A) Apostolic spheres: Gal 2:7-9 explicitly differentiates audiences and entrustments; Peter stays with the circumcision, Paul with the Gentiles. Rom 11:13 confirms Paul's Gentile apostleship; Acts 22:17-21 shows the Lord sending him away from Jerusalem.
B) Revelation locus: Acts 3:19-21 ties Peter's appeal to promises "since the world began." By contrast, Rom 16:25 and Eph 3:1-9 say the BoC's defining truth was hidden until Paul-God's "dispensation of the grace of God" ( Eph 3:2; Col 1:25).
C) Hopes/rewards: Matt 19:28 promises the Twelve governmental thrones over Israel. The BoC's hope is heavenly position with Christ ( Eph 1:3; 2:6) and citizenship ( Phil 3:20).
D) Initiation/sign: Kingdom program employs water baptism and sign-miracles ( Matt 28:19; Mark 16:16-20; Acts 2:38). The BoC is constituted by Spirit baptism ( 1 Cor 12:13), summed in "one baptism" ( Eph 4:5). Paul even minimizes water rites' centrality ( 1 Cor 1:14-17; Col 2:14-23).
E) Law stance: Early Jerusalem remains temple-centric and law-observant ( Acts 3:1; 21:20). Paul proclaims freedom from the law's dominion ( Rom 6:14), the cross having abolished the middle wall ( Eph 2:14-16).
Taken together, these lines mark two divinely authorized, non-identical administrations within God's purpose.
"Ronald, Gigi, and Chris-thank you for your thoughtful replies.
I'm breaking up my thoughts into 4 sections.
Section 1
Thesis & scope (Mid-Acts view): Scripture reveals two parallel programs: Israel's prophetic kingdom administered by the Twelve, and the "mystery" program-today's Body of Christ (BoC)-first revealed to and stewarded by Paul. The question is membership: Are the Twelve in the BoC? This section states the claim; later sections defend it textually, show the Acts transition, and answer objections.
Core distinctions (headlines with texts):
Two commissions/gospels: Paul = "gospel of the uncircumcision," Peter = "gospel of the circumcision" ( Gal 2:7-9; Rom 11:13). Distinct spheres affirmed by the right hand of fellowship.
Prophecy vs. mystery: Peter preaches what was "since the world began" ( Acts 3:19-21); Paul preaches truth "kept secret since the world began" ( Rom 16:25; Eph 3:1-9; Col 1:25-27).
Two hopes: Twelve promised earthly thrones over Israel ( Matt 19:28); BoC enjoys heavenly blessings/citizenship ( Eph 1:3; 2:6; Phil 3:20).
Identity marker: Kingdom = water baptism with repentance ( Matt 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38); BoC = one Spirit baptism into Christ ( 1 Cor 12:13; Eph 4:5).
Law posture: Jerusalem saints remain law-zealous ( Acts 21:20); BoC is not under law but under grace ( Rom 6:14; Gal 2:19-21; Eph 2:14-16).
Bottom line for this section: the same Christ is preached, yet Scripture assigns different commissions, revelations, and destinies. That textual pattern sets the expectation that the Twelve, as Israel's kingdom apostles, are not counted within the mystery-formed BoC.
Good question, and thank you for the respectful tone. From a Mid-Acts dispensational view, the tension dissolves once we keep Israel's kingdom program distinct from the Body of Christ. In the Lord's earthly ministry and early Acts, the Twelve were sent to Israel with a priestly commission: preach the kingdom, call the nation to repent, and baptize the believing remnant ( Matt 28:19; Mark 16:15-18; Acts 2:38; 3:19-21). Water baptism there was covenantal identification and preparation for a promised priestly nation ( Exod 19:5-6), accompanied by signs ( Mark 16:17-18) seen functioning in Acts ( Acts 5:12-16).
But when Israel continued in unbelief, Christ revealed to Paul "the dispensation of the grace of God" and the previously hidden "mystery" ( Eph 3:1-9; Col 1:25-27). In this present dispensation, we are now saved by the gospel of Christ's cross and resurrection alone ( 1 Cor 15:1-4; Rom 3:24-28; 4:5; Eph 2:8-9). Entrance is by one Spirit baptizing us into one Body ( 1 Cor 12:13), hence Paul can say there is "one baptism" ( Eph 4:5) and also, strikingly "Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel" ( 1 Cor 1:17).
What of the Lord's commands in Matthew and John? They stand true for the audience addressed. Matthew 5:18 affirms the Law's authority until all is fulfilled; Christ is its end for righteousness to everyone that believes ( Rom 10:4) and the Body is not under the Law ( Rom 6:14). John 14-15 speaks to kingdom disciples under the New Covenant promises to Israel ( Jer 31:31-34), about abiding in the Vine and keeping His commandments in that program.
Luke 18:17 highlights the posture of faith, not a ritual that secures salvation. Therefore, today water baptism is a good testimony, but it does not add to the finished cross-work nor effect salvation. The saving baptism in this age is the Spirit's, placing us in Christ the moment we believe.
John and the Twelve baptized because God commanded a covenant sign that prepared Israel for the nearness of the promised kingdom. John's mission was prophetic and God-sent: he came to make the Lord's paths straight ( Isa 40:3; Mal 3:1; Matt 3:3), and "He that sent me to baptize with water" defined his work ( John 1:33). His baptism was "of repentance for the remission of sins" ( Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3), publicly separating a believing remnant and manifesting the Messiah to Israel ( John 1:31). This fit Israel's priestly calling and cleansing types-washings consecrated service ( Exod 29:4; Lev 8:6), and prophets promised national purification ( Ezek 36:25; cf. Heb 9:10). Jesus then authorized the apostles to carry this forward in the kingdom gospel: "make disciplesbaptizing" ( Matt 28:19; Mark 16:15-16). At Pentecost Peter summoned Israel: "Repent, and be baptizedfor the remission of sins," with the gift of the Spirit and the hope of restoration ( Acts 2:38-41; 3:19-21). In Acts, water baptism identified penitents with the crucified and risen Christ, marked them off from unbelieving Israel, and was confirmed by signs, for "the Jews require a sign" ( Acts 8:12-17; 10:47-48; 22:16; 1 Cor 1:22; cf. Mark 16:17-18). With the later revelation of the Body of Christ, the saving baptism is the Spirit's work-placing believers into one Body apart from rites ( Eph 4:5; 1 Cor 12:13; Titus 3:5). Therefore Paul could say, "Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel" ( 1 Cor 1:17). In sum, John and the apostles baptized in obedience within Israel's kingdom program-repentance, cleansing, identification, and Spirit-attested entry into the remnant-while today the "one baptism" that saves is the Spirit's, not water ( Eph 2:8-9). This preserves Israel's covenant logic with today's grace-salvation rests on Christ's cross-work by faith - not rites, while water witnessed repentance in Israel.
Lets start with a very well known verse, Mark 16:16, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.". I think just this verse is a very clear answer.
In Matthew 28:19 Jesus asks His apostles to baptize new believers. Now suppose you were a new believer living at that age. And an apostle or your pastor asked you to be baptized. God asked him to baptize new believers so he asked you to be baptized. And suppose you answer him back that you don't want to do it because you feel it is not necessary. So God wants you to be baptized and you don't want to be baptized.
Lets go back to John the Baptist.
Was John's baptism from men or from God, Jesus asked the Pharisees. They pretended they didn't know. John in 1:33 records John the Baptist saying , "And I knew him not: but HE THAT SENT ME TO BAPTIZE WITH WATER, the same said unto me, ..."
What John's baptism stant for? Luke 3:3, "And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;"
So it was not a ritual that John thought of to establish or something he did because the Jews were doing it in the past, but it was a new thing, a God's direct command to him.
But you may say that that was another baptism than the christian baptism. Yes this is true. But what I want to make you think is how it seems to you when God asks you to do something and you saying back to Him "Oh well God, I will not do it, it is not necessary". Does this sound logical to your ears?
So I tried not to answer directlly to what you asked, but tried to show you how bad it is for one to deny what God wants them to do and go around trying to make His command sound unnecessary, so actually cancelling it.
Jesus said to the Pharisses, "But the Pharisees and lawyers REJECTED THE COUNSEL OF GOD AGAINST THEMSELVES, being not baptized of him.". Well lets not do the same with the christian baptism, rejecting God's Wiill for us.
