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
Interim Body
Written by: Max Klein
Scriptures tells us that upon death, our souls will be first clothed in an interim body and ultimately in a resurrection body. The exception will be those who are in the Rapture generation.
2 Corinthians 5:3-4: Because when we [a reference to our souls] are clothed [the soul needs to be clothed in a body], we will not be found naked [after death, our body is first clothed in an interim body and then at the Rapture in a resurrection body]. (4) For while we are in this tent [in our human mortal body with its sin nature], we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed [the soul will never be without a body] but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling [ultimately the resurrection body], so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life [eternal life will function in our resurrection-body].
Examples of in Scripture:
The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)
The account of the rich man and Lazarus as taught by the Lord Jesus Christ is never to be considered as a parable for parables never mention proper names or actual geographical locations. For example, a parable will usually begin by introducing the characters as such: “a certain man had two sons,” or “there was a certain rich man who had a steward.” However, the account of the rich man and Lazarus in Hades is a historical event - a true story, with real people, in a real geographical location.
Luke 16:19: Now there was a certain rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living every day in luxury [this became a distraction].
Though there is nothing immoral or sinful or even wrong with being wealthy and living in luxury, wealth can lead to distractions, false values, illusions of happiness, and lust. Wealth can distract a person from what is really important, and many wealthy people become so busy managing or spending their money that they just do not take the time to think about eternal matters. Also, many wealthy people have the wrong values in life, placing too much emphasis on achievement, pleasure, power, approbation, social life, physical health etc. Furthermore, to the undiscerning person, money gives the illusion of happiness and security. Many people regardless of whether they are wealthy or poor believe that if they only had enough money, they could overcome all of life’s problems which is not true. Though money can only solve financial problems, it cannot solve the problems of ignorance, love, related to a lack of capacity etc. However, having money is necessary, but lusting for money makes the wealthy person a slave to money. Because of distractions, false values, illusions and lust, many rich people are not mindful of eternal future.
Hebrews 9:27. And in as much as it is appointed for mankind [believer and unbeliever apart from the Rapture generation] to die once [a reference to physical death], but after this [physical] death the act of judgment [the Great White Throne judgment of the unbeliever].
Mark 8:36, 37. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Luke 16:20: And a certain poor man named Lazarus who had been thrown at his gate, covered with skin ulcers [Both Job and Lazarus were covered with ulcers.].
How did Lazarus die? It appears that the ulcerous Lazarus was beaten up and then thrown at the gate possibly by a gang or mob. Principle: Evil people do not discriminate: they despise the rich, poor and the helpless equally. Lazarus was so weak and so maltreated that he was not able to move away from the rich man’s gate, and so there he remained until his death.
After Job had passed his Evidence Testing the Lord eventually restored his health under living grace (God’s grace for the believer in life) whereas Lazarus after successfully passing Evidence Testing departed from this world under Dying Grace (God’s grace for the mature believer in dying). The very fact that the Lord gave the historical account of the dying days of Lazarus is significant as the Lord himself had removed logistical grace-support from Lazarus in order for Lazarus to glorify Him in a special way. Lazarus, as an invisible hero in the angelic conflict, would demonstrate especially to angels how truth in the soul could develop such a strong love for the members of the Godhead that no adversity could destroy it. He also testified to the importance of possessing eternal values over against temporal ones. This testimony of Lazarus under dying grace glorified God to the maximum.
Luke 16:21: And longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table [no one offered food]; but [in contrast to the cruelty of mankind] even the dogs were coming and licking [iterative imperfect] his sores.
Lazarus was normal (not in a state of depression) and therefore had normal physical desires. In normalcy, he in great hunger desired the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. If Lazarus had been in a state of depression, he would have had either a loss of appetite or had some abnormal craving.
The only friends Lazarus had, were the wild dogs who demonstrated much more compassion than the rich man and his friends or others who knew of his situation. Lazarus was completely cut off from any human love, compassion, and friendship.
Luke 16:22: Now it came to pass that the poor man died, and he was carried by angels [probably angelic officers, in honor of Lazarus’ status as a winner-believer] to Abraham’s bosom [a technical expression for a location in Paradise for the elite believers]; and the rich man also died and was buried.
The comparison in context indicates that Lazarus was not buried, not even in a potter’s field. Apparently, after his death, he was removed with the garbage and thrown into a garbage heap or burned as was the custom in the ancient world. In the case of Lazarus since he was not under anyone’s care, his body possibly was partially decayed upon discovery of his death, and so being repulsive would not have made it to the potter’s field. He was more than likely thrown into the deep narrow Glen of Gehenna and burned. This glen was used as the garbage heap of Jerusalem located just south of the city.
