Hi Colin. Thank you for your comment, and, of course, no one here will be or is angry with you. You have asked some valid and important questions. However, I do not have the time right now to answer them. So, please be patient with me and we will work through your questions as soon as I can.

I saw you speak much on baptism and its purpose and function of [water-]baptism. I am from America and do not speak Afrikaans, so I must rely on translation. However the machine translation is not much good. Please be patient with me and explain in English what you were explaining in Afrikaans to Johan because I do not understand. The teaching I have been taught is that this is not done to confer the new birth or the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but as a signification of it after public profession of faith. I was not taught that I would receive any special ability of God, but that it was something you do when you believe.

How also do you receive the Holy Spirit baptism? I was very young ( no older than 11 ) when I converted, hearing but not comprehending the Gospel, but felt once an urge and a calling accompanied by seeing in my mind an image of the cross. I came forward then and answered. A preacher asked me some questions and guided me to say a prayer and I did. Thereafter, I made a public profession of faith, but I do not remember what I professed as a child. I was not instructed well when I was a child because shortly after this my family was broken up by divorce. I have had much confusion about the matter because I was so young when I came forward and because my instruction was so broken off. I believed then I had been saved after I went to God in earnest prayer and I had an experience where it was though I was very small but in the presence of something very large and wonderful. I did not fear after that. And I did much wrong after, but I have felt a drawing to God and I am seeking him again. How do I know if this is the work of the Holy Spirit already indwelling or if it is the knock at the door? How do I know if that initial experience was the Holy Spirit baptism? I am trying to learn and understand and have been reading much here and much in my Bible and spending much time in prayer. The Bible warns against people who think they are something and are not. I struggle with doubts attacking and warring against what I believe. And how do I discern God’s Assurance from the Devil’s Presumptuousness? Please do not be angry with me.

Hi PAM. Exactly!

There is a lot of meat in your response. It seems to me that many of those who selectively quote from the sacred scriptures do so in support of their own presuppositions. This is the danger of textualism it seems to me. My mother used to call this building a wall with one brick.

PAM

Hi PAM, Thanks for your comment. The flesh, our old Adamic nature, will always crave to do something to please God and the most enigmatic part of this is that they always quote from Scripture to substantiate their claims. I usually ask them, “What did Jesus say just before he breathed his last breath on the cross.” “Tetelestai,” they would say, which of course, is correct. “Do you know what it means?” “Yes,” they answer, “it means, IT IS FINISHED or PAID IN FULL.” Well, if it was paid in full, why do you insist that people be baptized, speak in tongues, and keep the Jewish Sabbath. their feasts and dietary laws as the evidence of salvation? “Well, you know,” they say, “It is to show how much we love the Lord Jesus.” The irony is that they are not showing their love for Jesus. Their conduct is a slap in his face because anything that is done in and through the flesh (of one’s own accord) means nothing. There is NOTHING good in the flesh. “Oh no,” they would argue, “Baptism, speaking in tongues, and keeping the Law, are all spiritual disciplines and has nothing to do with the flesh.” OK! now let’s see.

1) The person who baptizes you is a physical being.
2) The water with which you are baptized is physical
3) Speaking in tongues is usually prompted by a physical person by means of physical baptism
4) Keeping the Law has all to do with things physical.

As you said, “It seems to me that many who self-identify as Christians thirst for the sensational as though the Christ is not enough and require so-called second blessings and yet we are blessed every day. Perhaps it is more about them than about Christ? Indeed, they are continually looking for and craving for signs. If they don’t have signs to boost their so-called faith. they are not happy.

A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them and departed. (Mat 16:4)

They will not believe unless they see and experience signs and wonders. The signs and the things they experience (baptism, speaking in tongues, and the euphoria of keeping the Law) are the things in which they place their trust, and not the finished work of Christ on the cross. They claim to believe in his TETELESTAI but merrily continue to add their own good for nothing things of the flesh to enhance or boost his tetelestai.

It seems to me that many who self identify as Christians thirst for the sensational as though the Christ is not enough and require so called second blessings and yet we are blessed everyday. Perhaps it is more about them than about the Christ.

Hi PAM
Salvation is the core doctrine of the entire Bible – From Genesis to Revelation – and if you get it wrong, you may miss eternal life. When Jesus said, “(Mat 7:14) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it,” He articulated true salvation. Jesus Christ, Himself is the gate (door) and the way (path) to eternal life. Anything added to Him, amounts to a Jesus plus kind of gospel, such as “You must first turn away from sin (stop sinning) and make Jesus your Lord before you can be saved. It is another gospel. Indeed, it is a false gospel and cannot save. The Seventh Day Adventists also believe you must first stop sinning before you can be saved. It turns the Gospel topsy-turvy making it necessary to first be sanctified and then be saved. That’s’ just too ridiculous to contemplate.

