Saint Nimrod?

"But the Spirit says clearly that in later times some will be turned away from the faith, giving their minds to spirits of deceit, and the teachings of evil spirits, Through the false ways of men whose words are untrue, whose consciences are seared as with a heated iron; -Who keep men from being married and from taking food which God made to be taken with praise by those who have faith and true knowledge. Because everything which God has made is good, and nothing is evil, if it is taken with praise: For it is made holy by the word of God and by prayer." - S|P[aul]

Acts 2:39. Within that verse lies a great call to repentance - almost as big as that of Acts 2:38. Who does Acts 2:39 demand "repent"? Why, - all those who have not obeyed 2:38. This includes most so-called Christians. See, disobeying (or simply not obeying) 2:38 implies that 2:39 is no longer true.

"For the promise is to you and to your children and to all the [ones] far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself." - Acts 2:39 When will that no longer be true? This scripture stands as an immovable object for anyone who attempts to get around Acts 2:38.

"Then Peter replied to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, to [or, for; or, because of] [the] forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." - Acts 2:38

It is written: "being eager [or, diligent] to be keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope [or, confident expectation] of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; -one God and father of all..." - Eph 4:3-6

So, if the above premise is true - why do so many "churches" N0T obey Acts 2:38? They quote John 3:16 & take you down the theological theory called the "Romans Road".  They want you to "believe" - to "ask Jesus into your heart', to - "ask God to forgive your sin", etc.  What I find absolutely astonishing is that what they WON'T DO - is obey the very teachings of the Apostles themselves as so clearly recorded in the book of the Acts!  The very men - the disciples of Jesus whom Jesus charged with preaching the gospel message itself ... these are the men whose message the modern denominations ignore!  Why? Because modern churchianity knows not the Scriptures nor the power of God.

 What I find to be so ironic is that God would show me this - someone who most denominations would love to slap a label that reads "abomination" on.  They know not the Scriptures nor the power of God.  See, about 2 decades ago - as one of THEIR DISCIPLES, - I had the faith to ask God to "say it for me" one evening as I prayed.  At the time, I was an engineering student at a secular university. Well, contrary to what I had been raised to believe about the current dealings of God with men; -- God answered my sincere prayer (then & there); -& I had a genuine Acts 2 - speaking in tongues experience.  Up till that time, - I had never seen this happen to anyone (nor had I ever attended a Charismatic-type religious service).  To say the event led to others which changed my life would be an understatement.  I knew the reality of what had happened - but the problem with subjective experiences is that there is always a reasonable element of doubt for any 3rd party listening to the account.  So, I'll leave it to you - the reader whether you think this merits more investigation - or if I'm just re-spinning a 2000 year-old fable.

The amazing thing to me is that the Scripture is so clear on this issue that only a person blind to them can not see it.  In Acts 2, the Gospel was preached to the Jews. The commandment to obedience was Acts 2:38 - locked in place for all people & all generations by Acts 2:39.

Act 2:38 And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Act 2:39 For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him.

Several years ago, I offered that block of text to a person who now holds a PhD from Dallas Theological Seminary. His explanation was simple: "Peter was wrong.".  Hmmm. That brazen explanation certainly seems to eliminate the theological crisis - at least to those like him. And he does hold a PhD. This is the problem he faces: Peter wasn't the only one preaching the message. ALL of the Apostles were - including [S|P]aul - by his own testimony: "

Gal 1:6 I am shocked that you have so quickly turned from God, who chose you because of his wonderful kindness. You have believed another message,

Gal 1:7 when there is really only one true message. But some people are causing you trouble and want to make you turn away from the good news about Christ.

Gal 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that person be cursed!

Gal 1:9 What we have told you in the past I am now telling you again: If anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that person be excommunicated!

Gal 1:10 I am not trying to please people. I want to please God. Do you think I am trying to please people? If I were doing that, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Gal 1:11 My friends, I want you to know that no one made up the message I preach.

Gal 1:12 It wasn't given or taught to me by some mere human. My message came directly from Jesus Christ when he appeared to me.

Gal 1:13 You know how I used to live as a Jew. I was cruel to God's church and even tried to destroy it.

Gal 1:14 I was a much better Jew than anyone else my own age, and I obeyed every law that our ancestors had given us.

Gal 1:15 But even before I was born, God had chosen me. He was kind and had decided

Gal 1:16 to show me his Son, so that I would announce his message to the Gentiles. I didn't talk this over with anyone.

