This
issue of YAHSHUA'S WITNESS MAGAZINE
was published for July-September-2016
Inside this issue:
Should
A New Testament Believer Observe the Sabbath Day?
EDITOR:
PROOFREADERS:
Frances
Healan, Jerry Healan, Jerry Osborne
WHY?
I
was listening to Jewish radio commentator Mark Levin recently and he said,
“The president of the United States should always be white, a male, and a
Republican! WHY!? Because he will be the only one held accountable for any
mistakes made.” He went on to say that if the president is a Democrat, a
woman, black, or Hispanic, they will not be held accountable.
Democrat
Woodrow Wilson sold America out to the international banker’s private
institution called the “Federal Reserve.” They are the ones who brought
about the “Great Depression,” yet neither they nor Wilson are blamed.
Democrat
Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared America to be bankrupt, which under his
“New Deal” sold the whole country and its people out to the bankers, and
yet, doesn’t get any blame.
Democrat
Lyndon Baines Johnson instituted the “War on Poverty” which has to this date
spent 22 trillion dollars and poverty is on the increase instead of decline.
Democrat Bill
Clinton instituted the housing debacle by demanding that people be given loans
for houses whether they could pay or not, plus sold our computer technology to
the Chinese for multiple nuclear ballistic missiles and no one even cares to
remember. There was also the Whitewater incident along with many other
suspicious things. Yes, he was impeached, but he continued in the office of the
presidency anyway, and has been highly spoken of.
But look at
what happened to Herbert Hoover, Richard Nixon, etc. Even Ronald Reagan has been
belittled by the media and the Democrats. George H. W. Bush was only allowed one
term, and George W. Bush has receive all of the blame for the Obama
administration failures even after almost eight years!
President
Obama was recently speaking at a college commencement and here is what he said:
“If you were listening to today’s political
debate, you might wonder where this strain of anti-intellectualism came from.
So…so…so class of 2016, let me be as clear as I can be. In politics and in life, ignorance is not a virtue. It’s not cool to not know what you are talking
about. That’s not keeping it real, or telling it like it is. That’s not
challenging political correctness. That’s just not knowing what you’re
talking about. Qualities like kindness
and compassion, honesty, hard work, they often matter more than technical
skills, or know how. But when our leaders express a disdain for facts,
when they’re not held accountable for repeating falsehoods, or just making
stuff up, while actual experts are dismissed as elitists,
then we’ve got a problem! You know, it’s interesting that if we get sick, we
actually want to make sure the doctors have gone to medical school, they know
what they’re talking about. If we get on a plane, we say we want a pilot to be
able to pilot the plane. And yet in our public lives, we suddenly think, I
don’t want somebody who’s done it before. The rejection of facts, the rejection of reason and
science, that is the path to decline.
This man
implied that George W. Bush was a traitor because of the $4 trillion debt that
America was left with when he left office. Yet, the debt now is heading for $20
trillion from his administration. He has openly lied and presented false facts
during his whole administration to get what he wants, going against the facts,
and disdaining the people who know the facts and warn what the real results will
be (such as Obamacare, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, etc.) and yet, he is
accountable for nothing! If anyone says anything negative about him, they lose
face, they lose jobs, they are persecuted, they lose any kind of status they may
have.
Woodrow
Wilson was president during World War I. FDR was the main president during World
War II. Vietnam was being fought during John Kennedy’s and Lyndon Johnson’s
presidencies. The world was in chaos and confusion! It took the Republican
Richard Nixon to extricate America from the Vietnam war, yet who remembers that?
The war with radical Islam began with George W. Bush and was being won until the
Muslim President Barak Hussein Obama entered into office. Now the Muslim world
and much of the rest of the world has degenerated into chaos and confusion
during his administration. He rejected the facts and advice of his own generals
on the battlefield and look at what is happening now! Yet, no one says anything
about it! Now, there is chaos, confusion, and even war in America’s streets,
division in America! What is America’s motto? “United we stand, divided we
fall!”