The very same applies to anyone who says, “You must be baptized (dunked) under lots of water to be saved. Some say, “No, no, baptism is not performed in order to be saved. It is a sign that you have died to the old life and risen to a new life.” Well, this is another way of referring to salvation per se. Henceforth, they are actually saying, “You must believe to be saved and then you must be baptized to be saved.” Baptism and salvation occur at the same time. The moment that you believe (put your faith in Jesus Christ for your redemption) is the very same moment you are baptized into Christ Jesus, his death and resurrection. You do not need a pastor who may not even be saved to dunk you under lots of water and regressing you back to the baptism of John the Baptist, which is a slap in the face of Jesus Christ.

The very same applies to speaking in tongues because it allegedly is the evidence that you have received the Holy Spirit (been saved). The only evidence needed for one’s salvation is faith because faith alone in the finished work of Christ on the cross is the only evidence that can please God. (Hebrews 11:6). Most so-called Christians, when you ask them how they were saved, will tell you they were baptized and spoke in tongues. Indeed, the gate is strait and the way is very narrow and there are but few that find it. Why? Because they rely on the things, they have done to secure salvation. “Look at me, I have allowed myself to be baptized and I speak in tongues.” “Look at me, I made Jesus my Lord when I turned from my sin.” “Look at me, me, me, me, . . I, I, I, I have done all these things.”

You asked, “Do you think it is feasible for a believer not to be subject to the Lordship of Christ?” Scripture never tells us to make Jesus our Lord. He is already Lord of all. It is not a few words we utter to make Him our Lord. Submission or subjection is a daily taking up of our cross and a dying to our old nature (self) so that He may reign in and through our bodies. This is true submission and subjection. To merely say in a few words “I make you my Lord” is just lip service.

Thank you for your fulsome article. Do you think it is feasible for a believer not to be subject to the Lordship of Christ? Sorry I could not understand most of the comments in Afrikaans (not sure of correct spelling).

Best wishes

PAM

Hi Marthina, Ek kan sien jy is ywerig om ‘n Bereaan te wees wat self dinge ondersoek om seker te maak of dit waar is.

Maar die geestelike mens beoordeel wel alle dinge; self egter word hy deur niemand beoordeel nie. Want wie het die sin van die Here geken, dat hy Hom sou kan onderrig? Maar ons het die sin van Christus.” (1 Kor. 2:15-16)

Lees gerus ook die Engels.

Gewis, ons kan nooit sê iets moet sus of so wees voordat ons dit moet aanvaar nie, veral nie ten aansien van hoe iemand moet voel wanneer hulle hul vir redding tot God wend nie. ‘n Swart broer van my in Christus het onlangs in ‘n brief vir my vertel dat hy op ‘n klein plekkie met die naam Mangochi in Malawi gepreek het. Daar woon baie Moslems in die distrik wat gereeld een van die nie minder nie as omtrent 10 Moskees langs die kus van die Malawi Meer bywoon. Hulle het die gewoonte om na afloop van hulle dienste in een van die hutte te sit en wag waar enigiemand wat met hulle wil praat, hulle kan besoek. Na afloop van een van sy preke, het ‘n jong Moslem al huilend die hut binnegekom en met ‘n luide stem uitegroep “Ndikufuna Yesu wanu” (“Ek wil julle Jesus hê”). Nadat hulle hom weer kortliks vertel wat hy moet doen om gered te word, het hulle hom genooi om in die kamer langsaan te gaan om persoonlik sy saak met God reg te maak. Hoe lank hy weg was, weet ek nie, maar hy het ‘n ander mens daar uitgekom, borrelend van blydskap, soveel so dat hy die moed en durf gehad het om vir dsie Christene te sê, “Ek gaan nou huis toe om vir my pa en ma te sê dat ek nooit weer die Moskee sal bywoon nie.”

