Colossians – An Exhortation for Unity in Love #3 Living the Truth

 

Chapter 3 – Living the Truth

Colossians chapter 3 begins by describing the aspirations and affections of the disciple of Christ:

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth …” (Col. 3:1-2).

The principle is amply demonstrated in the words of the Proverb:

“the way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath” (Prov. 15:24).

Interestingly, the same point is made to Israel concerning their lack of obedience to Jehovah’s ways:

“… for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9).

This passage from Isaiah is often misapplied to show that God’s ways are different from “our” ways.
However, the context is to do with faithless Israel (see verse 7), not those who are sanctified with the blood of the Lamb. For us, as disciples of Christ, we ought to know better than Israel of old. For them, the ways of the Almighty were so high above their frame of thought that they could not perceive the message of the prophets. But we, however, recognising that Jehovah is High and Mighty, and His Ways high above the natural man, ought to

“seek those things which are above” –

that is, to make God’s ways our ways. To try to conform to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29), who was

“the express image of his [i.e. God’s] person” (Heb. 1:3).

Rather than to manifest the grovelling spirit of the natural man which, as that of the beasts of the field declines to earthly things, the spirit of the renewed man « goeth upward » (Eccl 3:21), focalising upon the place of favour and blessing – the Father’s right hand, where our lord is positioned. And in this, we have the example of our lord before us, who always kept the things pertaining to his Father’s Kingdom and Righteousness to the forefront of his mind, always seeking the will of his Father dwelling in the Heaven above:

« I have set Jehovah always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved … My flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore » (Ps 16:8-11).

In these words, the Spirit of Christ speaks prophetically of the meditations of our lord Jesus, faced with the agony of Crucifixion. Elsewhere it is testified that he,

« for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God » (Heb 12:2).

And this Psalm enlightens us as to what that « joy » was which was set before the Lord.

« I have set Jehovah always before me »,

and positioned at His Right Hand, the future seat of power upon which he would set, the Lord saw joy and pleasures:

« in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore ».

So it was, that by continual meditation and reflection upon such a joyous vision of Glory – even his Father’s Glory, our lord was strengthened to overcome, enduring the shame of crucifixion that he might ultimately obtain that place of joy himself.
And even so it is with us. For the death of Christ was not the death of one individual – but that of all who are aligned with it in Baptism:

« if one died for all, then were all dead » (2Cor 5:14).

In our baptisms, we died with Christ. And for us, as with our lord, crucifying the flesh is not a single event
at the time of our immersion; but a daily struggle as we seek to « die daily » (1Cor 15:31). So the exhortation was given to the Colossians, that in seeking heavenly things – the « pleasures » at the Father’s right hand – they must crucify earthly things:

« mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence and covetousness which is idolatry » (Col 3:5).

As we died in Christ therefore, we must put to death earthly things, and do as he did, focus instead on the Joyous Vision of the Divine Presence, and all that it speaks of. For if we are dead with him, then are we also risen with him (Rom 6:5), and our life is bound up in him:

« for ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God ».

There is no earthly thing which appears in the presence of the Father – only things of the Spirit. And as our lives are

« with Christ in God »,

who is the fountain-head of all life, then we ought to have no earthly thing dwelling in us. Only things of the Spirit. How hard that is to maintain, but how necessary to try!

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Preceding

1. Colossians – An Exhortation for Unity in Love #1 Separation from the world
2. Colossians – An Exhortation for Unity in Love #2 Completeness of the united Body of Christ

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Additional reading

1. a City full of the Pride of life
2. Sharing the depth of God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge
3. Those who fear him
4. Favorably heard for his godly fear
5. Death and Resurrection of Christ
6. Son of God and King of kings
7. Memorizing wonderfully 72: Colossians 3:1: Christ seated on the right hand of God
8. Wanting to live in Christ’s city
9. To follow Christ
10. Deuteronomy for the twenty-first century: Choose life!
11. Obeying God rather than man
12. Today’s thought “outstretched arm of Jehovah” (February 01)
13. Today’s thought “Clothing yourselves with the right attitude” (May 16)
14. Today’s thought “Covetousness, which is idolatry” (May 16)
15. Today’s Thought: “Your life is hidden” (May 16)
16. Todays tought (June 2) Repenting whilst eagerly waiting for Christ’s return
17. Today’s Thought “To endure our trials and straighten up” (June 05)
18. Today’s thought “Whoever does the will of God, he (or she) is …” (August 08)
19. Today’s thought “Struggling on your behalf in his prayers” (November 15)
20. Today’s thought “Putting on the robe of compassion, kindness, humility and meekness” (November 15)
21. Today’s thought “He who was also subject to human weakness” (November 30)
22. Today’s thought “I will speak in the bitterness of my soul” (December 8)
23. Today’s thought “He knows the way that I take” (December 19)
24. Extra memorizing verses John 5:24 He who believes Him who sent Jesus
25. Extra verses to memorize John 15:5-6 Abiding in the vine Jesus
26. Memorizing wonderfully 52 Acts 7:56: the Son of man standing on the right hand of God
27. Memorizing wonderfully 72: Colossians 3:1: Christ seated on the right hand of God
28. Memorizing wonderfully 73: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Sleepers with hope
29. A way to prepare for the Kingdom

