The Gospel of John describes a scene where John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and he made the following statement:
“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is
the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed
me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the
reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to
Israel.” Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down
from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know
him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man
on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one.” (John
1:29-34)
At first sight, it seems the writer was describing the actual baptism itself, as per Matthew’s account. However, the next few days finds Jesus choosing his disciples – not going into the wilderness as the Synoptics relate it. So, is this scene a ‘revisit’ so to speak? Is it Jesus coming out of the wilderness, walking past John, at about Passover season, some months following his actual baptism?
If so, then the Gospel of John is not recording the baptism event directly, but is recording John B’s testimony of that event. In other words, John B. sees Jesus returning, and calls out, “This is the man I baptised several months ago! This is the man the dove descended upon!”
So, is the Gospel of John recording the actual baptism event, or is he recording an occasion when Jesus revisited the same place on his way back from the wilderness? The latter explanation may reconcile some of the perceived differences between John and the Synoptic Gospels.
Derrick Stokes
All these papers seem to be written close to a decade or more ago. So is any of this new?
Varnel Watson
seems like its being imposed internationally
Eric Jones
That is why I am ordained with the Assemblies of God.
Varnel Watson
cause you are neither an apostle nor a prophet?
Eric Jones
Troy Day I may or may not be. I agree with the stance of the AG.
Varnel Watson
Eric Jones NO sir If you are indeed ordained you MUST adhere to doctrinal teaching and policies like them or not So NO you may not be if you are ordained My experience with 4 gen. in my family ordained with AG is that our policies at times change to contradict previous policies But ministers still MUST adhere to them – this has never changed for 115yrs
Eric Jones
Troy Day I adhere to the doctrinal stance of the Assemblies of God. How hard is that to understand?
RichardAnna Boyce
Jesus kept the Law of Moses perfectly; but turned the world the right way up by showing us Abundant Free Grace. We are on Mt Zion not Mt Sinai now.
Varnel Watson
RichardAnna Boyce Jesus gave us grace for free but has nothing to do with modern day free grace teachings
RichardAnna Boyce
Free Grace is on Mt Zion, but anything involving works, like repentance being a condition of being born again, is still on Mt Sinai.
Varnel Watson
neither Mt Zion nor Mt Sinai ever envisioned dualistic gnosticism as proposed by the free grace teachings
Eric Jones
Repentance is not a work, but is a change in direction, position, posture and attitude. Grace is not free, but is dripping with the blood of Christ, freely given but calls me to lay down my life.
Varnel Watson
interesting comment on repentance RichardAnna Boyce
RichardAnna Boyce
Eric Jones John’s Gospel 100 times states believe only in Jesus to receive eternal life, as Jesus has taken away the sins of the world, and only the sin to send unbelievers to hell is unbelief. So it is true unbelievers need to change their mind about unbelief and agree with God about belief. But repentance and commitment to turn from sinful behaviour is a work. And the new believer will have no assurance that their repentance has been of sufficient quality to satisfy ‘their’ God’s requirements. THEN AS A BELIEVER, repentance and laying down one’s life is compulsory to earn rewards in the Millennium. But 1 John 1:9 repentance is agreeing with God that the believer has the righteousness of God in Christ.
Eric Jones
My belief will bring action. To cease from believing in my own works and goodness for salvation is repentance. To change my belief to that of believing in the shed blood of Christ, then, would be a “work” in your theological framework. It is a lot of work to just understand what you just wrote. A new believer will not understand you and may believe that their belief might just be works. Repentance is a change of direction (from believing in nothing to believing in Christ for salvation), a change of position (from focusing on my sinful life to the redeeming work of Christ), a change of posture (from that of standing in rebellion to God to submission and surrender to God). God’s grace does the rest. I have ceased from my labors and accepted His sacrifice. What you are suggesting is that while I am in my rebellious drunken stupor, God jumps on me and transforms me without my realization of it. That is foolish. Saul ceased from his struggles, surrendered to Christ and they changed his name to Paul. From that point, I lay my life down for him as a response to His grace. His grace enables me to lay my life down in submission and sacrifice.
Daniel J Hesse
A position paper is good as long as we maintain the position.
Varnel Watson
its been maintained for 20yrs now However, what is the deal with statistical info not maintained and steadily declining since 2018?
Daniel J Hesse
Call GC.
Daniel J Hesse
Then call on JC!
Varnel Watson
call WHO?
Daniel J Hesse
Troy Day ?☝️
Louise Cummings
ER don’t, SS far as I know call ours apostles. lol Apostle Paul. We use Bishops. But we have prophecy. It means fourth telling. I think a woman preaching is a form of prophecy. And it hadn’t ceased. The Scriptures they use to day it has ceased. If they use the whole. Verse. It says at the bottom of the Scripture where there be knowledge it will cease. And knowledge is growing faster and deeper than ever. Which is Binlr. Because the Bible says it will be increased. Thank
Richard Shelton
As an ordained retired Church of God Pastor I appreciate this declaration.
Varnel Watson
how so? it concerns AG ministers
Steven Wise
I rejected the Assembly of God
Eric Jones
Just because you claim to be an apostle or a prophet does not mean you are entitled to governing the body of Christ. Many self-proclaimed “apostles and prophets” are wolves in sheep’s clothing. All of them aren’t but we are not commanded in scripture to follow apostolic succession and impartation. We pray, consider the individual and their commitment to Christ, and then place them in positions of leadership and authority based on the servant principle.
Varnel Watson
but you claimed above you may or may not be one Why all the political vogue talk about this?