Die volgende vraag wat ek jou wou vra rondom diep gevoelsemosies soos droefheid, spyt en pyn by mense se bekering, is die volgende. Kan ons met sekerheid sê dat ons geestelike vader, Abraham, emosies van pyn, droefheid en ’n grondige spyt oor sy sondes ervaar het toe hy tot bekering gekom het? Wie weet, miskien het hy sommige van hierdie emosies ervaar. Ons weet nie, maar dié is seker, as hy dit wel ervaar het, sou Paulus, as dit dan so belangrik is vir redding/bekering, darem ietsie daaroor gesê het, Maar, kyk wat skryf Paulus, “Hy wat julle dan die Gees verleen en kragte onder julle werk, doen Hy dit uit die werke van die wet of uit die prediking van die geloof? Net soos Abraham in God geglo het, en dit is hom tot geregtigheid gereken. Julle verstaan dan dat die wat uit die geloof is, hulle is kinders van Abraham.” (Gal 3:5-7). Geloof in God en sy beloftes alleen het gemaak dat die Here geregtigheid aan Abraham kon toereken. Dit was ongeveer 430 jaar vóór hy opdrag gekry het om homself en sy seuns te besny.

Wettisisme van watter aard ook al, kanselleer genade uit; doof genade uit. (Romeine 11:6). Sodra mense daarop aandring dat sus of so bekering moet begelei – d.i. emosies van droefheid, pyn en diepe spyt – dan is hulle besig om daarvan ‘n wet te maak. Nee, nee, seg hulle, dis nie iets wat ons sigselwers in ons boesem moet bewerk nie. Dit moet ’n goddelike berou wees wat God in ons harte gee, en om dit te bewys haal hulle 2 Kor. 7:10 buite konteks aan. As God die een is wat berou, pyn en diepe spyt in mense se harte moet bewerk sodat hulle ’n opregte en ware bekering kan meemaak, waarom doen Hy dit nie met alle mense nie? Hy sê tog baie duidelik “Het Ek dan miskien ‘n behae in die dood van die goddelose? spreek die Here HERE. Nie liewer daarin dat hy hom bekeer van sy weë en lewe nie? (Eseg. 18:23).

Ek het gaan soek na die volgende skrifgedeeltes:

In Hand 13 lees ek dat Paulus en Barnabas in Antiogië die Goeie Nuus in die Sinagoge gaan verkondig het. Baie van die Jode asook Nie-Jode, wat die Joodse geloof aangeneem het, het vir Paulus en Barnabas na die tyd gevolg en om nog met hulle te praat. Paulus het in Hand13:43 “hulle aangemoedig om op die genade van God te bly vertrou.” Maar met die volgende Sabbatdag byeenkoms het die Jode begin jaloers raak omdat die skare so groot was wat na Paulus wou luister.

En dan lees ek : Hand 13:47
“Immers met hierdie woorde het die Here ons ’n opdrag gegee:
‘Ek het Jou gegee as ’n lig
vir die nie-Joodse nasies
sodat Jy verlossing kan bring
tot in die uithoeke van die
aarde.’”
48
Toe die nie-Jode dit hoor, was hulle baie bly en hulle het die woord van die Here toegejuig. Almal wat vir die ewige lewe bestem was, het gelowig geword. ”
Hier lees ons nie iets van die hartseer of verdriet, alhoewel dit seker ook teenwoordig was dink ek hier sê dit vir ons dat die blydskap en toejuiging groot was.

In Romeine 15 skryf Paulus ‘n brief aan die gelowiges, met ander woorde hulle het reeds die Goeie Nuus gehoor en Paulus “beklemtoon sekere punte” Rom 15:13
“Ek bid dat dié God wat aan ons ’n toekomsverwagting gee, deur die geloof julle lewens met blydskap en vrede sal vul. Ja, mag julle lewens tot oorlopens toe vol verwagting word deur die kragtige werking van die Heilige Gees.”

In 1 Petrus 1:8-9 praat Paulus weer met gelowiges in Klein-Asië, ook van die blydskap wat hulle ervaar. Sou mens seker kon sê dat die blydskap van die begin af met hulle was?
8
Hóm het julle lief, al het julle Hom nooit gesien nie. Al sien julle Hom nou nie, vertrou julle op Hom; julle kan die wonderlike blydskap wat julle in julle voel, eintlik nie onder woorde bring nie.
9
Julle ervaar hierdie blydskap, want julle is reeds besig om julle finale verlossing, wat die doelwit van julle geloof is, te verkry.”

As jy nog Skrif verwysings het vir my dan soek ek dit graag op.

So my antwoord sou wees dat ons nie net te make het met die droefheid en spyt en hartseer wat ons sondige lewe weerspieël nie. Die feit dat ons bitter spyt en bedroef raak oor ons sonde hoef seker nie altyd uitgespel te word. En dus die Verlossing (Redding)deur die aanhoor van die Evangelie is steeds geldig. Dus gaan daardie gelowige hemel toe.
Ek hoor graag van jou.

ns. waar sit die “button” om direk te “reply” soos jy aan my “reply” het?