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This was not the study I had intended for this week, but as I began to write down notes for my original idea, a light came upon me, and I began to make a second set of notes, a second document, thinking that it would be for next week. It grew in brightness, however, as I wrote, and my attention became more and more diverted away from what I first had in mind to present. Eventually, it became clear that the Spirit was calling me to a present need, something that must come first, and so I put away that first set, perhaps for the week to come, and submitted to Yahweh concerning what I must say this Sabbath. Almost immediately, I had almost three pages of notes. I suggest that this means the Church is supposed to pay very close attention.
This may be a very personal study for some who are here, and for any who are not here, but the Brethren believe need to read this, I urge you to share it with them for their edification. We are going to talk today about baptism.
We know the three steps of salvation from the world and from sin. It is repentance, and then faith, and then baptism. When approaching sinners, their first contact with the messenger of Yahweh is a call to repent. We see this, for example, in the work of the forerunner of Christ, John the Baptist. We read, “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, ‘Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’” (Mat 3:1, 2) This is the beginning of the message of the Gospel, to turn away from the life that one has been living so far and to prepare for what lies ahead.
Next we have faith, a knowledgeable trust in the promises of Yahweh. We read of Paul’s testimony to the Ephesians, “And when they were come to him, he said unto them, ‘Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews, and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Yahshua the Messiah.” (Acts 20:18-21)
The Book of Hebrews again repeats these two things, repentance and faith, as the foundation on which all else is built: “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.” (Heb 6:1, 2)
We see there listed also baptism, the third step. Yahshua Himself said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16:15, 16) It was not necessary for Him to say, “But he that believeth not and is not baptized shall be damned,” because without belief first, no baptism would be meaningful anyway.
These, then, are the three steps in their proper order: repentance, faith and baptism, and these are what is necessary for one to be born again, for the new birth. This is the beginning of the spiritual life, and necessary for sanctification, necessary for heavenly preparation. “Yahshua answered, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.’” (John 3:5)
If there is no birth, there cannot be growth. Until there is birth, which marks the beginning of the spiritual journey, there can be no spiritual development.
Am I saying, then, that true sanctification cannot exist outside of, or before, baptism? This may seem rather severe, because we have some constant guests among us who are not baptized, and some who have never been baptized, but I think if they are honest… what is the state of their preparation for Heaven? Are they successfully putting defects of character away in a permanent manner? Are they testifying, boldly and openly, to victory over all sin and selfish desires? I cannot know their experiences directly, but I suspect there are struggles not being won, and lessons not being learned, which are vital for successfully enduring the Enemy’s snares.
I am not saying that if such a person were to be baptized, the act of baptism would solve this problem – or any problem. What I am saying is that the repentance from sin, and the acceptance of faith, which leads up to baptism, is the very same foundation from which those victories are won. Baptism is the outward sign of the inward transformation that results in the life of faith, and freedom from the transgression of Yahweh’s holy Law. Without baptism, there is no sign of the inner spiritual life, and without the pressing desire for baptism, there is a positive sign that it is absent.
We read of this desire several times in the New Testament. “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Yahshua. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water, and the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?’” (Acts 8:35, 36) It is an excellent question, one that should be asked by everyone not yet within Yahshua’s covenant: What doth hinder me? What prevents me? What keeps me from it? It is not a lack of water. It is not the absence of a willing minister. It is not a failure of opportunity. But something hinders, or it would already be done for all who have heard, and claimed to accept, this Gospel.
We teach victory over sin. We teach righteousness by faith. We teach, and exemplify, good works as the result of genuine belief. The light on the Gospel has never been brighter. A proper understanding of grace and Law, of faith and works, of justification and sanctification, has been ours for many years. The Three Angels’ Message has never been simpler as its three-word summary: Victory, Purity, Unity. Any sincerely asked question will receive an answer satisfactory to the soul. Any conflicts of personality will be swallowed up in Agape love. There is nothing lacking, there is no beauty missing, from the Bride of Christ. “What doth hinder me to be baptized?”