Baptised believers left in the world to use

 

In the previous chapter we have seen how Jesus prayed for unity among his followers whom he saw as people entrusted to him.

Jesus said in his prayer to God that his disciples, belong to his Heavenly Father and will be reflected in him.

« All mine is yours, and yours is mine; I am glorified in them. »(John 17: 10 Book)

« All That Is Mine Is Yours, and All That Is Yours Is Mine. They reflect who I am. »(John 17: 10 Book)

Jesus also asks that the disciples be one, just as the father and he Are One, and Jesus is one with his followers.

« I leave the world and come to you, but they still remain in the world. Holy Father, protect In Your Name those whom you have given me, so that they may be one like us. »(John 17: 11 Book)

Being « left behind » in this world, we need that protection from God. In our community, we need to stand up for each other. Together we must form one strong community that provides shelter for those who have not yet been baptised. We must show them that we are best formed by the word of God. By believing in that word we can gain knowledge and be purified.

« Make them pure and holy by teaching them in your word of truth. »(John 17: 17 Book)

For this, we have the master teacher in whom we have all confidence and recognize as our high priest.

26 therefore he is exactly the High Priest we need: he is holy, blameless, and undefiled; he has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place in the heavens. 27 ordinary high priests need the blood of sacrificial animals every day to cover their own sins and those of the people. But Jesus Christ once and for all erased all sins when he sacrificed himself on the cross. »(Hebrews 7:26-27 Book)

Through Christ’s act of sacrifice, everyone has been given the opportunity to be delivered from The Curse of death. Jesus did not ask God to take away the believers from the world, but rather to use them in the world. As Jesus was sent into the world, now the believers who have surrendered to Christ Jesus have also received the same commission as Jesus had. Jesus has given us the same task, namely to go out into the world.

« I am sending them into the world, just as you sent me into the world. »(John 17:18 Book)

«  »Peace! »said Jesus. « As the father sent me, so I send you. » »(John 20:21 Book)

« Therefore, go forth to make all nations My disciples. Baptize them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to always do what I have told you. » (Matthew 28:19 Book)

« For you must teach others what I have taught you and many others. Teach these great truths to reliable men, who, in turn, can pass them on to others. » (2 Timothy 2:2 Book)

We can now open our community to all who want to come to us or are curious about our teachings. By being open, we can give all our visitors the opportunity to see that we are committed to following the Bible. Then they can be convinced that this collection is our guide and that we are a community that does not adhere to church dogmas but only to the provisions and doctrinal rules specified in the Bible.

Even though we have not seen the signs of Jesus ‘ execution and have not experienced His resurrection and ascension, we are convinced that these miracles have taken place. The record in the Book of books is enough for us to believe and spread the good news.

30 many of the miracles Jesus performed before his disciples are not recorded in this book. 31 I have written some of these so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God. If you believe in him, you live in his name. »(John 20: 30-31 Book)

It was Jesus ‘ great desire that his disciples should become one. He wanted them to be united as a powerful testimony to the reality of God’s love.

Forming a community together, we must now be ready to bring others to God. As brothers and sisters of each other and of Christ, we must share together the love of Christ. To family and friends, wherever we go, we must proclaim what Jesus and his God have done.

« Go to your family, « he said, » and tell them what God has done for you. »The man went everywhere in the city to tell what Jesus had done for him. »(Luke 8:39 Book)

19  » go home, « he said, » to your family and friends and tell them what God has done for you, how good he has been for you. 20 the man went out and told all over the Decapolis region what Jesus had done for him. Everyone listened to him in amazement. »(Mark 5:19-20 Book)

Only baptised persons may sit at the Lord’s table. But those who are allowed to sit can help others to see that they too will be allowed to partake of the bread and wine, if they want to surrender to God and confirm this for the community with their baptism. In this way, the community must grow into a place where many will be able to be partakers, and thereby confirm their faith that Jesus has surrendered for them.

