Water of the Word

Belief and water baptism saves or the Holy Spirit bubbling up as Holy Spirit baptism?

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman (John 4:1-42) Our rough, rough notes in review.

The Living Water as the Word or Spirit or Mind of Christ narrowly constricts Christian teaching and worship. Throughout the entire Bible, this faithfulness is demanded to prvent false teaching to slither in as opinion.

The lust for the Living Water to be the direct operation of the Holy Spirit gives the usurper undue power to teach false doctrine and claim that he is doing it "by the selection, training and empowerment and by the sovereign grace of God."

"If there are those of you that have not spoken in tongues for months or years, you need to be refilled with the Holy Spirit. The Scripture says that out of the innermost being shall flow rivers of living water. This marvelous experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is to empower the church. If there's any church that ought to be in the cutting edge today, it ought to be the Pentecostal church, because we have been empowered, Acts 1:8, "and ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you, to be witnesses unto me." But we have to invite Him, we have to give place for Him, we have to welcome Him, we have to yield yourself to Him and say, "Holy Spirit, thou art welcome in this church." From Resource

Click to see how Rubel Shelly and John York see the beyond redemption experience at Mount Sinai as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

This leaves the "audience" helpless and utterly destroys the power of the Spirit of Christ which inspired the entire Bible. This is the way to deny that Christ came in the "flesh" to deliver His power into fleshly Words understood by the human senses.

By denying the power of the Word as it has been delivered we give others the power to make up "doctrines" and COLOR THEM CHRISTIAN.

Therefore, both "sides" have to keep their hands out of Christ's Water bucket and allow everyone to be refreshed by giving heed to the Word. This is the only truly "worship" concept involved witht the church where individuals "synagogues" or "schools" and not "worships" in the pagan ritual sense.

Let no one then despise the Word, lest he unwittingly despise himself

"There is an inheritance for those who serve the Lord." Noble and desirable is this inheritance: not gold, not silver, not raiment, which the moth assails, and things of earth which are assailed by the robber, whose eye is dazzled by worldly wealth;

but it is that treasure of salvation to which we must hasten, by becoming lovers of the Word.

Thence praise-worthy works descend to us, and fly with us on the wing of truth. This is the inheritance with Which the eternal covenant of God invests us,

conveying the everlasting gift of grace; and thus our loving Father-the true Father-ceases not to exhort, admonish, train, love us.

For He ceases not to save, and advises the best course: "Become righteous," says the Lord.

Ye that thirst, come to the water;

and ye that have no money, come, and buy and drink without money. He invites to the laver, to salvation, to illumination, all but crying out and saying, The land I give thee, and the sea, my child, and heaven too; and all the living creatures in them I freely bestow upon thee. Only, O child, thirst for thy Father;

God shall be revealed to thee without price; the truth is not made merchandise of. He gives thee all creatures that fly and swim, and those on the land. These the Father has created for thy thankful enjoyment.

What the bastard, who is a son of perdition, foredoomed to be the slave of mammon, has to buy for money,

He assigns to thee as thine own,

even to His own son who loves the Father; for whose sake He still works, and to whom alone He promises, saying, "The land shall not be sold in perpetuity," for it is not destined to corruption. "For the whole land is mine; "and it is thine too, if thou receive God.

Clement of Alexandria.

And custom, which has made you taste bondage and unreasonable care, is fostered by vain opinion; and ignorance, which has proved to the human race the cause of

unlawful rites and delusive shows, and also of deadly plagues and hateful images,

has, by devising many shapes of demons, stamped on all that follow it the mark of long-continued death.

Receive, then, the water of the word; wash, ye polluted ones; purify yourselves from custom, by sprinkling yourselves with the drops of truth.

How, then, may I ascend to heaven, is it said? The Lord is the way; a strait way, but leading from heaven, strait in truth, but leading back to heaven, strait, despised on earth; broad, adored in heaven.

Then, he that is uninstructed in the word, has ignorance as the excuse of his error; but as for him into whose ears instruction has been poured,

and who deliberately maintains his incredulity in his soul, the wiser he appears to be,

the more harm will his understanding do him; for he has his own sense as his accuser for not having chosen the best part.

Paul to the Hebrews identifies this as the unforgivable sin!

Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth Isa 5:8

In mine ears said the Lord of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant. Isa 5:9

Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah. Isa 5:10

Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them Isa 5:11

And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands. Isa 5:12

Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. Isa 5:13

The Bible almost universally associates water which is the basis of all human life with the Word of Christ which He defined as spirit and life which we drink. Christ put the refreshing water symbol into His Words. Peter said that it is by "giving heed" to these words beginning with the prophets through the Spirit of Christ (1 Pet 1:11) that Christ the Morning Star rises in our heart.

By making this "water" into the subjective baptism of the Holy Spirit we destroy any standard for "testing the Spirits." Therefore, Peter and others insist that our teaching and "singing" be with the Word "as it has been taught." This was because the "many" which Satan will always get into dominant pulpits are teaching false doctrine to deliberately lead people to their "father" the Devil whom Jesus defined as a liar because he "speaks on his own."

The absolute law of the Synagogue permitted translation and discussion but outlawed "allegorizing" or applicating the Bible to "make it relevent to the times." The prohibition of "private interpretation" outlaws further explication, application or fuller expounding.

We grasp this when Christ identified the Pharisee as those who ignored the commands of God by making up his own and the purpose was to "pump up" the sermonizing with long-winded prayers and sermons as a way to "steal the houses of widows. He identified the Devil as one who "spoke on his own" and a for-hire prophet (further expounder) was always anathema.

The moment we begin to improvize our "worship" as giving heed to Christ by giving heed to His Word by doing book reviews or promoting heresy out of the latest pop psychology book we open up the process for the "spirits" to be the "spirits of demons" teaching lies.

Therefore, "keep it simple, stupid" does not mean, "keep it stupid, simple." Then the rest of us can test the spirits and if you deviate then we know that you are a false teacher.

Paul insisted that even if one presumes to be inspired in Corinth he should just sit down and shut up unless there is another inspired person to validate his "revelation." This had the effect of looking to Paul if they needed further instruction.

Because the object seems to be to make the living water into the Holy Spirit as a "worship experience" we will test the spirits to see that water and the "spirit" always speaks of the Mind of Christ which to us is in the Words of Christ.

Rubel Shelly: That unexpected request and response became the springboard for all that follows. "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' " Jesus said, "you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

At this point, we have come to the same impasse as Nicodemus and Jesus about being born "again" or "from above."

In chapter 3, Nicodemus is thinking "flesh-event" or "second chance to get things right down here"; Jesus is talking about "Spirit-event" or "one-and-only chance to experience life from above." In chapter 4, the woman is thinking "cold water from a deep well" or "my gift to Jesus"; Jesus is talking about "spiritual refreshment from above" or "God's gift to a woman of Samaria."

Have you ever noticed the Bible verse engraved on the baptistery platform in the foyer of this building?

The original suggestion someone made was to put Mark 16:16 on it -

"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved."

But the verse eventually imprinted was from this text -

"The water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

We have noted in other reviews that John York and Rubel Shelly claim that the Israelites in the wilderness were "baptized by the Holy Spirit." Furthermore, this becomes a pattern for Christian worship and community. However, the Bible knows that they were "turned over to worship the starry host because of their musical idolatry." Going further, they claim that the Corinthians were also "baptized by the Holy Spirit."

Now, rather than connecting baptism to salvation as Jesus commanded and Paul preached, the "true" baptism is a "well of water" or the Holy Spirit baptism with water baptism the Baptist baptism.

However, this planned encounter with the Samaritan woman has nothing to do with either baptism in water or in the Holy Spirit.

For the woman's worship (if she ever did that), in both Amos and Isaiah 5, the "wineskin" worship with instrumental music caused the people to hunger and thirst for the Word of God. The Word is the "drink" and Jesus is not promising the baptism of the Holy Spirit "person" meaning supernatural gifts.

Later, we will hear Peter make some direct commands:

First, the Word of God is the only resource for worship in song or sermon.
Second, they Word cannot tolerate any further application, explication or expounding.
Third, because the Word is given by Christ the Spirit, to repudiate it as the resource for worship repudiates Christ. And to sell your body to "further expound" the Word of the Holy God of the Universe is to spit in His face.

Isaiah has God warning that His Word is His Water: if you don't allow the "water of the word cycle" to work then you are the restrainers of the waters?

