A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD

Blessings & Responsibilities Of Being A Christian....

 

INTRODUCTION

1. Every person has some big events in life (for example:  birth,
   graduation, marriage, death)

2. But the most important event for anyone is becoming a Christian!
   a. Why?  Because it affects both you and others for ETERNITY
   b. Unfortunately, many people become Christians and do not really
      appreciate it until late in life, if ever
   c. But our service for Christ would be more productive and
      infinitely more enjoyable if we began to grasp the true
      significance of being Christians, and as such, the children of
      God

3. This lesson is the first in a series designed to encourage and
   instruct one to have "A Closer Walk With God," and to be more
   fruitful in our service as disciples of Jesus Christ

[To help motivate us in fulfilling this goal, let's summarize just a 
few of the blessings and responsibilities we have as Christians...]

I. GOD AS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER - 1Jn 3:1

   A. CONSIDER THE BLESSING OF HAVING GOD AS OUR FATHER...
      1. He is the source of every good and perfect gift from above
         - Jm 1:17; Mt 7:11
      2. He provides us comfort in all our afflictions - 2Co 1:3-4
      3. When needed, in love He chastises us - He 12:5-11
      4. He has promised never to forsake us - He 13:5-6

   B. YET, THERE ARE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HAVING GOD AS OUR FATHER...
      1. We must SUBMIT to God - Jm 4:7
         a. By submitting to His Word
         b. By submitting to His providential workings in our lives 
            - 1Pe 5:6-11
      2. We must also DRAW NEAR to God - Jm 4:8
         a. Just as an earthly father delights when his children want
            to draw near to him, so does God - cf. Mt 23:37
         b. We draw nearer to God by "cleansing our hands" and
            "purifying our hearts" - Jm 4:8
            1) That is, by obtaining forgiveness and then strengthening
               our resolve to serve Him
            2) For the Christian, this involves REPENTANCE, CONFESSION
               OF SINS, AND PRAYER - Ac 8:22; 1Jn 1:9

II. JESUS CHRIST AS OUR LORD AND HIGH PRIEST - 1Co 8:6; He 4:14

   A. THINK FOR A MOMENT ABOUT THIS BLESSING...
      1. He who is our "Lord" is also He who rules over the kings of
         the earth - Re 1:5-6
         a. All authority in heaven and earth has been given Him
            - Mt 28:18
         b. All have been made subject to Him - 1Pe 3:22
         c. Yet, He calls us His "brethren"! - He 2:11-12
      2. As "High Priest", He intercedes in our behalf - Ro 8:34
         a. A High Priest who understands our every feeling
            - He 2:17-18
         b. A High Priest who "ever lives" to make such intercession
            for us - He 7:24-25

   B. WHAT ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES OF HAVING JESUS AS LORD AND HIGH
      PRIEST?
      1. If He is truly our LORD, we must do what He says - Lk 6:46
         a. We must be careful to observe what He taught - Mt 28:18-20
         b. We must keep His commandments - Jn 15:10,14
      2. We must also utilize His role as our HIGH PRIEST - He 4:14-16
         a. In other words, be quick to obtain mercy and find grace to
            help us in time of need
         b. Again, for the Christian this involves PRAYER

III. THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO DWELLS IN US - 1Co 3:16

   A. WONDERFUL BLESSINGS ARE ATTRIBUTED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT'S
      INDWELLING...
      1. He gives us strength to put to death the fleshly deeds of the
         body - Ro 8:11-13; Ep 3:16,20
      2. He also helps in our weakness when it comes to praying as we
         ought, by acting as an intercessor for us - Ro 8:26-27

   B. WHAT RESPONSIBILITIES DO WE HAVE IN VIEW OF THE SPIRIT'S
      INDWELLING?
      1. To keep the temple of God, the church, HOLY - 1Co 3:16-17
      2. We are to GLORIFY God even with our bodies - 1Co 6:18-20
      3. We are to WALK in the Spirit, being so LED by the Spirit as to
         produce the FRUIT of the Spirit - Ga 5:16-18, 22-25
         a. This we do by setting our minds on the THINGS of the Spirit
            - Ro 8:5-6
         b. Which involves the WORD of God, which is the SWORD of the
            Spirit - Ep 6:17

IV. THE CHURCH AS OUR FAMILY - 1Ti 3:15

   A. THE BLESSING OF HAVING THE CHURCH AS OUR FAMILY...
      1. The members become like fathers, mothers, brothers, and 
         sisters - 1Ti 5:1-2
      2. They can even replace physical relations we may lose when we
         become Christians - Mk 10:28-30; Mt 12:46-50

   B. RESPONSIBILITIES OF HAVING THE CHURCH AS OUR FAMILY...
      1. We are to "edify one another" - He 10:24-25
         a. This necessitates assembling together frequently
         b. This requires each one doing their share - Ep 4:15-16
      2. We are to "bear one another's burdens" - Ga 6:1-2
         a. For such is the "law" of Christ
         b. This requires that we know each other well, and can be
            depended upon to provide support

CONCLUSION

1. There are certainly many more blessings and responsibilities that we
   have as Christians

2. But I hope that these suffice to IMPRESS UPON US...
   a. How blessed we are as Christians
   b. How important it is that we fulfill our responsibilities
   -- OR WE MAY LOSE THE BLESSINGS WE HAVE! - He 3:12-15 

For more information, Prayers and counseling you can contact,
Rev. Adbhuta Rao. Garnepudi
Millinium Baptist Church
Nambur, Guntur (Dist), A.P
milliniumbaptistchurchministries@yahoo.com
mbcministries.india@gmail.com
(+91)9848150491, 9908054910

Preach the Gospel

Mark 16:15, “And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.”