Recently, we
were meeting in a hired hall and during the message I said something about the
president. It was in a joking manner, but two maintenance men overheard what was
said and reported it to the facility director (we are meeting there once per
month) and we almost lost access to the facility!
Now we have
the idiotic transgender debate over access to restroom facilities. No one is
allowed to say anything negative against the LGBT crowd. Whether true,
Scriptural, or otherwise, anything spoken or written in a negative manner can or
will bring law suits and even possible jail or prison time!
If Donald
Trump wins the presidential election, he will have a great battle on his hands!
Why!? Because he is white, male, and Republican! The battle lines are drawn. I
understand that Muslim Barak Hussein Obama has decided to purchase a home only 2
miles from the Whitehouse! What is that all about!? Remember, he was a community
organizer! The kind of organizer who organizes protests, riots, and underhanded
groups. That is one job that he has done well during his administration.
Darkness, chaos, and confusion is descending upon a country that once held free
press, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion as supreme. The night is
coming when no man can work (Jn. 9:4).
JH
One
of our former presidents admitted that he was a “born again Christian.” Is
this true? Is it possible? What does it really mean? Has there been a
misunderstanding? Hopefully, this treatise will clarify these things for you.
By Jerry Healan
Some
years ago, we were at a family gathering when a cousin of mine told my mother,
“R… was born again last night!” My mother responded, “Oh Really!?
That’s wonderful!” I asked, “What do you mean?” My cousin said, “We
were at a church meeting last night, and R… had a religious experience.”
I
have heard the question over and over again, “Are you a born again
Christian?” I have also heard many statements from people saying that they are
“born again.”
Do
they really understand what they are saying? Another good question is, “Do I
understand what they are saying and what is meant?” What do the Scriptures
say, and what did the Savior say about this most important question?
“1There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler
of the Jews: 2The same came to Yahshua by
night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from
Elohim: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except Elohim be with
him. 3Yahshua answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say
unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of Elohim. 4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is
old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5Yahshua answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except
a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
Elohim. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which
is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Marvel not
that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the
sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is
every one that is born of the Spirit. 9Nicodemus
answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10Yahshua answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of
Israel, and knowest not these things? 11Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have
seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12If
I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I
tell you of heavenly things?” Jn. 3:1-12.
Here
was Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, a man who was supposed to be an expert
at understanding and teaching the Scriptures, yet he couldn’t understand what
Yahshua was saying. Isn’t that amazing!? Isn’t it also very interesting that
the Christians seem to think they understand what this means!?
What does it mean!? Does it just mean that someone can have a
“religious experience” in church, or anywhere, and all of a sudden they are
born again!?
GENERATED FROM ABOVE
The terms
“born again” are translated from the words gennao anothen. Gennao has to do
with being procreated, conceived, or generated. Anothen is
defined as “from above.”
While
Joseph was considering the possibility of putting Yahshua’s mother Miriam
away, an angel told him in a dream, “Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to
take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit,” Mt. 1:20.
“Conceived is translated from the Greek word gennao.
Therefore, what Yahshua was telling Nicodemus was that we must be conceived, or
generated again from above.
EGGHEADS
Take
a look at the head shot of the 7-8 month old baby. It has been the understanding
of this author for many years now because of the shape of the heads of young
babies that we are all just a bunch of eggheads
running around.
Weren’t
we all an egg in the womb of our mothers? Didn’t we have to be
conceived/generated in order to be born into this world? We must be conceived
again from above if we are ever going to be born into the kingdom of heaven.
Our
first conception is as Yahshua said, of the earth, earthy. We are born into this
world through our parents and we are all descendants of the first man and woman,
Adam and Eve (Chavvah).
