Jesus Christ - The Chief Cornerstone

Jesus Christ the Chief Cornerstone – the foundation of Christianity

The Crucifixion, the Resurrection and the Bible

Jesus is the cornerstone of Christianity, the foundation and base of our faith! In Jesus, the Church (all born-again believers) is built and becomes a holy temple in which God lives by His Holy Spirit!

Ephesians 2:19-22 (NIV)

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

What was Jesus’ mission on earth?

The redemption of mankind, to reconcile sinful man to God the Father! He came to save the lost and make atonement for mankind!

Luke 19:10 (NIV)

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

The word ‘reconciliation’ in the New Testament is often referred to as ‘atonement’.

Adam’s (and subsequently all man’s) choice to sin made everyone guilty of sin before God and without hope for the future. But then, Christ stepped in, making atonement for our sin. Christ, the sinless lamb of God, took upon Himself the sins of the many, that they might receive the atonement and forgiveness for sins and be reconciled to God.

Romans 5:19 (NIV)

For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

To accept Christ’s atonement for sin is to acknowledge one’s own sin and receive His (Jesus’) sacrifice for our sin and thus we receive God’s forgiveness. And not only that, but we get to live a grace-filled life of abundance in Christ Jesus. 

There is no more barrier between the believer and God, for they have received Christ’s atoning power and God’s satisfaction of acceptance through that atonement and thus we are reconciled to God. The curtain was torn apart by the work of Jesus on the cross. We can all enter the presence of God. We are washed clean by the blood of the Lamb!

Hebrews 10:19-23 (NIV)

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Why was Jesus Crucified? Why did he die for our sins?

Simply put the answer is this: Because of God’s great love and mercy he does not want any of us to die. Death in the spiritual sense means eternal separation from God which equates to living eternity in hell!

God wants all of us to live with him for eternity in heaven – this is eternal life!

John 3:16-17 (NIV)

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

The Bible teaches us that all human beings, because of the fall of mankind through Adam, are born into sin because of our fallen nature:

Romans 5:12 (NLT)

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NIV)

9The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? 10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives.

I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”

Because of this (our sin) we were unable to enter heaven as God is Holy and will not associate himself with any sin. In fact, God has extraordinarily strong feelings about all those that do evil!

Psalm 5:4-5

4 O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness;

you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked.

5 Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence,

for you hate all who do evil.

The above two verses fly in face of the popular ‘Christianese saying’ that; “God loves the sinner but hates the sin”. This is clearly not true; God cannot tolerate wickedness and hates all who do evil. The only sinner that God loves is the one that has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus - the one who has accepted Jesus as his Lord and saviour – the one that is truly born-again!

Now, you may be saying to yourself but what about John 3:16?

John 3:16 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

‘God so loved the world’. What does this mean?

Well, let’s take a look at the Greek word for the English word ‘world’.

The Greek word in this verse is ‘kosmos’ (Strong’s 2889) and means an ‘orderly world that God created, including His untainted creation - man’. God created a world that was in order in accordance with His spoken word. This is the world that God so loves, not the fallen world we have today with its fallen people – those outside of Christ Jesus.

The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death!

Romans 6:23 (NIV)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Death in the spiritual sense means separation from God.

Now, because of God’s great love and mercy, He made a way for mankind to be reconciled to himself, He ordained to come to earth in human form, Jesus the Son, to die for our sins – the Crucifixion. Therefore we, mankind, once we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, become born again and are thus reconciled with God and receive the gift of everlasting life with God.

Romans 5:17-18 (NLT)

For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.

Jesus was the only one who could live the sinless life that we (mankind) could not – He was without sin. God loves His children - those who are born again - because of Jesus.

2 Corintians 5:21 (NLT)

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Therefore, Jesus died on the cross for all of mankind! He was without sin and willingly took our sins upon himself and died for our us on the cross! Because the blood of Jesus was shed for us, and once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we receive forgiveness from God. If we don't accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour and don't put our faith in Him alone, then we cannot be lovingly reconciled with God and on Judgement Day we will be consigned to hell not heaven!

