Calling on the Name of the Lord Paul's Conversion and Baptism: After Jesus confronted Paul or Saul on the way to persecute Christians, Saul asked Him what He must do. He was sent to Ananias who would tell him what he must do -- future tense. Ananias told him to do someting: to be baptized calling on the Name of the Lord. Was Saul saved by calling? No. Did water wash away Saul's sins? No. However, Christ forgave Saul at the time and place of baptism. This was the God-ordained plan for those who ask for His forgiveness and a clear conscience. As surely as water lifted Noah away from the sin environment of the earth as the "old man" was put to death and the "new man" never got wet, Jesus put His literal blood power in baptism to "hide" the old "man" in water and to sprinkle His "blood" on the inner man.God have mercy on those who trust the water as well as those who don't trust Jesus by walking in the steps He trod and prescribed as the path to Him which is always through the watery grave.
The Bible is clear about baptism. However, Scribes tend to fictionalize God's Word as if they had more power. For instance:
Max Lucado: I Peter 3:21MAX. "And that water is like the baptism which now saves you-not the washing of dirt from the body,
but the promise made to God from a good conscience. And this is because Jesus Christ was raised from the dead," (emphasis added).
1 Pet 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:
Answer is the Greek which means to REQUEST: We call upon God and request a good conscience or A holy spirit only at the time of Baptism.
Max and Baptists believes that Baptism is our AGREEMENT that we were saved by faith only BEFORE we were baptized. This is in the fact that Jesus, Peter and Paul put salvation or remission AFTER baptism. The decision to call liars God in Christ, the Bible writers and church history for 1525 years.
However, the word ANSWER is similar to the responsive "songs." God CALLS and man ANSWERS or RESPONDS. God has elected or called or invited us all into His kingdom. That which HINDERS is our ability to respond: "I believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God."
To be saved and to become a disciple of Christ one must call upon the name of Christ. That is, one must confess that Jesus is the Christ of God. All authority of Father, Son and Spirit dwell fully in the man, Christ Jesus.
Jesus laid out this ANSWER or request to receive what Jesus Christ offered.
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. Matt 10:32
But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Matt 10:33
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. Mt.10:34
For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. Matt 10:35
And a mans foes shall be they of his own household. Matt 10:36
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37
The fundamental ANSWER or response to God in Christ. Jesus asked a question and Peter answered by calling or naming Jesus as the Christ.
How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Matt 16:11
Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. Matt 16:12
When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? Matt 16:13
And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Matt 16:14
He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Matt 16:15
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Matt 16:16
Apokrinomai (g611) ap-ok-ree'-nom-ahee; from 575 and krino, to) conclude for oneself, i.e. (by impl.) to respond; by Hebr. [comp. 6030] to begin to speak (where an address is expected): - answer
Apo (g575) apo'; a prim. particle; "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; lit. or fig.): - (* here-) after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for (-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-) on (-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.
I. to separate, set apart, Plat.:-- Pass., apokrinthente parted from the throng, of two heroes coming forward as champions, Il.; apokekristhai eis hen onoma to be separated and brought under one name, Thuc.
2. to mark by a distinctive form, distinguish , Hdt.; perf. pass. part. apokekrimenos distinct, Plat.
II. to choose out, choose, Hdt., Plat.
III. Mid. apokrinomai, fut. -krinoumai: perf. -kekrimai both in mid. and pass. sense:-- to give answer to, reply, Eur., etc.; ap pros tina or pros ti to reply to a questioner or question, Thuc., etc.:--c. acc., apokrinesthai to erôtêthen to answer the question, id=Thuc.: so in Pass., touto moi apokekristhô let this be my answer, Plat.
# II. to pick out, choose, Hom., Hdt., attic:--Mid. to pick out for oneself, choose, Hom., etc.: --Pass. to be chosen, Il.; perf. and aor1 part. kekrimenos, krintheis picked out, chosen, Hom.
# 2. to adjudge, kratos tini Soph.
# 3. to judge of, estimate, pros emauton krinôn [auton] judging of him by myself, Dem.:--Pass., ison par' emoi kekritai Hdt.
13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. Ac.13:46
And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. Luke 7:29
Dikaioo (g1344) dik-ah-yo'-o; from 1342; to render (i.e. show or regard as) just or innocent: - free, justify (-ier), be righteous.
