The Lightstreet Journal
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VOL. I NO. IV © 2004 HOLY SPIRIT ALL RIGHTS PRESERVED MAY/ JUNE 2004 PAID IN FULL |
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The Rapture: Understanding the difference between "countdown" and "touchdown" or 1Thessalonians 4 vs. Matthew 24!
One of the most spectacular events that await believers who have put their faith in Christ's finished cross-work for their salvation is also commonly called "the rapture" of the church. As stated in 1 Corinthians 15, our lives can be immediately interrupted and "in the twinkling of an eye", we will be called home to be with Jesus Christ forever! It also says in 1 Thessalonians (above) that we are "to comfort one another with these words". Think for a moment: Believers in the gospel of the grace of God can at any moment escape death if God were to intervene and cut us off at this time (Romans 11:22)! However, this wondrous event is also a bitter pill, for if God should call us home, we will no longer have the opportunity to be ambassadors for Christ and warn those who have rejected His abundant grace. Still, our comfort should come as we encourage one another about those who have fallen asleep in Christ, as well as that great possibility of the "airborne exit" to be with Him for eternity!
In Matthew 24 starting in verse 1, Jesus Christ in His earthly ministry is addressing His disciples who had just commented on the greatness of the temple. When Jesus prophesied of the destruction of the temple they asked Him; "When shall these things be? And when will the end of the world come?" We must remember when we read scripture, we must be sure we ask ourselves; Who is speaking and to whom, and how is God dealing with people at the time? We know that while Christ walked the earth, He was under the law and indeed stated that He Himself came to fulfill it (Mat. 5:17). As He continued to teach from Mt. Olive he warned His followers about false Christ's, wars and rumors of wars and continued:
Most astute bible scholars will understand that Jesus Christ is speaking of the pending "great tribulation". In a real life example of the "wrong division" of scripture and shortly after I became a believer, a pastor erroneously told me that I should be concerned when I asked Him of the passages above. At the time, my wife was pregnant with our third child and I was concerned about theses passages which spoke of the pending possibility of doom! It wasn't until later that I learned that I had been wrongly instructed to read into something that was not my "to" mail and I gladly obliged without studying myself! Later, I discovered that this pastor was not even dispensational. This means that he did not fully recognize (if at all) how God would change His dealings with mankind throughout the bible due to man's sin and rebellion! Since then, this former pastor has successfully passed his ignorance to the rest of the congregation and sadly to this day his fingerprints remain as a glaring reminder of how legalism is alive and well in Christianity today. Christ continued to tell His disciples of the last days of this time:
Verse 27 of Matthew 24 should stand out in drawing a distinction between Jesus Christ coming to earth and believers going to Him. For believers under this glorious age of grace will be brought immediately into the presence of Christ without warnings or signs. There will be no "lightning from the east to shine to west". Worse, if I do not make a distinction between the verses in Matthew 24 and 1 Thessalonians, I must then assume that as a member of Christ's Body, I will go through the dreadful great tribulation that is also spoken about in the rest of the verses of Matthew 24 (compare with Rev. 1:7, 19:17,18, )! Friends, this judgment and severity also known as "the fury of God" in Leviticus 26:28, is not for members of the Body of Christ. We are one with Jesus who is Our Eternal Head (Col. 1:18). These very issues were of great concern to early grace believers. In addition, the references in the bible about the Lord coming as a "thief in the night" are for a future time and not to us for Jesus told Paul to tell us:
....Friends, this judgment and severity also known as "the fury of God" in Leviticus 26:28, is not for members of the Body of Christ. We are one with Jesus who is Our Eternal Head (Col. 1:18)...... It has been my experience to recognize
that several, well-known ministries have made comparisons to the verses
mentioned in this article and attempted to exegete them to the false
conclusion that they say the same thing! Erroneously and almost
hypocritically, they will then try to convince
