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.

AnderlechtDuring 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.

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

What is expected of a Christadelphian?

What obligations should a Christadelphian fulfil?

Endorsing Biblical teachings

It is essential that the person who wishes to join the Christadelphians subscribes to Biblical teachings.

Believing in only one God and imitating His Laws

Baptismal candidates are expected to bear witness to their faith in only one True God, Jehovah the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth. It is also to That One True God that the Christadelphian will direct his prayers with confidence.

“And Jesus answering him said, It is written, Thou shalt do homage to [the] Lord thy God, and him alone shalt thou serve.” (Luke 4:8 Darby)

“(however, Jesus himself did not baptise, but his disciples),” (John 4:2 Darby)

A Christadelphian is expected to love the Only True God and to fulfil His Laws with full sense. The Laws of Christ are enclosed in the Law of God and as Jesus did the Will of God we must also do the Will of God and adhere to the Laws of Christ and the Laws of God.

“For when [those of the] nations, which have no law, practise by nature the things of the law, these, having no law, are a law to themselves;” (Romans 2:14 Darby)

“But before faith came, we were guarded under law, shut up to faith [which was] about to be revealed.” (Galatians 3:23 Darby)

“Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfil the law of the Christ.” (Galatians 6:2 Darby)

“If indeed ye keep [the] royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.” (James 2:8 Darby)

“The secret of Jehovah is with them that fear him, that he may make known his covenant to them.” (Psalms 25:14 Darby)

“Confide in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not unto thine own intelligence;” (Proverbs 3:5 Darby)

“And he said to him, Thou shalt love [the] Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy understanding.” (Matthew 22:37 Darby)

“Because this [is] the covenant that I will covenant to the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord: Giving my laws into their mind, I will write them also upon their hearts; and I will be to them for God, and *they* shall be to me for people.” (Hebrews 8:10 Darby)

Cleaned by the blood of the unloader, we must also keep ourselves clean

In addition to believing in Jehovah as the one true God, one must also believe in God’s sent son Jesus Christ as the promised Anointed Son of Man and Redeemer, the Messiah or Saviour.

“and behold, a voice out of the heavens saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I have found my delight.” (Matthew 3:17 Darby)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes on him may not perish, but have life eternal.” (John 3:16 Darby)

“as indeed the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28 Darby)

“who gave himself a ransom for all, the testimony [to be rendered] in its own times;” (1 Timothy 2:6 Darby)

“Christ has redeemed us out of the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, (for it is written, Cursed [is] every one hanged upon a tree,)” (Galatians 3:13 Darby)

“that he might redeem those under law, that we might receive sonship.” (Galatians 4:5 Darby)

“whom God has set forth a mercy-seat, through faith in his blood, for [the] shewing forth of his righteousness, in respect of the passing by the sins that had taken place before, through the forbearance of God;” (Romans 3:25 Darby)

“What then [is] the superiority of the Jew? or what the profit of circumcision?” (Romans 3:1 Darby)

“And Jesus also, and his disciples, were invited to the marriage.” (John 2:2 Darby)

Cleaned by Jesus’ blood, we must also keep ourselves clean and do everything we can not to sin. Even if we were to pretend to be angry, we should get rid of that anger as quickly as possible and let us certainly not become culprits ourselves or do wrong things.

“and almost all things are purified with blood according to the law, and without blood-shedding there is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22 Darby)

“But if we walk in the light as *he* is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7 Darby)

“Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us purify ourselves from every pollution of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in God’s fear.” (2 Corinthians 7:1 Darby)

“Be angry, and do not sin; let not the sun set upon your wrath,” (Ephesians 4:26 Darby)

“Flee fornication. Every sin which a man may practise is without the body, but he that commits fornication sins against his own body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18 Darby)

“Let none of you suffer indeed as murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or as overseer of other people’s matters;” (1 Peter 4:15 Darby)

Living rules and norms of God

It is therefore important to bear the name Brother in Christ with dignity, by trying to be an image of Jesus Christ. As he did the Will of God, Christadelphians must also observe the Will of God. Those who want to belong to the religious community of Christadelphians must thus be prepared to comply with the rules and norms of the Christadelphians, such as avoiding immoral behaviour, smoking, drug use and other sinful practices.

Being a Christian not only means that one must believe in Christ Jesus, the son of God, but that one must also imitate him and build his life accordingly.

“For to this have ye been called; for Christ also has suffered for you, leaving you a model that ye should follow in his steps:” (1 Peter 2:21 Darby)

“for I have given you an example that, as I have done to you, ye should do also.” (John 13:15 Darby)

“He that says he abides in him ought, even as *he* walked, himself also [so] to walk.” (1 John 2:6 Darby)

“5 For let this mind be in you which [was] also in Christ Jesus; 6 who, subsisting in the form of God, did not esteem it an object of rapine to be on an equality with God;” (Philippians 2:5-6 Darby)

“Be my imitators, even as *I* also [am] of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1 Darby)

Excellent behaviour is important, so that no one can speak negatively about the believer. Correct behaviour is also important, to honour God and His people, without any blemish or slander on the ministry. We should even be examples in our behaviour.

“having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that [as to that] in which they speak against you as evildoers, they may through [your] good works, [themselves] witnessing [them], glorify God in [the] day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:12 Darby)

“and many shall follow their dissolute ways, through whom the way of the truth shall be blasphemed.” (2 Peter 2:2 Darby)

“3 giving no manner of offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed; 4 but in everything commending ourselves as God’s ministers, in much endurance, in afflictions, in necessities, in straits,” (2 Corinthians 6:3-4 Darby)

“1  Laying aside therefore all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envyings and all evil speakings, 2 as newborn babes desire earnestly the pure mental milk of the word, that by it ye may grow up to salvation,” (1 Peter 2:1-2 Darby)

“4 that they may admonish the young women to be attached to [their] husbands, to be attached to [their] children, 5 discreet, chaste, diligent in home work, good, subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be evil spoken of. 6 The younger men in like manner exhort to be discreet: 7 in all things affording thyself as a pattern of good works; in teaching uncorruptedness, gravity, 8 a sound word, not to be condemned; that he who is opposed may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us:” (Titus 2:4-8 Darby)

“Let no one despise thy youth, but be a model of the believers, in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12 Darby)

“Who [is] wise and understanding among you; let him shew out of a good conversation his works in meekness of wisdom;” (James 3:13 Darby)

As believers not formed by the world but by God’s Word and focusing on the right, under a new guise

If one wants to become a Christadelphian, one must dare to distance oneself from the desires of this world and no longer allow oneself to be formed by this system of things, but to be changed by the reform of one’s mind, while the old personality one had in the time of ignorance, travels for good.