Jesus commanded His disciples to GO into all the world and PREACH THE GOSPEL. The key word is “Go.” Most churches today don't GO as the Bible commands. Rather, they sit or remain idle. They are as those unfaithful servants in Matthew 20:6 of whom Jesus said, “Why stand ye here all the day idle?” (Note: All Scripture references are only from the trustworthy King James Bible).
 
The most important duty of every Christian is to go soul winning. 2nd Corinthians 5:10-11, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men...” Every born-again believer has a responsibility to preach the Gospel, i.e., to share the Good News of Jesus Christ crucified with lost sinners so that they can be forgiven and spend eternity in Heaven.
But what is the gospel? An alarming number of Christians are zealous to preach the gospel, but they don't even know what the gospel is. They are sincere, but they've never been taught. There is an apostate gospel in America that says to ask “Jesus into your heart” to be saved. That is a false gospel. There is another false gospel which says, “Make a full surrender to God. Amend your ways. Make a commitment to Christ” to be saved. No, no, that is not the gospel!
The Bible defines the gospel in 1st Corinthians15:1-4...

1st Corinthians 15:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

There you have it—the Biblical gospel (good news) is the DEATH, BURIAL and RESURRECTION of the Lord Jesus Christ! The way to be saved is to acknowledge your guilt of sin and receive the gospel as payment for your sins. That is the good news... Jesus died, was buried and rose again three days later for our justification.
Carefully notice that the Bible does NOT say to go into the world and make music. The Bible does NOT say to go into the world and start a business. The Bible does NOT say to go into the world and write books. No, rather, God's inspired Words instruct us to PREACH THE GOSPEL. We read in Romans 10:13-14, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” The great need of the hour in today's churches is preaching preachers who teach their flock to be soul winners.
Matthew 28:19-20 are commonly referred to as “The Great Commission.” “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Most believers fail to realize that there are two parts to The Great Commission: 1) Preaching the Gospel, and 2) Teaching new converts how to be soul winners. The Lord wants us to go soul winning and then teach those whom we have the privilege of leading to the Lord how to become soul winners themselves. There is a Biblical mandate for each believer to go forth preaching the Gospel. We must give account to God for each day of our life (Romans 14:12).
Throughout the Midwestern part of the United States, there's an egg company which prints Bible verses inside every carton of eggs. They are planting the Seed of God's Word into the hearts of people. Amen! There is something that each of us can do to influence others to receive Christ. Look what this man of God is doing to get the Gospel message out to the lost. Romans 10:17 tells us that “faith come by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” We don't need to be eloquent in speech or a gifted writer or a theologian to get people saved, we just need to tell lost sinners that they need Christ's righteousness, because we have none of our own to offer God.
This sin-cursed world has been lied to by false ministers to think that the only way to Heaven is to do good works and stop sinning. That is the same type of self-righteousness that Cain offered God, which God rejected (Genesis 4:1-5). Although God does not give anyone permission to sin, living a separated or surrendered life for God has nothing to do with salvation. The Bible proclaims in Romans 3:23a, “For all have sinned.” The Bible condemns all mankind, because we have all sinned. There are no good people (Romans 3:10-23). There are some good men as far as sinners go, but they are still sinful men deserving of Hell. No amount of self-righteousness can make up for the sins one commits. This is why Jesus lovingly paid our sin debt, because we could not. What a precious Savior!
The Bible does NOT tell us to go into the world making religious music, or to make a career of singing or entertaining. These are falsehoods that some people claim as a “ministry” without preaching the Gospel. Many people nowadays have wrongfully slapped a “ministry” label on pursuits, activities and functions that are totally devoid of preaching the Gospel. Many pro-homosexual, pro-abortion and pro-feminist groups have falsely labeled their evil works as a “ministry.” They are sinister ministers of Satan. The Devil is a beautiful liar. Genuine Biblical ministries PREACH THE GOSPEL of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world in an effort to get people saved. What good does it profit a man if you feed him a bowl of soup and provide him some clothing, but fail to warn him concerning the wrath of God which abide upon Christ-ejectors. John 3:36, “He that believe on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believe not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abide on him.”
Oh, how this world needs Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Allah is a fraud. Buddha is a fake. Zoroaster is a phony. The Pope is a false prophet. The Virgin Mary did NOT remain a virgin. Muhammad is an imposter. Confucius died confused. The stone covering the entrance to Jesus' tomb was not rolled away to permit the Lord to exit; but rather, to show the world that Jesus had already risen from the dead. Jesus is alive evermore! Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, THE ALMIGHTY (Revelation 1:8). Amen!

Whatever ministry you may be involved in, it is no work for God if you fail to PREACH THE GOSPEL. I wouldn't give you a dime for a Bible scholar who doesn't go soul winning. I wouldn't give you a dime for a Gospel singer who doesn't attempt to win the audience to Christ by preaching the Gospel. To the same extent that God has given someone influence over people, to that same extent He will hold that individual accountable for PREACHING THE GOSPEL to lost sinners (Luke 12:48). America's theological seminaries are nothing more than spiritual cemeteries, filled with dried-up corpses who never go soul winning, never pass out a Gospel tract, never shed a tear over lost souls. May God give us more Bible-believing, Christ-honoring, sin-hating, soul-loving, Christians who PREACH THE GOSPEL. 