The
Apostle Paul writes, “7But we speak the wisdom of
Elohim in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which Yahweh ordained before the
world unto our glory: 8Which none of the princes
of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the
Sovereign of glory. 9But as it is written, Eye
hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the
things which Yahweh hath prepared for them that love him. 10But Yahweh hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for
the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of Yahweh. 11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit
of man which is in him? Even so the things of Yahweh knoweth no man, but the
Spirit of Yahweh. 12Now we have received, not
the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of Yahweh; that we might know
the things that are freely given to us of Yahweh. 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's
wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things
with spiritual. 14But the natural man
receiveth not the things of the Spirit of Yahweh: for they are foolishness unto
him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned,” 1 Cor.
2:7-14.
All of mankind has entered this world through the first Adam and are
his natural born children. Only those who have been conceived, generated,
from above through Yahshua the Messiah are able to enter into the kingdom of
heaven.
YAHSHUA’S SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE
When
Yahshua went and was baptized by John the heavens opened and He saw the Holy
Spirit descending upon Him in the shape of a dove. (Mt. 3:16) On top of that a
voice spoke saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” v.
17.
Wow!
What a spiritual experience! No
matter what kind of religious, or spiritual experience that others have had,
none can compare with this! Did Yahshua go about proclaiming Himself to be
“born again?” Absolutely not!
He
was driven into the wilderness where He had a great spiritual face-off with
Satan the devil. When He got the victory, He still didn’t go about proclaiming
that He was “born again.”
When
was Yahshua “born again!?” Paul reveals, “And he is the head of the body,
the assembly: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence,”
Col. 1:18.
He
declared to Agrippa, “22Having therefore obtained
help of Elohim, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great,
saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should
come: 23That the Messiah should suffer, and that he
should be the first that
should rise from the dead, and should shew
light unto the people, and to the Gentiles,” Acts 26:22-23.
John
writes, “4John to the seven assemblies which are in Asia: Grace be
unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and
from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; 5And from Yahshua the Messiah, who is the faithful witness,
and the first begotten (should be “first born”) of the dead, and the prince
of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins
in his own blood…,” Rev. 1:4-5.
The truth of the matter is that one must be conceived, generated again
from above so that he/she may be born into the family of Elohim at the
resurrection from the dead, or for those still alive at Yahshua’s return,
converted from physical, mortal, corruptible, to spiritual, immortal,
incorruptible (1 Cor. 15:51-53).
BAPTISM
Something
else we need to address here is the question, “Do we really need to be
baptized (immersed)?
One
brother was posting on Facebook about his baptism in the name of Yahshua and a
lady from California, in effect, denigrated him telling him that baptism was no
longer required, that Yahshua did it all for us. Baptism is, after all, one of
the key steps to being born again.
Yahshua
said, “...Except a man be born of water and of the
Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
Elohim,” Jn. 3:5.
John
the Baptist came baptizing (immersing) many in the waters of repentance, “1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the
wilderness of Judaea, 2And saying, Repent ye: for
the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3For this
is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying
in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of Yahweh, make his paths straight. 4And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a
leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 5Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all
the region round about Jordan, 6And were baptized of
him in Jordan, confessing their sins,” Mt. 3:1-6.
Now, some say that this is nothing more than a mikvah that the Jews were already
familiar with. The Wikipedia says this about the mikvah, “Mikveh or mikvah
( Hebrew: מִקְוֶה
/ מקווה Modern mikve, Tiberian miqwe, pl. mikva'ot or ( Yiddish) mikves, lit. "a collection") is a bath used for
the purpose of ritual immersion
in Judaism. In the Hebrew Bible, the word is employed in its broader sense but generally
means a collection of water. Several biblical regulations specify that full immersion in
water is required to regain ritual purity after ritually impure incidents have occurred. A person
was required to be ritually pure in order to enter the Temple. In this context,
"purity" and "impurity" are imperfect translations of the
Hebrew "tahara"
and "tumah", respectively, in that
the negative connotation of the word impurity is not intended; rather being
"impure" is indicative of being in a state in which certain things are
prohibited until one has become "pure" again by immersion in a mikveh.
