Due to COVID-19 and disruption to international mail service
we have temporally suspended our ‘Free Print Book service’.
we have temporally suspended our ‘Free Print Book service’.
In the light of this situation we are not able to mail you the books at this time.
Pray that this pandemic will end soon and the resumption of the postal service.
Pray that this pandemic will end soon and the resumption of the postal service.
Subject 3 : The Gospel of the Water and the Spirit
[3-24] Is the Gospel Fulfilled By the Blood Alone, or by the Water, or by Both? (Exodus 12:43-49)
(Exodus 12:43-49)
“And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘This is the ordinance of the Passover: No foreigner shall eat it. But every man’s servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then he may eat it. A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat it. In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it. One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.’”
“And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘This is the ordinance of the Passover: No foreigner shall eat it. But every man’s servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then he may eat it. A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat it. In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it. One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.’”
Both the Old Testament and the New Testament are equally important and precious to us, who believe in God. We cannot neglect even one word in the Old Testament. It is because all the Words of the Lord are the Words of life. And the Lord said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
Today’s Scripture passage tells us that whoever wants to keep the Passover has to be circumcised first. In other words, without getting circumcised, no one can participate in the Passover ceremony. We need to think about why God gave us such ordinance.
We should understand the Lord’s intention behind the ordinance regarding the circumcision. Circumcision is the ritual that cuts off the foreskin from the penis. Why did God tell Abraham and his descendents to be circumcised? It was God’s promise that He would take the circumcised people, the people whose sins were cut off, as His people. For that reason, God told the Israelites to be circumcised. The Israelites had to be circumcised to become God’s people. Circumcision was God’s ordinance. God became the God of those who get their sins cut off by being circumcised in heart by faith. Even in the New Testament, God is the God for those who get their sins cut off by faith.
What Is the Passover?
The major holiday for the Israelites was the Passover. The Feast of Harvest was the next important holiday. But to the Israelites the Passover was still the most important holiday. It is because God let them out of Egypt after 430 years of slavery. When God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, He bent the heart of Pharaoh through ten disasters and led the Israelites into the land of Canaan. The Israelites were spared from the last plague, the death of the firstborn, by the blood of the Passover lamb. For that reason God said to the Israelites, “Keep the Passover.”
How to Be a Partaker of the Passover Ceremony
We need to understand that circumcision is mandatory for anyone who wants to be a partaker of the Passover ceremony. If someone wasn’t circumcised, he couldn’t participate in the Passover Feast. For the Israelites to keep the Passover they had to do one thing prior to it, and it was to be circumcised. Today’s passage tells us to be circumcised to keep the Passover; “And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘This is the ordinance of the Passover: No foreigner shall eat it. But every man’s servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then he may eat it. A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat it. In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it. One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you’” (Exodus 12:43-49).
Who could eat the lamb that was sacrificed for the Passover? In other words, who could keep the Passover? Only those who were circumcised among the Israelites had the privilege to keep the Passover. As you well know, the sacrificed Lamb of the Passover is Jesus, who took away the sins of the world.
Then what does circumcision mean in the Old Testament and the New Testament? Circumcision means cutting the foreskin of the man’s sexual organ. Jesus was also circumcised eight days after He was born. Since God said they must be circumcised first, and whoever was not circumcised could not keep the Passover, circumcision was not a matter of choice; they had to do what God said. If you think you believe in Jesus, you should understand what the circumcision means in the New Testament.
Who could eat the lamb that was sacrificed for the Passover? In other words, who could keep the Passover? Only those who were circumcised among the Israelites had the privilege to keep the Passover. As you well know, the sacrificed Lamb of the Passover is Jesus, who took away the sins of the world.
Then what does circumcision mean in the Old Testament and the New Testament? Circumcision means cutting the foreskin of the man’s sexual organ. Jesus was also circumcised eight days after He was born. Since God said they must be circumcised first, and whoever was not circumcised could not keep the Passover, circumcision was not a matter of choice; they had to do what God said. If you think you believe in Jesus, you should understand what the circumcision means in the New Testament.
What Was the Ritual of Circumcision That God Ordered Abraham to Practice?
When we look in the book of Genesis, we see that God made a covenant for Abraham and his descendants to be circumcised. In Genesis chapter 15, God promised Abraham that He would give him the land of Canaan and as many descendants as the stars in the sky; and in chapter 17, God told Abraham that he and his descendants must be circumcised as a pledge to God if they wanted to become God’s people. God said circumcision in the body was the sign that they had become God’s people and He would be their God. In Genesis 17:7-8, God commanded Abraham and his descendants to be circumcised as the sign of the covenant: “And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”
What Is Spiritual Circumcision?
Abraham trusted God’s promise, and God accounted it to him for righteousness. What was the sign of the covenant that God established with Abraham and his descendants? It was circumcision. “This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised” (Genesis 17:10). Circumcision is cutting off the foreskin, and it symbolizes passing all of our sins onto Jesus by believing in the water baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. Spiritually, it was cutting off their own sins by accepting the water baptism of Jesus; and it was the circumcision of salvation of the primitive gospel. It refers to the circumcision for the remission of sins, which was achieved by the baptism of water in the Jordan River.
The circumcision in the Old Testament was the foreshadow of the baptism of Jesus in the New Testament, and the covenant for people in the Old and New Testament to become God’s people. Simply put, the circumcision in the Old Testament was the baptism of Jesus in the New Testament. Just as the sins of the world were passed on Jesus when John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the form of laying on of hands, the descendants of Abraham received the sign of the covenant to be God’s people through the circumcision that cut their foreskins.
The baptism of Jesus cut the sins off from sinners and made sinners holy. Just as the foreskin was cut off, the sins were carried away to Jesus when He was baptized; and whoever believes in the fact that Jesus solved all the problems of sin when John the Baptist laid his hands on Jesus’ head becomes spiritually circumcised and becomes one of God’s righteous people.
The circumcision in the Old Testament was the foreshadow of the baptism of Jesus in the New Testament, and the covenant for people in the Old and New Testament to become God’s people. Simply put, the circumcision in the Old Testament was the baptism of Jesus in the New Testament. Just as the sins of the world were passed on Jesus when John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the form of laying on of hands, the descendants of Abraham received the sign of the covenant to be God’s people through the circumcision that cut their foreskins.
The baptism of Jesus cut the sins off from sinners and made sinners holy. Just as the foreskin was cut off, the sins were carried away to Jesus when He was baptized; and whoever believes in the fact that Jesus solved all the problems of sin when John the Baptist laid his hands on Jesus’ head becomes spiritually circumcised and becomes one of God’s righteous people.
The Faith That Makes One Disconnected from God
God said He would cut off the uncircumcised from the Israelites. Then what is circumcision? What does it mean from spiritual perspective? Physical circumcision is cutting off the foreskin and the spiritual circumcision of the primitive gospel was passing all the sins of the entire human race to Jesus. The baptism John the Baptist gave Jesus was the spiritual circumcision that cut off the sins of the world and laid them on Jesus’ body. Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist so that the sins of the entire human race could be cut off.
All the sins of the human race were laid upon Jesus. God made the covenant with Abraham and his descendants and had them be circumcised so that He could become the God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob and God of their descendants. And He did become the God to those whose sins were cut off by circumcision.
The circumcision that cuts sins away was the promise of God that He established with Abraham and the people who believe in the baptism and the blood of Jesus as their salvation. God was the God of those who were circumcised. That is why, after the Israelites came out of Egypt, God said to Moses about the covenant of circumcision: “And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant” (Genesis 17:11-14).
Those who try to believe in Jesus without the spiritual circumcision are cut off from the people of God, for the spiritual circumcision was the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist to take away the sins of the world. Those who believe in Jesus also need to accept the circumcision in the Old Testament and the spiritual baptism by Jesus in order to receive salvation from all sins and to receive the Holy Spirit to become God’s people. As to those who believe in Jesus, the circumcision in the Old Testament and the baptism of Jesus in the New Testament are the same thing.
If we do not understand the true meaning of circumcision or the spiritual circumcision that brings true salvation, we believe in Jesus in vain; even if we think we have a strong faith, we are building a house of faith upon sand. God tells His people to be circumcised. This means that He wants every Christian to believe in the spiritual circumcision, the baptism of Jesus that has washed away the sins of the World. Without the sign of circumcision in the body, we are not people of God. The uncircumcised were cut off from the people of God. For that reason, God commanded the Israelites that both foreigners and slaves must be circumcised before keeping the Passover. God warned that they would be cut off from God if they were not circumcised. This ordinance that God set up for the Israelites applies to everyone who believes in Jesus.
Exodus chapter 12 tells us that the Israelites had to be circumcised before eating the lamb and bitter vegetables that were allowed for them to eat during the Passover Feast. We all need to understand that those Israelites who ate the lamb and painted their doorpost with its blood had already been circumcised. Therefore, whoever participated the Passover ceremony had to be circumcised. That was how they could be partakers of the ceremony. It was God’s covenant that uncircumcised people had to be cut off from God’s people. In the spiritual sense, it is the sin that leads to destruction because of lack of faith. Therefore, we have to recognize that spiritual circumcision was the only way to receive salvation from the Lord.
All the sins of the human race were laid upon Jesus. God made the covenant with Abraham and his descendants and had them be circumcised so that He could become the God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob and God of their descendants. And He did become the God to those whose sins were cut off by circumcision.
The circumcision that cuts sins away was the promise of God that He established with Abraham and the people who believe in the baptism and the blood of Jesus as their salvation. God was the God of those who were circumcised. That is why, after the Israelites came out of Egypt, God said to Moses about the covenant of circumcision: “And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant” (Genesis 17:11-14).
Those who try to believe in Jesus without the spiritual circumcision are cut off from the people of God, for the spiritual circumcision was the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist to take away the sins of the world. Those who believe in Jesus also need to accept the circumcision in the Old Testament and the spiritual baptism by Jesus in order to receive salvation from all sins and to receive the Holy Spirit to become God’s people. As to those who believe in Jesus, the circumcision in the Old Testament and the baptism of Jesus in the New Testament are the same thing.
If we do not understand the true meaning of circumcision or the spiritual circumcision that brings true salvation, we believe in Jesus in vain; even if we think we have a strong faith, we are building a house of faith upon sand. God tells His people to be circumcised. This means that He wants every Christian to believe in the spiritual circumcision, the baptism of Jesus that has washed away the sins of the World. Without the sign of circumcision in the body, we are not people of God. The uncircumcised were cut off from the people of God. For that reason, God commanded the Israelites that both foreigners and slaves must be circumcised before keeping the Passover. God warned that they would be cut off from God if they were not circumcised. This ordinance that God set up for the Israelites applies to everyone who believes in Jesus.
Exodus chapter 12 tells us that the Israelites had to be circumcised before eating the lamb and bitter vegetables that were allowed for them to eat during the Passover Feast. We all need to understand that those Israelites who ate the lamb and painted their doorpost with its blood had already been circumcised. Therefore, whoever participated the Passover ceremony had to be circumcised. That was how they could be partakers of the ceremony. It was God’s covenant that uncircumcised people had to be cut off from God’s people. In the spiritual sense, it is the sin that leads to destruction because of lack of faith. Therefore, we have to recognize that spiritual circumcision was the only way to receive salvation from the Lord.
What Is the Circumcision That Everyone Must Check Out?
Now there is something we need to discuss. We should remember that the Israelites had been circumcised before they participated in the Passover ceremony. Abraham and his descendants became God’s people by getting circumcised. In the Old Testament, those who were not circumcised couldn’t become God’s people; they were deprived of the right to be the partakers of the Passover Feast. Only those who put their faith in the covenant and were circumcised could become God’s children.
Believers of Jesus should receive the spiritual circumcision that brings the remission of sins and the citizenship of God’s Kingdom. The Israelites, who were circumcised in their flesh, lived together in Egypt for 430 years under a brutal slavery in God’s providence. They prayed to God, “Oh, God please get us out of Egypt.” God answered their prayers. They could leave Egypt by painting the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood of lamb. When they were about to keep the Passover in the wilderness, the uncircumcised had to be circumcised in the flesh before participating in the feast. The Israelites killed a lamb and painted their doorposts with its blood as the angel of death passed their houses. Because of that the death didn’t enter their doors but passed them instead; death didn’t fall upon them, but the plague passed them.