“And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of [your] mind, that ye may prove what [is] the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2 Darby)

“14 as children of obedience, not conformed to [your] former lusts in your ignorance; 15 but as he who has called you is holy, be ye also holy in all [your] conversation; 16 because it is written, Be ye holy, for *I* am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14-16 Darby)

“22 [namely] your having put off according to the former conversation the old man which corrupts itself according to the deceitful lusts; 23 and being renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 and [your] having put on the new man, which according to God is created in truthful righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24 Darby)

“9 Do not lie to one another, having put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and having put on the new, renewed into full knowledge according to [the] image of him that has created him;” (Colossians 3:9-10 Darby)

For example, the Christadelphian has no room for wrong behaviour and feelings, and avoids this wrong attitude, such as jealousy, envy, greed, jealousy, selfishness, hypocrisy, laziness, contempt, pride, quarrelsomeness, drunkenness, gluttony, foolishness, debauchery, impurity, fornication, adultery, fornication, sweeping, ridicule, and other bad qualities. We must focus on the right things and those things that can be discussed favourably.

Going together in a community full of love for each other

We must adhere to the golden rule that we will not do anything to anyone else that we would not want anyone to do to us. It must be paramount that we love our neighbour as we love ourselves. Outsiders must recognize the Brothers by the way they follow Christ and share love with each other while adhering to the truth and serving with loyalty.

“By this shall all know that ye are disciples of mine, if ye have love amongst yourselves.” (John 13:35 Darby)

“And to all these [add] love, which is the bond of perfectness.” (Colossians 3:14 Darby)

“For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things [are] true, whatsoever things [are] noble, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] amiable, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue and if any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8 Darby)

“74 to give us, that, saved out of the hand of our enemies, we should serve him without fear 75 in piety and righteousness before him all our days.” (Luke 1:74-75 Darby)

“24 and [your] having put on the new man, which according to God is created in truthful righteousness and holiness. 25 Wherefore, having put off falsehood, speak truth every one with his neighbour, because we are members one of another.” (Ephesians 4:24-25 Darby)

“but in everything commending ourselves as God’s ministers, in much endurance, in afflictions, in necessities, in straits,” (2 Corinthians 6:4 Darby)

“in [the] word of truth, in [the] power of God; through the arms of righteousness on the right hand and left,” (2 Corinthians 6:7 Darby)

“13  For *ye* have been called to liberty, brethren; only [do] not [turn] liberty into an opportunity to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; 15 but if ye bite and devour one another, see that ye are not consumed one of another. 16 But I say, Walk in [the] Spirit, and ye shall no way fulfil flesh’s lust. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these things are opposed one to the other, that ye should not do those things which ye desire; 18 but if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strifes, jealousies, angers, contentions, disputes, schools of opinion, 21 envyings, murders, drunkennesses, revels, and things like these; as to which I tell you beforehand, even as I also have said before, that they who do such things shall not inherit God’s kingdom.” (Galatians 5:13-21 Darby)

“22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, fidelity, 23 meekness, self-control: against such things there is no law. 24 But they that [are] of the Christ have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us walk also by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become vain-glorious, provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:22-26 Darby)

Members full of reasonableness, orderliness and satisfaction

In the community of Christadelphians, everyone is expected to show respect for each other and be ready for each other, while showing affection even to people who do not belong to the community.

“He hath shewn thee, O man, what is good: and what doth Jehovah require of thee, but to do justly, and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8 Darby)

“Obey your leaders, and be submissive; for *they* watch over your souls as those that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not groaning, for this [would be] unprofitable for you.” (Hebrews 13:17 Darby)

“To have respect of persons is not good; but for a piece of bread will a man transgress.” (Proverbs 28:21 Darby)

“Put on therefore, as [the] elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;” (Colossians 3:12 Darby)

“and be to one another kind, compassionate, forgiving one another, so as God also in Christ has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32 Darby)

“And when ye stand praying, forgive if ye have anything against any one, that your Father also who is in the heavens may forgive you your offences.” (Mark 11:25 Darby)

“21  Then Peter came to him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? until seven times? 22 Jesus says to him, I say not to thee until seven times, but until seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21-22 Darby)

Don’t hesitate to meet

A Christadelphian is expected to live a godly life and to regularly read and study the Bible. It is also expected that the Christadelphian will participate in community life and regularly attend the meetings and services of the Brothers. At these meetings, everyone must be open to each other and help each other to grow further in their faith.

“But piety with contentment *is* great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6 Darby)

“not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the custom [is] with some; but encouraging [one another], and by so much the more as ye see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25 Darby)

“For where two or three are gathered together unto my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20 Darby)

“And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, Be saved from this perverse generation.” (Acts 2:40 Darby)

Finally
Fear Jehovah and bear the fruit of His Spirit

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, fidelity,” (Galatians 5:22 Darby)

“The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge: fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7 Darby)

“The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do [his precepts]: his praise abideth for ever.” (Psalms 111:10 Darby)

“The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth do I hate.” (Proverbs 8:13 Darby)

“Let all the earth fear Jehovah; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.” (Psalms 33:8 Darby)

“For the rest, my brethren, rejoice in [the] Lord: to write the same things to you, to me [is] not irksome, and for you safe.” (Philippians 3:1 Darby)

“Rejoice in [the] Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4 Darby)

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Previous

  1. What are the obligations for a Christian?
  2. The non-traditional church born from spiritual life
  3. To stand for true baptism

