Grace Bible Church
Pastor-Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
Friday
August 16, 2019
JOH 15:2, "Every branch in Me” = every believer in the Church-age who was Baptized by the Spirit and will be in union with our Lord Jesus Christ.
This was one of the first times that the disciples heard a phrase like “en amoi” = “in me” referring to the Doctrine of Positional Truth.
You will not understand the importance of the Doctrine of Unity;
Doctrine of Positional Truth;
Doctrine of Union with Christ.
Eight Baptisms = Five Dry and Three Wet.
- The Baptism of John the Baptist; (MAR 1:4).
b. The Baptism of Moses ( 1CO 10:1–3).
c. The Baptism of Jesus ( MAT 3:13-17 ).
The Baptism of Fire ( MAT 3:11-12).
d.The Baptism of the Holy Spirit (1CO 12:13).
f. The Baptism of the Cross; (MAR 10:35-39).
g. The Baptism of Church-age believers; (MAT 28:19).
Noah’s type Baptism (1PE 3:18-22).
We have eight different baptisms that are found in the New Testament which means to be identified with something or someone as we ought to.
Baptism = identification or association, not water, though water is used in some of the baptisms.
Two categories of baptisms:
a. Actual identification = a Real Baptism.
b. Ritual Baptism = the use of water in baptism.
There are five “real baptisms,” meaning something is really identified with something else which is real or someone else who is real.
The importance of identification and association especially when we are living the spiritual life.
Noah’s Baptism = eight people were saved by water because Noah’s family identified with Noah and they were saved or delivered out of the water; GEN 6:13; 1PE 3:18-22.
The baptism of the cross which is found in MAR 10:32-38; MAT 16:13-27.
Cup = the cup of the cross where our Lord was about to be identified with the sins of mankind.
Nothing to do with water here but everything to do with the reality of the identification that would take place between the Lord Jesus Christ drinking the cup of sins from mankind by means of the Baptism of the Cross.
Jesus Christ was identified with our personal sins and judged for them, so that we could be identified and associated with the Lord Jesus Christ and His perfect righteousness that He gave to us as He became our Savior.
The Baptism of the Cross = our Lord was identified with the sins of all mankind.
The reality of the identification that would take place between the Lord Jesus Christ drinking the cup of sins from mankind by means of the baptism of the Cross.
The baptism of the Cross means bearing our own personal cross, MAT 16:13-27.
There was naturally a certain reserve in our Lord regarding that which awaited Him at the end of the road.
The moment came when He felt that He had to begin to prepare them for what was about to happen.
The hour had come when the veil had to be drawn aside so that our Lord’s disciples could begin to see the reality of the cross and be prepared for it themselves.
As usual, the impulsive, self-asserting Peter was displeased.
Peter felt that it was up to him to straighten the Lord out in his thinking.
It was Peter who needed to be straightened out as well as all those to whom the cross is an offense because it condemned mankind.
The cross is still a stone of stumbling to the Jews, and foolishness to the Greeks, as Paul wrote to the Corinthians.
Most Christians today prefer a theology minus a personal cross.
They are anxious for the blessings of God as they push the cross aside to preserve their own life.
They trust in their own good works, what they give, or some strict adherence to a system of legalism.
It shows up in all its monstrous selfishness as a paradox of the Gospel which is exemplified in the cross of Christ!
If we are unwilling to forsake "self" and take up our cross with the Crucified-Risen Son of God.
If we are willing to bear in the body the marks of the Lord and go forth from self" in the service of others, we shall find that all is ours.
It was Peter who needed to be straightened out as well as all those to whom the cross is an offense.
Most Christians today prefer a theology or doctrinal teaching minus any personal cross.
They want the blessings of God as they push the cross aside to preserve their own life.
They trust in their own good works, what they give, or some strict adherence to a system of legalism.
If we are willing to bear in the body the marks of the Lord and go forth from self" in the service of others, we shall find that all is ours.
GAL 6:17, From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand‑marks of Jesus.
1CO 15:31,“I die daily.”
GAL 6:10, So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
2CO 5:15, and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
JOH 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."
1JO 3:16, We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
The Cross not only assures us of the forgiveness of our sins and reconciliation with God but declares that we too must die and be raised up in newness of life.
COL 3:3, For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
So, our Lord taught the principle that following Him means being willing to take up your very own cross which has to do with denying self and living for others.
The Baptism of the Spirit which is a Real dry baptism and not a WET baptism because the Baptism of the Spirit occurs at the moment of salvation for Church-age believers only, 1CO 12:13.
1CO 12:13, For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
The baptism of the Spirit is the means of forming the Royal Family and of breaking the back of the old sin nature as the old ruler of human life.
The believer is positionally changed because he or she was placed in Christ, and identified with Him, as a member of His body, which is the Church, where He is the head and we are identified as members of His body.
This baptism, the baptism of the Spirit, is more real to us then who we are at the present time.
“seeming contradiction” -- it seems to ‘contradict itself’ until you understand the entire statement completely, and then it all makes so much sense.
Paul was so blown away by the wisdom and knowledge and love that God has for his own; ROM 11:33-36.
ROM 11:33, Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?
ROM 11:35, Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again?
ROM 11:36, For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
Because of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, what we are in our condition right now is not what we are now, positionally, as God sees us in our position not our condition.
As a real baptism we are really members of His spiritual body who are also really members of His bride.
And His Body and His Bride is more real and more of a reality than who and what we are now, in our condition.
We will be that experientially because as a real baptism we are really members of His body and we are really His future bride, and this is more real than who and what we are right now at this present time.
One of the other differences between a real baptism and a ritual baptism is that the Ritual Baptism can be seen whereas the Real Baptism cannot be seen but must “be” believed.
ROM 14:23, He who doubts is condemned because he does not live in faith, and whatever is not from faith is sin.
What kind of sin do we commit if we don’t operate in faith?
The obvious ones are fear, worry, anxiety, anger, condemnation, stress, bitterness, tantrums, frustration, implacable, etc.
Thumos - indicates a more agitated condition of feelings, outbursts of anger, emotions from inward indignation, and this type of anger is overt and critical.
Orge suggests a more settled or abiding condition of mind, frequently with a view to taking vengeance followed by the silent treatment and it is much more subtle than thumos.
No matter which we have to deal with, either thumos or orge, they both have a hatred which is an emotional and irrational sin of violence.
There comes a time in every believer’s life where if you desire to glorify the Lord, you must begin with the glass being half-full rather than half empty.
We all need to learn; how to be content no matter where we are, or who we are with; or where should we go, what should we think, how should we act; but most of all, what should we do.
After salvation, then What?
We need to see the importance of the heart as our tool which over 90% of the time, it refers to our right lobe not our cardiovascular system.
Lebh (Hebrew) kardia (Greek) are both translated heart but both refer to brain function, not to the emotions or beating your chest because you feel so guilty and condemned.