 
 For more information, Prayers and counseling you can contact,
Rev. Adbhuta Rao. Garnepudi
Millinium Baptist Church
Nambur, Guntur (Dist), A.P
milliniumbaptistchurchministries@yahoo.com
mbcministries.india@gmail.com
(+91)9848150491, 9908054910

How to Study the Bible: part one

After baptism, people should be taught to observe all things Jesus has commanded (Matthew 28:18-20). Learning God's will is just as essential after baptism as before. Conversion should be the beginning of a lifelong effort of study. However, in order to benefit from Bible study, we must know how to study the Bible properly.
The purpose of this lesson is to present basic Bible principles and methods of proper study. We will consider proper attitudes in study, Bible inspiration, a comparison of the old and new laws, and the danger of following human laws and authority instead of Scripture. Finally, we will give some suggestions about proper use of such helps as translations, concordance, and cross-references.

[ In this pic : My Wife Late Vijaya Kumari Garnepudi, Who are inspired and helped a lot to devloped this ministry and my daughter Vinodhini john who are gives moral and financial support for this ministry ]

Proper Attitudes in Study

Ezra "prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord" (Ezra 7:10). Right methods of study must begin with right attitudes.

A. Appreciate the Importance of Study

People must be motivated before they will study a subject. Christians have all the reasons they could possibly need to study the Bible. Consider a few. As you do, note the emphasis on regular, frequent study.

#1: Study so you can obey God and grow in His service.

Joshua 1:8 - Success in pleasing God requires obedience. To obey, we must meditate on God's word day and night. Frequent, regular study is required.
1 Peter 2:2 - Can a baby grow without nourishment? No, and neither can Christians grow without Bible study. Do we long for the word like a baby longs for milk if we neglect to attend assemblies or to study at home?
(See also 2 Tim. 2:15; Rom. 10:17; Matt. 4:4; John 6:44,45; 2 Peter 1:12-15.)

#2: Study so you can avoid error and false teaching.

Hosea 4:6 - God's people were destroyed for lack of knowledge. Many Christians and congregations have been led astray by error and false teaching. To avoid this we must put teachers to the test (1 John 4:1,6). How do we do this unless we know God's word (Gal. 1:8,9)?
Acts 17:11 - The Bereans distinguished truth from error because they studied the word. To imitate their example, we must study "daily."
(See also Matt. 22:29; 15:14; Prov. 2:1-20; Rom. 10:1-3.)

#3: Study so you can teach others.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 - Parents should teach their children diligently through the day. This requires us to first have God's word in our own hearts. How can we teach what we do not know?
Hebrews 5:12 - The time comes when we ought to be teachers, but these had not studied so they needed others to teach them! There is no excuse for Christians who do not study. Teachers know they need to study. If you are not a teacher, you must study to prepare yourself to become a teacher!
(See also 2 Tim. 2:2; 1 Tim. 1:7; 1 Peter 3:15; Col. 3:16; Rom. 15:14.)

#4: Study to express love for God and His word.

Psalm 1:2; 119:47,48,97-99 - One who delights in God's word will meditate on it day and night. The time we spend thinking about God's word indicates how much we love Him. Those who truly love Him will not complain about "having to go" to worship services or prepare for Bible classes. (See Psalm 19:7-11.)
John 14:15 - If we love God, we keep His commands (cf. 1 John 5:3). But obedience requires knowledge. So one who loves God must study His word.
Suppose a young lady is separated from her boyfriend. He writes every day, so she prominently displays his letters on the coffee table. But they sit there for days before she opens and reads them. Does she really love him? No, we want to hear from those we love. The Bible is your only way to hear from God. How much do you love Him?
If we studied all subjects as negligently as some people study the Bible, we would surely be ignorant people. On the other hand, if we would study the Bible as diligently as some people study about sports, hobbies, etc., we would all be excellent Bible students. How much more important is it to understand the Bible than to understand secular subjects?

B. Study with an Open Mind & a Love for Truth.

We must strive to learn truth and obey it regardless of the consequences. Seek it even if it disagrees with what we have believed in the past and requires us to change.
Acts 17:11 - The Bereans were also noble because they received the word with readiness of mind - minds open to truth.
Matthew 5:6 - Hunger and thirst after righteousness.
Matthew 13:14,15 - Some misunderstand truth because they close their hearts, eyes, and ears. They enjoy practices or have prejudices contrary to what God teaches. They have motives for rejecting Bible teaching, so they satisfy their own minds that it is not true.
If we do not have a burning desire for truth, God will not force us to accept the truth. He will let us be lost (cf. 2 Thess. 2:10-12; 2 Tim. 4:2-4; John 3:19-21).
(See also 2 Cor. 13:5; 1 Thess. 5:21,22; Prov. 18:13; 23:23; 15:10; Luke 8:15; 1 Sam. 3:9,10.)

C. Respect the Bible as Being Verbally & Infallibly Inspired.

If a person doubts that the Bible is God's infallible word, he is much more likely to disagree or reject it.

The Bible is from God.

