Modern Reformer
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  • My Blog
    • Helping in Turkana
    • Iceland overview
    • Day 1 in Iceland
    • Photos from the Amsterdam Trip
    • Trip of a Lifetime
    • Our Journey
    • This World Stinks
    • The Elements Shall Melt
    • False Prophets- - AMEN!
    • Death of the Church
    • Who was the last prophet sent by God?
    • Write the Vision
    • Fast Food Christians
    • Jesus Wept
    • The Demise of the Protestant
    • Considering Memorial Day
    • Judas
    • The Downfall of a Civilization
    • Divine Business
    • A Futuristic Short Story
  • Questions
    • Prophecy >
      • What is the point of the "Great Tribulation" if all of the Christians will be raptured?
      • How Do We Prepare for the Great Tribulation?
      • Many preachers say Jesus is coming soon, while there are no clear signs of it. Is it a scare tactic to make people do what they want?
      • Is it true that the Bible says that no one goes to heaven until Jesus comes back?
      • What does the Bible say about Jesus' Second Coming?
      • When does the 2nd Resurrection Take Place?
      • How will Jehovah God save Israel when he brings all nations against it ?
      • When the kingdom of God is established, in what manner ( physically or ?? ) will everybody who obeys Jehovah God will become like Adam ( they will no longer be males and females but all males ) ??
      • Spiritually, What are we on the verge of?
      • When did the 70 years desolation spoken by Jeremiah begin?
      • What is meant by Rome being called the Antichrist?
      • In the book of Daniel 11:21-24, is the despicable man that is mentioned here was Antiochus Epiphanes IV?
      • What is the difference between the Babylonia that were mentioned in the Old Testament and the Babylonia that was mentioned in the book of Revelation?
      • What are the comparison of the verses Ps 83:1-8,Ez 38:7-16, Zech 14:2-3,and Rev 20:8-9--are they the same in meaning?
      • Of that Day and that Hour
      • How Will Jesus' Second Coming Happen?
      • Will the End Times Battle Be Fought With Weapons
      • Biblically speaking what will the world be like after Armageddon?
      • End Times and Sodom and Gomorrah?
      • At which trumpet will Michael and his angels boot Satan and his angels from heaven to earth?
      • When does/did Jesus Christ's reign as King of God's Kingdom start?
      • Is the Beast in Revelation the Antichrist?
      • Jesus Would Return as He Left?
      • What do you think Jesus meant that if God had not shortened those days, no flesh would survive?
      • What are You Looking Forward To?
      • Is This the Beginning of the Apocalypse?
      • What does Jesus Mean When He Says This?
      • Evidence of the Signs of the Times?
      • What will the Kingdom Accomplish?
      • How Will the Scoffers Feel when Jesus Comes?
      • What is the Significance of the Word "Presence."
      • Why Does My Mom Say We are in the Last Day?
      • What Exactly do People Think the Apocalypse is?
    • Doctrine >
      • Can a person worthy of Heaven be OK with others going to Hell?
      • Can the theory of "being born a sinner" and the theory of "age of accountability" exist at the same time? How and why?
      • According to the Bible, why is everyone born a sinner?
      • Do those don't hear about Jesus go to hell?
      • How is Christ the Wisdom of God?
      • Why does the Soul of the Dead Sinner need to be Oppressed?
      • What did Jesus mean when He said: The Way, the Truth, the Life?
      • Is the Fire of Hell Literal? Why?
      • Did Jesus Redeem Everyone? Is Everyone Saved?
      • If a baby or infant died ....he'll become an angel?
      • What is Biblical Faith?
      • Do You Believe in Hell?
      • Water Baptism and Spirit Baptism, which is more important?
      • Question on Death, Sleep, Resurrection?
      • What is the soul?
      • The Rapture
      • Is John the Baptist going to heaven?
    • General Questions >
      • How can the Gospel transform individuals and the society today?
      • Why are dogs not allowed in heaven according to the Bible?
      • Question about Islam and Christianity
      • Is a Person Who Hasn't Heard About Christianity a Sinner...?
      • Are Saints in Heaven Free...?
      • Question on John the Baptist
      • Thief on the Cross Question
      • Does the Bible has a mention about the secret societies like...?
      • Is the Garden of Eden still on earth (hidden from mankind ) ?
      • Does the Bible prove all other religions false?
      • Why do Muslims hate Jews ?
      • What do you think of the Interpretation of Gen. 2:17?
      • Did God Hate Esau from the Womb?
      • What is your opinion of the theological terms kingdom of heaven and kingdom of God?
      • ​Please can you explain Colossians 2:14-17, where it's says "do not let anyone judge you"?
      • What do you mean by Regeneration..?
      • Is it literally mean that Turkey is the seat of Satan?
      • I'm a Christian but I don't like to go to church...I pray and read my bible in the house....what the bible teaches about fellowship?
      • Abraham the father of Isaac and Ismael...he was Jew or Hebrew..?
      • I'm a believer. I pray that I might win in lottery,sweepstakes, casino...I won....is this a sin?
      • Please Explain Romans 10:9,10
      • Can We as Christians be Guilty of Choosing Barabbas over Jesus?
      • What is the Purpose of Satan?
      • Why would God do this? And then punish Israel for it?
      • Is the Roman Catholic Church a true church established by Jesus Christ?
      • What is Heaven Like?
      • How long (on average) does it take one to join your religion?
      • Is a judge performing his duties in a courtroom violating Jesus' command, "Do not judge"?
      • How is it that even the demons "knew Him to be the Christ." How did they know?
      • Who is Jesus claiming to be in John 8:24 and what does it mean to "die in your sins"?
      • Does the Bride of Christ have to die first?
      • Can We as Christians be Guilty of Choosing Barabbas over Jesus?
      • What about Holidays?
      • What is a Biblical Family?
      • How do We Treat Family Members Who Say They are Christians but Don't Acts Like It?
      • What is the Second Death?
      • Question on the Parable of the Two Sons
      • Christ came that we would have life abundantly correct?
      • Who is the Son of Perdition?
      • What are your thoughts on Psalm 137:9?
      • What is the difference between the DOOR in Rev 3:8 and the DOOR in Rev 3:20 ?
      • Out of the Seven Churches in Revelation, which would you say is the closet to your church?
      • What is the main message in the book of Amos, what value does it hold for today’s modern society?
      • Gospel of Thomas question:
      • Question on Tithing
      • Are some people never going to be resurrected from the dead?
      • Does God Love Unconditionally?
      • What Percentage of the Bible Do You Have to Know?
      • Do you keep the Sabbath?
      • Why was Man Excluded Because No Wedding Garment?
      • It is the Day of Atonement...Will you offer a prayer & agree in prayer for their salvation?
      • Did Noah Keep Bees in the Ark?
      • As the Pope's 9-letter surname, Bergoglio, has the word GOG bang in the middle of it, I wonder if biblical?
      • Who is Peter talking about in 1 Peter 4:18?
      • What is the purpose of pigs?
      • Please explain how the meek inherit the earth?
      • Do You Know the Names of Jesus' Two Sheepfolds?
      • Is Jesus in His Human Body in Heaven?
  • Meditations of Joy
    • Overcoming Lack of Confidence to Connect and ‘Fit In’ Part 1
    • All Things in the Name of Jesus
    • The Treasured Life
    • Afflicted in Faithfulness
    • Making All Things New
    • Instinctive Trust
    • #721 Extracting the Precious from the Worthless
    • Some Keys to Dealing Faithfully with Criticism and Conflict Part 2
    • Some Keys to Dealing Faithfully with Criticism Part 1
    • Facing Change and the Unknown in Confidence
    • Glorify Thy Name in us, O LORD
    • Remembering Who We Are
    • Deliverance through Overwhelm
    • Finding Stability
    • Resurrection Power At Work
    • Diamonds in the Night (Revisited)
    • Final Faithfulness According to the Will of the Father Part 2
    • Final Faithfulness According to the Will of the Father
    • The Expanse of Jesus Prayer
    • The Reality of the Joy Set Before Him
    • The Determination To Do His Will
    • Choosing the Will of the Father
    • He Sustains the Weary with a Word
    • I am willing
    • Looking Forward: Making Isaiah 40.27-31 my own Part 2
    • Looking Forward: Making Isaiah 40:27-31 my own
    • Looking Back on Lessons in this Past Year Part 5
    • Looking Back on Lessons in this Past Year Part 4
    • Looking Back on Lessons in this Past Year Part 3
    • #698 Looking Back on Lessons in this Past Year Part 1 A Dear Brother wrote out the main things he was learning in the past year. As I read them I realized that that the Lord was teaching me along similar lines. First he shared: 1. “God’s
    • Looking Back on Lessons in this Past Year Part 1
    • Our True Source of Stability in Trying Times Part 2Blog
    • Humble Yourself Under the Mighty Hand of God
    • Our True Source of Stability in Trying Times
    • Thriving in the house of God
    • Living the Divine Dimensions of Their Love
    • Make Room for the Blessing! Part 2
    • Make Room for the Blessing! Part 1
    • Dealing with ‘What If’ Part 1
    • Abiding in Their Love
    • Serving by Night
    • Serving By Night
    • Tenacious Love Part 2
    • Tenacious Love Part 1
    • Reverence for God is an Access to Wisdom and Confidence
    • The Practice of Praise
    • Separate the Precious from the Worthless
    • Therefore I Will Remember You Part 2
    • Therefore I Will Remember You Part 1
    • #676 Only One Thing is Necessary
    • Antidotes for Personal Unrest Amid Unfolding Events of our Day Part 3
    • Antidotes for Personal Unrest Amid Unfolding Events of our Day Part 3
    • Antidotes for Personal Unrest Amid Unfolding Events of our Day Part 2
    • Antidotes for Personal Unrest Amid Unfolding Events of our Day Part 1
    • Pliability and Surrender Part 2 In the Care of the Shepherd
    • Pliability and Surrender Part 1 in the Hands of the Potter
    • The Choice to Rejoice
    • Dealing with Reaction to Criticism Part 3
    • Dealing with Reaction to Criticism Part 2
    • Dealing with Reaction to Criticism Part 1
    • Courage to Go Forward
    • Facing Challenge Equipped with His Armor Part 3
    • Facing Challenge Equipped with His Armor Part 1
    • The Holy Ground of Challenge
    • What We Remember, What We Forget
    • The Answer to Anxiety Part 3
    • The Answer to Anxiety Part 2
    • The Answer to Anxiety Part 1
    • Paul’s focus in Prison: Part 6b Resurrection power Beyond Our Comprehension
    • Paul’s Focus in Prison: In Awe of His Resurrection Power Part 6aBlog
    • Paul’s Focus in Prison: Part 5a Never give up praying for one another!
    • Paul's focus in Prison: Part 4 Guarded!
    • Paul’s focus in prison Part 3 Going forward with Passion
    • Paul’s focus in prison Part 2
    • Paul’s Focus in Prison Part 1
    • LIVING Hope and Joy
    • Arms Wide Open
    • Diamonds in the Night (Revisited from 2017)
    • “Yet Thou art Holy”
    • Resolutely Going Forward
    • Passover Love
    • Praying for a Word to Give the Weary
    • Content Whatever Lot I See Part 2
    • Content Whatever Lot I See Part 1Blog
    • A Night Journey to Peace Part 2
    • A Night Journey to Peace
    • Trusting His Choices
    • Peace Amid the Storm
    • Love is Patient
    • Proving His Name to His Glory
    • Watching in Hope
    • Glorifying His Name Begins with the Realm of Thought
    • "Father Glorify Thy Name"--Possible when we Let Him Love us
    • Father Glorify Thy Name Possible when we Let Him Love us
    • Father Glorify Thy Name Part 3 (A roadblock to be aware of)
    • Father Glorify Thy Name Part 2 (Practical application)
    • Father, Glorify Thy Name
    • Finding His Joy
    • The Blessing of Over-and-Over-Testings
    • Redefining Our Perception of Rejection
    • The Source of all Encouragement
    • Casting our Care and Leaving it There
    • Setting our Face Like Flint
    • Accepting God’s Will for our Beloved Brethren
    • Our Home in Every Challenge: Seeing Beyond the Illusion
    • Call to Consider: His Amazing Provision
    • Call to Consider: His Amazing Provision
    • Sure Proof of His Divine Provision
    • Some Lessons from David in Absalam's Rebellion and Unresolved Conflict
    • His Glory: Permission to Prune
    • His Glory: A Call to Re-focus
    • Trade in the Old Thinking for a New Song!
    • A Practical Look at the Armor of God
    • Resting in His Provision
    • His Perspective from the Heights, Borne on the Wings of the Eagle
    • What Would Jesus THINK?
    • The Joy of Wholeheartedness Part 2
    • The Joy of Wholeheartedness Part 1
    • The Joy of His Love Empowering us to Love Part 2
    • The Joy of Overcoming Irritation: Divine Love Empowering us to Love Part 1
    • The Joy of the LORD is your Strength: Sending Portions!
    • Finding Joy Part 2b: The Joy of the LORD is your Strength: Eat and Drink!
    • Finding Joy Part 2a: The Joy of the LORD is your Strength
    • Finding Joy: The Joy Set Before Us Part 1
    • The Refuge of His Wise and Loving Power
    • Facing the Challenge in the Beauty of Holiness
    • Facing the Challenge with Praise, Prayer and Perspective
    • Enthroning Him upon our Praise
    • Yet You Are Holy
    • Yet You are Holy
    • Another Look at “Arise, Let us go hence”
    • “My Peace” When We Feel Alone
    • “My Peace” Amid the Storm” Part 5
    • “My Peace” Amid the Storm” Part 4