Ever since Abraham, people of Israel were circumcised when they were 8 days old. The Israelites who became God’s people feared God and cried out to God for delivery from their hardships. The people of Israel who lived in Egypt still had to be circumcised and only those who were circumcised when they were 8 days old were recognized as God’s people. This is like the circumcision of sins in the time of Jesus by believing in the baptism of Jesus. They received circumcision in the flesh because they believed in what God promised Abraham.
Some hundred years later, God made the same covenant of the circumcision in the flesh with the people who were about to go on a journey to the land of Canaan. Exodus 12:47-51 says, “‘All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it. One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.’ Thus all the children of Israel did; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. And it came to pass, on that very same day, that the LORD brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt according to their armies.” It was God’s command that everyone who was going to keep the Passover had to be circumcised, and whoever participated in the Passover without having been circumcised first would be cut off from the people.
God is telling us to believe that the circumcision of the flesh in the Old Testament was the spiritual circumcision that Jesus did to cut the sins off from sinners.
1 Peter 3:21 says, “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” I ask those of you who believe in Jesus: “Do you believe the fact that all of your sins were taken over to Jesus by His baptism?” If you understand and believe the truth of baptism and the blood of Jesus, you realize that you have become a saint who has been circumcised in spirit. And you will come to believe the spiritual truth that without the baptism of Jesus there would be no sacrifice of His blood on the Cross. If you believe in the Cross alone and not the baptism of Jesus, which gives the remission of sins, you will find yourself distant from God’s mercy and remaining in sin.
The circumcision in the Old Testament was to cut off one’s foreskin, but the spiritual circumcision for salvation is attained by the faith of believing that the baptism of Jesus took away all our sins and brought salvation for us. We should believe the truth that the salvation from sins starts from the baptism of Jesus and ends with the blood of Jesus. By accepting and believing the Word on the baptism and the blood of Jesus we can become the children of the light. Such faith distinguishes born-again people from non-born-again people.
Our Lord removed the sins of the world with His baptism and His blood, and tells us to trust in Him. Therefore, if we want to have the witness of God that we have become His people, we should believe in the baptism of Jesus. Otherwise, we will be cut off from Jesus. The spiritual circumcision for salvation from sins is the baptism of Jesus, and the circumcision in the Old Testament is of the faith to cut off one’s foreskin. Salvation is completed by the faith in the baptism of Jesus and the blood of Jesus, the Passover Lamb.
The counterpart for the circumcision of the flesh in the Old Testament is the baptism of Jesus in the New Testament. Isaiah 34:16 says that all the God’s words have mates of their own: “Search from the book of the LORD, and read: Not one of these shall fail; Not one shall lack her mate. For My mouth has commanded it, and His Spirit has gathered them.” Words in the Old Testament have their mates in the New Testament, and vice versa. No single verse shall lack its mate. Then what verse in the New Testament is the mate for the circumcision of the flesh in the Old Testament? It is Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River that took away the sins of the world. The circumcision for the salvation of our souls is the baptism of Jesus in the New Testament (Mathew 3:13-17).
Believers of Jesus should receive the spiritual circumcision that brings the remission of sins and the citizenship of God’s Kingdom. The Israelites, who were circumcised in their flesh, lived together in Egypt for 430 years under a brutal slavery in God’s providence. They prayed to God, “Oh, God please get us out of Egypt.” God answered their prayers. They could leave Egypt by painting the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood of lamb. When they were about to keep the Passover in the wilderness, the uncircumcised had to be circumcised in the flesh before participating in the feast. The Israelites killed a lamb and painted their doorposts with its blood as the angel of death passed their houses. Because of that the death didn’t enter their doors but passed them instead; death didn’t fall upon them, but the plague passed them.
Ever since Abraham, people of Israel were circumcised when they were 8 days old. The Israelites who became God’s people feared God and cried out to God for delivery from their hardships. The people of Israel who lived in Egypt still had to be circumcised and only those who were circumcised when they were 8 days old were recognized as God’s people. This is like the circumcision of sins in the time of Jesus by believing in the baptism of Jesus. They received circumcision in the flesh because they believed in what God promised Abraham.
Some hundred years later, God made the same covenant of the circumcision in the flesh with the people who were about to go on a journey to the land of Canaan. Exodus 12:47-51 says, “‘All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it. One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.’ Thus all the children of Israel did; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. And it came to pass, on that very same day, that the LORD brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt according to their armies.” It was God’s command that everyone who was going to keep the Passover had to be circumcised, and whoever participated in the Passover without having been circumcised first would be cut off from the people.
God is telling us to believe that the circumcision of the flesh in the Old Testament was the spiritual circumcision that Jesus did to cut the sins off from sinners.
1 Peter 3:21 says, “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” I ask those of you who believe in Jesus: “Do you believe the fact that all of your sins were taken over to Jesus by His baptism?” If you understand and believe the truth of baptism and the blood of Jesus, you realize that you have become a saint who has been circumcised in spirit. And you will come to believe the spiritual truth that without the baptism of Jesus there would be no sacrifice of His blood on the Cross. If you believe in the Cross alone and not the baptism of Jesus, which gives the remission of sins, you will find yourself distant from God’s mercy and remaining in sin.
The circumcision in the Old Testament was to cut off one’s foreskin, but the spiritual circumcision for salvation is attained by the faith of believing that the baptism of Jesus took away all our sins and brought salvation for us. We should believe the truth that the salvation from sins starts from the baptism of Jesus and ends with the blood of Jesus. By accepting and believing the Word on the baptism and the blood of Jesus we can become the children of the light. Such faith distinguishes born-again people from non-born-again people.
Our Lord removed the sins of the world with His baptism and His blood, and tells us to trust in Him. Therefore, if we want to have the witness of God that we have become His people, we should believe in the baptism of Jesus. Otherwise, we will be cut off from Jesus. The spiritual circumcision for salvation from sins is the baptism of Jesus, and the circumcision in the Old Testament is of the faith to cut off one’s foreskin. Salvation is completed by the faith in the baptism of Jesus and the blood of Jesus, the Passover Lamb.
The counterpart for the circumcision of the flesh in the Old Testament is the baptism of Jesus in the New Testament. Isaiah 34:16 says that all the God’s words have mates of their own: “Search from the book of the LORD, and read: Not one of these shall fail; Not one shall lack her mate. For My mouth has commanded it, and His Spirit has gathered them.” Words in the Old Testament have their mates in the New Testament, and vice versa. No single verse shall lack its mate. Then what verse in the New Testament is the mate for the circumcision of the flesh in the Old Testament? It is Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River that took away the sins of the world. The circumcision for the salvation of our souls is the baptism of Jesus in the New Testament (Mathew 3:13-17).
Who Foolishly Believes Wrong Teachings?
These days so many people only believe in the blood of the Passover Lamb. They think, “What circumcision? It was for the Jews in the Old Testament. What circumcision do we need to receive in the time of New Testament?” That is somewhat true, but I am not talking about the circumcision of the flesh; I am talking about the spiritual circumcision that the Apostle Paul talked about in the New Testament. Most Christians ignore the spiritual circumcision that brings the remission of sins. The spiritual circumcision doesn’t require any specific forms but we need to receive it in our heart by faith. I am not saying that believers of Jesus should be circumcised in the flesh. As for us, the circumcision in the flesh means nothing, but the spiritual circumcision for salvation of our souls is a must, for we can become clean from sins by believing in the baptism of Jesus.
The spiritual circumcision is mandatory for an individual to be born again. Anyone who believes in Jesus should be circumcised spiritually. That is the only way to cut off sins from the heart. It makes us righteous. It makes us sinless. Therefore, we should accept by faith the baptism of Jesus that He received from John the Baptist in the Jordan River. The Apostle Paul also emphasized the spiritual circumcision: “Circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter” (Romans 2:29). Everyone should be circumcised in the heart for the remission of his or her sins. That is why the spiritual circumcision should be given.
Did your sins get cut off and laid on Jesus? Even those who believe in God in the time of New Testament should be circumcised in their heart by faith in Jesus. In the Old Testament a part of the foreskin was cut off, but in the New Testament believing in the spiritual circumcision in the heart is the sign of citizenship of God’s Kingdom. We should go through the spiritual circumcision by believing in Jesus’ baptism.
The Apostle Paul clearly states that in the Bible. God has saved human beings from the sins of the world and adopts the believers as His people, but He remits the sins only when someone passes his or her sins to Jesus by believing in the baptism of Jesus, just like by cutting off the foreskin of the flesh. The spiritual circumcision is the salvation of God: it is achieved by believing that Jesus took away the sins of the world through His baptism, bore the punishment to save us believers, made us the righteous, and adopted us as God’s children. God sees our faith in the baptism and the blood of His Son, and acknowledges us as His people. Believing in this is the spiritual circumcision and remission of sins.
The spiritual circumcision is mandatory for an individual to be born again. Anyone who believes in Jesus should be circumcised spiritually. That is the only way to cut off sins from the heart. It makes us righteous. It makes us sinless. Therefore, we should accept by faith the baptism of Jesus that He received from John the Baptist in the Jordan River. The Apostle Paul also emphasized the spiritual circumcision: “Circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter” (Romans 2:29). Everyone should be circumcised in the heart for the remission of his or her sins. That is why the spiritual circumcision should be given.
Did your sins get cut off and laid on Jesus? Even those who believe in God in the time of New Testament should be circumcised in their heart by faith in Jesus. In the Old Testament a part of the foreskin was cut off, but in the New Testament believing in the spiritual circumcision in the heart is the sign of citizenship of God’s Kingdom. We should go through the spiritual circumcision by believing in Jesus’ baptism.
The Apostle Paul clearly states that in the Bible. God has saved human beings from the sins of the world and adopts the believers as His people, but He remits the sins only when someone passes his or her sins to Jesus by believing in the baptism of Jesus, just like by cutting off the foreskin of the flesh. The spiritual circumcision is the salvation of God: it is achieved by believing that Jesus took away the sins of the world through His baptism, bore the punishment to save us believers, made us the righteous, and adopted us as God’s children. God sees our faith in the baptism and the blood of His Son, and acknowledges us as His people. Believing in this is the spiritual circumcision and remission of sins.
What Is the Salvation Jesus Fulfilled through His Baptism and His Blood?
The salvation Jesus fulfilled through His baptism and the blood is for the salvation of sinners. The blood of the Lamb was the judgment for the sins and the baptism of Jesus was the circumcision that removed the sins onto His body. Today’s Christian churches neglect this spiritual circumcision. However, we should not neglect the baptism of Jesus in the New Testament while the circumcision of the flesh in the Old Testament is nothing in the days of New Testament. Would you believe in the baptism of Jesus if that had taken all of your sins? If you neglect the baptism of Jesus, you will never come across the gospel that Jesus took away your sins through the baptism received from John the Baptist so that you may be born again.
Who ignores the spiritual circumcision through the baptism of Jesus that God mentioned? The Bible helps us to see the connection between the circumcision and the blood of the Passover Lamb. That is the secret of the baptism of Jesus. Spiritual circumcision is the primitive gospel rooted in the baptism of Jesus. The gospel the Apostle John preached was the gospel of the water baptism and the blood of Jesus Christ. 1 John 5:6 says, “This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.” The Bible tells us that Jesus came not only by water or by blood but also by water and blood. The following list bears witness to our salvation: the baptism of Jesus, the blood of Jesus at the Cross, and the resurrection of Jesus. The water of baptism, the blood, and the Holy Spirit are the witness to the Word that Jesus has saved the believers from all their sins. Again, the evidence that we have been saved from all our sins and born again is the baptism of Jesus, the blood on the Cross, and the Holy Spirit.
Who ignores the spiritual circumcision through the baptism of Jesus that God mentioned? The Bible helps us to see the connection between the circumcision and the blood of the Passover Lamb. That is the secret of the baptism of Jesus. Spiritual circumcision is the primitive gospel rooted in the baptism of Jesus. The gospel the Apostle John preached was the gospel of the water baptism and the blood of Jesus Christ. 1 John 5:6 says, “This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.” The Bible tells us that Jesus came not only by water or by blood but also by water and blood. The following list bears witness to our salvation: the baptism of Jesus, the blood of Jesus at the Cross, and the resurrection of Jesus. The water of baptism, the blood, and the Holy Spirit are the witness to the Word that Jesus has saved the believers from all their sins. Again, the evidence that we have been saved from all our sins and born again is the baptism of Jesus, the blood on the Cross, and the Holy Spirit.
Why Does the Bible Talk about Both the Baptism and the Blood of Jesus?