Hebrews 9:22

In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

It is only the blood of Jesus (His death on the Cross) that cleanses us of all sin once we have accepted Him as our Lord and Saviour.

1 John 1:7 (NLT)

7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

Our salvation can only be received by believing that Jesus died for our sins (the wages of sin is death) and was resurrected after three days that we might live and receive eternal life! It is only by the name of Jesus that we are saved.

Acts 41:12 (NIV)

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

The Resurrection of Jesus

Jesus was put to death for our trespasses (sins) and raised to life (resurrected) for our justification so that we may receive eternal life! He became our righteousness – our right standing with God!

Romans 4:25 (NIV)

He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Jesus' resurrection means that we are no longer under the curse of death (eternal separation from God) and just as importantly, the power of sin. We are now alive to God through Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:9-14 (NLT)

9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. 12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

Jesus' resurrection allows those in Christ (those born again) to be raised in glory and power with a spiritual body at the coming of our Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 (NIV)

42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

Romans 8:11

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

The Bible – God’s Word

As Christians we believe in faith that the Bible is God’s infallible word written by men under the power of the Holy Spirit and not only this but that the Word is the very essence of Jesus himself.

John 1:14 (NIV)

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Bible is God’s manual for Christian living. It feeds and nourishes both spirit and soul. The more we read and study the Bible, the more we come to know God in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Bible, just like Jesus, is the bread of life.

John 6:35 (NIV)

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

The more we read the Bible, the more God will be revealed to us and the more we will understand how to follow Jesus, to allow our minds to be transformed and how to be guided in our daily lives. 

The Bible prepares Christians to do the good works that God has called us to in the power of the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth. All scripture comes from God and the Word of God will never fail us! We glorify Jesus when we are led by the Holy Spirit! Jesus still has things to show us even to this very day, he does this by revelation through the Holy Spirit. A Church moving and flowing in the gifts of the Spirit is a powerful and effective Church. We cannot build up and edify each other without Jesus and without moving and operating in the power of the Holy Spirit!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Luke 1:37 (NIV)

For no word from God will ever fail.

John 16:12-15 (NKJV)

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

We should never give up reading and studying the Bible but above all we should be doers of the Word not just readers!

Luke 11:28 (NKJV)

 But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

James 1:22 (NLT)

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves

All glory, honour and praise belong to Jesus!

Jesus, the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no excuse for you not reading and studying the Bible for yourself. My word is flawed, the Bible is not!

Last update:  1 May 2024

What is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

 

Ephesians 5:17-21 (AMP)

17 Therefore do not be foolish and thoughtless, but understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is. 18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him. 19 Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, [offering praise by] singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.

How does the Holy Spirit relate to us as individual believers in what is called “the Baptism with the Holy Spirit?”

Although the Trinity or the Godhead is one God, when He (God) relates to the world (us), He is three distinct persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. So, in the Trinity, God the Father is the supreme creator, Jesus the Son is our Saviour and the Holy Spirit is the power of God in action, our comforter and guide.

God sees believers as sinless as we belong to Jesus, and now, because Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven, He has sent the Holy Spirit to be with us as our counsellor and to lead us in all truth to fulfil God’s purpose for us here on earth. Everything the Holy Spirit does is for the Glory of Jesus and, with the Holy Spirit guiding us, everything we do as believers should also be to glorify Jesus! Jesus lives in us through His Holy Spirit!

John 16:13-15 (NIV)

13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

Without the Holy Spirit it is impossible for us to bring glory to Jesus!

What is meant by the Baptism with the Holy Spirit?

Baptism with the Holy Spirit is when a believer, a born-again Christian, receives power from on high – from God.

Luke 24:49 (NIV)

I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.