> It cannot be repackaged, watered down and retailed:

HO, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Isaiah 55:1

> It cannot be subject to "private interpretation" in explicating, applicating and further expounding:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. Isaiah 55: 8

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55: 9

> God creates the water cycle: we can plant and water but the Water is what does the work but only if it is recycled through others who then return it to God in praise:

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: Isaiah 55: 10

> The water is personified: it is its own interpreter and preacher and you don't need "sister singers" to make it work:

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it Isaiah 55: 11

> God's Spirit is upon us when His Words are in us. They do not get destroyed by going through the Shelly Sifter of time, philosophy and the Bible writers own personal agenda. They do not "wear out" just as the water of the flood is the same water we drink:

As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; My spirit (Mind of Christ) that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth,

shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever. Is.59:21

Jesus fired the resident clergy and prohibited anyone from repackaging and selling the Water or Word because this bullys the "one another" church into ignorance and gives one the opening to teach false doctrine.

Therefore, if they do not speak according to God's Word it is "because there is no light in them."

As a result of the musical idolatry at Mount Gerizim, where the Samaritan woman may or may not have attended, God warned against drinking the waters (word) of other nations. However, neither in Gerizim nor in Jerusalem would a commoner "worship" at the temple. Therefore, "worship" as a like the nations worship would come to an end. This would not disturb the common people's synagoguing or worship in private which had existed from the beginning.

Rubel Shelly: This is not the first time in John that water has been used to symbolize the fullness of life that comes to human beings as the "gift" (Gk, dorea) of God.

John is hardly the only New Testament writer to make this same connection between the gift of God's Spirit and heavenly renewal.

Do you know the promise of Acts 2:38? "Peter said to them, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.' "

Do you recall the parallel statement from the same apostle at Acts 3:19?

"Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus."

No. Water symbolizes the Spirit or Mind of Christ which to us is the Word of Christ. The FULLNESS dogma is the charismatic or Pentecostal belief that we are personally a "second incarnation" of God Who IS pure or Holy Spirit. Christ "poured out" that Spirit on the day of Pentecost which was evidenced by the Apostles speaking the Word of God not only in the "dialects" of the Greek world but also its various "tongues" or minor dialects. No "scholar" could do this and therefore it was a SIGN that the apostles spoke from Christ.

"I see the great year of Jubilee, when we shall pass through the veil into the very presence of the fullness of God, to be filled with this fullness and go forth proclaiming liberty to all of creation. .. This is the ultimate anointing! This is the fullness of the Spirit! This is the Spirit without measure that Jesus had spoken of in John 3:34, reserved until the end time for His Brethren!"

"Remember how the animals noises such as lions, eagles, oxens, etc. have been manifesting in the meetings? Also, as was mentioned in my last article, Rodney Howard-Browne calls himself the "Holy Ghost bartender" (from new wineskins) and claims he is serving "new wine." Charles and Frances Hunter refer to this as "'Joel's Bar' where the drinks are free and there is no hangover!" (28) Howard-Browne encourages people to:

"Take another drink...the bar is open....Be filled! We loose the power! Have another drink!" (29) With all this in mind, listen to the words of Jeremiah:

"They shall ROAR TOGETHER LIKE LIONS: they shall yell as lions' whelps. In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will MAKE THEM DRUNKEN,

THAT THEY MAY REJOICE, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD. I will BRING THEM DOWN LIKE LAMBS TO THE SLAUGHTER, like rams with he goats" (Jeremiah 51:38-40).

This is how The Spirit of Christ said it:

Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Ezek 18:30

Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed;

and make you a new heart and a new spirit:

for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Ezekiel 18:31

Heart is: Leb (h3820) labe; a form of 3824; the heart; also used (fig.) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything: understanding, wisdom.

Spirit is: Ruwach (g7307) roo'-akh, roo'-akh; ... by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (includ. its expression and functions)

And this is how Christ said it:

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;
but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16

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 Spirit. Acts 2:38

Therefore, the gift of the Holy Spirit is the gift of A holy spirit, new feelings, new intellect, co-perception (1 Pet 3:21)

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: Heb. 8:10

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. Heb.10:22

A true heart is a new man:

Apeleutheros (g558) ap-el-yoo'-ther-os; from 575 and 1658; one freed away, i.e. a freedman: - freeman.