    • My Peace” Amid the Storm” Part 3
    • “My Peace” Amid the Storm” Part 2
    • “My Peace” Amid the Storm” Part 1
    • A Prayer for the Power of His Penetrating Gaze of Love Part 2
    • A Prayer for the Power of His Penetrating Gaze
    • Trusting Enough to Get Out of the Boat
    • The Answer to Resistance: Trusting His Provision in the Process Part 2
    • The Answer to Resistance: Trusting that what He allows is GOOD.
    • He Knows What We Need, a Call to Praise Amid the Unknown!
    • My Heart is Fixed
    • My Heart is Fixed
    • The Creative Deliverance That Surrounds Us
    • How to Rejoice in the Midst of Whatever Happens Part 4
    • #547 How to Rejoice in the Midst of Whatever Happens Part 3
    • How to Rejoice in the Midst of Whatever Happens Part 2
    • How to Rejoice in the Midst of Whatever Happens Part 1
    • Our Prayerful Song in the Midst of Whatever Happens
    • #543 What Brings Us Peace No Matter What Happens
    • Freedom from the Trap of Old Thinking
    • Freedom from the Trap of Old Thinking Part 2
    • He Restores my Soul
    • “Look up and Let Go”
    • Nothing Shall Offend
    • Moment by Moment Deliverance from Fear
    • We Will Continue to Praise Him in the Midst of Every Circumstance
    • We Will Continue to Praise Him in the Midst of Every Circumstance Part 2
    • We Will Continue to Praise Him in the Midst Every Circumstance
    • Trust in His Perspective Frees us from Every ‘Prison’ Part 2
    • Trust in His Perspective Frees us from Every ‘Prison’
    • Run through the Open Door
    • Dwelling in ONE Master
    • Dwelling in His Shadow and Watching from the Wings
    • Dwelling in the Obedience of Christ
    • Overcoming Some Old Habits of Thought
    • Setting our Minds for Surrender Each Morning
    • Some of Peters Advice for Relationships in these Last Days
    • What Helps us to Accept Every Experience
    • His Leading through the Valley
    • Being His Valiant Warrior
    • Our Valiant Warrior
    • Living Deep-rooted Attachment in Christ
    • Keep on Sowing!
    • Surely the LORD is in the place
    • Red Sea Advice Part 4 The Red Sea Response
    • Red Sea Advice Part 3 The Red Sea Reaction
    • Red Sea Advice Part 2
    • Red Sea Advice Part 1
    • A Call to Peace
    • But Then on The Third Day
    • He Endured the Cross Part 3 Psalm 22 NIV
    • He Endured the Cross Psalm 22 Part 2
    • He Endured the Cross Part 1
    • The Cup that Crystallizes Part 3
    • The Cup that Crystallizes Part 2
    • The Cup that Crystallizes Part 1
    • The Yoke that Gives Us Rest
    • Proper Use of limitation, A Call For Balance
    • Another Lesson in Making Room for Their Surpassing Power Through the Proper Use of our Limitations
    • The Posture of Waiting and Trust that Allows Him To Demonstrate His Surpassing Power
    • To Demonstrate His Surpassing Power 2
    • To Demonstrate His Surpassing Power
    • WE will get through this!
    • Delight to do His will
    • I Know the Plans I Have for You
    • But for a Moment
    • Wake me up, Lord
    • We are a Team!
    • When we feel alone
    • The One Next Step
    • Trusting the Love that Stabilizes Us Through Every Storm
    • Triumph Over Appearance
    • The Joy of His Abundance
    • Express Gratitude
    • Numbering our Days
    • Expressions of His Love
    • The Breadth of His Provision
    • His Faithfulness Behind Every Challenge
    • He Stands at the Door of our Hearts
    • Your Tender Mercies Give Me Life
    • The Craftsmanship of His Workmanship in us
    • With You Wherever You Go
    • Listening to His Voice Amid the Physical Challenge of Shingles
    • A Refuge Better than People Pleasing
    • My Prayer in the Morning
    • They Will Not Prevail
    • When Things Don't Go My Way
    • How To Be a Refuge Like Him
    • A Very Present Help in Trouble
    • How to be a Refuge Like Him
    • Humble Yourselves Under the Mighty Hand of God
    • On Which Side Will We Dwell?
    • The Light That Shines on Our Challenges
    • Rewriting our Negative Memories and Thoughts Part 6
    • Plow My Thoughts
    • Rewriting our Negative Memories and Thoughts Part 5
    • Rewriting our Negative Memories and Thoughts Part 4
    • Rewriting our Negative Memories and Thoughts Part 3
    • Rewriting our Negative Memories and Thoughts Part 2
    • Rewriting our Negative Memories and Thoughts
    • Stand in Awe in the Midst of Depression
    • Patient Waiting in the Face of Challenge
    • Our Expectation and Refuge in the Face of Fear
    • His Way of Escape
    • Healing the Root of Fear pt 2
    • Healing the Root of Fear
    • Weeding Day
    • Another Aspect of Wash Day!
    • Wash Day!
    • The Cup of Blessing Which We Bless
    • Our Abba Father
    • Accepting the Gift and Passing it On
    • Accepting the Gift of His Training
    • Open Our Eyes to See
    • The Breath of Forgiveness Part 2
    • The Breath of Forgiveness
    • Living Each Moment for Him
    • Diamonds in the Night
    • His Word that Sustains us in Times of Weariness Part 7
    • His Word that Sustains us in Times of Weariness Part 6
    • His Word that Sustains us in Times of Weariness Part 3
    • His Word that Sustains us in Times of Weariness Part 3
    • His Word that Sustains us in Times of Weariness Part 2
    • His Word that Sustains us in Times of Weariness Part 1
    • Faithful in the Hour Part 1
    • Delight in His Delight
    • The Beauty of Brokenness Surrendered to Him
    • How to Never Give up Part 2
    • How to Never Give UP part 1
    • Whatever We Do Part 2
    • Whatever We Do
    • Resurrection Power At Work
    • Tested by the Word of God
    • Waiting on the LORD
    • My Dad Road Sign
    • The Amazing Privilege of Being Coached by the Most High God
    • Casting Both Circles of Care Upon Him
    • The Heart of Deliverance
    • Say Amen!
    • Amen
    • Trusting Where He Leads
    • Made Strong to Listen
    • This is Who I AM
    • The Mindset of Deliverance
    • Strongholds
    • Your Love Has Conquered My Resistance
    • Our Stability Amid These Times and Seasons of Change
    • Precious in the Sight part 2
    • Precious in the Sight of the Lord
    • His Battle
    • Looking to Him
    • Proving Him Holy
    • Rejoice in the Road
    • The Divine Ectetera
    • Waking up to Hope in God in the Present Moment
    • Hiding His Word in Our Heart
    • The Power of Acceptance
    • The Power of Listening From His Love
    • The Gift of Spiritual Eyesight (In Relationships)
    • The Gift of Spiritual Eyesight Part 2
    • The Gift of Spiritual Eyesight
    • The Past and Present Reality of Deliverance
    • Willing To Trust
    • Quieting the Noise So We Can Hear His Knock and Receive Feasting in Place of Empty Snacking
    • An Olive Tree in the House of God
    • Our Choice at Break of Day
    • From Accusation to Acclamation
    • The Pure Joy of What Is
    • Arise and Eat
    • Power Over the Pit
    • His Altar (The Dimensions of Love)
    • Living The Dimensions of Love
    • The Dimensions of Love
    • All My Springs are in You
    • Crucified with Christ--A Prayer
    • Psalm 22 on the Cross to the Ninth Hour
    • The Mind of Christ Revealed on the Cross Part 2
    • The Mind of Christ as Revealed on the Cross Part 1
    • Stop and Savor His View
    • The Final Hymn
    • The Keeping Power of the Father and the Son part 3
    • The Keeping Power of the Father and the Son part 2
    • Keeping the Power of the Father and the Son part 1
    • Father Glorify Thy Name
    • She Has Done What She Could
    • The Megaphone of God
    • Teach me to be an influence that honors You
    • Fill Me with Your Willingness and Skill
    • The Greatest Reality Amid any Overwelm
    • Seeing Something New
    • Trusting Him Anew
    • The Power of the Yoke of Jesus
    • How to be Humble
    • Building Faith to Prepare for Any Collision
    • Opening the Door of our Language to God
    • Safe in His Compassions
    • Who He Is in Every Experience
    • Continual Praise
    • Beside Still Waters
    • Faith and Hope in the Midst of Challenge
    • The Beauty of Flaw Wrapped in Perfection Revisited
    • Empowering Love
    • Discovering the Hidden Treasure
    • Thoroughly Known
    • Very Present Help
    • Not by Might
    • Under His Wings I Trust
    • Aiming at Eternity
    • What to Forget, What to Remember
    • Ready to Turn My Life Around for God
    • Triumph Over Circumstances--Don't Kill the Messenger
    • Waterlogged and Triumphant
    • Escape from Stress When We Don't Understand
    • Escape from Stress, Equipped with Hinds Feet
    • Surely the Lord is in the Place
    • Escape from Stress When We Fail part 2
    • Escaping from Stress When We Fail part 1
    • Escape From Stress When We don't Understand
    • From Stress to Peace Part 1
    • Step by Step Escape from Stress
    • Making Room to be Filled
    • Making Room to be Filled
    • The Power to Love When We Cannot
    • The Power to Love When We Cannot
    • Overcoming Illusion
    • The Blessing of Overwelm
    • Jesus is the Door
    • In Perfect Faithfulness
    • The Space to Choose
    • Discipline, Not Condemnation
    • Discipline, Not Condemnation
    • The Voice of our Risen Lord
    • Passover Perspectives: A Night of Watching
    • Passover Perspectives: The Protection of the Father in the Midst of the Cross
    • Passover Perspectives: The Deliverance that will Never Be Forgotten
    • Passover Perspectives: No Fear
    • Passover Perspective: The Far Reaching Power of His Sacrifice
    • Passover Perspectives: Living Unleavened
    • Passover Perspectives: Eating on the Run
    • Passover Perspectives: The Fires that Proved Him Faithful
    • Passover Perspectives: The Power of his Sacrifice
    • Passover Perspectives Exodus 12: The Keeping of the Lamb
    • Passover Perspectives: A collective celebration
    • Passover Perspectives: A New Beginning
    • A Prayer for God's Glory
    • Road Sign
    • The Beauty of Perfection
    • Every Hour
    • What will we put in the Relationship Box?
    • Discovering His Everlasting Love
    • His Timing and Strength in Every Phase of Life
    • Trusting Him in Every Valley
    • Trusting the One Who Pours the Cup
    • Smallest Beginning, Greatest Gift
    • Thoroughly Known, Thoroughly Pursued
    • Red Sea Rule #10
    • Red Sea Rule #9
    • Agreeing with God
    • Red Sear Rule #8
    • Red Sea Rule #7
    • Red Sea Rule #6
    • Red Sea Rule #5
    • Red Sea Rule 3 & 4
    • Red Sea Rules #2
    • Red Sea Rules--part 1
    • What Great Honor
    • What do you see?
    • The Power of a Living Faith
    • Awe for God in the Face of Fear
    • No Trial Will Ever Be Too Severe
    • The Work of the Gardener and the Architect
    • Wisdom Out of the Whirlwind
    • Hold On
    • Dwelling in Hope: The power of what we expect and believe
    • Conflict as a Call to Loving Action
    • Trusting His Infinite Wisdom
    • Emotion Management through The Power of Discretion
    • Do Not Delay; The Golden Moments Fly
    • Delight in the Lord
    • Loving New Part 2
    • Loving New
    • To Change the Paradigm
    • My Yoke is Easy, My Burden is Light
    • The Way of Escape
    • Equipped to Face Whatever Comes
    • Time to Trust part 3
    • Time to Trust part 2
    • A Time to Trust
    • Words of Wisdom
    • Wake Up New and See the Bigger Picture
    • Weeping and Finding
    • Resurrection Legacy
    • His Seamless Garment
    • Resurrection Legacy
    • Compelled by Love
    • Test of the Dream Part 3B
    • Test of the Dream --Part 3
    • Test of the Dream --Part 2
    • The Test of the Dream
    • The Love of God in Christ--part 2
    • The Love of God in Christ
    • Shedding Light on Discouragement
    • No More Re-Runs and No more Previews
    • No More Re-Runs
    • Triumph of Trust
    • With You Always, Day by Day
    • Triumph over Temptation
    • Step by Step
    • The Lord, My Confidence --part 2
    • The Lord, My Confidence--part 1
    • Seeking the Face of God and Christ
    • My Always Faithful God
    • The Answer to Overwhelm
    • Every Knee Shall Bow
    • Free to Experience the Intentions of God
    • Finding Bread at Midnight
    • Faithful Wounds
    • Battlefield Strategies
    • Take Time to Be Kind
    • Oh Magnify the Lord with Me by the Power of Thanksgiving
    • What do You Expect?
    • Unlikely Battlefield Strategies Part 2
    • The Miracle of Acceptance
    • Crisis Control
    • When Things Don't Go My Way
    • The Power of Pure Choice in Christ
    • Let the King of Glory In!
    • Whose Wall Do I Trust?
    • The Power of Thanksgiving
    • The Postures of Possiblities
    • If You Trust Me Let Go
    • Barefoot!
    • Holy Ground: Accepting the Mission
    • Holy ground: Facing the Fire
    • After the Battle
    • Accessable
    • Surrender in Awe and Wait in Joy
    • The Strength of our Spiritual Root System
    • Space to Trust
    • Full of Sap Part 3
    • Full of Sap Part 2
    • Full of Sap
    • The Mind of Mature Persistence part 3
    • The Mind of Mature Persistence part 2
    • Mind of Mature Persistance
    • Expect the Unexpected
    • Hearing Through the Ears of Jesus
    • Our Memorial Legacy: Keeping the Feast
    • Our Memorial Legacy
    • The Heart of the Father
    • The Cattle on a Thousand Hills
    • Patient with Process
    • He is Risen! Continue to Seek
    • Never Out-Numbered--Never Give Up!
    • Never Out-Numbered
    • Gathering Forces No Match For the Lord of the Harvest
    • The Power of Sanctified Choice – A Testimony
    • The Power of Sanctified Choice on the Cross
    • Jesus' Last Prayer part 8
    • Jesus' Last Prayer part 7
    • Jesus' Last Prayer part 6
    • Jesus' Last Prayer part 5
    • Jesus' Last Prayer part 4
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Ubatizo katika kifo cha Kristo