In unity we will be able to meet so regularly, to encourage each other and together to remember Jesus dead.

« We should not stay away from our meetings. Some make a habit of that, but that’s not good. We must encourage and warn one another, especially now that we see that it will not be long before the Lord Jesus returns. »(Hebrews 10: 25 Book)

« For every time you eat of this bread and drink from the cup, you confirm that the Lord has died. Do this until he comes back. »(1 Corinthians 11:26 Book)

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Preceding

1. Jesus high priestly prayer for unity
2. Faithful to God are baptised
3. Baptised offering unity to the unbaptised
4. Our first baptisms in our brand new ecclesia
5. Why were Catholics not allowed to take communion during the baptismal service
6. Brothers and sisters as one family
7. Lord God let us come together and grow

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Additional reading

1. Concerning Christ #2 Divine source, connection and divine human being
2. Authority given to him To give eternal life
3. Atonement And Fellowship 7/8
4. Live by Faith
5. The Church is Under Attack…
6. Christians remaining hidden not sharing the gospel
7. Religion and the essence of devotion
8. Disciple of Christ counting lives and friends dear to them
9. The Involvement of true discipleship
10. Testify of the things heard
11. Bringing Good News into the world
12. Jehovah’s Witnesses not only group that preach the good news
13. Avoiding friction and distraction in the body of Christ
14. Being Religious and Spiritual 7 Transcendence to become one
15. Preparation for unity
16. Looking for True Spirituality 7 Preaching of the Good News
17. Time for this and that
18. Preaching by example
19. Witnessing because we love

Baptised offering unity to the unbaptised

After some members were baptised, they left the unbaptised with questions. Those who have undergone baptism can now count themselves among Christ’s brethren. For them, Jesus has given assurance that they may look forward to a life without end if they continue to seek the truth and constantly absorb knowledge.

« Now this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Him whom Thou hast sent, Jesus Christ. » (John 17:3).

Jesus made God’s Name public to those whom Jehovah gave him. Here in our ecclesia, too, we find those who were allowed to hear the Word of God and took it for true. They have taken Jesus’ words for true, recognising him as the representative of That One True God, Jehovah the Most High.

« 7 Now they know that all that You have given me is from You. 8 For I brought to them the words which Thou hast given me; they accepted them, acknowledging truthfully that I came forth from Thee, and believing that Thou hast sent me. » (John 17:7-8)

Through baptism, the new members have dedicated themselves to God and are those for whom Jesus now also prays and also hands them over to his father.

« 9 I pray for them; I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given me, because they are thine. 10 All mine are thine, and thine are mine; I am glorified in them. » (John 17:9-10)

Left behind in the world, the baptised like the other brothers and sisters in Christ need His help in addition to God’s blessing. Jesus also expects them to be one as he and his heavenly Father are one.

« Henceforth I am no longer in the world; but they remain in the world, while I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me; that they may be one, as we are. » (John 17:11)

« I and the Father are one. » (John 10:30)

Now there are the covenants in the ecclesia who are one. But there is also the hope that those who have not yet taken the steps to be baptised, by full immersion in the purifying water, that these may be drawn by the faith and communion of the brothers and sisters present in Christ. They too, need the blessing of God and for them the baptised pray that they too will be allowed to be « sanctified » or set apart.

« For God has not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness. » (1 Thessalonians 4:7)

« By virtue of that will, we have been sanctified once and for all through the Sacrifice of the Body of Jesus Christ. » (Hebrews 10:10)

To this end, we remember Jesus words:

« 20 I pray not for them alone, but also for all who believe in me through their word. 21 May they all be one, as Thou, Father, art in me, and I in Thee; may they also be one in Us, that the world may have faith that Thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou hast given me, I also have given to them, that they may be one, even as We are one: 23 I in them, and Thou in me.
May they possess perfect unity, that the world may recognise that thou hast sent me, and that thou hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

24 Father, I desire that they whom thou hast given me may be with me, where I myself am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me, because thou hast loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 Just Father, though the world has not known thee, yet I have known thee; and they have recognised that thou hast sent me. 26 I have made Your name known to them, and will continue to do so, that the love with which You have loved me may be in them, and I in them. » (John 17:20-26)

Now there are the baptised to further make Jesus known, and to show those who still belong to the world, the true path by which they will come to follow Jesus, so that those who present the wrong path will be exposed so that the truly interested will not be led to death.

