Water Baptism
Like I stated in our beliefs page, the Church started on the day of Pentecost. Peter being filled with the Holy Ghost and being given the keys to the kingdom (Matthew 16:19) stood up and preached his first message Acts Chapter 2). After telling the Jews that this same Jesus that they had crucified that God had made him both Lord and Christ. When they heard this they were pricked in their hearts. (under conviction) They asked Peter, men and brethren what must we do? His reply was Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. What throws most people off of this is the Catholic Church back in 325 ad at the Nicene Council came up with the Trinity Form of Baptism. I know that in Matthew 28:19 Jesus told them "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. The key word being name. Name is singular and not plural. This same Jesus in Luke 24:46-47 told his disciples Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead on the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Ten days after he told them this they were in the upper room in Jerusalem and Peter and 119 other received the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then went straightway preaching Jesus name baptism. When Peter went to Cornelius household to tell them waht they needed to do to be saved. After they had received the Holy Ghost. Peter commanded that they be baptize in the name of the Lord. (Acts 10:48.
Acts Chapter 19:05 Tells of where the Apostle Paul came across some believers in Christ, on his way to Ephesus, he asked them if they had received the Holy Ghost since they believed? They said we have so much as heard whether they be any Holy Ghost. Then he asked then to how where you baptized and they said unto John Baptism. Paul told them that John baptized unto repentance and that they should believe on him that came after John that is, on the the Lord Jesus Christ. When they heard this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Paul laid his hands upon them they received the Holy Ghost. Nowhere in the Bible can you find where they baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. These are tiles for the one true God. The God of Israel, Deuteronomy 6:04 Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. Peter and Paul knew the name, thus baptizing in the name of Jesus. Paul stated in Galatians 1:08 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. I surely do not want to be accursed. I pray that God opens your understanding that in order for you to rise with him you will have to be buried with him. I believe this is through baptism in his name. The name of God. If you want to know the name of that one God go to the Matthew Chapter 1:21-23, (21)And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name JESUS, for he shall save his people form their sins, (22) Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, (23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Only one God. God the Father of creation above us, God the Son with us and God the Holy Ghost in us. Not 3 persons of a Godhead, but One God in 3 manifestations. I pray this opens up some understanding. If you have any questions please send me a message on our Facebook page. Our only purpose is to preach the Word as it is written through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost as Paul preached in Corinthians 2:04 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. That power being the Holy Ghost.
Are You Saved?
How do you know if you have been saved? Who told you and do they have the Word of God to back up what they have said? I do not take man's word or wisdom when it comes to my salvation. I want to make sure I know. So I turn to God's own word (The Bible). It has always been my inspiration. So I ask again how do you know if you are saved? Let's turn to the Word of God, the Holy Bible.
The Bible teaches that if you are not a natural born Jew then you are a Gentile. So to find out how the Gospel was preached to us, the Gentiles we need to find in the Bible where this Gospel was first brought to us, the Gentiles.
If you have a Bible, please go to the book of Acts and turn to chapter 10. In this chapter we will find where the apostle Peter visits with Cornelius. We find in the word of God that Cornelius was a devout man, feared God with all his house. He paid alms to the people. Paying his alms to the people shows he had great love. And the Bible states that he prayed to God alway. And the Bible states that at about the 9th hour of the day. This would be about 3 p.m. in the afternoon. In those times a day started at sunrise. An angel of God came to Cornelius and told him his alms (love) and prayers had came up as a memorial before God. And the angel of God told Cornelius to send men to Joppa and call for Simon Peter and that he would tell him what he and his household should do to be saved. Read Acts 11:14. So the next morning he sent men to find Peter as as they drew nigh to where he was staying Peter went up on the rooftop to pray. While upon this rooftop, Peter fell into a trance. And a sheet came down wherein were all manner of four footed beast of the earth, and wild beast, and creeping things, and fouls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise Peter, kill, and eat. But Peter said not so Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean. Then the voice spake unto him a second time, What God has cleansed, that call not thou common. Now this happened three times and the vessel was received back up into heaven. While Peter doubted about this vision he had seen, the men Cornelius had sent had arrived at the house where Peter was staying. And while Peter thought on the vision the Spirit said unto him behold, three men seek ye. These men told Peter that that Cornelius was warned of God to send for thee and to hear your words. So Peter and a few Jews that were with him departed with the men to go to Cornelius. So when Peter came unto Cornelius to meet him. Cornelius fell at his fell and began to worship him. And Peter stood him up and told him I am just a man like you. And Cornelius told Peter of the vision he had seen and so I immediately sent for you. So the first thing Peter said unto Cornelius you will find in verse 34, Of a truth I perceive God is no respecter of persons. So remember this as I will be coming back to it. It was showed to him that no matter if you are white, black, yellow, or what race, you are all the same to God. That God was giving this same Gospel to everyone. Also read in verse 36 that The word which God sent to Israel (Jews) preaching peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all) This brings me back to Deuteronomy 6:04, the first of the Ten Commandments, Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. And Peter began to preach about Jesus on how that he went out and was healing people, setting the oppressed free of the devil and how God was with him. He told him of how the the Jews had hung him on a tree and how God had raised him on the third day. And how he had eat and drank with his apostles after he had risen. And now starting with about verse 42 this is really important. Peter stated that Jesus had commanded them to preach unto the people and that Jesus was ordained of God to be Judge of both the quick (living) and the dead. And verse 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name (Jesus) whosoever believeth in him
shall receive remission of sins. Verse 44 While Peter yest spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the word. Verse 45 And they of the circumcision (these were the Jews) which believed were astonished, as many came with Peter (these were the Jews that came with him on his journey to Cornelius household) because that on the Gentiles (this is us) also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. Now how did Peter know that they had received the
Holy Ghost? Verse 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Verse 47 Can any man forbid water, that these men should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? So now read and listen, Remember how the angel of God had told Cornelius to send for Peter to hear his words. And you can read Acts 11:13 and14 where Peter was telling the Jews where Cornelius had seen an angel and the angel told him to send for Simon Peter and in verse 14 Who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. Go back to Acts 10:48 And he (Peter) commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. So these are the words Peter told them. The words that told them what they must do to be saved. Verse 48 He commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord, and in verse 36 we find that name is Jesus, for he is Lord of all.
So there we have it. The very words of the Holy Bible telling us what we need to be saved. I know there are preachers out there today who have told you that all you have to do is repeat the sinners prayer or confess and you will be saved. There is more to it than that. It all goes back to the first message Peter preached on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:38. Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
We are no different from Cornelius and his household. God is not going to tell Cornelius what he needs to do to be saved and then tell us a different way. As we read in the scripture (Acts 10::34) He is no respecter of persons. It has to be the same for everyone. Some of you may say oh, Brother Rick my pastor said if i was baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost then I am saved. Now is that the way Peter taught the Gentiles (We are Gentiles) In Galatians 1:08 Paul preaches that if an angel from heaven or anyone preaches any other gospel other than what we have preached let him be accursed. Read Acts 19:05 and you will find that Paul baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. I would rather take what the word of God (the Bible) says than what any man says.
Some may say Brother Rick why have we been told different then. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:03 But if our gospel be hid , it is hid to them that are lost. And according to the gospel. If you have not been saved the same way Cornelius and his household were saved then you are lost.
So like I said earlier we have the words from the Bible telling us what we need to do to be saved. I hope this helps someone understand. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. I will be happy to help where i can. God Bless be with you all. Amen!!