2 Timothy 3:16,17 - All scripture is inspired by God to teach us and provide us to all good works.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 - It is the word of God not of men (cf. Gal. 1:11,12).
1 Corinthians 14:37 - Paul wrote the commands of the Lord. To reject any command is to reject the will of God.
(See also Eph. 3:3-5; Luke 10:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21.)

The Bible is verbally inspired.

Some people believe that God just gave the inspired men ideas, then let them explain them as they saw fit. This belief leaves room for error in the way the men expressed the ideas. "Verbal" inspiration means that every word written by the inspired writers was exactly the word God wanted.
1 Corinthians 2:10-13 - The Spirit guided men so they received, not just the ideas from God, but also the words from God.
Deuteronomy 18:18,19 - God put His words in the prophet's mouth, so the prophet spoke (or wrote) the very words chosen by God Himself.
God gave the inspired men the very words they used to express the inspired ideas.
(See 1 Cor. 2:3-5; Matt. 10:19,20; 2 Sam. 23:1,2; Ex. 24:3,4,7; Isa. 51:l6; Jer. 1:5-9.)

The Bible is infallible

The message of the inspired writers cannot possibly be wrong because God does not make mistakes.
Psalm 119:128 - God's word is always true and right.
Titus 1:2 - God cannot lie or be wrong.
Matthew 22:32; Galatians 3:16 - The Scriptures are so accurate that we can rely even on the tense of the verbs and the plurality or singularity of words.
We should approach the Bible with faith that every word is exactly right and true, otherwise we may reject its teaching.
(Cf. John 17:17; Psalm 33:4; 19:8; 147:4,5; Rom. 3:4; Job 37:16; Num. 23:19; Heb. 6:18; Deut. 18:20-22).

D. Believe that the Bible Can Be Understood.

Some believe that the Bible can be understood only by specially-trained preachers or priests, but not by the average person. As a result, they approach the Bible convinced they will never understand it, they put forth only a half-hearted effort, and of course they do not understand.
Mark 12:37; Acts 17:11 - Inspired teachings were addressed to the common people, not to some special elite group. (See also Gal. 1:2; 1 Thess. 1:1; 5:27; 2 Peter 1:1; Rev. 1:4.)
Mark 7:14 - Jesus required everyone among the great crowds of people to understand His teaching.
2 Timothy 3:16,17 - The Scriptures are profitable to teach and provide to all good works. What profit would they be if we could not understand?
People were expected to understand the written word (Eph. 5:17). Instead of just accepting whatever preachers say, people should use the scriptures to check out the teachers (Acts 11:17).
(See also 1 Cor. 14:33; Eph. 3:3-5; Isa. 55:11; 35:8; John 20:30,31; 8:32; Prov. 2:1-12; Psalm 19:7ff; 119:105; Col. 1:9-11; 2 Peter 3:15,16.)

For more information, Prayers and counseling you can contact,
Rev. Adbhuta Rao. Garnepudi
Millinium Baptist Church
Nambur, Guntur (Dist), A.P
milliniumbaptistchurchministries@yahoo.com
mbcministries.india@gmail.com
(+91)9848150491, 9908054910

What Does God Expect after You Become a Christian?

Being a Christian requires a lifetime commitment to serve God faithfully. Baptism places us in a covenant relationship as Disciples of Jesus. What responsibilities and duties do we accept when we receive forgiveness of sins?

Baptism is not the end of our service to God, but is the beginning of a lifetime commitment of total dedication to Him. Here is a brief list of a few of the responsibilities Christians should fulfill. One who is considering baptism needs to be aware of what God will expect of Him after he becomes a Christian

I. Study the Bible Regularly

Diligent Bible study is our only way of learning God's will and avoiding error. Acts 17:11; Psa. 1:2; 2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16,17.

Are you willing to study the Bible diligently?

II. Pray Frequently

Prayer is our means of thanking God, praising Him, and making known our needs. Phil. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:7; Matt. 6:9-13; 1 Thess. 5:17.

Are you willing to pray regularly?

III. Commit Yourself to the Local Church

New Testament Christians always were recognized as part of a local church. They committed themselves to be involved and actively participate in the work  of that church. See Acts 9:26-28; 11:26; Heb. 13:17; 1 Cor. 1:2; Eph. 4:16 .
This church must be scriptural in worship, name, organization, salvation, etc.

IV. Attend All the Assemblies of the Local Church

We should come on the first day to commune and give -- Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1,2.
We should come whenever the church meets to study, sing, & pray -- Heb. 3:12,13; 10:24,25; John 4:24; Eph. 4:16; 1 Thess. 5:11; Acts 11:26; 2:42; 1 Cor. 14.

Are you willing to regularly attend whenever the church meets?

V. Practice Proper Relations with Other People

* In our family -- Eph. 5:22-6:4; Col. 3:18-21; Tit. 2:4,5.
* To those who are in need -- Luke 10:25-37; Acts 20:35; Jas. 1:27; Matt. 25:34-40.
* To civil government -- Rom. 13:1-5; 1 Pet. 2:13,14; Matt. 22:17-21.
* In business -- Eph. 6:5-9; Tit. 2:9,10; Col. 3:22-4:1; Psa. 37:21.

Are you willing to learn & follow Bible teaching about how to treat others?

VI. Help Others Learn the Gospel

All Christians should work to learn how to lead others to Jesus -- Acts 8:4; Prov. 11:30; 2 Tim. 2:2,24-26; John 4:28-30,39; 1:40-46; Heb. 5:12.

Are you willing to share the message of Jesus with others?