The baptism of Jesus and His blood is the Word that makes us born again by the water and the Spirit. Exodus 12:23 says, “For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you.” It is said that the Lord will pass through, which means He will pass over the judgment. Then does this mean that believing in the blood of the Passover Lamb gives us the remission of sins? But, the New Testament records, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?”(Romans 6:3), “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27), and “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism” (1 Peter 3:21). The disciples kept talking about the baptism Jesus received from John in the Jordan River in the New Testament like this. Believing in the baptism and the blood of Jesus is the correct faith that makes us born again of water and the Spirit.
To be honest with you, for ten years I believed in the blood of Jesus only. I was very enthusiastic back then. During the time, however, my heart was always bound by sin. Even though I believed in Jesus enthusiastically, I still had a sin problem. But when I found out about the spiritual circumcision through the baptism of Jesus, I became born again. After I was born again, I realized that the circumcision in the Old Testament is the baptism of Jesus in the New Testament. That is how I placed my trust in this.
“Is it right to believe the blood of Jesus along with the baptism of Jesus? Is my faith based on the Bible?” After I was born again by believing in the baptism and the blood of Jesus, I started to wonder about my faith like this. “Does it make a right faith to just believe that Jesus died for me without the baptism? Is He still my God and my Savior regardless of whether I believe that Jesus took away my sins through His baptism?” I had these questions as I was reading Exodus 12.
Today, Christians put their faith in the blood on the Cross alone and confess Jesus as their Savior as they read Exodus 12. But I still think they should reexamine their faith. Even though they confess that the Lord is the Christ and the Son of the living God, they still remain in sin. They claim that they were saved despite their remaining sin, for they believe in Jesus as their Savior. But the truth is that such faith is not based on the Truth. The faith of the born-again righteous is placed on the baptism and the blood of Jesus.
Then what does the Word of God in Exodus 12 really tell us? I examined the chapter carefully and thoroughly. I asked myself, “Isn’t that problematic for Christians to ignore the baptism of Jesus but to trust in the blood only?” Even before I finished the chapter, I found the truth that it is not just by blood. I could confirm the truth that the real spiritual circumcision is possible when we believe in both the baptism of Jesus and the blood on the Cross.
From Exodus 12:47-49, I can see God wanted them to be circumcised before eating the lamb that had been sacrificed for the Passover Feast. That is why in Exodus 12:49 God said, “One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.” From this verse, I found the truth that those who are not circumcised cannot eat the Passover lamb, which foreshadows Jesus Christ. Therefore, I came to accept the gospel of the water and the Spirit in my heart when I experienced the spiritual circumcision. I could stand firm on the Truth that made my heart clean as white as snow by accepting the fact that all our sins were passed onto Jesus through His baptism and that He had born all our judgment in our place by shedding His blood on the Cross.
I realized the truth that the circumcision and the blood of the Lamb existed in both Testaments to bring the Israelites the salvation from the sins of the world: The circumcision in the Old Testament was the baptism of Jesus in the New Testament: they both are the circumcision; one in the flesh the other in the heart. And the blood of the Lamb in the Old Testament was the blood of Jesus on the Cross. I came to believe that Jesus didn’t take the punishment for His own sins but by taking the sins of the world through the baptism from John the Baptist, He became the Savior to the world. Those who believe that John the Baptist passed the sins of the world on behalf of all the people in the world accept these two things: the baptism and the blood of Jesus.
However, those who profess to believe in Jesus but refuse to believe in His baptism do not believe in the spiritual circumcision. For that reason they still remain in their sin and stay distant from God even though they believe in Jesus. How come they are still sinners when they have believed in Jesus so long? How can they live with guilt in this world and head towards the destruction? They are very pathetic. Because they do not accept the fact that their sins were taken away to Jesus through the spiritual baptism that brings the everlasting salvation, they have no other ways but to remain in sin. They insist that they have received the remission of sins by believing in the Cross alone, but such faith doesn’t make believers whole. Those who only believe in the blood of Jesus cannot get their sins taken away by faith. Why is that? It is because they do not have faith in the baptism of Jesus that took away their sins once and for all.
Only when we believe in both the water (the baptism of Jesus) and the blood of Jesus according to the spiritual law for salvation God has laid out, we can be saved from sins. And we can become God’s people. It is written in the Bible, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Corinthians 13:5). If you insist on only the blood of Jesus as the spiritual circumcision, you need to examine yourself whether you can be saved completely from the world, and renew your faith. The Israelites were saved from all the sins of the world by believing in the circumcision and the blood in the Old Testament; and we are saved from all our sins when we believe in both the baptism of Jesus and the blood on the Cross recorded in the New Testament. The believers in this Truth become God’s people and God becomes their God. By these two things, the circumcision and the blood of the lamb (the baptism of Jesus and His blood), we could become God’s people. This Truth is the Word of being born again through the water, the blood and the Spirit that Jesus mentioned.
To be honest with you, for ten years I believed in the blood of Jesus only. I was very enthusiastic back then. During the time, however, my heart was always bound by sin. Even though I believed in Jesus enthusiastically, I still had a sin problem. But when I found out about the spiritual circumcision through the baptism of Jesus, I became born again. After I was born again, I realized that the circumcision in the Old Testament is the baptism of Jesus in the New Testament. That is how I placed my trust in this.
“Is it right to believe the blood of Jesus along with the baptism of Jesus? Is my faith based on the Bible?” After I was born again by believing in the baptism and the blood of Jesus, I started to wonder about my faith like this. “Does it make a right faith to just believe that Jesus died for me without the baptism? Is He still my God and my Savior regardless of whether I believe that Jesus took away my sins through His baptism?” I had these questions as I was reading Exodus 12.
Today, Christians put their faith in the blood on the Cross alone and confess Jesus as their Savior as they read Exodus 12. But I still think they should reexamine their faith. Even though they confess that the Lord is the Christ and the Son of the living God, they still remain in sin. They claim that they were saved despite their remaining sin, for they believe in Jesus as their Savior. But the truth is that such faith is not based on the Truth. The faith of the born-again righteous is placed on the baptism and the blood of Jesus.
Then what does the Word of God in Exodus 12 really tell us? I examined the chapter carefully and thoroughly. I asked myself, “Isn’t that problematic for Christians to ignore the baptism of Jesus but to trust in the blood only?” Even before I finished the chapter, I found the truth that it is not just by blood. I could confirm the truth that the real spiritual circumcision is possible when we believe in both the baptism of Jesus and the blood on the Cross.
From Exodus 12:47-49, I can see God wanted them to be circumcised before eating the lamb that had been sacrificed for the Passover Feast. That is why in Exodus 12:49 God said, “One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.” From this verse, I found the truth that those who are not circumcised cannot eat the Passover lamb, which foreshadows Jesus Christ. Therefore, I came to accept the gospel of the water and the Spirit in my heart when I experienced the spiritual circumcision. I could stand firm on the Truth that made my heart clean as white as snow by accepting the fact that all our sins were passed onto Jesus through His baptism and that He had born all our judgment in our place by shedding His blood on the Cross.
I realized the truth that the circumcision and the blood of the Lamb existed in both Testaments to bring the Israelites the salvation from the sins of the world: The circumcision in the Old Testament was the baptism of Jesus in the New Testament: they both are the circumcision; one in the flesh the other in the heart. And the blood of the Lamb in the Old Testament was the blood of Jesus on the Cross. I came to believe that Jesus didn’t take the punishment for His own sins but by taking the sins of the world through the baptism from John the Baptist, He became the Savior to the world. Those who believe that John the Baptist passed the sins of the world on behalf of all the people in the world accept these two things: the baptism and the blood of Jesus.
However, those who profess to believe in Jesus but refuse to believe in His baptism do not believe in the spiritual circumcision. For that reason they still remain in their sin and stay distant from God even though they believe in Jesus. How come they are still sinners when they have believed in Jesus so long? How can they live with guilt in this world and head towards the destruction? They are very pathetic. Because they do not accept the fact that their sins were taken away to Jesus through the spiritual baptism that brings the everlasting salvation, they have no other ways but to remain in sin. They insist that they have received the remission of sins by believing in the Cross alone, but such faith doesn’t make believers whole. Those who only believe in the blood of Jesus cannot get their sins taken away by faith. Why is that? It is because they do not have faith in the baptism of Jesus that took away their sins once and for all.
Only when we believe in both the water (the baptism of Jesus) and the blood of Jesus according to the spiritual law for salvation God has laid out, we can be saved from sins. And we can become God’s people. It is written in the Bible, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Corinthians 13:5). If you insist on only the blood of Jesus as the spiritual circumcision, you need to examine yourself whether you can be saved completely from the world, and renew your faith. The Israelites were saved from all the sins of the world by believing in the circumcision and the blood in the Old Testament; and we are saved from all our sins when we believe in both the baptism of Jesus and the blood on the Cross recorded in the New Testament. The believers in this Truth become God’s people and God becomes their God. By these two things, the circumcision and the blood of the lamb (the baptism of Jesus and His blood), we could become God’s people. This Truth is the Word of being born again through the water, the blood and the Spirit that Jesus mentioned.
What Is the Remission of Sins That the Bible Talks About?
Jesus abandoned His heavenly throne, came to this earth, received the baptism from John the Baptist at the age of 30, and carried the sins of the world. This is the primitive gospel. The blood of Jesus symbolizes the judgment for the sins that He took away through the baptism. He came as the Savior of mankind and delivered all sinners from all the sins of the world by giving the water and the blood that constitute the primitive gospel.
Is our being born again achieved by blood only? No! We are saved from sin by the baptism of Jesus and His blood. I would like to ask a question to those who believe only in the blood of Jesus. Do sinners become righteous by believing only in the blood of Jesus? Or by believing in both the baptism of Jesus received from John the Baptist in the Jordan River and the blood on the Cross? I would like to ask which is the real truth and real salvation between the two. Which faith is the right faith that the Bible defines between the faith in only the blood of Jesus and the faith in both the baptism and the blood? The true regeneration by the water and the Spirit comes from the faith that Jesus came in the flesh of man, took away all our sins through His baptism in the Jordan River, carried the sins of the world to the Cross, took the punishment for the sins in our place, and saved us from all sins and condemnations. The faith in the blood only insists that Jesus paid the price for our sins anyhow; He was cursed, whipped, and injured so that He could deliver us from the judgment for our sins. Nevertheless, such faith is not perfect. We have one thing to clarify here. Then what is the reason for Jesus to be crucified?
The Bible says that the wages of sin is death, but Jesus never sinned in His entire lifetime on earth. Because He is God Himself, the spiritual Being, He had to borrow Mary’s body to be born as a human. But He is the Son of God, who is fundamentally sinless. So as the Savior, He had to be baptized from John the Baptist before He was crucified. By taking away the sins through the baptism, He carried the sins to the Cross, shed His blood and fulfilled the salvation for sinners.
Now let’s get more from the Tabernacle system about this Truth. According to the sacrificial system in the Old Testament, either Aaron or sinners had to lay their hands on the heads of the sacrificial animals (either lamb of goat) to pass their sins and killed the animals and burned them on the altar of burnt offering. Considering that the Old Testament is the shadow of New Testament, when did Jesus take over the sins of the world before paying the penalty for the sins? I want to ask you, “Have you ever passed your sins to Jesus by faith as if you passed something to someone?” In the Old Testament, the Israelites could not kill the animals before they laid their hands on them. “Laying on of hands” means “to pass something.” In other words, unless a sinner or Aaron laid their hands on the sacrificial animals and passed the sins to them, they could not give the sacrifice of burnt offering to God.
Leviticus 1 talks about ‘putting hand on the head of the animal’ throughout the chapter. They could be saved from their sins by passing their sins by putting their hands on the sacrificial lamb or goat and by killing them and by offering their blood and meat to God. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were saved by faith, too.
In Exodus 12, the circumcision and the blood of the lamb are mentioned. And in Exodus 20, there are God’s Ten Commandments. And the sacrificial system of the Tabernacle follows it. Whenever the Israelites had to give God burnt offering, the priests had to pass the yearly sins of the Israelites by putting his hands on the sacrificial animal, and he cut the animal’s neck, sprinkled the blood on the altar of the burnt offering and poured the rest of the blood to the ground.
Likewise, we sinners can still be saved by believing in the water and the blood of Jesus. 1 John 5:1-10 says that the baptism and the blood (Cross) of Jesus save sinners. In other words, sinners can receive the remission of sins by believing in the baptism and the blood of Jesus. The baptism of Jesus, His blood, and the Spirit constitute the Truth of being born again by the water and the Spirit.