Gal 1:17 I didn't say a word, not even to the men in Jerusalem who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went at once to Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.

Gal 1:18 Three years later I went to visit Peter in Jerusalem and stayed with him for fifteen days.

Gal 1:19 The only other apostle I saw was James, the Lord's brother.

Gal 1:20 And in the presence of God I swear I am telling the truth.

So, by Paul's testimony - the message he was preaching was given to him by direct revelation (wow!) & 3 years after preaching it  -is when he first met up with the other apostles - specifically Peter & James (Jesus' half brother).  If they'd been a problem with Paul's message - he certainly would have been corrected then!  And they would have corrected any error - just as Paul did with another theological aspect of the Gospel. Read Galatians 2. Notice how zealous Paul was about the LIBERTY that the Gospel allowed for & how he condemned a turn back toward the Law (Leviticus) for justification.  These guys had rapport & openness in their dealing with these issues.

Is that the end of my observations? Nope.  I noted how in Acts 2, the gospel was preached to the Jews & 2:38 references the proper response to the message.  Scripturally speaking, there were (2) other groups of people on the planet:

In Acts Chapter 8, the Gospel was preached in Samaria.  They received the message.

Act 8:14 The apostles in Jerusalem heard that some people in Samaria had accepted God's message, and they sent Peter and John.

Act 8:15 When the two apostles arrived, they prayed that the people would be given the Holy Spirit.

Act 8:16 Before this, the Holy Spirit had not been given to anyone in Samaria, though some of them had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Act 8:17 Peter and John then placed their hands on everyone who had faith in the Lord, and they were given the Holy Spirit.

Act 8:18 Simon noticed that the Spirit was given only when the apostles placed their hands on the people. So he brought money

Act 8:19 and said to Peter and John, "Let me have this power too! Then anyone I place my hands on will also be given the Holy Spirit."

Act 8:20 Peter said to him, "You and your money will both end up in hell if you think you can buy God's gift!

Notice Acts 8:15. It begs a question. How did the Apostles KNOW that the Holy Spirit had not been poured out on Samaria yet? Did they have special powers of discernment about such a thing?

No. Because in Acts 8:19 a guy FROM SAMARIA offered them money - so that whomever he laid his hands on received the Spirit. This begs a question: If receiving the Holy Spirit had no manifestation - why would somebody offer money for such a "power"?  If the filling was without a dramatic event, - it could be emulated by any charlatan! No need to offer money for a N0N-event! Hmmm.  Something radical must have been happening when people received the Holy Spirit! What do you suppose might be the constant?

Let's now consider the GENTILES.

Act 10:2 Cornelius was a very religious man. He worshiped God, and so did everyone else who lived in his house. He had given a lot of money to the poor and was always praying to God.

Act 10:3 One afternoon at about three o'clock, Cornelius had a vision. He saw an angel from God coming to him and calling him by name.

Act 10:4 Cornelius was surprised and stared at the angel. Then he asked, "What is this all about?" The angel answered, "God has heard your prayers and knows about your gifts to the poor.

Act 10:5 Now send some men to Joppa for a man named Simon Peter.

Act 10:6 He is visiting with Simon the leather maker, who lives in a house near the sea."

Act 10:7 After saying this, the angel left. Cornelius called in two of his servants and one of his soldiers who worshiped God.

Act 10:8 He explained everything to them and sent them off to Joppa.

Act 10:9 The next day about noon these men were coming near Joppa. Peter went up on the roof of the house to pray

Act 10:10 and became very hungry. While the food was being prepared, he fell sound asleep and had a vision.

Act 10:11 He saw heaven open, and something came down like a huge sheet held up by its four corners.

Act 10:12 In it were all kinds of animals, snakes, and birds.

Act 10:13 A voice said to him, "Peter, get up! Kill these and eat them."

Act 10:14 But Peter said, "Lord, I can't do that! I've never eaten anything that is unclean and not fit to eat."

Act 10:15 The voice spoke to him again, "When God says that something can be used for food, don't say it isn't fit to eat."

Act 10:16 This happened three times before the sheet was suddenly taken back to heaven.

Act 10:17 Peter was still wondering what all of this meant, when the men sent by Cornelius came and stood at the gate. They had found their way to Simon's house

Act 10:18 and were asking if Simon Peter was staying there.

Act 10:19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, "Three men are here looking for you.

Act 10:20 Hurry down and go with them. Don't worry, I sent them."

Act 10:21 Peter went down and said to the men, "I am the one you are looking for. Why have you come?"