Sadly, most professing Christians in my part of the world look at scripture and support it through scripture. Yet when topics especially in Revelations (book) come up, I here so much hypocrisy about peoples illusion about the 7 year tribulation in the end times. In Daniel 9 to 12 people can gain insight into the underlying message that the entire book of Revelations is based on. Also understanding the Olivet discourse would move mountains on this topic. The majority of Christians are being deceived about the true meaning of the 7 years trib. pre trib. ect Sometimes praying in the spirit, we can receive instructions on the truth. Revelation 12{9 and 2 Thessalonians 2;3 have already been fulfilled. Revelations 13:4 and who can make war with the beast. We are already here as the son of perdition has already been revealed. I gain everything I receive through the direction of the Holy Spirit or Ruach spirit. If anybody has interest in this area, I would be more than willing to share the truth as per the spirit and not the flesh. I would suggest those individuals look first at the 70 weeks of Daniel, the Olivet discourse, and then Revelations. Do not be deceived as the devil and his minions have already deceived most of the world with twisting scripture, Historical history knowledge about these areas will open a lot of eyes. Last, if people are not living in the spirit and truth and following the great commission of healing, casting out, speaking in tongues ( Mark 16:17, and the rest of what Christ asked us to do, these words mean nothing. My hope is always in the promises, as I truly feel like a stranger in a fallen world waiting for the promises by faith in of serving in the millennium reign and then the new heaven and new earth to follow
In Scripture, Jesus Christ initially sent His twelve disciples only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. In Matthew 10:5-6, Jesus commanded them, "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." This directive limited their early ministry strictly to the circumcision, the Jewish people. Even after Christ's resurrection, Peter and the other apostles continued ministering primarily to the Jews in Jerusalem and surrounding regions ( Acts 1-7). Their ministry was rooted in the hope of Israel and the promised earthly kingdom.
Although the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15 includes the phrase "go ye into all the world," there is no biblical record of Peter, James, John, or the other original apostles ever launching widespread missions to the Gentile nations. Their continued presence in Jerusalem and their focus on the Jewish believers is affirmed in Galatians 2:7-9, where Paul writes that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed to him, while the gospel of the circumcision was committed to Peter. The Jerusalem apostles gave Paul and Barnabas the "right hands of fellowship," agreeing that Paul should go to the Gentiles while they remained with the circumcision.
Only Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles ( Romans 11:13), is recorded in Scripture as taking multiple missionary journeys to distant lands-Asia Minor, Macedonia, Greece, and Rome. These travels are thoroughly documented in the Book of Acts (chapters 13-28). Paul uniquely preached the gospel of the grace of God ( Acts 20:24), revealing the mystery of the Body of Christ and salvation by grace through faith alone ( Ephesians 3:1-9), distinct from the kingdom gospel preached to Israel.
Thus, Scripture consistently shows that the twelve apostles remained focused on Israel and never carried out global missionary work, while Paul alone fulfilled the calling to take the gospel to the nations.
Dear God Father in Heaven, You who are Almighty and All-Knowing God. You whom we trust in all things, we desire and praise Your Holy Name above all other names, Jesus Christ and by the kingdom of the Holy Spirit. We come to You in humble mind and ask for help in sickness and need. You who walked the earth Jesus and to all diseases You said. I will be heal! You would save and heal. Hear our prayer now. Free our sister from this disease Jesus. Look upon her You Lord for then everything will be well. So we cast this lung disease and cancer out of her body, in Your name cast it out into the deepest darkness, there it will be until You come to make all things right in Jesus Christ our Lord name, Amen. Mark 16:14-18
Jac 5:14-18
We thank You for Your great mercy and love for us, and we will thank You from now on and forever, We thank You for Your great mercy, love and Your righteousness, Amen.
Thanks for the information GiGi. For me it is important to believe that the Bread and Wine are litterally the Body and Blood of Christ. There are no symbolic ceremonies in Christianity. There is no reason for that. Symbols and emblems were the norm in the Old Testament. Jesus didn't have to establish a symbolic ceremony to get us to remember His sacrifice, this is always in His children's minds and hearts. And it will be for ever. Even in eternity we will be seeing the scars in His Hands and Feet so we will always know the reason we will be there with Him. Not because we deserve something more than the rest, but because of the infinite love and grace of our Lord who became sin for us so that we become Justice to God through Him. Even water baptism is very significant. Because avoiding doing so will keep one out of salvation. God's command is very clear, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.", Mark 16:16. It couldn't be clearer than that. Every command of God is very important. Not obeing a command is a sin. And an unrepentant sin, when one is aware of it, will keep one away from His Kingdom, no matter if one is born again. It is also very important to have repented about any sin we know we have when partaking in His Body and Blood. In my church we have this ceremony every Sunday. And it is a very practical way to repend and not keep a sin for a longer time. GBU
Indeed brother Richard, I agree with what you have shared with us here. And just to pick up on one pertinent point you shared in relation to the Communion, "whether it is Baptism; Communion or "fellowship of the saints" when two or more are gathered together He is present".
My understanding of Matthew 18:20 hinges on the fact that post-resurrection & ascension, Christ is now seated at the right Hand of the Father ( Mark 16:19; Acts 2:23; Romans 8:34; and many other refs). So, what Jesus spoke of at that time to His disciples, would certainly mean that His Presence amongst them after He left for Heaven, would be by His Spirit Whom they would receive. As far as I'm aware, the physical Jesus will not be seen again until the translation of the saints, or by those with variant beliefs, at His Coming for war, judgement & rule on the Earth.
Now, whether those who subscribe to transubstantiation would apply Matthew 18:20 to bolster their belief or not, I can't tell; though it seems that they could do so, as the verse could support that the physical presence of Jesus could be found in the elements at the 'Eucharist'. But is that what Jesus intended His followers to believe & practise? Whether in corporate prayer, at the Lord's Table, or even in the Eucharist (as practised by some), that His Presence in Body (& Blood) is there (mystically or otherwise), or whether it is His Spirit Who ministers to us in those seasons & right through the course of a believer's life? That if we 'eat or drink unworthily bringing on damnation', the Spirit of Christ is disgraced & abhorred by such hypocritical, sinful participation - which translates of course, as directly aimed at Jesus & His Father.
We are commanded to "grieve not the Holy Spirit of God", for if we do, then the Godhead is dishonored & shamed. It is the Spirit Who broods over our worship, teaching, & communion participation testing or convicting our hearts; and this is how I see the Presence of Christ at the Lord's Table.
Let's see the verse in Mark 16:9, "Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week ..."
The greek reads, "Anastas(was risen) de proi(morning) prote(first) Savvatou(of the Sabbath) ..."
But here a question comes in. Why did the KJV translate "of the Sabbath" as "the first day of the week"?. The answer is because the Jews, apart from the day of Sabbath, also called the 7 day week as a Sabbath. Example: Luke 18:12, (it is the incident with the Pharisee and the publican), it says in grk "nesteuo (I fast) dis(twice) Savvatou(of the Sabbath) ...." It is obvious that the Pharisee doesn't mean that he fasts twice on the day of Sabbath, but twice in a week.
Another example is also in Luke, verse 24:1, "te de mia(in the first) ton Savvaton(of the Sabbaths) orthou batheos(very early in the morning) ..", it obviously means in the first day of the week very early in the morning.
Actually it is known from history books that the Jews at that time fasted on Tuesdays and Wednesdays every week. So the first day of the Sabbath here is the first day of the week. The Sabbath was the last day of the Jewish week and the next day (the christian Sunday) was the first.
But the verse in Luke 23:54 clarifies the day of the week that Jesus was buried. It says "Kai (and) hemera(day) en(was) paraskeue(preparation), Savvatou (of the Sabbath) epephoske (was coming close)." What does it mean "the day was preparation"? Here we have to look at the names of the week days in Hebrew. The are called: the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the preparation (because the were making all the preparation need for resting on the Sabbaths since they were not allowed to do anything on the Sabbaths) and last of all was the Sabbath. So the right interpretation of that verse (in mod. English) is "and it was Friday and Saturday(Sabbath) was closing in (since the day for Hebrews starts in the evening of the previous day)".
