What it means: Baptism by Water and Baptism by the Holy Ghost

Would you sooner believe in a Spiritual Kingdom provided by the Creator -
or would you choose instead, a religion created by man directly out of Rome?
From the Journals of
Betty Matteson Rhodes

1986 - 2020
(113) "His disciples said to him, "When will the kingdom come?" Jesus said, "It will not come by waiting for it. It will not be a matter of saying 'here it is' or 'there it is.' Rather, the kingdom of the father is spread out upon the earth, and men do not see it."
Luke 18.16 "But Jesus called them to him, saying, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God."
18.17 "Verily, I say unto you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."
(18) "The disciples said to Jesus, "Tell us how our end will be." Jesus said, "Have you discovered, then, the beginning, that you look for the end? For where the beginning is, there will the end be. Blessed is he who will take his place in the beginning; he will know the end and will not experience death." (19) Jesus said, "Blessed is he who came into being before he came into being. If you become my disciples and listen to my words, these stones will minister to you. For there are five trees for you in Paradise which remain undisturbed summer and winter and whose leaves do not fall. Whoever becomes acquainted with them will not experience death."
17) Jesus said, "I shall give you what no eye has seen and what no ear has heard and what no hand has touched and what has never occurred to the human mind."
(18) "The disciples said to Jesus, "Tell us how our end will be." Jesus said, "Have you discovered, then, the beginning, that you look for the end? For where the beginning is, there will the end be. Blessed is he who will take his place in the beginning; he will know the end and will not experience death."

















Part One
            It is important to know and understand that we are first and foremost an immortal living soul that has been given a mortal body. The body would not live without the immortal soul. The unforgivable sin is to deny the Holy Ghost (the soul). Once a soul has entered the body, these two become one, after that marriage, it becomes up to the Creator and only so, as to when that twin-existence ceases to exist. The soul represents our immortal life, the physical body represents our mortal life. The soul is energy and energy can never die - no matter what kind of energy or form that energy takes, it is immortal and never dies - it can't be killed - only changed.
          This gift of living in a mortal body allows our souls to function and exist upon the Earth and is capable of accomplishing great things, including creating additional little bodies for eager new souls to occupy. As living souls in a mortal body we have the capability and opportunity to achieve practically anything in the world that our hearts desire. National laws permitting, we have free reign and free choice to make these decisions and on which path we will travel. We can create things or we can destroy what others have created. We can gather knowledge and learn many things or waste our lives on nonsensical things. We hopefully, raise our children to be well-equipped in order  for them to become independent persons of their own identity. We can use this lifetime for harm and destruction or we can use this lifetime to make things better for others, to teach, to share and to create - rather than destroy. Most people have a little naughtiness in them but for the most part, the majority of people are good at heart. Some are a little bit of both. However, there is a lot of deception in the world, always has been, and for this reason it is necessary to also put beliefs and facts into focus, thereby allowing reality to be among the choices available. People definitely need to hear enlightenment to progress past obsolete ideas that have become stagnant and destructive. People should not be put in a condition of bondage for their entire lives. This is not good for the soul, which needs to experience, grow in wisdom, analyze, make calculated decisions using their own capabilities.
        Sometimes a person feels they have set off on the wrong path and feel they are headed toward harm or destruction, for which they have regret. A 'rebirth' or 'reset' is possible if the person sincerely desires and wishes to change his/her life around. This reset or rebirth is possible and can be accomplished with an act (literal or symbolic) of a Baptism by water. The desire to change, at this point would be real, the use of water is symbolic. It does not actually change one's natural birth place into this world, of course, but does indicates that the person wishes to change their path and direction in life. If a reset by Baptism takes place and the person still continues down the path of destructive behavior, the reset by Baptism becomes null and void by their own doing.