“And Philip said, ‘If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Yahshua the Messiah is the Son of God.’ And he commanded the chariot to stand still, and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” (Acts 8:37, 38)
Those who have not experienced this need to find a joy in their belief, a belief with all their heart, that will not fade away with the passage of time, the lack of physical convocations, or the temptations of Satan. And it is not far away, that it must be found after a long journey. It is not hidden, that it must be found after an extensive search. It is a gift, offered by the divine hand, and ready to be received and enjoyed. Ask, believe that you have it without any doubt, and it is certainly so.
Most of you here know something of my experience. I had fallen away from the Conference SDA Church after some time of feeling isolated and out of place. I had moved to Florida for university and fallen into the snares of the world. Yahweh came to me through a divine messenger and awakened my conscience, leading me to wrestle with the angel for seven days. At the end of that time, I was told I had a very short opportunity left to choose, and although it tore my carnal heart, I chose righteousness. There was no particular merit in that; I wanted to live and not die. My understanding of love did not come until afterwards. Remember, repentance comes before faith. I knew I was guilty of violating Yahweh’s Law, and the guilt of it crushed me – I let it crush me, because I deserved to be crushed – and I asked Yahweh for forgiveness.
I reached out to many Adventist pastors in my great distress, and I found none whose answers gave me satisfaction. They tried to comfort me, but I did not want to be comforted. They tried to ease the burden on my conscience, but I did not want my conscience appeased. I did not want to feel like I was running away from judgment, because that would not be justice. I was not a legalist, I was never that… but I knew that I was guilty under the Law, and I would not deceive myself into thinking that this was okay.
It was by providence (which I thought at the time was coincidence) that I found the CSDA Church’s website, and I wrote to the email address that was provided there. This led to a series of emails, and then phone calls, during which I felt that I was finally being told the truth. My sin was never excused. I was never told to ignore or pacify my conscience. Instead, I was told that there was a life waiting for me that was free from sin, and from the burden of guilt that came with it. I was told that Yahshua was waiting to give me victory over the sins into which I had fallen, and indeed, over “sin” itself as a spiritual state. I was told that sin would never rise again in my life, if I believed with all my heart in the gift of Yahweh’s mercy, and I knew I had found the right place.
While this was happening, the angel departed from me, but I did not feel abandoned. Instead, Yahweh was beginning to speak to me in different ways, and I had my first vision in an empty Church in Florida, where I had gone to think and pray. In this building, which had been rented by Adventists for their Sabbath services, I saw two streams of fire, like burning ropes, coming toward me from the back of the room by the altar, and a voice said to me, “This is not my home.”
Now, before this, although I had been talking to Pastor “Chick” about victory over sin, and some other spiritual subjects, he had not yet brought up the Trademark teaching about the Mark of The Beast. I thought that Seventh-day Adventism identified only one Church. I knew of the Reform movement, and suspected there were other little break-away groups, but as far as I was aware, there was only one true Adventist Church, and it was the Conference organization. When Yahweh spoke to me, and told me that this was not His home, I knew He was not talking about that particular building, but a greater concept, and I was very disturbed. I thought that I had finally repented of my sin, I had finally turned away from the world, and I was coming home to Adventism. Why, then, was this place no longer Yahweh’s home?
When I asked Pastor what this could mean, it was only then that he shared with me information about the fall of the Conference Church, about the trademark persecutions, and about the call to “come out of her” at the loud cry of the Gospel Angels, to where the saints had truly assembled. And I am leading up to something here.
The moment I saw the Trademark documentation, I understood. I knew that the true Church of Yahshua was loving, gentle, and faithful. She would not bring lawsuits against commandment-keeping Christians. She would not take away the freedom to worship according to the dictates of one’s own conscience. I knew what the voice in my vision meant, and I knew that I needed to wash away the guilt of being a part, however ignorantly, of a disgraced and fallen body of believers. I did not feel called to declare any condemnation on those who were in the Conference; they were as ignorant as I was, most of them… but I knew that I could not be clean unless I was washed.
