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Baptized – The Gospel of Regeneration
Initial Salvation “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?” -Rom. 6:3 “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” -Gal 3:27 |
“Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, Who hath raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses.” -Col. 2:12-13
“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” -1 Co. 12:13
The baptism of the Spirit of God is not an after-salvation experience. It is said to be a past tense experience of a Christian when, as a lost man, he was united in the death of Jesus Christ. The baptism is not of water, it is when the individual is “baptized into His death” (Rom. 6:3), or into freedom, for “he that is dead is freed from sin” (Rom. 6:7). This baptism is the Spiritual “operation of God”, wherein the lost individual dies with Christ in burial, and is raised up with Christ in resurrection (Col. 2:12-13), for, “as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal 3:27). Baptism unites all races into “one body” in Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). My reader, water baptism cannot do any of these operations, nor could this be referring to the “second blessing” interpretation of the baptism of the Spirit, because all of these operations refer to initial salvation.
“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” -1 Co. 12:13
The baptism of the Spirit of God is not an after-salvation experience. It is said to be a past tense experience of a Christian when, as a lost man, he was united in the death of Jesus Christ. The baptism is not of water, it is when the individual is “baptized into His death” (Rom. 6:3), or into freedom, for “he that is dead is freed from sin” (Rom. 6:7). This baptism is the Spiritual “operation of God”, wherein the lost individual dies with Christ in burial, and is raised up with Christ in resurrection (Col. 2:12-13), for, “as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal 3:27). Baptism unites all races into “one body” in Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). My reader, water baptism cannot do any of these operations, nor could this be referring to the “second blessing” interpretation of the baptism of the Spirit, because all of these operations refer to initial salvation.
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Power -->
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“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” -Luke 24:49
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When a man hears the phrase, “baptism of the Spirit”, the outpouring at Pentecost is most often recalled to mind. It was then that the apostles were baptized in the Spirit of God. By operation, it was then that the New Covenant was initiated within them. Jesus called this baptism “the promise of the Father”, which He spoke to them about. In John 14-16, Christ told them how He would have to go away so that He, the Holy Ghost, would come, and that it was better that Christ left so He would come (John 16:7). For this promise, they waited until it came, and suddenly they were “endued with power from on High” (Lk. 24:49). Can you see how the endowment of spiritual power and the Spirit’s baptism are interconnected? This is vital to understand because there are many regenerate Christians that do not presently and progressively know the “exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe” (Eph. 1:19). Nevertheless, at initial salvation, all men experience the “power of God” (Rom. 1:16)! By necessity, men are converted when the gospel reveals Christ, not “in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance” (1 Thess. 1:5). To free an enchained bondman behind the gates of hell who is utterly surrounded by the fallen angelic host of Satan, by necessity, it takes the power of God to spoil principalities and powers, to triumph over them, to raise dead men to life and turn darkness to light, reconciling sinners to God and granting them eternal life.
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Power = Fullness of the Spirit -->
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“Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the Church, Which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.”-Ephesians 1:15-23
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In Ephesians 1:15-23, firstly, Paul revealed that he had an unceasing burden in prayer for the Ephesians (Eph. 1:16). Then Paul told us what he was asking for. There are three prayer requests made for the Ephesians which would all be answered through what Paul calls “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him”, or in other words, “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened” (Eph. 1:17-18). If God answered Paul’s request so that the Lord gave the Ephesians the spirit of revelation and enlightenment that he was asking for, then, as you can see, the Ephesians would have “wisdom” and “understanding in “the knowledge of Him.” Then Paul got more specific about what wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of God he actually wanted the Ephesians to obtain. It is summarized in three requests: 1) “the hope of His calling, 2) “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints”, 3) the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe” (Eph. 1:18-19). Notice how one of Paul’s requests was that the Ephesians would know “the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward!” This is a very significant prayer in relation to the words of Jesus Christ concerning baptism, how He said: “tarry… until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). If Paul wanted the people of God to understand the power of God, notice how he did not communicate to them that they needed to be baptized with the Spirit of God, so as to, afterward, understand the power of God. He said nothing of the sort! Paul did not command them to pray, fast, and strive after “the second blessing” until God gave them the “Baptism of the Spirit” experience. In fact, Paul had stated that the Ephesians already had “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3)! If the saints of Ephesus had already received “all spiritual blessings”, how then could they be in need to receive another one, one that they have not yet received? Paul, who evidently was not burdened for the baptism of the Spirit like as the second blessing doctrine teaches it, was, rather, burdened that the saints would have revelation and enlightenment of what had already been given to them at salvation, so that when they received revelation of it, then they would have the faith and understanding to appropriate it!
