Saved by Water
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Ezekiel 36:25-26
Ezekiel 11:19-20 KJV - "And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: 20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God."
The above passage is mentioned first, but does not include water. Besides, water is not pure. Would you drink the baptismal water? Nasty! And, any survivalist would boil the water from the Jordan river (I'll bet) before they drank it. If its too nasty to drink, how can it purify? (Good to see you again. Haven't seen you around for a while.)
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I am simply taking the scripture at its word.
I think that you have to twist the scriptures to make them say something different than what I have been teaching on it.
I believe that certain people have a vested interest in having the "water" that is spoken of in Ezekiel 36:25 to not be physical water.
However, the plain meaning of that passage is that it is speaking of physical water.
It is even somewhat ridiculous that I have to say that it is referring to physical water...for that is the obvious meaning.
You have to have some kind of agenda to pervert the scripture here in Ezekiel if you are going to say that it is not referring to physical water.
The physical aspect of the water being spoken of is a given...
I think that you have to twist the scriptures to make them say something different than what I have been teaching on it.
I believe that certain people have a vested interest in having the "water" that is spoken of in Ezekiel 36:25 to not be physical water.
However, the plain meaning of that passage is that it is speaking of physical water.
It is even somewhat ridiculous that I have to say that it is referring to physical water...for that is the obvious meaning.
You have to have some kind of agenda to pervert the scripture here in Ezekiel if you are going to say that it is not referring to physical water.
The physical aspect of the water being spoken of is a given...
What is the purpose of the water? It does not put away the filth of the flesh (1 Peter 3:21) but it does wash away sins (Acts 22:16).
It does so because the person going underneath the water is confessing Jesus before men in an identification with His death, burial, and resurrection.
That is the purpose of the water...to create an adequate symbol of identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection...
It is not the equivalent of taking a bath...
However, when you come up out of the water, your sins are left behind in the water.
So, yes, the water is filthy.
However, that does not prohibit its cleansing power in that the person being baptized is confessing Jesus before men...and, therefore, Jesus will also confess them before His Father and before the angels of God (Matthew 10:32, Luke 12:8).
The fact that Jesus confesses them means that they are now forgiven...their sins are remitted...even because of that confession in baptism.
It does so because the person going underneath the water is confessing Jesus before men in an identification with His death, burial, and resurrection.
That is the purpose of the water...to create an adequate symbol of identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection...
It is not the equivalent of taking a bath...
However, when you come up out of the water, your sins are left behind in the water.
So, yes, the water is filthy.
However, that does not prohibit its cleansing power in that the person being baptized is confessing Jesus before men...and, therefore, Jesus will also confess them before His Father and before the angels of God (Matthew 10:32, Luke 12:8).
The fact that Jesus confesses them means that they are now forgiven...their sins are remitted...even because of that confession in baptism.
Thank you! I agree with you on this for sure. Taking such things literally... well, heart of stone, are we to take that literally as well? Jesus gives life-giving water... He gives the water of Life... "a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." He sanctifies and cleanses with the washing of water by the Word (Ephesians 5:26). God's Holy Spirit is the instrument of both the cleansing and the birth of the divine nature in us. The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. John 6:63
My apologies for my delayed reply, which I started over two hours ago (interrupted by a phone call).
My apologies for my delayed reply, which I started over two hours ago (interrupted by a phone call
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I think that there are those who actually bank on the idea that "water" in scripture does not refer to physical water...or that it refers to amniotic fluid or some other such thing.
I believe that such people are gambling with their salvation...if they are wrong on the issue, and because of their stance they are never water-baptized in Jesus' Name, because they are wrong on the issue they will have forfeited a salvation that they might have easily obtained if they would have simply believed the testimony of those who preach identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection in water baptism as a confession of Jesus Christ before men...
In order that He might confess them also before the Father and before the holy angels (Matthew 10:32, Luke 12:8).
I believe that such people are gambling with their salvation...if they are wrong on the issue, and because of their stance they are never water-baptized in Jesus' Name, because they are wrong on the issue they will have forfeited a salvation that they might have easily obtained if they would have simply believed the testimony of those who preach identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection in water baptism as a confession of Jesus Christ before men...
In order that He might confess them also before the Father and before the holy angels (Matthew 10:32, Luke 12:8).
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Thank you! I agree with you on this for sure. Taking such things literally... well, heart of stone, are we to take that literally as well? Jesus gives life-giving water... He gives the water of Life... "a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." He sanctifies and cleanses with the washing of water by the Word (Ephesians 5:26). God's Holy Spirit is the instrument of both the cleansing and the birth of the divine nature in us. The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. John 6:63
My apologies for my delayed reply, which I started over two hours ago (interrupted by a phone call).
My apologies for my delayed reply, which I started over two hours ago (interrupted by a phone call
).
John 4:7-15 HNV - "A woman of Shomron came to draw water. Yeshua said to her, "Give me a drink." For his talmidim had gone away into the city to buy food. The Shomroni woman therefore said to him, "How is it that you, being a Yehudi, ask for a drink from me, a Shomroni woman?" (For Yehudim have no dealings with Shomroni.) Yeshua answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. From where then have you that living water? Are you greater than our father, Ya`akov, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself, as did his sons, and his cattle?" Yeshua answered her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I don't get thirsty, neither come all the way here to draw."
This is the Purpose of Christ, to give Living Water so that a person will never thirst again. It isn't literal water, but an antitype of water (1st Peter 3:21). This Living Water is reflective of the Work of Christ, which is the act of Redeeming His Elect from the Curse, pronounced by the Law.
