A mighty man greatly helped by one ordinary couple, and increased in his usefulness.
Acts
18:
24
¶ And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and
mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man was instructed in the way of the
Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the
things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
26 And he began to speak boldly in the
synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them,
and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
27 And when he was disposed to pass into
Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when
he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and
that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
Some observations:
1.
Even great men like Apollos, are deficient in some doctrine and has a need to
learn!
2.
Even ordinary folks can teach great men some truth!
3.
Humility to learn the truth is blessed with increases in one's usefulness!
Caution:
-
don't assume men with DD or Th.D got things all figured out. Not a few are
self-conceited. Apollos didn't and wasn't.
-
don't be intimidated by their august title and letters after their names. They,
if humble like Apollos can learn a few things from commoners like Priscilla and
Aquila who were taught by the Apostle Paul. Few have such humility and
teachable spirit.
The
Lord had abundant mercy on me, granting me much grace to see and admit the many
contradictions and fictions in the things I was taught and believed as a
reformed Baptist for nearly 20 years. He sent Aquilas and Priscillas to teach me.
What
precious lessons for us!
1.
Aquila and Priscilla learned well from the Apostle Paul.
-
Will you do the same; learn well?
- "... ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the
truth" is a harsh reality, a tragic indictment upon God's children.
2. They were discerning and sharp enough to notice the serious deficiency in a
man mighty in the Scriptures.
-
Are you discerning and sharp? These virtues are rarities in today's churches.
Many are proud to be broad and accommodating to every wind of doctrine!
3.
They love the truth of the gospel enough to get themselves into trouble to
promote the same. They invited Apollos home, showed hospitality, and took time
to expound the truth of God to a great theologian.
-
Are you grounded in the truth of God? Will you teach it to the Apolloses that
God brings to cross your path? Or will you blindly venerate them or be
intimidated by them?-
You don't need a D.D. or M.Th. or B.Th. to show such "theologians"
the way of God more perfectly.” What you need is to be grounded in the
apostles' doctrine and not from some men with titles behind your name.
4. Apollos was humble enough to be taught the way of God more perfectly by a tradesmen couple. Are you open to being taught?
There are more lessons.
========
Caution:
-
don't assume men with DD or Th.D. got things all figured out. Not a few are
self-conceited. Apollos didn't and wasn't.
-
don't be intimidated by their august title and letters after their names. They,
if humble like Apollos can learn a few things from commoners like Priscilla and
Aquila who were taught by the Apostle Paul. Few have such humility and a teachable spirit.
The
Lord had abundant mercy on me, granting me much grace to see and admit the many
contradictions and fictions in the things I was taught and believed as a
reformed Baptist for nearly 20 years.
Manuel
Hi
Bro. Sing, may I simply ask how would you identify yourself now if not Reformed
Baptist? Asking in goodwill.
[Brother Manuel was intent to make me a Primitive Baptist like him.]
Sing
I'm
fine with the label old-school Baptist.
I
hope it is not copyrighted. Lol.
Manuel
Tnx.
What I understand is that Old Baptists have been adhering to Spirit Regeneration
since their existence, they did not come out from the belief of gospel
regeneration. Just a friendly observation though unsolicited one. Tnx for the.
[Any evidence for this statement? sing]
Sing
Thanks
for your friendly observation!
So,
what should a man who came out from the belief of gospel regeneration call
himself? What do you suggest?
Not
a few have harassed me to get baptized by a Primitive Baptist before I can call
myself an old-school Baptist. I have been reminded that the old-school Baptist
label has been "copyrighted," and I have no right to use it unless
I'm baptized by the Primitive Baptist and wear their label. You have said the
same, obliquely. Thank you. I often see that PB converts are more PB than those
who converted them!
When
the apostles were cured of their serious errors on the nature of the kingdom of
Christ, and grasped the right understanding, what happened to them? When
Apostle Peter discovered a momentous truth in Acts 10 (v34ff), did he come out
of a very serious error? And what then?
