From: Francis Harper
wbfrmsup@iowatelecom.net
Francis Harper Message for 9/13/2019
Baptism of Water
“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water, and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven” (John3:3).
Some have said we can enter the kingdom of heaven through faith alone. Faith is the initial step but if we expect to enter the kingdom of heaven we must be born of water and the Spirit.
Jesus endorsed the ministry of his cousin John when he said: “Verily, I say unto you, Among them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11). John said to those who came to him for baptism in water: “I indeed baptize you with water, upon your repentance . . .” (Matthew 3:38 IV; 3:11 KJV). He always taught that repentance needed to precede baptism. “Repent, therefore, and bring forth fruits meet [proof of] for repentance” (Matthew 3:35 IV; 3:8 KJV).
And then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him; But John refused him, saying I need to be baptized of thee, and why comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer me to be baptized of thee, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him” (Matthew 3:41-43 IV; 3:13-15 KJV). Jesus set the example for all of us to follow. How can anyone justify calling baptism a non-essential of the gospel?
Jesus not only taught the importance of baptism in water, he also demonstrated the proper mode of baptism: “And John went down into the water and baptized him. And Jesus when he was baptized, went straightway out of the water . . .” (Matthew 3:44-45 IV; 3:16 KJV).
The Book of Mormon is the second witness of the absolute necessity for all to be baptized in water if they expect to receive an inheritance in the kingdom of God. “And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized in water to fulfill all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water” (2 Nephi 13:7).
Baptism of water is the gate or door to the kingdom. “For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water: and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire, and by the Holy Ghost. And then are ye in this straight and narrow path which leads to eternal life . . .” (2 Nephi 13:24-25).
“And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this straight and narrow path, I would ask, if all is done?” (2 Nephi 13:27). This is a very appropriate question to ask newly baptized persons because quite often people who are baptized think nothing more is required of them!
The Scriptural answer to the question quoted above is: “Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far, save it were by the word of Christ, with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save; wherefore, ye must press forward with a stead-fastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: ye shall have eternal life” (2 Nephi 13:28-30).
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Dear Ones,
Most of us have friends, and perhaps even family members, who have not been baptized in water. We should not neglect to warn these loved ones of their need to be baptized in water; a necessary step in preparing themselves to enter the kingdom of God. We should remind them of the words of Jesus, who said: “Verily, verily, . . . except a man be born of water, and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).
Our warning and their response should not be delayed “until it is everlastingly too late” (Helaman 5:51). As it has been said; “procrastination is a thief of time.” “This life is the time for men to prepare to meet God” (Alma 16:228).
Some have been baptized as an infant. Baptism of infants “availeth nothing” (Moroni 8:26). “Behold, I say unto you, that this thing shall ye teach, repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin” [at least eight years old; the age of accountability]. “And after this manner did the Holy Ghost manifest the word of God unto me; wherefore my beloved son, I know that it is solemn mockery before God, that ye should baptize little children” (Moroni 8:10-11).
Some have been sprinkled. The mode taught by Jesus and his early disciples was complete immersion in water. Paul wrote: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). When Philip baptized the Ethiopian “they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him” (Acts 8:38).
The question is often asked, “Do we need to be baptized again?” Unless the mode of baptism was as prescribed in the scriptures and the person doing the baptizing had divine authority, the answer is yes. Jesus was asked, “. . . by what authority doest thou these things? Or, who gave thee this authority?” (Luke 20:2). Jesus answered by asking: “The baptism of John; was it from heaven, or of men?” (Luke 20:4). Authority to baptize should be from heaven, not of men.
John the Baptist was the messenger sent from God to make “ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:16-17, Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1). This was the same John who appeared on the banks of Susquehanna River on May 15, 1829, to restore divine authority to men on earth whose baptisms are of heaven.
The need for baptism in water should never be taken lightly. Bakht Singh of India wrote: “There are fifty-one references in the New Testament about baptism. One morning, as I was having my quiet time the Lord said to me clearly, ‘Are you in any way better than your Savior? What about baptism?’ I had been thinking baptism was not very important. I was baptized the very next day. I was filled with great joy when I came out of the water.” (Bakht Singh of India. T.E. Koshy. pp 100-101).
Bakht Singh had a dream in which he saw his father standing on the bank of a wide river. After this dream he prayed, “Lord, tell me the meaning of the dream.” The Lord said, “The time of your father’s departure is near. He is not ready, go to him.” So he went to see his father and asked him, “Father, has the Lord in any way spoken to you?” His father said, “Yes, he has spoken to me to come to Madras and give my testimony and be baptized.” Bakht Singh baptized his father. “A great change took place in his father. He came out of the water with a shining face and said, “I never knew that it is so wonderful to obey God like this.” Obedience brings joy.” (Ibid. pp 128-129).
High Priest Francis Harper
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