Finding faith formation and a baptismal place

mars 10, 2024mars 2, 2024 par Marcus Ampe, publié dans Christadelphian, Faith, Questions & Answers, Reflection - Meditation

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.

Questions to be posed by a baptism

mars 7, 2024mars 1, 2024 par Christadelphians, publié dans ??? Questions asked, Almighty God, Jesus Christ - son of God, Questions & Answers

Baptême, doop, onderdompeling, l'immersion totale dans l'eau — Photo by Jose Vasquez on Pexels.com

Questions to be posed by a baptism

First and primary question: Why do you want to be baptized?
(Acceptable answers involve one’s love for God, and a personal desire and commitment to serve Him. Unacceptable answers: « I’m old enough now. » « It would make my parents (or husband, or wife, or children) happy. » « My friends are getting baptized. »)

What is the Bible?
A collection of writings by men inspired by God, to write the story of God’s dealings with man, and to write of God’s offer of eternal life.2. Is there any other direct source of the knowledge about eternal life?
No.

3. What was the condition of the original creation, including Adam when he was first created?
Perfect, or « very good ». There was no sin or death in the world.

4. What caused Adam to lose this condition? That is, what brought God’s curse upon man and his world?
Adam disobeyed God!

5. Does Adam’s transgression affect us? If so, how?
Yes, the consequence of Adam’s disobedience is upon all mankind, in our mortal, sinful natures inherited from him.

6. Has God made any provision for our redemption from this curse?
Yes, through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

7. What is the primary promise God made to Abram?
That he and his « seed » would receive the land of Palestine for an everlasting possession.

8. Was this promise made to anyone else?
Yes, to hls descendants Isaac and Jacob.

9. Did any of them actually receive this promise?
No, they all died in faith, not yet receiving the promise.

10. Who is the « seed » referred to in these promises?
Jesus Christ, the descendant of Abraham.

11. How can we inherit these promises?
By being baptized into Christ we become spiritually the children of Abraham, and heirs with Christ of the same promise.

12. What is the gospel?
The « good news » of the kingdom of God and the name (or purpose) of Jesus Christ.

13. Did God ever have a kingdom on earth before?
Yes, the kingdom of Israel. It was ruled first by the judges, then by the kings for about 400 years.

14. What happened to that kingdom?
It was first divided and then overthrown, and the people of Israel scattered among the other nations, because of their rebellion against God.

15. What is the promise God made to David, king of Israel?
That his kingdom would be restored and his « seed » would rule over it forever, sitting upon his throne in Jerusalem.

16. Who is the « seed » referred to in this promise?
Jesus Christ, the descendant of David.

17. What is the nature of man?
Mortal. Physically, he has no superiority over the animals. When his breath leaves him, he dies, and ceases to possess all of his senses.

18. What is the « soul »?
The body, the person himself. The entire being.

19. What is the « spirit »?
The breath of life within man. Also, his mind or disposition.

20. Does the Bible teach that men or their « souls » go to heaven at death?
No.

21. Does man or his « soul » have any conscious existence in death?
No.

22. How many Gods are there?
Only one God, the Creator of all things.

23. Who is Jesus Christ?
The only-begotten Son of God, born of the virgin Mary.

24. Is Jesus also a man?
Yes. He was born with the same mortal, sinful nature which we all possess. Even now, although he is immortal, he is still a man.

25. Are God and His Son the same person, or separate persons of a « trinity »?
No, there is only one God!

26. Did Jesus have a pre-human existence?
No, except in the mind and purpose of God.

27. Are God and His Son equal in power?
No. God is supreme. Any power and authority which Christ now has was given him by his Father.

28. What is God’s Spirit?
God’s power, by which He performs His will.

29. Is the Holy Spirit a separate and co-equal « God »?
No, it is simply an extension of the one God.

30. Who or what is the « devil »?
The personification of evil or sin, which is part of mortal human nature.

31. While he was mortal, was it possible for Jesus to sin?
Yes. Otherwise, his temptation and victory over sin, or the « devil », would have been unreal and pointless.

32. Why was it necessary in God’s plan that the Savior be a man?
So that by perfect obedience he might overcome the « devil » in his own flesh.

33. Why was it necessary that Jesus die?
As a perfect sacrifice, to destroy perfectly and absolutely this « devil », or the power of sin in himself. And as a representative for others, who by faith in him might be forgiven their sins and thus win their own victories over sin.

34. Why did God raise Christ from the dead, and give him eternal life?
Because he was perfectly obedient, even to the death of the cross, and therefore the grave could not hold him in death.

