Screenshot from the zoom meeting
Greetings Brethren, hope everyone is doing great. Today marked the 14th day of the mass indoctrination program and I was fortunate to participate. Nonetheless, Pastor Eli expounded today's message on baptism as he referenced the following scriptures:
Titus 3:5, Act 22:16, Ezra 7:23, Rom 3:19, 1 Tim 3:15, Matt 28:19, Act 2:38, Eph 3:14-25, Deut 12:5, 3 Cor 7:16, Eph 3:10-11, 1 Cor 12:13, Col 1:18, Eph 4:4-5, Exo 20:7, psalm 139:20, Matt 24:4-5, Heb 10:21, 1 Cor 3:16.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.- KJV
We must all agree with the scriptures that we weren't saved by any work of righteousness or holiness but it was a preordination of grace which was already designed for us to live when we repent.
So we didn't first repent of having been lured by the grace of God, rather the grace of God was there awaiting the time we would come to the knowledge of what God had done through the sacrifice of his son Jesus Christ for us on the cross of Calvary. So we were saved not because we have been given to any work of righteousness.
From the above scripture even as expantiated by Pastor Eli, we were saved by the washing of regeneration which is baptism and the renewal of the Holy Ghost.
Change starts in baptism- Pastor Eli Soriano
This is true according to Pastor Eli, the desired change that God needs from us must first start by our compliance to the scriptures to first get baptized because even Christ, though he is God, condescended to obey this simple kingdom rule that one must be baptized.
When we are baptized, God renews his spirit in us because water baptism is very much okay but the spirit baptism helps a believer to overcome the challenges that are beyond the physical control.
For instance, I have seen instances where people who were baptized in water through immersion still fall to the sin of fornication and others but when one is baptized with the holy ghost and fire, he becomes indomitable to all the challenges of life and the temptations of the devil.
There is a jurisdiction for the doctrine and that is the church.- Pastor Eli Soriano
1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Pastor Eli expressed according to the scriptures of the different symbolisms of the House of God which are: buildings, human body, nation, a people, city etc.
From the scripture about in 1 Tim 3:15, I learnt that the church is the house of God and this is in response to the place where Christians gather.
Pastor Eli further expressed that the church is God's eternal purpose. In other words, it is more than a physical structure or building because even in the scriptures above, Apostle Paul expressed that the Church is the pillar and ground of the truth, and ironically enough we don't build our physical houses with truth but irons bricks and mortar but in this expression, Apostle Paul meant that the church is the pillar and ground of the truth which in other words is referencing Christ so the Church is the body of Christ.
Ezra 7:23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?- KJV
I learnt in the cause of Pastor Eli's teaching that baptism should be done in the body of Christ which is the Church and not elsewhere because it is the Church that has the mandate of Christ and not unbelievers.
If God has commanded that we should be baptized so as to be saved, we have to give ourselves to the church which is the body of Christ to be baptized. Baptism is just a preamble to our obedience to the head of the church which is Christ who first gave himself to be baptized by John.
We must be baptized in the Church which is the body of Christ and also an embodiment of God and not in another religion because Christ did not order them to do so.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?- KJV
The spirit of God is in the people who are part of His'- Pastor Eli Soriano
I learnt on the cause of pastor Eli's teaching and even in line with the scripture above that we are the temple of God and also an embodiment of His spirit.
It is factual that every House has an occupant so also the spirit of God has an abode and that is our body. In verse 17, it says that God will destroy those who defile His abode or temple emphasizing that our body is his temple.
So we shouldn't defile the temple of God but we should give ourselves to the works of righteousness so as to keep maintaining the spirit of God in us.
In conclusion, baptism is an important factor which every follower of Christ must agree with. We also have to understand that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost and we shouldn't defile it against the wrath of God.
Nonetheless, I wish to draw the curtain at this point. God bless MCGI and all in collaboration with this great move in this end time. Thank you for going through and hope seeing you in my next publication bye and 💗