MAX KLEIN BIBLE MINISTRIES
The Seven Baptisms
Written by: Max Klein
Baptism means identification or association:
Introduction:
1. This meaning began in Homer's time. Homer wrote of the one-eyed giant, Cyclops who had trapped Ulysses and his men in a cave and was eating them one at a time. The ingenious Ulysses devised a plan. He had his men sharpen a large log and together they rammed this log into the eye of the one-eyed Cyclops rendering him blind. They identified (baptized) the sharpened log with Cyclops’ eye which changed Cyclops from a seeing giant to a blind giant. Having blinded the Cyclops, they were able to maneuver their way out of the cave. Another example by Homer: Homer's Odyssey, book 9, used baptism for hot metal identified (baptized) with water when a smith dipped a piece of hot iron into water. This is how a blacksmith would temper swords in the ancient world. After this identification, the sword was made stronger and so less likely to bend.
2. Xenophon said that the Spartan military recruits after finishing infantry training would identify (baptize) their spears with pig’s blood. They would run by a barrel of pig’s blood and thrust their spears into this blood. This ritual, identified their spears with killing and the soldier’s readiness for combat with the enemy.
3. Euripides used the word for a ship identified with the bottom of the sea when it sank. Before sinking, the ship was valuable; after sinking it had no value at all.
4. So "baptize" in the classical Greek meant to identify one thing with another so that the characteristics of the original thing were altered. Therefore, the interpretation of the word "baptism" is identification with something that brings about a change.
5. There are a number of cognates related to this Greek word such as bapto, baptizo, baptisma, baptismos, baptistes, and embapto. A few examples follow:
6. John 13:26, “Jesus then answered, ‘That is the one for whom, I shall dip [the future of the Greek word bapto] the morsel and give it to him. So, when he had dipped [the aorist participle of bapto; the sop now takes on a new meaning that of honor] the sop [the morsel], He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.”
To give someone a sop [a special bit of food usually a piece of bread or meat with a tasty sauce] was the highest honor of a banquet. At a banquet a special piece of bread or meat was prepared along with a special sauce for the guest of honor who would then honor someone by giving it to that person. Jesus as the guest of honor took this sop and dipped it into a special sauce and gave it to Judas. In this way, the Lord Jesus Christ honored Judas as a member of the family of God, and for his ministry as an apostle to the Lost Sheep of Israel. This honor should have given Judas second thoughts regarding his plan to betray Jesus to the Sanhedrin.
7. Matthew 3:7, “but when he [John the Baptizer] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism [identification: the Greek word baptisma], he said to them, “You brood of vipers [poisonous snakes], who warned you to flee from the wrath to come [Baptism of Fire: identification with the fire of Torments and then the Lake of Fire]?”
8. Hebrews 6:1-2, “Therefore, leaving behind the elementary teaching about Christ, let us advance to maturity, not laying again the foundation [of the basics such as]: a change of thinking about dead works [just as an unbeliever must have a change of mind about Christ to obtain salvation, so the believer must have a change of mind about legalism (dead works) in order to obtain the spiritual life], and of faith toward God [Faith-Rest Drill], (2) doctrine of baptisms [the Greek word baptismos; a reference to the seven types of baptism as found in Scripture] as well as the laying on of hands [ritual rebound in the age of Israel], and of resurrection from the dead, and of eternal judgment [the Great White Throne Judgment].
9. Matthew 3:1, “In those days John the Baptizer [the Greek word baptistes; when John baptized someone into the Jordan River, the converts were identified with the plan of God and his kingdom.] came proclaiming [as a herald] in the desert of Judea.”
There are two categories of identification in Scripture namely an actual identification or a real baptism and a representative identification or a ritual baptism which uses water.
The four real or actual identifications with something that has significance.
1. The Baptism of Moses: 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 presents the baptism of Moses, "For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; (2) and all were baptized [the Greek word baptizo] into Moses in the cloud [the Lord] and in the sea." This was a real identification in which Moses was identified with the Lord and the open path through the Red Sea and the Jews were identified with Moses. By the way, none of the Jews got wet, only Egyptian unbelievers who were immersed in the water as a means of death.
2. The Baptism of the Cross is found in Matthew 20:22, “But Jesus answered [Salome by addressing her sons] and said, “You [plural: a reference to James and John] do not know what you [James and John] ask. Are you [James and John] able to drink of the cup [bear the punishment of all the sins of the world] that I am about to drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism [the sins of the world identified with Christ followed by the Father judging them] that I am baptized with [identified with]?” They [James and John] said to Him, “We are able. [the dumbest statement that James and John ever made]” [I selected the longer text as did Jerome.]
3. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Retroactive Positional Truth and Current Positional Truth) occurs at salvation for Church Age believers only.
Colossians 2:12. Having been buried [aorist participle] with Him [Jesus Christ] by means of the baptism [God the Holy Spirit identified us with the burial of Jesus Christ as part of our salvation] by means of which [Baptism] you have been raised up [main verb] with Him [in union with Jesus Christ seated at the right hand of the Father] through faith [at the point of salvation] in the operational power from the source of God who has raised Him [the humanity of Christ was given a resurrection body] out from the dead [physical death].