F435
Baptism into Christ's Death

Ubatizo katika kifo cha Kristo

"Je! Hamjui ya kuwa sisi wengi tuliobatizwa kwa Yesu Kristo tulibatizwa katika kifo chake?
"Kwa hiyo tumezikwa pamoja naye kwa kubatizwa katika mauti: ya kwamba kama vile Kristo alivyofufuliwa kutoka kwa wafu kwa utukufu wa Baba, vivyo hivyo na sisi pia tuenende katika maisha mapya.

"Kwa maana ikiwa tumepandwa pamoja katika mfano wa kifo chake, pia tutakuwa katika mfano wa ufufuo wake." Kirumi 6: 3-5

Sisi, ambao kwa asili ni watu wa Mataifa, hatuwezi kufanya vizuri kuliko kukubali maelezo kamili ya ubatizo wa kweli ulioletwa na mtume Paulo kwa waumini huko Roma - wengi, ikiwa sio wote, ambao walikuwa wa Mataifa, "watoto wa ghadhabu." Katika aya tatu hapa mtume anashughulika kabisa na suala la Ubatizo kama inavyotumika kwetu. Mistari hii kwa ujumla hutumika kudhibitisha mafundisho yote ya Ubatizo, lakini ilinukuliwa haswa na ndugu zetu wanaotambua ubatizo kama kuashiria kuzamishwa katika maji. Ikumbukwe wazi, hata hivyo, kwamba mtume hafanyi neno moja la kumbukumbu juu ya Ubatizo wa maji. Ubatizo wa maji ni ishara tu, au picha ya Ubatizo halisi; na Mtume, katika aya hizi anafafanua, kutoka kwa sehemu mbali mbali, ukweli, ubatizo muhimu, bila ambayo hakuna mtu anayeweza kuchukuliwa kuwa mshiriki wa mwili, au Kanisa la Kristo, wakati wote wanaopokea ubatizo huu, wa jina lolote au mahali , rangi au ngono, inapaswa kuhesabiwa kama washiriki wa Eklesia, washiriki wa Uumbaji Mpya.

Mtume anahutubia wale ambao tayari ni washirika wa Kristo. Anasema: "Je! Hamjui ya kuwa sisi wengi tuliobatizwa kwa Yesu Kristo" - tunasimama hapa kuona kwamba yeye hajasema, Sisi wengi wetu tulinyunyizwa kwa maji, wala, sisi wengi kama waliotumbukizwa kwa maji, lakini, "Sisi wengi tuliobatizwa [tulibatizwa] kwa Yesu Kristo." Je! Ni nini kuzamishwa ndani ya Yesu Kristo? Hakika yeye hapa anatumia wazo lile lile ambalo anafafanua katika 1 Kor. 12:27: "Sasa mmekuwa mwili wa Kristo, na viungo hasa." Je! Tunaingiaje kwenye mwili wa Kristo? Mtume anajibu kwamba tulibatizwa ndani yake, na kwa hivyo, sasa tunahesabiwa kama washirika wa Bwana wetu, washiriki chini yake kama Mkuu wetu, washiriki wa "Kanisa ambalo ni mwili wake."

