Let us continue on with step 2. Jesus wants new believers to declare publicly their faith in Him.
Matthew 10: 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Jesus was a carpenter, and when carpenters do not want a nail to come out they clinch in by bending the tip of it over. Then the nail won't come out. Professing Jesus openly and publicly is like clinching a nail. And how do you do this? You can declare this before the whole church or before whomever you are with at the time of salvation.
The more traditional way of doing this is by Baptism - this declares ones faith openly and publicly. Plus, you are being obedient to God. If we follow what Jesus said, John tells us in 1 John: 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
Why Baptism? Matthew 28:19-20 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Jesus was a carpenter, and when carpenters do not want a nail to come out they clinch in by bending the tip of it over. Then the nail won't come out. Professing Jesus openly and publicly is like clinching a nail. And how do you do this? You can declare this before the whole church or before whomever you are with at the time of salvation.
The more traditional way of doing this is by Baptism - this declares ones faith openly and publicly. Plus, you are being obedient to God. If we follow what Jesus said, John tells us in 1 John: 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
Why Baptism? Matthew 28:19-20 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I
am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Jesus first set this example in Matthew 3: 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Jesus first set this example in Matthew 3: 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
If you will note, John the Baptist knew this was the Messiah and what did he say? John said he needed to be Baptized by Jesus. And Jesus' response? Jesus basically said, no, John had to baptize Him to fulfill all righteousness. John knew - Jesus was being obedient to the Father and when John baptized Jesus what happened?
Just as Jesus came up out of the water - the heaven was opened, the Spirit of God came down as a dove and then what? A voice from heaven says: "This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased."
This is being in obedience with God, doing what HE asks, whether it be baptism or in our daily walk.
Tomorrow part 2 of publicly declaring our faith.
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny
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