Foundational Principles of Christ - Part 2
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The Doctrine of Baptisms


This page is a continuation of the Foundational Principles. Part One can be found here:  
 
Foundational Principles Part One

There is indeed more than 1 baptism and the Bible speaks of a doctine of Baptisms plural.

Heb 5: RWV
12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need of one to teach you again which are the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  
13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.  
Heb 6:
1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.


Depending upon which Bible version you use. These can be called many things, based upon these scriptural labels:  

1. first principles of the oracles of God
2. principles of the doctrine of Christ
3. foundation

I call them the Foundational Principles. These principles, listed in Heb 6:1-2 are:  

1: Repentance from Dead Works  
2: Faith toward God  
3: Doctrine of Baptisms (plural)  
4: Laying on of Hands  
5: Resurrection of the Dead  
6: Eternal Judgment  

The 1st page discussed the 1st two Foundational Principles. This page will discuss the 3rd: the Doctrine of Baptisms.  

As you noticed, it is plural. Several denominations have only 1 baptism, others have 2, some have 3 or more. On this page, I will discuss 7 New Testament baptisms. That's right, seven.  

Why seven? That appears to be the number established in the New Testament. There may be others, but they are not established or understood. Seven also is typified in the Old Testament:  

Leviticus 4 MKJV
5 And the priest who is anointed shall take of the young bull's blood, and shall bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation.
6 And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, at the front of the veil of the holy place.


The priest sprinkled the blood 7 times.  

Heb 9: MKJV
14 how much more shall the blood of Christ (who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God) purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?


Christ's blood purges our conscience. 

Ezek 36: MKJV  
25 ¶ And I will sprinkle clean waters on you, and you shall be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from your idols.
26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.  
27 And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall keep My judgments and do them. 


A new believer has a new heart. It is new because it is the combination of God's Spirit living within the spirit of the believer and the renewing soul. The atonement of Christ's blood, allows the Word of God to be placed in the heart of the believer. This enables him to save his soul and walk out the statutes of God.  

Baptisms are the symbolic representations of the blood of Christ and the Word of God doing their work in the believer. Just as the priest sprinkled the blood 7 times, the believer must be sprinkled 7 times as well. But to be fully obedient, we shouldn't just be sprinkled, but completely submerged 7 times. Baptism in greek means:  

907 Strong's:  
from a derivative of baptw - bapto 911; to immerse, submerge; to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the New Testament) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism
 

We need to be fully submerged. But of the 7 baptism's, only 1 is symbolically reflected in ceremony. But, each baptism discussed here is a work of God, of which, into these workings of God, we should be fully submerged into.  

1 Pet 3: NKJV
21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,


As we see the conscience is involved. The baptism into water does not remove the sin, but is a symbolic act of the regeneration of the believer. Thus, it is an act of faith done toward God, but also as a confession before men.  

Math 10: MKJV
32 Then everyone who shall confess Me before men, I will confess him before My Father who is in Heaven.


Here is the Old Testament "shadow" of the 7 New Testament baptisms:  

2 Kings 5: NKJV
10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean."  13 And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, "Wash, and be clean'?" 14 So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.  


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1st Baptism - John's Baptism unto Repentance

Math 3: NKJV
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance...

Acts 19: MKJV
1 ... Paul was passing through the higher parts to Ephesus. And finding certain disciples,
2 he said to them, Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? And they said to him, We did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit is.
3 And he said to them, Then to what were you baptized? And they said, To John's baptism.
4 And Paul said, John truly baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe into Him coming after him, that is, into Jesus Christ.


The christian does not celebrate this baptism symbolically as those who did this with John the Baptist. No need to be dunked with this baptism.  

John called for repentance of sin and also pointed to the coming Christ. To reach God in the New Testament one must come through Christ and repent of Dead Works. You can find more about the Repentance of Dead Works in Part 1 of the Foundational Principles.  

