Infant baptism.

It's either a truth or a lie, false or true. Many teach that baptism can save, or that it's essential to salvation. Often times Acts 16 is quoted as proof for infant baptism as well. The problem with infant baptism is there are no infants mentioned anywhere in the bible that are baptized! And as scripture for a pattern, and inspired by The Holy Spirit, we must follow God's pattern, not our own, or tradition, but simply the Word of God. Now back to Acts 16, please, read this for yourselves as well, here is a brief summary. Paul & Silas were thrown in jail for preaching the Gospel of Christ. They sang songs of praise to God, then an earthquake shook the prison and they were loosed from their chains. The jailor came and saw the prison doors opened and thought they had escaped. Paul & Silas told him they were there still. The jailor said, "What must I do to be saved? " "You must believe on the Lord, and you will be saved, you and your whole household." They told him. Nothing about having to be baptized, just believe on Jesus. This is actually a pattern set forth for us to know when to baptize, for when the jailor took them to his home, Paul & Silas spoke the word of God to the jailor and his whole house....an infant mentioned? No. Then they were baptized, after hearing the word. Was it told that baptism was a part of salvation? No. By the way, the word baptized means to be immersed, or brought under the water, not sprinkled. (Strongs Greek 907, greek, baptizo)So we're even doing that sprinkle part wrong! It's sweet to take everything you have, and dedicate it to the Lord, especially something as sweet, and as important as our children. So we dedicate them, not baptize them, until they come to faith in Christ. Ephesians 2: 8 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast." Water cannot save, no matter how holy, or who it's anointed by, but grace alone, through faith can save. Whenever the devil comes and speaks doubt to us about God's word, we are supposed to hit him with other scripture, like Jesus did when He was being tempted by the devil. Study the scriptures, make them a part of your life, devour them as if they could save your life, because they can. Here is another great scripture on how and when someone should be baptized, again, the Word of God won't return void, but our trartitions can, and often do: Acts 8: 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”[c] "If you believe with all your heart..." this should be why we get baptized. There is another baptism, one of the Holy Spirit and with fire. Matthew 3:11"As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." Jesus Himself promised "power from on high" Luke 24:49 "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." Then it came, Acts 2 The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost "1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."

God deals with us as sons

The Lord is really faithful, so He deals with us as sons. He corrects as, because He loves us, as we fathers are supposed to do with our sons. Matthew 6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The Lamp of the Body 22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! You Cannot Serve God and Riches 24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Do Not Worry 25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 7:24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” He corrects us, because He loves us. He will never stop correcting us, because He will never stop loving us. It's not the fleshly kind of correction we might see from a human, it's the life saving kind of correction that we all need. A word spoken in right circumstance. He loves us, He corrects us. We cannot receive one, without the other, or expect one without the other.

1 Peter 4

Below you will see scriptures that can effect your life and the way you live it if you choose to believe His word and apply it to your life, and actually live by it!!
Verse 1, "ceased from sin." !!!


1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us[a] in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime[b] in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
Serving for God’s Glory

7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”[c] 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Suffering for God’s Glory

12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.[d] On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.[e]
17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now


“ If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”[f]

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

Christmas, for real!