Our mind or spirit is renewed by the Spirit as we are renewed by the Word of the Spirit. This is not the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

> But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. John 4:23

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24

> And be renewed (neos) in the spirit (mental disposition) of your mind (nous); Eph 4:23

> Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. (truth)

Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, Eph 5:19

> Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the (your) Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Eph 6:18

For we are the circumcision, which

and rejoice in Christ Jesus,

and have no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:3

> And have put on the new man,

which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Col.3:10

> Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Col 3:16

> I was in the Spirit on the Lords day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Re.1:10

> And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus:

worship God:

for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Rev 19:10

Our bodies are washed in pure water and our "mind" is renewed. That is we begin to have A holy spirit as opposed to an unholy spirit.

Unholy spirit or mind:

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Col 3:8

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; Col 3:9

A holy spirit or mind:

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Col 3:10

After our initial cleansing with the "gift of A holy spirit" or as Peter in 3:21 says a "co-perception" power, then our spirit must be renewed through the Word:

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us,

by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Titus 3:5

Now the Holy Spirit as God does not need renewed. Therefore, the "new man" created in us is the renewal of OUR spirit to make it holy or sanctified for His service.

He that believeth	Then Peter said unto them, Repent,	Repent ye therefore,	Which sometime were disobedient ... 1 Pet 3:20
and is baptized	and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ	and be converted,	The like figure whereunto even baptism
shall be saved;	for the remission of sins,	that your sins may be blotted out,	doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh,
but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mk 16:16	and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38	when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:19	but the request for a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 3:21

We are wise enough to know that the ultimate source of our salvation is God. However, God Whose methods we are too quick to criticize insists that He has the power to put His salvation is water:

Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 1 Pe.3:20

Paul used Isaiah 28 to explain "speaking in tongues" in Corinth. Their primary sin was singing their own songs out of their own "spirit" rather than giving heed to the Word of Christ. God warned:

To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing (REST): yet they would not hear. Isaiah 28:12

But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Isaiah 28:13

Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Isaiah 28:14

"Jerusalem" stands for Mt. Sinai, Egypt, Babylon or Nashville."

The Meaning of Refreshing:

The refreshing is not "exhilaration in worship caused by the Spirit inside of your body." That is some other physical or emotional abnormality: a good psychologist might help.

In Acts 3:19:

Andronikos (g408) an-dron'-ee-kos; from 435 and 3534; man of victory; Andronicos, an Isr.: - Andronicus.
Nikos (g3534) nee'-kos; from 3529; a conquest (concr.), i.e. (by impl.) triumph: - victory.

Therefore, this means a triumph but not a "water pouring from heaven." We become new creatures because Christ transfers us into a spiritual kingdom.

In Acts 2:38 this is not the gift of the personal 1/3 godhead to live in our carnal body. Rather, the "Holy Spirit" is the Mind of Christ according to Paul in 1 Cor. 2.

To have the Mind of Christ means that we have His Spirit which is His mental disposition.

Peter used the word "clear conscience" which means that our consciousness is cleared of all obstacles so that we become a co-perceiver with Christ through His Word.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation (creation); the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Co.5:17

And again:

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Tit.3:5

And have put on the new self (new birth), which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Col.3:10

Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Col 3:11

The new "worship" does not demand that we all affirm the Samaritans and Gentiles. It simply means that all old traditions are set aside so that you can worship by giving heed to the Word of Christ which is Spirit which is that which is written:

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Col 3:15

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Col 3:16

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name (authority of) of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Col 3:17

The Samaritans and Jews used "music" in their temple system and in the worship of idols to which God had turned them over. Therefore, Paul did not hint at a "musical" word in connection with spiritual worship of God.

Rubel Shelly: Repentance does not lead to baptism.

It leads to the

gift of the Holy Spirit,
to times of refreshing from God's presence,
to a personal relationship with Jesus Messiah! .

Jesus said, if you accept my counsel then I will forgive your sins. Jesus called that being saved and Paul called it the forgiveness of sins. There is no supernatural "perfectionism" or "FULLNESS" required to be born like a tiny little baby who knows just about nothing:

This is what I find in my Bible:

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16

And Peter thought that repentance led directly to Baptism:

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ

for the forgiveness of your sins.
And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit Ac.2:38

There can be no personal "holy spirit" able to interact with Christ the Spirit until our sins are forgiven.

Repentance and baptism leads to the forgiveness of sins.

This removes the rubble from our eyes so that we can have a clear or co-perception with Christ.

This is the "gift of A holy spirit" or purified MIND.