The Bible speaks of 2 kinds of repentance.  

2 Corinthians 7: NKJV  
9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.  


There is Godly and worldly repentance. Judas who betrayed Jesus, repented when he was caught and realized he had betrayed innocent Blood. But his repentance brought death.  

Math 27: MKJV
3 Then he who had betrayed Him, seeing that He was condemned, sorrowing, Judas returned the thirty pieces of silver again to the chief priests and elders,
4 saying, I have sinned, betraying innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? You see to that .
5 And he threw the pieces of silver down in the temple and departed. And he went and hanged himself.

John 17: MKJV
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those that You have given Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.


To get to heaven and truly repent, we must turn to God and realize and accept who Jesus is and that He took our sins. This is the most basic of salvation. When we believe and accept this, the Holy Spirit seals us.  

Eph 1: NKJV  
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise


2nd Baptism - Baptism into Water/into His Death/in the Name

Romans 6: MKJV
2 ... How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
3 Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?
4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father; even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Acts 8: MKJV
35 Then Philip opened his mouth and began at the same Scripture and preached the gospel of Jesus to him.
36 And as they passed along the way, they came on some water. And the eunuch said, See, here is water, what hinders me from being baptized?
37 Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, it is lawful. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still. And they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch. And he baptized him.


Water baptism is a symbolic representation of what Christ has done for us. Just as the eunuch did with Philip. Being submersed into the water represents we died with Christ. Coming out of the water represents we have been raised with Christ into newness of life.  

The 1st baptism is where God's incorruptible seed conceives new life in us. This baptism represents being born again.  

1 Peter 1: nKJV
23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever


These are 2 separate acts. Being conceived by the incorruptible seed of the Word of God at the point of believing in Christ and His death for our sin and being born again and becoming a new creature.  

2 Cor 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

We can see these are 2 different works of God here:  

John 1:12: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name

Receiving Him, is when He implants His seed in your heart, which happens when you believe. Only AFTER you have done this, does He give you the power to become a son of God.  

How many believers are conceived but never born again? There are entire denominations which have many such believers. I myself became a believer when I was about 8 years old. When I was about 22 years old I became born again.  

We must be born again.  

John 3: MKJV
3 Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.


Being born again is more than just believing in Jesus and believing He died for your sins. Being born again is believing that you died with Him, and were raised into a new life in Christ.  

I admonish everyone who is able and believes that they have died with Christ to go get water baptized. Water baptism doesn't get you into heaven, but is a confession to God and man of what Jesus has done for you. God understands if prison or living in a country where the church is persecuted or such circumstances forbid the water baptism. But those who are able should do so for their own conscience before God.  

In another page I go into detail about believing verses being Born Again here:

 Believing vs. Being Born Again

3rd Baptism - Baptism into the Holy Ghost/Spirit

In Sept of 2019, I created a video about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. You can find that video near the bottom of this page.

Math 3: MKJV
11 I indeed baptize you with water to repentance. But He who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire;

Acts 1: MKJV
5 For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.

Acts 11: MKJV
16 And I remembered the Word of the Lord, how He said, John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
 

Joel 2: NKJV
28 "And it shall come to pass afterward  
        That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;  
        Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,  
        Your old men shall dream dreams,  
        Your young men shall see visions.  
        29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants  
        I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
 

This is a separate act from water baptism and separate from the born again experience:  

Acts 10: NKJV
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47 "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord...

Acts 19: MKJV
1 ¶ And it happened in the time Apollos was at Corinth, Paul was passing through the higher parts to Ephesus. And finding certain disciples,
2 he said to them, Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? And they said to him, We did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit is.
3 And he said to them, Then to what were you baptized? And they said, To John's baptism.
4 And Paul said, John truly baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe into Him coming after him, that is, into Jesus Christ.
5 And hearing, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And as Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.


The purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is NOT for power. But to have power to be a witness:  

Luke 10: MKJV
19 Behold, I give to you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the authority of the enemy. And nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20 Yet do not rejoice in this, that the evil spirits are subject to you, rather rejoice because your names are written in Heaven.


Acts 1: MKJV
8 But you shall receive power, the Holy Spirit coming upon you. And you shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth.


Being empowered by the Holy Spirit allows the believer to overcome many obstacles, thus enabling him to be a witness of God's ability to save and shows His love for all. This baptism can be used to defeat demons, sickness, poison, and many other problems.  

Mark 16: MKJV
17 And miraculous signs will follow to those believing these things: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak new tongues;
18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will be well.


Some people abuse this power and tempt God. There are snake handling churches. Jesus was tempted by satan to use His powers in such a way, but refused:  

Math 4: MKJV
1 ¶ Then Jesus was led by the Spirit up into the wilderness, to be tempted by the Devil.
2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterwards hungry.
3 And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If You are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But He answered and said, It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."
5 Then the Devil took Him up into the holy city and set Him upon a pinnacle of the Temple.
6 And he said to Him, If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down. For it is written, "He shall give His angels charge concerning You, and in their hands they shall bear You up, lest at any time You dash Your foot against a stone."
7 Jesus said to him, It is written again, "You shall not tempt the Lord your God."
8 Again, the Devil took Him up into a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
9 And he said to Him, All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.
10 Then Jesus said to him, Go, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve."
11 Then the Devil left him. And behold, angels came and ministered to Him.


God grants us power to overcome problems. We are not to create problems to "show off". Soon after I was baptized in the Holy Ghost I was anointed to defeat headaches. This was in 1989. Since 1989, (at the time I write this) I have never had a headache last longer than 5 minutes or so, because of the anointing through my prayer. This has allowed me to witness of God. I have prayed for unbeliever's headaches and they were healed as well. 

Here is the story of how I was baptized in the Holy Spirit:  

As a Catholic, I had straitened out my life somewhat, but this was mostly by my own power. I had even given up Dungeons & Dragons. I had given away or sold most of my possessions, almost certain of my decision to become a monk. 

When I got out of the military, I stayed with my dad and stepmom, until I found a monastery as I decided to beome a monk (read my testimony for more). One day while there, I got extremely sick, something was wrong with my stomach. Stomach aches had always been the worst pains in my life.  After 2 days and nights, the pain became unbearable. On the 2nd night of no sleep, I decided to pray for help. 
I prayed something like this:  

"Dear God, please help me, this pain is so bad I would rather die. Please take this pain away. I will do anything you want, if you take away this pain. Lord, I prefer death, over this pain, if healing is not available."  

Please understand, I had never heard of healing, never seen it either. Only this, about the time of my senior year in high school, a friend of mine told me his dad was going to see some minister that heals. I had seen on TV reports of false healing ministers, and told him so. I had never heard of real ones. And I don't think his dad came back with any healing stories. That was the extent of any healing knowledge I had. In short, I cried out to God in pain, not faith, but with hope, and in earnestness.  

Praise God for God! He heard me! After praying, I felt led to go read a Church bulletin that was sitting in my room. I rarely, if ever, had read those things, and usually they would get tossed in the garbage.  

In it, it said, something to the effect of: Catholic Charismatic Conference, place ----, time ----, and so on.  

Please understand, I had never ever, heard of the Charismatic movement except what I mentioned just before and this: once, while in the military, at a Catholic Prayer group or study, someone mentioned that there was a Charismatic Prayer group in town. I simply asked "what is that?" And I was told that they prayed strongly or differently or something like that. This was the only knowledge I had of the charismatic movement.  

Anyway, I prayed to God, "If you want me to go to this; if it is your will, I will go. Please, just take away the pain."  

Within a few minutes. The pain was gone.  

That Friday night, I went to the conference. There, I saw some acquaintances of a friend of mine. My friend had been trying to get me to renounce Catholicism, and introduced me to these folks who knew the scriptures more than he had ever seen before. 