Lakini wacha tujiulize haswa ni nini mchakato ambao tulijiunga na Kristo Yesu. Mtume anajibu swali hilo katika taarifa yake inayofuata, "Sisi wengi tuliobatizwa kwa Yesu Kristo tulibatizwa katika kifo chake." Sio neno juu ya kubatizwa kwake kwa kubatizwa ndani ya maji. Hapana, hapana! Ni dhahirije kwamba ikiwa tulibatizwa mara elfu kwa maji hakutuleta katika ushirika katika mwili wa Kristo! Lakini, tukikubali maelezo ya mtume, tunagundua kwamba muungano wetu na Kristo, ushirika wetu katika Kanisa lake au Eklesia, ambao majina yao yameandikwa mbinguni, uliwekwa tangu wakati tulibatizwa katika kifo chake. Lakini, lini tulibatizwa katika kifo cha Bwana? Tunajibu kwamba Ubatizo huu katika kifo na Bwana, hii kuzidiwa, au kuzikwa kwetu, mwili wetu, ambao ulisababisha kuingizwa kwetu na yeye kama viungo vya mwili wake, kama Viumbe vipya, ulifanyika wakati tulipojisalimisha kamili ya mapenzi yetu kwake - kujitolea sisi wote, kumfuata na kumtii, hata kifo.

Bwana atawakilisha mtu mzima, na yote aliyo nayo. Mapenzi yana udhibiti wa mwili, mikono, miguu, macho na mdomo na ubongo. Inayo udhibiti, pia, ya mfukoni, akaunti ya benki, mali isiyohamishika. Inadhibiti wakati wetu, talanta yetu, ushawishi wetu. Hakuna kitu cha thamani ambacho tunamiliki ambacho hakiingii chini ya usimamizi wa mapenzi; na, kwa hivyo, tunapotoa matakwa yetu kwa Bwana, au, kama Maandiko wakati mwingine inavyowakilisha, "mioyo yetu", tunampa yote yetu, na mazishi haya ya mapenzi yetu ya kibinadamu kwa mapenzi ya Kristo ni kifo chetu kama mwanadamu viumbe. "Ninyi mmekufa; na maisha yenu yamefichwa na Kristo kwa Mungu." (Wakol. 3: 3) Kifo hiki, mazishi haya, ni ubatizo wetu katika kifo chake. Tangu sasa, kwa maoni ya kimungu, hatupaswi kujihesabu kama wanadamu, ya asili ya kibinadamu, ya dunia, ya kidunia, na kama yenye malengo ya kidunia, vitu na matumaini, lakini kama Viumbe vipya katika Kristo Yesu.
Papo hapo mazishi haya au kuzamishwa kwa mapenzi yetu ndani ya mapenzi ya Kristo hufuatwa na kuzaliwa kwetu kwa uzima mpya - kwa hali mpya. Kama vile Bwana wetu aliweka wakfu hali yake ya kibinadamu hadi kufa, kwa kufanya mapenzi ya Baba, na bado hakuendelea kubaki katika kifo, lakini alifufuliwa kutoka kwa wafu na kuwa mpya wa maumbile, kwa hivyo sisi ambao kwa kujitolea tukawa "wafu pamoja naye, "kushiriki katika kujitolea kwake, hakuachwi katika hali ya kufa, lakini kunaweza kuongezeka mara moja kupitia imani na kufikia ujamaa wetu kwa Bwana kama Viumbe vipya. Kwa hivyo mtume anatangaza: "Ninyi si kwa mwili, lakini kwa Roho, ikiwa ni hivyo kwamba Roho wa Kristo anakaa ndani yenu." (Rom. 8: 9) Kwa ulimwengu huu wote ni "siri iliyofichwa" Hawathamini udhibitisho wetu wa imani mbele za Baba, lakini wanatuona kama watu wengine, ambao bado wako kwenye dhambi zao. Vivyo hivyo, hawaoni sababu ya kwanini tunapaswa kutoa dhabihu au kujitakasa matakwa yetu kwa Bwana-kuwa wafu kama wanadamu, ili tuweze kushiriki naye kama Viumbe vipya. Wala hawaoni kujitolea kwetu na kukubalika kwake, na hawathamini ufufuo wetu wa mfano kwa maisha mapya, upya wa matumaini, ujamaa mpya, matarajio mapya ya uhusiano na Mungu kupitia Kristo. Tunaamini, kwa kweli, kwamba wanaweza kuona matunda katika maisha yetu, lakini hatuwezi tumaini kuwa itakuwa matunda kama watakavyoonekana kuwa nzuri au ya busara au yenye faida chini ya hali za sasa. "Ulimwengu haututambui [kama Viumbe Mpya] kwa sababu haukumjua yeye." 1 Yohana 3: 1

Katika haya yote waumini ni kufuata nyayo za Yesu - kuchukua msalaba wao kumfuata. Kwa kuwa mtakatifu, asiye na dhuru, asiye na uchafu, na aliyejitenga na jamii ya wenye dhambi, hakuhitaji kungojea dhabihu yoyote kwa dhambi, kwa maana "hakujua dhambi" - lakini mara moja kufikia umri wa uume chini ya Sheria (miaka thelathini) yeye haraka kufanya kujitolea kamili, dhabihu kamili ya maslahi yake yote ya kidunia, matumaini, matamanio na tamaa - kwamba anaweza kufanya mapenzi ya Baba tu. Lugha ya moyo wake, kama alivyokuja kwa Yohana huko Yordani, ilitabiriwa kwa kinabii, "Tazama, nimekuja - katika kitabu hicho kimeandikwa juu yangu - kufanya mapenzi yako, Ee Mungu. Nimefurahiya kufanya mapenzi yako, Ee Mungu wangu, sheria yako imeandikwa moyoni mwangu. (Zab. 40: 7,8; ​​Ebr. 10: 7) Bwana wetu, kwa hivyo alijitolea kwa mapenzi ya Baba, alitambua kwamba Ubatizo wake wa nje ulionyesha kujisalimisha kwa maisha yake ya asili na asili yake, tayari amekwisha kuzikwa, au kuzikwa, ndani ya Baba mapenzi, hata hadi kufa. Kuzama kwa maji ilikuwa ishara ya ishara ya Ubatizo, au mazishi ya mapenzi yake, ambayo yalitangulia. Kwa maoni haya ubatizo wake ulikuwa na maana kwake, ingawa sio kwa Yohana, ambaye alishangaa sana kwamba yeye "ambaye hakujua dhambi" anapaswa kubatizwa, wakati ubatizo wa Yohana ulikuwa ubatizo tu kwa wavunjaji wa Sheria. msamaha wa dhambi.

Hakuna lakini Bwana wetu Yesu mwenyewe alielewa kikamilifu kwanini "amemwua" kutimiza haki yote. Hakuna lakini yeye aligundua kuwa wakati kuzamishwa kama hivyo (utakaso wa mfano kutoka kwa dhambi) haikuwa lazima kwake, kana kwamba yeye ni mwenye dhambi, bado ilimfanya yeye ambaye alikuwa Mkuu wa mwili anayetarajiwa, kuweka mfano ndani yake ambao kuwa sahihi kama somo lililo na maana kwa wafuasi wake wote - sio tu kwa wale "washirika" wa mwili ambao walikuwa wa nyumba ya Israeli baada ya mwili, lakini kwa wale washiriki ambao pia walikuwa wageni na wageni na wageni. Ikawa yeye kuashiria kujitolea kamili kwa mapenzi yake na yote aliyokuwa nayo, hata hadi kufa, ili sisi, tukifuata, tufuate nyayo zake.

Kwamba Bwana wetu hakupokea kuzamishwa kwa mikono ya Yohane kama maimamu halisi, lakini tu kama mfano wake, au mfano, unaweza kuonyeshwa kwa urahisi. Katika ushahidi alama maneno yake juu ya wakati wa Chakula cha jioni cha mwisho. "Nina ubatizo wa kubatizwa nao, na ninaumizwa vipi hadi ikamilike!" (Luka 12:50) Hapa Bwana wetu anaonyesha kwamba Ubatizo wake haikuwa ubatizo wa maji, lakini ubatizo wa kifo - Ubatizo wa kifo, kupatana na mpangilio wa Kimungu - kama bei ya ukombozi wa mwanadamu, au toleo la dhambi.

Baada ya kujitolea kwa ubatizo wa kifo hiki mapema, wakati alipokuwa na umri wa miaka thelathini, na akiwa na miaka mitatu na nusu ya huduma yake kwa uangalifu alitoa matakwa ya kujitolea - "kufa kila siku," kumwaga roho yake hadi kufa - kutumia maisha yake, nguvu zake, nguvu zake, katika huduma ya Baba, katika huduma ya wafuasi wake na, kwa maana kubwa, katika huduma ya maadui zake. Mwishowe, akijitambua karibu na mwisho wa Ubatizo huu wa kifo, wakati utakamilika kikamilifu, na kuhisi uzito, majaribu, shida, kuongezeka mzito na mzito kila wakati, na kutokuwa na mfadhili- "Kati ya watu walikuwa hakuna mtu "- sio mtu ambaye alielewa hali na hali, na ambaye angeshiriki huzuni yake kwa kutoa huruma, kutia moyo au kufariji - kisha akatamani mwisho wa kesi akasema," Je! ninaendelea kuwa ngumu kwa shida hadi ni [ubatizo wangu wa kifo] utimie! (Luka 12:50) Ubatizo wake ulitimizwa muda mfupi baadaye, alipokufa, akilia - "Imekamilika!"