Part Two

          Baptism by Water:  This is the act of imitating the natural birthing process to represent a fresh start, i.e. to be "born again" or to experience a reset. Baptism by water emulates, or follows the pattern of an unborn baby that is enveloped in a sac of water before it is born. The baby then enters the birth canal and then comes forth out of the water into the world as a brand new fresh being. When the baby takes its first breath of air, the immortal soul enters into the body and the baby becomes a living soul with a body. The two existences have become one.
           At the time of this natural birthing process, the new body receives a spiritual imprint from the Kingdom of God and this identification imprint remains with him/her for their entire life. This is called one's birth or natal imprint, which is their Spiritual birth record recorded in the Kingdom of Heaven. The State or Government in the location where a baby is born generally issues a paper certificate stating the physical birth record. God, i.e. the Creator also records one's immortal birth into the Kingdom of Heaven, this is called the Book of Life.
          In the New Testament there is a man called John the Baptist. This John was from the Essene community and taught various wisdom from the old schools of thought to the Essenes. It is unclear how long John had been teaching and baptizing people before Jesus joined their group, but it is evident that Jesus and John the Baptist had become good friends. John taught that Baptism gave people the opportunity to change directions in their lives and was good for the soul. Jesus as well, thought it was a good idea and asked John to baptize him. John in describing Jesus said that he (John) was unworthy to even tie the shoe laces of Jesus. John stated that he could baptize by water, but Jesus could baptize with the Holy Ghost. So here we learn that John the Baptist represents the mortal body and Jesus represents the immortal soul. It is up to each person to keep their mortal body pure and goodly, for we alone are responsible for this mortal gift of a body. It is the immortal soul that enters the Kingdom of Heaven upon its birth, and the soul, being eternal, knows no end thereafter. Jesus died for our immortal souls, and at death we die and are responsible for our mortal bodies.

Part Three

           Baptism with the Holy Ghost: At the time of one's natural birth into a new-born baby-body, he/she is given, with their first breath of air, a designated place in the Kingdom of God. At that time they become a living breathing soul and their lives are then set upon a course given by the Kingdom of God. Thereupon the Holy Ghost, like a guiding angel, brings forth its influence by the way of a heavenly comforter. This comforter is a spiritual influence that comes directly from the Kingdom of God. The placement in which the baby is born is precise and exact. A rich man cannot pay gold to have a more desirable placement in the Kingdom for their new baby. A baby born in poverty will reap the greatest rewards. Think about it and if you need clarification, contact me...but would be good for you to figure it out yourself.
           Baptism by water is for the mortal body and once coming out of the water, the baptism by Holy Ghost is for one's immortal soul. The Holy Ghost, which is energy or Spirit, is the unseen sacred influence that delivers to a person his/her personal set of effects in the form of blessings/gifts/lessons/talents/wisdom (or lack of ), including one's status in life...all delivered from the Kingdom of God to each person's life by the unseen Spirit called the Holy Ghost. It can be said, if one doesn't come to know themselves, they wander throughout life without purpose or forethought. One's soul-placement in the Kingdom of God is directed and preset by the Creator since the foundation of the world (Solar System). It is possible for a person's soul to receive a new beginning or reset, as well as the mortal body receiving a reset.
          The Kingdom of God has always existed and from a small child's first breath, they enter into that Kingdom and that reserved sacred place remains with the child's soul forever. At the time of mortal death, the immortal soul is released from its bondage and becomes part of the energy (Holy Ghost) that makes up the Kingdom of Heaven. This is why Jesus told his disciples, when his death was foreseen, that he would send a Comforter that would remain with them always. He was referring to the spiritual influence and effect that emanates from the Kingdom of God and the workings thereof. A person does not need to know anything about the Kingdom of God in order to survive in this world. It is sad, however, that most do not have a clue, but on the other hand, it is proof that one doesn't need to know anything about it or how it works to function in this world. Knowing would definitely open many doors and provide a divine light from above that would lighten up any path through the darkness.

(23) Jesus said, "I shall choose you, one out of a thousand, and two out of ten thousand, and they shall stand as a single one." (24) His disciples said to him, "Show us the place where you are, since it is necessary for us to seek it." He said to them, "Whoever has ears, let him hear. There is light within a man of light, and he lights up the whole world. If he does not shine, he is darkness."
(33) "Jesus said, "Preach from your housetops that which you will hear in your ear. For no one lights a lamp and puts it under a bushel, nor does he put it in a hidden place, but rather he sets it on a lamp stand so that everyone who enters and leaves will see its light."
(29) "Jesus said, "If the flesh came into being because of spirit, it is a wonder. But if spirit came into being because of the body, it is a wonder of wonders. Indeed, I am amazed at how this great wealth has made its home in this poverty."
(44) "Jesus said, "Whoever blasphemes against the father will be forgiven, and whoever blasphemes against the son will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the holy spirit will not be forgiven either on earth or in heaven."
(20) "The disciples said to Jesus, "Tell us what the kingdom of heaven is like." He said to them, "It is like a mustard seed. It is the smallest of all seeds. But when it falls on tilled soil, it produces a great plant and becomes a shelter for birds of the sky."
(3) "Jesus said, "If those who lead you say to you, 'See, the kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you who are the sons of the living father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty."


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Scripture quotes from the Gospel of Thomas