VII. Live an Upright Moral Life

Mark 7:20-23; Rom. 1:26-32; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21; etc.

Are you willing to correct any sins in your life as you learn of them?

VIII. Honor Church Discipline

We hope no members would practice sin. But if they do and refuse to repent, then the church must cease association and companionship with them - 1 Cor. 5; Matt. 18:15-17; 2 Thess. 3:6,14,15; Rom. 16:17,18; Tit. 3:10,11.

Are you willing to honor church disciplinary actions when needed?

VIII. Do All God's Will

Luke 14:26-33; Matt. 28:18-20; 16:24-27; 6:19-33; Rom. 12:1,2; 6:1-18.
Are you willing to forsake all your desires and give your whole life to Jesus?
What should a person do if he sins after baptism? -- Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9.
Are you willing to repent of any sins you commit after baptism? 

 If you wish to Say YES for the above questions.... you can contact,

Rev. Adbhuta Rao. Garnepudi
Millinium Baptist Church
Nambur, Guntur (Dist), A.P
milliniumbaptistchurchministries@yahoo.com
mbcministries.india@gmail.com
(+91)9848150491, 9908054910

Why is church attendance important?

The Bible tells us we need to attend church so we can worship God with other believers and be taught His Word for our spiritual growth (Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:25). Church is the place where believers can love one another (1 John 4:12), encourage one another (Hebrews 3:13), “spur” one another (Hebrews 10:24), serve one another (Galatians 5:13), instruct one another (Romans 15:14), honor one another (Romans 12:10), and be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32).

When a person trusts Jesus Christ for salvation, he or she is made a member of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). For a church body to function properly, all of its “body parts” need to be present (1 Corinthians 12:14-20). Likewise, a believer will never reach full spiritual maturity without the assistance and encouragement of other believers (1 Corinthians 12:21-26). For these reasons, church attendance, participation, and fellowship should be regular aspects of a believer's life. Weekly church attendance is in no sense “required” for believers, but someone who belongs to Christ should have a desire to worship God, receive His Word, and fellowship with other believers.

For more information, Prayers and counseling you can contact,
Rev. Adbhuta Rao. Garnepudi
Millinium Baptist Church
Nambur, Guntur (Dist), A.P
milliniumbaptistchurchministries@yahoo.com
mbcministries.india@gmail.com
(+91)9848150491, 9908054910

Why Should We Take The Baptism ?

The word "Baptism" comes from a Greek word "Baptisma" (noun), means the processes of immersion as used by John the Baptist. The word Baptizo (verb) means to baptize, primarily to dip. In John 3:23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. In the Bible also we see Jesus went in side the water and came out, Philip and the eunuch went inside the water etc. 

In the New Testament even before our Lord Jesus Started his ministry God send a person to set the way for his Son through John the Baptist. In John the Baptist’s ministry he was preaching the kingdom of God not from a convenient place to go and listen (Mat.3:1), he was in the wilderness still people were drawn to him from every side (Mat.3:5). He was not dressed very attractively and he was not having the common food of the people (Mat.3:4). From the womb of his mother he had a anointing of God to do some thing for God. His message to all the people was as in Mat 3:2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." So among all types of people only those who felt that they are not living according to the word of God and who accepted their sin came to him as a sign of repentance and obedience and confessed their sins and took baptism through him (Mat.3:6).

1. This Water Baptism is not for those who not yet realized their sinfulness or felt sorry for all their sinful actions. That means those who truly repenting for their sins only could take it. So even before Jesus Christ The Water Baptism is only for those who repent.
2. It is for those who asked God to forgive them by truly repenting for their sins and confessing their sins to God to get their forgiveness (I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness"). So even before Jesus Christ Water Baptism is only for those who confessed their sins unto God.
3. They all went to his place to receive this water baptism. So it is not against their will nor forced on them. Willingly they have obeyed to the commandments of God (Mat.3:5 & 13).
4. Our Lord Jesus Christ told in Mat 3:15 "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented". So, It is to fulfill all righteousness of God. To follow carefully all the laws of God (Dt. 6:25).
5. Water Baptism is after believing God fully. In Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. So believing God is more important. (Acts 8:12) & (Acts 8:37)
6. We are taking this to acknowledge that God was right, in Luke 7:29 & 30 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus' words, acknowledged that God's way was right, because they had been baptized by John. But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)
7. For the remission of our own sins we have to take. In Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
8. To join the Church and the fellowship of the saints. In Acts 2:41 & 47.
9. To burry the old sinful man and to unite with Christ’s resurrection. In Rom 6:3 to 5 & Col 2:12
10. In order to wear Christ in Gal 3:27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
11. In 1 Cor 12:13, to become one with God.
12. In 1 Pet 3:21 "and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,"

For more information, Prayers and counseling you can contact,
 
Rev. Adbhuta Rao. Garnepudi
Millinium Baptist Church
Nambur, Guntur (Dist), A.P
milliniumbaptistchurchministries@yahoo.com
mbcministries.india@gmail.com
(+91)9848150491, 9908054910

Why was Jesus baptized?

What is baptism? Baptism is the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. It signifies and seals our ingrafting into Christ and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of Grace and our engagement to be His.
Quite simply, Jesus was baptized so he could enter into the Melchizedek priesthood so He could be the High Priest and offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins.
In Matthew 3:13-15 it says, "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, iI need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?' Jesus replied, 'Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.'" Jesus got baptized to fulfill all righteousness.