DISPELLING the MYTHS of TIME One of the more recent Christmas traditions has been the repeated assertions, on the internet, in the press and from some pulpits, that the 25th December could not have been Jesus' actual birthday. Examining the Historical Record According to this position, He could have been born on almost any other day of the year, except 25 December. It is asserted that 25 Dec. had originally been the pagan winter solstice festival, which had been taken over by the Christians to promote the new faith. In doing so, many of the old pagan customs crept into this new Christian celebration. Numerous articles, booklets, radio programmes and even T.V. documentaries have been produced asserting this position. Myths However, this opinion is itself based upon historical myths, incomplete research and ignorance of history. Christmas Predates Constantine Christians have celebrated the Incarnation and nativity of the Lord Jesus on December 25 since the earliest centuries. Long before the conversion of Constantine in AD312, and the end of the persecution by the Roman Empire, 25 December was already established as a venerable and tenured tradition for celebrating Christmas Day. Christmas Predates Catholicism The assertion, therefore, that Christmas is a creation of the Roman Catholic church and that it has something to do with the mass, is false. The tradition of Christmas, the Christ Festival, long pre-dates the establishment of what became Roman Catholicism. Pagan Attempt to Hijack Christmas It is true that one Roman Emperor, Aurelian, did attempt to inaugurate 25 Dec. as a pagan festival "the birth of the unconquered Sun." This was in AD 274. Aurelian was attempting to breathe new life into a declining paganism devastated by the advances of Christianity. However, the Roman pagan festival was instituted after the Christians had already been celebrating the birth of Christ on that day for many decades. Their pagan festival was an attempt to create an alternative tradition, which already was associated with the birth of Christ, and of some significance to the Roman Christians. This is not a case of Christians imitating the pagans. The pagans were attempting to imitate the Christians, by celebrating the Sun on the day when Christians celebrated the Son of God. Comparing Calendars Already in the 2nd Century, church councils had attempted to establish the actual time of Christ's birth. This was tied up with discussions over the date of Easter, the commemoration of Christ's Death and Resurrection. Because Scripture identifies Christ's death at the time of the Jewish Passover, the time of year could be known with precision. However, differences in the Jewish, Greek and Latin calendars, and the discrepancies between the Lunar (moon) and Solar (sun) date keeping caused intense debate over whether to observe Easter on a fixed date, no matter which day it fell on, or to ensure that it always fell on a Sunday, the first day of the week, as identified in the Gospels. The Annunciation On the basis of records available to them at that time, the early Church established 25 March as the Feast of Annunciation to mark when the Angel first appeared to Mary, and as the date of Christ’s conception. They also came to consensus that Christ was born 9 months later - on 25 December. 25 March used to be New Year's Day It needs to be noted that, from the earliest days of the Roman Imperial calendar, the New Year was celebrated on 25 March - the first day of spring (in the Northern hemisphere). This is why September, October, November, December derived from the Latin words, Septem (7), Octo (8), Novem (9), and Decem (10). The New, New Year's Day The celebration of the New Year on 1 January dates back to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1600, in Scotland and 1752, in England. From the 17th Century, 1 January began to be celebrated in Christian nations as a day of Renewal - a renewal of vows, vision and vocation. It was on this day that guild members took their annual pledge, that husbands and wives renewed their marriage vows, and young believers recommitted themselves to walk in the Grace of the Lord. In the Darkness 25 December occurs in the northern hemisphere in the darkest time of the year. 25 Dec is during the longest nights, and shortest days of the year. So, the early Church establishing that the Incarnation, when Christ was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, occurred on the first day of spring, 25 March, and that His Advent occurred when He was born at the darkest time, during the longest night of the year, 25 December. A Light Has Shone "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined… For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His Name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His Government and peace there will be no end." Isaiah 9:2-7 New Covenant 1 January, as the first day of the New Year, follows 8 days after the birth of Christ, on the day when he would have been circumcised and come officially under the Covenant. An Age of Presumption It is remarkable how so many people today, with no historical research, and next to no knowledge of the historical realities and complexities of 2,000 years ago, can assume that they know better than learned men and Church councils convened much closer to the events in question for the express purpose of ascertaining the most accurate dates of Christ's birth, Crucifixion and Resurrection. But then, we live in a world where everything is being questioned - even God's Law and the Word of God. Victory Over Paganism Instead, we should celebrate that Christ's Coming did replace desperation with joy, oppression with celebration, human sacrifices with Christmas Festivals; Christ replaced Baal, Molech, Apollo, Mars, and Thor. At the time of greatest darkness, Christ came. "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." John 1:5 Christmas is a time to celebrate Christ's victory over paganism. New Year's Day is a time to renew our vows, vision and vocation, and the first day of spring to celebrate the Life of Christ. Dr. Peter Hammond

What is our standard?