Matthew 3:11 (NLT)

I (John the Baptist) baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone (Jesus) is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

The verses above clearly show us that Baptism with the Holy Spirit empowers us to be effective witnesses on earth in the name of Jesus. This power enables us to do the same things Jesus did and much more!

John 14:12 (NIV)

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

The verse below tells us that Jesus had to go back to the Father in heaven after his crucifixion and subsequent resurrection so that He could send the Holy Spirit to us so that we will be fully equipped to do the ministry that the father has prepared for every one of His children to do!

John 16:7 (KJV)

Nevertheless I (Jesus) tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

In the next verse, Jesus himself tells us that he will give us power. How does he do this? Read the next section and you’ll find out!

Luke 10:19 (NIV)

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

Who are we baptised with the Holy Spirit by?

It is Jesus who baptises us with the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 3:11-12 (AMP)

11 “As for me (John the Baptist), I baptize you with water because of [your] repentance [that is, because you are willing to change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret your sin and live a changed life], but He (the Messiah) who is coming after me is mightier [more powerful, more noble] than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to remove [even as His slave]; He will baptize you [who truly repent] with the Holy Spirit and [you who remain unrepentant] with fire (judgment). 12 His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear out His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat (believers) into His barn (kingdom), but He will burn up the chaff (the unrepentant) with unquenchable fire.”

In the above verse it is John the Baptist talking and the person he is referring to as the one that will come after him is Jesus.

And again, in the verse below it is confirmed that it is Jesus that baptises us with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:33 (NIV)

Exalted to the right hand of God, he (Jesus) has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

How are we baptised with the Holy Spirit?

a. By an impartation through spiritual words, e.g. preaching or prayer.

Acts 10:44(NIV)

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.

b. By an impartation through the laying on of hands

An impartation of the Holy Spirit from one person to another by the laying on of hands.

Acts 8:17 (NIV)

Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 19:6 (NIV)

When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

The speaking of tongues after the laying on of hands, is physical evidence of one being baptised with the Holy Spirit.

c. By a combination of a and b – prayer and then the laying on of hands.

d. By whatever way God choses – a sovereign move of the Holy Spirit – we cannot put God in a box!

Why is it important for Christians to be baptised with the Holy Spirit?

• To follow the example of Jesus

John 1:32 (NIV)

Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.”

• To receive power from God to enable us to be overcomers of this world in Christ Jesus and to be His witnesses to the world.

Acts 1:8 (NIV)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Luke 24:49 (NIV)

I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.

• To be able to do great things in the name of Jesus

Acts 1:8 – as above

• To be enabled to live life in the Spirit

Romans 8 Read the whole chapter for yourself - it will change your life!

• For the spiritual gifts to be manifest in us and through us to others

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (NKJV)

4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

• It is the Holy Spirit that gives us ‘spiritual’ life in Christ Jesus:

James 2:26 (NIV)

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

• The baptism with the Holy Spirit is a gift from God.

Luke 11:13 (NIV)

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

The Power You Receive from the Holy Spirit (Baptism in the Holy Spirit) that will help your daily walk as a born-again Christian.

The Holy Spirit is the power of God and through Jesus we are freely given the power of the Holy Spirit. Eagerly desire the in-filling of the Holy Spirit. God longs for us to move in power as a witness to the nations.

John 20: 22 (AMP)

And when He (Jesus) said this, He breathed on them (the disciples) and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:8 (AMP)

Jesus speaking:

But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.”

The Benefits we receive from being Spirit Filled:

1. He gives us spiritual life.

Job 33:4 (NIV)

The Spirit of God has made me;

the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

John 6:63 (NIV)

The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.

2. He will always know where we are both physically and spiritualy, we have no place to hide.

Psalm 139:7

Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

3. He is the giver of prophesy, dreams and visions.

Acts 2:17 (NIV) (Quote from Joel 2:28)

“‘In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.