Romans 6:3-9:
Romans 6:3: Or do you not know that all of us who [a correlative] have been baptized into [identified with] Christ Jesus [Current Positional Sanctification: we are in union with Christ in his life in heaven], have been baptized into His death [Retroactive Positional Truth and so identified with his substitutionary spiritual death on the cross]?
Positionally, (in union with Christ) we share His righteousness, heirship, priesthood, destiny, election, eternal life, royalty, sonship etc. All these making us a new spiritual species in Christ Jesus. The plural correlative hosoi (ὅσοι) means that if we were identified with Christ in heaven and we were, then also we have been identified with Christ in his substitutionary spiritual death in which he removed the power of sin nature. Thus, the sin nature should not have power over our lives.
A few more points will be noted:
1. Note that the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation enters the believer into union with Christ at the right hand of God the Father which union is called current positional truth.
2. This verse also mentions identification with Christ in His spiritual death on the cross which identification theologians call retroactive positional truth. Retroactive positional truth also includes identification with Christ in His physical death and burial as well.
3. Identification with Christ in His death, then, has a two-fold connotation namely all personal sins were judged at the cross and since that is the case, God the Father is free to provide in grace, the Recovery Procedure. The second connotation is that good and evil were rejected by Jesus on the cross since good and evil are a part of Satan’s policy and plan. On the cross, Jesus relied on the proto-type spiritual life which operated under the two power options namely God’s power system.
4. So, the old sin nature’s ruling power over the Christian has been broken since all sins were judged on the cross and the Recovery Procedure has been provided. So, Retroactive Positional Truth has destroyed the sovereignty of the old sin nature over the life of the Christian.
5. Also, since Jesus rejected the good and evil policy of Satan so should the believer reject Satan’s policy of good and evil as the believer applies Retroactive Positional Truth.
Romans 6:4: Therefore, we have been buried together with Him through the identification [Baptism of the Spirit] into His death [physical], in order that just as Christ has been raised up from the dead [on Resurrection Sunday], through the glory of the Father [through the Father’s power], [So also we, the dead in Christ, will be raised from the dead by the power of the Father, and those alive at the Rapture, by the power of the Holy Spirit.] in this manner we also might walk in newness of life [Experiential sanctification should reflect our future ultimate sanctification.].
Christ had to die physically “and Jesus having shouted clearly with a loud voice said, Father, into your hands I deposit my [human] spirit, and having said this, he exhaled” (Luke 23:46). This last exhale caused His soul and spirit to depart from his mortal body resulting in physical death. Just as Christ had to die physically in order to obtain his resurrection body, so we must depart from our body of corruption, or mortality in order to receive our eternal body called our resurrection body.
The Newness of Life:
1. The newness of life provided through the baptism of the Spirit includes positional freedom from producing good and evil. Not only are we free from the tyranny of good and evil but we are also free from having to produce good and evil.
2. The believer has no obligation to improve the devil’s world through social action, socialism, welfare state, communism, environmentalism, or any social gospel, social action, getting involved, etc.
3. The human race is protected from Satan’s policy of good and evil through the laws of divine establishment which promote freedom instead of improvement at the cost of freedom.
4. In addition to the Laws of Divine Establishment the believer is insulated from good and evil positionally through the baptism of the Spirit.
5. Divorced from the Old Sin Nature positionally and its useless activity of human good and the function of evil, the life of the believer can be devoted to glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ through maximum knowledge and application of Bible doctrine.
Romans 6:5: For if we have become united with Him [Christ, the new husband] in the likeness of His death [the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross], and we have, and not only this, but also, we shall be [united in the likeness] of His resurrection [Current Positional Truth: in union with the resurrected Christ].
Romans 6:6: Be knowing this [through Retroactive Positional Truth], that our old man [our former husband, the sin nature dates back to the Garden] has been crucified together [with Him], in order that the [human] body, with reference to its sin nature, [the sin nature located in the body] might be rendered powerless [when we use Recovery Procedure and the two power options], that we should no longer be slaves to the sin nature.
“Our old man has been crucified with Him” meaning that the power of the sin nature has been broken on the cross. Since the power of the sin nature was broken by the work of the cross, we as believers have no excuse for not executing the spiritual life. We will not be able to say to Christ at our evaluation that our sin nature was too powerful for us to execute the spiritual life.
A few points for further clarification:
1. Retroactive positional truth is that phase of the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation which identifies the believer with Christ in His spiritual death, physical death and his burial.
2. In the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross all the personal sins in human history were imputed to Christ, but at the same time the other two trends of the old sin nature were not imputed for judgment.
3. Good and evil is the policy of Satan as the ruler of this world and the function of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life. In fact, the sin nature functions as the agent of Satan.
4. Good and evil were not imputed for judgment on the cross. Hence, in the spiritual death of Christ on the cross they were rejected to remain an issue in the angelic conflict, rejected to be perpetuated in human history as an issue every believer must face, and either overcome through the intake of doctrine or be entrapped by ignorance of doctrine and therefore lose out in glorifying God in time.
5. We are identified with Christ in His spiritual death, which means that we must understand that our sins have been judged and that good and evil has been rejected.
6. It all adds up to the fact that the sovereignty of the old sin nature over human life has been made powerless through retroactive positional truth.