Do we receive remission of sins just by believing in the blood of the Christ alone? Those who try to become born again just by believing in the blood of Jesus on the Cross alone always have sins in their heart. However, we can be saved from all sins by believing in the baptism of Jesus that constitutes the spiritual circumcision, which corresponds to the circumcision in the flesh of the Old Testament.
Every denomination has different faith in Jesus. I know their faith is not correct. The Presbyterian Church advocates the doctrine of predestination; the Methodist Church advocates Arminianism that is akin to humanism; the Baptist Church emphasizes the baptism of immersion; and the Holiness Church focuses on the pious life. But what does the Bible tell us about being born again? The Bible mentions the baptism and the blood of Jesus. Those who seek the truth based on the Bible find mates for each verse from the Old and New Testament and believe accordingly.
Is our being born again achieved by blood only? No! We are saved from sin by the baptism of Jesus and His blood. I would like to ask a question to those who believe only in the blood of Jesus. Do sinners become righteous by believing only in the blood of Jesus? Or by believing in both the baptism of Jesus received from John the Baptist in the Jordan River and the blood on the Cross? I would like to ask which is the real truth and real salvation between the two. Which faith is the right faith that the Bible defines between the faith in only the blood of Jesus and the faith in both the baptism and the blood? The true regeneration by the water and the Spirit comes from the faith that Jesus came in the flesh of man, took away all our sins through His baptism in the Jordan River, carried the sins of the world to the Cross, took the punishment for the sins in our place, and saved us from all sins and condemnations. The faith in the blood only insists that Jesus paid the price for our sins anyhow; He was cursed, whipped, and injured so that He could deliver us from the judgment for our sins. Nevertheless, such faith is not perfect. We have one thing to clarify here. Then what is the reason for Jesus to be crucified?
The Bible says that the wages of sin is death, but Jesus never sinned in His entire lifetime on earth. Because He is God Himself, the spiritual Being, He had to borrow Mary’s body to be born as a human. But He is the Son of God, who is fundamentally sinless. So as the Savior, He had to be baptized from John the Baptist before He was crucified. By taking away the sins through the baptism, He carried the sins to the Cross, shed His blood and fulfilled the salvation for sinners.
Now let’s get more from the Tabernacle system about this Truth. According to the sacrificial system in the Old Testament, either Aaron or sinners had to lay their hands on the heads of the sacrificial animals (either lamb of goat) to pass their sins and killed the animals and burned them on the altar of burnt offering. Considering that the Old Testament is the shadow of New Testament, when did Jesus take over the sins of the world before paying the penalty for the sins? I want to ask you, “Have you ever passed your sins to Jesus by faith as if you passed something to someone?” In the Old Testament, the Israelites could not kill the animals before they laid their hands on them. “Laying on of hands” means “to pass something.” In other words, unless a sinner or Aaron laid their hands on the sacrificial animals and passed the sins to them, they could not give the sacrifice of burnt offering to God.
Leviticus 1 talks about ‘putting hand on the head of the animal’ throughout the chapter. They could be saved from their sins by passing their sins by putting their hands on the sacrificial lamb or goat and by killing them and by offering their blood and meat to God. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were saved by faith, too.
In Exodus 12, the circumcision and the blood of the lamb are mentioned. And in Exodus 20, there are God’s Ten Commandments. And the sacrificial system of the Tabernacle follows it. Whenever the Israelites had to give God burnt offering, the priests had to pass the yearly sins of the Israelites by putting his hands on the sacrificial animal, and he cut the animal’s neck, sprinkled the blood on the altar of the burnt offering and poured the rest of the blood to the ground.
Likewise, we sinners can still be saved by believing in the water and the blood of Jesus. 1 John 5:1-10 says that the baptism and the blood (Cross) of Jesus save sinners. In other words, sinners can receive the remission of sins by believing in the baptism and the blood of Jesus. The baptism of Jesus, His blood, and the Spirit constitute the Truth of being born again by the water and the Spirit.
Do we receive remission of sins just by believing in the blood of the Christ alone? Those who try to become born again just by believing in the blood of Jesus on the Cross alone always have sins in their heart. However, we can be saved from all sins by believing in the baptism of Jesus that constitutes the spiritual circumcision, which corresponds to the circumcision in the flesh of the Old Testament.
Every denomination has different faith in Jesus. I know their faith is not correct. The Presbyterian Church advocates the doctrine of predestination; the Methodist Church advocates Arminianism that is akin to humanism; the Baptist Church emphasizes the baptism of immersion; and the Holiness Church focuses on the pious life. But what does the Bible tell us about being born again? The Bible mentions the baptism and the blood of Jesus. Those who seek the truth based on the Bible find mates for each verse from the Old and New Testament and believe accordingly.
What Is the Secret of the Baptism of Jesus?
The baptism Jesus received was spiritual circumcision to the believers in His baptism. God said in the Old Testament that He would cut off the uncircumcised. We need to believe that the spiritual circumcision for salvation in the New Testament is the baptism of Jesus. Jesus received the baptism from John the Baptist to save the human race from sin, by which we could be circumcised spiritually in our hearts by believing in His baptism. We need to contemplate deeply why Jesus had to receive the baptism from John the Baptist.
The account about the baptism of Jesus is written in the passage from Mathew 3:13. “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?’ But Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he allowed Him” (Matthew 3:13-15). Jesus was baptized with the water in the Jordan River, which is known as “the river of death.” John the Baptist laid his hand on the head of Jesus, and let Him be immersed. This is the proper baptism, that is, “the baptism by immersion.” To baptize, ‘baptizo’ in Greek, means to immerse or to submerge under water. Jesus had to take over the sins of the world through the baptism that He received in the form of laying on of hands as in the Old Testament.
Since the baptism that Jesus received from John the Baptist was for the spiritual circumcision of all humankind, He said just before the moment, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” It was fitting for Jesus to take away the sins of the world and to become the Savior to all sinners, and to carry all the sins to the Cross to die. The baptism of Jesus was the secret of the gospel of the water and the Spirit, the Word that makes sinners be born again.
The first thing Jesus did as He started His public life was to be baptized by John the Baptist. I said that to baptize, ‘baptizo’ in Greek, means to immerse or to submerge under water. This word also means “to cleanse, to bury, to transfer, or to pass.” In the Old Testament, the Israelites kept Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) on the tenth day of the seventh month every year by placing their yearly sins on two scapegoats. After placing their sins, they killed a goat and offered its blood as sacrifice. Then they brought the other live goat in front of the Israelites, placed their sins on it by the laying on of hands of the High Priest and they left it alone in the desert to die. All its process is written in Leviticus 16. On that day the High Priest put his hands on the head of the goat and passed all the yearly sins of the Israelites to it.
Jesus also took over all the sins of the world once and for all through the baptism when He was baptized by John the Baptist, the representative of all mankind and one of the descendants of Aaron the High Priest. The next day of His baptism, John the Baptist witnessed of Jesus saying, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29) After Jesus was baptized, after all the sins of the world were placed on Him, He carried the sins of the world as the Lamb of God, walked to the Cross and paid the penalty for all those sins to save the human race from sin. Thus, the spiritual circumcision for all people was fulfilled. Those who accept the baptism of Jesus (the circumcision in the Old Testament) and His blood on the Cross (the blood of the Passover lamb) as their salvation can be delivered from all their sins. Jesus saved sinners by His baptism and His blood. This is the spiritual circumcision that gives every believer the remission of sins.
The account about the baptism of Jesus is written in the passage from Mathew 3:13. “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?’ But Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he allowed Him” (Matthew 3:13-15). Jesus was baptized with the water in the Jordan River, which is known as “the river of death.” John the Baptist laid his hand on the head of Jesus, and let Him be immersed. This is the proper baptism, that is, “the baptism by immersion.” To baptize, ‘baptizo’ in Greek, means to immerse or to submerge under water. Jesus had to take over the sins of the world through the baptism that He received in the form of laying on of hands as in the Old Testament.
Since the baptism that Jesus received from John the Baptist was for the spiritual circumcision of all humankind, He said just before the moment, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” It was fitting for Jesus to take away the sins of the world and to become the Savior to all sinners, and to carry all the sins to the Cross to die. The baptism of Jesus was the secret of the gospel of the water and the Spirit, the Word that makes sinners be born again.
The first thing Jesus did as He started His public life was to be baptized by John the Baptist. I said that to baptize, ‘baptizo’ in Greek, means to immerse or to submerge under water. This word also means “to cleanse, to bury, to transfer, or to pass.” In the Old Testament, the Israelites kept Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) on the tenth day of the seventh month every year by placing their yearly sins on two scapegoats. After placing their sins, they killed a goat and offered its blood as sacrifice. Then they brought the other live goat in front of the Israelites, placed their sins on it by the laying on of hands of the High Priest and they left it alone in the desert to die. All its process is written in Leviticus 16. On that day the High Priest put his hands on the head of the goat and passed all the yearly sins of the Israelites to it.
Jesus also took over all the sins of the world once and for all through the baptism when He was baptized by John the Baptist, the representative of all mankind and one of the descendants of Aaron the High Priest. The next day of His baptism, John the Baptist witnessed of Jesus saying, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29) After Jesus was baptized, after all the sins of the world were placed on Him, He carried the sins of the world as the Lamb of God, walked to the Cross and paid the penalty for all those sins to save the human race from sin. Thus, the spiritual circumcision for all people was fulfilled. Those who accept the baptism of Jesus (the circumcision in the Old Testament) and His blood on the Cross (the blood of the Passover lamb) as their salvation can be delivered from all their sins. Jesus saved sinners by His baptism and His blood. This is the spiritual circumcision that gives every believer the remission of sins.
Is Salvation Achieved by the Blood Only? No!
God tells us about this clearly in 1 John chapter 5. “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one” (1 John 5:4-8).
What do you think is the evidence that you have been saved from the sins of the world? It is the faith in the Son of God, who came by water and blood. What makes us overcome the world? The Bible states clearly here, “This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one” (1 John 5:6-8).
Jesus Christ came to this earth, received the baptism, shed His blood and saved us from death. The Holy Spirit is the witness to the fact that God the Creator became the Savior. The primitive gospel is the testimony of the water and the Spirit that Jesus took away all our sins through His baptism in Jordan River; shed His blood on the Cross, suffered the punishment to save us believers from all sins.
What do you think is the evidence that you have been saved from the sins of the world? It is the faith in the Son of God, who came by water and blood. What makes us overcome the world? The Bible states clearly here, “This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one” (1 John 5:6-8).
Jesus Christ came to this earth, received the baptism, shed His blood and saved us from death. The Holy Spirit is the witness to the fact that God the Creator became the Savior. The primitive gospel is the testimony of the water and the Spirit that Jesus took away all our sins through His baptism in Jordan River; shed His blood on the Cross, suffered the punishment to save us believers from all sins.
What Is the Water and the Blood as the Witness to the Remission of Sins?
The water in the above Scripture passage refers to the baptism of Jesus. His baptism was equal to the circumcision in the Old Testament. The baptism of Jesus is the counterpart for the circumcision in the Old Testament. It is the evidence that all the sins of sinners were taken away to Jesus. Now anyone who believes so can stand before God boldly and confess, “Jesus is my Savior. He is my Lord. I am no longer in sin because I believe in the gospel of the water and the Spirit, the baptism and the blood of Jesus. I am a child of the Lord. God is my God. Jesus is my Lord.” The only reason we can say it like this is because we have faith in the baptism and the blood of Jesus. What makes us born again? The witnesses in our heart, the baptism of Jesus and His blood on the Cross, constitute the true gospel that makes us born again of water and the Spirit.
Dear fellow Christians, is it only by the blood of Jesus Christ that sinners put their faith in Jesus and confess Him as their Savior? It is not just by the blood of Jesus. It is by the water and the blood; the water and the Spirit.
Let us look into the Bible regarding the water, which is the baptism of Jesus. It is written in 1 Peter 3:21-22, “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.”
The Apostle Peter said the baptism of Jesus is the antitype of salvation, and the assurance for his own salvation was also based on the baptism of Jesus. The baptism of Jesus was of the circumcision in the Old Testament. Just as the Israelites obeyed the Word of God and practiced circumcision to become God’s children, the baptism of Jesus took all the sins from sinners; hence, the circumcision in the Old Testament and the baptism of Jesus imply the same thing. Do you believe the witness that the baptism of Jesus is the circumcision of the Old Testament? 1 Peter 3:21 says that the baptism of Jesus is the antitype of salvation, and are you still going to stand against the written Word of God?