Now here, I could have said, “Well, Yahweh is talking to me directly. I have been given visions. I don’t need a Church. I don’t need anyone telling me what to do. I need to start a ministry and tell people these wonderful things I have learned!” No, none of that. It is impossible for anyone who has had a genuine vision of Yahweh’s glory, to even the least degree, to feel like he is anyone important. It is impossible to encounter an angel, to see fire from Heaven, to experience genuine guilt for sin, and to understand that Yahweh is loving forgiveness, and to remain proud, to be arrogant, to feel self-sufficient. Anyone who says that Yahweh has spoken to them, and tries to use that experience to be the boss, the leader, the big-shot, you can know that they are either lying, or grossly deceived by the enemy. Anyone who feels a call to start an independent ministry while the Bride of Christ is right here to be found, they are being terribly misled. They have never seen the face of our Heavenly Father. They would not dare to speak or act in such a way if they had.
Moses saw what he could of Yahweh, and it made him meek above all other men. John the Apostle became a follower of Yahshua, and it transformed him from a son of thunder to the disciple who wrote the most about love, and who hesitated to even mention his own name in his Gospel account. These are they who have had a genuine experience with the Lord and Master.
So, I had repentance, and I had faith. I now desired baptism, and with great eagerness. These events I am describing took place around August of 2000. In October, there was a Feast of Tabernacles coming up for the CSDA Church, and that was to be my first in-person encounter with the Church and its members. I first met Pastor when he picked me up from the airport, and we drove from there to the camp grounds, stopping along the way for lunch. It was when we spoke at lunch, just about an hour after meeting in person for the first time, that I spoke about baptism.
When I brought it up, I spoke, fully expecting to be received as a member of the CSDA Church. There was not a doubt in my mind that this was the thing I needed to do. I had not the slightest inkling of a doubt that I would be rejected. We did not have a formal baptismal examination back then, but my entire expectation was, “These are people who are of the same Spirit as I have. These are people who have experienced the same spiritual rebirth that I just have. I cannot possibly be separate from them for any more time. Nothing will prevent me from being Covenanted to these people.” And of course, the moment I suggested it, saying something like, “Remember, we need to plan for my baptism this camp meeting,” I saw Pastor “Chick’s” face light up with joy. I had found my home.
Thinking about it now, if someone had said to me, “You are not ready,” even if it was someone who had been in the Church for years, I would have corrected them in the name of Yahweh. I was that confident, but please do not mistake that confidence for arrogance. I am not saying I would be disrespectful, or demand that they put me in the water. There is a “demand of faith,” a certainty that comes from being with Yahshua, with knowing that nothing in your life is more important than being united with the saints who are receiving everlasting life and preparing for Heaven. When we have this, it is the faith itself, not us, who demands that the Church baptizes us. It is Yahshua Himself coming home to His People, and this time, they receive Him. The Faith of Yahshua demands baptism, insists on it, but this has nothing to do with the insistence, or self-deception, that comes from desiring something for the sake of the flesh. It is not about wanting to fit in. It is not about doing the right actions. It is about waking up, and realizing that you are awake. Pray, pray to understand this, if you do not already.
I did not wait for the Church to approach me and say, “We now judge you to be ready for baptism.” No, the desire had to come from me, from within me, and it was to be steadfastly maintained until I had achieved the object of my desire. It was the eunuch, speaking to Phillip, who said, “See, here is water.” It wasn’t Phillip who said, “Now that you know the truth, and now that I perceive you accept it, I am going to baptize you.” No, although there are greater errors in the world now, requiring a greater degree of care concerning baptismal candidates, the principles are exactly the same.
If any are waiting for Phillip to come to them and say, “Now, you are ready for baptism,” consider my words carefully. That isn’t how it is ever going to work, and we need to have some realization here. Consider the Scriptures, and my experience, that I am sharing with you today.