How could the Ephesians obtain a greater revelation of “the hope of His calling”, “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints”, and “the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe?” Well, Paul told us: “according to the working of His mighty power” in the second blessing baptism of the Spirit? No! “Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:20-23). Paul said that there is hope, riches of glory in inheritance, and surpassing power available to Christians when we properly know what He did, in wisdom, knowledge, and revelation, what exactly God did in Christ when He “raised Him from the Dead” – THE RESURRECTION – “set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places” – THE ASCENSION & GLORIFCATION – and what relation this is to “all principality, and power, and might, and dominion” in “this world”.
If we properly understand the work of Christ at the cross – His Death, Burial, Resurrection, & Ascension – and how that relates to us who are regenerate in Him, then we will know the hope of our calling, the riches of the inheritance of the saints, and the surpassing power to us who believe. Behold, Paul preached the very revelation that he prayed for us to obtain! Why does Christ’s resurrection mean power to us? Because, “you hath He quickened [or raised from the dead], who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1)! Why does Christ’s ascension and glorification at the throne mean power to us? Because God “hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6)! What does Christ’s enthronement over powers and principalities of this world have to do with power being given to us? We are still in the world, which resides under the dominion of “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2), who is Satan, and all those that rule with him in his antichrist revolt called, “principalities,” “powers,” “the rulers of the darkness of this world,” and “spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12). If Christ’s throne is above these worldly rulers, and yet, we too are with Christ where He is seated, in domain of rulership that is above earthly rule, then what is under Christ’s feet is also under our feet! This means POWER! And we need it! For we do “wrestle against” these powers of darkness while we sojourn on earth, but lo! In Christ there is surpassing great power given to us already in that we are seated with Him at His throne, which means, “the power of His might” is already given to us, victory is already secured, therefore by faith we can “be strong in the Lord” (Eph. 6:10). This enthronement of Christ’s glory is the most blessed estate of the visible and invisible creation of God! Christ’s throne is the most highly favored seat in the whole of existence! And lo, there we are seated with Him! If we are with Christ at the Father’s “own right hand in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:20), then it is understandable why it was said that God has “blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).
Now please, look with me at one final point of great significance! Christ’s resurrection, ascension, and glorification is said to be with the Church, which is called: “the fullness of Him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:23). What does “the fulness of Him that filleth all in all” have to do with surpassing power available to us? Well, if we had wisdom, revelation, and enlightenment to understand “the love of Christ which passeth knowledge” (Eph. 3:19), namely in His resurrection, ascension, and glorification, then we would understand that we are filled with “the fulness of Him that filleth all in all” already! And if we understood this, by faith, then it would be a reality in our walk, and thus, presently and progressively, we would be “filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18), or, “filled with all the fulness of God” (Eph. 3:19). By a lack of revelation knowledge in the gospel’s work in relation to us now on earth, then we will not appropriate or experience what has already been accomplished and given at the day of our conversion.
Present Progressive Salvation
Faith expressed through power is a worthy demand of God for those who have been, verily, endued with power already (Eph. 1:19, Col. 1:10-11, 2 Thess. 1:11-12). It is going to take the strength and power of God Almighty to overcome all the ruling hosts and forces of wickedness in this world (Eph. 6:10-11). It is easy to understand that we need the baptism of the Spirit to be saved, that this is salvation; but as a saint goes from glory to glory, then he will continually be renewed in his mind of the greatness of God’s power which is readily available to them in Christ, already and now, because of the past tense work of “The Baptism of the Spirit”. However, if a saint falls from this enlightenment (Eph. 1:18) and so begins to be weak and cowardly (Rev. 21:8) against the enemies of sin, so as to be overcome therein (2 Pet. 2:20), then such a one needs to reckon the power of the gospel again which saved them once (Rom. 1:16), which overcomes death (Eph. 1:20, 1 John 5:4), and keep this faith unto the end: “For God hath not given us a Spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord…” (2 Tim. 1:7-8). The common man does understand that power was revealed at Pentecost, but this was only an example of what we should thereafter believe in God for! The gospel by promise is that we have been given the fullness of the power of God – “the strength of His might” (Eph. 6:10) – and so, how can we be given more power that we don’t already have? Likewise, in Christ we have already been blessed with “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3), so how could we be blessed with another one?