How can anyone in the world live without sins? But Jesus was baptized for our salvation and fulfilled all righteousness. Mathew 3:15 says, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Because all the sins of the entire human race had been laid on the head of Jesus, whoever believes in His baptism becomes a sinless and righteous person by accepting the Truth that Jesus took away all his or her sins through His baptism once and for all. Jesus Christ carried the sins of the world and shed His blood by bearing the penalty for sin on the Cross
Two things that save sinners from all sins are the water and the blood. And Jesus fulfilled these two during His 33 years of life on this earth. Do you believe in the baptism and the blood of Jesus? John 1:29 says, “Behold! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!” Jesus received the baptism, took over the sins of the world and carried the sins to the Cross. The Lord is the Son of God, the Creator and yet He fulfilled the covenant of the circumcision in the Old Testament through His baptism. Those who accept the water baptism of Jesus and His blood will be born again by the gospel of the water and the Spirit. The Lord then will be their Lord. Thank You, Lord. Hallelujah! The Lord has fulfilled His promise: He actually has saved us from the sins of the world.
“There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God)” (1 Peter 3:21).
It doesn’t mean that we don’t do anything filthy with our flesh just because we believe in Jesus as our Savior. Even though we still commit sin in our flesh, we have received the remission of sins by believing that the baptism of Jesus took away all our sins, He bore the penalty for all the sins, and the baptism and the blood of Jesus bring salvation to us believers.
Being born again by accepting the Lord as our own Savior takes place in our heart and soul. So does the remission of sins. Nonetheless, we still cannot help but engage ourselves in filthy acts and sin in our flesh even after we were born again in our heart, but even those sins have already been remitted away. The baptism of Jesus bears the witness for those who have been saved. We become righteous through the primitive gospel of the water and the Spirit when we believe in the Truth of salvation that testifies all the sins were passed over to Jesus at the time of His baptism. This is Abraham’s faith in the Old Testament and the righteousness by faith that Paul referred to, and the antitype of salvation that Peter mentioned.
Is your salvation accomplished just by the blood of Jesus? No. Is it just by the water? No. The salvation from sins is fulfilled by the water and the blood. Jesus the Son of God came to this earth, took away all our sins, carried the sins to the Cross and bore the penalty for the sins so that He could save all the sinners. We receive salvation by believing that Jesus Christ took away all our sins through His baptism and blood; suffered the punishment for us so that all the sinners could be saved.
Just as it is written, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3), we receive salvation when we believe in the baptism and the blood of Jesus. The Lord came to this world, took away the sins of the world through His baptism, and paid the penalty for those sins by shedding His blood on the Cross. The gospel of the water and the blood saved us from the sins of the world. Those of us who believe in this Truth receive the remission of sins that makes us born again. We can be delivered from sins and born again by accepting the gospel of the remission of sins.
John 1:12 says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” Do you believe Jesus as your Savior, who saved you from sins through His baptism and blood? You should receive salvation that the Son of God fulfilled through the water and the blood. What does God want us to do? He wants us to believe in His Son. And He wants us to receive the remission of sins by faith. Jesus came to this earth in flesh to redeem all sinners; at the age of 30 He received the baptism to take over the sins of the world to give us the spiritual circumcision; and He died on the Cross as the Lamb of God by shedding His blood. Believing in the baptism and the blood of Jesus is the faith that makes you born again. The Lord became the propitiation of all sinners through His baptism and blood. That is how He saved us believers from all sins. That is the faith that makes us become born again by the water and the Spirit.
The Truth that makes us righteous by faith is the gospel of the water and the blood. Is it by the blood of Christ alone? No. It is by the blood and the water. The Bible tells us that the salvation from sin is not by the blood of Jesus alone. It is written that the baptism and the blood of Jesus brought salvation to us. The baptism of Jesus refers to the spiritual circumcision. That is the Truth of salvation that removes all our sins. He was punished for sinners, for you and me. He spared us from being punished when we believed in the gospel of salvation, His baptism and blood, in our heart. We receive salvation from the sins of the world by faith. Our sins are remitted when we believe that the baptism and the blood of Jesus Christ brought us perfect salvation. Do you believe in this? I hope you believe in this gospel of the water and the Spirit. I pray that you will place your faith in the gospel and receive everlasting life.
Dear fellow Christians, is it only by the blood of Jesus Christ that sinners put their faith in Jesus and confess Him as their Savior? It is not just by the blood of Jesus. It is by the water and the blood; the water and the Spirit.
Let us look into the Bible regarding the water, which is the baptism of Jesus. It is written in 1 Peter 3:21-22, “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.”
The Apostle Peter said the baptism of Jesus is the antitype of salvation, and the assurance for his own salvation was also based on the baptism of Jesus. The baptism of Jesus was of the circumcision in the Old Testament. Just as the Israelites obeyed the Word of God and practiced circumcision to become God’s children, the baptism of Jesus took all the sins from sinners; hence, the circumcision in the Old Testament and the baptism of Jesus imply the same thing. Do you believe the witness that the baptism of Jesus is the circumcision of the Old Testament? 1 Peter 3:21 says that the baptism of Jesus is the antitype of salvation, and are you still going to stand against the written Word of God?
How can anyone in the world live without sins? But Jesus was baptized for our salvation and fulfilled all righteousness. Mathew 3:15 says, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Because all the sins of the entire human race had been laid on the head of Jesus, whoever believes in His baptism becomes a sinless and righteous person by accepting the Truth that Jesus took away all his or her sins through His baptism once and for all. Jesus Christ carried the sins of the world and shed His blood by bearing the penalty for sin on the Cross
Two things that save sinners from all sins are the water and the blood. And Jesus fulfilled these two during His 33 years of life on this earth. Do you believe in the baptism and the blood of Jesus? John 1:29 says, “Behold! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!” Jesus received the baptism, took over the sins of the world and carried the sins to the Cross. The Lord is the Son of God, the Creator and yet He fulfilled the covenant of the circumcision in the Old Testament through His baptism. Those who accept the water baptism of Jesus and His blood will be born again by the gospel of the water and the Spirit. The Lord then will be their Lord. Thank You, Lord. Hallelujah! The Lord has fulfilled His promise: He actually has saved us from the sins of the world.
“There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God)” (1 Peter 3:21).
It doesn’t mean that we don’t do anything filthy with our flesh just because we believe in Jesus as our Savior. Even though we still commit sin in our flesh, we have received the remission of sins by believing that the baptism of Jesus took away all our sins, He bore the penalty for all the sins, and the baptism and the blood of Jesus bring salvation to us believers.
Being born again by accepting the Lord as our own Savior takes place in our heart and soul. So does the remission of sins. Nonetheless, we still cannot help but engage ourselves in filthy acts and sin in our flesh even after we were born again in our heart, but even those sins have already been remitted away. The baptism of Jesus bears the witness for those who have been saved. We become righteous through the primitive gospel of the water and the Spirit when we believe in the Truth of salvation that testifies all the sins were passed over to Jesus at the time of His baptism. This is Abraham’s faith in the Old Testament and the righteousness by faith that Paul referred to, and the antitype of salvation that Peter mentioned.
Is your salvation accomplished just by the blood of Jesus? No. Is it just by the water? No. The salvation from sins is fulfilled by the water and the blood. Jesus the Son of God came to this earth, took away all our sins, carried the sins to the Cross and bore the penalty for the sins so that He could save all the sinners. We receive salvation by believing that Jesus Christ took away all our sins through His baptism and blood; suffered the punishment for us so that all the sinners could be saved.
Just as it is written, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3), we receive salvation when we believe in the baptism and the blood of Jesus. The Lord came to this world, took away the sins of the world through His baptism, and paid the penalty for those sins by shedding His blood on the Cross. The gospel of the water and the blood saved us from the sins of the world. Those of us who believe in this Truth receive the remission of sins that makes us born again. We can be delivered from sins and born again by accepting the gospel of the remission of sins.
John 1:12 says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” Do you believe Jesus as your Savior, who saved you from sins through His baptism and blood? You should receive salvation that the Son of God fulfilled through the water and the blood. What does God want us to do? He wants us to believe in His Son. And He wants us to receive the remission of sins by faith. Jesus came to this earth in flesh to redeem all sinners; at the age of 30 He received the baptism to take over the sins of the world to give us the spiritual circumcision; and He died on the Cross as the Lamb of God by shedding His blood. Believing in the baptism and the blood of Jesus is the faith that makes you born again. The Lord became the propitiation of all sinners through His baptism and blood. That is how He saved us believers from all sins. That is the faith that makes us become born again by the water and the Spirit.
The Truth that makes us righteous by faith is the gospel of the water and the blood. Is it by the blood of Christ alone? No. It is by the blood and the water. The Bible tells us that the salvation from sin is not by the blood of Jesus alone. It is written that the baptism and the blood of Jesus brought salvation to us. The baptism of Jesus refers to the spiritual circumcision. That is the Truth of salvation that removes all our sins. He was punished for sinners, for you and me. He spared us from being punished when we believed in the gospel of salvation, His baptism and blood, in our heart. We receive salvation from the sins of the world by faith. Our sins are remitted when we believe that the baptism and the blood of Jesus Christ brought us perfect salvation. Do you believe in this? I hope you believe in this gospel of the water and the Spirit. I pray that you will place your faith in the gospel and receive everlasting life.
Even the Apostle Paul Believed So
The Apostle Paul said, “Circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter” (Romans 2:29). We receive the spiritual circumcision by believing that Jesus came to this earth in the flesh of man, took away the sins of the world by receiving the baptism, and shed His blood on the Cross, and rose again from the dead. Paul said the spiritual circumcision should be done in our heart. Circumcision of our hearts is performed when we believe in the baptism and the blood of Jesus. If you want to be circumcised spiritually in your heart, you should accept the gospel of the baptism and the blood of Jesus. Only by that way, you can become a true citizen of God. Circumcision of the heart is to believe in the baptism and the blood of Jesus. The righteous are the people who believe in the baptism of Jesus along with His blood.
Was John the Baptist Sent by God?
We wonder, “Who is John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus?” John is the representative of all humankind. Mathew 11:11 talks about this. Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come” (Mathew 11:11-14).
Jesus said that there is no greater man than John the Baptist among those born of women. And He continued, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.” The days of John the Baptist were the last generation of the Old Testament, the time of God’s covenant. It is because Jesus Christ (the main character who will fulfill the covenant) appeared in the human history.
Then who is going to fulfill the covenant from the Old Testament? They are John the Baptist and Jesus. John the Baptist passed the sins of the world to Jesus. Who is the last prophet in the Old Testament? Who is the last High Priest? Who is the descendant of Aaron? Jesus Himself testified that it is John the Baptist. He is the representative of all humans and he is the greatest man among those born of women. Moses, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob─all of them were born of women. But among all men throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament, who is the greatest man of all human beings? It is none other than John the Baptist. He is the last prophet of the Old Testament, and God’s servant sent by Him. Therefore, he could pass the sins of all people to Jesus just as the High Priests in the Old Testament laid their hands on lambs to pass the sins of the Israelites. He was the servant of God who fulfilled the circumcision of heart by baptizing Jesus.
I want you to take the blood of the Jesus along with His baptism as the witness for the remission of sins. Jesus has already taken away all the sins of the world through His baptism and paid the penalty for all those sins. This gospel is meant for us to believe what Jesus had already done. As long as we believe in the gospel of the water and the Spirit, which regenerates us, we become spiritual descendants of Abraham and we can enter the genealogy of Jesus Christ. I believe some of you have entered the genealogy of Jesus by faith, but others are still outside. And the sun is about to set. So you should place your faith in the baptism of Jesus and come into the genealogy of Jesus as soon as possible. Your faith in the baptism and the blood of Jesus will be spiritual anointment for your salvation. I hope you understand the secret of faith that the spiritual anointment is prepared only by the faith in the gospel of the baptism and the blood of Jesus.
Jesus said that there is no greater man than John the Baptist among those born of women. And He continued, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.” The days of John the Baptist were the last generation of the Old Testament, the time of God’s covenant. It is because Jesus Christ (the main character who will fulfill the covenant) appeared in the human history.
Then who is going to fulfill the covenant from the Old Testament? They are John the Baptist and Jesus. John the Baptist passed the sins of the world to Jesus. Who is the last prophet in the Old Testament? Who is the last High Priest? Who is the descendant of Aaron? Jesus Himself testified that it is John the Baptist. He is the representative of all humans and he is the greatest man among those born of women. Moses, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob─all of them were born of women. But among all men throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament, who is the greatest man of all human beings? It is none other than John the Baptist. He is the last prophet of the Old Testament, and God’s servant sent by Him. Therefore, he could pass the sins of all people to Jesus just as the High Priests in the Old Testament laid their hands on lambs to pass the sins of the Israelites. He was the servant of God who fulfilled the circumcision of heart by baptizing Jesus.
