brought resurrection of the dead. As in Adam all men
die, so in Christ all will be brought to life; but each in his own proper place:
Christ the firstfruits, and afterwards, at his coming, those who belong to
Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers up the kingdom to God the Father,
after abolishing every kind of domination, authority, and power. For he is
destined to reign until God has put all enemies under his feet; and the last
enemy to be abolished is death. Scripture says, 'He has put all things in
subjection under his feet.' But in saying 'all things', it clearly means to
exclude God who subordinates them; and when all things are thus subject to him,
then the Son himself will also be made subordinate to God who made all things
subject to him, and thus God will be all in all. Again,
there are those who receive baptism on behalf of the dead. Why should
they do this? If the dead are not raised to life at all,
what do they mean by being baptised on their behalf?"
"What
I mean, my brothers, is this: flesh and blood can never possess the kingdom
of God, and the perishable cannot possess immortality. Listen! I will unfold
a mystery: we shall not all die, but we shall all be changed in a flash, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet-call. For the trumpet will sound, and
the dead will rise immortal, and we shall be changed. This perishable being
must be clothed with the imperishable, and what is mortal must be clothed with
immortality. And when our mortality has been clothed with immortality, then
the saying of Scripture will come true: 'Death is swallowed up; victory is won!'
'O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?' The sting of
death is sin, and sin gains its power from the law; but, God be praised, He
gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
(From 1 Cor 15:18-29,
50-57 NEB).
(Cont. on Page
28/3/85).
26/3/85. |
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