Rightly dividing the Word of Truth. Part 47
Rightly dividing the Word of truth.
This is part 47 in a series of 53 articles about RIGHTLY DIVIDING GOD’S WORD OF TRUTH. All scripture quoted will be from the King James Bible.
Bible contrasts ended in part 46 with the (EP) Earthly Promises for Israel. Now we continue with the (HP) Heavenly Possessions in part 47.
Special Abbreviations: (e.g.) meaning “for example” (ff.) meaning “following verse or following verses” (EP) meaning Earthly Program—(HP) meaning Heavenly Program
(HP) Heavenly Possessions belong to believers of this present age. “God…hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). God hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:4-6; Col. 3:1-3). “For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven…” (Phil. 3:20). The Apostle Paul also testifies that “the Lord…will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom” (II Tim. 4:18).
(EP) Many Baptisms were practiced through most of the Bible. The Old Testament religious system required “divers washings [various baptisms, in the original Greek language]” (Heb. 9:1,10). The Jewish religion of Christ’s time held to the “washing [baptism, in the Greek text]” of many things (Mark 7:4,8). When John the Baptist came to “baptize…with water,” he also spoke of Holy Ghost and fire baptisms (Matt. 3:11). Both Jesus and Peter at Pentecost taught water baptism as necessary to “be saved”—“for the remission of sins” (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). Later Peter water baptized Cornelius obviously after his salvation (Acts 10:43-48). Death and risking martyrdom are also called baptisms (Luke 12:50; I Cor. 15:29). Christendom today practices many different baptisms. “
(HP) One Baptism” alone is now God’s rule (Eph. 4:5). That one baptism is a spiritual one “for by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” (I Cor. 12:13). The Apostle Paul also calls this baptism “the operation of God” (Col. 2:12). This one baptism happens the moment a person trusts Christ after hearing the gospel of salvation (Eph. 1:12-13).
(EP) GOD’S SPIRIT COULD LEAVE believers in other ages. The Spirit of God came upon men for specific tasks. So was it with careless Samson and King Saul (Judges 14:6,19; I Sam. 11:6). God’s Spirit also came upon godly men such as Moses and King David for their appointed work (Num. 11:17,29; I Sam. 16:13). The Spirit came upon Jesus Christ when He began His earthly ministry (Mark 1:10). But the Spirit of the Lord departed from such as Samson and Saul (Judges 16:20; I Sam. 16:14). Even David begged God, “take not Thy Holy Spirit from me” (Psa. 51:11).
(HP) GOD’S SPIRIT STAYS in believers today from salvation onward. When someone trusts Christ as Savior he is “sealed with that Holy Spirit” (Eph. 1:13). Everyone who is truly saved possesses the Holy Spirit, for God’s Word declares “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (Rom. 8:9). By “the Holy Spirit of God… ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30).
To be continued