35. After his resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven. What is his role now?
He is acting as a high-priest and mediator for those who through faith approach God in prayer.

36. Can we pray to God through anyone other than Jesus Christ?
No. He is the only mediator between God and man.

31. Did Jesus die because God was angry with mankind?
No, he died because God so loved the world that He was willing that His beloved Son should die, so that sinners might believe, repent, and be saved.

38. Who or what is « satan »
In the Old Testament the Hebrew word for adversary. In the New Testament Greek Satanas is the same as « the devil », a parable about sin.
What are « unclean spirits » and « demons »?
A New Testament way of describing mental illnesses and disorders.40. What is « hell »? What is the difference between Hades and Gehenna?
Hell in English is the translation of two different Greek words:
– Hades is the pit or the grave; in short, the state of the dead that sleep.
– Gehenna is a valley in Jerusalem that is used in a prophecy by Jeremiah.

41. Are the wicked tortured forever?
No, they simply die without hope. This is an « eternal punishment » because it is eternal death.

42. What is required before baptism?
A knowledge and belief of the gospel. This belief should also lead to sincere repentance of past sins.

43. Briefly, what is the gospel?
The gospel is the « good news » about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. It is the message that God will fill the earth with His glory in a group of immortal people who will love and obey him. Jesus will establish the kingdom of God upon the earth and rule as king with his saints for a thousand years.

44. What is baptism?
Immersion or complete covering by water.

45. Why are we to be baptized in this way?
Because it symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

46. Why must we be baptized?
It is the only way by which our sins may be washed away and we may put on the name of Jesus Christ.

47. Why must we bear the name of Jesus Christ?
So that we may become heirs with him of God’s promise and partake of his righteousness through faith.

48. Are all people who ever lived going to be raised from the dead?
No, only those responsible to God by knowledge.

49. What will become of those who live and die without knowledge of the gospel?
They will perish. They will not be resurrected.

50 . When will the resurrection take place?
At the return of Christ to the earth.

51. What else will Jesus do when he returns?
He will assemble the living responsible, together with those who have been raised from the dead. He will judge all the responsible, punishing the unfaithful with eternal death and rewarding the faithful with eternal life.

52. After the righteous are made immortal, what happens?
Christ and his saints will establish their rule over the world, by divine force if necessary, and set up the kingdom of God.

53. Who will be the king of this kingdom?
Jesus Christ.

54. Who will rule with him?
The immortalized saints.

55. Who will be the subjects of this kingdom?
The mortal people who are left after the times of trouble.

56. Does the return of the Jews to Israel have any part in God’s plan?

Yes, they will undergo trials; some will repent and be prepared for the coming of Jesus their Messiah, so as to be the « first dominion » of his kingdom.

57. How long will Christ reign?
About one thousand years.

58. What takes place after the thousand years?
All sin and death will be removed at last, and the earth will truly be filled with God’s glory.

59. When only immortal people are on the earth, why will happen next?
Christ will turn the kingdom over to the Father.

60. Who are the angels?
The messengers of God. Sometimes the Bible uses the word for mere mortal men, but most often the angels were and are immortal beings from heaven.

61. Can angels marry or rebel?
No. Jesus says angels do not marry.

62. Can we be saved by good works only?
No, we are saved by the grace of God through faith.

63. Can we be saved apart from the sacrifice of Christ?
No, it is the only way our sins may be forgiven.

64. Should believers vote or take part in politics?
No. Their kingdom is not of this world. They believe that God rules in the kingdom of men, and sets up and removes whomever He pleases; therefore they should not put themselves in the position of opposing the will of their Father in heaven.

65. Should believers bear arms, or serve in the military or police force?
No. They should be strangers and pilgrims in this present evil world, not resisting the authority of governments, but also not participating in exercising that authority either.

66. Should believers avenge themselves against wrong, by suing at law or by other means?
No. They should « turn the other cheek », return good for evil, forgive those who wrong them, and even love their enemies.

67. What is our duty toward God and His Son?
To love and praise and glorify God through His Son, in all things and at all times. To keep the commandments of Christ to the best of our abilities, out of gratitude for what God has done for us.

68. What is our duty toward the world?
To love our neighbors as ourselves, in deeds as well as words. If possible, to teach them the Truth of God.

69. Does anyone possess the Holy Spirit gifts today?
No. Those gifts ceased after the Apostles’ days.

70. Whom should a believer marry?
Only another believer. We are commanded not to become unequally yoked together with an unbeliever.