4. He gives us power to be effective witnesses to the world in the Name of Jesus.

Acts 1:8 (NIV)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

5. He leads us on God’s path for our lives.

Psalm143:10 (NIV)

Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God;

may your good Spirit

lead me on level ground.

2 Peter 1:21 (NIV)

For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 13:4 (NIV) – brackets are mine

The two of them (Barnabas and Saul), sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

6. He gives strength to our inner being (the human spirit) to accomplish the things that the Father has given us to do by faith in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:16-17a (NIV)

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

John 14:12 (NIV)

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

7. He will be our second (Jesus being the first) Advocate (one, like Jesus, who intercedes with the Father on our behalf) and he will live in us.

John 14:16-17

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

8. He is truth and will lead us in all truth. He will receive from Jesus what we need to know which will bring glory to Jesus!

John 16:13

13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.

9. He helps us overcome our weaknesses by interceding for us in accordance with god’s will for us. If we live life in the Spirit we are assured that we are living according to the Father’s will!

Romans 8:26-27 (NIV)

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

10. He gives us revelation directly from the Father. If we are not filled with the Spirit, we will be unable to receive God’s revelation for us in Christ Jesus!

1 Corinthians 2:9-13 (NIV)

9 However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,

what no ear has heard,

and what no human mind has conceived”—

the things God has prepared for those who love him—

10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.

11. Through the Holy Spirit our bodies become a temple of the Holy Spirit and we are to honour God with our bodies.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (NIV)

18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

12. When we follow the path of God’s love, the Holy Spirit gives us the gifts of the Spirit for us to use to build up and edify each other and thus bring glory to Jesus.

1 Corinthians 14:1 (AMP)

Pursue [this] love [with eagerness, make it your goal], yet earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual gifts [to be used by believers for the benefit of the church], but especially that you may prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people].

13. When we live by the Spirit, the fruit of the spirit will be manifest in us and through us and this life in the spirit enables us to overcome our sinful nature and its wordly passions and desires!

Galatians 5:22-26 (NIV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

14. He is a ‘flame’ within us that we are instructed by Jesus to not smother, put out, be unresponsive to or quench!

1 Thessalonians 5:19 (AMP)

9 Do not quench [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit. 20 Do not scorn or reject gifts of prophecy or prophecies [spoken revelations—words of instruction or exhortation or warning].

15. He Sanctifies us and leads us, through the Word, to spiritual maturity in Christ Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 (AMP)

But we should and are [morally] obligated [as debtors] always to give thanks to God for you, believers beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through the sanctifying work of the Spirit [that sets you apart for God’s purpose] and by your faith in the truth [of God’s word that leads you to spiritual maturity].

Prayer:
Abba, Father, I pray that you would fill me now with your Holy Spirit that I may be changed in my innermost being and that I follow your path for my life, move in the power of the Holy Spirit to help others and bring glory and honour to the name of Jesus. Amen.

Remember always that if we do not have love (the agape, unconditional love of God) – then we have nothing and are nothing but empty vessels! Let love be your first goal!

1 Corinthians 13:1 (NIV)

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

1 Corinthians 16:14 (NKJV)

Let all that you do be done with love.

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus, the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for you reading and studying the Bible for yourself. I am flawed, the Bible is not!

What is the purpose of water baptism?

 

1. What water baptism is not

Before we look at what water baptism is, I believe that it is most important for us to establish what it is not, using the Bible as our point of reference.

It is not infant christening.

The practice of the christening of babies and infants is not found in the Bible and therefore it is not a Biblical practice or instruction from God. Christening is a man-made tradition that came into being in the early Church through the emergence of Roman Catholicism. But as born-again Christians it is our duty to follow the teachings of the Bible and not the teachings of man.

Infant baptism or christening is not necessarily sinful, but it should be understood that it does not constitute a spiritual cleansing from sin. This can only be done by a person’s acknowledgement and renouncing of their sin before God and the acceptance of Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour. Infants and babies cannot do this as they do not understand this action.

