The Kingdom of God and One Baptism

I believe that I was led by the holy Spirit through the following scriptures for the following reason. I started the study on a Monday or Tuesday, beginning with the first verse below, and following about the same path through the scriptures as I have presented them here. I finished the study on a Wednesday afternoon, just before going to our evening prayer meeting. That evening, our pastor preached on exactly the same topic, covering almost the same verses, and if I remember correctly, in about the same order. I shouldn't have to tell you how that built up my faith in the love and power of God! Some may say it was just coincidence, but this sort of thing happens too frequently to be coincidence. I have learned the Truth by the Spirit, through lessons presented by brothers and sisters in the Lord and reinforced by the timely rehashing of the truth in our pastor's preaching. It has served to strengthen my faith in what I now know to be the Truth, as taught by the Spirit of Truth, the holy Ghost. I hope, and pray, that you have experienced, or will experience, what I am talking about. May the Lord open your eyes and heart to the Truth presented below.

Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power." (Mark 9:1), also see Luke 9:27

What then is the Kingdom of God, that they should see it before their death?

It is "righteousness, peace and joy in the holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17)

Where is the Kingdom of God?

"Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, 'The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, "Here it is," or "There it is," because the kingdom of God is WITHIN you.' " (Luke 17:20,21)

The prayer that people today call the Lord's Prayer was given by Jesus only to his disciples when they asked Jesus to teach them to pray. Jesus said, "When YOU pray..." (Matthew 6:7). He was talking only to his disciples. It was every Jew's hope to see the kingdom of God. The Disciples Prayer was a prayer of hope to see the Kingdom, "...your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (verse 10) On the day of Pentecost, the disciples' hope was realized, the prayer was answered, and there was no further need to pray this prayer. On the day of Pentecost the disciples saw "the kingdom of God come with power".

The disciples were taught to "...seek first his kingdom and his righteousness..." (Matthew 6:33)

The Father wanted to give the disciples the Kingdom. (Luke 12:32)

Certain conditions must be met to attain the kingdom of God. It is not for man to decide the way. That is why we must seek with all our heart, mind, and strength. God will show us the way, not any christian denomination or doctrine of men.

Jesus said that unless you become as little children, you would never enter into the Kingdom. (Matthew 18:3)

Also, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." (John 3:3) Read verses 5 through 8. Jesus mentions two births: of water and the Spirit. Of water means the natural birth (first birth), while the second birth (born again) is of the Spirit. "Flesh gives birth to flesh (natural birth), but the Spirit gives birth to spirit (born again)."

There were three baptisms practiced after the day of Pentecost.

The first baptism that was practiced was John the Baptist's. It was a baptism of repentance and came with a message that one would come after him, one who would baptize with the holy Ghost (Mark 1:8; also Acts 11:16). John's baptism was performed in water, which signified the holy Ghost washing away one's sin. John the Baptist said, "He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30) John the Baptist was saying that the symbolic water baptism would be replaced by the real baptism of the holy Ghost.

The second baptism was the holy Ghost baptism given on the day of Pentecost. This was the baptism that John said would come (Acts 1:5; 11:16). EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD MUST HAVE THIS BAPTISM!

The third baptism was performed after the day of Pentecost, in water, but without the holy Spirit being given to the person being baptized (Acts 19:1-7). This baptism is the one being practiced in christianity today (Apollos' baptism). Apollos eventually learned the Way more fully (Acts 18:24-28). Christians also need to learn the Way more fully!

St. Paul said that there was only one baptism (Ephesians 4:5). So which baptism is the second birth, the baptism necessary to receive the holy Ghost, and attain the kingdom of God?

Jesus gave Peter the keys to the kingdom of God (Matthew 16:19).

In the disciples' day, there were three groups of people: Jews (Jerusalem and Judea), Samaritans, and Gentiles. Jesus told his disciples to witness to these three groups (Acts 1:8).

Peter had to be present for each of these groups to have the door opened to the holy Ghost baptism - Peter had the keys to the Kingdom.

The Jews had to be the first group to be offered the holy Ghost baptism (Acts 13:46; and Romans 1:16).

The Samaritans were next. Philip preached the Gospel in Samaria and many people believed and were baptized (John's baptism in water). But, no Samaritan received the holy Ghost baptism before Peter arrived with the key to the Kingdom; he placed his hands upon them (Acts 8:12-17). After the door was opened, Samaritans could receive the holy Ghost baptism without Peter being present.

The Gentiles were the last group for the door to the Kingdom to be opened to. Read about Cornelius sending for Peter to bring the Gospel (Acts 10).

It is true that the apostles continued to baptize in water after the day of Pentecost, but Paul, who received the Gospel to the Gentiles directly from Jesus in heaven, preached that there was only one baptism (Ephesians 4:5). The Samaritans had received John's baptism in water, yet had not received the holy Spirit. Cornelius received the holy Ghost before being baptized in water. Before Paul received his doctrine of ONE BAPTISM, two others were being practiced. Which baptism would you rather have? One in water that only leaves you wet, or the true baptism when the holy Ghost is given into your soul?

Jesus said that the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23).

The holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth (John 14:17; 15:26; and 16:13). The holy Ghost will testify of Jesus and guide us (teach) into all truth. Therefore, when a person receives the holy Ghost baptism, that person is enabled to worship God in the Spirit and in truth. How would you rather worship? In a service with a set pattern (designed by man), or led by the holy Spirit?

How do we know that we have the holy Ghost dwelling within us so that we may worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth? Some people claim to have the Spirit, but what is the evidence? A person's witness is nothing on its own. You must have a second witness, the one from God.

The holy Spirit will testify with our spirit (two witnesses). John 15:26

The witness of God is greater than man's witness. 1 John 5:9

Jesus told his disciples what signs would accompany true believers. Mark 16:16-18

"For then will I turn to the people a PURE LANGUAGE, that they may call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one consent." Zephaniah 3:9

St. John told us to test the spirits (1 John 4:1-3). The Spirit of God is capable of making a sound, apart from our own ability, while the spirit of the antichrist makes no sound. The holy Spirit talks through us in words we do not know (1 Corinthians 2:12,13). The Spirit bears witness with our spirit (two testimonies) that we are children of God (Romans 8:16).

Speaking in tongues is for a sing to unbelievers that they might be led to God (1 Cor. 14:22). Each group of people (Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles) bore witness (spoke in tongues) when they received the holy Ghost baptism.

If a christian believer professes to have the Spirit, but does not speak in tongues, that is the spirit of antichrist. The Greek word for "anti" does not mean against, as is taught in christianity; it actually means "instead of".

Praise God!

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