Act 10:22 They answered, "Captain Cornelius sent us. He is a good man who worships God and is liked by the Jewish people. One of God's holy angels told Cornelius to send for you, so he could hear what you have to say."

Act 10:23 Peter invited them to spend the night. The next morning, Peter and some of the Lord's followers in Joppa left with the men who had come from Cornelius.

Act 10:24 The next day they arrived in Caesarea where Cornelius was waiting for them. He had also invited his relatives and close friends.

Act 10:25 When Peter arrived, Cornelius greeted him. Then he knelt at Peter's feet and started worshiping him.

Act 10:26 But Peter took hold of him and said, "Stand up! I am nothing more than a human."

Act 10:27 As Peter entered the house, he was still talking with Cornelius. Many people were there,

Act 10:28 and Peter said to them, "You know that we Jews are not allowed to have anything to do with other people. But God has shown me not to call any foreign national "vulgar".

Act 10:29 I agreed to come here, but I want to know why you sent for me."

Act 10:30 Cornelius answered: Four days ago at about three o'clock in the afternoon I was praying at home. Suddenly a man in bright clothes stood in front of me.

Act 10:31 He said, "Cornelius, God has heard your prayers, and he knows about your gifts to the poor.

Act 10:32 Now send to Joppa for Simon Peter. He is visiting in the home of Simon the leather maker, who lives near the sea."

Act 10:33 I sent for you right away, and you have been good enough to come. All of us are here in the presence of the Lord God, so that we can hear what he has to say.

Act 10:34 Peter then said: Now I am certain that God does not show favoritism.

Act 10:35 But he is pleased with everyone who pays homage to him and does right, no matter what nation they come from.

Act 10:36 This is the same message that God gave to the people of Israel, when he sent Jesus Christ, the Lord of all, to offer peace to them.

Act 10:37 You surely know what happened everywhere in Judea. It all began in Galilee after John had told everyone to be baptized.

Act 10:38 God gave the Holy Spirit and power to Jesus from Nazareth. He was with Jesus, as he went around doing good and healing everyone who was under the power of the devil.

Act 10:39 We all saw what Jesus did both in Israel and in the city of Jerusalem. Jesus was put to death on a cross.

Act 10:40 But three days later, God raised him to life and let him be seen.

Act 10:41 Not everyone saw him. He was seen only by us, who ate and drank with him after he was raised from death. We were the ones God chose to tell others about him.

Act 10:42 God told us to announce clearly to the people that Jesus is the one he has chosen to judge the living and the dead.

Act 10:43 Every one of the prophets has said that all who have faith in Jesus will have their sins forgiven in his name.

Act 10:44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit took control of everyone who was listening.

Act 10:45 Some Jewish followers of the Lord had come with Peter, and they were surprised that the Holy Spirit had been given to Gentiles:

Act 10:46 For they were hearing Gentiles speaking unknown languages and praising God. Peter said,

Act 10:47 "These Gentiles have been given the Holy Spirit, just as we have! I am certain that no one would dare stop us from baptizing them."

Act 10:48 Peter ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and they asked him to stay on for a few days.

Hmmm.  Gospel preached. Spirit fills goy'm believers. They speak in tongues - praise God. And are commanded to be baptized in the name of Jesus

So: Jews, Samaritans & Gentiles: Same message. Same manifestation. Same commandment.  One Lord. One Faith. One Baptism.

Does Acts develop this theology further? Yes: In Acts 18-19, we see 2 sets of examples of people who knew about Jesus - but didn't have the Holy Spirit baptism (until they were instructed in the more excellent way).  The fact those texts are there should be a loud wake-up-call to people currently sincere in a walk with God - but have not yet experienced the manifestation of Spirit baptism. 

Act 18:24 Now a certain Jew, Apollos by name, an Alexandrian by race [or, a native of Alexandrian], an educated man [or, a man skilled in speech], being mighty in the Scriptures, arrived at Ephesus.

Act 18:25 This [man] had been instructed [in] the way of the Lord, and boiling [fig., being fervent] in his spirit [or, in the Spirit], he was speaking and teaching accurately the [things] concerning the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

Act 18:26 And this [man] began to be speaking boldly in the synagogue. But Aquila and Priscilla having heard of him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

Act 19:1 Now it happened, while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul having passed through the interior regions, came to Ephesus, and having found certain disciples,

Act 19:2 he said to them, "Did you receive [the] Holy Spirit, having believed?"

And they said unto him, "Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was given."

Act 19:3 And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism."