Exodus 29:1-7, "This is what you are to do to consecrate them, so they may serve me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without defect. And from fine wheat flour, without yeast, make bread, and cakes mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil. Put them in a basket and present them in it -- along with the bull and the two rams. Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water. Take the garments and dress Aaron with the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod itself and the breast piece. Fasten the ephod on him by its skillfully woven waistband. Put the turban on his head and attach the sacred diadem to the turban. Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head."

Oil is a type of the Holy Spirit: "But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth...As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit -- just as it has taught you, remain in him," (1 John 2:20,27).
The Holy Spirit descended from heaven as a dove and rested upon Jesus (Matt. 3:16).
Jesus was baptized because He had to fulfill the legal requirements for entering into the priesthood. He was priest after the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4; Heb. 5:8-10; 6:20). Priests offered sacrifice to God on behalf of the people. Jesus became a sacrifice for our sin (1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Cor. 5:21) in His role as priest.
To be consecrated as a priest, He had to be:

• Washed with water (Lev. 8:6; Exodus 29:4, Matt. 3:16).
• Anointed with oil (Lev. 8:12; Exodus 29:7; Matt. 3:16).

Both of these were bestowed upon Jesus at His baptism.
Additionally, He may have needed to be 30 years old - (Num. 4:3) which is fulfilled in Luke 3:21-23, "Now it came about when all the people were baptized, that Jesus also was baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I am well-pleased.” 23 And when He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being supposedly the son of Joseph, the son of Eli..."

• Exodus 29:1 - "This is what you are to do to consecrate them, so they may serve me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without defect."
• Exodus 29:4 - "Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water."
• Exodus 29:7 - "Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head."

"Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets," (Amos 3:7). 

For more information, Prayers and counseling you can contact,

Rev. Adbhuta Rao. Garnepudi
Millinium Baptist Church
Nambur, Guntur (Dist), A.P
milliniumbaptistchurchministries@yahoo.com
mbcministries.india@gmail.com
(+91)9848150491, 9908054910

Who Gets To Go To Heaven?

What Most People Think

 

There may be as many opinions on who gets to go to heaven as there are people. Here are a few of the most popular ones:
  @ Everyone becomes an angel and goes to heaven when they die.
@ Whoever obeys the Ten Commandments will go to heaven.
@ Whoever goes to church will go to heaven.
@ Whoever does more good things than bad things will go to heaven.
@ Whoever believes in God will go to heaven.
@ Whoever has not killed anyone or done anything really bad will go
to heaven.
@ Everyone in a Christian household will go to heaven.

These opinions may seem OK, but they are all wrong

“If none of these are correct, who gets to go to heaven?” you may ask. The answer is simple. The people who get to go to heaven are the ones who “get right with God” by beginning a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, understanding how to “get right with God” became unclear as organized religion developed over the centuries. (Removing the various “changes” added by organized religion is one of the primary reasons for the existence of this site.) Although “religious people” have been telling others how to go to heaven for a long time, what they say can be distorted by their opinions. That is why it is vital to go back to the unchanging foundation—the Bible. For example, the apostle Paul refuted the false teachings of his day and told everyone how to “get right with God” using the first century version of the Internet—a letter. This letter is recorded in the Bible as the book of Galatians, and is available for all of us to learn from today.
Although it will take a few minutes to explain how you can get to heaven, we hope you believe that learning how is worth a few minutes of your time.  You will soon learn that the real way to get to heaven has nothing in common with the opinions listed above.
If you want to learn how to “get right with God” and go to heaven, read this below blog message 
This information is based completely on the Bible, and can be verified by reading the Bible yourself. We provide proof that the Bible is the only source of truth elsewhere in this site.

