WHAT IS BAPTISM? IT IS THE CHRISTIAN SACRAMENT OR RITUAL IN WHICH A PERSON IS SUBMERGED IN WATER IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. THE ELECT OF GOD ARE BAPTIZED FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, THAT THEY MIGHT COME INTO THE PROMISE THAT THEY SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST. THAT THE INWARD MAN THE SOUL MIGHT BE BROUGHT TO LIFE, THOSE THAT ARE ORDAINED TO ETERNAL LIFE ARE TRANSLATION OUT OF THE WORLD, AND INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST. BEING BAPTIZED INTO THE DEATH OF JESUS, RISING FROM THE WATER TO WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY CHRISTIANS ARE BAPTIZED, THE FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION IS THIS, EXCEPT A MAN IS BORN OF WATER, BAPTIZED, AND BORN OF THE SPIRIT, RECEIVING THE WASHING OF REGENERATION, AND THE RENEWING OF THE HOLY GHOST, HE CANNOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Jn:3:1: There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

Jn:3:2: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Jn:3:3: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Jn:3:4: Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

Jn:3:5: Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Jn:3:6: That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Jn:3:7: Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD? THE KINGDOM OF GOD, IS RIGHTEOUSNESS PEACE, AND JOY IN THE HOLY GHOST.

Rom:14:17: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (KJV)

I BELIEVE THAT GOD IS A TRINITY IN UNITY. THERE IS ONE GODHEAD, AND IN THE GODHEAD, THERE IS GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, AND GOD THE HOLY GHOST. AND, GOD BY JESUS CHRIST CREATED ALL THINGS.

Eph:3:9: And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (KJV)

WHEN JESUS CHRIST CREATED MAN, HE CREATED HIM A TRINITY IN UNITY; BODY, SOUL, AND SPIRIT. THE BODY CAN DIE, AND THE SOUL LIVE ON, OR THE SOUL CAN BE DESTROYED, AND THE BODY LIVE ON, WHEN THE SPIRIT LEAVES THE BODY, THE BODY IS DEAD. WHEN ADAM TRANSGRESSED THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD, SIN WAS IMPUTED UNTO ADAM, BUT NOT ONLY TO ADAM, BUT TO ALL MANKIND FOR WE WERE ALL IN ADAM AT THE TIME THAT HE TRANSGRESSED THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD. WHEN THE SPIRIT OF GOD DEPARTED FROM ADAM, WE ALL DIED THE SPIRITUAL DEATH. NOW WHEN A CHILD IS BORN INTO THE WORLD, HE IS ALIVE PHYSICALLY BUT DEAD SPIRITUALLY.

1Cor:15:22: For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (KJV)

THE INWARD MAN THE SOUL MUST BE BROUGHT TO LIFE. FOR IT IS THE INWARD MAN THE SOUL THAT SHALL LIVE IN ETERNITY. FOR THE INWARD MAN THE SOUL IS RENEWED EVERY DAY.

2Cor:4:16: For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (KJV)

WHEN THE ELECT OF GOD RECEIVES THE HOLY GHOST, THE INWARD MAN THE SOUL COMES TO LIFE. AND THE CHILD OF GOD IS MADE WHOLE, HE HAS A LIVING BODY, A LIVING SOUL, AND SPIRIT. WHEN A CHILD OF GOD IS BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, HIS SINS ARE WASHED AWAY, AND HE COMES INTO THE PROMISE THAT HE SHALL RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST.

Acts:2:38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (KJV)

WHEN THE HOLY GHOST COMES TO DWELL WITHIN A PERSON THE KINGDOM OF GOD COMES TO DWELL WITHIN THAT PERSON, LOVE COMES TO THAT PERSON, THE ANOINT COMES TO DWELL WITHIN THE PERSON THAT WILL TEACH THEM, AND BRING THEM INTO ALL TRUTH, POWER COMES TO THAT PERSON THAT WILL GIVE HIM THE ABILITY TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

1Jn:3:9: Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (KJV)

CHILDREN OF LIGHT, WHEN THE ELECT OF GOD ARE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, THEY ARE TRANSLATED OUT OF THE WORLD, AND INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST. AND WHEN THEY RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST, THEY BECOME A MEMBER IN THE BODY OF CHRIST.

1Cor:12:27: Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. (KJV)

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT THAT A PERSON BE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST, INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST? BECAUSE IT IS IN CHRIST JESUS THAT WE RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE.

1Jn:5:11: And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (KJV)

SAINTS OF GOD, WHEN GOD GAVE THE LAW TO MOSES' THAT LAW HAD JURISDICTION OVER ALL THE WORLD. THE LAW OF MOSES' IS IN THE WORLD TODAY. THE LAWS OF GOD CANNOT BE CHANGED, CANNOT BE ALTERED. BY THE LAW MOSES' NO FLESH SHALL BE JUSTIFIED. THE LAW OF MOSES' IS KNOWN AS THE LAW OF SIN, AND DEATH. FOR THE LAW OF MOSES' HAD TO BE KEPT TO THE LETTER.