Thanks again for the reply, Woe. I have already shared why I believe the first day of the week was Jesus' resurrection day - and from the Scriptures given. And yes, I have received the evidence you have shared, & found it faulty in light of the Scriptures. Even 'God establishing the Sabbath Day at the close of Creation', is incorrect, as we only read that 'God rested (ceased) from His Work, blessed the seventh day and sanctified it (set it apart)' ( Genesis 2:1-3). But the Sabbath was only given at Mt Sinai to His people. If we say that Genesis 26:5 proves without doubt that the Laws & Sabbath remembrance was given to & observed by Abraham, then this belief must only be an assumption, since there is no Scripture to tell us what was given to Abraham. Even if I had to guess what Laws, commands & statutes were given to him, mine too would just be a guess - and that is the sort of thing I avoid most vehemently, as it only breeds error & simply adds fuel to those desperately searching for verses to support their position.
The only clear Scripture relating to Christ's resurrection on the first day of the week is found in Mark 16:9 (to which we have found disagreement previously). Maybe a Greek scholar can confirm how they understand that verse, (taken from my Lexicon), whether
'Anastas de proi prote sabbatou, ephane proton Maria te Magdalene..' is read better,
or Anastas de, proi prote sabbatou ephane proton Maria te Magdalene..' is better read? Maybe, that might help us further.
The RCC may have changed the day of worship, according to them I presume, but Church history informs us that the early Church fathers in general, believed that the First Day of the Week was the occasion to worship & commune together. The Didache (Teachings of the Apostles), Ignatius of Antioch (AD 110), Justin Martyr (AD 155), & John Chrysostom (AD 395), are a few who held that view. Cont'd on Page 2.
The Laws that a converted Israel would receive, would no longer be as those formerly written on stone, but now 'in fleshy tables of the heart' ( 2 Corinthians 3:3). The Old has decayed and vanished away, only because of Jesus & His institution of the New Covenant. Let us not abide by things that are from the old economy, as even now, priests still wear religious garb & mitres, with their incense lamps as did the Jewish priests of old, rather to embrace what God's Spirit has for us in our hearts & lives, never leading us into condemnation.
As for your reference to Matthew 12:36-42, I'm not going to debate that, for I believe as you do, in what Jesus said about His death & resurrection relating it to Jonah's entombment in the 'whale'. The issue is first with the references I gave earlier, viz Mark 16:1,2,9, with John 20:1 complementing it. If the two Marys came "very early in the morning on the first day of the week", & "it was still dark", that tells me that they had arrived at the sepulchre to anoint Jesus' Body before dawn broke on the first day of the week (Sunday). Yes, the Jewish Sunday started after sundown Sabbath, but it still was Sunday when morning broke. You stated: "The earliest they (the Marys) could come to the tomb and administer the spices was as Saturday ended that very evening and Sunday began to dawn, which occurs at SUNDOWN. So Mary came at sundown Saturday." If Saturday (Sabbath) ended in the evening, the dawn of Sunday was still 10-12 hours away; if a day dawns, it is when the sun begins to rise - the day cannot dawn straight after the sun sets the previous day. This shows that the women came up to 12 hours after the Sabbath Day ended (i.e. the next day, Sunday). So I don't get your timeline here.
And just a final personal, maybe rhetorical, question: do you consider yourself to be wholly subject to the New Covenant in Christ's Blood, or do you believe it is necessary to embrace both the Old & the New to be right before God?
As for the other scripture you posted it has misplaced punctuation.
Mark 16:9-20
King James Version
9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
The comma is placed in the wrong spot. It should read thus;
9 Now when Jesus was risen; early the first day of the week he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
Notwithstanding; The women followed and watched Jesus placed into the tomb and the stone rolled in front of the door.
Scripture clearly tells us they placed Jesus body in the tomb in haste, because the sabbath drew on. It was so close to sabbath that the women would NOT have had time to prepare spices until after it was over. Doing so would have been a violation of the sabbath. They had to wait until Friday to buy and prepare spices, which was a lengthy process and since Jesus was already in the tomb, Friday was the only day they could do it.
Then, they again had to wait, because the weekly sabbath began at sundown Friday. They earliest they could come to the tomb and administer the spices was as Saturday ended that very evening and Sunday began to dawn, which occurs at SUNDOWN. So Mary came at sundown Saturday. Since a day is from sundown to sundown; it therefore would have been very early Sunday morning and still dark. Again, at sundown Saturday ended and Sunday began. For a day, the morning of a day in biblical terms doesn't coincide with our modern day view of how days begin and end. Mary in our modern definition would have actually came to the tomb Saturday night in our current reckoning and this is why it was still dark out when she did.
Well Woe, we were still dealing with the Decalogue & its applicability to the Church (are we done with that?), so that is why I didn't want to side track towards the dates of the burial & resurrection of Jesus. But since you have brought it up, let's proceed.
I always begin with what we already know (from Scripture), and that is the Day of Christ's Resurrection. Mark 16:1,2,9: "And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils".
In these verses, we read that Jesus was resurrected early on the first day of the week (v9), that the two Marys would have rested on the Sabbath Day & prepared their spices (as you mentioned), and as soon as it was morning (actually, still dark - John 20:1) after the Sabbath, these women came to the sepulchre. Some have swapped the commas here, to read: "Now when Jesus was risen, early the first day of the week he appeared". Even if one does that, with the Jewish day reckoned from sundown to sundown, the Sabbath would have ended about eleven hours before, thus confirming that Jesus didn't arise from the dead on Sabbath Day, but on the first day of the week, Sunday. Onto Page 2.
I agree God's angels work in our protection but there are angels on the side of Satan as we see in Daniel 10, battles go on that we do not see and this will continue until Satan and his angels are cast out of heaven to earth permanently, in Revelation 12.
In the Bible, we see the possessions of people are done by devils/demons, or unclean spirits, Mark 5:1-5Mark 16:9Matthew 15:22, and others, as in Matthew 8 there was a legion of them in two men and they asked Jesus to cast them into pigs.
I understand rebelling or fallen angels wreak havoc and cause division they will influence, entice, and persuade, people. My understanding is they cannot continue to possess someone, and we will have spiritual battles Ephesians 6:12. I have seen possession of someone, and I had a being lay across me in bed when I awoke it looked like a burlap cloth and its hand over my face. I was able to free my mouth and only said Jesus and it was snatched up and was gone. I can only say it had a body and it was large.
This was in the 90s and during a time when these things happened, I started reading my Bible again and during this time I was saved. My wife and I went to several different churches and in one church the youth group went to an assisted living where my wife worked. She had gotten close to one of the ladies.
My wife was not there when the youth group went on a Saturday, that Sunday the lady over the youth group was telling the church about their visit and said a woman died while they were there. She described it as peaceful, and they were praying. She said the name of the lady and it was the lady my wife was close to, me and my wife both heard the woman say this.
My wife was upset so we left and went by the assisted living and that lady, or no one died. I talked to the preacher, he asked many of the church and no one heard the woman say that this woman died while they were there, we never went back to that church. There were other things.
We are called by God, Matthew 22:14, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and the only way to the Father, John 14:6. Anyone can be baptized but he that believeth and is baptized will be saved, Mark 16:16. This is on us, it is our obedience to the Father, we must truly in our heart believe Jesus is the Son of God the Messiah/Christ, and our only hope of salvation, we cannot do that as a baby. It is not a ritual we can check a box on the way to salvation it is between us and God and it must be done in the name of Jesus that we see in the entire New Testament.
When we are baptized in the name of Jesus, what we see in the Bible, we are submerged in water, we die to sin, and are buried in death with Jesus, and when we are raised from the water we are raised into a new life in Christ. We are justified and our journey then begins with sanctification in our walk in the Holy Spirit.
As to your question you have received several answers, my understanding in the Bible baptism is done only by immersion as the word means. As Jesse said sprinkling did not start until the 1300s and it was for the reason it was so inconvenient. So, this was done just because of convenience's sake, nothing Biblical about it. I agree with Giannis, and we must believe as Jesus said in Mark 16:16.