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Additional reading

  1. Seeking and finding God
  2. Do we know the right things
  3. Where to learn the truth
  4. Bible Word of God, inspired and infallible
  5. Increase our zeal for the Holy scriptures
  6. God of gods
  7. Knowing God
  8. Real God
  9. Only One God
  10. Uniqueness of God
  11. Believe in One God
  12. God is one
  13. Attributes to God
  14. Character of God
  15. Greatness of God
  16. The Almighty Lord, God above all gods
  17. El Shaddai – the Strong One – de Sterke
  18. Jehovah Host of hosts
  19. Jehovah strength, armour and refuge
  20. God is Positive
  21. God the Father
  22. God’s Hope and Our Hope
  23. God Helper and Deliverer
  24. God His reward
  25. God’s instruction about joy and suffering
  26. Incomplete without the mind of God
  27. Being in tune with God
  28. Lovers of God, seekers and lovers of truth
  29. Nurturing a Close Relationship with God
  30. As near to God as you want Him to be
  31. Worshipping God
  32. How should we worship God? #8 Love one another
  33. How should we worship God? #11 New Life in Christ
  34. Drawing close to God
  35. To Glorify God and His Son
  36. Relationship with God, Jesus and each other
  37. Attitudes to God
  38. Worship
  39. Our Father in heaven
  40. Light of the world
  41. Jesus son of God or God the son
  42. Jesus son of God
  43. Jesus Christ the Messiah
  44. Knowing Jesus Rabboni
  45. Seeing Jesus
  46. Atonement And Fellowship 4/8
  47. One Mediator
  48. Doctrine of Christ
  49. Commandements of Christ
  50. Ransom
  51. Salvation and Righteousness
  52. Faith
  53. Faith – Concerning Faith and the Gospel
  54. Truth of Faith
  55. Today’s Thought: A living faith
  56. Truth, doubt or blindness
  57. Getting out of the dark corners of this world
  58. Our life depending on faith
  59. My Faith
  60. Epitome of the One Faith
  61. Faith – Possibilities
  62. Faith and works
  63. Walking the Walk or Stepping on the right Path
  64. Today’s thought “Whoever does the will of God, he (or she) is …” (August 08)
  65. Denying yourself and doing God’s Will while following Jesus
  66. Life with God
  67. People of God
  68. Way of Life
  69. Taught by God to love one another
  70. So many being afraid – reason enough to step in the boat with Christ
  71. When feeling alone, afraid to connect with others in order to grow in faith
  72. Today’s thought “Which is the great commandment …?” (January 20)
  73. Additional thought for today 2 February: Transformed Christians Let evil not defeat you
  74. Today’s thought “If anyone has no love” (March 3)
  75. Today’s thought “But with you there is forgiveness” (March 15)
  76. Today’s thought “A new commandment” (April 20)
  77. Today’s thought “Let the word … dwell in you richly” (May 16)
  78. Today’s Thought “We always pray … that our God may make you worthy” (May 20)
  79. Today’s Thought “Preparing our minds for action” (June 11)
  80. Today’s thought June 19: This is love, that we walk …
  81. Today’s thought July 11 Reading 3 – Matthew 12:50
  82. Today’s thought “Not as I will but as you will” (July 25)
  83. Today’s Thought (August 03): Hospitality without grudging
  84. Today’s Thought (August 04): Rules for Christ’s followers
  85. Today’s thought Mark 1 “A new teaching with authority” (August 06)
  86. Today’s Thought (August 08): The importance of prayer
  87. Thought for September 8 Weak but standing strong in the ground swell
  88. This Sunday Looking at Colossians ch 2
  89. Today’s thought “About our attitude opposite others” (December 12)
  90. Today’s thought “Darker days, presents and Love for others” (December 13)
  91. Today’s thought “Qualities and feasts of people” (December 14)
  92. Today’s thought “God’s Word and great and valuable promises given” (December 14)
  93. Today’s thought “By this it is evident …” (December 17)
  94. Trusting the vision belonging to the time of the end.
  95. Life of Discipleship
  96. Jewish and Gentile Disciples
  97. Christian in Christendom or in Christianity
  98. Chrystalised Harmonious Thinking
  99. The Nazarene master teacher learning people how they should behave
  100. Attitude of a Christian
  101. Ableness to forgive those who wronged us
  102. Thought for today (January 17): Walking not after the flesh, but after the spirit
  103. Extra verses to memorize John 15:5-6 Abiding in the vine Jesus
  104. Biblical Basis for Outreach
  105. Establish your hearts blameless in holiness
  106. Be Holy
  107. No one has love greater than that someone should surrender his life in behalf of his friends
  108. Brethren of Christ
  109. What are Brothers in Christ 
  110. Brothers and sisters in Christ for you
  111. Brothers and sisters in Christ, united by the bond of the spirit
  112. Who are the Christadelphians
  113. Christadelphian opposite Christian
  114. From those preaching the Gospel and Baptism in Jesus name
  115. Reason to preach #4 Informed followers of Christ
  116. Good News Breakers
  117. Preaching of the Kingdom
  118. Are Christadelphians so Old Fashioned?
  119. Doctrine and Conduct Cause and Effect

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Related

  1. Not all christians are followers of a Greco-Roman culture
  2. The no one or nothing in the darkness
  3. A disrespected Father
  4. To will being present in us but to do it not always evident
  5. Material gain to honour God
  6. Today’s thought “No one can tame the tongue” (December 09)
  7. Today’s thought “Crisis among believers” (December 20)
  8. Blood Thicker Than Water?
  9. The Bible in Context- Jason Hensley
  10. Seeing the World Differently – William Patino
  11. What to do after you hear – Pattern 5
  12. 72 Seeking Truth – Peter Williamson
  13. 73 Simply Revelation – Greg Palmer Pt 1/4
  14. 75 Holiness in the Information Age – Michael Hyndman
  15. Living on the Edge

Prayer to God for the fulfillment of the baptismal candidates

 

 

 

Lord God,

Today we will meet here for the last time before some members will undergo the baptism interview.

We ask You, dear God,
that You will fill the baptismal candidates with Your Spirit
so that they will be able to answer all questions properly
so that we can also be sure that they are ready
to be received into our community as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Give baptismal candidates sufficient insight
to be ready like this
to enter into the community of followers of Christ.

We ask you that in Jesus’ name,
in the hope of soon incorporating them into our community as full brothers and sisters.

 

 

Meeting on Saturday April 6

 

This month will be a very special month in the history of the Belgian Christadelphians.

In recent years, we in our community have seen mainly Farsi-speaking refugees offering themselves for baptism and membership in our community. But now we can consider ourselves fortunate that several people of African descent have also applied and even created the opportunity to build a new ecclesia in the western municipality of Brussels.

Since January 6, we have been able to speak of a living community in Anderlecht, where plenty of preparations have been made to baptize some Swhahili and French-speaking members.

Today, April 6, we are proud to announce that next week (God willing) we can have the baptism interview take place. Things will probably be tense for the baptismal candidates now.

We wish them the best of luck and hope that today they will seize the last chance to have their remaining questions answered.

Essential Knowledge for the Baptismal Candidate #3 About Life and Death

Thought - Gedachte - Pensée - Mawazo (man kijkend naar de bergen in landschap - zonder opschrift)

 

Jehovah God Source and Giver of Life

We expect baptismal candidates to be aware that we are being given life because the Only True God gives us the opportunity to be here on earth. It is through Him that we live and move and can realize things.

“I have made the earth, man and beast that are upon the face of the earth, by my great power and by my outstretched arm; and I give them unto whom it seemeth right in mine eyes.” (Jeremiah 27:5 Darby)

“For of him, and through him, and for him [are] all things: to him be glory for ever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36 Darby)

“24 The God who has made the world and all things which are in it, *he*, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, 25 nor is served by men’s hands as needing something, himself giving to all life and breath and all things;” (Acts 17:24-25 Darby)

“for in him we live and move and exist; as also some of the poets amongst you have said, For we are also his offspring.” (Acts 17:28 Darby)

“And Jehovah Elohim formed Man, dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and Man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7 Darby)

“7 How precious is thy loving-kindness, O God! So the sons of men take refuge under the shadow of thy wings. 8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou wilt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. 9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.” (Psalms 36:7-9 Darby)

“9 Who knoweth not in all these, that the hand of Jehovah hath wrought this? 10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all flesh of man.” (Job 12:9-10 Darby)

Assignments for humans

The first man was created by Jehovah God, who expected them to name and care for all things, and to reproduce, so that the entire earth would be populated.

But God, who had given almost all the trees for the saturation of man, forbade the first man from eating the tree of knowledge of good and evil, otherwise they would know knowledge of good and evil, but also of death, and would definitely die.

