Romans 6:3

(Romans 6:3)

『Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 』

Although there are seven letters of the apostle Paul, there is no saying, “receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit." Every letter explains the meaning of water baptism. Today, most churches ask for blessings and the filling of the Holy Spirit. However, Paul explains the meaning of water baptism. Paul explains everything in the Bible through water baptism. Water baptism does not mean washing away sins, but death.

 

『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:』(1 Peter 3:21) Baptism is to go to God in union with the death of Jesus Christ. What we need is not Jesus 'power, but Jesus' death. It was not saved from God until it was joined with the death of Jesus.

 

Abraham heard God's voice in Ur of Chaldeans at age 75. 『Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:』(Genesis 12: 1) Abraham left home after hearing God's voice, but he took his nephew Lot away. He heard God's voice and left home, but he was not completely obedient to God's word. People think that when someone hears the voice of God, they have great faith. But if you do not obey God's word completely, you do not repent. If you do not repent, you will not be saved from God. Repentance is to deny your thoughts before the word of God.

 

Since then, Abraham has won the war with his neighbor and met a spiritual being named Melchizedek. Abraham did not wait for God's promise to give his children, listened to his wife Sarai, and slept with Hagar, Ishmael was born. Thus, God did not appear to Abraham until Abraham could not produce a child. Whatever God promises, God does not appear to those who do not obey the words of the Bible.

 

Repentance is giving up my thoughts on the word of God. If we do not realize this, no matter how long we have been in church, we are those who have never repented of God. If you do not repent and worship in the church, God does not receive your worship.『For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.』(Romans 6: 5-6)

 

Baptism is the death of our old man. The old man means greed in the heart. God commands this to die with Jesus. The death of the old man is free from evil. So God gives birth to the baptized. This can be explained as follows: life is born again, like the resurrection of Jesus. Since the born again are life from God, they do not live in sin. 『Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.』 (1 John 3: 9)

 

Noah was a righteous man recognized by God. So he was always with God. So God commanded Noah to preach the word of repentance to all people. Noah preached for 120 years: God judges with water if you do not repent. But no one believed his words, except the seven Noahs. God decided to kill all human beings who did not repent.

 

For humans have fallen and have not believed in God's promises. It was a covenant promise (Christ) that would appear in the future. So the Bible says in Genesis 3:15. 『And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.』 Even if we lived in Noah's day, we should know that we too will not enter the ark.

 

『For many are called, but few are chosen.』 (Matthew 22:14) "God is love" This is true for those who repent. But there will be a fire judgment of God upon those who do not repent. Today, God waits for sinners to repent and return. So, we must enter the narrow door. It is a strait, but it is a door to salvation.『 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.』 (Luke 13:24)

 

『The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 』(Jeremiah 17: 9) If God does not shed light on sinners, they will not know their corrupt self; human hearts are like the corrupt water in a cup. No matter how you try to improve it, you can't clean rotten water. This is the human mind. So if the old man (greedy) does not die, sin cannot be forgiven by God, as Romans (6:7) says. If you do not know this, even if you go to church for a long time, you are trapped in a net of sin. 『But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.』 (Galatians 3:23)

 

『That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.』(Ephesians 4: 22-25)