Later, when the rich man died, he probably had a very unusual and ostentatious funeral in accordance with his wishes, his body being placed in a beautiful coffin which in turn may have been placed into a grand mausoleum. It was all meaningless for the rich man’s soul went straight to Torments in Hades where the soul was placed in an interim body that he might experience the suffering of terrible heat and flames.
If you were to interview Lazarus today about his suffering at the rich man’s gate his reply would surely speak of time on earth being a drop in a bucket compared to eternity, and even tremendous suffering in time is incomparable to the fantastic blessings that he will enjoy for trillions of years.
On the other hand, if you were to interview the rich man regarding the great pleasure, power and influence he had during his lifetime would probably reply: “I regret every second, every minute of my prosperity, worldly pleasures, power and influence. It blinded me to my need for eternal salvation, a relationship with God which I could have had both in time and in eternity. I curse the good times that blinded me to the importance of eternity. The horrors of the eternal state have erased all the pleasures of my lifetime. For over 2000 years I have been tormented in the flames of Hades, and the worst is yet to come…”
Luke 16:23: In Hades he [the rich man] lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in a place of honor.
This passage reveals much about the conditions facing a departed unbeliever. In this verse and those following we read that the rich man has eyes, a tongue, and obviously a voice to speak and ears to hear. In other words, the interim body of the unbeliever in Hades functions much like a human body on earth in that it allows the soul placed within that body to perceive the surroundings and communicate with others. It too has some kind of nerve system made of pain receptors that send messages of pain and thirst to the soul – there is no escaping constant torment in the aptly named Torments. We are also taught that Torments is a place of darkness as per Matthew 22:13b, “Throw him into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” So, we may picture the rich man standing on the outer edge of Torments, looking out from darkness across the impassable great gulf fixed and into a beautifully illuminated Paradise, where he can clearly see Lazarus with Abraham.
The unbelievers residing in Torments will be removed from Torments just before the destruction of planet earth and the universe at the completion of the Millennium. Their souls will also be transferred from their interim bodies into permanent resurrection-bodies to face the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:12) where they will be judged by the Lord Jesus Christ and thrown into the Lake of Fire where they will share the same fate (Revelation 20:15) as Satan himself. (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10).
Since Abraham was the father of the Jewish race and one of the greatest believers of the Old Testament, being in a location with him implies great honor. Thus, the expression “Abraham’s Bosom” indicates that one section of Paradise was the location for mature believers who had died with the highest honors. All Old Testament-believers were taken to the 3rd heaven at the ascension of Christ but must still wait until the end of the dispensation of Israel, fulfilled at the termination of the seven- year Tribulation, also marking the Second Advent of Christ, before they can receive their eternal resurrection-bodies.
Luke 16:24: And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham [indicating that he was a Jew], have mercy on me [something Lazarus never said at the gate of the rich man], and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger [Lazarus in his interim body] in water and cool off my tongue [the tongue of the rich man in his interim body], for I am in agony in this flame.’
The rich man showed no mercy in time, but in Torments he begs for mercy. On the other hand, there is no record of Lazarus ever having asked for mercy from the rich man or any other person, nor ever having complained or begged. Evil people show no mercy to others, but when in trouble beg or even demand mercy for themselves, whereas great believers are compassionate and show mercy to others, but do not ask or beg for it from others even when they are in need.
The cry of mercy must occur in time, for in eternity it is too late. Why is this so? Well, one must understand that every decision we make has a time frame. Deciding on what you eat for a dinner usually has consequences lasting no longer than an hour or two. Marriage is a decision of which consequences usually last a maximum of 50 years. However, when we make a decision about Christ and his work on the cross, the time frame is forever.
The longer the time frame related to a decision, the more seriously we should consider it. So, when a young man or woman is considering marriage, one would think that he or she would consider all of the facts very closely since the repercussions of that decision may affect them for quite some time. Yet, how much more so should a person consider the facts regarding Christ and His work upon the cross since this is a decision which affects the person forever.
Luke 16:25: But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things [focused on the temporal], and likewise Lazarus evil things [though under great suffering focused on the eternal]; but now he is being comforted here [given a special place of honor], and you are in agony [because you were distracted from what was really important].’