« Sometimes one keeps a way for the straight, Which finally ends in death. » (Proverbs 16:25)

« Jesus spake unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. » (John 14:6)

It is now up to the baptised to show their relatives and friends the right door, so that God’s blessing may come upon them too and they will know how to find a safe haven.

« I am the door: if anyone enters by me, he shall be safe, going in and out, and shall find pasture. » (John 10:9)

« Through him we have gained access by faith to this grace, in which we have become firmly established; through him also we glory in the hope of the glory of God. » (Romans 5:2)

« For by him we both have access to the Father in one Spirit. » (Ephesians 2:18)

 » – a new and living way, which he has made for us through the veil, that of his flesh, » (Hebrews 10:20)

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Previous

1. Prayer for our gathering to save something greater than ourselves
2. God’s Words for the pilgrimage #2 Words of God for life
3. A pilgrimage not exactly without hurdles or obstacles #3 Availability, encounters and exposure to change
4. Faithful to God are baptised
5. Feeling at home in a church or not
6. What it means to belong to a family
7. What does it mean to belong to a church congregation
8. Participants uniting into one body

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Find also to read

1. Be Honest
2. When believing in God’s existence and His son, possessing a divine legislation
3. Concerning Christ #2 Divine source, connection and divine human being
4. Concerning the saying: I and the Father are one
5. Faith coming by hearing and sent preacher gift from God
6. Authority given to him To give eternal life
7. Atonement And Fellowship 4/8
8. Atonement And Fellowship 6/8
9. Atonement And Fellowship 7/8
10. How to Go Forward without Fear
11. Religion and the essence of devotion
12. Outflow of foundational relationship based on acceptance of Jesus
13. A participation in the body of Christ
14. One Mind, One Accord
15. a Strong Family doesn’t just happen
16. A participation in the body of Christ
17. Preparation for unity
18. Maintaining unity of Spirit in the bond of peace becoming one with God
19. Manifests for believers #5 Christian Union
20. Commitment to Christian unity
21. Observance of the Lord’s Evening Meal
22. Disciple of Christ counting lives and friends dear to them
23. To whom do we want to be enslaved
24. Being one in Jesus, Jesus in us and God in Jesus
25. 1st thought for today “The world may be wicked” (January 16)
26. Today’s thought “It is shameful for a woman to …” (March 1)
27. Today’s thought “Gather into one the children of God” (April 18)
28. Today’s thought “… and learn from me” (July 10)
29. Today’s Thought (August 31): In your thinking be mature
30. Today’s thought “Speaking the truth in love” (October 6)
31. Concerning the Spiritual Body
32. One of the most important Truths
33. New Covenant Possesses
34. Quibbling siblings united or allied children of an organisation or a church
35. Let us become nothing, and Christ everything
36. Importance of Tikkun olam
37. United people under Christ
38. Commitment to Christian unity
39. En Soma: One Body
40. Unity
41. Unity doesn’t mean uniformity
42. Jewish and Gentile Disciples
43. Difficulty in getting new young members
44. Ecclesia – Church – Minding your reference
45. The Ecclesia
46. Ecclesia to exist, grow and communities to have people communicating with each other

Congratulations for baptism

Dear Pascal, Donatien and Méthode,

Today you have made an important act for God, Jesus and his community.

We are very happy that you have taken this step of surrender and that we can include you here in our Community of Brothers in Christ, or Christadelphians.

Hopefully, may your act of surrender to God in the faith of the Messiah, be further deepened, and grow into an edifying faith in the Kingdom of God.

May God bless you and may we continue to explore together on the Path of Peace for many years to come.

Joyous news on 5 May 2024

On Sunday May the 5th the Christadelphian community in Belgium had a unique message to deliver, a unique song to sing, a unique act of love to bestow.

 

With pride and joy in our hearts, a few months after the start of the new ecclesia in Anderlecht, we were able to witness the first baptisms. After a few months of intensive study, we were able to have a successful interview and were finally able to welcome three new brothers into our community.

Early in the morning, a large pool awaited the christening candidates.

Gradually the crowd poured in from 10.30. There was certainly no lack of atmosphere. It was also nice that many had dressed in red and white to symbolise the blood of Christ and the whitewashing or purification by baptism.