“10 And God called the dry [land] Earth, and the gathering together of the waters he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. 11 And God said, Let the earth cause grass to spring up, herb producing seed, fruit-trees yielding fruit after their kind, the seed of which is in them, on the earth. And it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, herb producing seed after its kind, and trees yielding fruit, the seed of which is in them, after their kind. And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:10-12 Darby)

“And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply on the earth.” (Genesis 1:22 Darby)

“26  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over the whole earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth on the earth. 27 And God created Man in his image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them; and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the heavens, and over every animal that moveth on the earth. 29  And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb producing seed that is on the whole earth, and every tree in which is the fruit of a tree producing seed: it shall be food for you; 30 and to every animal of the earth, and to every fowl of the heavens, and to everything that creepeth on the earth, in which is a living soul, every green herb for food. And it was so. 31  And God saw everything that he had made, and behold it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning  — the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:26-31 Darby)

“7 And Jehovah Elohim formed Man, dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and Man became a living soul. 8  And Jehovah Elohim planted a garden in Eden eastward, and there put Man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground Jehovah Elohim made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; and the tree of life, in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:7-9 Darby)

“15 And Jehovah Elohim took Man, and put him into the garden of Eden, to till it and to guard it. 16  And Jehovah Elohim commanded Man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou shalt freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest of it thou shalt certainly die. 18  And Jehovah Elohim said, It is not good that Man should be alone; I will make him a helpmate, his like. 19 And out of the ground Jehovah Elohim had formed every animal of the field and all fowl of the heavens, and brought [them] to Man, to see what he would call them; and whatever Man called each living soul, that was its name. 20 And Man gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the heavens, and to every beast of the field; but as for Adam, he found no helpmate, his like.” (Genesis 2:15-20 Darby)

Limited life

As a result of Adam and Eve (their sinning) going wrong, the curse of death has come upon humanity and all people including Jesus have a limited life and must all face pain and death.

No one can be sure of his or her life. Life is actually short or limited in duration, with pleasant moments alternating with less pleasant periods.

“For this [cause], even as by one man sin entered into the world, and by sin death; and thus death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12 Darby)

“For if by the offence of the one death reigned by the one, much rather shall those who receive the abundance of grace, and of the free gift of righteousness, reign in life by the one Jesus Christ:)” (Romans 5:17 Darby)

“but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest of it thou shalt certainly die.” (Genesis 2:17 Darby)

“And the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a pleasure for the eyes, and the tree was to be desired to give intelligence; and she took of its fruit, and ate, and gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6 Darby)

“And to Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife, and eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed be the ground on thy account; with toil shalt thou eat [of] it all the days of thy life;” (Genesis 3:17 Darby)

“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, until thou return to the ground: for out of it wast thou taken. For dust thou art; and unto dust shalt thou return.” (Genesis 3:19 Darby)

“1  Man, born of woman, is of few days, and full of trouble. 2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; and he fleeth as a shadow, and continueth not.” (Job 14:1-2 Darby)

“15 As for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth: 16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone, and the place thereof knoweth it no more.” (Psalms 103:15-16 Darby)

Condition of the dead

By eating the forbidden fruit, man received the death penalty over him. After a life limited in time, man would die and the breath given by God would go out of the body and man, no longer aware of anything, would turn into dust and ashes. So at the end of our lives it is like the animals. Everything is over for us. We can then do nothing more, no longer think, and take nothing with us in our deaths. Everything, our thoughts, having and keeping us, will perish.

For everything we wanted to do it will be too late when we die. It is now, when we are on earth as living beings, that we must make it happen. Once we die, it’s too late. For us, there is the same outcome as for the animals.

“5 For the living know that they shall die; but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Their love also, and their hatred, and their envy is already perished; neither have they any more for ever a portion in all that is done under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 Darby)

“Whatever thy hand findeth to do, do with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, whither thou goest.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10 Darby)

“His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his purposes perish.” (Psalms 146:4 Darby)

“For in death there is no remembrance of thee; in Sheol who shall give thanks unto thee?” (Psalms 6:5 Darby)

“And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto the necromancers and unto the soothsayers, who chirp and who mutter, [say,] Shall not a people seek unto their God? [Will they go] for the living unto the dead?” (Isaiah 8:19 Darby)

“[They are] dead, they shall not live; deceased, they shall not rise: for thou hast visited and destroyed them, and made all memory of them to perish.” (Isaiah 26:14 Darby)

“For not Sheol shall praise thee, nor death celebrate thee; they that go down into the pit do not hope for thy truth.” (Isaiah 38:18 Darby)

“19 For what befalleth the children of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other, and they have all one breath; and man hath no pre-eminence above the beast: for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place: all are of the dust, and all return to dust.” (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20 Darby)

“All the fat ones of the earth shall eat and worship; all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him, and he that cannot keep alive his own soul.” (Psalms 22:29 Darby)

Life after death

Those who follow the Nazarene Jewish teacher Jeshua ben Josef or Jesus Christ have full confidence that that man of flesh and blood has given himself as a ransom to God so that humanity has been delivered from the curse of death. The followers of Jesus Christ can live with the hope of a similar resurrection as Jesus has already risen from the tomb.

After the last and greatest war, Armageddon, Jesus will call the dead from the memory graves to himself to judge them with the living. The resurrection of Christ Jesus is a guarantee and a testimony of victory over death.

“but we see Jesus, who [was] made some little inferior to angels on account of the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; so that by the grace of God he should taste death for every thing.” (Hebrews 2:9 Darby)

“5 For God is one, and [the] mediator of God and men one, [the] man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself a ransom for all, the testimony [to be rendered] in its own times;” (1 Timothy 2:5-6 Darby)

“as indeed the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28 Darby)

“28 Wonder not at this, for an hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs shall hear his voice, 29 and shall go forth; those that have practised good, to resurrection of life, and those that have done evil, to resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:28-29 Darby)

“having hope towards God, which they themselves also receive, that there is to be a resurrection both of just and unjust.” (Acts 24:15 Darby)

“And the sea gave up the dead which [were] in it, and death and hades gave up the dead which [were] in them; and they were judged each according to their works:” (Revelation 20:13 Darby)

“Thy dead shall live, my dead bodies shall arise. Awake and sing in triumph, ye that dwell in dust; for thy dew is the dew of the morning, and the earth shall cast forth the dead.” (Isaiah 26:19 Darby)

“because he has set a day in which he is going to judge the habitable earth in righteousness by [the] man whom he has appointed, giving the proof [of it] to all [in] having raised him from among [the] dead.” (Acts 17:31 Darby)

“20  (But now Christ is raised from among [the] dead, first-fruits of those fallen asleep. 21 For since by man [came] death, by man also resurrection of [those that are] dead.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-21 Darby)

Destruction of death makes an endless life possible

In our time, death is an inevitable thing. Unless the end of time in our system of life takes place, most around us will die. But because of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ that Jehovah God accepted as a sacrifice of guilt, a lifting of death is now possible for man. Under Christ’s Kingship government, people will be able to live together in peace and no longer fear death, for every tear will be erased from their lives and they will see no more death.