Ulimwengu wote unakufa, na sio tu Bwana na Kanisa, mwili wake; lakini ulimwengu haushiriki katika kifo cha Kristo, kama vile Kanisa linavyo, mwili wake. Kuna tofauti kubwa. Ulimwengu wote umekufa na baba Adamu chini ya hukumu au laana yake; lakini Bwana wetu Yesu hakuwa wa ulimwengu, sio mmoja wa wale waliokufa katika Adamu. Tumeona tayari kuwa maisha yake yalikuwa takatifu na tofauti na ile ya wadhambi wote, bila kujali mama yake wa kidunia - kwamba hakuwa chini ya kulaaniwa. Je! Kwanini alikufa? Maandiko yanajibu kwamba "alikufa kwa ajili ya dhambi zetu" - kwamba kifo chake kilikuwa cha kujitolea. Ndivyo ilivyo kwa Kanisa, mwili wake, uliobatizwa ndani yake kwa kubatizwa katika kifo chake - washiriki pamoja naye katika kifo chake cha kujitolea. Kwa asili watoto wa Adamu, "watoto wa ghadhabu, hata kama wengine," kwanza wamehesabiwa haki kutoka kwa kifo cha Adamu kwenda kwa uzima, kupitia imani katika Bwana wetu Yesu na kazi yake ya ukombozi; na kiini cha ile idhini ya uzima kutoka kwa hukumu ya Adamu hadi kifo, ni kwamba wanaweza kuwa na pendeleo hili la kubatizwa kwa Yesu Kristo (alifanya viungo vya mwili wake, Eklesia yake) kwa kubatizwa katika kifo chake - kwa kushiriki kifo na yeye kama sadaka ya pamoja. Ah! Kuna tofauti kubwa kama nini kati ya kufa kwa Adamu, na kuwa wafu katika Kristo!

Siri hii ya uhusiano wetu na Kristo katika dhabihu, katika kubatizwa kwa kifo sasa, na uhusiano unaosababishwa na umoja na yeye katika utukufu unaofuata, haueleweki kwa ulimwengu. Inapaswa, hata hivyo, kuthaminiwa na waaminifu wa Bwana, na inaonyeshwa mara kwa mara kwenye Maandiko. "Ikiwa tunateseka pamoja naye, tutatawala pamoja naye"; "ikiwa tumekufa pamoja naye, tutaishi pia pamoja naye." Sisi ni "warithi wa Mungu, na warithi pamoja na Yesu Kristo, ikiwa ni kweli kwamba tunateseka pamoja naye [ikiwa tunapata ubatizo wa kifo pamoja naye kama viungo vya mwili wake] ili tupate kutukuzwa pia." 2 Tim. 2:12; Kirumi 6: 8; 8:17

Katika aya ya nne ya maandishi tunayochunguza, Mtume anarudia wazo lile lile kutoka kwa maoni mengine, akisema- "Kwa hivyo tumezikwa pamoja naye kwa kubatizwa hadi kufa." Tena hakuna maoni ya ubatizo wa maji, lakini taarifa nzuri zaidi ya Ubatizo wa kifo, kujitolea kwetu kwa kifo. Kuendelea, mtume husogeza mbele picha hiyo, akielezea sababu au sababu ya kubatizwa kwetu katika kifo cha Kristo, akisema, "Kama vile Kristo alivyofufuliwa kutoka kwa wafu kwa utukufu wa Baba, vivyo hivyo sisi pia tunapaswa kutembea katika maisha mapya. . " Imekuwa moja kwa moja tu ambapo Mtume hapa anarejelea kushiriki kwetu katika Ufufuo wa Kwanza, wakati tutakaposhiriki utukufu wa Bwana wetu katika Ufalme wake: anarejelea maisha ya sasa. Wote ambao wanajitolea wakfu kwa maisha yao kwa Bwana, kuwa wamekufa pamoja naye, kuwa washirika wa dhabihu pamoja naye katika huduma ya Ukweli, wanapaswa kujishughulisha wakati wanaishi ulimwenguni kama walijitenga na tofauti na wengine karibu nao . Wanafanya agano la kufa kwa vitu vya kidunia ambavyo vinavutia wengine, na kwa hivyo, vinaweza kuzitumia tu kama watumishi wa Uumbaji Mpya. Viumbe vipya vinakuwa hai kupitia Mkombozi wa vitu vya mbinguni na matarajio, ambayo ulimwengu unaotuzunguka hauoni, hawaelewi. Kwa kupatana na hii maisha yetu ulimwenguni yanapaswa kuwa mpya, tofauti, kutengwa na yale ya wengine juu yetu; kwa sababu tumejaa roho mpya, tumaini jipya, malengo mapya, ya mbinguni.

Kuja katika aya ya tano, mtume bado hajazungumziwa hata kidogo juu ya Ubatizo wa maji, ingawa wengine, mwanzoni, wanaweza kufikiria maneno mengine: "Kwa maana ikiwa tumepandwa pamoja katika mfano wa kifo chake, tutakuwa pia kwa mfano wa ufufuo wake. " Ikiwa jambo hili linapopandwa pamoja katika mfano wa kifo chake litaeleweka kumaanisha ubatizo wa maji, itakuwa inasisitiza juu ya Ubatizo wa maji kuliko vile mwalimu yeyote ulimwenguni angekuwa tayari kukubali. Je! Ni nini kama Wakristo tunatarajia sana? Je! Sio kwamba tunaweza kushiriki katika ufufuo wa Bwana, Ufufuo wa Kwanza? Mtume alionyesha hii kama bora na tumaini mbele ya akili yake, akisema- "Ili nijue yeye na nguvu ya ufufuko wake [kama kiungo cha mwili wake, Kanisa lake], na ushirika wa mateso yake, ukifanywa kuwa sawa hadi kufa kwake, ikiwa nipate kufikia ufufuo wa wafu. " (Flp. 3: 10,11) Sasa kuelewa Warumi 6: 5 kwa kumaanisha kuwa kushiriki katika ufufuo wa Kristo itakuwa matokeo ya kumizwa katika maji itakuwa kufanya kifungu hiki kupingana na kifungu kingine chochote, na sababu mbaya. Je! Kwa nini upandaji, au mazishi, katika maji husababisha kushiriki katika Ufufuo wa Kwanza? Tuko salama kwa kudhani kuwa maelfu wamepandwa, au kuzikwa, au kuzamishwa, katika maji ambao hawatashiriki Kiyama ya Ufufuo wa Kwanza-Ufufuo wa Kristo.

Lakini tunapoelewa kifungu hiki, kupatana na mbili zilizotangulia, kurejelea ubatizo katika kifo, kupanda katika kifo, kwa mfano wa kifo cha Kristo, basi yote ni wazi, yote ni ya busara. Kwa kuwa tumeitwa na Bwana kuwa warithi pamoja na Mwana wake, na kuteseka pamoja naye na kufa naye, kuishi naye na kutawala pamoja naye, hakika tunaweza kuhisi kwamba ikiwa tutakuwa waaminifu kwa wito huu , ikiwa tumepandwa au kuzikwa katika kifo chake, kama vile alizikwa katika kifo - kama askari waaminifu wa Mungu na watumishi wa Ukweli, hatimaye tutapata thawabu kamili ambayo Mungu amwaahidi, kama., kushiriki katika Ufufuo wa Kwanza-kwa utukufu, heshima na kutokufa.

Ubatizo katika kifo ni ubatizo wa kweli kwa Kanisa, kama ilivyokuwa ubatizo wa kweli kwa Bwana wetu; Ubatizo wa maji ni ishara tu, au picha yake kwetu, kama ilivyokuwa kwake. Hii inaonyeshwa wazi na maneno ya Bwana wetu kwa wanafunzi wake wawili, James na John, ambao waliomba kwamba wawe na ahadi yake kwamba mwishowe watakaa pamoja naye, mmoja mkono wake wa kulia na mwingine mkono wake wa kushoto katika Ufalme. . Jibu la Bwana wetu kwao lilikuwa, "Haujui mnachouliza. Je! Mnaweza kubatizwa kwa ubatizo ambao mimi nina kubatizwa nao?" Kukiri kwao utayari wa kushiriki, sio tu kujulikana kwake lakini pia kubatizwa kwake katika kifo, Bwana wetu akijibu kwa kweli, "Mtakunywa kikombe kile ninakinywe, na kubatizwa na ubatizo ambao mimi nimabatizwa nao." (Marko 10: 35-39) Mtu yeyote aliyeitwa ameweka tayari moyo wako kwa haya, Bwana atawapa pendeleo na msaada wake. Vivyo hivyo watabatizwa katika mauti ya Kristo, na, matokeo yake, watashiriki naye katika Ufufuo wa Kwanza na katika utukufu wa Ufalme unaofurahishwa na hilo. Kwamba Bwana wetu hapa hakurejelea ubatizo wa maji ni dhahiri; kwa maana wanafunzi hawa wawili walikuwa pamoja naye tangu mwanzo wa huduma yake, na kama wawakilishi wake walikuwa wakibatiza umati wa watu kwa maji, "kwa toba na ondoleo la dhambi" - Ubatizo wa Yohane. (Yohana 3: 22,23; 4: 1,2; Marko 1: 4) Utume wa Bwana wetu kuhusu utayari wao wa kushiriki katika ubatizo wake haukueleweka vibaya na mitume. Hawakufikiria kwamba alitamani wabatizwe tena kwa maji; walielewa vizuri kuwa ilikuwa ni kubatizwa kwa mapenzi yao katika mapenzi yake na mapenzi ya Baba, na ipasavyo kuhusika kwao naye katika dhabihu yake - kufa kila siku, kuweka maisha yao kwa ajili ya ndugu, hadi mwisho, hadi kufa kabisa.
 