That nite, I saw people worship God in a way I had never seen before. They worshiped with a different style of music as well. It was contemporary, which I did not know at the time.  

Near the end of the nite, I spoke to God, "Lord, why do you want me here? I learned a new style of worship, is this what you wanted?". I seemed to get a response of: "wait until tomorrow, come back again".  

The next day at the conference, I met up with the single man whose acquaintance I had met. He decided to take some conference classes with me. One class we went to, was called: The Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Or something like that.  

In this class, the teacher read a bunch of scriptures that seemed gibberish to me. He just read a list of verses without explaining them. None of them in any way enlightened me, or explained what was going on. I don't remember any of them. After this, he asked for the raising of hands of those who wanted the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I raised my hand, and then left it up for a question, which was, "What is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?". He answered with, "It's when you ask the Holy Spirit to be in your life.".  

Now, I had been taught as a Catholic, that you received the Holy Spirit at confirmation. (Remember, this IS a Catholic Charismatic Conference.) So when he gathered the dozen or so who raised their hands to receive this, I declined, believing the Catholic doctrine I already had the Holy Spirit.

He then asked the rest of us, "How many of you, who have the Holy Spirit, would like a gift of the Holy Spirit." I raised my hand with about a dozen others. They all wanted the gift of tongues. I asked for the gift of prophecy, because I had enjoyed reading about the Old Testament prophets. Please understand, I had no inkling what was going on, I had never seen any of these gifts in operation, had no clue if prophecy was available, in fact if asked, I would have said it wasn't on the earth anymore. Although I had no direct teaching saying either way. I was just being earnest in my limited faith. The prophets in the Bible had always fascinated me, and so that was the only gift that popped into my mind.  

Now, I had never heard of tongues, nor had heard them. Only from Lutheran Sunday School; that at the time of pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and tongues of fire were on their heads, and then foreign people heard them speak in their native languages. That was the only incident of tongues I had ever knew of. No one had ever shown me other tongues in the Bible, nor had anyone ever told me about them.  

Needless to say, I had no idea what these dozen or so people wanted, nor what it meant. I was the only one to ask for something different, the gift of prophecy. Did I think it possible? I did not consider it possible or not. I was simply honestly answering the questions with the situation put before me, trying to obey and find what God had for me.  

The teacher then took us aside, into another corner. Then he asked the remaining people to pray for these 2 groups when the time came. One group wanted the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the other group, which I was in, wanted a gift of the Holy Spirit. Of which everyone asked for tongues except me.  

He then proceeded to give a small instruction in the receiving of tongues. He said he would pray for us and lay his hands on us, there were 2 other ladies who would do the same, but he would lead. He then instructed us saying: that after he would lay hands on us, we may feel in our spirit the Holy Spirit moving and we would need to open our mouth and speak as the Holy Spirit would guide or lead us to.  

After this, having finished instructing us, and being moved by God, he came straight to me, purposefully, and laid hands on me. Upon doing so, enormous amounts of power and energy came through him into me. He said to me, "Let it out, let it out." I opened my mouth, and let this power within me, manifest in language through my voice. I began to shout in an unknown language, the power in my body was enormous. After a minute or so, he proceeded to pray for others. I, on the other hand, was completely baffled by what was happening within me. In a couple minutes, I toned down my volume, but it was difficult, due to the enormous energy in me, and the lack of spiritual discipline, and in ignorance of the situation. I continued to speak in other tongues, but wondered in English, "What is this, how can I be thinking in English, trying to understand what this power is and yet be speaking in another language." (The answer is found in 1 Corinthians 14:14). At the time I did not understand. When he was done praying for everyone, I could only see 1 person who may have been speaking in tongues besides me. This person appeared mentally or possibly verbally handicapped. So I was uncertain to their true state.  