71. Should a believer ever seek to be divorced?
No. What God has joined, man should not divide.

72. What special ordinance did Christ institute?
The Lord’s supper, or the breaking of bread. It is also sometimes called communion.

73. What is the Lord’s supper?
The breaking of bread and the partaking of wine in remembrance of Christ.

74. What does this signify?
The bread represents the body of Christ; the wine, his shed blood; together, they show forth his death on our behalf, until he comes.

75. How often should we partake of the Lord’s supper?
Every Sunday, if possible.

76. Can anyone partake of the Lord’s supper?
No, only baptized believers in the true gospel.

77. Why do we insist on breaking bread or communion only with members?
Christ did not ask anyone but true believers to so remember him. In this way false doctrines cannot dilute or destroy the true gospel believed among us. Also, by not breaking bread with others who do not believe as we do, we are showing them how important our hope is to us, and encouraging them to learn the same truths.

78. Have you fully considered all the present disadvantages (from a natural point of view) that the Truth will bring upon you?
Yes, and I am prepared to accept them.

79. Do you realize the Truth is not just a « religion », but an entirely different way of life?
Yes, and I am prepared to live it.

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

mars 5, 2024février 29, 2024 par Marcus Ampe, publié dans Christadelphian, Faith, Questions & Answers

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.

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).
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).
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)
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).
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 ».
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).

Infant baptism versus baptism as an adult #2 The Teenage Baptism

mars 3, 2024février 28, 2024 par Marcus Ampe, publié dans Christadelphian, Faith, Questions & Answers, Reflection - Meditation

In certain Protestant churches, as with us, it is assumed that one must have acquired sufficient knowledge about God and His People, as well as about Scripture and faith, so that one must be at least in the teenage years to make a choice.

In the previous chapter, we saw that baptising a small child does nothing to help that child develops his or her faith. Even though infant baptism may have an „on joyfully long tradition”, we must realise that certain traditions have rendered the word of God powerless for the sake of their tradition. (Matthew 15:6)

When children grow up, they have many questions about God and commandments. During their search for God and faith, they may want to dedicate themselves to God. To this end, they sometimes make the choice to be baptized in the church community in which they grew up.

When they later get to know another church community and feel better at home there, they often wonder why they should be baptised again. They often forget what was asked of them at their first baptism, or what they had to comply with.

According to some churches, in the baptism of an infant, based on the living faith of the parents, is an advance, as it were, taken on the faith that the child will be handed over from father and mother. It is for this reason that when the Christian faith is completely absent from one of the parents or from both parents, or when the parents do not want to guarantee the development of their child’s faith, the Church, therefore, postpones baptism. If those children come to an age where they can make their own decisions, those churches are open to baptising them.

Reformed churchgoers regularly want to switch to a Baptist community and would like to become a full member there, but they do have difficulty ‘re-baptising’ or ‘overbaptising’. When people enter secondary school, they are even more confronted with all kinds of questions about their attitude to life and faith.

Over the centuries, infant baptism had become by far the most popular, but since the end of the last century there have been more questions about the value of such baptism and whether it would not be better to switch to baptism of faith. Opinions about this baptism of faith also vary widely. It is said that it is not only a personal choice, but that God would have chosen the baptismal candidate himself. The latter may give the baptismal candidate such an intense feeling that years later he or she is convinced that because God has chosen him or her and no new baptism should take place.

I admit that certain young people are truly convinced that they made the right choice in their teenage baptism, and that they did understand everything they were talking about. It may therefore be safe that a baptised person actually believed in a Only God during teenage baptism, but did not think further about whether his or her church community also thought that way about an Only True God. Often their thoughts were so intertwined with the doctrines of the church where they belonged. They therefore did not consider the existence or otherwise of three different entities of their deity that also spoke of « we », so according to them it was also about Christ Jesus.

Adherents of infant baptism see in that act a resemblance to the former circumcision. In the Old Testament, on the eighth day after his birth, each Jewish boy was made a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, in accordance with Gen. 17:10-12 and Lev. 12:3 a circumcision was performed on babies, in which a small circle of flesh is then cut away from the foreskin (the loose sliding covering) of the penis. In many Christian communities, they see baptism as the sign of the new covenant. According to those churches, the promises of the new covenant are greater than those of the old covenant, and that is why they say so

it would be strange to think that the promises in the Old Testament relate to the children, but not those of the New Testament.

