HopeofGlory:
If you weren't so purblind you would understand what I said. Jesus instructed the apostles to teach and it is the spirit words that He spoke that give life.
My vision is fine, thank you. I say it is your reading comprehension that is lacking.
The so called "Great Commission" is the doctrine of men and it can't not be found within the holy bible.
As you have quoted the verses that proclaim the 'Great Commission', this proves your lack of reading comprehension. Or maybe you don't understand what is meant by the 'Great Commission'. I clipped this verbatum from the NKJV, including the heading:
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matt 28)
This should be in your bible too, Hope. Look at the last page of the Gospel of Matthew. I promise you it's there, even though you say ' The so called "Great Commission" is the doctrine of men and it can't not be found within the holy bible'.
The instructions of Christ after the cross were part of the new testament which was in force after the cross (Heb. 9:17) and are not to be confused with John the Baptist‘s testimony of water baptism for remission before the cross. It can be clearly seen that Jesus instructed the apostles to teach and that teaching the words He commanded will baptize all that believe. He did not command them to do the baptizing in water yet the apostles continued preaching the doctrine of the Baptist which was a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. The apostles message at Pentecost is completely void of the new testament for remission so they failed to obey these words of Christ....
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matt. 28:20 (KJV)
It can be clearly seen that Jesus instructed the apostles to teach and baptize, ' Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit'. And as you said, 'yet the apostles continued preaching the doctrine of the Baptist'. Yes the apostles continued to baptize for the remission of sin. Even on Pentecost, the day you claim the apostles 'failed to obey these words of Christ' by not preaching faith in Jesus Christ for remission of sin, Peter exhorted baptism for the forgiveness of sin and some 3,000 'were added that day'.
Now we have 2 choices here:
1) We can believe you and your man-made modern interpretation that boldly claims the apostles were in error for baptizing
OR
2) We can believe that the apostles, the foundation of the church, were carrying out the command Christ gave them, and your interpretation is erroneous.
To back your position, you have a convoluted and self-contradicting message that you privately derived from scripture, has no historical basis, and no substantiation in any recognized Christian writings that I can find. The apostles on the other hand, were taught directly by Jesus. They practically lived with Him for 3 years.
My conclusion is, the apostles knew exactly what Jesus meant when He said 'baptizing them in the name of the Father...', and being faithful servants they began to carry out His message with zeal.
The greatest message every to be delivered to the world (Matt 26:28) was not part of the apostles doctrine at Pentecost and the silence of it is deafening.
This is the core of your mistake, Hope. The message that 'Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross for the remission of the sins of man' was most certainly preached by Peter. I know your looking for those
exact words, and they are not there, so I'll try once more to explain this to you.
Who was Peter preaching to?
Jews, 'devout men' as Acts 2:5 tells us, that were Jerusalem for passover.
How did Peter begin his address to the Jews?
By telling the Jews that the speaking in tongues that they were observing was not due to drunkeness, but was what the prophet Joel spoke of in one of his prophecies about salvation. The prophecy ends like this:
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. 30 "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. 32 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the LORD has said, Among the remnant whom the LORD calls. (Joel 2)
Peter quoted these exact words to the crowd (Acts 2:17-21) to make them understand the time had 'come to pass, that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved'.
After Peter got the crowds attention and made them understand he was talking about the Lord who will save us, he immediately declares Jesus of Nazareth is that man, reminding the crowd of the miracles, signs and wonders Jesus performed in their midst.
Then Peter goes on to explain how Jesus was delivered up with the foreknowledge of God to his crucifixion and death, from which God raised Him after 'having loosed the pains of death'. Now pay close attention because this is where your misunderstanding starts. This is a reference to forgiveness of sins. Even though you didn't understand 'pains of death' is referring to sin, and 'having loosed' them refers to forgiving sins, the Jews understood this abundantly.
So now the Jews understood that Jesus' death 'loosed' sins.
Then Peter continues, reminding them that David had already prophecied about the resurrection of the Christ (Christ means Messiah or savior) that God would 'raise up' to sit on his throne.
Peter then reaffirms that he and the apostles were witnesses to this resurrected Jesus, and that God has made him both Lord and savior.
