Circle of Christhood

Baptism and Holy Communion

Monthly Letter April 1956

As pertinent questions come to my desk, and as they are unfolded, I shall try to answer them for your further enlightenment.  One such question that appears frequently concerns the matter of Baptism and Holy Communion,.  What is meant by these terms?

Baptism is an experience that takes place in individual consciousness at the time the Holy Ghost, or Spirit or God, is first realized.  It is an experience that comes only by the Grace of God.  Once in a while it may come when there has been no previous preparation by the individual, but this is very rare.  Buddha studied, prayed, sacrificed and searched for twenty-one years before it came.  Jesus received it when He was thirty years of age, having been a student and a seeker from before the age of twelve - and immediately He received it, His mission began.

It is the Grace of God that forces us to study, pray, read and hear in preparation for the experience of Baptism.  The experience itself is an immersion in Spirit, a relaxing in the Word.  It is a gentle release from "this world," with the awareness of "My Kingdom" forever at hand, after which never again shall one fear the evils of the world, nor condemn nor judge those who trespass.  It brings the realization that the world has only "an arm of flesh," but with us "is the Lord our God to help, us and to fight our battles."  Compassion and understanding are born in us, in place of criticism and judgment, because now we are enabled to see that sin is but an ignorance or lack of awareness of the Presence of God.

After the experience of Baptism one is alive in spiritual consciousness, and only then does one receive the ability to commune with God.  Inner communion is a complete release from "this world," followed by the opening of the Soul faculties, whereby one is enabled to commune with God at will.  While, at times, this may be by words or thoughts going to and from God, in a much greater degree it is a Holy Communion of Silence, in which the Presence of God is felt, imparting Itself to us, and receiving us within Itself.

While Baptism is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  Communion is frequent, and by consciously and unceasingly opening oneself to God, it becomes a continuous one.

Baptism

 

1623 North Sierra Bonita Boulevard

Hollywood 46, California

June 18, 1948

Dear Friend:

 

This is to be your freedom from what Jesus called "the world", or "this world." If you can receive this freedom now, it will be a holy day on earth. Two statements I give you from the Master . . . "My Kingdom is not of this world" . . . and . . . "I have overcome the world".

 

In the history of the world only three men are known to have discerned the complete secret of Life of their own accord.  These men are Laotze, of China, about 600 B.C., Buddha, of India, about 550 B.C. – and Jesus, of Nazareth.  Through Jesus, the full revelation came to the beloved disciple, John, on the Isle of Patmos.  Through Jesus, I received it in an unfoldment first through the Scriptural statement, "My Kingdom is not of this world".

 

This became the subject of my meditation for many months.  I did not choose it . . . it clung to me.  Then "I have overcome the world" . . . and finally the Realization came of the meaning of these statements.  I have never known this teaching to be publicly taught since it was received by John, except in his own veiled writings.  If you can receive it now . . . God has indeed blessed you.

 

Friend, to overcome the world means to overcome, or rise above, all sense desire; to be free of world attraction; to achieve being in the world but not of it; to attain freedom from bondage to personal ego; to understand the spiritual world and thus gain freedom from the false sense of God's Universe.

 

As we humanly see this world, we are seeing God's Heaven, but seeing it "through a glass darkly".  To overcome this world means to rise above the human, finite, erroneous sense of this world, and "see it as it is".

 

The words I am writing clearly show forth this Higher Consciousness of Life, but only as I can reach you within and open your consciousness spiritually can you come into the actual awareness of this unfoldment.  This experience here and now is Spiritual Baptism and the Pentecostal experience of receiving the Holy Ghost.  From it you will emerge as one who has seen through the mirage of sense testimony to the underlying Reality in which you actually live and move and have your being.

 

This life you live is God . . . seen through a glass darkly . . . but now, in this instant, Face to Face.  You can now enjoy friendships, companionships, marriage, business associations, without intense attachment.  The great victories of your friends will not unduly elate you, and their failures will not too greatly disturb you.