I want you to take the blood of the Jesus along with His baptism as the witness for the remission of sins. Jesus has already taken away all the sins of the world through His baptism and paid the penalty for all those sins. This gospel is meant for us to believe what Jesus had already done. As long as we believe in the gospel of the water and the Spirit, which regenerates us, we become spiritual descendants of Abraham and we can enter the genealogy of Jesus Christ. I believe some of you have entered the genealogy of Jesus by faith, but others are still outside. And the sun is about to set. So you should place your faith in the baptism of Jesus and come into the genealogy of Jesus as soon as possible. Your faith in the baptism and the blood of Jesus will be spiritual anointment for your salvation. I hope you understand the secret of faith that the spiritual anointment is prepared only by the faith in the gospel of the baptism and the blood of Jesus.
For Whom Was Jesus Baptized?
It is written, “And John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?’ But Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he allowed Him” (Mathew 3:14-15). Jesus received the baptism to eradicate all the sins from all people. Jesus is the Son of God and He is our God. He is our Creator. He came to this world with God’s will to make us into His people. About whom were the prophesies in the Old Testament spoken? Those are all about Jesus Christ. All the prophecies are about how Jesus would come to this world and how He would take away the sins.
Just as the prophecies, Jesus came to this earth, and took over all the sins that were committed and will be committed by all mankind, from Adam and Eve to the last person on earth. Now, receive salvation that Jesus fulfilled through His baptism and the blood. Don’t you understand that this is the Truth? Are you still in sins? “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness,” said Jesus just before He was baptized by John the Baptist. The word ‘to baptize’ means ‘to wash.’ How can our sins be washed through Jesus’ baptism? It is because all our sins were placed on the head of Jesus. And the sins of our hearts were washed away.
Because all the sins were carried over to Jesus through the baptism, those who accept this into heart receive salvation from sin. Because ‘baptism’ means ‘washing of sins,’ believing in the baptism of Jesus is to receive the spiritual circumcision in this New Testament age. “Circumcision is of the heart.” When we believe in our heart that all our sins were passed over to Jesus by His baptism, the spiritual circumcision is practiced. The circumcision of heart is to accept the baptism of Jesus that took away all our sins. Have you truly been circumcised in your heart? When your heart is circumcised, all your sins will be washed away. That is how all righteousness of God, that is, the salvation of all sinners, was fulfilled.
Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. John the Baptist put his hands on the head of Jesus to pass the sins of the world to Jesus as the High Priests in the Old Testament laid their hands on the heads of sacrificial animals to pass the sins of all the Israelites. In the days of the Old Testament, the Israelites brought unblemished animals, put their hands on the heads of the animals, passed their sins to them, killed and gave the blood of the animals to the priests to receive remission of their sins. Jesus was baptized to take the sins on His body.
After the Lord took over all the sins of the world, He submerged in the water. He sank in the water. This symbolizes death and the judgment for sinners. His immersion refers to the blood on the Cross for the penalty of our sins. Then He came out of the water. This refers to the resurrection. Jesus was resurrected from death in three days. This is the evidence that Jesus is our God and He saved us perfectly from sin. The baptism of Jesus, His blood on the Cross, and His resurrection in three days and sitting in the right hand of God’s throne—all these confirm that He saved all human beings from sin. Do you believe this?
I want you to take this Word of confirmation into your heart. This is the Truth. Only if you receive the Lord in your heart, you will receive salvation from all your sins as it is written, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).
Dear fellow believers, do you know by now why Jesus had to be baptized? Can you believe it now? The baptism of Jesus was to take over the sins of all people. That is the circumcision in the New Testament. Baptism of Jesus! It is the spiritual circumcision. For that reason, the Apostle Paul said that the circumcision should be of the heart. Jesus saved us with His baptism and His blood lest we doubt the evidence that our sins were taken away. Now we only have faith to say ‘yes’ in our mind and heart. Is that true? Do you agree?
Just as the prophecies, Jesus came to this earth, and took over all the sins that were committed and will be committed by all mankind, from Adam and Eve to the last person on earth. Now, receive salvation that Jesus fulfilled through His baptism and the blood. Don’t you understand that this is the Truth? Are you still in sins? “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness,” said Jesus just before He was baptized by John the Baptist. The word ‘to baptize’ means ‘to wash.’ How can our sins be washed through Jesus’ baptism? It is because all our sins were placed on the head of Jesus. And the sins of our hearts were washed away.
Because all the sins were carried over to Jesus through the baptism, those who accept this into heart receive salvation from sin. Because ‘baptism’ means ‘washing of sins,’ believing in the baptism of Jesus is to receive the spiritual circumcision in this New Testament age. “Circumcision is of the heart.” When we believe in our heart that all our sins were passed over to Jesus by His baptism, the spiritual circumcision is practiced. The circumcision of heart is to accept the baptism of Jesus that took away all our sins. Have you truly been circumcised in your heart? When your heart is circumcised, all your sins will be washed away. That is how all righteousness of God, that is, the salvation of all sinners, was fulfilled.
Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. John the Baptist put his hands on the head of Jesus to pass the sins of the world to Jesus as the High Priests in the Old Testament laid their hands on the heads of sacrificial animals to pass the sins of all the Israelites. In the days of the Old Testament, the Israelites brought unblemished animals, put their hands on the heads of the animals, passed their sins to them, killed and gave the blood of the animals to the priests to receive remission of their sins. Jesus was baptized to take the sins on His body.
After the Lord took over all the sins of the world, He submerged in the water. He sank in the water. This symbolizes death and the judgment for sinners. His immersion refers to the blood on the Cross for the penalty of our sins. Then He came out of the water. This refers to the resurrection. Jesus was resurrected from death in three days. This is the evidence that Jesus is our God and He saved us perfectly from sin. The baptism of Jesus, His blood on the Cross, and His resurrection in three days and sitting in the right hand of God’s throne—all these confirm that He saved all human beings from sin. Do you believe this?
I want you to take this Word of confirmation into your heart. This is the Truth. Only if you receive the Lord in your heart, you will receive salvation from all your sins as it is written, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).
Dear fellow believers, do you know by now why Jesus had to be baptized? Can you believe it now? The baptism of Jesus was to take over the sins of all people. That is the circumcision in the New Testament. Baptism of Jesus! It is the spiritual circumcision. For that reason, the Apostle Paul said that the circumcision should be of the heart. Jesus saved us with His baptism and His blood lest we doubt the evidence that our sins were taken away. Now we only have faith to say ‘yes’ in our mind and heart. Is that true? Do you agree?
Do You Believe So?
We weren’t there but it has been about 2000 years since Jesus was baptized and crucified. The only thing we can do is to accept the Truth of the water and the blood of Jesus. “Circumcision is that of the heart.” We are circumcised in our mind and heart by faith. We receive salvation by faith. In the Old Testament, the descendants of Abraham, the circumcised, were saved by the blood of the Passover lamb which they painted their doorposts and lintels.
Those who believe in the baptism and the blood of Jesus as salvation have nothing to be afraid of on this earth, even in time of God’s judgment. However, as for those who do not accept the baptism and the blood of Jesus in the heart, unmerciful judgment of God will fall upon them. Why do so many Christians go astray? Why are they suffering? It is because they believe the blood of Jesus has saved them not knowing the Truth of the baptism and the blood of Jesus.
Is salvation achieved only by the blood of Jesus? Does the Bible say that it is accomplished only by the blood? What do the Old Testament and the New Testament say? The Scripture tells us that our salvation is not only by the blood of the Lamb but also by the baptism of Jesus (1 John 5:6-8). In the Old Testament the Israelites became God’s people by the circumcision of their flesh and by the blood of the Passover lamb. In the New Testament, it is said that the salvation is fulfilled by the baptism of Jesus and His blood. That is the Truth of salvation that the Lord has fulfilled. This is exactly what is written in the Bible. Then, is the Bible the word of man? Isn’t the Bible the Word of God?
Do you believe in Jesus’ blood only? If so, you must be still in sin. You have to turn away from the wrong faith. Admit that you have neglected the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, and repent. You should now accept the Truth that the Lord took away the sins of the world including yours through His baptism. You can be saved by believing in the baptism and the blood of Jesus, the gospel of the water and the Spirit.
Have you relied only on the blood of Jesus so far? Then you are still in sin. You may feel sanctified when you don’t sin, but you may feel sinful when you sin. The feelings you get are not based on the Word of God, but based on your flesh. But, it is not too late to place your faith in the baptism and the blood of Jesus in order for you to be circumcised in your heart and to be liberated from all your sins. ‘To be liberated from all sins’ means to be saved from all sins by believing in the primitive gospel of the baptism and the blood of Jesus.
Do you believe the baptism and the blood of Jesus as the axis of salvation from your sins? Once you believe in these, you will experience what happens to you little by little. And you will find peace in your heart. Then you will become righteous not by your works but by the Word of God. If any of you have relied on the blood of Jesus only, I would like to ask you this question: “Is your salvation from sin attained only by the blood of Jesus?” The salvation from sin is not attained just by the blood. It is by the baptism and the blood of Jesus, that is, by the primitive gospel.
The salvation from sins is fulfilled by the gospel of the water and the Spirit that consists of the baptism of Jesus from John the Baptist and His blood. The Spirit refers to God. God came to this earth in human flesh. “You shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Mathew 1: 21). This was the prophecy. God said through His angel, “‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’”
God came to this earth in the flesh of man and received the baptism to take the sins of all sinners. And He bore the penalty for those sins on the Cross. Thus, He saved sinners. This Truth is the salvation fulfilled by the water and the blood. “Do you receive salvation by the blood of Jesus alone?” No. We have received salvation by both the baptism and the blood of Jesus Christ.
The reason there are so many false prophets and heretics in Christian communities is that most Christians do not know the water baptism of Jesus. In John 8 Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). We should understand the Truth. We need to find out why Jesus talked about His baptism in the Bible and we should place our faith in it. We also need to understand why God commanded the Israelites to be circumcised and why God mentioned the blood of the Passover lamb. If you don’t believe either one of them, you will not know the Truth that makes you born again. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). The Bible is the book of secret on salvation. Is it just by the blood of Jesus? The Apostle Paul often talked about the baptism of Jesus in his Epistles, for example, in Romans 6 and in Galatians 3.
Let’s look into Romans 6 first. “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:3-11).
Look again at verse 5. “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.” God is telling us that the wages of sin is death and whoever has sins will die, perish, and go to hell. What does Mathew 5:26 say is going to happen to you if you die even with the smallest sin before you come to possess the complete Truth. Even with the smallest sin you will be subject to the fiery judgment of hell.
However, there is our Savior Jesus Christ. If we had to pay for our own death penalty, we would not be saved; but God sent Jesus and had Him take over all our sins and punished Him instead. Instead of us who were supposed to die for our sins, God let His Son take over all the sins through His Son’s baptism; God gave His Son to be cruelly crucified and to shed His blood of life on our stead; thus God has saved us from all our sins. The faith in the baptism and the blood of Jesus is the faith that makes us united with Jesus Christ.
The wages of sins is death. You and I used to have sins. As a result, we had to go to hell. The faith of uniting with Jesus is to believe in our heart that Jesus took away all our sins through His baptism in the Jordan River and bore the penalty of crucifixion on behalf of us. Therefore, His death is my death and His baptism was to take away all my sins. Such faith as this allows us to be united with Christ Jesus.
Those who believe in the baptism and the blood of Jesus as salvation have nothing to be afraid of on this earth, even in time of God’s judgment. However, as for those who do not accept the baptism and the blood of Jesus in the heart, unmerciful judgment of God will fall upon them. Why do so many Christians go astray? Why are they suffering? It is because they believe the blood of Jesus has saved them not knowing the Truth of the baptism and the blood of Jesus.
Is salvation achieved only by the blood of Jesus? Does the Bible say that it is accomplished only by the blood? What do the Old Testament and the New Testament say? The Scripture tells us that our salvation is not only by the blood of the Lamb but also by the baptism of Jesus (1 John 5:6-8). In the Old Testament the Israelites became God’s people by the circumcision of their flesh and by the blood of the Passover lamb. In the New Testament, it is said that the salvation is fulfilled by the baptism of Jesus and His blood. That is the Truth of salvation that the Lord has fulfilled. This is exactly what is written in the Bible. Then, is the Bible the word of man? Isn’t the Bible the Word of God?