Mennonites or Baptists, such as the Brethren and Brothers in Christ of Brethren in Christ (or Christadelphians) like to talk about baptism as a testimony of personal faith, and point out to child baptisms that the Bible never cites the idea of baptising newborns.

While non-Trinitarians view baptism as an active event in which the baptismal candidate indicates that he is entering into a personal relationship with God and that he is becoming a participant in the community of followers of Christ, the followers of infant baptism believe that one is not active in baptism, but passive. According to them, baptism is received and baptism is administered by the church in the name of God. Therefore, Anabaptists see baptism as an act of God in which He gives His promises to the person being baptised.

Of course, God can give his promises to both children and adults, but the institution of baptism is an act that was already performed for Jesus’ public life among adult people, as a sign of their surrender to God. Likewise, Jesus allowed himself to be completely immersed in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, as a sign of surrender to his Heavenly Father.

Among the Christadelphians, the baptismal candidate is also expected to perform a sign of complete surrender to God in the community. The baptismal ritual then becomes a confirmation of that covenant with God, but also of a union of the community of Brothers and sisters in Christ.

We can understand that if someone was baptised in a Pentecostal community and was only asked the following questions

Do you believe in God the Father, our Creator and Saviour?
Will you follow Jesus Christ, His Son, our crucified and resurrected Lord?
Do you entrust yourself to the Holy Spirit, who renews our lives?
Do you desire and promise to serve the Lord faithfully with the church, united around Scripture and Table, in the building of His church and the coming of His Kingdom?

that one could safely answer « Yes » if one really believed in the Only True God, the Heavenly Father of Jesus Christ. In this way, that baptismal ritual could be a real surrender to God.

For such baptised people, baptism will really have been a surrender and union with God. Their action is then actually a union with That Only True God who is only one.

But because their baptism was performed in a Trinitarian Church, it may be unclear to others whether they actually surrendered to the True Faith. Especially if they stayed in that community for a long time after that baptism and sang songs with it that glorify Jesus as God.

In several Pentecostal churches, after baptism, people sing a song in which they say they kneel before Jesus, whom they see as their Lord (God). Such a worship of Jesus is not possible at all and if an earlier member of a Trinitarian church wants to become a member of our Christadelphian movement, that person will have to conclude that old life and enter the new life through complete immersion in the water and confession of keeping only one True God, the God of Abraham, God of Isaac and Jacob, who is also the God of Jesus Christ.

The teenage years are a period of religious research and development that should not be underestimated. It is an important phase in life: a time of intense emotions and creativity, a phase in which social contacts are very important.
It is also a time of ‘weigh up’ and where the child wants to make a personal choice, free from the will of the parents. This means that in terms of faith, children during adolescence can take a completely different path than their parents.

We are convinced that children of teenage age want to deepen their friendship with Jehovah. To this end, it will certainly happen that they want to make it clear to their heavenly father what they stand with a baptism. We must respect that choice.

However, when transferring to another church community, it also comes down to whether the thoughts of the baptismal ritual correspond with the thoughts of the newly elected church community.

The biggest question is whether, during their teenage baptism, they really went for the God of the Bible, which we as Brothers in Christ want to carry high in our hearts.

It can be difficult if one feels that the baptism that has been entered has not been recognised. But one must rather see that when re-doping, one now also indicates that one wants to go through life as a Brother or Sister in Christ, at the service of Jehovah, the only True God.

To indulge in a re-doping is modest, and it is that humble surrender to God that can be admired. By now switching to an adult baptism, it is made clear that people want to dedicate their lives to God.

The preparation time for that baptism can then be a beautiful time in which they grow spiritually, just as it was for Jesus. (Read Luke 2:52.)

Additional reading

To stand for true baptism

février 29, 2024février 23, 2024 par Marcus Ampe, publié dans Almighty God, Behaviour or attitude towards others, Christadelphian, Faith, Jesus Christ - son of God

trekking -pilgrimage - man on top of the mountain - wandelaar op uitkijk in de bergen — Foto door Oziel Gu00f3mez op Pexels.com

At the start of our trek or pilgrimage, we were convinced that the world is going wrong. Those who wished to join the pilgrims were also convinced that we should explore a different way of life.

All those who join the pilgrimage we undertake realise that it is better to ignore the world and prepare to continue on the right path.

For example, travellers will have to choose the right platform to get on the right train. As well, when they leave the station, they have to take the right path to step over the right fields and valleys. Here is a moment when travellers feel free to let the outside world know where they are going.