post-tribulationists No Gentile at that time could trust in Jesus Christ's finished cross-work which had not yet been understood nor revealed. Any person outside of Israel (Gentiles) had to come through God's covenant people via "The Law". Then, the wondrously, resurrected Jesus Christ revealed Himself to Paul in His glorified position and instructed him to pass the benefits of this "good news" to all who would simply believe! Grace and truth did indeed come by Jesus Christ, but His special, abundant grace was not revealed until the "chief of sinners" was saved. Nowhere outside of Paul's epistles do we read about our completeness in Christ, His all-encompassing forgiveness, the taking on of His very righteousness (justification) or any other spiritual blessing under grace. If you think this is inaccurate, take this simple test. Imagine our bibles without Paul's letters and re-think the requirements for salvation as well as the benefits that come along with it and then assess the differences. In short, we must correctly partition or divide scripture to assure that it is to me. All of the bible is for my profit, but not all of it is directed to me. Yet, in both instances, we can learn! We can learn what not to do as we read about past history (principles) and we can read what God would have us do today (doctrine). In Matthew 24, Jesus Christ, under the law talking to Israel, spoke of a future time that did not pertain to Gentiles or more importantly, the Body of Christ. Why you may ask? As stated above, Jesus Christ had not yet revealed it to Paul since it was still a "mystery" hid in God. This logic makes perfect sense as you now read for yourself in Matthew 24 since the next event (as prophesied in Joel, Zechariah, Revelation) pertaining to Israel is indeed the Great Tribulation. Since Paul's ministry was a secret to be revealed at the time of Matthew 24, the two events would have to be independent. Besides, the bible is full of God exacting similar methods at different times (such as the Egyptian judgments taking on the same similarities of the Revelation judgments). Hopefully, this information has brought more clarity between "touchdown"; when He comes to earth in the future (Zech. 14:4, Matt. 24:27) and "countdown", when we blast off to be with Him forever (1 Thes. 4:13-18, 1 Cor. 15:50-52, Titus 2:13, 2 Thes. 2:3)! I pray that this study has equipped and comforted believers while making a distinction between these two great events! It is also my prayer that believers would commit more time to the study of doctrine and less time to bible memorization.
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Another Rejected Prophet: Paul's distinctive ministry of grace and the church's failure in recognizing it (Ephesians 3:1-7).
In Matthew 21:33-43 we read the following verses: And again in Matthew 23:35 - That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Even
as believers we continue to sin and fall short of God's glory (Rom.3:23).
I am so thankful for His forgiveness and I am glad that despite my
continual failures, I am clothed in His righteousness! I know that what
will change a believers conduct is a renewal of the mind in regards to
how God sees us despite our failures! The fact is, He sees us in Christ.
However, with this in mind, mankind (believer or not) is still a
miserable failure. From Genesis to Revelation, the bible shows us
mankind's rebellion and sin time and time again against the backdrop of
God's greatness. The story is the same; God dispenses rules for man to
follow and requires that man follow them. Man as a steward or manager,
is required to take God at His word and demonstrate his faithfulness to
God. How did Abel demonstrate his faithfulness? Hebrews 11:4
tells us: By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice
than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God
testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. How
about Enoch? Hebrews 11:5 tells us: By faith Enoch was
translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God
had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony,
that he pleased God. When God told Noah to build the ark, what did
Noah do to demonstrate His faith? He trusted in the finished work of
Christ because he found grace in the sight of God.
NO WAY!!!!. He simply built the ark, (Hebrews
11:7) that was all that was required of him. If Noah does not build
the ark, he identifies himself with the unbelieving heathen and perishes
in the flood. Read the rest of Hebrews 11 to understand the Heroes of
Faith. The blueprint was the same, God dispensed and faithful men
responded as "an outward testimony of an inward change".
We know that sin
dwelt from the garden but shortly after the flood, we saw Noah's sin
as well as the judgment of the The only part The Body of Christ understands it seems is salvation! By simply taking God The Father at His word concerning the vicarious accomplishments of Jesus Christ at Calvary on our behalf, we are assured eternal life! But friends, Jesus Christ's triumph over sin and death is just the beginning. The risen, glorified Lord of Glory "knocked someone of his high horse". Saul of Tarsus, man's best representative of self-righteousness and religion was humbled by the sight of Him who loved us! Afterwards, he received of Christ, instructions and doctrine which were to usher in a new dispensing with so much grace it had its own name! This is what God himself called "the mystery" which was not revealed until the "chief of sinners" was saved. See for yourself: Romans 16:25-27 Colossians 1:25-29 Ephesians 3:1-7 Read Paul's account of the distinctive ministry He received from Christ in Galatians 1. Paul could have went to Peter and the 12 for instructions, but he did not! Instead what he received, he received from Jesus Christ in His glorified state.