The teacher, told me to go home and practice tongues. I did not learn what happened to me, nor did I understand, nor was I taught. Today, however, I can tell you, I was baptized in the Holy Spirit.  

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You can read more of my testimony here:  

 My Personal Testimony

Here is another example of witnessing of God thru the power of this baptism:  

An interesting experience happened to me while I was in Florida. I had been witnessing to several guys I had been hanging out with. One day, as I was doing so with one of them, I told him that I could show him evidence of demons and evidence of God's power. I told him to walk with me to the store.  

As we began our walk, I pointed out to him that a flock of crows would often follow me during my time there. Sure enough, they were there to be seen. I told him, these crows were possessed by demons and the flock would actually follow me.  

He was intrigued by this and wanted to test it. So he decided to lead us in random directions to see if they really would follow us and they did. He was very astonished at this. I told him to watch the next thing carefully. I was going to rebuke the demons audibly and they would leave, but I was going to do so with any shouting, so as not to contribute to the possibility of fear scaring away birds.  

In the loudness of only a conversational tone, I said something to this effect: "I command you demonic spirits to leave, stop following me and go. In Jesus name."  

To his incredible astonishment, the crows left.  

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Some people claim you get the fullness of the Holy Spirit upon being born again. It is true at that time we are sealed with the Holy Spirit:  

2 Cor 1: MKJV
22 And He has sealed us and having given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Eph 1: MKJV
13 in whom also you, hearing the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation, in whom also believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise


But scripture can prove of 2 separate receiving acts of the Holy Spirit:  

John 20: MKJV
20 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
21 Then Jesus said to them again, Peace to you. As My Father has sent Me, even so I send you.
22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit.


This is after Jesus died and was raised. He gave them the Holy Spirit and they were born again. But yet this happened afterwards:  

Luke 24: NKJV
49  Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."  


Acts 1: MKJV
4 And having met with them , He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to await the promise of the Father which you heard from Me.
5 For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.
8 But you shall receive power, the Holy Spirit coming upon you. And you shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Acts 2: NKJV
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  


So the disciples received 2 separate infillings of the Holy Spirit. One regenerates, the other empowers. There are examples where these seem to happen simultaneously. Where someone believes and then begins speaking in tongues immediately or prophesying. Sometimes people speak in tongues after water baptism. 

Getting the baptism of the Holy Spirit isn't difficult:  

Luke 11: MKJV
13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?


To receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, you only need to ask. You may get it immediately or it may take a short time. Some people get it by having someone lay hands on them in prayer, from someone who already has it. Others get it at water baptism. Some get it alone in prayer. It varies. Usually it is acknowledged through tongues or prophesying.  

If your specifically interested in getting the gift of Prophecy. I wrote a Blog article on it. Check it out here:

How to get the gift of Prophecy

4th Baptism - Baptism into Fire

Math 3: KJ21  
11   I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.  
12  His fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."  


This baptism is a work of God to get the believer away from a life of sin and into a life of holiness. It is started at the born again experience in water, it is empowered at the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but it is here where God furthers the cleaning up of our lives from the sin and uncleanness of the world.

Perhaps you have seen or heard of Holiness movements or denominations. This is a "camp" centered around this truth and work of God.  

1 Cor 3:  MKJV  
12 And if anyone builds on this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble,  
13 each one's work shall be revealed. For the Day shall declare it , because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try each one's work as to what kind it is.  
14 If anyone's work which he built remains, he shall receive a reward.  
15 If anyone's work shall be burned up, he shall suffer loss. But he shall be saved, yet so as by fire.  
16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?  


Those verses speak about the future fire to come. Yes a fire for believers. I discuss this fire here:  

 Does the Bible teach a purgatory for believers?