This does not lead to a supernatural experience in worship. Rather:

Fulness or perfection is only in Christ Jesus

Jesus didn't come as "lil ole winemaker or wine drinker" or provider of a sexual stimulus or "exhilarated worship experience." Jesus is first of all Rabbi or Master teacher: He is the only one with a Phd and we are not ritual worshipers but STUDENTS. We shall all be taught of and by God.

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: Matt 7:28

For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Matt 7:29

Jesus comes as Divine Teacher and not Worship Leader or Preacher:

Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. John 12:44

And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. John 12: 45

I am come a light into the world, that
whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. John 12: 46

The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. Ps.119:130

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isa 8:20

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 2 Pet 1:19

And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. John 12: 47

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him:

the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. John 12: 48

This is true because the Word of Christ is the Word of God:

For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. John 12: 49

And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. John 12: 50

The "son" is defined by his speaking the thoughts of the "father." Jesus said that the Devil was a liar because he spoke ON HIS OWN.

Dr. Shelly can say that: "Repentance does not lead to baptism."

One might as well say that "hearing does not lead to belief."

Rubel Shelly: Baptism is significant along the path that leads from repentance to new life, but baptism is a means to an end and not an end in itself.

Baptismal regeneration is a doctrine nobody in our tradition ever set out to teach, I am sure. Yet teach it we did by offering baptism as the end of a conversion process.

We truly doubt that anyone has ever been instructed that "baptism is the end of the process."

However, in this writer's experience, baptism is the end of the baptism process. You have to make a deliberate decision to change your direction based on believing evidence before you can turn from facing away from God to turning toward God.

You have to repent to truly believe. Only if you have an interest in changing your own direction to God's direction can you listen and hear with faith.

You might as well say "the faith is significant but it is just a means to an end." However, Jesus didn't not make "a personal relationship" as the end of the process of baptism but salvation or the forgiveness of sins. There can be no relationship until you have been forgiven. But forgiveness is not just a "significant" step of the process: it is vital.

Jesus made it simple: if you want your sins forgiven you cannot be like the Jews who "rejected the counsel of God for their lives by not being baptized." No true magic: Jesus tells you to be baptized if you have decided to turn.

He said, if you accept my counsel then I will forgive your sins. Jesus called that being saved and Paul called it the forgiveness of sins. There is no supernatural "perfectionism" or "FULLNESS" required to be born like a tiny little baby who knows just about nothing:

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16

So, in the mind of Christ before His doctrine got sifted baptism was necessary not only to salvation but to keep from being damned.

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit Ac.2:38

Can you imagine the Acts 2:38 crowd quoting this: "Repent and be baptized" without saying why? Never heard it.

After you have become a disciple of the ONLY TEACHER does He agree to give you A holy spirit or mental disposition so that you can grasp His fuller instructions. The Christian life is "giving heed" to Christ through His Word and not a concentric set of five circles to get into the cultic inner circle of a Willow Creek or a Saddleback.

Yes, baptism is the end of the process envisioned in the Great Commission given by Jesus and carried out by Peter, Paul and the rest of the true evangelists. Being inducted as a student of a master tent maker involved baptism into loyalty to the teacher. That process ended at baptism and the instruction in tent making just begins.

You are not baptized to be inducted into a carnal system "offering" you worship as the only important part of the Christian system which has not been Shelly Sifted. You are inducted into discipleship to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only Teacher and He is silenced if we are not able to say "Amen" or "The Lord has spoken" for everything we teach.

The Jews were inducted into the Synagogue. This was not a pagan "worship center" for sucking in fodder with Holy Entertainment. The synagogue was only for those who wanted to be taught the Revealed Word of God. They did not "preach" proof texts but explained the Bible as one would teach a Physics book.

If your disciples are inducted to a "holy spirit worship ritual" where music moves you into the presence of God then you have hatched you a pagan worship center but it is not a Christian Synagogue. Ritualized music in a Synagogue or Ekklesia would bring ridicule on anyone who tried it. And if male theatrical performers of rhetoric or music stood up to perform publically they would have so perverted their own character that they would be laughed out or tared and feathered. One does not "perform" in a class room where God is the only Teacher.

You don't need a Phd to grasp this: when the baby is BORN the birth process is absolutely at the end.

