Baptism & the Laying on of Hands

I have been doing brethren over the last few months a few sermons about the fundamental doctrines as per Hebrew 6. And as I've covered these doctrines, I've always tried to put it into the context of what is God's plan. So again, I want to just very briefly summarize the context of that. What is God's plan for mankind? You know, we do have a booklet, Why Were We Born, that clearly discusses that we were born to be daughters and sons and daughters of God in the kingdom of God, in God's ruling family. So let's look a little bit about that plan and then narrow it down into the fundamental doctrines, which basically is like a path towards that plan of salvation. Which, by the way, when you start thinking about it a little deeper, which I'm not gonna go into today, but really start thinking about a little deeper, they parallel by meaning in some way with God's Holy Days. That is very interesting. But let's look first at Hebrews chapter 2 verse 10. So we're going to start from Hebrews chapter 2 verse 10.

And in Hebrews chapter 2 verse 10, I just want to emphasize one little section here. Hebrews chapter 2 verse 10, which says that it was fitting to God through whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons to glory.

Verse is God's plan for us that you and I receive glory. There's nothing wrong to desire glory provided to the right spirit because that's the goal for us. The glory is to be in that glorious family, which is going to be the ruling family in the ruling kingdom of God. That is the glory. So God's plan is to have many children in glory, in that glorious family. That's his plan. And you really think about it. God thinks big. Brethren, God thinks big. When I was in South Africa, we used to say, well Americans think big. And yeah, when I came here for the first time, you know, and I saw how certain things organize. I said, wow, Americans think big. But, you know, God thinks so much bigger. I mean, if you think about the size of the universe, you and I cannot even put a number to the number of galaxies that exist. And they dare for a reason. For us, when we are the sons and daughters of God, to do something with them. God's got a plan for it. It's not there, yeah. It's for something into the future. So God thinks big. Big. And that means he's going to have many, millions, many, millions of sons and daughters in his kingdom. He thinks big.

But so, we understand that the Father and Jesus Christ planned this great plan.

And they decided to execute it. And we know that God is the Father by whom are all things. So he's the owner. And Jesus Christ is through whom are all things. He's the, let's call it the executive director that has done this. I've also, in a Bible study recently, yeah, covering, for instance, Matthew 11, I went through a very encouraging scripture, which I want to remind you of, that we covered a couple of weeks back, which is Matthew 11, verse 25 through 27.

So let's turn at that. So I'm kind of just tying it into previous messages. But I'll just remind you of that, Matthew 11, verse 25 through 27.

And it's obviously, Matthew, as we went into those sermons, which proves that Christ is the Messiah, and He's the King to come to rule on earth. And at that time, Jesus, in verse 25 of Matthew 11, says, Jesus answered and said, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.

Now, here's another interesting statement, which says, Christ is calling the Father Lord. And obviously, Christ is Lord. So they're both Lords. And, you know, it's just interesting when we read this. Now, you have hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to page. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in your sight. In other words, that is your will. Think about it. What is saying there? Because that's your will, Father. That seemed good in your sight. In other words, that is God's will. And what is God's will? That all things have been delivered to me by my Father. That is such a profound statement. Everything has been delegated, has been delivered to Jesus Christ by the Father. So the Father is of whom are all things. And He's delegated everything through Christ. And Christ is the executive director. He's actually the one that the Father is doing everything through Him. And so, in this plan of creating many sons and daughters, they both have a vital role. There's no question about that. They're both working together, like husband and wife in a team. They both work together. There's certain things one does, certain things another does. And that's okay. We work together as a team, as one. And so, they're working together. And so, part of this plan to make and to have children of God is that we, you and I, would have to be human beings and learn through what you and I call the school of Arnox, which is a best teacher. And that's what we're going through. And sometimes we don't see the whole picture. And mankind as a whole does not see the end, does not understand. But one day they'll understand. But we're all going through a school of Arnox. That's what it is. That's what this life is. For us to learn certain profound lessons that we'll never want to go back to. We'll never want to go back to. How bad the things that people may or may not get into in this life when, for instance, God wakes them up to reality and shows them what really a good, wonderful living world is like, they'll never want to go back. Never. So that is very positively encouraging to us. But the first plan, therefore, required what has to learn through making mistakes.

And if we're going to learn through making mistakes, some of those mistakes might actually be breaking God's law. In other words, sin. I mean, not all mistake is necessarily sin. I mean, you may need to make a mistake like turn on the wrong road. Oh, I took the Rorolo. It's not sin. It's just a mistake. You know, we learn from those things. But some of the mistakes are obviously sin. And sin is the result of sin. The wages of sin is death. So therefore, we're dead. Not yet, but we're dead. Sooner or later, we're gone. Now, how can we buy back? We can't, because I can't pay for my life. So it required a saving Christ to die for us. And that is the beauty of the plan.

