Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the REVISED STANDARD VERSION ( RSV ). Psalm 116:10 reads as follows:
"10 I kept my faith, even when I said, 'I am greatly afflicted.'"
The psalmist, here, teaches that one must keep his or her faith, even in times of great affliction.
This verse in the Holy Bible has a cross-reference to 2 Corinthians 4:13: verses seven through fifteen read as follows:
"7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you. 13 Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, 'I believed, and so I spoke,' we too believe, and so we speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God."
The apostle Paul ( see 1:1 ) wrote ( see 10:1 and 13:1, for example ) of affliction ( as we read in verse eight, above ), and cited the first verse ten in verse thirteen. This means that Paul and Timothy, in suffering affliction ( see also 1:4, for example ), kept their faith and spoke according to it.
How do we know that they spoke according to that one faith ( see Ephesians 4:5, for example )? We know this from verse fourteen. Moreover, the phrase "the same spirit of faith," in verse thirteen ( ESV; with inside-margin references ), has a cross-reference to 1 Corinthians 12:9, which reads as follows: "9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by by the one Spirit."
This means that faith is by the Holy Spirit. Since there is only one of Him ( see also John 1:1, 14; 10:30; 14:6; Romans 1:20 ( KJV, for example; with center-column references, for example ) to get the equivalent translation for the word "Godhead"; Colossians 2:8, 9 ( KJV, for example ); and 1 John 5:7, for example; KJV, for example ), there can only be one faith. Therefore, those who wrongly claim a plurality of faiths are also wrongly claiming more than one Holy Spirit.
If one is raised from the watery grave of baptism stating that he or she is a Baptist, for example, he or she speaks based on his or her claim that salvation is in the name of John the Baptist, for example. Salvation is not in his, or any other human being's, name: it is only in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth ( see Acts 4:5-12 ( especially verses 10-12, for example ), for example ). This is clear evidence that denominational baptisms are invalid: they do not save those who receive them.
Finally, 1 Peter 4:16 reads as follows: "16 yet if one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but under that name let him glorify God." Anyone who suffers as a Baptist, for example, is suffering for nought. Such an one is not saved, and God is not glorified under that name, for example.
Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, and 151; John 17:1, 3, and 17; and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ). If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:
<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>.
NOTE: Please read the Thursday, October 29, 2015, Friday, October 30, 2015, and Saturday, October 31, 2015 entries to this weblog to find additional facts regarding why denominational baptisms do not save anyone.