After the destruction of the Temple,
the mikveh's main uses remained as follows:
· by
Jewish women to achieve ritual purity after menstruation or childbirth
before she and her husband may resume marital relations;
· by
Jewish men to achieve ritual purity; as part of the traditional procedure for conversion to Judaism;
· to
immerse newly acquired utensils used in serving and eating food.
Most forms of impurity can be
nullified through immersion in any natural collection of
water.” (Internet)
However,
Peter cried out on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out on
Yahshua’s disciples, “32This
Yahshua hath Yahweh raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33Therefore being by the right hand of Yahweh exalted, and
having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath shed forth
this, which ye now see and hear. 34For
David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, Yahweh said unto
my Sovereign, Sit thou on my right hand, 35Until
I make thy foes thy footstool. 36Therefore let all the
house of Israel know assuredly, that Yahweh hath made that same Yahshua, whom ye
have crucified, both Sovereign and Messiah. 37Now
when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and
to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every
one of you in the name of Yahshua the Messiah for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For
the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off,
even as many as Yahweh our Elohim shall call. 40And
with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from
this untoward generation. 41Then they that gladly
received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them
about three thousand souls,” Acts 2:32-41.
Here
is what Yahshua commanded His disciples to do, “16Then
the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Yahshua had
appointed them. 17And when they saw him, they
worshipped him: but some doubted. 18And
Yahshua came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven
and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
Amen,” Mt. 28:16-20.
Does Yahweh change? “For I am Yahweh, I
change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not
consumed,” Mal. 3:6.
CORNELIUS
If
there was ever a group of people who wouldn’t have needed to be baptized, it
would have the centurian Cornelius and the people that were with him.
“1There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a
centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2A devout
man, and one that feared Elohim with all his house, which gave much alms to the
people, and prayed to Elohim alway. 3He saw in
a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of Yahweh coming in
to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 4And when
he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Master? And he said unto
him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before Yahweh. 5And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose
surname is Peter: 6He lodgeth with one Simon a
tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to
do. 7And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was
departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them
that waited on him continually; 8And when
he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. 9On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew
nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth
hour: 10And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while
they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11And
saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a
great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth,
and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14But Peter said, Not so, Master; for I have never eaten any
thing that is common or unclean. 15And
the voice spake unto him again the second time, What Yahweh hath cleansed, that
call not thou common. 16This was
done thrice: and the vessel was received up again
into heaven. 17Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which
he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made
enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, 18And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed
Peter, were lodged there. 19While Peter thought on
the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20Arise therefore, and get
thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. 21Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him
from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause
wherefore ye are come? 22And they said, Cornelius
the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth Elohim, and of good report among
all the nation of the Jews, was warned from Elohim by an holy angel to send for
thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. 23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the
morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied
him. 24And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And
Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
25And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell
down at his feet, and worshipped him. 26But
Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. 27And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that
were come together. 28And
he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep
company, or come unto one of another nation; but Elohim hath shewed me that I
should not call any man common or unclean. 29Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I
was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? 30And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this
hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood
before me in bright clothing, 31And said, Cornelius,
thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of
Yahweh. 32Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose
surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea
side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. 33Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well
done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before Elohim, to
hear all things that are commanded thee of Yahweh. 34Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I
perceive that Yahweh is no respecter of persons: 35But
in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with
him. 36The word which Yahweh sent unto the children of Israel,
preaching peace by Yahshua the Messiah: (he is Sovereign of all:) 37That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout
all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38How Yahweh anointed Yahshua of Nazareth with the Holy
Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were
oppressed of the devil; for Yahweh was with him. 39And
we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in
Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40Him Yahweh raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of
Yahweh, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to
testify that it is he which was ordained of Yahweh to be the Judge of quick and
dead. 43To him give all the prophets witness, that through his
name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on
all them which heard the word. 45And
they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came
with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the
Holy Spirit. 46
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify Yahweh. Then answered Peter,
47Can
any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the
Holy Spirit as well as we?” Acts 10:All.
COMMENT: I have
included this whole chapter because it is important to understand various
things.