But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. Luke 7:30
Krino (g2919) kree'-no; prop. to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); by impl. to try, condemn, punish: - avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think..
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Matt 16:17
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matt 16:18
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matt 16:19
And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water;
what doth hinder me to be baptized? Acts 8:36
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.
And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Acts 8:37Apokrinomai (g611) ap-ok-ree'-nom-ahee; from 575 and krino, to) conclude for o)neself, i.e. (by impl.) to respond; by Hebr. [comp. 6030] to begin to speak (where an address is expected): - answer
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. Acts 8:38
When Saul was on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians, the Lord in Spirit appeared to him. Later, Paul responded:
And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. Acts 22:10
This would have been a great time for Jesus to say: "Nothing, Saul, you have already called upon me by calling me Lord." However, it wouldn't fit the prophecy and pattern Christ fulfilled or preached fully at His own baptism and revealed to Ananias. When Saul arrived in Damascus, he said that Ananias--
Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. Acts 22:13
Because Jesus didn't contradict Saul when he asked what he must do, we must assume that Saul must still do something because so far only Ananias has acted. Ananias told Saul:
And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. Acts22:14
For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. Acts 22:15
Even when a vessel has been personally selected by a priest to perform some unique function, it cannot be used until it has been cleansed. However, a human is not passive. Therefore, Ananias told Saul something which he could do. He said:
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Acts 22:16KJV
Or: And now, why delay?
........... Go and be baptized and be cleansed from your sins,
........... calling on the name of the Lord.' Acts 22:16LIVFaith says: "Speak Lord, thy servant heareth." How, we wonder in amazement, can we make this command mean: "be baptized because you have been cleansed from your sins?" I don't know how or why so much work is expended to deny the Power of Christ's Spirit to say it like He meant it.
Doesn't this command to Saul sound familiar? It should. It is the Spirit instructions always given when a believer asks: "What next?"
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Acts 2:37
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you
in the name of Jesus Christ (calling upon the name of) for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38
"Be baptized because your sins are already remitted?" No. What, we shudder, is the motive for denouncing inspiration and, as John MacArthur says, "It might mean this" or "It could mean that."
True faith understands that Christ's Spiritual kingdom has a door. He is the door and to be in the kingdom we must be in Christ. Galatians 3:27 says that we are baptized into Christ.
It is His kingdom and He can determine the conditions of our entering. Whatever He tells us to do can never be a work as people are tempted to understand work in the modern sense. Rather, the work we are to do is simply the energy derived from faith as a grain of wheat is energized when it germinates. However, it isn "wheat" until the old seed dies, lies buried and the new plant resurrects into the light of day and bears fruit.
If we do not get energized to act in simple, trusting faith then James would say that our faith is dead and it will not save. For instance, James:
Did not say: Faith Plus Works earns Salvation or Life
But:---------Faith Which Works brings Salvation of Life
By analogy, we do not ask a "body" to prove that it is alive by moving. If it is alive it will move. A "body" which does not move at the voice of Jesus is still a dead body.
This is a Physical Washing to Accept a Spiritual Cleansing
Is this less believable than God purchasing our salvation through a human body?
But isn't this a spiritual washing? The Greek word for wash is:
Apolouo (g628) ap-ol-oo'-o; from 575 and 3068; to wash fully, i.e. (fig.) have remitted (reflex): - wash (away).
We know that on our part this is literal washing in literal water as we call upon the name or appeal to God for a cleansed and washed conscience. Elsewhere the word is used to indicate literal water:
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified
in the name of the Lord Jesus,
and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11That which puts away sins is the washing of regeneration because that is where Christ put His power. The washing is not Holy Spirit "washing" but it is washing with water -- like when you take a bath:
Louo (g3068) loo'-o; a prim. verb; to bathe (the whole person; whereas 3538 means to wet a part only, and 4150 to wash, cleanse garments exclusively): - wash.
Does this word imply washing by the Holy Spirit? Or by calling on the name of the Lord? No. Water and washing have a profound meaning in God's creation and plan for human life and redemption. Remember that God made us almost totally out of water and not much "dust."
Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. John 13:10
And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. Act 16:33
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience,
and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22Draw near means worship in the Most Holy Place. You cannot do that unless you go through baptism as the fulfillment of the LAVER. In Greek it is:
Proserchomai (g4334) pros-er'-khom-ahee; from 4314 and 2064 (includ. its alt.); to approach, i.e. (lit.) come near, visit, or (fig.) worship, assent to: - (as soon as he) come (unto), come thereunto, consent, draw near, go (near, to, unto).
