The Bible and Life

Sunday, November 12, 2023

Baptism In The Name Of Jesus

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

Here is an article from an unknown author that I wanted to share.

Google commons

To all ministers, saints, Christian’s, and aspiring Christian’s of all religions and denominations. There are many reasons the Apostolic church baptizes in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We have all learned the Word of God through the discipline of study and revelation by God. No one living today or in any generation to come will add to the Word of God. It is written, and it is complete, and it is more than sufficient to save us and the world.

The 63 books of the Bible contain recorded history of people and events. Some writers recorded events passed down by written records and even oral tradition.

Every New Testament book, from Romans' to Revelation was inspired writing from a reed pen or quill pen onto papyrus or parchment. These were all letters inspired by God and written by man.

However, the book of Acts is unlike those letters written to individuals or churches. Paul wrote the book of Romans as he was inspired by the Holy Ghost. Luke when writing the book of Acts didn’t write down what he thought. He wrote down what he saw and heard.

Google commons

When Peter spoke up on the day of Pentecost, after those present ask all of the Apostles what they should do. Peter lifted up his voice.

Please understand he didn’t have a bible to consult. He didn’t ask those present to turn to Acts and read along. He spoke as the Holy Ghost moved on Him, a short seven days after Jesus ascended.

He said “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

He didn’t read the book of Romans to come to that conclusion. He didn’t read the book of Matthew or any Old Testament book. He preached the message of Pentecost after the Holy Ghost fell.

He spoke as he was inspired by God to speak. Romans wouldn’t be written for another 30 years. Nothing written later would contradict what Peter preached, it only affirms what he preached.

Peter preached and Luke recorded what he preached. Nothing that would be written later had the authority to contradict anything Peter preached. And nothing did. What would be written later only affirmed and confirmed Peter’s message.

Google commons

Peter couldn’t have confused anything written in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Romans or more because these books were not yet written.

Peter preached that day as the Holy Ghost inspired him to. Every Word written after that could only confirm those words preached by Peter, and confirm they do.

When you baptize someone in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, you are repeating what Jesus said instead of obeying what He said.

When you baptize in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ you can fulfill Matthew 28:19. If you baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost you leave Acts 2:38 unfulfilled.

Peter didn’t know anything about do all in the name of the Lord Jesus because Colossians would not be written until 60 AD or later.

In short, nothing written in the New Testament contradicts what Peter preached on the day of Pentecost.

William James Roop

Friday, November 10, 2023

No Turning Back

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

Here is an interesting article that I wanted to share.

Google commons

The Story behind the Song

"I have decided to follow Jesus"

By the Grace of Our Lord Jesus

In 1904 a Welshman ventured halfway across the world to India and he trekked up the mountains towards a remote village in the east.

He was told

"Go back! The tribe in that village are famously

violent"

But the Welshman ignored the warnings because even these savage headhunters should have the opportunity to hear about the mercy of God.

One Garo tribesman from the tribe Meghalaya named 'Nokseng' and his family heard the Gospel and received Jesus as their Savior. The good news was too good to keep to themselves and they shared the Gospel with others in the tribe.

Google commons

The chief was very angry and he had the tribesman and his family dragged before the village.

"Stop following Jesus!" the chief demanded.

The tribesman replied "No I have decided to follow Jesus I am not turning back"

The chief was furious and killed the tribes man's children.

"Stop following Jesus!" the chief insisted.

The tribesman replied

"Though none go with me

I still will follow no turning back."

The chief showed no mercy and he killed the tribes man's wife.

"Now you will stop following this Jesus!" the chief said.

The tribesman looked the chief in the eyes and replied "The cross before me the world behind me no turning back."

The chief could not believe his ears and he killed the tribesman.

Google commons

Jesus said if a grain of wheat dies it bears much fruit and that day many of the villagers who witnessed the persecution of that tribesman and his family also decided to follow Jesus - even the chief himself became a follower of Jesus Christ.

The tribes man's last words became the song of the village and today it is sung all around the world.

A hundred years later, you still sing this song to church.

"I have decided to follow Jesus.

No turning back, no turning back."

Do you know that you are singing the words of a dead man who lost his children, lost his wife, and eventually lost his own life for Jesus?

How many people have you lost? Some of you might have, but the fact you are reading this means you still have your own life. Why falter in faith when you lose the little things you value on this Earth? Why do you threaten yourself to stop following Jesus when hardships come? Why do you deny Christ’s Lordship over your life when your friends are around?

You can lose your job.

Lose a loved one.

Lose all your friends.

Lose an exam.

Lose a great opportunity.

Lose a romantic interest.