What Do You Mean I Can’t Get To Heaven My Way? Yes, a few people out there will use the “get right with God” , read everything, and still think they are OK just as they are. We will humor you and tell you why the other “methods” of getting to heaven will not work. By the way, i will discuss cults and false religions (a separate issue) upcoming pages in future if God's will Everyone becomes an angel and goes to heaven when they die. This opinion is wrong for at least three reasons: Not all angels end up in heaven. People and angels are different. The Bible never states that people turn into angels. Clarifying note: Certain angels that sinned have already been cast into hell. Read 2 Peter, chapter 2, verse 4 to see that. Being an angel is no guarantee of getting into heaven. Although the Bible describes some angels as having the appearance of “men” or having “human form,” the text makes it obvious that angels are not people. Further, no place in the Bible says that one member of creation changes into another. This is true for animals, people . . . and angels too. If you think that animals change into people, or people will change into angels— Nothing in creation changes from what it starts out to be. You probably make a pretty good human, and God will keep you that way. Whoever obeys the Ten Commandments will go to heaven. This opinion is wrong for at least three reasons: The Bible never states that obeying the Ten Commandments will get you into heaven. The Ten Commandments are about 0.06% of the Bible (Exodus chapter 20, verses 3-17—later repeated in Deuteronomy chapter 5, verses 7-21). If that was all people needed to know, the other 99.94% of the Bible would not have been written. Even the best people can not keep the Ten Commandments. Clarifying Note: Although we have met a number of people who think they have always obeyed the Ten Commandments, a few questions typically reveal that they have broken most of them hundreds of times each. For example, most people broke the commandment “honor your father and your mother” at least once as a sassy child. People then realize that by the time they finished their teenage years, they broke that Commandment hundreds of times more. If your parents are still living and you ever criticize anything about them, you are still breaking that commandment. We could continue with examples from the other commandments, but the point has been made. People who examine themselves truthfully discover they have broken most of the Ten Commandments at some time in their lives—and if you break one once, you are lost. Whoever goes to church will go to heaven. This opinion is wrong for at least three reasons. The Bible never states that attending church will get you into heaven. Since churches disagree with one another, how do you know you are in the correct one to get you into heaven? If going to a restaurant does not turn you into a hamburger, why do you think going to a church will turn you into a saint? (Yes, that was supposed to be humorous, but the concept is completely valid.) Clarifying Note: We have seen people who go to church each week and promptly fall asleep. If they are openly bored with God, will He still invite them into heaven anyway? We do not think so. What if the church they are attending is actually a cult or a false religion? If that is the case, they are in trouble. Don’t get us wrong—an important part of this site is dedicated to helping people find a good church. Still, going to church will not get you into heaven. Whoever does more good things than bad things will go to heaven. This is also called “balance scale” judgment, and is one of the most common wrong beliefs. This opinion is wrong for at least three reasons: The Bible never states that doing more good things than bad things will get you into heaven. God is so holy (perfect and sinless) that “all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags” to Him (see Isaiah chapter 64, verse 6). Do you think giving God a pile of filthy rags will cause Him to bring you into heaven? We don’t. Going to heaven (or “being saved”) is a free gift of God. He made it that way so nobody could boast that they made it to heaven by their own good deeds. (See Ephesians chapter 2, verses 8 and 9.) Whoever believes in God will go to heaven. This opinion is wrong for at least three reasons: The Bible never states that believing in God will get you into heaven, and confirms that such is the case in James chapter 2, verse 19. Satan (the Devil) believes God exists. In fact, he talks with God in Job chapters 1 and 2. Yet, he is not going to heaven—he is going to be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone (hell). This is recorded in Revelation chapter 20, verse 10. Angels that sinned were cast into hell—and they knew God. Read 2 Peter, chapter 2, verse 4. Sorry, believing in God is not enough to allow you to enter heaven. Whoever has not killed anyone or done anything “really bad” will go to heaven. This opinion is wrong for at least three reasons: Although murdering someone is one of the best ways to help you go to hell, the Bible never states that not murdering anyone will get you into heaven. The same is true of not doing “lesser” crimes. In the Bible, there are at least two murderers that went to heaven: Moses and David. There are some people who never killed anyone (or did anything else “really bad”) who still went to hell (hades). Read an example in Luke chapter 16, verses 19 to 31. Everyone in a Christian household will go to heaven. This opinion is wrong for at least three reasons: The Bible never states that being part of a specific family will allow you to go to heaven. You are not physically born a Christian like you are born a citizen of a country. To become a Christian and go to heaven (enter the kingdom of God) you have to be “born of water and the Spirit.” This is different. See John chapter 3, verses 1-8. The Bible states that some members of a family will go to heaven while others sleeping or working next to them will not (Matthew chapter 24, verses 40,41 and Luke chapter 17, verses 34,35). Being the member of a family is not the way to get into heaven. OK, So Now What Do I Do? Now that you realize why these other ways to go to heaven will not work, you need to recheck the information attached to the “get right with God” page  For more information, Prayers and counseling you can contact, Rev. Adbhuta Rao. Garnepudi Millinium Baptist Church Nambur, Guntur (Dist), A.P milliniumbaptistchurchministries@yahoo.com mbcministries.india@gmail.com (+91)9848150491, 9908054910

Getting Right With God

As we said before, the one way to get right with God is based completely on the Bible, not our opinion. This can be verified by reading the Bible yourself. That is why we inserted the Bible link above. Now, if we are going to follow what the Bible says about getting right with God, we have to answer three important questions.

Question 1: Why do I need Jesus?

Most people begin with a wrong view of their condition in relationship to God. If they believe in a life after this life, they think their own way of getting to heaven is “good enough” to make it through those “pearly gates.”
Unfortunately, these beliefs measure these people against other people. None of these beliefs really explain those people’s condition when related to God. The Bible tells us that every person is totally separated from God by a thing called “sin.” (This is shown in the book of Romans, chapter 3, verse 23. People familiar with the Bible call this “Romans 3:23” as a type of “Bible shorthand.”) Sin is simply disobeying God. Since God is sinless, He can not stand sin, or people with sin (every one of us). We have to be perfect. The problem is that we can not be perfect, it is impossible.
Think of it this way. If three of us throw darts at a dart board and one gets two inches away from the bull’s eye, another four inches away, and another misses the board completely, which one of us hit the bull’s eye? No one, of course! This is how it is with us compared to God. The bull’s eye is what God demands (perfection, no sin—ever). Some will come closer to obeying God than others, but no one ever hits the bull’s eye of perfection. Thus, everyone is totally lost and they are (literally) enemies of God, even if they get close to the bull’s eye. Just one sin totally separates us from God. What makes this worse is that we know that if we sin we have to die. See Romans 6:23 (chapter 6, verse 23). We will also be separated from God and eternally in Hell. Needless to say, we have a problem.
This is where Jesus comes in. God knew that there was no possible way that we could ever have any association with Him because of our sin. Knowing that we could not erase even one sin on our own, He loved us so much that He sent His Son Jesus into the world. See John 3:16,17 (chapter 3, verses 16 and 17). Since Jesus never sinned, He did not have to die. Still, He chose to die on the cross for the sins of all people. He became the “perfect sacrifice” for all our sins, and God accepted His death for our sins as payment in full! Therefore, Jesus became the “bridge” between us and God. It is only through what He did that we can have any association with God. See John 14:6. All we have to do is accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord and then live for Him. That brings us to our next question.