It is erroneously taught that God had
revealed this mystery to Peter and the 12. We must remember that these
men didn't
By not recognizing that God dealt
distinctively with different people throughout the bible, most read
themselves into areas of the bible not intended for them which causes
confusion. Worse, most churches assume that God has blessed them
by big, growing ministries when in fact it may be the first tell-tale
sign of a ministry that has compromised the Word of God! Chances are
that if you are reading this, you have left a church, been tossed out of
one for no real reason or left on your own accord because the new
building downtown "was more suited to meet your spiritual needs".
Hasn't the fact that there are literally thousands of
The last error that I want to dispel is the notion that Christ revealed to Paul everything at once during His original encounter with him in Acts 9. Just as Christ, lovingly only gradually reveals the depths of our sin to us, Paul could only comprehend this awesome message through several revelations of Christ. In fact, no one knows for sure how many occurred, but we have these verses: 2 Corinthians 12:7 - And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. I suppose one could say; Yes, Paul received the abundance all at once.. But it is obvious that Paul's letters expounded on grace, especially when he was in the most difficult of circumstances while in prison. ....Most churches assume that God has blessed them by big, growing ministries when in fact it may be the first tell-tale sign of a ministry that has compromised the Word of God!.... In closing, I again need to make mention of Ephesians 3:1-7. These verses to the saints at Ephesus are so obvious yet so overlooked today. God has given us "the mystery", a secret that was hid since the beginning of time but now revealed for all! Satan, the father of counterfeiters has successfully perverted or made opposite God's intentions by making "the mystery" unknown. Friends, it's not God's fault, but instead man's failure to be a workman who is ready to study the word rightly divided. Man would rather entrust his study to someone else rather than investigate himself. In doing this, he has played into the hands of the Deceiver. This is why Paul boldly asks: If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
I can't find the rhyme in all my reason
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Today's World News
Breaking news: Ronald Regan 1911 -2004
"When the Lord calls me home, whenever that day may be, I will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future" - Ronald Regan November 5, 1994
Off the Mark:
The "Left
Behind" series is very
First, I want to point out that I respect
the hard work and effort of Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins for their work
in the "Left Behind" series. Secondly, they have been wise enough to use
their creativity in order to provide financial security for their
However, there is a downside that I would
like to discuss
In the marquee above, the Thessalonians were troubled by those who were reporting about the timing of their departure to meet with Christ in the clouds. But Paul made it clear when he said; "Do not soon be shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as for that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first (a departure), and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;...." Notice Paul was not talking about "that day" of God referring to a time when Christ will come in darkness (part of the judgment of the great tribulation). Paul himself stated in 1 Thessalonians 5; "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness." In summary, LaHaye believes that because of the context of the writing in the above verses, after the rapture those left behind will have the same opportunity to be saved. His ministry believes that the thrust of the verses in 2 Thessalonians only pertain to those who become deceived while receiving strong delusions some time after the rapture during the seven year great tribulation period. LMM disagrees with his stance. Unfortunately, an important dispensational aspect has been left out of LaHaye's and many other ministries conclusion on this matter.
LaHaye accurately addresses the correct
verses in defending the pre-trib position, but erroneously assumes
that people will be saved the same way in God's future dealings with
"And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." "..LaHaye erroneously assumes that people will be saved the same way in God's future dealings with mankind, especially immediately after the rapture. Once the Holy Spirit takes The Body of Christ up, His ministry changes as the dispensation of grace comes to an abrupt close!.....
Although entertaining and interesting,
Rayford Steele Buck, Pastor Bruce and others will not be able to be
saved in the timing and fashion as described in the series! They
will be deceived.(Now I have become the enemy for sure....) They will
not (like today) be able to simply believe and be saved, but instead
have to be saved through Israel. A person will not be able to be
saved apart from
The final point I want to make has to do
with the over-emphasizing of the Book of Revelation. Unfortunately,
prophecy has taken more of the stage than Paul's letters about grace.
Believers are more excited about destruction and vengeance than they are
about God's love and mercy, our position in Christ and growing in
understanding the mystery! We are to give more time to our current
doctrine only found in Paul's letters while studying scripture the rest
of the time. As an example, do we pour in hours to study Moses' Law to
Israel? I pray not! Although it is scripture and profitable to learn
what not to do, the thrust of our learning must be what the risen,
glorified Christ instructed Paul to tell us about. I hope
believers truly realize how blessed we are under this wonderful age of
grace. It is my prayer that believers also realize how gracious God is
to allow such love and mercy for so long. For those that secretly
struggle with the post-trib "...Unfortunately, prophecy has taken more of the stage than Paul's letters about grace. Believers are more excited about destruction and vengeance than they are about God's love and mercy, our position in Christ and growing in understanding the mystery!...."
