A Sincere Request: Before proceeding, please review my previous articles, listed in order, for context. If you've already read them, please continue.

Righteousness is the Essence of True Religion:

The baptism of repentance by water encompasses both 'Baptism of Water' and 'Baptism of Repentance'. The 'Baptism of Water' is a holy sacrament to elevate from ancestral unrighteousness to righteousness. In contrast, the 'Baptism of Repentance' is a holy sacrament to continually abide in righteousness through repentance and confession.

Righteousness is the essence of true religion. It's no surprise that the 'Baptism of Water' isn't a process of conversion but a pledge to rise above unrighteousness and consistently follow the path of righteousness, truth, holiness, and purity – the path of life and truth.

God is truth; therefore, one who lives by walking consistently in truth realizes and attains truth, God. As Jesus defines God, recorded in Scripture: "Jesus answered, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (John 14:6, NIV)

Religion: A Path to Truth and Righteousness:

Is there any religion that advocates unrighteousness, untruth, impurity, or sin? Does any religion compel its devotees to commit sin? I don't think there exists a religion that teaches its followers to walk the path of unrighteousness, steal, commit adultery, be greedy, or harbor envy and discord.

Although individuals may stray from righteousness despite following a religion, John the Baptist calls for baptism of repentance by water to guide humanity from unrighteousness to righteousness, untruth to truth, impurity to purity.

When humanity pledges to walk the path of righteousness, truth, holiness, and purity, they begin to recognize truth proportionally and align themselves with it, progressing on the path of truth with increasing intensity, as Scripture states: "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32, NIV)

Truth: The Path to Liberation:

Freedom from unrighteousness and devotion to God is possible only by recognizing Truth through abiding by it. Only those who walk the righteous path can truly recognize God, who is Truth. Such individuals are freed by God (Truth) from unrighteousness (untruth), relieved from their sins, and kept from stumbling into wickedness, as God, being absolute, desires humanity to be absolute as well. God wishes humanity to attain absolute truth, in His image and likeness, consistently prospering in absolute truth, as recorded in Scripture: 'Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.' (Matthew 5:48, NIV)

A Call to Spiritual Awakening:

Those who administer and receive the holy sacrament of the ‘Baptism of Water’ must find a heartfelt answer to the question: Am I committing the same sin repeatedly? If yes, then I am on the unholy path more than righteousness. To receive freedom through truth, a pledge is needed to refrain from committing the same sin, and the sacrament of repentance and confession, the ‘Baptism of Repentance,’ is necessary. This will help break free from the frequency of sins committed repeatedly and propel towards Absolute Truth.

Without such an effort, achieving God’s absoluteness in truth becomes impossible. Therefore, the Baptism of Repentance by water, encompassing both ‘Baptism of Water’ and ‘Baptism of Repentance,’ is not a sacred ritual of conversion but elevates from unrighteousness to righteousness, helping one remain righteous. This enables achieving Absolute Truth by walking the righteous path – the way, the truth, and the life. Otherwise, our invaluable life will prove useless. Shall we prove useless? As Scripture records: “... what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:26, NIV)

Let us, who administer and receive the ‘Baptism of Water,’ consistently walk on the path of righteousness, achieving Absolute Truth, to unite with God, fulfilling God’s wishes, as Jesus prays: “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:20-21, NIV)

To be Continued…..

==> Stay tuned for our next article, where we'll uncover how 'The Fragmentation of the Church: A Call for Unity' that transforms our faith journey.

Amen!

Praise be to God, Thanks be to God.

Not being Unrighteous is Religion!!

Jharkhand! Peace be upon you!!

India! Peace be upon you!!

Peace to the whole world!!