Then we will be able to see that the world is getting out of the way for the person who knows where he is going. For many will see the travellers as strangers and want to avoid them. Just like all the forefathers who wished to live according to the Laws of God. Like their days, our days on earth are like a shadow, and there is none to abide (1 Chronicles 29:15)

Even though our entire company is not the easiest, and we encounter many setbacks, we want to continue the journey in all circumstances. Those who further join are like us convinced that there is a higher party involved, who will act as a Master and will indeed continue to save us from everything harmful. Our faith in the sent of God gives us strength and confidence and makes us safe from his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory during all future periods of time. (2 Timothy 4:18)

Many people have preceded us in faith. They all died in faith, without having received the promises. They were filled with faith and managed to persevere through it. Like many before us, we are looking for a promised land where peace will reign. Even though it may not be the first day, we still want to fully provide ourselves so that we will be ready to enter the narrow gate of that promised Kingdom at any time of the day or of our journey.

But all who participate in the trek will have to make a choice during the journey to indicate that they are partakers of Jesus Christ’s community of brothers and sisters. Then it comes down to indicating to those present that one recognises God’s position and authority. Jehovah is recognised as „the Supreme . . over all the earth”, the Creator and Universal Sovereign (Psalm 36:9; 83:18; 2 Kings 19:15). At some point during the journey one must proceed to accept Jehovah as Supreme, as Father, but also as his Judge, Legislator and King. (Isaiah 33:22; Psalm 119:102; Revelation 15:3, 4.)

But in addition, one must recognise Christ’’s position and authority and realise that he is the one through whom God has provided „ with a corresponding ransom” (1 Timothy 2:5, 6). In addition, one accepts Jesus as Jehovah’s „Loyal Witness and as the ”King of kings„. (Rev 1:5; 19:16.)

If one shows sufficient insight into the Biblical Truth, one must also dare to take the step of presenting oneself as a baptismal candidate and moving into the sealing of brotherhood in Christ, through complete immersion in water, as purification of sins or complete laundering with the ‘burial’ of old life and entering a ‘new life‘.

It is a symbolic act that one expects when the candidate is ripe enough to take such a step. Christian immersion in water therefore does not wash away sins. Not baptism, but the pouring out of Jesus’’s blood and the ‘calling of his name’ make forgiveness possible. (Hebrews 9:22; 1 John 1:7.)

22 Yes, according to the Law nearly all things are cleansed with blood,+ and unless blood is poured out no forgiveness takes place.+ (Hebrews 9:22)

7 By means of him we have the release by ransom through the blood of that one,+ yes, the forgiveness of our trespasses,+ according to the riches of his undeserved kindness. (Ephesians 1:7)

Symbolically, from the darkness of this world, we go through the wall of water, to come straight into the light of the world of Christ. In that light, we want to continue our journey together to be connected in Jesus’ name.

7 However, if we are walking in the light as he himself is in the light, we do have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.+ (1 John 1:7)

We will continue step by step, and as we take further paths we hope that several will join us and that candidates will also emerge who indicate that they want to continue through life as brothers or sisters in Christ.

Preceding

Additional literature

Faithful to God are baptised

février 27, 2024février 22, 2024 par Marcus Ampe, publié dans Almighty God, Faith, Thought for today

trekking -pilgrimage - looking over the lake in the mountain - walking — Foto door Robert Forever Ago op Pexels.com

There must be no Jew at all to be faithful to the God of Israel. That God of Abraham does not expect the goyim or non-Jews to comply with all Jewish laws to show their allegiance to Him.

Pure worship is something Almighty God desires. That pure and true worship will manifest itself from the actions of the believer.

The Book of Ezekiel teaches us that pure worship revolves around more than formal acts of worship. It requires us

(1) Giving Jehovah full devotion, (2) remaining united in pure worship and (3) showing love for others.

From the clues we receive in the Holy Scriptures about true worship, we learn that it first and foremost requires a certain attitude from the worshipper. Whoever wishes to address God, the Heavenly Father, must do so in all honesty. By the way, God knows and tests the heart, and so no one can pretend to God otherwise than that person actually is.

“But Jehovah, the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not rely on his appearance and his tall figure. I rejected him. It is not about what man sees: man looks at appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’” (1Sa 16:7)

“A man always chooses the right path in his own eyes, Jehovah tests what moves him internally.” (Spr 21:2)

“It is I, Jehovah the Lord, who understandeth the heart, who testeth kidneys, who rewardeth every man according to his walk of life, and giveeth unto every man what he earneth.” (Jer 17:10)

If we love God we will also be willing to give ourselves fully to Him. Baptism gives a sign to God that one wants to be purified from past sins and that one wants to enter a new life in which one wants to maintain loyalty to God.

