ARISE... BE BAPTIZED.... AND... ???

Arise

and

be baptized;

and

wash away your sins,

calling on the name

of The LORD.

Acts 22:16

After being struck with blindness on the Damascus Road, Saul spoke to the Voice+ which he heard at the time the Great Light from Heaven shone upon him.

He said, "What shall I do , LORD ?"

And The LORD said to Saul, "Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do."

Saul (Paul) was a righteous Jew. Yet, he had sins. He had to do something about those sins. What was it he did?

He obeyed the Word+ of GOD.

O My+ People, why do you not obey My+ Word to you ? Why do you kick against the goads? Why do you not obey the way I+ have showed you in word and example to enter into My+ Covenant?

No unclean one may enter into My+ Covenant. No unrepentant one. No-one who refuses water baptism will enter. You must come the way I+ have showed you to come. There IS no other way.

Stop kicking against the goads. I+ will not change My+ Word for you: you must change.

+ + +

ANTE-NICENE CHURCH on BAPTISM

Some Thoughts

from the Ante-Nicene Church

on Baptism

taken from the Ante-Nicene Fathers,

the volumes of writings of the Early Church

From Barnabas (c. 70-130 A.D.) recorded in the ANF 1.144.....

Blessed are they trusting in the cross, going down into the water... We indeed descend into the water full of sins and defilement. However, we come up, bearing fruit in our heart, having the fear [of God] and the trust in Jesus in our spirit.

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From Hermas (c. 150 A.D.) recorded in ANF 2.49.....

Before a man bears the name of the SON of GOD, he is dead. But when he receives the seal, he lays aside his deadness and obtains life.The seal, then is the water. They descend into the water dead, and they arise alive.

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From Justin Martyr (c.160) recorded in ANF 1.183....

In order that we may obtain in the water THE REMISSION OF SINS formerly committed, there is pronounced over him who chooses to be born again, and has repented of his sins, the name of GOD the FATHER and LORD of the Universe... And in the name of JESUS CHRIST... and in the name of the HOLY SPIRIT.

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to be continued...