<TITLE>03. Par 239-249</TITLE>L-239 And now, in the second century, they called them "crossbacks." That's when the Christians used to pack a cross on their back, to show that they were crucified with Christ. They call them crossbacks. Now I know the Catholic calls themselves that, but that wasn't the Catholic church. It was the Protestant church before it was called Protestant church. It protested nothing but sin. The reason it's called Protestant church today is because it protested the--the Catholic dogma. But it's a... It, still, it was non-sectarian at that time, when they were called crossback.

L-240   Just get the history of Josephus and the other writers, and Hislop's Two Babylons, and so forth, and you'll find out that that's right, that they was not no church. The first organized church, ever was, was the Catholic church, about three hundred years, at the round of--of the last apostles. About three hundred years later, the Catholic church was organized. And a persecution set in, and forced the people into the Catholic church, and they had church and state, united.

L-241 That was after, what was so-called, the conversion of Constantine, from paganism to Catholicism. But, if anybody ever read his history, he wasn't converted, the things that he did. Oh, my! The only thing he ever done religious was put the cross on the St. Sophia church. That's the only thing he ever done, acted even religious. He was a--a reprobate. But they call it his--his conversion. Just about compares with some so-called conversions today.

L-242   Now, but, we find out, when Paul got converted and had this real experience, he was absolutely turned around.
And, you know, conversion means to be "turned around." You're going this way, and you turn and start back this way. Yes, sir. It's a turn-around, about-face.

L-243 And Paul, as soon as he was converted, before he could ever make his experience... Now, he had a marvelous experience.
Now, I believe, when you accept Christ, just as your personal Saviour, it is an experience. I believe, the joy of knowing your sin is forgiven, just thrills your heart, through and through.

L-244 But then when the blessed Holy Spirit comes down, that's an experience, that new Birth, that you'll never forget. You become a Child of God. And here is what does it.
"How do you know it, Brother Branham?"

L-245   Now, these are teaching lessons. Many people, the Methodists, try to say, "They shouted when they got It." Well, that's all right. If you got It, and shouted, okay. Because you shouted, wasn't a sign you had It, 'cause a lot shouted and didn't have It.

L-246 The Pentecostals said, "They spoke in tongues. They got It." That's all right. If you spoke in tongues, and got It, all right. But you could speak in tongues and still not have It. So?

L-247 So, you see, after all, it is the experience of passing from death to Life; when all the old things die, and all things become new. Christ becomes real. The old things drop away, the old roots of carnality. You know how to dig a root out? We used to take a grubbing hoe and just get down at it, and dig it till there wasn't a speck left in it. And they said, "If there be any root of bitterness spring up into you, grub her out." That's right. And that's what the Holy Spirit does, root out all the roots. Dig them out. Pile it up; burn them. Get rid of them. You get a good crop then, if we do that.

L-248   Now, Paul knowed that something happened, so he goes back down into Arabia, and there he studies for three years on all of the Old Testament prophets, how they prophesied. And he come to find out that It was absolutely the Truth.

L-249 Now, compare that with today, see, on this experience that we had here at this little church: of the Morning Star appearing yonder, that great Light that come down, that would foretell and show things to happen. You know, that's marvelous. But my ministering brother told me, "It was the Devil." And I--I couldn't understand it.


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