Greetings to everyone,
1 Pet.4
[15] Let none of you (Christians of Christ) suffer as a murderer, (of any good or bad people)
or as a thief, (from any known or unknown people)
or as an evildoer,(of any kind to any known or unknown people)
or as a busybody (meddlesome) in (any) other men's matters.
[16] Yet if any man (of the Christian brotherhood) suffer being a Christian (of Christ),
then let him (the Christian of Christ) not be ashamed
but let him (the Christian of Christ) glorify God (Jesus the God of Israel) on this behalf.
I have been without a father from a very young age.
Our family was Buddhist.
My father died and my mother and I lived (struggled) alone until now.
My mother and I converted to R.C. while I was a child.
I remember hearing about God and I wanted a relationship but it never worked out.
At about age 28 I met ‘wordsponge’ who told me the ‘heretical thing’ about baptizing calling on Jesus.
At that time I only knew about believing in God and not any particular faith in Jesus, his Son.
“
‘Wordsponge’ drew my attention to the 12 chosen Apostles and the importance of us obeying them.
I am a High School teacher and I know who to read without prejudice.
I read the teachings, of the Apostles.
I understood that this ‘religion’ was from at least a different culture
and I had to be the learner and not the teacher.
I read Jesus saying that we had to ‘receive the Kingdom as a little (submissive or obedient) child.’
To me the full Gospel message was preached until after Jesus died for our sins,
and that was done by the Apostles of Christ.
Prior to the Apostles liberal and widespread pardon of human sins
and the Gift of the Spirit of our Father was not available.
Mark. 3
[28] Verily I say unto you
All sins (of every kind) shall be forgiven unto the sons of men,
and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
[29] But he who shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost never gets forgiveness,
but is in danger of eternal damnation
[30] Because the Jews said: He (their incarnated God) has an unclean spirit.
I acknowledged the Apostles and I decided to follow their teachings.
Together we examined the instruction to baptize calling on Jesus.
‘Wordsponge’ never told me how he came to know or to understand this Teaching.
I decided that since the Apostles were teaching, centrally about Jesus
baptizing calling on his name seemed to be sequential and logical.
The Apostles’ Teaching to have faith in Jesus and to baptize calling on him, seemed like a natural flow.
I did it.
I called to Jesus from a submerged state and when my head popped out of the water I was ‘all smiles.’
It felt so good that I did it about two more times.
I returned home ‘all smiles’ and ‘chatty.’
The grace from God and Christ is as written, ‘manifold, simultaneous and unspeakable’
so I will not try to explain it.
I will say that anything beyond baptism has to be joyfully experienced.
‘Wordsponge’ put his right hand on my right shoulder and he asked Jesus to give the Holy Spirit to me.
Then he prayed to the Father and asked the Father to put the Spirit of his Son (adoption) in me.
I felt something (?) that gradually spread over my entire back, all night, until the next day.
After, I had so much more energy that I happily ‘flew’ even mentally.
Isa.40
[30] Even the (Israelite) youths shall faint and be weary and the young (Israelite me) men shall utterly fall.
[31] But they (the Christians of Christ)
who ‘wait upon’ (obey) the LORD (Jesus the Christ) shall renew their strength.
They shall mount up (energetically) with wings like (spiritual) eagles
They shall run and shall not be weary.
They shall walk and not faint. (a Highly energized people)
***
I believe that the difference with myself and others is our culture to (1) acknowledge everyone and to (2) cooperate.
It was easy for me to acknowledge Jesus and to cooperate with any people whom he thought was good for us.
The dividing line is the baptism.
The “other side of Baptism” as ‘wordsponge’ would put it is all spiritual. (invisible stuff)
People reading the writings that were intended for baptized people, greatly misunderstand the happenings.
Normal people, without the Spirit, trying to do as is written could, truly hurt themselves.
‘Wordsponge’ is internally very a strengthened, by Christ and happy person.
He enjoys trying to help others.
He is very careful not to conveniently consider a person a ‘swine’ or a ‘dog.’
If you have learnt the Baptism from him then you have done yourself a great service.
He is truly dedicated to the Salvation of all.
He does not believe in telling about manifestations of Jesus and our Father to unprepared people.
I will write sometimes.
Our understanding is the same for we both have the same teacher, who is Jesus.
Our writing style might be close for we strive to convey clear understanding as much as we can.
‘Wordsponge’ emphasizes personal experience with Jesus so he will not even baptize us.
We go to Jesus, baptize ourselves calling on Jesus,
We receive from Jesus and we are sure that Jesus and Our Father know us.
Our individual fellowship with Jesus and our Father is real.
This level of association has passed faith and waiting to go to heaven.
1 John.2
[28] And now, little (submissive) children, abide (lifelong) in Christ so that when he (physically) returns,
we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Christ at his (physical) coming.
Keep well and Go for grace from Jesus.
The obedience question will clarify, in each individual as growth and understanding from Jesus occurs.
Lest I forget.
‘Wordsponge’ has taught us that when we are reading if we encounter any teaching that we find hard to obey,
then we must stop and acknowledge it to Jesus, ask for help to obey, and then go on.
This is an excellent principle that helps to keep our relationship with Christ and get us some help.
‘Wordsponge’ is not a liar and he has told us that God does not have ‘lying children.’
We have also read about it in the Word.
Grace to all. Amen.