7. The imputation of all personal sins of the human race to Christ on the cross means that the believer through the rebound technique is instantly forgiven sins, cleansed from all wrong doing which includes Satanic good and evil, restored to fellowship and filled with the Spirit.
Romans 6:7: For we who have died [the Christian is identified with the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ: theologically called Retroactive Positional Truth] have been acquitted [positional deliverance] from [the power of] the sin nature.
A few points for further clarification:
1. A dead person is discharged from the obligations of his former sphere of life. This is why the word “death” is used in this context. It is not a literal, physical death we are discussing but identification with Christ in His death.
2. As unbelievers we were under the authority of Satan as the ruler of this world, and under the authority of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life.
3. Both the power of Satan and the old sin nature have been abrogated through the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation.
4. This passage, then, emphasizes the annulling of the power and the authority of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life.
5. Positionally, the power of the sin nature has been broken. Experientially, the old sin nature controls to the extent that we fail to understand and utilize the provision and support of logistical grace.
Romans 6:8: Now if we have died with Christ, and we have [retroactive positional truth], we also believe that we shall live in association with Him [the instrumental of association; a reference to Current Positional Truth].
In this verse, the 1st Class conditional sentence shows the relationship between Retroactive Positional Truth with Current Positional Truth. The protasis, the ‘if’ clause states the reality of Retroactive Positional Truth and the apodosis, the concluding clause states the doctrinal inference and the reality of Current Positional Truth. While Retroactive Positional Truth presents positional rejection and separation from good and evil as the policy of Satan and the function of the old sin nature, Current Positional Truth relates the believer to the function of the royal family of God. In other words, they have separate functions.
Romans 6:9: Knowing that because Christ has been raised from the dead [He received a resurrection body], no longer can He die; [physical] death is no longer a master over Him.
Analysis:
1. Retroactive positional truth destroys the sovereign authority of the old sin nature over human life. Current positional truth, on the other hand, destroys the limited authority of physical death in human life.
2. Instead of being ruled by the old sin nature located in the cells of the human body and influencing our souls toward sin, good and evil, we now have a new sovereign, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are identified with Him in His deaths, in His burial, resurrection, ascension and session.
3. Before salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit our lives were under the absolute rule of Satan who is the ruler of this world and under the rule of the old sin nature which is the ruler of life, and under the limited rule of physical death. All of that, of course, has been changed since salvation.
4. Now both retroactive and current positional truth have abrogated the authority and power of these former rulers. The power of Satan over our lives has been broken through identification with the rejection of good and evil namely Satan’s policy and plan and through our position in union with Christ. The power of the old sin nature is broken through retroactive positional truth and the power of physical death is broken through current positional truth.
5. Therefore, having studied these things by principle and by implication we are now ready for application, verses 12 & 13 specifically.
6. Having been positionally liberated from the sovereignty of the old sin nature as an absolute ruler, and the authority of physical death, we must recognise and apply doctrine for the experiential victory commanded in verses 11-13.
Galatians 3:25-28, “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under the authority of [have need of] a school bus. (26) For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For all of you who were baptized into Christ [identified with Christ through union with Him] have clothed yourselves with Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek [no racial distinction], there is neither slave nor free man [no social or economic distinction], there is neither male nor female [no gender distinction]; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [All Christians have the same privileges and opportunities to execute the spiritual life.]”
Current Positional Truth, Elaborated:
In the Church Age, Current Positional Truth establishes our relationship with Christ as opposed to religion. It refers to the Church Age believer in union with Christ and is the key to understanding the Church Age and how the royal family came into being. Therefore, it is the basis for distinguishing between Christianity and religion. Christianity is a relationship with God without merit whereas religion is a system of works to gain the approbation of God. Never shall the twain meet!
The mechanics of Current Positional Truth is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, whereby the Spirit enters us into union with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For also by agency of the one Spirit we are all baptized [identification resulting in becoming a new spiritual species] into one body [in union with Christ], whether Jews or Greeks [racial distinctions are removed], whether slave or free [class and economic distinctions are removed], even all were made to drink [the aorist passive, the voice of grace] the one Spirit [The Holy Spirit did not ask us whether we wanted to be put into union with Christ or not.].” Ephesians 4:5, “One Lord [becomes our Lord positionally at Salvation]), one faith [faith alone in Christ alone; Acts 16:31], one baptism [Baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place at salvation].”
Current Positional truth guarantees that there will be no judgment for believers in eternity, Romans 8:1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Thus, the condemnation which occurred at the first birth was removed at the 2nd birth. As a result of being born with the sin nature and the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin, we were condemned to the Lake of Fire for all eternity, but now that has been removed. Romans 5:12, “For this reason just as through one man [Adam] the sin [nature] entered into the world [procreation], and so spiritual death through the sin [the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin to the sin nature], and so spiritual death spread to all mankind, because all sinned when Adam sinned [since we were all genetically in Adam when he sinned, we will receive Adam’s Original Sin].” However, at our spiritual birth, the 2nd birth, our pre-salvation sins were all forgiven including Adam’s Original Sin. After which, the Spirit entered us into union with Christ where there is now no condemnation (Romans 8:1).