"Kwa Roho Mmoja Wote Tumebatizwa Kwa Mwili Mmoja"
1 Kor. 12: 12,13--
Mtu asiweze kumuelewa mtume, wakati akimaanisha kubatizwa kwetu kuwa mauti na Bwana wetu - "katika kifo chake" - kumaanisha ubatizo wa Roho Mtakatifu. Kifo na Roho Mtakatifu ni tofauti kabisa, na Ubatizo huo ni tofauti na tofauti. Ubatizo katika kifo ni jambo la kibinafsi, ambamo kila mtu atakayekuwa mshiriki wa mwili wa Kristo lazima mmoja mmoja ajitakase na atoe dhabihu yake. Baadaye, dhabihu yake ilikubaliwa, Bwana kwa Roho wake husaidia kila mtu kutoa maisha yake katika huduma ya Ukweli na kwa ndugu-hata kufa. Ubatizo wa Roho Mtakatifu ulikuwa ubatizo mmoja kwa Kanisa lote. Ilifanyika katika chumba cha juu siku ya Pentekosti, na haiitaji marudio, kwa sababu haijakoma kukaa na Kanisa tangu wakati huo hadi sasa. Kurudiwa kwa baadhi ya udhihirisho wa nje kulitolewa kwa kesi ya Kornelio; lakini kama ushuhuda kwa Petro na kwa waumini wote wa Kiyahudi, na kwa Kornelio na waumini wote wa Mataifa tangu hapo, kwamba Mungu hafanyi tofauti au ubaguzi kama kati ya Wayahudi na Mataifa. Imani ya Pentekosti ilikamilishwa, tunaambiwa, kwa kujazwa kwa chumba cha juu na Roho Mtakatifu, ili wale ndugu 120 waliokuwepo "wote wakabatizwa kwa Roho Mtakatifu," mitume walipokea, zaidi ya hayo, ishara ya neema ya Mungu katika kuonekana kama ndimi za moto kwenye vichwa vyao.
Upako huu na Roho Mtakatifu ulilingana na upako wa makuhani wakuu wa Israeli na wafalme na mafuta takatifu ya upako. Mafuta hayo yalitiwa juu ya kichwa na yalipungua juu ya mwili. Kielelezo cha kumwaga hii kichwani kilikuwa kuwekwa kwa Roho Mtakatifu kwa Bwana wetu wakati wa kujitolea kwake akiwa na miaka thelathini, wakati Baba alimpa roho "bila kipimo." (Yohana 3: 34) Wakati Pentekosti ilikuja kikamilifu, na Mkuu wetu aliyetukuzwa alikuwa ameonekana mbele ya Baba, na kufanya upatanisho kwa dhambi za watu wake, aliruhusiwa "kumwaga hii" Kanisa lake; kwa hivyo kuashiria kukubalika kwake na na Baba, kama washiriki wa Eklesia yake, mwili wake - viungo vya Uumbaji Mpya. Kanisa lake, mwili wake, umeendelea tangu hapo, na Roho Mtakatifu ameendelea ndani na juu yake; na kadiri kila mshiriki anaongezewa kwa Kanisa, ambalo ni mwili wake, kila mmoja huwa anashiriki katika Ubatizo mmoja wa Roho ambao unahusu na unaenea katika mwili, Kanisa.

Andiko linalozingatiwa linaunganisha Ubatizo huu wa Pentekosti na Ubatizo wetu mmoja mmoja hadi mauti, na unatuonyesha uhusiano wa wawili hao. Ni kama watu walio na haki kwamba tumebatizwa katika kifo; ni kama washiriki wa Uumbaji Mpya kwamba tumetiwa mafuta na Roho Mtakatifu na kuwa washiriki wa Eklesia, mwili wa Kristo. Kama inavyoonekana tayari, lazima kwanza tuhesabiwe haki kutokana na dhambi ya Adamu na kifo, kwa imani katika Mkombozi wetu, kabla dhabihu yetu haijakubaliwa na kuhesabiwa "kufa pamoja naye" - na Bwana wetu, Mkuu wetu. Kwa hivyo, vivyo hivyo, lazima kwanza tutoe wakfu huu, au dhabihu, ya sisi wenyewe wenye kuhesabiwa haki, na kukubaliwa kama washiriki wa Uumbaji Mpya, kabla ya michakato ya kufa ambayo kwa neema ya Bwana, itasababisha kubatizwa kwetu katika kifo, kwa mfano wa Ubatizo wa Bwana wetu katika kifo, na kwa hivyo hakikisha atashiriki katika "Ufufuo wa Kwanza." Hii ni kulingana na yale ambayo tumeona tayari; Viz., kwamba sio udhibitisho wetu ambao unatuunda Viumbe vipya-viungo vya mwili wa Kristo - lakini kubatizwa kwetu katika kifo pamoja naye kama anavyosema Mtume, "Kama vile mwili ni mmoja, na una viungo vingi ... pia ni Kristo. Maana kwa Roho mmoja sisi sote tumebatizwa kwa mwili mmoja ... na tumekanywa kwa kunywa kwa Roho mmoja. " 1 Kor. 12: 12,13

Wakati huu wa Injili ni "mwaka unaokubalika wa Bwana," wakati ambao amekuwa tayari kukubali dhabihu za waumini, kujitolea kwao kamili hadi kufa. Kila mtu anayejitolea akijibu wito wa wakati huo (Warumi 12: 1) mara moja amekubaliwa mahali, ushirika katika "Kanisa la Mzaliwa wa kwanza, ambaye majina yake yameandikwa mbinguni." Lakini kukubalika kama hii, kama tumeona, haimalizi suala hili: inahitajika kwa wakfu wote kwamba "watakufa kila siku" - ambayo ni kwamba, mtazamo wao wa kujitolea kabisa utaendelea kila siku hadi hapo baadaye watakapotangaza, " Imekamilika. " Inahitajika kwa kujitolea kwamba uvumilivu huu katika dhabihu na kutenda mema utaendelea kwa uvumilivu na uaminifu, na kwamba mwisho, na sisi kama kwa Bwana na Kichwa, itakuwa kifo cha kweli. Kama ilivyoandikwa: "Nimesema, Ninyi ni miungu [elohim-mashujaa] nyote wana wa Aliye juu - lakini mtakufa kama wanadamu, mtaanguka kama mmoja wa wakuu" - sio kama Prince Adamu, ; lakini kama Prince Yesu - washiriki katika kifo chake. (Zab. 82: 6,7) Uaminifu huu, kifo hiki cha kila siku ni muhimu kwa kufanya wito wetu na uchaguzi wetu uhakikishwe; na ni kwa vile kwa kutembea kwa miguu ya Bwana kwa uaminifu kwamba anaahidi utukufu, heshima na kutokufa kutawaliwa kwa washindi waaminifu ambao watakuwa washiriki wa "Wachaguliwa Sana" wa Uumbaji Mpya. Maneno ya Bwana wetu ni, "Uwe mwaminifu hata kufa, nami nitakupa taji ya uzima." (Ufu. 2:10) Basi, tunaona kwamba ni kwa Kanisa kama ilivyokuwa na Bwana na Mkuu wake - kwamba wakfu huleta matunda ya kwanza ya Roho, uaminifu kila siku unaendelea baraka za Roho, na kuongezeka furaha na matunda, wakati kukamilika kwa agano kwa uaminifu katika kifo halisi ni muhimu kwa kupokea urithi kamili- kushiriki katika Ufufuo wa Kwanza na utukufu wake na heshima. Efe. 1: 12-14; Kirumi 8: 16,17
Ubatizo wa Moto

Tayari kwa urefu wa karibu * tumetaja maelezo ya Yohana Mbatizaji, yaliyotolewa kwa Wayahudi kumheshimu Yesu, "Yeye atawabatiza kwa Roho Mtakatifu na moto," (Mathayo 3:11) - akielezea Baraka ya Pentekosti kwa Waisraeli waaminifu na moto wa hasira ya Mungu, "hasira kabisa" (1 Thes. 2:16), ambayo ilikuja juu ya mabaki ya taifa hilo. Ubatizo wa moto sio baraka, na sio busara kwamba nyakati nyingine Wakristo huiombea. Kama kulikuwa na ubatizo wa moto kama mwisho wa wakati wa Wayahudi juu ya "makapi" ya taifa hilo, kwa hivyo Bwana wetu anaonyesha kutakuwa na mwisho wa wakati huu "moto" kama huo juu ya kundi la "tare" la Ukristo - Ubatizo wa moto, wa shida, ambayo itakuwa ya kutisha; "wakati wa shida kama vile haukuwapo tangu wakati kulikuwa na taifa." Dani. 12: 1
 
* Vol. V, Chap. ix.
 
 
Ubatizo wa Alama katika Maji
Tayari tumewatahadharisha ubatizo wa maji mbali mbali katika watu wakristo, na karibu nao hawaeleweki kuwa ni ubatizo wa kweli; Tumeonyesha jinsi vipimo vya uwongo na visivyo sawa ni vipimo ambavyo vinategemea ubatizo huu wa maji, ambao hauwezi kuathiri moyo, na ambao kwa kawaida ni ishara, lakini haujaonekana kuwa ishara na watetezi wao, kwa sababu hawatambui wazi ukweli halisi kubatizwa katika mauti na Kristo. Jinsi ilivyo rahisi na bado ni sawa na mtihani huu wa Ubatizo wa kweli, kwa Kanisa la Kristo - "mwili", Eklesia, ambayo majina yake yameandikwa mbinguni - sio kutegemea uandikishaji wa kidunia! Ubatizo huu wa kweli, ni mlango wa Kanisa la kweli, kwa kuwa hakuna mtu anayeweza kubaliwa au kuandikishwa kama mshiriki wa Kanisa, mwili wa Kristo, na majina yao yameandikwa mbinguni kama hivyo, isipokuwa kwanza amepata uzoefu huu. Ubatizo wa mapenzi yake, ya moyo wake, katika kifo na Kristo, na kwa hivyo umeingizwa katika ushirika katika Kanisa lake, ambalo "linajaza kile kilicho nyuma ya shida za Kristo." (Wakol. 1:24) Ah, ndio! Waumini kama hao, wakifanya kujitolea, kubatizwa kama kifo na Bwana, lazima wote wawe kweli "ngano" - sio moja ya hii ni "tesa." Mlango wa maji unaweza kuingiza "magugu" na "ngano" ndani ya Kanisa la Baptist; lakini kubatizwa katika mauti kama mlango utakubali darasa la ngano tu ndani ya Kanisa la kweli, kwa sababu hakuna mtu yeyote atakayejali kuja chini ya masharti, ingawa wengine wanaweza kuwaiga kwa kiwango, kwani "magugu" ni mfano wa "ngano." "

Kwa mtazamo huu itaonekana kuwa kunaweza kuwa na washiriki wa Kanisa la kweli - waliobatizwa ndani ya Yesu Kristo, kwa kubatizwa katika kifo chake - kati ya Wa Presbyterian, Wamethodisti, Walutheri, Episcopalian, maCatholicist, Wakatoliki wa Roma, nk, na vile vile miongoni mwa Wanafunzi na Wabatisti. Kwa upande mwingine, bila shaka wengi katika madhehebu yote (pamoja na Wanafunzi na Wabatizwa waliowekwa ndani ya maji) hawana sehemu wala kura katika mwili wa Kristo, Eklesia ya kweli, kwa sababu ya kutokuingia kwenye Kanisa la kweli, kwa kubatizwa kwa kweli katika "kifo chake." Pendekezo hili haliwezekani.

Baada ya hivyo kuweka mafadhaiko yote, kama vile Mtume hufanya, juu ya Ubatizo wa kweli, tunageukia ishara yake, Ubatizo wa maji, na tunauliza, kwanza, Je! Ishara hiyo ni sawa au ni ya lazima kwa wale ambao wamebatizwa kwa kweli? Pili, ikiwa ni hivyo, ni ipi ishara sahihi?