Galatians 3:13 NLT - "But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."
The Holy Spirit is that Living Water, which is why a person can receive this Living Water where there is no physical water. This means a person can receive this Water in the middle of the dryest of deserts.
John 7:37-39 NLT - "On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, "Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'" (When he said "living water," he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)"
Hence, "Ezekiel 36:25 NKJV - 25 "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols."
This "sprinkling" is the Holy Spirit.
Sorry, but this is a "no-brainer." Being Cleansed by "Living Water" is part of the Purpose of Christ. To be Purified is the Work of Christ, and this Work leads to the Effect of Christ.
The best description (not an explanation, but description) of the Gospel is this:
The Purpose of Christ (John 3:16-17
The Work of Christ (Colossians 2:9-15)
The Effect of Christ (Romans 2:12 - 1 Corinthians, the Love Chapter, etc) The Effect of Christ is the changed heart that results in the "New Man" . . . or New Woman.
The best description (not an explanation, but description) of the Gospel is this:
The Purpose of Christ (John 3:16-17
The Work of Christ (Colossians 2:9-15)
The Effect of Christ (Romans 2:12 - 1 Corinthians, the Love Chapter, etc) The Effect of Christ is the changed heart that results in the "New Man" . . . or New Woman.
The living water spoken of in John 4:13-14, John 6:35, and John 7:37-39 is the Holy Spirit.
If you look at all the verses that apply to baptism you will see that the Holy Ghost is absolutely promised to those who receive baptism in Jesus' Name in physical water...that this is a point of contact for a person's faith as there is an absolute promise connected with fulfilling the condition to the promise (in Acts 2:38-39).
It is certainly the prerogative of all of you to harden your hearts concerning this...in this United States you can believe whatever you want to believe.
I do think that there is an uncertainty in all of your lives, as to whether you have the Holy Ghost or not...because you can be certain of receiving the Holy Ghost (you can be certain that you do not have a counterfeit) if you will receive water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38-39).
I am uncertain why anyone, given the opportunity to receive baptism in Jesus' Name, would reject the ordinance.
It is almost like they are rejecting the Holy Ghost.
Or, like they are saying, "God, I don't need your prescribed method for receiving the Holy Ghost; because I believe that I already have Him."
I would ask you, "Do you?"
Can you honestly say that you are born of God according to the literal definition of that, that is given in 1 John 3:9?
Are you going to gamble on the idea that 1 John 3:9 is not to be taken literally?
What if those who receive baptism in Jesus' Name, also receive remission of sins and begin to live a 1 John 3:9 lifestyle as the result?
If you are not living a 1 John 3:9 lifestyle, then you need the Holy Ghost!
And Acts 2:38-39 gives a prescribed method for receiving the Holy Ghost that is given as an absolute promise to you if you will fulfill the condition of the promise.
If you look at all the verses that apply to baptism you will see that the Holy Ghost is absolutely promised to those who receive baptism in Jesus' Name in physical water...that this is a point of contact for a person's faith as there is an absolute promise connected with fulfilling the condition to the promise (in Acts 2:38-39).
It is certainly the prerogative of all of you to harden your hearts concerning this...in this United States you can believe whatever you want to believe.
I do think that there is an uncertainty in all of your lives, as to whether you have the Holy Ghost or not...because you can be certain of receiving the Holy Ghost (you can be certain that you do not have a counterfeit) if you will receive water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38-39).
I am uncertain why anyone, given the opportunity to receive baptism in Jesus' Name, would reject the ordinance.
It is almost like they are rejecting the Holy Ghost.
Or, like they are saying, "God, I don't need your prescribed method for receiving the Holy Ghost; because I believe that I already have Him."
I would ask you, "Do you?"
Can you honestly say that you are born of God according to the literal definition of that, that is given in 1 John 3:9?
Are you going to gamble on the idea that 1 John 3:9 is not to be taken literally?
What if those who receive baptism in Jesus' Name, also receive remission of sins and begin to live a 1 John 3:9 lifestyle as the result?
If you are not living a 1 John 3:9 lifestyle, then you need the Holy Ghost!
And Acts 2:38-39 gives a prescribed method for receiving the Holy Ghost that is given as an absolute promise to you if you will fulfill the condition of the promise.
No, the proof is in Scripture.
You've been shown the truth.
The Holy Spirit is received by faith in Christ.
Gal 3-
2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?
5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?
Zero reference to water or baptism.
These 2 verses refer to the same subject as Eph 1:13,14
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Water baptism accomplishes 2 things:
1. identifies the baptized with Christ.
2. gets one wet
That's all, folks.
You've been shown the truth.
The Holy Spirit is received by faith in Christ.
Gal 3-
2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?
5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?
Zero reference to water or baptism.
These 2 verses refer to the same subject as Eph 1:13,14
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Water baptism accomplishes 2 things:
1. identifies the baptized with Christ.
2. gets one wet
That's all, folks.
29 Jesus replied, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.”
30 So they asked Him, “What sign then will You perform, so that we may see it and believe You? What will You do?
31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “give us this bread at all times.”
35 Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever
believes in Me will never thirst. 36 But as I stated, you have seen Me and still you do not believe.
37 Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away.
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.
39 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me,
but raise them up at the last day. 40 For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the
Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
John 6:35 and 6-48a
30 So they asked Him, “What sign then will You perform, so that we may see it and believe You? What will You do?
31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “give us this bread at all times.”
35 Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever
believes in Me will never thirst. 36 But as I stated, you have seen Me and still you do not believe.
37 Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away.
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.
39 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me,
but raise them up at the last day. 40 For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the
Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
John 6:35 and 6-48a
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