Current Positional truth qualifies the believer to live with God forever. To live with God forever, the believer must have eternal life and God’s perfect righteousness, 1 John 5:11-12, “And this is the deposition [testimony] that the God [the Father] has given to us, eternal life, and this life is in his son [Since we are in union with Christ, we share this life.]. (12) and he who has the son [a relationship with the Son] has the life [eternal life] and the one who does not have the son of God [relationship with the Son] does not have the life [eternal life].” 2 Corinthians 5:21, “And He [the Father] made Him who knew no sin [perfection] to be a sin offering [imputation of sins on the cross] as a substitute for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [current positional truth].” To live with God forever means you must have His life, and you must be as righteous as He is.
Positional truth guarantees the believer’s eternal security, Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded that neither death [nothing in death] nor life [nothing in life] nor angels nor principalities [ruling angels] nor powers [human organizations] nor things present nor things to come (39) nor height [nothing in heaven] nor depth [nothing in Hades] nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Eternal life in Christ is for all eternity!
Positional truth belongs to all categories of believers whether they be apostate, mature, immature, spiritually adult, or carnal. Since Current Positional Truth occurs at the point of salvation before experience in the Christian life begins, it doesn’t depend on that experience. 1 Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus [at salvation], called saints together with all who call upon the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours.” So, even though you may be carnal or in reversionism, you still have positional truth. Being in union with Christ has nothing to do with what you do [experiential righteousness], or don’t do [failure to execute God’s plan]. Current Positional sanctification is completely the work of God the Holy Spirit and so is not based upon our volition, but on the sovereign decision of God. We make the decision to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but we don’t make the decision to enter into union with Christ “all were made to drink the one Spirit” as per 1 Corinthians 12:13. God the Holy Spirit graciously did that for us and so it cannot be undone.
Current Positional truth creates a new spiritual species in Christ as per 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ and he is, he is a new spiritual species. The old things have lost their power; behold, new things have come to pass.” You become a new spiritual species at salvation by being put into union with Christ. It is what God does for you, and therefore it is grace. It is not what you do after salvation, such as the self-righteous works of legalism. The “old things” have to do with spiritual death and those things related to that death; the “new things” refer to things you receive at salvation such as the 40 assets and the unique spiritual life.
Positional truth should motivate the production of divine good and a pattern of life compatible with royalty as per Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his creation, having been created in Christ Jesus [a new spiritual species with many assets] for the purpose of divine good production [via experiential sanctification] which the God [the Father] has prepared in advance [in eternity past, God the Father provided election and predestination as part of our Portfolio of Invisible Assets], that we in the sphere of them [election and predestination] may pattern our lives.”
Even though a Christian may die the Sin on to Death, he will not lose his position in union with Christ (1 John 5:18-20), and so cannot lose his salvation. In order for a believer to lose his position in Christ, he would have to sin in that status, but since the believer cannot sin in union with Christ, he cannot lose his position in Christ and so cannot lose his salvation. Thus, it is comforting and reassuring to a believer to know that even though a loved one may have died the ‘sin on to death’, he has not lost his salvation.
Because we are in union with Christ, we share His:
1. Eternal life, 1 John 5:11, “And this is the deposition [testimony] that the God [the Father] has given to us, eternal life [At salvation, God the Father imputes this life to the human spirit], and this life is in his son [The Christian also shares the life of Christ through union with Him]. (12) and he who has the son [a relationship with the Son] has the life [eternal life] and the one who does not have the son of God [relationship with the Son] does not have the life [eternal life].”
John 14:6, “Jesus said to him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth and the life [eternal life]; no person [in human history] comes face to face with the Father [having an eternal relationship with the Father] except through Me.’”
2. Perfect righteousness, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “And he (God the Father) made him [Jesus] who knew no sin (perfection) to be a sin offering as a substitute for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in him [positional truth]. Sharing the righteousness of Christ, we become the objects of God the Father’s love as per Romans 8:39.
3. Election, Ephesians 1:4, “just as He [the Father] has elected us for Himself in Him [Jesus Christ] before the creation of the world [in eternity past], that we may be set apart [experiential sanctification] and blameless [ultimate sanctification] in the presence of Him [Father].”
4. Destiny, Ephesians 1:5, “By means of love, He has predestined us for the purpose of adoption as adult sons to Himself through Christ Jesus our Lord according to the grace purpose of His will.”
5. Sonship, Galatians 3:26, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
6. Heirship, Romans 8:16-17, “The Spirit Himself testifies together [bears witness] with our [human] spirit, that we are the children of God. (17) Now, if we are children and we are, also heirs, on the one hand heirs of God [the Father], and joint heirs with Christ. If indeed [if it is true that], we suffer with Him [pass all three stages of undeserved suffering], that also we might be glorified with Christ.”
7. Sanctification, 1 Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints together with all who call upon the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours.”