As
we see from Peter’s comments, it was unlawful for the Jews to have close
fellowship with other nations because they were all considered to be “common
and unclean.” As a matter of fact, Yahshua had told the Canaanite woman that
He had only come to the house of Israel and it wasn’t right to give the
children’s food to dogs (Mt. 15:22-27).
Yahweh’s
intention was to have mercy upon the non-Hebrews also, but He put the Jews
(Israelites) first, and then the non-Hebrews (Gentiles), “For I am not ashamed
of the gospel of the Messiah: for it is the power of Yahweh unto salvation to
every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek,” Ro. 1:16.
Cornelius
sent three men so the sheet was let down from heaven three times with all types
of unclean creatures in order to impress upon Peter that He was to no longer
calling any man common or unclean (v. 28).
As Peter was explaining the truth concerning Yahshua the Holy Spirit fell
upon Cornelius and the group with him. Since they had now received the Holy
Spirit, why should they have to be baptized in water? Yet Peter proclaimed,
“Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have
received the Holy Spirit as well as we? (V. 47)
ONE BAPTISM
For a person to be born into this world, there only needs to be one
conception. It truly is a miraculous event because only one sperm out of
thousands or perhaps millions is allowed to penetrate the egg. When this occurs,
the egg immediately puts up a shield to
prevent polyspermy because polyspermy – almost inevitably leads to early
embryonic death! In order to prevent polyspermy and its consequences, once a
sperm binds with the egg, the egg rapidly undergoes a number of metabolic and
physical changes called egg activation. The egg reacts by almost instantly
hardening (I am putting this in simple terms) so that no other sperm can bind
with it. This prevents polyspermy.
Paul writes, “4There is one body, and one Spirit, even
as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Sovereign, one faith, one baptism,
6 One Elohim and Father of
all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all,” Eph. 4:4-6.
While the Jewish Mikvah is a repetitive process, baptism in Yahshua to be
conceived from above is a one time event. The book of Hebrews relates, “4For
it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the
heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5And have tasted the good word
of Yahweh, and the powers of the world to come, 6If they shall fall away, to
renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of
Elohim afresh, and put him to an open shame,” Heb. 6:4-6.
We must be
conceived again through water (baptism) and the Spirit if we are to see, enter
into, inherit the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of Elohim. We pray that you
will be called, repent, be baptized in the name of Yahshua the Messiah, receive
the Holy Spirit, and begin to walk down that path to the second birth into the
eternal kingdom of Elohim. JH
There
are so many, many reasons for baptism, which if we were to focus on them all, we
would never finish writing this magazine.
Thus, we would like to focus on 19
major reasons for baptism as delineated in the Scriptures.
By Jerry Healan
#1
- Baptism is for the remission of sins as Peter said, “Repent and
be baptized every one of you in the name of
Yahshua the Messiah for the remission of sins,”
Acts 2:38.
When Saul (Paul) was first called, Yahshua sent Ananias to him who
encouraged him, “And
now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be
baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling
on the name of Him,”
Acts. 22:16.
The baptism of water is a type of washing one clean from all pollutions
in order to be made clean.
#2 - Baptism symbolizes putting the old man to death and in
doing so, being raised up a new person in the Messiah; a type of death, burial
and resurrection, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that
grace may abound? Yahweh forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any
longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Yahshua
the Messiah were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism
into death: that like as the Messiah was raised up from the dead by the glory of
the Father, even so we
also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the
likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection:
knowing this, that our old man is impaled with Him, that the body of sin might
be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin,” Ro. 6:1-6.
#3 - Baptism is for the purpose of circumcision of the heart,
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the
tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after the Messiah:
for in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the headship bodily. And ye are complete
in Him, Which is the head of all principality and power: in
Whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the
circumcision of the messiah: buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through
the faith of the operation of Yahweh Who hath raised Him from the dead,” Col.
2:8-12.
Paul adds to this, “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly;
neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But
he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in
the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of Yahweh,” Ro. 2:28-29.