I guess my bigger question is, what is our standard; man, our traditions, or His holy word? To make it simpler, what is Jesus's standard for our lives, because I want what He has for me, not my own understanding! Here is what I found in reference to our standard on remembering someone's sin, and whether forgiveness is forgetting according to God, our one true standard: 3415 mnavomai , mnah'-om-ahee: middle voice of a derivative of 3306 or perhaps of the base of 3145 (through the idea of fixture in the mind or of mental grasp); to bear in mind, i.e. recollect; by implication, to reward or punish:--be mindful, remember, come (have) in remembrance. Compare3403. Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. My concern too is what I just read this morning, 1 Corinthians 3: And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal? Watering, Working, Warning 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. Avoid Worldly Wisdom 18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; [a] 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”[b] 21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. 23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. If you and I are temples of God, then if I teach you something according to my tradition, or something I read in someone's commentaries, or MY understanding of His word, and it's inaccurate, then I am defiling you... Also, John 4:24: 4 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” If I am going to hold those who are set above me, teaching my family and friends, accountable to the word of God, and Christ's standard, I too must allow them to hold that same standard to me. So please, tell me where I am in error. As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)

The plan of God for your life

Each one of us has a specific call, a purpose, and a plan known only to God, but revealed to us by His Spirit. Philippians 3:17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.4:1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. It is a hard line to try and walk in the flesh as a Christian and try to still fulfill God's call on your life. While I was praying this morning, I thought about our purpose, and that even in the world everything that was made seems to have a fairly specific purpose. A bike was made to ride. A book, made to read. You are called by God for a very specific purpose, and you can't fulfill it by a work in the flesh. Romans 8: There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Let me say it plainly; we cannot please God by walking in our flesh. Our strength has limits, God's does not. Our understanding, our abilities, everything we are is weak compared to God. I cannot fulfill the perfect plan and purpose God has for me, by me. I must submit to the will of God, walk in the Spirit, and put on the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16) "Lord help us to be able to let You lead. Sheep do not make good shepherds. You are that One and only Good Shepherd, and we are Your sheep. Lord we trust in You to lead us and guide us, to bring us to Your side. You alone are God, and You alone are good. We Love You Lord, in Jesus Name, amen."

Does baptism save? NO!

Jesus was baptized, but then something interesting happened. The Holy Spirit descended upon Him as a dove. The disciples were baptized by the Holy Spirit and with fire. In the Old Testament people were baptized, as well as the new. The new testament is Jesus, the living Word. The first judgement of God upon the earth was when He flooded the whole earth, with water. The second judgement to come is going to be fire. Many in traditional churches believe it is necessary to be baptized in order to receive salvation, and that grace, or the cross, or His blood isn't enough. Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Baptism can't save you, but Christ can. I believe we should be baptized, but I do not believe, as some do, that it alone can save us. Using the above verse, this discussion reminds me of circumcision verses non circumcision. Jesus, Paul and Stephen all told the religious leaders, "You uncircumcised of heart..." The Jewish leaders at the time of Jesus had instituted over 300 additional commands after The Lord gave Moses the law. The Jews taught that unless you were circumcised you could not go to heaven. Just like the Pharisee in us, we want to put additional commands on His Holy Church today, that keeps them from salvation, unless we do all the right things, according to man, or even according to man's interoperation of scripture. Our salvation is not gained by our works, but by grace. If we think something we do will gain us, or our children, entry into heaven, then we believe we are saved by works. There are a few scriptures that tell us about being baptized by His Holy Spirit, which can happen at the time of baptism, before it, or after it. In the case of Jesus listed above, it was after. In the case of the first filling of the Sprit, in Acts 4, it was before. It is a separate filling that Jesus desires for us. If we are not filled with the Spirit, as Jesus promised that He would send, how can we go out, unless we are "filled"? Acts 1:8 "but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." It is not us, it is Him. We don't have the power or ability to save ourselves or anyone else, that is to Christ alone be the glory, forever and ever, Amen!