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.Heb.4:16
Most religionists have never been baptized and therefore do not have A holy spirit or a clean consiousness or conscience. Because they are fearful of God they revert to the rituals on the FAR SIDE of the cross where Jesus rejected sacrificial rituals of killing HIM as a TYPE which demanded the loud sounding instruments which is not called music.
It is not possible to DRAW NEAR or worship God with the sacrificial music to drown out all human senses to tolerate the screaming, smell of flesh, blood and dung. Those who performed the musical rituals COULD NEVER enter into the quiet dark place even to clean out the garbage.
> And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 2 Peter 1:18
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed (worship), as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 2 Peter 1:19
> But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb.11:6
Ekzeteo (g1567) ek-zay-teh'-o; from 1537 and 2212; to search out, i.e. (fig.) investigate, crave, demand,
by Hebrew worship: - en- (re-) quire, seek after (carefully, diligently).
> For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, Heb 12:18
And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: Heb 12:19
(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: Heb 12:20
And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) Heb 12:21
> But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, Heb 12:22
To the general assembly (mass meeting) and church (ekklesia) of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, Heb 12:23
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. Heb 12:24
Ananias was preaching exactly what was patterened and commanded by Jesus Christ and practiced on the day of Pentecost and then into all the world.
Next, we need to understand: where does this concept of "calling on the name of the Lord" come from. In another article, we quoted some evidence showing that this means to take the name of the Master under which one is becoming a disciple or student. We cannot get into the "school house" of the Master without owning His name and this happens at baptism.
The crucial test continued for Saul: would he give up his job as Christian Bounty Hunter for the establishment or would he take that always near fatal step of saying loudly in his baptism: I am now a Christian. Simple faith or belief would not expose Saul to death. This would not be a confession. Only his baptism would have deep meaning to the Jewish authorities and mark him as an outcast and fair game for death.
By looking at Joel we can understand both Spirit pouring and calling upon the name of the Lord.
Joel prophesied The prophecy of Joel used by Peter at Pentecost taught both judgment and salvation: baptism of fire and of spirit. None of these were methods of saving people but they were signs that the judgment of the Jews under the law, contracted when they replaced God with a human king, was coming to an end. The restoration of all things would restore God as King and Priest in the form of Lord Jesus Christ.It is he who will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule (as King) on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne.
And there will be harmony between the two.' Zechariah 6:13
In Galatians 3, Paul shows that this is an ideal form of the Abrahamic covenant. A believer must enlist into that covenant through faith bringing about water baptism.
Purely as signs, and not as means of salvation, God would have people doing unnatural things to prove that this indeed was the great Day of Jehovah. The most important part of signing the end of a destructive dispensation would be signs of Judgment:
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: Joel 2:28
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. Joel 2:29
And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. Joel 2:30
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. Joel 2:31
After the signs of judgment (which eventially forced all believers to escape the destruction of Jerusalem) the result would be to turn away from charismatic prophets -- which Zechariah predicted must end.
After the signs of judgment, Joel prophesied of a new Kingdom where any believer could call directly upon God without the priestly class:
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, AND in the remnant whom the Lord shall call. Joel 2:32
It is a fact that it was after these signs had been manifested and the Jewish clergy denounced by fishermen preaching the new gospel, that Peter told the people how they could call upon Jesus as their One Jehovah-Saved.
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; Ac.2:16
These signs would crush the believing Jews and they would cry out: "What must we do?" This actually happened and was applied by Peter when he said: "This is what Joel prophesied." And Peter told them how and when to call on the name of the Lord:
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. Acts 2:38
One does not receive another "person" as a gift unless one is a slave holder. Becauese the Spirit of God is, to us, the Mind of Christ, our gift is not supernatural sign gifts but having the Mind of Christ.
What is the Meaning of Calling Upon the Name of the Lord? In Hebrew the word is:
Gara (h7121) kaw-raw'; the idea of accosting a person met]; to call out to (i. e. prop. address by name,.... call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, give name, preach, make proclaimation, pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.
It was prophesied that Jesus would be called "God with us."