The true baptism cuts away the unclean works of the flesh, a thing that
we are not able to do of ourselves, but Yahweh is able, through Yahshua’s
sacrifice and by the power of the spirit. The new believer then rejoices at
Yahweh’s words, His works and His ways from the inward man.
#4 - Baptism is for the purpose of putting on, clothing oneself
with the Messiah, “For as many of you as have been baptized into the Messiah have
put on the Messiah,”
Gal. 3:27.
“But put ye on the Sovereign Yahshua the Messiah,
and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof,” Ro. 13:14.
We must put on, be clothed with the Messiah, the Anointed One. In this
manner we can please our heavenly Father Yahweh in the things that we do. As He
looks upon us, He sees His Anointed Son, His Beloved Son in Whom He is well
pleased.
#5 - Baptism is for the purpose of putting on the armor of
light, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off
the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light,”
Ro. 13:12.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Sovereign, and in the power of
His might. Put on the whole armour of Elohim,
that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high
places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of Elohim, that ye may be able
to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore,
having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of
righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the evangel of peace;
above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all
the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword
of the Spirit, which is the word of Yahweh: praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and
supplication for all saints...,” Eph. 6:10-18.
This armor is very important, as stated, to keep one from the subtitles
and devices of Satan the devil.
#6 - Baptism is for the purpose of being conceived again from
above in order to obtain a better birth, a birth that endures for all eternity,
“Yahshua answered and said unto him, ‘Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, Except
a man be born again (conceived from above), he cannot see the kingdom of Elohim’...Yahshua answered, ‘Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born (conceived) of water and of the spirit,
he cannot enter into the kingdom of Elohim. That which is born (conceived) of
flesh is flesh; and that which is born (conceived) of the Spirit is spirit,”
Jn. 3:3, 5-6.
“Blessed be the Elohim and Father of our Sovereign Yahshua the Messiah,
Which according to His abundant mercy hath
begotten (conceived) us again
unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Yahshua the Messiah from the
dead...,” 1 Pet. 1:3.
“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and
envies, and all evil speakings, as
newborn (newly conceived or newly generated) babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow
thereby: if so be ye have tasted that Yahweh is gracious,” 1 Pet. 2:1-3.
#7 - Baptism is for the purpose of receiving grace, “And you
hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye
walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the
power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our
flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature
the children of wrath, even as others. But Yahweh, Who is rich in mercy, for His
great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened
us together with the Messiah, (by grace ye are saved;)
and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in
the Messiah Yahshua: that
in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His
kindness toward us through the Messiah Yahshua. For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that
not of yourselves: it is the gift of Yahweh: not of works, lest any man should
boast,”
Eph. 2:1-9.
“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope
of your calling; One Sovereign, one faith, one
baptism, one Elohim and
Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given
grace according to the measure of the gift of the Messiah,”
Eph. 4:4-7.
#8 - Baptism is for Sanctification and Justification, “Know ye
not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of Elohim? Be not
deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate,
nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor
drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of Elohim.
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are
justified in the name of the Sovereign Yahshua and by the Spirit of our Elohim,”
1 Cor. 6:9-11.
#9 - Baptism is for the purpose of finding peace, “Therefore being
justified by faith, we have peace with Yahweh through our
Sovereign Yahshua the Messiah: by Whom also we have access by faith unto this grace wherein we stand,
and rejoice in hope of the glory of Elohim, Ro. 5:1-2.
“But now in the Messiah Yahshua ye who sometimes were far off are made
nigh by the blood of the Messiah, for
He is our peace Who hath
made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained
in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace...,”
Eph. 2:13-15.
