(thesuperjag;21245)
Another excellent quote Jake. :amen: AND :blessyou:JagLovest
ye in Christ Yahshua our Lord and Saviour.
Hi Jag, Controversy is always necessary, if one is a Christian:How could Christ be baptized with John's "baptism of repentance" if He never had an experience of repentance? And how could a sinless Person experience repentance? JESUS CHRIST NEVER EXPERIENCED SIN! HE WAS PERFECT! "Who committed no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth." 1 Peter 2:22. BUT John the Baptist "baptized with a baptism of repentance." Acts 19:4, and therefore must have baptized Jesus with the ONLY baptism he knew. Jesus Christ is not a farce, and both John and Jesus would be guilty of hypocrisy, and that is unthinkable. We often think of the thief on the cross as not being baptized, henceforth, why should we be baptized?, ... Jesus was ... is that enough reason? Many do not think so. The thief on the cross cannot for physical reasons be baptized. Was Jesus' baptism a legalistic provision, a deposit of merit to be drawn on for such emergencies in a substitutionary way? God forbid people. But we often think so, like as an "obedience" or "example." One of the 18 booklets I have written and compiled is on the topic of "Christ's Repentance." Let's investigate:The theory of the thief on the cross: (a) One must be baptized in order to enter paradise; (
the poor thief nailed to a cross cannot be immersed; © Jesus' baptism helps the thief like a credit transfer in a bank transaction; (d) the appropriate "deposit" is placed to the account of the unbaptized thief, and (e) he will be saved by this act, ... GOD FORBID of a negotiation of the CROSS! Galatians 2:21. No legalistic concept cannot be accepted, it leaves us with a COLD feeling. Was Jesus sincere in asking for baptism, and was not John the baptized sincere in refusing? I hope Jesus is much more sincere, with TRUTH! Jesus Christ answered the prophet's objection,
"Thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15). Was Jesus Christ suggesting that He and John should act out some kind of play? The total essence of "righteousness" is sincerity and genuineness. Jesus asked for baptism because He really identified Himself with sinners, yet without sin. "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21. Is it not truth that Christ took the necessary steps in repentance, conversion, and faith in "BEHALF" of the human race? Jesus Christ did not come confessing His own sins, but it was "imputed" to Him as the sinner's substitute. As the substitute He takes upon "HIM" their sins, numbering Himself with the transgressors, taking the steps the sinner is required to take; and doing the work the sinner will do, for those who love God.A profoundity: Though Christ being sinless, Jesus did in His own soul experience repentance, a perfect one at that. He also knows how everyone "feels." He can sympathize with them! Hebrews 2, 4, 5. The apostle John says it is only when we confess a sin that we can experience Christ's "faithful" forgiveness and cleansing from it. 1 John 1:9. But to confess a sin without sensing its reality becomes a lip-service, perilously close to to hypocrisy. Skin-deep confession and skin-deep repentance bring skin-deep love, skin-deep devotion. May God give us a perfect repentance. Jesus' love for US is the necessary reason for being baptized, will we do the same? ...It's (objectively) ended when Christ commenced his work as the Messiah, the Anointed, at his baptism. He was, as we have just stated, anointed at His baptism, should we not want the same?“The time is fulfilled.” Mark 1:15. Jake