But we can be prepared for our judgment by eliminating those things in our life which are perishable: wood, hay, & stubble. We shouldn't do this for "fire insurance" mentality, but because we want to be a vessel of honour for God:  

2 Tim 2: MKJV
19 ¶ Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal: " The Lord knew those who are His." And, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity!"
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor.
21 Therefore if anyone purges himself from these, he shall be a vessel to honor, sanctified and useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
22 ¶ But flee youthful lusts, and follow righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 But avoid foolish and unlearned questions, knowing that they give birth to strifes.
24 But the servant of the Lord must not strive, but to be gentle to all, apt to teach, patient,
25 in meekness instructing those who oppose, if perhaps God will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth,
26 and that they awake out of the snare of the Devil, having been taken captive by him, so as to do the will of that one.


So we not only avoid sin because of fear of fire:  

Philp 2:12 NKJV  
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;  


But also to be a vessel of honour for God. There is another reason, perhaps fitting in-between these 2 reasons:  

Math 6:
19 ¶ Do not lay up treasures on earth for yourselves, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.
20 But lay up treasures in Heaven for yourselves, where neither moth nor rust corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22 The light of the body is the eye. Therefore if your eye is sound, your whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if your eye is evil, your whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.


So we can pursue holiness knowing God will reward us. But the greater reason perhaps being a vessel of honour for God.  

2 Cor 6: MKJV
17 Therefore come out from among them and be separated, says the Lord, and do not touch the unclean thing . And I will receive you
18 and I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.


1 Cor 10: NKJV
21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? 23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being.  


There may come a time in your walk with God where God seems to be dealing with your sins or with your example or witness to others. We are to be a light, a holy example. God will put us through a purging, to clean us of the wickedness. Let me say this, it is much better to destroy those lusts and sins now rather than have God burn them out later:  

Math 5: WEB
27 "You have heard that it was said, * 'You shall not commit adultery;'* 28 but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. 30 If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.  


Gehenna is mistranslated as hell in most Bibles. I am using the World English Bible here. Gehenna fire is not hell, nor the Lake of Fire but a judgment of believers into fire. I discuss this at length here:  

 Eternal Judgment: of the Believer

I do not teach a purgatory. I teach a biblical judgment upon the believer:  

1 Cor 3: MKJV
15 If anyone's work shall be burned up, he shall suffer loss. But he shall be saved, yet so as by fire.


We all need to get rid of the sins, it will be much easier here than there!  

Heb 12: MKJV
1 ¶ Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us , and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,


5th Baptism - Baptism into the Body

1 Cor 12: MKJV
13 For also by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free, even all were made to drink into one Spirit.


God places us into the Body of Christ. After we have been baptized in the Holy Ghost and are manifesting our gifts, we then can learn our place in the body of Christ. God not only baptizes us into a universal position through giftings and salvation but also has a local assembly or a church for us to be a part of.

Heb 10: MKJV
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is , but exhorting one another , and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.


We must assemble with other believers if possible. Prison or persecution may limit this for some people. But there is a difference between assembling and gathering.

Let's say you buy tricycle at a store. It comes boxed with parts. The parts are gathered, but are not assembled. We must put the pieces together.

In the same way, God will place us in the Body of Christ.

Eph 4: MKJV
15 But that you, speaking the truth in love, may in all things grow up to Him who is the Head, even Christ;
16 from whom the whole body, fitted together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of each part, producing the growth of the body to the edifying of itself in love.

Col 2: MKJV
19 and not holding the Head, from whom all the body, having been supplied through the joints and bands, and having been joined together, will grow with the growth of God.


Once the parts are assembled then the life of the Body flows. If a part is out of joint, then other parts will lack life. A broken or dislocated arm may cause the loss of feeling and life in the hand. In the same way, we must align ourselves by God into the Body of Christ so that not only will we gain the abundant life of God, but others who are ministered to through us will get life as well.