Do you believe in Jesus’ blood only? If so, you must be still in sin. You have to turn away from the wrong faith. Admit that you have neglected the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, and repent. You should now accept the Truth that the Lord took away the sins of the world including yours through His baptism. You can be saved by believing in the baptism and the blood of Jesus, the gospel of the water and the Spirit.
Have you relied only on the blood of Jesus so far? Then you are still in sin. You may feel sanctified when you don’t sin, but you may feel sinful when you sin. The feelings you get are not based on the Word of God, but based on your flesh. But, it is not too late to place your faith in the baptism and the blood of Jesus in order for you to be circumcised in your heart and to be liberated from all your sins. ‘To be liberated from all sins’ means to be saved from all sins by believing in the primitive gospel of the baptism and the blood of Jesus.
Do you believe the baptism and the blood of Jesus as the axis of salvation from your sins? Once you believe in these, you will experience what happens to you little by little. And you will find peace in your heart. Then you will become righteous not by your works but by the Word of God. If any of you have relied on the blood of Jesus only, I would like to ask you this question: “Is your salvation from sin attained only by the blood of Jesus?” The salvation from sin is not attained just by the blood. It is by the baptism and the blood of Jesus, that is, by the primitive gospel.
The salvation from sins is fulfilled by the gospel of the water and the Spirit that consists of the baptism of Jesus from John the Baptist and His blood. The Spirit refers to God. God came to this earth in human flesh. “You shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Mathew 1: 21). This was the prophecy. God said through His angel, “‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’”
God came to this earth in the flesh of man and received the baptism to take the sins of all sinners. And He bore the penalty for those sins on the Cross. Thus, He saved sinners. This Truth is the salvation fulfilled by the water and the blood. “Do you receive salvation by the blood of Jesus alone?” No. We have received salvation by both the baptism and the blood of Jesus Christ.
The reason there are so many false prophets and heretics in Christian communities is that most Christians do not know the water baptism of Jesus. In John 8 Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). We should understand the Truth. We need to find out why Jesus talked about His baptism in the Bible and we should place our faith in it. We also need to understand why God commanded the Israelites to be circumcised and why God mentioned the blood of the Passover lamb. If you don’t believe either one of them, you will not know the Truth that makes you born again. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). The Bible is the book of secret on salvation. Is it just by the blood of Jesus? The Apostle Paul often talked about the baptism of Jesus in his Epistles, for example, in Romans 6 and in Galatians 3.
Let’s look into Romans 6 first. “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:3-11).
Look again at verse 5. “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.” God is telling us that the wages of sin is death and whoever has sins will die, perish, and go to hell. What does Mathew 5:26 say is going to happen to you if you die even with the smallest sin before you come to possess the complete Truth. Even with the smallest sin you will be subject to the fiery judgment of hell.
However, there is our Savior Jesus Christ. If we had to pay for our own death penalty, we would not be saved; but God sent Jesus and had Him take over all our sins and punished Him instead. Instead of us who were supposed to die for our sins, God let His Son take over all the sins through His Son’s baptism; God gave His Son to be cruelly crucified and to shed His blood of life on our stead; thus God has saved us from all our sins. The faith in the baptism and the blood of Jesus is the faith that makes us united with Jesus Christ.
The wages of sins is death. You and I used to have sins. As a result, we had to go to hell. The faith of uniting with Jesus is to believe in our heart that Jesus took away all our sins through His baptism in the Jordan River and bore the penalty of crucifixion on behalf of us. Therefore, His death is my death and His baptism was to take away all my sins. Such faith as this allows us to be united with Christ Jesus.
Is It Okay to Believe in Jesus in Religious Manner?
A lot of people believe in Jesus in religious manner; they go to church with teary eyes asking for forgiveness of their sins. They cry out, “Jesus, Jesus, I believe that You died on the Cross for me.” But does any Word in the Bible give you the conviction that your sins were remitted? Surely, they insist that 1 John 1:9 will do. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” People claim that this verse guarantees their remission of sins whenever they offer the prayers of repentance. What this verse is not about receiving your remission of sins by repenting sins everyday, but receiving salvation all at once by confessing that you have not been saved.
The Bible states, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17); “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). The Truth is solid. If Jesus Christ had died on the Cross without taking away all our sins in the Jordan River, the faith in Him is futile. For a believer to be saved from all sins, the person must believe wholeheartedly in the primitive gospel that consists of the baptism and the blood of Jesus Christ. It is written, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus Christ took away all our sins and became our Savior through His baptism. As His name indicates, we are made unto salvation with the mouth confession (Romans 10:10). Are you a sinner? Or are you a righteous person?
It is written, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). Jesus could die on the Cross because He was baptized. Then He rose from the dead in three days and sat in the right hand of God the Father’s throne. Thus He became the Savior to all who believe in Him. If Jesus had not received the baptism (water) or shed His blood on the Cross, He can’t be our Savior. Only when we believe in the gospel of the water and the Spirit, we can be saved.
The Bible states, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17); “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). The Truth is solid. If Jesus Christ had died on the Cross without taking away all our sins in the Jordan River, the faith in Him is futile. For a believer to be saved from all sins, the person must believe wholeheartedly in the primitive gospel that consists of the baptism and the blood of Jesus Christ. It is written, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus Christ took away all our sins and became our Savior through His baptism. As His name indicates, we are made unto salvation with the mouth confession (Romans 10:10). Are you a sinner? Or are you a righteous person?
It is written, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). Jesus could die on the Cross because He was baptized. Then He rose from the dead in three days and sat in the right hand of God the Father’s throne. Thus He became the Savior to all who believe in Him. If Jesus had not received the baptism (water) or shed His blood on the Cross, He can’t be our Savior. Only when we believe in the gospel of the water and the Spirit, we can be saved.
Even the Son of Moses
Dear fellow believers, you are listening to the secret of salvation about the water baptism and the blood of Jesus. It is a truly great blessing to hear this Word of God. Is salvation just by the blood? The descendants of Abraham in the Old Testament could be saved and become God’s people through circumcision and the blood of the Passover lamb. In the days of New Testament, we become God’s people by believing in the baptism and the blood of Jesus. The evidence is also given to us through Moses.
God told Moses to go to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of the place. He told his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, about that, and started his journey with his son and his wife on a donkey, and they stopped for the night after sunset. At that moment, an angel of God appeared to them and tried to kill Moses. Moses’ wife Zipporah knew the reason. So she grabbed a sharp stone and circumcised her son’s foreskin and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!” (Exodus 4:25) Then the Lord let Moses go.
God showed His will that He would kill even the son of Moses when he was not circumcised. To the Israelites, the circumcision was the sign of God’s promise. God said He would cut off anyone, even the son of the leader, who was not circumcised. So God warned Moses to spare his son.
It is written, “Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses feet, and said, ‘Surely you are a husband of blood to me!’ So He let him go. Then she said, ‘You are a husband of blood!’—because of the circumcision” (Exodus 4:25-26). The Bible tells us that God was going to kill Moses because his son was not circumcised. Regardless who he was, the uncircumcised were cut off from the Israelites. Only those Israelites who had been circumcised could participate in the ceremony and eat the Passover lamb.
The Apostle Paul was a Jew. He was circumcised when he was 8 days old; he was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, one of the greatest rabbis at the time; and he knew exactly why Jesus had to be baptized in the Jordan River and die on the Cross. He knew the Truth, the primitive gospel that all his sins could be cut off only by faith in the baptism of Jesus and His crucifixion; and he preached on the baptism of Jesus in every Epistle including the Book of Romans and the book of Galatians.
Of course, the Apostle Paul often talked about the blood of Jesus, which is the endpoint of our salvation. But the blood was the final witness of the whole Truth, but the true spiritual circumcision is attained by the primitive gospel of the baptism and the blood of Jesus. He pointed out that the baptism of Jesus was indispensable to make the blood of Jesus effective. He often laid emphasis on the Cross. Why did he do that? It is because the blood is the final witness to our salvation. If Jesus had not taken the punishment on the Cross by shedding His blood even after He had taken away our sins, we couldn’t receive the perfect salvation. The Cross is the endpoint of Jesus’ righteous act for our salvation.
If the proper faith that believes in the baptism of Jesus along with the Cross had been kept so far, today’s Christians would all become the sinless people of God. But sadly to say, Christians still don’t know about the baptism of Jesus but believe in the blood of Jesus alone as salvation, which is akin to the shell without anything in it. So they remain as sinners no matter how many years they have believed in Jesus.
God told Moses to go to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of the place. He told his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, about that, and started his journey with his son and his wife on a donkey, and they stopped for the night after sunset. At that moment, an angel of God appeared to them and tried to kill Moses. Moses’ wife Zipporah knew the reason. So she grabbed a sharp stone and circumcised her son’s foreskin and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!” (Exodus 4:25) Then the Lord let Moses go.
God showed His will that He would kill even the son of Moses when he was not circumcised. To the Israelites, the circumcision was the sign of God’s promise. God said He would cut off anyone, even the son of the leader, who was not circumcised. So God warned Moses to spare his son.
It is written, “Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses feet, and said, ‘Surely you are a husband of blood to me!’ So He let him go. Then she said, ‘You are a husband of blood!’—because of the circumcision” (Exodus 4:25-26). The Bible tells us that God was going to kill Moses because his son was not circumcised. Regardless who he was, the uncircumcised were cut off from the Israelites. Only those Israelites who had been circumcised could participate in the ceremony and eat the Passover lamb.
The Apostle Paul was a Jew. He was circumcised when he was 8 days old; he was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, one of the greatest rabbis at the time; and he knew exactly why Jesus had to be baptized in the Jordan River and die on the Cross. He knew the Truth, the primitive gospel that all his sins could be cut off only by faith in the baptism of Jesus and His crucifixion; and he preached on the baptism of Jesus in every Epistle including the Book of Romans and the book of Galatians.
Of course, the Apostle Paul often talked about the blood of Jesus, which is the endpoint of our salvation. But the blood was the final witness of the whole Truth, but the true spiritual circumcision is attained by the primitive gospel of the baptism and the blood of Jesus. He pointed out that the baptism of Jesus was indispensable to make the blood of Jesus effective. He often laid emphasis on the Cross. Why did he do that? It is because the blood is the final witness to our salvation. If Jesus had not taken the punishment on the Cross by shedding His blood even after He had taken away our sins, we couldn’t receive the perfect salvation. The Cross is the endpoint of Jesus’ righteous act for our salvation.
If the proper faith that believes in the baptism of Jesus along with the Cross had been kept so far, today’s Christians would all become the sinless people of God. But sadly to say, Christians still don’t know about the baptism of Jesus but believe in the blood of Jesus alone as salvation, which is akin to the shell without anything in it. So they remain as sinners no matter how many years they have believed in Jesus.
My Testimony
I was twenty years old when I started to believe in Jesus. People said Jesus died for sinners like me. I didn’t know God or His law. Nor did I know how much I had sinned, but I still led a very joyful life. But one day I got a disease. I was so sick that I thought I was going to die. I thought, “I might die sooner or later. I want to receive the remission of sins before I die. People say Jesus died for sinful people.” So I believed in Him. First time I believed, I felt grateful, but I was still a sinner year after year for ten years. I still remained as a sinner although I believed in Jesus enthusiastically.
Even though I sang, “♪Weeping will not save me,” I cried every time I sinned. “God, please forgive me. Please forgive me of this sin. If you forgive this time, I will do better next time.” When I committed a sin, I spent three days offering the prayers of repentance. I didn’t eat because of a guilty conscience. I locked myself in a closet and cried to God for forgiveness. After crying my heart out, I felt better and I felt as if I could hear God’s voice. “I have washed my sins clean. Hallelujah!” I came out of the closet and started to serve others diligently. And in the process, despite myself, I could not but commit sin again.
In the beginning, it was good to believe in Jesus, but as time went by, my sins piled up. Sins composed a pile like that of manure and that of dirt. The ten years of my life in Christ increased sins in my heart even more than the days I was a non-believer. I became a treacherous sinner. I came to lament over my religious life, “Why did I become a believer at a young age? I should have waited until I turn 80, right before I die. I am getting sick and tired of offering the prayers of repentance everyday. I know I am supposed to live according to God’s will, but it is not so easy. I am really sick of it.”