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Is 7:14
Can we understand what it meant to be baptized publically and have all of those Jews hearing us say: "Jesus is our Jehovah?" Crying to God in the sense of seeking help is always conditioned upon how we honor Him. Jesus gave no credit to those who just believed or even called unto Him saying: "Lord, Lord." The vital step is that we say, "the Lord is my God" or Jesus Christ is Yahweh-Saved. Zechariah spoke of a prophetic event:
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. Zechariah 13:9
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Isaiah 55:6
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:7
Calling upon the name of the Lord means prayer and obedience, but it also means the time and place where people turn away from sin and turn to God. Their calling is a pledge to serve:
Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. Zeph 3:8
For then will I turn to the people a pure language,
........... that they may all call upon the name of the Lord,
........... to serve him with one consent. Zephaniah 3:9Paul was going out to declare that Jesus the Savior was Jehovah-Saved. He would call upon His name and the Jews and Gentile religionists would try to murder him. When God's anger was turned away Isaiah could say:
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2
Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. Isaiah 12:3
And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord,
call upon his name,
declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Isaiah 12:4Now surely forsaking our evil ways, thoughts and turning to God is not a work of human righteousness. Yet, God demands that we exert energy to do what is clearly in our power to do. If we do not change then we have not really called upon God. To call upon the name of the Lord is to take hold of what He has offered and commanded.
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. saiah 64:6
And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth (wake up, arouse self) up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. Isaiah 64:7
Is this a Correct Reading of Joel Matthew Henry in Joel 2:28-32 notes that: "The promise began to be fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out, and it was continued in the converting grace and miraculous gifts conferred on both Jews and Gentiles."The judgments of God upon a sinful world, only go before the judgment of the world in the last day.
"Calling on God supposes knowledge of him, faith in him, desire toward him, dependence on him, and, as evidence of the sincerity of all this, conscientious obedience to him. Those only shall be delivered in the great day, who are now effectually called from sin to God, from self to Christ, from things below to things above.
Jesus confirmed this by saying: A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Luke 6:45And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Luke 6:46
Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: Luke 6:47
The sayings to all belivers, at Pentecost and to Paul, was to be baptized. This is something Jesus said you must do.
The first commandment of Jesus our Lord to newly-convinced believers was: "Repent and be baptized, calling on the name of the Lord."
An earlier Baptist believed that baptism is crucial in salvation. For instance-- The Duty of Believers After Baptism Grounded upon Ephesians 4:5 One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism By Robert Garner London, 1645 From: The Old Faith Baptist Church."It is recorded of the Lord Jesus that in or upon His baptism, he prayed, Luke 3:21. And the same counsel was given to Saul concerning His baptism, Acts 22:16. Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the Name of the Lord,
"that is, praying to the Lord, and acting faith in the Lord in this Ordinance.
What their duty is after this Ordinance in the whole course of their life, I have before showed, in declaring what engagements lie upon believers by their baptism.
The Word is like a seed. When it is emplanted in the heart a form of conception takes place and faith is produced. This faith and acceptance of Christ as Lord gives the believer power to become:
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 1:12
"What I have spoken concerning this head, is useful to direct believers in their duty, both how to enter upon the Ordinance, and how to behave themselves after it according to Christ.
"And this is so clear a truth, that Peter is bold to say, (speaking unto believers) Baptism does also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer (prayer for) of a good conscience towards God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is, the baptism of believers must not be looked upon with a fleshly and carnal eye, as a washing of the flesh, but with a holy and spiritual eye, as a holy and precious Ordinance of Jesus Christ,
"in which Ordinance, He puts forth the power of His resurrection unto believers, through faith saving them more richly than before, from the power of an inward pollution or filthiness, even a filthy polluted conscience with the accusations of it, and working in them more abundantly an enlightened, holy, good conscience, which answers or speaks good to them towards God. And whether that Scripture in Hebrews 10:22, may not agree much to this purpose, I leave to the consideration of the wise.
"Neither do believers enjoy this fruit and benefit in the present administration of baptism only,
"but this grace and power of Christ in baptism, has an influence into after times also, even so long as they continue in the estate of mortality.
While we might not endorse everything said, it is clear that many believe that baptism is the time and place where our faith is energized. As the writer notes, this cleansing is a "now" cleansing which continues all of our life so that repentance and prayer remain the way to have Christ keep on washing us internally without having, as in the Old Dispensation, to be washed physically over and over.
