Category The Church: The Higher Calling

Anointment of the Holy Spirit

‘For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink’ - 1Corinthians 12:13. What is the meaning of this? Why is the Holy Spirit given to us during our baptism? What did Jesus mention about the purpose of this anointment of the Holy Spirit of God? Is there a difference between baptism with the Holy Spirit and baptism with fire?

Baptism

Since the 2nd century, water baptism (Greek: immersion) has been used as a ritual to cleanse past sins and establish a relationship with God. Is that the intention of the original baptisms given by Christ's Apostles? What was the difference between the baptism given by John the Baptist and the one given in the name of Christ? Why does it imply a 'born again' notion? Is this symbolic action even necessary? Can infants be baptized in Christ? What happens when a person takes baptism?

Faith in Jesus Christ

The period of the Law Covenant showed us mankind needs to change its mindset from self-justification efforts and understand the need for a Savior i.e. Christ. But how can Christ justify us when we still remain in our fallen flesh? When Christ taught us to pray for forgiveness, did he mention how often do we need that? If the Law showed us Christ's necessity, what happened to it after his arrival? Is it still in vogue?

Repentance – A Change of Mind

Disregarding centuries of misuse of the English word, when we go to the original Greek, we see that repentance (Greek: metanoia) means 'a change of mind'. So what is it that we need to change our minds about? Why does the Bible say mankind is in an unjustified state? In Old Testament times, God gave Israel a set of rules called the Law Covenant. What was the deal there? How is that related to sin? And why did God provide the Law covenant (the Old Testament) if he knew there would be a New Testament?

The Church

Jesus Christ was the first to use the word 'Church' in the New Testament. Today, many think of churches as buildings. What is the Church actually, according to the Bible? The biblical root word for 'church' is the Greek ekklesia. What does that mean? How does the Bible describe the original churches? How does one become part of Jesus Christ’s Church? Are there any specific things that need to be done?

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Image Credits - Jesus choosing his disciples: By Travis (www.flickr.com/photos/baggis/) [CC BY-NC 2.0], via flickr; People in the field looking at the sun: unsplash.com; Jesus carrying cross: By El Greco [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons; Baptism of Jesus: By Travis (www.flickr.com/photos/baggis/) [CC BY-NC 2.0], via flickr; Jesus reads from Isaiah in the synagogue: By James Tissot [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons; Behold the Man 'Ecce homo' Painting Photograph: By Antonio Ciseri [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons; Jesus calls the tax collector Matthew: By Hendrick ter Brugghen [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons; Jesus in Gethsemane: By Waiting For The Word (www.flickr.com/photos/waitingfortheword/) [CC-BY-2.0], via flickr; Paul and King Agrippa: By Vasily Surikov [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons; The Crowning with Thorns: By Caravaggio [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons; Paul Preaching in Athens: By Raphael [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons; Christ, Mary and Martha: By Johannes Vermeer [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons; Christ Wearing the Crown of Thorns: By Annibale Carracci [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons; Supper at Emmaus: By Seetheholyland.net (www.flickr.com/photos/seetheholyland/) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via flickr; Road to Emmaus: By Waiting For The Word (www.flickr.com/photos/waitingfortheword/) [CC-BY-2.0], via flickr