Act 19:4 Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the One coming after him, that is, in the Christ-Jesus!"

Act 19:5 So they having heard were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Act 19:6 And Paul having laid [his] hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began speaking with tongues [fig., other languages] and prophesying.


I don't know about you ... but if I wanted to build a house & there was a large group of people who talked theory about ethreal plans that they claimed allowed the house to be built; -But there was another group of people who had the actual plans -complete with actual examples of houses being built: To which group would I go to learn how to properly build a house: Those with theory, or those with actual instructions complete with original examples?  Acts contains the blueprint & testifies that thousands of people did it precisely according to the pattern - the only pattern recognized as authentic.  While one may speculate as to the "theory" behind the record ... the actual EXAMPLES are irrefutable evidence that the thing was done in a certain way.   

Act 2:36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified.

Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?

Act 2:38 And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Act 2:39 For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him.


The Acts 2 message is the message the apostles of Jesus were ALL preaching.  These are not only messages, but the actual examples of people believing & thus obeying the message!  Despite these witnesses & the harmony of their message (& the dire warnings about those who'd change it [See Galatians 1:8-9]), - modern "Christianity" seems to pay little heed to the original message & literal examples of men obeying it.  Why? Saint Nimrod...

St. Nimrod?

The name "Nimrod" means "I Rebel".  In the New Testament one of the lessons taught was that the disciples of Jesus tended to be much fewer than the disciples of men.  Also quite obvious is that the "mere men" who had the disciples - claimed to be disciples of Moses & descendants of Abraham. Jesus said that if their claims were so - that they'd have recognized who he is (but they didn't).  What is amazing is that we are 2000+ years removed from the recorded events & it seems little has changed in the NOW.

Above, I've gone to great lengths to show that baptism in the new covenant was always done "in the name of Jesus". Yet, this is not how most "churches" conduct their baptisms today. Most people who are "baptized" will testify that the "man of Gawd" dunked or sprinkled them while saying words to the effect of "in the name of the father & of the son & of the holy spirit".  Where does this utterance come from? It comes from the mouth of Jesus. However, like many things he said - there was a lesson behind the mystery built of his words.  Here's the reference:

Mat 28:19 "Go into all nations & make disciples; -Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Of course, the obvious question the passage begs is: "Why didn't the apostles baptize using the same utterance?". Well, as I explained - Jesus' words were chosen to teach a lesson about who he was.  A cross reference to the Prophet Isaiah makes this clear. It is written:

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

That passage is probably one of the most widely read at Christmas time. It foretells the birth of Jesus.  Notice that the passage says "HIS NAME SHALL BE".  In the writings of John, Jesus is recorded as saying:

Joh 14:26 "But the Counselor [or, Helper], the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, that One will teach you* all [things] and will cause you* to remember all [things] which I said to you." - Jesus (about the Holy Spirit's NAME)

Joh 17:11 "And I am no longer in the world, yet _these_ are in the world, and _I_ am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, which You have given to Me, so that they shall be one just as We [are]. " - Jesus (about his NAME, the one he INHERITED from God)

If at this point, you can't see WHY the Apostles baptized in the name of Jesus - instead of the 3 titles he spoke in Matthew 28;  -I doubt that I can dispel the blindness any more.  Paul wrote:  "For in him [Christ] - the whole fullness of God lives in bodily form."- Col 2:9

The same account recorded in Matthew 28:19 above was recorded by the disciple Luke in his Gospel; -But look what he has to say about the account:

Luk 24:45 Then He opened up their mind[s] to be understanding the Scriptures.

Luk 24:46 And He said to them, "Thus it has been written, and thus it was necessary [for] the Christ to suffer and to rise from [the] dead the third day,

Luk 24:47 and [for] repentance and forgiveness of sins to be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Luk 24:48 "Now _you_ are witnesses of these [things].

Luk 24:49 "And listen! _I_ am sending the Promise of My Father upon you. But _you_ [are to] sit [fig., wait] in the city of Jerusalem until which [time] you are clothed with power from on high."