All we do is to be done in our Lord Jesus's name, Colossians 3:16-17. Many use Matthew 28:19 but we also see in the rest of Scripture that a person who is baptized in Jesus' name is someone who believes in Jesus as Savior, the Messiah, the Son of God who for us died, was buried, and was resurrected we acknowledge this by being baptized in His name, Acts 2:38Acts 8:12Acts 8:16Acts 10:48Acts 19:5Acts 22:16Romans 6:3Galatians 3:27Colossians 2:12Ephesians 4:5.
Paul shows the importance of being baptized in the name of Jesus, Acts 19:1-6. God has placed Jesus and His name above all that is in heaven and earth, Matthew 28:18Philippians 2:9-11. Salvation only comes in His name Acts 4:12Romans 10:13. The name of Jesus is the source of power and authority for healing, miracles, and deliverance, Mark 16:17Luke 10:17Acts 4:7Acts 4:30Acts 16:18.
We are to give thanks in Jesus's name, Ephesians 5:20. Our faith is through Him and in His name, Acts 3:16. We must believe in Jesus, John 3:16John 6:47Acts 16:311 John 3:231 John 5:13. Whatever we ask for we are to ask in His name, John 14:13-14. We are to pray to the Father in His name, James 5:14. Jesus is our priest and the only mediator between God and men, 1 Timothy 2:5.
I read and study the KJV, and I have read parts of other Bibles, Michaelswiger gave good information on what manuscripts were used, and if we study the history of the Bible other things and texts like the Bishop Bible were also considered. Giannis and S Spencer have also given good responses on the Greek words. I trust the KJV as the word of God and what He means for us to understand is there, but we must trust the Holy Spirit will guide us.
Aion means life span, age, or epoch, it is the source of our English words age and eon. It describes any length of clearly defined time, whether one person's life or some era of certain renown. As a general point of reference, this word may also apply to the vast span of history: the ages, the times of old.
I agree, with the word's age and world for English-speaking people our understanding can be different. The Greek word aion was translated in the KJV 37 times as world, sometimes world works, and sometimes age would be a better choice, I can send you the verses if you want to study them. Like Matt. 24:3 with the context and what the disciples knew at that time and what Jesus just told them about the temple the word world insinuates they are asking Jesus about His second coming.
If we compare Matt. 24:3 with Mark 13:4 and Luke 21:7 what is written in Matthew with them still thinking Jesus was going to set up the kingdom instead of the end of the world, the end of the age would fit better. The context of the chapter and comparing what is written in each gospel about the same thing helps me.
All translations or transliterations are not perfect, but God is and what He wants us to know He will show us through the Spirit of truth. Take Matt. 28:19, the commission, if we compare it to Mark 16:15Luke 24:47, and what we read in the rest of the New Testament what do we see?
"All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth"
Jesus came to fulfill the law. He was the Word become flesh. When he presented the doctrine of his Father he was presenting himself as its fulfillment. He said with vehemence what he as the Man the message would do. "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." His death was in dishonor but in his resurrection he proved the Power of the Word Simon Peter addressing men of Israel speaks,"Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:/Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it."(Ac.2:23-24). He opened a new way, the path of righteousness. "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."(1 Co.1:30). All who followed him shall have a standard which is affixed by faith and not by praditions or by precepts of men. "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."
This is the power given to men.
"And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Here we have a demonstration of what one means by Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and forever. Mark 16:18 supplied us signs and 'in my name' what happen. "They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them." St Paul in Malta proved the viper did not hurt him in fulfillment of the word. Elisha in Gilgal was told by sons of the prophets, "O thou man of God, there is death in the pot." They were not hurt because Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of the Law or the Word. (2 Ki.4:38-41) "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending."
The Spirit in organizing the Alpha and Omega aspects of the Son brings out the word of God as true which is validated in his Son. The world made flesh and the word revealed by the humanity works equally well with all those who believe in him. An example we have in the Gospel of St Mark. In the last chapter the risen Christ gives the signs that shall follow the believers. It is valid only, 'in my name' for example "They shall take up serpents." ( Mark 16:18), the Spirit adds "And it shall not hurt them."
The Spirit gives us an example in the case of St Paul on the isle of Malta.
"And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand./And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live./And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm./Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god." (Ac.28:3-6)
From lack of understanding with regards to the Holy Spirit and the purpose of the scripture there are some children of Belial in our times who handle serpents as a test of their spiritual prowess. Is God to be tempted by serpent handling?
Mark 16:61-72 Simon Peter denied Christ before the maid who kept the door of the chief priest's palace. "Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee (Matt.26-69)". In the darkness Simon Peter's voice betrayed him. 'Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee (v.73)'. Voice carries much more significance than the mere sound of it. The words that Jesus spoke was not his own. 'He who hears me hears who sent me ( Luke 10:16). Simon Peter forsook all in order to become his disciple. In denying Christ he was also denying the voice of the Lord he heard. Principle of Association (Matt.10:40).
Voice recognition of a Christian is in the way truth in his inward parts matches with his action. Voice of the Lord is dealing with the living word and it is to bring out the full potential of man. It is truth written in his inward parts that places his words and actions in harmony. (1 Co.14:7)
There are a few places in Acts that speak of the whole household being baptized. it doesn't explicitly exclude babies and children. For those who adhere to infant baptism, it is seen as entering into a covenant with God an His community of faith-filled believers. Infant baptism is seen as bringing upon an infant the saving work of God in Christ as parents obey the command of Jesus to baptize ALL nations and instruct these who are baptized in the life of faith in Jesus. Those who practice infant baptism recognized that all are born dead to God and need to be made alive in Christ, which they believe happens through baptism of infants and children because their parents' consent to obey this command of Christ. These believe that the Holy Spirit implants faith in the infant or child in baptism, whereas before they had not faith to believe. They believe in such baptism all the work is done by God in the infant or child. He gives the faith, He gives the forgiveness of sins with the washing of His Word (the gospel) spoken over the child. Denominations that practice infant baptism besides Catholicism are Orthodox, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopalian/Anglican, and perhaps others.
Others, who do not embrace infant baptism, allow for children to be baptized upon an open confession of faith in Christ by the child. Some have an age limit, others do not because Jesus said that we are not to hinder children from coming unto him.
Mark 10:14; Luke 18:16; Acts 2:3; , Acts 16:15; Acts 16:33Acts 22:16
Others only allow what is called "believer's baptism" where one must believe the gospel in order to be baptized. Jesus says in Mark 16:16 to believe and be baptized. See also: Acts 2:41; Acts 16:18:8
I think that there is Biblical merit to all of these teachings about Baptism. Each person must pray for the Holy Spirit to lead them as to whether or not their children should be baptized when very young.
"Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake (v.22)"
Who are these sons of Belial? In the Book of Deuteronomy we are shown what they do. You shall know them by their fruits. They have certain zeal but not according to the knowledge as St Paul writes,"that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge(Ro.10:2)"."Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;(De.13:13.)"
These men whose activism is to make others much more worthy of hell by their heretical mindset are sons of Belial. Jesus calls such who know the truth but would not live accordingly as hypocrites. "Hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves(Matt.23:15)". In short they hold their truth in unrighteousness. Their heart is without borders so when they handle serpents they shall not let another ask,'do you have to tempt God' they point to the verse from the gospel ( Mark 16:17) and conveniently ignore the call of Jesus,"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me( Luke 9:23)". 'Denying himself goes with taking up the cross daily which are only two legs for the one who wants to be part of the body of Christ. His eye must be ever on the way followed by Jesus, 'Not my will but thine'.
Sons of Belial are those who have no vision."Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he(Pr.29:18)".
Heavenly Father, You told us in Mark 16:18 to heal the sick and they shall recover. So we pray that Linda B. be healed. We pray that no tumor return. God, I pray that Linda B. give herself totally to You and that her walk with You be closer. Thank You Jesus for Your love mercy and grace, by Your stripes Linda B. is healed. Amen
Jesus set me free from the bar business and I got baptized in Jesus name Acts 2:38,39
Luke 24:47,48Mark 16:16,17 I received the Holy Ghost Acts 5:32Acts 2:4. 1 Corinthians 14: 2,22,39
John 3:1-6Acts 19:1-6. 1 Peter 3:21Proverbs 11:30. John 21:15 it is essential for Salvation to be baptized in Jesus name Acts 4:12 and be filled with His Holy Ghost power speaking in a brand new tongue Acts 2:4 , and live a holy life loving Jesus and loving others !
