It is possible to be close to church and far from God.* SELF EXAMINATION IS NOT ONLY OPTIONAL, IT IS ESSENTIAL.

TOPIC: *WHY CAN'T A TRUE BELIEVER IN CHRIST MARRY AN UNBELIEVER?*

CIC59: *CELEBRITY IN CHRIST EPISODE 59.*

God works through different dispensations. Mixing Israel’s program with the Body of Christ creates doctrinal error.

The Pharisees looked holy but lacked humility.

*They quoted Scripture but rejected the Saviour.*

*They defended tradition but denied truth.*

*They performed religion but missed redemption.*

_The warning is clear. Examine your heart.
Guard your motives.
Follow Christ, not religious pride._

*Because it is possible to be close to church and far from God.* SELF EXAMINATION IS NOT ONLY OPTIONAL, IT IS ESSENTIAL.

There are two primary New Testament texts that speak to the issue of marriage between a believer and an unbeliever.

*The first reason why believers can not marry unbelievers is that the Bible forbids it.*

In his first letter to the Corinthian church, Paul says, after a detailed discussion of marriage and singleness, that a woman whose husband has died “is free to marry whomever she wishes, only in the Lord” (1 Cor. 7:39; emphasis added).

The principle in this text is that where legitimate marriage can occur, that is the believer has never married, or they are released from their previous marriage by the death of a spouse *—it can only occur between two believers.*

The second text that offers clarity on this issue is *2 Corinthians 6:14* , where Paul says, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.”

...The phrase “unequally yoked” refers to a close, intimate partnership—like marriage—where each person is meant to be “ploughing” in the same direction, at the same speed, with the same purpose

Such a scenario can never occur for the Christian and the non-Christian. For a Christian to enter into marriage with an unbeliever, therefore, is not only an act of disobedience against their Lord, but it is also foolish.

*Consider how this change affects every area of the Christian’s life and what basic differences now exist between you and your unbelieving partner/boyfriend or girlfriend:*

1. You have opposing masters (Matt. 6:24; Eph. 2:2).

2. You have opposing worldviews (Col. 2:2-8).

3. You have opposing sources of wisdom (Prov. 1:7).

4. You have opposing aims in life (1 Cor. 10:31).

5. You have opposite eternal destinies (Matt. 25:31-46).

6. You are in the Spirit; they are in the flesh (Rom. 8:6-9).

7. You are a slave to righteousness; they are a slave to sin (Rom. 6:20-23).

8. You are led by the Spirit; they are led by the god of this world (Rom. 8:14; 2 Cor. 4:1-6).

9. You are alive in Christ; they are dead in sin (Eph. 2:1-10).

*“WHAT IS ONE BAPTISM APPLIED TODAY?”*

📖 Ephesians 4:5 – “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.”

✝️ *ONE BAPTISM FOR TODAY*

*Water or Spirit?*

📖 Key Text: 1 Corinthians 12:13 (KJV)
“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body…”

The Bible speaks of many baptisms (Hebrews 6:2), but only ONE baptism is in effect today. Israel had water baptisms while *The Body of Christ has Spirit baptism.*

Confusion disappears when Scripture is rightly divided (2 Tim. 2:15)

👉 *The question is not: “Is baptism important?”*
👉 *The question is: “Which baptism applies NOW?”*

*POINT 1 — PROGRAMS MUST BE PROPERLY DIVIDED*

📖 2 Timothy 2:15

God works through different dispensations. Mixing Israel’s program with the Body of Christ creates doctrinal error.

*5 SUB-POINTS (P):*
1️⃣ Prophetic Program — Israel’s kingdom focus (Acts 3:19–21)
2️⃣ People of Promise — national Israel (Rom. 9:4–5)
3️⃣ Physical Ordinances — washings & rituals (Heb. 9:10)
4️⃣ Peter’s Preaching — repentance + water (Acts 2:38)
5️⃣ Paul’s Revelation — mystery revealed (Eph. 3:2–6)

➡️ Truth: What belonged to Israel’s prophecy is not the Church’s practice.

*POINT 2 — WATER BAPTISM WAS PROPHETIC & PASSING*

📖 Acts 2:38

Water baptism belonged to Israel’s repentance program, not the Body of Christ.

*5 SUB-POINTS (W):*

1️⃣ Washed for Repentance — tied to sins (Acts 22:16)
2️⃣ Witness to Israel — national call (Acts 2:41)
3️⃣ Works Connected — faith + action (Mark 1:4)
4️⃣ Worldly Ordinance — external cleansing (Heb. 9:10)
5️⃣ Waning Practice — fades after Acts (1 Cor. 1:17)

➡️ Truth: Paul was sent to preach the gospel — not to baptize with water.

*POINT 3 — SPIRIT BAPTISM IS PRESENT & POWERFUL*

📖 1 Corinthians 12:13

Spirit baptism is God’s work, not man’s act. It happens the moment you believe.

*5 SUB-POINTS (S):*

1️⃣ Saved by the Spirit — regeneration (Titus 3:5)
2️⃣ Sealed Instantly — security assured (Eph. 1:13)
3️⃣ Set into Christ — union accomplished (Rom. 6:3)
4️⃣ Sanctified Positionally — complete in Him (Col. 2:10)
5️⃣ Single Operation — once for all (Eph. 4:5)

➡️ Truth: You are baptized by God, not by water.

*POINT 4 — BODY MEMBERSHIP IS BY BELIEVING, NOT BAPTIZING*

📖 Romans 4:5

Entrance into the Body of Christ is by faith alone, not rituals.

5 SUB-POINTS (B):
1️⃣ Belief Required — not behavior (Acts 16:31)
2️⃣ Blood Accomplished It — Christ’s work (Rom. 5:9)
3️⃣ Body Formed Spiritually — not physically (Eph. 2:15–16)
4️⃣ Blessings Are Heavenly — not earthly (Eph. 1:3)
5️⃣ Baptism Is Invisible — spiritual reality (Col. 2:12)

➡️ Truth: Water never puts anyone into Christ — the Spirit does.

*POINT 5 — ONE BAPTISM TODAY IS SPIRITUAL & SUFFICIENT*

📖 Ephesians 4:4–5

God declares ONE baptism for this dispensation — and He performs it Himself.

*5 SUB-POINTS (O):*

1️⃣ One Spirit — not many rites (Eph. 4:4)
2️⃣ One Body — the Church (1 Cor. 12:27)
3️⃣ One Operation — Spirit baptism (1 Cor. 12:13)
4️⃣ One Outcome — eternal security (Rom. 8:1)
5️⃣ One Gospel — grace alone (1 Cor. 15:1–4)

➡️ Truth: Adding water is subtracting grace.

*CONCLUSION*

*Israel had water baptism*

*The Church has the Spirit baptism*

*Salvation today is faith alone*

*Baptism today is Spirit alone (Holy Spirit)*

*Security today is Christ alone*

📖 “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.”
— 1 Corinthians 1:17

📣 *CALL TO ACTION*

✔️ Stop trusting rituals
✔️ Stop copying Israel
✔️ Start believing the gospel
✔️ Rest in Christ’s finished work

*FINAL THOUGHTS*

1️⃣ 💧 Water cleans flesh
2️⃣ 🔥 Spirit saves souls
3️⃣ ✝️ Faith finishes the matter
4️⃣ 📜 Right division removes confusion
5️⃣ 🔒 Salvation is secure
6️⃣ 🧠 Truth brings peace
7️⃣ 🌅 Grace stands alone

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