Alan Gross
Well-Known Member
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
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