Je! Ubatizo wa Mfano ni Muhimu?
Ushuhuda wa Bwana na mitume unaonyesha wazi uzuri wa ishara au ubatizo wa maji, kwa sababu sio wao wenyewe walibatizwa kwa maji, lakini walifundisha ubatizo wa maji kwa heshima ya wengine - sio Wayahudi tu, bali pia Wageuzi wa Mataifa. Tumeonyesha tayari kwamba Ubatizo wa Bwana wetu Yesu ulikuwa tofauti na tofauti na ile ya Ubatizo wa Yohana kwa Wayahudi kwa jumla - kwamba sio tu kwa toba ya ondoleo la dhambi - kwamba Yohana hakuelewa jambo hilo; na kwamba Bwana wetu, kwa hivyo kuanzisha ishara ya kifo chake mwenyewe, hakujaribu kuelezea kile ambacho John na wengine wa wakati huo hangeweza kuelewa, kwa sababu Roho Mtakatifu alikuwa bado hajapewa, kwani Yesu alikuwa bado hajatimiza dhabihu yake kwa dhambi zetu, wala kutukuzwa ili kutoa dhabihu kwa niaba yetu. Tunagundua utume uliopewa na Bwana wetu kwa mitume, na sisi kupitia wao, kama ilivyoandikwa katika Math. 28: 19,20: "Basi, enendeni, mkafundishe mataifa yote, mwabatize kwa jina la [kwa mamlaka] ya Baba, na ya Mwana, na ya Roho Mtakatifu." Tume hii imehusu wakati huu wote wa Injili, na chini yake wahudumu wote wa Ukweli leo wanafanya kazi. Bwana hakuelezea hapa ubatizo wa Roho wa Pentekosti, kwa sababu haikuwa mikononi mwa mitume kwa hivyo kubatiza mtu yeyote. Bwana mwenyewe, na yeye pekee, alikuwa na mamlaka hii na akaitunza. Ilikuwa, hata hivyo, ilipewa mitume, na kwa waalimu wote waaminifu wa Neno la Bwana, kuwaamuru watu kuheshimu neema ya Mungu katika Kristo-kuheshimu haki yao, na kuheshimu utakaso wao, au kujitolea, au kubatizwa kwa kifo na Kristo , ikiwa wangeshiriki asili yake mpya na utukufu unaokuja. Na kubatiza pia ni pamoja na ishara, au ubatizo wa maji, ambayo ilikuwa ishara ya nje ambayo utakaso wa ndani au wa moyo wa mwamini ungejulishwa kwa wenzake, kama vile Bwana wetu mwenyewe alivyojitolea kujitolea kwa moyo. Baba, na kisha akaionyesha kwa maji.

Kwamba mitume waliyopuliziwa walielewa utume wao na sisi ni dhahiri kutoka kwa mafundisho yao yote. Kwanza waliwafundisha watu kuheshimu neema ya Mungu katika kazi ya ukombozi, wakiwatia moyo waamini hadi udhibitisho wa maisha. Kwa hivyo waliwasihi kujitolea kwa moyo kamili, wakisema, "Ninawaombeni, ndugu [sio waovu tena, lakini wamehesabiwa haki kwa imani katika Kristo, na kwa hivyo, wateule washiriki wa" nyumba ya imani, "au" ndugu ") , kwa rehema za Mungu [sehemu ambayo tayari umeshapokea katika kuhesabiwa haki], kwamba mnatoa miili yenu dhabihu zilizo hai, takatifu [zilizohesabiwa haki], zilizokubaliwa na Mungu, huduma yenu nzuri. " Huu ulikuwa mwaliko wa kujitakasa, au kutoa kafara, au "kubatizwa katika kifo chake." Watu wengi waliosikia neno hilo kwa furaha, katika hali sahihi ya moyo, kwa kushukuru, walibatizwa - sio tu waliobatizwa katika nadhiri zao za kujitolea, lakini pia walibatizwa kwa mfano katika maji, kama ushuhuda wa nje wa hii.

Angalia ushuhuda ufuatao kwamba ubatizo ulikuwa kawaida ya mitume wote - sio tu na Wayahudi, bali pia na Mataifa. Tunasoma juu ya watu wa Samaria, "Wakati walipoamini Filipo ... walibatizwa, wanaume na wanawake [sio watoto]." (Mdo. 8:12) Mtaalam wa Mkushi aliyebadilishwa na mahubiri ya Filipo pia akabatizwa katika maji. (Matendo 8: 35-38) Baada ya Petro kuhubiri kwa Kornelio na jamaa yake, "Roho Mtakatifu alianguka juu ya wote waliosikia [walithamini] neno [hakuna watoto wachanga, kwa hiyo], ... na aliwaamuru wabatizwe . " (Matendo 10: 44-48) Tena tunasoma, "Wakorintho wengi waliosikia waliamini, wakabatizwa." (Matendo 18: 8) Tena tunasoma, "Lidiya, muuzaji wa zambarau, wa mji wa Tiyatira, aliyemwabudu Mungu, alitusikia; ambaye moyo wake Bwana alifungua kutii mambo ambayo Paulo alisema. Alibatizwa na familia yake. " (Matendo 16: 14,15) Mlinzi wa gereza wa Ufilipino, alipoamini, alibatizwa na Paulo na Sila gerezani. (Matendo 16:33) Tena, tunasoma, "Nilibatiza pia jamaa ya Stephanus." 1 Kor. 1:16

Ukweli, Mtume katika kesi hii ya mwisho anataja jinsi alivyokuwa amebatiza wachache, lakini hii, bila shaka, ilikuwa kwa sababu ya mwiba katika mwili, macho yake yasiyokamilika; na wale wachache aliowaabatiza labda walipokea huduma hiyo mikononi mwake kwa sababu hakuna mtu mwingine anayefaa kuifanya. Alimshukuru Mungu kwamba alibatiza wachache sana; lakini hii haimaanishi kuwa alikuwa amebadilisha mawazo yake kwa heshima na uzuri ama wa Ubatizo wa kweli au ishara yake; lakini kwa kuzingatia ukweli kwamba kulitokea mzozo katika Kanisa - roho ya kidhehebu au ya usoni inayowaongoza wengine kusema, "Mimi ni wa Paulo," wengine, "mimi ni wa Apolo," wengine, "mimi ni wa Peter," nk. Mtume alifurahi kwamba angeweza kusema alikuwa amebatiza wachache sana, labda yeyote kati yao angeweza kuongozwa na kudai kuwa alikuwa akifanya wanafunzi wake, akawabatiza kwa jina lake mwenyewe, badala ya kufanya wanafunzi wa Kristo, na kuwabatiza kwa jina la Kristo.

Kwa kuzingatia maazimio haya ya wazi ya Maandiko yanayohusu amri na utendaji wa Bwana na mitume, itakuwa mtu mwenye ujasiri ambaye angetangaza kwamba ubatizo wa mfano au wa maji haufundishwa kwenye Maandiko; au kwamba ilifundishwa kama inavyotumika kwa Wayahudi tu; au kwamba ilikusudiwa tu kama kazi ya utangulizi. Kinyume chake, imefundishwa na kufanywa tangu mwanzo wa wakati hadi wakati huu, hata ingawa na aina na sherehe, na kwa utambuzi wa maana zaidi au usiofaa wa maana yake, kuchafua ishara na kupoteza mtazamo wa ukweli Ubatizo. Kwa hakika ni kwa sababu nzuri kwamba watu wote Wakristo wanaheshimu ubatizo wa maji kama taasisi ya Kiungu. Ikiwa yoyote bado ana mwelekeo wa kuvunja swali hili, hatuna ugomvi nao, lakini amini kwamba ikiwa mtu huyo ni mwaminifu na amefanya moyoni mwake ubatizo wa kweli wa mapenzi yake katika mapenzi ya Bwana - ikiwa amekufa. kibinafsi, na kwa ulimwengu, na hai kwa Mungu, kupitia Yesu Kristo Bwana wetu, Mungu atamfunulia jambo hili pia kwa wakati unaofaa. Phil. 3:15

Wakati huo huo, tutafurahi na kwamba wamepata ubatizo wa kweli, na kuwa washiriki katika hilo, na tunawapongeza kwa ukweli kwamba ni bora zaidi kuona na kufurahiya ubatizo wa kweli ukiwa macho kwa ishara, kuliko ingekuwa kuona ishara na kuwa kipofu kwa ukweli. Kwa kuzingatia hii, hata hivyo tunapendelea sana ishara ya Ubatizo, hatungeweza kuweka ushirika wa Kikristo juu yake, lakini tu juu ya Ubatizo wa kweli wa kifo na Kristo. Kwa hivyo, wote wanaomkiri Bwana kama Mkombozi wao, na kukiri kujitolea kabisa kwa moyo na maisha kwake, tunakubali kama ndugu katika Kristo Yesu, washiriki wa Eklesia, ambao majina yao yameandikwa mbinguni - Viumbe vipya katika Kristo, ikiwa kwa kuzaliwa Wayahudi au Mataifa, watumwa au huru, wa kiume au wa kike, waliobatizwa na maji au hawabatizwa na maji.

Kwa upande mwingine, isiwe ya kusahaulika kuwa kila kitu cha maarifa huleta sio tu kuongezeka kwa fursa na furaha, lakini pia kuongezeka kwa jukumu. Kwa hivyo, mtu ye yote anayekuja kuona uzuri na mamlaka ya ishara ya maji, huja wakati mwingine huo kwa jaribio lingine juu ya kifo cha mapenzi yake - akiheshimu ubatizo wake wa kifo na Mola wake. Kukosa utii juu ya ishara chini ya hali hizi, itaonekana kwa urahisi, inamaanisha kujiondoa kwa sadaka, na kwa hivyo kutofaulu kufanya wito na uchaguzi.
 
Alama sahihi ya Ubatizo
Hatutajaribu majadiliano ya faida na upendeleo mwingi kati ya kunyunyizia, kumimina na kuzamisha — ni ipi ilikuwa njia ya asili ya kitume ya kufanya ubatizo wa kielelezo. Tunapendekeza, hata hivyo, kwamba hakuna mtoto mchanga anayeweza kuwa katika hali ya akili na moyo ambayo inaweza kuiruhusu kufanya kujitolea au kubatizwa kwa mapenzi yake kwa mapenzi ya Kristo, ili kuwa wafu pamoja naye kwa ubinafsi na kwa ulimwengu. Tutasisitiza zaidi, kwamba Ubatizo wa mfano hauwezi kufanywa kabla ya Ubatizo halisi, na uhalali wowote; kwa sababu ubatizo wa kielelezo unakusudiwa kuwa ni usemi wa nje au kukiri ya yale ambayo tayari yamepita kati ya mioyo yetu, mapenzi yetu, na Bwana kwa siri.