The way I interpret your question is how much must I obey God to get into heaven? What is the bare minimum?
Because some feel inconvenienced to follow Jesus- whether embarrassment or other excuses. And do you have to obey the 10 commandments or any of the other commandments in the Bible? You already know what God says- He called them "commandments" for a reason, but some want to be comforted and hear that you can do whatever you want, whatever feels good, in this world and be ok? If that the hope, that's Satan's message.
It looks like this has received a lot of comments. Some are pushing false teachings which should be called out. It doesn't matter what man says, but what God says, right? Isn't it better to please God than please man?
"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." James 1:22 KJV
This clearly says to be a doer of the Word. It's not enough to just hear it and do nothing. Christianity is an action. I don't see anywhere in the Bible saying you're saved on earth before you're even judged. Please share verses that back that up, because I haven't seen any. I see verses saying you can have assurance of salvation. There's verses saying we will be saved, but it doesn't say right now before our life is even over- I believe that's the assumed part that deviates from scripture.
"But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 10:33
Baptism:
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Mark 16:16
I think its risky to intentionally disobey Jesus, then expect all the benefits.
"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Luke 6:46
If you don't obey, why even call him Lord? You're not even a follower. This is my interpretation of what Jesus is saying here.
Matthew 7:24-27 - Jesus's point of this parable is obeying Him. "doing" "doeth"
after the sabbath day 3 women bought sweet spices so that they could anoint Jesus early in the morning they went to the sepulchre and when they where there the stone was rolled away and then they enterd into the sepulchre then they saw a man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment
and then he said that they should tell his disciples and peter that they should go to galilee to see Jesus and then they went and told them but they did not believe them but still went and then Jesus said to them Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. and then when he was done talking he went to heaven and sat on the right side of God
A) Apostolic spheres: Gal 2:7-9 explicitly differentiates audiences and entrustments; Peter stays with the circumcision, Paul with the Gentiles. Rom 11:13 confirms Paul's Gentile apostleship; Acts 22:17-21 shows the Lord sending him away from Jerusalem.
B) Revelation locus: Acts 3:19-21 ties Peter's appeal to promises "since the world began." By contrast, Rom 16:25 and Eph 3:1-9 say the BoC's defining truth was hidden until Paul-God's "dispensation of the grace of God" ( Eph 3:2; Col 1:25).
C) Hopes/rewards: Matt 19:28 promises the Twelve governmental thrones over Israel. The BoC's hope is heavenly position with Christ ( Eph 1:3; 2:6) and citizenship ( Phil 3:20).
D) Initiation/sign: Kingdom program employs water baptism and sign-miracles ( Matt 28:19; Mark 16:16-20; Acts 2:38). The BoC is constituted by Spirit baptism ( 1 Cor 12:13), summed in "one baptism" ( Eph 4:5). Paul even minimizes water rites' centrality ( 1 Cor 1:14-17; Col 2:14-23).
E) Law stance: Early Jerusalem remains temple-centric and law-observant ( Acts 3:1; 21:20). Paul proclaims freedom from the law's dominion ( Rom 6:14), the cross having abolished the middle wall ( Eph 2:14-16).
Taken together, these lines mark two divinely authorized, non-identical administrations within God's purpose.
See section 3
I'm breaking up my thoughts into 4 sections.
Section 1
Thesis & scope (Mid-Acts view): Scripture reveals two parallel programs: Israel's prophetic kingdom administered by the Twelve, and the "mystery" program-today's Body of Christ (BoC)-first revealed to and stewarded by Paul. The question is membership: Are the Twelve in the BoC? This section states the claim; later sections defend it textually, show the Acts transition, and answer objections.
Core distinctions (headlines with texts):
Two commissions/gospels: Paul = "gospel of the uncircumcision," Peter = "gospel of the circumcision" ( Gal 2:7-9; Rom 11:13). Distinct spheres affirmed by the right hand of fellowship.
Prophecy vs. mystery: Peter preaches what was "since the world began" ( Acts 3:19-21); Paul preaches truth "kept secret since the world began" ( Rom 16:25; Eph 3:1-9; Col 1:25-27).
Two hopes: Twelve promised earthly thrones over Israel ( Matt 19:28); BoC enjoys heavenly blessings/citizenship ( Eph 1:3; 2:6; Phil 3:20).
Identity marker: Kingdom = water baptism with repentance ( Matt 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38); BoC = one Spirit baptism into Christ ( 1 Cor 12:13; Eph 4:5).
Law posture: Jerusalem saints remain law-zealous ( Acts 21:20); BoC is not under law but under grace ( Rom 6:14; Gal 2:19-21; Eph 2:14-16).
Bottom line for this section: the same Christ is preached, yet Scripture assigns different commissions, revelations, and destinies. That textual pattern sets the expectation that the Twelve, as Israel's kingdom apostles, are not counted within the mystery-formed BoC.
Please see section 2
But when Israel continued in unbelief, Christ revealed to Paul "the dispensation of the grace of God" and the previously hidden "mystery" ( Eph 3:1-9; Col 1:25-27). In this present dispensation, we are now saved by the gospel of Christ's cross and resurrection alone ( 1 Cor 15:1-4; Rom 3:24-28; 4:5; Eph 2:8-9). Entrance is by one Spirit baptizing us into one Body ( 1 Cor 12:13), hence Paul can say there is "one baptism" ( Eph 4:5) and also, strikingly "Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel" ( 1 Cor 1:17).
What of the Lord's commands in Matthew and John? They stand true for the audience addressed. Matthew 5:18 affirms the Law's authority until all is fulfilled; Christ is its end for righteousness to everyone that believes ( Rom 10:4) and the Body is not under the Law ( Rom 6:14). John 14-15 speaks to kingdom disciples under the New Covenant promises to Israel ( Jer 31:31-34), about abiding in the Vine and keeping His commandments in that program.
Luke 18:17 highlights the posture of faith, not a ritual that secures salvation. Therefore, today water baptism is a good testimony, but it does not add to the finished cross-work nor effect salvation. The saving baptism in this age is the Spirit's, placing us in Christ the moment we believe.
Grace and Peace.
John and the Twelve baptized because God commanded a covenant sign that prepared Israel for the nearness of the promised kingdom. John's mission was prophetic and God-sent: he came to make the Lord's paths straight ( Isa 40:3; Mal 3:1; Matt 3:3), and "He that sent me to baptize with water" defined his work ( John 1:33). His baptism was "of repentance for the remission of sins" ( Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3), publicly separating a believing remnant and manifesting the Messiah to Israel ( John 1:31). This fit Israel's priestly calling and cleansing types-washings consecrated service ( Exod 29:4; Lev 8:6), and prophets promised national purification ( Ezek 36:25; cf. Heb 9:10). Jesus then authorized the apostles to carry this forward in the kingdom gospel: "make disciplesbaptizing" ( Matt 28:19; Mark 16:15-16). At Pentecost Peter summoned Israel: "Repent, and be baptizedfor the remission of sins," with the gift of the Spirit and the hope of restoration ( Acts 2:38-41; 3:19-21). In Acts, water baptism identified penitents with the crucified and risen Christ, marked them off from unbelieving Israel, and was confirmed by signs, for "the Jews require a sign" ( Acts 8:12-17; 10:47-48; 22:16; 1 Cor 1:22; cf. Mark 16:17-18). With the later revelation of the Body of Christ, the saving baptism is the Spirit's work-placing believers into one Body apart from rites ( Eph 4:5; 1 Cor 12:13; Titus 3:5). Therefore Paul could say, "Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel" ( 1 Cor 1:17). In sum, John and the apostles baptized in obedience within Israel's kingdom program-repentance, cleansing, identification, and Spirit-attested entry into the remnant-while today the "one baptism" that saves is the Spirit's, not water ( Eph 2:8-9). This preserves Israel's covenant logic with today's grace-salvation rests on Christ's cross-work by faith - not rites, while water witnessed repentance in Israel.
G&P
About water baptism.
Lets start with a very well known verse, Mark 16:16, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.". I think just this verse is a very clear answer.