8. Priesthood, Hebrews 7:12-19, “For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change in the Law also. (13) For the One [the Lord Jesus Christ] concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe [the tribe of Judah] from which no one has officiated at the altar. (14) For it is evident that our Lord has descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests, (15) and this is clearer still, if another priest arises similar to Melchizedek, and there has, (16) who has become a priest not on the basis of physical requirement [a reference to the Levitical Priesthood] but on the basis of indestructible life [the Lord’s priesthood is forever]. (17) For this reason, it is witnessed, ‘You are a priest forever similar to the order of Melchizedek.’” [We are in union with Christ. Therefore, we are royalty and priests forever. We represent ourselves before God as royal priests.] (18) For, on the one hand, there is a rescinding of the former commandment [the Mosaic Law that authorized the Levitical priesthood] because of its weakness and uselessness (19) (for the Law brought nothing to completion), but on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope [the second door of hope for the Church Age believer—a personal sense of destiny—by which we enter the adult spiritual life] through which we draw near to God.”
Hebrews 7:26-28, “For it is fitting that we should have such a high priest, impeccable integrity, the One who cannot do evil, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; (27) Who does not need daily, like those Levitical priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He [Jesus] offered up Himself. (28) For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of His [God the Father’s] oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, who has become perfect forever [Jesus Christ is a perfect high priest].”
9. Royalty, 1 Peter 2:9, “ But you and only you are an elect [elect by God the Father] race [as a new spiritual species], a royal priesthood [since Jesus is a king-priest], a holy nation [God’s entity: a nation of priests: every Christian is a priest], a people for God’s own possession [a protected people], so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him [Christ] who has called [in eternity past] you out of darkness [spiritual death and the Cosmic Systems] into His amazing light [his plan];”
10. New Spiritual Species, 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ and he is, he is a new spiritual species. The old things have lost their power [Old Covenant]; behold, new things have come to pass [This would include the New Covenant to the Church.].”
Current Positional Truth changes our relationship with Angels.
1. Through current positional truth the believer is higher than angels positionally.
2. Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, and so superior to all angels. By virtue of being in union with Christ, every believer is now positionally superior to angels.
3. Positional truth has fulfilled the believer’s triumph with Christ in the angelic conflict. We are victorious with Him already.
4. Furthermore, positional truth demands compatibility with experiential righteousness. Therefore, the believer’s walk on this earth must be compatible with positional truth since we have perfect security in Christ, we have the freedom to choose for Jesus Christ, to love Jesus Christ, to respond to His love, and to fulfill our purpose on this earth.
What positional truth is not?
1. It is not an experience, emotions or ecstasies.
2. It is not progressive; it cannot be improved in time or eternity.
3. It is not related to human merit or ability.
4. It cannot be changed by God, man or angels. It is eternal in nature.
5. It is not obtained gradually as you grow in grace, but in toto at salvation.
6. It is not known apart from the metabolization of doctrine.
7. From understanding the doctrine of positional truth, we progress in our spiritual life, but we cannot improve it since it is perfect at salvation.
8. We are not in Christ because of what we do (execution of the spiritual life) or fail to do (fail to execute the spiritual life), but because of what God has done.
A few points of explanation:
1. The conclusion from positional truth, whether retroactive or current, is that the Christian must apply these doctrines to his spiritual life.
2. In Romans 7:1-4 where we have an illustration of a woman whose first husband has died freeing her to marry another. This is what actually happens to us as believers at salvation. The old sin nature is the husband up to the point of salvation, but at the moment we believe in Jesus Christ positionally the sin nature is dead, as it were, the first husband has died and we have a new husband through union with Christ. Retroactive Positional Truth removes our first husband, the sin nature whereas Current Positional Truth enters us into union with Christ, our new husband.
3. The old sin nature-husband is still around, still seeking to regain his control over his former wife, the believer. But union with the second husband, the Lord Jesus Christ, has broken the first husband’s authority over the former wife.
4. The Baptism of Fire:
Matthew 3:11, “On the one hand I [John the Baptizer] baptize you [believers] by means of water because of a change of thinking [about Christ], but the one coming after me is mightier than I whose sandals I am not worthy to lace [loosen, remove]. He himself will baptize by means of the Holy Spirit [a reference to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in the Church Age] and by means of fire [a reference to the Baptism of Fire at the 2nd Advent].”
Baptism of Fire: The baptism of fire (identification with fire) is defined as the judgment of unbelievers both Jew and gentile at the Second Advent. They will be removed from the earth and placed in fire for 1000 years until the Last Judgment, Luke 3:16-17; Mathew 25:31, 33. The analogy to the Baptism of Fire is found in Matthew 24:36-41. The one left in the field is the mature believer; the one taken is the unbeliever.
Parables of the Baptism of Fire:
1. The wheat and the tares (the unbelievers), Matthew 13:24-30, 36-40.
2. The good and bad fish (unbelievers), Matthew 13:47-50.
3. The ten virgins: five wise, five foolish (the unbelievers), Matthew 25:1-13.
4. The sheep and the goats (the unbelievers), Mathew 25:31-46.
5. The talent test, Matthew 25:14-30. The one talent man represents the unbeliever.
If Jesus Christ had not been rejected by the Jewish people, then the age of Israel would have continued until its completion (the Tribulation completes the age of Israel). (However, they did reject Jesus Christ as Savior and Messiah and so the client nation was destroyed, and the Church age was intercalated that is inserted before the age of Israel was complete.) After the completion of the age of Israel at the end of the Tribulation, comes the wrath of God namely the Baptism of Fire when the Lord removes both Jewish and gentile unbelievers from the earth and identifies them with fire forever. After which, the Millennial reign begins.