Now, if you don't feed it but entertain it then you will have fallen back into the fatal beyond-redemption of the musical idolatry at both Gerizim and at Jerusalem. You will have dried up the Water of the Word and they will hunger and thirst even as they do the dance of death with the women "tabering on their breast" as a musical instrument.

Rubel Shelly: Digging a well, tying a bucket to a rope, and drawing out water is a human process I can achieve; living water that would eliminate the thirst of my heart for God and gush up to eternal life is something God alone can provide.

Baptism in water is something I can teach, arrange, and administer; the gift of God's Spirit that refreshes a sinner's heart and links that heart to the dynamic power of Jesus is something only God can provide.

Dying on a cross is a human process: something we can all do. However, it would have no merit unless we were God Incarnate. God supplies the water (the word) at the end of an exceedingly DEEP WELL made dark because Christ spoke in parables from the foundation of the world to keep spiritual truth out of the hands of the professionals (Isa 48)

Paul said that because of the idolatry (musical) at Mount Sinai, the Jews told God not to speak to them any more. Therefore, God anwered their prayer and according to 2 Cor 3 would never let them "drink" a drop until they 'turned to Christ.'

So, the water is still at the bottom of the well where God put it. It is supernatural power of life with no power if the people are made thirsty by the "musical performers" taking away the key to knowledge.

If we don't drop the bucket and pull it up the water will remain there by the determinate will of God unless we pull it up. Everything which exists is by the free grace of God. However, God will spit you out of His mouth if you repudiate Him by repudiating the means He has supernaturally provided.

And also that every man should eat and drink, and

enjoy the good of all his labour,
it is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3:13

Now, almost supernatural power resides in the seed of a watermellon. However, if it sits over my sink window for ten years it will never give me FREE watermellons. I have to plant and water before God will give the increase. In the same way, I have to plant the seed and water the body before God will bestow his free grace.

Solomon was wise and said that watermellons are my God-given due:

Behold that which I have seen:it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him:for it is his portion. Ecclesiastes 5:18

Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and

to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 5:19

Because I did not help God create the universe and its laws, it is clear that everything which I receive is a free gift of God.

It is a total lack of faith to be so superstitiously loaded against FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE in letting God bestow His Grace according to His Will. Why are we so self-willed?

Rubel Shelly: Centuries before that day, Jeremiah had spoken to Israel for Yahweh: "My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that can hold no water" (Jer. 2:13).

The land of Canaan was totally free: the land renters paid a tithe of the food crops. Ten percent went to the tribe of Levi for all governmental taxes. The Levites gave a tithe of a tithe or 1% for the teaching priests. In another symbol, the nation was God's "vineyard" but they destroyed it with wine, women and music.

But before Jeremiah said that he said this:

And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof;

but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination. JER 2:7

The priests said not, Where is the Lord?

and they that handle the law knew me not:
the pastors (elders) also transgressed against me,

and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. JER 2: 8

Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the Lord, and with your childrens children will I plead. JER 2: 9

For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing. JER 2: 10

Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. JER 2: 11

Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord. JER 2: 12

Therefore, the water was not supernatural power: the water was the Word of God put into the hands of the clergy with the absolute demand not to "veer off to the right or left." However, they used the Shelly Sifter and came up with their own Words.

O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters. Jer 17:13

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise. Jer 17:14

Behold, they say unto me, Where is the word (Dabar or Logos) of the Lord? let it come now. Jer 17:15

As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee. Jer 17:16

This is why Amos and Isaiah said that when the thirsted to death the spiritual water was the Word of God. The sin of drinking from foreign cisterns was the musical idolatry of both Gerizim and Jerusalem.

Rubel Shelly: And Ezekiel had prophesied of a time when Yahweh would heal his people: "I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances" (Ezek. 36:25-27).

"Musical Teams" are often identified as "mediators between man and God." Or, the "lead the worshipers into the presence of God." This makes the "teams" into idols. And in church architecture, they are "standing in the holy place claiming to be God."

Therefore, when Jesus came to baptize with Spirit and Fire we have to stand clear because it is not pretty unless we see that "spirit" driving us to value and defend the Word of God rather than to marginalize Him by rejecting His Words:

Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it: Ezek 36:18

The Israelites were ecumenical: trying to become all things to all people:

And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth out of his land. Ezek 36:20

Chalal (h2490) khaw-lal'; ... wound, to dissolve; fig. to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin (as if by an "opening wedge"); denom. (from 2485) to play (the flute): defile, take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain, wound.