And he does that graciously, freely. But in addition to that, he now provides us a way to go through, let's call it, a correction process. A really correction process. And correction process is you and I are going to repent. And you and I have to believe that God can do it with his help. We can do it. And we're obviously going to do our part. And we're going to commit to that. And that's part of what Hebrews chapter 6 tells us. And so today, brethren, we're going to look at the part of our commitment. We're going to focus on the part of our commitment, which is symbolized by baptism. And we're going to also look at the part that we receive God's help. God's only Spirit through the laying on of hands with prayer, which is God giving us the helper to help us. Because we commit, we want to do it. But we need additional help, additional tools to help us. And those spiritual tools, bringing it in simple terms, is God's only Spirit that is going to help us through our difficulties. So let's look at Hebrews chapter 6. To look at that, Hebrews chapter 6, where he describes this, let's call it this process. So Hebrews chapter 6. He says, therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection. Let us strive, let us strive to develop godly, holy, righteous character.

In other words, to become like God. In other words, to be perfect like God. Let us strive in that path, not lay again the foundation of repentance, because we have repented. Now we need to remain a repented attitude, repentance from the Edwards. And not again saying, well, I got to start again from faith. No, we need faith towards God and we need to always be in a believing attitude towards God. And then the next step is the baptisms. Now, not plural, not baptism.

Baptisms, plural. There are actually three baptisms. We'll briefly cover them as we go through. So the doctrine of baptisms and of laying on of hands, because we got the baptism of water and the laying on of hands. So that, and then the last two is the resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment. If you take notice, they're actually in pairs. You see, so it's the doctrine, which is repentance from the Edwards and faith towards God. Then the doctrine of baptisms and the laying on of hands. And the last one is the resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment. So it's actually three pairs, which has a very interesting point to meditate about. So this is very important because the doctrine of baptisms is nothing else than us signing a contract. Think about it. Us signing a contract with God. You know, we've repented, we've admitted we've got to change, we believe that God can help us, and now we make a contract. And it says we're going to contract with you to, in other words, we're going to commit to do. And then God does this part by giving us His only Spirit, the helper, to help us to do that. It's like when he says you contract to buy a house and then you get a bit of help by saying you're getting a loan to actually get that house and then you commit to pay over a certain period. But there's a contract. So you and I have to understand what the contract is. Otherwise, you could be buying the wrong thing. By that means you could be baptized onto the wrong thing because you're signing the wrong contract. So we really need to understand that we're doing the right thing. But if we continue reading here in verse 3 and 4, and this we will do if God permits, for it is impossible for those we were once enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the age to come if they fall away to renew them again to repentance. So we've laid the foundation of repentance. Now, yes, we remain in a repented attitude, but we cannot say, well, I throw this all away. I'm not interested. This is all a sham. Whatever it is, I'm not interested. Whatever it is, I don't want to repent towards God. Whatever it is, goodbye. And then say, oh, well, now I want to repent because you can't sacrifice Christ's wise. In other words, this is serious business. This is serious business.

I mean, you know the story about when Moses went into the, on the way to the promised land, they went for 40 years into the desert. And at the beginning, it was stalled. They got into an area and they said, well, there's no water. Now, heat the rock. And then the water gushed out. And yes, heat the rock and the water came out. And you know, in the New Testament, it says that rock was Christ.

So, yeah, we have killed Christ. Later on, at the end of the 40 years, they again at the same spot.

And again, they, they kind of like we heard on the sermon, they kind of getting the spirit all worked out, you know, they're getting people agitated. And a Moses spirit are worked out. And instead of doing what God told him to do to speak to the rock, he hit the rock.

Yes, God in His mercy didn't bring out the water. But He said, Moses, you did not do what I told you. And you can't go into the promised land.

You know, school of hard knocks, you know, he learned a big lesson.

The controlling spirit, we all have to learn that lesson.

Because the symbolism there was that he cannot hit the rock twice. We cannot sacrifice Christ twice. We can only sacrifice Him once. So, very interesting spiritual meaning there. So, this is spirit. That's why looking at and understanding baptism and the commitment that we make at baptism it's serious stuff, not for children. You know what? It's adult rated, you know? It's adult rated.

Look at Acts 8 verse 12. Acts 8 verse 12.

Acts 8 verse 12, we've got a situation where people were being baptized. And then it says in Acts 8 verse 12, it says, and when they believe Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God, so yes, he preached the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. So, yes, it's not just preaching the kingdom of God. It's also preaching the good news that Jesus Christ is the Savior and he came and what he made it possible for us to be in the kingdom of God. So, it's both.

Then it says, both men and women were baptized.

Pay attention. It doesn't say children, men and women were baptized. You know what? It was only men and women were baptized. It's for adults. It's for adults, only for mature. And therefore, if you are baptized, it's good to review the meaning and what it means in our Christian life.

If you have not made that commitment yet, then it's good to analyze what that commitment needs to be and to understand it.

And you've got also some people who were baptized but did not make the right commitment. In other words, quote-unquote, they signed the wrong contract.

And they need to analyze that to see whether they need to be rebaptized.