The Three Ritual Baptisms. None are extant at the present time. They are representative identifications in which water is used as a training aid to represent some principle of doctrine.
1. The Baptism of John is found in Matthew 3:2-6, “Saying, ‘Change your thinking [regarding Christ] for the kingdom of heaven is near.’ [The future king was already on the earth] (3) For this is what was communicated through Isaiah, the prophet saying, ‘The voice of one [John the Baptizer] proclaiming loudly in the desert [of Judea]. Prepare [the aorist tense is a one time-decision] the way of the Lord [an idiomatic expression for salvation]. Keep on making upright [the use of the Recovery Procedure followed by the development of experiential righteousness] His paths!’ (Isaiah 40:3) (4) Now, John himself kept on having a garment of camel’s hair [very uncomfortable] and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. (5) Then [after John went where God wanted him to be] Jerusalem kept on going out to him [face to face] and all Judea and all the districts around the Jordan. (6) and they were being baptized [identified with the kingdom] by him [under John’s authority] in the Jordan River [where Israel crossed when they entered the land], and they kept on confessing their sins [post-salvation confession of sins].”
MAX KLEIN BIBLE MINISTRIES
First Thessalonians Chapter Three
A verse-by-verse commentary by Max Klein
1 Thessalonians 3:1
Therefore, when we could no longer endure it [Timothy was sent back to Thessalonica], we [Paul and Silas] were pleased to be left behind at Athens alone [Later Silas also departed for Macedonia].
∆ιὸ µηκέτι στέγοντες εὐδοκήσαµεν καταλειφθῆναι ἐν Ἀθήναις µόνοι,
The Pauline team (Paul, Silas, and Timothy) after leaving Philippi, passed through Amphipolis, Apollonia and then to Thessalonica where they established a church. Because of the danger there, the brethren sent Paul and Silas by night to Berea (Acts 17:10) where they had a great ministry. Timothy remained in Thessalonica, but later joined Paul and Silas in Berea. Then, religious Jews from Thessalonica came to Berea and stirred up the crowds against the Pauline team, but mainly against Paul. So, the believers sent Paul out of the city and then escorted him to Athens while Silas and Timothy remained behind in Berea as per Acts 17:14, 15. When Paul arrived in Athens, he sent word that his team left in Berea were to join him as soon as possible as per Acts 17:15, 16. After Silas and Timothy arrive in Athens, Timothy delivers a report about the Thessalonians to Paul. After hearing this report, Paul sent Timothy back to the Thessalonians to teach the fundamentals of the spiritual life. Silas, awhile later also was sent back to Macedonia from Athens so that when Paul completed his ministry in Athens, he (only as per Acts 18:1) departed for Corinth. Possibly after a year in Corinth, Timothy and Silas arrived bringing some funds from the Philippian Church and a report (Acts 18:5). After hearing a report regarding the Thessalonians, Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians circa 53 A. D. and 2 Thessalonians around a year later.
1 Thessalonians 3:2
And we [Paul and Silas] sent Timothy [from Athens], our brother and fellow-worker of God, in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and to comfort you concerning your faith [the whole body of doctrine namely the spiritual life],
καὶ ἐπέµψαµεν Τιµόθεον, τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἡµῶν καὶ συνεργὸν τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ, εἰς τὸ στηρίξαι ὑµᾶς καὶ παρακαλέσαι ὑπὲρ τῆς πίστεως ὑµῶν
Timothy, a young man is a recent member of the Pauline team with the spiritual gift of Pastor-teacher. Since he has a communicative gift, Paul sent him to Thessalonica to explain the spiritual life as he had learned from Paul. Some doctrines taught put emphasis on strengthening the believer whereas other doctrines tend to emphasize comforting the believer.
1 Thessalonians 3:3-4
So that no one should be disturbed by these afflictions [dative of advantage]. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. (4) For indeed, when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction, and so it came to pass as you know.
τὸ µηδένα σαίνεσθαι ἐν ταῖς θλίψεσιν ταύταις. αὐτοὶ γὰρ οἴδατε ὅτι εἰς τοῦτο κείµεθα· (4) καὶ γὰρ ὅτε πρὸς ὑµᾶς ἦµεν, προελέγοµεν ὑµῖν ὅτι µέλλοµεν θλίβεσθαι, καθὼς καὶ ἐγένετο καὶ οἴδατε.
As the believer grows spiritually, God will test him as he tested the Exodos Generation. The believer learns the Word for a semester, and then he is tested etc. The growing believer must be tested regarding the Filling of the Spirit namely will he remain under the omnipotent power of the Spirit under afflictions, and other pressures? The believer must also be tested regarding the Faith-rest drill, grace orientation and doctrinal orientation; all these tests must be passed to advance toward Spiritual Self-esteem.
1 Corinthians 10:13, “No testing has caught up with you [has taken hold of you] except the human kind [no angelic tests], and God is faithful who will not allow you to be tested beyond what you are able [to handle], but with the testing, He will provide the way of escape [the Problem Solving Devices] that you may be able to bear up under the load [stay under the pressure of testing until the test is finished].”