In Matthew 28:19 Jesus asks His apostles to baptize new believers. Now suppose you were a new believer living at that age. And an apostle or your pastor asked you to be baptized. God asked him to baptize new believers so he asked you to be baptized. And suppose you answer him back that you don't want to do it because you feel it is not necessary. So God wants you to be baptized and you don't want to be baptized.
Lets go back to John the Baptist.
Was John's baptism from men or from God, Jesus asked the Pharisees. They pretended they didn't know. John in 1:33 records John the Baptist saying , "And I knew him not: but HE THAT SENT ME TO BAPTIZE WITH WATER, the same said unto me, ..."
What John's baptism stant for? Luke 3:3, "And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;"
So it was not a ritual that John thought of to establish or something he did because the Jews were doing it in the past, but it was a new thing, a God's direct command to him.
But you may say that that was another baptism than the christian baptism. Yes this is true. But what I want to make you think is how it seems to you when God asks you to do something and you saying back to Him "Oh well God, I will not do it, it is not necessary". Does this sound logical to your ears?
So I tried not to answer directlly to what you asked, but tried to show you how bad it is for one to deny what God wants them to do and go around trying to make His command sound unnecessary, so actually cancelling it.
Jesus said to the Pharisses, "But the Pharisees and lawyers REJECTED THE COUNSEL OF GOD AGAINST THEMSELVES, being not baptized of him.". Well lets not do the same with the christian baptism, rejecting God's Wiill for us.
GBU
Without worrying about pre- or post- ideas, I would side with the post- VIEW.
For that is how I believe the word is meant literally.
Acts 7:55-56 - Stephen, before being stoned, saw Jesus at the right hand of God.
Romans 8:34 - Jesus is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
Colossians 3:1 - Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Hebrews 1:3 - After making purification for sins, Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Mark 16:19 -
"In fact, the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God."
Adeus, friends.
Although the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15 includes the phrase "go ye into all the world," there is no biblical record of Peter, James, John, or the other original apostles ever launching widespread missions to the Gentile nations. Their continued presence in Jerusalem and their focus on the Jewish believers is affirmed in Galatians 2:7-9, where Paul writes that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed to him, while the gospel of the circumcision was committed to Peter. The Jerusalem apostles gave Paul and Barnabas the "right hands of fellowship," agreeing that Paul should go to the Gentiles while they remained with the circumcision.
Only Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles ( Romans 11:13), is recorded in Scripture as taking multiple missionary journeys to distant lands-Asia Minor, Macedonia, Greece, and Rome. These travels are thoroughly documented in the Book of Acts (chapters 13-28). Paul uniquely preached the gospel of the grace of God ( Acts 20:24), revealing the mystery of the Body of Christ and salvation by grace through faith alone ( Ephesians 3:1-9), distinct from the kingdom gospel preached to Israel.
Thus, Scripture consistently shows that the twelve apostles remained focused on Israel and never carried out global missionary work, while Paul alone fulfilled the calling to take the gospel to the nations.
Jac 5:14-18
We thank You for Your great mercy and love for us, and we will thank You from now on and forever, We thank You for Your great mercy, love and Your righteousness, Amen.
My understanding of Matthew 18:20 hinges on the fact that post-resurrection & ascension, Christ is now seated at the right Hand of the Father ( Mark 16:19; Acts 2:23; Romans 8:34; and many other refs). So, what Jesus spoke of at that time to His disciples, would certainly mean that His Presence amongst them after He left for Heaven, would be by His Spirit Whom they would receive. As far as I'm aware, the physical Jesus will not be seen again until the translation of the saints, or by those with variant beliefs, at His Coming for war, judgement & rule on the Earth.
Now, whether those who subscribe to transubstantiation would apply Matthew 18:20 to bolster their belief or not, I can't tell; though it seems that they could do so, as the verse could support that the physical presence of Jesus could be found in the elements at the 'Eucharist'. But is that what Jesus intended His followers to believe & practise? Whether in corporate prayer, at the Lord's Table, or even in the Eucharist (as practised by some), that His Presence in Body (& Blood) is there (mystically or otherwise), or whether it is His Spirit Who ministers to us in those seasons & right through the course of a believer's life? That if we 'eat or drink unworthily bringing on damnation', the Spirit of Christ is disgraced & abhorred by such hypocritical, sinful participation - which translates of course, as directly aimed at Jesus & His Father.
We are commanded to "grieve not the Holy Spirit of God", for if we do, then the Godhead is dishonored & shamed. It is the Spirit Who broods over our worship, teaching, & communion participation testing or convicting our hearts; and this is how I see the Presence of Christ at the Lord's Table.
Let's see the verse in Mark 16:9, "Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week ..."
The greek reads, "Anastas(was risen) de proi(morning) prote(first) Savvatou(of the Sabbath) ..."
But here a question comes in. Why did the KJV translate "of the Sabbath" as "the first day of the week"?. The answer is because the Jews, apart from the day of Sabbath, also called the 7 day week as a Sabbath. Example: Luke 18:12, (it is the incident with the Pharisee and the publican), it says in grk "nesteuo (I fast) dis(twice) Savvatou(of the Sabbath) ...." It is obvious that the Pharisee doesn't mean that he fasts twice on the day of Sabbath, but twice in a week.
Another example is also in Luke, verse 24:1, "te de mia(in the first) ton Savvaton(of the Sabbaths) orthou batheos(very early in the morning) ..", it obviously means in the first day of the week very early in the morning.
Actually it is known from history books that the Jews at that time fasted on Tuesdays and Wednesdays every week. So the first day of the Sabbath here is the first day of the week. The Sabbath was the last day of the Jewish week and the next day (the christian Sunday) was the first.
But the verse in Luke 23:54 clarifies the day of the week that Jesus was buried. It says "Kai (and) hemera(day) en(was) paraskeue(preparation), Savvatou (of the Sabbath) epephoske (was coming close)." What does it mean "the day was preparation"? Here we have to look at the names of the week days in Hebrew. The are called: the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the preparation (because the were making all the preparation need for resting on the Sabbaths since they were not allowed to do anything on the Sabbaths) and last of all was the Sabbath. So the right interpretation of that verse (in mod. English) is "and it was Friday and Saturday(Sabbath) was closing in (since the day for Hebrews starts in the evening of the previous day)".
Thanks again for the reply, Woe. I have already shared why I believe the first day of the week was Jesus' resurrection day - and from the Scriptures given. And yes, I have received the evidence you have shared, & found it faulty in light of the Scriptures. Even 'God establishing the Sabbath Day at the close of Creation', is incorrect, as we only read that 'God rested (ceased) from His Work, blessed the seventh day and sanctified it (set it apart)' ( Genesis 2:1-3). But the Sabbath was only given at Mt Sinai to His people. If we say that Genesis 26:5 proves without doubt that the Laws & Sabbath remembrance was given to & observed by Abraham, then this belief must only be an assumption, since there is no Scripture to tell us what was given to Abraham. Even if I had to guess what Laws, commands & statutes were given to him, mine too would just be a guess - and that is the sort of thing I avoid most vehemently, as it only breeds error & simply adds fuel to those desperately searching for verses to support their position.
The only clear Scripture relating to Christ's resurrection on the first day of the week is found in Mark 16:9 (to which we have found disagreement previously). Maybe a Greek scholar can confirm how they understand that verse, (taken from my Lexicon), whether
'Anastas de proi prote sabbatou, ephane proton Maria te Magdalene..' is read better,
or Anastas de, proi prote sabbatou ephane proton Maria te Magdalene..' is better read? Maybe, that might help us further.
The RCC may have changed the day of worship, according to them I presume, but Church history informs us that the early Church fathers in general, believed that the First Day of the Week was the occasion to worship & commune together. The Didache (Teachings of the Apostles), Ignatius of Antioch (AD 110), Justin Martyr (AD 155), & John Chrysostom (AD 395), are a few who held that view. Cont'd on Page 2.
The Laws that a converted Israel would receive, would no longer be as those formerly written on stone, but now 'in fleshy tables of the heart' ( 2 Corinthians 3:3). The Old has decayed and vanished away, only because of Jesus & His institution of the New Covenant. Let us not abide by things that are from the old economy, as even now, priests still wear religious garb & mitres, with their incense lamps as did the Jewish priests of old, rather to embrace what God's Spirit has for us in our hearts & lives, never leading us into condemnation.