2. What water baptism is

Now, let me first say here that as born-again Christians we are followers of Jesus Christ and His teachings (The Bible – the entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments):

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

And as we are His disciples, we should be following His example in all He did. Jesus was baptised to fulfil all righteousness and it is our duty as His followers to be baptised as He was.

He was baptised as a man (a human being) to identify with us, even though he was not a sinner (1 John 3:5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin), and to set us an example in all righteousness.

Matthew 3:13-17 (NIV)

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.”

From the above five verses we can extract several points that a new believer needs to be aware of that will show the significance and correctness of a believer being water baptised:

• Jesus specifically came to be baptised - vs 13 – as His disciples we should do the same

• Jesus was being obedient to the Father as his being water baptised would fulfil all righteousness – vs 15

• Baptism in water paves the way for a believer’s Baptism in the Holy Spirit – vs 16

• The act of believers being water baptised is pleasing to God as in Christ Jesus we become the sons (children) of God vs 17. Scripture confirms that we become children of God once we are born-again:

John 1:12-13 (NIV)

12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

So, from this we can see that water baptism is pleasing to God and follows in the footsteps and example of Jesus our Lord and Saviour.

Water baptism is an act of faith and obedience to the commands and example of Jesus.

Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Water baptism is a public declaration by a believer:
Baptism publicly declares to the world that you are a follower of Jesus Christ. It is a public confession of your faith in, and commitment to, Jesus Christ. It is the next step after salvation through repentance and is an act of faith. It is an important foundation stone for the Christian life that you are about to embark on.

3. What is the meaning and significance of water baptism to a born-again believer in Jesus Christ?

Water baptism in the life of a believer is a move from sinful death to a righteous, everlasting life in Christ Jesus:

Colossians 2:12-14 (NIV)

12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.

From the above verses we are told of the symbolic significance water baptism has for us as born-again believers in that it identifies us with the death of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, on the cross and his burial and resurrection from the dead:

• Our submersion in the water is symbolic of our burial of our old, sinful life

• Emerging from the water is symbolic of our resurrection to our new life of forgiveness of our sins by God in Christ Jesus

4. Water baptism symbolises our brand new life in Christ Jesus and our commitment to Him as His followers:

The apostle Paul tells us, that as born-again Christians, we are a new creation, our old sinful selves have passed away and we are raised up out of the waters of baptism as new creations:

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Romans 6:4-7 (NIV)

4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

5. Why is it so important for born-again Christians to be water baptized?

In trying to answer this question let us first examine the full symbolic importance of water baptism in a believer’s declaration to the world of their commitment to Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and their desire to follow him in all His ways and teachings.

Water baptism is like a wedding ring. It is a believer’s outward, symbolic statement to the world of his life, love and commitment to Jesus as being a part of His ‘bride’ which is lived out by a believer from day to day.

Isaiah 54:5 (NIV)

For your Maker is your husband—

the Lord Almighty is his name—

the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;

he is called the God of al the earth.

Revelation 19:5-7 (NIV)

5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying:

“Praise our God,

all you his servants,

you who fear him,

both great and small!”

6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

“Hallelujah!

For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

7 Let us rejoice and be glad

and give him glory!

For the wedding of the Lamb has come,

and his bride has made herself ready.

• Water baptism symbolically washes away our sins – see Acts 22:16 below

6. Water baptism affirms the blessings of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit over a believer’s life.

When we go through the waters of baptism we are baptized into the full Godhead – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – The Holy Trinity – one God, three persons! It also confirms that we believe that Jesus will be with us always!

Matthew 28:18-19 (NIV)

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

7. Water baptism also connects us to other believers as the ‘body of Christ’ – the Church

In Matthew 28:18-19, the Lord’s instruction is for all who come to Him and are born-again, to be baptized. Although we make an individual and personal decision to be water baptized, all believers are instructed to do it and thus this one individual act of obedience joins us together as one body – the Church of Jesus Christ.