What is this "spirit" which God will Pour "Persons" are not personified by water, doves or by "pouring." Rather, all of these are related to the Words of Christ which flow out in the form of knowledge. Isaiah showed that this prophesied spirit is not a person but the knowledge of God which is the Mind of Christ or the Mental Disposition of His nature:AND there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: Isaiah 11:1
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; Isaiah 11:2
They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. Isaiah 11:9
And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Isaiah 12:4
Now, if you were an apostle or one of the sign groups (Jews, Gentiles, God-fearers, Samaritans) this spirit of or infusion of a direct revelation of God's Mind would allow you to speak the Words of God in a language you had not learned. However, 2 Corinthians 2 clearly shows that the Holy Spirit is the Mind of God and this is revealed to humans as The Mind of Christ. This knowledge of the will of God does not save one -- Remember Baalam's Ass?
Covering the same base as Joel, Zechariah proves that this is not a personal God-Being "poured" out like water. Rather, he prophesied:
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications:
and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced,
and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. Zechariah 12:10
Many of the house of David, as family groups present at Pentecost, heard in "tongues" or their own language. Zechariah continued:
IN that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. Zechariah 13:1
Some of these people were involved with the murder of their only Messiah. Therefore, the first spirit poured out at Pentecost was the spirit of grace and mourning.
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Acts 2:36
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Acts 2:37
Peter and the apostles had the "Keys of the kingdom" and Peter used them that day. Whatever he bound on earth would be bound in heaven. Peter did what Jesus had commanded and he answered the people and opened the fountain:
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. Acts 2:38
The Spiritual fountain is Lord Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit. However, in the physical realm (where we live) God has always used literal water in His creative and recreative work. Couldn't God just lift Israel up and set them down in Canaan? Surely. However, God always uses the things of our world as His angels, agents or tools. Don't fret: that is the way God works in a physical world. The fountain which the apostles used to contact the Spirit Fountain was a pool of real. literal, water:
Maqowr (g4726) maw-kore'; something dug, i. e. a (gen.) source (of water, even when naturally flowing; also of tears, blood figurative of happiness, wisdom, progeny: - fountain, issue, spring, well, spring)
As blood was often symbolized by the fruit of the vine (mostly water) and by literal water, the blood of Christ and Spirit was symbolized by literal water. In the Lord's Supper we do not drink blood but the fruit of the vine (grape juice.) This does not make us legalists.
Baptism is Part of FAITH -- The Gospel Plan -- You Must Die to Live We can conclude that faith as the human action of salvation is not any more "spiritual" than baptism. Rather, our faith brings us under the influence of the faith of Christ which is a system of faith rather than a system of law. Always faith as a system is contrasted with Law as a system. While we can extend this to any system of trusting the power of personal acts, Paul limits his discussion to the gospel in contrast to the Law of Moses in its perverted understanding.Paul explains that the faith is the whole Christian System as opposed to the Law of Moses:
But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. Galatians 1:23
So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. Romans 1:15
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power (dynamite) of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Romans 1:17
Paul neither practiced nor preached a doctrine of personal faith only. Rather, he preached the system of faith which involves personal obedience.
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even
we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we
might be justified by the faith of Christ,
and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Galatians 2:16Paul didn't live by faith-only but he wrote:
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
As Paul's saving faith was the faith of Christ or the system Christ died to deliver, he said that he worshiped according to the way of Jesus.
Whatever we might think should be added to understand Ananias' instruction from Christ to Paul as teaching salvation before baptism, it still says in all of the versions I have consulted:
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.' Acts 22:16NIV
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Acts 22:16KJV
'And now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.' Acts 22:16NAS
And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.' Acts 22:16RSV
And now, why delay? Go and be baptized and be cleansed from your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' Acts 22:16LIV
This fulfilled the prophecy of Joel and we noted that the inspired Peter told the repentant Jews that they must, like all forms of baptism at that time, be baptized as they called upon the Name (singular) of Jesus Christ. This was the name of God manifesting Himself as Father, Son and Spirit.
Calling upon the Name of the Lord means to own Jesus Christ as Lord -- Jehovah-Saved. It describes those who are in Christ and now confess Jesus as God publically in meetings which should expose us to ridicule and not applause:
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 1 Corinthians1:2
Counter added 3.11.05 5:27p 2456
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