When the crowd realized the weight of Peter's words and believed him, they reacted as if 'cut to the heart', saying 'what shall we do'. Peter told them to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins.
You see Hope, baptism being the sacrament of faith is how the crowd showed God their faith in the good news they just got from Peter. And by doing so, their sins were remitted. Like Paul said in Romans 6:3 'Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?' That's what Peter meant when he exhorted the crowd to be baptized, to be baptized into Jesus death, the death that 'loosed' the 'pains of death'. And again, Paul delivered the same message loud and clear in Romans 6:7 'For he who has died has been freed from sin.'
When you die and get buried with Christ through baptism, your sins are forgiven and you are made free from sin.
Now, if all that isn't enough to convince you Peter preached the correct gospel on Pentecost, you must still consider this:
40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation.
So, Peter used many other words to preach to them about salvation. Can you be sure he didn't use the exact words you would have wanted him to use? No.
So your claim the apostles preached the wrong gospel on Pentecost is both frivolous and erroneous.
When asked ... What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? (John 6:28)
Jesus said...This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. John 6:29 (KJV)
Simple message but few even today have received it. There is no work needed but faith in the words of the Son of God. All that believeve His words are born again.
You say to have 'faith in the words of the Son of God', but you refuse to believe in the words He spoke when He told us 'He who believes AND IS BAPTIZED will be saved' and when he told the apostles to teach AND BAPTIZE. You continually contradict yourself, just as your private theology contradicts the words of scripture.
On the other hand, I can say I believe ALL of what Jesus said. Nothing He ever said conflicts with my theology.
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:40 (KJV)
The message of eternal life is believe in Christ and nothing more is needed unless you do not believe.
Does that include believing Him when He said 'He who believes AND IS BAPTIZED will be saved'? When the gospel tells us to believe in Jesus to be saved, the word 'believe' means more than just intellectual acceptance. It means to believe in Him so completely that we follow His every command without question.
Baptism is NOT a work of the law. Think of it this way Hope. Was the blind man performing a 'work' when Jesus told him to wash the mud from his eyes in the pool at Siloam to heal his eyesight? No. So why do you automatically assume that washing believers in the waters of baptism is a work of the law?
Let's look at each account before Christ ascended in what He commissioned the apostles and heed God’s warning by not "adding" the word “water”.
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: Rev. 22:18 (KJV)
No one is
adding the word 'water'. It is there in scripture, for anyone who cares to read it, how the apostles baptized with water. I've already told you, I will not accept your argument that the apostles were in error by baptizing. And no one else that is a Christian could accept that. To accept that kind of blanket error against the apostles, we would in fact be saying our Christian faith is built upon a huge error since the apostles are the foundation of the church.
Baptism in water can be found throughout the NT, so again your claim is completely erroneous.
This commission must be understood in the light of the “new” testament “for” remission of sins (Matt. 26:28).
The apostles were commanded to preach the word and the truth reveal in the word by the Spirit would baptize them.
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.... 1 Cor. 1:17 (KJV)
Why would Christ send Paul NOT to baptize if the GREAT COMMISSION was... You apostles go water baptize? There is no rhyme to this type of reasoning. Man’s doctrine teaches water baptism was commanded by Jesus in “the great commission” but this is not biblical terminology.
So what
kind of baptism did He command the apostles to perform? Do you think he meant for the apostles to baptize the nations in the 'Spirit'? That can't be, as only the Holy Spirit can 'spirit baptize'.
So what do you think Jesus was telling the apostles to do when He told them to BAPTIZE the nations?
#1
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matt. 28:19 (KJV)
It is clear the apostles are being instructed to teach and the teaching of the word will baptize them. The word is spirit and it is by this word we are baptized...It is the "spirit" that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life John 6:63 (KJV). The quickening of the spirit (baptism) is immediate when the words of the new testament are believed. The new testament is a new testimony with a greater witness (John 5:33-36) for remission of sins (Matt. 26:28) as opposed to the old testimony for remission (Mark 1:4).
A couple of questions here Hope. If the apostles were ONLY supposed to teach, why did Peter and the apostles perform all those water baptisms? Second, why would Jesus even mention 'baptizing' if all He wanted the apostles to do was to teach? Sorry Hope, your interpretation still doesn't fit.