Brother Marcus was allowed to do the honours as an elder and lead the service. This while the Belanwa family had taken fantastic care of the elaborate meal.

Some of those present, while others were still facing them and others were outside.

 

 

Reading at the May 5, 2024 baptism service

From the Acts of the Apostles 10:34-48

“34  Now Peter began to speak and said:
“I absolutely perceive that The God does not show partiality, 35 but in every nation the person fearing Him and who continues to work righteousness is acceptable to Him.
36 You are aware of the message that He sent to the sons of Israel proclaiming peace by means of Jesus Christ, that this One is Master of all.
37 [You are aware] of the events that occurred throughout all of Judea–beginning first in Galilee and the baptism preached by John– 38 how The God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with holy Pneuma and with Power. He then went traveling everywhere, doing good and healing all those who were oppressed by the Devil, because The God was with him.
39 Now we are witnesses of everything he did, both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. [The Jews] killed him by hanging him on a tree.
40 The God raised up this person on the third day and granted him to become visible.
41 Not to all the people but rather to witnesses who had been chosen by our God beforehand. To us, who ate and drank together with him after he was resurrected from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to give our testimony that this is the One appointed by The God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 On this matter all the prophets bear witness–everyone believing in him receives forgiveness of sins on the basis of his name.”

44  As Peter was speaking these words the holy Pneuma fell upon all those hearing the Word. 45 Now Peter and those of the Circumcision with him were amazed that the gift of the holy Pneuma was poured out on non-Jews. 46 For they were now hearing all of them speaking in tongues and exalting The God.
Then Peter responded:
47 “Surely no one will refuse the water of baptism to these who have received the holy Pneuma just as we have?”
48 And so Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Afterwards they asked Peter to remain for several days.” (Acts 10:34-48 MHM)

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Our first baptisms in our brand-new ecclesia

Ndugu na dada katika Kristo

A few months ago, we started a trek with some mums that was to lead us past deep valleys, swamps, marshy meadows, but also past beautiful flowering valleys and beautiful mountains rising upwards.

During the trek, many rants were raised and Brothers Chris, Tim, Steve and Marcus tried to answer the questions and present good ground where there was doubt. Sister Miriam was given the honour a few weeks ago to ascertain whether the baptismal candidates were ready to fulfil their beautiful act of surrender.

Today is the day. Brother Steve left early this morning to pick up Brother Marcus to drive to Anderlecht together. On Saturday, Brother Method had already provided the swimming pool for the occasion. Today we expect to find it in his house filled with water.

For today, 5 May, is the big day. Our brand-new ecclesia will be able to greet its first baptisms in a few hours. From Newbury, our fellow brothers and sisters will join us for the service. They may start Sunday with their usual Sunday service at 10 o’clock English time (11 in the morning here in Belgium).

At 12 o’clock, Brother Marcus then initiates the baptism service, with first a look at the journey of many questions and answers. Then we testify that we are convinced that we may find a place of refuge in God’s House.

During the trek, everyone was allowed to meet the good shepherd whom the Great Chief Shepherd sent to this world and whose gate for the new sheep has also been opened.

After the scripture reading about what happened in Cornelius’ house, Brother Marcus will proceed to baptise Pascal, Donatien and Méthode, who will then be welcomed into our community as brothers. For the first time in their lives, they will then be allowed to join the table to eat the bread and wine symbolising the body of Christ.

And then the great family feast may begin! From then on, these new brothers will be allowed to join in the symbolic act and further proclaim the Good News to others to invite them also to the table of Jesus Christ.

Those who chose a different path

For many, dealing with the past is difficult.
Chopping buttons is not always so easy.
Concerning faith, it takes courage to go a different way than the traditional paths proposed by the mainstream churches.

In Brussels, we may greet some people who dared to take a different path. They have chosen to take the Way of God, which was prepared by the Nazarene teacher and his apostles, and has been paved out by their followers also in Belgium.

Of those who started the pilgrimage in Belgium,
three have now chosen to take that great step
and enter the waters that can wash them clean of previous sins.

With joy and full of expectations,
we now look forward to their baptism on Sunday 5 May.

Reception of Peter at Cornelius’ house and a baptism of Gentiles

As the apostles went around proclaiming the Good News, they sometimes came across brethren who went with them. For example, six brethren went along with Simon Peter to a man who had in his house a messenger from God (an angel) who had said to invite someone. Cornelius had thus heard that this Peter had something to say to him that would save him and all his household members. (Acts 11:12-14) Peter lets us know:

“15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them even as upon us also at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said,

John baptised with water, but *ye* shall be baptised with [the] Holy Spirit.