Were they rebaptised, and wore new a label? I speak as a fool.
Robert
Cook Sr.
Sing
the issue I think you know is not as much understanding doctrine, but
acknowledging the perpetuity of ordination and authority to Baptize, you are of
course welcome to maintain your position, it won't change your eternal destiny,
but I do think it hinders fellowship with the body of folks through whom many
of the men today have learned their doctrine from, men like Ben Mott, and
Conrad Jarrel was Primitive Baptists before they set out on their own, they
have in turn required the rebaptism and re-ordination of even their converts
after having left the PB's. You also know that to be true of the Church at
Greenville. The issue is more about fellowship and authority than doctrine
though the doctrine of immediate Holy Spirit regeneration is unique to the Old
School Baptists for a good reason.
[Authority to baptize comes from Christ, the head of His church. Does Christ entrust His authority to the PB churches only? sing]
Manuel
Hi
Bro. Sing, I can't add to your scholarly knowledge of biblical truth but I may
just share with you my journey from four other sorts of baptists until I find
peace and fully comforted having satisfied my conscience and the consciences of
those who had been adhering to the same body of faith that I have embraced.
There are some truths that can be mentally accepted, and there are some truths
that need practical obedience after having been convinced by them to attain
consistency and satisfaction.
Manuel
I
may recommend also some books and articles for your readings and perusal.
Manuel
Of
course, you possess the right to Christian Liberty and remain as you are without
rebaptism, but unknowingly treading a path that others have trodden.
Consistency to truth is everyone's difficult task. It takes patience to know
things that we need to know.
Sorry for the harassment as you "felt" it from fellow PBs, but I'm sure there are some who took patience in ing to you.
Sing
Seriously
Manuel, by your initial question, I ALREADY knew where you are heading. I have
been through it with not a few very zealous PBs, some of them your fellow
countrymen. So, thank you very much. Try again some other time. Maybe the Lord
will change my mind on the matter.
Manuel
I
can briefly to your inquiry here and so
willing to walk with you side by side for some prerequisite and leading truths
to arrive at your needed inquiry. In the meantime, you may search & read
History of Alien Immersion and Valid Baptism by John Harvey Grime, his accounts
on the Old Baptists requiring rebaptism will shed light much. Inquiries about
rebaptism and reordinations from History or Minutes of Philadelphia Association
1707-1807.
Sing
What
was my inquiry?
Manuel
ing
to your previous question regarding what would I call for that conversion from
gospel reg. to spirit regeneration without rebaptism, it is the same as what
the "restorationist" movement has trodden. Some Reformed Baptists
here call that Neo Calvinism. I may kindly call that "Reformed
Reformationism" objectively speaking. Other foundation can no man lay than
that is laid which Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone and the apostles as
cornerstone. That foundation can't be repeated, nor modified, nor imitated. You
may speak English, but you can't consistently claim you're an American unless
you submit in the legal process.
Sing
Give
me a name that will suit you, I will be fine with it.
Manuel
About
Peter's conversion, as I understand, conversion can be classified as Conversion
from, Conversion Unto, & Conversion Through. Ex. Conversion from- M. Luther
was converted from the works salvation of the catholic as he believed in salvation
by faith but he was never converted unto the bare essential truths as salvation
by grace and biblical baptism. He would could have been converted unto if he
humbly accepted grace salvation and submitted to biblical baptism, . Peter was
converted from Judaism and was converted unto Christianity when he submitted to
John's baptism. Conversion through is an ongoing
enlightenment of truths after having converted from error to bare essential
truths and have undergone biblical beginnings or foundation such as baptism, ordination,
constitution. Peter has gone over to the first 2nd conversion, he was being
converted through as you referred to above so no need repeat rebaptism.
Sing
That's
an interesting observation... Peter's conversion FROM Judaism took MANY years!