The Church is authorized to reach out for the lost sheep and bring them to the sheepfold, but we must understand what that means. WE cannot bring them INTO the sheepfold. Why not? Because Christ is the Gate. Yahshua says, “I am the Door [or Gate]; by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” (John 10:9) We cannot make anyone believe in Yahshua. We bring them to the gate, the cross, and we say “Step forward, step into the safety of the little flock,” but we cannot push them in through the door. Yahshua carries them in on His shoulders, if they are willing. In the parable of the lost sheep, the one who finds it lays it on his shoulders to bring it home. (Luke 15:4, 5) But the messengers are not Christ, and merely following our lead will not bring anyone salvation. We must remember there is a difference between the Chief Shepherd, who is the true Savior, and the under-shepherds, who do have some authority, yes, but whose authority is to guide, exhort, and correct when necessary... never to carry. We do not have oil enough for the foolish virgins. (Mat 25:8, 9) We do not have life enough to share with others, except through our testimonies. Our life is Christ, and Him crucified, and everyone must rest in Him for themselves.
We have brought many to the door, and it seems that some are looking, expectantly, at the under-shepherds, saying, “What next?” or “Well, aren’t you going to escort me inside?” We cannot do that, nor can we replace Christ as the Gateway into eternal life. John the Baptist prepared the Way, but it is Christ who walked that Way. The servants of Yahshua prepare the Way for His people, but they must walk it willingly. This potential misunderstanding can breed complacency. Those who are brought to the gate may stand there, and think, “I am okay, because I am right by the Gate, led to this good place by a true messenger of God. And any second now, I could be inside…”
We need to make sure we are not under OR over-estimating the importance of the Little Flock, of the Sheepfold, of the Church and its state of membership. Most of the religious world does one or the other, either venerating the Church organization or (as is common recently) disregarding it altogether. The steps are Repentance, then Faith, then Baptism, so baptism is the last step, the graduation point, for justification, but it does not, itself, justify. Baptism is necessary for sanctification, but it does not, itself, sanctify. This can be hard for some people to understand, but it is like saying that the hospital heals your illnesses. It is true that people GO to the hospital for healing, and it is a vital institution for the purpose of restoring and maintaining health; the hospital is necessary, but it is the doctor who heals.
Similarly, the Church does not provide salvation, Christ does… but unless one goes to the Church, unites with the saints, is baptized into the New Covenant, the Doctor cannot effectively treat the soul’s sickness. Certainly, some doctors make house-calls, and so yes, those outside of Church membership may experience blessings, even miracles, periodically, but for any serious illness, no competent doctor would rely on only periodic visits. There must be a dedicated course of healing, and sin is the most serious, the most deadly, illness there is. It must not be taken lightly, but those who are falsely confident in their security misunderstand the true nature of their condition, and we who love them would spare them from a terrible surprise on the Day of Judgment.
The Scriptures tell us, “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.” (Rom 6:4) Baptism is the way we follow in the footsteps of Yahshua, and demonstrate that we are His.
It does not say to wait. No Scripture says to wait concerning anything pertaining to salvation. The Bible does not even say to expect to feel ready. We have, all of us, experienced disappointments in the past, and some of us have had more bitter disappointments, more loss, more temptations to feel rejected and abandoned, than others. Yet these past experiences are all a part of the “self” that must be overcome. Forget your pride, forget your dignity, and forget any past injuries, hurts, or disappointments. Your dignity will not save you. Your pride will not help you. Remember, we have been speaking lately about those burned by false churches and improperly applied doctrines. It is also possible to be burned by the truth. Yahweh is a consuming Fire… those who do not accept Him fully are going to experience some burning if they draw near, but do not become One with Him in an everlasting, unbroken Covenant. That is the nature of the Spirit. It is all in, or entirely out. And hearing these words should tell you, this is not a day like any other… this is a day to be all in.
But how do you do it? How do you become “all in?” What about if you tried in the past, and somehow couldn’t figure it out?
If you do not know how to surrender self to Yahshua, or if you know but you are indifferent, or if you know but you are afraid, all of these are symptoms of the illness of sin. You don’t need to be any smarter, or better educated. You need to be healed. You must receive the skill of the Great Physician. You already have His attention. You already have His love. Now, you must benefit from His skill, and that only comes to pass if you submit yourself to His care without reservation.