#10 - Baptism is for reconciliation and atonement, “Therefore
if any man be in the Messiah, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new. And all things are of Yahweh, Who hath
reconciled us to Himself by Yahshua the Messiah, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to
wit, that Yahweh was in the Messiah, reconciling the world unto Himself,
not imputing their trespasses unto them, and
hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for the Messiah, as
though Yahweh did beseech you by us: we pray you in the Messiah’s stead, be you
reconciled to Yahweh,”
2 Cor. 5:17-20.
“And that He might reconcile both unto Yahweh
in one body by the tree,
having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were
afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through Him we both have access by one
Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners,
but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of Yahweh; and are
built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Yahshua the Messiah
Himself being the chief corner stone; In Whom all the building fitly framed
together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Sovereign; In Whom ye also are
builded together for an habitation of Yahweh through the Spirit,” Eph.
2:16-22.
“For if, when we were enemies, we
were reconciled to Yahweh by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
And not only so, but we also joy in Yahweh through our Sovereign Yahshua the
Messiah, by Whom we have now received the atonement,” Ro. 5:10-11.
#11 - Baptism is for the purpose of restoration to spiritual
virginity, “Would to Yahweh ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and
indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with a
pious jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to the Messiah,”
2 Cor. 11:1-2.
“These are they which were not defiled with
women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were
redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto Yahweh and unto the Lamb,”
Rev. 14:4.
#12 - Baptism is for the purpose of espousing (engagement) one to
the Messiah (see previous verse 2 Cor. 11:1-2).
Yahshua is the Bridegroom, “And John also was baptizing in Ænon near
to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized,
for John was not yet cast into prison. Then there arose a question between some
of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. And they came unto John, and
said unto him ‘Rabbi, He That was with thee beyond Jordan, to Whom thou barest
witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to Him.’ John answered
and said, ‘A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye
yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Messiah, but that I am
sent before Him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the
bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the
bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but
I must decrease’,” Jn. 3:23-30.
“And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they
come and say unto Him, ‘Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees
fast, but Thy disciples fast not?’ And Yahshua said unto them, ‘Can the
children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? As long as
they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come,
when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in
those days’,” Mk. 2:18-20.
Yahshua is the bridegroom. Those who are called and chosen, who repent
and are baptized are cleansed and restored to virginity. They are then able to
enter into a marriage contract (covenant) with the Messiah which will be
consummated at the end of the age (Rev. 19).
#13 - Baptism is for the purpose of entering into Yahweh’s New
Covenant through Yahshua, “Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, when
I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I
took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they
continued not in My covenant, and I regarded them not, saith Yahweh. For this is
the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith
Yahweh; I
will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them an Elohim, and they shall be to
Me a People: and they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his
brother, saying, ‘Know Yahweh: for all shall know Me, from the least to the
greatest’,” Heb. 8:8-11. (See also Jer. 31:31-34)
#14 - Baptism is for the purpose of receiving the law of faith,
“Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in the
Messiah Yahshua: Whom Yahweh hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith
in His blood, to declare
His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the
forbearance of Yahweh; to declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that
He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Yahshua. Where is
boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay; but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without
the deeds of the law. Is
He the Elohim of the Jews only? Is He not also of the Gentiles? Yea, of the
Gentiles also: seeing it is one Elohim, Which shall justify the circumcision by
faith, and uncircumcision through faith, do we then make void the law through faith? Yahweh forbid:
yea, we
establish the law,” Ro.
3:24-31.
Paul’s writings are important to understand. He never wrote to do away
with the law, but to reveal that we all have sinned and fallen short of the
glory of Yahweh, thus there is no amount of law keeping that will earn grace,
mercy, salvation, etc. That is a free gift through Yahshua. However, once we
receive that grace we uphold the law. (Order our free treatise entitled Is The Law Done Away?)
Our walk must be established through the law of faith which Yahweh begins
to extend to us once we receive the calling and believe. Then we proceed in
faith, believing in His word and responding to that calling.
#15 - Baptism is for the purpose of inheriting Yahweh’s kingdom
and eternal life, “Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not Yahweh chosen the
poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom
which He hath promised to them that love Him?” Jas. 2:5.
“Blessed be the Elohim and Father of our Sovereign Yahshua the Messiah,
Which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope
by the resurrection of Yahshua the Messiah from the dead, to an inheritance
incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for
you, who are kept by the power of Yahweh through faith unto salvation ready to
be revealed in the last time,” 1 Pet. 1:3-5.