So, when he was a little converted from Judaism, and was baptised by John the
Baptist, did his baptism count?
According
to your own argument, it does not count, invalid. Am I correct?
Manuel
As
I have told you previously, there are some foundational truths that need to be
complied with to attain consistency with your profession, rebaptism is one of
them. Some truths need to know, such as church perpetuity, Regulative
Principle, and Biblical Foundation of the Lord's Church, and last Biblical
Pattern of Church Beginnings. It takes patience to understand. I'm willing to
share them if asked. Thanks.
Sing
Heard
them all before many times.
Did
the Apostles cross all the t's and dot all the i's of foundational truths you
laid down above?
Manuel
You
have argued much with excellence. If you're satisfied with what you are then no
need to change but I would kindly say that you can't escape Reformed Baptist
baptism as they disown you. Baptism reflects the kind of gospel profession you
believed, it is also a foundational ordinance that enables yoy to enjoy the
rest of truths ordinance. Catholic baptism means Catholic faith and profession.
Manuel
Thanks
for the exchange, Brother Sing.
Sing
John
the Baptist baptised the Apostles and many others.
I hope you consider him a qualified baptizer even though he may not have the FOUNDATION TRUTHS laid down by you - that is, church perpetuity, Regulative Principle, and Biblical Foundation of the Lord's Church, and last Biblical Pattern of Church, Beginnings, etc. - all wrapped up.
Sing
@
"You have argued much with excellence."
No,
I have not started to argue yet.
I
was only comparing your points with the Scriptures and see what they look like.
Manuel
Other
groups or denominations tried to adopt some truths apart from the biblical
foundation- rebaptism, reordination, reconstitution but found themselves to
"other foundation. Some paedobaptists were converted to adult baptism and
tried to correct it and called themselves Regular Baptists, those who refused to
be rebaptised came out to be Regular Baptists. John Smyth baptized his companion, and then he was baptized by him so it was called "sebaptism"
Sing
I
have heard all those scholarly arguments from your countrymen and from some
very smart Americans. I guess I'm not smart enough to be convinced, NOT yet.
I
APOLOGISE for being a big thorn in the eyes of PBs like yourself, as well as
the RBs and many others besides.
I
do commend you for your brotherly kindness in the effort to convert me to
PBism. Most others have given me up as a hopeless case.
Brother
Manuel, a hearty thank you for the exchanges.
You
are a kind brother.
Manuel
No
need for apology my friend. You're not being a big thorn to anyone outside of
you and yours for standing for your position. If can ever hurt anyone, it
is your own conscience and those who hear you or under your ministry... oh
including the next generation under you. If rebaptism is true, God has placed
you in that great capacity to lead them & the next generation after them.
If you fail to see its importance then you have closed that door for temporal
saving of them and the comfort of their consciences... and you'll end up laying
your own foundation.
Manuel
You
are getting friendlier than before, appreciate you much.
Sing
Thanks
for your persistence. I trust I know my own conscience enough before God
without you trying to insinuate otherwise.
Thanks for your zeal and concern. You have just accused me of laying my own foundation and see it as your duty to dig it up. God bless you, Manuel. That's probably the view of every PBs about the matter but you alone are bold enough saying it out loud. I heard it loud and clear.
Manuel
No
intention to hurt my friend. I commend you for your sincerity and kind chatting
with me. Level up for such friendship with you.
Hoping
for the time that you will be ready to really sit down and hear from an Old
Baptist instead of arguing. Hear them attentively and be open. You cannot find
a real treasure by blowing up the ground. Be where they are and listen to why they
believe such. Remember, you are a spearheader to your next generation. I don't
normally engage in long chatting. But it's my joy to do it with you. God bless.
Sing
I'm
no snowflake, so hurting is a non-issue.
I
don't either. Been through it so many times. So save your effort. Invest it
with some of your countrymen. Thanks.
