What About the Thief?
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*Israel was baptized unto Moses as they passed through the Red Sea:
"Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; (2) And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; (3) And did all eat the same spiritual meat; (4) And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ:" [Ref. I Corinthians 10:1-4 KJV]
The cloud was symbolic of the heavenly baptism that was to come, which would cover a multitude at once and that baptism would be just as prevalent, physical and in parallel with the earthly baptism as was accomplished with a multitude in the sea.
If Moses, The Lawgiver’s name was valued high enough for God to baptize all Israel unto Moses, then surely Jesus, The Grace giver is worthy of more than Moses, to have people of God baptized unto Himself: in His name.
Your natural name identifies you with your natural family. Your name is not father, son, daughter, brother, sister, or mom, but you have a specific noun configuration identifier, given you at natural birth or adoption that vehemently attests to your position, rights, belongings and inheritance in that specific family.
You didn’t just drop in on the family and become a member, nor did you have someone bring you into the house and ask if you could be a family member. You didn’t purchase a membership into the family that had to be renewed annually in order for you to maintain that family name. In fact, you were either born into your family, or adopted into your family, taking on that family name with the associated rights and benefits.
In order to be in God’s Spiritual family you must be born or adopted into his family, and take the family name.
Almost anyone who would vote on the family addition issue would vote that being born into a family is the preferred manner of becoming a member of that family, and yet, with a high praise, we thank God for the adoption concept, that He initiated.
Moses announced the coming of Jesus right in the pinnacle of his (Moses’) own glorious god-like leadership roll.
The strength of the mission of Moses was in his name, as pre-selected by God’s positioning him in the Ark of Bulrushes to be assigned him when taken out of the water, just as the strength of the mission of Jesus is in His name, which is the name of the Father, bestowed upon the Christ by God, through the mouth of the angel, before his conception, and sounded for him in the ears of humanity when he came forth, as the Word of the Father, made flesh.
Jesus admonishes us saying to "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they that testify of me. (40) And ye will not come to me that ye might have life. (41) I receive not honour from men. (42) But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. (43) I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: If another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. (44) How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only. (45) Do you think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. (46) For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. (47) But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? St. John 10: 40-47 KJV
Moses Spoke of Christ as One like unto himself:
"For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you. (23) And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people." [Ref. Acts 3:22-23 KJV]
Jesus is worthy of more glory than Moses: His people must be baptized unto Him.
"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; (2) who was faithful to Him that appointed Him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. (3) For this Man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. (4) For every house is builded by some man, but He that buildeth all things is God. (5) And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; (6) But Christ as a Son over His own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." [Ref. Hebrews 3:1-6 KJV]
Moses was a type of house. Jesus is the builder of that same house. Remember, Hebrews 3:3 says that the builder gets more honor than the building, which he built: Jesus built Moses.
In Jesus’ death, was left a perpetual opportunity for those who would, by full immersion baptism, be buried in His name, with Him, in this sixth dispensation. (See my book entitled: "The Blood Throughout The 7 Dispensations")
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About the Book
Both Christians and non-Christians alike are inundated with questions and uncertainties of water baptism.
Jesus spoke of water baptism as a Must, [Greek word: dei: it is, (was) necessary].
Jesus said, "Verily, Verily, I say unto thee; You must be born again;" (Greek word: anagennao, pronounced, an-ag-en-nah´-o), meaning to bear again, or beget again.
"Again," is an adverb, meaning, at another time, or on another occasion, repeating what has happened or been done before.
Legitimate questions:
Is total immersion in water necessary?
What is the purpose of immersion water baptism?
Does formulation make a difference in baptism, according to the Holy Scriptures?
Is baptism just a public confession of faith, somewhat like, coming out of the closet?
When do we get the blood washing for our sins?
Why do we need to use Jesus' name is baptism?
The thief on the cross next to Jesus was never baptized. How did he hang there in the presence of Jesus, who made water baptism mandatory, and make it into the paradise of God without it?
According to Jesus in St. John chapter 3, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.
Many deceived souls are seduced from the instructions of Christ, exploited through lust of the flesh; distracted through lust of the eyes, tempted from humility through the pride of life, and X'ed from the book of witness and record, by evil performances - dictated by the wiles of the devil.
The thief on the cross, next to Jesus, was not born of water and the Holy Ghost was not yet given when he died, according to scriptures.What qualified him?
There are biblical accounts of people ending up in heaven or paradise, as well as others ending up in hell…So...What About The Thief?
About the Author
Born in Alamo, Tennessee, in July of 1948, to sharecropper parents: I am the eldest son.
Hardship brought us to Michigan from Tennessee in the fall of 1962, where we have since lived.
I met my wife of 38 years, Kate, in 1967, and married her in 1970. We have two daughters, two grandchildren and a son-in-law, whom we love very much.
Both Kate and I attended Faith Temple Church of God, under the astute biblical tutelage of Bishop Tommy D. Lockett, and Elect Lady, Quella Lockett, where we were saved by the Lord Jesus Christ, and filled with the Holy Ghost, in the summer of 1975. We were both baptized-full immersion, in Jesus' Name, immediately.
Bishop- Dr. T.D. Lockett, founder and senior presiding Bishop of the Faith Temple Churches of God, Inc., taught and teaches the profound truth, value, benefit and necessity of baptism in Jesus' Name, for which we are eternally grateful.
Being called of God to pastorate, a new measure sprang up in me, to which I immediately responded, stepping forth from the comforts of my birth-church, Faith Temple Church of God, into uncharted green fields.
I currently serve as pastor, bishop and founder of Rock Of Revelation Apostolic Churches, Inc., Installed by Bishop Tommy D. Lockett, and the late, Bishop Lafayette W. Davis, of The Churches of God Pentecostal - in 1978.
My credentials include graduating in 2006, from the prestigeous biblical seminary: Ministerial Training Institute (MTI) of Los Angeles California, where the honorable Dr. Jonathan J.Young, PhD is founder and Chancellor, thus completing my bachelors, masters and theological doctorate.
I am presently enrolled in the Institute Of Children's Literature, of West Redding, Conneticut, graduating in June of 2009.
To my credit are two other titles published with AuthorHouse:
1. The Blood Throughout The 7 Dispensations.
2. Seduced Exploited X'ed.