1 Cor 12:
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If all the body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If all hearing, where would be the smelling?
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body as it has pleased Him.
19 And if they were all one member, where would be the body?
20 But now indeed many are the members, yet only one body.
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 But much rather the members of the body seeming to be weaker are necessary.
23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we put more abundant honor around them . And our unpresentable members have more abundant propriety.
24 For our presentable members have no need, but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to the member having need;
25 that there not be division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it ; if one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it .
27 And you are the body of Christ, and members in part.


This truth gives greater understanding of Ezek 37, the Valley of Dry Bones. The people become the Body of Christ as they find their place and receive new life.

6th Baptism - Baptism into Suffering

Math 20: MKJV
20 ¶ Then the mother of Zebedee's children came to Him with her sons, worshiping and desiring a certain thing from Him.
21 And He said to her, What do you desire? She said to Him, Grant that these my two sons may sit in Your kingdom, the one on Your right hand and the other on the left.
22 But Jesus answered and said, You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They said to Him, We are able.
23 And He said to them, You shall indeed drink of My cup and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but to those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.


Here we see Jesus claims to have a baptism coming, one which He Himself had yet received. This was not John's baptism, because He did that already. He connects it to a cup. Let's read about this cup.

Math 26: MKJV
36 ¶ Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane. And He said to the disciples, Sit here while I go and pray there.
37 And He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and He began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
38 Then He said to them, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Wait here and watch with Me.
39 And He went a little further and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will .
40 And He came to the disciples and found them asleep. And He said to Peter, What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?
41 Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 He went away again the second time and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.
43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
44 And He left them and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same word.
45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, Sleep on now and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Rise, let us be going; behold, he who is betraying Me is at hand.


This is the cup and baptism Jesus spoke of. It is the baptism of suffering. Jesus chose the place called Gethsemane to drink this cup. Gethsemane means "wine press". It was here that Jesus for the 1st and only time, struggled with God's will. The 1st prayer Jesus said: if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will

He asked the cup be passed or taken from Him, but He added: not as I will, but as You will

Jesus' will was different from the Father at this point. Then at the 2nd & 3rd prayer He said: if this cup may not pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done

He has now accepted to drink it, if it is the Father's will. After the 3rd time, He had concluded it was the Father's will.

This baptism is the denial of our will. It is suffering the denial of self and soul. Jesus spoke many times to deny the soul. Many translations translated soul into a different word. Here are some examples:

Math 10: MKJV  
39 He who finds his life shall lose it. And he who loses his life for My sake shall find it.  


Math 16: NKJV  
25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  
26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  


The word life is the greek word "psuche" which better translates as soul. I discuss the difference between the soul and the spirit here:

 The Salvation of the Soul

Jesus did not sin. At the point where He desired to do different than the Father, He went in prayer. This wasn't easy for Him and He is perfect, so it won't be easy for us. That's why it's called the Baptism of Suffering.  

This cup and baptism was so difficult Jesus sweat blood:  

Luke 22: MKJV
42 saying, Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.
43 And an angel appeared to Him from Heaven, strengthening Him.
44 And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly. And His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.


I discuss the relevance of the blood here:  

 Click here

What many people do not realize was that it was His soul that was sacrificed. Yes, His body had to die as well. But look at this:  

Isa 53: MKJV
10 ¶ Yet it pleased the LORD to crush Him; to grieve Him; that He should put forth His soul as a guilt-offering. He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the will of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.
11 He shall see the fruit of the travail of His soul. He shall be fully satisfied. By His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify for many; and He shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide to Him with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He has poured out His soul to death; and He was counted among the transgressors; and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for transgressors.


God got tired of flesh sacrifices:  

Isa 1: MKJV
11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me? says the LORD; I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of he-goats.
12 When you come to appear before Me, who has required this at your hand, to trample My courts?
13 Bring no more vain sacrifice; incense is an abomination to Me; the new moon and sabbath, the going to meeting; I cannot endure evil and the assembly!
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me; I am weary to bear them .
15 And when you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; yea, when you make many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of blood.  


What God wants is for us to be a living sacrifice and do His will.  