Some people run away from baptism. Oh, I don't want to be baptized because I'm not good enough.

Brethren, no one is good enough. I'm not good enough. None of us is good enough. None of us is good enough. None of us deserves to be, say, full stop. Wait, we should be obeying. That's okay. We should be obeying. That does not mean like we should be obeying the traffic laws. That does not mean that pays for the past traffic transactions. That's it.

We should be obeying, yes. But that doesn't mean that we deserve to be given eternal life. But by God's grace, but for God's grace, it's nothing about my goodness. It's nothing about me or what I've done or whatever it is. It's purely because of what Christ is doing for us.

And so we need to put this in the context, in the context that for us to be children of God.

And God says, you know, let us make man in our image. So that is the context that God has set up a process to help us to be in the Kingdom of God, but it's not because of us. It's because of God set up a way, a process for us to be there.

Because ultimately, part of that process is so that we all achieve the fullness of Christ.

And therefore, part of that process, God has established a church, a spiritual body, to help us through the process with ministers, with elders, to help us through that process.

Look with me at Ephesians chapter 4 verse 11 through 13. Ephesians chapter 4, Ephesians chapter 4 verse 11 through 13. It says, for he gave himself, for himself, I beg your pardon, gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. So God gave us a church spiritual organism. For what purpose? Verse 12. For the equipping of us, the saints, for the works of service, of ministry, ministry serving, the works of serving.

Yeah, for us to be prepared, for us to be trained, so that we can be ultimately to serve, to minister in the wonderful world tomorrow and in the kingdom of God and beyond, and yes, today as well, as part of that training. Because that is part of the edifying of the building of the church of God, of the people of God that will be ruling in the world tomorrow, in the world of Christ.

And so he's established that till we all, till we all come to the unity of this faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God. Till we all come to fully understand what Christ is. Why? Because we're imitating Him. Because we're growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. We're growing in that way of behavior and mindset of Christ as, and in the knowledge. So we're becoming like Him. Till we come, till we become a perfect man.

That's who we to emulate. It's Christ. You and I are not trying to emulate ourselves to be like somebody else, like somebody next to you. No, we are trying to be like Christ. That's our standard. That's our pattern. In other words, to reach the stature of the fullness of Christ. That's our goal.

So God has established a process to do that. And so through that, He will then through that process, He will give us that final gift. And that final gift is eternal life, is to be saved.

Look at Ephesians chapter 2, in the same book, just maybe a page behind or two, in your Bible, verse 8 and 9. Ephesians 2 verse 8 and 9. For by grace, you have been saved through faith. It's by this wonderful gift that God's given us. Not just of Christ's gift, but the whole process that He wants us, it's a gift. It's a gift. And by grace, it means freely. It's just His gracious way of giving it to us. We say, through faith, the faith of Christ and that not of ourselves. It's a gift of God. This whole process is a gift of God. Why? Because of His gracious kind of all the things that He does for us, which is so difficult for us to comprehend because it's so big.

Not of my own work, not of your own work. Otherwise, we would boast. But it's because of His graciousness.

So we have to repent towards God and have faith towards Christ. And repentance, as we saw in previous sermons, means that we've got to obey God's laws. And there's nothing wrong with God's laws. You see, because in this process, there's like a little spanner in the works.

Okay? It's not a little spanner. It's actually a big spanner. And that big spanner in the works, see, Satan is the great deceiver, and he is receiving. First, he deceives, oh, well, the law is terrible. Well, there's nothing wrong with the law. There's nothing wrong with wanting the best for other people because the law is love, because God is love. There's nothing wrong with God's law. Secondly, they say, oh, well, most people, people are good. People are basically good.

And there's the second deception. People are not basically good. They may appear good, but the Bible tells us we've got a carnal mind. So that's the second deception. It says, oh, well, people are just generally speaking. They're good. No, they're not. We're all to carnal. We're all carnal. We've got to put away that carnality. You read that in Romans 7 and 8. It shows that we are carnal. We've got to put away that carnality. And then we know that Christ gave His life for us. Christ reconciled us to the Father. And His whole attitude on the cross, He remembers, said to those people, Father, forgive them, because they don't know what they're doing.

How difficult it is, brethren, when you and I are going through a really, really, really difficult route. And this person is putting us through a really difficult situation for us to turn around and say, Father, forgive Him, and forgive her, because He does not know what He's doing.

That is difficult. And that's the attitude you and I have to emulate.

Christ paid the price, and He suffered. We also have to suffer like Him, because to rule with Him, we've got to develop that same forgiving attitude. And in the end, through this process, we develop a relationship with the Father. We get closer to Him. And you and I know, brethren, that this is a special calling. John 6, 44, no man can come to Him to me unless the Father draws in.

This calling is a blessing. It's not that you and I are any special than the other people.

We're not. Really, we're not any special.