As for your reference to Matthew 12:36-42, I'm not going to debate that, for I believe as you do, in what Jesus said about His death & resurrection relating it to Jonah's entombment in the 'whale'. The issue is first with the references I gave earlier, viz Mark 16:1,2,9, with John 20:1 complementing it. If the two Marys came "very early in the morning on the first day of the week", & "it was still dark", that tells me that they had arrived at the sepulchre to anoint Jesus' Body before dawn broke on the first day of the week (Sunday). Yes, the Jewish Sunday started after sundown Sabbath, but it still was Sunday when morning broke. You stated: "The earliest they (the Marys) could come to the tomb and administer the spices was as Saturday ended that very evening and Sunday began to dawn, which occurs at SUNDOWN. So Mary came at sundown Saturday." If Saturday (Sabbath) ended in the evening, the dawn of Sunday was still 10-12 hours away; if a day dawns, it is when the sun begins to rise - the day cannot dawn straight after the sun sets the previous day. This shows that the women came up to 12 hours after the Sabbath Day ended (i.e. the next day, Sunday). So I don't get your timeline here.
And just a final personal, maybe rhetorical, question: do you consider yourself to be wholly subject to the New Covenant in Christ's Blood, or do you believe it is necessary to embrace both the Old & the New to be right before God?
Mark 16:9-20
King James Version
9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
The comma is placed in the wrong spot. It should read thus;
9 Now when Jesus was risen; early the first day of the week he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
Notwithstanding; The women followed and watched Jesus placed into the tomb and the stone rolled in front of the door.
Scripture clearly tells us they placed Jesus body in the tomb in haste, because the sabbath drew on. It was so close to sabbath that the women would NOT have had time to prepare spices until after it was over. Doing so would have been a violation of the sabbath. They had to wait until Friday to buy and prepare spices, which was a lengthy process and since Jesus was already in the tomb, Friday was the only day they could do it.
Then, they again had to wait, because the weekly sabbath began at sundown Friday. They earliest they could come to the tomb and administer the spices was as Saturday ended that very evening and Sunday began to dawn, which occurs at SUNDOWN. So Mary came at sundown Saturday. Since a day is from sundown to sundown; it therefore would have been very early Sunday morning and still dark. Again, at sundown Saturday ended and Sunday began. For a day, the morning of a day in biblical terms doesn't coincide with our modern day view of how days begin and end. Mary in our modern definition would have actually came to the tomb Saturday night in our current reckoning and this is why it was still dark out when she did.
Well Woe, we were still dealing with the Decalogue & its applicability to the Church (are we done with that?), so that is why I didn't want to side track towards the dates of the burial & resurrection of Jesus. But since you have brought it up, let's proceed.
I always begin with what we already know (from Scripture), and that is the Day of Christ's Resurrection. Mark 16:1,2,9: "And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils".
In these verses, we read that Jesus was resurrected early on the first day of the week (v9), that the two Marys would have rested on the Sabbath Day & prepared their spices (as you mentioned), and as soon as it was morning (actually, still dark - John 20:1) after the Sabbath, these women came to the sepulchre. Some have swapped the commas here, to read: "Now when Jesus was risen, early the first day of the week he appeared". Even if one does that, with the Jewish day reckoned from sundown to sundown, the Sabbath would have ended about eleven hours before, thus confirming that Jesus didn't arise from the dead on Sabbath Day, but on the first day of the week, Sunday. Onto Page 2.
I agree God's angels work in our protection but there are angels on the side of Satan as we see in Daniel 10, battles go on that we do not see and this will continue until Satan and his angels are cast out of heaven to earth permanently, in Revelation 12.
In the Bible, we see the possessions of people are done by devils/demons, or unclean spirits, Mark 5:1-5 Mark 16:9 Matthew 15:22, and others, as in Matthew 8 there was a legion of them in two men and they asked Jesus to cast them into pigs.
I understand rebelling or fallen angels wreak havoc and cause division they will influence, entice, and persuade, people. My understanding is they cannot continue to possess someone, and we will have spiritual battles Ephesians 6:12. I have seen possession of someone, and I had a being lay across me in bed when I awoke it looked like a burlap cloth and its hand over my face. I was able to free my mouth and only said Jesus and it was snatched up and was gone. I can only say it had a body and it was large.
This was in the 90s and during a time when these things happened, I started reading my Bible again and during this time I was saved. My wife and I went to several different churches and in one church the youth group went to an assisted living where my wife worked. She had gotten close to one of the ladies.
My wife was not there when the youth group went on a Saturday, that Sunday the lady over the youth group was telling the church about their visit and said a woman died while they were there. She described it as peaceful, and they were praying. She said the name of the lady and it was the lady my wife was close to, me and my wife both heard the woman say this.
My wife was upset so we left and went by the assisted living and that lady, or no one died. I talked to the preacher, he asked many of the church and no one heard the woman say that this woman died while they were there, we never went back to that church. There were other things.
God bless,
RLW
We are called by God, Matthew 22:14, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and the only way to the Father, John 14:6. Anyone can be baptized but he that believeth and is baptized will be saved, Mark 16:16. This is on us, it is our obedience to the Father, we must truly in our heart believe Jesus is the Son of God the Messiah/Christ, and our only hope of salvation, we cannot do that as a baby. It is not a ritual we can check a box on the way to salvation it is between us and God and it must be done in the name of Jesus that we see in the entire New Testament.
When we are baptized in the name of Jesus, what we see in the Bible, we are submerged in water, we die to sin, and are buried in death with Jesus, and when we are raised from the water we are raised into a new life in Christ. We are justified and our journey then begins with sanctification in our walk in the Holy Spirit.
God bless,
RLW
As to your question you have received several answers, my understanding in the Bible baptism is done only by immersion as the word means. As Jesse said sprinkling did not start until the 1300s and it was for the reason it was so inconvenient. So, this was done just because of convenience's sake, nothing Biblical about it. I agree with Giannis, and we must believe as Jesus said in Mark 16:16.
All we do is to be done in our Lord Jesus's name, Colossians 3:16-17. Many use Matthew 28:19 but we also see in the rest of Scripture that a person who is baptized in Jesus' name is someone who believes in Jesus as Savior, the Messiah, the Son of God who for us died, was buried, and was resurrected we acknowledge this by being baptized in His name, Acts 2:38 Acts 8:12 Acts 8:16 Acts 10:48 Acts 19:5 Acts 22:16 Romans 6:3 Galatians 3:27 Colossians 2:12 Ephesians 4:5.
Paul shows the importance of being baptized in the name of Jesus, Acts 19:1-6. God has placed Jesus and His name above all that is in heaven and earth, Matthew 28:18 Philippians 2:9-11. Salvation only comes in His name Acts 4:12 Romans 10:13. The name of Jesus is the source of power and authority for healing, miracles, and deliverance, Mark 16:17 Luke 10:17 Acts 4:7 Acts 4:30 Acts 16:18.
We are to give thanks in Jesus's name, Ephesians 5:20. Our faith is through Him and in His name, Acts 3:16. We must believe in Jesus, John 3:16 John 6:47 Acts 16:31 1 John 3:23 1 John 5:13. Whatever we ask for we are to ask in His name, John 14:13-14. We are to pray to the Father in His name, James 5:14. Jesus is our priest and the only mediator between God and men, 1 Timothy 2:5.
God bless,
RLW
Hope you don't mind.
I read and study the KJV, and I have read parts of other Bibles, Michaelswiger gave good information on what manuscripts were used, and if we study the history of the Bible other things and texts like the Bishop Bible were also considered. Giannis and S Spencer have also given good responses on the Greek words. I trust the KJV as the word of God and what He means for us to understand is there, but we must trust the Holy Spirit will guide us.
Aion means life span, age, or epoch, it is the source of our English words age and eon. It describes any length of clearly defined time, whether one person's life or some era of certain renown. As a general point of reference, this word may also apply to the vast span of history: the ages, the times of old.
I agree, with the word's age and world for English-speaking people our understanding can be different. The Greek word aion was translated in the KJV 37 times as world, sometimes world works, and sometimes age would be a better choice, I can send you the verses if you want to study them. Like Matt. 24:3 with the context and what the disciples knew at that time and what Jesus just told them about the temple the word world insinuates they are asking Jesus about His second coming.
