What is it necessary to be saved (Part 4).

[Leonardo Von]

What is it necessary to be saved (Part 4).

As there were doubts about the meaning of being Born Again (Jn 1.12.13; 3.6; 6.44,45,65; Mat 11.27; Rom 9.15,16), I resolved to write this message. Think of the birth of Jesus. Mary did not have to make any effort for Jesus to be born, but only to believe in the word of Creator while remaining pure. The Word itself thrown into Mary's womb became fruitful and developed by itself (Mk 4: 26-29).
Likewise, we need to accept with meekness (Jas 1.21; 1Pe 1.23) the Word that comes out of the Creator's mouth (Mt 4.4) and “hide it” in our hearts (Ps 119.11; John 15.7 - let it rest within us ) letting Him work it out in us so that we are a living manifestation of His Word. Just let yourself be attracted by the love that comes from the Truth (Hosea 11.4; 2Th 2.10).

4 – Baptism in the Holy Spirit:

•    “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” (Romans 8.5-9) 
•    “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.” (1Cor 12.13).

As we can see above, without the Holy Spirit nobody is born again. And  considering that Jesus have only one body and that, for us to appertain to it we need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, therefore this baptism isn’t an option as many people thinks, but an obligation. Especially because:

•    “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.” (1 Corinthians  4:20).

And what about the baptism in the water. Does It save or not?

The baptism itself doesn’t save. Nevertheless, the meaning of this figure saves:

a)    The  testimony of a goood conscience toward the Creator (as we will see forward):

•    “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.  The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:” (1Peter 3.20,21).

b)    Renounce (die to ourselves so that Jesus can live in us):

•    “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6.1-4).

We all need to die for ourselves (Mt 16.24; Rom 6.1-4) in order for Jesus' life to manifest in our mortal flesh (2Co 4.10, 11) and we pass to live for Him.

c)    Washing of the Holy Spirit in order to purify the conscience through Jesus' word.

•    “let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10.22).
•    “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;” (Titus 3.4-6).
•    “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.” (John 15.3).
•    “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28.19,20).

See that the baptism is bounded to teach Jesus’ words, which make our conscience pure.

So, have a nice day pondering on this. Tomorrow we’ll keep on.