Posted by Searcher on 9/11/2009, 4:30 pm, in reply to "Galatians 6:1-5"
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Dear Ray,
Many were baptized with Moses in a dry baptism when he went through the red sea. They were "dry shod". (1Cor 10:2) The law of Moses gave various washings or baptisms as ceremonials. Israel also looked for a Messiah Who would sprinkle His People with clean water. Many of the ancient heathen religions also used water baptism as a ritual. Men of the early church concluded that it was also for them and that is how the tradition began, but the Word speaks of a baptism connected with the church which is the body of Christ today as ONE BAPTISM. (Eph 4:5). It is part of the unity of the Spirit which is already made without hands and is given for the church to keep. This baptism has nothing to do with any sacrament or ordinance or religious ritual. The one baptism is a washing with the Word that is done by an operation of God. It has nothing to do with a pastor or a priest or a doctrine of men. It is an identification of the believer with the burial and death of Christ.
Even the "circumcision" is made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. (Col 2:11-13) As quoted before, Christ has ALREADY "quickened us together with Him, having forgiven you ALL trespasses." He has blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, nailing it to His cross.
In 1Corinthians 10 and 11, Paul is writing to JEWISH believers whose fathers crossed the Red Sea. (1Cor 10:1). The Passover was a meal to be observed by all circumcised Israelites. It was to be eaten in the house. No work of any kind was to be done on the day it was observed. There was to be no leaven in the house. The children of the household were to ask why it was observed and the master of the house told them the story of the exodus from Egypt. The Passover was NEVER meant to be observed by uncircumcised Gentiles. (Ex 12:47-49)
The two chapters in 1Cor should never be used in support of the heathen Baal's supper. "Baal" or "Bel" means lord. It was a ritual that had it's beginning in Babylon. Unfortunately, the Jews picked up many of the pagan ways while they were in captivity. The "Lord's supper" is mentioned in the Bible only once. It was a carry-in supper where they did not share with each other and there were divisions in the assembly because of it. Some of the rich ate sumptuously and some of the poor did not. Paul abolished it in the Corinthian church. (1Cor 11:20-22,34)
When Jesus was speaking to the Jews in John 6, He was attempting to explain to them that He was the true bread Which came down from heaven. John 6:35-58, "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that he that believeth on Me shall never thirst...Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life...I am the living bread Which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews strove among themselves..."
The point of this is not the observance of the Passover. It is the fact that He is the living bread. He is the Word of God. "It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh (religious rituals and works of the flesh) profiteth nothing: THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK UNTO YOU, THEY are SPIRIT, and THEY are LIFE.
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Galatians 5 and 6 are comparing the works of the flesh (the old man) with the fruits of the Spirit (the new man or creation).
Gal 5:16-18
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh...But if ye be led of the Spirit ye are not under the law.
Ray, you said "the flesh is preserved in baptism." Why would you want to preserve the flesh? Gal 5:24, "For they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."
Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Searcher
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