Too many try to be their own doctors. They say, “If I can do this, or that, I will cease to sin.” Or they say, “If I can think this way, and pray this often, I will overcome the flesh.” They are taking medical advice that they have heard given to others, and in their own wisdom, have tried to determine their own course of treatment. They are surprised when it does not work, and why? It is because their attempts are based ON works.
Suppose someone who is ill receives advice, follows it, and is healed. The works connect with the faith that he has; they realize his faith, making it manifest, and his faith heals him. The works are intended to bring about some awareness of sin, and some insight into what is missing from his individual claiming of Yah’s promises. Righteousness is by faith, and the just must live by their faith. We all know this, but if we see someone doing works in faith, and merely copy the works, we are not actually gaining the faith that they already have motivating them. There can be no pretending. You cannot use any other human being as an example or pattern. YOU need individual healing, healing designed just and only for you. And so, I do not say to stop doing things you know are “good,” but if you are relying on doing the works that you see others doing, or speaking the words that you hear others saying, to prepare you for baptism and everlasting life, that is no better than the Catholics, the nominal Protestants, or the Conference Adventists. You need righteousness by faith, you need the guidance of the Spirit to meet you were you are, according to the faith and understanding you have, and then – when there is no artificiality to it – you will begin to heal.
How do you get this? The studies you have been hearing, the books you have been reading, there is no merit in them on their own. They are to get you to consider yourself in light of the wisdom they provide, and then reach out for help. Most directly, those in need of healing seek Christ’s help, but must also be open to the idea that the Chief Shepherd has His helpers on earth to do more directly what He inspires by His Spirit. There must be close, intimate conversations between those being drawn to the truth and those who are already in the Covenant, and while this is important for new believers coming into the truth, it is actually much more important for those once in some measure of the light, and now standing outside in confusion and sorrow. They must be taught to identify what hinders them, and then to press into the sheepfold through the Gate that is Yahshua. They must be taught the demand of faith, so that they will diligently seek covenanted unity, and not draw back until they have it.
We do not neglect those who were once with us, or who have been around us for a time without committing themselves. I am sometimes inspired to write to those who were once with us, but haven’t been around for a while, but it is easy to be deceived when those who were once with us, or who have known the message most of their lives, are actually “nearby,” and so we might think, “They are closer.” This can be an illusion, and we as a Church must pray about how to minister to these special cases. Those who hear these words and can identify with them must put away all hesitancy, all traces of that spirit of “waiting for something to happen” and be willing to leave every false thought, every false impression, behind, because today is the day of salvation. Today is the day of choices, where souls will be healed, or will refuse to be healed.
We are potentially on the brink of meeting up with other individuals, even other tribes, who have known something of the faith for a while, but must be educated in the brightest light. This is a great blessing. Christ tells us now to prepare for that, and this involves sweeping the floors, dusting the furniture, and making sure there is enough oil in the lamps. There are things to do in the camp, and extending the invitation of the Great Physician to those who are setting up tents in the waiting room, or just outside the hospital door, is a most urgent need.
I pray that the Spirit of Yahshua will give us His wisdom so that we minister to the world, but not merely those who are far away or in distant lands. There are those in need of help even under our noses, and the Gospel work requires a love that is evenly applied, even to those who are standing at the door. May the harvest begin in the very courts of the Temple, and then spread out to cover all the earth.
David.
An Enduring Witness
“Repentance, faith, and baptism are the requisite steps in conversion.” [Letter 174, 1909]
“Christ has made baptism the sign of entrance to His spiritual kingdom. He has made this a positive condition with which all must comply who wish to be acknowledged as under the authority of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Before man can find a home in the church, before passing the threshold of God’s spiritual kingdom, he is to receive the impress of the divine name, ‘The Lord our righteousness.’ Jeremiah 23:6.” [Evangelism, p. 307]
“The missionary cannot only relieve physical maladies, but he can lead the sinner to the Great Physician, who can cleanse the soul from the leprosy of sin. Through His servants, God designs that the sick, the unfortunate, those possessed of evil spirits, shall hear His voice. Through His human agencies He desires to be a Comforter such as the world knows not.” [The Desire of Ages, p. 350]