Question 2: How Do I Accept Jesus?

The Bible reveals four steps:
Believe in Jesus and put your faith in Him. See Ephesians 2:8-10 (chapter 2, verses 8 through 10).
Christianity is not a blind faith, but rather a faith based on facts. That is, unlike other faiths, it can be verified and proven to be true.
Repent of your sins. (See Acts 17:30,31.)
What does “repent” mean? Well, imagine that you were going to the store when you realized that you forgot your money. What would you do? You would probably be disappointed that you wasted so much time, but you would still turn around and go home to get your money. Repentance is like that. A repentant person simply says, “God, I behaved badly in my past, and I want to turn around and live the way that You want me to live from now on.” You can talk to God like you would talk to a respected friend and repent of any sin that has been a part of your life.
Confess Jesus as Lord to someone. (See Matthew 10:32,33 and Romans 10:9,10.)
In the Bible, God always places emphasis on what we say—probably because whatever is in your heart determines what you say (Matthew 12:34). Therefore God wants us to verbally commit to Jesus (as Lord of our life) to someone.
Be Baptized (See Acts 2:38,39.)
Being baptized means being immersed in water. Typically, a person would stand in water, be lowered into the water (by another Christian), and then be brought back up out of the water. The significance of this act can be seen in Romans 6:1-7 and an example of it in Acts 8:26-39.
Some people do not think that baptism is part of accepting Jesus. However one thing is clear in the Bible—belief and baptism are always together, never separated. Therefore, it is obvious that baptism is part of accepting Jesus.  Any true Christian may baptize you.
According to the Bible, this four-step process gets you right with God. If you have chosen to do this, congratulations! You are now on the “straight and narrow” path and can begin developing and keeping a relationship with God. That leads us to our third and final question.

Question 3: How Do I Stay Right With God Through Jesus?

Many times people think that God is going to forgive their past sins, but after becoming a Christian, they can never sin again or God will reject them. This is not the case at all, so let’s get an understanding of how we are to live after accepting Christ as our Savior and Lord.
1 John 1:5-2:6 (chapter 1, verse 5 through chapter 2, verse 6) gives the best answer. This passage describes people who are right with God, and explains to them that they will still struggle with and fall into sin at times. At these times, it says that the blood of Jesus cleanses them from all sin. However, it first qualifies how believers must live to apply this promise to themselves. It uses the terms “walking in the light” and “walking in the darkness.”
The big issues here are foundation, motivation, and consistency. If our foundation is the Bible, and if our motivation is being like Christ, and if we consistently seek to live like Christ, then we know that Jesus covers our sins, and we are still right with God. (See 1 John 2:5,6 and 1 John 5:13.) However, if we say that we know God, and yet do not consistently seek to live like Christ by obeying Him (that is, we continue to “walk in darkness”) God says that we are liars and the truth is not in us. (See 1 John 2:3,4 and 1 John 1:6.) Thus, if you make a decision to accept Christ, you must understand that it means a lifetime commitment toward seeking to be like Jesus in the way that you live. This is what “staying right with God” is all about—becoming more like Jesus! We certainly hope that you will choose Jesus!

If you would like more help getting right with God, please contact us

Rev. Adbhuta Rao. Garnepudi
Millinium Baptist Church
Nambur, Guntur (Dist), A.P
milliniumbaptistchurchministries@yahoo.com
mbcministries.india@gmail.com
(+91)9848150491, 9908054910

7 Cs of Christian Living

How Do You Measure Up?

Acts 2 provides seven glimpses of an authentic Christian life. 

Confessing Life  ~  During this time of the early church a miracle was evidenced and we read that “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them” (verse 4). Clearly they were expressing their faith in God and what He had done in their lives. Today we should be witnessing with words about what we have experienced in Christ. “One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:24). 

Convicting Life  ~   Those observing the scene were convinced that something special was occurring. “Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?’” (verse 7). Today we are to have a lifestyle which is convicting to others because of our love for one another. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). Today we are witnessing by our lives regarding the reality of what we have experienced in Christ.

Converting Life  ~  “‘Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.’ When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’” (verses 36-37). Because of the reality of what was heard and observed, others were converted by putting their faith in Christ. 

Constant Life  ~  “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (verse 42). Their conversions had a consistent impact on their lifestyle.

Continuing Life  ~  “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts” (verse 46a). Clearly “every day” indicates that this was not a flash-in-the-pan experience. 

Communing Life  ~  “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts” (verse 46b). Are you regularly meeting with fellow believers in Jesus Christ?

Contagious Life  ~  “Praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (verse 47). The natural result of authentic Christianity will be others wanting what we have and coming to know our Lord as their personal Savior. 

 

For more information, Prayers and counseling you can contact,
Rev. Adbhuta Rao. Garnepudi
Millinium Baptist Church
Nambur, Guntur (Dist), A.P
milliniumbaptistchurchministries@yahoo.com
mbcministries.india@gmail.com
(+91)9848150491, 9908054910