We should not be surprised if the end times are on our doorstep and people will rise from their memory graves, while others will be allowed to enjoy a life without end. All who are in the Book of life will be allowed as righteous to enjoy an endlessly peaceful life in the Kingdom of God in a renewed earthly paradise.

“28 Wonder not at this, for an hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs shall hear his voice, 29 and shall go forth; those that have practised good, to resurrection of life, and those that have done evil, to resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:28-29 Darby)

“5 For God is one, and [the] mediator of God and men one, [the] man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself a ransom for all, the testimony [to be rendered] in its own times;” (1 Timothy 2:5-6 Darby)

“as indeed the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28 Darby)

“[The] last enemy [that] is annulled [is] death.” (1 Corinthians 15:26 Darby)

“12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is [that] of life. And the dead were judged out of the things written in the books according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which [were] in it, and death and hades gave up the dead which [were] in them; and they were judged each according to their works: 14 and death and hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, [even] the lake of fire. 15 And if any one was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:12-15 Darby)

“He will swallow up death in victory. And the Lord Jehovah will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the reproach of his people will he take away from off all the earth: for Jehovah hath spoken.” (Isaiah 25:8 Darby)

“I will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from death: where, O death, are thy plagues? where, O Sheol, is thy destruction? Repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.” (Hosea 13:14 Darby)

“54 But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruptibility, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the word written: Death has been swallowed up in victory. 55 Where, O death, [is] thy sting? where, O death, thy victory? 56 Now the sting of death [is] sin, and the power of sin the law; 57 but thanks to God, who gives us the victory by our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57 Darby)

“but has been made manifest now by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who has annulled death, and brought to light life and incorruptibility by the glad tidings;” (2 Timothy 1:10 Darby)

“but we see Jesus, who [was] made some little inferior to angels on account of the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; so that by the grace of God he should taste death for every thing.” (Hebrews 2:9 Darby)

“14  Since therefore the children partake of blood and flesh, he also, in like manner, took part in the same, that through death he might annul him who has the might of death, that is, the devil; 15 and might set free all those who through fear of death through the whole of their life were subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:14-15 Darby)

“And the devil who deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where [are] both the beast and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night for the ages of ages.” (Revelation 20:10 Darby)

“13 And the sea gave up the dead which [were] in it, and death and hades gave up the dead which [were] in them; and they were judged each according to their works: 14 and death and hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, [even] the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:13-14 Darby)

“9 After these things I saw, and lo, a great crowd, which no one could number, out of every nation and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cry with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9-10 Darby)

“But to the fearful and unbelieving, [and sinners], and those who make themselves abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part [is] in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8 Darby)

“The righteous shall possess the land, and dwell therein for ever.” (Psalms 37:29 Darby)

“But the meek shall possess the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of prosperity.” (Psalms 37:11 Darby)

An endless life for the righteous

For those who prove that they love the One True God and are obedient to Him, there is the beautiful prospect of an endless life after the return of Jesus Christ and the realisation of his kingdom. Then all uncertainty, pain and suffering, will be brought to an end and there will be plenty again for everyone, while there will be peace and security everywhere on earth.

“For the wages of sin [is] death; but the act of favour of God, eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 Darby)

“and having been perfected, became to all them that obey him, author of eternal salvation;” (Hebrews 5:9 Darby)

“He will swallow up death in victory. And the Lord Jehovah will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the reproach of his people will he take away from off all the earth: for Jehovah hath spoken.” (Isaiah 25:8 Darby)

“37 But as the days of Noe, so also shall be the coming of the Son of man. 38 For as they were in the days which were before the flood, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day on which Noe entered into the ark, 39 and they knew not till the flood came and took all away; thus also shall be the coming of the Son of man.” (Matthew 24:37-39 Darby)

“Jehovah keepeth all that love him, and all the wicked will he destroy.” (Psalms 145:20 Darby)

“The righteous [man] shall never be moved; but the wicked shall not inhabit the land.” (Proverbs 10:30 Darby)

“Overthrow the wicked, and they are no [more]; but the house of the righteous shall stand.” (Proverbs 12:7 Darby)

“In the path of righteousness is life, and in the pathway thereof there is no death.” (Proverbs 12:28 Darby)

“13 I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of heaven [one] like a son of man, and he came up even to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14 Darby)

“And in the days of these kings shall the God of the heavens set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the sovereignty thereof shall not be left to another people: it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, but itself shall stand for ever.” (Daniel 2:44 Darby)

“But, according to his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:13 Darby)

“3 And his delight will be in the fear of Jehovah; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears; 4 but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his reins, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins.” (Isaiah 11:3-5 Darby)

“12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is [that] of life. And the dead were judged out of the things written in the books according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which [were] in it, and death and hades gave up the dead which [were] in them; and they were judged each according to their works:” (Revelation 20:12-13 Darby)

“1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea exists no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of the heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice out of the heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he shall tabernacle with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, their God. 4 And he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall not exist any more, nor grief, nor cry, nor distress shall exist any more, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4 Darby)

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” (Isaiah 65:17 Darby)

“21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof: 22 they shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree shall be the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.” (Isaiah 65:21-22 Darby)

“They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for terror; for they are the seed of the blessed of Jehovah, and their offspring with them.” (Isaiah 65:23 Darby)

“28 Wonder not at this, for an hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs shall hear his voice, 29 and shall go forth; those that have practised good, to resurrection of life, and those that have done evil, to resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:28-29 Darby)

“There shall be abundance of corn in the earth, upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon; and they of the city shall bloom like the herb of the earth.” (Psalms 72:16 Darby)

“The earth will yield her increase; God, our God, will bless us:” (Psalms 67:6 Darby)

“And the tree of the field shall yield its fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase; and they shall be in safety in their land, and shall know that I [am] Jehovah, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them out of the hand of those that kept them in servitude.” (Ezekiel 34:27 Darby)

“6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name is called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty *God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with judgment and with righteousness, from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7 Darby)

“And many nations shall go and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and Jehovah’s word from Jerusalem.” (Micah 4:2 Darby)

“And they shall sit every one under his vine, and under his fig-tree; and there shall be none to make [them] afraid: for the mouth of Jehovah of hosts hath spoken [it].” (Micah 4:4 Darby)

“8 Come, behold the works of Jehovah, what desolations he hath made in the earth: 9 He hath made wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariots in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 Jehovah of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our high fortress. Selah.” (Psalms 46:8-11 Darby)

“25 And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause evil beasts to cease out of the land; and they shall dwell in safety in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. 26 And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in its season: there shall be showers of blessing. 27 And the tree of the field shall yield its fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase; and they shall be in safety in their land, and shall know that I [am] Jehovah, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them out of the hand of those that kept them in servitude.” (Ezekiel 34:25-27 Darby)