I sought and sought for God though. So I studied theology. Ironically, studying theology made my faith even emptier. Before I started studying theology, I thought, “I won’t sleep in the warm bed as Saint Damian. I will help the poor. I will not stay comfortable but help these people in need.” I had such thoughts as I read the biography of the saint. I used to practice asceticism such as praying on my knees on cement floor for several hours. That seemed to be working and made me feel good.
But ten years later, I couldn’t stand it anymore. So I cried out. “God, oh God, please save me. I truly believe in You, and I will still trust in You even when someone threatens me not to believe in You with a knife at my throat. But why is that my heart is so empty and oppressed? How come I have more sins than I did before I believed in you? Before I believed in Jesus, I didn’t have much sin, but why have I become a more serious sinner?” Now I can say it was because I didn’t know the Truth and didn’t receive the remission of sins. But at that time I was in agony.
How could I tell others to believe in Jesus or to receive the remission of sins when I am full of sins? So I lamented saying, “Dear God, I am graduating soon. I am going to be anointed as a pastor, but how can I tell other sinners to receive the remission of sins when I am still a sinner? In the Apostle Paul’s Epistles, he said, “Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” I don’t seem to have the Spirit in me. I think I probably had, but why did He disappear meanwhile? Is He on a business trip? What is going on, God?” As a matter of fact I was living in an illusion that I was saved by believing in Jesus somehow. I was in great agony. I cried a lot. I can’t tell you everything.
God promised that He would reveal Himself to those who seek Him. So God met with me. I had been a sinner even though I had believed in Jesus fervently for 10 years. However, when I found out the secret of the baptism of Jesus, the spiritual circumcision in the New Testament, all my troubles came to an end. All my sins disappeared and my heart was cleansed as white as snow.
When you believe in the primitive gospel that consists of the baptism and the blood of Jesus, your sins will surely disappear all at once. No matter how insufficient you are, you will no longer remain in sins. You will preach this great news to people and those who accept this news will receive the remission of sins and praise God with ‘Hallelujah.’ I congratulate those of you whose sins have been remitted. I praise Jesus who saved us from all our sins. We have received the remission of sins with joy.
We can never ever express all the joy for the remission of sins. So, let’s sing a hymn that goes, “♪Jesus, the Name, I can’t utter enough. ♪The secret in the Name, too great to share, it became a secret. ♪People abandoned the Name like a builder’s rock. ♪But the Name engraved on my heart is the precious stone.”
Even though I sang, “♪Weeping will not save me,” I cried every time I sinned. “God, please forgive me. Please forgive me of this sin. If you forgive this time, I will do better next time.” When I committed a sin, I spent three days offering the prayers of repentance. I didn’t eat because of a guilty conscience. I locked myself in a closet and cried to God for forgiveness. After crying my heart out, I felt better and I felt as if I could hear God’s voice. “I have washed my sins clean. Hallelujah!” I came out of the closet and started to serve others diligently. And in the process, despite myself, I could not but commit sin again.
In the beginning, it was good to believe in Jesus, but as time went by, my sins piled up. Sins composed a pile like that of manure and that of dirt. The ten years of my life in Christ increased sins in my heart even more than the days I was a non-believer. I became a treacherous sinner. I came to lament over my religious life, “Why did I become a believer at a young age? I should have waited until I turn 80, right before I die. I am getting sick and tired of offering the prayers of repentance everyday. I know I am supposed to live according to God’s will, but it is not so easy. I am really sick of it.”
I sought and sought for God though. So I studied theology. Ironically, studying theology made my faith even emptier. Before I started studying theology, I thought, “I won’t sleep in the warm bed as Saint Damian. I will help the poor. I will not stay comfortable but help these people in need.” I had such thoughts as I read the biography of the saint. I used to practice asceticism such as praying on my knees on cement floor for several hours. That seemed to be working and made me feel good.
But ten years later, I couldn’t stand it anymore. So I cried out. “God, oh God, please save me. I truly believe in You, and I will still trust in You even when someone threatens me not to believe in You with a knife at my throat. But why is that my heart is so empty and oppressed? How come I have more sins than I did before I believed in you? Before I believed in Jesus, I didn’t have much sin, but why have I become a more serious sinner?” Now I can say it was because I didn’t know the Truth and didn’t receive the remission of sins. But at that time I was in agony.
How could I tell others to believe in Jesus or to receive the remission of sins when I am full of sins? So I lamented saying, “Dear God, I am graduating soon. I am going to be anointed as a pastor, but how can I tell other sinners to receive the remission of sins when I am still a sinner? In the Apostle Paul’s Epistles, he said, “Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” I don’t seem to have the Spirit in me. I think I probably had, but why did He disappear meanwhile? Is He on a business trip? What is going on, God?” As a matter of fact I was living in an illusion that I was saved by believing in Jesus somehow. I was in great agony. I cried a lot. I can’t tell you everything.
God promised that He would reveal Himself to those who seek Him. So God met with me. I had been a sinner even though I had believed in Jesus fervently for 10 years. However, when I found out the secret of the baptism of Jesus, the spiritual circumcision in the New Testament, all my troubles came to an end. All my sins disappeared and my heart was cleansed as white as snow.
When you believe in the primitive gospel that consists of the baptism and the blood of Jesus, your sins will surely disappear all at once. No matter how insufficient you are, you will no longer remain in sins. You will preach this great news to people and those who accept this news will receive the remission of sins and praise God with ‘Hallelujah.’ I congratulate those of you whose sins have been remitted. I praise Jesus who saved us from all our sins. We have received the remission of sins with joy.
We can never ever express all the joy for the remission of sins. So, let’s sing a hymn that goes, “♪Jesus, the Name, I can’t utter enough. ♪The secret in the Name, too great to share, it became a secret. ♪People abandoned the Name like a builder’s rock. ♪But the Name engraved on my heart is the precious stone.”
The Baptism and the Blood of Jesus That Delivers Sinners Sufficiently
Jesus washed and saved us sufficiently through His spiritual circumcision, His baptism. He made us people of God. Through Jesus’ atonement, God has become the God of the born- again. Just as He promised in the Old Testament, Jesus received the baptism, carried the sins of the world to the Cross, and died to become the Savior to sinners. He became the Savior God to all human beings.
Sins result in judgment. But Jesus was baptized and crucified to save us; and by shedding His precious blood, He saved you and me; He rose from the dead in three days. God the Father raised Him from the dead. The life of Jesus Christ is our life, and the witness that we have become the children of God. The baptism of Jesus Christ took all our sins away. The blood of Jesus Christ is the evidence that He bore the penalty for us.
Do you have the witness in your heart of the baptism and the blood of Jesus? Did we receive the remission of sins just by the blood of Jesus Christ? No. The salvation has been fulfilled by the baptism and the blood of Jesus. Jesus has fulfilled the salvation.
Sins result in judgment. But Jesus was baptized and crucified to save us; and by shedding His precious blood, He saved you and me; He rose from the dead in three days. God the Father raised Him from the dead. The life of Jesus Christ is our life, and the witness that we have become the children of God. The baptism of Jesus Christ took all our sins away. The blood of Jesus Christ is the evidence that He bore the penalty for us.
Do you have the witness in your heart of the baptism and the blood of Jesus? Did we receive the remission of sins just by the blood of Jesus Christ? No. The salvation has been fulfilled by the baptism and the blood of Jesus. Jesus has fulfilled the salvation.
What Is Heresy?
Are you still a sinner when you have believed in Jesus twenty four seven? If that is the case, your faith is of heresy. Heresy is a faith that is different from what God said. Titus 3:10-11 warns against the heresy; “Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.” Those who are self-condemned, those who call themselves as sinners saying, “God, I am a sinner regardless what others say,” are heretics. God tells them, “Okay, you are sinners. You are not my children. You are heretics. You have unquenchable fire waiting for you.” Those who believe in Jesus but still refuse to accept the gospel of the baptism of Jesus are self-condemned sinners and heretics before God.
Who Are the True Believers?
Anyone who believes in the primit
ive gospel, that is, the baptism and the blood of Jesus, is a righteous person without any exceptions. How come we can be still sinners after we placed our faith in Jesus? Sinners cannot enter Heaven. Those who become righteous by believing in Jesus have witnesses in them, which are the baptism and the blood of Jesus. The work of salvation is what Jesus did on earth. Those who do not believe in the primitive gospel that states Jesus received the baptism for our salvation and took away all our sins will be cut off and deserted by God. The primitive gospel proclaims that Jesus came to this earth; He was circumcised in spirit; He took the punishment on the Cross to save us from the condemnation; He rose again from the dead and became our living God. Whoever believes in this primitive gospel is saved. This is the salvation by the water, the blood and the Spirit (1 John 5:4-8). The baptism, the blood and the Spirit are the witness that Jesus saved us from the sins of the world. They are the witness of salvation that Son of God has accomplished for us.
Dear fellow believers, do you now accept the primitive gospel? Do you now admit that the salvation is not accomplished just by the blood of Jesus, but by the water baptism, the blood, and the Spirit? God took away the sins of all sinners through the baptism of Jesus. He has performed spiritual circumcision on us. That is how He cut off the sins of the world from us. And He saved us completely by paying off the penalty with His blood on the Cross. He not only took away all my sins but also the sins of the world, from Adam’s sins to the last person’s sins on earth. Whoever believes what Jesus did on earth through the water, the blood, and the Spirit receives salvation from all sins. This is the Truth and the wisdom of the primitive gospel.
Jesus cut off all the sins of the world by His baptism so that all human beings could be saved. Now it is impossible for us to be with sin when we believe in Jesus. Jesus raised us among the dead. Jesus revived the lost souls who had been lost because of Satan the Devil. He found the lost souls. We became found by Jesus and we received the remission of sins through Jesus Christ, through the water, the blood, and the Spirit.
Do you also believe so? I want to tell you that the salvation is not just by the blood but also by the baptism of Jesus and His blood on the Cross. I know that people who claimed to have been saved only through the blood of Jesus still harbor sins in their hearts. We all used to believe that we are saved only by the blood of Jesus. But it is not true. We receive salvation that makes us born again by believing in Jesus Christ, who came by the water, the blood, and the Spirit
Jesus Christ made us sinless by taking away all our sins. Is our salvation just by the blood of Jesus? No. It is by the water (the baptism of Jesus), the blood (His death on the Cross), and His resurrection. Saving us by the water and the blood was a part of God’s providence that He had even before the creation of the world. All of these were the work of salvation that God did. Being born again and becoming free from sin is achieved only by the faith in the baptism and the blood of Jesus (1 John 5:5-10). The primitive gospel that Jesus mentioned was made of the baptism of Jesus and His blood on the Cross.
Praise the Lord! Halleluiah!
Dear fellow believers, do you now accept the primitive gospel? Do you now admit that the salvation is not accomplished just by the blood of Jesus, but by the water baptism, the blood, and the Spirit? God took away the sins of all sinners through the baptism of Jesus. He has performed spiritual circumcision on us. That is how He cut off the sins of the world from us. And He saved us completely by paying off the penalty with His blood on the Cross. He not only took away all my sins but also the sins of the world, from Adam’s sins to the last person’s sins on earth. Whoever believes what Jesus did on earth through the water, the blood, and the Spirit receives salvation from all sins. This is the Truth and the wisdom of the primitive gospel.
Jesus cut off all the sins of the world by His baptism so that all human beings could be saved. Now it is impossible for us to be with sin when we believe in Jesus. Jesus raised us among the dead. Jesus revived the lost souls who had been lost because of Satan the Devil. He found the lost souls. We became found by Jesus and we received the remission of sins through Jesus Christ, through the water, the blood, and the Spirit.
Do you also believe so? I want to tell you that the salvation is not just by the blood but also by the baptism of Jesus and His blood on the Cross. I know that people who claimed to have been saved only through the blood of Jesus still harbor sins in their hearts. We all used to believe that we are saved only by the blood of Jesus. But it is not true. We receive salvation that makes us born again by believing in Jesus Christ, who came by the water, the blood, and the Spirit
Jesus Christ made us sinless by taking away all our sins. Is our salvation just by the blood of Jesus? No. It is by the water (the baptism of Jesus), the blood (His death on the Cross), and His resurrection. Saving us by the water and the blood was a part of God’s providence that He had even before the creation of the world. All of these were the work of salvation that God did. Being born again and becoming free from sin is achieved only by the faith in the baptism and the blood of Jesus (1 John 5:5-10). The primitive gospel that Jesus mentioned was made of the baptism of Jesus and His blood on the Cross.
Praise the Lord! Halleluiah!
This sermon is also available in ebook format. Click on the book cover below.
Copyright © 2021 by The New Life Mission