Vitu hivi kuwa kweli, inafuata kwamba idadi kubwa ya watu Wakristo hawajawahi kuwa na alama ya ubatizo au maji, kwani wangeweza kuipokea tu baada ya busara kutoa nadhiri yao ya kujitolea. Kuzamishwa kwa watu wazima kabla ya kujitakasa hautakuwa na ufanisi zaidi kuliko umwagaji wa kawaida, hakuna ubatizo wa mfano kuliko kunyunyiza kwa mtoto mchanga. Inafaa wote, kwa hivyo, kuuliza kwa dhati ni ipi ubatizo wa maji wa kweli, ishara ya kweli, iliyoundwa na Bwana wetu, na kuitii mara moja. Na kila moyo uliowekwa wakfu, "umekufa kweli" kwa ubinafsi na maoni ya kidunia, utakuwa macho kwa kujua na kufanya mapenzi ya Bwana katika hili kama katika kila jambo lingine. Uangalifu kama huo umeonyeshwa katika usemi, "Uhai kwa Mungu kupitia Yesu Kristo Bwana wetu." Kirumi 6:11

Tuseme kwamba machafuko juu ya somo la mfumo wa Ubatizo yalikuwa kamili, na ushuhuda unaohusu utaratibu wa Kanisa la kwanza ulichanganyikiwa sana, kwamba hatukuwa na chochote cha kutuongoza katika kuamua ikiwa mtindo wa kitume wa ubatizo wa maji ulikuwa wa kunyunyiza au kumimina au kuzamisha, sasa tuko katika mahali ambapo, tukiona wazi nini hufanya ubatizo wa kweli, inawezekana kwa sisi kuona wazi ni nini kitakachokuwa na alama au picha zake. Kuchunguza kila aina inayofanywa, mtu anaonekana tu kulinganisha kifo na mazishi na Kristo. Tunashindwa kuona ishara yoyote ya kifo kwa ulimwengu na kibinafsi, na pamoja na Kristo, katika matone mengi au machache ya maji kwenye paji la uso, au katika maji mengi yaliyojaa juu ya mtu huyo. Ikiwa kuna mfano wowote wa kifo katika moja ya haya hatuwezi kuyajua. Lakini tunapokuja kufikiria kuzamishwa tunaona kwa mtazamo wa ajabu, wa kushangaza, mfano mzuri, mfano mzuri wa yote ambayo husemwa katika Ubatizo halisi hadi kifo. Sio tu kwamba neno la Kiyunani Baptizo linamaanisha kunyonya, kufunika, kuzika, kuzidi, lakini utaratibu wote uliounganishwa na kuzamishwa moja kwa moja ndani ya maji kwa jina la Kristo ni picha ya kushangaza kabisa ya mazishi, yanafaa katika kila hali. Msimamizi katika ishara anawakilisha Mola wetu. Kama mgombea anaenda kwake hivyo mioyoni mwetu tunaenda kwa Bwana kwa ubatizo. Kukiri kwamba hatuwezi kufa kwa sisi wenyewe na kwa ulimwengu, tunajitoa mikononi mwa Bwana, tukimwomba akubali mapenzi ya tendo hilo, na tunaomba kwamba, mapenzi yetu yatakayotolewa, atuzike kifo chake-kwamba atasababisha uzoefu kama huo, nidhamu, misaada na adhabu, kwani itatuwezesha kutimiza agano letu la kujitolea. Wakati mgombeaji ameachana na mapenzi yake, msimamizi kwa urahisi humrudisha ndani ya maji, na wakati yuko mgongoni, hana msaada wowote kwenye maji, anatoa mfano kamili wa kutokuwa na nguvu ya kujisaidia wakati wa kufa; na wakati msimamizi anapoinua kwa miguu yake tena tunaona katika picha tu yale ambayo Bwana wetu amewaahidi - kutufufua kutoka kwa wafu kwa wakati wake kwa nguvu yake mwenyewe. Hatujaribu kujaribu kulazimisha dhamiri za wengine wanaotofautiana na sisi; lakini inaonekana kwetu dhahiri kutokana na usawa wa ishara hii kwamba mwandishi wake alikuwa Bwana. Ni nani mwingine angeweza kupanga picha kamili au ishara ya jambo zima?

Yeyote ambaye amekwisha kubatiza ubatizo wa kweli - yeyote ambaye amejitoa mikononi mwa Kristo, amekufa pamoja naye, akazikwa kwa mfano wa kifo chake, na kisha akaona uzuri wa picha hii ya mfano, lazima, tunaamini, ahisi hamu kubwa ya kuitimiza kwa hali yake mwenyewe. Lugha ya moyo wake lazima iwe, "Nimefurahiya kufanya mapenzi yako, Ee Mungu wangu!"

Ni faida gani zitakazopatikana kutoka kwa utii kwa ishara hii? Tunajibu kuwa faida hiyo haifanyi kazi kwa kutimiza kwa sehemu yoyote ya kiapo cha kujitolea kwetu, lakini itakuwa yetu tu ikiwa tutatafuta kutimiza mahitaji yote, kwanza na ya mwisho - kila kitu kilichojumuishwa katika kujisalimisha kamili kwa matakwa yetu kwa Bwana. mapenzi, na juhudi kamili ya kutembea katika hatua zake. Lakini wakati faida kamili itatokea mwishoni mwa safari, katika Ufufuo wa Kwanza, na utukufu wake, heshima na kutokufa, kuna kiwango cha faida cha kufurahiya hata sasa. Kuridhika kwa akili, amani ya moyoni, ukweli kwamba, kama Bwana wetu, tumejitahidi "kutimiza haki yote" - wanachangia amani hiyo ya Mungu ambayo inapita kama mto, mara kwa mara na kwa nguvu na kwa nguvu, kupitia maisha Ya wale ambao ni wake - amani ya Mungu ipitayo ufahamu wote, mioyoni mwetu.

Ushuhuda wa Mtume ni kwamba kuna "Bwana mmoja, imani moja, Ubatizo mmoja, Mungu mmoja na Baba wa wote." (Efe. 4: 4-6) Inafuata kwamba kwa kuwa kuna ubatizo mmoja tu mzuri hivyo kunaweza kuwa na ishara moja sahihi kwake; na watu wa Kikristo kwa ujumla wamekubaliwa kuwa kuzamishwa katika maji kunalingana sana na maana ya lugha ya Kimaandiko.

Nani Anaweza kusimamia Ubatizo wa Maji
Kwa kuwa wote waliowekwa wakfu, wote waliobatizwa katika kifo cha Kristo, wanaunda "ukuhani wa kifalme," na washiriki wa mwili wa mafuta wa Bwana, inafuatia kuwa sio wao pekee waliowekwa na Math. 28:19 kufundisha watu, na kwa hivyo kuwaongoza kwenye Ubatizo, au mazishi ya matakwa yao kwa Bwana, lakini watapewa maagizo sawa ya kuwafanyia ishara ya kujitolea, ubatizo wa maji. Na, zaidi, ikiwa hakuna mtu aliyejitolea kama huyo angepatikana rahisi kwa huduma ya ishara, tunaweza kuchukua uamuzi wowote wa pingamizi ambao unaweza kuinuliwa na mwamini ambaye hajajitolea, au hata na mtu wa kidunia, kafiri; kwa sababu mkataba wa kweli ni kati ya Bwana na mtu anayejitakasa mwenyewe; na kwa vile ubatizo wa maji sio wa kweli, lakini ni picha tu, kwa hivyo msimamizi sio Bwana, lakini ni mtu tu, na ikiwa ni mtu mzuri au mbaya angefanya kama mwakilishi kwa urahisi na huduma ya aliyezamishwa. Walakini, kuna usawa wa jumla na mpangilio ambao ni vizuri kuzingatia katika hili kama ilivyo katika mambo yote yanayohusu Eklesia: hii inaweza kuonyesha kuwa watu wanaofaa zaidi kwa huduma hiyo watakuwa wazee waliochaguliwa.
 
Njia ya Maneno
Hakuna aina fulani ya maneno ya huduma hii iliyowekwa mbele yetu katika maandiko, na wote wanaweza kuona kwa urahisi kuwa maneno hayo ni ya pili muhimu - kwamba ubatizo unaweza kuwa sawa kwa kweli ikiwa hakuna maneno yoyote yaliyotumika; kwa sababu, kama ilivyosemwa hapo awali, mkataba wa kweli ni kati ya yule aliyebatizwa na Bwana, na kitendo cha ubatizo wa maji ni kukiri wazi kwake. Kwa hivyo, sio swali la kile msimamizi anaweza kuamini au kutokuamini, kusema au kuachwa kusema, lakini ni nini mawazo na nia ya moyo wa yule aliyebatizwa kielelezo. Walakini, kwa msingi wetu uamuzi juu ya maneno ya Bwana, katika Math. 28:19, na maneno ya Mtume katika Warumi. 6: 3, tunapendekeza kama aina rahisi ya maneno sauti kwa hafla hii:
"Ndugu John [au jina lingine la Kikristo], kwa jina la Baba, na la Mwana, na la Roho Mtakatifu, kwa mamlaka hii, ninakubatiza kwa Kristo."
 
Kurudiwa kwa Alama
Kwa sababu maana ya kweli ya ubatizo imekuwa ikipotea kwa muda mrefu, tuna maswali mengi kutoka kwa wale ambao wamekwisha kuzamishwa katika maji, kuheshimu uhalali wa Ubatizo wao wa maji, na ikiwa itakuwa au la itakuwa sahihi kurudia ishara. Jibu letu ni kwamba ishara haihitaji marudio; lakini kwa kuwa haingekuwa na maana yoyote, na hakuna nguvu yoyote, zaidi ya kuoga yoyote au kuzamisha kwa maji, isipokuwa kama ilifuata kujitolea kamili hadi kifo, kila mtu lazima aamue mwenyewe ikiwa amewatii ushuhuda huu au la. Lakini ikiwa ubatizo wa maji ulifuata kujitolea, au kubatizwa katika kifo, haitakuwa muhimu kuirudia tena - ingawa ujuzi juu ya jambo hilo ulikuwa na upungufu.
 
 
 
 
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