8. When should a believer be water baptized?

Why wait? As soon as you have given your life to Jesus, decide to be water baptized! It is an act of faith and obedience and walking in obedience to the will of Christ is or should be the ultimate aim of all believers - full obedience to the teachings of Jesus.

Acts 22:16 (NIV)

And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’

9. Was Jesus water baptised?

Yes, he was, and this is another reason why all believers should be water baptised. If Jesus did it, it stands to reason that it will be good for us to do so!

Matthew 3:13-17 (NIV)

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.”

From the above verses we see that three significant things take place when we are water baptized:

1. It fulfills all righteousness – vs 15

2. It paves the way for baptism in the Holy Spirit – vs 16

3. It is pleasing to God the Father – vs 17

As born-again Christians, disciples of Jesus and children of God it is our loving duty to follow our Lord’s example and be water baptised!

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus, the Name above all names!

Next week: The importance of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit

What does it mean to be born again?

 

1. In the Words of Jesus
The term ‘born again’ only appears in the New Testament and was first referred to by Jesus himself, this is captured by the apostle John in the below verse:

John 3:3 (NIV)

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.

At the time John recorded this passage, Jesus was speaking to a man called Nicodemus who is described as a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council. The Pharisees were a group of Jewish religious leaders who followed the Law of Moses, the Jewish religion at that time and the Council was a group of various, publicly esteemed Jewish religious leaders of the day.

Nicodemus had approached Jesus one night (John 3:2) and had admitted that he believed Jesus had come from God. Jesus’ response to this admission is quoted above in verse three.

This response sort of flummoxes Nicodemus as in verse 4 he asks this: “How can someone be born when they are old.” And exclaims that it is impossible for someone to enter their mother’s womb a second time to be born!

Now what Nicodemus didn’t understand at this stage was that Jesus wasn’t referring to a physical rebirth but rather a spiritual one. This is explained below in section 2.

2. Man’s Two Birth’s
The best place to start in this explanation, is of course with the words of Jesus himself.

John 3:5-7 (NIV)

5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’

In verse 5 above, Jesus speaks of being born of water and of the Spirit – two different births. Let’s look at these two very different births.

A. The Physical Birth
When the Bible refers to man as being ‘born of water’ it is referring to man’s physical birth. When we pop out of our mothers’ wombs not long after her waters have broken. This in no way refers to the waters of Baptism. Water baptism is something completely different and a topic with which we will be dealing with in another article in this series. So physical birth is the first birth but the most important birth to all mankind is the second birth which is a spiritual birth.

B. The Spiritual Birth
The spiritual birth is where a person becomes born again. Because it is a spiritual birth it is only, and can only be orchestrated by God, through Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is nothing that we can ever do for ourselves or that anybody else can do for us – not even our parents.

In essence we, as human beings, are first and foremost spiritual beings. After God uniquely created Adam and Eve (Genesis 2), and, in their creation and after, He had breathed life into them, he enabled them to procreate by coming together in sexual union. And in this miraculous process, the Spirit of God is interwoven within each human being at the time of conception. Just as God breathed life into Adam so His breath (spirit) is miraculously instilled into each living foetus. It is the Spirit of God that gives us life.

John 6:63 (NIV)

The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.

But, now here’s the rub, because of the sin of Adam, way back in the garden of Eden, every human being that has ever been born from them and after them, is born in sin and therefore man’s spirit is dead to God. This is a spiritual death and spiritual death is not the same as our physical death, spiritual death is separation from God. It is man’s sin that separates him from God. Everybody has sinned and is thus dead to God, therefore we can have no fellowship with Him as God is free of sin and will not have fellowship with it. This is confirmed in the below scripture:

Isaiah 59:2 (NIV)

But your iniquities have separated

you from your God;

your sins have hidden his face from you,

so that he will not hear.