Rom:7:6: But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. (KJV)

BELOVED OF GOD, A MAN COULD KEEP THE WHOLE LAW THAT GOD GAVE TO MOSES', AND OFFEND IN ONE POINT, AND HE WAS GUILTY OF THE WHOLE LAW.

Jms:2:10: For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (KJV)

IF A PERSON TRANSGRESSED THE LAW THEN CAME THE CURSE, AND THEN CAME CONDEMNATION. FOR IT IS WRITTEN CURSE IS HE THAT CONFIRMETH NOT ALL THE WORDS OF THIS LAW.

Dt:27:26: Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen. (KJV)

NOTICE HOW THAT THERE WERE NOT MANY MEN SAVED BY THE LAW, FOR WERE THERE IS LAW THERE MUST BE PUNISHMENT.

Is:24:5: The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

Is:24:6: Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

WE, SAINTS OF GOD, THAT HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST JESUS, ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW THAT GOD GAVE TO MOSES. BUT, WE ARE UNDER THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE, WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS.

Rom:8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Rom:8:2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Rom:8:3: For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Rom:8:4: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

WHEN A PERSON IS BAPTIZED, HE DIES TO SIN, AND THEY RISE TO WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE. THEY ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE LAW BUT UNDER GRACE. NOTICE THIS SAINTS OF GOD, WE HAVE ALL SINNED, BUT WE DO NOT CONTINUE IN SIN AFTER THE NEW BIRTH.

Rom:6:1: What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

Rom:6:2: God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Rom:6:3: Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Rom:6:4: Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Rom:6:5: For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Rom:6:6: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Rom:6:7: For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Rom:6:8: Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Rom:6:9: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

Rom:6:10: For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Rom:6:11: Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom:6:12: Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Rom:6:13: Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Rom:6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

BELOVED, AS THE WATER SAVED NOAH, THE WATER WILL SAVE YOU, BY THE ANSWER OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE TOWARD GOD. THE WATER OF YOU BAPTISM WILL GIVE YOU A CLEAR CONSCIENCE TOWARD GOD.

1Pt:3:21: The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

IF A PERSON HAS NOT RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST, IS IT SCRIPTURAL FOR THEM TO BE BAPTIZED A SECOND TIME? YES, THE APOSTLE PAUL FOUND SOME DISCIPLES OF JOHN THE BAPTIST, THAT HAD BEEN BAPTIZED OF JOHN. AND, THE APOSTLE PAUL ASKED THEM THIS QUESTION, "HAVE YOU RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST SINCE YOU BELIEVED? AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD NOT HEARD WHETHER THERE BE ANY HOLY GHOST. NOTICE THIS, PAUL BAPTIZED THEM IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, AND WHEN HE LAID HIS HANDS ON THEM THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST.

Acts:19:1: And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

Acts:19:2: He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

Acts:19:3: And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

Acts:19:4: Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

Acts:19:5: When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts:19:6: And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. Acts:19:7: And all the men were about twelve.

IS IT SCRIPTURAL TO BE BAPTIZED FOR THE DEAD? YES, IF A LOVED ONE HAS DIED WITHOUT BEING BAPTIZED YOU MAY BE BAPTIZED FOR HIM.

1Cor:15:29: Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

SINCE A PERSON CANNOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD EXCEPT THEY BE BORN OF WATER, AND OF THE SPIRIT. IS IT NECESSARY TO BAPTIZE INFANTS? THERE ARE MEN THAT PREACH THAT CHILDREN ARE IN A SANCTIFIED CONDITION UNTIL THEY REACH THE AGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY. BUT THAT IS NOT SO. CHILDREN ARE SANCTIFIED BY BELIEVING PARENTS. IF A WOMAN BELIEVES SHE WILL SANCTIFY HER HUSBAND, AND HER CHILDREN. IF A MAN BELIEVES HE WILL SANCTIFY HIS WIFE, AND HIS CHILDREN. BUT IF NEITHER PARENT BELIEVES; THEN THE CHILDREN ARE UNCLEAN.

1Cor:7:13: And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

1Cor:7:14: For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

UNCLEANNESS IS LISTED IN THE WORKS OF THE FLESH AS THE NUMBER THREE REASON PEOPLE WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. IT IS LISTED AMONG SUCH SINS AS ADULTERY, WITCHCRAFT, MURDER.

Gal:5:19: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Gal:5:20: Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Gal:5:21: Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

WITH THIS THOUGHT IN MIND, EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN OF WATER, AND THE SPIRIT, HE CANNOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. IF A MAN WAS ON HIS DEATH BED, AND WANTED TO BE BAPTIZED, WOULD YOU BAPTIZE HIM BY SPRINKLING, IF THAT WAS ALL THAT WAS AVAILABLE? I WOULD, WHY, THAT HE MIGHT HAVE A BETTER RESURRECTION. LISTEN AS I READ THESE SCRIPTURES RECORDED IN,

Ez:36:24: For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

Ez:36:25: Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

Ez:36:26: A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

Ez:36:27: And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Ez:36:28: And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.