It's just by God's grace. He selected us to be called first. He'll call the others a little later. It's His choice. When? It's like if you want to... you've got a fruit tree, and you pick up a few pictures. Say it's a peach tree, and you pick up a few pictures today, and you eat, or whatever. And tomorrow, you pick up others. It's your choice. You decide one to pick up some earlier, and others later.

And then it'll come a time when they all ripen, and you'll pick them all up. But it's the same thing. God decides when to call some. It's His choice. It's His decision. He's the master partner, and we simply declare. Are we better than others? No, because the others will also be called in due time. In due time. And therefore He shows to us, and we'll show to those as well, patience, and kindness, and a lot of patience, because God's very patient. You know, God thinks big, even His patience is big. So, He's got a lot of patience, and because in the end, He wants us all to come to repentance. In the end, He wants us all to come to repentance. Look at 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 9. 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 9. 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 9 says, The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering towards us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. So, God gives us stream. Let's think about this way. He gives a lot of stream. Why? Because He wants us, with His help, to come to repentance. So, ultimately, all humanity is reconciled. So, therefore, there's nothing you and I can do to win reconciliation. Nothing you and I can do to qualify to be saved. Nothing you and I can do to qualify to be in the Kingdom of God.

And unfortunately, some will say, oh well, therefore, we don't have to obey God's rules. No, that's not what I'm talking about. But on the other side, I get some people know, for you to do this, you've got to obey God's rules. Yes, we do. But you know what? Obeying God's laws is not enough. In other words, some people say, well, I keep the stamp. Or, I keep God's early days. Or, I don't clean, I don't eat unclean food. Or, I tithe. Therefore, I'm okay, Jack. Well, we're not okay. There's a lot more than just that. There's a lot more than just that. Yes, you and I do have to obey God. But don't think that that obedience on your side and my side will give you the right to salvation.

To enter in the kingdom of God, because it is a gift. It is a gift from God by God's grace.

Yes, you and I have to submit to God's conditions. Yes, but that's the madam. That's the madam we should do. And therefore, it's given us steps as we govern. We've got to repent from dead works.

We've got to repent so we become more like God. And as I've mentioned in a number of sermons before, we've got to repent not only of what we did, but we've got to repent of what we are.

A lot of people don't understand. Oh, well, you know, I haven't done a lot of so bad things, so I'm okay, Jack. We've got to repent of what we are, which means we are carnal.

So then the sin, we've got to repent of that carnality. How many times you and I have a little wrong spot out there that crops out of nowhere and says, where does this come up from? Because it comes up from inside. There's something wrong inside us. We've got to repent of what we are.

And then we're going to have faith, the faith of Christ and faith in Christ. We're going to have that faith because by ourselves we can't do it. And once we have those, we have to commit.

We have to make a vow, a promise. That's what baptism is. It's a vow. It's a promise.

And part of that vow is that, number one, we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, our Master, our High Priest, our Soon Coming King. And that's what we say at baptism, isn't it? That we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, our Master, our High Priest, and our Soon Coming King. That's it!

And two, part of that vow is that we commit to do.

But we recognize that we don't have all the strength. And so God then gives us His help, the helper, the Holy Spirit, so that we can grow. And therefore we are committing to use that Holy Spirit so that we keep overcoming till the end. And that's why in Second Peter. So if you look at Second Peter, you probably are already there in Second Peter chapter 3. So if you look at Second Peter chapter 3 verse 17 and 18, it says, you therefore beloved, since you know this before, and beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness being led away with the error of the wicked. So don't kind of say, oh well, I've done all these things. I'm okay, Jack, and start becoming lukewarm and lackadaisal. Don't. But grow. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We've got to grow. We're going to use God's Holy Spirit to grow. And you and I need to be praying and asking, how can I grow in the grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ? I don't know your own specific situation, which one's different, but we all need to be growing.

We all need to be growing. And so, baptism, we make this contract. We make this covenant.

We sign this contract through the act of baptism. And it's going to be an act of baptism by immersion because it symbolizes our death. So let's look at a few scriptures when I say our death. It's our death of the old me, and coming out of the water, of the new me. It's of the old man, and of the new man coming out and living. So let's look at a few examples there. First in Acts chapter 8, in Acts chapter 8, where it says that it was by immersion. So Acts chapter 8, well, it doesn't literally say by immersion, but it says they went into the water, so it was not sprinkled. Acts chapter 8 was 38 and 39. It says, and so he commanded the chariot, so that was Philip there, and the eunuch. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water. They went down into the water, and there he baptized. He was baptized when he went down into water. So it's by immersion. So that's okay. So then we move on to another one, for instance, in John chapter 3 verse 23. John chapter 3 verse 23. And there we have another situation. Let's say John 3 verse 23. John 3 verse 23.

It says, and now John was also baptizing the eunuch near Salim, because there was much water there.