“6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatted beast together, and a little child shall lead them. 7 And the cow and the she-bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the adder, and the weaned child shall put forth its hand to the viper’s den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:6-9 Darby)

“And I will make a covenant for them in that day with the beasts of the field, and with the fowl of the heavens, and the creeping things of the ground; and I will break bow and sword and battle out of the land; and I will make them to lie down safely.” (Hosea 2:18 Darby)

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Preceding

  1. Essential Knowledge for the Baptismal Candidate #1 About God
  2. Essential Knowledge for the Baptismal Candidate #2 About Jesus and our position
  3. The wrong decision
  4. Expulsion from the paradise garden
  5. A world where one must make oneself clearly known #4 Still better look forward to a better New World

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Find also to read

  1. Human Nature: What does the Bible teach?
  2. Concerning Man
  3. Scattered, broken, thwarted reflection of God
  4. First mention of a solution against death 2 Harm or no harm and naked truth
  5. First mention of a solution against death 4 A seed for mankind
  6. First mention of a solution against death 5 Evil its law of death
  7. A solution for a damaged relationship 1 All vegetation for food except one fruit
  8. A solution for a damaged relationship 3 Insight and prophesies given
  9. What is life?
  10. Your life the sum total of all your choices
  11. A time for everything
  12. When having found faith through the study of the Bible we do need to do works of faith
  13. Wanting to become a Christadelphian
  14. On looking forward to new baptisms
  15. The 1st Adam in the Hebrew Scriptures #5 Temptation, assault and curse
  16. The 1st Adam in the Hebrew Scriptures #7 Promise and solution
  17. The 1st Adam in the Hebrew Scriptures #8 Looking for the 2nd Adam
  18. Today’s thought “Great the mystery of godliness” (November 21)
  19. Problems in the world
  20. Importuning for suffering hearts
  21. Way of Life
  22. Meaning of Life
  23. Leaving behind the lives we have touched.
  24. Race for Life
  25. Why do we need a ransom?
  26. Times to come
  27. Human Nature, Sin, and Responsibility to Judgment
  28. Soul
  29. Two states of existence before God
  30. Soul, Spirit, and Death
  31. In Coronatime thinking about death
  32. Dying or not
  33. What happens when we die?
  34. Separation from God in death, the antithesis of life
  35. Who Through Jesus Sleep
  36. In October-November People often too busy with death and the dead
  37. This month’s survey question: Heaven and Hell
  38. Memorizing wonderfully 73: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Sleepers with hope
  39. Dead and after
  40. Death & Dead
  41. Sentiments Characteristic of the Apostasy
  42. Biblical Ambiguity on Death?
  43. Decomposition, decay
  44. Immortality, eternality
  45. The Dead — Where Are They? 5 Sheol, Hades, Hell, Gehenna
  46. The Dead — Where Are They? 24 Stories, first death and heavens
  47. The Dead — Where Are They? 25 The Second Death
  48. Dark times looking like death is around the corner – but Light given to us
  49. Departed Souls Await Judgment
  50. Solution for the world
  51. Ransom for All
  52. A Ransom for all 3 Seeing Him as He is
  53. God’s Truth
  54. God’s Promises
  55. God’s promises to us in our suffering
  56. God’s Salvation
  57. Hope with a Foundation
  58. Foretold Messiah 1 First mentioning
  59. The True Significance of Jesus’ Birth
  60. Jesus Christ, his Mission, Life and Work
  61. Gospel of Thomas and Nature of Jesus
  62. Ransom
  63. Salvation
  64. Resurection of Jesus Christ
  65. The one who makes us well and gives life
  66. The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
  67. One Mediator
  68. Redemption # 1Biblical doctrine of salvation
  69. Redemption #7 Christ alive in the faithful
  70. Heaven, Paradise, and Heavenly Places
  71. Great tribulation and Armageddon
  72. Armageddon
  73. Day of Jehovah
  74. Times of restitution
  75. Judgement
  76. Promise of the Comforter
  77. We will all be changed
  78. Destination of Righteous
  79. A Book of life recording the names of true believers in God
  80. Kingdom of God – What will it be like
  81. Destination of the earth
  82. Paradise for lovers of God
  83. Paradise restored

Essential Knowledge for the Baptismal Candidate #2 About Jesus and our position

Thought - Gedachte - Pensée - Mawazo (man kijkend naar de bergen in landschap - zonder opschrift)

 

If people would like to join the Brothers in Christ or the Christadelphians, they must do so to prove that they want to follow Jesus Christ and that they also accept all Biblical beliefs. To become a full member of the Christadelphian community, we ask candidates to answer some important questions so that we get a clear picture of what they really believe.

A Biblical faith is essential before one can be baptised. The main points concern God. For this we look for what the candidate thinks about God. We also want to see whether they have a clear picture of Who or What the Holy Spirit is.
Then we want to see that the baptismal candidate clearly realizes who Jesus Christ is and what this person has done for humanity.

Holy Scriptures or Bible, inspired Word of God

We expect those who want to become Christadelhian to believe that by the grace of God here on earth he or she can be a member of His family who wants to be faithful to God’s Word, which we know to find in the Holy Scriptures.

“to the holy and faithful brethren in Christ which [are] in Colosse. Grace to you and peace from God our Father [and Lord Jesus Christ].” (Colossians 1:2 Darby)

“16 Every scripture [is] divinely inspired, and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; 17 that the man of God may be complete, fully fitted to every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 Darby)

“20 knowing this first, that [the scope of] no prophecy of scripture is had from its own particular interpretation, 21 for prophecy was not ever uttered by [the] will of man, but holy men of God spake under the power of [the] Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21 Darby)

Sins of man and the Sent son of God

In that inspired book we can find the history of God’s People and of His sent son, who has given himself their faults for all humanity, so that they can be saved and offer themselves again to enter God’s Kingdom or the earthly Paradise, even though we are all sinners by nature.

“21 For from within, out of the heart of men, go forth evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickednesses, deceit, licentiousness, a wicked eye, injurious language, haughtiness, folly; 23 all these wicked things go forth from within and defile the man.” (Mark 7:21-23 Darby)

“13 ¶ Let no man, being tempted, say, I am tempted of God. For God cannot be tempted by evil things, and himself tempts no one. 14 But every one is tempted, drawn away, and enticed by his own lust; 15 then lust, having conceived, gives birth to sin; but sin fully completed brings forth death.” (James 1:13-15 Darby)

Debtless

Even though we are all sinful persons, there is one person who has committed no sins at all. He never gave in to the adversary of God (whatever symbolic figure Satan mentions).