Abraham calls the rich man a child because he is not accepting responsibility for his eternal decision (a decision with eternal repercussions). When he chose to reject the Gospel message, he was literally choosing to suffer first in Torments and then in the Lake of Fire. So, whether he likes it or not, he will take the responsibility for that decision.
Luke 16:26: ‘And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’
Even if Abraham should have wanted to help, he would not have been able to do so. After death the believers and unbelievers are separated, and so it is in eternity. No one can alter the plan of God the Father.
Luke 16:27-28: “And he said, ‘Then, I beg you, father [Abraham is the father of the Jewish race], that you send him to my father’s house [where the rich man and undoubtedly his five brothers saw the starving Lazarus daily] (28) for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn [regarding the rejection of the gospel] them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
It is amazing that in his interim body which lacks the sin nature, he expresses some concern for his family members! Though he had rejected the gospel, he did possess some compassion in his soul.
Luke 16:29-30: “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets [an expression for the Old Testament]; let them hear them.’ (30) But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will change their thinking [regarding Christ and believe in Him]!’”
In verses 27-30, the rich man in Torments seemed to have understood the Gospel, particularly how salvation is attained by changing one’s thinking and believing in Jesus Christ, for he used the Greek word ‘metanoeo,’a word related to salvation.
Mark 1:15b. Jesus Christ commanded, “Change your thinking [the Greek word ‘metanoeo’] and believe in the gospel.
In Matthew 11:20, Jesus reproached the Jewish negative volition, “Then, He began to reproach the cities in which most of His miracles were done because they did not change their thinking [about Christ; the Greek word ‘metanoeo’ is used; Before anyone believes in Christ, he changes his thinking (mind) about Christ.]”
The rich man did not ask for the opportunity to believe in Christ for he knew that it was too late for him to make that decision. (Before death, he had made his eternal decision.)
Luke 16:31: “But he [Abraham] replied to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets [the Gospel message as found in the Old Testament, for example Isaiah 53], they will not be persuaded even if someone should rise from the dead.’”
The Word of God (the Old Testament in this verse) is much more powerful than any miracle. Furthermore, Lazarus was the evangelist at their gate. As it were, the gate was his pulpit. If they would not listen to him then, and they didn’t; they would not have listened to him if he had returned. If a person is negative toward the truth, a miracle (i.e. the return of Lazarus) will not change his mind.
John 12:37. But though he had performed so many miraculous signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him.
Matthew 11:20. Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were performed because they did not change their thinking [about Him and believe].
Also, Pharaoh Amenhotep II of the Exodus illustrates this point well). If Moses and the Prophets were not able to change their thinking, neither could Lazarus.
A Second example of people in Interim Bodies:
Moses and Elijah in Interim bodies: Revelation 11:7, 11, 12. Now when they [Moses and Elijah] had finished their testimony [ministry], the beast-monster [Abaddon of Revelation 9:11: an evil and powerful fallen angel] who comes up from the abyss [It is obvious from this statement that this powerful demon and his army had to return to the Abyss after their torturing of cosmic individuals for five months] will make battle [fight] against them [Moses and Elijah] and will both overpower and kill them [the Permissive Will of God permits these murders]. (11) And after three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered into them [their original soul and spirit entered into their interim bodies]; then they [Moses and Elijah] stood on their feet; and great fear [but did not change their attitude toward Christ] fell on those who were viewing them. [These people were either viewing them as they walked by or via some media.] (12) And they [Moses and Elijah] heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And so, they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies [both believer and unbeliever] observed them [Moses and Elijah were in heaven in interim bodies; then they came to the earth in interim bodies as the Lord’s heralds; upon the completion of their ministries, they were murdered and subsequently resuscitated by God and then commanded to return to heaven in their interim bodies].
Other examples of people in Interim Bodies:
Matthew 27:52-53. and tombs were opened [by the earthquake], and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep [died] were raised up [raised from Paradise after the resurrection of Jesus Christ as per the next verse]. (53) And coming out of the tombs [Old Testament saints who died and were buried in or around Jerusalem] after His resurrection, they [in their interim bodies] entered into the holy city [Jerusalem] and appeared to many [in their interim bodies possibly to announce the resurrection of Christ for the next forty days and then would have joined the other Old Testament believers in the procession to the 3rd heaven at the ascension of Christ].
1 Peter 3:19. By means of whom [the Holy Spirit] also He [the humanity of Christ] went and made a proclamation [generally a short well-defined declaration apparently in his interim body since he spoke] to the spirits in prison [the fallen angels in Tartarus as a group].