Now, you didn't need to go where there was much water, it was just kind of a little sprinkling of a little bottle and whatever, you know. So, differently it was by immersion. And there they came and went at the top. So there was a lot of water. Some people say, well therefore, you see, it had to be a river. Well, yeah, it could have well been a river, but also around the area of Jerusalem and those areas, there's a lot of areas that basically there's not a lot of water. And what they had in those days was a thing called mikvos. You can do a search about mikvah, m-i-k-v-a-h, mikvah. The Jews used for thetermal washing. They even got pictures showing the steps going down into mikvah and things like that. They've excavated a lot around the temple area in the south and on the western side, but a lot of them in the southern part. There were a lot of mikvah, which is these ritual biops. And so the Jews would purify themselves before certain specific activities they required to be purified, or after certain things they had done, which made them unclean and they had to be purified. So they went to these baths, and then they had an area where they'll go in and the area will get out, and obviously they would in a sense be washed. So there was a lot of water. And there was John the Baptist and the apostles would use, take advantage of those mikvahs. So it's not necessarily that there was rivers. Why do I say that? It's because they are. I've come across some people that said, no, you have to baptize in living water, quote-unquote. No, the symbol of living water is the Holy Spirit, not the baptism. The symbol of baptism is dying, the old man dying, and the old man resurrected. And that symbolism is in John 6. I beg your pardon, Romans 6. Romans 6. So turn with me to Romans 6, where we see that symbolism described. And that's the important symbolism of baptism, which is getting into the water and the old man dies, and then coming out of the water, and as a new man. It's so symbolic. It is the washing of your sins. Romans 6, verse 3-5. It says, do you not know that as many of you as we baptize into Christ, we baptize into his death? So you're going into the water. If the minister holds you back underneath the water for a little bit longer than what you can hold, I'm sure you would die. But don't trust him. Don't believe that. The minister wanted that to you. So, but it just shows it's symbolically. Therefore, we were buried with him through baptism. And that means going underneath the water. That's immersion, baptism, into death, symbolically. That just as Christ was raised from the dead, so just like Christ came out of the grave, we also come out of that watery grave. We come out of it. Okay. And therefore, now after that, we should walk in a newness of life. So the old man should be dead, and now we should be living a new life. Why? Because we made a commitment. We made a promise. That's the vow we made with God. Does it mean that we'll never slip up? No. No, we all do slip up. We're all humans, and therefore we all... That's why it says there's a new and living way. We come and ask for forgiveness, and we help. But that doesn't justify to say, oh well, therefore I can't survive. No, by no means. But the point here is the symbolism of baptism is one of death and burial and resurrection to live a new life in Jesus and through Jesus Christ or into Jesus Christ.

Then we have the point that we are baptized not into this church or into that church or into this organization or that physical organization, but we're baptized into the body of Christ, which is kept in the name of the family of God. And this is basically hinted here in Matthew 28 verse 19. Matthew 28 verse 19. Matthew 28 verse 19.

And it says, Go, therefore, and this is Christ after he had resurrected. So he was already a spirit being. He was talking to the disciples, and he tells them, Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them and the word is into that name of that family, which is the name of God, which is into the family of God, which is kept in the name of that family, which is God, which is God. The Father is God, the Son of God is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, the Holy Spirit is baptized into that family name. And that means we're baptized into the Church of God, the spiritual organism, which is the Church of God, which is the body of Christ, which is the church. So we're not baptized into this organization. Oh, were you baptized in this Church? Or were you baptized in that Church? Were you baptized in that? No! You were baptized into the spiritual Church of God, which is the body of Christ. And we were baptized by the authority of Jesus Christ. That baptism is by Christ's authority, which is done in the name of Jesus Christ and by the authority of Jesus Christ. Look at Acts 19, Acts 19, verse 5. Acts 19, verse 5. And it says, And when they heard, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

They were baptized in Jesus Christ's name, in other words, by Jesus Christ's authority.

And as we read in Acts 2.38, for the remission of sins. Let's look at Acts 2.38. Acts 2.38. We were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins. So people, we ask usually people when they want to be baptized, why do you want to be baptized? Oh, well, because I need to be baptized. Well, but why do you want to be baptized? The correct answer is, behind Acts 2.38, there's been a said repent that every one of you be baptized in the name, that means by the authority of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins.

The reason why you and I need to be baptized is for our sins to be forgiven. That act, death, is a washing of the sins, is the purification of our sins. And that's it. They wash gone, gone.

Nothing you and I have done. Christ does it for us.

For the remission of sins. And then continue reading.

And you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. How do we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit? And that's the next point.

How do we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit? Look at Acts chapter 8 verse 15. Acts chapter 8 verse 15. The next chapter 8 verse 15 says, And who then, they came, when they came down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

So, the praying, the laying on of hands, that they received the Holy Spirit, and accompanied with prayer. So, it's the laying on of hands accompanied with prayer.

Look at verse 12. It says, Now when, of the same chapter, now when they believed Philip, as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God, and then they were just crushed, both men and women were their paths, and read that, and they came, and then their hands were laid on them, and then they prayed. Look at verse 17.