Now, as I mentioned above, we have all sinned and if we say we haven’t, we are telling lies – porky pies! The below scriptures in the New Testament confirm this:

Romans 3:23-25 (NLT)

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,

1 John 1:8-10 (AMP)

8 If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude ourselves and the truth is not in us. [His word does not live in our hearts.] 9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose]. 10 If we say that we have not sinned [refusing to admit acts of sin], we make Him [out to be] a liar [by contradicting Him] and His word is not in us.

If you have ever told a lie you have sinned! If you have ever taken anything that doesn’t belong to you, you have sinned. If you have ever spread gossip, you have sinned. When you swear and use foul language, you are sinning! And so on.

It is our sin that separates us from God, which is spiritual death, and, because of this sin, it is the spirit of man that needs to be born again – renewed. This has nothing to do with our physical, natural birth from our mother’s womb, it is purely a spiritual awakening.

3. What do we have to do to become born again?

All we must do to become born again is confess that we are sinners and repent (repent means to turn away from) of our sins from the heart, and before God in the name of Jesus and ask Jesus to come and live in our hearts and be our Lord and Saviour.

We have to believe from our hearts that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he died on the cross as an atonement for our sins and to accept him as our Lord and Saviour and submit our lives to him and to follow him and all his ways (as laid down in the Bible) daily.

We do this by praying a simple prayer that will go something like this:

Dear Lord Jesus, I confess before you that I am a sinner and I repent of my sins before you. I ask that you forgive me for my sins and ask you to come into my heart to be my Lord and Saviour and to fill me with your Holy Spirit and to help me to walk a Christian life according to your teachings in the Bible. I believe, Lord Jesus, that you died for my sins, and I believe that God raised you from the dead! Amen.

Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Now, once you have prayed this prayer you come into the kingdom of God and have an immediate spiritual family of brothers and sisters all over the world, with God as the Father!

If you have just prayed this prayer, the best thing for you to do at this stage is to get yourself into a local fellowship with fellow believers, that is start going to a local Church that preaches the gospel of Jesus and believes the entire Bible is the Word of God. And after this I would encourage you to start reading and studying the Bible for yourself and start a prayer life of your very own and become involved in the life of the local fellowship you have chosen to be a part of!

Accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour is the only way by which man can be born again and receive everlasting life in heaven. You can’t get to heaven by calling yourself a good person, or doing good things, or by giving money to charity or by doing charitable work or by praying to Mother Mary or by going to Church every Sunday. You can only enter heaven by way of accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour and repenting of your sins as mentioned previously in this article.

Acts 4:11-12 (NIV)

11 Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

4. What happens to me when I am born again?
Well, I’m pleased to say that there is no downside to being born again. In fact, we receive many benefits from God once we become born again. The main benefit being that we will have everlasting life! Our salvation is a gift from God, we can’t earn it buy it or do good works for it!

Let’s have a look at some of these benefits:

a. We receive everlasting life.

John 3:16 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

b. We receive forgiveness of our sins.

1 John 1:9 (NIV)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

c. We have the right to call ourselves sons and daughters of God.

John 1:12-13 (NIV)

12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

d. God will answer our prayers when we ask in the name of Jesus and with the right motives.

John 14:13-14 (NIV)

13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

When we pray and ask God for things in Jesus name, our motives need to come from a pure and selfless heart and not just for self-gain and selfish ambitions.

James 4:3 (NIV)

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

e. God will meet all our needs.

Philippians 4:19 (NIV)

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

f. We will receive God’s peace in our lives.

John 14:27 (NIV)
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

g. He will create in us a desire to serve Him and to serve others by doing His will as we walk in faith.

James 2:17 (NIV)

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

h. We are a new creation, and our sins are forgiven.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

5. What will happen to me if I am not born again?
Well, this is the bad news and I mean really bad news! If you are not born again, you will spend eternity in hell, which is spiritual death – eternal separation from God and His eternal love, no matter how good a person we may consider ourselves to be!