How could the Ephesians obtain a greater revelation of “the hope of His calling”, “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints”, and “the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe?” Well, Paul told us: “according to the working of His mighty power” in the second blessing baptism of the Spirit? No! “Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:20-23). Paul said that there is hope, riches of glory in inheritance, and surpassing power available to Christians when we properly know what He did, in wisdom, knowledge, and revelation, what exactly God did in Christ when He “raised Him from the Dead” – THE RESURRECTION – “set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places” – THE ASCENSION & GLORIFCATION – and what relation this is to “all principality, and power, and might, and dominion” in “this world”.
If we properly understand the work of Christ at the cross – His Death, Burial, Resurrection, & Ascension – and how that relates to us who are regenerate in Him, then we will know the hope of our calling, the riches of the inheritance of the saints, and the surpassing power to us who believe. Behold, Paul preached the very revelation that he prayed for us to obtain! Why does Christ’s resurrection mean power to us? Because, “you hath He quickened [or raised from the dead], who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1)! Why does Christ’s ascension and glorification at the throne mean power to us? Because God “hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6)! What does Christ’s enthronement over powers and principalities of this world have to do with power being given to us? We are still in the world, which resides under the dominion of “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2), who is Satan, and all those that rule with him in his antichrist revolt called, “principalities,” “powers,” “the rulers of the darkness of this world,” and “spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12). If Christ’s throne is above these worldly rulers, and yet, we too are with Christ where He is seated, in domain of rulership that is above earthly rule, then what is under Christ’s feet is also under our feet! This means POWER! And we need it! For we do “wrestle against” these powers of darkness while we sojourn on earth, but lo! In Christ there is surpassing great power given to us already in that we are seated with Him at His throne, which means, “the power of His might” is already given to us, victory is already secured, therefore by faith we can “be strong in the Lord” (Eph. 6:10). This enthronement of Christ’s glory is the most blessed estate of the visible and invisible creation of God! Christ’s throne is the most highly favored seat in the whole of existence! And lo, there we are seated with Him! If we are with Christ at the Father’s “own right hand in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:20), then it is understandable why it was said that God has “blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).
Now please, look with me at one final point of great significance! Christ’s resurrection, ascension, and glorification is said to be with the Church, which is called: “the fullness of Him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:23). What does “the fulness of Him that filleth all in all” have to do with surpassing power available to us? Well, if we had wisdom, revelation, and enlightenment to understand “the love of Christ which passeth knowledge” (Eph. 3:19), namely in His resurrection, ascension, and glorification, then we would understand that we are filled with “the fulness of Him that filleth all in all” already! And if we understood this, by faith, then it would be a reality in our walk, and thus, presently and progressively, we would be “filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18), or, “filled with all the fulness of God” (Eph. 3:19). By a lack of revelation knowledge in the gospel’s work in relation to us now on earth, then we will not appropriate or experience what has already been accomplished and given at the day of our conversion.
Present Progressive Salvation
Faith expressed through power is a worthy demand of God for those who have been, verily, endued with power already (Eph. 1:19, Col. 1:10-11, 2 Thess. 1:11-12). It is going to take the strength and power of God Almighty to overcome all the ruling hosts and forces of wickedness in this world (Eph. 6:10-11). It is easy to understand that we need the baptism of the Spirit to be saved, that this is salvation; but as a saint goes from glory to glory, then he will continually be renewed in his mind of the greatness of God’s power which is readily available to them in Christ, already and now, because of the past tense work of “The Baptism of the Spirit”. However, if a saint falls from this enlightenment (Eph. 1:18) and so begins to be weak and cowardly (Rev. 21:8) against the enemies of sin, so as to be overcome therein (2 Pet. 2:20), then such a one needs to reckon the power of the gospel again which saved them once (Rom. 1:16), which overcomes death (Eph. 1:20, 1 John 5:4), and keep this faith unto the end: “For God hath not given us a Spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord…” (2 Tim. 1:7-8). The common man does understand that power was revealed at Pentecost, but this was only an example of what we should thereafter believe in God for! The gospel by promise is that we have been given the fullness of the power of God – “the strength of His might” (Eph. 6:10) – and so, how can we be given more power that we don’t already have? Likewise, in Christ we have already been blessed with “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3), so how could we be blessed with another one?