In verse 45, Luke records that he opened their minds to understand.  Matthew's account does not give that account - but takes a more literal approach to what was said.  In verse 47, notice that Jesus tells them that REPENTANCE & FORGIVENESS OF SIN WILL BE PREACHED IN HIS NAME STARTING IN JERUSALEM.  This passage is non-arguably a cross reference to Acts 2:38 where Peter commended the crowd: "Repent & be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin & you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

From this perspective - there is no conflict between what Jesus said in Matt 28:19 & what the Apostles did throughout the book of Acts - baptizing in Jesus' name.  However - those who "baptize<sic>" in 3-titles (Matt 28:19 verbatim) are in complete conflict with the Scriptural record & can appeal to NO example as to why they do what the Apostles did not!  People who "baptize" in 3-titles declare (by their actions) that they are NOT the followers of Jesus - but instead, following after mere men ... men who themselves do not understand the commandment - nor choose to follow the examples!  The Scripture declares "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism"; - But these rebels declare "3-lords, Their faith, negotiable baptisms".  Why?

1Co 12:3b ... and no one is able to say "Jesus [is] Lord," except by [the] Holy Spirit.

1Jo 2:22 Who is false but he who says that Jesus is not the Christ? He is the Antichrist who has no belief in the Father or the Son.

1Jo 2:23 He who has no belief in the Son has not the Father: he who makes clear his belief in the Son has the Father.

In 1st Corinthians 12, Paul writes that nobody can CONFESS JESUS=LORD (YHVH) except by the Holy Spirit. 
John's writing style unique.  As he discusses the Spirit of antichristos (antichrist), he talks about one with a belief in the Son has the Father also (& the anti-thesis).  Because of his writing style & the issue of translating Greek into English - the best example I can use to fully describe what he's explaining is to cross reference John with himself.  Pay close attention to this account:

Joh 14:8 Philip said to him, Lord, let us see the Father, and we have need of nothing more.

Joh 14:9 Jesus said to him, Philip, have I been with you all this time, and still you have no knowledge of me? He who has seen me has seen the Father. Why do you say, Let us see the Father?

Joh 14:10 Have you not faith that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words which I say to you, I say not from myself: but the Father who is in me all the time does his works.

Joh 14:11 Have faith that I am in the Father and that the Father is in me: at least, have faith in me because of what I do.

See, baptism in Jesus' name (as opposed to 3 titles) is a public CONFESSION that the fullness of Deity is within Jesus - the Christ.  This is not a word game. It has far reaching implications into the metaphysical realm.  Paul said that ONLY those speaking by the Holy Spirit can make the confession that Jesus = LORD (Tetragrammaton). Matt 28:19 is logically important because it FORCES the issue of the NAME & who Jesus IS.  See, if Jesus is not the absolute name of ultimate universal authority - then the disciples blatantly disobeyed by NOT using the 3 title formula!   It is a witness that must be reckoned with. 

The most difficult thing for me to accept when I began to see these things is that modern "Christianity" - for the most part, - is an undiscerning religious exercise of men following mere men.  The blatant disobedience displayed at what they call "baptism" is a massive warning sign for anyone literate in the Scriptures.  Antichrist refuses to confess that Jesus is the YHVH of the Scripture - in corporeal form. Antichristos wants to divide God into pieces & make Jesus a subset of LORD -called Lord. Antichristos will try to make him a created thing or a brother to a created thing or a nice man, etc.; --Anything to reduce Yeshua Ben Adam to something less than FULLY G0D. Of course it is for these reasons why Jesus commanded that men first be DISCIPLES & then BAPTIZED.  Knowledge of the contract must proceed agreeing to it! It's Fundamental Law!

So if many of Christondom's "leaders" are not disciples of Jesus ... who are they following? NIMROD is in the house!  Are we recognizing the "man behind the curtain" for the first time?  Ask any "Leader" from any of the major sects WHY they don't baptize in the Name of Jesus (like the Apostles did) & what you'll get back is no answer, or one so loaded with intellectual BS that you'll be left thinking that you're too dumb to know the "real reason" why your "church" feels at liberty to do something the Apostles contradict!  NIMROD will go to extreme lengths & many words to explain to you why you must cut your own balls off & pretend to enjoy the experience (for the sake of others contemplating the same holy act)!  Some people have actually given up so much of the critical space between their ears that they'll believe almost any lie if it's justified with drivel as simple as, "...because it's Tuesday..."!     


Now -- if my PREPOSTEROUS ASSERTION that most of "the church" is in rebellion or ignorantly pursuing a futile goal (whatever it may be) in place of God ... IF that presumption is true: Then is it any wonder that the people who can't figure out how to Baptize (despite actual records of the event in their own Bibles) - won't be able to rightfully divide more complex issues - like sexuality!?  Call me a cynic if you must: But I think a person who cannot assemble blocks into words probably can't be trusted to properly assemble words into sentences - much less sentences into paragraphs!