#16
- Baptism is for the purpose of being sealed with the Heavenly Father’s name,
“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an
hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their
foreheads,” Rev. 14:1.
#17
- Baptism is for the purpose of becoming the children of the fathers Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob/Israel. Abram/Abraham is the first Hebrew mentioned in the
Scriptures. Yahweh promised that he would become a father of many nations,
“And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, Yahweh appeared to Abram, and
said unto him, I am the El Shaddai; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I
will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
And Abram fell on his face: and Elohim talked with him, saying, As for me,
behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name
shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and
kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and
thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant,
to be a Elohim unto thee, and to thy seed after thee,” Gen. 17:1-7.
At the appointed time Yahweh
delivered Israel out of bondage to Egypt and made His covenant with them. Only
the Israelite Hebrews had right to that covenant even though strangers could
decide to leave their own people and country, go live among the Hebrews, become
circumcised, adhere to the stipulations of the covenant and become Hebrews
themselves. But few, if any were willing to endure the required steps to come
under the covenant.
In reality, even the new
covenant is only made with the houses of Israel and Judah (Heb. 8:1-13).
Therefore, when one is baptized in Yahshua’s name, he comes under the New
Covenant and is grafted into Israel (Ro. 11:1-27).
#18
- Baptism is for the purpose of becoming the children of Elohim, “He came unto
his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave
he power to become the sons of Elohim, even to them that believe on his name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of
man, but of Elohim,” Jn. 1:11-13.
Again, John writes, “Behold,
what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called
the sons of Elohim: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Beloved, now are we the sons of Elohim, and it doth not yet appear what we shall
be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall
see him as he is,” 1 Jn. 3:1-2.
The Apostle Paul writes, “For
as many as are led by the Spirit of Elohim, they are the sons of Elohim. For ye
have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the
Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth
witness with our spirit, that we are the children of Elohim: And if children,
then heirs; heirs of Elohim, and joint-heirs with the Messiah; if so be that we
suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together,” Ro. 8:14-17.
Paul continues, “For the
earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of
Elohim. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by
reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself
also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty
of the children of Elohim. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and
travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also,
which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within
ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body,” Ro.
8:19-23.
The creation is in bondage! The
creation is in bondage to corruption! It will only be delivered from the bondage
to this corruption when the Sons of Elohim are manifested. Baptism begins a new
creature that is to be formed in us. That new creature is no longer to be flesh
and blood, but a creature of the Spirit.
#19
- Baptism makes us strangers and pilgrims on this earth, “Then Pilate entered
into the judgment hall again, and called Yahshua, and said unto him, Art thou
the King of the Jews? Yahshua answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself,
or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation
and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
Yahshua answered, My kingdom is not of this
world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants
fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not
from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Yahshua
answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this
cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every
one that is of the truth heareth my voice” Jn. 18:33-37.
The faithful of old, especially
Abraham, the father of the faithful, confessed that they were strangers and
pilgrims on the earth, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a
place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out,
not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in
a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with
him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose
builder and maker is Yahweh. Through faith also Sara herself received strength
to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because
she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one,
and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as
the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in faith, not
having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded
of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims
on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a
country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they
came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire
a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore Yahweh is not ashamed to be
called their Elohim: for he hath prepared for them a city,” Heb. 11:8-16.
The Apostle Peter encourages,
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a
peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called
you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a
people, but are now the people of Elohim: which had not obtained mercy, but now
have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims,
abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation
honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers,
they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify Yahweh in the day
of visitation,” 1 Pet. 2:9-12.
We know that there are many,
many more reasons and purposes for baptism, but these 19 reasons are very
powerful reasons and revelations for baptism.
NOTE: These “Purposes For Baptism”
are taken from our booklet entitled “The Seven
Steps to the Kingdom, or What Must I Do to Be Saved”,
available gratis. JH