“And going forward a little he fell upon his face, praying and saying, My Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me; but not as *I* will, but as *thou* [wilt].” (Matthew 26:39 Darby)

“Since therefore the children partake of blood and flesh, he also, in like manner, took part in the same, that through death he might annul him who has the might of death, that is, the devil;” (Hebrews 2:14 Darby)

“For we have not a high priest not able to sympathise with our infirmities, but tempted in all things in like manner, sin apart.” (Hebrews 4:15 Darby)

“Whom God has raised up, having loosed the pains of death, inasmuch as it was not possible that he should be held by its power;” (Acts 2:24 Darby)

“(But now Christ is raised from among [the] dead, first-fruits of those fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20 Darby)

The beloved son who dealt with death

While sin and death have come into the world through one man, born of a woman, sin has been exposed and the punishment of death has been nullified by completely putting aside his will to do God’s Will. Because Jesus was fully human, he also knows how we feel and act and can now best defend us before his and our Heavenly Father, Jehovah, the Only True God, who recognised and listened to him as His beloved son.

“21  And it came to pass, all the people having been baptised, and Jesus having been baptised and praying, that the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form as a dove upon him; and a voice came out of heaven, *Thou* art my beloved Son, in thee I have found my delight. 23 And Jesus himself was beginning to be about thirty years old; being as was supposed son of Joseph; of Eli,” (Luke 3:21-23 Darby)

“16 And Jesus, having been baptised, went up straightway from the water, and lo, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him: 17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I have found my delight.” (Matthew 3:16-17 Darby)

“For he received from God [the] Father honour and glory, such a voice being uttered to him by the excellent glory: This is my beloved Son, in whom *I* have found my delight;” (2 Peter 1:17 Darby)

“For this [cause], even as by one man sin entered into the world, and by sin death; and thus death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12 Darby)

“And going forward a little he fell upon his face, praying and saying, My Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me; but not as *I* will, but as *thou* [wilt].” (Matthew 26:39 Darby)

“Since therefore the children partake of blood and flesh, he also, in like manner, took part in the same, that through death he might annul him who has the might of death, that is, the devil;” (Hebrews 2:14 Darby)

“For we have not a high priest not able to sympathise with our infirmities, but tempted in all things in like manner, sin apart.” (Hebrews 4:15 Darby)

Son of man Jesus less than God

The baptismal candidate is expected to believe that the son of man Jesus, who is less than God, actually died, rose from the grave through the Power of Jehovah and was later received into heaven to sit at the right hand of God as a mediator for us.

“Ye have heard that I have said unto you, I go away and I am coming to you. If ye loved me ye would rejoice that I go to the Father, for [my] Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28 Darby)

“5 For let this mind be in you which [was] also in Christ Jesus; 6 who, subsisting in the form of God, did not esteem it an object of rapine to be on an equality with God; 7 but emptied himself, taking a bondman’s form, taking his place in [the] likeness of men; 8 and having been found in figure as a man, humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, and [that the] death of [the] cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8 Darby)

“Jesus therefore answered and said to them, Verily, verily, I say to you, The Son can do nothing of himself save whatever he sees the Father doing: for whatever things *he* does, these things also the Son does in like manner.” (John 5:19 Darby)

“Jesus said to them, If God were your father ye would have loved me, for I came forth from God and am come [from him]; for neither am I come of myself, but *he* has sent me.” (John 8:42 Darby)

“Whom God has raised up, having loosed the pains of death, inasmuch as it was not possible that he should be held by its power;” (Acts 2:24 Darby)

“And having said these things he was taken up, they beholding [him], and a cloud received him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:9 Darby)

“But being full of [the] Holy Spirit, having fixed his eyes on heaven, he saw [the] glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,” (Acts 7:55 Darby)

“For God is one, and [the] mediator of God and men one, [the] man Christ Jesus,” (1 Timothy 2:5 Darby)

“Whence also he is able to save completely those who approach by him to God, always living to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:25 Darby)

“For the Christ is not entered into holy places made with hand, figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us:” (Hebrews 9:24 Darby)

“the new and living way which he has dedicated for us through the veil, that is, his flesh,” (Hebrews 10:20 Darby)

“But now he has got a more excellent ministry, by so much as he is mediator of a better covenant, which is established on the footing of better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6 Darby)

“and to Jesus, mediator of a new covenant; and to [the] blood of sprinkling, speaking better than Abel.” (Hebrews 12:24 Darby)

“(But now Christ is raised from among [the] dead, first-fruits of those fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20 Darby)

Jesus the truth-telling Messiah who paid ransom price

The baptismal candidate should be aware that it is only through Jesus the Messiah or Kristos, who offered himself as a ransom price to his heavenly Father, that we are saved and can obtain endless life.

“21  And it came to pass, all the people having been baptised, and Jesus having been baptised and praying, that the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form as a dove upon him; and a voice came out of heaven, *Thou* art my beloved Son, in thee I have found my delight. 23 And Jesus himself was beginning to be about thirty years old; being as was supposed son of Joseph; of Eli,” (Luke 3:21-23 Darby)

“40 Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard [this] from John and followed him. 41 He first finds his own brother Simon, and says to him, We have found the Messias (which being interpreted is Christ).” (John 1:40-41 Darby)

“25 The woman says to him, I know that Messias is coming, who is called Christ; when *he* comes he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus says to her, I who speak to thee am [he].” (John 4:25-26 Darby)

“Pilate therefore said to him, Thou art then a king? Jesus answered, Thou sayest [it], that I am a king. I have been born for this, and for this I have come into the world, that I might bear witness to the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice.” (John 18:37 Darby)

“Jesus who [was] of Nazareth: how God anointed him with [the] Holy Spirit and with power; who went through [all quarters] doing good, and healing all that were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” (Acts 10:38 Darby)

“as indeed the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28 Darby)

“who gave himself a ransom for all, the testimony [to be rendered] in its own times;” (1 Timothy 2:6 Darby)

“whom God has set forth a mercy-seat, through faith in his blood, for [the] shewing forth of his righteousness, in respect of the passing by the sins that had taken place before, through the forbearance of God;” (Romans 3:25 Darby)

“and *he* is the propitiation for our sins; but not for ours alone, but also for the whole world.” (1 John 2:2 Darby)

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son a propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10 Darby)

 

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Previous

Essential Knowledge for the Baptismal Candidate #1 About God

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Additional reading

  1. Bible
  2. Word of God
  3. Only One God
  4. God is one
  5. Jesus son of God
  6. Jesus son of God or god the son
  7. Jesus Christ (the Messiah)
  8. One mediator
  9. Devil, Satan, demons, evil spirits and hell

Finding faith formation and a baptismal place

communion - baptism renewal
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels.com

 

To baptise, water is needed, and not even a little, for true baptism is not by sprinkling with water, but by immersing in the water.

Where that immersion happens does not play a role. Baptism can thus take place in many places and in different forms. If it is warm outside, this can happen in a river or in the sea. If the weather does not allow this, you can use a baptismal basin in a church, but if there is none, you might as well let the baptism take place in a public or private swimming pool.

But one can actually say that baptism can also take place in a bathtub, a barrel, a pond, a well, a swimming pool, a river, a lake or in the sea.

