The church* in the wilderness. "A Habitation of God through the Spirit"

If it were necessary to make the Tabernacle and Temple according to a divine pattern, then it would seem that the church*, which is a habitation of God through the Spirit, should be after a divine pattern.

Is your "church" a habitation of God through the Spirit?

The church* in the wilderness.

"They were destitute, afflicted, tormented. They wandered about in sheep-skins and in goat-skins. They sought refuge in the dens and caves of the earth, because they kept the commandments of God and had the testimony of Jesus Christ.

"But rescued from reproach and oblivion, their names shall be enrolled among the most illustrious heroes.

"Suffering more than others, they shall be more glorified; and when, emerging from the generations and ages of the world, the redeemed shall be gathering to the scene of the last judgment, and the admiring inquiry is heard,[p. 52]

"Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness leaning on her beloved?"
Song of Songs (ch. 8:5)—

Alan's note: the Song of Songs is about the Lord's followers, in the Old Testament and New Testament that were FAITHFUL to ASSEMBLE and Worship Him, as Biblically instructed, i.e., in the New Testament, JESUS' Bride.

From: Resetting an Old Landmark

"Jesus only promised His perpetual presence ( as a "Habitation of God, through the Spirit) to those churches (each local assembly that is Faithful to Worship God, as He has instructed and Received as a Candlestick) who continue to teach their members to observe whatsoever He has commanded them.

"Jesus left the church at Loadicea because they were lukewarm and felt as though they needed nothing.

"They were unwilling to follow Jesus Christ which is why He was on the outside exhorting them to repent of their wickedness.

"It matters not how large a church may grow through the reception of alien immersion, if the presence of the Lord Jesus and His authority is not there the glory has departed and God has written Ichabod over the house.

( The Spirit that is in that local organized* "Habitation of God, through the Spirit", where the Shekinah Glory has Dwelt, to bring "Glory to God, throughout all ages", is now removed, when God takes the Candlestick away and the Glory has departed and God has written Ichabod over the house/ or the local assembled church, like those in Revelation and the rest of the New Testament.)

"Why would any true Baptist* risk losing the power and presence of God by compromising the precious truths regarding the Lord's church and baptism?

"Many scoff and jeer at the strictness of the position of true Baptists* concerning baptism, but we are merely taking heed to the solemn warning Jesus gave in Matthew 5:19 which states:

"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

"By receiving alien immersion a church* is expressing its agreement with the faith, doctrine, and practice of the church it receives members from.

"When you recognize another church's administration of the ordinances you are in essence stating your agreement with them.

Amos 3:3 declares: "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"

"How can true Baptists* unite and walk together with those who believe in universal church heresy, salvation by works, baptismal regeneration, women preachers, extra-Biblical revelation, and the Charismatic movement?

"Yet that is precisely what local churches* are doing when they receive alien immersions, or receive the baptisms that apostate Baptist churches administer.

"You cannot separate the "one faith" from the "one baptism."

"If the system of faith a church holds too is impure and unscriptural then you can be sure that their so called baptism will be defiled and invalid as well.

"A Baptist church* is likened to a bride that is espoused to her bridegroom.

"Paul told the church* at Corinth: "For I am jealous over you* with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you* as a chaste virgin* to Christ" (II Cor. 11:2).

"In order for the bride* to be qualified for marriage she must keep herself undefiled, spotless, and pure.

"In fact, the way she* is to keep herself pure as she awaits the coming of her bridegroom is recorded in Ephesians 5:26-27 which states:

"That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

"She* must not commit spiritual fornication by joining herself in an unholy union with unscriptural churches. She* must remain true and faithful to her espoused bridegroom, Jesus Christ.

"If a church* will not submit to the teachings of the most fundamental ordinance of the New Testament I have a hard time believing that they will be in the bride*.

"When a church* begins to receive alien immersion they are defiling themselves and disqualifying themselves from being in the bride.

(Alan's note: good reason for a Candlestick to be removed, IMHO)

"Such churches also defile other Baptist churches* that receive their ordinances as valid.

"Jesus is going to marry a faithful bride* who has been diligent in making herself ready and keeping herself clean. )

Con't

 

Then con't from: Resetting an Old Landmark

"... then conspicuous among those who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb* will be our martyred Baptist* ancestry; and above the Reformers and church Fathers, nearest to the apostles* and prophets and their Lord, will appear our Montanus, Novatian, Donatus, Constantine, Peter de Bruis, Henry of Toulouse, Peter Waldo, and Walter Lollard, beloved brethren, who, like Paul and Barnabas, hazarded their lives for the name of Jesus."

* Those from Faithful organized assemblies, who have not only been saved, but "taught all things", and "who have washed their robes and made them white", as again:

"That he might sanctify and cleanse it (Faithful organized assemblies, who have not only been saved, but "taught all things", per the New Testament pattern,)

"...with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church (Faithful organized assemblies, who have not only been saved, but "taught all things", per the New Testament pattern,)

"...not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."


as distinguished from un- baptizted, un-, false-" churches" children of God, spoken of, Biblically, as The Kingdom of God.

From: SIMMONS- THE DOCTRINE OF BAPTISM

"We believe Christ* spoke to the apostles as constituting the church* (Faithful organized assemblies, who have not only been saved, but "taught all things", per the New Testament pattern,) This we believe because-


A. The Church is the Body of Christ (Faithful organized assemblies, who have not only been saved, but "taught all things", per the New Testament pattern)


It is thus represented too often to make it necessary to mention any Scripture reference.

Since the head always performs its work through the body* (Faithful organized assemblies, who have not only been saved, but "taught all things", per the New Testament pattern,) we believe Christ committed His work to His body.


B. The Church* (Faithful organized assemblies, who have not only been saved, but "taught all things", per the New Testament pattern,) is the Temple of the Holy Spirit.


Cf. 1 Cor. 3:16. In this Scripture Paul was not speaking of the human body of the believer, which is elsewhere called the temple of the Holy Spirit* (1 Cor. 6:19).

He was plainly speaking of the church*. This chapter deals with church building.


Since the church* is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit is here to direct the work of Christ, it appears that it is through the church* that He will do His work, and hence that it was to the church* that Christ gave the great commission.


C. The Church* is the Pillar and Ground of the Truth.


Cf. 1 Tim. 3:15. The whole of the truth is compassed in the great commission. Since the church* is the pillar and ground of the truth, the commission must have been entrusted to it*.



See: Valid and Invalid Baptism in Kentucky by Spencer

Alien Baptism in SBC in 1915

The Church and the Ordinances, Kazee