But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. Ezek 36:21

Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God;

I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel,

but for mine holy names sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. Ezek 36:22

And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. Ezek 36:23

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

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols (log or Asherah pole). Ezek 36:25

When we have a "spirit or heart of flesh" that is just the way God created us able to commune with Him as pure Spirit. God did not put "a little man" in the people but softened their own heart to make them able to listen to God's WORD.

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. Ezek 36:26

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. Ezek 36:27

Jesus defined Himself as "son" because He spoke the words of the "father." One has God's spirit or mind when one obeys God's commands.

He was assuredly not speaking about putting 1/3 of the Godhead into these people.

Rubel Shelly: We need more than water baptism. While it is commanded of God,

water baptism speaks more about cleansing from the past.

While the New Testament knows nothing of an unbaptized Christian, water baptism testifies

to the washing away of one's previous sins. Saul of Tarsus, for example, was ordered to "be baptized, and have your sins washed away, calling on his name" (Acts 22:16).

In Baptist Calvinism, baptism cleanses from ORIGINAL SIN. However, for the future the Holy Spirit as a 1/3 God or person lives inside of the carnal body and gives us sinless perfection.

However, the Bible sees baptism just as it sees the death of Christ: once for all times, past, present and future.

If baptism spoke only of sin in the past tense then it would be no better than an animal sacrifice!

Doesn't this question the power of an infinite God?

If we sin then the remedy is defined to a baptized believer:

Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. Ac. 8:22

The blood of christ looks from eternity past to eternity future. Our sins are forgiven by the blood of Christ at one time:

But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; Heb 10:12

From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. Heb 10: 13

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Heb 10: 14

Many Calvinists ask the same question about the Death of Christ. If Christ died for our sins past then why doesn't He have to die again for our sins 2,000 years later?

So-called "believer's baptism" is quite identical to ancient pagan baptism. The death of Christ once for all is no more adequate in believer's baptism than it is in the Lord's Supper. The individual must suffer and die by living under the Law of Moses. Then, Christ comes to them personally and dies all over again for them.

Notice that when we read the Word revealed by the Spirit of Christ (1 Pet 1:11) we hear the Holy Spirit speak to us just as surely as if we heard an audible voice.

Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, Heb 10: 15

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; Heb 10: 16

And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Heb 10: 17

Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Heb 10: 18

If our sins are not remitted after our baptism by that baptism then we are lost because Jesus is not going to die again in the Eucharist or in believer's baptism.

Not the preacher nor the musician nor the human mediating team Oh Lord. It is me as a virtual high priest who now can go into the holy place (naos) which is my mind (nous) or spirit all by myself without someone "offering" a worship ritual to "lead me into the presence of God." If anyone, especially a "musical" or noise making Levite attempts to go there God will slay him with the Sword of the Spirti and he will be dead, dead, dead:

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, Heb 10: 19

By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; Heb 10: 20

Christ the Man/Spirit stands at the boundary between the physical and spiritual dimensions. Only by just giving up the pagan attempts to reach through into holy ground is the "crowd" making the gate strait or constricted so that I can go in all by myself without you.

And having an high priest over the house of God; Heb 10: 21

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. Heb 10: 22

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) Heb 10: 23

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh,

but the request for a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 3:21

When our bodies are washed we are baptized by the work of human hands. However, Christ then gives us the gift of A holy spirit which is cleansed so that we have a co-perception with Him.

Suneidesis (g4893) soon-i'-day-sis; from a prol. form of 4894; co- perception, i.e. moral consciousness; - conscience.

The once sacrifice becomes a possession of the baptized believer forever. Its power is there through repentance and prayer and not by entire sanctification.

Rubel Shelly: Finally John the Baptist had come to baptize with water but pointed beyond himself to one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit (John 1:29-34).

Jesus baptized or "overpowered" the upper room where the twelve apostles had their sleeping quarters. By "filling" the room they received powers. The symbol of that power was the tongues of fire which were sypbolic of speech. There were five greek languages but hundreds of "tongues." In order to prove that the apostles were Christ's agents, the overwhelming power was a SIGN which was manifested to the major groups of people or "nations." The even in the Cornelius even called Peter way back to Pentecost for anything similar. Then, the manifestation was Roman soldiers praising God in "tongues" which those who came with Peter could understand.