In house churches, baptism usually takes place by immersion in a body of water outside the house church, unless it is done in a bathtub there. There is a lot of preparation among the Christadelphians that will make way before they really start the actual baptism. This is to ensure that the baptismal candidate clearly understands the essences of faith and thinks according to Biblical teaching.

The Christadelphians do not proceed to the baptismal ritual until the newly converted Christian has made a personal confession of his or her faith. In doing so they follow the New Testament example.

In some cultures people are baptised immediately after conversion, in other cultures people prefer that the baptismal candidates undergo a certain preparation. In the latter case, one is sometimes guided by the pursuit of perfection. However, it seems to be a healthy New Testament custom not to pull conversion and baptism far apart.

Paul was baptised three days after his conversion (Acts 9), the Ethiopian eunuch was immediately baptised at his confession of faith (Acts; 8) and the three thousand who converted on the day of Pentecost were apparently all baptised the same day (Acts. 2:41).  In the case of Paul, the Ethiopian eunuch and the three thousand in Jerusalem, we must note that they were Jews and thus already had a broad knowledge of God’s commandments and His Will and the Messianic prophecies. Their rapid baptism must be seen in this context.

In our region, we have more to do with non-Jews and people who were not raised according to Jewish teachings. Many lack Scriptural knowledge and several grew up in a faith group where people do not honour the God of Israel, but adhere to the Trinity. Because they are so imbued with traditions that do not follow Biblical teaching, their conversion and demand for baptism also requires more attention.

When we, as catechists, have persons who have limited knowledge of the Way, it has proven useful to teach them thoroughly, so that they choose, with full knowledge of the facts, to be baptised and thus choose to be included in the ecclesia.

For that education, there will be the Bible studies as well as the sermons during the weekly services. But in our current age of electronic reporting, there are the websites of the religious community where various topics can be discussed. The articles posted on the internet can help build faith.

 

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Previous

  1. What if’s
  2. The spiritual “garment” for our souls
  3. We must be faithful to God
  4. Faithful to God are baptised
  5. On the way to the altar of the world
  6. What does the Bible say about baptism?
  7. To stand for true baptism
  8. The ready baptismal candidate
  9. Infant baptism versus baptism as an adult #1 Infant baptism
  10. Infant baptism versus baptism as an adult #2 The Teenage Baptism
  11. Infant baptism versus baptism as an adult #3 Adult baptism
  12. Infant baptism versus baptism as an adult #4 Questions for the baptism candidate

Request for insight for baptism

 

 

 

Dear God,
we ask you
that our baptismal candidates will be allowed to gain a good insight
in your word and in what their next steps will have to be.

Let every baptismal candidate be fulfilled
By Your Spirit,
and may be strengthened in faith,
to be allowed to enter a new life.

May Your hand rest on their heads
and guide them
to be able to pass through the narrow gate.

 

Infant baptism versus baptism as an adult #4 Questions for the baptism candidate

Photo by Jose Vasquez on Pexels.com

 

Questions and answers around Baptism

In the Christadelphian community, the baptismal examination is a vetting procedure for people who have expressed a desire for baptism. Typically, two or more mature male members of the local congregation (ecclesia) meet with the candidate and conduct an interview to ascertain whether he or she is ready for baptism, based on the criteria of motive, doctrinal understanding, and moral standards.

There is a widespread Christian tradition, past and present, of pre-baptismal instruction (catechesis). Moreover, Christadelphians are by no means the only religious group that conducts baptismal interviews.

What makes the Christadelphian pre-baptismal procedure unique is the examination of candidates on a broad range of topics and the notion that doing so safeguards the validity of the baptism. Christadelphians have no standardized procedure for conducting examinations; various sets of guidelines exist. Perhaps the oldest and most well-known guidelines are those in The Ecclesial Guide, written by Christadelphian pioneer Robert Roberts. Numerous schedules or scripts of interview questions have been produced in the Christadelphian community.

‘A knowledge of the Truth is necessary to make baptism valid.’

In Christadelphian parlance, ‘the Truth‘ refers specifically to the fundamental tenets of the gospel (as spelled out in the BASF), and hence ‘as distinguished from [the beliefs of] many other professing Christians,’ namely those who worship the Trinity.

The Ecclesial Guide describes three prerequisites for baptism to be ‘valid and effective’:

1) a serious disposition to follow God and a heartfelt repentance for the errors, misdeeds and ignorance of the past

2) a sound knowledge of “the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) commensurate with the age and intelligence of the candidate.

3) “fruits meet for repentance” that is, a clear indication that the candidate intends to rise to newness of life, a life based upon the life and example of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Questions to consider.

  1. What is baptism?
    Baptism involves the complete immersion of a person in water. (See Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-10; John 3:23; Acts 8:36-39).
  2. What does baptism mean?
    It reminds us that Jesus was buried and rose again, and so it shows us that we can be saved through his death and resurrection. (See Romans 6:3-4).It reminds us that because we are sinners, we deserve to die (if we were kept under the water we should certainly die!). (See Romans 6:5-7).

    It reminds us that because God is merciful, He wants to save us from death by resurrection. Baptism is therefore a sort of « death » — a « burial » in water — and a sort of « resurrection ». It is an acted parable. (See Colossians 2:12-13).

    It reminds us that, just as water washes away dirt, so God puts away the sins of those who obey Him. When we are baptised, God forgives us all the sins we have ever committed. Thus we make a fresh start as disciples of Jesus Christ. (See 1 Peter 3:21; Acts 22:16).

    It is the sign by which we become children of God and members of the seed of Abraham in Christ Jesus through the everlasting covenant. (See Galatians 3:26-29).

  3. Must we be baptised?
    The Lord Jesus was baptised. Paul was baptised. Converts in the early church were baptised, as commanded by the Lord Jesus. Baptism is an act of obedience. We must be baptised because God commands us to be baptised. (See Matthew 3:13-17)
  4. Can we be baptised before we have understood the gospel?
    We must first understand the gospel, then believe it; then, as soon as possible, be baptised. (See Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12).
  5. Does the Bible speak of babies being baptised?
    No, never. Babies are not able to believe; therefore, they cannot properly be baptised. (See Acts 8:12, and note the words, « when they believed », and « both men and women ».
  6. Is it right to baptise by sprinkling or pouring water on a person?
    The Lord Jesus and his disciples were dipped right under the water, and so should we be. (See Matthew 3:16; Acts 8:38-39).

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Previous

  1. What if’s
  2. The spiritual “garment” for our souls
  3. We must be faithful to God
  4. Faithful to God are baptised
  5. On the way to the altar of the world
  6. What does the Bible say about baptism?
  7. To stand for true baptism
  8. The ready baptismal candidate
  9. Infant baptism versus baptism as an adult #1 Infant baptism
  10. Infant baptism versus baptism as an adult #2 The Teenage Baptism
  11. Infant baptism versus baptism as an adult #3 Adult baptism