Google commons

You can lose literally EVERYTHING here on Earth, but remember Nokseng and the words he said when he lost everything:

"The Cross before me, the world behind me. No turning back."

Friends, whether you have decided to follow Jesus this week, last month, last year, or many years ago...

Remember,

N O T U R N I N G B A C K

Credit to The Imperial Patriarch

William James Roop

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Is Speaking In Tongues For You?

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

Here is an article by an unknown author that I would like to share.

Google commons

Is speaking in tongues for you?

One answer to that question is this, tongues is not the Holy Ghost, it’s only the evidence of it. The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of God. Christ in you, the Hope of Glory. A resounding yes! It is for you!

Factually and without argument, it is for every man, woman, boy, and girl on earth. It is for Methodists, Episcopalians, Mormons, Muslims, Buddhists, Baptists, Pentecostals, Nazarenes, Catholics and more. In short, it is for you.

To those who say it was for the Apostles only, on the day of Pentecost the Holy Ghost fell on 120 men and women. To those who say it was only for the Apostles, the Apostles only represented 12 of the 120 that were present.

Twenty five years after the day of Pentecost Apostle Paul addresses speaking in tongues to the Corinthian church in 55AD. Many churches, and many organizations teach that speaking in tongues was only for the Apostles. Paul’s writing to the Corinthian church clearly, and completely refutes that. Simply put, why would he give instructions to a church regarding it if it had ceased?

Google commons

What is tongues? Tongues are languages not unlike English, Spanish or French. Tongues are not unintelligible, rather every utterance is a word. There are tongues of men, and tongues of Angels. Every tongue (language) is understood by God, and there is a language(s) that is/are only and exclusively understood by God alone.

Tongues can be understood by the speaker if they pray for understanding. Tongues can also be understood by those listening if it is a language they know. And finally tongues can be a conversation exclusively between you and God.

Some point to the scripture that says do all speak with tongues? This is found in 1 Corinthians chapter 12. However, this reference to tongues is referring to the gift of tongues. The gift of tongues only works in relation to another gift of the spirit; the gift of interpretation of tongues. What Paul is asking is do all have the gift of tongues. The answer is no they do not. Neither does everyone work miracles. However, the Holy Ghost is promised to all.

Google commons

On the day of Pentecost, the gift of tongues was not in operation, the gift of the Holy Ghost was. When the 120 men and women came out of the upper room, they were speaking in the languages of those present. Consequently, no interpretation was needed. If I speak in Spanish and you understood Spanish, no interpreter is needed. The gift of tongues only operates in concert with the gift of interpretation.

Tongues is nothing to fear. It is simply a language. When we yield ourselves to God, He will speak through us. God gives the Holy Ghost to those who obey Him. It is a promise to everyone on earth. To everyone from the day of Pentecost until this day, the Holy Ghost is for you.

Apostle Peter knew that the house of Cornelius received the Holy Ghost, for they heard them speak with tongues. The house of Cornelius was comprised of Gentiles and this took place eight years after the day of Pentecost. This refutes the belief that the Holy Ghost was only for the Apostles.

The reason Baptists, Methodists and every other religion does not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost is because they don’t seek for it. If you repent of your sins you can receive the Holy Ghost. If you repent of your sins and are baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, receiving the Holy Ghost then becomes a promise to you.

Google commons

The gift of the Holy Ghost is not the same as the gift of tongues. The gift of tongues needs the gift of interpretation to work properly. On the day of Pentecost they spoke in the languages of those who heard. An interpreter, as happens with the gift of tongues, was not present. The gift of the Holy Ghost is for everyone.

William James Roop

Monday, November 6, 2023

Holy Ghost Fire

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

Here is an article from an unknown author that I wanted to share.

Google commons

8 Truths About the Fire

God’s presence is like a fire (Heb 12:29).

God’s Word is like a fire (Jer 23:29)

The Holy Spirit is like a fire (Mt 3:11; Acts 2:3).

1. Fire brings light -

How can we be the world’s light without a flame?

2. Fire brings heat -

God wants you to live radiating His love.

3. Fire purges -

God’s fire purifies your heart.

4. Fire needs fuel -

God may start the fire within you, but you must keep it going by your habits.

5. Fire spreads -

When you catch on fire for Jesus, those around you get affected.

6. Fire can be extinguished -

Bad habits and wrong people can put out God's fire within you.

7. Fire produces smoke -

When you get on fire for God, it can produce criticism and attract opposition.

8. Fire leaves ashes -

Ashes are a sign that your fire is no longer there, and only the memories of how you once loved God remain.

William James Roop

Saturday, November 4, 2023

In The Beginning, The Son?

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

Here is an article by an unknown author I would like to share.