As a result of this supernatural sign, Peter was finally arm twisted into baptizing Gentiles.

Because Jesus sais that His Word was Spirit and Life (John 6:63) it is significant that these gifts were manifested in speech. In the Ephesian 5 and Colossiand 3 parallel the "Spirit" is the "Word." And throughout the Bible the Spirit speaks when the Word speaks.

Therefore, anyone baptized with the Holy Spirit in this sense would not get supernatural power to live a giddy life. The evidence of such a "baptism" would be the total love for and devotion to the Words of Christ and not the destruction of them.

Rubel Shelly: Baptism is a beautiful gift of grace that testifies to the cleansing that comes to believers

by the power of the blood of Christ. It is, after all, blood rather than water that brings about the washing away of sins (cf. 1 Pet. 3:21).

This is the Baptist formulation: baptism is a symbol of what happens before. However, if God could make the literal, physical blood of Jesus the lowly man into the MEANS of bringing His message to us then, they why deny HIM the power to make our baptism the means or rather the time and place where we ask for a clean conscience or A holy spirit? Is God truly that helpless?

Well, it really isn't blood, is it? It is really the sacrifice of Christ. But it really isn't the sacrifice of Christ, is it? It is the will of God. So, on and on: the hook doesn't catch the fish, it is the line. Well, it isn't the line, it is the pole. Well, it isn't the pole it is the hands of the fisherman. Well, it isn't the hands but the fisherman himself. Well, it isn't really even the fisherman, it is the wife who chased the husband out of the house.

Power is always contained in something: why would it be less legalistic to believe that the power resides in faith. Well, here is where we are heading: in Calvinism no one even has the power to believe. Because if WE allow you to be saved by having faith then our predestination dogma flies out the window. Well, is it the blood that washes? Isn't it the Mind of God Who forgives and forgets. Why is "blood" any less legalistic than "water" if Christ put the power of a once-shed blood into water.

Are we literally washed in blood when Scripture says that we are washed in water?

One can find only one logical conclusion to this chain of thought: it is Holy Spirit baptism and everything else is just the means. If we can get the FULLNESS without water baptism then why worrry about something which is not important because it is just a MEANS?

Rubel Shelly: But what about tomorrow? Even if I am assured by the bath waters of baptism that Christ's blood has made me clean from my past sins, how will my life be renewed? How will I find the strength to be different tomorrow than I was yesterday? Where do I go to get the power to be holy, to be joyous, to be Christ-like?

That, my friend, is God's Spirit-gift that bubbles up to supply your need for daily grace to sustain you.

You don't "find" it or "learn how" to do it; it is a gift he provides.

The wineskin worship with female worship teams confusing "music" with singing the Word were always they ones who quenched the Spirit which was always the Word to our minds or spirits. Amos discusses the horros of the "worship of the starry host" which Dr. Shelly sees as a pattern for our worship and community. The evil was music which took away the key to knowledge but the fatal disease was a "bubbling up" ritual system but thirsting and dying for lack of the Water of the Word:

And I will turn your feasts (religious festivals) into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day. Amos 8:10

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: Amos 8: 11

And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. Amos 8: 12

In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst. Amos 8: 13

Here is the solution to Dr. Shelly's dilemna about "what after water baptism." Scripture is absolutely clear that growing up into the image of Christ is based on feeding on His Word: not as cut and pasted in sermonizing and versifying but 'teaching it as it has been taught' and allowing it to fill the hunger created by "churchy" rituals:

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: John 4:13

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:14

This "bubbling up" is not from new wine in a new wineskin: it is the Water of the Word. Again, look at the failure of the "musical" or external worship of Israel:

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: Amos 8: 11

Paul preached the CORE GOSPEL to children still carnal and not ready to feed on the MEAT OF THE WORD. When we are new born we feed on the spirit gift by letting the Word of Christ live in our hearts:

WHEREFORE laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 1 Pet 2:1

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 1 Pet 2: 2

If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 1 Pet 2: 3

"Musical" or theatrical performance is not remotely connected to spiritual worship. In fact, music takes away the key to knowledge and that is the hidden agenda of most "preaching" which isn't text focused.

We have the Water of the Word and we worship by "giving heed" to that Word. We don't have to understand vitamins to get the value of an apple. In the same way, if we do not cut off all of the "apple" and preach just the "core" then the power of Christ will work its magic.