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“And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” -Eph 3:19
“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” -Eph 5:18 |
As a man can be initially crucified/dead/mortified by promise, and at present is commanded to reckon and appropriate the gospel truths to walk in their reality and power on earth today, which is to say he is mortifying again those already mortified members, therefore in such termed commands therein hinges salvific, holy, walking and living. Likewise it is with being filled with the Spirit of God! We are already filled with the fulness of Christ that filleth all in all, just as we are already resurrected with Christ, but all the power and potentials of this resurrection have not been accessed by faith and walked out in; so also, the present progressive command to maintain faith in the gospel is to be filled with the Spirit of God – the gospel by command. To be filled with the Spirit of God at a younger glory than an elder will have a different degree of sanctification in it, therefore a more mature image of Christ revealed to the world, but keeping the faith of the gospel is to, at your degree of sanctification, overcome the sin that God is making known to you (to the degree of what is known to be Christian perfection), and so, Christ is living and you are not. In other words, Christ is formed in you. Now, when you are backslidden in a damnable state like as the Galatians were when they did fall from grace, Paul said to them, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you” (Gal. 4:19). How could Paul travail in birth over those who were already born again? It is not that they could be born again, again, but that Paul was speaking of their restoration to a saving relationship in Christ, and this travailing, is a second travailing, a travailing again - because Paul already labored to see them come to the birth at one time. At the birth, they were born again into a saving faith in the gospel of grace so that Christ was savingly formed in them (i.e. they were walking after the Spirit and mortifying the flesh, thus He was living and they were dying), but now they did backslide from the gospel truths so that Christ was no longer living, they were no longer walking in the Spirit, and they were striving after God in the flesh, thus Paul said Christ needed to be formed in them again in a saving degree, which is also called “perfection” (Gal. 3:2-3).
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“He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ…” -Eph 4:10-13
“And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” –Eph. 3:19 |
The very same principles are seen in Ephesians 4:10-13. The Church ministers, called apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, do labor by prayer and preaching just as Paul was to the Ephesians, to the end that they would have revelation and faith to walk in the gospel truths – gospel by promise and gospel by command – unto a saving spiritual condition, otherwise put, “the perfecting of the saints" (Eph. 4:12). Personal Christian perfection, or “the perfecting of the saints,” leads to corporate perfection. Corporate perfection is when the entire Church is savingly walking in the Person and stature of Christ to a degree of “fulness” (Eph. 4:13). When each individual saint of the Church walks in “the fulness of Him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:23), then the entire Church will reveal “the fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). Personal perfection in each saint will cause the whole Church to be “fitly joined together” (Eph. 4:16), so that everyone is one, “a perfect man” (Eph. 4:13). Christ’s work, the cross, burial, resurrection, ascension, and glorification, is so “that He might fill all things” (Eph. 4:10), and foremost of all that He would be revealed in the world through the Church! Therefore, personal perfection is personal fullness, and corporate perfection is corporate fullness, and in the book of Ephesians, these terms serve as present progressive commands to experience and maintain saving faith in the gospel, from glory to glory, just as there is mortification from glory to glory. Paul’s burden for personal fullness is written in Ephesians 3:19, and this experience, like the phraseology of Galatians 4:19, is said to be the establishment of the saving, gospel truth – “that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith” (Eph. 3:17). Can you see the exact parallel that this phrase is to, “until Christ be formed in you” (Gal. 4:19)? The experience of a continual, present progressive faith in the gospel, causes the individual to walk in what was first purchased and wrought. Christ’s purchase and working was to make the body of Christ, all of us, filled with “the fulness of Him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:23), therefore we must walk out in the gospel command to “be filled with the fulness of God” present-progressively! This worthy walk of gospel-enabling grace and faith is what the apostles continually strove after, and they did scarcely attain it in these NT Christians (1 Peter 4:18). Perhaps now you are beginning to understand the overwhelming burden which expands throughout the NT writings, which is, to work out your salvation (Php. 2:12). Perhaps then you will take notice of the exact parallels of perfect union in each gospel synonym of all other epistles and inspired writings, and thus understand the following burdens of prayer and preaching:
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“Cease not…making mention of you in my prayers…that you may know…what is the exceeding greatness of His power.”–Eph. 1:16-19
“For this cause I bow my knees…that He would grant you… to be strengthened with might.” – Eph. 3:14-16 “do not cease to pray for you… that ye might walk worthy…strengthened with all might according to His glorious power.”-Col. 1:9-11 “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy…fulfill…the work of faith with power.” -2 Thess. 1:11 “Night and day praying exceedingly that we… might perfect that which is lacking in your faith.” – 1 Thess. 3:10 “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily.” -Col 1:28-29. |
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