17 If then God has given them the same gift as also to us when we had believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who indeed was *I* to be able to forbid God? (Acts 11:15-17 Darby)

However, when Peter announced the good news of those newly baptised, who were not Jews, many objected. Several believers were shocked because Peter had eaten with Gentiles and even enjoyed things which a Jew considers unclean. To admit gentiles into the Christian community without circumcising them has been the subject of much controversy in apostolic times. But Luke makes it very clear to us that the apostles were on Peter’s side.

In the earlier Scriptures, the prophets had often prophesied that after the coming of the Messiah, the congregation of God would be gathered from all nations. In those days of the apostles, however, this will first have been interpreted to mean that the Gentiles would join the Law of Moses to find a place in the community of faith. As more Gentiles wished to join « The Way« , they appeared to face an unprecedented dilemma. Could they simply allow those goy or Gentile without circumcision to also join the brotherhood in Christ.

To many, it did at first seem like a blot on God’s holy covenant when the Gentiles united with the children of Abraham in one body while abolishing certain Jewish customs. These people were not so quick to understand the mystery that Paul teaches was hidden from the angels from the creation of the world.

“and to enlighten all [with the knowledge of] what is the administration of the mystery hidden throughout the ages in God, who has created all things,” (Ephesians 3:9 Darby)

Everyone was supposed to be aware that God has a Plan with the world and in it all people fit. Thus, even Gentiles will be able to hear God’s voice and come to Him.

18 And when they heard these things they held their peace, and glorified God, saying,

Then indeed God has to the nations also granted repentance to life.” (Acts 11:15-18 Darby)

That conversion continues into our time where Gentiles still wish to join that community that wants to devote itself faithfully to Jehovah. Thus, last weekend we were able to receive confirmation that here in Belgium too, three men like Cornelius want to get into the boat with us to come under Christ.

We may now look forward to their baptism, where they will be immersed in water as a symbol of dying in the old worldly life with then rising in the new world of Christ.

 

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Come also to read

1. Matthew 12:9-21 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Is It Lawful to Cure on the Sabbath?
2. God who knows the heart
3. Examples of Living Faith
4. Cornelius
5. Who Am I That I Could Hinder God?
6. Today’s thought “We are witnesses of all that he did” (May 02)
7. Today’s thought “Your prayers … ascended as a memorial” (May 2)
8. Today’s thought “God who knows the heart …” (May 05)
9. Today’s thought “Things known from of old” (November 4)
10. Religion and believers #7 Independent and organised form of existence of a religion

On to a baptismal ceremony

 

Success of baptismal candidates for the interview, makes us happy to look forward to an impending baptism.

On our trek, we were privileged to meet some fellow travellers who wanted to dedicate themselves to God. During the trek, they had many opportunities to compare and discuss their knowledge of the Bible. The time they went through during the pilgrimage also gave them the opportunity to grow in faith.

They chose to join that smaller community of believers which wished to adhere most closely to biblical teachings. For this, they were willing to leave aside those large traditional churches, such as the Roman Catholic Church. For the members of our trek, following God’s teachings, values and standards was more important than following worldly doctrines.

Together they set out with us, and this afternoon they underwent an interview to verify that they are ready to undergo baptism in the community of brothers and sisters in Christ.

With joy, we will now soon also be able to greet them as brothers after they are completely immersed in water.

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Previous articles

1. To stand for true baptism
2. The ready baptismal candidate
3. Request for insight for baptism
4. Finding faith formation and a baptismal place
5. Prayer to God for the fulfillment of the baptismal candidates
6. Meeting on Saturday April 6
7. Today a day of truth
8. What is expected of a Christadelphian?

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Find also to read

1. Belief of the things that God has promised
2. A Living Faith #10: Our manner of Life #2
3. Get Your Wonderful Disease-proof Human Body
4. Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 10:35-40 – Nespotism and Baptism
5. Why baptism really matters – e-book
6. June’s Survey – Baptism by immersion: Necessary for salvation?
7. Is rebaptizing necessary
8. Rebirth and belonging to a church
9. Who Should Baptise?
10. Being of good courage running the race
11. A strange thing might happen when you come under Christ
12. From those preaching the Gospel and Baptism in Jesus name
13. A Look at some Watchtower publications about baptism
14. United people under Christ
15. Priorities for our Christadelphian community and for the spreading of Good News