 

You will use dollars as a medium of exchange, but never again will you who overcome this world hate, or fear, or love them.  You will handle dollars as you handle streetcar transfers . . . necessary and desirable activities of daily experience.  You will always possess more than you need, without taking any anxious thought, and without being concerned about dollars.  Even their temporary absence will not embarrass or trouble you, because nothing in your world is dependent upon them.  All that you require comes to you through Grace as the Gift of God.  In overcoming this world, you have overcome the beliefs which constitute this world, including the belief that man must earn his living by the sweat of his brow.  You are joint heirs with Christ in God to all the heavenly riches.

 

In overcoming this world, you have lost your fear of your body.  Therefore, it is free to live under God's Law.  You have overcome the world's beliefs about the body . . . that it is finite or material . . . that it lives by bread alone . . . that it must be catered to.  Bathe it . . . keep it clean, inside and out . . . but drop all concern for it.  It is in God's Eternal Keeping . . . to live and move and have its being in God's Consciousness.  Take no thought for your body, for it is God's concern to preserve and maintain the Immortality of His Own Universe, including His Body, which by reflection is your body.

 

There is only one body . . . the Body of God . . . of which your body is the infinite reflection.  As a reflection in the mirror exactly images forth your body, so does your body exactly image forth the Body of God.  The body you behold with your eyes in your individual concept of the Perfect Reflection of the Eternal Body.  What you physically see as your body represents in thought your idea of your body as it really is . . . the Body of God reflected.

 

Your health is God's Health reflected.  Your Wealth is God's Wealth reflected.  Your family is the household reflection of God reflected as your consciousness of God's Infinite reflection, individual being.

 

There is only One Being, and This One is God . . . and every one represents your idea of That One individually expressed.  Your Spiritual Freedom means your freedom from the false and often universal beliefs about the above subjects.  You are not any longer under the law of universal belief . . . you are set free in Christ  . . . That is, you have overcome or risen above the beliefs about God's world.  Therefore, you have overcome this world . . . this false sense of the world.  You now see the world as it is and not as this world.

 

My Peace I give thee, not as this world giveth, but the Spiritual Peace I give you . . . the Peace That Passeth Understanding . . . the Peace that is not dependent upon person or outer condition.  Nothing now in this world can affect you.  You are free in Christ . . . in Spiritual Consciousness.  You will walk up and down in the world . . . come and go freely . . . and none of the world's beliefs will kindle upon you.  The flames will not harm you.  The waters will not drown you.  I have put my Seal upon you . . . you are free!  Walk up and down, in and out . . . Spiritual Law upholds your being . . . your body . . . and your business.

 

Tell no man what things ye have seen and heard.  Do not explain or tell of your freedom from this world.  Move in and out, among men, as a Blessing . . . as a Benediction . . . as the Light of the World.  Let This Life and Mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus . . . Be receptive . . . Be expectant . . . Be alert to receive Inner Guidance and Direction and Support.  Keep attuned to your World Within, yet fulfill all your duties without.  Fulfill all your obligations without, but keep alert within.

 

There are those of you who have been called to God's work . . . it will be given you what to do and when.  I have put My Spirit upon you.  This Spirit will be seen and felt by men.  It will not be you, but the Spirit they discern . . . though they will think it is you.  My Spirit will work for you and with you and through you and as you.  It will work to accomplish My Purpose.  You will be My Presence on earth . . . I will not leave you nor forsake you.  In any appearance I will still be with you.  Fear nothing of this world . . . My Guiding Spirit is ever with you.

 

Of Laotze it is said that when he was 1200 years old he grew weary because the world could not accept their freedom from the grind of mortal living and he left the city to go out into the wilds of China and he was never again seen.  Before going through the gate of the city, the gatekeeper, suspecting his purpose, asked him to write his teaching, which he did in just a short message.  Of Buddha it is said that he taught his disciples, but found they could not quite realize the import of the message.  One day he sent for them, bade them farewell, and left this plane.

 

Jesus said, "Could ye not watch with me one hour?" . . . and also, "If I go not away, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, will not come to you" . . . meaning even the disciples had not grasped the import of his message.

 

Again, now, the Message is repeated on earth to you.  Will you also sleep?

 

Lovingly,

                                                                     

Joel S Goldsmith