Rom 12: MKJV
1 ¶ I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God.


Many christians will come to God having done many great works for Him and in His name but He will deny them:  

Math 7: KJ21
21   "Not every one that saith unto Me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father who is in Heaven.
22   Many will say to Me in that Day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name, and in Thy name have cast out devils, and in Thy name done many wonderful works?'
23   And then will I profess unto them, `I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.'


I discuss this in more depth here:  

 The Gospel of The Kingdom - part one

Knowing and doing the Father's will is NOT easy. If it was difficult for Jesus it will be difficult for us.  

Philp 2: MKJV
5 For let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God,
7 but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Heb 5: MKJV
8 though being a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
9 And being perfected, He became the Author of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him


We must follow His example:

Math 16: MKJV
24 ¶ Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.


Jesus is NOT asking us to die physically or to die on a cross, but to die to self. I discuss in greater depth the denying of self in the 9 qualifications of discipleship here:

 Click here

Here is why it is called the baptism of suffering:  

Philp 3: MKJV
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death 


Denying one's self is an integral part of Brokenness which I discuss here:

Brokenness: Finding God's Will, Way, and Method



7th Baptism - Baptism into the Cloud

1 Cor 10: MKJV
1 ¶ And, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea.
2 And all were baptized to Moses in the cloud and in the sea


Let's read about this baptism:

Num 9: HNV/WEB:ME
9:15 On the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, even the Tent of the Testimony: and at evening it was over the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until morning. 9:16 So it was continually. The cloud covered it, and the appearance of fire by night. 9:17 Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tent, then after that the children of Israel traveled; and in the place where the cloud remained, there the children of Israel encamped. 9:18 At the commandment of the LORD, the children of Israel traveled, and at the commandment of the LORD they encamped. As long as the cloud remained on the tabernacle they remained encamped. 9:19 When the cloud stayed on the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the LORD's command, and didn't travel. 9:20 Sometimes the cloud was a few days on the tabernacle; then according to the commandment of the LORD they remained encamped, and according to the commandment of the LORD they traveled. 9:21 Sometimes the cloud was from evening until morning; and when the cloud was taken up in the morning, they traveled: or by day and by night, when the cloud was taken up, they traveled. 9:22 Whether it was two days, or a month, or a year that the cloud stayed on the tabernacle, remaining on it, the children of Israel remained encamped, and didn't travel; but when it was taken up, they traveled. 9:23 At the commandment of the LORD they encamped, and at the commandment of the LORD they traveled. They kept the LORD's command, at the commandment of the LORD by Moses.  


Being baptized in the cloud means you follow God whenever or where ever He leads. Earlier in the baptism of fire, I mentioned the Holiness Camps. Denominations are born when someone makes a camp upon the last truth God revealed to them, and decided to stay there instead of continuing on. That's why I like to say "A broken clock is right twice a day." Stale denominations and churches still have abundant revelation concerning the specific truth they are camped on. Even though they have failed to grow in other areas.

What does that mean for individual believers? We must not be boxed in by "camp" mentality. We must consider that others may or may not have blazed other truths we have not yet grasped in God's Word. We must be teachable. We must also recognize Jesus as Lord, directing our life, and as King, reigning our life.

Isa 28: MKJV
9 ¶ Whom shall He teach knowledge? And whom shall He make to understand doctrine? Those weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts.
10 For precept must be on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little;
11 for with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people.
12 To whom He said, This is the rest; cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing. Yet they were not willing to hear.
13 But the Word of the LORD was to them precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken and snared and taken.


I have created a new page that goes into detail of this Baptism. You can find it here:

The Baptism into the Cloud  


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Pages of mine related to this subject:  

 Foundational Principles of Christ - Part 1

 The Lake of Fire - part of the 6th Foundational Principle

 The Baptism into the Cloud  



In Sept of 2019, I created a video about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. See here:

 

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