The Battle Over Baptism! by Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN
The religious world is awash in theories about baptism. Its role and place in God's plan for mankind has divided believers for centuries. Some say it is necessary for salvation, but many say it is not. Some say you should baptize babies while others say you should only baptize believers. Some argue baptism is the point where sinners are saved and some claim that baptism is to be administered only after a person is "saved." Some insist baptism can only be by immersion in water, but others aver baptism is a matter of personal choice between immersion, sprinkling, or pouring. And then there are those who teach that baptism must be in the Spirit, not in water. And so the battle over baptism continues.
There was no battle over baptism among the inspired apostles of Christ. Those men were guided by the God's Holy Spirit of truth to say precisely what Jesus had taught them to say and to teach everything Jesus wanted them to teach (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13). Just before ascending to Heaven, Jesus taught them to do this: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:15-16; see also Matthew 28:18-20). So what did they teach about baptism? The following sample of passages provides insight: Acts 2:38 - "Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" Close study reveals these words were spoken to people who were already believers in Jesus.
Acts 8:12 - After Philip preached the gospel in the city of Samaria we read, "But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized."
Acts 8:35-38 - "Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, 'See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized? . . . So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him."
Acts 18:8 - As the apostle Paul preached at Corinth, "Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized."
Acts 22:16 (see also Acts 9:1-11) - Ananias told the penitent Saul of Tarsus (a.k.a the apostle Paul) who had been fasting and praying for three days, "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord."
Debates about baptism continue among believers in Christ, but there is no debate in the Bible. God help His church continue to preach the word and speak the truth in love on this vital Bible doctrine.
"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God" (1 Peter 4:11a)
DID GOD MISSPEAK WHEN HE SPOKE ABOUT WATER BAPTISM? BY STEVE FINNELL
ReplyDelete2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God....(NKJV)
There are many who view water baptism as non-essential in becoming saved from the penalty of sin.
Is water baptism essential for salvation or did God misspeak?
Colossians 2:11-13 ...by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, (NKJV)
Did God misspeak when He said you were dead in your trespasses before you were buried in baptism?
Did God misspeak when He said through faith and baptism our trespasses were forgiven?
Ephesians 5:25-27 ...just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. (NKJV)
Did God misspeak when He said Jesus sanctified, cleansed, and made the church holy and without blemish with the washing of water by the word?
Romans 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.(NKJV)
Did God misspeak when He said we should walk in newness of life after being buried in baptism? If baptism is not essential then why not walk in a new life before being baptized in water?
Romans 6:6 know this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. (NKJV)
Did God misspeak when He said our old sinful nature was done away with when we were buried with Christ in baptism?
Was our sinful natured destroyed before baptism? No, it was not.
Before water baptism we were slaves to sin.
Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved..(NKJV)
Did God misspeak when He said believe and be baptized in order to be saved?
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.....(NKJV)
Did God misspeak when He said repent and be immersed in water in order to have your sins forgiven?
Acts 22:16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' (NKJV)
Did God misspeak when He told Saul to be baptized in water to wash away his sins?
1 Peter 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism (not the removal of filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (NKJV)
Did God misspeak when He said baptism now saves us?
Galatians 3:26-27......27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (NKJV)
Did God misspeak when He said believers in Christ are baptized into Christ?
Every word Of Scripture come from God the Father.
Has God misspoken concerning water baptism and salvation or has man misunderstood, rejected, or ignored God's teaching.
Is it possible that men reject God's teaching about water baptism due to their own pride? No one likes admitting they are wrong.
Satan was expelled from heaven because of his pride.
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