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COFFEE CORNER
Which is the correct way to be water baptized???
What are the
ways? One of the most divisive issues pervading in
churches across America today has to do with a simple work: water
baptism! Think for a moment about the various ways a person can be
baptized: sprinkled, submersed in the ocean, lake, or pool, 3 times What does the bible say? Setting aside tradition, our pride and what we think makes us feel good, what does the bible say about water baptism? Most people would agree that if it was good enough for Jesus Christ, its good enough for me. However, if I am keeping scripture in its context and were to get water baptized because Christ was baptized, then I better be prepared to carry out the rest of the law since that was how God was dealing with mankind at that time. We do not have the luxury of picking and choosing components of the bible to fit our doctrine unless we desire to be in error! Even in the early church Paul made note of a division over this very issue: Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. - 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 How could Paul take such a cavalier attitude about something so important that Jesus Himself made it a point to tell His followers: Matthew 28:19 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Why the confusion? Can both scriptures be correct or is man confused? Yes to both! Man is confused and is continually falling short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23) His propensity is to rebel against God, even as a believer friend. Over time and eternity, man has not proven himself to be faithful to God's instructions and it is no different now. The only thing that strengthens us, sustains us and gives us hope is the person and completed cross-work of Jesus Christ, nothing more, nothing less. With our failures so obvious, why should it surprise us that we messed this whole baptism thing up as well?!?! 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. The "that" which is perfect is not Christ Himself (although He is perfect) but doctrine or revelation from God. Look up the word "that" in your Strong's Concordance. "That" cannot be tied to a person. Please remember that healings, tongues, special knowledge and prophesying would cease as we just read. All of these sign gifts were performed the same time Paul was baptizing, but were to cease as he received completed knowledge from the risen Christ! The Body of Christ and other churches have mistakenly brought in a ritual from a past dealing of God with man (through Israel) to today's doctrine. "....The only thing that strengthens us, sustains us and gives us hope is the person and completed cross-work of Jesus Christ, nothing more, nothing less."... Let's look at some more scripture:
When people asked among themselves; "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" What did Peter say? Did he say; "Trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins and you will be justified before God the Father through simple faith? " No way!! He said; "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." I know many teachers and leaders will try to wrangle this portion of scripture to fit the way we are saved today under Paul's gospel, but that is not good bible hermeneutics (interpretation). Peter told them they were to repent in conduct and be water baptized in order to have their sins remitted. They would then receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Friend, if you think we are saved in this way, this reasoning flies in the face of the grace of God that Jesus Christ committed to the apostle Paul on our behalf! I do not take Jesus in my heart, I do not complete my salvation through water baptism, I do not commit my life to Christ. He committed His life to me! I simply believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins, was buried and rose again for my justification. There is no outward testimony of an inward change for He is my expression of faith! What relevance did water baptism have in the scriptures? Remember, the issue we are discussing is not challenging the scripture, for the bible clearly says that water baptism was required. This issue at hand is its relevance today under the dispensation of grace. Nowhere in Paul's letters will you find him discussing water baptism as something that must be done. Not Romans 6 or the "One Baptism" of Ephesians 4! Three years ago I told an elderly pastor if these verses speak of water, then I must believe in a water-based, works oriented salvation! An outstanding verse to the relevance of water baptism can be found in the gospel of John. Here, the prophet was speaking under the dispensing of the law: The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. - John 1:29-31 Friend, do we get baptized today to identify with Christ in His manifestation to Israel? Of course not! Could it be that man has not correctly partitioned the bible in order to fully understand what God's instructions are today under His abundant grace? Is Christ's finished work at Calvary enough or do I need to validate that beyond simple belief in order to stir my emotions? Please search the scriptures yourself and rest in His completeness for water has no part in God's dispensing of grace!
"...The only thing that strengthens us, sustains us and gives us hope is the person and completed cross-work of Jesus Christ, nothing more, nothing less."... |
The purpose of this article is not to debate whether or not Christ's saints
will be caught up to be with Him in the air, because the bible clearly describes this blessed hope for
believers in the above marquee, 1 Corinthians 15 and in several other
verses only found in Paul's letters. Instead, I feel that it is essential to point out the difference
between Christ's Second Coming in Matthew 24 and Christ's Secret Coming
in 1 Thessalonians 4 for these passages do not describe the same
event!
