Heaven Past Present Future Ministries
ENCOURAGEMENT TO ETERNAL FOCUS IN UNITY AND FELLOWSHIP OF THE GOSPEL
The Right Hand Of Fellowship
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How Can a Church Use this Scriptural Model?
Application of the model follows. It is recognized each baptism by an assembly of an individual must be viewed separately even though there may be diverse associated group names or denominational fellowship. However, it is assumed those submitting for baptism would do so in belief and practice of what they are taught by those administering the rite of baptism:
- New Testament Pattern –
Those truly repenting of sin and accepting by faith Jesus Christ as Savior are disciples with promise of heaven. The symbol of baptism is public testimony of faith in Jesus Christ, where He is sole provider of salvation by His death, burial, and resurrection apart from righteous works. Physical immersion pictures the spiritual baptism into the future forming body of Christ. Further one proclaims they are dead to sin in newness of life by the power of Jesus Christ. The immersed disciples (believer’s baptism) are recognized by the Holy Spirit in a local assembly-church-Body of Christ as empowered with Holy Spirit authority with responsibility to do kingdom work: disciple – baptize - teach. As already empowered with authority of the Holy Spirit church vote or approval for work Christ commissioned is not required. It is the Holy Spirit in very fluid movement that directs the believers of the local churches adding to the local Body as He wills and empowering with gifts to those spirit filled in obedience as only He determines.
-Assembly at Ephesus –
Those truly repenting of sin and accepting Christ as Savior are disciples with promise of heaven. They were born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body forming in heaven. The immersed disciples (believer’s baptism) are not recognized by the Holy Spirit as a local assembly-church-Body of Christ empowered to do kingdom work. The symbol of baptism changed to repentance of sin and a hope of salvation rather than absolute completed salvation in Jesus Christ by His death, burial, and resurrection thus corrupting the symbolism of a true gospel. The Holy Spirit does not recognize the rite of baptism or the assembly. Lacking spirit filled obedience these disciples have no external power from the Holy Spirit even though they faithfully assemble in religious activity. Those therefore needed and received proper baptism and in doing so the Holy Spirit comes upon them in the evident power of the day.
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