John 3:3 (NIV)

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.

The above verse says it very clearly, you will only see the kingdom of God, which is eternal life, if you are born again. If you are not born again, you will not see the kingdom of God which means you go to hell from which there is no escape!

If you are not for God, then you are against him, and thus you belong to the devil and unless you repent and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour – be born again - you will be consigned to hell for eternity, just as the devil is. If you are not for God, then you are against Him – there is no middle road!

Matthew 12:30 (NIV)

“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Matthew 13:41-42 (NIV)

41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Five Basic Steps That a New Believer Should Take Towards Spiritual Maturity

1. Repent and be baptized
Scripture tells us that once we have repented and accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we need to be baptized in water.

Acts 2:38 (NIV)

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In order for you to be baptized it would make sense for you to join a local Church – a local fellowship of

2. Join a local fellowship of believers – a local Church
God created us to be social beings just as he is, and to help each other in our daily Christian walk. God’s Church is not a building but rather each and every individual born-again Christian together - that is the Church, you and I and all our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ across the world.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching..

Romans 12:5 (NIV)

so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

1 Corinthians 12:12 (NIV)

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

3. Read/Study the Bible Daily
The aim of our Christian walk is to be increasingly conformed to Christ’s image. In other words, to become increasingly like Jesus daily. This is a process, and one of the keyways that will help us in this walk is to read and study the Bible as often as we can as Jesus is the Bible in the flesh. The more we read the Bible and do what it tells us, the more we will become like Jesus.

John 1:14 (NIV)

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

James 1:22 (NIV)

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

4. Pray
Prayer is talking to God. It is impossible to form a meaningful relationship with anybody if you don’t talk to them. You can’t get to know anybody if you don’t talk to them. You can’t ask anybody for help if you don’t talk to them to let them know you need help! You build relationship with people by talking to them. It is the same with God. When you talk to Him, He will talk to you!

The best example we have of building this kind of relationship with God is our Lord Jesus. Let’s examine this statement by what the scriptures tell us of Jesus praying!

Luke 5:16 (AMP)

But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray [in seclusion].

Mark 1:35 (NIV)

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Luke 22:32 (NIV)

But I (Jesus) have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

So, here we have three of many examples from the Bible where Jesus went to God the Father in prayer. God is the source and fountain of all knowledge and power. We can ask him for anything as long as we ask with the right motives in our hearts.

James 4:3 (NIV)

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Prayer should be selfless, pure and from the heart and not designed for self-gain (self-change, yes!) and pleasure.

God created us to worship Him in Christ Jesus and prayer is one form of our worship of God that is guaranteed to build a strong and healthy personal relationship with Him.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 5:7 (NIV)

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

5. Be responsible for Your Own Walk to Christian Maturity
Nobody can walk your Christian walk for you. Your progress in your walk to spiritual maturity lies squarely upon your own shoulders. If you keep your eyes on Jesus and not on man, if you are quick to repent of sin and even quicker to forgive those that sin against you, then you will be well on the road to maturity.

Be obedient to what the Bible teaches, walk in faith and put the Bible teachings into practice in your daily life. Being a born-again Christian is not a part time job, it is a fulltime, lifestyle commitment!

James 1:22 (NIV)

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

God chose you to be his child and in Christ Jesus you have the power through the Holy Spirit to overcome any obstacle the world throws at you! God chose you to serve Him here on earth and to be a channel of blessing to others!

John 15:16-17 NIV)

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

John 16:33 (NIV)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

You will not have a trouble-free life as the above scripture explains, but you will overcome any obstacle in your path if you keep your eyes upon Jesus and not on man. You will experience miracles in your own life and in the lives of your loved ones and you will see miracles in the lives of your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus!

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise! For he alone is worthy!

Jesus, the Name above all names!