If we compare Matt. 24:3 with Mark 13:4 and Luke 21:7 what is written in Matthew with them still thinking Jesus was going to set up the kingdom instead of the end of the world, the end of the age would fit better. The context of the chapter and comparing what is written in each gospel about the same thing helps me.
All translations or transliterations are not perfect, but God is and what He wants us to know He will show us through the Spirit of truth. Take Matt. 28:19, the commission, if we compare it to Mark 16:15 Luke 24:47, and what we read in the rest of the New Testament what do we see?
God bless,
RLW
"All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth"
Jesus came to fulfill the law. He was the Word become flesh. When he presented the doctrine of his Father he was presenting himself as its fulfillment. He said with vehemence what he as the Man the message would do. "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." His death was in dishonor but in his resurrection he proved the Power of the Word Simon Peter addressing men of Israel speaks,"Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:/Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it."(Ac.2:23-24). He opened a new way, the path of righteousness. "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."(1 Co.1:30). All who followed him shall have a standard which is affixed by faith and not by praditions or by precepts of men. "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."
This is the power given to men.
"And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Here we have a demonstration of what one means by Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and forever. Mark 16:18 supplied us signs and 'in my name' what happen. "They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them." St Paul in Malta proved the viper did not hurt him in fulfillment of the word. Elisha in Gilgal was told by sons of the prophets, "O thou man of God, there is death in the pot." They were not hurt because Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of the Law or the Word. (2 Ki.4:38-41) "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending."
The Spirit in organizing the Alpha and Omega aspects of the Son brings out the word of God as true which is validated in his Son. The world made flesh and the word revealed by the humanity works equally well with all those who believe in him. An example we have in the Gospel of St Mark. In the last chapter the risen Christ gives the signs that shall follow the believers. It is valid only, 'in my name' for example "They shall take up serpents." ( Mark 16:18), the Spirit adds "And it shall not hurt them."
The Spirit gives us an example in the case of St Paul on the isle of Malta.
"And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand./And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live./And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm./Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god." (Ac.28:3-6)
From lack of understanding with regards to the Holy Spirit and the purpose of the scripture there are some children of Belial in our times who handle serpents as a test of their spiritual prowess. Is God to be tempted by serpent handling?
Mark 16:61-72 Simon Peter denied Christ before the maid who kept the door of the chief priest's palace. "Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee (Matt.26-69)". In the darkness Simon Peter's voice betrayed him. 'Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee (v.73)'. Voice carries much more significance than the mere sound of it. The words that Jesus spoke was not his own. 'He who hears me hears who sent me ( Luke 10:16). Simon Peter forsook all in order to become his disciple. In denying Christ he was also denying the voice of the Lord he heard. Principle of Association (Matt.10:40).
Voice recognition of a Christian is in the way truth in his inward parts matches with his action. Voice of the Lord is dealing with the living word and it is to bring out the full potential of man. It is truth written in his inward parts that places his words and actions in harmony. (1 Co.14:7)
(See under B-betray)
There are a few places in Acts that speak of the whole household being baptized. it doesn't explicitly exclude babies and children. For those who adhere to infant baptism, it is seen as entering into a covenant with God an His community of faith-filled believers. Infant baptism is seen as bringing upon an infant the saving work of God in Christ as parents obey the command of Jesus to baptize ALL nations and instruct these who are baptized in the life of faith in Jesus. Those who practice infant baptism recognized that all are born dead to God and need to be made alive in Christ, which they believe happens through baptism of infants and children because their parents' consent to obey this command of Christ. These believe that the Holy Spirit implants faith in the infant or child in baptism, whereas before they had not faith to believe. They believe in such baptism all the work is done by God in the infant or child. He gives the faith, He gives the forgiveness of sins with the washing of His Word (the gospel) spoken over the child. Denominations that practice infant baptism besides Catholicism are Orthodox, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopalian/Anglican, and perhaps others.
Others, who do not embrace infant baptism, allow for children to be baptized upon an open confession of faith in Christ by the child. Some have an age limit, others do not because Jesus said that we are not to hinder children from coming unto him.
Mark 10:14; Luke 18:16; Acts 2:3; , Acts 16:15; Acts 16:33 Acts 22:16
Others only allow what is called "believer's baptism" where one must believe the gospel in order to be baptized. Jesus says in Mark 16:16 to believe and be baptized. See also: Acts 2:41; Acts 16:18:8
I think that there is Biblical merit to all of these teachings about Baptism. Each person must pray for the Holy Spirit to lead them as to whether or not their children should be baptized when very young.
"Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake (v.22)"
Who are these sons of Belial? In the Book of Deuteronomy we are shown what they do. You shall know them by their fruits. They have certain zeal but not according to the knowledge as St Paul writes,"that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge(Ro.10:2)"."Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;(De.13:13.)"
These men whose activism is to make others much more worthy of hell by their heretical mindset are sons of Belial. Jesus calls such who know the truth but would not live accordingly as hypocrites. "Hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves(Matt.23:15)". In short they hold their truth in unrighteousness. Their heart is without borders so when they handle serpents they shall not let another ask,'do you have to tempt God' they point to the verse from the gospel ( Mark 16:17) and conveniently ignore the call of Jesus,"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me( Luke 9:23)". 'Denying himself goes with taking up the cross daily which are only two legs for the one who wants to be part of the body of Christ. His eye must be ever on the way followed by Jesus, 'Not my will but thine'.
Sons of Belial are those who have no vision."Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he(Pr.29:18)".
Luke 24:47,48 Mark 16:16,17 I received the Holy Ghost Acts 5:32 Acts 2:4. 1 Corinthians 14: 2,22,39
John 3:1-6 Acts 19:1-6. 1 Peter 3:21 Proverbs 11:30. John 21:15 it is essential for Salvation to be baptized in Jesus name Acts 4:12 and be filled with His Holy Ghost power speaking in a brand new tongue Acts 2:4 , and live a holy life loving Jesus and loving others !
Luke 24:47,48 Jesus said!
Mark 16:16,17 Jesus said!
Acts 2:38,39 Peter preached what Jesus said!
Acts 4:12 No other name!
John 3:1-6 Must be born again of the water & Spirit!
1 Peter 3:21 Baptism saves us!
Acts 10:44-48 Can't be good enough without Jesus!
Acts 8:1-6 Ethiopian Eunic gets baptized in Jesus name and starts a 2000 plus year revival still going on today !
Acts 19:1-6 have you received the Holy Ghost since you been a believer?
Acts 5:32 gotta obey Him!
1 Corinthians 14:2,22,39 tongues are for a sign!
Acts 2:4 The Spirit gives the utterance!
Acts 1:8 Receive power !
John 21:15 Jesus loves you dearly!!!!!!!
The way I interpret your question is how much must I obey God to get into heaven? What is the bare minimum?
Because some feel inconvenienced to follow Jesus- whether embarrassment or other excuses. And do you have to obey the 10 commandments or any of the other commandments in the Bible? You already know what God says- He called them "commandments" for a reason, but some want to be comforted and hear that you can do whatever you want, whatever feels good, in this world and be ok? If that the hope, that's Satan's message.
It looks like this has received a lot of comments. Some are pushing false teachings which should be called out. It doesn't matter what man says, but what God says, right? Isn't it better to please God than please man?
"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." James 1:22 KJV
This clearly says to be a doer of the Word. It's not enough to just hear it and do nothing. Christianity is an action. I don't see anywhere in the Bible saying you're saved on earth before you're even judged. Please share verses that back that up, because I haven't seen any. I see verses saying you can have assurance of salvation. There's verses saying we will be saved, but it doesn't say right now before our life is even over- I believe that's the assumed part that deviates from scripture.
"But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 10:33
Baptism:
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Mark 16:16
I think its risky to intentionally disobey Jesus, then expect all the benefits.
"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Luke 6:46
If you don't obey, why even call him Lord? You're not even a follower. This is my interpretation of what Jesus is saying here.
Matthew 7:24-27 - Jesus's point of this parable is obeying Him. "doing" "doeth"
and then he said that they should tell his disciples and peter that they should go to galilee to see Jesus and then they went and told them but they did not believe them but still went and then Jesus said to them Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. and then when he was done talking he went to heaven and sat on the right side of God