By dov avnon
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April 27, 2024
"I like to write about the Bible, about God's word. Today, I want to talk to you about 'water baptism.' I am not going to argue about whether you should participate in any religious ritual or not because I am not concerned with what millions are doing. I care more about letting people know about the Gospel of God's grace that Christ from heaven gave to the apostle Paul." 1 Corinthians 1:17 “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” Whether we will go through the ritual of water baptism or not, we cannot change the truth that Christ did not send Paul to baptize. Would Paul be able to be a member of the "Baptist or reform organizations" of our days? Maybe yes. Paul himself was baptized in water and he baptized others. Acts 9:18 “And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.” 1 Corinthians 1:16 “And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. I have been living in the Netherlands for the last 42 years, a lifetime. I will soon be 67 and have spent most of my life in the Netherlands. Why? Maybe because of the easy life. However, I have used my time here very well to preach the Gospel of God's grace. No, we do not have large church meetings. After I started teaching the truth of women's head covering for this dispensation of grace in 2009, based on 1 Corinthians 11:1-16, many left. No, they did not leave the gospel of God's grace. They just chose not to follow Paul in this matter. Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 3But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. I wanted to talk to you about water baptism, the ritual, and standing for the truth of "one baptism" as mentioned in Ephesians 4:5 - "One Lord, one faith, one baptism." There is a significant difference between knowing the truth, agreeing with any truth, or standing for it. Standing for the truth is far from easy in our days. I was 22 years old with a Jewish background in the land of Israel when I stood for the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Years later, when I learned about the dispensation of Grace and the gospel of God's grace, I took a stand for this truth once again. I married a woman whom I knew would stand with me for God's truth. It was not easy, but we have been together for 42 years. I am writing these words not because I care to argue about what others teach or believe. We do not engage in such discussions in the Netherlands. I have spent my life presenting the truth of the gospel to those who are willing to listen. Nowadays, most people use the internet to follow my video preaching. They choose not to visit the fellowship for various reasons, such as distance or not standing for the truth. There is a lady whom I know. She was a child when I spoke with her parents or mother about the gospel of God's grace. She lives not far away and follows the online studies, if I am not mistaken, she also visits a large local charismatic church. She knows the truth, but she does not stand for it as I would. Some try to justify it by saying “but I talk about it with other members etc” "Water baptism" is not just water; it has become a religious system. Compromising with the truth does not always happen because you don't believe it. It is often because people want to be part of the majority and avoid persecution. Galatians 6:12 “As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.” Many are teaching salvation by grace alone. Many will say that Paul is the apostle to the gentiles. It does not say that the same “many” are willing to stand with Paul for the truth of one baptism see Romans 6:1-11. Last Sunday, I learned new things. We had a visitor, an old member whom I met when he was 25 years old. Now he is a grandfather. 1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular .” We are in one body with everyone who is saved and has been baptized by the one spirit 1 corinthians 12:13. members in particular will be when the church comes together. 1 Corinthians 11:20 “When ye come together therefore into one place, - today with many using only the internet to learn about God's word. Not many know what is “” members in particular”. I did not see this brother for some years. They left for some reason but sometimes he still followed the teaching through the internet. His wife is joining another church that is not teaching the gospel of God's Grace as I do. Some people will say “I want to have fellowship with fellow believers” Others say “When it is Sunday I want to join a church service”. Sometimes when you are living In a small community this is the place where you will meet other members of the same body. Some need say that they need social contact. We spoke about our children his children, they learned in the past about the Gospel of God's grace in Sunday school. He left the fellowship in 2008. During our conversation, this brother mentioned his children. He said, "My daughter is more focused on the world." In our place, when someone is not interested in a spiritual life with Christ, we say they are more worldly. Yes, even those who grew up with sound doctrine can later choose not to read the bible, have a fellowship, or simply walk in the spirit. Most people care only if they are saved. In our small village, some will say “I am happy that I baptized my child as a baby” or “ I know he is a member of the covenant” The conversation was mainly about his son. They live in a small Dutch reform town with about 20 churches. Although it used to be a village, with families having 5-10 children, it has grown into a town. Some churches have more than 1000 people on Sunday mornings. Years ago, I led their Bible study group, but it was challenging for them economically to stand for the truth, especially if they had a small business. People were hesitant to buy from them once they knew they no longer part of the Dutch reform theology. Sometimes even the preacher would support this attitude. Do not buy from those who are not coming to our church building. In some villages with Roman Catholic and Protestant populations, it was common to have two bakeries, each serving a different group of people based on their religious affiliation. Many young people want to get married, have children, and build their homes. There are not many who are into the teaching about the dispensation of grace. Some have found their beloved ones, who may be non-believers or come from different religious backgrounds. In my life, I have witnessed people entering and leaving relationships. I have seen marriages end in divorce because one partner wanted to stand for the truth while the other not. Being married to an unbeliever is a different story. 