The new testament is not a series of books starting with the four gospels but is a greater witness given by Christ and was not in force until after the death of Christ (Heb. 9:17). The apostles never baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost because this Spirit baptism is performed by Christ when we believe His words.
The contrast of the baptism in water and the baptism in the word is revealed by Jesus with these words...For John truly baptized with water; but (on the contrary) ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. Acts 1:5 (KJV)
#2
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15 (KJV)
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16 (KJV)
Again, the teaching but also when one believes the word they are baptized by that word. This baptism (quickening) is received the moment one believes this "spirit" word of Christ and they are born again. Compare these words spoken to Nicodemus...That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:6). Again, Jesus delivered this eternal message to Nicodemus as He did to the apostles...For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Nicodemus did not believe this message and Jesus said:
We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. John 3:11 (KJV)
If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? John 3:12 (KJV)
Baptize in the word? That's a new one. Did you just make that up today? Can you show me chapter and verse where I can read about this baptism in the word?
Speaking of Nicodemus, didn't Jesus mention the necessity of being born again, born of water and the spirit? Hmmmm. I'm sure Jesus didn't really mean
water here either, did he Hope?
This word of the gospel of Christ is spirit and life eternal in the new testament made possible only by His shed blood.
Jesus said....Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:54 (KJV)
The disciples responded....This is an hard saying; who can hear (believe) it? John 6:60 (KJV)
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Matt. 26:28 (KJV)
I'll bet this is another area where you don't really believe what Jesus said. When He said 'For this IS my blood' do you think he really meant it? I didn't think so....
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63 (KJV)
#3
Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: Luke 24:46 (KJV)
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:47 (KJV)
Christ said that remission of sins would be received through His death. He did not say remission would be in water baptism. The word of the "new" testament for remission of sins must be believed. Christ is clearly explaining how remission of sins would be received and referring to Isaiah 53 where “it is written” He was to suffer. These scriptures not once mention water baptism.
Sorry Hope, just because you can't read specific words from Jesus to the apostles directing them to use water to baptize, does not mean He didn't teach the apostles to baptize in that manner. The apostles actions testify to how He taught them to baptize, in water.
#4
For John truly baptized with water; but (on the contrary) ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. Acts 1:5 (KJV)
Christ speaks of the contrast of the two baptisms and confirms it will not be in water BUT Spirit! The contrast was further revealed in that the death of Christ for remission of sins superceded water baptism....But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. John 5:34 (KJV)
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. John 5:35 (KJV)
But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. John 5:36 (KJV)
Christ speaks of the contrast of the two baptisms? Where? Are you confusing this with John contrasting the two baptism? If so, I would submit that John was contrasting the two baptizERS, not the baptisms themselves.
By comparing scripture with scripture it is evident ....
Nothing can be evidenced by the comparison of something to itself. Let's compare a tree with itself. How much can we tell about the tree? How about comparing you with yourself Hope. Let's see if Hope is short or tall, we'll just compare him with himself.....
It amazes me always that you don't see the problem with that method. Look at all the disagreement between Christians private interpretation causes.
the commission was to preach the new testimony for sin remission and when one believes the words of this gospel of Christ they would be baptized by the Spirit. The confusion is had when men go against the warning of God and “ADD” the word “WATER” to the final words of Christ.
Jesus instructed the apostles in the "new" testament for remission of sins but because of their unbelief (Roms 11:19-21) they taught the "old" testament of water baptism for remission of sins at Pentecost. Christ Jesus did “NOT” commission the apostles to “WATER” baptize for remission after He gave the NEW TESTAMENT in His blood for remission of sins. Paul was the first man to deliver Christ’s eternal message of remission through His shed blood.
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through """faith in his blood""", to declare his righteousness """for the remission of sins""" that are past, through the forbearance of God; Rom. 3:25 (KJV)
To declare, I say, """at this time""" his righteousness: that he might be just, and the """justifier of him which believeth in Jesus""". Rom. 3:26 (KJV)
Receive not the doctrine of men handed down by tradition but believe the words of the Lord Jesus and receive His offer of everlasting life.
I believe the words of the Lord:
'He who believes AND IS BAPTIZED will be saved'
'Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, BAPTIZING them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
God Bless,
Francisco