Video Talk
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God the Father, who is
the second person of our triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – left his
throne in heaven, came to earth and was born as a baby to a human mother with
God as his birth Father, for he was conceived of the Holy Spirit and not of
man. His purpose in coming to the earth in human form was ultimately that he
would die on a cross for our sins. For in his death he who knew no sin became
sin for us so that when he died our sins died with him so that we might die
with him to sin and live to him and to his righteousness.
But Jesus did not remain dead. He was raised from the dead
by God the Father on the third day, as he had said he would be, and then he
appeared to many people over a period of about 40 days before he returned to
God the Father in heaven. But while he was still on the earth in his
resurrected body, he met with his eleven disciples (eleven disciples because
Judas, who had betrayed him to death, committed suicide). And he gave them
instructions which they were to follow. And we, as his disciples today are to follow
suit in making disciples of Christ of people of all nations. See:
Matthew 28:16-20 ESV
“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”
Now, some people claim that these instructions were only for
the eleven disciples and not for us. But why not for us? Are we not, as
followers of Jesus Christ, to be taking the gospel message to the people of the
world so that they can also become followers of Jesus Christ? And if you think not,
then why not? Why, if you are a genuine follower of Jesus Christ, would you not
be fully engaged in getting the true message of the gospel of our salvation out
to as many people as possible before the time of judgment? Doesn’t that appear
a bit selfish if you do not share the gospel?
Okay, so here we have to make sure that what we are telling people
is the gospel, that it really is the gospel that Jesus taught and that his New
Testament apostles taught. For many people are teaching a half-truth and
diluted and altered gospel message these days, which is full of lies, and which
is usually based on Scriptures taught outside their context and made to say
what they do not say. Romans 6:28 is a prime example of that. So, read all of
Romans 6 and especially Romans 6:20-28, and then pay close attention to the wording
in connection with verse 28, and do it prayerfully.
Now, Jesus gave us the essence of the gospel message in Luke
9:23-26 where he said, in essence, that if anyone would come after him that he
must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin and to self) and
follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our old lives of living in sin and for
self, we will lose them for eternity. But if for the sake of Jesus we die with
him to sin and live to him and to his righteousness, then we have eternal life
in him. And he said that not everyone saying, “Lord, Lord,” to him will enter
the kingdom of heaven but only the one DOING the will of God the Father.
And this is the gospel that we are to be taking to the ends
of the earth, which we can do via the internet, at least here in America, and
at least right now we can, and on some select websites. And we are to be
sharing this gospel with people in person, as we have opportunity. And we are
to be teaching them to obey all that Jesus has commanded us under the New
Covenant. For even under the New Covenant we still have to obey his commands
which are written down for us all throughout the writings of the New Testament.
And Paul, too, taught this necessity of obedience.
Now, with regard to baptism, I believe that if you are
privileged to lead someone to genuine faith in Jesus Christ, in person, that
you can baptize that person unless he or she prefers to have someone else do
it, which is their prerogative. Some church denominations specify that only
certain individuals can do this, but I don’t see such limitations in the
Scriptures.
But regarding water baptism, the waters of baptism do not
save us. What saves us is the baptism of the heart in dying and being buried
with Christ in death to sin and to self, and us being raised with Christ to
walk in newness of life in him, by faith in Christ, no longer as slaves to sin
but as slaves to God. And this is what our water baptism symbolizes, which is
why some people prefer immersion as their mode of baptism. But I don’t get hung
up on modes of baptism because they don’t impact our salvation. What matters is
how we are living, whether in sin or in righteousness. See:
Full Release
An Original Work / April 15, 2012
Walking daily with
my Savior
brings me joy.
Loving Father;
precious Jesus;
He’s my Savior and
my Lord.
Gently leads me;
follow Him.
I’ve invited Him
within.
Now abiding in His
presence,
oh, what peace.
From my self-life
He has brought me,
By His mercy, full
release.
Hope and comfort,
peace and safety
Jesus brings
When I daily bow
before Him;
Obey freely; do His
will.
Follow Him where’er
He leads.
Listen to Him; His words
heed.
Now obeying his
words fully,
oh, what love
That He gives me
through salvation,
By His Spirit, from
above.
Loving Father;
precious Jesus,
He’s my friend.
With my Savior, by
His Spirit,
I will endure to the
end.
Share the gospel,
tell what’s true.
Witness daily; His
will do.
Tell the world of
how their Savior
bled and died.
On a cruel cross He
suffered
So that we might be
alive.
https://vimeo.com/115169203
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