Water Baptism's Older Brother

1 Peter 3:13-4:2

 

"And who is he who will harm you if you BECOME followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you are blessed. 'And do not be afraid of their threats, nor let your hearts be troubled'. But SANCTIFY THE LORD GOD IN YOUR HEARTS, and always be ready to give a defense for everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good rather than doing evil."

 

 

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, BEING PUT TO DEATH IN THE FLESH BUT MADE ALIVE BY THE SPIRIT, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is , eight souls, were saved through water. THERE IS NOW AN ANTITYPE THAT NOW SAVES US- BAPTISM (not the removal of the filth of the flesh but THE ANSWER OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE TOWARD GOD) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him."

 

 

"THEREFORE, SINCE CHRIST SUFFERED FOR US IN THE FLESH, ARM YOURSELVES ALSO WITH THE SAME MIND, FOR HE WHO HAS SUFFERED IN THE FLESH (abiding with a good conscience toward God) has CEASED FROM SIN, so that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men BUT FOR THE WILL OF GOD."

 

 

This portion of scripture is not discussing water baptism nor the Holy Spirit baptism but the baptism of fire.

 

 

"John (the Baptist) answered, saying to all, "I will indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."  (Luke 3:16).  It is the place of difficulty (suffering) where the answer of a good conscience toward God is formed; where we continue to become partakers of what is good; where we press toward the mark for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

 

The good news is that you are not out there alone in this, in fact He sets the race before us. We must be wise enough to hear His inspiration and do it: whether by the unction of the Holy Spirit, receive His laborers by the Holy Spirit or in the purity of His word by the Holy Spirit. He uses these to direct and correct us.

 

 

Jesus said to Paul,  "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness (your devoted life to Him).  Therefore, most gladly, I (Paul) will rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong.

(2 Corinthians 12:9,10)

Ask in Humility

 James 4:1-3

 

"Where do wars (battles) and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desire for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war (battle), yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask amiss that you may spend on your pleasures".

 

 

Here we see James explaining the futility of self service. He speaks of those who lust, murder, covet, fight and war for things that will not fulfill. They do the same for what they think is right. The context here is not that they cannot get to what they lust for, covet, fight and battle for: there are people all over the world receiving exactly what they think they desire. We see the world rejoicing over their carnal desires, manipulation and idolatry. It is ever before our face in daily experiences and in the media. It is my opinion that James is explaining that these carnal approaches will not fulfill: in their lusting, coveting, fighting and battling, they have not what truly fulfills. They cannot obtain what soothes the soul and gives strength. Their battle is not the good fight of faith! He says that they do not have because they do not ask (they are not asking for what they should be). When they do ask, they receive not because they are asking, again, for the wrong things, not those things He knows will bless.

 

 

"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding". (Proverbs 4:7)

 

 

 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to who him who knocks it will be opened". (Matthew 7:7)

 

 

The scripture writes that He (Jesus) is our exceeding great reward. Ask of Him and of Himself He will give to you and show you great and mighty things that you do not know! Asking Him for who He is results in humility: allowing Him to do in us what He knows is good for us and mankind.  

Carnality Deflects Spiritual Things

1 Corinthians 2:9-16, 3:1-3

 

 

"But as it is written: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for THOSE WHO LOVE HIM'. But God has revealed them unto us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?  Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words that man's wisdom teaches but which the Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he is rightly judged by no one. For 'who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?' But we have the mind of Christ. And I brethren could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal".

 

 

Paul is exhorting the Corinthian church to repent from their carnal ways and follow his manner of living. The "Us" in the second sentence is not everyone although it is available to everyone. Not everyone in Christ is willing to lay down their carnality for His spiritual things. We treat babies as such until they reach a point where we know they know to act in a more grown-up manner. Paul is explaining that if they want the blessing of the Lord upon their lives, they must build on the foundation they received in Christ. The new birth in Christ Jesus is really an act of obedience as the Spirit and Truth of this kingdom land upon the measure of faith given to each one. One is born again by the Holy Spirit and with that Spiritual birth comes a greater passion to follow God's ways. So follow it! Follow it to a bible-believing church and an open bible on your own. As you give yourself to it, He begins to build you up into all things in Him, if you will have it! He wants to give you His mind and every thing God has in mind for you!