Or verse 16. Let's continue reading. Verse 16 and 17. For when, for as yet he had not fallen upon none of them, in all his spirit, he had not yet fallen upon them, and they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. So, in this case, they were rebaptized, and they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. And when, then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. So, the receiving of God's Holy Spirit is through laying on of hands, their hands were laid on them, and then they received the Holy Spirit. So, yeah, we see a couple of things. Number one, we have to repent. Number two, we have to commit.

And number three, God works through human instruments, through His servants, His ministers.

And therefore, the blessing of God's Holy Spirit is given by Christ to the people through the prayer, which is accompanied with the laying on of hands, of God's ministers. And in answering to that prayer, Christ baptizes the people with the Holy Spirit. So, this is the second baptism. The first baptism is the baptism of water. The second baptism is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. How do you get baptized with the Holy Spirit? Through the prayer and laying on of hands of one of God's ministers.

And that baptism of the Holy Spirit is done by Jesus Christ.

Because Christ sees that you look at your heart and sees that you have indeed repented, and if indeed you have repented, you will honor that and He will give you His Holy Spirit. Now, our job is to live a new life. Our job is now to use that Holy Spirit and start a life of transformation.

As it says in Romans 12, verses 1 and 2. Romans 12, verses 1 and 2. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present more goats and more bulls.

No! You see, it's not a question of presenting more goats and bulls and whatever it is.

That is out. That only represented, pointed to Christ. Now that Christ has died, He is God through sacrifice. The sacrifice that God wants from us is a living sacrifice.

It says that you present your bodies a living sacrifice. Not a dead sacrifice. Remember, it was not killing yourself. No. But it's living the right way and making the sacrifice that sometimes it's hard not to go the wrong way. Sometimes it's hard not to do certain things. Sometimes you've got to fight your own human nature to do the right thing. That's why it says in your the Lord's Prayer, as they call it, or God's sample prayer, lead us not into temptation. In other words, lead us not into the way of our carnal mind, which is temptation, but lead us the right way, the new way. That's why we need to pray for that every day. And that's why we need to pray for every day. Give us the daily bread. What's the daily bread? God's Holy Spirit daily. Sure, it's physical bread, but it's also God's Holy Spirit daily. Because with God's Holy Spirit, we get the help. And with that help, we need there now to say, God help me, lead me, not in the way of the way my body is tempting me, but in the way that I must go. And by the way, protect me from all the problems of Satan that he's going to try and bring ahead. And you look at it, that's the model of prayer. That's the model of prayer. So, our living sacrifice is to use God's Holy Spirit to overcome and change ourselves. And as we heard in the sermonette using Proverbs 1632, I think it was, that it says, we've got to rule our spirit. That's what it is, with God's help. We've got to rule our spirit. We've been trying to, being prepared to rule a certain future. A holy and acceptable to God. That sacrifice is what God wants.

That sacrifice is what God wants, which is your reasonable service. In other words, hey, that's just kind of what is expected. That's what's expected.

So, don't be conformed to this wall, but change your mind. Go through this process of metamorphosis. You know, this change in the mind is a metamorphosis. Go through this process of metamorphosis of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. That's what we're going to do. And that's a commitment. That's what you and I commit at baptism. So, if you do not commit to do that at baptism, but your baptism, into whatever, whatever it was, it's not the right contract. It's not the right contract. You don't understand these things. You don't understand that you have to keep God's laws. You don't understand that you get to keep the Sabbath. You don't understand those things. Then you need to find a contract that says, yes, I'll keep the Sabbath. Yes, I'll keep God's holidays. Yes, I will only eat clean foods and so on. And yes, I'll have God's laws of the Spirit to help you need a new contract to buy, quote-unquote, the right product.

Obviously, you cannot buy because you're not buying anything, but just a contract, a relationship with God. But I'm just using that as an example so that we understand it to make it easier.

Turn with me, please, to 2 Corinthians chapter 1. Here is another very, very interesting scripture. 2 Corinthians chapter 1. 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 21.

2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 21 and 22. Now, he who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us his God. He has anointed us, how? With God's Holy Spirit.

He's given us God's Holy Spirit and is the Father that gives us through Christ.

Through Christ. It's by whom and through whom? By the Father and through Christ.

So, we continue reading. Who has also sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee?

So, God's Holy Spirit, it seals us. And that means, if we are using it correctly, it's actually sealing us in a bound, tight relationship between us and the Father, which Satan can't pierce. That's why he's going to try and everything attacks you more. That's why I tell people, once you baptize, you're going to have more attacks.

You're going to have more attacks because now you quote-unquote the adversary's adversary. You know, you're the enemy's enemy. He doesn't care about the others, but he cares about you, and he doesn't want you that way. And the more, the more you are trying and doing and binding yourself and sealing yourself with God, the more he's going to hate you and he's going to go with you. That's why Satan, in the Beatitudes, blessed are those that are persecuted for righteousness sake. Because if you are really striving, if you have all the Beatitudes, you have humility, you have the mourning of what you are and you're repenting, and you have the meekness and the attitude of being teachable and change, and you have the desire and the hunger and thirst for God's law, and you are being forgiving and you are merciful and you are through at heart and sincerely all this and you're doing it, then you're going to be persecuted. Blessed are you, because that's the outcome of all your effort, the outcome of that. He's not saying, oh well, now I'm going to have a Rolls-Royce and live in a costal. No, not in this life. You'll be glorified later, but in this life, you're going to get the enemies, you know, adversity, attack to be even sharper on you and I.