1 Corinthians 7:2 “Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.” Read chapter 7 When your partner is an unbeliever, it can be challenging or even impossible to raise your children in the ways of the Lord. It may also be difficult to maintain a home fellowship like we had all those years. Romans 16:5 “Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.” I began writing about "water baptism" not because of the water itself, but because of the principle of standing for what you believe in. Are you willing to stand for anything in your life? Our lives are built on those who have stood for the truth in the past. Imagine how different my life would be if Brother C.R. Stam had not stood for the truth of the gospel and if I had not known https://bereanbiblesociety.org/ this just a sample. Last Sunday we had visitors at our small home fellowship. Old fellow brethren that I have known for more than 30 years. They were young people when I met them and told them about the gospel of God’s grace. Now they are fathers and grandfathers. Like always, we ask first about the children. Like in every family, some will continue in faith, some not. Some will stand for the truth of the gospel, some not. Last Sunday I learned new facts. While talking about the children, some of them choose to marry an unbeliever, and some of them get married to a person from another church organization. We know that today people get divorced, even saved people, so I do not want to say that just getting married to a saved person gives any advantage. You will always need to work on your marriage and walk in the spirit as much as possible. 21Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Ephesians Chapter 5 So here we are again. A young man or woman who understands that Christ gave Paul the dispensation of grace gets married to a member of the Dutch Reformed Church. They stand for infant baptism, and if you want to participate in the Lord's Supper, you have to be a church member. This involves going through the church confession procedure. The Dutch Reformed Churches confess Infant Baptism. It is not just about water. It is a large system. If you live in a small village with many Dutch Reformed churches and you want to be part of the majority, you need to join this church. You don't need to do anything if you choose to stand for the truth, but in many situations today, young people just don't want to be alone. There are hardly any so-called grace churches today, and not many people will start a church at home like it used to be. They are in love with someone, and this is what matters to them. I was surprised to hear that those children who grew up in the grace teaching and now have a Dutch Reformed partner. Some of them became a church member to please the wife or the man or for the future of the children in this village. In order to be member of those churches and if you was not baptized as a child. You will need to go through Dutch reform adult water baptism ceremony. Like I said before, I don't care what others are doing. It is just sad to hear how far people can go. 1 Corinthians 1:17 “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” No effect - infant baptism sounds reasonable for millions of people. It is a rigid religious system. It is not easy for people to leave their religious system because in many cases, it means having conflicts with their natural family. "Why Does It Take So Long to Explain Infant Baptism?" - "I Will Be A God To You And To Your Children" helps many to understand and accept infant baptism. In reality, the biblical and Reformed view on infant baptism can differ. But who really cares in our days about God's words to the apostle Paul? "God promised to be a God to believers and to their children. He gave a sign to Abraham to illustrate that promise, and he repeated the promise in the New Testament and gave a new sign to illustrate that promise." This is a brief explanation that millions in the world are following. I know all about it because of my Jewish background. I still remember the first days in 1979 after I heard about the Lord Jesus Christ. I was so happy to go home and tell my parents the good news in my life. For them, it was a sad day. Philippians Chapter 3 2Beware of dogs, …. 3For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, no confidence in the flesh. 4…. have confidence in the flesh….. Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 7But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; It is not easy to criticize others. Most people on earth never hear the truth of the gospel or are not willing to follow it. I thank the Lord today that I was able to build my life with the truth of the Gospel. I thank the Lord today that I was able to be an instrument in His hand and to share with people the greatness of the Gospel of God's grace under the dispensation of grace. 1 Corinthians 1:17 “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” 1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” To all those who know the truth and for some reason starting to compromise just remember that those “spiritual wickedness in high places” will do anything to prevent you from telling others the truth of the gospel of God’s grace. 10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places . Ephesians 6:10