(those that believe The Body of Christ will
go through the Great Tribulation) they will not go through this
time otherwise know as Jacob's Trouble (another name for the GT
- Rick).
It is no wonder that there is so much confusion concerning this matter!
However, there is a very simple solution, that does not involve
spiritual gymnastics that
will clear up the differences in Matthew 24
and 1 Thessalonians 4. Back to the questions of who is
speaking? Jesus Christ is speaking. To whom
is He speaking to? His disciples in response to
the future of Israel. How is He dealing with mankind at the time?
He is dealing through God's covenant people, the
Nation of Israel.
Gentiles at the Tower of Babel. The pattern became repetitive, God
dispensed, man failed, and in His grace, love and mercy, God gave
man (dispensed or administered) another opportunity to be His steward or
manager! Unfortunately over the last 2,000 years, man has again failed
God's dispensing of grace! Both believer and unbeliever have
failed. One to a loss of reward, the other to the loss of eternal life
(Phil. 1:27-30, 1 Cor. 4:1-5, 2 Cor. 5:10-21)
comprehend the crucifixion (until Christ upbraided them and presented
Himself to them) let alone these new orders! As a result, Paul in
a sense is another rejected prophet. It is sad that God gives us
the entire "playbook" (Old Testament) of what not to do and the
Body of Christ makes the identical mistakes that the nation of Israel
made! Like Israel's past failures in rejecting God's prophets, most believers have failed to embrace this "prophet
of grace". Just look around and listen to the mixture of law and grace
coming from many a pulpit.
denominations
across the globe been an "eye opener"? After all, they can't all be
correct. The real reason for the war in Iraq is about religion, but you
cannot make mention of that if you want to be politically correct. In
all honesty, there is no correct religion, because "we have all come
short" of God's glory. All this "denominationalism" is due to the
fact that mankind has not recognized Paul, the modern day prophet, and
his distinct message as he received it from Christ! But thanks be to God that I can be His child by
simple faith in the accomplishments of Christ. It is indeed amazing
grace that I can trade my sin for His righteousness and it doesn't
matter if I call my church "The Church of Shrek." Even better friend is
the fact that there is NO EXPRESSION OF FAITH required!
Unlike Abel, Enoch, Abraham, Noah and other saints, God does not
require us to do anything. There is no "outward testimony of an
inward change" required for our expression of faith is through
Jesus Christ! If you believe that something is required to prove your
salvation other than faith, that is nothing short of a subtle, work-oriented
salvation which flies in the face of Jesus
Christ's finished and completed work!
entertaining but only true to a point.... 
families while writing about a biblical, future event(s).
Thirdly, their works have created a renewed interest in the bible for
believers and unbelievers alike as many have returned to scriptures in
the hope understanding the person, work and ministry of Jesus Christ.
Lastly, LaHaye's website (sure, I'll give him a plug
that is erroneously addressed in his site, in his LB series and movies.
That downside is the assumption that unbelievers who are "left
behind" (after the rapture) will be saved the same way we are saved
today! In the Left Behind movie, I can still see Pastor Bruce (a.k.a
Ranger Trevett - Clarence Gilliard) professing faith in Jesus
Christ after the rapture while kneeling alone in his church. As a
pastor in the series, he was not really a believer and was left
behind. LaHaye's ministry does address key questions that have
arisen concerning what will happen to those after the rapture including
how people will they be saved. But in this distinctive, abundant,
dispensing of God's grace that we are in (as Jesus Christ revealed to
the apostle Paul) anyone at any time or place can take God The
Father at His word concerning the completed work of His Son for their
sins and be saved right then and there! If any person were to embrace
what Christ has already done for us in this way, standing justified they
are now saved!
mankind,
especially immediately after the rapture. Please remember that
once the Holy Spirit takes The Body of Christ up, His ministry
changes as the dispensation of grace comes to an abrupt close! For
2,000+ years the grace, love, mercy and salvation through Christ will
have been made freely available by simple faith of His all-sufficient
cross-work but still rejected by those left behind. Therefore:
the ministry of the two witnesses which
position, find rest, live life in the liberty that Christ paid for, and
know you'll be sky-bound prior to the "day of God"!
adult. Most denominations are centered around this ritual which usually
distinguishes them between themselves with each institution being the
only correct way! My family and I were thrown out of our
church for not believing in the relevancy of water baptism for this
glorious, dispensing of God's grace. As a dear friend of mine put it
once: "We are dry cleaned by the Holy Spirit!"