So, we are sealed, but in addition to that, it says, God's only Spirit in our hearts, because it's changing our hearts, changing our mind. You're thinking, you know, it says, you know, it's the new covenant, you're putting it right in your hearts and in our minds, you know, it's changing us and that changing us is a guarantee.

A guarantee of what? It's a deposit. It's not like, like when you, when you want to buy a house and you put a deposit, you put a guarantee. It says, I put a down payment, it says, I put this, there's a guarantee that I want to buy it. What God is saying is, He has your guarantee, bang, and He guarantees that you will be the kingdom.

Wow! Provided we don't break that seal and let the Spirit go, because then nobody can renew it and get back to us.

What an encouragement there is, brethren! It's a guarantee that God's given us from God, from the Father! It's right here! God gives us His Holy Spirit as a seal and as a guarantee.

Brethren, the Father is involved with Christ. They're both working together. They're both working as a team, like husband and wife. They work together as a team. That's what it is. So, the Holy Spirit is so important, because the Holy Spirit defines us as a true Christian. If you and I do not have God's Holy Spirit, we're not a true Christian.

And the Holy Spirit is a spirit of a sound mind.

As I said to some people, if people come out with their weird ideas, weird ideas, which are not sound, I question whether they have God's Holy Spirit. Because God's Holy Spirit is the spirit of a sound mind.

And look at Romans chapter 8 verse 9. Romans chapter 8 verse 9.

And by the way, when I say I question that I'm not judging people, I just question to myself, saying, hmm, I wonder. It's God that judges. God determines the heart, but we just sometimes see by the fruits, you know? So, you'll know by our fruits. So, what we pray is that God will change those people's minds. But now let's go back to Romans 8 verse 9.

It says, But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit. We are not living according to the desires of this flesh. Of course we are in flesh. We're still human beings. I mean, if you cut yourself, you'll bleed and all hurt, you know? So, we are in the flesh. But we're not in the flesh, spiritually speaking, in our way and mind, or way of doing things and thinking.

We're not in the flesh, but in the spirit. In other words, our thinking process is not according to our pulls of the carnal mind, but it's according to say, no, I don't want to do that. God is leading me by the Holy Spirit to go in a different direction. So, God is leading me not into temptation, but He's leading me in a different way. And so, I'm living by the Spirit. And if indeed the Spirit of God wells you.

In other words, if God's Spirit is in you, you're gonna have this war. Now, yes, a little bit of encouraging. If you have this war in your mind, it's a good sign. Because you have got the Holy Spirit, and you've got your carnal mind pulling it. And therefore, if you have this war, war is a good sign that either God's Spirit is in you, or God's Spirit is working with you. Maybe you're not baptized yet, so maybe you're not in you yet, but He's working with you. And therefore, you're having this war, because you're trying to learn and grow, and that is a positive thing.

Now, it says, yeah, now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, so it's spoken about God's Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of Christ, because there's only one Spirit. So the Spirit of Christ is God's Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God's the same Spirit. He is not a Christian. He's not His. So brethren, we have two Bible study guides that address this subject, the road to eternal life, which covers this process, and the need to transform our life through the process of conversion.

It's good to not again use these guides as re-studied guides, to re-study these basic scriptures of what we need to be changing, and keep working on that. It's good to do that. That's why we receive God's Holy Spirit to change, and he says, but, verse 11, look at verse 11, but if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, it was because it's a guarantee, right? Remember, it's a guarantee.

So if the Spirit of God that raised Jesus Christ from the dead, yet God's Spirit is the power of God that raises right, he who raised Christ from the dead, which was the Father through his Spirit, will also raise or give life to your mortal body through the same Spirit. So the Father stands as the Spirit, and through Christ comes and Christ therefore raises up. He's the executive agent involved in that, but the origin is from the Father. He'll give life to our mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. Why? Because the Spirit is a guarantee. He's a guarantee that you and I will be in the Kingdom. Wow! We better use that Spirit, and we better prize it, and not become lukewarm, and let it go.

That's the Father's will, brethren. For us, that where we were times, we become part of the body of Christ. God's Holy Spirit puts us in the body of Christ. As we are led by the Holy Spirit, you read that in Romans 8, verse 13 and 14, he says, as you led, he says, yeah, for 14 less men is are led by the Spirit of God. These are the children of God. We are led. We are not driven as slaves.

We are led. It's up to us to follow the lead. It's up to us to put the effort to follow the lead. That's why it says, lead us. And God's Holy Spirit leads us. It leads us. And when we baptize, we put into the Church of God, into the body of Christ. You see, all three play a role. You see, the Father plays a role.