Even though we as a people have countless religious, social and ethnic backgrounds, we realise that we must maintain the unity by which we can be recognised as God’s people, and with immersion in the water we indicate that we want to be purified or laundered from sins and want to be included in the community of baptised people.

Believing in Jesus Christ, with our immersion we also indicate that we want to bow down humbly and enter that world of Christ. Jesus prayed whether his true followers should be ‘one’, working together in unity towards the same goal, just as he and his Father are ‘one’ through their cooperation and unity of thought.

“I have caused them to share in the greatness which you have given me, that they may be one as we are:” (John 17:22)

Being one is an important fact for us. Jesus we want to follow wishes that we will be one, just as God the Father is in union with him and he is also in union with Jehovah.

“Brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I call you to be all united, to avoid divisions, to be completely one in your thinking and your conviction.” (1Co 1:10)

“So we are one body together in Christ and we are, each separately, each other’s body parts.” (Ro 12:5)

“There are no more Jews or Greeks, slaves or freemen, men or women-you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Go 3:28)

Going under in the water we are purified and all differences are washed away. A baptism is not about sprinkling with some water, but about « going under ». We also think of immersing ourselves in Jesus’ blood, so that our conscience can be cleansed from dead works.

“how much more will not the blood of Christ, who thanks to the eternal Spirit has been able to offer himself as a sacrifice without blemish, cleanse our conscience from deeds that lead to death, and sanctify it for the service of the living God?” (Heb 9:14)

“let us then approach God with a sincere heart and firm faith, now that our hearts have been cleansed, we have been freed from a bad conscience and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” (Heb 10:22)

Preceding

Additional readings

The spiritual “garment” for our souls

janvier 3, 2024décembre 28, 2023 par Immanuel Verbondskind, publié dans Behaviour or attitude towards others, Reflection - Meditation

Torah / Tanakh and bible study — Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

We have been blessed by God, Who made it possible that we can have a new meeting place in Anderlecht. It is God who makes it possible for people to be inspired to serve Him with others and to create opportunities to get together. Thus, we are given the opportunity to fulfil the commandment of God to come together to gather.

Every time we observe a commandment, we create a spiritual “garment” for our souls. These garments, however, must be “laundered in wine” – our fulfilment of the commandments must be imbued with joy.

Those who have enjoyed laundering of sins through full immersion in water, may therefore participate in drinking the wine as a symbol of the fruit of life that God gives us and the blood that His son has given to deliver us.

Coming together to drink that wine and study the Bible, we open our hearts to God so that he grows every time we come together.

The Torah inspires us to love Jehovah, the Only One True God, and cleave to Him through observance of His commandments. It is for this reason that this aspect of the Torah is referred to as “the wine of Torah.” ⁽¹⁾

*
Footnote
Sefer HaMa’amarim 5699, pp. 58–59; see Torah Or 46c–d.

Additional reading

What does the Bible say about baptism?

décembre 27, 2023décembre 20, 2023 par Christadelphians, publié dans ??? Questions asked, Behaviour or attitude towards others, Faith

We cannot imagine someone being accepted as a soldier in a country’s army if he refused to obey the orders of the Supreme Commander. Jesus Christ, who is the leader of faithful Christians, says:

“If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:1-5);

and again:

“He who believes (the gospel) and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16).

We must take Jesus’ words as such if we want him to accept us.

Today, as a form of baptism, many churches sprinkle water on the heads of children. This is not the baptism of the Bible. When the Bible speaks of baptism, it speaks of adults, men and women, capable of discernment and who choose to obey Jesus by being baptized. According to the Bible, baptism consists of total immersion in water.

We find a beautiful illustration of this in the Acts of the Apostles, chap. 8. Philip “declared the good news of Jesus” to the Ethiopian eunuch. He was traveling in the desert and it is therefore certain that he had his water reserve with him. Philip could have sprinkled a few drops on the eunuch’s head. But when the eunuch believed Philip’s words about Jesus, he was not baptized until « they met water » (Acts 8:36). The eunuch then said: “Here is water; What prevents me from being baptized? « . Then they stopped and “both went down into the water, and Philip baptized the eunuch. When they came out of the water, joyful, the eunuch continued on his way.

Let us note that they both “went down into the water” and came out; The eunuch was an adult who had believed Philip’s preaching and was completely immersed in water. God chose immersion because it is a very powerful way to show us that our sins must be forgiven.

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