Google commons

In the beginning what form was the Son in? There was no heaven. He wasn’t sitting next to the Father. There wasn’t a place to sit. Nothing visible or invisible had been created. There were no angels. What form was God manifested in? None. There were no manifestations. There was nothing except the Word. And that Word was in the form of an invisible Spirit- and still is. Logos is the mind and thoughts of God.

People have for centuries conjured up images of things that are not accurate or true. Please understand heaven was “created.” It has not always been there. The one throne in heaven wasn’t always there.

All things that were created? They were created by Jesus Christ. Who is Jesus Christ? God manifest in the flesh.

The Bible doesn’t teach the Trinity in any measure, -the Bible teaches about one God. Some say these three are one. That’s not true. Three are not one, but one God is manifested in three.

Google commons

In the beginning then, what form or essence was the Father? The Son? The Holy Ghost. Three Spirit forms? The Son was an invisible Spirit? Three minds? You can’t say three minds are one mind.

God is a singular Spirit. Just one. John 4:24. The Holy one of Israel. The Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit is simply the name of God’s Spirit in us. It is a designation.

The Holy Spirit doesn’t think anything God doesn’t think. Two minds would be two Gods. Three minds would be three Gods. It’s unlearned to believe the Holy Ghost is a separate Spirit.

We are made in God’s image and likeness. Body, Soul, Spirit. We are for sure one being.

Jesus is the image of the invisible God. God was in Christ. There are not three persons in the Godhead.

It’s against what the Bible teaches.

Google commons

The Father and the Holy Spirit are one and the same.

The Father is a Holy Spirit. There is only one Spirit. That Spirit is God. That Spirit took on the form of man.

Heaven was created. In the beginning was the Word.

Nothing else.

That Word was God. The Word was the only thing. The mind of God, the thoughts of God. What form? The same as today.

God is an invisible Spirit. He has always been an invisible Spirit, and always will be. You cannot see God and you never will see God.

Google commons

The imaginations of the Father sitting on the throne are just that- imagined. God is an invisible Spirit who no man has ever seen nor can see. He is light that cannot be seen.

“which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of Lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” 1 Tim ‬ ‭6:15-16‬ ‭

“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Tim‬ ‭1:17‬ ‭

“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” Colossians‬ ‭1:15‬ ‭

Google commons

Stephen did not see God when he looked into heaven. The Bible says he saw the glory “of” God. Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus is the brightness of His Glory. It all points to Jesus Christ. In Him - not them - dwells all the fulness of the Godhead Bodily.

That invisible singular Spirit overshadowed Mary and was born of woman.

He was then in the world and the world was made by Him. That’s simple. It says it was made by Jesus Christ in more than one place.

Some Christian leaders get angry when someone gets baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. They will cast you out because you baptize in the only name that can cast out devils. They choose to be baptized - I can’t say in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, because they don’t. They get baptized by simply repeating the command of Jesus Christ instead of obeying it.

They say, “I now baptize you in the name of the Father, and the name of the Son, and the Name of the Holy Ghost.” Only they don’t - they don’t say one name. They don’t say the only name. Jesus Christ. Seven days after Jesus ascended Peter said to be baptized in that NAME.

Google commons

Baptism is in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ

NAME of The Father, Son, Holy Ghost Mt‬ ‭28:19‬

NAME of Jesus Christ Acts‬ ‭2:38‬

‭NAME no other name than Jesus Christ Acts‬ ‭4:12‬

NAME of the Lord Jesus Acts‬ ‭8:16‬ ‭

NAME of the Lord Acts‬ ‭10:48‬ ‭

NAME of Lord Jesus Acts‬ ‭19:5‬ ‭

‭NAME all in the name of Lord Jesus Col 3:17

William James Roop

Thursday, November 2, 2023

Church Hurts

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

Here is an article from an unknown author I would like to share.

Google commons

The church is perfect. The people in it are not.

The church is Holy. Sometimes we are not.

The church is Christian. Sometimes we are not.

The church can’t hurt you. It can only help you…

Someone “in” the church may have hurt you, but that wasn’t the church. We may be less than Holy, and less than Christian, but the Church is calling us to be Holy and Christian. While we fall short, the church does not. The church is glorious, illustrious, honorable, and free from sin. The church is without spot or wrinkle, but the people in the church need their spots and wrinkles removed again and again. Don’t hold the church to a standard, the church is the standard. We all fall short of what God wants the church to be, it’s why we keep attending. The church is always calling us higher. The church never failed you, although someone in the church may have. The church is a place of perfection filled with imperfect people. Go again!

Go again. Worship again. Give again. Believe again. Forgive again!

William James Roop