πειρασµὸς ὑµᾶς οὐκ εἴληφεν εἰ µὴ ἀνθρώπινος· πιστὸς δὲ ὁ θεός, ὃς οὐκ ἐάσει ὑµᾶς πειρασθῆναι ὑπὲρ ὃ δύνασθε, ἀλλὰ ποιήσει σὺν τῷ πειρασµῷ καὶ τὴν ἔκβασιν τοῦ δύνασθαι ὑπενεγκεῖν.
In spiritual childhood, the believer is tested regarding the basic problems solving devices namely the Filling of the Spirit, the Faith-rest drill, Grace Orientation and Doctrinal Orientation. However, when the Christian reaches Spiritual Self-esteem, the first stage of spiritual adulthood, he will be tested regarding his level of spiritual adulthood namely Spiritual Self-esteem, Spiritual Autonomy and Spiritual Maturity. These tests are designated as undeserved suffering. These undeserved sufferings are formulated in the chart below.
1 Thessalonians 3:5
For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I also sent to find out about your faith [body of faith namely their spiritual life], lest by some means the tempter has tempted you, and our labor has come to be in vain.
διὰ τοῦτο κἀγὼ µηκέτι στέγων ἔπεµψα εἰς τὸ γνῶναι τὴν πίστιν ὑµῶν, µή πως ἐπείρασεν ὑµᾶς ὁ πειράζων καὶ εἰς κενὸν γένηται ὁ κόπος ἡµῶν.
This is a repetition of what he started to say in verse one. It was Paul who finally called the conference which decided to send Timothy to make sure that their labor was not in vain. The word for labor in the Greek is labor to the point of exhaustion. When Paul was in Thessalonica, he worked day and night teaching the Word of God. He labored to the point of exhaustion, and he said it was possible that this labor could become in vain. The word “vain” means empty or void, no purpose is accomplished. There is a principle here we should not miss: It is possible for the Bible to be taught day after day, month after month, year after year, and that Bible teaching can be in vain, to no purpose, when it is not used by believers in their daily lives. That is why Paul was concerned and sent Timothy.
Satan has many ways of destroying the Christian’s spiritual advance. He can attack through emotionalism or legalism or a combination of both. He can attack the Recovery Procedure and in doing so remove the believer from God’s power system. He can attack the believer through some lust etc. Satan has numerous options.
1 Thessalonians 3:6
But now when Timothy came from you to us and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you have good remembrance of us always, desiring to see us just as we also you,
Ἄρτι δὲ ἐλθόντος Τιµοθέου πρὸς ἡµᾶς ἀφí ὑµῶν καὶ εὐαγγελισαµένου ἡµῖν τὴν πίστιν καὶ τὴν ἀγάπην ὑµῶν, καὶ ὅτι ἔχετε µνείαν ἡµῶν ἀγαθὴν πάντοτε, ἐπιποθοῦντες ἡµᾶς ἰδεῖν καθάπερ καὶ ἡµεῖς ὑµᾶς,
Paul sent Timothy from Athens to Thessalonica to check out the situation there and to do some teaching, and now Timothy has returned to Paul in Corinth with a report as found in verses 6-9.
Timothy “brought us good tidings.” Paul had probably been a bit down since he possibly visualized that all his teaching had been voided and so useless, and that the whole church at Thessalonica was going to come unglued and fall apart.
As it turned out, the Thessalonians were doing quite well regarding the overall plan of God as found in I Corinthians 13:13, “Now, there remains [in the Church Age] faith, confidence and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love.” Faith represents spiritual childhood and includes the use of the Faith-Rest Drill, Grace Orientation, and Doctrinal Orientation. Confidence represents spiritual self-esteem and is the entranceway into the advance stage of the spiritual life. Love represents the adult believer and includes love for the God the Father, Unconditional Love for all mankind, sharing the Happiness of God and Occupation with the Lord.
There was great rapport between the Thessalonian Christians and the Pauline team. When great rapport exists especially when that rapport is related to the spiritual life, there is a mutual desire to spend time together in the sense that Paul would like to teach them further, and they would like more teaching.
1 Thessalonians 3:7
For this reason, brethren, we were comforted over you, through your faith [spiritual advance as explained in 1 Corinthians 13:13], even in all our pressures and affliction;
διὰ τοῦτο παρεκλήθηµεν, ἀδελφοί, ἐφí ὑµῖν ἐπὶ πάσῃ τῇ ἀνάγκῃ καὶ θλίψει ἡµῶν διὰ τῆς ὑµῶν πίστεως,
Even under great pressure and affliction, there can be comfort and enthusiasm regarding the spiritual advance of others.
1 Thessalonians 3:8
For now we live, [a term for animation and enthusiasm] if [more probable conditional sentence] you should stand fast in the Lord [keep advancing in the spiritual life].
ὅτι νῦν ζῶµεν ἐὰν ὑµεῖς στήκετε ἐν κυρίῳ.
The Pauline team was not only comforted by this good report, but they responded with great enthusiasm for the Thessalonians. Their response reminds us of a principle namely no man lives to himself and no man dies to himself for there is a definite interrelationship between believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. The relationship between believers can be so close that Paul wrote to the Corinthians “weep with them that weep and rejoice with them that rejoice.” That is not surprising since we are all in the body of Christ. Paul had been down when he thought things were down at Thessalonica, but now the report indicates that things are going very well overall, and there are only one or two glitches which Paul dealt with.