It's His Spirit, but it's also Christ, but it's given to us by the Father. Christ plays a role. It's His blood. He's sacrificed. He's exulted. We follow Him. And the Holy Spirit is the power of God, the three. And they all play a role. It does not mean that the Holy Spirit is a person, but it means the three play an important role in the sanctification process. So we are talking about some serious business.

Serious business. We read a little early on Hebrews chapter 6, so I'd like to go back to that, because at the beginning I talked about it being serious business. And we were reading about Hebrews chapter 6, because it says these are sections that we're following, getting the fundamental doctrines from Hebrews chapter 6. And then I read in Hebrews chapter 6 verse 4 through 6.

And I mentioned that this is serious business, because it says, it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift.

It was that you have tasted, you have received God's Holy Spirit, and that you have it. It's impossible that you have done, if you therefore became partaker of the Holy Spirit, that you've received it, and you've tasted the good Word of God, and the powers of the Holy Spirit should come. How did you taste that? Because you have been overcoming, you have been making progress, you have been using the Holy Spirit to overcome, you've made a grace. Now, if you fall away, if you throw it away, and if you say, I don't want to repent anymore, I do not want to repent anymore, if you throw it away, this is, it's impossible if they fall away to renew them again to repentance. Why? Because you cannot sacrifice Christ the second time. Look at Hebrews chapter 10 verse 26 and 27. Hebrews chapter 10 verse 26 and 27. It says, for if we stand woefully... Now, woefully does not mean in weakness or in frailty that I sin.

Woefully means that I have made a will and I do not want to obey God.

That's woefully. That was a big tent.

It says, if you sin woefully after you have received the knowledge of the truth, it doesn't say after you've received the Holy Spirit.

It says, after you've received the knowledge of the truth, no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of fiery indignation which will destroy, or rather devour, I beg your pardon, devour, devour! Then it's completely gone, the adversities. Now, anyone who rejected Moses was Lordide without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more worse punishment do you suppose, though, will he... Let me read that again. How much more worse punishment do you suppose, will he be thought worthy, who has trampled the Son of God and the foot, counted the blood of the covenant by which you are sanctified a common thing and insulted the Spirit of grace? If the Jews in Old Testament were stoned to death for breaking a physical law, how much worse God's judgment will be if we trampled underfoot Christ and insult God's Holy Spirit?

So, that's what it says there. If we sin willfully, there's no more sacrifice. There's not a second sacrifice of Christ. There's only one. Only one. And therefore, that fiery indignation is none other than what is described in Revelation 20 verse 14. Turn with me to Revelation 20 verse 14.

Revelation 20 verse 14. Revelation 20 verse 14.

And it says, then death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. Think about people be thrown into a lake. It's like a watery grave, but now it's a grave of fire. This is the third type of baptism, baptism of fire, that you and I don't want to be into.

The verse is mistaken death, and anyone not found written in the book of life was cast in the lake of fire. So, brethren, baptism is a serious matter. Baptism, followed by the lay-on of ends to receive God's Holy Spirit, represents a commitment. We make that commitment. It's a vow. Don't make it likely. Don't make it likely. Count the cost. Count the cost. That's why in Luke chapter 14. Luke chapter 14, verse 26 through 28. Luke chapter 14, verse 26 through 28 says, if anyone comes to me and does not hate, that means love less, his father and mother, his wife and children and brothers and sisters, and his own life also. In other words, what he's saying is, you've got to love God first. Your priority must be God first, and then the others. First must be God.

Even before your own life, must be God. If you don't do that, you cannot be Christ's disciple.

Before, and whoever does not be this cross, this cross and come after me cannot be the disciple. Therefore, we need to count the cost. And look at verse 33. Likewise, we're there. Whoever of you does not forsake all cannot be my disciple. Becoming a true Christian is a serious commitment. But you know, brethren, it's not a horrible thing at all. It's a commitment to a loving father. It's a commitment to someone that loves, that cares, and that wants you to put the law of love first. And you that wants to practice and care for other people. And that's what God wants from you. So that you and I can be a son and a daughter of God. And so, what are the fundamental steps for salvation? Clearly, we need to repent. We need to be prepared to commit. We need to believe and understand what we are believing in. We need to contact a minister of God, a true minister of God, to be baptized, to be counseled, to be baptized in the end, and to have hands laid upon him so he or her can receive God's Holy Spirit. And then we need to make that commitment and use God's Holy Spirit and be overcoming till the end. Because the Holy Spirit is a guarantee that we will be resurrected.

And that we will be, or will have, our names written in the Book of Life. So, brethren, we need to be baptized into the body of Christ by the authority of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. And then you and I will receive God's Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands through that servant of God. We need to then keep overcoming till the end so that you and I ultimately can be resurrected at the return of Jesus Christ so that then, finally, you and I will become sons and daughters of Jesus Christ.