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For the law was given by Moses, but GRACE and truth CAME BY Jesus
Christ. -- John 1:17
Jesus saith . . . the publicans and the harlots GO INTO the kingdom of God before
you . . . John came unto you in the way of righteousness . . . the publicans and the harlots believed him . . .
-- Matt. 21:31,32
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees . . . for ye shut up the kingdom of
heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them THAT ARE ENTERING to go in.
-- Matt. 23:13
The BEGINNING of the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ is linked with John the Baptist and
his baptism (Mark 1:1-4). While we would not go as far as to call John the Baptist a "New Testament Christian,"
we would insist that he was the forerunner/introducer of the New Testament Christ and Christianity and that
John administered New Testament baptism to these early believers in the Gospels. If John did not administer New
Testament baptism to these believers, he would have had to administer an Old Testament Baptism or a Jewish
baptism (which neither O'Neal nor anyone else can find in the Bible, unless they try to use the baptism unto
Moses in the cloud and the sea). This would mean that all the apostles never had any Christian baptism, for
there is not any record that they ever were REBAPTIZED.
The Bible's dispensational divisions differ greatly from that of O'Neal's
booklet, for the Bible places the change or division of the dispensations with John the Baptist. Jesus tells us
that the Gospels were the time for true worshippers in that the hour is coming and NOW IS for true worshippers
(John 4:23). Yet, O'Neal would like to wait until after the cross for true worshippers. Even in the choosing of
an ordained witness to fill the vacancy of the pre-pentecost, apostolic "office" (Acts 1:21,22) left by Judas,
(apostle/treasurer/officer of O'Neal's non-organization - John 13:29). Other offices of O'Neal's non-organi-
zation (P. 26) are mentioned after Pentecost, which assembles or gathers (Acts 14:23; 1 Tim. 3:1,10; Acts
20:17,28). Of course, O'Neal must ignore or deny real "dispensational" proof-texts, for he has none of his own,
only inferences and denials. Oh yes, O'Neal possesses Heb. 9:16,17 or does he? (More on this later.)
O'Neal insists that no one in John's lifetime called his baptism "Christian
baptism" or called anyone a "Christian" (p. 8,9). Well, who called anyone a "Christian" AFTER John's death
(Peter merely mentions the enemy's designation)? Did anyone, in the whole Bible, call anybody's baptism,
anywhere, "Christian baptism?" Are any water baptisms in the Book of Acts and Epistles "Christian" baptisms?
How can they be? Remember, O'Neal's frame of mind is such that if a name is not assigned to something,
specifically, in a given dispensation, it cannot exist.
Water baptism does not have any kind of dispensational or denominating adjectives
attached to it anywhere in the Bible (except the term baptism of repentance for the remission of
sins).
The Kingdom of heaven suffered violence SINCE the days of John the Baptist. The
Law and the prophets were UNTIL John, then harlots responded to the preaching of the Kingdom of Heaven and the
Kingdom of God (Matt. 18:4; Luke 7:28) and entered it (Matt. 21:31,32; 23:13). Of course, Since you must be
born again to see or enter the kingdom of God, they must have entered by the new birth (John 3:3-5). But then
Isaac was born after the Spirit (capital "S"), while Esau was born after the flesh, and, oh yes, even so it is
NOW (Gal. 4:29).
The word proclaimed by John and his baptism BEGAN in Galilee. This SAME WORD of
the Christ was preached (Acts 13:25,26) to whosoever feared God AFTER Jesus died. Each Testament has its own
ordinances (Heb. 9:1). The two New Testament ordinances originated in the Gospels and continued UNCHANGED
throughout the Book of Acts and the epistles, i.e., baptism and the Lord's supper (John 4:1 and Mark
14:22-25).
Blunder 4 - The apostles were Baptists (p. 9)
Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note
AMONG THE APOSTLES, who also were IN CHRIST BEFORE ME. -- Rom. 16:7
And God hath SET some IN THE CHURCH, FIRST APOSTLES, secondarily prophets,
thirdly teachers, AFTER THAT MIRACLES, then gifts of healings . . . tongues. -- 1 Cor. 12:28
And are built upon the FOUNDATION (of what?) of the APOSTLES and prophets, Jesus
Christ himself being the CHIEF CORNER STONE (of what?);--Eph. 2:20
. . . rejoice, because YOUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN. -- Luke
10:20
When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus MADE and
BAPTIZED more DISCIPLES than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) - John
4:1,2
It goes without saying that the apostles were discipled by John and Jesus.
Therefore, that which has been said of John and Jesus, in this regard, can be said of the apostles. The
apostles were set first in His local, New Testament church (MY CHURCH) and were "in Christ." They composed the
church's foundation WITH Christ, the chief cornerstone Rock. Their names were written in heaven BEFORE Christ
died. They had the new birth and eternal life by believing and receiving Christ (John 1:12,13). The ones that
were saved in the Gospels were CLEAN through the word, and they could ABIDE IN CHRIST (John 13:11; 15:3- 7).
They were baptized! They made disciples, and they baptized disciples. They were New Testament
Baptizers.
Blunder 5 - The New Testament church started during the Lord's earthly
ministry (p. 10)
And are built upon the FOUNDATION (of what?) of the APOSTLES and prophets, Jesus
Christ himself being the CHIEF CORNERSTONE (of what?); -- Eph. 2:20
. . . upon this ROCK I will build my CHURCH . . . -- Matt. 16:18
. . . I have FINISHED THE WORK which thou gavest me to do. -- John
17:4
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