1 Thessalonians 3:9
For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the happiness with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God,
τίνα γὰρ εὐχαριστίαν δυνάµεθα τῷ θεῷ ἀνταποδοῦναι περὶ ὑµῶν ἐπὶ πάσῃ τῇ χαρᾷ ᾗ χαίροµεν δι’ ὑµᾶς ἔµπροσθεν τοῦ θεοῦ ἡµῶν,
Paul makes it very clear that first of all he is thankful, and this thanksgiving is an expression of his inner happiness at getting this wonderful report from Timothy.
1 Thessalonians 3:10
Night and day praying exceedingly for me to see your face and to perfect the things lacking in your faith?
νυκτὸς καὶ ἡµέρας ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ δεόµενοι εἰς τὸ ἰδεῖν ὑµῶν τὸ πρόσωπον καὶ καταρτίσαι τὰ ὑστερήµατα τῆς πίστεως ὑµῶν;
The Pauline team prayed for the Thessalonians as never before night and day. The middle voice is important since the subject participates in the results of the action which means that the Pauline team will personally be benefited by praying for them. They pray that they might have the opportunity of coming back to see them again, to be with them since they are applying so well what Paul and his team had taught them. What is the point? Any Bible teacher in his right mind wants to be where there is a response to the Word of God.
At the end of the verse, it tells why he wants to teach the Word there, “and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith [the whole realm of doctrine].” The word for “perfect” means to supply an army with equipment in order to prepare it for combat operations. It means to provide weapons, ammunition, food, and uniforms. Paul wants to equip fully the Thessalonians for spiritual combat.
1 Thessalonians 3:11
And may God Himself and our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way to you.
Αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ ἡµῶν καὶ ὁ κύριος ἡµῶν Ἰησοῦς κατευθύναι τὴν ὁδὸν ἡµῶν πρὸς ὑµᾶς·
In their prayers, they recognize that God the Father is the author of the plan whereas the Lord Jesus Christ is the executor of the plan. When a Bible teacher prays to go to a certain people you can be sure of one thing, those people love the Word of God.
1 Thessalonians 3:12
And may the Lord [God the Holy Spirit] make you to increase and abound in love toward one another [believers] and toward all [unbelievers], even as we also toward you,
ὑµᾶς δὲ ὁ κύριος πλεονάσαι καὶ περισσεύσαι τῇ ἀγάπῃ εἰς ἀλλήλους καὶ εἰς πάντας, καθάπερ καὶ ἡµεῖς εἰς ὑµᾶς,
The ministry of the Holy Spirit through the function of Bible teaching will bring about this increase in love. The primary components of love are as follows: righteousness, justice, knowledge of God and his plan and grace. As these characteristics increase in the soul, so does the believer’s capacity for both personal and impersonal love. Remember that both personal and impersonal love are manifestations of the components of love. Romans 5:5, “And confidence does not disappoint, because the love for God has been poured out in our hearts [streams of consciousnesses] by the personal agency of the Holy Spirit who was given to us for our benefit.” When they are filled with the Spirit they will increase and abound in divine love. “Increase” is an aorist optative, increase in a point of time, the point of time when they received the Word of God. The optative is an expression of a wish or desire. He wants to go to Thessalonica so that he can further teach them doctrine, so that in the point of time when he teaches them doctrine, they will take it in through the Filling of the Spirit and increase and abound in the sphere of divine love.
And then he adds something — “even as we toward you.” We, the Pauline team appreciate and love you; we recognize your intake of the Word of God and its significance, and we just pray that we can come back and further provide you equipment for the combat of life and that we can have the joy of having a part in your ministry.
1 Thessalonians 3:13
In order to establish your hearts [your stream of consciousnesses] blameless in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ [at the 2nd Advent] with all His saints [as the bride].
εἰς τὸ στηρίξαι ὑµῶν τὰς καρδίας ἀµέµπτους ἐν ἁγιωσύνῃ ἔµπροσθεν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ πατρὸς ἡµῶν ἐν τῇ παρουσίᾳ τοῦ κυρίου ἡµῶν Ἰησοῦ µετὰ πάντων τῶν ἁγίων αὐτοῦ.
Blameless in Holiness:
1. The sin nature is left behind at death with the mortal body.
2. Wood, hay and stubble would be burnt at the Evaluation Seat of Christ just after the Rapture of the Church.
3. The Church age believer in Resurrection body will be set apart as holy (Ultimate Sanctification).
Chronology of the Rapture and the following events:
1. The Rapture takes place, 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
2. The Big Genuflex occurs, Philippians 2:9-11.
3. The Judgment Seat of Christ (evaluation of all Christians) 2 Corinthians 5:10.
4. Bride returns with Christ at the Second Advent, 1 Thessalonians 3:13.
5. The manifestation of the Bride, Romans 8:19; Colossians 3:4.
6. Operation Footstool, Psalm 110:1; Zechariah 13:2; Colossians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 15:24-25.
7. The Coronation of Christ, Revelation 19:6.
8. The Wedding Supper of the Lamb, Revelation 19:7-9.
9. The purpose of the Rapture is to get the royal family of God prepared for the Second Advent and the Wedding Supper.
